Designer ribozymes: programming the tRNA specificity into flexizyme

Fx3 is an artificial ribozyme with the ability to aminoacylate various tRNAs with phenylalanine and its nonnatural derivatives. Herein we report a simple strategy to build tRNA specificity into the generic Fx3, by appending to its 3'-end a tRNA-specific sequence (TSS), which is complementary to the acceptor stem of the cognate tRNA. This new designer ribozyme, referred to as Fx10, is able to recognize its cognate tRNA via a 10-base-pair interaction that is formed after the invasion of the tRNA acceptor stem by the TSS. We have demonstrated that Fx10 can aminoacylate its cognate tRNA with a high degree of specificity and also discriminate against the noncognate tRNAs. Because the tRNA specificity can be easily programmed into Fx10, it is a custom-made catalyst to generate nonnatural aminoacyl-tRNAs.     

The crystal structure and absolute configuration of the antitumor platinum complex trans(OH)-Pt(OH)2(malonato)(1R,2R-cyclohexanediamine).

The absolute configuration of the anti-tumor complex trans(OH)-Pt(OH)2(malonato)(1R,2R-cyclohexanediamine) was determined by X-ray anomalous scattering technique. The final unit cell was monoclinic, space group P2(1) with a = 9.142 A, b = 7.788 A, c = 11.946 A, beta = 96.48 degrees, Z = 2. The crystal structure was determined by direct method and difference Fourier synthesis, and refined to R = 0.025 and Rw = 0.033 based on 2768 independent reflections. The platinum atom has roughly octahedral coordination. The cyclohexane ring has the expected chair configuration, with two amino groups in equatorial positions while the malonato ligand, in contrast, shows a boat conformation for six membered Pt O-C-C-C-O ring.     

Effects of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) concentration on the permeability of PEG-grafted liposomes

Poly(ethylene glycol)-grafted liposomes (PEG-liposomes) were prepared from dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) with various amounts of distearoyl-N-monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-succinyl-phosphatidylethanolamines (DSPE-PEG) with PEG molecular weights of 1000, 2000, 3000 and 5000. The effects of DSPE-PEG concentration on the permeability of PEG-liposomes were investigated using carboxyfluorescein (CF). In the gel state, the CF leakage from PEG-liposomes was decreased with increasing mole fractions of DSPE-PEG for all PEG molecular weights. In the liquid-crystalline state, the CF leakage from PEG-liposomes containing DSPE-PEG1000 gradually increased with increasing mole fractions of DSPE-PEG, while that of PEG-liposomes whose molecular weight in PEG units was above 2000 rapidly decreased by the addition of DSPE-PEG. Furthermore, no effect of PEG molecular weight on CF leakage was observed. The relationship between the fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) (or 1-(4-trimethylammoniumphenyl)-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH)) and the mole fraction of DSPE-PEG for PEG-liposomes was also investigated. No significant changes in fluorescence polarization of DPH for liposomal bilayer membranes was observed in the gel and liquid-crystalline states due to the addition of DSPE-PEG, while that of TMA-DPH was decreased compared with that of liposomes without DSPE-PEG in both states.     

Simultaneous discrimination of diastereotopic groups and faces: the first example in intramolecular [3+2] and [2+2+1] cycloaddition reactions

To explore a novel concept for controlling diastereoselectivity, systematic studies on the sense and degree of diastereotopic groups and face selections in intramolecular [3 + 2] (nitrile oxide and nitrone) and [2 + 2 + 1] (Pauson-Khand) cycloadditions have been conducted. Optically pure methyl (S)-3,4-O-isopropylidene-3,4-dihydroxybutanoate (5) and methyl (S)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-2,3-dihydroxypropanoate (6) were converted to substrate aldehydes (1-4) that bear geminal allyl groups and four types of controllers with the intention of imparting a stereochemical bias to the allylic groups and their faces. The controllers involve 1,2-bis(tert-butyldimethylsiloxy), 1,3-bis(tert-butyldimethylsiloxy), 1,2-acetonide, and 1,3-acetonide groups, which are referred to as 1,2-(TBDMSO)(2), 1,3-(TBDMSO)(2), 1,3-dioxolane, and 1,3-dioxane, respectively. Twelve runs of cycloaddition reactions as combinations between the three types of reactions and the four types of substrates were performed to provide bicyclo[4.3.0] or -[3.3.0] adducts of synthetic importance in which isoxazolidine, isoxazoline, or cyclopentenone segments were fused. For every case, high levels of diastereoselectivity have been achieved: >99% (in eight cases), 82%, and 76% for the discrimination of diastereotopic groups and 68-->99% for the discrimination of diastereotopic faces. On the basis of the absolute structures of the cycloadducts, plausible stereochemical models are proposed.     

