Ab initio studies on the catalytic mechanism of ester hydroloysis by serine proteases

Some aspects of the catalytic mechanism of the serine proteases were submitted to ab initio RHF MO studies at a 3-21G basis set level. Analytical gradients were used to optimize the geometry of the molecular partners and to sense the interactions among them when they make up for the active site in chymotrypsin. Reaction fields of graded strengths were used to sense the response of the active site to protein surrounding effects. The catalytic triad (Asp-His-Ser) is reduced to a model dyad represented by ammonia and methyl alcohol. Methyl acetate represents a substrate. One water molecule is added to the model as a local solvation effect. (This molecule plays a central role in the rupture of the acylated enzyme, which was not studied here). The reaction pathways of MeAc interacting with the alcohol and alcoholate were studied to determine the intrinsic properties of this system in the present level of wave function representation. The presence of the dyad alters the interaction potential of the reacting system. The canonical form in vacuo is significantly more stable than the diionic one. The reaction field produces stabilizing effects favoring the catalytic diionic form. The effect of the tetrahedralization in the substrate has been studied. A planar substrate is strongly repelled at distances shorter than 3.0 Å, whereas a tetrahedral substrate can approach the catalytic dyad in the native configuration without apparent steric hindrance.     

Studies on quinones. Part 25. Synthetic approaches to 6,9-dioxygenated-benzazepinones

The Schmidt and Beckmann rearrangement of 3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-1(2H)-naphthalenones bearing oxygenated groups at the 5,8-positions, and some of their oximes are reported. Depending upon the structure of the substrates and the reaction conditions 4,5-dihydro-3H-naphth[1,8-cd]isoxazol, benzazepin-2-one and 5,6-dihydro-7H-tetrazolo[1,5-a][2]benzazepine derivatives were generated.     

Synthesis of indazol‐4,7‐dione derivatives as potential trypanocidal agents

The synthesis of new indazol‐4,7‐dione derivatives via 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of diazomethane with 2,3‐dimethyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone ( 2 ) and 1,4‐naphthoquinone ( 7 ) followed by N‐alkylation of the pyrazol nitrogen atom of the corresponding quinones ( 3 ) and ( 8 ) with methyl chloroacetate is described. A series of amides from esters ( 5 ) and ( 10 ) were also obtained. These compounds were tested in vitro as potential anti‐trypanosomal agents. Compounds ( 4 ) and ( 8 ) were found to have significant activity.     

Dramatic Effect of Magnetite Particles on the Dynamics of Photogenerated Free Radicals

Abstract— Polymeric particles of about 1 u.m in diameter and containing around 40% magnetite have a dramatic influence on the dynamics of triplet radical pair reactions occurring in micelles in their vicinity. The effect has been monitored with laser flash photolysis techniques and results in a decrease of the number of radicals that separate from their geminate partner and an acceleration of radical pair geminate reactions. The effect involves remote interactions because the solution contains ca 10¹¹micelles for each polymeric particle. Magnetite also perturbs the way in which the radicals interact with an external magnetic field.     

Synthesis and Unusual Swelling Behavior of Combined Cationic/Non‐Ionic Hydrogels Based on Chitosan

Hydrogel‐forming copolymers based on chitosan grafted with different amounts of polyacrylamide were synthesized and its swelling capacity determined in distilled water, sodium chloride solutions, as well as in buffer solutions at pH 1.2 and 8.0. The resulting products are highly efficient as hydrogel‐forming materials with swelling at equilibrium going approximately from 300 to 3 000 times the volume of the dry solid polymer in all the investigated media. The products, different to usual hydrogels, swells considerably more and quickly in electrolyte‐containing solutions compared to in distilled water. This has been attributed to their structure that contains non‐ionic polyacrylamide macromolecules grafted onto the trunk polymer chitosan, which is cationic in nature. In‐vitro drug‐release behavior of formulations containing grafted copolymers have been tested using theophylline as a water‐soluble drug and the results were compared with similar formulations containing unmodified chitosan. It was found that tablets based on formulations containing grafted chitosan show higher erosion and swelling compared with those of the matrix based on unmodified chitosan, leading to a higher fraction of theophylline released. It can be concluded that formulations based on the synthesized copolymers are potentially useful for fluid absorbency and as prolonged drug‐release matrices.

The swelling of one of the hydrogels studied here.     

Simultaneous determination of estradiol and medroxyprogesterone acetate in pharmaceutical formulations by second-derivative spectrophotometry

This paper reports a simple and fast method for the simultaneous determination of estradiol (ED) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MP) in pharmaceutical formulations by second-derivative spectrophotometry. Methanol was used to extract the drugs from formulations, and subsequently the extracts were evaluated directly by derivative spectrophotometry. The drugs were determined simultaneously by using the graphic method at 297.4 nm for ED and the zero-crossing method at 273.4 nm for MP. If both compounds are present together in a sample, it is possible to quantitate one in the presence of the other. The best signal-to-noise ratio was found when the second derivative of the spectrum was used. The linear ranges for determination of the drugs were 4.7 x 10(-6) to 1.6 x 10(-4) and 7.2 x 10(-6) to 2.0 x 10(-4) mol/L for ED and MP, respectively. The ingredients commonly found in commercial pharmaceutical formulations do not interfere with the determination. Chemical and spectral variables were optimized for the determination of both analytes. Good levels of repeatability (relative standard deviation), 1.4 and 1.9%, were obtained for ED and MP, respectively. The proposed method was applied to the determination of these drugs in pharmaceutical formulations.     

