Structural basis for inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatases by Keggin compounds phosphomolybdate and phosphotungstate

Protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) constitute a family of receptor-like, and cytoplasmic enzymes, which catalyze the dephosphorylation of phosphotyrosine residues in a variety of receptors and signaling molecules. Together with protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), PTPs are critically involved in regulating many cellular signaling processes. In this study, diverse compounds were screened for PTP inhibition and selectively screened for inhibitors with the end product inhibition properties. Among phosphate analogues and their derivatives for PTP inhibition, Keggin compounds phosphomolybdate (PM) and phosphotungstate (PT) strongly inhibited both PTP-1B and SHP-1, with K(i) values of 0.06-1.2 micromM in the presence of EDTA. Unlike the vanadium compounds, inhibition potencies of PM and PT were not significantly affected by EDTA. PM and PT were potent, competitive inhibitors for PTPs, but relatively poor inhibitors of Ser/Thr phosphatase. Interestingly, PM and PT did not inhibit alkaline phosphatase at all. The crystal structure of PTP-1B in complex with PM, at 2.0 A resolution, reveals that MoO(3), derived from PM by hydrolysis, binds at the active site. The molybdenium atom of the inhibitor is coordinated with six ligands: three oxo-ligands, two apical water molecules and a S atom of the catalytic cysteine residue. In support of the crystallographic finding, we observed that molybdenium oxides (MoO(3), MoO(2), and MoO(2)Cl(2)) inhibited PTP-1B with IC(50) in the range 5-15 micromM.     

Highly sensitive and simple fluorescence staining of proteins in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide-based gels by using hydrophobic tail-mediated enhancement of fluorescein luminescence

Fluorescein has an extremely low luminescence intensity in acidic aqueous media. However, when it was bound to proteins, subsequent increase of luminescence intensity took place. Furthermore, when a hydrophobic tail, such as aliphatic hydrocarbons, was introduced to fluorescein, more dramatic increase of luminescence intensity was observed upon binding to proteins. In the present study, by utilizing this luminescence enhancement, three hydrophobic fluorescein dyes (5-dodecanoyl amino fluorescein, 5-hexadecanoyl amino fluorescein, and 5-octadecanoyl amino fluorescein) were examined as noncovalent fluorescent stains of protein bands in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Effective incorporation of the dyes to proteins in gels was accomplished either simply by adding dyes at the protein fixation step, or by treating gels with a staining solution after the fixation. The sensitivity of this staining method using the fluorescein derivatives was approximately 1 ng/band for most proteins. For some cases, protein bands containing as low as 0.1 ng were successfully visualized. In addition, the detection sensitivity showed much less protein-to-protein variation than silver staining. This new staining method was also successfully applied to two-dimensional electrophoresis of rat brain proteins. Its overall sensitivity was comparable to that of silver staining.     

ZIP8 exacerbates collagen-induced arthritis by increasing pathogenic T cell responses

Zinc is a trace element that is essential for immune responses. Therefore, changes in cellular zinc levels in specific immune cells may influence inflammatory autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the regulation of zinc mobilization in immune cells and its role in the pathogenesis of RA are not fully understood. Thus, we investigated the roles of zinc transporters in RA pathogenesis. We demonstrated that ZIP8 was specifically upregulated in CD4⁺ T cells that infiltrated the inflamed joint and that ZIP8 deficiency in CD4⁺ T cells abrogated collagen-induced arthritis. ZIP8 deficiency dramatically affected zinc influx in effector T cells and profoundly reduced T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated signaling, including NF-κB and MAPK signaling, which are pathways that are involved in T helper (Th) 17 cell differentiation. Taken together, our findings suggest that ZIP8 depletion in CD4⁺ T cells attenuates TCR signaling due to insufficient cellular zinc, thereby reducing the function of effector CD4⁺ T cells, including Th17 cells. Our results also suggest that targeting ZIP8 may be a useful strategy to inhibit RA development and pathogenesis.Subject terms: Autoimmunity, Immunological disorders     

Destabilized carbenium ions: Secondary and tertiary α-carbomethoxybenzyl cations

The secondary α-carbomethoxybenzyl cations a and the tertiary α-carbomethoxybenzyl cations d have been generated by electron impact-induced fragmentation from appropriately α-substituted methyl phenylacetate and 2-phenylpropionates 1–4. The ions a and d are further examples of destabilized carbenium ions with a push–pull substitution at the carbenium ion centre. The characteristic reaction of these ions is a rearrangement by a 1,2-shift of the methoxy group concomitant to the elimination of CO. This rearrangement reaction is associated with a very large and non-statistical kinetic energy release (a : T ₅₀ = 570 meV; d : T ₅₀ = 760 meV), which is attributed to tight transition states along the reaction coordinates corresponding to the three-membered cyclic oxonium ions b and h, respectively. The tertiary ion d can be distinguished from its more stable isomers f and g by the mass-analysed ion kinetic energy and collisional activation spectra. The investigation of specifically deuterated analogues of ions d and g reveals an isomerization of d to g via a species protonated at the phenyl group but no equilibration between d and g. This isomerization exhibits a large isotope effect for the hydrogen transfer, indicating similar energy barriers for the isomerization and for the CO elimination of d.     

