Molecular Structure,Thermodynamic and Spectral Characteristics of Metal-Free and Nickel Complex of Tetrakis(1,2,5-thiadiazolo)porphyrazine

The Knudsen effusion method with mass spectrometric control of the vapor composition was used to study the possibility of a congruent transition to the gas phase and to estimate the enthalpy of sublimation of metal-free tetrakis(1,2,5-thiadiazolo)porphyrazine and its nickel complex (H₂TTDPz and NiTTDPz, respectively). The geometrical and electronic structure of H₂TTDPz and NiTTDPz in ground and low-lying excited electronic states were determined by DFT calculations. The electronic structure of NiTTDPz was studied by the complete active space (CASSCF) method, following accounting dynamic correlation by multiconfigurational quasi-degenerate second-order perturbation theory (MCQDPT2). A geometrical structure of D_2h and D_4h symmetry was obtained for H₂TTDPz and NiTTDPz, respectively. According to data obtained by the MCQDPT2 method, the nickel complex possesses the ground state ¹A_1g, and the wave function of the ground state has the form of a single determinant. Electronic absorption and vibrational (IR and resonance Raman) spectra of H₂TTDPz and NiTTDPz were studied experimentally and simulated theoretically.     

Generation of a Hetero Spin Complex from Iron(II) Iodide with Redox Active Acenaphthene-1,2-Diimine

The reaction of the redox active 1,2-bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene (dpp-BIAN) and iron(II) iodide in acetonitrile led to a new complex [(dpp-BIAN)Fe^III₂] (1). Molecular structure of 1 was determined by the single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The spin state of the iron cation in complex 1 at room temperature and the magnetic behavior of 1 in the temperature range of 2–300 K were studied using Mossbauer spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements, respectively. The neutral character of dpp-BIAN in 1 was confirmed by IR and UV spectroscopy. The electrochemistry of 1 was studied in solution and solid state using cyclic voltammetry. The generation of the radical anion form of the dpp-BIAN ligand upon reduction of 1 in a CH₂Cl₂ solution was monitored by EPR spectroscopy.     

Label-Free Fluorescence Molecular Beacon Probes Based on G-Triplex DNA and Thioflavin T for Protein Detection

Protein detection plays an important role in biological and biomedical sciences. The immunoassay based on fluorescence labeling has good specificity but a high labeling cost. Herein, on the basis of G-triplex molecular beacon (G3MB) and thioflavin T (ThT), we developed a simple and label-free biosensor for protein detection. The biotin and streptavidin were used as model enzymes. In the presence of target streptavidin (SA), the streptavidin hybridized with G3MB-b (biotin-linked-G-triplex molecular beacon) perfectly and formed larger steric hindrance, which hindered the hydrolysis of probes by exonuclease III (Exo III). In the absence of target streptavidin, the exonuclease III successively cleaved the stem of G3MB-b and released the G-rich sequences which self-assembled into a G-triplex and subsequently activated the fluorescence signal of thioflavin T. Compared with the traditional G-quadruplex molecular beacon (G4MB), the G3MB only needed a lower dosage of exonuclease III and a shorter reaction time to reach the optimal detection performance, because the concise sequence of G-triplex was good for the molecular beacon design. Moreover, fluorescence experiment results exhibited that the G3MB-b had good sensitivity and specificity for streptavidin detection. The developed label-free biosensor provides a valuable and general platform for protein detection.     

Aloe djiboutiensis: Antioxidant Activity,Molecular Networking-Based Approach and In Vivo Toxicity of This Endemic Species in Djibouti

For the first time, the study of the antioxidant activity, the characterization of the phytoconstituants, and the evaluation of in vitro and in vivo toxicity of A. djiboutiensis leave and latex are performed. The antioxidant activity of both latex (ADL) and the methanolic extract of leaves (ADM) is determined using 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) scavenging radical methods and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The phytochemical study of latex is done using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and a molecular networking-based approach. The evaluation of in vivo toxicity is performed on mice by oral gavage with a suspension of ADL. Our results show that weak antioxidant activity of ADL and ADM in opposition to their high polyphenol, 83.01 mg and 46.4 mg expressed in gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g of dry weight (DW), respectively, and flavonoid contents 13.12 mg and 4.25 mg expressed in quercetin equivalent (QE)/g dry weight (DW), respectively. Using the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) website, nine (9) anthraquinones derivatives, ten (10) chromones derivatives, two (2) flavonols/ chromones isomers are annotated in the molecular network. The treated mice do not display abnormalities in their general physical appearance and biochemistry parameters, compared to the controls. Only glucose and calcium levels are slightly higher in male treated mice compared to the vehicles.     

