Determination of trace levels of mercury in water samples based on room temperature phosphorescence energy transfer

A novel method has been developed for the sensitive determination of mercury in aqueous media by room temperature phosphorescence (RTP). The measurement principle is based on the energy transfer (ET) from a phosphor molecule (acting as a donor) to a Hg-sensitive dye (acceptor). To our acknowledgment this is the first RTP method for mercury measurement developed so far. α-Bromonaphthalene (BrN) was selected as the phosphorescent donor molecule (BrN can produce significant RTP emission in aqueous media in a β-cyclodextrin rigid microenvironment without deoxygenation).The absorption spectrum of the complex formed between mercury and the dithizone dye possesses a desirable spectral overlap with the RTP emission spectrum of the donor (BrN), giving rise to a nonradiative ET from the phosphor molecules to the mercury complex. An increase in the concentration of Hg(II) causes an increase on the concentration of the dithizone complex (acceptor) with the subsequent increase of the absorbance and, therefore, resulting in a decrease of the RTP emission. Both, RTP intensities and triplet lifetimes of the BrN decreased with increases on the Hg(II) concentration.Possible interferences present in natural waters, including different cations and anions, which could affect the analytical response, were evaluated and the analytical performance characteristics investigated. The use of phosphorescence measurements (low background noise signals) resulted in an improvement on the sensitivity of the Hg(II) detection higher than five times as compared to the molecular absorption spectrophotometric method for Hg(II) detection based on dithizone as Hg-indicator. A detection limit (D.L.) of 14 ng ml⁻¹ of Hg(II) was obtained by RTP with a precision of ±4.8% for five replicates of 300 ng ml⁻¹ of Hg(II). The usefulness of the method was successfully evaluated by the determination of Hg(II) in spiked natural water samples.     

Holo- and hemidirected lead(II) in the polymeric [Pb(4)(mu-3,4-TDTA)2(H2O)2]*4H2O complex. N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate ligands derived from o-phenylenediamines as sequestering agents for lead(II)

The coordinating ability of the ligands 3,4-toluenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (3,4-TDTA), o-phenylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (o-PhDTA), and 4-chloro-1,2-phenylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (4-Cl-o-PhDTA) (H4L acids) toward lead(II) is studied by potentiometry (25 degrees C, I = 0.5 mol x dm(-3) in NaClO4), UV-vis spectrophotometry, and 207Pb NMR spectrometry. The stability constants of the complex species formed were determined. X-ray diffraction structural analysis of the complex [Pb4(mu-3,4-TDTA)4(H2O)2]*4H2O (1) revealed that 1 has a 2-D structure. The layers are built up by the polymerization of centrosymmetric [Pb4L2(H2O)2] tetranuclear units. The neutral layers have the aromatic rings of the ligands pointing to the periphery, whereas the metallic ions are located in the central part of the layers. In compound 1, two types of six-coordinate lead(II) environments are produced. The Pb(1) is coordinated to two nitrogen atoms and four carboxylate oxygens from the ligand, whereas Pb(2) has an O6 trigonally distorted octahedral surrounding. The lead(II) ion is surrounded by five carboxylate oxygens and a water molecule. The carboxylate oxygens belong to four different ligands that are also joined to four other Pb(1) ions. The selective uptake of lead(II) was analyzed by means of chemical speciation diagrams as well as the so-called conditional or effective formation constants K(Pb)eff. The results indicate that, in competition with other ligands that are strong complexing agents for lead(II), our ligands are better sequestering agents in acidic media.     

Flow injection-mini-column technique with ICP-AES detection for the isolation and preconcentration of the fast reactive aluminium fraction in waters

A flow injection mini-column system based on short reaction times with 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine) with ICP-AES detection is described for the isolation and preconcentration of the “fast reactive” or “toxic” aluminium fraction in water samples. Using a 3 s reaction time with oxine (5 × 10^–4 mol/l) at pH 5.0, the “fast reactive” aluminium fraction is shown not to include the non-toxic AlF²⁺ species at low F^–: Al³⁺ molar ratios (0.3 : 1). The complexed aluminium is isolated in a stable and recoverable form on mini-columns of Amberlite XAD-2 (0.3 cm × 5.0 cm, resin particle size range 0.08 mm–0.16 mm)). The retained aluminium is recovered by “back-flushing” the analytical column with 1 mol/l HCl for final element specific detection by ICP-AES. Detection limits (after preconcentration) of 2 μg/l, a linear range of 0–500 μg/l, and possible preconcentration factors of up to 18 times are demonstrated with the present system. Implications for the possible solution of sample stability problems encountered with labile aluminium species analysis and the development of a “field sampling” technique are discussed, where the desired Al fraction is quantitatively retained in a stable form on mini-columns.     

