Primate beta-defensins--structure, function and evolution

Host defense peptides (HDPs) are endogenous antibiotics that play a multifunctional role in the innate immunity of mammals. Among these, beta-defensins contribute to mucosal and epithelial defense, also acting as signal molecules for cellular components of innate and adaptive immunity. Numerous members of this family have been identified in mammalian and avian species, and genomic studies in human and mouse indicate a considerable complexity in their gene organization. Recent reports on the evolution of primate and rodent members of this family indicate quite a complex pattern of variation. In this review we briefly discuss the evolution of mammalian beta-defensins in relation to other types of defensins, and then concentrate on the evolution of beta-defensins 1 to 4 in primates. In particular, the surprisingly varied patterns of evolution, which range from neutral or weakly purifying, to positive selection to a high level of conservation are analyzed in terms of possible genetics, structural or functional implications, as well as to observed variations on the antimicrobial activity in vitro. The role of polymorphisms in the genes encoding for these host defense peptides in determining susceptibility to human diseases are also briefly considered.     

Influence of nanodispersed boehmite on polypropylene photooxidation

Nanocomposites containing pure or organically modified nanoboehmites of different sizes were prepared by melt compounding with polypropylene. The samples were UV light irradiated in artificial accelerated conditions representative of solar irradiation (λ > 300 nm) at 60 °C in air. The chemical modifications resulting from photooxidation were followed by IR and UV-visible spectroscopies. The presence of pristine nanoboehmites was shown to change the rate of oxidation of polypropylene by reducing the oxidation induction period due to the presence of residual processing antioxidant. The differences of the oxidation induction periods between the nanocomposites and the pristine polymer disappear after solvent extraction of the antioxidant. The inefficiency of traditional antioxidant in retarding the photooxidation of polypropylene containing nanodispersed boehmite is proved. Antioxidant migration to the boehmite surface induced by the preferential interaction with the polar filler is proposed as an explanation. The oxidative behaviour of the organically modified boehmites was shown to depend on the type of organic substituent. p-Toluenesulfonate reduces the adsorption of antioxidants while the presence of a long-chain alkyl benzensulfonate increased the oxidation rate by generation of radical initiators.     

Heterodinuclear Ln[bond]Na complexes with an asymmetrical macrocyclic compartmental Schiff base

Heterodinuclear lanthanide(III)-sodium(I) complexes [LnNa(L)(Cl)(2)(CH(3)OH)] (Ln=La[bond]Nd, Sm[bond]Lu), where H(2)L is a [1+1] asymmetric compartmental macrocyclic ligand containing a N(3)O(2) Schiff base and a O(3)O(2) crown-ether-like coordination site, have been prepared and characterized by IR, (1)H, (13)C, and (23)Na NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and electron microscopy. In the solid state, the lanthanide(III) ions coordinate the Schiff-base N(3)O(2) site, and the sodium ion occupies the O(3)O(2) crownlike cavity, as shown by the X-ray crystal structures of the Nd, Eu, Gd, and Yb derivatives. In these complexes, the lanthanide(III) ion is coordinated by two chlorine atoms in the trans position and by three nitrogen and two negatively charged phenol oxygen atoms of the Schiff base, and the ion is heptacoordinated with a pentagonal bipyramidal geometry. The sodium ion is coordinated by three etheric oxygen atoms and the two phenolic oxygens that act as a bridge. A methanol molecule is also coordinated in the apical position of the resulting pentagonal pyramidal polyhedron. A detailed (1)H and (13)C NMR study was carried out in CD(3)OD for both diamagnetic and paramagnetic heterodinuclear complexes [LnNa(L)(Cl)(2)(CH(3)OH)]. The complexes are also isostructural in solution, and their structures parallel those found in the solid state. Moreover, some significative distances determined in the solid state and in solution are comparable. Finally, the potential use of these complexes as molecular probes for the selective recognition of specific metal ions has been tested. In particular, their ability to act as shift reagents and the selectivity of the O(3)O(2) site towards Li(+), Ca(2+), and K(+) were investigated by (23)Na NMR spectroscopy.     

Study of two diastereomeric pairs of regiosomeric 2-isoxazolines by tandem mass spectrometry with electron impact ionization

