Effect of Biodiesel-derived Raw Glycerol on 1,3-Propanediol Production by Different Microorganisms

The microbial production of 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) from raw glycerol, a byproduct of biodiesel production, is economically and environmentally advantageous. Although direct use of raw glycerol without any pretreatment is desirable, previous studies have reported that this could cause inhibition of microbial growth. In this study, we investigated the effects of raw glycerol type, different microorganisms, and pretreatment of raw glycerol on the production of 1,3-PD. Raw glycerol from waste vegetable-oil-based biodiesel production generally caused more inhibition of 1,3-PD production and microbial growth compared to raw glycerol from soybean-oil-based biodiesel production. In addition, two raw glycerol types produced from two biodiesel manufacturers using waste vegetable oil exhibited different 1,3-PD production behavior, partially due to different amounts of methanol included in the raw glycerol from the two biodiesel manufacturers. Klebsiella strains were generally resistant to all types of raw glycerol while the growth of Clostridium strains was variably inhibited depending on the type of raw glycerol. The 1,3-PD production of the Clostridium strains using acid-pretreated raw glycerol was significantly enhanced compared to that with raw glycerol, demonstrating the feasibility of using raw glycerol for 1,3-PD production by various microorganisms.     

JNC-1043, a Novel Podophyllotoxin Derivative,Exerts Anticancer Drug and Radiosensitizer Effects in Colorectal Cancer Cells

The objective of this study was to determine whether (5S)-5-(4-benzyloxy-3,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-5,9-dihydro-8H-furo [3’,4’:6,7] naphtho [2,3-d] [1,3]dioxol-6-one (JNC-1043), which is a novel chemical derivative of β-apopicropodophyllin, acts as a novel potential anticancer reagent and radiosensitizer in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Firstly, we used MTT assays to assess whether JNC-1043 could inhibit the cell proliferation of HCT116 and DLD-1 cells. The IC50 values of these cell lines were calculated as 114.5 and 157 nM, respectively, at 72 h of treatment. Using doses approximating the IC50 values, we tested whether JNC-1043 had a radiosensitizing effect in the CRC cell lines. Clonogenic assays revealed that the dose-enhancement ratios (DER) of HCT116 and DLD-1 cells were 1.53 and 1.25, respectively. Cell-counting assays showed that the combination of JNC-1043 and γ-ionizing radiation (IR) enhanced cell death. Treatment with JNC-1043 or IR alone induced cell death by 50~60%, whereas the combination of JNC-1043 and IR increased this cell death by more than 20~30%. Annexin V-propidium iodide assays showed that the combination of JNC-1043 and IR increased apoptosis by more 30~40% compared to that induced by JNC-1043 or IR alone. DCFDA- and MitoSOX-based assays revealed that mitochondrial ROS production was enhanced by the combination of JNC-1043 and IR. Finally, we found that suppression of ROS by N-acetylcysteine (NAC) blocked the apoptotic cell death induced by the combination of JNC-1043 and IR. The xenograft model also indicated that the combination of JNC-1043 and IR increased apoptotic cell death in tumor mass. These results collectively suggest that JNC-1043 acts as a radiosensitizer and exerts anticancer effects against CRC cells by promoting apoptosis mediated by mitochondrial ROS.     

Aminolysis of 2,4-dinitrophenyl X-substituted benzoates and Y-substituted phenyl benzoates in MeCN: effect of the reaction medium on rate and mechanism

Second‐order rate constants (k_N) have been determined spectrophotometrically for the reactions of 2,4‐dinitrophenyl X‐substituted benzoates ( 1 a – f ) and Y‐substituted phenyl benzoates ( 2 a – h ) with a series of alicyclic secondary amines in MeCN at 25.0±0.1 °C. The k_N values are only slightly larger in MeCN than in H₂O, although the amines studied are approximately 8 pK_a units more basic in the aprotic solvent than in H₂O. The Yukawa–Tsuno plot for the aminolysis of 1 a – f is linear, indicating that the electronic nature of the substituent X in the nonleaving group does not affect the rate‐determining step (RDS) or reaction mechanism. The Hammett correlation with σ^? constants also exhibits good linearity with a large slope (ρ_Y=3.54) for the reactions of 2 a – h with piperidine, implying that the leaving‐group departure occurs at the rate‐determining step. Aminolysis of 2,4‐dinitrophenyl benzoate ( 1 c ) results in a linear Brønsted‐type plot with a β_nuc value of 0.40, suggesting that bond formation between the attacking amine and the carbonyl carbon atom of 1 c is little advanced in the transition state (TS). A concerted mechanism is proposed for the aminolysis of 1 a – f in MeCN. The medium change from H₂O to MeCN appears to force the reaction to proceed concertedly by decreasing the stability of the zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate (T^±) in aprotic solvent.     

