Structures and cytotoxic activity relationship of casearins, new clerodane diterpenes from Casearia sylvestris Sw

Casearins G-R, new cytotoxic clerodane diterpenes have been isolated from the leaves of Casearia sylvestris Sw. (Flacourtiaceae). Their structures have been elucidated by spectroscopic methods and chemical conversions, and their structure-activity relationships have been discussed.     

Cloning and characterization of an active fragment of luciferase from a luminescent marine alga, Pyrocystis lunula

Two marine dinoflagellates, Lingulodinium polyedrum and Pyrocystis lunula, emit light in a reaction involving the enzymatic oxidation of its tetrapyrrole luciferin by molecular oxygen. The characteristic properties of P. lunula luciferase have not been clarified, whereas L. polyedrum luciferase, which has three active domains, has been characterized. A cloned partial cDNA of the P. lunula luciferase encodes an active fragment corresponding to part of domain 2 and all of domain 3 of L. polyedrum luciferase. The homology of the amino acid sequence between the two luciferases in domain 3 is about 84.3%. A recombinant His-tagged luciferase fragment containing domain 3 (Mr = 46 kDa) catalyzed the light-emitting oxidation of luciferin (lambdamax = 474 nm). This protein was purified by a single affinity-chromatography procedure. The pH-activity profile and the bioluminescence spectrum of the recombinant enzyme having a third domain are almost identical to those of an extract from P. lunula cultured in vitro. The recombinant enzyme is active at pH 8.0, although the recombinant enzyme derived from the second domain of L. polyedrum luciferase is inactive at pH 8.0. Substitution of Glu-201 by histidine in the third domain of P. lunula luciferase showed a decrease of activity above pH 7.0, suggesting that histidine residues could be responsible for pH-sensitivity in dinoflagellate luciferase.     

A 116-Nuclear Metallosupramolecular Cage-of-Cage Showing Multistep Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal Transformation

Here a unique single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformation of a 116-nuclear Au^I₇₂Cd^II₄₀Na^I₄ cage-of-cage ( 2 _CdNa) is reported, which was created from a trigold(I) metalloligand with d -penicillamine by way of a 9-nuclear Au^I₆Cd^II₃ cage ( 1 ). Cage-of-cage 2 _CdNa is composed of 12 cages of 1 that are linked by 4 Cd²⁺ and 4 Na⁺ ions, with its surface being covered by 12 NO₃⁻ ions to form a discrete, spherical molecule with a diameter ca. 4.7 nm. In crystal 2 _CdNa, the cage-of-cage molecules are packed in a cubic lattice with a huge cell volume of ca. 4.5×10⁵ ų_, so as to have large interstices with diameters of more than 3 nm. Upon soaking crystals 2 _CdNa in aqueous Cu(NO₃)₂, all Cd²⁺ and Na⁺ were quickly exchanged by Cu²⁺ to produce an analogous Au^I₇₂Cu^II₄₄ cage-of-cage ( 2 _Cu) in a SCSC manner. Prolonged soaking led to the SCSC transformation to another supramolecular structure ( 2′ _Cu) consisting of 152-nuclear Au^I₇₂Cu^II₈₀ cage-of-cages that are alternately H-bonded with the Au^I₇₂Cu^II₄₄ cage-of-cages. 2′ _Cu showed the accommodation of MoO₄²⁻ and the conversion of MoO₄²⁻ to β-Mo₈O₂₆⁴⁻ in the crystal, with retention of single-crystallinity.     

Development of a zinc ion-selective luminescent lanthanide chemosensor for biological applications

Detection of chelatable zinc (Zn(2+)) in biological studies has attracted much attention recently, because chelatable Zn(2+) plays important roles in many biological systems. Lanthanide complexes (Eu(3+), Tb(3+), etc.) have excellent spectroscopic properties for biological applications, such as long luminescence lifetimes of the order of milliseconds, a large Stoke's shift of >200 nm, and high water solubility. Herein, we present the design and synthesis of a novel lanthanide sensor molecule, [Eu-7], for detecting Zn(2+). This europium (Eu(3+)) complex employs a quinolyl ligand as both a chromophore and an acceptor for Zn(2+). Upon addition of Zn(2+) to a solution of [Eu-7], the luminescence of Eu(3+) is strongly enhanced, with high selectivity for Zn(2+) over other biologically relevant metal cations. One of the important advantages of [Eu-7] is that this complex can be excited with longer excitation wavelengths (around 340 nm) as compared with previously reported Zn(2+)-sensitive luminescent lamthanide sensors, whose excitation wavelength is at too high an energy level for biological applications. The usefulness of [Eu-7] for monitoring Zn(2+) changes in living HeLa cells was confirmed. This novel Zn(2+)-selective luminescent lanthanide chemosensor [Eu-7]should be an excellent lead compound for the development of a range of novel luminescent lanthanide chemosensors for biological applications.     

