Monitoring of mutagenic process with piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance analysis

A novel method for monitoring of mutagenic process of dimethyl sulfate to Salmonella typhimurium strain (TA100) was proposed by using piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance (PQCI) analysis technique. The time courses of responses piezoelectric impedance parameters for a quartz crystal in a culture system were simultaneously obtained and discussed. It was found that the motional resistance variation (DeltaR(m)) increases and frequency shift (Deltaf) of PQC sensor decreases correspondingly during the mutagenic process of the bacteria. These parameters could reflect the variations of viscosity and density of culture system. By fitting DeltaR(m) versus time curves toward Gompertz bacterial growth model, we obtained and discussed the bacterial growth parameters for both normal growth and mutagenic process. The experiments showed that the proposed method could provide real time and multidimensional impedance information to the monitoring of mutagenic process.     

Theoretical and experimental reevaluation of the basicity of lambda3-phosphinine

We have investigated the basicity of phosphinine (C5H5P, phosphabenzene) in reevaluating its proton affinity (PA) and gas-phase basicity (GB) and the pK(a) value of its protonated form. As a necessary step, we have first determined its gas-phase proton affinity. Using both mass spectrometric and quantum chemical methods, we have obtained the values PA(C5H5P) = 195.8 +/- 1.0 kcal mol(-1) and GB(298)(C5H5P) = 188.1 +/- 1.0 kcal mol(-1), in good agreement with previous results. We then derived a value of pK(a)(C5H6P+) = -16.1 +/- 1.0 in aqueous solution using three different approaches: the latter markedly differs from the currently available value of -10. The reason for such a discrepancy in the pK(a) of protonated phosphinine in solution is discussed. In the theoretical determination of PAs, evaluation of the basis set superposition error (BSSE) showed that this effect is quite small, being 0.1-0.2 kcal mol(-1) for phosphinine, when a density functional theory (DFT) method in conjunction with a large basis set were used.     

Lysophosphatidic acid induces astrocyte proliferation in hippocampus slices partially through activating extracellular signal-regulated kinases

The goal of the present study is to test the hypothesis that LPA induces proliferation of astrocytes in hippocampus in vivo via phosphorylation of ERK 1/2. We first characterized the expression of GFAP, a special marker fiber protein of astrocytes, in brain slices after direct injection of LPA into hippocampus by immunohistochemistry, and found that LPA induced a remarkable proliferation of astrocytes. Then double-lablled immunofluorescence was used to detect GFAP and phosphorylation ERK 1/2 (p-ERK 1/2), LPA induced an immediate (10 min) and transient (<30 min) phosphorylation of ERK 1/2, and sequence sustained activation of ERK 1/2 was observed, which last for at least 3 weeks after injection of LPA. Reactions are inhibited by U0126, a specific pharmacological mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitor. Laser confocal scanning was used to study spatial relationship of p-ERK and astrocytes. Amazingly, the early (<7 days) phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 is not expressed in astrocytes but in area where neurons and/or in other cell type(s) occupied, expression of p-ERK 1/2 in astrocytes is not detected until 14 days after LPA injection and lasts for at least 3 weeks. Taken together, these data suggest that LPA play an important role in proliferation of astrocytes through phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 in hippocampus. It provides further proof for the functions of LPA in CNS injury, and may contribute to clinical therapy for relative diseases.     

A Novel Oxidative N-Demethylation of 12-Membered Macrolide with Lead Tetraacetate

Erythromycin has been extensively used in the treatment of bacterial infections for over 50 years1. In addition to the antimicrobial effect, the quite unique antiinflammatory activity of the erythromycin derivatives has attracted much attention as new the…     

Synthesis, spectroscopic studies and crystal structure of a polyoxoanion cluster incorporating para-bromophenylimido ligand, (Bu4N)2[Mo6O18(NC6H4Br-p)]

An organic-inorganic hybrid compound, (Bu₄N)₂[Mo₆O₁₈(NAr)] (Ar = p-BrC₆H₄) has been synthesized via the DCC dehydrating protocol of the reaction of [α-Mo₈O₂₆]⁴⁻ with 4-bromoaniline hydrochloride in anhydrous acetonitrile, which has been characterized by UV-Vis spectra, ¹H NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction study. By comparing the UV-Vis spectra, which were used to monitor the reaction, the optimum preparative condition for this compound was also determined. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n, which is featured in a terminal para-bromophenylimido group linked to an Mo atom of a hexamolybdate cluster by a Mo-N triply bond. In addition, there are π-π dimerization of the neighboring cluster anions though the parallel aromatic rings in their crystals.     

