Does Exposure to UV Radiation Induce a Shift to a Th-2-like Immune Reaction?

In addition to being the primary cause of skin cancer, UV radiation is immune suppressive and there appears to be a link between the ability of UV to suppress the immune response and induce skin cancer. Cytokines made by UV-irradlated keratinocytes play an essential role in activating immune suppression. In particular, we have found that keratinocyte-derlved interleukin (IL)-10 is responsible for the systemic impairment of antigenpresenting cell function and the UV-induced suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH). Antigen presentation by splenic adherent cells isolated from UV-irradiated mice to T helper-1 type T (Th1) cells is suppressed, whereas antigen presentation to T helper-2 type T (Th2) cells is enhanced. The enhanced antigen presentation to Th2 cells and the impaired presentation to Th1 cells can be reversed in vivo by injecting the UV-irradiated mice with monoclonal anti-IL-10 antibody. Furthermore, immune suppression can be transferred from UV-irradiated mice to normal recipients by adoptive transfer of T cells. Injecting the recipient mice with anti-IL-4 or anti-IL-10 prevents the transfer of immune suppression, suggesting the suppressor cells are Th2 cells. In addition, injecting UV-irradiated mice with IL-12, a cytokine that has been shown to be the primary inducer of Th1 cells, and one that prevents the differentiation of Th2 cells in vivo, reverses UV-induced immune suppression. These findings support the hypothesis that UV exposure activates IL-10 secretion, which depresses the function of Th1 cells, while enhancing the activity of Th2 cells.     

On incorporation of atomic correlation in transition-metal molecular calculations: NiH

The atomic correlation terms necessary to lead to anaccurate 4s²3d⁸-4s^t 3d⁹ separation for the Ni atom have been incorporated into all-electron MC SCF/Cl calculations for the X² Δ state of NiH. The calculated potential curve properties are significantly improved compared to calculations which dissociate to Hartree-Fock atoms.     

The indirect spectrophotometric determination of the sulphate ion with 2-aminoperimidine

A new spectrophotometric determination of the sulphate ion is described which uses 2-aminoperimidine hydrochloride as a precipitating reagent. The excess of the reagent is measured at 305 nm. The procedure deals with sulphate in the range 4–120 p.p.m., and relies on simple calibration. The relative standard deviation for 50 p.p.m. of sulphate is 3.7%. The interference of 100 p.p.m. of phosphate, fluoride and nitrate is only slight in the determination of 50 p.p.m. of sulphate. The method is recommended for the determination of sulphate in rain and surface waters.     

The neomycin biosynthetic gene cluster of Streptomyces fradiae NCIMB 8233: characterisation of an aminotransferase involved in the formation of 2-deoxystreptamine

The biosynthetic gene cluster of the 2-deoxystreptamine (DOS)-containing aminoglycoside antibiotic neomycin has been cloned for the first time by screening of a cosmid library of Streptomyces fradiae NCIMB 8233. Sequence analysis has identified 21 putative open reading frames (ORFs) in the neomycin gene cluster (neo) with significant protein sequence similarity to gene products involved in the biosynthesis of other DOS-containing aminoglycosides, namely butirosin (btr), gentamycin (gnt), tobramycin (tbm) and kanamycin (kan). Located at the 5'-end of the neo gene cluster is the previously-characterised neomycin phosphotransferase gene (apH). Three genes unique to the neo and btr clusters have been revealed by comparison of the neo cluster to btr, gnt, tbm and kan clusters. This suggests that these three genes may be involved in the transfer of a ribose moiety to the DOS ring during the antibiotic biosynthesis. The product of the neo-6 gene is characterised here as the L-glutamine : 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose aminotransferase responsible for the first transamination in DOS biosynthesis, which supports the assignment of the gene cluster.     

