Improved expression by cytomegalovirus promoter/enhancer and behavior of vascular endothelial growth factor gene after myocardial injection of naked DNA

Direct injection of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene plasmid DNA into the myocardium was shown to induce development of new blood vessels to increase the circulation in the heart of patients with coronary artery diseases. However, such angiogenic gene therapy (via naked DNA) was limited by low level of gene expression. Furthermore, the temporal and spatial characteristics of VEGF gene transfer in the heart are not known. In this study, we demonstrated that a plasmid vector, containing the human cytomegalovirus immediate early (HCMV IE) promoter and enhancer, induces greater expression of gene in the rat heart monitored by gene fused to the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter, than four different viral and cellular promoters. Interestingly, expression of VEGF121 protein showed an earlier peak, a shorter duration, and a wider distribution than that of CAT only. Therefore, a plasmid vector with an HCMV IE promoter/enhancer provides clear advantages over other previously developed plasmids. Furthermore, expression profile of VEGF121 gene may provide useful information in the design of angiogenic gene therapy in the heart.     

Designed self-assembly of molecular necklaces

This paper reports an efficient strategy to synthesize molecular necklaces, in which a number of small rings are threaded onto a large ring, utilizing the principles of self-assembly and coordination chemistry. Our strategy involves (1) threading a molecular "bead" with a short "string" to make a pseudorotaxane and then (2) linking the pseudorotaxanes with a metal complex with two cis labile ligands acting as an "angle connector" to form a cyclic product (molecular necklace). A 4- or 3-pyridylmethyl group is attached to each end of 1,4-diaminobutane or 1,5-diaminopentane to produce the short "strings" (C4N4(2+), C4N3(2+), C5N4(2+), and C5N3(2+)), which then react with a cucurbituril (CB) "bead" to form stable pseudorotaxanes (PR44(2+), PR43(2+), PR54(2+), and PR53(2+), respectively). The reaction of the pseudorotaxanes with Pt(en)(NO(3))(2) (en = ethylenediamine) produces a molecular necklace [4]MN, in which three molecular "beads" are threaded on a triangular framework, and/or a molecular necklace [5]MN, in which four molecular "beads" are threaded on a square framework. Under refluxing conditions, the reaction with PR44(2+) or PR54(2+) yields exclusively [4]MN (MN44T or MN54T, respectively), whereas that with PR43(2+) or PR53(2+) produces exclusively [5]MN (MN43S or MN53S, respectively). The products have been characterized by various methods including X-ray crystallography. At lower temperatures, on the other hand, the reaction with PR44(2+) or PR54(2+) affords both [4]MN and [5]MN. The supermolecules reported here are the first series of molecular necklaces obtained as thermodynamic products. The overall structures of the molecular necklaces are strongly influenced by the structures of pseudorotaxane building blocks, which is discussed in detail on the basis of the X-ray crystal structures. The temperature dependence of the product distribution observed in this self-assembly process is also discussed.     

Synthesis and reactivity of 1,2-bis(chlorodimethylgermyl)carborane and 1,2-bis(bromodimethylstannyl)carborane

The 1,2-bis(chlorogermyl)- (1) and 1,2-bis(bromostannyl)carborane (2) have been prepared by the reaction of dilithio-o-carborane with Me(2)GeCl(2) and Me(2)SnBr(2), respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 are found to be good precursors for the synthesis of a variety of cyclization compounds. The Wurtz-type coupling reaction of 1 and 2 using sodium metal afforded the four-membered digerma compound 3 and five-membered tristanna compound 4, respectively. The salt elimination reactions of 1 and 2 using Li(2)N(t)Bu and Li(2)PC(6)H(5) afforded the cyclic products [structure: see text]. The 1,2-bis(dimethylgermyl)carborane 9 and 1,2-bis(dimethylstannyl)carborane 10 were prepared by the reaction of 1 and 2 with sodium cyanoborohydride. The reactions of 9 and 10 with Pd(PPh(3))(4) afforded the bis(germyl)palladium 12 and bis(stannyl)palladium 13 complexes, respectively.     

Mixed-metal tellurites: synthesis, structure, and characterization of Na1.4Nb3Te4.9O18 and NaNb3Te4O16

Two new mixed-metal tellurites, Na1.4Nb3Te4.9O18 and NaNb3Te4O16, have been synthesized by standard solid-state techniques using Na2CO3, Nb2O5, and TeO2 as reagents. The structures of Na1.4Nb3Te4.9O18 and NaNb3Te4O16 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both of the materials exhibit three-dimensional structures composed of NbO6 octahedra, TeO4, and TeO3 polyhedra. The Nb5+ and Te4+ cations are in asymmetric coordination environments attributable to second-order Jahn-Teller (SOJT) effects. The Nb5+ cations undergo an intraoctahedral distortion toward a corner (local C4 direction), whereas the Te4+ cations are in distorted environments owing to their nonbonded electron pair. Infrared and Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and dielectric measurements were also performed on the reported materials. Crystal data: Na1.4Nb3Te4.9O18, monoclinic, space group C2/m (No. 12), with a = 32.377(5) A, b = 7.4541(11) A, c = 6.5649(9) A, beta = 95.636(5) degrees, V = 1576.7(4) A3, and Z = 4; NaNb3Te4O16, monoclinic, space group P2(1)/m (No. 11), with a = 6.6126(13) A, b = 7.4738(15) A, c = 14.034(3) A, beta = 102.98(3) degrees, V = 675.9(3) A3, and Z = 2.     

