Neural stem cells express melatonin receptors and neurotrophic factors: colocalization of the MT<Subscript>1</Subscript>receptor with neuronal and glial markers

Background  

In order to optimize the potential benefits of neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, it is necessary to understand their biological characteristics. Although neurotrophin transduction strategies are promising, alternative approaches such as the modulation of intrinsic neurotrophin expression by NSCs, could also be beneficial. Therefore, utilizing the C17.2 neural stem cell line, we have examined the expression of selected neurotrophic factors under different in vitro conditions. In view of recent evidence suggesting a role for the pineal hormone melatonin in vertebrate development, it was also of interest to determine whether its G protein-coupled MT₁ and MT₂ receptors are expressed in NSCs.     

A homologous series of regioselectively tetradeprotonated group 8 metallocenes: new inverse crown ring compounds synthesized via a mixed sodium-magnesium tris(diisopropylamide) synergic base

Subjecting ferrocene, ruthenocene, or osmocene to the synergic amide base sodium-magnesium tris(diisopropylamido) affords a unique homologous series of metallocene derivatives of general formula [(M(C(5)H(3))(2))Na(4)Mg(4)(i-Pr(2)N)(8)] (where M = Fe (1), Ru (2), or Os (3)). X-ray crystallographic studies of 1-3 reveal a common molecular "inverse crown" structure comprising a 16-membered [(NaNMgN)(4)](4+) "host" ring and a metallocenetetraide [M(C(5)H(3))(2)](4-) "guest" core, the cleaved protons of which are lost selectively from the 1, 1', 3, and 3'-positions. Variable-temperature NMR spectroscopic studies indicate that 1, 2, and 3 each exist as two distinct interconverting conformers in arene solution, the rates of exchange of which have been calculated using coalescence and EXSY NMR measurements.     

Photoproduction of the omega meson on the proton at large momentum transfer

The differential cross section, dsigma/dt, for omega meson exclusive photoproduction on the proton above the resonance region (2.6相似文献   

Regularized resolvent transform for direct calculation of 45 degrees projections of 2D J spectra

The regularized resolvent transform (RRT) has been applied in a novel way to J-resolved spectra. This involves the direct calculation of the 45 degrees projection without constructing the 2D spectrum. The results show a significant resolution enhancement over that obtained by the 45 degrees projection of a 2D Fourier spectrum, even for much larger signals. In particular, RRT is able to resolve peaks that belong to different overlapping multiplets in a very crowded spectral region, where the conventional technique fails for any signal size. The resolving power of this method along with the significantly shorter signals required, make this method a powerful tool in spectral assignment.     

Instantaneous, stoichiometric generation of powerfully reducing states of protein active sites using Eu(II) and polyaminocarboxylate ligands

Addition of an equivalent of a polyaminocarboxylate ligand (L) to a solution of a redox protein and the aqua Eu2+ ion results in the instantaneous in situ generation of a very powerful reductant Eu(II)-L that can rapidly drive an electron stoichiometrically onto a redox centre having an extremely negative reduction potential (lower than -1 V): this is exemplified by straightforward generation of the super-reduced state of the Fe-protein of nitrogenase.     

A new class of oxo-bridged high-valent hexamanganese clusters supported by sterically hindered carboxylate ligands

A new class of oxo-bridged high-valent hexamanganese (Mn6) clusters containing a novel (Mn6O8)6+ core, [MnIV(4)MnIII2(mu-O)4(mu3-O)4(dmb)6(O2CR)2]4+ (where dmb=4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine, and RCO2=2,6-di(p-tolyl)benzoate (Ar(Tol)CO2-) (3) or 2,6-di(4-tert-butylphenyl)benzoate (Ar(4-tBuPh)CO2-) (4)), was synthesized using sterically hindered m-terphenyl-derived carboxylate ligands. These complexes can be synthesized by oxidizing the MnII mononuclear complexes, [Mn(dmb)2(OH2)(O2CR)]+ (where RCO2=Ar(Tol)CO2- (1) or Ar(4-tBuPh)CO2- (2)) with (n-Bu4N)MnO4, by direct Mn(II) + Mn(VII) in situ comproportionation reactions, or by ligand substitution on the dinuclear manganese (III,IV) or (IV,IV) complexes, [(Mn2(mu-O)2(dmb)4)](3+/4+). The compound [MnIV4MnIII2(mu-O)4(mu3-O)4(dmb)6(Ar(Tol)CO2)2](OTf)4 [3(OTf)4] crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n, with the cell parameters a=15.447(1) A, b=15.077(2) A, c=27.703(2) A, beta=91.68(2) degrees, V=6449.3(6) A3, and Z=2. The X-ray structure reveals that there are three different bridging modes for the oxo groups: mu, "pyramidal" mu3, and "T-shaped" mu3. Solid-state variable temperature magnetic susceptibility studies suggest that the Mn centers are net antiferromagnetically coupled to yield a diamagnetic ST=0 ground spin state with a large number of low-lying, thermally accessible states with ST>0. 1H NMR spectra were recorded for both Mn6 clusters and selected resonances assigned. The electronic and redox properties of these complexes along with the effect of the presence of the bulky carboxylate ligands are also described here.     

