Biosynthesis of 13-desmethyl spirolide C by the dinoflagellate Alexandrium ostenfeldii

Biosynthetic origins of the cyclic imine toxin 13-desmethyl spirolide C were determined by supplementing cultures of the toxigenic dinoflagellate Alexandrium ostenfeldii with stable isotope-labeled precursors [1,2-13C2]acetate, [1-13C]acetate, [2-13CD3]acetate, and [1,2-13C2,15N]glycine and measuring the incorporation patterns by 13C NMR spectroscopy. Despite partial scrambling of the acetate labels, the results show that most carbons of the macrocycle are polyketide-derived and that glycine is incorporated as an intact unit into the cyclic imine moiety. This work represents the first conclusive evidence that such cyclic imine toxins are polyketides and provides support for biosynthetic pathways previously defined for other polyether dinoflagellate toxins.     

Determination of cationic surfactants in pharmaceuticals based on competitive aggregation in ternary amphiphile mixtures

Since the introduction of the euro as the common currency in most of the countries of the European Union, the production of counterfeit banknotes has increased steadily. The European Central Bank has distributed information on a systematic procedure to distinguish genuine notes from counterfeits based on the look, feel and tilt of the notes. Counterfeits, however, have remained difficult to detect. In order to improve such detection, a procedure based on the analysis of several areas of euro notes using microscope ATR-infrared spectroscopy is proposed. This procedure is fast, robust and non-destructive and it can be applied in situ. The present study is focused on the denomination most frequently falsified, the 50€ note, but 100€ notes were also analysed. The inter- and intra-bank reproducibility of the original notes was also evaluated. Results indicate that characteristics of the spectra depend mainly on the area of the note studied and, furthermore, these characteristics do not change with the nominal value of the notes. Counterfeit banknotes were also analysed and were clearly distinguished from authentic notes in all cases. Unlike genuine notes, the spectra of fakes are the same in all areas of the note analysed.     

Multiresidue analysis of quinolones and fluoroquinolones in soil by ultrasonic-assisted extraction in small columns and HPLC-UV

In this work, a new and simple analytical methodology for the simultaneous analysis of several quinolones (cinoxacin, oxolinic acid, nalidixic acid and flumequine) and fluoroquinolones (norfloxacin, enrofloxacin, enoxacin, ciprofloxacin and danofloxacin) in soil samples is presented. The method is based on the extraction of these analytes by an ultrasonic-assisted extraction in small columns and their subsequent quantification by HPLC using UV detection. The observed strong sorption of quinolones and fluoroquinlones to soil together their different acid-base properties made necessary an exhaustive optimisation of the extraction step. The optimum extraction procedure, based on the formation of antibiotic-Mg(II) complexes, allowed to desorb and quantitatively extract both groups of antibiotics in a single step, which was not possible by using conventional organic solvents. The proposed method was validated and the limits of detection achieved were in the low μg g⁻¹ concentration range proving its suitability for the determination of quinolones and fluoroquinolones in soil samples at realistic environmental concentration level.     

Densities and derived thermodynamic properties of ternary mixtures 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate + ethanol + water at seven pressures and two temperatures

This work is a continuation of our studies on experimental measurements of physical properties on binary mixtures of the ionic liquid (IL) family 1-alkyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (CnMIM-BF₄) with water and ethanol. Here, we present density for the ternary system Butyl-MIM-BF₄ + ethanol + water at two temperatures (298.15 K and 323.15 K) and seven pressures (from 0.1 to 30 MPa). It should be noted that BMIM-BF₄ is the only IL of the family CnMIM-BF₄ that can be mixed with water and ethanol in all range of concentrations at room conditions. From the density data measured in function of pressure and temperature other important derived thermodynamic properties can be calculated, such us excess molar volumes, isothermal compressibility, isobaric expansion and the thermal pressure coefficients. These properties for selected ternary mixtures will be discussed and compared with data from the scarce number of published results for similar ternary mixtures with this same IL.     

Spectroscopic Study of the E/Z Photoisomerization of a New Cyrhetrenyl Acylhydrazone: A Potential Photoswitch and Photosensitizer†

