Nonselective excitation of pulsed ELDOR using multi-frequency microwaves

The use of a polychromatic microwave pulse to expand the pumping bandwidth in pulsed electron-electron double resonance (PELDOR) was investigated. The pumping pulse was applied in resonance with the broad (～100 mT) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal of the manganese cluster of photosystem II in the S2 state. The observation pulses were in resonance with the narrow EPR signal of the tyrosine radical, YD·. It was found that in the case of the polychromatic pumping pulse containing five harmonics with the microwave frequencies between 8.5 and 10.5 GHz the PELDOR effect corresponding to the dipole interaction between the Mn cluster and YD· was about 2.9 times larger than that achieved with a monochromatic pulse. In addition to the dipolar modulation, the nuclear modulation effects were observed. The effects could be suppressed by averaging the PELDOR trace over the time interval between the observation microwave pulses. The polychromatic excitation technique described will be useful for improving the PELDOR sensitivity in the measurements of long distances in biological samples, where the pair consists of a radical with a narrow EPR spectrum and slow phase relaxation, and a metal center that has a broad EPR spectrum and a short phase relaxation time.     

Improved Synthesis of ortho-Phenylene-bridged Cyclic Tetrapyrroles and Oxidative Fusion Reactions Toward Substituted Tetraaza[8]circulenes

Hetero[8]circulenes have emerged as novel functionalized heteronanographenes that show various promising functions such as bright fluorescence, charge transporting, and redox reactivities. One of the effective synthetic strategy is the fold-in type oxidative fusion reaction of ortho-phenylene-bridged cyclic tetrapyrroles, whose construction, however, is not well-sophisticated in terms of reproducibility and possibility for versatile derivatization. In this paper, a “reverse” coupling strategy has been developed, which enabled synthesis of opp-type low symmetric analogues of cyclic tetrapyrroles. Oxidative fusion reaction conditions to afford tetraaza[8]circulenes have also been reinvestigated and improved. Substituent effects of cyclic tetrapyrroles and tetrabenzotetraaza[8]circulenes are studied for solid-state structures and packing structures, redox potentials, and optical properties.     

Stereospecific polymerization of benzyl vinyl ether by BF3·OEt2

Polymerization of benzyl vinyl ether was carried out by BF₃·OEt₂, and the effects of polymerization conditions on the stereoregularity of the polymer were studied by NMR analysis. The polymerization at ?78°C in toluene gave a highly isotactic polymer. The isotacticity of the polymer was independent of the catalyst concentration but increased with a decrease in the initial monomer concentration and decreased slightly on raising the reaction temperature. When the polymerizations were carried out in toluene—nitroethane mixtures, a gradual decrease in the isotacticity and a rapid decrease in the molecular weight of the polymer were observed with increasing nitroethane in the solvent. The molecular weight of the polymer was almost constant, regardless of the catalyst concentration, and increased with increasing initial monomer concentration and decreasing polymerization temperature. When the polymerization was performed in toluene at ?78°C with a small amount of water or benzyl alcohol, a linear relationship was found between the reciprocal DP of the polymer and water or benzylalcohol concentration. The mechanisms of the initiation reaction and the stereoregulation in the polymerization were also discussed.     

Participation of the surface structure of Pharaonis phoborhodopsin, ppR and its A149S and A149V mutants, consisting of the C-terminal alpha-helix and E-F loop, in the complex-formation with the cognate transducer pHtrII, as revealed by site-directed 13C solid-state NMR

We have recorded 13C solid state NMR spectra of [3-13C]Ala-labeled pharaonis phoborhodopsin (ppR) and its mutants, A149S and A149V, complexed with the cognate transducer pharaonis halobacterial transducer II protein (pHtrII) (1-159), to gain insight into a possible role of their cytoplasmic surface structure including the C-terminal alpha-helix and E-F loop for stabilization of the 2:2 complex, by both cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CP-MAS) and dipolar decoupled (DD)-MAS NMR techniques. We found that 13C CP-MAS NMR spectra of [3-13C]Ala-ppR, A149S and A149V complexed with the transducer pHtrII are very similar, reflecting their conformation and dynamics changes caused by mutual interactions through the transmembrane alpha-helical surfaces. In contrast, their DD-MAS NMR spectral features are quite different between [3-13C]Ala-A149S and A149V in the complexes with pHtrII: 13C DD-MAS NMR spectrum of [3-13C]Ala-A149S complex is rather similar to that of the uncomplexed form, while the corresponding spectral feature of A149V complex is similar to that of ppR complex in the C-terminal tip region. This is because more flexible surface structure detected by the DD-MAS NMR spectra are more directly influenced by the dynamics changes than the CP-MAS NMR. It turned out, therefore, that an altered surface structure of A149S resulted in destabilized complex as viewed from the 13C NMR spectrum of the surface areas, probably because of modified conformation at the corner of the helix E in addition to the change of hydropathy. It is, therefore, concluded that the surface structure of ppR including the C-terminal alpha-helix and the E-F loops is directly involved in the stabilization of the complex through conformational stability of the helix E.     

