The search for a new model structure of β-Factor XIIa

We present the search for a new model of -factor XIIa, a blood coagulation enzyme, with an unknown experimental 3D-structure. We decided to build not one but three different models using different homologous proteins as well as different techniques and different modellers. Additional studies, including extensive molecular dynamics simulations on the solvated state, allowed us to draw several conclusions concerning homology modelling, in general, and -factor XIIa, in particular.     

Toward breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) inhibitors: design, synthesis of a series of new simplified fumitremorgin C analogues

In this study, we report the design and synthesis of a series of new simplified fumitremorgin C analogues. The preliminary biological study indicated some of these simplified fumitremorgin C might be developed into breast cancer resistance inhibitors.     

Molecular Ionics of Anion Receptor Molecules: A Microcalorimetric Study

The coordination of divalent and monovalent inorganic anions to synthetic polyammonium receptors is investigated in aqueous solution around neutral pH by titration calorimetry and NMR spectroscopy. High-affinity 1:1 complexes are formed by a pyrrole type cryptand (1) with sulfate and phosphate, characterized by association constants of almost 107 M^-1. Affinities close to 105 M^-1 are found for polyazacryptands (3 and 4) exhibiting F^-/Cl^- selectivity. The binding affinities and the anion selectivities are mainly caused by the charges of ligands and anions, which is discussed on the basis of simple calculations of the electrostatic contribution to the anion/receptor interactions. The binding of all investigated anions is exothermic at 298.2 K. The contribution of the large negative ΔH values to the free energy of anion binding of the pyrrole type ligand is partially compensated by marked negative ΔS values. These unfavorable entropic contributions are attributed to the additional inclusion of water molecules in the anion/receptor complexes. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Determination of adsorption and speciation of chromium species by saltbush (Atriplex canescens) biomass using a combination of XAS and ICP-OES

Studies were performed to determine the effect of pH on chromium (Cr) binding by native, esterified, and hydrolyzed saltbush (Atriplex canescens) biomass. In addition, X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies were performed to determine the oxidation state of Cr atoms bound to the biomass. The amounts of Cr adsorbed by saltbush biomass were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). For Cr(III), the results showed that the percentages bound by native stems, leaves, and flowers at pH 4.0 were 98%, 97%, and 91%, respectively. On the other hand, the Cr(VI) binding by the three tissues of the native and hydrolyzed saltbush biomass decreased as pH increased. At pH 2.0 the stems, leaves, and flowers of native biomass bound 31%, 49%, and 46%, of Cr(VI), respectively. The results of the XAS experiments showed that Cr(VI) was reduced in some extend to Cr(III) by saltbush biomass at both pH 2.0 and pH 5.0. The XANES analysis of the Cr(III) reaction with the saltbush biomass parts showed an octahedral arrangement of oxygen atoms around the central Cr(III) atom. The EXAFS studies of saltbush plant samples confirmed these results.     

Neutral oxygen atom density in the MESOX air plasma solar furnace facility

The density of neutral oxygen atoms in the MESOX set-up, one device of the PROMES-CNRS solar facilities, was determined by a fiber-optics catalytic probe (FOCP). Plasma was created in a flowing air within a quartz tube with the outer diameter of 5 cm by a 2.45 GHz microwave generator with the output power up to 1000 W. The flow of air was varied between 4 and 20 l/h. The O-atom density was found to increase monotonously with the increasing discharge power, and it decreased with the increasing flow rate. The degree of dissociation of oxygen molecules in the plasma column depended largely on the flow rate. At the air flow of 4 l/h it was about 80% but it decreased to about 20% at the flow of 20 l/h.     

Aluminium(III) as a promoter of cellular oxidation

Aluminium has been known as a neurotoxic agent to experimental animals since the last century (Arch. Exp. Pharmacol. 40 (1897) 98). However, great interest arose in it bioinorganic chemistry as well biology when it was demonstrated to be the causative agent in pathologies related to the long-term dialysis treatment of uremic subjects with renal failure (Life Chem. 11 (1994) 197), and as a potential etiopathogenic cofactor for several neurodegenerative diseases. The inorganic biochemistry of aluminium is still largely to be discovered. In this review the pro-oxidative property of aluminium toward biological membrane will be presented and its implications in involvement in human pathology will be discussed in an interdisciplinary frame from the bioinorganic point of view.     

