Heat shock protein 27 interacts with vimentin and prevents insolubilization of vimentin subunits induced by cadmium

Vimentin is an intermediate filament that regulates cell attachment and subcellular organization. In this study, vimentin filaments were morphologically altered, and its soluble subunits were rapidly reduced via cadmium chloride treatment. Cadmium chloride stimulated three major mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs): extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38, and led apoptotic pathway via caspase-9 and caspase-3 activations. In order to determine whether MAPKs were involved in this cadmium-induced soluble vimentin disappearance, we applied MAPK-specific inhibitors (PD98059, SP600125, SB203580). These inhibitors did not abolish the cadmium-induced soluble vimentin disappearance. Caspase and proteosome degradation pathway were also not involved in soluble vimentin disappearance. When we observed vimentin levels in soluble and insoluble fractions, soluble vimentin subunits shifted to an insoluble fraction. As we discovered that heat-shock protein 27 (HSP27) was colocalized and physically associated with vimentin in unstressed cells, the roles of HSP27 with regard to vimentin were assessed. HSP27-overexpressing cells prevented morphological alterations of the vimentin filaments, as well as reductions of soluble vimentin, in the cadmium-treated cells. Moreover, HSP27 antisense oligonucleotide augmented these cadmium-induced changes in vimentin. These findings indicate that HSP27 prevents disruption of the vimentin intermediate filament networks and soluble vimentin disappearance, by virtue of its physical interaction with vimentin in cadmium-treated SK-N-SH cells.     

Ruthenium‐catalyzed synthesis of quinolines via reductive heteroannulation of nitroarenes with 3‐amino‐1‐propanols

Nitroarenes are reductively cyclized with 3‐amino‐1‐propanols in dioxane/H₂O in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst and tin(II) chloride dihydrate together with isopropanol to afford the corresponding quinolines. A reaction pathway involving initial reduction of nitroarenes to anilines, propanol group transfer from 3‐amino‐1‐propanols to anilines, N‐alkylation of anilines by 3‐anilino‐1‐propanols and heteroannulation of 1,3‐dianilinopropanes is proposed.     

Synthesis, structure and heterogeneous catalytic activities of Cu-containing polymeric compounds: anion effect and comparison of homogeneous vs. heterogeneous catalytic activity

The structures of new polymeric compounds containing Cu(II) ions and btp (2,6-bis(N'-1,2,4-triazolyl)pyridine) ligands have been determined. The btp ligands bridge Cu(II) ions to form double zigzag chains, [Cu(ClO4)2(btp)2] 3 with perchlorate anions, and form single zigzag chains, [Cu(btp)(H2O)4](SO4).2H2O 4 with sulfate anions. The polymeric compound 3 was found to effectively catalyze the epoxide ring-opening reaction with methanol, while polymeric compound 4 was almost inactive with epoxides under the same conditions. The polymeric compound 3 showed an efficient catalytic activity and regioselective reactivity in the ring opening of epoxides and allowed reuse without a significant loss of activity through three runs with epoxides.     

Cyclometallated Pd(II) azido complexes containing 6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridyl or 2-phenylpyridyl derivatives: synthesis and reactivity toward organic isocyanides and isothiocyanates

Cyclometallated palladium(II) azido complexes containing C,N,N- or C,N-donor ligands, [Pd(N(3))L](HL = 6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine or 2-phenylpyridyl derivatives), showed different reactivities toward organic isocyanides and isothiocyanates. In particular, aryl isocyanides (CN-Ar) underwent insertion into the orthometallated Pd-C bond on the phenyl moiety of the supporting ligand (L) in [Pd(N(3))L] or [Pd(N(3))(PR(3))L] to selectively give carbodiimido [[Pd(N=C=N-Ar)L]], imidoyl [[Pd(N(3))(-C=N-Ar)(PR(3))L]], or imidoyl carbodiimido complexes [[Pd(N=C=N-Ar)(-C=N-Ar)L] or [Pd(N=C=N-Ar)(-C=N-Ar)(PR(3))L]], depending on reaction conditions. Interestingly, reactions of [Pd(N(3))(PR(3))L] with organic isothiocyanates gave unusual dinuclear complexes [(micro-SCN(4)-R)PdL](2), exhibiting the concurrent S- and N-coordinating thio-tetrazole bridge.     

