Separation of (Z)- and (E)-isomers of thioxanthene and dibenz[b,e]oxepin derivatives with calixarenes and resorcinarenes as additives in nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis

Five acidic calix[4]arenes with carboxylic or sulfonic groups at either the upper or lower rim of the cavity and one resorc[4]arene were investigated to separate three thioxanthenes (flupentixol, clopenthixol, chlorprothixene) and a dibenz[b,e]oxepin derivative (doxepin) with cis-/trans-isomerism by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE). Partial filling of the capillary with the UV-absorbing selectors led to a low detection limit and an advantageous signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). A sufficient electrophoretic mobility of the calixarenes towards the anode was necessary to outweigh the oppositely directed electroosmotic flow (EOF). This depended from the functional groups, the dissociation and the hydrodynamic radius of the cyclophanes. In contrast, the resorcinarene was useable only by addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) because only the complex of the two selectors had an anodic apparent electrophoretic mobility. p-Sulfonyl-calix[4]arene (ss-a1) was the most capable selector for all E/Z-isomers with maximal alpha-values ranging from 1.056 for doxepin to 1.224 for chlorprothixene. This was due to the sufficient migration in reversed direction to the EOF even at low pH* values of 3.0. Otherwise, electrostatic as well as hydrophobic interactions with the positively charged isomers seem to contribute to a superior recognition. Increasing the concentration up to 15 mM ss-a1 and using acidic media (pH* 5.0) led to high separation efficiency. Changing the organic solvent provides a powerful tool to improve selectivity with N,N-dimethylformamide-methanol (DMF-MeOH)-mixtures for thioxanthenes. Further electrophoretic parameters were optimized, such as the concentration of the electrolytes, the addition of SDS, the kind of electrolytes and the voltage. Distinct differences in selectivities were found between the derivatives with thioxanthene and dibenzo[b,e]oxepin ring system, respectively. Further, the different basic side chain was responsible for the different selectivity at higher pH* values. In contrast, the substitution at position 2 of the thioxanthenes played a secondary role. Based on the studies of single parameters a method for a simultaneous separation of the four pairs of isomers within 13 min was developed.     

SUPPRESSION OF THE INDUCTION OF DELAYED-TYPE HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS IN MICE BY A SINGLE EXPOSURE TO ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION

Abstract— After a single exposure of mice to UV radiation, their ability to generate a contact hypersensitivity (CHS) response to contact sensitizers applied epicutaneously to distant, unirradiated skin is severely impaired. It is not clear, however, if the classic delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reponse to exogenous antigens, injected into the subcutaneous (s.c.) space, can also be modulated by UV radiation. We report here that a single exposure of mice to UV radiation suppressed the induction of DTH to both erythrocyte and soluble protein antigens injected s.c., but did not suppress the elicitation of the response. The suppressive effect was abrogated by cyclophosphamide treatment. In addition, antigen-specific suppressor cells were found in the spleens of the mice with a decreased DTH response. Since the ability to mount a DTH response has been linked with the resistance to certain pathogenic microorganisms, we suggest that the suppression of DTH by UV radiation may have the potential to compromise host resistance to such infectious agents.     

Viability of the antigen determines whether DNA or urocanic acid act as initiator molecules for UV-induced suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity

UV radiation suppresses the immune response, and UV-induced immune suppression contributes to UV-induced photocarcinogenesis. For UV-induced immune suppression to occur, electromagnetic energy (i.e. UV radiation) must be converted to a biological signal. Two photoreceptors have been identified in the skin that serves this purpose, epidermal DNA and trans-urocanic acid (UCA). Although compelling evidence exists to support a role for each pathway (UV-induced DNA damage or photoisomerization of UCA) in UV-induced immune suppression, it is not clear what determines which photoreceptor pathway is activated. To address this question, we injected UV-irradiated mice with a monoclonal antibody with specificity for cis-UCA or applied liposomes containing DNA repair enzymes to the skin of UV-irradiated mice. The effect that each had on UV-induced suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity was measured. We asked whether the light source used (FS-40 sunlamps vs solar-simulated UV radiation) altered whichever pathway of immune suppression was activated. Different doses of UV radiation and the viability of the antigen were also considered. Neither the dose of UV nor the light source had any influence on determining which pathway was activated. Rather, we found that the viability of the antigen was the critical determinant. When live antigens were used, UV-induced immune suppression was blocked with monoclonal anti-cis-UCA but not with T4 endonuclease V-containing liposomes. The reverse was observed when formalin-fixed or killed antigens were used. Our findings indicate that antigen viability dictates which photoreceptor pathway predominates after UV exposure.     

Does Exposure to UV Radiation Induce a Shift to a Th-2-like Immune Reaction?

In addition to being the primary cause of skin cancer, UV radiation is immune suppressive and there appears to be a link between the ability of UV to suppress the immune response and induce skin cancer. Cytokines made by UV-irradlated keratinocytes play an essential role in activating immune suppression. In particular, we have found that keratinocyte-derlved interleukin (IL)-10 is responsible for the systemic impairment of antigenpresenting cell function and the UV-induced suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH). Antigen presentation by splenic adherent cells isolated from UV-irradiated mice to T helper-1 type T (Th1) cells is suppressed, whereas antigen presentation to T helper-2 type T (Th2) cells is enhanced. The enhanced antigen presentation to Th2 cells and the impaired presentation to Th1 cells can be reversed in vivo by injecting the UV-irradiated mice with monoclonal anti-IL-10 antibody. Furthermore, immune suppression can be transferred from UV-irradiated mice to normal recipients by adoptive transfer of T cells. Injecting the recipient mice with anti-IL-4 or anti-IL-10 prevents the transfer of immune suppression, suggesting the suppressor cells are Th2 cells. In addition, injecting UV-irradiated mice with IL-12, a cytokine that has been shown to be the primary inducer of Th1 cells, and one that prevents the differentiation of Th2 cells in vivo, reverses UV-induced immune suppression. These findings support the hypothesis that UV exposure activates IL-10 secretion, which depresses the function of Th1 cells, while enhancing the activity of Th2 cells.     

