Use of capillary electrophoresis as a versatile tool to measure interaction constants between a KDR‐binding PEGylated lipopeptide and pegylated phospholipid micelles

In the frame of our molecular imaging activities, a PEGylated lipopeptide has been developed as a specific ligand for the human vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, which is considered as one of the important molecular marker of angiogenesis. In this study, the potential of affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) is evaluated to measure the interactions of an active PEGylated lipopeptide, its hydrolysis product and its precursor consisting of a peptide structure with different micelles including Brij‐35, Tween‐20, and pegylated phospholipids. Given the amphiphilic structure of the PEGylated lipopeptide, a MEKC method allowing the simultaneous separation of the compounds of interest was set up, using low percentages of acetonitrile. Analytes were resolved using a BGE consisting of 100 mM borate buffer pH 9.0, 1 mM Brij, and 25% acetonitrile. Optimized conditions were then used to perform ACE experiments. The affinity constants of the analytes with the micelles were calculated on the basis of their mobility decrease when surfactant concentration increased in the electrolyte. The use of different linearization models to estimate affinity constants was discussed and comparison of different surfactants was reported. PEGylated lipopeptide interacted more strongly with pegylated phospholipid micelles than with Brij‐35 or Tween‐20. Moreover, it is likely that the chemical structure of the compounds, and particularly the lipidic part of the molecules, significantly affects the interaction with micelles. In conclusion, the ACE method can be readily applied to investigate interactions of our targeting lipopeptides with various micelles currently used for the preparation of pharmaceutical vehicles.     

Optimized simultaneous determination of several elements in human intestinal Caco-2 TC7 cells by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry after closed vessel microwave digestion

A rapid procedure, based on closed vessels microwave digestion and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), was evaluated to ascertain the effect of chronic exposure to cadmium on intracellular accumulation of minor and essential trace elements in cultured epithelial cells (Caco-2 TC7). For all measurements, the method of external calibration was used and 3 elements (Be, Sc, In) were selected as internal standards. Optimization procedures are discussed and results are presented for the total determination of 9 key analytes (Na, Mg, Ca, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, and Cd) in certified reference materials (CRMs) and 20 samples of Caco-2 TC7 cells long-term exposed to Cd. The performance characteristics of the analytical system were evaluated by calibration and linearity, limits of detection and quantitation, accuracy with spiking, trueness and repeatability with available CRMs. As a complement to the ICP-MS determinations, both available CRMs and cell samples were analyzed either by electro thermal- or flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The results were in good agreement with the ICP-MS results.     

TUNA FISH (T-30) – A new proficiency testing material for the determination of As and Hg in seafood

The quality of the aquatic and marine environment can be monitored by the determination of pollutants in organisms living in this environment. Certified reference materials and well-organised proficiency tests are powerful means of ensuring a constant level of quality and verifying the correct application of standardised methods. The preparation of a tuna fish proficiency testing material for the evaluation of quality of As and Hg monitoring in seafood is described. Preparation and characterisation of the material as well as studies on its homogeneity and stability are described. Concentrations of 3.4 ± 0.2 mg/kg total arsenic and 2.91 ± 0.09 mg/kg total mercury have been determined as target values. Moreover indicative values for some trace elements (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sr) and some major constituents (Al, Br, C, Ca, Cl, Fe, H, K, Mg, N, Na, P, S, Si, Zn) have also been measured. Received: 29 November 1996 / Revised: 17 February 1997 / Accepted: 22 February 1997     

Macrophage Activation by a Lipophilic Derivative of Muramyldipeptide within Nanocapsules: Investigation of the Mechanism of Drug Delivery