On electron impact (EI) ionization, two cis/trans pairs of 4-methyl-5-phenyl and 4-phenyl-5-methyl regioisomeric 3-carbethoxy-2-isoxazolines showed normal mass spectra and mass-analysed ion kinetic energy (MIKE) spectra of metastable (MI) and collision-activated (CA) molecule ions, allowing unequivocal differentiation of the regioisomers. The cis/trans stereoisomers of each regioisomer showed very similar normal mass spectra. Very interestingly, the cis- and trans-4-phenyl-5-methyl stereoisomers appeared reasonably differentiated by the molecule ion MIKE spectra, whereas the 4-methyl-5-phenyl regioisomeric pair of stereoisomers did not. The influence of the phenyl substituent to the fragmentation processes was notable. Some fragments of interest were studied by comparison of their MIKE spectra with those of model ions, generated by EI from suitable substrates, including (i) the isomeric α,β-unsaturated oxime, namely ethyl (Z)-2-(hydroxymino)-3-methyl-4-phenylbut-3-enoate, a by-product of importance for the mechanism(s) of the addition/cycloaddition reactions of nitrile oxides to alkenes and (ii) trans-β-methylstyrene, a dipolarophilic reactant in the same reactions. The favoured heterocyclic C(5)–O(1) bond cleavage occurred only for the ionized 4-methyl-5-phenyl 2-isoxazoline pair, leading to a distonic ion of relevance, as it can represent either a reasonable precursor for both the isomerization to the ionized α,β-unsaturated oxime and the EI-induced cycloreversion yielding ionized β-methylstyrene, or the ionized form of a zwitterionic intermediate, which had been proposed previously for the addition/cycloaddition mechanism(s) in the solution phase, currently under study.     

Clustering of nucleosides in the presence of alkali metals: Biologically relevant quartets of guanosine,deoxyguanosine and uridine observed by ESI-MS/MS

Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectra of nucleosides, recorded in the presence of alkali metals, display alkali metal ion-bound quartets and other clusters that may have implications for understanding non-covalent interactions in DNA and RNA. The tetramers of guanosine and deoxyguanosine and also their metaclusters (clusters of clusters), cationized by alkali metals, were observed as unusually abundant magic number clusters. The observation of these species in the gas phase parallels previous condensed-phase studies, which show that guanine derivatives can form quartets and metaclusters of quartets in solution in the presence of metal cations. This parallel behavior and also internal evidence suggest that bonding in the guanosine tetramers involves the bases rather than the sugar units. The nucleobases thymine and uracil are known to form magic number pentameric adducts with K+, Cs+ and NH4+ in the gas phase. In sharp contrast, we now show that the nucleosides uridine and deoxythymidine do not form the pentameric clusters characteristic of the corresponding bases. More subtle effects of the sugars are evident in the fact that adenosine and cytidine form numerous higher order clusters with alkali metals, whereas deoxyadenosine and deoxycytidine show no clustering. It is suggested that hydrogen bonding between the bases in the tetramers of dG and rG are the dominant interactions in the clusters, hence changing the ribose group to deoxyribose (and vice versa) generally has little effect. However, the additional hydroxyl group of RNA nucleosides enhances the non-selective formation of higher-order aggregates for adenosine and cytidine and results in the lack of highly stable magic number clusters. Some clusters are the result of aggregation in the course of ionization (ESI) whereas others appear to be intrinsic to the solution being examined.     

First enantioselective synthesis of (−)-neplanocin F

(−)-Neplanocin F, the natural isomer of a component of the neplanocin family was enantioselectively synthesized starting from d-γ-ribonolactone. The synthetic approach was based on the preparation of a suitable carbocyclic precursor bearing three hydroxyl groups orthogonally protected. The key steps of the synthesis were the regioselective protection of a secondary allylic alcohol over a homoallylic one and the coupling of the nucleobase with a triflate intermediate.     

Overview: recent progress in three-dimensional atom probe instruments and applications.

Over the last few years there have been significant developments in the field of three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP) analysis. This article reviews some of the technical compromises that have led to different instrument designs and the recent improvements in performance. An instrument has now been developed, based around a novel reflectron configuration combining both energy compensation and focusing elements, that yields a large field of view and very high mass resolution. The use of laser pulsing in the 3DAP, together with developments in specimen preparation methods using a focused ion-beam instrument, have led to a significant widening in the range of materials science problems that can be addressed with the 3DAP. Recent studies of semiconductor materials and devices are described.     

A study of substituent effect on 1H and 13C nmr spectra of N‐ and C‐substituted carbazoles

¹H and ¹³C nmr spectra of several N‐ and C‐substituted carbazoles (Series 1, 2, 3 and 4) were measured. Correlations between chemical shifts and substituent constants show that these parameters describe properly the substituent effect on the nmr phenomena. Atomic charge densities for carbazoles of Series 1, 2, 3 and 4 were calculated by using the semi empirical PM3 method. These values also show a linear correlation with the ¹³C chemical shifts. The synthesis of several carbazole derivatives 1a – 1g, 2a – 2g, 3a – 3j and 4a – 4g have been carried out according to literature procedures. The carbazoles 3i, 3j and 4c have been synthesized and fully characterized for the first time.     

Assigning the C-15 configuration of 15-hydroxy-, 15-methoxy-, 15-ethoxy-hexahydrofurofuran neoclerodane diterpenoids

Examination of ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra allows the establishment of rules for assigning the correct configuration at C-15 of 15-hydroxy-, 15-methoxy-, 15-ethoxy-hexahydrofurofuran neoclerodane diterpenoids. The structure of several diterpenoids has been assigned or ammended.