Asymmetric syntheses of fused bicyclic compounds by conjugate additions of allylic organolithium species to activated olefins and subsequent cyclizations

[reaction: see text]. Addition of the configurationally stable organolithium species produced by enantioselective deprotonation of N-Boc-N-(p-methoxyphenyl) allylamines to alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds affords 1,4-addition products in good yields with high diastereomeric and enantiomeric ratios. Further transformations of these compounds provide [3.3.0]-, [4.3.0]-, [5.3.0]-, and [5.4.0]-carbocycles and heterocycles with high stereoselectivities.     

Clinical significance of molecular genetic changes in sporadic invasive pituitary adenomas

Several molecular and genetic changes have been found in pituitary adenomas. We looked for correlations between these changes and the degree of invasiveness of the tumors. The invasiveness of 11 pituitary adenomas was graded by Hardy classification. We examined the retinoblastoma gene (RB1.20 on chromosome 13q) and the region around the MEN1 locus (chromosome 11q13.1-5) for loss of heterozygosity. Also examined are p53 mutations using single strain conformation polymorphism, p53 protein overexpression using immuno cytochemistry, homozygous deletions of p15 and p16 by polymerase chain reaction, and cellular proliferative activity using MIB-1 antibody. Six tumors (54.5%) had an LOH at either RB1.20 or the MEN1 locus. LOHs were found more frequently in Grade 4 and stage E tumors (72% and 67%) than in Grade 3 and stage D tumors (25% and 40%). However, no mutation or overexpression of p53 was found. No homozygous deletions of p15 or p16 were identified. The cell proliferative index ranged from 0 to 3%. LOH at 11q13 and 13q may be valuable in predicting the invasiveness of pituitary adenomas.     

Fluoride-facilitated deuterium exchange from DMSO-d6 to polyamide-based cryptands

Multiple deuterium exchange between DMSO-d6 and amide hydrogens in two hexaamido cryptand fluoride receptors has been verified by 19F and 2H NMR and FAB mass spectral studies. Structural results for one of the complexes indicate a tricapped trigonal prism hydrogen bond coordination geometry around an encapsulated fluoride, with hydrogen bonds from fluoride to six amide and three phenyl hydrogens.     

An improved method for constructing a full-length enriched cDNA library using small amounts of total RNA as a starting material

We have developed an improved method for constructing a full-length cDNA library using small quantity of material by modifying the original oligo-capping method. In our devised method, total RNAs are used in sequential oligo-capping steps directly without preliminary mRNA purification. Using this method, we constructed full- length cDNA libraries from 100 mg of total RNA. These libraries contained 8x10(5) to 8x10(6) independent clones with average insert sizes of 2.0 kb. Moreover, the number of full-length cDNAs containing the translation initiation codon ATG in the constructed libraries was estimated to 60-70%. In addition, 54% of the known cDNAs had a longer 5' end than the corresponding genes in the public database. Our results show that the method can be effectively used to construct full-length enriched cDNA libraries, especially, if starting material is limited.     

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchip for precolumn reaction and micellar electrokinetic chromatography of biogenic amines

We have demonstrated that precolumn derivatization and capillary electrophoresis separation on a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchip can be realized as efficient as those on glass microchips. In an optimized condition of micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC), using 25 mM sodium borate buffer (pH 10.0) with 25 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 5% v/v methanol, the electroosmotic flow in an oxidized PDMS microchip is stabilized within 3% for days. By employing a fluorometric derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) in an optimally designed reaction chamber, four most important biogenic amines occurring in foods, histamine, tyramine, putrescine, and tryptamine, are quantitatively determined in less than 1 min at the levels applicable to real samples. The migration behaviors of anionic OPA-derivatized biogenic amines under the MEKC conditions are analyzed, and it has been found that under our separation conditions, the electrophoretic mobility of the SDS micelles is significantly greater than those of the anions in the aqueous phase. The channel manifold in a PDMS substrate is fabricated using replica molding against a thick photoresist, SU-8, pattern generated by photolithography. The plate with the microchannel pattern is strongly, irreversibly bonded to another PDMS plate by using a new bonding technique, which employs surface oxidation by corona discharge generated from a cheap, handy source, Tesla coil.