Detection of genetically modified corn (Bt176) in spiked cow blood samples by polymerase chain reaction and immunoassay methods

The fate of DNA and protein transgenic sequences in products derived from animals fed transgenic crops has recently raised public interest. Sensitive molecular tests targeting the Bt176 genetic construct and the transgenic Cry1Ab protein were developed to determine whether plant sequences, especially transgenic sequences, are present in animal products. A protocol for total DNA extraction and purification from cow whole blood samples was first drawn up and assessed by spiking with known amounts of DNA from Bt176 maize. The limit of detection for transgenic sequences (35S promoter and Bt176-specific junction sequence) was determined by both the polymerase chain reaction-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA) and the 5'-nuclease PCR assay. Four additional PCR systems were built to substantiate the results. The first detects a mono-copy maize-specific sequence (ADH promoter). Two others target multi-copy sequences from plant nucleus (26S rRNA gene) and chloroplast (psaB gene). The last one, used as a positive control, targets a mono-copy animal sequence (alpha(s1)-casein gene). Both methods detected a minimum spiking at 25 copies of Bt176 maize/mL in 10 mL whole blood samples. The sandwich ELISA kit used detected down to 1 ng transgenic Cry1Ab protein/mL spiked whole blood.     

Syntheses and structural studies on two cycloruthenapentadienyl complexes: [(CO)3RuC4(CH2OH)4]Ru(CO)3·H2O and [(CO)3RuC4(CH2CH2OH)2(C2H5)2]Ru(CO)3

Syntheses and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies have been completed on two cycloruthenapentadienyl (CO)₆Ru₂L₂ derivatives, with L = CH₂OHC = CCH₂OH and C₂H₅C=CCH₂CH₂OH respectively. Crystal data are as follows: for [(CO)₃RuC₄(CH₂OH)₄]Ru(CO)₃·H₂O, P2₁/c, a 13.72(1), b 9.501(4), c 14.86(1) Å, β 101.10(6)°, R_w = 0.052 for 1911 reflections; for [(CO)₃RuC₄(CH₂CH₂OH)₂(C₂H₅)₂]Ru(CO)₃, P2₁/c, a 9.191(3), b 16.732(4), c 14.903(3) Å, β 113.61(4)°, R_w = 0.042 for 2865 reflections. Both compounds are built up from binuclear units, each unit being regarded as a Ru(CO)₃ fragment π-bonded to a cycloruthenapentadienyl ring. The molecular parameters are compared with those of known cyclometallapentadienyl complexes of transition metals. The presence of a semi-bridging CO group is discussed.     

Persistent (amino)(silyl)carbenes

(Amino)(silyl)carbenes, prepared by substitution reactions at a carbene center, can survive several days at 0 degrees C. These species are not push-pull carbenes as their phosphino analogues and therefore are excellent ligands for transition-metal centers.     

Lipophilic Diamides as Ionophores for Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metal Cations

A series of lipophilic N, N, N′,N′-tetrasubstituted diamides were prepared and their selectivity in solvent polymeric membranes was studied, cis-N, N, N′, N′-Tetraisobutylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxamide induces a selectivity in membranes for Li⁺over alkaline earth metal cations and other alkali metal cations by a factor of about 1000 and 100 respectively. The ionophore N, N′-diheptyl-N,N′-dimethylethylmalonamide is an attractive candidate for the use in microelectrodes for the determination of intracellular Mg²⁺-activities.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of [(η3-C3H5)(CO)2Mo(μ-S2CPCy3)-Mo(η3-CH2CMeCH2)(CO)2]

A novel dimolybdenum complex [(³-C₃H₅)(CO)₂Mo(-S₂CPCy₃)Mo(³-CH₂CMeCH₂)(CO)₂], obtained by reacting the [(CO)₂(³-C₃H₅)Mo(-S₂CPCy₃)Mo(CO)₃]^– anion with an excess of ClCH₂CMe=CH₂, has been characterized by i.r., ³¹P{¹H}, ¹H- and ¹³C-n.m.r. spectroscopy and by elemental analysis. The crystal structure of the complex, determined by X-ray diffraction, shows a definite preference for the central carbon of the S₂CPCy₃ bridge to bind to the Mo(2) atom coordinated by ³-2-methylallyl, rather than the Mo(1) atom attached to unsubstituted ³-allyl ligand.     