The new cyrhetrenyl acylhydrazone [(CO)₃Re(η⁵‐C₅H₄)‐C(O)‐NH‐N = C(CH₃)‐(2‐C₄H₂S‐5‐NO₂)] ( E‐CyAH ) has been designed, synthesized and fully characterized to study the effect of having a cyrhetrenyl fragment (sensitizer) covalently bonded to an acylhydrazone moiety (switch), on its photophysical and photochemical properties. The crystal structure reveals that E‐CyAH adopts an E‐configuration around the iminic moiety [‐N = C(CH₃)]. The absorption spectrum of E‐CyAH displays two bands at 270 and 380 nm, which are mainly ascribed to π → π* intraligand (IL) and d_π → π* metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions, being consistent with DFT/TD‐DFT calculations. Upon 365 nm irradiation, E‐CyAH photoisomerizes to Z‐CyAH , as evidenced by UV‐Vis and ¹H‐NMR spectral changes, with a quantum yield value Φ_{E‐CyAH →Z‐CyAH} of 0.30. Z‐CyAH undergoes a first‐order thermal back‐isomerization process, with a relatively short half‐life τ_1/2 of 277 min. Consequently, E‐CyAH was quantitatively recovered after 24 h, making it a fully reversible T‐type molecular photoswitch. This remarkable behavior allows us to measure the individual photophysical properties for both isomers. In addition, E‐CyAH and Z‐CyAH efficiently photosensitize the generation of singlet oxygen (O₂ (¹Δ_g)) with good yield (Φ_Δ = 0.342).     

3α‐Hydroxytirucalla‐7,24‐dien‐21‐oic acid: a triterpene from Protium crenatum Sandwith

The crystal structure of the title compound, C₃₀H₄₈O₃, a triterpene extracted from the resin of Protium crenatum Sandwith, is reported. The aliphatic acidic side chain is attached to the tirucallene four‐ring system on its α‐face and is extended by 7.248 (5) Å in the `left‐hand' orientation.     

Rapid Tyrosine Phosphorylation of HS1 in the Response of Mouse Lymphoma L5178Y-R Cells to Photodynamic Treatment Sensitized by the Phthalocyanine Pc 4

Abstract— The ability of photodynamic treatment (PDT) with the phthalocyanine Pc 4 to activate cellular signal transduction pathways in murine lymphoma L5178Y-R cells has been assessed by observing increases in protein tyrosine phosphorylation at early times post-PDT. Western blot analysis with an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody revealed a dramatic increase in phosphorylation of two major protein bands of Mr -80000 and -55000 in response to PDT. The increase was PDT dose-dependent, occurred as early as 20 s after initiation of light exposure of Pc 4-pre-loaded cells and was amplified by the presence of the protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, sodium ortho-vanadate (NaV0₄). By immunoprecipitation, one of the Mr –80000 phosphorylated proteins has been identified as HS1, a substrate of nonreceptor-type protein tyrosine kinases. Although vanadate greatly enhanced the level and extent of PDT-induced phosphorylation, it had no influence on overall photocytotoxicity or on the rate of apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Genistein, an inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinases, diminished tyrosine phosphorylation of the Mr –80000 and other proteins and dramatically potentiated cell killing induced by PDT but did not significantly affect PDT-induced apoptosis. The results suggest that PDT rapidly activates a membrane-associated src family kinase(s) in L5178Y-R cells, one substrate of which is HS1, and that protein tyrosine phosphorylation is part of a stress response, protecting a portion of the cells from the lethal effects of PDT but not altering the mechanism by which they die.     

Melt block copolymerization of ϵ-caprolactone and L-lactide

AB block copolymers of ϵ-caprolactone and (L )-lactide could be prepared by ring-opening polymerization in the melt at 110°C using stannous octoate as a catalyst and ethanol as an initiator provided ϵ-caprolactone was polymerized first. Ethanol initiated the polymerization of ϵ-caprolactone producing a polymer with ϵ-caprolactone derived hydroxyl end groups which after addition of L -lactide in the second step of the polymerization initiated the ring-opening copolymerization of L -lactide. The number-average molecular weights of the poly(ϵ-caprolactone) blocks varied from 1.5 to 5.2 × 10³, while those of the poly(L -lactide) blocks ranged from 17.4 to 49.7 × 10³. The polydispersities of the block copolymers varied from 1.16 to 1.27. The number-average molecular weights of the polymers were controlled by the monomer/hydroxyl group ratio, and were independent on the monomer/stannous octoate ratio within the range of experimental conditions studied. When L -lactide was polymerized first, followed by copolymerization of ϵ-caprolactone, random copolymers were obtained. The formation of random copolymers was attributed to the occurrence of transesterification reactions. These side reactions were caused by the ϵ-caprolactone derived hydroxyl end groups generated during the copolymerization of ϵ-caprolactone with pre-polymers of L -lactide. The polymerization proceeds through an ester alcoholysis reaction mechanism, in which the stannous octoate activated ester groups of the monomers react with hydroxyl groups. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in autosomal dominant optic atrophy

Background  

Autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA), a form of progressive bilateral blindness due to loss of retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve deterioration, arises predominantly from mutations in the nuclear gene for the mitochondrial GTPase, OPA1. OPA1 localizes to mitochondrial cristae in the inner membrane where electron transport chain complexes are enriched. While OPA1 has been characterized for its role in mitochondrial cristae structure and organelle fusion, possible effects of OPA1 on mitochondrial function have not been determined.