Cytosolic Cysteine Synthase Switch Cysteine and Mimosine Production in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leucaena leucocephala</Emphasis>

In higher plants, multiple copies of the cysteine synthase gene are present for cysteine biosynthesis. Some of these genes also have the potential to produce various kinds of β-substitute alanine. In the present study, we cloned a 1275-bp cDNA for cytosolic O-acetylserine(thiol)lyase (cysteine synthase) (Cy-OASTL) from Leucaena leucocephala. The purified protein product showed a dual function of cysteine and mimosine synthesis. Kinetics studies showed pH optima of 7.5 and 8.0, while temperature optima of 40 and 35 °C, respectively, for cysteine and mimosine synthesis. The kinetic parameters such as apparent K_m, k_cat were determined for both cysteine and mimosine synthesis with substrates O-acetylserine (OAS) and Na₂S or 3-hydroxy-4-pyridone (3H4P). From the in vitro results with the common substrate OAS, the apparent k_cat for Cys production is over sixfold higher than mimosine synthesis and the apparent K_m is 3.7 times lower, suggesting Cys synthesis is the favored pathway.     

Synthesis,characterization, and biological evaluation of new polyester containing Schiff base metal complexes

The production of new biocidal polyester Schiff base metal complexes [PESB–M(II)] via polycondensation reaction between chelated Schiff base diol and adipoyl chloride is reported. The resulting polyesters were characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. The analytical data of all the synthesized polyesters were found to be in good agreement with 1:1 molar ratio of chelated Schiff base diol to adipoyl chloride. Thermogravimetric analyses of synthesized polyesters were studied by TG in nitrogen atmosphere up to 1073 K and results indicate that Cu(II) polyester complex exhibited better heat resistant properties than the other polyesters complexes. Magnetic moment and UV–visible spectra were examined to explain the structure of all the polyesters which reveled that Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) have octahedral geometry while Cu(II) possess a distorted octahedral geometry. These newly developed polyesters were also tested for their antibacterial activity against several bacteria and fungi. Among all the tested compounds PESB–Cu(II) possess the highest bactericidal and fungicidal activity.     

Probing the stereoselectivity of P-glycoprotein-synthesis, biological activity and ligand docking studies of a set of enantiopure benzopyrano[3,4-b][1,4]oxazines

A series of enantiomerically pure benzopyrano[3,4-b][1,4]oxazines have been synthesised and tested for their ability to inhibit P-glycoprotein. Reducing the conformational flexibility of the molecules leads to remarkable differences in the activity of diastereoisomers. Docking studies into a homology model of human P-gp provide first insights into potential binding areas for these compounds.     

Interaction of Clofazimine with Divalent Metal Ions: A Fluorescence Quenching Study

The interaction of clofazimine (CFZ) with divalent metal cations was studied by measuring fluorescence quenching spectra, synchronous fluorescence spectra and ultraviolet spectra. The fluorescence quenching spectra of CFZ in the presence of metal ions showed that metal ions quenched the fluorescence of CFZ. The quenching constants were determined using the Stern–Volmer equation. The binding constants (log K) and binding site were obtained. The thermodynamic parameters obtained in this study revealed that the interaction between CFZ and metal ions was mainly driven by a hydrophobic force. The conformational changes of CFZ were investigated by synchronous spectrum studies.     

Ultrasonic and Volumetric Study of N–H Bond Complexes in Binary Mixtures

Experimental values of the density and ultrasonic velocity have been measured for binary mixtures of butylamine with 1-butanol and with tert-butanol at temperatures of 293.15, 303.15 and 313.15 K over the entire mole fraction range. From these data, the excess molar volumes, deviations in isentropic compressibility, excess internal pressures, and excess molar enthalpies have been calculated. All of the excess functions were fitted to Redlich-Kister polynomial relations to estimate the adjustable parameters along with the standard deviations of the fits. The variations of these excess functions with mole fraction of butylamine have been examined. The changes in these parameters with composition suggest that the interaction between butylamine and 1-butanol is strong, whereas its interaction with tert-butanol is weak. Further, the partial molar volumes and partial molar compressibilities at infinite dilution have also been evaluated since these parameters provide better insight for studying intermolecular interactions.     

