N-Glycosidase treatment with 18O labeling and de novo sequencing argues for flagellin FliC glycopolymorphism in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In prokaryote organisms, N-glycosylation of proteins is often correlated to cell–cell recognition and extracellular events. Those glycoproteins are potential targets for infection control. To date, many surface-glycosylated proteins from bacterial pathogens have been described. However, N-linked Pseudomonas surface-associated glycoproteins remain underexplored. We report a combined enrichment and labeling strategy to identify major glycoproteins on the outside of microorganisms. More precisely, bacteria were exposed to a mix of biotinylated lectins able to bind with glycoproteins. The latter were then recovered by avidin beads, digested with trypsin, and submitted to mass spectrometry. The targeted mixture of glycoproteins was additionally deglycosylated in the presence of H₂ ¹⁸O to incorporate ¹⁸O during PNGase F treatment and were also analyzed using mass spectrometry. This approach allowed us to identify a few tens of potential N-glycoproteins, among which flagellin FliC was the most abundant. To detect the possible sites of FliC modifications, a de novo sequencing step was also performed to discriminate between spontaneous deamidation and N-glycan loss. This approach led to the proposal of three potential N-glycosylated sites on the primary sequence of FliC: N26, N69, and N439, with two of these three asparagines belonging to an N-X-(S/T) consensus sequence. These observations suggest that flagellin FliC is a heterogeneous protein mixture containing both O- and N-glycoforms.

Sterically congested macrobicycles with heteroatomic bridgehead functionality

A series of cyclophanes composed of two triarylelement caps linked by two-atom bridges has been synthesized. The bridgehead functional groups include phosphines in combination with amines, hydrosilanes, methylsilanes, and ethoxysilanes. Computational studies accurately predicted that when the bridgehead substituents are small (lone pairs or protons), an in_,in bridgehead stereochemistry is strongly favored, but larger bridgehead substituents favor the formations of in_,out stereoisomers. The X-ray structures, spectra, and reactivity of these compounds are discussed, as well as the resolution of one of the cyclophanes into pure enantiomers.     

Nouvelle Classe de Sucres a Liaison Osidique Stabilisee : 1-Desoxy-1,1,1-trifluoro-pent(hex)-2-uloses; Obtention de Quelques Derives

Abstract

L'hydrolyse acide des acétals et en particulier des osides fait intervenir un carbocation intermédiaire stabilisé par l'oxygène voisin; un substituant électroattracteur en α de l'atome d'oxygène ou de carbone d'un tel cation déstabilise cedernier et rend l'hydrolyse des acétals plus difficile. C'est ainsi que pour un 2-méthoxy-tétrahydropyrane, le remplacement en C-6 d'un groupement CH₂OH par CO₂Et¹ provoque une diminution de la vitesse d'hydrolyse d'un facteur de 200. Il est également bien connu que les 2-désoxy glycosides sont hydrolysés bien plus rapidement que leurs analogues 2-hydroxylés. Le même résultat est obtenu avec un atome d'halogène; c'est ainsi que Horton et coll.² en introduisant un atome d'iode en position 2′ d'analogues de la daunorubicine et de l'adriamycine ont pu augmenter leur efficacité in vivo. Compte tenu de la taille réduite de l'atome de fluor qui modifie peu l'encombrement de la molécule, plusieurs travaux ont été consacrés à l'introduction d'un fluor en position 2 d'osides pour ralentir leur vitesse d'hydrolyse in vivo. ^3-5 Cette même démarche a conduit d'autres auteurs à synthétiser des 2,2-difluorosucres.⁶ On pouvait donc envisager de remplacer l'hydrogène en C-1 de certains sucres par un groupement trifluorométhyle pour obtenir ainsi une nouvelle classe d'osides, dont la liaison osidique serait très stabilisée, ce qui devrait accroître leur durée de vie in vivo; on sait en effet ⁷ que les acétals de trifluorométhylcétones sont très difficiles à hydrolyser. Nous avons récemment décrit⁸ l'obtention des composés 1 et 9 et, on pouvait envisager de substituer l'hydroxyle anomérique de tels 2-uloses par divers nucléophiles. Les substitution nucléophiles en α d'un groupe CF₃ sont difficiles^9,10 et font en général intervenir un carbocation du type CF₃-C⁺R¹-XR² stabilisé par un hétéroatome X(O, S)^11-15 ou par un phényle.⁹ Ce carbocation est formé dans quelques cas par voie électrochimique,^14-15 mais, dans la plupart des travaux, il résulte soit de la rupture d'une liaison CR¹-Y assistée par un acide de Lewis soit de la solvolyse de cette liaison.⁹ Pour éviter l'emploi d'un acide de Lewis incompatible avec des groupes protecteurs acido-sensibles, nous avons mésylé l'hydroxyle anomérique pour obtenir un meilleur groupe partant. Nous décrivons dans cette note les résultats préliminaires obtenus principalement par action de divers nucléophiles sur ces mésylates.     

