Surface-initiated growth of poly d(A-T) by Taq DNA polymerase

In this paper, we report surface-initiated d(A-T) polymerization by Taq DNA polymerase as a method for constructing DNA-tethered surfaces using an enzyme. The enzymatic polymerization was conducted successfully via two steps: tethering of oligo d(A-T)s onto the surface presenting carboxylic acids by amide coupling and surface-initiated polymerization using Taq DNA polymerase. In this enzymatic polymerization process, the design and construction of carboxylic acid-presenting surfaces were found to be an important factor: DNA growth did not occur on the gold surface coated only with the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid (MHDA), but effectively proceeded on the surfaces presenting mixed SAMs of MHDA and 1-pentadecanethiol. The coupling of oligo d(A-T)s and the subsequent DNA polymerization reaction were characterized by polarized infrared external reflectance spectroscopy, ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy.     

Syntheses of 1beta-methylcarbapenems bearing 5-methyl-4-hydroxypyrrolidinone

A new series of 1beta-methylcarbapenems 1a-d bearing 5-methyl-4-mercaptopyrrolidinone rings has been prepared and evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity and pharmacokinetic parameters. Most compounds showed excellent antibacterial activity and high stability to dehydropeptidase-1. We have synthesized optically active 5-methyl-4-hydroxypyrrolidinones from enantiomerically pure aziridine esters.     

Self-assembling structures of long-chain phenyl glucoside influenced by the introduction of double bonds

Four long-chain phenyl glucoside amphiphiles possessing a saturated or unsaturated long alkyl chain group as the self-assembling unit of a highly organized molecular architecture were synthesized. Their self-assembling properties were investigated by EF-TEM, SEM, CD, FT-IR, and XRD. Compound 2 possessing one double bond in the lipophilic portion showed twisted helical fibers, which formed a bilayered structure with a 3.59 nm period, while compound 3 showed the helical ribbons and left-handed nanotubular structures with 150-200 nm inner diameters and ca. 20 nm of wall. Very interestingly, compound 4 possessing three double bonds showed a nanotubular structure with ca. 70 nm of inner diameter through a helical ribbon, which formed a loose bilayered structure with 4.62 nm. These results indicate that self-assembling properties strongly depend on the number of cis double bonds.     

Morphology and transport properties of protons and methanol through partially sulfonated block copolymers

The morphological changes with different compositions of casting solvents in the membranes of sulfonated polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene (SEBS) were investigated with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Using the single solvent of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and the solvent mixtures of methanol/THF with different compositions, the casting polymer solutions were prepared for the membrane fabrication. The proton conductivity and the methanol permeability of membranes were measured, and the effect of morphological changes on the casting solvents was discussed through Flory–Huggins theory. It was found that the sulfonated SEBS membranes were transformed from well ordered lamellar to disordered co-continuous structure and the morphological difference caused abrupt enhancement in the proton conductivity and the methanol permeability as the concentration of methanol in the mixed solvents (MeOH/THF) increased.     

Deoxyhypusine synthase is phosphorylated by protein kinase C in vivo as well as in vitro

Deoxyhypusine synthase catalyzes the first step in the posttranslational synthesis of an unusual amino acid, hypusine, in the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A) precursor protein. We earlier observed that yeast recombinant deoxyhypusine synthase was phosphorylated by protein kinase C (PKC) in vitro (Kang and Chung, 1999) and the phosphorylation rate was synergistically increased to a 3.5-fold following treatment with phosphatidylserine (P.Ser)/diacylglycerol (DAG)/ Ca(2+), suggesting a possible involvement of PKC. We have extended study on the phosphorylation of deoxyhypusine synthase in vivo in different cell lines in order to define its role on the regulation of eIF5A in the cell. Deoxyhypusine synthase was found to be phosphorylated by endogenous kinases in CHO, NIH3T3, and chicken embryonic cells. The highest degree of phosphorylation was found in CHO cells. Moreover, phosphorylation of deoxyhypusine synthase in intact CHO cells was revealed and the expression of phosphorylated deoxyhypusine synthase was significantly diminished by diacyl ethylene glycol (DAEG), a PKC inhibitor, and enhanced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or Ca(2+)/DAG. Endogenous PKC in CHO cell and cell lysate was able to phosphorylate deoxyhypusine synthase and this modification is enhanced by PMA or Ca(2+) plus DAG. Close association of PKC with deoxyhypusine synthase in the CHO cells was evident in the immune coprecipitation and was PMA-, and Ca(2+)/phospholipid dependent. These results suggest that phosphorylation of deoxyhypusine synthase was PKC-dependent cellular event and open a path for possible regulation in the interaction with eIF5A precursor for hypusine synthesis.     

