Prediction of the binding site of 1-benzyl-4-[(5,6-dimethoxy-1-indanon-2-yl)methyl]piperidine in acetylcholinesterase by docking studies with the SYSDOC program

Summary In the preceding paper we reported on a docking study with the SYSDOC program for predicting the binding sites of huperzine A in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) [Pang, Y.-P. and Kozikowski, A.P., J. Comput.-Aided Mol. Design, 8 (1994) 669]. Here we present a prediction of the binding sites of 1-benzyl-4-[(5,6-dimethoxy-1-indanon-2-yl)methyl]piperidine (E2020) in AChE by the same method. E2020 is one of the most potent and selective reversible inhibitors of AChE, and this molecule has puzzled researchers, partly due to its flexible structure, in understanding how it binds to AChE. Based on the results of docking 1320 different conformers of E2020 into 69 different conformers of AChE and on the pharmacological data reported for E2020 and its analogs, we predict that both the R- and the S-isomer of E2020 span the whole binding cavity of AChE, with the ammonium group interacting mainly with Trp⁸⁴, Phe³³⁰ and Asp⁷², the phenyl group interacting mainly with Trp⁸⁴ and Phe³³⁰, and the indanone moiety interacting mainly with Tyr⁷⁰ and Trp²⁷⁹. The topography of the calculated E2020 binding sites provides insights into understanding the high potency of E2020 in the inhibition of AChE and provides hints as to possible structural modifications for identifying improved AChE inhibitors as potential therapeutics for the palliative treatment of Alzheimer's disease.     

Multiparametric microsensor chips for screening applications

The identification of drug targets for pharmaceutical screening can be greatly accelerated by gene databases and expression studies. The identification of leading compounds from growing libraries is realized by high throughput screening platforms. Subsequently, for optimization and validation of identified leading compounds studies of their functionality have to be carried out, and just these functionality tests are a limiting factor. A rigorous preselection of identified compounds by in vitro cellular screening is necessary prior to using the drug candidates for the further time consuming and expensive stage, e.g. in animal models. Our efforts are focused to the parallel development, adaptation and integration of different microelectronic sensors into miniaturized biochips for a multiparametric, functional on-line analysis of living cells in physiologically environments. Parallel and on-line acquisition of data related to different cellular targets is required for advanced stages of drug screening and for economizing animal tests.     

Dielectric relaxation of polystyrene with side-chain- and chain-end-labels

Polystyrenes with different concentrations of side groups with cyano groups were prepared and complex dielectric constants were measured in the range of the glass transition temperature and the frequency range of 10^–2–10⁷ Hz.The GPC and DSC measurements showed that the molecular weight of these polystyrenes was about 10500 g/mole and the glass transition temperatures were 89.5°C for all samples.The dielectric relaxation spectra obtained for the side group polystyrene labels and also the chain-end polystyrene labels prepared before [9] were analyzed to find out the degree of coupling of the chain-end and side-group labels with the cooperative reorientation of the polymeric matrix. The analysis of the spectra was carried out using the analysis method developed by Mansour and Stoll [6].The results obtained showed that both end- and side-group labels are strongly coupled with the segmental reorientation and relax with relaxation times longer than that of the segments.The value of logf _m = (logf _m(label)) – logf _m(matrix)) was obtained from the recently designed comparison diagram suggested by Mansour and Stoll [6, 14]. The value of logf _m depends on the label length in the case of chain-end labels.It was surprising to find that the side groups relax slower than the segments by only 0.9 decades. These results obtained implied that the label relaxes through a multistep relaxation mechanism of the side and end groups and not through a diffusion mechanism of the whole chain. In addition, the effective lengths of the relaxing units were determined using the empirical equation obtained before in the case of rodlike molecules in polyisoprene [7].     

Applications of benzotriazole methodology in heterocycle ring synthesis and substituent introduction and modification

Applications of benzotriazole methodology for the preparation of heterocyclic compounds are reviewed. The characteristic advantages of benzotriazole as a synthetic auxiliary are first briefly considered. This is followed by a summary of its use in ring synthesis in which the construction of small; five-membered; six-membered; and larger heterocyclic rings using benzotriazole methodology are each examined separately. Finally, consideration of the use of benzotriazole in the ring annulation - particularly benzannulation - of heterocycles. Subsequent sections deal with the introduction of substituents into aromatic heterocycles; the ring substitution of saturated heterocycles; and benzotriazole assisted modification of heterocyclic substituents. The present review supplements a recent comprehensive review of benzotriazole chemistry [1] which covers the literature through 1996.     

