Binding of naproxen and amitriptyline to bovine serum albumin: biophysical aspects

Binding of the drugs naproxen (which is an anti-inflammatory) and amitriptyline (which is an anti-depressant) to bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been studied using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), in combination with fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopies. Naproxen is observed to bind more strongly to BSA than amitriptyline. The temperature-dependent ITC results indicate the interaction of one molecule of naproxen with more than one protein molecule. On the other hand, amitriptyline binds to BSA with a reaction stoichiometry that varies from 1:1.2 to 1:2.9. The van't Hoff enthalpy, which is calculated from the temperature dependence of the binding constant, agrees well with the calorimetric enthalpy in the case of naproxen binding to BSA, indicating adherence to a two-state binding process. However, their disagreement in the case of amitriptyline indicates conformational changes in the protein upon ligand binding, as well as with the rise in temperature. The spectroscopic results did not suggest appreciable conformational changes as a result of binding; hence, the discrepancy could be attributed to the temperature-induced conformational changes. With increases in the ionic strength, a reduction in the binding affinity of naproxen to BSA is observed. This suggests the prevailing electrostatic interactions in the complexation process. The preponderance of the hydrophobic interactions in the binding of amitriptyline to BSA is indicated by the absence of any dependence of the ionic strength. A predominance of electrostatic interactions in the case of naproxen binding to BSA and that of hydrophobic interactions in the case of amitriptyline binding to BSA is further strengthened by the results of the binding experiments performed in the presence of ionic and nonionic surfactants. The binding parameters indicate that Triton X-100 blocks the hydrophobic binding sites on BSA, thereby altering the binding affinity of amitriptyline toward BSA. A partial overlap of the binding sites for these drugs is indicated by the binding parameters obtained in the titration of naproxen to the amitriptyline-BSA complex and vice versa. Thus, the results provide a quantitative understanding of the binding of naproxen and amitriptyline to BSA, which is important in understanding their effect as therapeutic agents individually and in combination therapy.     

From supramolecular porphyrin tweezers to dynamic A(n)B(m)C(l)D(k) multiporphyrin arrangements through orthogonal coordination

A dynamic, supramolecular, three-component A(n)B(m)C(l) bis(zinc porphyrin) tweezer has been prepared quantitatively using the heteroleptic bisphenanthroline (HETPHEN) concept. Upon addition of nitrogenous spacers of different length, namely, the extended bipyridine 3 a, 4,4'-bipyridine (3 b), and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO; 3 c), to set up an additional orthogonal binding motif (Zn(Por)-N(spacer)), three structurally different, still dynamic, four-component A(n)B(m)C(l)D(k) assemblies were cleanly formed, as indicated by UV/Vis and NMR titrations as well as by DOSY investigations. The structures were identified as a bridged monotweezer A(2)BC(2)D, a doubly bridged double tweezer A(4)B(2)C(4)D(2), and a triply bridged double tweezer A(4)B(2)C(4)D(3), the latter resembling a porphyrin stack. Notably, the same structures were equally formed directly from a mixture of the constituents A, B, C, and D put together in any sequence if the correct stoichiometry was applied.     

Defect induced magnetism in highly oriented pyrolytic graphite: bulk magnetization and 19F hyperfine interaction studies

We have made bulk and local investigations on defect induced magnetism in highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) irradiated with a 40 MeV carbon beam. The local magnetic response of irradiated HOPG was studied by measuring the hyperfine field of recoil implanted (19)F using γ-ray time differential perturbed angular distribution (TDPAD) measurements. While the bulk magnetic properties of the irradiated sample show features characteristic of room temperature ferromagnetism, the hyperfine field data reflect enhanced paramagnetism with no indication of long range magnetic ordering. The experimental studies are further supported by ab initio density functional calculations. We believe that the ferromagnetic response in irradiated HOPG arises mostly from defect induced magnetic moments of carbon atoms in the near surface region, while those deep inside the host matrix remain paramagnetic.     

1,2,3-Triazolyl-tetrahydropyrimidine Conjugates as Potential Sterol Carrier Protein-2 Inhibitors: Larvicidal Activity against the Malaria Vector Anopheles arabiensis and In Silico Molecular Docking Study

Alteration of insect growth regulators by the action of inhibitors is becoming an attractive strategy to combat disease-transmitting insects. In the present study, we investigated the larvicidal effect of 1,2,3-triazolyl-pyrimidinone derivatives against the larvae of the mosquito Anopheles arabiensis, a vector of malaria. All compounds demonstrated insecticidal activity against mosquito larvae in a dose-dependent fashion. A preliminary study of the structure–activity relationship indicated that the electron-withdrawing substituent in the para position of the 4-phenyl-pyrimidinone moiety enhanced the molecules’ potency. A docking study of these derivatives revealed favorable binding affinity for the sterol carrier protein-2 receptor, a protein present in the intestine of the mosquito larvae. Being effective insecticides against the malaria-transmitting Anopheles arabiensis, 1,2,3-triazole-based pyrimidinones represent a starting point to develop novel inhibitors of insect growth regulators.     

