Conversion of single-stranded oligonucleotides into cloned duplexes and its consecutive application to short artificial genes.

A general method to convert single-stranded, chemically synthesized oligonucleotides into cloned duplexes is described. Oligonucleotides supplied with 3'-terminal extensions that are complementary to 3'-protruding ends obtained by certain restriction enzymes can be cloned either directly or with the help of an adapter molecule into double-stranded vectors. Two methods have also been developed for consecutive cloning applications. According to these methods, the synthetic oligonucleotides (and their enzymatically prepared complementary strands) are joined, one after the other, inside a cloning vector, each joining requiring one cloning step. Synthetic genes are thus built up from oligonucleotides corresponding to only one strand of the DNA. The sequential assembly of the cloned duplex takes place in the 5' to 3' direction. Each oligonucleotide is supplied with a four-nucleotide-long 3'-terminal extension, but this sequence is eliminated when the joining takes place, leaving no limiting sequence between the oligonucleotides. The two consecutive cloning methods, the adapter and the polycloning site methods, are illustrated by the assembly of short artificial genes.     

Layered droplet microstructures in sheared emulsions: finite-size effects

We investigate the influence of confinement on the steady state microstructure of emulsions sheared between parallel plates, in a regime where the average droplet dimension is comparable to the gap width between the confining walls. Utilizing droplet velocimetry, we find that the droplets can organize into discrete layers under the influence of shear. The number of layers decreases from two (at relatively higher shear rates) to one (at lower shear rates), as the drops grow slightly larger due to coalescence. We argue that the layering and overall composition profile may be controlled by the interplay of droplet collisions (which can cause separation of droplet centers in the velocity gradient direction), droplet migration toward the centerline (due to wall effects), and droplet packing constraints. We also study the effects of mixture composition on droplet microstructure, and summarize these results in the form of a morphology diagram in the parameter space of mass fraction and shear rate. We find that formation of strings of the suspended phase (reported earlier by our group in flow-visualization studies on confined emulsions) is observed over a broad composition window. We also find a stable (nontransient) morphology wherein the droplets are arranged in highly ordered pearl-necklace chain structures.     

Stereochemical studies—76 saturated heterocycles—63 : synthesis of cis- and trans-n-methyl- and n-benzyl-4.5- and 5,6-tetramethylenetetrahydro-1,3-oxazines; an x-ray study of n-benzyl-cis-4,5-tetramethylenetetrahydro-1,-3-oxazinium- picrate

- The corresponding $\text{cis}$- and $\text{trans-N}$-methyl- and $\text{N}$-benzyl-5,6- and 4,5-tetramethylenetetrahydro-l,3-oxazines $\text{(5a,b-8a,b)}$were synthesized from $\text{cis}$- and $\text{trans-N}$-methyl and$\text{N}$-benzyl-2- aminomethyl-1-cyclohexanols $\text{1a,b,2a,b}$, from $\text{cis}$- and $\text{trans-N}$-methyl- and $\text{N}$benzyl -2-hydroxymethyl-1-cyclohexylamines$\text{(3a,b,4a,b)}$ by reaction with formaldehyde. The aminoalcohols $\text{1a,2a,3a,b}$and $\text{4a,b}$ were prepared in considerably higher yields than in earlier procedures. NMR spectroscopy showed that the $\text{cis}$ isomers of the synthesized oxazines were conformationally homogeneous in solution, and their preferred conformation (inside or outside) depended on the steric requirement of the groups attached to the anellation points, whereas a bulky C-2 substituent had no influence on the predominant conformation. The structure of $\text{N}$-benzyl-$\text{cis}$-4,5-tetramethylenetetrahydro-1,3-oxaziniumpicrate $\text{(7b)}$. determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, was in agreement with the predominant N-outside conformation of the corresponding base, established by means of NMR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis and stereochemistry of stereoisomeric 1,3-benzoxazino-1,3- and -3,1-benzoxazines

Partly saturated 3,1-benzoxazino[1,2-c][1,3]benzoxazines and 1,3-benzoxazino[3,2-c][1,3]benzoxazines were prepared in one-pot syntheses from different cyclic 1,3-aminoalcohols by treatment with salicylaldehyde or 5-bromosalicylaldehyde, followed by formaldehyde. The structures of tetracycles 3a and 5 were determined by means of X-ray diffraction.     

On the reaction of dithiocarbamates with nitrogen-containing derivates of oxalic acid

Summary The action of bisimidochlorides of oxalic acid on dithiocarbamates produces 2-thioxo-3-aryl(alkyl)-4,5-diiminothiazolidines by cycloacylation. The molecular structure of 2-thioxo-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-bis(phenylimino)-thiazolidine is confirmed by X-ray crystal structure analysis.