Studying the Complexity of Global Verification for NP-Hard Discrete Optimization Problems

This paper examines the complexity of global verification for MAX-SAT, MAX-k-SAT (for k3), Vertex Cover, and Traveling Salesman Problem. These results are obtained by adaptations of the transformations that prove such problems to be NP-complete. The class of problems PGS is defined to be those discrete optimization problems for which there exists a polynomial time algorithm such that given any solution , either a solution can be found with a better objective function value or it can be concluded that no such solution exists and is a global optimum. This paper demonstrates that if any one of MAX-SAT, MAX-k-SAT (for k3), Vertex Cover, or Traveling Salesman Problem are in PGS, then P=NP.     

Amination and [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of propargylic sulfides using a ketomalonate-derived oxaziridine: synthesis of N-allenylsulfenimides

Amination of propargylic sulfides with a ketomalonate-derived oxaziridine under metal free conditions gives N-Boc-N-allenylsulfenimides via [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement.     

Enantioseparation of citalopram analogues with sulfated β‐cyclodextrin by capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis methods were developed for the enantiomeric separation of 27 citalopram analogues. Sulfated β‐cyclodextrin was the most broadly selective and useful chiral selector. The separations of most of the citalopram analogue compounds reported in this work have not been reported previously. Excellent enantiomeric separations were obtained for 26 out of 27 compounds, and most of the separations were achieved within 10 min. The effects of chemical parameters such as chiral selector types, buffer types, chiral selector and buffer concentrations, buffer pH and organic modifiers on the separation were investigated. The influence of analyte structure on separation also was examined and discussed.     

Enzyme electrokinetics: electrochemical studies of the anaerobic interconversions between active and inactive states of Allochromatium vinosum [NiFe]-hydrogenase

The cycling between active and inactive states of the catalytic center of [NiFe]-hydrogenase from Allochromatium vinosum has been investigated by dynamic electrochemical techniques. Adsorbed on a rotating disk pyrolytic graphite "edge" electrode, the enzyme is highly electroactive: this allows precise manipulations of the complex redox chemistry and facilitates quantitative measurements of the interconversions between active catalytic states and the inactive oxidized form Ni(r) (also called Ni-B or "ready") as functions of pH, H(2) partial pressure, temperature, and electrode potential. Cyclic voltammograms for catalytic H(2) oxidation (current is directly related to turnover rate) are highly asymmetric (except at pH > 8 and high temperature) due to inactivation being much slower than activation. Controlled potential-step experiments show that the rate of oxidative inactivation increases at high pH but is independent of potential, whereas the rate of reductive activation increases as the potential becomes more negative. Indeed, at 45 degrees C, activation takes just a few seconds at -288 mV. The cyclic asymmetry arises because interconversion is a two-stage reaction, as expected if the reduced inactive Ni(r)-S state is an intermediate. The rate of inactivation depends on a chemical process (rearrangement and uptake of a ligand) that is independent of potential, but sensitive to pH, while activation is driven by an electron-transfer process, Ni(III) to Ni(II), that responds directly to the driving force. The potentials at which fast activation occurs under different conditions have been analyzed to yield the potential-pH dependence and the corresponding entropies and enthalpies. The reduced (active) enzyme shows a pK of 7.6; thus, when a one-electron process is assumed, reductive activation at pH < 7 involves a net uptake of one proton (or release of one hydroxide), whereas, at pH > 8, there is no net exchange of protons with solvent. Activation is favored by a large positive entropy, consistent with the release of a ligand and/or relaxation of the structure around the active site.