Hexacoordinated spirocyclic germanium(IV) complex: Synthesis and structural characterization

The spiro‐dibenzogermocine [O(o‐C₆H₄S)₂]₂Ge ( 1 ) was prepared in a reaction between O(o‐C₆H₄SH)₂ and Ge(OⁱPr)₄, and its molecular structure was determined by X‐ray diffraction studies. In the solid state, 1 shows the existence of two weak O → Ge transannular interactions, resulting in a hexacoordinated germanium atom that displays the geometry of a distorted bicapped tetrahedron. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 20:45–49, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20510     

A Cyclometalated IrIII Complex Conjugated to a Coumarin Derivative Is a Potent Photodynamic Agent against Prostate Differentiated and Tumorigenic Cancer Stem Cells

A cyclometalated Ir^III complex conjugated to a far-red-emitting coumarin, Ir^III-COUPY ( 3 ), was recently shown as a very promising photosensitizer suitable for photodynamic therapy of cancer. Therefore, the primary goal of this work was to deepen knowledge on the mechanism of its photoactivated antitumor action so that this information could be used to propose a new class of compounds as drug candidates for curing very hardly treatable human tumors, such as androgen resistant prostatic tumors of metastatic origin. Conventional anticancer chemotherapies exhibit several disadvantages, such as limited efficiency to target cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are considered the main reason for chemotherapy resistance, relapse, and metastasis. Herein, we show, using DU145 tumor cells, taken as the model of hormone-refractory and aggressive prostate cancer cells resistant to conventional antineoplastic drugs, that the photoactivated conjugate 3 very efficiently eliminates both prostate bulk (differentiated) and prostate hardly treatable CSCs simultaneously and with a similar efficiency. Notably, the very low toxicity of Ir^III-COUPY conjugate in the prostate DU145 cells in the dark and its pronounced selectivity for tumor cells compared with noncancerous cells could result in low side effects and reduced damage of healthy cells during the photoactivated therapy by this agent. Moreover, the experiments performed with the 3D spheroids formed from DU145 CSCs showed that conjugate 3 can penetrate the inner layers of tumor spheres, which might markedly increase its therapeutic effect. Also interestingly, this conjugate induces apoptotic cell death in prostate cancer DU145 cells associated with calcium signaling flux in these cells and autophagy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating that a photoactivatable metal-based compound is an efficient agent capable of killing even hardly treatable CSCs.     

Isolation of Biogenic Amines Using Paramagnetic Microparticles Off-Line Coupled with Ion Exchange Liquid Chromatography

This study aims at the possibility of single structured paramagnetic microparticles (PMPs), composed of maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃) core modified with chitosan called MAN8, or tetraethyl orthosilicate covered with Dowex called MAN35, to be helpful for isolation of biogenic amines prior to their further analysis. Primarily, we synthesized and characterized PMPs. To obtain the information about bead morphology, scanning electron microscopy was employed. Furthermore, X-ray fluorescence was employed to carry out the elemental composition analyses. To obtain further insight into interaction between PMP surface and biogenic amines, scanning electron microscope was employed. It was shown that binding of biogenic amines causes increase of relative current response of deprotonated microparticles. We tested the specificity of PMPs to bind biogenic amines on histamine, tyramine, spermine, spermidine, putrescine, and cadaverine. We found that two types of our PMPs were able to selectively bind spermidine, cadaverine, and histamine in the case of MAN35; and histamine, tyramine, and putrescine in the case of MAN8. Finally, we carried out the analyses of real samples obtained from patients suffering from prostate carcinoma, where histamine was determined as the most abundant biogenic amine (10.456–13.654 µg mL⁻¹). The prepared PMPs were able to isolate the biogenic amines from real samples, and thus they may be helpful in construction of biosensors, or Lab-on-a-Chip platforms, enabling less painful, and more rapid diagnosis of prostate cancer.

