Lysophosphatidylglycerol inhibits formyl peptide receptor like-1-stimulated chemotactic migration and IL-1�� production from human phagocytes

In this study, we observed that lysophosphatidylglycerol (LPG) completely inhibited a formyl peptide receptor like-1 (FPRL1) agonist (MMK-1)-stimulated chemotactic migration in human phagocytes, such as neutrophils and monocytes. LPG also dramatically inhibited IL-1β production by another FPRL1 agonist serum amyloid A (SAA) in human phagocytes. However, LPG itself induced intracellular calcium increase and superoxide anion production in human phagocytes. Keeping in mind that phagocytes migration and IL-1β production by FPRL1 are important for the induction of inflammatory response, our data suggest that LPG can be regarded as a useful material for the modulation of inflammatory response induced by FPRL1 activation.     

Activation of PPAR�� induces profound multilocularization of adipocytes in adult mouse white adipose tissues

We sought to determine the effects of activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) on multilocularization of adipocytes in adult white adipose tissue (WAT). Male C57BL/6 normal, db/db, and ob/ob mice were treated with agonists of PPAR-γ, PPAR-α, or β₃-adrenoceptor for 3 weeks. To distinguish multilocular adipocytes from unilocular adipocytes, whole-mounted adipose tissues were co-immunostained for perilipin and collagen IV. PPAR-γ activation with rosiglitazone or pioglitazone induced a profound change of unilocular adipocytes into smaller, multilocular adipocytes in adult WAT in a time-dependent, dose-dependent, and reversible manner. PPAR-α activation with fenofibrate did not affect the number of locules or remodeling. db/db and ob/ob obese mice exhibited less multilocularization in response to PPAR-γ activation compared to normal mice. Nevertheless, all adipocytes activated by PPAR-γ contained a single nucleus regardless of locule number. Multilocular adipocytes induced by PPAR-γ activation contained substantially increased mitochondrial content and enhanced expression of uncoupling protein-1, PPAR-γ coactivator-1-α , and perilipin. Taken together, PPAR-γ activation induces profound multilocularization and enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis in the adipocytes of adult WAT. These changes may affect the overall function of WAT.     

Partitioning behaviour of organic compounds between ionic liquids and supercritical fluids

Applications and prospects of two-phase, tuneable solvent systems composed of ionic liquids (ILs) and supercritical fluids with an emphasis on supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) are reviewed. The IL-scCO(2) biphasic systems have increasingly been used in diverse fields of chemistry and technology, and some examples of these applications are mentioned here. Rational design of such applications can obviously benefit from pertinent data on phase equilibria including the partition coefficients of the prospective products and reactants between the two phases. Therefore, a reliable technique to measure the limiting partition coefficients would be of value. Here, the pros and cons of supercritical fluid chromatography in this respect are discussed. An overview of methods for predictive thermodynamic modelling of binary (IL-scCO(2)) and ternary (solute-IL-scCO(2)) systems is also included.     

Applications of polymethacrylate-based monoliths in high-performance liquid chromatography

Monolithic columns were introduced in the early 1990s and have become increasingly popular as efficient stationary phases for most of the important chromatographic separation modes. Monoliths are functionally distinct from porous particle-based media in their reliance on convective mass transport. This makes resolution and capacity independent of flow rate. Monoliths also lack a void volume. This eliminates eddy dispersion and permits high-resolution separations with extremely short flow paths. The analytical value of these features is the subject of recent reviews. Nowadays, among other types of rigid macroporous monoliths, the polymethacrylate-based materials are the largest and most examined class of these sorbents. In this review, the applications of polymethacrylate-based monolithic columns are summarized for the separation, purification and analysis of low and high molecular mass compounds in the different HPLC formats, including micro- and large-scale HPLC modes.     

Coordination ability of insect kinin analogs

Spectroscopic data, including electronic absorption, CD and EPR results, as well as theoretical calculations have shown that the insertion of 4-aminopyroglutamate, a novel cis-peptide bond mimic, in the insect kinin peptide leads to an effective ligand towards Cu(II) ions at basic pH ranges. The 4-aminopyroglutamate motif induces a specific peptide conformation which favors the formation of one or two five-membered chelating rings stabilizing a bent structure, with the coordination of 3N-type or 4N-type in the metallopeptide molecule involving in metal bonding C-terminal of modified peptide. It is worth noting that the copper(II) bonding does not undergo hydrolysis even at a very high pH range.     

Segregated self-assembly and pillaring action of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids in the super structure of Cu–picolinate complexes

Three new supramolecular assemblies of co-crystallized metal complexes and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, {[Cu(pic)₂(H₂O)₂](H₂mal)}_n (1), {[Cu(pic)₂(H₂O)₂](H₂mal)₂(H₂O)₂}_n (2) and {[Cu(pic)₂(MeOH)](H₂succ)}_n (3) {Hpic = 2-picolinic acid, H₂mal = malonic acid and H₂succ = succinic acid} have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray single-crystal structure determination. The crystal packings of the complexes reveal that supramolecular associations of the monomeric complex units lead to the formation of layers through hydrogen bonding. In all the complexes, the dicarboxylic acid units connect the 2-D layers to act as pillars. The interaction between water molecules and the dicarboxylic acid plays an important role in the overall supramolecular assembly.     

Photoinduced interactions between colloidal TiO2 nanoparticles and calf thymus-DNA

The interaction of colloidal TiO₂ nanoparticles with calf thymus-DNA was studied by using absorption, FT-IR, steady state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. The apparent association constant has been deduced (K_app = 2.85 × 10³ M⁻¹) from the absorption spectral changes of the DNA-colloidal TiO₂ nanoparticles using the Benesi–Hildebrand equation. Addition of colloidal TiO₂ nanoparticles quenched the fluorescence of EtBr–DNA. The number of binding sites (n = 0.97) and the apparent binding constant (K = 6.68 × 10³ M⁻¹) were calculated from relevant fluorescence quenching data. The quenching, through a static mechanism, was confirmed by time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of polynuclear complexes of Cu with 1-methyl-1,3-imidazoline-2-thione

Reactions of equimolar solutions of copper(I) halides with 1-methyl-1,3-imidazoline-2-thione (SC₄H₆N₂) in acetonitrile have yielded a trinuclear complex, {Cu₃(η¹-Br)₃(μ-SC₄H₆N₂)₃} · CH₃CN 1, and 1D polymer, {Cu₂(μ-I)₂(μ-SC₄H₆N₂)₂}_n2. The thio-ligands/halogens adopt μ-S, η¹-X or μ-X modes. There is weak interaction between trinuclear units {Cu···Br, 3.025 Å} and Cu···Cu contacts lie in the range, 2.974(2)–3.650(2) Å. Polymer 2 has alternating Cu₂I₂ and Cu₂S₂ cores involving sulfur/iodine bridging in a twisted ribbon type arrangement with short Cu···Cu distances {2.6912(9) and 2.785(9) Å}, respectively. The polynuclear complexes in dimethyl sulfoxide exhibit intense fluorescent bands {λ_em = 319 (1) and 322 (2)}.