Inelastic incoherent neutron scattering measurements of intact cells and tissues and detection of interfacial water

We have previously used inelastic incoherent neutron scattering spectroscopy to investigate the properties of aqueous suspensions of biomolecules as a function of hydration. These experiments led to the identification of signals corresponding to interfacial (hydration) water at low water content. A prediction from these studies was that in the crowded environment inside living cells, a significant proportion of the water would be interfacial, with profound implications for biological function. Here we describe the first inelastic incoherent neutron scattering spectroscopy studies of living cells and tissues. We find that the interfacial water signal is similar to that observed for water interacting with purified biomolecules and other solutes, i.e., it is strongly perturbed in the librational and translational intermolecular optical regions of the spectrum at 20-150 meV. The ratio of interfacial water compared to total water in cells (approximately 30%) is in line with previous experimental data for hydration water and calculations based on simple assumptions.     

Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry analysis of chloramphenicol in cooked crab meat

A liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method is described for the extraction, cleanup, determination, and confirmation of chloramphenicol (CAP) in cooked crab meat. The method involves pulverization of cooked crab meat with dry ice; extraction of the CAP into ethyl acetate (EtOAc); evaporation (by N2) of the EtOAc; addition of methanol, aqueous NaCl, and heptane; extraction of the lipids into the heptane, followed by extraction of the aqueous phase with EtOAc; evaporation (by N2) of the EtOAc; dissolution into methanol-water; filtration; and separation/detection/confirmation using LC/MS/MS. Crab meat was fortified at 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 ng/g (ppb) chloramphenicol. Average absolute recoveries were 67, 84, and 86%, respectively, with relative standard deviation values all less than 1%. Four daughter ions (m/z 152, 176, 194, and 257) were monitored off the m/z 321 precursor ion. Determination was based on a standard curve using the peak areas of the m/z 152 daughter ion (the base peak) for standard solutions equivalent to 0.10, 0.20, 0.50, and 1.0 ppb in tissue (made with control crab extract). A set of 6 matrix controls (unfortified crab meat) was also analyzed, in which no chloramphenicol was detected. For identification purposes, the ion ratios (of each daughter ion versus the base daughter ion) of the fortified crab versus those of the chloramphenicol standards agreed within 10% (relative) at fortified chloramphenicol concentrations of 0.25-1.0 ppb.     

Derivatives of 2,4-diamino-6-methylpteridine

Eighteen derivatives of 2,4-diamino-6-methylpteridine related to methotrexate and aminopterin have been prepared from 6-(bromomethyl)-2,4-pteridinediamine by nucleophilic displacement reactions. None of these compounds showed any antileukemic acitivity.     

A Complex Pyrrolo-oxazinone and Its Iodo Derivative Isolated from a Tunicate

Two cytotoxic triphenylpyrrolo-oxazinones were isolated from a tunicate and their structures elucidated by spectral methods. Lukianol A ( = 3,7,8-tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]oxazin-1 (1H)-one; 1 ) had MIC of 1 μg/ml in KB cytotoxicity tests; MIC value for 2 was 100 μg/ml.     

Modeling the gel electrophoresis of short duplex DNA by Brownian dynamics: cubic gel lattice with direct interaction

The technique of Brownian dynamics is used to model the electrophoretic mobility of spherical and rod-like particles in a three-dimensional cubic gel lattice. In addition to excluded volume interactions between the migrating particle and the gel, direct interactions are also included. The methodology is first applied to spherical particles in the absence of direct interactions and the resulting mobilities are shown to agree with independent studies. The methodology is then applied to rod-like models of short duplex DNA fragments 10-50 base pairs in length. In the absence of direct interactions between gel and DNA, calculated mobilities show a much weaker dependence on gel concentration than observed in experiments of DNA in Tris-acetate buffer and polyacrylamide gels. When an attractive interaction between gel and DNA of approximately -0.3 k(B)T per base pair at contact is included, good agreement between calculated and experimental mobilities is achieved.     

From solution-phase to solid-phase enyne metathesis: crossover in the relative performance of two commonly used ruthenium pre-catalysts

A crossover in the ability of two distinct ruthenium-based metathesis pre-catalysts to effect the synthesis of dialkenylboronic esters in solution and on the solid-phase was observed. Specifically, while the Grubbs 2nd generation pre-catalyst 3 affords a greater degree of conversion to product than the Hoveyda-Grubbs pre-catalyst 2 in a solution-phase enyne-metathesis reaction, this trend is reversed in the solid-phase variant. Systematic investigation showed this trend to be general, regardless of variations in the homoallylic alcohol and alkynylboronic ester components of the reaction, as well as in the type of solid support employed. Experiments to determine a mechanistic hypothesis for this trend highlighted the significance of the ruthenium remaining bound to the substrate after metathetic rearrangement and found the presence of phosphine ligand to be detrimental to the success of the solid-phase reaction. Therefore, these results suggest an expanded role for phosphine-free pre-catalysts, such as 2, in challenging solid-phase metathesis reactions.     

Molecular ordering and 2D conductivity in ultrathin poly(3-hexylthiophene)/gold nanoparticle composite films

This paper reports the first comparison of the structure and electrical conductivity properties of spin cast (SC) and Langmuir-Schaeffer (LS) films of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). In addition, the effect of incorporating highly monodisperse Au nanoparticles (NPs), with a core diameter of approximately 5 nm, into SC and LS P3HT films is described. A detailed picture of molecular organization in the films has been obtained using ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray reflectivity. Film morphology was correlated with pseudo-two-dimensional conductivity measured using scanning electrochemical microscopy, with P3HT in the semiconducting regime. It was found that SC films, which were slightly thicker than those formed with the LS technique, exhibited greater organization. This resulted in an order of magnitude higher lateral conductivity for the SC films. Inclusion of Au NPs (50 wt %) into both SC and LS films resulted in the formation of uniform and relatively flat (rms roughness approximately 1 nm) composite films. Surprisingly, the addition of NPs did not disrupt the characteristic crystal structure found for the native P3HT films. The effect of Au NPs on film lateral conductivity was found to be determined by the distribution of Au NPs within the polymer, which varied significantly between SC and LS films. Whereas Au NPs aggregated into hexagonally packed clusters in SC films, NPs in LS films were predominantly uniformly distributed between the lamella bilayer. It was found that, while the inclusion of Au NPs caused the lateral conductivity to decrease in SC films, in LS films, the lateral conductivity increased by a factor of 2.     

Kinetic resolution of atropisomeric amides

We have demonstrated the feasibility of the kinetic resolution of atropisomeric amides using the commercially avaliable AD-mix. To our knowledge, this methodology represents the first catalytic kinetic resolution of such compounds. Relative rates of up to 32 have been found for the kinetic resolution processes. We have also determined the barriers to rotation and half-lives of some of these amides. The half-lives range from 7 to 135 h at room temperature.