Group 6 heteroatom- and non-heteroatom-stabilized carbene complexes. beta,beta'- and alpha,beta,beta'-annulation reactions of cyclic enamines

Cyclization reactions of group 6 Fischer carbene complexes with cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone enamines are described. Enamine 3a undergoes thermal alpha,beta,beta'-annulation with alkenylcarbene complexes 1 and 2 (THF, 60 degrees C), affording semibullvalenes 5. The metalate intermediates 6, resulting from beta,beta'-annulation of the enamines 3a and 4a, were quantitatively formed by running the reaction in hexane at room temperature. Acid-promoted demetalation of 6 afforded endo-2-bicyclo[3.2.1]octen-8-ones 7 and endo/exo-2-bicyclo[3.3.1]nonen-9-ones 8 (endo/exo = 5:1). Using (S)-methoxymethylpyrrolidine-derived enamines 3b and 4b,c allowed highly enantioenriched cycloadducts endo-(+)-7 as well as endo-(-)-8 and exo-(-)-8 to be accessed. The non-heteroatom-stabilized carbene complex 10 was formed from complex 6 by Me(3)SiOTf-promoted elimination of the methoxy group, characterized by (13)C NMR, and transformed into the organic compounds 7, 7-d, and 11 as well as into bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2,8-diones 14 and cycloheptanones 15. On the basis of this sequence, enantioenriched cycloheptanones (+)-15 were efficiently prepared in one pot from carbene complexes 2 and enamine 3b (51-55% yield, 91-96% ee). Extension of this work to simple Fischer carbene complexes 16 allowed an appropriate way to generate the nonstabilized pentacarbonyl[(phenyl(alkyl)carbene]tungsten complex 17 to be designed, for which the thermal and chemical behavior leading to compounds 18-21 is described.     

Antiedematogenic activity of two thiazolidine derivatives: N-tryptophyl-5-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidene) rhodanine (GS26) and N-tryptophyl-5-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidene)-2,4-thiazolidinedione (GS28)

The search for new anti-inflammatory drugs has been constant in several research centers. The use of the Bioisostery concept allows the elaboration of new bioactive compounds with different properties through the introduction of substitute groups in one or more positions of a main molecule with known biological activity. Preliminary works accomplished at our laboratory with 2,4-thiazolidinedione isosters demonstrated inhibitory activity on edema formation for N-tryptophyl-5-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidene)-2,4-thiazolidinedione (GS28) and N-tryptophyl-5-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidene) rhodanine (GS26). We verified the antiedematogenic and ulcerogenic activity of these two compounds in Wistar rats. The carrageenan induced paw edema suffered significant (p<0.05) inhibition (28.36% on average) for GS28 (100 mg/kg; v.o.) during the entire time of the experiment. GS26 (50 and 100 mg/kg; v.o.) significantly inhibited (p<0.05) the paw edema dextran induced (22.1 and 27.8%, for the respective doses) after 180 min. The compounds GS26 and GS28 did not show ulcerogenic activity on gastric mucous. The results suggest antiedematogenic action for both compounds without the appearance of gastric lesions.     

Generation of new landomycins by combinatorial biosynthetic manipulation of the LndGT4 gene of the landomycin E cluster in S. globisporus

A 3 kb DNA fragment from the Streptomyces globisporus 1912 landomycin E (LaE) biosynthetic gene cluster (lnd) was completely sequenced. Three open reading frames were identified, lndGT4, lndZ4, and lndZ5, whose probable translation products resemble a glycosyltransferase, a reductase, and a hydroxylase, respectively. Studies of generated mutants from disruption and complementation experiments involving the lndGT4 gene allowed us to determine that LndGT4 controls the terminal L-rhodinose sugar attachment during LaE biosynthesis and that LndZ4/LndZ5 are responsible for the unique C11-hydroxylation of the landomycins. Generation of the novel landomycins F, G, and H in the course of these studies provided evidence for the flexibility of lnd glycosyltransferases toward their acceptor substrates and a basis for initial structure-activity relationships within the landomycin family of antibiotics.     

