Small-angle X-ray scattering studies of the open and closed conformations of aspartate aminotransferase

Summary Aspartate aminotransferase was investigated by X-ray small-angle scattering. A small difference was found between the open (active) and the closed (liganded) conformation of the enzyme. The results were compared with X-ray crystallography data.

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Untersuchungen zur Röntgenkleinwinkelstreuung der offenen und geschlossenen Konformation von Aspartat-Aminotransferase

Zusammenfassung Aspartat-Aminotransferase wurde mittels Röntgenkleinwinkelstreuung untersucht. Ein kleiner Unterschied zwischen der offenen (aktiven) und der geschlossenen (ligandierten) Konformation wurde gefunden. Die Ergebnisse wurden mit Röntgenkristallstrukturdaten verglichen.

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Abbreviations AspAT aspartate aminotransferase     

Immunological method for the detection of nitroaromatic residues covalently bound to humic acids

The potential of the earlier reported sandwich-immunoassay principle for the detection of nitroaromatic residues bound to humic acids was examined. A synthetic conjugate derived by coupling a 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene derivative to humic acid was used as a model substance for bound nitroaromatic residues. Spectrophotometric determination gave a content of 14 ± 1.6 μmol/g TNT-derivative in the synthetic conjugate, which was used as a calibration standard. Extensive blocking optimization was necessary to establish the sandwich-immunoassay. Experiments were carried out to check the selectivity of the developed test system. Trace amounts of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (25 μg/L) suppressed the assay signal completely by blocking the antibody binding sites. This was a proof for the excellent selectivity of the assay. The potential of quantitative determinations was examined with dilution experiments. During assay optimization strong non-immunological interactions between various proteins and humic acids were observed. This led to a significant improvement of the original sandwich-immunoassay, where the humic acid antibody was substituted by basic proteins. More sensitive calibration curves with higher signal intensities were achieved. This new immunoassay seems to be the method of choice for further immunological investigations of bound residues.     

1,6-Eliminationsreaktionen an Spirocoleonon; Charakterisierung der ersten Spiro[(methylcyclopropan)-phenanthren]-1,3-dion-Derivate

Preparation of the First Spiro[(methylcyclopropan)-phenanthrene]-1,3-dione Derivatives by 1,6-Elimination Reactions of Spirocoleons Spirocoleons, e.g. coleon J ( 1 ), on treatment with 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN) in aprotic solvents, undergo enolization followed by a rapid 1,6-elimination with formation of the hitherto unknown 2-methyl-spiro[cyclopropane-1,2′(1′H)-phenanthrene]-1′,3′(4′bH)-dione system, e.g. 3 . In protic solvents, base-catalyzed solvolysis of the spirocyclopropane predominates.     

Microcalorimetric investigation of the growth of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> DH5α in different antibiotics

The effects of Amoxicillin Sodium and Cefuroxime Sodium on the growth of E. coli DH5α were investigated by microcalorimetry. The metabolic power-time curves of E. coli DH5α growth were determined by using a TAM air isothermal microcalorimeter at 37°C. By evaluation of the obtained parameters, such as growth rate constants (k), inhibitory ratio (I), the maximum heat power (P _m) and the time of the maximum heat power (t _m), one found that the inhibitory activity of Amoxicillin Sodium vs. E. coli DH5α is enhanced with the increasing of the Amoxicillin Sodium concentration, and the Cefuroxime Sodium has a stimulatory effect on the E. coli DH5α growth when the concentration is about 1 μg mL⁻¹. The IC₅₀ for the Amoxicillin Sodium and the Cefuroxime Sodium are 1.6 and 2.0 μg mL⁻¹, respectively, it implicates that the E. coli DH5α is more sensitive to Amoxicillin Sodium than Cefuroxime Sodium.     

Long-range ferromagnetic ordering in two-dimensional coordination polymers Co[N(CN)2]2(L) [L = pyrazine dioxide (pzdo) and 2-methyl pyrazine dioxide (mpdo)] with dual mu- and mu3-[N(CN)2] bridges

Two novel coordination polymers of Co(II) with dicyanamide (dca) were obtained by the addition of ancillary ligands of pyrazine dioxide (pzdo) and 2-methyl pyrazine dioxide (mpdo) into the Co-dca binary system, respectively. Co[N(CN)(2)](2)(pzdo) (1) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group of Pnnm (No. 58) with a = 9.4699(5) A, b = 14.9984(3) A, c = 7.4313(7) A, and Z = 4, while Co[N(CN)(2)](2)(mpdo) (2) is in the monoclinic space group C2 (No. 5) with a = 16.5391(4) A, b = 9.6065(2) A, c = 7.5001(2) A, beta = 105.779(1) degrees, and Z = 4. Both complexes contain similar two-dimensional triangular Co-dca layers, which offer rare examples of mixed 1,5-mu- and mu(3)-dca bridging coordination polymers with long-range ferromagnetic ordering below ca. 2.5 K.     

