Inactivation of nitroalkane oxidase upon mutation of the active site base and rescue with a deprotonated substrate

Mutation of Asp402 in nitroalkane oxidase to Asn or Ala inactivates the enzyme with neutral nitroethane as substrate, but the activity can be rescued with the nitroethane anion. The V/K values of the D402N and D402A enzymes with the nitroethane anion are independent of pH, whereas the V/K values of the wild-type and D402E enzymes are pH dependent with both the protonated and the deprotonated forms of nitroethane. Moreover, although the V/K value of the D402E enzyme with neutral nitroethane is 20-fold less than that of the wild-type enzyme, there is only a 2-fold difference in the V/K values with the nitroethane anion. These results are fully consistent with a primary role for Asp402 as the active site base in nitroalkane oxidase which abstracts the substrate alpha-proton.     

Synthese von cyclischen α-trimethylsilylketonen

Cyclic α-trimethylsilylketones $\text{10}$ are synthesized from cyclic vinyltrimethylsilanes via the epoxides $\text{8}$, and the alcohols $\text{9}$.     

Branched Star-Type Polysilyllithium Compounds: The Effects of beta-Silyl Substitution and of Complexation on Their Molecular Structure

No Abstract     

Oxygen sensitivity of algal H2- production

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Photoproduction of H2 by green algae utilizes electrons originating from the photosynthetic oxidation of water and does not require metabolic intermediates....     

A new look at rotational and vibrational excitation in the scattering of Li+ from N2 and CO at energies between 4 and 17 eV

New experimental time-of-flight distributions are reported for Li⁺-N₂ and Li²-CO at two center-of-mass energies of about 8 and 16 eV and large scattering angles θ_lab ? 120°. The Li⁺-N₂ spectra show two widely spaced maxima, whereas the Li⁺-CO spectra show two and sometimes three maxima. The results are consistent with the model of rotational rainbows, and have also been analyzed in terms of an impulsive model involving collisions with the individual atoms of the molecules with energy-dependent masses. Classical trajectories for a simple model potential reveal only small contributions from vibrational excitation.     

An examination of some active organometallic substances for ion-selective electrodes

Examinations of a number of possible electroactive substances for use in both liquid membrane and solid-state ion-selective electrodes were carried out. Liquid membrane electrodes incorporating organometallic salts of lead and thallium were considered as constituents of sulphate, chromate, carbonate and nitrate responsive sensors. No practically useful device was, however, found. Several electrically semiconducting metal-phthalocyanines, metal-tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) polymers and metal-coordination polymers were also synthesized and investigated with solid-state electrode constructional techniques. Metal-phthalocyanine electrodes were found to be responsive to anions rather than to cations and some anion selectivity was observed. Metal-TCNE polymer electrodes showed response to metal ions identical with those contained in the polymer, and some good selectivities, operational activity ranges and response times were found. Electrodes made from coordination polymers incorporating copper showed a limited response to copper ions whilst inclusion of cadmium and iron(III) in the polymer matrix produced an electrode with anion reponse and slight anion selectivity.     

PENETRATION POTENCY OF TOPICAL APPLIED δ-AMINOLEVULINIC ACID FOR PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY OF BASAL CELL CARCINOMA *

Abstract Penetration potency of δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) was studied by examining fluorescence of endogenous protoporphyrin IX in different histological types of basal cell carcinoma. Ten basal cell carcinomas were coated with an ointment containing 10% ALA prior to excision; five served as controls. Tumors were excised either 4 h or 12 h after application of ALA using a modified Mohs’micrographic surgical technique. Horizontal sections were cut from deep dermis to tumor surface and examined under a fluorescence microscope. After 4 h of application, only skin appendages demonstrated fluorescence typical of protoporphyrin IX. After 12 h, fluorescence was detectable in tumor cells in deep dermis. The five controls revealed no fluorescence at any site. These results may confirm the high penetration potential of topically applied ALA and its usefulness in photodynamic therapy. For tumors penetrating to deep dermis, an application time of more than 4 h seems necessary, at least when hydrophilic solvents for ALA are used.     

Electronic effects steer the mechanism of asymmetric hydrogenations of unfunctionalized aryl-substituted alkenes

Density functional theory (PBE and B3LYP) was used to study asymmetric hydrogenations of alkenes catalyzed by an iridium imidazolylidine oxazoline complex. The calculation predicts that the alkene preferentially coordinates to the site trans to the carbene. The coordinated alkene then reacts first with the H2 ligand, then with the hydride to form alkane. Finally, the alkane is released by equilibrating with extrinsic H2 and alkene. Enantioface selectivities for hydrogenations of trisubstituted alkenes seem to be driven primarily by steric interactions with the adamantyl part of the ligand; only the smallest substituents can adopt a site close to it. Application of this theoretical model leads to correct predictions regarding the experimentally observed sense and magnitude of the enantioselectivities.     

A convenient protocol for selective cleavage of 2-hydroxy acid amides. Application to semisynthesis of the cyclic heptapeptide aza HUN-7293

A two-step protocol for the first chemoselective cleavage of 2-hydroxy acid amides has been developed. Mesylation of the model substrate 2-(hydroxypropionylamino)-4-methylpentanoic acid methyl ester (11) followed by treatment with N-ethylthiourea (13) allows cleavage of 2-hydroxy acid amides under smooth conditions. Successful application of this methodology to the open-chain transesterification product 15 (methylester) of the cyclic heptadepsipeptide HUN-7293, a potent inhibitor of inducible cell adhesion molecule expression, delivered the corresponding hexapeptide 18 with unprotected N-terminus in 70-75% yield. This result demonstrates that the protocol developed even works in the presence of an ester and several methylated and unmethylated amide bonds. Finally, a sequence of ligation of methyl D-dehydroglutaminate (20) to the C-terminus of the saponification product 21, followed by the degradation protocol and ring closure, allowed chemical "point mutation" at the DGCN site affording the aza analogue of HUN-7293 (24) in 15% overall yield. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report on chemoselective cleavage of 2-hydroxy acid amides.     

Synthesis and cross-coupling reactions of substituted 5-triflyloxyindoles

N-arylsulfonyl quinone monoimines undergo smooth cycloadditions in a [4+2] sense to yield the expected cycloadducts. The crude cycloadducts, when subjected to a short series of simple transformations, produce synthetically useful quantities of 5-triflyloxyindoles in excellent overall yields. Such compounds are excellent participants in cross-coupling chemistry.