Two new bioactive sesquiterpenes from the soft coral Sinularia sp

Two new sesquiterpenes, 1S*, 4R*, 5S*, 6R*, 7S*, 10S*-1(5), 6(7)-diepoxy-4-guaiol (1) and 1S*, 4S*, 5S*, 10R*-4,10-guaianediol (2) have been isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble portion of the soft coral Sinularia sp., and their stereostructure were determined by spectroscopic methods and by X-ray single crystal analysis. Both compounds showed antioxidant and cytotoxic activities.     

Visualization of mitotic HeLa cells by advanced polarized light microscopy

The conventional polarized light imaging system can observe sub-microscopic molecular order non-destructively, quantitatively and without labeling or staining. Recently, a more sophisticated version, Abrio imaging system, than the conventional polarized light imaging system, was developed. This advanced polarized light imaging system has simplified the process of birefringent imaging, higher sensitivity and accuracy irrespective of sample orientation. By performing time-lapse observations using the advanced polarized light microscopy, we visualized mitotic spindles, especially kinetochore microtubules, of HeLa cells. Moreover, we successfully visualized the detailed structure of several filament bundles, which possibly are components of the contractile ring. Here, we report the potential of advanced polarized light imaging systems for imaging mitotic HeLa cells and the new insights obtained during this microscopic study.     

Interpretation of the Role of Composition on the Inclusion Efficiency of Monovalent Cations into Cobalt Hexacyanoferrate

Cobalt hexacyanoferrate of various compositions was prepared in flow mode and the role of the vacancy on the structure, thermogravimetric (TG) properties, and the adsorption efficiency was studied. The material, Na_yCo[Fe(CN)₆]_1−x ⋅ z H₂O, with a minimum vacancy of x=0.014 to the highest x=0.47, was obtained. The TG-differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) profile showed a distinct influence of the vacancy on the water release temperature. Materials with x>0.35 showed a smooth release of water at a relatively lower temperature. However, for the materials with x<0.35, water release took place in multiple steps, suggesting the existence of various forms of water. The FTIR profiles supported the existence of free and bonded water molecules. However, the materials with multiple water peaks in the FTIR spectra showed a shift of the major XRD peaks when heated at 285 °C in N₂ atmosphere. Regarding the effect of the vacancy on the adsorption behavior, for NH₄, the adsorption was found to be proportional to the number of Na atoms in the material, confirming the ion-exchange process. On the contrary, the materials with low vacancy and high Na content showed nominal Cs adsorption capacity. Interestingly, the K adsorption capacity was found to be in between that of the other two ions. This means the ionic size decides the rate of placement into the interstitial sites. For larger ions like Cs, the ease of percolation via the vacancy decides the overall adsorption efficiency.     

Selectivity in substrate–enzyme complexation studied by surface forces measurement

The selectivity of substrate in substrate–enzyme complexation of heptaprenyl diphosphate synthase was directly investigated using colloidal probe atomic force microscopy (AFM). This enzyme is composed of two dissociable subunits, which exhibits a catalytic activity only when they are associated together in the presence of a cofactor, Mg²⁺, and a substrate, farnesyl diphosphate (FPP). We have recently succeeded to directly demonstrate a specific interaction involved in this enzyme reaction and obtain new insights into the molecular mechanism of the reaction using the approach based on the colloidal probe AFM. The AFM measurement showed the adhesive force between the subunits only in the presence of both Mg²⁺ and FPP. In this study, we studied the substrate selectivity in the complexation by monitoring the adhesive force. The substrates studied are pyrophosphate (PPi), isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP), geranyl diphosphate (GPP), farnesyl monophosphate (FP), and farnesyl geranyl diphosphate (FGPP). No adhesion was observed in the case of PPi, IPP, and GPP. On the other hand, the significant adhesion was observed for phosphate derivatives, which bear prenyl units longer than three. This is in good agreement with the selectivity of the substrates by this enzyme, which catalyzes the condensation reaction of four IPP molecules with FPP to give heptaprenyl (C₃₅) diphosphates. Our study showed a useful methodology for examining the elemental processes of biological reactions.     

Population study of sizes and components of self-reproducing giant multilamellar vesicles

Population analysis of a system of self-reproducing giant multilamellar vesicles (GMVs) was carried out by means of flow cytometry. The multidimensional distribution of forward light scattering (FS), side light scattering (SS), and fluorescence (FL) intensities originating from each GMV provided information about changes in a population composed of 104 vesicles. FS-FL dot plots indicated that, after the addition of the membrane precursor, the size distribution of the newly generated vesicles was nearly the same as that of the original, but the catalyst content was reduced. This result can be interpreted as evidence for the occurrence of the self-reproduction of GMVs. Moreover, the new GMVs recovered the amount of catalyst to the initial value, keeping their size distribution constant, when a solution of the catalyst was added to the new GMVs. These results are the first experimental evidence for a novel phenomenon on GMV size distribution during their self-reproducing cycle.     

Lipase-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of desprenyl-carquinostatin A and descycloavandulyl-lavanduquinocin

An asymmetric synthesis of the core carbazole structure, 6-desprenyl-carquinostatin 3 and 6-descycloavandulyl-lavanduquinocin 3, toward a total synthesis of carquinostatin A (1) and lavanduquinocin (2), has been established. Lipase QLM (Meito) catalyzed enantioselective acetylation of the racemic alcohol 6 gave the (-)-acetate 7 and the (+)-alcohol 6 with high enantioselectivity. The absolute stereochemistry of the (-)- and (+)-alcohol 6 have been determined to be R- and S-configurations, respectively, by the advanced Mosher method. In the same manner, the (-)-acetate 13 and the (+)-alcohol 12 have been obtained from the racemic alcohol 12. The (R)-(-)-acetate 13, derived from the (R)-(-)-acetate 7, was the same as the (-)-acetate 13, which has been determined to be (R)-configuration. Oxidation of the (R)-(-)-acetate 13 followed by hydrolysis afforded (R)-(-)-6-desprenyl-carquinostatin [and (R)-(-)-6-descycloavandulyl-lavanduquinocin] 3. In addition, oxidation of the (S)-(+)-alcohol 12 provided (S)-(+)-3, which is the enantiomer of 6-desprenyl-carquinostatin A (R)-(-)-3.     

A chiral bidentate phosphoramidite (Me-BIPAM) for Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-dehydroamino esters, enamides, and dimethyl itaconate

High performance of Me-BIPAM for enantioselective hydrogenation of α-dehydroamino esters, enamides, and dimethyl itaconate was demonstrated. [Rh(Me-BIPAM)(diene)]X (diene = cod, nbd; X = BF₄, PF₆, SbF₆) gave optically active β-aryl α-amino esters up to 99% ee, 1-arylethylamines up to 97% ee, methyl 2-acetylaminobutanoate with 90% ee, and dimethyl 2-methylsuccinate with 97% ee under 0.3−0.8 MPa dihydrogen with 0.1−1 mol % catalyst loading.     

Me‐bipam for Enantioselective Ruthenium(II)‐Catalyzed Arylation of Aldehydes with Arylboronic Acids

Ligand design by‐pam : A ruthenium‐catalyzed asymmetric arylation of aldehydes with arylboronic acids has been developed, giving chiral diarylmethanols in good yields. The use of a chiral bidentate phosphoramidite ligand ((R,R)‐Me‐bipam) led to excellent enantioselectivities.