Fluorogenic Probes Applied to the Study of Induced Oxidative Stress in the Human Leukemic HL60 Cell Line

Development of microspectrofluorometric methods using specific fluorogenic probes has provided precious help in studying in situ oxidative stress and cellular protective systems. The aim of this study was to determine ROS production concomitantly with a modification of the intracellular thiol pool after applying an oxidative stress to a nonadherent cell model represented by the HL60 cell line. The dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H₂DCFDA) probe assessed the kinetic production of ROS by cells submitted to the chemical oxidant t-butylhydroperoxide with a high signal/noise ratio. The probe sensitivity permitted us to detect endogenous ROS production in HL60 cells and the protective effect of N-acetyl cysteine against ROS. The chloromethylfluorescein diacetate probe (CMFDA) permitted us to evaluate the thiol depleting effect of N-ethyl maleimide. Complete thiol depletion was associated with a moderate increase in ROS production. The cell viability was determined with calcein-AM, which gave results similar to those with the tetrazolium dye. This probe was not affected by intracellular pH and did not required an extraction step, unlike tetrazolium dye. In conclusion, cell-permeant fluorogenic probes are useful and sensitive tools to determine in situ ROS production concomitantly with consecutive change in the thiol system in a living and non-adherent cell model.     

S-烷基异硫脲盐作为硫醇替代物经环氧开环反应合成β-羟基硫化物

S-烷基异硫脲盐作为一种无毒、无味、易于制备的硫醇替代物，在碱性水介质中、室温下与多种环氧化合物发生环氧开环反应，区域选择性、高收率地合成了一系列β-羟基硫化物。     

Dendrimers in thiol‐ene crosslinked networks and the effect of subsequent generations on thermoset properties

A series of well‐defined allyl‐ether functionalized polyester dendrimers has been synthesized via the divergent approach using traditional esterification reactions. Two commercially available trifunctional thiols, trimethylolpropane tri(3‐mercaptopropanoate) (TRIS) and ethoxylated trimethylolpropane tri(3‐mercaptopropanoate) (ETTMP), were incorporated with the dendrimers into the thiol‐ene polymer networks. The thiol‐ene reactions were conducted at room temperature and cured by UV light without the addition of photoinitiatior. Highly crosslinked films were obtained and characterized with respect to mechanical (DMA) and thermal (DSC and TGA) properties. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 589–601, 2009     

Tributylammonium Halochromates/silica Gel:Simple Reagents for Oxidative Coupling of Thiols to Symmetrical Disulfides

New orange solid tributylammonium halochromates, (C₄H₉)₃N⁺CrO₃X^?, TBAXC (X=F, Cl) are easily synthesized by the reaction of tributylammonium fluoride and chloride with CrO₃ in a 1:1 molar ratio in the presence of HF and HCl. Tributylammonium halochromates(VI) are versatile reagent for the effective and selective oxidation of organic substrates. Silica gel supported TBAFC and TBACC are versatile reagents for the effective and selective oxidation of organic substrates, in particular, thiols, under mild conditions. Considerable improvements are observed in the presence of the absorbent, making the work‐up much more convenient.     

Efficient synthesis of highly functionalized vinylogous thiol esters

A series of vinylogous thiol esters 2,3 and 2,6-dioxo-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines (cyclic vinylogous thiol esters) 4 were prepared in high to excellent yields from the tandem reaction of readily available α-alkenoylketene diethylthioacetals 1 and diethyl malonate. A plausible mechanism, which involves a base catalyzed retro-Michael ring opening of cyclohexanenes 2 to give vinylogous thiol ester 3, is disclosed.     

Effect of short-chain alcohols on surfactant-mediated reversed-phase liquid chromatographic systems

The behaviour of β-blockers in a reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (RPLC) column with mobile phases containing a short-chain alcohol (methanol, ethanol or 1-propanol), with and without the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), was explored. Two surfactant-mediated RPLC modes were studied, where the mobile phases contained either micelles or only surfactant monomers at high concentration. Acetonitrile was also considered for comparison purposes. A correlation was found between the effects of the organic solvent on micelle formation (monitored by the drop weight procedure) and on the nature of the chromatographic system (as revealed by the retention, elution strength and peak shape of β-blockers). When SDS is added to the mobile phase, the free surfactant monomers bind the C18 bonded chains on the stationary phase, forming an anionic layer, which attracts strongly the cationic β-blockers. The retention is modified as a consequence of the solving power of the organic solvent, micelles and surfactant monomers. The molecules of organic solvent bind the micelles, modify their shape, and may avoid their formation. They also bind the monomers of surfactant, desorbing them from the stationary phase, which affects the retention. The remaining surfactant covers the free silanols on the siliceous support, avoiding the interaction with the cationic solutes. The retention of β-blockers results from a combination of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, the latter being weaker compared to the hydro-organic system. The peak efficiencies and asymmetries are excellent tools to probe the surfactant layer on the stationary phase in an SDS/organic solvent system. The peaks will be nearly symmetrical wherever enough surfactant coats the stationary phase (up to 60% methanol, 40% ethanol, 35% 1-propanol, and 50% acetonitrile).     

