Lipid metabolite profiling identifies desmosterol metabolism as a new antiviral target for hepatitis C virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been clinically associated with serum lipid abnormalities, yet our understanding of the effects of HCV on host lipid metabolism and conversely the function of individual lipids in HCV replication remains incomplete. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolite profiling of the HCV JFH1 cell culture infection model, we identified a significant steady-state accumulation of desmosterol, an immediate precursor to cholesterol. Pharmacological inhibition or RNAi-mediated depletion of DHCR7 significantly reduced steady-state HCV protein expression and viral genomic RNA. Moreover, this effect was reversed when cultures were supplemented with exogenous desmosterol. Together, these observations suggest an intimate connection between HCV replication and desmosterol homeostasis and that the enzymes responsible for synthesis of desmosterol may be novel targets for antiviral design.     

Transition from coherence to bistability in a model of financial markets

We present a model describing the competition between information transmission and decision making in financial markets. The solution of this simple model is recalled, and possible variations discussed. It is shown numerically that despite its simplicity, it can mimic a size effect comparable to a crash localized in time. Two extensions of this model are presented that allow to simulate the demand process. One of these extensions has a coherent stable equilibrium and is self-organized, while the other has a bistable equilibrium, with a spontaneous segregation of the population of agents. A new model is introduced to generate a transition between those two equilibriums. We show that the coherent state is dominant up to an equal mixing of the two extensions. We focus our attention on the microscopic structure of the investment rate, which is the main parameter of the original model. A constant investment rate seems to be a very good approximation. Received 7 August 2000 and Received in final form 10 September 2000     

A laser flash photolysis study of curcumin in dioxane-water mixtures.

Curcumin [bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione] was studied by means of UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy and nanosecond laser flash photolysis in 1,4-dioxane-water mixtures in a series of dioxane-water volume ratios. The transient characteristics were found to be dependent on the amount of water. In pure dioxane the triplet state of the molecule in its enolic form was detected (lambda(max) = 720 nm, tau = 3.2 micros), whereas upon water addition, the diketo form was found to prevail, because of the perturbation of intramolecular H-bonded structure. This led to hydrogen abstraction from dioxane by curcumin triplet state and the formation of the corresponding ketyl radical (lambda(max) = 490 nm, tau approximately 10 micros). Laser flash photolysis measurements, carried out in solvents of different polarity and proticity (benzene, cyclohexane and various alcohols), allowed the transient assignments to be confirmed, supporting our interpretation.     

The future of activation analysis: A case study of solid waste leachability

In the light of the remarkable strides in radioactivation analysis methods and techniques that haved been achieved progressively in the 34 years since Modem Trends conferences began, some speculations on the future directions that the field might take in the foresceable future seem appropriate at MTAA-9. Together with improvements that will likely occur in instrumentation, in prompt and ion-beam methods, there would seem to be yet a further potential for extending the range of information that radioanalytical techniques can provide by complementing RAA measurements on samples with an increased use of manipulative chemistry. Among complementary chemical methods are not only pre-activation chemistry for speciation studies and matrix removal but also, radiotracer/INAA combinations, isotopic exchange/INAA (as illustrated in this paper through recent studies on the behavior in the environment of solid waste residues), substoichiometric-RAA and classical radiochemical, post-activation separations for specific element(s). Results are presented on the toxic element content of solid waste ashes by INAA and on their uptake of⁶⁵Zn and¹⁰⁹Cd in which there is evidence of two interaction processes between waste particles and simulated groundwater: a rapid exchange (within a few minutes) and slow exchange extending over days. This tends to confirm results on leachability of toxic elements from solid wastes but serves to distinguish adsorption processes from isotopic exchange.     

Modified Quadrupole Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer for Infrared Ion Spectroscopy: Application to Protonated Thiated Uridines

Modifications to a Paul-type quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer providing optical access to the trapped ion cloud as well as hardware and software for coupling to a table-top IR optical parametric oscillator laser (OPO) are detailed. Critical experimental parameters for infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) on this instrument are characterized. IRMPD action spectra, collected in the hydrogen-stretching region with this instrument, complemented by spectra in the IR fingerprint region acquired at the FELIX facility, are employed to characterize the structures of the protonated forms of 2-thiouridine, [s²Urd+H]⁺, and 4-thiouridine, [s⁴Urd+H]⁺. The measured spectra are compared with predicted linear IR spectra calculated at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory to determine the conformers populated in the experiments. This comparison indicates that thiation at the 2- or 4-positions shifts the protonation preference between the 2,4-H tautomer and 4-protonation in opposite directions versus canonical uridine, which displays a roughly equal preference for the 2,4-H tautomer and O4 protonation. As found for canonical uridine, protonation leads to a mixture of conformers exhibiting C2′-endo and C3′-endo sugar puckering with an anti nucleobase orientation being populated for both 2- and 4-thiated uridine.

