Template-directed DNA photoligation via alpha-5-cyanovinyldeoxyuridine

[reaction: see text] We describe an efficient template-directed photoligation of oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) using alpha-5-cyanovinyldeoxyuridine (alpha(C)U). An efficient photoligation was produced by photoirradiation of an ODN containing alpha(C)U at the 3' end with an ODN containing thymine at the 5' end in the presence of a template ODN. This photoligation method is a new and efficient way to synthesize branched ODNs.     

Improvement in enzyme activity and stability by addition of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol to sodium bis(2-ethyl-L-hexyl)sulfosuccinate/isooctane reverse micellar system

The activity and stability of Chromobacterium viscosum lipase (glycerolester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3)-catalyzed olive oil hydrolysis in sodium bis (2-ethyl-1-hexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT)/isooctane reverse micelles is increased appreciably when low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) is added to the reverse micelles. To understand the effect of PEG 400 on the phase behavior of the reverse micellar system, the phase diagram of AOT/PEG 400/water/isooctane system was studied. The influences of relevant parameters on the catalytic activity in AOT/PEG 400 reverse micelles were investigated and compared with the results in the simple AOT reverse micelles. In the presence of PEG 400, the linear decreasing trend of the lipase activity with AOT concentration, which is observed in the simple AOT reverse micelles, disappeared. Enzyme entrapped in AOT/PEG reverse micelles was very stable, retaining>75% of its initial activity after 60 d, whereas the half-life in simple AOT reverse micelles was 38 d. The kinetics parameter maximum velocity (V _max)exhibiting the temperature dependence and the activation energy obtained by Arrhenius plot was suppressed significantly by the addition of PEG 400.     

Relationship between Muscle Flexibility and Characteristics of Muscle Contraction in Healthy Women during Different Menstrual Phases

Objective: Skeletal muscle function is vital for preventing injury during exercise. It has been reported that skeletal muscle function fluctuates with the menstrual cycle and is considered one of the causes of injury. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between muscle flexibility and muscle contraction characteristics and their changes with the menstrual cycle. Methods: The subjects were healthy women who voluntarily participated in the study through recruitment posters. Muscle flexibility was measured with the passive knee extension (PKE) test, isokinetic knee flexor strength, and the maximum muscle strength exertion angle under two conditions of 60°/s and 120°/s in dominant hamstrings. Additionally, their correlations were analyzed and compared between the menstrual and ovulatory phases. Results: Sixteen subjects (mean age: 20.56 ± 0.73 years; body mass index: 20.21 ± 1.60) participated in the study. Correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between PKE and the maximum muscle strength exertion angle under the condition of 60°/s during the menstrual phase (r = –0.54; p = 0.03). No significant difference was observed in the two-group comparison of the variables measured during the menstrual and ovulatory phases. Conclusion: This study confirmed that the more flexible muscles generate the maximum strength at a more contracted position during the menstrual phase in women. In the future, it is necessary to examine the relationship between the results of this study and exercise performance and injury occurrence.     

采用X射线吸收光谱表征单原子催化剂:至关重要与持久挑战

X射线吸收光谱(XAS)可为负载型单中心(单原子或单核金属络合物)催化剂的结构和电子特性提供重要信息.虽然XAS技术可表征真实反应条件下、无需长程有序结构的催化剂,并且可提供对于负载型单中心催化剂非常重要的金属-载体界面信息;但是它给出的信息是包括与催化有关或无关的所有负载型金属物种的平均信息.负载型催化剂的准确表征具有长期挑战性,也限制了我们准确地理解催化剂的构效关系.为了更好地利用XAS表征技术,深入研究催化剂的构效关系,并最终用其指导设计开发出高效的催化剂,制备具有均一结构活性位的负载型单中心催化剂,并采用XAS及相关技术对其表征至关重要.本文列举了一些实例以说明XAS在表征具有均一结构活性位的负载型单中心催化剂方面的能力,以及XAS如何与其他技术(如扫描透射电子显微镜和红外光谱)互补,为以分子筛和金属-有机骨架材料为载体而制得的具有均一结构活性位的负载型单中心催化剂提供原子尺度的信息.     

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of microparticulate drug delivery systems composed of macromolecular prodrugs

Macromolecular prodrugs are very useful systems for achieving controlled drug release and drug targeting. In particular, various macromolecule-antitumor drug conjugates enhance the effectiveness and improve the toxic side effects. Also, polymeric micro- and nanoparticles have been actively examined and their in vivo behaviors elucidated, and it has been realized that their particle characteristics are very useful to control drug behavior. Recently, researches based on the combination of the concepts of macromolecular prodrugs and micro- or nanoparticles have been reported, although they are limited. Macromolecular prodrugs enable drugs to be released at a certain controlled release rate based on the features of the macromolecule-drug linkage. Micro- and nanoparticles can control in vivo behavior based on their size, surface charge and surface structure. These merits are expected for systems produced by the combination of each concept. In this review, several micro- or nanoparticles composed of macromolecule-drug conjugates are described for their preparation, in vitro properties and/or in vivo behavior.     