Novel Tdp1 Inhibitors Based on Adamantane Connected with Monoterpene Moieties via Heterocyclic Fragments

Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (Tdp1) is a promising target for anticancer therapy due to its ability to counter the effects topoisomerase 1 (Top1) poison, such as topotecan, thus, decreasing their efficacy. Compounds containing adamantane and monoterpenoid residues connected via 1,2,4-triazole or 1,3,4-thiadiazole linkers were synthesized and tested against Tdp1. All the derivatives exhibited inhibition at low micromolar or nanomolar concentrations with the most potent inhibitors having IC₅₀ values in the 0.35–0.57 µM range. The cytotoxicity was determined in the HeLa, HCT-116 and SW837 cancer cell lines; moderate CC₅₀ (µM) values were seen from the mid-teens to no effect at 100 µM. Furthermore, citral derivative 20c, α-pinene-derived compounds 20f, 20g and 25c, and the citronellic acid derivative 25b were found to have a sensitizing effect in conjunction with topotecan in the HeLa cervical cancer and colon adenocarcinoma HCT-116 cell lines. The ligands are predicted to bind in the catalytic pocket of Tdp1 and have favorable physicochemical properties for further development as a potential adjunct therapy with Top1 poisons.     

基于虚拟现实的分子对接教学软件*

由于其强大的沉浸性和交互性等特征,虚拟现实技术在教育教学方面有着独特的优势。基于分子建模工具和虚拟现实技术构建了一种关于分子对接的教学软件,该软件将语音讲解、动画演示、分子可视化、交互操作等内容有机整合在虚拟现实环境中,从理论知识讲解和VR实验操作2个方面展开,深入浅出地讲解了分子对接的知识点,达到辅助教学的目的。     

Electrochemical Biosensor Design with Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube to Display DNA-Schiff Base Interaction

This paper demonstrates a Schiff base i. e. 5-(diethylamino)-2-((2,6-diethylphenylimino)methyl)phenol (5-DDMP) that was sensed by DNA biosensor. dsDNA was immobilized onto GCE modified with functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes to prepare a biosensor. The efficiency of dsDNA biosensor was determined and binding of 5-DDMP with dsDNA was searched by UV-vis spectrophotometry and differential pulse voltammetry. Molecular docking simulations between 5-DDMP and dsDNA were explored and as a result, a hydrogen bond and a π-π contact were observed between 5-DDMP and deoxyguanosine base (dG22) of the strand B, deoxyadenosine base (dA5) of the strand A, respectively. These studies could be useful for new anticancer drug design and development.     

Calix[4]arene-Based Triple-Stranded Metallohelicate in Water

The title complex is a triple-stranded metallohelicate organized by the self-assembly of 5,17-difunctionalized calix[4]arenes and metal cations with octahedral coordination geometry. Due to hydrophilic triethylene glycol chains on the lower rim of the calix[4]arene, the metallohelicate can encapsulate cationic guests in water. NMR and UV-vis titration experiments reveal that the metallohelicate captures a pyridinium guest with an alanine derivative to form a host-guest complex with a host-guest ratio of 1 : 1. CD spectroscopy confirms the bias of the P- and M-helical sense of the metallohelicate by the captured guest. The metallohelicate captures two molecules of dicationic N,N’-dimethyl-DABCO and monocationic N-methyl quinuclidine, exhibiting a positive allosteric effect. ¹H NMR titration experiments indicate that the bound guests are in close proximately to the aromatic rings of the ligands. Molecular mechanics calculations based on the UV-vis and NMR observations suggest that the first guest preorganizes the conformation of the metallohelicate to facilitate access of the second guest to the cavity.     

Decay of metastable states in Nd II

The difficulty associated with an accurate determination of transition rates for forbidden lines in lowly ionized heavy elements is illustrated in the case of Nd II. We have investigated the radiative decay of the low-lying metastable levels in Nd⁺ including the two levels K_11/2 and I_13/2. In these two particular cases, using different theoretical approaches, we find that the decay is dominated by the M1 channels but that the E2 contributions are of the same order of magnitude. These levels have also been studied experimentally by lifetime measurements with the heavy ion storage ring CRYRING of Stockholm University. The difficulties encountered when performing such experiments are underlined and discussed.