Total Synthesis of L-Allose,L-Talose,and derivatives.

(1S, 4R, 5S, 6S)-5-exo, 6-exo-(Isopropylidenedioxy)-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one ((?)- 1 ) was transformed with high stereoselectivity to L -allose. Similarly, enantiomer (+)- 1 was transformed into L -talose. The ketones (+)- 1 and (?)- 1 were derived from furan and 1-cyanovinyl (1S)-camphanate and 1-cyanovinyl (1R)-camphanate, respectively.     

Lewis adducts of the side-on end-on dinitrogen-bridged complex [{(NPN)Ta}2(mu-H)2(mu-eta 1:eta 2-N2)] with AlMe3, GaMe3, and B(C6F5)3: synthesis, structure, and spectroscopic properties

Reaction of the side-on end-on dinitrogen complex [{(NPN)Ta}(2)(mu-H)(2)(mu-eta(1):eta(2)-N(2))] (1; in which NPN=(PhNSiMe(2)CH(2))(2)PPh), with the Lewis acids XR(3) results in the adducts [{(NPN)Ta}(2)(mu-H)(2)(mu-eta(1):eta(2)-NNXR(3))], XR(3)=GaMe(3) (2), AlMe(3) (3), and B(C(6)F(5))(3) (4). The solid-state molecular structures of 2, 3, and 4 demonstrate that the N-N bond length increases relative to those found in 1 by 0.036, 0.043, and 0.073 A, respectively. In solution complexes 2-4 are fluxional as evidenced by variable-temperature (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The (15)N{(1)H} NMR spectra of 2-4 are reported; furthermore, their vibrational properties and electronic structures are evaluated. The vibrational structures are found to be closely related to that of the parent complex 1. Detailed spectroscopic analysis on 2-4 leads to the identification of the theoretically expected six normal modes of the Ta(2)N(2) core. On the basis of experimental frequencies and the QCB-NCA procedure, the force constants are determined. Importantly, the N-N force constant decreases from 2.430 mdyn A(-1) in 1 to 1.876 (2), 1.729 (3), and 1.515 mdyn A(-1) (4), in line with the sequence of N-N bond lengths determined crystallographically. DFT calculations on a generic model of the Lewis acid adducts 2-4 reveal that the major donor interaction between the terminal nitrogen atom and the Lewis acid is mediated by a sigma/pi hybrid molecular orbital of N(2), corresponding to a sigma bond. Charge analysis performed for the adducts indicates that the negative charge on the terminal nitrogen atom of the dinitrogen ligand increases with respect to 1. The lengthening of the N-N bond observed for the Lewis adducts is therefore explained by the fact that charge donation from the complex fragment into the pi* orbitals of dinitrogen is increased, while electron density from the N-N bonding orbitals p(sigma) and pi(h) is withdrawn due to the sigma interaction with the Lewis acid.     

Palladium salicylaldimine complexes containing boronate esters

Reactions of salicylaldehydes with boronate ester derivatives of aniline have been examined. Addition of these Schiff base ligands to palladium acetate or Na₂PdCl₄ afforded novel boron-containing trans-bis(N-arylsalicylaldiminato) palladium complexes.Condensation of salicylaldehyde (2-HOC₆H₄C(O)H) with H₂NC₆H₄Bpin (pin=1,2-O₂C₂Me₄) afforded the boron-containing Schiff bases, 2-HOC₆H₄C(H)=NC₆H₄Bpin (1–3a). Similar reactivity with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde gave the corresponding Schiff bases (1-3b) and (1-3c), respectively. Reaction of Schiff bases (2) and (3) with palladium acetate or Na₂PdCl₄ afforded complexes of the type PdL₂ (4,5), where L=deprotonated Schiff base. The molecular structure of the nitro-salicylaldehyde 4-Bpin palladium complex (5b) was characterized by an X-ray diffraction study. All new palladium compounds have been characterized fully and tested for their antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus.