Pinoresinol from Ipomoea cairica cell cultures

Ipomoea cairica cell cultures produced a tetrahydrofuran lignan, (+)-pinoresinol, identified by UV, IR, MS and NMR methods, not yet found in the intact plant, and new in the Convolvulaceae family. Pinoresinol was found to have antioxidant and Ca2+ antagonist properties. As it could be requested for its biological activity, we examined the possibility to raise the pinoresinol yield of I. cairica cultures, as well as we continued investigations on lignans' response to optimization.     

Supersaturated graphs and hypergraphs

We shall consider graphs (hypergraphs) without loops and multiple edges. Let ? be a family of so called prohibited graphs and ex (n, ?) denote the maximum number of edges (hyperedges) a graph (hypergraph) onn vertices can have without containing subgraphs from ?. A graph (hyper-graph) will be called supersaturated if it has more edges than ex (n, ?). IfG hasn vertices and ex (n, ?)+k edges (hyperedges), then it always contains prohibited subgraphs. The basic question investigated here is: At least how many copies ofL ε ? must occur in a graphG ⁿ onn vertices with ex (n, ?)+k edges (hyperedges)?     

Subunit rotation models activation of serotonin 5-HT<Subscript>3AB</Subscript> receptors by agonists

The N-terminal extracellular regions of heterooligomeric 3AB-type human 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors (5-HT3ABR) were modelled based on the crystal structure of snail acetylcholine binding protein AChBP. Stepwise rotation of subunit A by 5 degrees was performed between -10 degrees and 15 degrees to mimic agonist binding and receptor activation. Anticlockwise rotation reduced the size of the binding cavity in interface AB and reorganised the network of hydrogen bonds along the interface. AB subunit dimers with different rotations were applied for docking of ligands with different efficacies: 5-HT, m-chlorophenylbiguanide, SR 57227, quinolinyl piperazine and lerisetron derivatives. All ligands were docked into the dimer with -10 degrees rotation representing ligand-free, open binding cavities similarly, without pharmacological discrimination. Their ammonium ions were in hydrogen bonding distance to the backbone carbonyl of W183. Anticlockwise rotation and contraction of the binding cavity led to distinctive docking interactions of agonists with E129 and cation-pi interactions of their ammonium ions. Side chains of several further amino acids participating in docking (Y143, Y153, Y234 and E236) are in agreement with the effects of point mutations in the binding loops. Our model postulates that 5-HT binds to W183 in a hydrophobic cleft as well as to E236 in a hydrophilic vestibule. Then it elicits anticlockwise rotation to draw in loop C via pi-cation-pi interactions of its ammonium ion with W183 and Y234. Finally, closure of the binding cavity might end in rebinding of 5-HT to E129 in the hydrophilic vestibule.     

Organically modified Pd-silica catalysts applied in Heck coupling

Pd-silica catalysts prepared by depositing Pd onto silica precursors modified by surface methyl or phenyl groups through the reduction of Pd2+ ions with surface Si-H functions exhibit high activity and selectivity in Heck coupling.     

DOTTADs--readily made novel metal ligands with multivariant functionality

The interaction of Hantzsch pyridinecarboxylic acids with dialkylformamides and POCl3, followed by treatment with NH4OH yields 1,8-dioxo-1,2,7,8-tetrahydro-2,7,10-triazaanthracenes (DOTTADs), which have great potential as useful ligands for Group I and II metals and some transition metals. The corresponding Hantszch esters similarly for DOTTADs or their bis-imines by way of isolable intermediates, which are then treated with an amine RNH2. DOTTAD-imines are also available from DOTTADs with amines and this reaction is also effective with 1,8-diamino-3,6-dioxaoctane to give macrocyclic analogues, as well as with chiral amines. DOTTAD-imines can be reduced with diethylsilane and Wilkinson's catalyst to the corresponding amines, which can also be formed from DOTTADs by reductive amination with amines and Na(AcO)3BH. Mono-aldols of DOTTADs are easily formed by treatment of DOTTADs with acetone.     

Be n Fixed,or go to Infinity: Difficulties are Welcome,and Almost Surely Overcome; A Tribute to Endre Csáki

Periodica Mathematica Hungarica -     

Atomic force microscopy investigation of electrochemically produced carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanostructures have been synthesized in NaCl-MgCl₂ and in NaCl-CaCl₂ salt melts and the extracted material was investigated by tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) and scanning electron microscopy. Some interesting new nanostructures were found and investigated as torus-shaped carbon structures with a ring diameter of 300-400 nm and 10-15 nm height. These tori are closely related to the wrapped SWNT rings described recently. They are probably formed during the electrolysis. A chain-like structure was also revealed.     

Numerical control of kohonen neural network for scattered data approximation

Surface reconstruction from scattered data using Kohonen neural network is presented in this paper. The network produces a topologically predefined grid from the unordered data which can be applied as a rough approximation of the input set or as a base surface for further process. The quality and computing time of the approximation can be controlled by numerical parameters. As a further application, ruled surface is produced from a set of unordered lines by the network. AMS subject classification 68U07, 65D17, 68T20