Liquid chromatographic analysis of cinchona alkaloids in beverages

A method for the determination of Cinchona extract (whose main components are the alkaloids cinchonine, cinchonidine, quinidine, and quinine) in beverages by liquid chromatography was developed. A beverage with an alcohol content of more than 10% was loaded onto an OASIS HLB solid-phase extraction cartridge, after it was adjusted to pH 10 with 28% ammonium hydroxide. Other beverages were centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 5 min, and the supernatant was loaded onto the cartridge. The cartridge was washed with water followed by 15% methanol, and the Cinchona alkaloids were eluted with methanol. The Cinchona alkaloids in the eluate were chromatographed on an L-column ODS (4.6 mm id x 150 mm) with methanol and 20 mmol/L potassium dihydrogen phosphate (3 + 7) as the mobile phase. Cinchona alkaloids were monitored with an ultraviolet (UV) detector at 230 nm, and with a fluorescence detector at 405 nm for cinchonine and cinchonidine and 450 nm for quinidine and quinine (excitation at 235 nm). The calibration curves for Cinchona alkaloids with the UV detector showed good linearity in the range of 2-400 microg/mL. The detection limit of each Cinchona alkaloid, taken to be the concentration at which the absorption spectrum could be identified, was 2 microg/mL. The recovery of Cinchona alkaloids added at a level of 100 microg/g to various kinds of beverages was 87.6-96.5%, and the coefficients of variation were less than 3.3%. A number of beverage samples, some labeled to contain bitter substances, were analyzed by the proposed method. Quinine was detected in 2 samples of carbonated beverage.     

Solubilization of oleyl alcohol by pure and mixtures of surfactants

The solubilization behavior of oleyl alcohol by pure and mixtures of surfactants systems have been studied in terms of the maximum additive concentration (MAC), the solubilizing power, and the particle sizes of micelles with or without oleyl alcohol. The surfactants used are amphoteric (N,N-dimethyl-N-lauroyl lysine, DMLL; N,N,N-trimethyl-N-lauroyl lysine, TMLL; N,N-dimethyl-N-(carboxymethyl)-lauryl ammonium, DMCL), anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) and nonionic (alkyl polyoxyethylene ethers).The maximum additive concentration of oleyl alcohol by pure surfactants is larger by nonionic surfactants than by others.For a nonionic surfactant system mixed with DMLL, the mixing effect of surfactant on the increase in the MAC is not recognized. While, for DMLL mixed with SDS, the MAC becomes larger than that by pure surfactants. This may be attributed to the fact that the large micellar size will result in increasing the maximum additive concentration.     

Photosensitized DNA damage and its protection via a novel mechanism

UVA, which accounts for approximately 95% of solar UV radiation, can cause mutations and skin cancer. Based mainly on the results of our study, this paper summarizes the mechanisms of UVA-induced DNA damage in the presence of various photosensitizers, and also proposes a new mechanism for its chemoprevention. UVA radiation induces DNA damage at the 5'-G of 5'-GG-3' sequence in double-stranded DNA through Type I mechanism, which involves electron transfer from guanine to activated photosensitizers. Endogenous sensitizers such as riboflavin and pterin derivatives and an exogenous sensitizer nalidixic acid mediate DNA photodamage via this mechanism. The major Type II mechanism involves the generation of singlet oxygen from photoactivated sensitizers, including hematoporphyrin and a fluoroquinolone antibacterial lomefloxacin, resulting in damage to guanines without preference for consecutive guanines. UVA also produces superoxide anion radical by an electron transfer from photoexcited sensitizers to oxygen (minor Type II mechanism), and DNA damage is induced by reactive species generated through the interaction of hydrogen peroxide with metal ions. The involvement of these mechanisms in UVA carcinogenesis is discussed. In addition, we found that xanthone derivatives inhibited DNA damage caused by photoexcited riboflavin via the quenching of its excited triplet state. It is thus considered that naturally occurring quenchers including xanthone derivatives may act as novel chemopreventive agents against photocarcinogenesis.     

Direct alkenylation of arylamines at the ortho-position with magnesium alkylidene carbenoids and some theoretical studies of the reactions

1-Chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides were synthesized from ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in high yields. Treatment of the sulfoxides with isopropylmagnesium chloride at −78 °C in toluene gave magnesium alkylidene carbenoids (α-chloro alkenylmagnesium chlorides), which were treated with N-lithio arylamines to afford ortho-alkenylated arylamines in moderate yields. The reaction, in some cases, proceeded in a highly stereospecific manner at the carbon bearing the chlorine and the sulfinyl group. The structures of the α-chloro alkenylmagnesium chlorides and the reactivity of the N-lithio meta-substituted anilines were studied at the B3LYP and MP2 levels of theory with the 6-31(+)G* basis set. This reaction offers a quite novel and direct alkenylation of arylamines at the ortho-position of the aromatic ring.