Development of isotope-enriched phosphatidylinositol-4- and 5-phosphate cellular mass spectrometry probes

Synthetic phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PtdInsP_n) derivatives play a pivotal role in broadening our understanding of PtdInsP_n metabolism. However, the development of such tools is reliant on efficient enantioselective and regioselective synthetic strategies. Here we report the development of a divergent synthetic route applicable to the synthesis of deuterated PtdIns4P and PtdIns5P derivatives. The synthetic strategy developed involves a key enzymatic desymmetrisation step using Lipozyme TL-IM®. In addition, we optimised the large-scale synthesis of deuterated myo-inositol, allowing for the preparation of a series of saturated and unsaturated deuterated PtdIns4P and PtdIns5P derivatives. Experiments in MCF7 cells demonstrated that these deuterated probes enable quantification of the corresponding endogenous phospholipids in a cellular setting. Overall, these deuterated probes will be powerful tools to help improve our understanding of the role played by PtdInsP_n in physiology and disease.

We report the synthesis of deuterium-labelled derivatives of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate, and demonstrate their use in quantifying levels of endogenous phospholipids in cells.     

Photochemistry of phenyl-substituted 1,2,4-thiadiazoles. 15N-labeling studies

Irradiation of 5-phenyl-1,2,4-thiadiazole (6) resulted in the formation of benzonitrile (5), 3-phenyl-1,2,4-thiadiazole (4), phenyl- and diphenyl-1,3,5-triazines (7 and 8), and a trace quantity of diphenyl-1,2,4-thiadiazole (9). The formation of 4,5, 7, and 8 can be explained in terms of photoinduced electrocyclic ring closure resulting in the formation of an intermediate 4-phenyl-1,3-diaza-5-thiabicyclo[2.1.0]pentene. 15N-labeling experiments revealed that sulfur can undergo sigmatropic shifts around all four sides of the diazetine ring. Thus, irradiation of 6-4-15N led to the formation of 6-2-15N and an equimolar mixture of 4-2-15N and 4-4-15N. The thiabicyclo[2.1.0]pentene intermediate is also suggested to undergo sulfur elimination resulting in the formation of phenyldiazacyclobutadiene, which can undergo complete fragmentation to benzonitrile or [4+2] cycloaddition leading to unstable tricyclic adducts, the suggested precursors of the 1,3,5-triazine products 7 and 8. The observed 15N distribution in 7 and 8 is consistent with this mechanism. Irradiation of 4 led only to the formation of 5. 15N-labeling experiments show that 4 does not undergo electrocyclic ring closure but reacts exclusively by photofragmentation of the thiadiazole ring.     

Examination of the distribution of nicosulfuron in sunflower plants by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI‐MSI) has been used to image the distribution of the pesticide nicosulfuron (2‐[[(4,6‐dimethoxypyrimidin‐2‐yl)aminocarbonyl]aminosulfonyl]‐N,N‐dimethyl‐3‐pyridinecarboxamide) in plant tissue using direct tissue imaging following root and foliar uptake. Sunflower plants inoculated with nicosulfuron were horizontally sectioned at varying distances along the stem in order to asses the extent of translocation; uptake via the leaves following foliar application to the leaves and uptake via the roots from a hydroponics system were compared. An improved sample preparation methodology, encasing samples in ice, allowed sections from along the whole of the plant stem from the root bundle to the growing tip to be taken. Images of fragment ions and alkali metal adducts have been generated that show the distribution of the parent compound and a phase 1 metabolite in the plant. Positive and negative controls have been included in the images to confirm ion origin and prevent false‐positive results which could originate from endogenous compounds present within the plant tissue. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Observation of the Meissner effect in polysulphur nitride, (SN)x

The superconductivity of (SN)_x is definitely established by the observation of a Meissner effect with the magnetic field applied perpendicular and parallel to the (SN)_x fibre axis. Considerable flux trapping is observed and the magnetization curves are similar to those expected for coupled filamentary type II superconductors.     

