Iron(III) coordination chemistry of alterobactin A: a siderophore from the marine bacterium Alteromonas luteoviolacea

Alterobactin A is a siderophore produced by the oceanic bacterium Alteromonas luteoviolacea. The thermodynamic stability constant of the ferric alterobactin A (Alt-A) complex was estimated from electrochemical measurements on the basis of a previously reported linear relationship between the reduction potentials and the pH-independent stability constants for known iron(III) complexes. The reduction potential of the ferric alterobactin A complex determined by square wave voltammetry is -0.972 V vs SCE and reversible, corresponding to a thermodynamic stability constant of 10(51+/-2). Potentiometric titration of Fe(III)-Alt-A shows the release of six protons on complexation of Fe(III) to Alt-A. The 1H NMR resonances of the Ga(III)-Alt-A complex show that the C-4, C-5, and C-6 catecholate protons and the C(alpha) and C(beta) protons of both beta-hydroxyaspartate moieties are shifted downfield relative to the free ligand, which along with the potentiometric titration data is consistent with a complex in which Fe(III) is coordinated by both catecholate oxygen atoms and both oxygen atoms of each beta-hydroxyaspartate. The UV-vis spectrum of Fe(III)-Alt-A is invariant over the pH range 4-9, indicating the coordination does not change over a wide pH range. In addition, in the absence of a coordinated metal ion, the serine ester of Alt-A hydrolyzes forming Alt-B.     

Stabilizing Pentacene By Cyclopentannulation

A new class of stabilized pentacene derivatives with externally fused five‐membered rings are prepared by means of a key palladium‐catalyzed cyclopentannulation step. The target compounds are synthesized by chemical manipulation of a partially saturated 6,13‐dibromopentacene precursor that can be fully aromatized in a final step through a DDQ‐mediated dehydrogenation reaction (DDQ=2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone). The new 1,2,8,9‐tetraaryldicyclopenta[fg,qr]pentacene derivatives have narrow energy gaps of circa 1.2 eV and behave as strong electron acceptors with lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energies between ?3.81 and ?3.90 eV. Photodegradation studies reveal the new compounds are more photostable than 6,13‐bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TIPS‐pentacene).     

Cold-Active Xylanase Produced by Fungi Associated with Antarctic Marine Sponges

Despite their potential biotechnological applications, cold-active xylanolytic enzymes have been poorly studied. In this work, 38 fungi isolated from marine sponges collected in King George Island, Antarctica, were screened as new sources of cold-active xylanases. All of them showed xylanase activity at 15 and 23 °C in semiquantitative plate assays. One of these isolates, Cladosporium sp., showed the highest activity and was characterized in detail. Cladosporium sp. showed higher xylanolytic activity when grown on beechwood or birchwood xylan and wheat bran, but wheat straw and oat bran were not so good inducers of this activity. The optimal pH for xylanase activity was 6.0, although pH stability was slightly wider (pH 5–7). On the other hand, Cladosporium sp. showed high xylanase activity at low temperatures and very low thermal stability. Interestingly, thermal stability was even lower after culture media were removed and replaced by buffer, suggesting that low molecular component(s) of the culture media could be important in the stabilization of cold-active xylanase activity. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report on extracellular xylanase production by fungi associated with Antarctic marine sponges.     

Spermidine Prevents Ethanol and Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Hepatic Injury in Mice

To date, there is no effective treatment for alcoholic liver disease, despite its prevalence world-wide. Because alcohol consumption is associated with oxidative stress-induced liver injury and pro-inflammatory responses, naturally occurring antioxidants and/or anti-inflammatories may be potential therapeutics. Spermidine is an abundant, ubiquitous polyamine that has been found to display strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. To further investigate whether spermidine is an effective intervention for alcohol-induced liver disease, we examined its hepatoprotective properties using a two-hit, chronic ethanol and acute lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse model of liver injury. We determined that spermidine administration prevented ethanol and LPS-induced increases in liver injury using plasma ALT as a readout. Furthermore, histological analysis of tissue from control and treated animals revealed that the pathology associated with ethanol and LPS treatment was prevented in mice additionally treated with spermidine. As predicted, spermidine also prevented ethanol and LPS-induced oxidative stress by decreasing the levels of both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation. We further determined that spermidine treatment prevented the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor κB (NFκB) by blocking the phosphorylation of the inhibitory protein, IκB, thereby preventing expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Finally, by measuring expression of known markers of hepatic stellate cell activation and monitoring collagen deposition, we observed that spermidine also prevented alcohol and LPS-induced hepatic fibrosis. Together, our results indicate that spermidine is an antioxidant thereby conferring anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects associated with alcoholic liver injury.     

