Amphotericin B covalent dimers forming sterol-dependent ion-permeable membrane channels

Polyenemacrolides such as amphotericin B (AmB) were thought to assemble together and form an ion channel across plasma membranes. Their antimicrobial activity has been accounted for by this assemblage, whose stability and activity are dependent on sterol constituents of lipid bilayer membranes. The structure of this channel-like assemblage formed in biomembranes has been a target of extensive investigations for a long time. For the first step to this goal, we prepared several AmB dimers with various linkers and tested for their channel-forming activity. Among these, AmB dimers that bore an aminoalkyl-dicarboxylate tether covalently linked between amino groups of AmB showed potent hemolytic activity. Furthermore, K+ influx actions monitored by measuring the pH of the liposome lumen by 31P NMR revealed that the dimers formed the molecular assemblage similar to that of AmB in phospholipid membrane. Judging from changes in 31P NMR spectra, the dimers appeared to induce "all-or-none"-type ion flux across the liposome membrane in the presence of ergosterol, which suggested that the ion channel formed by ergosterol/dimer is similar to that of AmB. With these data in hand, we are now trying to elucidate the structure of the ion-channel complex by making the labeled conjugates of AmB for NMR measurements.     

某些多氮杂大环的合成与应用

多氮杂大环与许多金属离子能形成稳定的络合物。由于氮原子是三价的,因而多氮杂大环比冠醚具有更有利的结构;如果再导入羧基、膦酸基以及其他的亲水基团,则可得到一系列能形成水溶性金属络合物的配体。其中某些金属(如铜、钇等)的络合物在人体生理条件下表现出很好的稳定性,结合单原抗体技术的应用,这炎络合物在医疗、诊断方面有实用性。本文简单介绍某些代表性络合物的制备方法、物理性能和可能的应用。     

Atomization of Al in a tungsten coil electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometer

Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry of Al in a tungsten coil atomizer was evaluated and applied for its determination in hemodialysis fluid. The system was mounted on a Varian Spectra AA-40 spectrophotometer with continuum background correction and all measurements, in peak height absorbance, were done at 309.3 nm. The purge gas was a mixture of 90% Ar plus 10% H(2). Observation height, gas flow, drying, pyrolysis and atomization steps were optimized. The heating program was carried out by employing a heating cycle in four steps: dry, pyrolysis, atomization and clean. The determination of Al in hemodialysis solutions was performed by using a matrix-matching procedure. Al in hemodialysis solutions was determined by TCA and by electrothermal atomization with a graphite tube atomizer. There is no differences between results obtained by both methods at a confidence level of 95%. The characteristic mass of Al by using the TCA was 39 pg and the detection limit was 2.0 mug l(-1).     

Label-Free Impedance Biosensors: Opportunities and Challenges

Impedance biosensors are a class of electrical biosensors that show promise for point-of-care and other applications due to low cost, ease of miniaturization, and label-free operation. Unlabeled DNA and protein targets can be detected by monitoring changes in surface impedance when a target molecule binds to an immobilized probe. The affinity capture step leads to challenges shared by all label-free affinity biosensors; these challenges are discussed along with others unique to impedance readout. Various possible mechanisms for impedance change upon target binding are discussed. We critically summarize accomplishments of past label-free impedance biosensors and identify areas for future research.     

Separation of Escherichia coli 055:B5 lipopolysaccharide and detoxified lipopolysaccharide by high-performance capillary electrophoresis

A rapid, highly sensitive and reproducible high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) method (electrokinetic chromatography with sodium dodecyl sulfate) is described for the determination of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and detoxified LPS (D-LPS), produced by both alkaline treatment in anhydrous conditions and mild acid hydrolysis, from Escherichia coli 055:B5 bacteria. LPS and D-LPS are separated and readily determined within 25 min on an uncoated fused-silica capillary using normal polarity at 20 kV and detection at 200 nm. A linear relationship (correlation coefficient greater than about 0.97) was found for the LPS and the two D-LPS species over a wide range of concentrations, from approximately 120 to 360 ng, with a detection sensitivity less than about 100 ng. Furthermore, HPCE was able to separate several molecular species mainly due to the presence of populations with O-specific polysaccharides of distinct and increasing mean chain lengths. This approach could be of great importance for the quantitative determination of LPS and D-LPS during the purification and preparation processes, also considering the importance of D-LPS in the preparation of human vaccines, and for the qualitative evaluation of the heterogeneity of LPS and the O-polysaccharide components.     

The de novo design of median molecules within a property range of interest

Summary In this paper an application is presented of the median molecule workflow to the de novo design of novel molecular entities with a property profile of interest. Median molecules are structures that are optimised to be similar to a set of existing molecules of interest as an approach for lead exploration and hopping. An overview of this workflow is provided together with an example of an instance using the similarity to camphor and menthol as objectives. The methodology of the experiments is defined and the workflow is applied to designing novel molecules for two physical property datasets: mean molecular polarisability and aqueous solubility. This paper concludes with a discussion of the characteristics of this method.     