酞菁（H_2TAP）的X－射线光电子能谱（XPS）

酞菁（Ｈ_２ＴＡＰ）的Ｘ－射线光电子能谱（ＸＰＳ）朱志昂，卜显和，刘月霞（南开大学化学系天津３０００７１）ＰａｕｌＧ．Ｇａｓｓｍａｎ（美国明尼苏达大学化学系）关键词酞青，ＸＰＳ，Ｃ１ｓ电子结合能，Ｎ１ｓ电子结合能酞菁及其金属配合物作为叶绿素，血红素的?..     

等离子体辅助合成分子筛膜及其催化性能的研究

首次将等离子体技术应用于分子筛膜的制备，研究了以微波等离子体处理基材表面分子筛膜前驱体辅助水热反应合成支撑β型分子筛膜．利用XRD、SEM、XPS、BET、TPD表征了分子筛膜的物相、形貌、孔结构、表面元素组成和表面酸性，并通过甲醇与异丁烯液相反应体系实验考察了分子筛膜的催化性能．结果表明，等离子体处理能有效改善分子筛膜前驱体在基材表面的分散状况，减小了分子筛膜晶体的尺度，使晶体大小均匀，形成的膜致密、牢固．与采用常规方法合成的分子筛膜相比，等离子体辅助合成的分子筛膜对甲醇与异丁烯的反应有更好的催化活件．     

Protein-ligand binding free energy estimation using molecular mechanics and continuum electrostatics. Application to HIV-1 protease inhibitors

A method is proposed for the estimation of absolute binding free energy of interaction between proteins and ligands. Conformational sampling of the protein-ligand complex is performed by molecular dynamics (MD) in vacuo and the solvent effect is calculated a posteriori by solving the Poisson or the Poisson-Boltzmann equation for selected frames of the trajectory. The binding free energy is written as a linear combination of the buried surface upon complexation, SASbur, the electrostatic interaction energy between the ligand and the protein, Eelec, and the difference of the solvation free energies of the complex and the isolated ligand and protein, deltaGsolv. The method uses the buried surface upon complexation to account for the non-polar contribution to the binding free energy because it is less sensitive to the details of the structure than the van der Waals interaction energy. The parameters of the method are developed for a training set of 16 HIV-1 protease-inhibitor complexes of known 3D structure. A correlation coefficient of 0.91 was obtained with an unsigned mean error of 0.8 kcal/mol. When applied to a set of 25 HIV-1 protease-inhibitor complexes of unknown 3D structures, the method provides a satisfactory correlation between the calculated binding free energy and the experimental pIC5o without reparametrization.     

Metabolomic-based investigation of Yinlan alleviating hyperlipidemia by inhibiting blood stasis and phlegm turbidity through the PXR-CYP3A4-ABCB1-FXR pathway

Yinlan lipid regulatory capsule (YL) is a composite traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) new drug to alleviate hyperlipidemia, while its therapeutic mechanism in vivo was not clarified with nontargeted metabolomics investigation. An animal model was established in rats fed a high-fat diet, and their body weights, body mass index (BMI) and blood cholesterol levels were measured. Serum, liver and kidney tissue samples were also extracted for PXR-CYP3A4-ABCB1-FXR signaling pathway research using PCR and UHPLC–MS. The obtained plasma samples were analyzed by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS metabolomic investigation, which revealed PXR-CYP3A4-related metabolites and changes induced by YL. Finally, the key metabolites were chosen as index components, and their levels in the serum, liver, small intestine and bile were used for simultaneous UHPLC–MS-MS determination. The results indicated that YL was effective in rebalancing blood TG and TC levels (compared to controls). With respect to the PXR-CYP3A4-ABCB1 pathway, as a result of YL’s effect, gene expression or activity of the two targets decreased significantly in both the liver and kidney. The same trend was observed in the serum samples mentioned above. Metabolomics screening and data revealed that 44 metabolites can be regarded as biomarkers related to hyperlipidemia, fatty acids synthesis, and body energy consumption, as well as synthesis, transportation and exertion of cholesterol. YL’s treatment focused on 26 of them, primarily bile acids, indicating that the antihyperlipidemic effect of this drug lies in its inhibitory activity of cholesterol metabolism. Subsequent analysis of those in vivo components revealed that significant increases (compared to the model group) occurred in the blood, liver, small intestine and bile in groups that received medium and high doses of YL (while the low dose was relatively unchanged). Those target components exhibit a close relationship with PXR and/or CYP3A4. The use of YL repressed PXR expression and subsequently decreased CYP3A4 activity. As a result, synthesis of related bile acids increased, while cholesterol levels decreased, consequently leading to the attenuation of hyperlipidemia. This study comprehensively investigated the antihyperlipidemia mechanism of YL based on its repression of PXR-CYP3A4 activity and related metabolite yield, establishing an accurate method for evaluating the therapeutic effect of YL.