Toward a microchip-based solid-phase extraction method for isolation of nucleic acids

A silica-based solid-phase extraction system suitable for incorporation into a microchip platform (nu-total analytical system; nu-TAS) would find utility in a variety of genetic analysis protocols, including DNA sequencing. The extraction procedure utilized is based on adsorption of the DNA onto bare silica. The procedure involves three steps: (i) DNA adsorption in the presence of a chaotropic salt, (ii) removal of contaminants with an alcohol/water solution, and (iii) elution of the adsorbed DNA in a small volume of buffer suitable for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Multiple approaches for incorporation of this protocol into a microchip were examined with regard to extraction efficiency, reproducibility, stability, and the potential to provide PCR-amplifiable DNA. These included packing microchannels with silica beads only, generating a continuous silica network via sol-gel chemistry, and combinations of these. The optimal approach was found to involve immobilizing silica beads packed into the channel using a sol-gel network. This method allowed for successful extraction and elution of nanogram quantities of DNA in less than 25 min, with the DNA obtained in the elution buffer fraction. Evaluation of the eluted DNA indicated that it was of suitable quality for subsequent amplification by PCR.     

Some difficulties in the application of the concept of density of states

The problem of defining N(E), the density of states, for molecular systems is discussed. It is shown that a numeric evaluation of N(E) is often only approximate, even for continuous data, and is not well defined for quantized systems. The application of the concept of density of states is discussed, particularly with regard to the RRKM theory of unimolecular reactions. The sum of states, W(E), and density of states curves are evaluated for several harmonic and anharmonic model systems and the results discussed in order to illustrate the foregoing considerations.     

Nuclear analogs of β-lactam antibiotics. 7. The synthesis of 3-thia- and 3-aza-1-dethiaceph-1-em esters

The total synthesis of a 3-thia- and a 3-aza-1-dethiacepham ($\text{9}$ and $\text{16}$) are described. Neither compound possessed antibacterial activity $\text{vs}$$\text{B}$. $\text{subtilis}$. An unsaturated analog, a 3-aza-1-dethiaceph-1-em exhibited weak antibacterial activity.     

Chemically modified "polar patch" mutants of subtilisin in peptide synthesis with remarkably broad substrate acceptance: designing combinatorial biocatalysts

A significant enhancement of the applicability of the serine protease subtilisin Bacillus lentus (SBL) in peptide synthesis was achieved by using the strategy of combined site-directed mutagenesis and chemical modification to create chemically modified mutant (CMM) enzymes. The introduction of polar and/or homochiral auxiliary substituents, such as X=oxazolidinones, alkylammonium groups, and carbohydrates at position 166 at the base of the primary specificity S(1) pocket created SBL CMMs S166C-S-X with strikingly broad structural substrate specificities. These CMMs are capable of catalyzing the coupling reactions of not only L-amino acid esters but also D-amino acid esters as acyl donors with glycinamide to give the corresponding dipeptides in good yields. These powerful enzymes are also applicable to the coupling of L-amino acid acyl donors with alpha-branched acyl acceptor, L-alaninamide. Typical increases in isolated yields of dipeptides of 60-80 % over SBL-WT (e.g. 0 % yield of Z-D-Glu-GlyNH(2) using SBL-WT-->74 % using S166C-S-(CH(2))(2) NMe(3) (+)) demonstrate the remarkable synthetic utility of this "polar patch" strategy. Such wide-ranging systems displaying broadened and therefore similarly high, balanced yields of products (e.g. 91 % Z-L-Ala-GlyNH(2) and 86 % yield of Z-D-Ala-GlyNH(2) using S166C-S-(3R,4S)-indenooxazolidinone) may now allow the use of biocatalysts in parallel library synthesis.     

Studies on intramolecular nh-bridging in aromatic compounds. Part 3 [1–3]

A study was made of the use of calcium oxide as a catalyst at a temperature of 400–700° for the dehy-drocyclization of four primary arylamines: 2-aminobiphenyl, 1-aminotriphenylene (5c) , 2-phenoxyaniline, and N-(2-aminophenyl)pyrrole. Maximal yields of cyclized products isolated were 53% (carbazole), 52% (4H-naphtho[1,4-def]carbazole), 18% (phenoxazine), and 0%, respectively. Comparison is made with reported cyclizations of the corresponding nitro and azido starting materials. In one case, treatment of I-nitrotriphenylene with triethyl phosphite produced mainly diethyl N-(1-triphenylenyl)phosphoramidate (51%). Mono- and hemihydrochlorides of 5c are described. A mechanism for the catalyzed dehydrocy-clization is proposed.     

Unusual ligand coordination for cesium

When complexed by tetrabenzo-24-crown-8, the cesium ion can accommodate unprecedented ligation. The structures of the following complexes are presented. [Cs(tetrabenzo-24-crown-8)(eta 1-NCMe)2(eta 2-NCMe)][NO3] (1): triclinic P1, a = 12.0119(14) A, b = 13.3680(15) A, c = 13.7859(12) A, alpha = 89.124(8) degrees, beta = 66.928(9) degrees, gamma = 71.536(10) degrees, V = 1916.7(4) A3, Z = 2. [Cs(tetrabenzo-24-crown-8)(eta 1-NCMe)2(eta 2-CH2Cl2)][NO3] (2): triclinic, P1, a = 12.295(3) A, b = 13.295(3) A, c = 13.782(3) A, alpha = 89.105(17) degrees, beta = 66.096(18) degrees, gamma = 71.980(19) degrees, V = 1929.5(8) A3, Z = 2. These structures are the first reported examples of linear eta 2-acetonitrile coordination to any metal ion and the first structures illustrating eta 2-acetonitrile and dichloromethane ligation to an alkali metal ion. Possible steric and electronic origins of these unusual metal-ligand interactions are discussed.     

Products of the reaction of H2Os3(CO)10 with cyclonona-1,2diene

Treatment of H₂Os₃(CO)₁₀ with cyclonona-l,2-diene produced HOs₃(CO)₉C₉H₁₃ and Os₂(CO)₆(C₉H₄)₂. Single crystal X ray analysis has shown that the latter is not isostructural with Fe₂(CO)₆(C₉H₁₄)₂.     

Tuning cell adhesion on gradient poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-grafted surfaces

A simple yet versatile method was developed to prepare a low-density polymerization initiator gradient, which was combined with surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) to produce a well-defined poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (HEMA) gradient substrate. A smooth variation in film thickness was measured across the gradient, ranging from 20 A to over 80 A, but we observed a nonmonotonic variation in water contact angle. Fits of X-ray reflectivity profiles suggested that at the low graft density end, the polymer chain structure was in a "mushroom" regime, while the polymer chains at high graft density were in a "brush" regime. It was found that the "mushroom" region of the gradient could be made adhesive to cells by adsorbing adhesion proteins, and cell adhesion could be tuned by controlling the density of the polymer grafts. Fibroblasts were seeded on gradients precoated with fibronectin to test cellular responses to this novel substrate, but it was found that cell adhesion did not follow the expected trend; instead, saturated cell adhesion and spreading was found at the low grafting density region.     

Dipole strengths in the chlorophylls

Measurements of dipole strengths of chlorophylls in solution are reviewed and correlated. The refractive index dependence is found to be expressible in a simple empirical fashion that does not rely on the concept of vacuum dipole strength. The index dependence in some respects contradicts the dependence expected on the basis of effective field theories.