Stereoselective Synthesis and X-Ray Structure Determination of Labeled [1, 2, 3-<Superscript>13</Superscript>C<Subscript>3</Subscript>]-1-(Phenylsulfinyl)-3-Benzyloxyacetone

[1,2,3-¹³C₃]-1-(Phenylsulfinyl)-3-benzyloxyacetone, C₁₆H₁₆O₃S, (3) has been synthesized and its crystal structure has been determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The X-ray diffraction study revealed that compound 3 crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system in the acentric space group Pc, with cell constants at T = 100 K: a = 16.073(5), b = 5.5079(16), c = 7.949(2) Å, β = 100.221(4)^°, V = 692.6(3) ų, Z = 2, d _calc = 1.383 g/cm³. Compound 3 contains the chiral tetravalent three-coordinated sulfur atom, which has a distorted tetrahedral configuration with a lone electron pair occupying one of the tetrahedron vertices. In the crystal, the molecules are packed in stacks along the b axis; the stacks consist of the molecules of the same chirality. Furthermore, the stacks of the molecules of the opposite chirality alternate along the c axis. The molecules in neighboring stacks are arranged by head-to-tail orientations. There are no short intermolecular contacts in the crystal of 3.     

EFFECT OF METAL IONS ON THE LUMINESCENCE OF ACRIDINE DYES BOUND TO DNA

Abstract— The luminescence of acridine dyes intercalated in DNA was studied as a function of the concurrent binding of metal ions to DNA, in an effort to deduce specific site interactions of the dyes. Two dyes, proflavine (PF) and acridine orange (AO), and two metal ions, silver and mercuric, were used. Both ions quench the fluorescence of the dyes in aqueous solution at room temperature. The metal ions have a different effect on the fluorescence of these dyes when they are intercalated between the base pairs of DNA. The fluorescence of AO is decreased when silver is bound, while the fluorescence of PF is enhanced. Since Ag⁺ initially binds to GC sites in DNA, which quench the PF fluorescence, it ostensibly 'turns off' the quenching by DNA at these sites, and this effect is greater than the quenching effect of the silver ion itself. Hg²⁺ ion initially binds to AT sites in DNA. Since both dyes fluoresce from AT sites, Hg²⁺ is expected to quench their fluorescence. This behavior is observed at low r (metal ion/base). At higher r values, however, where Hg²⁺ is expected to begin binding to GC sites, the fluorescence of PF is enhanced. These quenching turn-off effects are tentatively interpreted in terms of a change in the structure of the dye/DNA complex which occurs when a metal ion binds at the intercalation site. At 77 K. no fluorescence enhancement is observed when metal ions bind; Ag⁺ quenches the fluorescence and enhances the phosphorescence of both dyes. Qualitatively similar results are obtained with Hg²⁺.     

Topical treatment with OGG1 enzyme affects UVB-induced skin carcinogenesis

Nonmelanoma skin cancer resulting from UVB exposure is a large and growing problem in the United States. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the UVB-induced inflammatory response results in the formation of oxidative DNA adducts such as 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanine (8-oxo-dG), which have been shown to contribute to the development of this cancer. The 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) enzyme repairs 8-oxo-dG adducts, suggesting that enhancing its activity in the skin might increase 8-oxo-dG repair thus preventing skin cancer development. We therefore used the SKH-1 murine model to examine the effect of topically applied OGG1 on UVB-induced skin cancer development. Mice were exposed three times weekly to UVB followed immediately by topical treatment with a formulation of liposome-encapsulated OGG1 enzyme for 25 weeks. While this treatment did not affect UVB-induced tumor multiplicity, it did reduce tumor size and dramatically reduced tumor progression, as indicated by tumor grade. These results suggest that oxidative DNA damage contributes to the progression of UVB-induced skin tumors and that a topical formulation containing OGG1, perhaps in conjunction with other DNA repair enzymes such as T4 endonuclease V, could be used in populations at high risk for skin cancer development.     

Understanding Chemical Reactivity in Extended Systems:Exploring Models of Chemical Softness in Carbon Nanotubes

Chemical reactivity towards electron transfer is captured by the Fukui function.However,this is not well defined when the system or its ions have degenerate or pseudo-degenerate ground states.In such a case,the first-order chemical response is not independent of the perturbation and the correct response has to be computed using the mathematical formalism of perturbation theory for degenerate states.Spatialpseudo-degeneracy is ubiquitous in nanostructures with high symmetry and totally extended systems.Given the size of these systems,using degenerate-state perturbation theory is impractical because it requires the calculation of many excited states.Here we present an alternative to compute the chemical response of extended systems using models of local softness in terms of the local density of states.The local softness is approximately equal to the density of states at the Fermi level.However,such approximation leaves out the contribution of inner states.In order to include and weight the contribution of the states around the Fermi level,a model inspired by the long-range behavior of the local softness is presented.Single wall capped carbon nanotubes(SWCCNT) illustrate the limitation of the frontier orbital theory in extended systems.Thus,we have used a C360 SWCCNT to test the proposed model and how it compares with available models based on the local density of states.Interestingly,a simple Hü ckel approximation captures the main features of chemical response of these systems.Our results suggest that density-of-states models of the softness along simple tight binding Hamiltonians could be used to explore the chemical reactivity of more complex system,such a surfaces and nanoparticles.     

New interpretation of heat effects in polymorphic transitions

Overlapping endothermic and exothermic effects in DSC measurements of polymorphic transitions is often detected in molecular crystals and drugs. It is explained by the sequence of melting and crystallization. In this paper, we argue that this explanation is incorrect. In revealing the kinetic nature of the endo/exo thermal effect, we suggest another explanation, based on the nucleation. New interpretation does allow us to measure the energetic barrier in the nucleation of bulk sample, thus providing a tool for testing the nucleation models.     

Enzymatically synthesized polyaniline film deposition studied by simultaneous open circuit potential and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance measurements

The chemical and enzymatic deposition of polyaniline (PANI) films by in situ polymerization was studied and the resulting films were characterized. The film formation and polymerization processes were simultaneously monitored by the evolution of the open circuit potential and quartz-crystal microbalance measurements. Different substrates, such as Indium-Tin oxide electrodes and gold-coated quartz-crystal electrodes were used as substrates for PANI deposition. Electroactive PANI films were successfully deposited by in situ enzymatic polymerization at low oxidation potential. The electrogravimetric response of the enzymatically deposited PANI film was studied by cyclic voltammetry in monomer-free acidic medium. The morphology of the films was observed by scanning electron microscopy, revealing a granular structure in enzymatically deposited PANI. The PANI films were also characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy. The simultaneous use of quartz crystal microbalance and open circuit potential is presented as a very useful technique to monitor enzymatic reactions involving oxidoreductases.