Chemiluminescence Method for the Determination of Glutathione in Human Serum Using the Ru(phen)3 2+ – KMnO4 System

A simple, rapid and specific chemiluminescence (CL) method for the determination of glutathione has been developed. The method is based on the enhanced CL of the reaction between Ru(phen)₃ ²⁺ (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) and KMnO₄ by glutathione in HCl medium. Under the optimum conditions, the response is linearly proportional to the concentration of glutathione between 1.5 × 10⁻⁷ and 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹. The dection limit for glutathione (5.8 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹) is about 10 and 200 times better than those of the spectrophotometric method using Ellman regent and the Lucigenin – CL method, respectively. The final procedure allows the determination of glutathione in human serum with recoveries of 92%–108%. A satisfactory agreement was obtained with a mean relative difference of 2.5% compared to the HPLC method.     

Complete NMR assignments of the antibacterial biflavonoid GB1 from Garcinia kola

From the antibacterial fraction of the roots of Garcinia kola, 3',4',4',5,5',7,7'-heptahydroxy-3,8'-biflavanone (GB1) was isolated as the major constituent, whose interesting conformations were studied on the basis of its 1D and 2D NMR spectra obtained at different temperatures and in different solvents. GB1 showed antibacterial activities against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) with MIC of 32 and 128 microg/ml, respectively.     

1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides 3. Reactions of 2-aminobenzenesulfonamide with chloroalkyl isocyanates

Reactions of 2-aminobenzenesulfonamide ( 1 ) with allyl, methyl, 2-chloroethyl aor 3-chloropropyl isocyanates gave 2-(methylureido)-, 2-(allylureido)-, 2-(2′-chloroethylureido)- and 2-(3′-chloropropylureido)-benzene sulfonamides 3a,b and 7a,b in excellent yields. Treatment of 3a,b at refluxing temperature of DMF afforded 2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazin-3(4H)-one 1,1-dioxide ( 4 ) in good yield. However, when compounds 7a,b were refluxed in 2-propanol, 3-(2′-aminoethoxy)-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide ( 11a ) and 3-(3′-aminopropoxy)-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide ( 11b ) were obtained in a form of the hydrochloride salts 10a,b in 87% and 78% yields respectively. Heating 11b in ethanol gave a dimeric form of 2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazin-3(4H)-one 1,1-dioxide and 3-(3′-aminopropoxy)-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide ( 12 ) in 55% yield. Treating of 7a,b or 11a,b with triethylamine at the refluxing temperature of 2-propanol afforded 3-(2′-hydroxyethylamino)-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide ( 2a ) and 3-(3′-hydroxypropylamine)-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide ( 2b ) via a Smiles rearrangement.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of inclusion compounds: Trans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylic acid with boric acid and tetrabutylammonium salt

Two new inclusion compounds (n-C₄H₉)₄N⁺C₁₈-H₁₃O₄ ⁻·B(OH)₃ (1) and (n-C₄H₉)₄N⁺C₁₈H₁₃O₄ ⁻ (2) were prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Crystal data: compound 1, monoclinic P2(1)/c, a = 1.569 9(1) nm, b = 0.995 5(6) nm, c = 2.293 3(1) nm, β = 109.962(3)°, Z = 4, and R ₁ = 0.0434, wR = 0.075 9; compound 2, monoclinic C2/c, a = 1.400 5(3) nm, b = 1,282 1(2) nm, c = 1.765 7(3) nm, β = 100.388(1)°, Z = 4, and R ₁ = 0.0584, wR = 0.096 6. In the crystal structure of 1, the tetramers formed by two trans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylic acid (EADA) anions and two boric acid molecules were connected through O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds to generate a channel type host lattice. The tetra-n-butylammonium cations were stacked to give two columns within each channel with cross-sectional size of about 2.30 nm × 0.93 nm. In the crystal structure of 2, similar honeycomb host lattices with big size were also formed along the [101] direction by three-dimensional accumulation of EADA anions. The tetra-n-butylammonium cations were accommodated in a zigzag fashion within each channel. Translated from Acta Chimica Sinica, 2006, 64(18): 1904–1910 [译自: 化学学报]     

The video-rate imaging of sub-10 nm plasmonic nanoparticles in a cellular medium free of background scattering