Tailored composite polymer–metal nanoparticles by miniemulsion polymerization and thiol‐ene functionalization

A simple and modular synthetic approach, based on miniemulsion polymerization, has been developed for the fabrication of composite polymer–metal nanoparticle materials. The procedure produces well‐defined composite structures consisting of gold, silver, or MnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles (～10 nm in diameter) encapsulated within larger spherical nanoparticles of poly(divinylbenzene) (～100 nm in diameter). This methodology readily permits the incorporation of multiple metal domains into a single polymeric particle, while still preserving the useful optical and magnetic properties of the metal nanoparticles. The morphology of the composite particles is retained upon increasing the inorganic content and also upon redispersion in organic solvents. Finally, the ability to tailor the surface chemistry of the composite nanoparticles and incorporate steric stabilizing groups using simple thiol‐ene chemistry is demonstrated. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1594–1606, 2010     

Covalent selection of the thiol proteome on activated thiol sepharose: A robust tool for redox proteomics

Protein thiols contribute significantly to antioxidant defence and selective oxidation of cysteines is important in signal transduction even in sub-stress scenarios. However, cysteine is the second rarest residue in proteins and it can be difficult to target low-abundance thiol (-SH)-containing proteins in proteomic separations. Activated thiol sepharose (ATS) allows covalent selection of -SH-containing proteins which can then be recovered by reduction with mercaptoethanol or dithiothreitol. This is a robust method for enriching -SH-containing proteins. We have used ATS to estimate the percentage (by weight) of thiol-containing proteins in cell extracts from a range of biological sources: a bacterium, Escherichia coli; a fungus, Trichoderma harzianum; and a bivalve mollusc Mytilus edulis. -SH-containing proteins account for 2.52% (E. coli), 1.4% (T. harzianum) and 1.4% (M. edulis) of total protein. Exposure to pro-oxidants did not materially alter these values. On removal of low M_r thiols such as glutathione, the values for M. edulis did not significantly change but those for T. harzianum increased threefold. The two-dimensional electrophoresis profiles of ATS-selected proteins for each organism were compared in control and pro-oxidant-exposed preparations. This revealed that some proteins present in controls were absent in pro-oxidant-treated extracts which we attribute to thiol oxidation. ATS has significant potential in enrichment for -SH-containing proteins in redox proteomics.     

Norcholanic acids as substrates for recombinant 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and progesterone 5β-reductase, enzymes of the 5β-cardenolide biosynthesis

The conversion of 23-nor-5,20(22)E-choladienic acid-3β-ol and other intermediates of the putative norcholanic acid pathway of cardenolide biosynthesis by recombinant 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from Digitalis lanata in dehydrogenation and reduction reactions was investigated. 23-nor-4,20(22)E-choladienic acid-3-one was found to be a substrate of recombinant progesterone 5β-reductases from D. lanata and Arabidopsis thaliana. The role of various substrates in cardenolide biosynthesis is discussed.     

Thiol‐ene photopolymerization for efficient curing of vinyl esters

Monomers for radical photopolymerization based on vinyl esters (VEs) have recently been identified as suitable alternatives to (meth)acrylates on account of their low irritancy and cytotoxicity. The drawback of most VEs with abstractable hydrogens is their relatively low reactivity compared with (meth)acrylates. Within this article, we proved by photo‐differential scanning calorimetry measurements and real‐time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy that the thiol‐ene concept is able to improve the photoreactivity of these VEs to a large extent to a level between those of acrylates and methacrylates. Other VEs have now a reactivity of at least the level of similar acrylates. Mechanical properties as determined by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis and Charpy impact tests showed significant toughening of these materials. Furthermore, we were able to confirm low toxicity of all components by osteoblast cell culture experiments. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013