PHOTOCHEMICAL CROSSLINKING OF ATP TO HISTONE H4

Abstract— A covalent crosslink occurs between histone H4 and the adenine moiety of ATP, when the complex they form is irradiated with UV light of Λ > 290 nm in the presence of acetone. Within 1 h of irradiation a 48% yield of crosslinked product is thus obtained. It is also shown that in the photosensitized reaction, 80% of the crosslinked product is monomeric, whereas protein precipitation and aggregation occur as a result of direct irradiation with 254 nm light.     

Synthesis and antifolate activity of 8,10-dideazaminopterin

A synthesis of 8,10-dideazaminopterin, using 2,4-diamino-6-bromomethyl-8-deazapteridine ( 2 ) as a key intermediate, is described. Condensation of the triphenylphosphinylide derived from 2 with p-formylbenzoyl-L-glutamate afforded a 9,10-dehydro-8,10-dideazaminopterin ester intermediate 5 . Hydrogenation of the olefinic linkage and subsequent hydrolysis of the glutamate ester gave the title compound. 8,10-Dideazaminopterin was a potent growth inhibitor of folate dependent bacteria. It was 16 times more potent then methotrexate as an inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase derived from L1210 leukemia cells, and showed strong activity against L1210 in mice.     

Evaluation of an Economical Sunlamp that Emits a Near Solar UV Power Spectrum for Conducting Photoimmunological and Sunscreen Immune Protection Studies

Expense and inconvenience have restricted the use of the filtered xenon are lamp (solar simulator) as a UV source for conducting large-scale animal studies. Because sunscreen immunoprotective levels are significantly affected by the UV power spectrum of the source it is imperative that a solar simulating source be used for accurate measurements of sunscreen protection levels that are relevant to human UV exposures from sunlight. However, relatively inexpensive sunlamps, e. g. the UVA-340, that emit a UV power spectrum similar to that of a solar simulator are available. Unlike FS-type UVB sunlamps, which have a significant amount of effective immunosuppressive nonsolar UV energy at wavelengths below 295 nm, the immunosuppression effectiveness spectrum of UVA-340 sunlamps was nearly identical to that of a solar simulator. The purpose of this study was to evaluate this sunlamp for conducting photoimmunological and sunscreen immune protection studies. Groups of C3H mice were exposed to a range of UVA-340 sunlamp doses (0.25 KJ/m² to 20.0 KJ/m²) to establish a dose-response curve and determine the minimum immune suppression dose (MISD) for induction of local-type suppression of contact hypersensitivity (CH). The MISD, defined as the lowest UV dose given to produce ～50% suppression of the CH response in mice, was determined to be 1.0 kJ/m² for UVA-340 sunlamps. Immune protection tests on four marketed sunscreen lotions (sun protection factors [SPF] 4, 8, 15 and 30) were then conducted with UVA-340 sunlamps using MISD as the endpoint. The immune protection factors for these sunscreens were equivalent to the level of protection predicated by their labeled SPF. These results are similar to those we have previously obtained using a solar simulator. We conclude from these data that the immunosuppressive effects of UVA-340 sunlamps are similar to those of a solar simulator; however, further studies are needed to determine if UVA-340, or similar, sunlamps are a viable alternative to the solar simulator for conducting large-scale animal experiments that require a relevant UV solar spectrum.     

Solid-phase synthesis using a new polyacrylic resin : Synthesis of the fragment 14–21 of the amino acid sequence of histone H4

The solid-phase synthesis of the octapeptide 1 AcGly-Ala-Lys-Arg-His-Arg-Lys-ValOMe, which represents the fragment 14-21 of the amino acid sequence of the chromosomal histone H4, as well as of the structurally related nonapeptide 2 AcGly-Ala-Lys-Leu-Arg-His-Arg-Lys-ValOMe, is described using a new polyacrylic resin containing a glycolamide ester linkage(resin-NHCO-CH₂-OCO-peptide) acting as a labile anchoring moiety between the resin and the peptide.After elongation of the polypeptide chain using classical protecting groups, i.e. t-butyloxycarbonyl for the α-NH₂ function, benzyloxycarbonyl, nitro and 2,4-dinitrophenyl groups for the side-chains of Lys, Arg and His respectively, both peptides 1 and 2 were obtained in good yields and with a high purity as shown by high-pressure liquid chromatography, by amino-acid analysis and by high-field proton NMR spectroscopy.This work demonstrates the ability of the newly introduced polyacrylic resin to act as a convenient support for solid-phase peptide synthesis.     