Preparation of dibromopyridines having -(CH2)m-SO3Na groups as monomers for new polypyridines

Dibromopyridines or dibromopyridone with -(CH₂)_m-SO₃Na group(s) has been prepared via the reactions of the corresponding dibromopyridines with -OH and -NH₂ groups with sultone. These compounds were converted into polymers with the -(CH₂)_m-SO₃H groups via organometallic polycondensation. The polymer showed proton conducting properties and high stability toward oxidation.     

High-pressure synthesis of cyclic phenylacetylene oligomer

New conjugated oligomers were prepared by reacting phenylacetylene under high pressure of 0.11 to 0.92 GPa at 100–200°C for 0–5 h. The number-average molecular weight M?_n, the weight-average molecular weight M?_w, and the oligomer yield increased with pressure, tem-perature, and time. The average molecular weight of the oligomer showed the maximum value (M?_n: 830, M?_w: 2400) under 0.92 GPa, the maximum pressure, where phenylacetylene was oligomerized at a constant temperature. The structure of the oligomer was investigated from ESR, infrared, UV–VIS, field desorption mass (FDMS) spectra, and ¹³C NMR spec-trum. Analysis of the FDMS spectrum revealed that the molecular weight of the oligomer was multiple of the monomer. ¹³C NMR spectrum of the oligomer showed the absence of sp-carbon (? C?). We found that the oligomer had a cyclic structure. The cyclic oligomers of pentamer or more were new compounds. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A New Family of Indoaniline-Derived Calix[4]arenes: Synthesis and Optical Recognition Properties as a Chromogenic Receptor(1)

A new family of indoaniline-derived calix[4]arenes has been synthesized for the purpose of developing a new chromogenic receptor. A condensing reaction of calix[4]arene (1) with 4-(diethylamino)-2-methylaniline hydrochloride (2) in the presence of an oxidizing agent under alkaline conditions affords mono- (3), 1,2-bis- (4), 1,3-bis- (5), and tetrakisindoaniline-derived (6) calix[4]arenes after careful column chromatography. Compound 3 is crystallized from a CHCl(3)-MeOH solution, and the crystal structure was determined by X-ray analysis. The crystal is monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, Z = 4, a = 19.507(6) ?, b = 18.591(6) ?, c = 8.524(2) ?, beta = 94.69(2) degrees. The final R value for 2406 reflections of F(o) > 3sigma(F(o)) is 0.085. A unique intramolecular hydrogen-bonding network involving the carbonyl oxygen of indoaniline for 3 implied that the quinone carbonyl group as an acceptor of the chromophore can easily be subjected to an electrostatic interaction in the lower rim. Indeed, 1,3-bis(indoaniline)-derived 2,4-bis((ethoxycarbonyl)methoxy)calix[4]arene 7, prepared by the reaction of 5 with ethyl bromoacetate in the presence of NaH, is capable of undergoing an efficient ion-dipole interaction between the binding cation and the two quinone carbonyl groups of the chromophores, so that a selective Ca(2+)-induced pronounced color change (wavelength change > 100 nm) occurs with an association constant on the order of 10(6) in 99% EtOH, making 7 of potential use as an optical sensor for Ca(2+) detection. The IR and NMR studies have indicated that Ca(2+) is encapsulated in the cavity made by the distally located OCH(2)CO(2) groups on the lower rim of the cone-shaped calix[4]arene segment. Interestingly, however, the shape of the cavity in which Ca(2+) has been encapsulated does not have a C(2) axis of symmetry, as inferred from the (1)H-(1)H COSY experiment. On the other hand, 1,2-bis(indoaniline)-derived analogue 8 shows no response with metal ions, which can be interpreted to mean the absence of a cavity for encapsulation on the lower rim.     

Novel Chiral Bisformamide-Promoted Asymmetric Allylation of Benzaldehyde with Allyltrichlorosilane

Novel chiral bisformamides have been prepared from (R,R)-1,2-cyclohexanediamine and utilized as Lewis bases in the asymmetric allylation of benzaldehyde with allyltrichlorosilane. The reaction in the presence of Lewis base 1i gave an 83:17 enantiomeric ratio (R/S) of the products in 90% isolated yield.      

UV dose measurements of photosensitive dermatosis patients by polycrystalline GaN-based portable self-data-acquisition UV monitors

We have developed a UV monitor with polycrystalline (poly-) gallium nitride (GaN) UV sensors and evaluated its performance from the viewpoint of its effectiveness for use with photosensitive dermatosis patients. The poly-GaN UV sensor is sensitive to UV light from 280 to 410 nm even without optical filters. The UV monitor is a portable self-data-acquisition instrument with a minimum detection level (defined as average UV intensity over 290 to 400 nm) of 2 microW/cm2 and can store UV dose data for 128 days. It allows easy measurement of four orders of magnitude of ambient UV intensity and dose from indoor light to direct solar radiation in summer. Trial use of the UV monitor by five xeroderma pigmentosum patients started in June 2000 and was carried out for 1 year. It was demonstrated that the UV monitor was useful in improving their quality of life.