Effective disruption of phosphoprotein-protein surface interaction using Zn(II) dipicolylamine-based artificial receptors via two-point interaction

Protein phosphorylation is ubiquitously involved in living cells, and it is one of the key events controlling protein-protein surface interactions, which are essential in signal transduction cascades. We now report that the small molecular receptors bearing binuclear Zn(II)-Dpa can strongly bind to a bis-phosphorylated peptide in a cross-linking manner under neutral aqueous conditions when the distance between the two Zn(II) centers can appropriately fit in that of the two phosphate groups of the phosphorylated peptide. The binding property was quantitatively determined by ITC (isothermal titration calorimetry), induced CD (circular dichroism), and NMR. On the basis of these findings, we demonstrated that these types of small molecules were able to effectively disrupt the phosphoprotein-protein interaction in a phosphorylated CTD peptide and the Pin1 WW domain, a phosphoprotein binding domain, at a micromolar level. The strategy based on a small molecular disruptor that directly interacts with phosphoprotein is unique and should be promising in developing a designer inhibitor for phosphoprotein-protein interaction.     

Direct coupling reaction between alcohols and silyl compounds: enhancement of Lewis acidity of Me3SiBr using InCl3

The combination of InCl3 and Me3SiBr provided an enhanced Lewis acid system that can be used to promote a wide range of direct coupling reactions between alcohols and silyl nucleophiles in non-halogenated solvents, such as hexane or MeCN. The enhanced Lewis acidity of this system was measured by the 13C NMR in terms of the coordination to an alcohol. Moreover, the interaction between Me3SiBr and the In(III) species was revealed by 29Si NMR spectral analysis. Highly chemoselective allylations toward a hydroxyl moiety over ketone and acetoxy ones have been demonstrated.     

Enhanced renal image contrast by ethanol fixation in phase‐contrast X‐ray computed tomography

Phase‐contrast X‐ray imaging using a crystal X‐ray interferometer can depict the fine structures of biological objects without the use of a contrast agent. To obtain higher image contrast, fixation techniques have been examined with 100% ethanol and the commonly used 10% formalin, since ethanol causes increased density differences against background due to its physical properties and greater dehydration of soft tissue. Histological comparison was also performed. A phase‐contrast X‐ray system was used, fitted with a two‐crystal X‐ray interferometer at 35 keV X‐ray energy. Fine structures, including cortex, tubules in the medulla, and the vessels of ethanol‐fixed kidney could be visualized more clearly than that of formalin‐fixed tissues. In the optical microscopic images, shrinkage of soft tissue and decreased luminal space were observed in ethanol‐fixed kidney; and this change was significantly shown in the cortex and outer stripe of the outer medulla. The ethanol fixation technique enhances image contrast by approximately 2.7–3.2 times in the cortex and the outer stripe of the outer medulla; the effect of shrinkage and the physical effect of ethanol cause an increment of approximately 78% and 22%, respectively. Thus, the ethanol‐fixation technique enables the image contrast to be enhanced in phase‐contrast X‐ray imaging.     

Recognition of aromatic compounds by π pocket within a cage-shaped borate catalyst

Taking shape: the ability of a Lewis acid catalyst to distinguish between aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbon moieties was accomplished by using cage-shaped borate catalysts B(OC(6)H(3)Aryl)(3)CH having a π pocket derived from aryl substituents surrounding the boron center. The catalyst predominantly activated aromatic aldehydes over aliphatic ones for reaction.     

Preparation of SRN1-type coupling adducts from aliphatic gem-dinitro compounds in ionic liquids

S(RN)1-type coupling adducts are readily prepared by the reaction between a-sulfonylesters or a-cyanosulfones and gem-dinitro compounds in ionic liquids. The reactions progress smoothly and recovered ionic liquids can be used for several iterations, as long as they are washed with water to remove alkali metallic salts. The reaction rate is slower than the corresponding S(RN)1 reaction in DMSO, but no acceleration on irradiation or no inhibition in the presence of m-DNB are observed.     

