Leading neuroblastoma cells to die by multiple premeditated attacks from a multifunctionalized nanoconstruct

To conquer complex and devastating diseases such as cancer, more coordinated and combined attack strategies are needed. We suggest that these can be beautifully achieved by using nanoconstruct design. We present an example showing that neuroblastoma cells are selectively killed by a nanoconstruct that specifically targets neuroblastoma cells, pushes cells to the vulnerable phase of the cell cycle, and greatly enhances radiation-induced cell death. The success of this multipronged attack approach launched by cell-embedded nanoconstructs demonstrates the power and flexibility of nanotechnology in treating cancer, a difficult task for a small molecule.     

Fluoroalkyl and alkyl chains have similar hydrophobicities in binding to the "hydrophobic wall" of carbonic anhydrase

The hydrophobic effect, the free-energetically favorable association of nonpolar solutes in water, makes a dominant contribution to binding of many systems of ligands and proteins. The objective of this study was to examine the hydrophobic effect in biomolecular recognition using two chemically different but structurally similar hydrophobic groups, aliphatic hydrocarbons and aliphatic fluorocarbons, and to determine whether the hydrophobicity of the two groups could be distinguished by thermodynamic and biostructural analysis. This paper uses isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) to examine the thermodynamics of binding of benzenesulfonamides substituted in the para position with alkyl and fluoroalkyl chains (H(2)NSO(2)C(6)H(4)-CONHCH(2)(CX(2))(n)CX(3), n = 0-4, X = H, F) to human carbonic anhydrase II (HCA II). Both alkyl and fluoroalkyl substituents contribute favorably to the enthalpy and the entropy of binding; these contributions increase as the length of chain of the hydrophobic substituent increases. Crystallography of the protein-ligand complexes indicates that the benzenesulfonamide groups of all ligands examined bind with similar geometry, that the tail groups associate with the hydrophobic wall of HCA II (which is made up of the side chains of residues Phe131, Val135, Pro202, and Leu204), and that the structure of the protein is indistinguishable for all but one of the complexes (the longest member of the fluoroalkyl series). Analysis of the thermodynamics of binding as a function of structure is compatible with the hypothesis that hydrophobic binding of both alkyl and fluoroalkyl chains to hydrophobic surface of carbonic anhydrase is due primarily to the release of nonoptimally hydrogen-bonded water molecules that hydrate the binding cavity (including the hydrophobic wall) of HCA II and to the release of water molecules that surround the hydrophobic chain of the ligands. This study defines the balance of enthalpic and entropic contributions to the hydrophobic effect in this representative system of protein and ligand: hydrophobic interactions, here, seem to comprise approximately equal contributions from enthalpy (plausibly from strengthening networks of hydrogen bonds among molecules of water) and entropy (from release of water from configurationally restricted positions).     

Contributions to reversed-phase column selectivity. I. Steric interaction

In reversed-phase chromatography (RPC), the restricted retention of "bulky" solutes can occur in one of two ways, giving rise to either "shape selectivity" or "steric interaction." Starting with data for 150 solutes and 167 monomeric type-B alkylsilica columns, the present study examines the steric interaction process further and compares it with shape selectivity. The dependence of column hydrophobicity and steric interaction on column properties (ligand length and concentration, pore diameter, end-capping) was determined and compared. The role of the solute in steric interaction was found to be primarily a function of solute molecular length, with longer solutes giving increased steric interaction. We find that there are several distinct differences in the way shape selectivity and steric interaction are affected by separation conditions and the nature of the sample. Of particular interest, steric interaction exhibits a maximum effect for monomeric C(18) columns, and becomes less important for either a C(1) or C(30) column; shape selectivity appears unimportant for monomeric C(1)-C(18) columns at ambient and higher temperatures, but becomes pronounced for C(30) - as well as polymeric columns with ligands ≥C(8). One hypothesis is that shape selectivity involves the presence or creation of cavities within the stationary phase that can accommodate a retained solute (a primarily enthalpic process), while steric interaction mainly makes greater use of spaces that pre-exist the retention of the solute (a primarily entropic process). The related dependence of hydrophobic interaction on column properties was also examined.     

A Differential Harnack Inequality for the Newell-Whitehead-Segel Equation

This paper will develop a Li-Yau-Hamilton type differential Harnack estimate for positive solutions to the Newell-Whitehead-Segel equation on R^n.We then use our LYH-differential Harnack inequality to prove several properties about positive solutions to the equation,including deriving a classical Harnack inequality and characterizing standing solutions and traveling wave solutions.     

Prospects for Higgs search at DØ

The status of the Higgs search at the upgraded DØ detector is discussed.     

烟草(Nicotiana tabacum)原生质体再生成植株及影响植株分化的某些因素

从烟草(品种革新一号)单倍体花粉植株的叶和茎产生的愈伤组织,结合悬浮培养,获得的细胞分离出原生质体。在液体培养基中静置培养,12小时后原生质体开始变为卵圆形,细胞壁明显可见,24小时后完成第一次细胞分裂。以后继续分裂形成浅黄色的愈伤组织,在培养四星期后可达1毫米大小,再放到转床上进行旋转培养18天左右,愈伤组织可达3—4毫米大小。当转移到分化培养基后,分别分化出苗及根,长成完整的植株。 原生质体再生细胞的分裂与分化,不仅受不同器官来源的愈伤组织及其年龄的影响;还受分化培养基的基本成份及所用细胞分裂素的类型等的影响。     

Liquid-solid chromatography of diastereomers: Tetrasubstituted ethanes

Summary The separation by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is reviewed for 25 pairs of tetrasubstituted-ethane diastereomers on silica. A total of 50 different mobile phases were used in order to define the basis of solvent selectivity for these separations. Separation factors (α) for various diastereomeric pairs are determined mainly by the relative localization of the strong solvent in these binary-solvent mobile phases (as measured by the mobile-phase parameter m). Relative retention of the diastereomers expressed by positive vs. negative values of α appear understandable on the basis of steric hindrance to adsorption and solvent-solute localization. Presented at the 15th International Symposium on Chromatography, Nürnberg, October 1984