Microstructure and Porosity of Silica Xerogel Monoliths Prepared by the Fast Sol-Gel Method

An adaptation of the fast sol-gel method to the synthesis of xerogel monoliths using tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) as the alkoxide precursor is described in this paper. The procedure involves running the reaction at 70–80°C in an open vessel, which accelerates hydrolysis and condensation and reduces the amount of liquid by expelling excess methanol through outdistillation. This procedure yields crack-free monoliths. The porosity and microstructure of these xerogel monoliths were studied by using N₂ adsorption and desorption and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM data show that the solid skeletal phase has a globular morphology with particles, 20–40 nm in diameter, arranged into agglomerates a few hundred nm in diameter. The microstructure of the acid-catalyzed xerogel is a consolidation of these agglomerates. The isotherm data show these xerogels to be microporous. In contrast, the base-catalyzed xerogel has a hierarchical morphology with the clusters of agglomerates organized into larger clusters approaching 1 m in diameter. An analysis of the isotherm data shows these xerogels to be less microporous with a narrow distribution of mesopores having an average diameter of 50 Å.     

Editorial: Synthesis themed issue

With this issue, NPR fully embraces the molecular and structural biology revolution by showcasing leading work in natural product synthesis, with emphasis on those areas allied to the chemical biology agenda.     

Metal-ion-complexing properties of 2-(pyrid-2'-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline, a more preorganized analogue of terpyridyl. A crystallographic, fluorescence, and thermodynamic study

Some metal-ion-complexing properties of the ligand 2-(pyrid-2'-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline (MPP) are reported. MPP is of interest in that it is a more preorganized version of 2,2';6,2'-terpyridine (tpy). Protonation constants (pK(1) = 4.60; pK(2) = 3.35) for MPP were determined by monitoring the intense π-π* transitions of 2 × 10(-5) M solutions of the ligand as a function of the pH at an ionic strength of 0 and 25 °C. Formation constants (log K(1)) at an ionic strength of 0 and 25 °C were obtained by monitoring the π-π* transitions of MPP titrated with solutions of the metal ion, or 1:1 solutions of MPP and the metal ion were titrated with acid. Large metal ions such as Ca(II) or La(III) showed increases of log K(1) of about 1.5 log units compared to that of tpy. Small metal ions such as Zn(II) and Ni(II) showed little increase in log K(1) for MPP compared to the tpy complexes, which is attributed to the presence of five-membered chelate rings in the MPP complexes, which favor large metal ions. The structure of [Cd(MPP)(H(2)O)(NO(3))(2)] (1) is reported: monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 7.4940(13) ?, b = 12.165(2) ?, c = 20.557(4) ?, β = 96.271(7)°, V = 1864.67(9) ?(3), Z = 4, and final R = 0.0786. The Cd in 1 is seven-coordinate, comprising the three donor atoms of MPP, a coordinated water, a monodentate, and a bidentate NO(3)(-). Cd(II) is a fairly large metal ion, with r(+) = 0.96 ?, slightly too small for coordination with MPP. The effect of this size matching in terms of the structure is discussed. Fluorescence spectra of 2 × 10(-7) M MPP in aqueous solution are reported. The nonprotonated MPP ligand fluoresces only weakly, which is attributed to a photoinduced-electron-transfer effect. The chelation-enhanced-fluorescence (CHEF) effect induced by some metal ions is presented, and the trend of the CHEF effect, which is Ca(II) > Zn(II) > Cd(II) ~ La(III) > Hg(II), is discussed in terms of factors that control the CHEF effect, such as the heavy-atom effect.     

Benzo[a]acecorannulene: surprising formation of a new bowl-shaped aromatic hydrocarbon from an attempted synthesis of 1,2-diazadibenzo[d,m]corannulene

[Structure: see text] Flash vacuum pyrolysis of 7,10-bis(2-bromophenyl)acenaphtho[1,2-d]pyridazine (C26H14Br2N2) has resulted in a surprising transformation, including dinitrogen loss, to give benzo[a]acecorannulene, a novel C26H12 bowl-shaped fullerene fragment.