Redox behavior of V/MgO catalyst in H2S wet oxidation at room temperature

The room temperature wet catalytic oxidation was conducted in a batch reactor with V/MgO catalyst. The XRD study of the catalyst used indicated that V/MgO could not only oxidize H2S to sulfur selectively, but also prevent the sulfidation of metal oxide effectively at the room temperature. The XPS study indicated that the H2S oxidation with V/MgO could proceed by a redox mechanism (V⁵⁺↔ V⁴⁺) and that V³⁺ formation (V⁴⁺→ V³⁺), was responsible for the deactivation of V/MgO. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

CARSA,a computer-assisted system for synthesis research in industry

Computer applications in chemical industry are outlined and the CARSA system (computer-assisted research in synthesis and application) is described. This modular system consists of the three main parts: WIFODATA (data base; substance and finding documentation), QSAR (programs for quantitative structure/activity relationships) and RDSS (reaction design by synthon substitution; program package for planning of syntheses). The vital RDSS component is discussed in more detail; the underlying philosophy is explained, and examples are given from practical work. Some future steps towards a real molecular-design system are outlined.     

Concise syntheses of (+)-macrosphelides A and B

[reaction: see text]. Unified and highly convergent total syntheses of (+)-macrosphelides A and B are described. Key features of the syntheses include (1) concise synthesis of the optically active delta-hydroxy-gamma-keto alpha,beta-unsaturated acid fragment via the direct addition of a trans-vinylogous ester anion equivalent to the readily available Weinreb amide and (2) facile construction of the 16-membered macrolide core of the macrosphelide series via an intramolecular nitrile-oxide cycloaddition (INOC).     

Preparation of polycrystalline Ti-Al-O films by magnetron sputtering ion plating: constitution, structure and morphology

Ti-Al-O layers were deposited on Si-<100> wafers at 500 °C by means of reactive magnetron sputtering ion plating (R-MSIP). An Al-target was sputtered in rf-mode and a Ti-target in dc-mode simultaneously by an oxygen/argon plasma. The influence of the Al- and Ti-sputter powers on composition, structure, and morphology of the Ti-Al-O layers and the binding states of the components were investigated. The analysis with EPMA, XPS, AES and TEM yielded the following results: Ti-Al-O coatings with different Ti, Al, and O contents in the range of TiO₂ to Al₂O₃ were grown. TEM structure analysis revealed: the pure TiO₂ film consisted of the tetragonal phases rutile and anatase; the two structures were found in the titanium-rich Ti-Al-O film, too, but with significant smaller lattice constants. The aluminium-rich Ti-Al-O film displayed the same cubic structure of γ-Al₂O₃ as determined for the pure Al₂O₃ film, but the lattice constant is significant lower. Evaluation of the TEM pattern of the film with a Ti/Al ratio of 0.8 indicates a hexagonal structure with lattice constants similar to those of κ′-Al₂O₃. All films are nanocrystalline and not textured. Received: 24 June 1996 / Revised: 27 December 1996 / Accepted: 4 January 1997     

Radiocatalytic H2 production with gamma-irradiation and TiO2 catalysts

The radioactive concentrations of radionuclides were measured in the soil and groundwater below the 12 GeV proton beam-line tunnel at KEK. Various long-lived radionuclides, (⁷Be, ²²Na, ⁴⁶Sc, ⁵⁴Mn, ⁶⁰Co, ¹³⁴Cs, ¹⁵²Eu and ¹⁵⁴Eu) were observed in the soil samples by -ray spectra measurements, and ³H was also detected by liquid scintillation counting. On the other hand, ³H, ²²Na and ⁵⁴Mn, which were leached from the soil were measured in the groundwater below the EP2 beam line. ³H and ²²Na were also found in slight amounts in groundwater collected in a well dug beside the East Counter Hall. From a comparison with the radioactive concentration in soil and groundwater, the order of the leaching percentages were ³H>²²Na>⁵⁴Mn. This tendency was in agreement with an experimental result of the RI laboratory.     

Two-dimensional carboxylate bridged network of europium(III)-transition metal(II) glutarate compounds

Four new heterometallic glutarate coordination polymers, [Eu2M(H2O)4][O2C(CH2)3CO2]4.2H2O (M = Mn (1), Fe (2), Co (3) and Ni (4)) have been obtained under hydrothermal synthesis. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses showed that they have two-dimensional frameworks based on the linear polyhedral chains consisting of two nine-coordinated Eu(III)O9 and a six-coordinated M(II)O6. These 1-D MO6-Eu2O16 chains are cross-linked by glutarate ligands as an interchain pillared architecture, whose conformations vary depending upon the transition metals. The magnetic behavior of the compounds show a weak antiferromagnetic interaction, in which shielding of the 4f electrons by the outer shell electrons effectively precludes significant coupling interactions between the Eu-4f electrons and transition metal (M)-3d electrons.