Synthesis of fluorescein-labelled O-mannosylated peptides as components for synthetic vaccines: comparison of two synthetic strategies

Mannose-binding proteins on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are capable of recognizing and internalizing foreign agents in the early stages of immune response. These receptors offer a potential target for synthetic vaccines, especially vaccines designed to stimulate T cells. We set out to synthesize a series of fluorescein-labelled O-mannosylated peptides using manual solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) on pre-loaded Wang resin, in order to test their ability to bind mannose receptors on human APCs in vitro. A flexible and reliable method for the synthesis of fluorescein-labelled O-mannosylated glycopeptides was desired in order to study their lectin-binding properties using flow cell cytometry. Two synthetic strategies were investigated: incorporation of a fluorescein label into the peptide chain via a lysine side chain epsilon-amino group at the final stage of standard Fmoc solid phase peptide synthesis or attachment of the fluorescein label to the N(alpha)-amino group of a lysine with further incorporation of a mannosylated peptide unit through the side chain N(epsilon)-amino group. The latter strategy proved more effective in that it facilitated SPPS by positioning the growing mannosylated peptide chain further removed from the fluorescein label.     

电感耦合等离子体-发射光谱法（ICP-AES）快速测定饮用水中8种微量元素

用电感耦合等离子体-发射光谱法（ICP-AES）同时快速测定饮用水中微量的铜、铅、锌、铁、锰、镉、铬、砷,具有快速、简便、灵敏度高等优点,精密度为1．2％～8．2％（RSD,n=5）．回收率为90％～110％．     

Head-to-head right-handed cross-links of the antitumor-active bis(mu-N,N'-di-p-tolylformamidinato)dirhodium(II,II) unit with the dinucleotides d(GpA) and d(ApG)

Reactions of cis-[Rh(2)(DTolF)(2)(NCCH(3))(6)](BF(4))(2) with the dinucleotides d(GpA) and d(ApG) proceed to form [Rh(2)(DTolF)(2){d(GpA)}] and [Rh(2)(DTolF)(2){d(ApG)}], respectively, with bridging purine bases spanning the Rh-Rh unit in the equatorial positions. Both dirhodium adducts exhibit head-to-head (HH) arrangement of the bases, as indicated by the presence of H8/H8 NOE cross-peaks in the 2D ROESY NMR spectra. The guanine bases bind to the dirhodium core at positions N7 and O6, a conclusion that is supported by the absence of N7 protonation at low pH values and the notable increase in the acidity of the guanine N1H sites (pK(a) approximately 7.4 in 4:1 CD(3)CN/D(2)O), inferred from the pH-dependence titrations of the guanine H8 proton resonances. In both dirhodium adducts, the adenine bases coordinate to the metal atoms through N6 and N7, which induces stabilization of the rare imino tautomer of the bases with a concomitant substantial decrease in the basicity of the N1H adenine sites (pK(a) approximately 7.0-7.1 in 4:1 CD(3)CN/D(2)O), as compared to the imino form of free adenosine. The presence of the adenine bases in the rare imino form is further corroborated by the observation of DQF-COSY H2/N1H and ROE N1H/N6H cross-peaks in the 2D NMR spectra of [Rh(2)(DTolF)(2){d(GpA)}] and [Rh(2)(DTolF)(2){d(ApG)}] in CD(3)CN at -38 degrees C. The 2D NMR spectroscopic data and the molecular modeling results suggest the presence of right-handed variants, HH1R, in solution for both adducts (HH1R refers to the relative base canting and the direction of propagation of the phosphodiester backbone with respect to the 5' base). Complete characterization of [Rh(2)(DTolF)(2){d(GpA)}] and [Rh(2)(DTolF)(2){d(ApG)}] by 2D NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling supports anti-orientation of the sugar residues for both adducts about the glycosyl bonds as well as N- and S-type conformations for the 5'- and 3'-deoxyribose residues, respectively.     

A family of mixed-metal cyanide cubes with alternating octahedral and tetrahedral corners exhibiting a variety of magnetic behaviors including single molecule magnetism

A series of structurally related pseudocubic metal cyanide clusters of Re(II) and 3d metal ions [{MX}4{Re(triphos)(CN)3}4] (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn; X = Cl, I, -OCH3) have been prepared, and their magnetic and electrochemical properties have been probed to evaluate the effect of changing the identity of the 3d metal ion. Electrochemistry of the clusters reveals several rhenium-based oxidation and reduction processes, some of which result in cluster fragmentation. The richest electrochemistry was observed for the iron congener, which exists as the Re(I)/Fe(III) cluster at the resting potential and exhibits six clear one-electron reversible redox couples and two, closely spaced one-electron quasi-reversible processes. The [{MnIICl}4{ReII(triphos)(CN)3}4] complex exhibits single molecule magnetism with a fast tunneling relaxation process observed at H = 0 determined by micro-SQUID magnetization measurements. A comparative evaluation of the magnetic properties across the series reveals that the compounds exhibit antiferromagnetic coupling between the metal ions, except for [{NiIICl}4{ReII(triphos)(CN)3}4] that shows ferromagnetic behavior. Despite the large ground-state spin value of [{NiIICl}4{ReII(triphos)(CN)3}4] (S = 6), only manganese congeners exhibit SMM behavior to 1.8 K.     

