OXIDATION OF RIBOSE MOIETY OF ADENOSINE INDUCED BY IRRADIATION OF NEAR-UV LIGHT IN THE PRESENCE OF IRON(III) CHLORIDE

Abstract— Irradiation of near-UV light in the presence of FeCl₃ caused oxidation of adenosine with concomitant reduction of Fe(III) under either aerobic or anaerobic atmosphere. Major photoproducts were adenine and adenosine-5'-aldehyde, showing that oxidation took place mostly at the ribose moiety of adenosine. Detailed study showed that the reaction proceeded by the light absorption due to Fe(III) at 300-350 nm.     

5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine reactivates the CDH1 gene without influencing methylation of the entire CpG island or histone modification in a human cancer cell line

It is well-recognized that DNA methylation and histone modifications play critical roles in epigenetic regulation of gene activity through the alteration of chromatin structure. Recent studies have shown that in a subset of cancer cells, the silencing of the human E-cadherin (CDH1) gene is associated with hypermethylation of the CpG island. However, the associated molecular mechanism remains unclear. To understand the mechanism, we have investigated the alteration of CpG island methylation and histone modifications during the reactivation of the CDH1 gene by treatment with 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC). Although the CDH1 gene expression was recovered by treatment with 5-aza-dC in a liver cancer cell line Li21, the methylation status of the entire CpG island and acetylation and methylation status of associated histones were not significantly altered. These results demonstrate that the silenced CDH1 gene can be reactivated without apparent alteration of histone modification or CpG island methylation.     

Antibacterial metal implant with a TiO2‐conferred photocatalytic bactericidal effect against Staphylococcus aureus

Photocatalysis with anatase Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) under ultraviolet A (UVA) has a well recognized bactericidal effect. There have been a few reports, however, on the effects of photocatalysis on bio‐implant‐related infections. The purpose of present study was to evaluate the photocatalytic bactericidal effects of anatase TiO₂ on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) associated with surgical site infections. TiO₂ films were synthesized on commercially pure titanium substrates and SUS316 stainless steel using a plasma source ion implantation method followed by annealing. The chemical composition of the surface layers was determined using GXRD and XPS. The disks were seeded with cultured S. aureus and exposed to UVA illumination from black light. The bactericidal effect of the TiO₂ films was evaluated by counting the survived colonies statistically. A structural gradient anatase type TiO₂ layer formed on all substrates. The viability of the bacteria on the photocatalytic TiO₂ film coated on titanium was suppressed to 7.0% at 30 minutes and 5.5% at 45 minutes, whereas that on a similarly coated stainless steel was suppressed to 45.8% at 30 minute and 28.6% at 45 minutes (ANOVA: p < 0.05). Complete bacterial inactivation was achieved after 90 minutes on titanium and after 60 minutes on stainless steel. The photocatalytic bactericidal effect of TiO₂ is useful for sterilizing the contaminated surfaces of bioimplants. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of oligonucleotides possessing versatile probes for PET labelling and their rapid ligand-free click reaction

We synthesised aryl acetylene derivatives as versatile probes for labelling of oligonucleotides. RNA oligomers bearing an aryl acetylene molecule rapidly reacted with benzylazide derivatives under ligand-free click reaction conditions.     

Photoinduced electron transfer and excitation energy transfer in directly linked zinc porphyrin/zinc phthalocyanine composite

Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) and excitation energy transfer (ENT) reactions in monomer and slipped-cofacial dimer systems of a directly linked Zn porphyrin (Por)-Zn phthalocyanine (Pc) heterodyad, ZnPc-ZnPor, were investigated by means of the picosecond and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopies. In the dimer dyad system of two heterodyads connected through the coordination bond between two imidazolyl-substituted ZnPor bearing ZnPc, ZnPc-ZnPor(D), the rapid ENT from the ZnPor to ZnPc in the subpicosecond time region was followed by photoinduced charge separation (CS) and charge recombination (CR) with time constants of 47 and 510 ps, respectively. On the other hand in the monomer dyad system, no clear charge-separated state was observed although the CS with a time constant of 200 ps and CR with < or =70 ps were estimated. These results indicated that the dimer slipped-cofacial arrangement of pair porphyrins is advantageous for the effective production of the CS state. This advantage was discussed from the viewpoint of a decrease in the reorganization energy of the dimer relative to that of the monomer system. In addition, the electrochemical measurements indicated that the strong interaction between ZnPc and ZnPor moieties also contributed to the fast CS process despite the marginal driving force for the CS process. The dimer dyad of ZnPc-ZnPor provides full advantages in efficiencies of the light harvesting and the CS state production.     

H Nmr Spectra of Oligosaccharide Substituted Cyclodextrins

ABSTRACT

¹H NMR spectra of some oligosaccharide substituted cyclodextrins composed of only α-D-glucose units are analysed. Chemical shifts of protons of each glucosyl group of the chain were determined by experiments with the HOHAHA pulse technique. In spite of the similar kinds of protons, dispersion of chemical shifts is observed. The most dispersed proton is the anomeric proton, and the largest change in the chemical shifts is 0.5 ppm.     

Correction

Summary Dietary intakes of eighteen elements and ⁴⁰K in eighteen food categories by Japanese subjects.Tables 1 and 2 on pages 64-67 of the above titled paper published in the Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 266, No. 1 (2005) 61-69were misprinted. The correct tables are given in what follows.     

Production of secondary drops during the single water drop impact onto a plane water surface

The normal impact of single water drops onto a plane water surface was studied experimentally to reveal the amount of secondary drops produced from the rim of crown-like interfacial structure. Within the experimental ranges tested, the ratio of the total mass of secondary drops to the mass of primary drop was approximately within 0–1 and correlated well as the function of dimensionless parameter K that consisted of the impact Weber number We and the Ohnesorge number Oh (K = We Oh ^−0.4). The dependences of the number and the mean diameter of secondary drops on K and dimensionless film thickness were also investigated.     

Norharmane: old yet highly selective dual channel ratiometric fluoride and hydrogen sulfate ion sensor

Norharmane provides a simple unexplored class of anion receptor, that allows for the ratiometric selective detection of F(-) and HSO(4)(-) ions. The presence of a strong base can easily form hydrogen bonds with the acidic hydrogen bond donor moiety and the relatively strong acid can easily protonate the basic hydrogen bond acceptor moiety, which can modulate the optical response and can detect the anions efficiently with high selectivity. In view of that, it is promising to conceive the use of these systems in various sensing applications as well as in other situations, such as anion transport and purification, where the availability of cheap and easy-to-make anion receptors, would be advantageous.