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Zur Reaktion von Dithiocarbaminaten mit stickstoffhaltigen Derivaten der Oxalsäure

Zusammenfassung Bei der Einwirkung von Bisimidchloriden der Oxalsäure auf Dithiocarbaminate entstehen durch Cycloacylierung 2-Thioxo-3-aryl(alkyl)-4,5-diiminothiazolidine. Die Molekülstruktur von 2-Thioxo-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-bis(phenylimino)thiazolidin wird durch Röntgenkristallstrukturanalyse bestätigt.

     

Determination of butyltins in environmental samples using sodium tetraethylborate derivatisation: characterisation and minimisation of interferences

Interferences affecting the determination of butyltin species by sodium tetraethylborate (STEB) derivatisation followed by purge-trap preconcentration were systematically studied using synthetic solutions, natural water samples and sediment extracts. Substances that did not cause interferences included most common cations (apart from those metal ions listed below), anions, metalloids and polar organic compounds. Natural organic matter (NOM) specifically interfered with tributyltin (TBT) due to a mechanism involving partitioning of the butyltin to the hydrophobic portions of the NOM. The metal ions Ag(I) (≥2 μM), Cd(II) (≥2 μM), Cu(II) (≥0.5 μM) interfered predominantly with the determination of monobutyltin (MBT) due to catalytic degradation of the STEB reagent. Pb(II) (≥14 μM) interfered with butyltin determination by an unknown mechanism. Other interferences to the purge-trap method were shown to occur in the presence of chelating agents (e.g. EDTA) or hydrophobic liquids such as diesel fuel. A mixture comprising methanol (MeOH), EDTA and Mn(II) was used to partially mask the effect of interfering NOM and metals. Spike recoveries (mean±S.D. of n=7 different samples) of MBT, dibutyltin (DBT) and TBT in contaminated natural water samples were improved from 70±36,90±11 and 91±24 to 102±10,98±3 and 98±4%, respectively. Spike recoveries (mean±S.D. of n=5 different samples) of MBT, DBT and TBT in aliquots of sediment extracts were improved from 86±17,79±18 and 59±32 to 97±6.2,103±3.6 and 103±5.0%, respectively. The ability to analyse larger aliquots of sediment extracts in the presence of the masking mixture improved the detection limit four-fold if MBT and DBT determination was required and 10-fold if only TBT determination was required.     

Liquid chromatographic analysis of vitamin B6 in reconstituted infant formula: collaborative study

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method was validated for the determination of total vitamin B6 in infant formula. Total vitamin B6 was quantified by converting the phosphorylated and free vitamers into pyridoxine. Pyridoxine was determined by ion pair reversed-phase LC with fluorescence detection. The method was subjected to an AOAC collaborative study involving a factory-manufactured, milk- and soy-based infant formula. Each was spiked at 3 concentrations in the range of 0-1 microg/g and sent as blind duplicate to participant laboratories. Nine laboratories returned valid data which were statistically analyzed for outliers and precision parameters. The repeatability relative standard deviation (RSD(r)) ranges were 2.0-4.0 and 3.5-5.9% for fortified milk- and soy-based formulas, respectively. The reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSD(R)) ranges were 8.2-8.4 and 6.7-11.2% for fortified milk- and soy-based formulas, respectively. HORRAT values ranged from 0.42 to 0.53, indicating that the precision of the method is acceptable. The mean RSD(r):RSD(R) values were 0.60 and 0.55 for milk- and soy-based formulas, respectively. As expected, RSDs for the unfortified samples were higher, but their HORRAT values (0.81 and 2.06) helped define a realistic limit of quantitation as 0.05 microg/g. Recovery data were quantitative and varied between 81.4 and 98.0% (mean = 89.8%) for each of 6 spiked materials.     

Stereochemical studies, 47, saturated heterocycles, 25 a simple stereospecific synthesis of oxazasteroids

8-Aza-12-oxasteroids have been synthesized in a simple three-step process. As a consequence of two stareocontrolled reactions, the product is a stereospecifically homogeneous isomer with all-$\text{trans}$ ring junctions; its structure has been determined by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.     

Control of ionic transport through gated single conical nanopores

Control of ionic transport through nanoporous systems is a topic of scientific interest for the ability to create new devices that are applicable for ions and molecules in water solutions. We show the preparation of an ionic transistor based on single conical nanopores in polymer films with an insulated gold thin film “gate.” By changing the electric potential applied to the “gate,” the current through the device can be changed from the rectifying behavior of a typical conical nanopore to the almost linear behavior seen in cylindrical nanopores. The mechanism for this change in transport behavior is thought to be the enhancement of concentration polarization induced by the gate. Figure   Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.