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE MEDIATES UV-INDUCED IMPAIRMENT OF ANTIGEN PRESENTATION IN A MURINE EPIDERMAL-DERIVED DENDRITIC CELL LINE

Abstract— Ultraviolet-B (290–320 nm) radiation is known to impair the antigen-presenting cell (APC) function of Langerhans cells (LC), skin-specific members of the dendritic cell (DC) family. We sought to address mechanisms of this effect, focusing on the role played by hydrogen peroxide. For this purpose, we used a newly established murine DC line, XS52, which resembles epidermal LC in several respects. The APC capacity of XS52 cells, using two different CD4* T cell clones as responders, was inhibited significantly (>50%) by exposure to UV radiation (unfiltered FS20 sunlamps) at relatively small fluences (50–100 J/m²). Ultraviolet radiation also inhibited growth factor-dependent proliferation of XS52 cells. On the other hand, cell surface phenotype was relatively well preserved after irradiation; expression levels of B7-1 and B7-2 were reduced slightly, while other molecules ( e.g. Ia, CD54, CD1 la and CD18) were not affected. With respect to the role played by hydrogen peroxide, pretreatment with purified catalase (900 U/mL) prevented UV-induced inhibition of APC function. Short-term exposure to 3 miM H₂0₂ or f-butyl H₂0₂ mimicked UV radiation by inhibiting APC function. Finally, intrinsic catalase activity was substantially lower in XS52 cells compared with Pam 212 keratinocytes. These results indicate that the generation of hydrogen peroxide alone is sufficient to produce some, but not all, of the deleterious effects of UV radiation on DC derived from the skin.     

Identification and characterization of monoanionic tripodal tetradentate ligand complexes of copper(I) and copper(II) involved in halogen atom transfer reactions

The copper(I) complex of bis-(2-(2-pyridyl)-ethyl)-(2-(N-p-toluenesulfonamido)-ethyl)amine (PETAEA), a monoanionic, tripodal tetradentate ligand, was prepared, characterized, and shown to be an effective catalyst for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). A model atom transfer reaction of Cu(PETAEA) with 1-phenylethyl bromide and TEMPO radical trapping agent was studied. The copper(II) complex formed in this reaction was identified by comparison of its spectroscopic data with that of Cu(PETAEA)Br prepared by an independent synthesis. Kinetic and spectroscopic data indicated that the reaction mechanism involved simple atom transfer from the alkyl halide to the Cu(PETAEA) to form the Cu(PETAEA)Br, and no other intermediates were involved. The solid-state structures of the copper(I) and (II) complexes appeared to be maintained in solution, so this system is an atom transfer reaction in which all of the reactive species are identified and characterized.     

Determination of dissociation constants for a heparin-binding domain of amyloid precursor protein and heparins or heparan sulfate by affinity capillary electrophoresis

Dynamic affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) was used for determining the binding constants between heparin-like glycosaminoglycans and the (96-110) heparin-binding domain of amyloid precursor protein (APP). The migration time shift of the (96-110) APP peptide was monitored as the concentration of heparin was increased in the background electrolyte. The compounds investigated included low-molecular-weight heparin, porcine mucosa heparin, and heparan sulfate. Change in mobility as a function of glycosaminoglycan concentration was plotted using both linear regression (Scatchard analysis) and nonlinear regression. Dissociation constants (K(d)) were determined and compared for both sets of analyses with the low-molecular-weight heparin giving the most reproducible results and best fit with a K(d) value of 3.9 microM.     

Quantized double-layer charging of highly monodisperse metal nanoparticles

We describe unprecedented resolution of electrochemically observed quantized double layer (QDL) charging, attained with use of reduced solution temperatures and with an annealing procedure that produces hexanethiolate monolayer protected gold clusters (C6 MPCs) with a high level of monodispersity in charging capacitance, C(CLU). The spacing DeltaV = e/C(CLU) on the electrochemical potential axis between one electron changes in the electronic charge of nanoscopic metal particles is determined by their effective capacitance C(CLU). The high monodispersity of the C6 MPCs with Au(140) cores facilitates (a) detailed rotated disk and cyclic voltammetric measurements, (b) simulation of QDL waveshapes based on assumed reversible, multivalent redox-like behavior, (c) determination of nanoparticle diffusion rates, and (d) observation of as many as 13 changes in the MPC charge state, from MPC(6-) to MPC(7+). The single electron QDL charging peaks are quite evenly spaced (DeltaV constant) at potentials near the MPC potential of zero charge, but are irregularly spaced at more positive and negative potentials. The irregular spacing is difficult to rationalize with classical double layer capacitance ideas and is proposed to arise from a correspondingly structured (e.g., not smooth) density of electronic states of the nanoparticle core, resulting from its small HOMO/LUMO gap and incipiently molecule-like behavior.