Synthesis and physiological activity of novel tocopheryl glycosides

Vitamin E glycosides were synthesized and enzymatic hydrolysis was examined for use as potential pro-drugs, however, the glycoside bond was found to be stable. On the other hand, among the glycosides synthesized, dl-alpha-tocopherylglucoside (6b) and dl-alpha-tocopherylmannoside (6c) showed strong inhibitory action on histamine release from mast cells. In addition, 6c also showed a suppressive action on IgE antibody formation. Thus, tocopheryl glycoside showed new properties compared to tocopherol (vitamin E). In particular, 6c was shown to be a novel lead compound with excellent manifold anti-allergic activity and anti-inflammatory activity.     

13CNMR-Untersuchung der Taktizit?t von Poly-(RS)tert-butyloxiran, das durch Polymerisation mit tert-C4H9OK erhalten wurde

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Processing and characterization of Pb(Mg,Nb)O3-PbTiO3 thin films from metal alkoxide-derived gels

The sol-gel processing is one of promising methods to fabricate well-derived integrated thin films at relatively low temperature. Ferroelectric niobates films do afford the possibilities for adding the values by the hybridization with semiconductor and/or electro-optic systems. The molecular level designing of the precursor solution was stressed as well as the control of key processing factors. The advantages of this sol-gel have been extended to prepare the ferroelectric Pb(Mg, Nb)O₃-PbTiO₃ solid solution films integrated on Si wafers. The crystallization of the films with desired crystal structure could be promoted by the controlled partial hydrolysis of designed alkoxide solution in the intermediate state and the pre-heated treatment of alkoxide-derived films in flow of water vapor and oxygen gas mixture.     

The molecular structure and chemical reactivities of the condensation products of o-substituted benzylidenacetylacetone with hydrazine dihydrochloride

Reaction of o-nitrobenzylideneacetylacetone ( 1a ) with hydrazine dihydrochloride in methanol gave 4-(α-methoxy-o-nitrobenzyl)-3,5-dimethylpyrazole hydrochloride ( 4a ), whose structure was unambigously confirmed by an X-ray crystallographic analysis, via 4-(o-nitrobenzylidene)-3,5-dimethylisopyrazole ( 2a ). Compound 2a was synthesized by condensation of 1a with hydrazine dihydrochloride in acetonitrile. Analogously the corresponding o-chloro derivatives ( 2b, 4b ) were obtained. These were converted to N-methyl ( 6b ) and N-acetyl ( 7a,b ) derivatives and the behaviors on bromination and pyrolysis were investigated.     

Microchip electrophoretic protein separation using electroosmotic flow induced by dynamic sodium dodecyl sulfate-coating of uncoated plastic chips

Separation of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-protein complexes is difficult on plastic microchips due to protein adsorption onto the wall. In this paper, we elucidated the reasons for the difficulties in separating SDS-protein complexes on plastic microchips, and we then demonstrated an effective method for separating proteins using polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microchips. Separation difficulties were found to be dependent on adsorption of SDS onto the hydrophobic surface of the channel, by which cathodic electroosmotic flow (EOF; reversed flow) was generated. Our developed method effectively utilized the reversed flow from this cathodic EOF as a driving force for sample proteins using permanently uncoated but dynamic SDS-coated PMMA microchips. High-speed (6 s) separation of proteins and peptides up to 116 kDa was successfully achieved using this system.     

Imaging of enzyme activity by scanning electrochemical microscope equipped with a feedback control for substrate-probe distance

The enzymatic activity of diaphorase (Dp) immobilized on a solid substrate was characterized using a scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM) with shear force feedback to control the substrate-probe distance. The shear force between the substrate and the probe was monitored with a tuning fork-type quartz crystal and used as the feedback control to set the microelectrode probe close to the substrate surface. The sensitivity and the contrast of the SECM image were improved in the constant distance mode (distance, 50 nm) with the shear force feedback compared to the image in the constant height mode without the feedback. By using this system, the SECM and topographic images of the immobilized diaphorase were simultaneously measured. The microelectrode tip used in this study was ground aslant like a syringe needle in order to obtain the shaper topographic images. This shape was also effective for avoiding the interference during the diffusion of the enzyme substrates.     

Preparation of Gd(2)O(3) : Eu(3+) and Gd(2)O(2)S : Eu(3+) phosphor fine particles using an emulsion liquid membrane system

Size- (submicrometer-sized) and morphology- (spherical) controlled composite Gd-Eu oxalate particles were prepared in an emulsion liquid membrane (water-in-oil-in-water emulsion) system. The oxalate particles thus prepared were calcined in air to obtain Gd(2)O(3) : Eu(3+) phosphor particles and in sulfur atmosphere to obtain Gd(2)O(2)S : Eu(3+) phosphor particles. These submicrometer-sized spherical phosphor particles showed photoluminescence properties with emission peak at 614 nm for Gd(2)O(3) : Eu(3+) and 628 nm for Gd(2)O(2)S : Eu(3+).     

Cooperative motions of protein and hydration water molecules: molecular dynamics study of scytalone dehydratase

Two molecular dynamics (MD) simulations totaling 25 ns of simulation time of monomeric scytalone dehydratase (SD) were performed. The enzyme has a ligand-binding pocket containing a cone-shaped alpha+beta barrel, and the C-terminal region covers the binding pocket. Our simulations clarified the difference in protein dynamics and conformation between the liganded protein and the unliganded protein. The liganded protein held the ligand molecule tightly and the initial structure was maintained during the simulation. The unliganded protein, on the other hand, fluctuated dynamically and its structure changed largely from the initial structure. In the equilibrium state, the binding pocket was fully solvated by opening of the C-terminal region, and the protein dynamics was connected with hydration water molecules entry into and release from the binding pocket. In addition, the cooperative motions of the unliganded protein and the hydration water molecules produced the path through the protein interior for ligand binding.