Splenectomy improves liver fibrosis via tumor necrosis factor superfamily 14 (LIGHT) through the JNK/TGF-β1 signaling pathway

Splenectomy has been reported to improve liver fibrosis in patients with cirrhosis and hypersplenism. However, the mechanisms remain unclear. Tumor necrosis factor superfamily 14 (TNFSF14; also known as LIGHT) is highly expressed in the context of fibrosis and promotes disease progression in patients with fibrotic diseases such as pulmonary and skin fibrosis. Here, we determined whether splenectomy controls the production of LIGHT to improve liver fibrosis. Splenectomy reduced serum LIGHT levels in cirrhotic patients with hypersplenism and a ConA-induced liver fibrosis mouse model. Blocking LIGHT resulted in the downregulation of TGF-β1 in RAW264.7 cells. LIGHT treatment of RAW264.7 and JS1 cells in coculture regulated transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression through the activation of JNK signaling. Small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of lymphotoxin β receptor (LTβR) in macrophages resulted in pronounced decreases in the levels of fibrosis and αSMA in JS1 cells. These results indicated that LIGHT bound to LTβR and drove liver fibrosis in vitro. Blocking TGF-β1 abolished the effect of LIGHT in vitro. Furthermore, the administration of recombinant murine LIGHT protein-induced liver fibrosis with splenectomy, while blocking LIGHT without splenectomy improved liver fibrosis in vivo, revealing that the decrease in fibrosis following splenectomy was directly related to reduced levels of LIGHT. Thus, high levels of LIGHT derived from the spleen and hepatic macrophages activate JNK signaling and lead to increased TGF-β1 production in hepatic macrophages. Splenectomy attenuates liver fibrosis by decreasing the expression of LIGHT.Subject terms: Tumour-necrosis factors, Liver fibrosis, Hepatic stellate cells, Liver cirrhosis, Experimental models of disease     

反相高效液相色谱法测定人血浆中曲尼司特浓度

 报道了用反相高效液相色谱法测定人血浆中曲尼司特浓度。以甲醇－磷酸二氢钾缓冲液（６０∶４０，Ｖ／Ｖ；ｐＨ４．２）为流动相，色谱柱采用ＹＷＧ－Ｃ１８不锈钢柱，紫外３３３ｎｍ波长检测，血浆样品经甲醇沉淀蛋白后直接进样测定。血浆浓度在０．６５～４０ｍｇ／Ｌ范围内线性良好，方法的平均回收率为１００．０％±４．１％。血浆最低检测浓度为０．２ｍｇ／Ｌ。对１０名健康志愿者口服２００ｍｇ曲尼司特后不同时间的血药浓度进行了测定。     

Synthesis of trans-(3S)-amino-(4R)-alkyl- and -(4S)-aryl-piperidines via ring-closing metathesis reaction

[reaction: see text] trans-(3S)-Amino piperidines bearing various alkyl and aryl substituents at the C-4 position were synthesized via a ring-closing metathesis reaction. The absolute stereochemistry was controlled using a protected D-serine as a starting material. Stereoselective hydrogenation of allylamines provided trans-(3S)-amino-(4R)-alkyl- and -(4S)-aryl-piperidines. This procedure presents the first method for the asymmetric synthesis of 4-substituted 3-amino piperidines.     

Ullmann diaryl ether synthesis: rate acceleration by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptane-3,5-dione

[reaction: see text]. In the copper salt catalyzed ether formation from aryl bromides or iodides and phenols, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptane-3,5-dione (TMHD) was found to greatly accelerate the ordinarily difficult reaction, making it occur under more moderate temperatures and reaction times. A series of aryl halides and phenols were shown to form ethers in NMP as the solvent, cesium carbonate as the base, and CuCl and TMHD as the catalysts. The reaction was shown to tolerate electron-rich aryl bromides and electron-neutral phenols.     

Differential scanning calorimetry studies on aged iron(III)-chromium(III)-hydroxide coprecipitates

DSC measurements in air from 20 to 800° are reported on aged iron(III)-chromium(III) coprecipitated hydroxides (with Fe³⁺Cr³⁺ wt% ratios of 91, 73, 11, 37 and 19). A comparison of the DSC profiles of aged coprecipitates with the thermal behaviour of freshly precipitated and well characterized samples provided information on the modification occurring in the structure and reactivity of the coprecipitates on prolonged aging.

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Zusammenfassung Es werden DSC-Messungen an gealterten kogefällten Eisen(III)Chrom(III)-hydroxiden (mit Fe³⁺Cr³⁺ Gewichtsanteilen von 91, 73, 11, 37 und 19) im Temperaturbereich von 20 bis 800° beschrieben. Ein Vergleich der DSC-Profile von gealterten Kofällungen mit dem thermischen Verhalten frisch gefällter und gut definierbarer Proben lieferte Informationen über die Veränderungen in Struktur und Reaktivität der Koniederschläge bei längerem Altern.

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Dedicated to Professor Wahid U. Malik, Founder-President, Indian Council of Chemists, India, with profound regards and fond memories of his youthful enthusiasm and ceaseless and pioneering efforts towards the development of chemical education and research activities at the University of Roorkee, Roorkee, India, on the occasion of his 70th birthday.

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Paper presented at the World Conference on Thermal Analysis, Capri (Italy), 1989.

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We thank Professor J. Pescia, Dr.G. Ablart and N. Favillier of Laboratoire de Magnétisme et d'Electronique Quantique for their interest in this work. A. C. Vajpei expresses his gratefulness to C.N.R.S. and C.N.O.U.S., Paris, for financial support of this work.