The aftermath of the interplay between the endoplasmic reticulum stress response and redox signaling

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an essential organelle of eukaryotic cells. Its main functions include protein synthesis, proper protein folding, protein modification, and the transportation of synthesized proteins. Any perturbations in ER function, such as increased demand for protein folding or the accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the ER lumen, lead to a stress response called the unfolded protein response (UPR). The primary aim of the UPR is to restore cellular homeostasis; however, it triggers apoptotic signaling during prolonged stress. The core mechanisms of the ER stress response, the failure to respond to cellular stress, and the final fate of the cell are not yet clear. Here, we discuss cellular fate during ER stress, cross talk between the ER and mitochondria and its significance, and conditions that can trigger ER stress response failure. We also describe how the redox environment affects the ER stress response, and vice versa, and the aftermath of the ER stress response, integrating a discussion on redox imbalance-induced ER stress response failure progressing to cell death and dynamic pathophysiological changes.Subject terms: Mechanisms of disease, Cell biology     

A New Generation of "Cholaphanes": Steroid-Derived Macrocyclic Hosts with Enhanced Solubility and Controlled Flexibility

The macrocyclic "cholaphanes" 3a-c were synthesized from the inexpensive steroid cholic acid. Like earlier relatives they feature substantial cavities with inward-directed hydroxyl groups, suitable for binding polar molecules such as carbohydrates in nonpolar media. New features are the externally directed alkyl chains, promoting solubility in organic solvents, and (in the case of 3b/c) reduced conformational freedom resulting from truncation of the steroidal side-chain. In particular, modeling shows that the smallest macrocycle 3c possesses very little flexibility, preferring an open conformation which is also revealed in the X-ray crystal structure of its pentahydrate. NMR studies indicated that all three cholaphanes form 1:1 complexes with octyl beta-D-glucoside in CDCl(3), with K(a) = 600-1560 M(-)(1). Cholaphanes 3b/c proved able to extract methyl beta-D-glucoside from aqueous solutions into CHCl(3). The transport of methyl beta-D-glucoside across a chloroform barrier was also demonstrated for 3c.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide Catalyzed N-Bromosuccinimide Oxidation of D-Mannose in Acidic Medium

The kinetics and mechanism of N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) oxidation of D-mannose in the absence and presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in acidic media have been studied under the condition [D-mannose]_T ? [NBS]_T at 40°C. Under the kinetic conditions, both the slower uncatalyzed and faster catalyzed paths go on. Both the paths show the fractional and first order dependence on [D-mannose] and [NBS]_T, respectively. The rate decreased with increase in acidity. Neither succinimide (NHS) nor Hg(II) influenced the reaction rate. Activation parameters of the reactions were determined by studying the reaction at different temperatures (30–50°C). The influence of salts on the reaction rate was also studied. CTAB accelerates the reactions and the observed effects have been explained by considering the hydrophobic and electrostatic interaction between the surfactants and reactants. In the reaction, approximately 1 mole of NBS oxidized one mole of D-mannose. A reaction scheme of the oxidation of D-mannose by NBS was found to be in consistent with the rate law and the reaction stoichiometry.     

Effect of Cationic Micelle on the Kinetics of Oxidation of Citric Acid by N-Bromophthalimide in Acidic Medium

Kinetics of the oxidation of citric acid (CA) by N-bromophthalimide (NBP) has been studied in the presence of cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) at 35°C. The CMC value is lower than those given in the literature for aqueous solutions of CTAB without added electrolyte. The reaction is strongly catalyzed by cationic micelle, CTAB with a progressive increase in CTAB concentration the reaction rate increased, at higher concentration constancy in the rate constant was observed. The reaction follows first and fractional order kinetics in NBP and citric acid, respectively. The reaction follows inverse fractional order with respect to perchloric acid. The Arrhenius equation is found to be valid for the reaction. A detailed mechanism with the associated reaction kinetics is discussed. The catalytic role of CTAB micelles is discussed in terms of the Menger and Portnoy model.     

Mechanistic aspects for the oxidation of brilliant green dye by chloramine-T in the presence of perchloric acid: a spectrophotometric kinetic approach

The kinetics of a triarylmethane dye, brilliant green (BG), by sodium N-chloro-p-toluenesulfonamide or chloramine-T (CAT) was studied spectrophotometrically in HClO₄ media at 303 K. Under identical experimental conditions, the rate law was ?d [BG]/dt = k [BG] [H⁺]. Variations in ionic strength (μ) of the medium had no effect on the oxidation velocity. Addition of p-toluenesulfonamide, the reduction product of CAT and Cl^?, had no significant effect on the rate of reaction. The values of rate constants observed at five different temperatures (298, 303, 308, 313, and 318 K) were utilized to calculate the activation parameters. The observed results have been explained by a general mechanism and the related rate law has been obtained. The process demonstrated in this study is cost effective, which holds great promise in potential application for pollutant control.     

G-Protein-Coupled Receptor–Membrane Interactions Depend on the Receptor Activation State

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of human membrane proteins and serve as primary targets of approximately one-third of currently marketed drugs. In particular, adenosine A₁ receptor (A₁AR) is an important therapeutic target for treating cardiac ischemia–reperfusion injuries, neuropathic pain, and renal diseases. As a prototypical GPCR, the A₁AR is located within a phospholipid membrane bilayer and transmits cellular signals by changing between different conformational states. It is important to elucidate the lipid–protein interactions in order to understand the functional mechanism of GPCRs. Here, all-atom simulations using a robust Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD) method were performed on both the inactive (antagonist bound) and active (agonist and G-protein bound) A₁AR, which was embedded in a 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) lipid bilayer. In the GaMD simulations, the membrane lipids played a key role in stabilizing different conformational states of the A₁AR. Our simulations further identified important regions of the receptor that interacted distinctly with the lipids in highly correlated manner. Activation of the A₁AR led to differential dynamics in the upper and lower leaflets of the lipid bilayer. In summary, GaMD enhanced simulations have revealed strongly coupled dynamics of the GPCR and lipids that depend on the receptor activation state. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Para Substituted Benzaldehydes as Expedient Reagents for the Oxidative Aromatization of Hydroquinoline

A Cannizzaro‐type reaction of tetrahydro‐5(1H)‐quinolinones with para substituted benzaldehydes in the presence of a base formed the corresponding quinoline and aryl methanol rather than arylidene derivatives because of the oxidation of tetrahydroquinoline and reduction of benzaldehydes as a result of unprecedented hydride transfer from tetrahydroquinoline to arylaldehydes. The reaction proceeds best with the participation of substituents with +M effect in substrate molecule.     

Synthesis,structural, electrochemical,and photophysical properties of 4,2′‐thiopyrylogens – a novel class of sensitizers for photoinduced electron transfer reactions

The first three examples of the thioanalog of the 4,2′‐pyrylogen ring system are reported. The influence of the sulfur atom on the structural, electrochemical, and photophysical behavior of this ring system is discussed. In addition, these 4,2′‐thiopyrylogens are compared to their previously reported 4,4′‐isomers and their 4,4′‐ and 4,2′‐oxygen analogs. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.