Direct coupling of microcolumn liquid chromatography with in-tube solid-phase microextraction for the analysis of antidepressant drugs

The direct coupling of in-tube solid-phase microextraction (in-tube SPME) with microcolumn liquid chromatography (micro-LC) has been investigated for the analysis of antidepressants in human urine. The use of in-tube SPME has been clearly shown to be advantageous for the on-line coupling of the SPME method, as the sample pretreatment technique, with micro-LC as the separation technique. This is because much smaller amounts of the sample solutions, desorption solvents and the mobile phase are required compared with conventional SPME-LC systems. The parameters for preconcentration have been investigated for the extraction capillary with the newly developed 'wire-in-tube' configuration.     

DNA cleavage reaction of antitumour antibiotic, kapurimycin A3, with deoxytetranucleotide d(CGCG)2

Kapurimycin A3 (kap A3, 1 ), an antitumour antibiotic, alkylates N7 of guanine₂ (G₂) and G₄ of d(C₁G₂C₃G₄)₂ to produce their covalent adducts 2 (64 %) and 3 (7.0 %), respectively. Heating at 90 °C for 5 min degraded both adducts to kap A3 - G adduct (5) with the concurrent release of their respective abasic-site containing oligomers 4 and 6.     

Furanodictine A and B: amino sugar analogues produced by cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum showing neuronal differentiation activity

We investigated the constituents of Dictyostelium discoideum to clarify the diversity of secondary metabolites of Dictyostelium cellular slime molds and to explore biologically active substances that could be useful in the development of novel drugs. From a methanol extract of the multicellular fruit body of D. discoideum, we isolated two novel amino sugar analogues, furanodictine A (1) and B (2). They are the first 3,6-anhydrosugars to be isolated from natural sources. Their relative structures were elucidated by spectral means, and the absolute configurations were confirmed by asymmetric syntheses of 1 and 2. These furanodictines potently induce neuronal differentiation of rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells.     

Extraction—spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of iron in waters with pyrogallol red and zephiramine

The simple removal of excess of co-extracted reagent in the solvent extraction of metal complex anions with a quaternary ammonium salt greatly improves the determination of iron(II) with pyrogallol red and zephiramine. The method with pyrogallol red is suitable for the determination of trace amounts of iron in natural waters. The apparent molar absorptivities of the iron(II) complex in chloroform are 7.5×10⁴ and 10.3×10⁴ 1 mol^-1 cm^-1 at 560 and 298 nm, respectively. A large excess of reagent can be added, and the ternary complex can be completely extracted over the pH range 8.5–10. Masking agents allow most interferences to be suppressed. The method is suitable for the analysis of potable, river and sea waters.     

Ferrocene-containing polymers. I. Radiation-induced polymerization of ferrocenylmethyl methacrylate

γ-Ray-induced polymerizations of ferrocenylmethyl methacrylate (FMMA) in crystalline and amorphous states were investigated with kinetical and ESR methods. In the crystalline state the polymerization of FMMA proceeded slowly and gave low-molecular-weight polymers, whereas in the amorphous state it proceeded rapidly and gave polymers of much higher molecular weight. Molecular weight distributions of these polymers were binodal. The temperature dependence and the dose-rate dependence of the polymerization rates were different between the two states. Wide-line nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of the amorphous monomer suggested that the polymerization proceeded in a supercooled state. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of γ-irradiated FMMA and 1,1′-ferrocenyl-di(methyl methacrylate) showed that ferrocene radicals and methacrylic radicals were formed simultaneously at low temperature; with increasing temperature the former radicals disappeared, whereas the latter changed into growing chain radicals. The yields of radicals were relatively low; this means that ferrocene groups in the monomers behave as a radiation energy absorber.