Computational Analysis Reveals a Critical Point Mutation in the N-Terminal Region of the Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Responsible for the Cross-Species Infection with Canine Distemper Virus

Infection of hosts by morbilliviruses is facilitated by the interaction between viral hemagglutinin (H-protein) and the signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM). Recently, the functional importance of the n-terminal region of human SLAM as a measles virus receptor was demonstrated. However, the functional roles of this region in the infection process by other morbilliviruses and host range determination remain unknown, partly because this region is highly flexible, which has hampered accurate structure determination of this region by X-ray crystallography. In this study, we analyzed the interaction between the H-protein from canine distemper virus (CDV-H) and SLAMs by a computational chemistry approach. Molecular dynamics simulations and fragment molecular orbital analysis demonstrated that the unique His28 in the N-terminal region of SLAM from Macaca is a key determinant that enables the formation of a stable interaction with CDV-H, providing a basis for CDV infection in Macaca. The computational chemistry approach presented should enable the determination of molecular interactions involving regions of proteins that are difficult to predict from crystal structures because of their high flexibility.     

Synthesis of Ajoene Analogues by Novel Synthetic Strategies

Ajoene is a compound found in garlic extracts exhibiting a large range of biological activity. Novel ajoene analogues have been prepared in the search of compounds with superior bioactivity. Modifications include the alteration of the sulfoxide, the central alkene and the terminal allyl groups.     

Heterometallic d8–d10 Coupling of Rh(I) and M(0) (M=Pd,Pt) in a Sandwich Framework of π-Conjugated Ligands

A heterometallic M−M′ bond formation is a key to construct atomically precise bimetallic clusters and materials. However, it is sometimes not straightforward to construct a heterometallic M−M′ bond through conventional methods including redox condensation. Here, we found that a sandwich framework of π-conjugated unsaturated hydrocarbon ligands provides a unique coordination environment that facilitates unusual coupling of d⁸ Rh^I and d¹⁰ M⁰ (M=Pd, Pt). The molecular orbital analysis showed that the electron-accepting ability of the sandwich framework through back-donation allows the formation of a dσ-type Rh−Pd bond in a (d–d)¹⁸ electron system.     

Biological responses to silicon and nitrogen-rich PVD silicon nitride coatings

Most structural bioceramics are comprised of metallic oxides such as alumina and zirconia. They are generally considered to be completely bioinert, but a non-oxide ceramic, silicon nitride, achieves equivalent levels of mechanical reliability while being bioactive. Silicon nitride can not only stimulate cellular proliferation but it is also antipathogenic with demonstrated efficacy against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and viruses. In this work, three physical vapor deposition coatings with different Si:N ratios (silicon-rich, stoichiometric, and nitrogen-rich) were deposited on mirror-polished silica glass substrates. The coatings were characterized by spectroscopic and microscopic techniques and tested in vitro against E. coli and KUSA-A1 mesenchymal cells. Results showed that nitrogen-enriched Si_xN_y has a strong antibacterial effect against E. coli and contributes to cellular proliferation while silicon-enriched Si_xN_y stimulates the production of bone tissue, with higher indexes for mineralization and quality. These results suggest that Si_xN_y's biological properties can be optimized for specific applications by carefully tuning its surface chemistry.     

A new synthetic route to 2-substituted naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione2-Substituted Naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione

4,9-Dimethoxynaphtho[2,3-b]furan 9 was obtained in 91% yield via the reductive methylation of naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione 2 . After treatment of 9 with butyllithium, the mixture was allowed to react with N,N-dimethylacetamide, followed by oxidization with cerium(IV) diammonium nitrate to give 2-acetylnaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione 1 . 2-Formylnaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione 13 and 2-trimethylsilyl-naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione 14 were also obtained from 9 by a similar method. The halodesilylations of 14 easily gave 2-iodonaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione 16 , 2-bromonaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione 17 , and 2-chloronaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione 18 in 82%, and 93% and 83% yield, respectively. Furthermore, the nitrodesilylation of 14 gave 2-nitronaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione 3 in 77% yield.     

Epoc group: transformable protecting group with gold(iii)-catalyzed fluorene formation

This study presents the novel concept of a transformable protecting group, which changes its properties through structural transformation. Based on this concept, we developed a 2-(2-ethynylphenyl)-2-(5-methylfuran-2-yl)-ethoxycarbonyl (Epoc) group. The Epoc group was transformed into an Fmoc-like structure with gold(iii)-catalyzed fluorene formation and was removable under Fmoc-like mild basic conditions post-transformation even though it was originally stable under strongly basic conditions. As an application for organic synthesis, the Epoc group provides the novel orthogonality of gold(iii)-labile protecting groups in solid-phase peptide synthesis. In addition, the high turnover number of fluorene formation in aqueous media is suggestive of the applicability of the Epoc group to biological systems.

A protecting group removable with gold(iii)-catalyzed fluorene formation and the subsequent addition of piperidine was developed.     

Quantification of Intracellular Thiols by HPLC-Fluorescence Detection

Biothiols, such as cysteine and glutathione, play important roles in various intracellular reactions represented by the redox equilibrium against oxidative stress. In this study, a method for intracellular thiol quantification using HPLC-fluorescence detection was developed. Thiols were derivatized with a thiol-specific fluorescence derivatization reagent, viz. ammonium 7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole-4-sulfonate (SBD-F), followed by reversed-phase separation on an InertSustain AQ-C18 column. Six different SBD-thiols (homocysteine, cysteine, cysteinylglycine, γ-glutamylcysteine, glutathione, and N-acetylcysteine as an internal standard) were separated within 30 min using a citric buffer (pH 3.0)/MeOH mobile phase. The calibration curves of all the SBD-thiols had strong linearity (R² > 0.999). Using this developed method, the thiol concentrations of human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cell samples were found to be 5.5–153 pmol/1 × 10⁶ cells. The time-dependent effect of a thiol scavenger, viz. N-ethyl maleimide, on intracellular thiol concentrations was also quantified. This method is useful for elucidating the role of intracellular sulfur metabolism.     

Adsorption properties of activated carbon from waste newspaper prepared by chemical and physical activation

Adsorption properties of activated carbons prepared from waste newspaper by chemical and physical activation were investigated using water vapor, ammonia, methane, and methylene blue (MB) as adsorbents. The water vapor adsorption isotherms show type V behavior and the maximum vapor adsorption of the chemically and physically activated products is about 1050 and 450 ml/g, respectively. The higher water vapor adsorption of the chemically activated products is attributed to the higher specific surface area (S(BET)) and greater hydrophilic activity (arising from the surface oxygen-containing functional groups) than in the physically activated products. The adsorption of ammonia and methane was measured by temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). NH(3) adsorption is found to be higher in the chemically activated product than in the physically activated product while methane adsorption is slightly higher in the physically activated products even though these have lower S(BET) values. In the MB adsorption, the chemically activated products show higher adsorption (390 mg/g) than the physically activated product. These results are suggested to be related to the surface characteristics.