Plasmonic nanoparticles (e.g., gold, silver) have attracted much attention for biological sensing and imaging as promising nanoprobes. Practical biomedical applications demand small gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) with a comparable size to quantum dots and fluorescent proteins. Very small nanoparticles with a size below the Rayleigh limit (usually <30–40 nm) are hard to see by light scattering using a dark-field microscope, especially within a cellular medium. A photothermal microscope is able to detect very small nanoparticles, down to a few nanometers, but the imaging speed is usually too slow (minutes to hours) to image living cell processes. Here an absorption modulated scattering microscopy (AMSM) method is presented, which allows for the imaging of sub-10 nm Au NPs within a cellular medium. The unique physical mechanism of AMSM offers the remarkable ability to remove the light scattering background of the cellular component. In addition to having a sensitivity comparable to that of photothermal microscopy, AMSM has a much higher imaging speed, close to the video rate (20 fps), which allows for the dynamic tracking of small nanoparticles in living cells. This AMSM method might be a valuable tool for living cell imaging, using sub-10 nm Au NPs as biological probes, and thereby unlocking many new applications, such as single molecule labeling and the dynamic tracking of molecular interactions.

An absorption modulated scattering microscopy technique that allows for the imaging of sub-10 nm gold nanoparticles within a cellular scattering medium is presented.     

Functional involvement of src and focal adhesion kinase in a CD99 splice variant-induced motility of human breast cancer cells

Earlier report showed that expression of a splice variant of CD99 transmembrane protein increases invasive ability of human breast cancer cells. Cell motility was also significantly enhanced by the CD99 splice variant expression. In an effort to identify the cellular components that mediate a signal transduction pathway triggered by the CD99 splice variant, known signal path inhibitors were examined for their effects on the motility of the CD99 splice variant-transfected MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Phenylarsine oxide, an inhibitor of phosphatase specific for focal adhesion kinase, and PP1, an inhibitor of src kinase family, significantly suppressed motility of the cells. Among different types of src transfectant clones generated, kinase-negative mutant src transfectant cells were 80% less motile than the mock cells transfected with an empty-vector, while v-src and c-src transfectants exhibited cell motility levels at or slightly above the mock transfectant. These results suggest that src and focal adhesion kinase mediate the intracellular signaling pathway of a CD99 splice variant for the induction of motility of human breast cancer cells.     

Syntheses, characterizations and crystal structures of three new organically templated or organically bonded zinc selenates

Three new organically templated or organically bonded zinc selenates, namely, {H₂bipy}Zn(SeO₄)₂(H₂O)₂1 (bipy=4,4′-bipyridine), {H₂pip}{Zn(SeO₄)₂(H₂O)₄}·2H₂O 2 (pip=piprazine), and Zn(SeO₄)(phen)(H₂O)₂3 (phen=1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized by hydrothermal reactions. The structure of compound 1 features a 1D chain composed of [Zn(SeO₄)₂(H₂O)₂]²⁻ anions. Compound 2 has a 2D layer structure built from {Zn(SeO₄)₂(H₂O)₄}²⁻ anions that are cross-linked by doubly protonated piperazine cations via N-H?O hydrogen bonds. The structure of compound 3 contains a 1D chain of Zn(SeO₄)(phen)(H₂O)₂, such chains are further interlinked by hydrogen bonds and π?π interactions to form a 〈200〉 layer. The different roles the templates played have also been discussed.     

Indium-mediated beta-allylation,beta-propargylation,and beta-allenylation onto alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones: reactions of in-situ-generated 3-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxyalk-2-enylsulfonium salts with in-situ-generated organoindium reagents

3-tert-Butyldimethylsilyloxyalk-2-enylsulfonium salts, generated in situ from the reaction of alpha,beta-enones with dimethyl sulfide in the presence of TBSOTf, underwent a novel nucleophilic substitution with allylindiums to give silyl enol ethers of delta,epsilon-alkenyl ketones in good yields, which correspond to formal Michael addition products. In a similar manner, 1,4-propargylation of propargylindiums onto the sulfonium salts produced the corresponding silyl enol ethers of delta,epsilon-alkynyl ketones in good yields. Organoindium reagents derived from gamma-substituted propargyl bromide and indium afforded the corresponding silyl enol ethers of beta-allenyl ketones in good yields. The reaction proceeds via an addition-substitution mechanism involving the formation of allylic sulfonium salts. The presence of the intermediate sulfonium salt was confirmed by observation of the low-temperature (1)H NMR spectra.     

