Synthesis and Complexation Studies of Various Precursors Based on Calix[4]arene-crown-5 and -6 for the Immunoanalysis of Potassium and Caesium Ions

In an attempt to generate antibodies for the development of an immunoanalysis method for potassium and caesium ions, new 1,3-alternate calix[4]arenes-crown-5 and -6 bearing either carboxylic or hydroxyl functions were synthesized in good yields. Their complexation properties towards potassium and caesium ions were investigated using ¹H NMR spectroscopy and the usual properties proved to be preserved in the presence of the anchoring arms.     

Degeneracy of the Antithrombin Binding Sequence in Heparin: 2-O-Sulfated Iduronic Acid Can Replace the Critical Glucuronic Acid

Heparin binds to and activates antithrombin (AT) through a specific pentasaccharide sequence, in which a trisaccharide subsite, containing glucuronic acid (GlcA), has been considered as the initiator in the recognition of the polysaccharide by the protein. Recently it was suggested that sulfated iduronic acid (IdoA2S) could replace this “canonical” GlcA. Indeed, a heparin octasaccharidic sequence obtained by chemoenzymatic synthesis, in which GlcA is replaced with IdoA2S, has been found to similarly bind to and activate antithrombin. By using saturation-transfer-difference (STD) NMR, NOEs, transferred NOEs (tr-NOEs) NMR and molecular dynamics, we show that, upon binding to AT, this IdoA2S unit develops comparable interactions with AT as GlcA. Interestingly, two IdoA2S units, both present in a ¹C₄-²S₀ equilibrium in the unbound saccharide, shift to full ²S₀ and full ¹C₄ upon binding to antithrombin, providing the best illustration of the critical role of iduronic acid conformational flexibility in biological systems.     

Solid‐state tautomeric structure and invariom refinement of a novel and potent HIV integrase inhibitor

The conformation and tautomeric structure of (Z)‐4‐[5‐(2,6‐difluorobenzyl)‐1‐(2‐fluorobenzyl)‐2‐oxo‐1,2‐dihydropyridin‐3‐yl]‐4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐N‐(2‐oxopyrrolidin‐1‐yl)but‐3‐enamide, C₂₇H₂₂F₃N₃O₅, in the solid state has been resolved by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography. The electron distribution in the molecule was evaluated by refinements with invarioms, aspherical scattering factors by the method of Dittrich et al. [Acta Cryst. (2005), A 61 , 314–320] that are based on the Hansen–Coppens multipole model [Hansen & Coppens (1978). Acta Cryst. A 34 , 909–921]. The β‐diketo portion of the molecule exists in the enol form. The enol –OH hydrogen forms a strong asymmetric hydrogen bond with the carbonyl O atom on the β‐C atom of the chain. Weak intramolecular hydrogen bonds exist between the weakly acidic α‐CH hydrogen of the keto–enol group and the pyridinone carbonyl O atom, and also between the hydrazine N—H group and the carbonyl group in the β‐position from the hydrazine N—H group. The electrostatic properties of the molecule were derived from the molecular charge density. The molecule is in a lengthened conformation and the rings of the two benzyl groups are nearly orthogonal. Results from a high‐field ¹H and ¹³C NMR correlation spectroscopy study confirm that the same tautomer exists in solution as in the solid state.     

Diversely Functionalised Cytochalasins through Mutasynthesis and Semi-Synthesis

Mutasynthesis of pyrichalasin H from Magnaporthe grisea NI980 yielded a series of unprecedented 4′-substituted cytochalasin analogues in titres as high as the wild-type system (≈60 mg L⁻¹). Halogenated, O-alkyl, O-allyl and O-propargyl examples were formed, as well as a 4′-azido analogue. 4′-O-Propargyl and 4′-azido analogues reacted smoothly in Huisgen cycloaddition reactions, whereas p-Br and p-I compounds reacted in Pd-catalysed cross-coupling reactions. A series of examples of biotin-linked, dye-linked and dimeric cytochalasins was rapidly created. In vitro and in vivo bioassays of these compounds showed that the 4′-halogenated and azido derivatives retained their cytotoxicity and antifungal activities; but a unique 4′-amino analogue was inactive. Attachment of larger substituents attenuated the bioactivities. In vivo actin-binding studies with adherent mammalian cells showed that actin remains the likely intracellular target. Dye-linked compounds revealed visualisation of intracellular actin structures even in the absence of phalloidin, thus constituting a potential new class of actin-visualisation tools with filament-barbed end-binding specificity.     

Highly charged ions in a new era of high resolution X-ray astrophysics

X-ray astronomy and ground-based atomic physics have a long history of fruitful collaboration: Sound understanding of the underlying atomic physics is the key to reliable interpretation of the spectra from celestial sources; conversely, astronomical spectra have been used to benchmark and advance atomic physics. This interplay is about to become even more important as we enter a new era of high-resolution X-ray astrophysics with large effective collection area. Although high-resolution observations with the gratings on the Chandra and XMM-Newton observatories continue to drive new science, upcoming planned and proposed missions will open up new discovery space in the near future that is currently challenging to access: high-resolution spectroscopy on extended sources, in the Fe K band, and on short time scales. This review summarizes open questions in these areas and the design parameters for the Hitomi, XRISM, Athena, and Arcus observatories. The expected high quality of spectra taken with these observatories puts new constraints on the accuracy of atomic reference data required to take full advantage of the diagnostic potential of these spectra.