Application of similarity theory to predict operational characteristics of a DC plasma torch under low-pressure condition

The European Physical Journal D - In the present work, we report an investigation on the importance of using realistic partition functions in the opacity calculations of lanthanide ions whether...     

Chemodosimetric Mechanistic Insight through Trapping Intermediate for Selective Detection of Picric Acid in Aqueous Medium by a Dinuclear CdII Complex

A fluorescent dinuclear cadmium(II) based discrete metal complex of composition [Cd^II₂L(μ-Cl)Cl₂]( 1 ) is used {HL=2,6-bis[2-(methylamino)ethyliminomethyl]-4-Ethylphenol} for the specific recognition of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (picric acid; PA) via fluorescence quenching phenomenon among various nitroaromatic compounds through a chemodosimetric approach. It has been established that 1 is a chemodosimeter in pure water. We have successfully been able to isolate three compounds: chemodosimeter 1 ; an intermediate complex 2 of composition [Cd^II(LH₂)Cl₂](Picrate) and final association complex 3 of composition [NH₃(CH₂CH₂)NH₂CH₃](Picrate)₂. Compounds have been characterised by CHN elemental analyses, single crystal X-ray crystallography, PXRD, NMR and FTIR. Selective interaction of 1 with PA was evaluated by fluorescence, UV-Vis and life time measurements. Fluorescence quenching of 1 occurs definitely due to the formation of compound 3 via intermediate 2 involving partial decomplexation, hydrolysis and proton transfer phenomena in solution during the course of sensing. The quenching constant (K_sv), association constant (K_a) and detection limit (LOD) of the complex 1 for picric acid are ∼1.55×10⁵ M⁻¹, ∼1.8×10¹⁰ M⁻² and ∼0.47 μM (0.108 ppm), respectively. Mechanism of sensing is proposed and the very rare case of isolation and characterization of intermediate in picric acid sensing is discussed.     

Syntheses,structures, and electrochemistry of a dinuclear compound and a mononuclear–mononuclear cocrystalline compound of uranyl(VI)

Syntheses, structures, and electrochemistry of a dialkoxo‐bridged diuranyl(VI) compound [(UO₂)₂(L¹)₂(dimethylformamide)₂] ( 1 ) and a mononuclear–mononuclear cocrystalline compound [(UO₂)(L²)(H₂O)⊂(H₂O)]·[(UO₂)(L²)(H₂O)] ( 2 ) derived from Schiff base ligands are reported (H₂L¹ = Schiff base ligand obtained on condensation of 3‐ethoxysalicylaldehyde with 2‐aminoethanol; H₂L² = N,N ′‐o ‐phenylenebis(3‐ethoxysalicylaldimine)). The compounds 1 and 2 crystallize in the space groups P 2₁/c and P 1, respectively. Compound 1 is a dialkoxo‐bridged dinuclear compound of uranium(VI) containing two deprotonated ligands, [L]^2–, two dimethylformamide (dmf) molecules and two UO₂²⁺ centers. Three C–H···O type hydrogen bonds involving one uranyl oxygen, two dmf hydrogens, and the imine hydrogen link the dinuclear units into a two‐dimensional network. Compound 2 is a cocrystal of two mononuclear units, [(UO₂)(L²)(H₂O)⊂(H₂O)] (unit 1) and [(UO₂)(L²)(H₂O)] (unit 2). In unit 1, the non‐coordinated water molecule forms hydrogen bonds with oxygens of phenoxo, ethoxy, and coordinated water molecules resulting in the formation of an inclusion product. The overall supramolecular structure of compound 2 is one‐dimensional and consists of interlinked self‐assembled dimeric unit of unit 1 and unit 2. Cyclic voltammetric measurements reveal that the uranium(VI) center in [(UO₂)₂(L¹)₂(dimethylformamide)₂] ( 1 ) is reduced quasireversibly at E_1/2 = –773 mV with ΔE_P = 121 mV, while the metal center in [(UO₂)(L²)(H₂O)⊂(H₂O)]·[(UO₂)(L²)(H₂O)] ( 2 ) is reduced reversibly with E_1/2 = –765 mV with ΔE_P = 68 mV. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Morphology of InN nanorods using spectroscopic Raman imaging

We report the vibrational properties of vertical and oblique InN nanorods (NRs) grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Surface optical (SO) Raman mode at 561 cm⁻¹, belonging to E₁ symmetry [SO(E₁)], is identified along with symmetry allowed Raman modes of E₂(low), E₂(high), and E₁(LO) at 87, 489, and 589 cm⁻¹, respectively, corresponding to wurtzite InN phase. Usually, SO phonon modes arise due to breakdown of translational symmetry of surface potential at surface defects, which are attributed by the surface roughness. Intensity distribution of E₁(LO) and SO(E₁) phonon modes over a specified area have been analysed using Raman area mapping with an optical resolution of 400 nm. Imaging with E₁(LO) phonon mode, originating from the bulk of the sample, distinguishes the vertical NRs alone. We are able to resolve NR morphologies in both vertical and oblique cases with additional Raman mapping analysis of SO(E₁) phonon mode, emerging from the surface irregularities, which are confined to the tip of MBE grown NRs. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.