Synthesis and characterization of heavier dioxouranium(VI) dihalides

The synthesis and characterization of the dioxouranium(VI) dibromide and iodide hydrates, UO(2)Br(2)x3H(2)O (1), [UO(2)Br(2)(OH(2))(2)](2) (2), and UO(2)I(2)x2H(2)Ox4Et(2)O (3), are reported. Moreover, adducts of UO(2)I(2) and UO(2)Br(2) with large, bulky OP(NMe(2))(3) and OPPh(3) ligands such as UO(2)I(2)(OP(NMe(2))(3))(2) (4), UO(2)Br(2)(OP(NMe(2))(3))(2) (5), and UO(2)I(2)(OPPh(3))(2)(6) are discussed. The structures of the following compounds were determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques: (1) monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 9.7376(8) A, b = 6.5471(5) A, c = 12.817(1) A, beta = 94.104(1) degrees , V = 815.0(1) A(3), Z = 4; (2) monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 6.0568(7) A, b = 10.5117(9) A, c = 10.362(1) A, beta = 99.62(1) degrees , V = 650.5(1) A(3), Z = 2; (4) tetragonal, P4(1)2(1)2, a = 10.6519(3) A, b = 10.6519(3) A, c = 24.0758(6) A, V = 2731.7(1) A(3), Z = 4; (5) tetragonal, P4(1)2(1)2, a = 10.4645(1) A, b = 10.4645(1) A, c = 23.7805(3) A, V = 2604.10(5) A(3), Z = 4, and (6) monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 9.6543(1) A, b = 18.8968(3) A, c = 10.9042(2) A, beta =115.2134(5) degrees , V = 1783.01(5) A(3), Z = 2. Whereas 1 and 2 are the first UO(2)Br(2) hydrates and the last missing members of the UO(2)X(2) hydrate (X = Cl --> I) series to be structurally characterized, 4 and 6 contain room-temperature stable U(VI)-I bonds with 4 being the first structurally characterized room temperature stable U(VI)-I compound which can be conveniently prepared on a gram scale in quantitative yield. The synthesis and characterization of 5 using an analogous halogen exchange reaction to that used for the preparation of 4 is also reported.     

Size evolution of the vibrational predissociation process in Br2...Nen clusters: simulation and kinetic study

A hybrid quantum-classical simulation of the vibrational predissociation of Br2...Nen, (n = 2-11) clusters in the B electronic state is carried out. The time-evolution of the reactants, products, and intermediates is analyzed by a kinetic mechanism consisting of three elementary steps: direct vibrational predissociation (VP), intramolecular vibrational redistribution (IVR), and evaporative cooling (EC). The importance of intramolecular vibrational redistribution followed by evaporative cooling relative to direct vibrational predissociation is shown to increase rapidly with increasing cluster size. Final product state distributions reveal that only one or less Br2 stretching quantum per neon atom is required in order to achieve complete dissociation (n quanta for n < or = 9 and n - 1 for n = 10 and 11). The proportion of available energy going into translation is proposed as a parameter to study the statistical behavior of the Van der Waals clusters. It is shown to depend only on the number of remaining degrees of freedom, a characteristic of a statistical behavior, for n > or = 3.     

Direct determination of gallium on polyurethane foam by X-ray fluorescence

Gallium chloride is easily extracted from 6M HCl by comminuted polyether-type polyurethane foam. After the extraction step, the gallium absorbed by the PU foam can be quantitatively determined by X-ray fluorescence. A procedure for the direct determination of gallium absorbed by PU foam by XRFS is thus described. Gallium is determined at levels as low as 60 ng/ml (C(L)), with a calibration sensitivity of 424 cps ml/mug, within a linear range 0.1-2.30 mug/ml. The procedure investigated was successfully applied to determination of gallium in aluminum alloys, bauxite and industrial residue samples.     

Developing an on-line derivatization of FAs by microwave irradiation coupled to HPLC separation with UV detection

The development of analytical methods for routine simultaneous identification and quantification of carboxylic fatty acids (CFAs) are required in different fields, such as, pharmaceutical cosmetics, food products and formulations of water–microemulsion–oil systems. Determination of CFAs has been developed mainly by gas chromatography (GC). As an alternative to GC, liquid chromatography (LC) has better sensitivity and selectivity. However, most CFAs show no useful absorption in ultraviolet–violet (UV–Vis) region, one of the more used detection technique in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In order to allow the use of UV–Vis detection, the use of pre-column derivatization has been reported to increase sensitivity and selectivity. Therefore, establishment of a simpler and faster on-line method with complete separation is needed for the screening of large numbers of samples. 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4-DNPH.), benzoil chloride (BC), and phenylhydrazine (PH) were used for derivatization of different FAs by microwaves radiation (MW). After the on-line derivatization, products were separated and quantified by HPLC. Reactor coil was placed inside of microwaves oven at 450 W. Parameters as flow, amount of reagents, irradiation time, and chromatographic conditions were optimized. The continuous analysis using the MW–HPLC–UV system provided high sensitivity and reduced both the amount of reagent used and the analysis times. This proposed method can be used for the routine analysis of FAs contained in water–microemulsion–oil systems, to quantify the total acid fraction in each phase.