Dual Gold Catalysis: σ,π‐Propyne Acetylide and Hydroxyl‐Bridged Digold Complexes as Easy‐To‐Prepare and Easy‐To‐Handle Precatalysts

A series of dinuclear gold σ,π‐propyne acetylide complexes were prepared and tested for their catalytic ability in dual gold catalysis that was based on the reaction of an electrophilic π‐complex of gold with a gold acetylide. The air‐stable and storable catalysts can be isolated as silver‐free catalysts in their activated form. These dual catalysts allow a fast initiation phase for the dual catalytic cycles without the need for additional additives for acetylide formation. Because propyne serves as a throw‐away ligand, no traces of the precatalyst are generated. Based on the fast initiation process, side products are minimized and reaction rates are higher for these catalysts. A series of test reactions were used to demonstrate the general applicability of these catalysts. Lower catalyst loadings, faster reaction rates, and better selectivity, combined with the practicability of these catalysts, make them ideal catalysts for dual gold catalysis.     

Development of a compact alpha and beta camera for dismantlement applications

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - A new method has been developed to image surface contamination on-site by short range radiation emitters (such as alpha or beta particle...     

On-surface synthesis of porous graphene nanoribbons containing nonplanar [14]annulene pores

The precise introduction of nonplanar pores in the backbone of graphene nanoribbon represents a great challenge. Here, we explore a synthetic strategy toward the preparation of nonplanar porous graphene nanoribbon from a predesigned dibromohexabenzotetracene monomer bearing four cove-edges. Successive thermal annealing steps of the monomers indicate that the dehalogenative aryl-aryl homocoupling yields a twisted polymer precursor on a gold surface and the subsequent cyclodehydrogenation leads to a defective porous graphene nanoribbon containing nonplanar [14]annulene pores and five-membered rings as characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy and noncontact atomic force microscopy. Although the C–C bonds producing [14]annulene pores are not achieved with high yield, our results provide new synthetic perspectives for the on-surface growth of nonplanar porous graphene nanoribbons.     

Temperature and Composition Dependent Optical Properties of CdSe/CdS Dot/Rod-Based Aerogel Networks

Employing nanocrystals (NCs) as building blocks of porous aerogel network structures allows the conversion of NC materials into macroscopic solid structures while conserving their unique nanoscopic properties. Understanding the interplay of the network formation and its influence on these properties like size-dependent emission is a key to apply techniques for the fabrication of novel nanocrystal aerogels. In this work, CdSe/CdS dot/rod NCs possessing two different CdSe core sizes were synthesized and converted into porous aerogel network structures. Temperature-dependent steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements were performed to expand the understanding of the optical and electronic properties of these network structures generated from these two different building blocks and correlate their optical with the structural properties. These investigations reveal the influence of network formation and aerogel production on the network-forming nanocrystals. Based on the two investigated NC building blocks and their aerogel networks, mixed network structures with various ratios of the two building blocks were produced and likewise optically characterized. Since the different building blocks show diverse optical response, this technique presents a straightforward way to color-tune the resulting networks simply by choosing the building block ratio in connection with their quantum yield.     

Boswellic Acids Show In Vitro Activity against Leishmania donovani

In continuation of our search for leads from medicinal plants against protozoal pathogens, we detected antileishmanial activity in polar fractions of a dichloromethane extract from Boswellia serrata resin. 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (KBA) could be isolated from these fractions and was tested in vitro against Leishmania donovani axenic amastigotes along with five further boswellic acid derivatives. 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA) showed the strongest activity with an IC₅₀ value of 0.88 µM against axenic amastigotes but was inactive against intracellular amastigotes in murine macrophages     

New Quinoxaline Derivatives as Dual Pim-1/2 Kinase Inhibitors: Design,Synthesis and Biological Evaluation

Proviral integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus (Pim)-1/2 kinase overexpression has been identified in a variety of hematologic (e.g., multiple myeloma or acute myeloid leukemia (AML)) and solid (e.g., colorectal carcinoma) tumors, playing a key role in cancer progression, metastasis, and drug resistance, and is linked to poor prognosis. These kinases are thus considered interesting targets in oncology. We report herein the design, synthesis, structure–activity relationships (SAR) and in vitro evaluations of new quinoxaline derivatives, acting as dual Pim1/2 inhibitors. Two lead compounds (5c and 5e) were then identified, as potent submicromolar Pim-1 and Pim-2 inhibitors. These molecules were also able to inhibit the growth of the two human cell lines, MV4-11 (AML) and HCT-116 (colorectal carcinoma), expressing high endogenous levels of Pim-1/2 kinases.