Azido- or hydroxyl-capped half-cubanes containing Cp*Rh fragments: [Cp*3Rh3(mu-X)3(mu3-X)]2+ (X-=OH- or N3-)

Treatment of [Cp*Rh(H(2)O)(3)](OTf)(2) (1) with Me(3)SiNH-t-Bu in acetone gave a hydroxyl-capped half-cubane [Cp*(3)Rh(3)(mu-OH)(3)(mu(3)-OH)](OTf)(3)(t-BuNH(3)) (2). Slow diffusion of Me(3)SiN(3) in diethyl ether into compound in acetone produced an azido-capped half-cubane [Cp*(3)Rh(3)(mu-N(3))(3)(mu(3)-N(3))](OTf)(2) (3). On the other hand, treating 1 with Me(3)SiN(3) in acetone gave an azido-bridged, dinuclear rhodium(III) complex [Cp*Rh(mu-N(3))(OH(2))](2)(OTf)(2) (4). Complexes 2 and 3 represent the first azido- or hydroxyl-capped, incomplete cubane-type Rh clusters. Under appropriate conditions, complexes 2 and 3 could be converted to complex 4. The structures of all products were determined by X-ray diffraction.     

Reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of aminoglycoside antibiotics using pre-column derivatization with phenylisocyanate

A pre-column derivatization liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the analysis of aminoglycoside antibiotics using phenylisocyanate as a derivatization reagent. Derivatives including kanamycin, neomycin and gentamicin were formed by reaction of the analytes with phenylisocyanate in the presence of triethylamine. Phenylisocyanato groups were attached to corresponding amino groups of aminoglycoside and their molecular mass was confirmed by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). The experimental conditions for derivatization and separation of aminoglycoside derivatives were optimized and validated. A simple liquid chromatographic method for the determination of aminoglycoside antibiotics was demonstrated.     

Mononuclear nonheme ferric-peroxo complex in aldehyde deformylation

A mononuclear nonheme ferric-peroxo complex bearing a macrocyclic tetradentate N4 ligand, [(TMC)Fe(III)-O2]+, was prepared and used in mechanistic studies of aldehyde deformylation; a catalytic aldehyde deformylation by a nonheme iron(II) complex, [Fe(II)(TMC)]2+, and molecular oxygen is reported as well.     

Roles of TNF-alpha and IgE in the late phase of contact hypersensitivity induced by trimellitic anhydride

Trimellitic anhydride (TMA) is widely used industrially to make epoxy and alkyd resins, plasticizers and surfactants. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether contact hypersensitivity (CHS) is induced by repeated TMA challenge and the role of TNF-alpha and IgE in the TMA-induced CHS. The repetition of the challenge enlarged the extent of an early and a late phase of CHS in TNF-alpha+/+ (B6129SF2/J) and Balb/c mice. In the late phase of TMA-induced CHS, the peak of ear swelling responses by single challenge showed at 24 h after challenge, but the peak was observed at 8 h after repeated challenge. In the TNF-alpha knockout TNF-alpha-/- (B6;129S-Tnftm1Gk1) mice, the repetition of the TMA challenges enlarged the extent of the late phase of CHS, but less than those in TNF-alpha+/+ mice. Injection of anti-TNF-alpha antibody into the peritoneal cavity of Balb/c mice significantly decreased the extent of the late phase of CHS. Subcutaneous injection of anti-IgE antibody into Balb/c mice also decreased the extent of the late phase of CHS in dose-dependent manner. Histologically, infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and eosinophils was more pronounced in repeatedly TMA-challenged TNF-alpha+/+ and Balb/c mice than in the TNF-alpha-/- mice and anti-TNF-alpha or anti-IgE antibodies treated Balb/c mice. These results indicate that mice sensitized by TMA could possibly offer a useful model to study the mechanism of CHS, and TNF-alpha and IgE may act as potential modulators in the late phase of TMA-induced CHS. Neutralization of TNF-alpha and IgE by anti-TNF-alpha or anti-IgE antibodies may provide therapeutic tools for the treatment of TMA-induced CHS.     

Lifetime of living polymers in cationic polymerization. II. Living polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether initiated by the hydrogen iodide/zinc halide systems

In the living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) initiated by the hydrogen iodide/zinc halide (HI/ZnX₂; X = I, Br, Cl) systems, the concentration ([P^*]) of the living propagating species was determined by quenching with sodiomalonic ester ( 1 ). The quenching reaction was shown to be clean, instantaneous, and quantitative to give poly (IBVE) with a terminal malonate group from which [P^*] was obtained by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. In the polymerizations in toluene below +25°C, [P^*] was constant and equal to the initial concentration ([HI]₀) of hydrogen iodide, independent of the type and concentrations of ZnX₂ as well as monomer conversion. At 0 and +25°C, however, the living species started decaying immediately after the complete consumption of monomer. In contrast, such a decay process was absent at ?15°C even in the absence of monomer until about an hour (depending on the conditions) after the end of polymerization. The deactivation reaction was first order in [P^*], and the lifetime (half-life) of the living species was longer at lower temperature and at lower ZnX₂ concentration. On the basis of these [P^*] and lifetime measurements, the HI/ZnX₂ systems were also compared with the HI/I₂ counterpart.