     

Random graphs with monochromatic triangles in every edge coloring

We prove that for every r ? 2 there is C > 0 such that if p Cn^?1/2 then almost surely every r-coloring of the edges of the binomial random graph K(n, p) results in a monochromatic triangle. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Chemisorption of carbon monoxide on carburized polycrystalline tungsten

Desorption spectra of CO chemisorbed on clean and carburized W at room temperature were measured in the temperature range from 300 to 1900 K and coverage versus exposure plots were constructed. The partial conservation of the β state on carburized W is discussed.     

An XPS and UPS study of the kinetics of carbon monoxide oxidation over Ag(111)

The oxidation of carbon monoxide over a Ag(111) catalyst has been studied by XPS and UPS. The kinetics have been determined over the temperature range of 180 to 400 K and found to be of the Langmuir-Hinshelwood type, although the Eley-Rideal mechanism is mimicked. A negative activation energy, ?1.7 kcal/mole, and a preexponential, 6 × 10^?18 cm², are found. The former corresponds to the difference in the activation energies for carbon monoxide desorption and for carbon monoxide oxidation (leading to CO₂ desorption). At 90 K, upon carbon monoxide exposure to the active oxygen precovered surface, the O ls and C ls spectral regions show the formation of CO₂-like and carbonate species; the latter is stable to at least room temperature. That is, at 90 K, the residence time and mobility of CO₂ formed at the surface permits a new surface reaction — the formation of stable surface carbonate. The identifications are based on C and O coverages and on line positions from the literature for Cu/CO₂ and several bulk carbonates. With UPS, the 1π_g, the unresolved doublet 1π_u and 3σ_g, and the 4σ_g molecular orbitals of adsorbed CO₂-like species are identified, as well as the unresolved triplet 1α′₂, 1e″ and 4e′ and the unresolved triplet 3e′, 1α″₂ and 4a′ molecular orbitals of the carbonate species. Surface CO₂-like species formed by surface oxidation of CO seem to be more strongly bound than reversibly adsorbed CO₂.     

Synthesis and structures of aluminium monohydride and chalcogenides bearing a bidentate [N,O] ligand

The aluminium monohydride (3-tBu-5-Me-2-(O)C(6)H(2)CH(2)-N-2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3))AlH(NMe(3))(2) was prepared by treatment of the bidentate salicylaldimine [3-tBu-5-Me-2-(OH)C(6)H(2)CH=N-2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)](1) with a small excess of AlH(3).NMe(3) in high yield. Compound 2 reacted with sulfur and selenium respectively to afford the dimeric aluminium chalcogenide [(3-tBu-5-Me-2-(O)C(6)H(2)CH(2)-NH-2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3))Al(micro-E)](2)[E = S (3), E = Se (4)]. During the formation of 2 hydrogen migration from the aluminium centre to the ligand backbone occurred. A possible reaction mechanism for 3 and 4 is discussed and the molecular structures of compounds 2-4 were determined by X-ray structural analyses.     

New tools for molecular imaging of redox metabolism: development of a fluorogenic probe for 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases

A new fluorogenic substrate was developed for 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (3alpha-HSD), including the human enzymes implicated in important physiological functions (androgen deactivation, neurosteroid activation). While ketone 5 is nonfluorescent, the corresponding alcohol exhibits high fluorescence with emission maximum at 510 nm, thus constituting a redox optical switch. This study began with a chemical concept of a ketone-alcohol optical switch which guided the synthesis of a focused array of compounds. Subsequently, seven compounds were selected (1-7) on the basis of their optical and chemical (stability) properties and were submitted to a screen against a panel of dehydrogenase enzymes. Probe 5 was found to be highly selective for bacterial, rat, and human 3alpha-HSD enzymes. The kinetic parameters were obtained for human 3alpha-HSD enzyme (type 2 isozyme, AKR 1C3; Km = 2.5 muM, kcat = 8.2 min-1). Remarkably, comparison to 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5alpha-DHT, Km = 26 muM, kcat = 0.25 min-1, Figure 4), a likely physiological substrate in prostate, revealed that synthetic probe 5 is in fact a far better substrate for this enzyme. Structure 5 represents an exciting lead for the development of a redox imaging probe.