Cell adhesion molecules nectins and associating proteins: Implications for physiology and pathology

Nectins have recently been identified as new cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) consisting of four members. They show immunoglobulin-like structures and exclusively localize at adherens junctions (AJs) between two neighboring cells. During the formation of cell–cell junctions, nectins function in cooperation with or independently of cadherins, major CAMs at AJs. Similar to cadherins, which are linked to the actin cytoskeleton by binding to catenins, nectins also bind to afadin through their C-terminal region and are linked to the actin cytoskeleton. In addition to nectins, there are nectin-like molecules (Necls), which resemble nectins in their structures and consist of five members. Nectins and Necls are involved in the formation of various kinds of cell–cell adhesion, and also play key roles in diverse cellular functions including cell movement, proliferation, survival, and differentiation. Thus, nectins and Necls are crucial for physiology and pathology of multicellular organisms.     

Effect of UV anneal on plasma CVD low-k film

Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD) low-dielectric (low-k) film was irradiated with ultra violet (UV) light of wavelength 172 nm to enhance mechanical strength and reduce dielectric constant (k value). The thickness measurement method for the UV annealed low-k film is discussed. The effects of UV irradiation on dielectric constant, shrinkage, stress, density, pore size, mechanical strength, and structure are clarified and the mechanism is discussed.     

Formation of an exciplex with mixed ligands in the mercury-photosensitized luminescence of alcohol-amine mixtures in the liquid phase

The liquid-phase mercury-photosensitized luminescence of tert-butyl alcohol (TL)-tert-butylamine (TM) mixtures has been investigated by a steady-state illumination method over a wide range of substrate concentrations. The emission bands from exciplexes (HgTL* and HgTM*) between an excited mercury atom and an alcohol or an amine molecule were observed at about 330 nm and 370 nm, respectively, in TL and TM solutions in cyclohexane. Two other bands appeared at 405 nm and 455 nm for TM at high concentrations. These bands were previously assigned to two types of 1:2 exciplexes (HgTM(2)* and HgTM(2)**). In TL-TM mixed solutions, a new band appeared at about 400 nm. The intensity of this band increased with increasing concentrations of TL and TM. This band was attributed to an exciplex with mixed ligands (HgTLTM*). This band was observed for the first time in this study. The energized intermediate, (HgTLTM*)(not equal), formed between HgAL* and AM can be effectively stabilized by collisions with solvent molecules in solution, while it decomposes to HgAM* and AL in the gas phase. The results for TL-TM mixtures can be explained by the proposed reaction mechanism.     

Electrophilic aromatic substitution of 3‐alkoxy‐6‐alkyl‐2‐cyano‐4,5,6a,11‐tetraazabenzo[a]fluorene with orthoesters

Fused tetracycles, 6‐alkyl‐3‐alkoxy‐2‐cyano‐4,5,6a,11‐tetraazabenzo[a]fluorene derivatives ( 5a , b , c , d , e , f ), are synthesized from 2‐alkoxy‐5‐(benzimidazol‐2‐ylidene)‐3‐cyano‐6‐imino‐5,6‐dihydro‐pyridines ( 4b , c ), and when refluxed in ethyl orthoacetate or ethyl orthopropionate, the elecrophilic aromatic substitution occurs at the ortho position of the cyanopyridine ring in the fused tetracycles ( 5b , c , e , f ) to afford 6‐alkyl‐3‐alkoxy‐2‐cyano‐1‐ethyl‐4,5,6a,11‐tetraazabenzo[a]fluorenes( 6b , c , e , f ).     

Palladium-catalyzed selective cross-addition of triisopropylsilylacetylene to internal and terminal unactivated alkynes

Dinuclear and mononuclear palladium complexes having N,N'-bis[2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl]amidinate (DPFAM) as a ligand catalyzed the cross-addition of triisopropylsilylacetylene (TIPSA) to unactivated internal alkynes, giving enynes selectively. When palladium catalysts having PPh3, TDMPP, dppe, or dppf were used, dimers of TIPSA were obtained as major products. The reactions of TIPSA with several terminal alkynes also gave cross-adducts selectively, although the yields were moderate.     

