Chiral bis(amino alcohol)oxalamide gelators-gelation properties and supramolecular organization: racemate versus pure enantiomer gelation

Four new chiral bis(amino alcohol)oxalamides (1-4: amino alcohol=leucinol, valinol, phenylglycinol, and phenylalaninol, respectively) have been prepared as low-molecular-weight organic gelators. Their gelation properties towards various organic solvents and mixtures were determined and these were then compared to related bis(amino acid) oxalamide gelators. Spectroscopic (FTIR, (1)H NMR) and X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the primary organization motif of (S,S)-1 and racemate 1 (rac-1) in lipophilic solvents involved the formation of inverse bilayers. The X-ray crystal structure of (S,S)-1 also shows this type of bilayer organization. The crystal structure of rac-2 reveals meso bilayers of hydrogen-bonded aggregates. Within the bilayers formed, the gelator molecules are connected by cooperative hydrogen bonding between oxalamide units and OH groups, while the interbilayer interactions are realized through lipophilic interactions between the iBu groups of leucinol. Oxalamide meso-1 lacks any gelation ability and crystallizes in monolayers. In dichloromethane rac-1 forms an unstable gel; this is prone to crystallization as a result of the formation of symmetrical meso bilayers. In contrast, in aromatic solvents rac-1 forms stable gels; this indicates that enantiomeric bilayers are formed. Oxalamide rac-1 is capable of gelling a volume of toluene three times larger than (S,S)-1. A tranmission electron microscopy investigation of rac-1 and (S,S)-1 toluene gels reveals the presence of thinner fibers in the former gel, and, hence, a more compact network that is capable of immobilizing a larger volume of the solvent. The self-assembly of these types of gelator molecules into bilayers and subsequent formation of fibrous aggregates can be explained by considering the strength and direction of aggregate forces (supramolecular vectors) in three-dimensional space.     

THE EFFECTS OF LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS ON UPTAKE OF PHOTOFRIN II

The cellular uptake of Photofrin II (PII) was studied using fluorescence imaging and chemical extraction. The influence of serum and low density lipoproteins (LDL) was examined under a variety of experimental conditions employing cultured human cells of different origins as well as a subcutaneously SMT-F tumor implanted in mice. Results showed that serum inhibited PII uptake. In general, LDL also inhibits PII uptake with the exception of an initial increase in the first 10-30 min when the cellular concentration of PII was measured by fluorescence imaging instead of chemical extraction. Our results suggest a possible de-aggregation process occurring upon internalization or binding of PII to LDL.     

Manipulating adenoviral vector ion‐exchange chromatography: Hexon versus fiber

The serotype specificity of adenovirus ion‐exchange chromatography has previously been studied using standard particle‐based columns, and the hexon protein has been reported to determine retention time. In this study, we have submitted Adenovirus type 5 recombinants to anion‐exchange chromatography using methacrylate monolithic supports. Our experiments with hexon‐modified adenoviral vectors show more precisely that the retention time is affected by the substitution of amino acids in hypervariable region 5, which lies within the hexon DE1 loop. By exploring the recombinants modified in the fiber protein, we have proven the previously predicted chromatographic potential of this surface constituent. Modifications that preserve the net charge of the hexon protein, or those that cause only a small charge difference in the fiber protein, in addition to shortening the fiber shaft, did not change the chromatographic behavior of the adenovirus particles. However, modifications that include the deletion of just two negatively charged amino acids in the hexon protein, or the introduction of a heterologous fiber protein, derived from another serotype, revealed recognizable changes in anion‐exchange chromatography. This could be useful in facilitating chromatography‐approach purification by creating targeted capsid modifications, thereby shifting adenovirus particles away from particular interfering substances present in the crude lysate.     

In vitro antibiofilm activity of the freshwater bryozoan Hyalinella punctata: a case study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

The antibiofilm and possible antiquorum sensing effects against the strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 of five crude extracts of the freshwater bryozoan Hyalinella punctata (Hancock, 1850) were evaluated in vitro for the first time. H. punctata ethyl acetate extract (HpEtAc) exhibited the highest antibiofilm activity reducing the biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa PAO1 in the range of 80.63–88.13%. While all tested extracts reduced the twitching motility of the aforementioned bacterial strain, HpEtAc showed to be the most effective. Finally, at a concentration of 0.5 MIC, the same extract mostly inhibited the production of pyocyanin by P. aeruginosa PAO1 (71.53%). In comparison both with the positive controls used (streptomycin and ampicillin, 67.13 and 69.77%, respectively), HpEtAc was found to inhibit pyocyanin in a higher extent. An extensive chemical characterisation of this particular extract may result in isolation and identification of novel lead compounds targeting P. aeruginosa, an opportunistic human pathogen.     

N‐Benzyloxy‐1H‐benzotriazole‐1‐carboxamide: a hydrogen‐bonded tetramer based upon a rare R44(20) structural motif

The title compound, C₁₄H₁₂N₄O₂, is the first example of a heterocyclic substituted hydroxamic derivative. The asymmetric unit consists of two molecules. The molecules are linked into centrosymmetric R₄⁴(20) tetramers by four strong hydrogen bonds of the N—H...O and N—H...N types. These tetramers are connected through C—H...O interactions into a three‐dimensional network.     

Characteristic cycles of standard sheaves associated with open orbits

Let be a real form of a complex, semisimple Lie group . We compute the characteristic cycle of a standard sheaf associated with an open -orbit on the partial flag variety of . We apply the result to obtain a Rossmann-type integral formula for elliptic coadjoint orbits. These results were previously obtained by the author under the assumption that the rank of is equal to the rank of a maximal compact subgroup.

     

Recognition of homo-polynucleotides containing adenine by a phenanthridinium bis-uracil conjugate in aqueous media

Among novel bis-nucleobase-phenanthridinium conjugates bis-uracil analogue stabilized significantly more effective poly-dA-poly-dT and poly-AH(+)-poly-AH(+) than adenine analogue and reference compound . For the alternating poly-dAdT-poly-dAdT however, the binding preference is lost, pointing to the importance of specific interactions of uracils of with homopolynucleotides containing consecutive adenines.     

Transport Properties of Ethane, Butanes and Their Binary Mixtures in MFI-Type Zeolite and Zeolite-Membrane Samples

Transport properties of ethane, butane and their binary mixtures in large crystals of silicalite-1, ZSM-5, and an MFI-zeolite membrane as well as agglomerates (pellets) of silicalite zeolites have been investigated by the Zero Length Column (ZLC) method. It was found that in the large crystals of silicalite-1 and ZSM-5, and in the membrane sample desorption of iso-butane was controlled by micropore diffusion, while in the case of pelleted silicalite sample it was controlled by macropore diffusion. The effective thickness of the zeolite membrane can be reasonably evaluated by comparing the diffusivity data obtained from the ZLC and gas permeation measurements. Desorption of ethane and n-butane in the large crystals of silicalite-1 and ZSM-5 and the membrane sample is attributed to both equilibrium effects and micropore diffusion. The diffusivity of ethane is significantly reduced in the presence of iso-butane giving rise to a micropore diffusion-controlled process. Furthermore, diffusion of iso-butane in the zeolite samples is affected by the counter flow of ethane.