Proteomic analysis of the endoplasmic reticulum from developing and germinating seed of castor (Ricinus communis)

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has been prepared and analysed from germinating and developing castor bean endosperm. A combination of one- and two-dimensional (1-D and 2-D) gel electrophoresis was used to study the complexity of sample and protein differences between the two stages. The ER of the developing oilseed is central to the synthesis, sorting and storage of protein and lipid reserves while the germinating seed is concerned with their degradation. Sample complexity has been reduced by separation of ER proteins into lumenal, peripheral membrane and integral membrane subfractions. Membrane proteins pose specific problems in aggregation and binding to passive surfaces. We have overcome this by collection of membranes at density gradient interfaces and by silanization of plastic ware. Several major components have been identified from 1-D gels by N-terminal sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) peptide mass fingerprints. These include protein disulphide isomerase (PDI), calreticulin and developing-ER-specific oleate-12-hydroxylase involved in the biosynthesis of ricinoleic acid. In excess of 300 spots are detectable in each developmental fraction by high sensitivity 2-D gels. This is the first 2-D electrophoretic analysis of plant ER. These gels reveal significant differences between germinating and developing ER. Preparative loading 2-D gels of germinating ER have been run and 14 selected spots characterized by quadrupole time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (Q-TOF MS/MS). Ten of these proteins were assigned function on the basis of identity with existing castor database entries, or by homology with other species. Two proteins, aspartate proteinase precursor and N-carbamyl-L-aminohydrolase-like protein, appear to be absent from developing profiles. Most of the proteins identified are concerned with roles in protein processing and storage, and lipid metabolism which occur in the ER. Data from three of the assigned spots included unidentified peptides indicating the presence of more than one protein in these spots following 2-D electrophoresis. More extensive analysis will have to await developments in genomics but the basic separation technologies to simplify sample identity for a plant ER preparation have been established.     

Asymmetric Wacker-Type Oxyallenylation and Azaallenylation of Cyclic Alkenes

Palladium-catalyzed three-component carboetherification of cyclic alkenes proceeded to give trans adducts exclusively with excellent enantioselectivity through a Wacker-type pathway. The reaction is also applicable to other oxygen nucleophiles, such as water, phenols, and carboxylic acids, as well as some electron-poor aryl amines.     

To Sandwich Technetium: Highly Functionalized Bis-Arene Complexes [99mTc(η6-arene)2]+ Directly from Water and [99mTcO4]−

The labeling of (bio)molecules with metallic radionuclides such as ^99mTc demands conjugated, multidentate chelators. However, this is not always necessary since phenyl rings can directly serve as integrated, organometallic ligands. Bis-arene sandwich complexes are generally prepared by the Fischer–Hafner reaction. In extension of this, we show that [^99mTc(η⁶-C₆R₆)₂]⁺-type complexes are directly accessible from water and [^99mTcO₄]⁻, even using arenes incompatible with Fischer–Hafner conditions. To unambiguously confirm the nature of these unprecedented ^99mTc complexes, their rhenium homologous have been prepared by substituting naphthalene ligands in [Re(η⁶-C₁₀H₈)₂]⁺ with the corresponding phenyl groups. The ease with which highly stable [^99mTc(η⁶-C₆R₆)₂]⁺ complexes are formed under standard labeling conditions enables a multitude of new potential imaging agents based on commercial pharmaceuticals or lead structures.     

Disappearing Polymorphs in Metal–Organic Framework Chemistry: Unexpected Stabilization of a Layered Polymorph over an Interpenetrated Three-Dimensional Structure in Mercury Imidazolate

The “disappearing polymorph” phenomenon is well established in organic solids, and has had a profound effect in pharmaceutical materials science. The first example of this effect in metal-containing systems in general, and in coordination-network solids in particular, is here reported. Specifically, attempts to mechanochemically synthesize a known interpenetrated diamondoid (dia) mercury(II) imidazolate metal–organic framework (MOF) yielded a novel, more stable polymorph based on square-grid (sql) layers. Simultaneously, the dia-form was found to be highly elusive, observed only as a short-lived intermediate in monitoring solvent-free synthesis and not at all from solution. The destabilization of a dense dia-framework relative to a lower dimensionality one is in contrast to the behavior of other imidazolate MOFs, with periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations showing that it arises from weak interactions, including structure-stabilizing agostic C−H⋅⋅⋅Hg contacts. While providing a new link between MOFs and crystal engineering of organic solids, these findings highlight a possible role for agostic interactions in directing topology and stability of MOF polymorphs.     

Asymmetric Three‐Component Heck Arylation/Amination of Nonconjugated Cyclodienes

Substituted cyclohexylamines are becoming increasingly important in drug discovery. Asymmetric Heck insertion/amination of nonconjugated cyclodienes proceeds to give 5‐aryl cyclohexenylamines with good enantioselectivity and exclusive trans configurations. Primary and secondary anilines, indoline, and benzylamines are suitable amines. The weakly donating diphosphite Kelliphite forms a deep unsymmetrical pocket, which is essential for stereoselective anti attack of amines.     

Bis(methyltri‐o‐tolylphosphonium) octaiodide

In the crystal structure of the title compound, 2C₂₂H₂₄P⁺·I₈²⁻, the I₈²⁻ anion is located on a crystallographic inversion centre and consists of two tri‐iodide anions linked by di‐iodine at angles of 89.92 (4)° to form a planar `Z'‐shaped dianion. The octaiodides are linked via long‐range interactions [3.877 (11) Å] into infinite polyiodide ribbons. This is the first example of a structure containing an [(o‐tolyl)₃PMe]⁺ cation, and the C_Me—P—C—C_Me torsion angles of −54.0 (11), −51.3 (11) and −48.2 (11)° indicate that the configuration is exo₃.     

Characterization of n-butyl acrylate centered triads in poly(n-butyl acrylate-co-carbon monoxide-co-ethylene) by isotopic labeling and two dimensional NMR

Poly(n-butylacrylate-co-carbon monoxide-co-ethylene) (polyEBC) samples prepared from 13C-labeled monomer, n-butyl acrylate, were characterized using two dimensional (2D) pulsed field gradient (PFG) 750 MHz NMR spectroscopy. To elucidate the complex structure of the terpolymer, 2D-1H/13C-heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) experiments were conducted by selectively exciting the enhanced resonances in the spectra of two polymer samples, one polymer resulting from synthesis with 1-13C-n-butylacrylate monomer and a second polymer obtained from a synthesis with 2-13C-n-butylacrylate monomer. High-resolution 2D-NMR combined with 13C-labeling of the polymer greatly simplifies the 2D-NMR spectra, selectively enhances the weak peaks from low occurrence B-centered triad structures, and aids in their resonance assignments. In all experiments, the sample temperature was 120 degrees C, to ensure a homogeneous solution and sufficient molecular mobility. Electronic Supplementary Material: Supplementary material (1D 13C NMR spectra of the 13C-labeled and unlabeled polymers) is available in the online version of this article at http://dx.doi.org/100.1007/s00216-003-2402-3.