Comment on "Adsorption of naphthalene on zeolite from aqueous solution" by C.F. Chang, C.Y. Chang, K.H. Chen, W.T. Tsai, J.L. Shie, Y.H. Chen

A paper contributes not only by its originality and creativity, but also by its continuity and development toward subsequent research. Referencing and quotation accuracy are an important part of a scientific article. This study presents a literature review concerning the precision of 50 first authors' publications, which originally cited Ho's pseudo-second-order kinetic expression paper in kinetics model for solute sorption on various sorbents. This model applies to a range of solid-liquid systems such as metal ions, dyestuffs, herbicides, oil, and organic substances in aqueous systems onto various sorbents. In addition, citations of Lagergren and Elovich rate equations are also discussed. This comment offers information for citing the original idea of Ho's pseudo-second-order kinetic expression and Lagergren's pseudo-first-order kinetic equation. It is also suggested that the cited paper should be accurately quoted.     

Cadmium(II) and mercury(II) complexes of an NO2S2-donor macrocycle and its ditopic xylyl-bridged analogue

The NO2S2-donor macrocycle (L1) was synthesised from the ring closure reaction between Boc-N-protected 2,2'-iminobis(ethanethiol) (3) and 2,2'-(ethylenedioxy)bis(benzyl chloride) (4) followed by deprotection of the Boc-group. alpha,alpha'-Dibromo-p-xylene was employed as a dialkylating agent to bridge two L1 to yield the corresponding N-linked product (L2). The X-ray structure of L2 (as its HBr salt) is described. A range of Cd(II) and Hg(II) complexes of L1 (6-9) and L2 (10-12) were prepared and characterised. Reaction of HgX2 (X = Br or I) with L1 afforded [Hg(L1)Br]2[Hg2Br6].2CH2Cl2 6 and [Hg(L1)I(2)] 7, respectively. For 6, the Hg(II) ion in the complex cation has a distorted tetrahedral coordination environment composed of S2N donor atoms from L1 and a bromo ligand. In 7 the coordination geometry is highly distorted tetrahedral, with the macrocycle coordinating in an exodentate manner via one S and one N atom. The remaining two coordination sites are occupied by iodide ions. [Hg(L1)(ClO4)]ClO4 8 was isolated from the reaction of Hg(ClO4)2 and L1. The X-ray structure reveals that all macrocyclic ring donors bind to the central mercury ion in this case, with the latter exhibiting a highly distorted octahedral coordination geometry. The O2S2-donors from the macrocyclic ring define the equatorial plane while the axial positions are occupied by the ring nitrogen as well as by an oxygen from a monodentate perchlorato ion. Reaction of Cd(NO3)(2).4H2O with L1 afforded [Cd(L1)(NO3)2](.)0.5CH2Cl2 9 in which L1 acts as a tridentate ligand, binding exo-fashion via its S2N donors. The remaining coordination positions are filled by two bidentate nitrate ions such that, overall, the cadmium is seven-coordinate. Reactions of HgX2(X = Br or I) with L2 yielded the isostructural 2 : 1 (metal : ligand) complexes, [Hg2(L2)Br4] 10 and [Hg2(L2)I(4)] 11. Each mercury ion has a distorted tetrahedral environment made up of S and N donors from an exodentate L2 and two coordinated halides. Contrasting with this, the reaction of L2 with Cd(NO3)(2).4H2O yielded a 1-D coordination network, {[Cd2(L2)(NO3)4].2CH2Cl2}n 12 in which each ring of L2 is exo-coordinated via two S atoms and one N atom to a cadmium ion which is also bound to one monodentate and one bidentate nitrate anion. The latter also has one of its oxygen atom attached to a neighboring cadmium via a nitroso (mu2-O) bridge such that the overall coordination geometry about each cadmium is seven-coordinate. The [Cd(L2)0.5(NO3)2] units are linked by an inversion to yield the polymeric arrangement.