Application of high‐resolution ESI and MALDI mass spectrometry to metabolite profiling of small interfering RNA duplex

We investigated the application of a high‐resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source and a matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometer to the metabolite profiling of a model small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplex TSR#34 and compared their functions and capabilities. TSR#34 duplex was incubated in human serum in vitro, and the duplex and its metabolites were then purified by ion exchange chromatography in order to remove the biological matrices. The fraction containing the siRNA duplex and its metabolites was collected and desalted and then subjected to high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a reversed phase column. The siRNA and its metabolites were separated into single strands by elevated chromatographic temperature and analyzed using the ESI‐Orbitrap or the MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometer. Using this method, the 5' and/or 3' truncated metabolites of each strand were detected in the human serum samples. The ESI‐Orbitrap mass spectrometer enabled differentiation between two possible RNA‐based sequences, a monoisotopic molecular mass difference which was less than 2 Da, with an intrinsic mass resolving power. In‐source decay (ISD) analysis using a MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometer allowed the sequencing of the RNA metabolite with characteristic fragment ions, using 2,4‐dihydroxyacetophenone (2,4‐DHAP) as a matrix. The ESI‐Orbitrap mass spectrometer provided the highest mass accuracy and the benefit of on‐line coupling with HPLC for metabolite profiling. Meanwhile, the MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometer, in combination with 2,4‐DHAP, has the potential for the sequencing of RNA by ISD analysis. The combined use of these methods will be beneficial to characterize the metabolites of therapeutic siRNA compounds. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Completeness of Trigonometric System with Integer Indices {e; x }

Necessary and sufficient conditions are given which ensure the completeness of the trigonometric systems with integer indices; {e^inx; x }^∞_n=−∞ or {e^inx; x }^∞_n=1 in L^α(μ,  ), α1. If there exists a support Λ of the measure μ which is a wandering set, that is, Λ+2kπ, k=0, ±1, ±2, … are mutually disjoint for different k's, then the linear span of our trigonometric system {e^inx; x }^∞_n=−∞ is dense in L^α(μ,  ) α1. The converse statement is also true.     

Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Ethene Copolymers from Metallocene and Ziegler Catalysts

In this study, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethene homopolymer and copolymer were successfully produced with the metallocene and the Ziegler catalyst system. In case with the metallocene catalyst system, viscosity average molecular weight of the homopolymer was controlled from 2 million to 10 million. Also, the molecular weight of the copolymer was reached up to 6 million. In case with the Ziegler catalyst system, the molecular weight of the copolymer was reached up to 4 million. The transparency of the copolymer by the Ziegler catalyst, with which the copolymer with better uniformity was produced, could be comparable with that by the metallocene catalyst.     

Formation of polyelectrolyte complexes

Interactions between polyelectrolytes carrying opposite charges in aqueous media may lead to either complex coacervation or the formation of interpolymer complexes, depending on the charge density and concentration of polymer components, ionic strength, temperature, and pH. The liquid-liquid phase separation referred to as complex coacervation was thought by Oparin to be an origin of prebiological systems. This article summarizes our recent results on the intermolecular interactions between charged polymer molecules, from the point of view of biological interests.     

Small-angle x-ray scattering from solution of rodlike particles with length distribution

The scattering function of rods with a constant radius, 8 Å, and a length distribution of the Schulz–Zimm type was calculated on a computer as a model of helical synthetic polypeptide. The influence of length and length distribution on the scattered intensity of small-angle x-ray scattering was clarified. As length grows and length distribution broadens it is difficult to obtain reliable values of molecular weight and radius of gyration from a Zimm plot. The influence of length distribution on the mass per unit length, M_q, and the radius of gyration of the cross section, 〈S〉^1/2, from the Guinier plot of the cross-sectional factor decreases as the length increases, and reliable values of M_q and 〈S〉^1/2 can be obtained even for rods with wide distribution for rods more than 600 Å long. In particular, it is pointed out that the value of 〈S〉^1/2 is little influenced by length and length distribution.