Curcumin Loaded Dendrimers Specifically Reduce Viability of Glioblastoma Cell Lines

Glioblastoma (GB) is a deadly and aggressive cancer of the CNS. Even with extensive resection and chemoradiotherapy, patient survival is still only 15 months. To maintain growth and proliferation, cancer cells require a high oxidative state. Curcumin, a well-known anti-inflammatory antioxidant, is a potential candidate for treatment of GB. To facilitate efficient delivery of therapeutic doses of curcumin into cells, we encapsulated the drug in surface-modified polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers. We studied the in vitro effectiveness of a traditional PAMAM dendrimer (100% amine surface, G4 NH₂), surface-modified dendrimer (10% amine and 90% hydroxyl-G4 90/10-Cys), and curcumin (Cur)-encapsulated dendrimer (G4 90/10-Cys-Cur) on three species of glioblastoma cell lines: mouse-GL261, rat-F98, and human-U87. Using an MTT assay for cell viability, we found that G4 90/10-Cys-Cur reduced viability of all three glioblastoma cell lines compared to non-cancerous control cells. Under similar conditions, unencapsulated curcumin was not effective, while the non-modified dendrimer (G4 NH₂) caused significant death of both cancerous and normal cells. By harnessing and optimizing the components of PAMAM dendrimers, we are providing a promising new route for delivering cancer therapeutics. Our results with curcumin suggest that antioxidants are good candidates for treating glioblastoma.     

几种乙酸铵离心法测定土壤阳离子交换量的方法探讨

乙酸铵离心交换法测定酸性和中性土壤阳离子交换量是经典方法,但此方法的蒸馏过程繁琐、时间长、效率低。本文引用纳氏试剂分光光度法测定土壤CEC值,并将结果与乙酸铵离心法常用的几种传统测定方法进行了实验对比和总结。通过对国家标准样品及实际土壤样品的CEC值测定,纳氏试剂比色法的精密度在2-4%之间,准确度与经典方法一致。与传统滴定法比较,取代了蒸馏的步骤,测定方法简单,干扰少,结果可靠,可操作性强。     

Improved Molecular Weight Control in Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) Reactions with Ru‐Based Olefin Metathesis Catalysts Using N Donors and Acid: A Kinetic and Mechanistic Investigation

The effect of the addition of H₃PO₄ on the ROMP activity of cyclooctene (COE) with first‐ [Cl₂(PCy₃)₂Ru?CHPh] and second‐generation [(H₂IMes)Cl₂(PCy₃)Ru?CHPh] Grubbs’ catalysts 1 and 4 (Cy=cyclohexyl, Ph=phenyl, Mes=2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl (mesityl)), their inhibited mixtures with 1‐methylimidazole (MIM), as well as their isolated bis‐N,N′‐dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) derivatives [Cl₂(PCy₃)(DMAP)₂Ru?CHPh)] ( 5 b ) and [Cl₂(H₂IMes)(DMAP)₂Ru?CHPh] ( 7 b ) (DMAP=dimethylaminopyridine), a novel catalyst, has been investigated. The studies include the determination of their initiation rates, as well as a determination of the molecular weights and molecular weight distributions of the polymers obtained with these catalysts and catalyst mixtures from the exo‐7‐oxanorbornene derivative 11 . The structure of catalyst 7 b was confirmed by means of X‐ray diffraction. All N‐donor‐bearing catalysts or N‐donor‐containing catalyst mixtures not only exhibited elevated activity in the presence of acid, but also increased initiation rates. Using the reversible inhibition/activation protocol with MIM and H₃PO₄ enabled us to conduct controlled ROMP with catalyst 4 producing the isolated exo‐7‐oxanorbornene‐based polymer 12 with predetermined molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. This effect was based on fast and efficient catalyst initiation in contrast to the parent catalyst 4 . Hexacoordinate complex 5 b also experienced a dramatic increase in initiation rates upon acid‐addition and the ROMP reactions became well‐controlled in contrast to the acid‐free reaction. In contrast, complex 7 b performs well‐controlled ROMP in the absence of acid, whereas the polymerization of the same monomer becomes less controlled in the presence of H₃PO₄. The closer evaluation of catalysts 5 b and 7 b demonstrated that their initiation rates exhibit a linear dependency on the substrate concentration in contrast to catalysts 1 and 4 . As a consequence, their initiation rates are determined by an associative step, not a dissociative step as seen for catalysts 1 and 4 . A feasible associative metathesis initiation mechanism is proposed.     

A Thermally and Hydrolytically Stable Microporous Framework Exhibiting Single‐Chain Magnetism: Structure and Properties of [Co2(H0.67bdt)3]⋅20 H2O

Fixing a hole : Hydrothermal chemistry has been exploited in the preparation of a 3D framework material exhibiting 48 % accessible void volume and 1.5 % hydrogen uptake by weight at 120 kPa (see picture). The title compound also exhibits single‐chain magnetic behavior and reversible changes in magnetic properties upon solvation and desolvation.