(Li/Ag)CoO2: a new intergrowth cobalt oxide composed of rock salt and delafossite layers

A new ordered (Li/Ag)CoO(2) layered compound with an unusual oxygen packing combining rock salt and delafossite layers is obtained during the (Li(+), Na(+))/Ag(+) ionic exchange from the OP4-(Li/Na)CoO(2) precursor. This compound is actually an intermediate step to the final D4-AgCoO(2) delafossite and can be isolated thanks to the kinetics difference between the Li(+)/Ag(+) and Na(+)/Ag(+) exchange processes. It crystallizes in the P6(3)/mmc space group with cell parameters a(hex.) = 2.848(3) ? and c(hex.) = 21.607(7) ?. The details of the structure as well as its thermal stability and transport properties are presented and discussed.     

Water exchange of a ProHance MRI contrast agent: isomer-dependent free-energy landscapes and mechanisms

The water-exchange reaction in two diastereoisomers of the clinical magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent [Gd(HP-DO3A)(H(2)O)] (also known as ProHance) has been studied using ab initio simulations. On the basis of the molecular-level details of the mechanism derived from these simulations in aqueous solution, we unravel the underlying difference in the free energies and mechanisms of water exchange in the two diastereoisomers. These findings reveal the crucial role played by hydrogen-bonding dynamics and thus suggest their appropriate control in tailoring improved gadolinium-based constrast agents.     

Assessment and prediction of thermal transport at solid-self-assembled monolayer junctions

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have recently garnered much interest due to their unique electrical, chemical, and thermal properties. Several studies have focused on thermal transport across solid-SAM junctions, demonstrating that interface conductance is largely insensitive to changes in SAM length. In the present study, we have investigated the vibrational spectra of alkanedithiol-based SAMs as a function of the number of methylene groups forming the molecular backbone via Hartree-Fock methods. In the case of Au-alkanedithiol junctions, it is found that despite the addition of nine new vibrational modes per added methylene group, only one of these modes falls below the maximum phonon frequency of Au. In addition, the alkanedithiol one-dimensional density of normal modes (modes per unit energy per unit length) is nearly constant regardless of chain length, explaining the observed insensitivity. Furthermore, we developed a diffusive transport model intended to predict interface conductance at solid-SAM junctions. It is shown that this predictive model is in an excellent agreement with prior experimental data available in the literature.     

Enantioselective palladium-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloadditions of trimethylenemethane with nitroalkenes

Nitroalkenes readily undergo palladium-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition with trimethylenemethane to generate nitrocyclopentanes in excellent yield and enantioselectivity. Furthermore, the products thus formed are highly versatile synthetic intermediates and provide convenient access to both cyclopentylamines and cyclopentenones.     

Theoretical studies of Pt-Ti nanoparticles for potential use as PEMFC electrocatalysts

A theoretical investigation is presented of alloying platinum with titanium to form binary Pt-Ti nanoalloys as an alternative to the expensive pure platinum catalysts commonly used for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell cathode electrocatalysts. Density Functional Theory calculations are performed to investigate compositional effects on structural properties as well as Oxygen Reduction Reaction kinetics and poisoning effects. High symmetry A(32)-B(6) clusters are studied to investigate structural properties. From these structures binding energies of hydroxyl and carbon monoxide are studied on a range of sites on the surface of the clusters. Promising results are obtained suggesting that the bimetallic Pt-Ti nanoalloys may exhibit enhanced properties compared to pure platinum catalysts.     

Convergent, stereoselective synthesis of the GHIJ fragment of brevetoxin A

[reaction: see text] A stereoselective synthesis of the GHIJ fragment of brevetoxin A utilizing a convergent assembly strategy is described. Glycolate alkylation, ring-closing metathesis, and Hosomi-Sakurai reactions were central operations in the construction of the G ring and J ring subunits, which were united through a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons coupling. Subsequent dehydrative cyclization produced an endocyclic enol ether that was further elaborated to the tetracyclic GHIJ fragment of brevetoxin A.