Revisiting the morphology development of solvent-swollen composite polymer particles at thermodynamic equilibrium

Morphology of polystyrene (PS)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/toluene droplets, in which phase separation proceeds, dispersed in SDS aqueous solution was examined. It changed from ex-centered PS-core/PMMA-shell to hemisphere with increasing SDS concentration. At low polymer weight fraction (wp), PS and PMMA phases contained non-negligible amount of PMMA and PS, respectively. The small amount of PS and PMMA in PMMA and PS phases, respectively, affected significantly the interfacial tension between polymer/toluene and aqueous solutions. Interfacial tension between PS and PMMA phases at low wp was measured by the spinning drop method, showing a quite low value ( approximately 10-2 mN/m). Predicted morphology obtained from calculation of minimum total interfacial free energy of the droplets using the interfacial tensions agreed well with the experimental observation.     

Label-free detection of protein-protein interactions at the GaAs/water interface through surface infrared spectroscopy: discrimination between specific and nonspecific interactions by using secondary structure analysis

Here, we propose a label-free detection of protein-protein interactions that enables simultaneous qualitative analysis of target proteins by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption spectroscopy in multiple internal reflection geometry (MIR-FTIR). Using this method, the target proteins were detected based on the peak height of the amide I and amide II bands, while discrimination of specific and nonspecific signals is made based on the secondary structure of the analytes, which is determined through second-derivative analysis of the amide I band. As a model system, an antigen peptide was immobilized on the surface of GaAs, which was transparent to mid-infrared light, and the interaction with its antibody was examined in aqueous media. We demonstrated that the binding of the antibody to the antigen immobilized on a GaAs surface selectively gave rise to beta-sheet amide I vibrations (1639 and 1690 cm-1), while no structurally related signals were induced by nonspecifically adsorbed proteins. The peak height of the beta-peak (1639 cm-1) in the amide I band linearly increased with the antiserum concentration as well as that of the amide II band. The detection limit (S/N = 3) was a 1:36 000 dilution for the amide I signal. In addition, through the use of surface-sensitive MIR-FTIR, the present sensor selectively detected the antigen-antibody interactions at the surfaces without being affected by the presence of bulk species, enabling rapid and wash-free detection. Our method provides not only rapid label-free detection of protein-protein interactions but a more accurate discrimination between specific and nonspecific interactions through the use of the secondary structure of the target proteins as a measure for the specific signals.     

Kinetic studies of specific solvent effect on the thermal isomerization of palladium dithizonate in toluene‐alcohol mixtures

The kinetics of the thermal isomerization of palladium dithizonate (Pd(HD_Z)₂) in the binary mixture of toluene and alcohols has been studied. In the solvent effects on the Pd(HD_Z)₂ isomerization rates, we found that the maximum lies in the range x = 0.02 ∼ 0.2 (x represents the mole fraction of alcohols). The experimental kinetic data for the specific solvent effect with maximum can be reproduced well by taking into account hydrogen bonding and coordination of alcohols with Pd(HD_Z)₂. The rate constants for the thermal isomerization of Pd(HD_Z)₂ involving hydrogen bonding and the coordinate interaction with 1‐butanol are evaluated. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 542–547, 2000     

SQUID sensor application for small metallic particle detection

High-Tc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) is an ultra-sensitive magnetic sensor. Since the performance of the SQUID is improved and stabilized, now it is ready for application. One strong candidate for application is a detection system of magnetic foreign matters in industrial products or beverages. There is a possibility that ultra-small metallic foreign matter has been accidentally mixed with industrial products such as lithium ion batteries. If this happens, the manufacturer of the product suffers a great loss recalling products. The outer dimension of metallic particles less than 100 μm cannot be detected by an X-ray imaging, which is commonly used for the inspection. Ionization of the material is also a big issue for beverages in the case of the X-ray imaging. Therefore a highly sensitive and safety detection system for small foreign matters is required. We developed detection systems based on high-Tc SQUID with a high-performance magnetic shield. We could successfully measure small iron particles of 100 μm on a belt conveyer and stainless steel balls of 300 μm in water. These detection levels were hard to be achieved by a conventional X-ray detection or other methods.