Studies on panax acetylenes: absolute structure of a new panax acetylene, and inhibitory effects of related acetylenes on the growth of L-1210 cells

A new Panax acetylene, 3-oxo-PQ-1 (1), was isolated from Panax quinquefolium. The absolute configurations of 3-oxo-PQ-1 (1) and PQ-1 (2) were determined to be (9R,10R) and (3R,9R,10R), respectively, by synthesizing 1 and 2 starting from D-(-)-diethyl tartrate, and by synthesizing their stereoisomers from L-(+)-diethyl tartrate. The growth inhibitory effects of Panax acetylenes (1-8) and their stereoisomers against leukemia cells were tested. Unnatural acetylenes having the (3S)-configuration (2, 5, 6, 7, 8; IC(50)=0.01-0.1 microg/ml) were found to be approximately ten times more potent than natural acetylenes (IC(50)=0.1-1.0 microg/ml) with the (3R)-configuration. Potency differences due to the configuration at C-9 and C-10 were unrelated to this stereochemistry. The C(14)-polyacetylenes, PQ-8 (4) and its isomer (IC(50)=1.0-10.0 microg/ml), were found to exhibit weaker cytotoxicity than the C(17)-polyacetylenes.     

异黄酮同分异构体的ESI-IT-TOF质谱特征及区别

采用电喷雾-离子阱-飞行时间串联质谱(ESI-IT-TOF)技术, 在正/负离子检测模式下对芒柄花素及其同分异构体7-甲氧基异黄酮的质谱裂解规律进行了系统研究. 实验结果表明, 该化合物在正、负离子模式下均得到了5级高分辨质谱. 结果显示, 二者在负离子模式下的碎片相同, 而在正离子模式下的碎片裂解不同. 根据正负离子模式的5级高分辨质谱推导了两者的可能裂解规律, 丰富了异黄酮的ESI-MSn数据, 为其它异黄酮类化合物的分析鉴定提供了有效的质谱方法.     

Analysis of mismatched DNA by mismatch binding ligand (MBL)–Sepharose affinity chromatography

Mismatch binding molecules (MBLs), strongly and selectively bound to the mismatched base pair in duplex DNA, were immobilized on Sepharose. Three MBL–Sepharose columns were prepared with three MBLs, naphthyridine dimer (ND), naphthyridine–azaquinolone (NA), and aminonaphthyridine dimer (amND), which exhibited different binding profiles to the mismatched base pairs. These three MBL–Sepharose columns showed characteristic elution profiles for DNA duplexes containing mismatched base pairs. The ND–Sepharose column separated the G–G and G–A mismatched DNA from fully matched duplexes. The NA–Sepharose column separated the A–A and G–A mismatched DNA from other DNA duplexes. The amND–Sepharose column separated the C–C mismatched DNA. These chromatographic profiles were very consistent with the binding preference of each MBL. By changing the elution conditions from sodium hydroxide to sodium chloride, MBL–Sepharose columns were also able to separate the mismatched DNA that weakly bound to the MBL from fully matched DNA duplex. Figure MBL-Sepharose affinity chromatography successfully separates the mismatched duplex DNA from fully matched duplex.     

Antioxidant small phenolic ingredients in Inonotus obliquus (persoon) Pilat (Chaga)

Inonotus obliquus (persoon) Pilat (Chaga, in Russia, kabanoanatake in Japan) is a fungus having been used as a folk medicine in Russia and said to have many health beneficial functions such as immune modulating and anti-cancer activities. In the present study, the antioxidant activity of hot water extract (decoction) of Chaga was precisely compared with those of other medicinal fungi (Agaricus blazei Mycelia, Ganoderma lucidum and Phellinus linteus) showing Chaga had the strongest antioxidant activity among fungi examined in terms of both superoxide and hydroxyl radicals scavenging activities. Further determination of the antioxidant potential of isolated fruiting body (brown part) and Sclerotium (black part) revealed the 80% MeOH extract of fruiting body had the highest potential as high as that of Chaga decoction. Finally, seven antioxidant components were isolated and purified from the 80% MeOH extract of Chaga fruiting body, and their chemical structures were determined as small phenolics as follows: 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy benzoic acid 2-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl ethyl ester (BAEE), protocatechic acid (PCA), caffeic acid (CA), 3,4-dihybenzaladehyde (DB), 2,5-dihydroxyterephtalic acid (DTA), syringic acid (SA) and 3,4-dihydroxybenzalacetone (DBL). Notably, BAEE was assigned as the new compound firstly identified from the natural source in the present study.     

采用自动前处理LC/MS进行血浆中药物的快速分析

药物研究的发展对高通量的样品处理分析提出了越来越高的要求,减少样品制备时间和分析时间是解决问题的关键。我们新近发展了一种具有在线稀释旁路和新的样品预处理柱的Shim-Pack MAYI-ODS自动柱切换HPLC和LC／MS系统,该系统无需样品前处理,可直接进样进行血浆、血清中的药物分析。本文利用自动样品前处理LC／MS系统,用ODS整体柱实现了血浆中药物的快速分析。包括样品预处理,整个分析仅需1．2min完成。     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of metallic nanostructures in solution

Microwave (MW) rapid heating has received considerable attention as a new promising method for the one-pot synthesis of metallic nanostructures in solutions. In this concept, advantageous application of this method has been demonstrated by using some typical examples for the preparation of Ag, Au, Pt, and AuPd nanostructures. Not only spherical nanoparticles, but also single crystalline polygonal plates, sheets, rods, wires, tubes, and dendrites were prepared within a few minutes under MW heating. Morphologies and sizes of nanostructures could be controlled by changing various experimental parameters, such as the concentration of metallic salt and surfactant polymer, the chain length of the surfactant polymer, the solvent, and the reaction temperature. In general, nanostructures with smaller sizes, narrower size distributions, and a higher degree of crystallization were obtained under MW heating than those in conventional oil-bath heating. The origin of these characteristic features under MW irradiation is discussed in terms of thermal and non-thermal effects under MW irradiation.