Addressing the metabolic activation potential of new leads in drug discovery: a case study using ion trap mass spectrometry and tritium labeling techniques

Metabolic activation of drug candidates to electrophilic reactive metabolites that can covalently modify cellular macromolecules may result in acute and/or idiosyncratic immune system-mediated toxicities in humans. This presents a significant potential liability for the future development of these compounds as safe therapeutic agents. We present here an example of an approach where sites of metabolic activation within a new drug candidate series were rapidly identified using online liquid chromatography/multi-stage mass spectrometry on an ion trap mass spectrometer. This was accomplished by trapping the reactive intermediates formed upon incubation of compounds with rat and human liver microsomes as their corresponding glutathione conjugates and mass spectral characterization of these thiol adducts. Based on the structures of the GSH adducts identified, potential sites and mechanisms of bioactivation within the chemical structure were proposed. These metabolism studies were interfaced with iterative structural modifications of the chemical series in order to block these bioactivation sites within the molecule. This strategy led to a significant reduction in the propensity of the compounds to undergo metabolic activation as evidenced by reductions in the irreversible binding of radioactivity to liver microsomal material upon incubation of tritium-labeled compounds with this in vitro system. With the efficiency and throughput achievable with such an approach, it appears feasible to identify and address the metabolic activation potential of new drug leads during routine metabolite identification studies in an early drug discovery setting.     

Cell surface labeling of Escherichia coli via copper(I)-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition

Labeling of the cell surface of Escherichia coli was accomplished by expression of a recombinant outer membrane protein, OmpC, in the presence of the unnatural amino acid azidohomoalanine, which acts as a methionine surrogate. The surface-exposed azide moieties of whole cells were biotinylated via Cu(1)-catalyzed [3+2] azide-alkyne cycloaddition. The specificity of labeling of both wild-type OmpC and a mutant containing additional methionine sites for azidohomoalanine incorporation was confirmed by Western blotting. Flow cytometry was performed to examine the specificity of the labeling. Cells that express the mutant form of OmpC in the presence of azidohomoalanine, which were biotinylated and stained with fluorescent avidin, exhibit a mean fluorescence 10-fold higher than the background. Incorporation of an unnatural amino acid can thus be determined on a single-cell basis.     

Kottamide E, the first example of a natural product bearing the amino acid 4-amino-1,2-dithiolane-4-carboxylic acid (Adt)

Kottamide E, a novel alkaloid containing dibrominated indole enamide, oxalic acid diamide and 4-amino-1,2-dithiolane-4-carboxamide moieties, has been isolated from the New Zealand ascidian Pycnoclavella kottae. Characterisation was achieved by interpretation of spectroscopic data.     

新型含氟聚芳醚酮的合成与表征

聚芳醚酮具有很高的热稳定性和优良的电性能及机械性能 ,已经被广泛应用于宇航、电子及核能等高技术领域 [1] .氟元素的引入可以降低材料介电常数、折光指数和吸水率 ,提高热稳定性、溶解性和阻燃性 ,增加材料透明度 ,使这类聚合物在光电子、光学和微电子等应用领域的研究倍受关注 [2～ 4 ] .本文在合成含三氟甲基苯侧基的聚芳醚酮 [5] 的基础上 ,设计并合成了新型的含氟量更高的单体和聚合物 ,并对其性能进行了初步研究 .1　实验部分1 .1　试剂与仪器　 [3,5 -二 (三氟甲基 ) ]苯代对苯醌 (自制 ) ;锌粉 ,A.R.级 ,天津化学试剂一厂产品 ;…     

Stability and Structure of Activated Macrocycles. Ligands with Biological Applications

Single p-toluic acid pendant groups were attached to 1,4,7,10,13-pentaazacyclopentadecane (15aneN5) and 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (cyclam) to prepare bifunctional reagents for radiolabeling monoclonal antibodies with (64,67)Cu. The ligands are 1,4,7,10,13-pentaazacyclopentadecane-1-(alpha-1,4-toluic acid) (PCBA) and 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1-(alpha-1,4-toluic acid) (CPTA). For the parent macrocycles and their pendant arm derivatives, the 1:1 Cu(2+) complexes dissociate only below pH 2. At pH 0.0 and 25 degrees C the CPTA-Cu complex has a half-life toward complete dissociation of 24 days. A new approach was developed for the estimation of the Cu(2+) stability constant for the kinetically robust CPTA. All other formation constants were determined at 25.0 degrees C with batch spectrophotometric techniques. Potentiometric titrations were used to determine the protonation constants of the macrocyclic ligands as well as of the metal chelates. The protonation constants, stability constants, and pM's are discussed in terms of both molecular mechanics calculations and the ligands' potential applicability as copper(II) radiopharmaceuticals.