Nocardiopsins: New FKBP12‐Binding Macrolide Polyketides from an Australian Marine‐Derived Actinomycete,Nocardiopsis sp.

A marine‐derived actinomycete, Nocardiopsis sp. (CMB‐M0232), obtained from a sediment sample collected at a depth of 55 m off the coast of Brisbane, Australia, yielded two new macrolide polyketides. Structures for nocardiopsins A and B were assigned by detailed spectroscopic analysis, degradation and chemical derivatization. A Marfey’s analysis revealed an unexpected acid‐mediated partial racemization of the L ‐pipecolic acid incorporated within the nocardiopsins. The scope of this racemization was assessed against a selection of natural and synthetic N‐acyl pipecolic acids. While the nocardiopsins are not antibacterial, antifungal or cytotoxic, they do exhibit low‐micromolar binding to the immunophilin FKBP12, consistent with their structural and biosynthetic relationship to the immunosuppressive agents FK506 and rapamycin. The nocardiopsins represent a new point of entry into what has been a valuable, exclusive and reclusive region of bioactive chemical space—that surrounding the FK506/rapamycin pharmacophore.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the interaction of hexaaquochromium(III) with octacyanomolybdate(IV) ions

The kinetics of the interaction of hexaaquochromium(III) ion with potassium octacyanomolybdate(IV) have been studied using conductance and spectrophotometric data. The mechanism of the reaction is discussed and the effect of H⁺ ion and the ionic strength on the rate of the reaction determined. The reaction is found to be pseudo-first order with respect to potassium octacyanomolybdate(IV) and inverse first order with [H₃O⁺]. The rate of the reaction increases with increase in ionic strength and temperature. Activation parameters have been calculated using the Arrhenius equation and have the values ΔE^* = 1.3 × 10² kJ mol^?1, ΔH^* = 129 kJ mol^?1, ΔS^* = ?315 e.u., ΔF^* = 2.3 × 10² kJ and A = 1.5 × 10^?3. The mechanism proposed is based on ion-pair formation and the rate equation obtained is given by: k_obs=$\text{[}{}_{\mathrm{kK}}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>E</mtext>}}\text{[H}{}_3\text{O}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{]+}\text{k′K′k}{}_{\mathrm{E}}\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{h}}\text{][Mo(CN)}{}_8{}^{\mathrm{4?}}\text{]}\text{[H}{}_3\text{O}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{]+}\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>h</mtext>}}\text{+[}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>E</mtext>}}\text{[H}{}_3\text{O}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{]+}\text{K′}{}_{\mathrm{E}}\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{h}}\text{][Mo(CN)}{}_8{}^{\mathrm{4?}}\text{]}$     

Effective separation of Am(III) and Cm(III) using a DGA resin via the selective oxidation of Am(III) to Am(V)

This paper deals with concept design and assessment of a process for the recovery of isotopically modified molybdenum from irradiated nuclear CerMet fuels containing the transuranium element oxides in a metallic molybdenum matrix. The recovery of isotopically modified Mo should enable re-use of this valuable resource especially in the case of uranium-free fuels/targets for accelerator-driven transmuters. The process concept proposed is a modification of the standard hydrometallurgical way of molybdenum processing. Further, the most significant expected radionuclidic impurities in the molybdate raffinate were predicted. Separation of these impurities from the concentrated molybdate solution will be described in the following parts of this mini-series.

     

Separation of trace amounts of palladium (II) with crown ether from hydrochloric acid and potassium thiocyanate media

A new method for the separation of trace amounts of palladium from hydrochloric acid and potassium thiocyanate media has been established based on the formation of an ion-pair complex of palladium thiocyanate anion Pd(SCN)₄ ^2– and the cationic potassium complex of dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 (DC18C6) in chloroform. The effect of various factors (solvent, crown ether, potassium thiocyanate, hydrochloric acid, reagent concentration, shaking time, phase volume ratio, composition of the extracted species, foreign ions, etc.) on the extraction and back-extraction of palladium has been investigated. The method can be combined with subsequent FAAS determination of palladium. The procedure was applied to determine palladium traces in chloroplatinic acid and rhodium chloride.     

Real-time detection of<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps"> L</Emphasis>-glutamate released from C6 glioma cells using a modified enzyme-luminescence method

There is an increasing interest in new strategies to detect neurotransmitters released from nerve cells in real time for brain science, drug assessment, and so on. Previously we reported real-time monitoring of dopamine release from nerve model cells by enzyme-catalyzed luminescence measurement with tyramine oxidase and peroxidase. In the present study, the system was modified with glutamate oxidase instead of tyramine oxidase to detect L-glutamate sensitively (≈ 10 nM) and rapidly with high temporal resolution (<1 s). We applied this modified method successfully to perform real-time monitoring of L-glutamate release from brain model cell (C6 glioma cell) using a luminescence plate reader upon stimulation with high concentration of KCl (>10 mM) or 5-hydroxytryptamine (>1 μM). The measurement solution was not toxic and therefore the L-glutamate release from the cell was measured by the second stimulation after exchanging the measurement solution. We conclude that the developed monitoring system is suitable for real-time detection of dynamic L-glutamate release from nerve cells in vitro and will be suitable for application in assessment of drugs acting on the nervous system. Figure Enzyme luminescence detection of L-glutamate released from cells     

Automated SPME–GC–MS monitoring of headspace metabolomic responses of E. coli to biologically active components extracted by the coating

Monitoring extracellular metabolites of bacteria is very useful for not only metabolomics research but also for assessment of the effects of various chemicals, including antimicrobial agents and drugs. Herein, we describe the automated headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) method coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for the qualitative as well as semi-quantitative determination of metabolic responses of Escherichia coli to an antimicrobial agent, cinnamaldehyde. The minimum inhibitory concentration of cinnamaldehyde was calculated to be 2 g L⁻¹. We found that cinnamaldehyde was an important factor influencing the metabolic profile and growth process. A higher number of metabolites were observed during the mid-logarithmic growth phase. The metabolite variations (types and concentrations) induced by cinnamaldehyde were dependent on both cell density and the dose of cinnamaldehyde. Simultaneously, 25 different metabolites were separated and detected (e.g., indole, alkane, alcohol, organic acids, esters, etc.) in headspace of complex biological samples due to intermittent addition of high dose of cinnamaldehyde. The study was done using an automated system, thereby minimizing manual workup and indicating the potential of the method for high-throughput analysis. These findings enhanced the understanding of the metabolic responses of E. coli to cinnamaldehyde shock effect and demonstrated the effectiveness of the SPME–GC–MS based metabolomics approach to study such a complex biological system.     

Electrodeposition and characterization of copper sulfide (CuS) thin film: towards an understanding of the growth mechanism

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Copper sulfide (CuS) thin film was electrodeposited onto stainless steel (SS 316L) substrate under pulse potential control, from an aqueous acidic solution...