Ga8Ir4B – ein Gallium-Iridiumborid mit isolierten,annähernd quadratisch planaren Ir4B-Gruppen in einer vom CaF2-Typ abgeleiteten Struktur

Ga₈Ir₄B – a Gallium Iridium Boride with isolated, nearly square planar Ir₄B Groups in a Structure derived from the CaF₂ Type The new compound Ga₈Ir₄B (tetragonal, I4₁/acd, a = 853.69(2) pm, c = 2 105.69(6) pm, Z = 8, 614 reflections, 31 parameters, R = 0.034) was prepared by reaction of the elements at 1 100°C. The structure is derived from the CaF₂ type. It contains isolated Ir₄B groups with boron in an unusual, nearly square planar coordination.     

Regiospecific synthesis of mono- and bicyclic 6-alkoxy-2-pyrones and their use in the preparation of substituted aromatics,anthraquinones, and tetracyclic intermediates for 11-deoxyanthracycline synthesis

Several mono- and bicyclic 6-methoxy-2-pyrones having substituents at C4 and C5 can be prepared regiospecifically by either of two routes: (1) regiospecific construction of a glutaconic half-ester followed by dehydrative cyclization, and (2)regiospecific Friedel-Crafts acylation of 6-methoxy-2-pyrones at C5. These pyrones undergo clean and regiospecific Diels-Alder cycloadditions with various unsymmetrical dienophiles, e.g., quinones, unsaturated esters, etc, with subsequent loss of carbon dioxide. In this manner several polycyclic aromatic natural products have been prepared such as chrysophanol, helminthosporin, pachybasin, 2-acetylemodin and the purported structure for orientalone. The utility of this approach for the synthesis of the anthracyclines is demonstrated by its use in the preparation of various tetracyclic intermediates for anthracycline synthesis.     

Reactions of N-silylphosphoranimines with alcohols: synthesis and structure of cyclotriphosphazenes with nongeminal methyl and phenyl substituents

The reactions of Me(3)SiN=P(OR")RR'(R" = Ph, CH(2)CF(3); R, R' = Me, Ph) with alcohols were investigated. With nonequivalent amounts of CF(3)CH(2)OH, the reactions produced high yields of the cyclic phosphazene (Me(2)PN)(3) and both the cis and trans isomers of nongeminally substituted [(Ph)(Me)PN](3). The isomers of this new cyclic phosphazene were separated by column chromatography and characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography. Crystals of the cis isomer 6a have a monoclinic crystal system, while the trans isomer 6b has a triclinic crystal system with two different molecules in an asymmetric unit. The bond lengths and bond angles are very similar to those of the simpler cyclic trimers (Me(2)PN)(3) and (Ph(2)PN)(3.) A likely pathway for the formation of these compounds is discussed.     

Synthesis of nanosized TiO2/SiO2 particles using microwave processes and their photocatalytic activity on the decomposition of orange II

The nanosized titania and TiO₂/SiO₂ particles were prepared by the microwave-hydrothermal method. The effect of physical properties TTIP/TEOS ratio and calcination temperature has been investigated. The major phase of the pure TiO₂ particle is of the anatase structure, and a rutile peak was observed above 800°C. In TiO₂/SiO₂ particles, however, no significant rutile phase was observed, although the calcination temperature was 900°C. No peaks for the silica crystal phase were observed at either silica/titania ratio. The crystallite size of TiO₂/SiO₂ particles decreases as compared to pure TiO₂ at high calcination temperatures. The TiO₂/SiO₂ particles show higher activity on the photocatalytic decomposition of orange II as compared to pure TiO₂ particles.     

Direct synthesis of nitrogen-containing filamentous carbon on a high-percentage Ni-Cu catalyst

Nitrogen-containing catalytic filamentous carbon (N-CFC) of chemical composition NC₁₈-NC₁₀₄ has been synthesized by the decomposition of pyridine (Py) from gaseous mixtures with argon or H₂ at 550–800°C on Ni/Al₂O₃ (Ni) and Ni-Cu/Al₂O₃ (Ni-Cu) high-percentage catalysts. The activity of the Ni-Cu catalyst in Py decomposition in mixtures with H₂ is about one order of magnitude higher than its activity in Py/Ar mixtures (more than 70 g N-CFC per metal gram in 4.5 h at 750°C), which is interpreted as arising from the nickel-catalyzed hydrogenation of Py. The formation and growth of carbon fibers occurs through the decomposition of Py (from Ar/Py mixtures) and/or Py hydrodenitrification products (from H₂/Py mixtures). The carbon material has been characterized by elemental analysis, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effect of the noncatalytic reactions of Py and its transformation products on the composition and texture of N-CFC is discussed.