Programmable DNA translation system using cross-linked DNA mediators

The information of template DNA strands was converted into the specific sequences in a programmable way by following the mediation of cross-linked DNAs.     

Kinetic study of the quenching reaction of singlet oxygen by flavonoids in ethanol solution

The quenching rate of singlet oxygen (1O2) by seven kinds of flavonoids (flavone, flavonol, chrysin, apigenin, rutin, quercetin, and myricetin) with 2,3-double bonds has been measured spectrophotometrically in ethanol at 35 degrees C. The overall rate constants kQ (= kq + kr, physical quenching + chemical reaction) increased as the number of OH groups substituted to the flavone skeleton (that is, the total electron-donating capacity of flavonoids) increases. The existence of catechol or pyrogallol structure in the B-ring is essential for the 1O2 quenching of flavonoids. Log kQ was found to correlate with their peak oxidation potentials, E(P); the flavonoids that have smaller E(P) values show higher reactivities. Similarly, log kQ values of flavonoids correlate with the energy level of the highest occupied molecular orbital (E(HOMO)), calculated by the PM3 MO method, and the longest wavelength pi pi* excitation energy (E(ex)). The contribution of the chemical reaction (kr) was found to be negligible in these flavonoids. The kQ values of rutin, quercetin, and myricetin [(1.21 approximately 5.12) x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1)] were found to be larger than those of lipids [(0.9 approximately 6.4) x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1)], amino acids (<3.7 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1)), and DNA (5.1 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1)). The result suggests that these flavonoids may contribute to the protection of oxidative damage in foods and plants, by quenching 1O2.     

Lipid-soluble and water-soluble arsenic compounds in blubber of ringed seal (Pusa hispida)

High concentrations of arsenic were observed in the blubber of ringed seals (Pusa hispida) in our previous study. To better understand the arsenic accumulation in blubber of marine mammals, arsenicals in the blubber of ringed seal were characterized using high performance liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC–ICPMS). The most predominant water-soluble arsenical in the blubber was dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), in spite of the predominance of arsenobetaine in other tissues. Lipid-soluble fraction was hydrolyzed under mild (tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAH) hydrolysis) and strong (NaOH hydrolysis) conditions, and then an aliquot of hydrolysate was injected onto HPLC–ICPMS. Both TEAH-labile and TEAH-stable/NaOH-labile lipid-soluble fractions contained precursors of DMA. These results suggest that the blubber might be the pool of DMA and DMA-containing precursors in ringed seals.     

A synthetic approach to (+)-aldosterone and its relatives (2)- a stereoselective synthesis of (+)-trans-4,5-(4-methoxybenzo)- 1β , 7aβ - ( 2α-methoxymethyl- 5 -oxofuro) hydrindane

A stereoselectivity in an intramolecular cycloaddition of the olefinic $\text{o}$-quinodimethanes 13 and 23 generated $\text{in}$$\text{situ}$ from the thermolysis of optically active 4β-[2-(4-methoxybenzocyclobutenyl)ethyl] -5α-methoxymethyl-3-phenyl-thio-methylenefuran-2-ones 12 and 22, respectively, is studied and a stereoselective synthesis of (+)-$\text{trans}$-4,5-( 4-methoxybenzo) -1β,7aβ-(2α-methoxymethyl-5-oxofuro)hydrindane 1 is also described.     

Template functions of particle monolayers on hydrophobic solid substrates

The template function of cationic particle monolayers bearing quaternary ammonium groups on their surfaces towards anionic colloids was investigated in this paper. Monodispersed cationic polymer particles having quaternary ammonium groups were self-organized on octadecylated glass plates through hydrophobic interaction. The morphology of the resulting particle monolayers was changed by tuning hydrophilic–hydrophobic balance of particles to fabricate aggregated type and dispersed type of particle monolayers. Gold and silver colloids were selectively deposited onto the particle monolayers through electrostatic interaction. The deposited gold and silver colloids on particle monolayers showed plasmon absorbance. Fluorescent silica colloids were also selectively deposited on particle monolayers to permit fluorescence labeling of the particle monolayers. Cationic particle monolayers fabricated on hydrophobic solid octadecylated were found to effectively work as templates for the deposition of above mentioned inorganic colloids.     

Synthesis and central nervous system stimulant activity of camphor-1,2,4-benzotriazines fused with five and six-membered heterocycles

Novel camphor-1,2,4-triazines fused with imidazole 2–3 , thiadiazole 4 , 1,2,4-triazole 7 , pyrimidine 9–13 and 1,3,5-triazine 14 , were synthesized starting from (5R,8S)-3-amino-5,9,9-trimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,8-methano-1,2,4-benzotriazine 1 . Evaluation of central nervous system stimulant activity demonstrated that the presence of a N-N group at C-3 position of 1,2,4-benzotriazine will be essential for the activity.     

Energy transfer reaction of cationic porphyrin complexes on the clay surface: effect of sample preparation method

Photochemical energy transfer of non-aggregated cationic porphyrins on an anionic-type clay (Smecton SA) surface was investigated. The efficiency of energy transfer and excited-state quenching in the absence of energy transfer were evaluated at various loading levels of porphyrin on the clay surface and were found to be significantly affected by the loading level. As the latter increased, both energy transfer efficiency and excited-state quenching increased. Judging from the dependency of energy-transfer efficiency on the porphyrin loading level, a partially clustered structure, but without aggregation, of porphyrins on the clay surface is proposed.     

Induction of a remarkable conformational change in a human telomeric sequence by the binding of naphthyridine dimer: inhibition of the elongation of a telomeric repeat by telomerase

The binding of a dimeric form of the 2-amino-1,8-naphthyridine derivative (naphthyridine dimer) to a human telomeric sequence, TTAGGG, was investigated by UV melting, CD spectra, and CSI-MS measurements. Both the 9-mer d(TTAGGGTTA) and the 15-mer d(TTAGGGTTAGGGTTA) showed apparent melting temperatures (T(m)) of 45.6 and 63.6 degrees C, respectively, in the presence of naphthyridine dimer (30 microM) in sodium cacodylate buffer (50 mM, pH 7.0) containing 100 mM NaCl. The CD spectra at 235 and 255 nm of the 9-mer increased in intensity accompanied with strong induced CDs at 285 and 340 nm upon complex formation with naphthyridine dimer. UV titration of the binding of naphthyridine dimer to the 9-mer at 320 nm showed a hypochromism of the spectra. A Scatchard plot of the data showed the presence of multiple binding sites with different association constants. Cold spray ionization mass spectrometry of the complex between naphthyridine dimer and the 9-mer clearly showed that one to three molecules of the ligand bound to the dimer duplex of the 9-mer. Telomeric repeat elongation assay showed that the binding of naphthyridine dimer to the telomeric sequence inhibits the elongation of the sequence by telomerase.     

N,N-Diethyl-3-toluamide Formulation Based on Ethanol Containing 0.1% 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin Attenuates the Drug’s Skin Penetration and Prolongs the Repellent Effect without Stickiness

N,N-diethyl-3-toluamide (DEET) is one of the most widely used insect repellents in the world. It was reported that a solution containing 6–30% cyclodextrin (CD) as a solvent instead of ethanol (EtOH) provided an enhancement of the repellent action time duration of the DEET formulation, although the high-dose CD caused stickiness. In order to overcome this shortcoming, we attempted to prepare a 10% DEET formulation using EtOH containing low-dose CDs (β-CD, 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD (HPβCD), methyl-β-CD, and sulfobutylether-β-CD) as solvents (DEET/EtOH/CD formulations). We determined the CD concentration to be 0.1% in the DEET/EtOH/CD formulations, since the stickiness of 0.1% CDs was not felt (approximately 8 × 10⁻³ N). The DEET residue on the skin superficial layers was prolonged, and the drug penetration into the skin tissue was decreased by the addition of 0.1% CD. In particular, the retention time and attenuated penetration of DEET on the rat skin treated with the DEET/EtOH/HPβCD formulation was significantly higher in comparison with that of the DEET/EtOH formulation without CD. Moreover, the repellent effect of DEET was more sustained by the addition of 0.1% HPβCD in the study using Aedes albopictus. In conclusion, we found that the DEET/EtOH/HPβCD formulations reduced the skin penetration of DEET and prolonged the repellent action without stickiness.