X-Ray Crystallography and Free Energy Calculations Reveal the Binding Mechanism of A2A Adenosine Receptor Antagonists

We present a robust protocol based on iterations of free energy perturbation (FEP) calculations, chemical synthesis, biophysical mapping and X-ray crystallography to reveal the binding mode of an antagonist series to the A_2A adenosine receptor (AR). Eight A_2AAR binding site mutations from biophysical mapping experiments were initially analyzed with sidechain FEP simulations, performed on alternate binding modes. The results distinctively supported one binding mode, which was subsequently used to design new chromone derivatives. Their affinities for the A_2AAR were experimentally determined and investigated through a cycle of ligand-FEP calculations, validating the binding orientation of the different chemical substituents proposed. Subsequent X-ray crystallography of the A_2AAR with a low and a high affinity chromone derivative confirmed the predicted binding orientation. The new molecules and structures here reported were driven by free energy calculations, and provide new insights on antagonist binding to the A_2AAR, an emerging target in immuno-oncology.     

Diels-Alder reaction mechanisms of substituted chiral anthracene: A theoretical study based on the reaction force and reaction electronic flux

Quantum chemical calculations were used to study the mechanism of Diels-Alder reactions involving chiral anthracenes as dienes and a series of dienophiles. The reaction force analysis was employed to obtain a detailed scrutiny of the reaction mechanisms, it has been found that thermodynamics and kinetics of the reactions are quite consistent: the lower the activation energy, the lower the reaction energy, thus following the Bell-Evans-Polanyi principle. It has been found that activation energies are mostly due to structural rearrangements that in most cases represented more than 70% of the activation energy. Electronic activity mostly due to changes in σ and π bonding were revealed by the reaction electronic flux (REF), this property helps identify whether changes on σ or π bonding drive the reaction. Additionally, new global indexes describing the behavior of the electronic activity were introduced and then used to classify the reactions in terms of the spontaneity of their electronic activity. Local natural bond order electronic population analysis was used to check consistency with global REF through the characterization of specific changes in the electronic density that might be responsible for the activity already detected by the REF. Results show that reactions involving acetoxy lactones are driven by spontaneous electronic activity coming from bond forming/strengthening processes; in the case of maleic anhydrides and maleimides it appears that both spontaneous and non-spontaneous electronic activity are quite active in driving the reactions.     

Components of Banisteriopsis caapi,a Plant Used in the Preparation of the Psychoactive Ayahuasca,Induce Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Microglial Cells

Banisteriopsis caapi is used to prepare the psychoactive beverage ayahuasca, and both have therapeutic potential for the treatment of many central nervous system (CNS) conditions. This study aimed to isolate new bioactive compounds from B. caapi extract and evaluate their biological activity, and that of the known β-carboline components of the plant (harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine), in BV-2 microglial cells, the in vivo activation of which is implicated in the physiopathology of CNS disorders. B. caapi extract was fractionated using semipreparative liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD) and the exact masses ([M + H]⁺ m/z) of the compounds in the 5 isolated fractions were determined by high-resolution LC-MS/MS: F1 (174.0918 and 233.1289), F2 (353.1722), F3 (304.3001), F4 (188.1081), and F5 (205.0785). Harmine (75.5–302 µM) significantly decreased cell viability after 2 h of treatment and increased the number of necrotic cells and production of reactive oxygen species at equal or lower concentrations after 24 h. F4 did not impact viability but was also cytotoxic after 24 h. Most treatments reduced proinflammatory cytokine production (IL-2, IL-6, IL-17, and/or TNF), especially harmaline and F5 at 2.5 µM and higher concentrations, tetrahydroharmine (9.3 µM and higher), and F5 (10.7 µM and higher). The results suggest that the compounds found in B. caapi extract have anti-inflammatory potential that could be explored for the development of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.     

Syntheses and Study of New 2-Hydroxy-5,6-Dihydro-2H-1,4-Oxazines by NMR and X-ray Crystallography

The preparation of six new 2-hydroxy-5,6-dihydro-2H-[1,4]-oxazines and four oxazino-oxazine type structures is described. The structures of four of these compounds were established by X-ray crystallographic analyses.     

