μ-Opioid receptors (μ-ORs) play a critical role in the modulation of pain and mediate the effects of the most powerful analgesic drugs. Despite extensive efforts, it remains insufficiently understood how μ-ORs produce specific effects in living cells. We developed new fluorescent ligands based on the μ-OR antagonist E-p-nitrocinnamoylamino-dihydrocodeinone (CACO), that display high affinity, long residence time and pronounced selectivity. Using these ligands, we achieved single-molecule imaging of μ-ORs on the surface of living cells at physiological expression levels. Our results reveal a high heterogeneity in the diffusion of μ-ORs, with a relevant immobile fraction. Using a pair of fluorescent ligands of different color, we provide evidence that μ-ORs interact with each other to form short-lived homodimers on the plasma membrane. This approach provides a new strategy to investigate μ-OR pharmacology at single-molecule level. 相似文献
Photoresponsive materials that change in response to light have been studied for a range of applications. These materials are often metastable during irradiation, returning to their pre-irradiated state after removal of the light source. Herein, we report a polymer gel comprising poly(ethylene glycol) star polymers linked by Cu24L24 metal–organic cages/polyhedra (MOCs) with coumarin ligands. In the presence of UV light, a photosensitizer, and a hydrogen donor, this “polyMOC” material can be reversibly switched between CuII, CuI, and Cu0. The instability of the MOC junctions in the CuI and Cu0 states leads to network disassembly, forming CuI/Cu0 solutions, respectively, that are stable until re-oxidation to CuII and supramolecular gelation. This reversible disassembly of the polyMOC network can occur in the presence of a fixed covalent second network generated in situ by copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), providing interpenetrating supramolecular and covalent networks. 相似文献
6-, 7-, and 8-membered rings are assembled from a linear precursor by successive cyclisation reactions to construct a tricyclic diazatricyclo[6.5.1.04, 9]-tetradecanedione scaffold. Advanced building blocks based on d -aspartic acid and l -pyroglutamic acid were combined by a sp3−sp2 Negishi coupling. A carbamate-guided syn-diastereoselective epoxidation followed by an intramolecular epoxide opening allowed the construction of the piperidine ring. An efficient one-pot hydroxyl-group protection twofold deprotection reaction prepared the ground for the cyclisation to the bicycle. A final deprotection of the orthogonal protecting groups and lactamisation led to the novel, sp3-rich tricycle. The final compound is a substrate mimic of peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerases featuring a locked trans-amide bond. Cheminformatic analysis of 179 virtual derivatives indicates favourable physicochemical properties and drug-like characteristics. As proof of concept we, show a low micromolar activity in a fluorescence polarisation assay towards the FK506-binding protein 12. 相似文献
A bis(diphenyl)-phosphine functionalized β-diketimine (PNac-H) was synthesized as a flexible ligand for transition metal complexes. The newly designed ligand features symmetrically placed phosphine moieties around a β-diketimine unit, forming a PNNP-type pocket. Due to the hard and soft donor atoms (N vs. P) the ligand can stabilize various coordination polyhedra. A complete series ranging from coordination numbers 2 to 6 was realized. Linear, trigonal planar, square planar, tetrahedral, square pyramidal, and octahedral coordination arrangements containing the PNac-ligand around the metal center were observed by using suitable metal sources. Hereby, PNac-H or its anion PNac− acts as mono-, bi- and tetradendate ligand. Such a broad flexibility is unusual for a rigid tetradentate system. The structural motifs were realized by treatment of PNac-H with a series of late transition metal precursors, for example, silver, gold, nickel, copper, platinum, and rhodium. The new complexes have been fully characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, NMR, IR, UV/Vis spectroscopy, mass spectrometry as well as elemental analysis. Additionally, selected complexes were investigated regarding their photophysical properties. Thus, PNac-H proved to be an ideal ligand platform for the selective coordination and stabilization of various metal ions in diverse polyhedra and oxidation states. 相似文献
Using a new divergent approach, conjugated triarylborane dendrimers were synthesized up to the 2nd generation. The synthetic strategy consists of three steps: 1) functionalization, via iridium catalyzed C−H borylation; 2) activation, via fluorination of the generated boronate ester with K[HF2] or [N(nBu4)][HF2]; and 3) expansion, via reaction of the trifluoroborate salts with aryl Grignard reagents. The concept was also shown to be viable for a convergent approach. All but one of the conjugated borane dendrimers exhibit multiple, distinct and reversible reduction potentials, making them potentially interesting materials for applications in molecular accumulators. Based on their photophysical properties, the 1st generation dendrimers exhibit good conjugation over the whole system. However, the conjugation does not increase further upon expansion to the 2nd generation, but the molar extinction coefficients increase linearly with the number of triarylborane subunits, suggesting a potential application as photonic antennas. 相似文献
