Fully automated chip‐based negative mode nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry of fructooligosaccharides produced by heterologously expressed levansucrase from Pseudomonassyringae pv. tomato DC3000

Pseudomonas syringae pathovars possess multiple levansucrases with still unclear specific roles for bacteria. We have cloned and expressed three levansucrase genes, lsc1, lsc2 and lsc3, from P. syringae DC3000 in Escherichia coli. Levansucrases synthesize a high molecular weight fructan polymer, levan, from sucrose and in the case of some levansucrases, fructooligosaccharides (FOS) with potential prebiotic effects are also produced. The ability of purified Lsc3 protein of DC3000 to synthesize FOS was tested using prolonged incubation time and varied concentrations of sugar substrates. Thin‐layer chromatography (TLC) analysis of reaction products disclosed formation of FOS from both sucrose and raffinose, revealing a new catalytic property for P. syringae levansucrases. In order to analyze Lsc3‐produced FOS in underivatized form, we optimized a novel method recently introduced in carbohydrate research, based on fully automated chip‐based nanoelectrospray ionization (nanoESI) high‐capacity ion trap mass spectrometry (HCT‐MS). Uding chip‐based nanoESI MS in negative ion mode, FOS, with degrees of polymerization up to five, were detected in reaction mixtures of Lsc3 with sucrose and raffinose. For confirmation, further structural analysis by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) employing collision‐induced dissociation at low energies was performed. To validate the method, commercial inulin‐derived FOS preparations Orafti®P95 and Orafti®Synergy1, which are currently used as prebiotics, were used as controls. By chip‐based nanoESI HCT‐MS, similar FOS distribution was observed in these reference mixtures. Thereby, the obtained data allowed us to postulate that FOS produced by the Lsc3 protein of P. syringae DC3000 may be prebiotic as well. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Yang–Mills effective action at high temperature

The European Physical Journal C - Yang–Mills theory undergoes a transition from a confined to a deconfined phase in the intermediate temperature regime, where perturbation is not applicable....     

An Improved Synthesis of Elvitegravir

An improved process for the active pharmaceutical ingredient of a new HIV integrase inhibitor elvitegravir ( 1 ) has been developed. It starts from commercially available 2,4‐dimethoxyacetophenone, which is selectively halogenated into the position 5. The 5‐halo acetophenones are condensed with dialkyl carbonates to give the corresponding benzoylacetates. Their treatment with N,N‐dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal followed by (S)‐valinol then provided the corresponding intermediate benzoyl acrylates. Cyclization to the required 1,4‐dihydroquinolin‐4‐oxo derivatives by aromatic nucleophilic substitution of the 2‐methoxy group was achieved by treatment with N,O‐bis(trimethylsilyl)‐acetamide, which also protected the OH group as the trimethylsilyl derivative. Finally, the Negishi coupling with 2‐fluoro‐3‐chlorobenzylzinc bromide and the following hydrolysis provided elvitegravir ( 1 ). The preferred variant, the seven‐step procedure starting from 2,4‐dimethoxyacetophenone, provides elvitegravir in 29.3% yield.     

The Phototoxic Potential of the Flavonoids,Taxifolin and Quercetin

Quercetin, one of the most abundant polyphenols in the plant kingdom has been shown to be photodegraded on exposure to UV light. Despite the fact, it is a component of several dermatological preparations. Its phototoxic potential has not been evaluated to date. The aim of this study was to assess whether photo‐induced degradation of quercetin is linked to phototoxic effects on living cells. Its dihydro derivative, taxifolin, was included in the study. For evaluation, the 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake Phototoxicity Test according to OECD TG 432 was used. To better approximate human skin, HaCaT keratinocytes, normal human epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts were used, apart from the Balb/c 3T3 cell line. Quercetin showed a dose‐dependent photodegradation in aqueous and organic environments and a phototoxic effect on all used cells. Quercetin pretreatment and following UVA exposure resulted in increased reactive oxygen species production and intracellular glutathione level depletion in human dermal fibroblasts. Taxifolin was found completely nonphototoxic and photostable. As only in vitro methodology was used, further studies using 3D skin models and/or human volunteers are needed to confirm whether exposure to sunlight, tanning sunbeds and/or phototherapy in people using cosmetics containing quercetin is a health risk.