Direct versus resonances mediated F+OH collisions on a new 3A" potential energy surface

A theoretical study of the F(2P) + OH(2Pi) --> HF(1Sigma+) + O(3P) reactive collisions is carried out on a new global potential energy surface (PES) of the ground 3A" adiabatic electronic state. The ab initio calculations are based on multireference configuration interaction calculations, using the aug-cc-pVTZ extended basis sets of Dunning et al. A functional representation of the PES shows no nominal barrier to reaction, contrary to previous results by others. Wave packet and quasiclassical trajectory calculations have been performed for this PES to study the F + OH(v = 0,j) reactive collision. The comparison was performed at fixed and constant values of the total angular momentum from 0 to 110 and relative translational energy up to 0.8 eV. The reaction presents a dynamical barrier, essentially due to the zero-point energy for the bending vibration near the saddle point. This determines two different reaction mechanisms. At energies higher than approximately 0.125 eV the reaction is direct, while below that value it is indirect and mediated by heavy-light-heavy resonances. Such resonances, also found in the simulations of the photodetachment spectrum of the triatomic anion, manifest themselves in the quasiclassical simulations, too, where they are associated to periodic orbits.     

The effect of amino acid deletions and substitutions in the longest loop of GFP

Background  

The effect of single and multiple amino acid substitutions in the green fluorescent protein (GFP) from Aequorea victoria has been extensively explored, yielding several proteins of diverse spectral properties. However, the role of amino acid deletions in this protein -as with most proteins- is still unknown, due to the technical difficulties involved in generating combinatorial in-phase amino acid deletions on a target region.     

Phytochemical Compounds and Pharmacological Properties of Larrea tridentata

For centuries, traditional medicine from plants (phytotherapy) was the only treatment for infectious and non-infectious diseases. Although it is still practiced in several countries with excellent therapeutic results, it is frequently underestimated because, unlike Western medicine, it is not based on an empirical scientific foundation. However, interest in the search for plant-based therapeutic resources has been stimulated by disciplines such as phytochemistry and the side effects of conventional pharmacological therapies. For example, Larrea tridentata is a perennial shrub used in traditional medicine in northern Mexico and the southern United States to treat infertility, rheumatism, arthritis, colds, diarrhea, skin problems, pain, inflammation and excess body weight. Scientific research has revealed its beneficial effects—antioxidant, antitumor, neuroprotective, regenerative, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anthelmintic, antiprotozoal and insecticidal—although reports indicate that some compounds in Larrea tridentata may be hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic. Therefore, the aim of this review was to highlight the updates regarding phytochemical compounds and the pharmacological properties of Larrea tridentata.     

A peptide-derived strategy for specifically targeting the mitochondria and ER of cancer cells: a new approach in fighting cancer

An effective anti-cancer therapy should exclusively target cancer cells and trigger in them a broad spectrum of cell death pathways that will prevent avoidance. Here, we present a new approach in cancer therapy that specifically targets the mitochondria and ER of cancer cells. We developed a peptide derived from the flexible and transmembrane domains of the human protein NAF-1/CISD2. This peptide (NAF-1^44-67) specifically permeates through the plasma membranes of human epithelial breast cancer cells, abolishes their mitochondria and ER, and triggers cell death with characteristics of apoptosis, ferroptosis and necroptosis. In vivo analysis revealed that the peptide significantly decreases tumor growth in mice carrying xenograft human tumors. Computational simulations of cancer vs. normal cell membranes reveal that the specificity of the peptide to cancer cells is due to its selective recognition of their membrane composition. NAF-1^44-67 represents a promising anti-cancer lead compound that acts via a unique mechanism.

An effective anti-cancer therapy should exclusively target cancer cells and trigger in them a broad spectrum of cell death pathways that will prevent avoidance.