Open image in new window

Graphical Abstract ?

     

Alkyl Ether Analogs of Chlorophyll-a Derivatives: Part 1. Synthesis, Photophysical Properties and Photodynamic Efficacy

The synthesis, preliminary in vivo biological activity, singlet oxygen and fluorescence yields of a series of alkyl ether derivatives of chlorophyll-a analogs are described. For short-chain carbon ethers (1–7carbon units), it was observed that the biological activity increased by increasing the length of the carbon chain, being maximum in compounds with n-hexyl and n-heptyl chains. Related sensitizers prepared by reacting 2-(1-bromoethyl)-2-devinylpyropheophorbide-a with (sec)alcohols were found to be less effective. Under similar treatment conditions, photosensitizers containing cis- and trans- 3-hexenyl side chains were ineffective. Thus, both stereochemical and steric factors caused differences in sensitizing activity. In general, pyropheophorbide-a analogs were found to be more active than related chlorin e₆ derivatives, in which the isocyclic ring (ring “E”) was cleaved. Related photosensitizers in the 9-deoxy- series were found to be as effective as the corresponding pyropheophorbide-a analogs. The photosensitizers prepared from pyropheophorbide-a methyl ester and chlorin e₆ trimethyl ester have long wavelength absorption at 660 nm (ε 45000 to 50000). Reduction of the carbonyl group in the pyropheophorbide-a to methylene (ring E) resulted in a blue shift to 648 nm (ε 38000).     

An eta(6)-dienyne transition-metal complex

The ruthenium complexes, [(eta5-C5R5)Ru(CH3CN)3]PF6 (1-Cp*, R = Me; 1-Cp, R = H), underwent reaction with both 1-(2-chloro-1-methylvinyl)-2-pentynyl-(Z)-cyclopentene (6-Z) and 1-(2-chloro-1-methylvinyl)-2-pentynyl-(E)-cyclopentene (6-E) to give (eta5-C5R5)Ru[eta6-(5-chloro-4-methyl-6-propylindan)]PF6 (7-Cp*, R = Me; 7-Cp, R = H). In a similar fashion, reaction of 1-Cp and 1-Cp* with 1-isopropenyl-2-pent-1-ynylcyclopentene (8) led to the formation of (eta5-C5R5)Ru(eta6-4-methyl-6-propylindan)]PF6 (9-Cp*, R = Me; 9-Cp, R = H). The reaction of 1-Cp* with 8 at -60 degrees C in CDCl3 solution led to observation of the eta6-dienyne complex, (eta5-C5Me5)Ru[eta6-(1-isopropenyl-2-pent-1-ynylcyclopentene)]PF6 (10), by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Complexes 7-Cp and 10 were characterized by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

QUENCHING OF SINGLET MOLECULAR OXYGEN BY PHTHALOCYANINES AND NAPHTHALOCYANINES

Using the direct measurement of the photosensitized luminescence of singlet molecular oxygen (1O2) the rate constants (kq) have been determined for 1O2 quenching by the monomeric molecules of the following phthalocyanines and naphthalocyanines in chloroform: tetra-(4-tert-butyl) phthalocyanine (I); octa-(3,6-butoxy) phthalocyanine (II), tetra-(6-tert-butyl)-2,3 naphthalocyanine (III), aluminium tetra-(1-tert-phenyl)-2,3 naphthalocyanine (IV), tri-(n-hexyl-siloxy) derivatives of silicon- (V), tin- (VI), aluminium- (VII) and gallium- (VIII) 2,3 naphthalocyanine. The following kq values were obtained (kq x 10(-8) M-1 s-1): 2.9 (I), 59 (II), 100 (III), 20 (IV), 3.9 (V), 53 (VI), 33 (VII), 110 (VIII). As most of the quenchers have the low-lying triplet levels, a contribution of the quenching mechanism based on the energy transfer from 1O2 to these levels has been analysed. A formula is proposed describing the relation between kq values caused by this mechanism, and photophysical constants of the quencher triplet state. This formula was applied to phthalocyanines, naphthalocyanines, beta-carotene and bacterochlorophyll a. The data suggest that the energy transfer can fully explain the activity of V and strongly contributes into the activities of II, III and VI-VIII. A charge transfer interaction might be an additional mechanism involved in 1O2 quenching by compounds studied. As some phthalocyanines and naphthalocyanines are strong physical quenchers of singlet oxygen they can be used as efficient inhibitors for photodestructive processes in photochemical systems.