Flavonoid glycosides from Persea caerulea. Unraveling their interactions with SDS‐micelles through matrix‐assisted DOSY,PGSE, mass spectrometry,and NOESY

Two flavonoid glycosides derived from rhamnopyranoside ( 1 ) and arabinofuranoside ( 2 ) have been isolated from leaves of Persea caerulea for the first time. The structures of 1 and 2 have been established by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and IR spectroscopy, together with LC–ESI–TOF and LC–ESI–IT MS spectrometry. From the MS and MS/MS data, the molecular weights of the intact molecules as well as those of quercetin and kaempferol together with their sugar moieties were deduced. The NMR data provided information on the identity of the compounds, as well as the α and β configurations and the position of the glycosides on quercetin and kaempferol. We have also explored the application of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) normal micelles in binary aqueous solution, at a range of concentrations, to the diffusion resolution of these two glycosides, by the application of matrix‐assisted diffusion ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) and pulse field gradient spin echo (PGSE) methodologies, showing that SDS micelles offer a significant resolution which can, in part, be rationalized in terms of differing degrees of hydrophobicity, amphiphilicity, and steric effects. In addition, intra‐residue and inter‐residue proton–proton distances using nuclear Overhauser effect build‐up curves were used to elucidate the conformational preferences of these two flavonoid glycosides when interacting with the micelles. By the combination of both diffusion and nuclear Overhauser spectroscopy techniques, the average location site of kaempferol and quercetin glycosides has been postulated, with the former exhibiting a clear insertion into the interior of the SDS‐micelle, whereas the latter is placed closer to the surface. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal diffusivity study of cheese fats by thermal lens detection

In this paper we used thermal lens spectrometry to determine the thermal diffusivity of cheese fats. We have used equal concentrations of cheese fats from oaxaca, chihuahua, gouda, manchego and mozzarella cheeses at 42°C temperature. The two lasers mismatched mode experimental configuration was used with a He-Ne laser, as a probe beam and an Ar⁺ laser as the excitation one. The characteristic time constant of the transient thermal lens was obtained by fitting the theoretical expression to the experimental data in order to obtain the thermal diffusivity of the cheese fat samples. This measured thermal property may contribute to a better understanding of the cheese fats quality, which is very important in food industry.     

A semi-empirical approach to determine gamma activities in environmental cylindrical samples

A semi-empirical method to determine radionuclide concentrations in large environmental samples without the use of reference material and avoiding the typical complexity of Monte-Carlo codes is proposed. The calculation of full-energy peak efficiencies was carried out from a relative efficiency curve (obtained from the gamma spectra data), and the geometric (simulated by Monte-Carlo), absorption, sample and intrinsic efficiencies for energies between 130 and 3000 keV. The absorption and sample efficiencies were determined from the mass absorption coefficients, whereas the intrinsic efficiency was approximated by an empirical function. The deviations between calculated and experimental efficiencies for a reference material in most cases are less than 10%. Radionuclide activities in marine sediment samples calculated by the proposed method and by the experimental comparative method were not significantly different. This new method can be used for routine environmental monitoring when uncertainties up to 10% are acceptable.     

First intermolecular cyclopropanation of Fischer dialkylaminocarbene complexes. Synthesis of 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid derivatives

[reaction: see text] The first cyclopropanation reaction of olefins with Fischer dialkylaminocarbene complexes is presented. The reaction yields 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid derivatives in a single step, usually with high diastereoselectivity. An approach to the asymmetric version of this reaction is also presented. The synthetic utility of the procedure is exemplified by the synthesis of both cycles of metanoproline in a single step. In addition, the synthesis of the first Fischer carbene containing a halocarbonyl group is reported.     

Electrochemical treatment of textile dyes and their analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection

Several textile dyes were individually exposed to electrochemical treatment. Chromaticity variation and the formation of degradation products were followed using a UV spectrophotometer and HPLC with diode array detection. Dyes studied belong to the azo (color index, C.I. 15,510), methine (C.I. 48,013), indigo (C.I. 73,040), natural (C.I. 75,760) and arylmethane (C.I. 42,000) classes. Aliquots of the solutions treated at constant potential were analyzed and compared with control dye solutions. The final electrolysis solutions obtained by using different electrode materials: Pt, Ti and diamond presented different chromatograms. It was found that the novel (in this application) diamond electrode is efficient in studying the degradation of various dyes. Possible fragmentation and molecule moiety rearrangement are proposed as a result of the electrochemical treatment.