Base- and light-assisted synthesis of anthracenes from 3-allylnaphthalene-2-carbaldehydes

The synthesis of substituted anthracenes from naphthalene precursors is described. The key step involved heating ortho-allyl substituted naphthalene-2-carbaldehydes and potassium t-butoxide in DMF with concomitant irradiation from a high pressure mercury lamp to afford anthracenes in yields of 76-98%.     

Pyrolysis-mass spectrometry correlations of crosslink density in natural rubber vulcanizates

A set of twelve natural rubber vulcanizates was analyzed by Curie-point pyrolysis-mass spectrometry (Py-MS). Multivariate analysis successfully correlated the Py-MS data with either total or polysulfidic crosslink density measurements. (Polysulfidic means two or more sulfurs.) The principal correlation observed was an increase in the ratio of monomer to dimer pyrolyzate yield with an increase in crosslink density. The feasibility of using Py-MS for total crosslink density determination has thus been demonstrated. The Py-MS data, however, did not allow us to distinguish different types of crosslinks.     

Two-Color Two-Photon Excitation of Fluorescence

Abstract— We report the observation of two-photon excitation of an organic fluorophore with two different wavelengths, a phenomenon we refer to as two-color two-photon (2C2P) excitation. Ultraviolet emission of p -Merphenyl at 340 nm was observed when the sample was illuminated with both 375 and 750 nm pulses from a picosecond dye laser. The emission of p -terphenyl was about 100-fold and more than 1000-fold less for illumination at only 375 or 750 nm, respectively. Observation of the 2C2P signal required temporal and spatial overlap of the 375 and 750 nm pulses. The amplitude of the signal depended on the polarization of each beam. 2C2P excitation can have applications in fluorescence microscopy and elsewhere when spatially localized excitation is desirable.     

An alternate synthesis of 6-substituted-5-deazapteridines

A procedure for synthesis of 2,4-diamino-6-substituted-5-deazapteridines (pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines) is described. Condensation of 1-piperidino-1-propene with ethoxymethylenemalononitrile afforded an enamino malononitrile adduct, which when treated with ammonia yielded 2-amino-3-cyano-5-methylpyridine. Cyclization to 2,4-diamino-6-methyl-5-deazapteridine could be effected with guanidine. Similar condensation of piperidinopropene with ethyl methoxymethylenecyanoacetate followed by cyclization with hydroxylamine gave 2-amino-3-carbethoxy-6-methylpyridine 1-oxide. Reduction with phosphorus trichloride afforded the pyridine base, however, attempts to cyclize the amino ester to 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-methyl-5-deazapteridine were unusccessful.     

Reactive E=C(p‐p)π‐Systems. 56 [1] Attempted Preparation of PhE=C(CF3)2 by Reactions of Hexafluoroacetone with PhE(SiMe3)2 (E = As,P)

The chance to prepare sterically and inductively stabilized arsa‐ and phosphaalkenes of the type PhE=C(CF₃)₂ (E = As, P) by reacting phenyl‐bis(trimethylsilyl)‐arsane ( 1 ) and ‐phosphane ( 5 ), respectively, with hexafluoroacetone (HFA) was investigated. The insertion of the carbonyl function in one of the Si–E bonds was found to occur at temperatures between ?78 and 20 °C. The elimination of hexamethyldisiloxane, which in case of acylamides and ketones spontaneously follows the insertion and in case of RE(SiMe₃)–CR′₂(OSiMe₃) at least can be initiated by solid sodium hydroxide as catalyst, turned out to be impossible for the primary products PhE(SiMe₃)–C(CF₃)₂‐OSiMe₃ [E = As ( 2 ), P ( 6 )]. 2 and 6 were characterized by analytical (C, H) and spectroscopic methods (IR, NMR, MS).     

Theoretical treatment of intermediate electrolysis electrochemical detectors

A simple approach for deriving expressions for the limiting steady-state response of the open tubular electrode, under conditions of intermediate electrolytic yields, is described. This approach couples the principles of laminar fluid dynamics with the theory of the porous electrode reactor. The dependence of the limiting current, I₁, on flow rate, V_f, has the form of I₁ α V^m_f , with m ? $\text{1}\text{3}$, depending upon the electrolytic yield. The effects of electroactive species depletion upon the detector response are discussed. Experimental results are incorporated to support the theoretical conclusions. For a tubular electrode (4-cm long) the degree of conversion decreases from 0.21 to 0.03 and m decreases from 0.42 to 0.32 as the flow rate increases from 0.15 to 3.5 ml min^-1.