The photophysical and photochemical properties of sulfoxide and sulfone derivatives of hemithioindigo photoswitches are scrutinized and compared to the unoxidized parent chromophores. Oxidation results in significantly blue-shifted absorptions and mostly reduction of photochromism while thermal stabilities of individual isomers remain largely unaltered. Effective photoswitching takes place at shorter wavelengths compared to parent hemithioindigos and high isomeric yields can be obtained reversibly in the respective photostationary states. Reversible solid-state photoswitching is observed for a twisted sulfone derivative accompanied by visible color changes. These results establish oxidized hemithioindigo photoswitches as promising and versatile tools for robust light-control of molecular behavior for a wide range of applications. 相似文献
Vitamin E, a natural antioxidant, is of interest to scientists, health care pundits and faddists; its nutritional and biomedical attributes may be validated, anecdotal or fantasy. Vitamin E is a mixture of tocopherols (TPs) and tocotrienols (T-3s), each class having four substitutional isomers (α-, β-, γ-, δ-). Vitamin E analogues attain only low concentrations in most tissues, necessitating exacting invasive techniques for analytical research. Quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) with an F-18-labeled molecular probe would expedite access to Vitamin E’s biodistributions and pharmacokinetics via non-invasive temporal imaging. (R)-6-(3-[18F]Fluoropropoxy)-2,7,8-trimethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltrideca-3,7,11-trien-1-yl)-chromane ([18F]F-γ-T-3) was prepared for this purpose. [18F]F-γ-T-3 was synthesized from γ-T-3 in two steps: (i) 1,3-di-O-tosylpropane was introduced at C6-O to form TsO-γ-T-3, and (ii) reaction of this tosylate with [18F]fluoride in DMF/K222. Non-radioactive F-γ-T-3 was synthesized by reaction of γ-T-3 with 3-fluoropropyl methanesulfonate. [18F]F-γ-T-3 biodistribution in a murine tumor model was imaged using a small-animal PET scanner. F-γ-T-3 was prepared in 61% chemical yield. [18F]F-γ-T-3 was synthesized in acceptable radiochemical yield (RCY 12%) with high radiochemical purity (>99% RCP) in 45 min. Preliminary F-18 PET images in mice showed upper abdominal accumulation with evidence of renal clearance, only low concentrations in the thorax (lung/heart) and head, and rapid clearance from blood. [18F]F-γ-T-3 shows promise as an F-18 PET tracer for detailed in vivo studies of Vitamin E. The labeling procedure provides acceptable RCY, high RCP and pertinence to all eight Vitamin E analogues. 相似文献
Iron N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes have received a great deal of attention recently because of their growing potential as light sensitizers or photocatalysts. We present a sub‐ps X‐ray spectroscopy study of an FeIINHC complex that identifies and quantifies the states involved in the deactivation cascade after light absorption. Excited molecules relax back to the ground state along two pathways: After population of a hot 3MLCT state, from the initially excited 1MLCT state, 30 % of the molecules undergo ultrafast (150 fs) relaxation to the 3MC state, in competition with vibrational relaxation and cooling to the relaxed 3MLCT state. The relaxed 3MLCT state then decays much more slowly (7.6 ps) to the 3MC state. The 3MC state is rapidly (2.2 ps) deactivated to the ground state. The 5MC state is not involved in the deactivation pathway. The ultrafast partial deactivation of the 3MLCT state constitutes a loss channel from the point of view of photochemical efficiency and highlights the necessity to screen transition‐metal complexes for similar ultrafast decays to optimize photochemical performance. 相似文献
Polypyrroles doped with multiply charged anions are becoming increasingly important in a wide range of energy, environmental and biomedical applications. The increased counterion charge promotes anion binding and retention and can significantly increase stability and performance. The electrochemical properties of polypyrrole films prepared galvanostatically in Na2SO4 (PPySO4) where found to be similar those of PPyClO4 prepared in NaClO4, although there was significantly more anion retention during potential cycling. In contrast, PPyPO4 films prepared in Na3PO4 under the same conditions were over-oxidised and more dense, which is beneficial for corrosion protection and electroanalysis. Paradoxically, the low mobility of SO42− counterions results in more facile charging and discharging of the film, as observed with large and polymeric counterions. This can create significant benefits in applications that require fast cycling, such as supercapacitors and high-rate batteries. These conclusions are corroborated by electrochemical impedance measurements in various aqueous electrolytes. Ionic conductivity was dominated by anion transport for both PPyClO4 and PPySO4, whilst PPyPO4 was predominantly a cation conductor.