Pyrolysis of 3-hydroxy-2-arylhydrazonoalkanoic acid derivatives

1,2-Diaza-1,3-butadienes have been obtained from readily available 3-hydroxy-2-arylhydrazonopropanoates under various reaction conditions including pyrolysis, dehydration under Mitsunobu conditions or with acetic anhydride or acetic acid. According to their method of synthesis these 1,2-diaza-1,3-butadienes underwent subsequent reactions to give interesting products, and in the presence of proper dienophiles gave the corresponding cycloaddition products. Also, a new approach to pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid derivatives was discovered during an attempt to dehydrate 3-hydroxy-2-arylhydrazonobutanoic esters.     

Vitamin C derivatives as new coreactants for tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) electrochemiluminescence

Vitamin C derivatives (VCDs) have been widely used as the alternative and stable sources of vitamin C, and accordingly exhibit many new applications, such as anti-tumor and central nervous system drug delivery. In this study, their Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ electrochemiluminescence (ECL) properties have been investigated for the first time using well-known ascorbyl phosphate and ascorbyl palmitate as representative VCDs. Ascorbyl phosphate and ascorbyl palmitate are VCDs with different substituted positions. Both of them increase Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ ECL, indicating that other VCDs may also enhance Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ ECL signal. The calibration plot for ascorbyl phosphate is linear from 3 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.0 × 10⁻³ M with a detection limit of 1.4 × 10⁻⁶ M at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The relative standard deviation is 3.6% for six replicate measurements of 0.01 mM ascorbyl 2-phosphate solution. The proposed method is about one order of magnitude more sensitive than electrochemical and UV–vis methods for the determination of ascorbyl phosphate, and is used successfully for the determination of ascorbyl phosphate in whitening and moisturising body wash.     

Visible Light Promoted Iron-Catalyzed One-Pot Synthesis of 2-Arylimino-2H-Chromenes from 2-Hydroxybenzyl Alcohols and β- Ketothioamides at Room Temperature

An efficient, environmentally benign and one-pot approach for the synthesis of 2-arylimino-2H-chromenes from 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohols and β-ketothioamides at room temperature under visible light has been developed. The reported reaction conditions were favorable for a wide range of β-ketothioamides afforded good to excellent yields of the respective products. The low cost and air stable Knölker iron catalyst has been employed for the dehydrogenation of 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohols under photolysis that would usually require a higher temperature.     

Light-Induced Metal-Free Generation of Cyanocarbenes from Alkynyl Triazenes for the Synthesis of Nitrile Derivatives

The chemistry of alkynyl triazenes is an emerging field for organic chemists and especially acid-induced nucleophilic functionalizations, either directly, or after a prior reaction towards aromatic triazenes under extrusion of nitrogen, paved the way for fruitful strategies. In contrast, the chemical behavior of alkynyl triazenes upon irradiation with light is still unknown. Herein we present the first photoactivation of alkynyl triazenes that triggers an uncommon reactivity pattern involving the cleavage of the N1−N2 bond of the triazene moiety resulting in a unique approach to cyanocarbenes from a readily available, stable, and insensitive precursor. This allows to access various nitrile compounds without the use of a toxic cyanating agent by exploiting the reactivity pattern of carbenes. By variation of the reaction conditions and light sources, different substitution patterns can be obtained selectively in good yields under mild and metal-free conditions, thus introducing the alkynyl triazene unit as a photo accessible methylene nitrile synthon. Using this synthon, subclasses like α-alkoxynitriles, α-aminonitriles and α-cyanohydrazones become easily available. These exhibit synthetically valuable substitution patterns for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, intermediates for total synthesis and amino acid synthesis.