Different colloidal formulations: nanocapsules (NC), emulsion and micelles, containing the lipophilic immunomodulator muramyltripeptide cholesterol (MTP-Chol) induce nitric oxide synthase activity in the RAW 264.7 cell line. The use of cytochalasin B, an inhibitor of cell movements, showed that phagocytosis was an important mechanism as far as NC and the emulsion were concerned. However, when the cells were separated from particles containing the immunomodulator by a membrane of 100nm pore size, significant activity could still be obtained, provided that serum was included in the medium. To determine whether low-density lipoprotein (LDL) might act as an intermediate carrier for MTP-Chol, the transfer of the immunomodulator from NC to LDL was studied by an ultrafiltration/centrifugation method followed by HPLC analysis. Although MTP-Chol could be transferred to LDL, when purified human LDL was added to serum-free medium, activation by MTP-Chol NC was reduced, rather than increased. This suggests that intact LDL carrying MTP-Chol is not taken up to a great extent by these macrophages.     

Synthesis of purine-acridine hybrid molecules related to artificial endonucleases

In the course of a program devoted to the synthesis of artificial endonucleases, we have previously reported a series of hybrid molecules in which a purine is linked to an intercalating drug by a polyamino chain. These molecules recognize and cleave selectively abasic sites in DNA with very high efficiency. In order to get insight into the mechanism of recognition and cleavage, we have prepared a new series of molecules in which the purine is linked to an amino-acridine by an aliphatic chain containing amido or/and amino groups. The key intermediates are -halo-ω-amino polyaza which may be of general use as linkers in bioconjugate chemistry.     

Azidinium-Salze. 23. Mitteilung. Photolyse heterocylischer Azidinium-Salze

Photolysis of Heterocyclic Azidinium Salts The photochemistry of some azidinium salts was investigated. Their photolusis led to a large variety of products which were isolated and identified. Reaction mechanisms involving singlet and triplet nitrene intermediates are discussed to explain the product formation.     

Synthesis of pyridine fused polycyclic amines using sequential ring-closing metathesis and radical cyclisation reactions

The syntheses of novel pyridine fused polycyclic bridgehead amines are described using sequential ring-closing metathesis (RCM) and 5-exo-trig intramolecular radical cyclisation reactions. Critical to the success of the two sequential steps were the RCM catalyst and/or the nature of the nitrogen atom.     

Major versus minor groove DNA binding of a bisarginylporphyrin hybrid molecule: A molecular mechanics investigation

On the basis of theoretical computations, we have recently synthesised [Perrée-Fauvet, M. and Gresh, N., Tetrahedron Lett., 36 (1995) 4227] a bisarginyl conjugate of a tricationic porphyrin (BAP), designed to target, in the major groove of DNA, the d(GGC GCC)2 sequence which is part of the primary binding site of the HIV-1 retrovirus site [Wain-Hobson, S. et al., Cell, 40 (1985) 9]. In the theoretical model, the chromophore intercalates at the central d(CpG)2 step and each of the arginyl arms targets O6/N7belonging to guanine bases flanking the intercalation site. Recent IR and UV-visible spectroscopic studies have confirmed the essential features of these theoretical predictions [Mohammadi, S. et al., Biochemistry, 37 (1998) 6165]. In the present study, we compare the energies of competing intercalation modes of BAP to several double-stranded oligonucleotides, according to whether one, two or three N- methylpyridinium rings project into the major groove. Correspondingly, three minor groove binding modes were considered, the arginyl arms now targeting N3, O2 sites belonging to the purine or pyrimidine bases flanking the intercalation site. This investigation has shown that: (i) in both the major and minor grooves, the best-bound complexes have the three N-methylpyridinium rings in the groove opposite to that of the phenyl group bearing the arginyl arms; (ii) major groove binding is preferred over minor groove binding by a significant energy (29 kcal/mol); and (iii) the best-bound sequence in the major groove is d(GGC GCC)2 with two successive guanines upstream from the intercalation. On the other hand, due to the flexibility of the arginyl arms, other GC-rich sequences have close binding energies, two of them being less stable than it by less than 8 kcal/mol. These results serve as the basis for the design of derivatives of BAP with enhanced sequence selectivities in the major groove.