Design and synthesis of peptides that bind alpha-bungarotoxin with high affinity

BACKGROUND: Alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX) is a highly toxic snake venom alpha-neurotoxin that binds to acetylcholine receptor (AChR) at the neuromuscular junction, and is a potent inhibitor of this receptor. We describe the design and synthesis of peptides that bind alpha-BTX with high affinity, and inhibit its interaction with AChR with an IC(50) of 2 nM. The design of these peptides was based on a lead peptide with an IC(50) of 3x10(-7) M, previously identified by us [M. Balass et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94 (1997) 6054] using a phage-display peptide library. RESULTS: Employing nuclear magnetic resonance-derived structural information [T. Scherf et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94 (1997) 6059] of the complex of alpha-BTX with the lead peptide, as well as structure-function analysis of the ligand-binding site of AChR, a systematic residue replacement of the lead peptide, one position at a time, yielded 45 different 13-mer peptides. Of these, two peptides exhibited a one order of magnitude increase in inhibitory potency in comparison to the lead peptide. The design of additional peptides, with two or three replacements, resulted in peptides that exhibited a further increase in inhibitory potency (IC(50) values of 2 nM), that is more than two orders of magnitude better than that of the original lead peptide, and better than that of any known peptide derived from AChR sequence. The high affinity peptides had a protective effect on mice against alpha-BTX lethality. CONCLUSIONS: Synthetic peptides with high affinity to alpha-BTX may be used as potential lead compounds for developing effective antidotes against alpha-BTX poisoning. Moreover, the procedure employed in this study may serve as a general approach for the design and synthesis of peptides that interact with high affinity with any desired biological target.     

Die Kristallstruktur von Stickstofftrijodid-1-Pyridin NJ3 · C5H5N

The Crystal Structure of Nitrogen Triiodide-1-Pyridine NI₃ · C₅H₅N The crystal structure of NI₃ · C₅H₅N like “Nitrogen Triiodide” NI₃ · NH₃ contains NI₄ tetrahedra as essential structure elements. The tetrahedra are connected by common corners, forming indefinite chains. The pyridine molecule is bonded by its lone electron pair to one of the two iodine atoms that do not participate in the connection of the tetrahedra. Different from NI₃ · NH₃ there are very weak intermolecular interactions between iodine atoms of neighbouring chains.     

Critical Points in a Crystal and Procrystal

The critical points in the model electron density distributions of LiF, NaF, NaCl, and MgO crystals, constructed from accurate X-ray diffraction data, are determined. For LiF and MgO they are compared with those obtained from a Hartree–Fock electron density calculation. Both experiment and theory show the same type of critical points on the bond lines. The topological features in areas between structural units, where the electron density is low and near-uniform, turn out to be model dependent and cannot be established well with the data available. Topological analysis of procrystals (hypothetical systems consisting of spherical atoms or ions placed on the same sites as atoms in real crystal) show that (3, –1) critical points, usually connected with bonding interaction, are observed on interatomic lines in these nonbonded systems as well.     

Dynamics of photoinduced processes in adenine and thymine base pairs

The excited-state dynamics of adenine and thymine dimers and the adenine-thymine base pair were investigated by femtosecond pump-probe ionization spectroscopy with excitation wavelengths of 250-272 nm. The base pairs showed a characteristic ultrafast decay of the initially excited pi pi* state to an n pi* state (lifetime tau(pi pi*) approximately 100 fs) followed by a slower decay of the latter with tau(n pi*) approximately 0.9 ps for (adenine)2, tau(n pi*) = 6-9 ps for (thymine)2, and tau(n pi*) approximately 2.4 ps for the adenine-thymine base pair. In the adenine dimer, a competing decay of the pi pi* state via the pi sigma* state greatly suppressed the n pi* state signals. Similarities of the excited-state decay parameters in the isolated bases and the base pairs suggest an intramonomer relaxation mechanism in the base pairs.     

European Synchrotron Users Unified

The landscape of synchrotron radiation facilities in Europe is diverse. In addition to the flagship ESRF, several national facilities exist or came into operation recently. In contrast to ESRF, which is financed for use by member countries, access of foreign users to national facilities is not easy. Even if their proposals pass the review process, they can only perform the experiments if funding is allocated to cover not only travel expenses, board and lodging of the experimenters, but also some compensation for the facility's operational costs; this is because national facilities are primarily funded for the home-country's users at that nation's costs.     

Scope and Applicability of an Expedient Synthesis Leading to Polysubstituted 3‐(Carboxyphenyl)pyrroles

A convenient three‐step route toward a functionalized pyrrole building block for novel anti‐inflammatory agents is reported. In contrast to previous strategies, the present approach focuses on inexpensive starting materials and application on a multigram scale. A high degree of functional diversity is demonstrated in various derivatives, and the scope and limitations of this route are discussed. Complementary to the described tetrasubstituted pyrroles, a novel ring‐closure protocol based on the Feist–Benary condensation affords trisubstituted analogues.