Aminolysis of Y-substituted phenyl diphenylphosphinates and benzoates: effect of modification of electrophilic center from C=O to P=O

The effect of modification of the electrophilic center from C=O to P=O on reactivity and reaction mechanism has been investigated for aminolysis of Y-substituted phenyl diphenylphosphinates (1a-j) and benzoates (2a-i). The phosphinates 1a-j are less reactive than the benzoates 2a-i. The reactions of 2,4-dinitrophenyl diphenylphosphinate (1a) with alicyclic secondary amines resulted in a linear Br?nsted-type plot with a beta(nuc) value of 0.38, while the corresponding reactions of 2,4-dinitrophenyl benzoate (2a) yielded a curved Br?nsted-type plot. Similarly, a linear Br?nsted-type plot with a beta(lg) value of -0.66 was obtained for the reactions of 1a-j with piperidine, while the corresponding reactions of 2a-i gave a curved Br?nsted-type plot. The linear Br?nsted-type plots for the reactions of 1a-j have been taken as evidence for a concerted mechanism, while the curved Br?nsted-type plots for the reactions of 2a-i have been suggested to indicate a change in the rate-determining step of a stepwise mechanism. The Hammett plot for the reactions of 1b-j exhibited a poor correlation with sigma(-) constants (R(2) = 0.962) but slightly better correlation with sigma(o) (R(2) = 0.986). However, the Yukawa-Tsuno plot for the same reactions resulted in an excellent correlation (R(2) = 0.9993) with an r value of 0.30. The aminolysis of 1a-j has been suggested to proceed through a concerted mechanism with an early transition state on the basis of the small beta(nuc) and small r values.     

Effect of o-methyl group on rate, mechanism, and resonance contribution: aminolysis of Y-substituted phenyl X-substituted 2-methylbenzoates

Second-order rate constants have been determined spectrophotometrically for the reactions of 4-nitrophenyl X-substituted 2-methylbenzoates (2a-e) and Y-substituted phenyl 2-methylbenzoates (3a-e) with alicyclic secondary amines in 80 mol % H(2)O/20 mol % DMSO at 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C. The o-methyl group in the benzoyl moiety of 2a-e retards the reaction rate but does not influence the reaction mechanism. The Hammett plots for the reactions of 2a-e are nonlinear, while the corresponding Yukawa-Tsuno plots are linear with large r values (1.06-1.70). The linear Yukawa-Tsuno plots suggest that stabilization of the ground-state through resonance interaction between the electron donating substituent X and the carbonyl group is responsible for the nonlinear Hammett plots, while the large r values imply that the ground-state resonance interaction is significant. The reactions of 2a-e resulted in smaller rho(X) values but larger r values than the corresponding reactions of 4-nitrophenyl X-substituted benzoates (1a-e). The small rho(X) value for the reactions of 2a-e (e.g., rho(X) = 0.22) is suggested to be responsible for the large r value (e.g., r = 1.70). The reactions of 3a-e with piperidine are proposed to proceed in a stepwise manner with a change in the rate-determining step on the basis of the curved Br?nsted-type plot obtained. Microscopic rate constants associated with the reactions of 3a-e are also consistent with the proposed mechanism.     

Spontaneous symmetry breaking for zero mass

We investigate spontaneous symmetry breaking of a zero mass free Lagrangian within a functional formalism. We find that the boundary conditions of field solutions are responsible for the spontaneous symmetry breaking and this can be incorporated naturally in a functional method.     

Note on the use of reciprocity of chiral recognition in designing liquid chromatographic chiral stationary phases

The effect of methanol, acetone and acetonitrile on the sensitivity, selectivity and the detection limits (LODs) of the determination of chromium species by ion chromatography was investigated. A collinear dual-beam thermal lens spectrometer was used for the direct detection of chromium complexes [pre-column derivatized Cr(III)–pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, and post-column derivatized Cr(VI)–1,5-diphenylcarbazide] following the ion chromatographic separation on a Dionex HPIC-CS5A solvent compatible column. Different amounts of organic solvents were added directly to the eluent (up to 30%) and to the post-column reagent (up to 60%) to improve the thermooptical properties of the solvents. Consequently, the sensitivity of the technique was increased by a factor of 2–3 and LODs of 0.1 and 10 μg dm⁻³ were achieved for Cr(VI) and Cr(III), respectively, when the eluent reaching the detector contained 30% of acetonitrile. The addition of organic solvents also resulted in significant changes in retention times, which improved the Cr(III)/Cr(VI) separation.