6,6-Spiroimine analogs of (-)-gymnodimine A: synthesis and biological evaluation on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Simple models of the spiroimine core of (-)-gymnodimine A have been synthesized in racemic and optically active forms. The quaternary carbon of the racemic spiroimines was created by Michael addition of a β-ketoester to acrolein, whereas the asymmetric allylic alkylation of the same β-ketoester was used to access the spiroimines in an enantioselective fashion. Both racemic and enantio-enriched mixtures were tested for their biological activities on Xenopus oocytes either expressing (human α4β2) or having incorporated (Torpedoα1(2)βγδ) nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). These spiroimine analogs of (-)-gymnodimine A inhibited acetylcholine-evoked nicotinic currents, but were less active than the phycotoxin. Our results reveal that the 6,6-spiroimine moiety is important for the blockade of nAChRs and support the hypothesis that it is one of the pharmacophores of this group of toxins.     

Molecular surface electrostatic potentials of anticonvulsant drugs

The computed molecular surface electrostatic potentials of a group of anticonvulsants of various chemical types were investigated with the objective of identifying common features that may be related to their activities. The calculations were carried out with the density functional B3P86/6-31G* procedure, using HF/STO-3G*-optimized geometries. Analysis of several statistically based properties of the surface potentials indicates that the negative regions are of primary importance and that an optimum intermediate level of local polarity, or internal charge separation, is required. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 70: 1137–1143, 1998     

Performance comparison using the GUESS mixture to evaluate counter-current chromatography instruments

Comparing the performance of different counter-current chromatography (CCC) J-type centrifuges has and will always be difficult. This is due to the number of variables such as speed of rotation, swung radius, β-value, column bore, column length that can be chosen during the design of an instrument. This situation is further complicated by the implication that some of these variables are intrinsically linked, such that if one is changed another or others can also change. The chromatographer has no influence on these hardware parameters once the instrument designer has chosen them. However, the chromatographer wants a CCC column that retains the most liquid stationary phase in order to achieve the best separation of the components in a mixture. What matters most is column performance in terms of: sample loading per injection, speed of separation, purity of target and yield of target. The instrument that has the best performance in all these areas is called a “high-performance” CCC system. This paper demonstrates to the modern chromatographer that a “high-performance” CCC instrument has shorter, lower volume columns that are rotated faster to provide quicker separations, even with the same sample loading.     

Far-Red Dibenzo[a,j]Perylene-8,16-Dione Dyes as Fluorescent Enzyme Substrates and Tags for Biomolecules

The synthesis of fluorescent 2,10-derivatives of the title chromophore are described. The substituents contain amino-reactive N-hydroxysuccinimde ester and thiol-reactive iodoacetamide groups for attachment to biomolecules. A phosphate derivative was also prepared as an enzyme substrate.     

SO42-/Zr-ZSM-5 超强酸催化剂的制备和表征

以硅溶胶和氧氯化锆为硅源和锆源，采用水热合成的方法制得具有ZSM-5结构的Zr-Si分子筛；用0.5mol/L的硫酸处理该分子筛，并在550℃焙烧，制得具有ZSM-5结构的SO4^2-/ZrO2-SiO2分子筛型的固体超强酸。采用XRD、SEM、TG、IR、NH3-PHD和指示剂法对其结构和酸性进行表征。结果表明，该SO4^2-/ZrO2-SiO2具有ZSM-5结构和超强酸性，其酸强度大于-13.75，且具有良好的热稳定性。     

Mass spectrometric interrogation of thioester-bound intermediates in the initial stages of epothilone biosynthesis

Direct detection of thioester intermediate mixtures bound to EpoC, a 195 kDa polyketide synthase, has been achieved using limited proteolysis and Fourier-transform mass spectrometry (FTMS). Incubation with various N-acetylcysteamine thioester (S-NAC) substrate mimics produced mass shifts on the EpoC ACP domain consistent with their condensation with an enzyme-bound carbanion produced by the decarboxylation of methylmalonyl-S-EpoC. Reconstitution of EpoA-ACP, EpoB, and EpoC gave a +165.0 Da mass shift consistent with the formation of the methylthiazolyl-methacrylyl product by incorporation of acetyl-CoA, cysteine, and methylmalonyl-CoA. Thioester-templated reaction intermediates and products are typically characterized by quantifying radioactive substrates, either enzyme bound or chemically hydrolyzed. In contrast, the MS-based methodology described here provides semiquantifiable ratios of free enzyme, intermediate, and product occupancy and reveals that certain substrates result in a >50% formation of nonproductive intermediates.     

Using a non-invasive stable isotope tracer to measure the absorption of water in humans

The development of solutions that prevent dehydration or promote adequate re-hydration play a vital role in preventing fatigue during exercise, however, the methods commonly used to assess the hydration ability of such solutions are invasive and often assess the components of absorption separately. This paper describes using a non-invasive deuterium tracer technique that assesses gastric emptying and intestinal absorption simultaneously to evaluate the uptake of water during rest and exercise. The kinetics of absorption are further examined by mathematical modelling of the data generated. For the rest group, 0.05 g/kg of body weight of deuterium, contained in gelatine capsules, was ingested with ordinary tap water and saliva samples were collected every 5 min for one hour while the subject remained seated. The deuterium was administered as above for the exercise group but sample collection was during one hour of exercise on a treadmill at 55% of the subject's maximum heart rate. The enrichment data for each subject were mathematically modelled and the parameters obtained were compared across groups using an independent samples t-test. Compared with the rest condition, the exercise group showed delayed absorption of water as indicated by significant differences for the modelling parameters t2, t1/2, maximum absorption rate and solution absorption amount at t1. Labelling with a deuterium tracer is a good measure of the relative rate ingested fluids are absorbed by the body. Mathematical modelling of the data generates rates of maximum absorption and allows calculation of the percentage of the solution that is absorbed at any given time during the testing period.     

Rapid access to structured triacylglycerols acylated with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for nutritional applications

In order to better understand the metabolic fate of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), an efficient access to symmetrical and unsymmetrical triacylglycerols (TGs), esterified with PUFAs, with known high purity, is required. In this context, we optimized the esterification of a mixture of glycerols protected as dioxane and dioxolane with PUFAs. The kinetics of this reaction depends on various factors, such as the fatty acid chain length and the stereochemistry of the dioxane. Then, one-pot acetal hydrolysis and esterification of hydroxyl groups led to the desired structured TGs without either double bond isomerization or acyl migration (except when symmetrical TGs are acylated with long-chain saturated fatty acids in external positions). PUFAs location on the glycerol backbone was assayed by NMR, HPLC and pancreatic lipase hydrolysis.     

Synthesis of Gold Microplates Using Bovine Serum Albumin as a Reductant and a Stabilizer

Gold microplates were synthesized in aqueous solutions by reducing HAuCl₄ with the hydroxyl groups in both serine and threonine of bovine serum albumin (BSA), which is a globular protein in its native state. In this article, we systematically investigated the effects of temperature, pH value, the concentration of BSA, and ionic species on the reduction kinetics and thus the size and morphology of the final product. The optimal experimental conditions for producing uniform Au microplates include the following: an elevated temperature in the range of 55–65 °C, an acidic solution with pH≈3, and the presence of NaCl (0.14 M ). We found that if any one of these parameters was deviated from the optimal condition, Au microplates would not be formed in high yields. We also found that the surfaces of the as‐synthesized Au microplates were covered by a dense array of BSA bumps.