Aqueous chemistry of the vanadium(III) (V(III)) and the V(III)-dipicolinate systems and a comparison of the effect of three oxidation states of vanadium compounds on diabetic hyperglycemia in rats

The aqueous vanadium(III) (V(III)) speciation chemistry of two dipicolinate-type complexes and the insulin-enhancing effects of V-dipicolinate (V-dipic) complexes in three different oxidation states (V(III), V(IV), and V(V)) have been studied in a chronic animal model system. The characterization of the V(III) species was carried out at low ionic strength to reflect physiological conditions and required an evaluation of the hydrolysis of V(III) at 0.20 M KCl. The aqueous V(III)-dipic and V(III)-dipic-OH systems were characterized, and complexes were observed from pH 2 to 7 at 0.2 M KCl. The V(III)-dipic system forms stable 1:2 complexes, whereas the V(III)-dipic-OH system forms stable 1:1 complexes. A comparison of these complexes with the V-pic system demonstrates that a second ligand has lower affinity for the V(III), presumably reflecting bidentate coordination of the second dipic(2)(-) to the V(III). The thermodynamic stability of the [V(III)(dipic)(2)](-) complex was compared to the stability of the corresponding V(IV) and V(V) complexes, and surprisingly, the V(III) complexes were found to be more stable than anticipated. Oral administration of three V-dipicolinate compounds in different oxidation states {H[V(III)(dipic)(2)H(2)O].3H(2)O, [V(IV)Odipic(H(2)O)(2)].2H(2)O, and NH(4)[V(V)O(2)dipic]} and the positive control, VOSO(4), significantly lowered diabetic hyperglycemia in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The diabetic animals treated with the V(III)- or V(IV)-dipic complexes had blood glucose levels that were statistically different from those of the diabetic group. The animals treated with the V(V)-dipic complex had the lowest blood glucose levels of the treated diabetic animals, which were statistically different from those of the diabetic group at all time points. Among the diabetic animals, complexation to dipic increased the serum levels of V after the administration of the V(V) and V(IV) complexes but not after the administration of the V(III) complex when data are normalized to the ingested dose of V. Because V compounds differing only in oxidation state have different biological properties, it is implied that redox processes must be important factors for the biological action of V compounds. We observe that the V(V)-dipic complex is the most effective insulin-enhancing agent, in contrast to previous studies in which the V(IV)-maltol complex is the most effective. We conclude that the effectiveness of complexed V is both ligand and oxidation state dependent.     

Hydro­gen bonding in substituted nitro­anilines: isolated nets in 1,3‐­diamino‐4‐nitrobenzene and continuously interwoven nets in 3,5‐­dinitro­aniline

Molecules of 1,3‐diamino‐4‐nitrobenzene, C₆H₇N₃O₂, are linked by N—H?O hydrogen bonds [N?O 2.964 (2) and 3.021 (2) Å; N—H?O 155 and 149°] into (4,4) nets. In 3,5‐di­nitro­aniline, C₆H₅N₃O₄, where Z′ = 2, the mol­ecules are linked by three N—H?O hydrogen bonds [N?O 3.344 (2)–3.433 (2) Å and N—H?O 150–167°] into deeply puckered nets, each of which is interwoven with its two immediate neighbours.     

N‐(2‐Amino‐1,6‐di­hydro‐5‐nitro­so‐6‐oxopyrimidin‐4‐yl)‐l‐isoleucine–water (4/1): interplay of molecular and supramolecular structures

In the title compound, 2C₁₀H₁₅N₅O₄·0.5H₂O, there are two independent mol­ecules of the pyrimidinyl­isoleucine in general positions and a water mol­ecule lying on a twofold rotation axis. The bond lengths within the organic moieties demonstrate significant polarization of the electronic structure. Each of the organic mol­ecules participates in 12 intermolecular hydrogen bonds, of O—H?O and N—H?O types, while the water mol­ecule acts as a double donor and as a double acceptor of O—H?O hydrogen bonds. The organic components are linked by the hydrogen bonds into a single three‐dimensional framework, reinforced by the water mol­ecules.     

Round-robins in the area of uranium and plutonium bulk analysis of environmental samples

In the framework of a collaboration between laboratories involved in bulk U and Pu analysis of environmental samples (DIF centre of the French Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique, US National Laboratories of New Brunswick, Lawrence Livermore, Pacific Northwest, Oak Ridge, and Los Alamos), two round-robins were organised, each one consisting of the complete analysis (chemical preparation and isotope measurement) of three Quality Control samples. The samples were 10 × 10 cm cotton tissues (“swipe samples”) containing low amounts of U (from ~20 to ~150 ng) and Pu (from ~0.15 to ~10 pg). Despite using different spikes, different methods of sample preparation and different analytical instrumentation, the results for U and Pu contents and isotopic compositions reported by all laboratories are globally in good agreement. All laboratories are able to measure sub-pg amounts of U and Pu isotopes with acceptable accuracy and reproducibility, even if limited discrepancies are observed affecting one or other measurement and/or laboratory. General and laboratory specific recommendations were discussed and adopted to continue to improve the accuracy and precision of the measurements.     

Monitoring structural transitions in icosahedral virus protein cages by site-directed spin labeling

This work describes an approach for calculating and measuring dipolar interactions in multispin systems to monitor conformational changes in icosahedral protein cages using site-directed spin labeling. Cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) is used as a template that undergoes a pH-dependent reversible capsid expansion wherein the protein cage swells by 10%. The sequence-position-dependent geometric presentation of attached spin-label groups provides a strategy for targeting amino acid residues most probative of structural change. The labeled protein cage residues and structural transition were found to affect the local mobility and dipolar interactions of the spin label, respectively. Line-shape changes provided a spectral signature that could be used to follow the conformational change in CCMV coat dynamics. The results provide evidence for a concerted swelling process in which the cages exist in only two structural forms, with essentially no intermediates. This methodology can be generalized for all symmetry types of icosahedral protein architectures to monitor protein cage dynamics.     

Interaction of pyridine‐ and 4‐hydroxypyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acids with heavy metal ions in aqueous solutions

Interactions between pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid and 4‐hydroxypyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid with Cu(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II) ions were characterized in aqueous solutions (20°C; I = 0.4 (KNO₃)) by means of dc‐polarography. In solutions with excess of ligand, Cu(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II) form 1:2 complexes with the tridentate dianion of pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid (dipic²⁻) from weak acid to alkaline solutions. The values of log β₂ for Cu(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II) are 16.1, 11.8, and 11.0, respectively. The complexing ability of pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid is higher in acid solutions and lower in alkaline solutions than that of 4‐hydroxypyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid. This difference is attributed to the OH‐group, which can deprotonate in basic pH. In acid solutions the OH‐group acts as an electron acceptor and reduces the electron donation available to the nitrogen atom in 4‐hydroxypyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid, whereas in alkaline solutions the OH‐group is deprotonated, and the deprotonated O₋ group acts as an electron donor and increases the coordination ability of the ligand. The triple‐deprotonated anion of 4‐hydroxypyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid (chel^3‐) forms a stable diligand complex with Cu(II), the stability constant logarithm being 21.5 ± 0.2.© 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:625–632, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10203