A Far-Red Emitting Fluorescent Chemogenetic Reporter for In Vivo Molecular Imaging

Far-red emitting fluorescent labels are highly desirable for spectral multiplexing and deep tissue imaging. Here, we describe the generation of frFAST (far-red Fluorescence Activating and absorption Shifting Tag), a 14-kDa monomeric protein that forms a bright far-red fluorescent assembly with (4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)allylidene rhodanine (HPAR-3OM). As HPAR-3OM is essentially non-fluorescent in solution and in cells, frFAST can be imaged with high contrast in presence of free HPAR-3OM, which allowed the rapid and efficient imaging of frFAST fusions in live cells, zebrafish embryo/larvae, and chicken embryos. Beyond enabling the genetic encoding of far-red fluorescence, frFAST allowed the design of a far-red chemogenetic reporter of protein–protein interactions, demonstrating its great potential for the design of innovative far-red emitting biosensors.     

Studies on heterocyclic enamines: New syntheses of 4H-pyranes,pyranopyrazoles and pyranopyrimidines

The behaviour of several 2-amino-3-cyano-4H-pyran derivatives toward a variety of nucleophilic reagents is reported.     

Quantitative Concentration Inequalities for Empirical Measures on Non-compact Spaces

We establish quantitative concentration estimates for the empirical measure of many independent variables, in transportation distances. As an application, we provide some error bounds for particle simulations in a model mean field problem. The tools include coupling arguments, as well as regularity and moment estimates for solutions of certain diffusive partial differential equations.     

Catalytic Para‐Xylene Maximization. V. Toluene Methylation with Methanol and Disproportionation of Toluene Using Pt/ZSM‐5 and Pt/Mordenite Catalysts

Toluene was methylated with methanol and disproportionated using catalysts containing different Pt contents (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6%) supported on H‐ZSM‐5 or H‐mordenite (H‐M) zeolites in a fixed‐bed flow‐reactor operated atmospherically at temperatures of 300–500 °C in a flow of hydrogen. Platinum dispersion in the zeolite supports and acid sites strength distribution were evaluated using hydrogen chemisorption (1:1 stoichiometry) and ammonia temperature programmed desorption (TPD) in a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Toluene methylation was much faster on all catalysts than toluene disproportionation (DISP). Both reactions were more accelerated using H‐ZSM‐5 containing catalysts than H‐M containing catalysts. The yield of xylenes, and in particular para‐xylene, was significantly influenced by the yield of trimethylbenzenes (TMBs) in product. The selectivities for para‐, ortho‐ and meta‐xylenes production were found largely dependent on the Pt content in the catalysts, particularly when supported on H‐ZSM5‐zeolite. However, using Pt/H‐M catalysts, these selectivities were not strictly controlled by Pt content in the catalysts.     

Laser spectroscopic investigation of salicylic acids hydrogen bonded with water in supersonic jets: Microsolvation effects for excited state proton dislocation

Geometric structures and excited-state proton dislocation of size-selected salicylic acid clusters (salicylic acid and 5-methoxysalicylic acid) with water were studied by using laser spectroscopic techniques. Fluorescence excitation, dispersed fluorescence, and infrared (IR) spectra of those clusters in supersonic jets were examined for both the electronic ground (S0) and first excited (S1) states. The geometric structures of the clusters were determined on the basis of the IR spectra of the OH stretch region with the help of quantum chemical calculations. The hydroxyl group of the water moiety in the clusters forms a ring involving the carboxylic group of the salicylic acid moiety. The IR spectra in S0 show that the intramolecular hydrogen bond in the salicylic acid moiety is still held upon cluster formation, but the phenolic OH stretch band intensity is remarkably weaken in the clusters. The IR spectra in the S1 state and dispersed fluorescence spectra indicated that the intramolecular excited state proton dislocation is hardly affected by the microsolvation with water, in contrast with the strong suppression of the dislocation in the self-solvation.     

Elution of organic solutes from different polarity sorbents using subcritical water

The intermolecular interactions between organic solutes and sorbent matrices under subcritical water conditions have been investigated at a pressure of 50 bar and temperatures ranging from 50 to 250°C. Both polar and nonpolar organics (chlorophenols, amines, n-alkanes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and five different sorbent matrices (glass beads, alumina, Florisil, silica-bonded C₁₈, and polymeric XAD-4 resins) were used. From the same matrix, the polar solutes always eluted at lower temperatures, while the moderately polar and nonpolar solutes only eluted at higher temperatures. Similar to matrix effects previously observed using supercritical carbon dioxide, the sorbent type greatly influenced the elution efficiency under subcritical water conditions. Lower temperatures are sufficient to elute a particular solute from glass beads, alumina, and Florisil, but higher temperatures (less polar water) are needed to elute the same solute from silica-bonded C₁₈. The highest temperatures were required to elute aromatic organics from XAD-4. These matrix effects demonstrate that, while low temperature water can break inert or dipole interactions between solutes and glass beads, alumina, and Florisil, higher temperature water is required to interrupt the van der Waals attractions between solutes and silica-bonded C₁₈, and even higher temperatures needed to overcome the π-electron interactions between aromatic solutes and XAD-4.     

Possible Role of the Iron Coordination Sphere in Hemoprotein Electron Transfer Self-Exchange: (1)H NMR Study of the Cytochrome c-PMe(3) Complex

The rates of self-exchange electron transfer in the trimethylphosphine complex of cytochrome c have been measured by an NMR technique over a large range of ionic strengths. The rate constant is 1.56 x 10(4) M(-)(1) s(-)(1) at 23 degrees C (&mgr; = 0.34 M) at pH 6.9. Dependence on ionic strength of the rate constant is treated by van Leeuwen theory. Extrapolation of the rate constant to infinite ionic strength gives a rate constant of 3.9 x 10(5) M(-)(1) s(-)(1). This rate constant is compared with others reported for myoglobin and cytochrome b(5)(). The values for these systems range over 2 orders of magnitude with myoglobin-PMe(3) < cytochrome b(5)() < cytochrome c-PMe(3) < cytochrome c. Analysis of the data in terms of Marcus theory gives a reorganization energy, lambda, for self-exchange of 0.75 eV mol(-)(1) for cytochrome c-PMe(3). Substitution of Met-80 by PMe(3) appears to influence only weakly the rearrangement barrier to electron transfer.     

Determination of ambroxol in an automated multi-pumping pulsed flow system.

A new flow methodology exploiting the multi-pumping approach was developed for the spectrophotometric determination of ambroxol hydrochloride in pharmaceutical preparations. The flow manifold was implemented by using, exclusively, multiple solenoid-actuated micro-pumps, which acted simultaneously as sample insertion, solutions propelling and reagents commutation units. Linear calibration plots were obtained over an ambroxol concentration ranging from 10 to 200 mg l(-1) (r.s.d. < 0.5%, n = 15) and a sampling rate of about 60 samples per hour (flow rate = 1.92 ml min(-1), sample volume = 80 microl).