Structure determination of soybean and wheat glucosylceramides by tandem mass spectrometry

Glucosylceramide (GluCer) is a major sphingolipid of plant tissue and, thus, abundant in nature and in dietary food sources. The lipid backbones of mammalian GluCer (sphingosine, d18:1(delta4), and ceramide) induce cell death (apoptosis) and inhibit colon carcinogenesis, it is critical to know the structures of GluCer present in plants as a first step toward understanding this potential link between diet and cancer. This study characterized the molecular species of GluCer from soybean and wheat by low-resolution, high-resolution and tandem mass spectrometry. Soybean GluCer was comprised primarily (>95%) of ceramide with 4,8-sphingadiene (d18:2(delta4,delta8)) and alpha-hydroxypalmitic acid (h16:0); the remainder had the same backbone with h18:0, h20:0, h22:0 and h24:0 fatty acids. Wheat GluCer had three major ceramide, d18:2(delta4,delta8) with h16:0, d18:1(delta8) with h16:0 and d18: 2(delta4,delta8) with h20:0, and smaller amounts of other homologs. These backbones differ from those of mammalian sphingolipids, which often have a delta4-double bond (but rarely a delta8-double bond), and have alpha-hydroxy fatty acids in only some cases. Previously unexplained fragmentations that were diagnostic for the type of sphingoid base backbone (i.e. by homolytic cleavage of the doubly allylic C-6-C-7 bond to yield a stable distonic allylic radical cation and an allylic radical neutral) were also identified. Hence this method should be useful in the identification of double bonds in sphingolipids, and structure-function relationships between sphingolipids and colon carcinogenesis.     

Inorganic-organic framework structures; M(II) ethylenediphosphonates (M = Co, Ni, Mn) and a Mn(II) ethylenediphosphonato-phenanthroline

The reaction of nickel, cobalt, and manganese with 1,2-ethylenediphosphonic acid or 1,2-ethylenediphosphonic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline under hydrothermal conditions resulted in the pillared layered structures Co2(H2O)2(O3PC2H4PO3) (I) and Ni2(H2O)2(O3PC2H4PO3) (II), which are isostructural to a zinc phase that has previously been characterized by X-ray powder methods. In addition, a 1D chain structure, Mn(HO3P(CH2)2PO3H)(H2O)2(C12H8N2) (III), and a pillared layered structure, Mn(HO3P(CH2)2PO3H) (IV), were obtained. The structures of these phases were solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The crystallographic data are as follows: compound I P21/n (No. 14), a = 5.6500(11) A, b = 4.7800(10) A, c = 15.330(3) A, beta = 98.50(3) degrees, V = 409.47(14) A3, Z = 2; compound II P21/n (No. 14), a = 5.5807(11) A, b = 4.7205(9) A, c = 15.250(3) A, beta = 98.55(3) degrees, V = 397.28(13) A3, Z = 2; compound III C2/c (No. 15), a = 12.109(2) A, b = 15.328(3) A, c = 9.848(2) A, beta = 108.88(3) degrees, V = 1729.5(6) A3, Z = 4; compound IV P (No. 2), a = 5.498(5) A, b = 7.715(6) A, c = 8.093(7) A, alpha = 82.986(12) degrees, beta = 75.565(12) degrees, gamma = 80.582(12)degrees, V = 326.7(5) A3, Z = 2. Magnetic measurements show antiferromagnetic behavior below TN = 7 K for I and 13 K for II.     

Photodynamic therapy treatment of early oral and laryngeal cancers

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a nonsurgical, minimally invasive treatment that uses a light source to activate light-sensitive drugs or photosensitizers in the treatment of cancer and other diseases. PDT has been successfully employed to treat early carcinomas of the oral cavity and larynx preserving normal tissue and vital functions of speech and swallowing. Two hundred seventy-six patients with early carcinomas of the oral cavity and larynx were treated from 1990 to 2006. Cure rates with a single treatment for early laryngeal and oral cancers were 91% and 94%, respectively. PDT is an effective primary and alternative treatment modality for early oral cavity and laryngeal cancers.