Modeling dioxygen-activating centers in non-heme diiron enzymes: carboxylate shifts in diiron(II) complexes supported by sterically hindered carboxylate ligands

General synthetic routes are described for a series of diiron(II) complexes supported by sterically demanding carboxylate ligands 2,6-di(p-tolyl)benzoate (Ar(Tol)CO(2)(-)) and 2,6-di(4-fluorophenyl)benzoate (Ar(4-FPh)CO(2)(-)). The interlocking nature of the m-terphenyl units in self-assembled [Fe(2)(mu-O(2)CAr(Tol))(2)(O(2)CAr(Tol))(2)L(2)] (L = C(5)H(5)N (4); 1-MeIm (5)) promotes the formation of coordination geometries analogous to those of the non-heme diiron cores in the enzymes RNR-R2 and Delta 9D. Magnetic susceptibility and M?ssbauer studies of 4 and 5 revealed properties consistent with weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the high-spin iron(II) centers. Structural studies of several derivatives obtained by ligand substitution reactions demonstrated that the [Fe(2)(O(2)CAr')(4)L(2)] (Ar' = Ar(Tol); Ar(4-FPh)) module is geometrically flexible. Details of ligand migration within the tetracarboxylate diiron core, facilitated by carboxylate shifts, were probed by solution variable-temperature (19)F NMR spectroscopic studies of [Fe(2)(mu-O(2)CAr(4-FPh))(2)-(O(2)CAr(4-FPh))(2)(THF)(2)] (8) and [Fe(2)(mu-O(2)CAr(4-FPh))(4)(4-(t)BuC(5)H(4)N)(2)] (12). Dynamic motion in the primary coordination sphere controls the positioning of open sites and regulates the access of exogenous ligands, processes that also occur in non-heme diiron enzymes during catalysis.     

EXCITATION WAVELENGTH DEPENDENCE OF PROTOTROPIC DISSOCIATION AND TAUTOMERISM OF SALICYLAMIDE IN THE LOWEST EXCITED SINGLET STATE

Abstract—The fluorescence spectra of salicylamide in cyclohexane, ethanol and at different pH in water were studied. The short and long wavelength fluorescences observed in the organic solvents originate from emissions of a weakly or non-intramolecularly hydrogen bonded conformer and from phototautomerization of a strongly intramolecularly hydrogen bonded conformer, respectively. Evidence for at least 2 conformers in the ground state exists in the excitation wavelength dependence of the ratio of short wavelength to long wavelength emission. In water, prototropic dissociation of the phenolic group of salicylamide in the lowest excited singlet state also shows an excitation wavelength dependence, indicating that the weakly or non-intramolecularly hydrogen bonded conformer in water is predominately responsible for photodissociation.     

Simple method for the quantitative examination of extra column band broadening in microchromatographic systems

In recent years capillary chromatography has gained popularity for trace analyses. Most often UV or electrochemical detection is employed because the small peak volumes make post-column derivatization challenging. We have developed a simple method based on flow injection for determining contributions to peak broadening from post-column reactors. The only requirement for application of our methodology is that diffusion be in the Taylor regime so that radial concentration gradients are relaxed enabling mixing purely by diffusion.     

Further investigations of the interaction of trimethylsilyl azide with substituted maleic anhydrides. Synthesis of 4- and 5-aryl substituted 1,3-(3H)oxazine-2,6-diones

The reactions of phenyl-, o-chlorophenyl-, p-chlorophenyl-, 3,4-dichlorophenyl-, p-fluoro- and p-anisylmaleic anhydrides with trimethylsilyl azide are described. In all cases mixtures of isomeric 4- and 5-aryl-2H-1,3-(3H)oxazine-2,6-diones are obtained after hydrolysis with the 4-isomer predominating. The yield of 5-isomer is greatest for o-chlorophenyl maleic anhydride, and substantial for other arylmaleic anhydrides, indicating increased importance of steric effects in these reactions, in contrast to previously reported syntheses of methyl and halo-substituted oxazine-diones, where electronic factors appeared dominant.     

The polymerization of furfuryl acetate in acetonitrile

The complex resins derived from furfuryl-alcohol polymerization are a result of at least four competing reactions. By converting the alcohol to its acetate ester, however, three of these reactions can be eliminated. The simpler polymer derived from furfuryl acetate has been characterized spectroscopically, and an interesting chromophoric side reaction of the polymerization has been identified. The remarkable ability of the polymer to crosslink at room temperature upon precipitation from solution is also of interest.