CORRELATION BETWEEN THE BINDING OF FORMATE AND DECREASED RATES OF CHARGE TRANSFER THROUGH THE PHOTOSYSTEM II QUINONES

Abstract— The binding parameters of bicarbonate to the thylakoid membrane at different formate concentrations have been established [Stemler and Murphy (1983) Photochem. Phorobiol. 38, 701–707]. Based on these parameters, predictions could be made concerning the effects of bicarbonate and formate on photosynthetic electron flow. In this work these effects of various concentrations of bicarbonate and formate are measured and compared to predictions from the binding study. Electron flow is measured between Q_A and Q_B (the primary and secondary quinone acceptors) and Q_B and the plastoquinone pool. Also, these same concentration effects are determined for silicomolybdate supported oxygen evolution. It is found that the results of the bicarbonate binding study are in good agreement with the concentration dependence determined for the quinone reactions, as well as the silicomolybdate reaction. The bicarbonate concentrations required for half-maximal effects are approximately 100 μM, 300 μM and 1.3 mM in the presence of 0, 20 mM and 100 mM formate, respectively. It is concluded that a hierarchy of possible electron flow rates exist. The slowest rates occur when formate is bound. A substantially higher rate occurs when neither formate nor bicarbonate (< 2 μM) are present, but only chloride is present. The highest rates of electron flow occur when bicarbonate is bound. The Q_A- Q_B→ Qa Qb^? Qa^? Qb^2– PQ → Q_a Q_b- PQ^2–, and the silicomolybdate reactions all have the same concentration dependence on formate and bicarbonate. From this it is concluded that a single binding site for formate and bicarbonate affect all of these reactions. The possibility that multiple sites exist with approximately equal affinities for bicarbonate cannot be excluded.     

Sedimentation of dissolved macromolecules in the vicinity of the consolute point 1. Strictly binary systems and kinetic considerations

This paper analyzes the effect of gravity on polymer solutions near the consolute point. Calculations are carried out for monodisperse polystyrene in cyclohexane using the Flory-Huggins expression with a concentration-dependent interaction parameter for the free energy of mixing. Depending on molecular weight and distance to the demixing temperature, the influence of gravity leads to non-negligible gradients of the volume fraction in the one-phase region as well as in the two-phase region. In particular, the effect of gravity on the measurement of the coexistence curve in a finite sample is calculated explicitly.In contrast to theory, experiments show that the concentration remains constant throughout the sample over a period of days as long as the system is kept in the homogenous region. Pronounced concentration gradients, however, are established in the twophase region within approximately one day. These findings are discussed with respect to sedimentation kinetics in terms of the droplet model of critical fluids.     

A simplified synthesis of the hexamethylplatinate(IV) ion

Tetra-n-butylammonium hexachloroplatinate (IV) reacts with lithium methyl/lithium iodide in ether to give a solution containing lithium hexamethylplatinate (IV). With lithium methyl/lithium bromide in ether however, tetrabutylammonium hexamethylplatinate (IV) is precipitated together with lithium halides. Solid [Bu₄N)₂[Pt(Ch₃)₆] is stable under nitrogen at room temperature, but ether solutions of [Pt(Ch₃)₆]^2- decompose in a few minutes at room temperature in the absence of excess lithium methyl.     

A general and efficient synthesis of sulfonylbenzotriazoles from N-chlorobenzotriazole and sulfinic acid salts

One-pot reactions of sulfinic acid salts (produced from organometallic reagents with SO2) with N-chlorobenzotriazole gave the corresponding N-alkane-, N-arene-, and N-heteroenesulfonylbenzotriazoles 3a-j in 41-93% yields. Reagents 3a-j are efficient sulfonylating agents, reacting at 20-80 degrees C with various primary and secondary aliphatic amines to yield the corresponding sulfonamides in 64-100% yields.     

Neues über Oxouranate: Über α-Li6UO6. Mit einer Bemerkung über β-Li6UO6

New Investigations about Oxo Uranates: On α-Li₆UO₆. With a Remark about β-Li₆UO₆ The crystal structure of transparent, bright yellow single crystals of α-Li₆UO₆ has been determined. [a = 838.07(5), c = 738.34(7) pm; d_pyk = 4.02, d_x = 4.17 g · cm^?3; space group R3 ; Z = 3; R = 3.17%, R_w = 3.06%; 408 symmetry independent I₀(hkl); AgKα fourcircle diffractometer Philips PW 1100]. The structure is dominated by a threedimensional framwork of “hollow spaces”, built up by 12 O^2? (and 12 Li⁺). The Madelung Part of Lattice Energy, MAPLE, is calculated and discussed.