Insights into Light‐driven DNA Repair by Photolyases: Challenges and Opportunities for Electronic Structure Theory

Ultraviolet radiation causes two of the most abundant mutagenic and cytotoxic DNA lesions: cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and 6‐4 photoproducts. (6‐4) Photolyases are light‐activated enzymes that selectively bind to DNA and trigger repair of mutagenic 6‐4 photoproducts via photoinduced electron transfer from flavin adenine dinucleotide anion (FADH^?) to the lesion triggering repair. This review provides an overview of the sequential steps of the repair process, that is light absorption and resonance energy transfer, photoinduced electron transfer and electron‐induced splitting mechanisms, with an emphasis on the role of theory and computation. In addition, theoretical calculations and physical properties that can be used to classify specific mechanism are discussed in an effort to trace the fundamental aspects of each individual step and assist the interpretation of experimental data. The current challenges and suggested future directions are outlined for each step, concluding with a view on the future.     

Determination of major and trace elements in the indigenous medicinal plant Withania somnifera and their possible correlation with therapeutic activity

Withania somnifera (family Solanaceae) has been studied to determine major and trace elements and their possible correlation with therapeutic value of the plant. Nine trace elements were determined in Withania somnifera. This important medicinal plant was found to be rich in Fe, Cu, Ni, Mn, and Zn. These trace elements are well known for curing diseases. The plant contains nutrient elements, which are best sources for fodder.     

Organocatalytic synthesis of amides from nitriles via the Ritter reaction

A simple, inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and efficient route for the synthesis of a wide variety of amides in high yields via the Ritter reaction of alcohols with nitriles has been demonstrated. Pentafluorophenyl ammonium triflate (PFPAT) is used as an organocatalyst and is air-stable, cost-effective, easy to handle, and easily removed from the reaction mixtures.     

Emission spectrum of hot HDO below 4000 cm

Fourier transform emission spectra were recorded using a mixture of H₂O and D₂O at a temperature of 1500 °C. The spectra were recorded in three overlapping sections and cover the wavenumber range 1800-3932 cm⁻¹. This spectrum is analyzed together with a previously reported one spanning the 380-2190 cm⁻¹ range [Parekunnel et al., J. Mol. Spectrosc. 2001 (28) 101]. This analysis leads to 4409 newly assigned HDO emission lines. This work particularly extends data on the (200) and (120) states of HDO for which newly determined energy levels are presented.     

Combined analysis of the high sensitivity Fourier transform and ICLAS-VeCSEL absorption spectra of D2O between 8800 and 9520 cm

The absorption spectrum of dideuterated water, D₂O, has been recorded between 8800 and 9520 cm⁻¹ by intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy (ICLAS) based on a vertical external cavity system emitting laser (VeCSEL) and by high sensitivity Fourier Transform spectroscopy. The combined analysis of the spectra has allowed attributing 1223 transitions to the D₂O species. The spectrum assignment was performed on the basis of the recent results of variational calculations based on an optimized potential energy surface of D₂O. A set of 687 energy levels was derived from transitions assigned to eight upper vibrational states, 577 of them being reported for the first time. A detailed line list has been generated. The line intensities were retrieved mainly from the FTS spectrum and the absolute integrated intensities of the 2v₁ + v₂ + v₃ and the v₂ + 3v₃ bands dominating the spectrum have been determined.     

Provability in predicate product logic

We sharpen Hájek’s Completeness Theorem for theories extending predicate product logic, ${\Pi\forall}$ . By relating provability in this system to embedding properties of ordered abelian groups we construct a universal BL-chain L in the sense that a sentence is provable from ${\Pi\forall}$ if and only if it is an L-tautology. As well we characterize the class of lexicographic sums that have this universality property.     

Novel 1,2,3,4‐Tetrahydroquinazolinones via Reaction of 2‐Amino‐N‐substituted Benzamides and Dimethyl Acetylenedicarboxylate

Reaction of 2‐amino‐N‐substituted benzamides and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) in the presence of 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene (DBU) in H₂O at room temperature led to the formation of novel 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinazolinones.     

Flurbiprofen encapsulation using pluronic triblock copolymers

Pulsed-field gradient stimulated-echo nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and surface tension measurements have been used to study the effect of drug addition on the micellization behavior of pluronic triblock copolymers (P103, P123, and L43). The addition of 0.6 wt% flurbiprofen to Pluronic P123 and P103 solutions reduced their cmc and promoted micellization. Also, a substantial increase in the hydrodynamic radius of Pluronic P103 from 5 to 10 nm was observed, along with an increased fraction of polymer micellized, demonstrating that the polymers solubilize this nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.     

Multi-spectroscopic Investigations of Aspirin and Colchicine Interactions with Human Hemoglobin: Binary and Ternary Systems

The interactions of colchicine (COL) and aspirin (ASA) with human hemoglobin (HB) was studied by fluorescence, UV/vis absorption, resonance light scattering, synchronous fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic techniques under physiological conditions. The inherent binding information, including the quenching mechanism, binding constants, number of binding sites, effective quenching constant, fraction of the initial fluorescence and thermodynamic parameters were determined by the fluorescence quenching technique at different temperatures. The results proved that the mechanism of fluorescence quenching of HB by COL and ASA is due to formation of HB–drug complexes in the binary and ternary systems. The distance between the acceptor drugs and HB was estimated by Förster’s equation on the basis of fluorescence energy transfer. In addition, according to the synchronous fluorescence spectra of HB, the results showed that the fluorescence quenching of HB originated solely from the tryptophan residues and indicated a conformational change for HB caused by addition of the drugs. Far-UV CD spectra of HB were recorded before and after the addition of ASA and COL both as binary and ternary systems. An increase in intensity of the positive CD peak of HB was observed in the presence of these drugs. The results were interpreted as excited state interactions between the aromatic residues of the HB binding sites and the drugs bound to them.