Spatial distribution of AT- and GC-rich DNA within interphase cell nuclei of Triatoma infestans Klug

Heterochromatin bodies in single- and multichromocentered interphase cell nuclei of Triatoma infestans, a vector of Chagas disease, have been suggested to contain AT-rich DNA, based on their positive response to Q-banding and Hoechst 33248 treatment. No information exists on whether GC-rich DNA is also present in these nuclei and whether it plays a role on chromatin condensation. Considering that methodologies more precise than those previously used to determine DNA base composition in situ are currently available, and that the spatial distribution of chromatin areas differing in composition in interphase cell nuclei of different species is a matter of interest, the localization of AT- and GC-rich DNA in T. infestans nuclei is revisited here. The methodologies used included DAPI/AMD and CMA(3)/Distamycin differential staining, Feulgen-DNA image analysis following Msp I and Hpa II enzymatic digestion, 5-methylcytidine immunodetection, AgNOR response, confocal microscopy, and the 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-AZA) demethylation assay. The results identified the presence of AT-rich/GC-poor DNA in chromocenters and evenly distributed AT and GC sequences in euchromatin. A GC-rich DNA zone encircling the chromocenters was also found but it could not be associated with NOR regions. To corroborate the DNA AT-richness in T. infestans nuclei, bioinformatic analyses were also performed. Methylated cytosine was evident at some points of the chromocenters' edge in single- and multichromocentered nuclei and at the euchromatin of multichromocentered nuclei and could be transiently affected by the 5-AZA treatment. The present results suggest that in the particular case of chromocenters of the hemipteran T. infestans, cytosine methylation is not a relevant factor involved in chromatin condensation.     

Oxocarbenium ion cyclizations for C-branched cyclitols: synthesis of a relay intermediate for fumagillin analogues

A highly stereoselective oxocarbenium ion-alkene cyclization for synthesis of C-branched cylitols is described. This methodology was applied to 10S, a potentially versatile intermediate for side-chain analogues of the antiangiogenic agent fumagillin. Compound 10S was subsequently converted to diene 5. Because racemic 5 has been converted to racemic fumagillin, this synthesis of 5 constitutes a formal synthesis of the natural product.     

Static (hyper)polarizabilities and absorption spectra of single [2.2]<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-cyclophane NO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/NH<Subscript>2</Subscript> substituted from DFT methods

We explore the behavior of the average of polarizability (< α >), total first hyperpolarizability (β_total) and average of second hyperpolarizability (< γ >) for single A/D (-NO₂/-NH₂) substituted [2.2]p-cyclophane. The geometric optimization was carried out at HF and DFT (SVWN, PBE, B3LYP, PBE0, BHHLYP and CAM-B3LYP) level, in gas phase, using the 6-31 + G(d,p) basis set. The static tensor components of < α > and β_total, in gas phase, were calculated using Field Finite (FF) methods with electric field intensities of E = ± 0.001 a.u. in each (x,y,z) axis direction. The substitution of A/D groups in positions 7–15 (structure 2 in Fig. 1) produced an increment in the < α > values. Regardless of the A/D positions, the < α > values showed not significant changes at all theory level. < α > DFT results are overestimated up to 20%, if HF values are taken into account, being SVWN and PBE functionals those that give the main deviation. There are monotonic and progressive behaviors of β_total for the 1–5 structure change as expected by orientation of the dipolar moment in both aromatic rings. With respect to the performance of DFT functionals, < γ > and β_total results are significantly overestimated if HF values are taken into account. In fact, the relative percentage error of β_total at DFT level with respect to HF ones is between 58 and 132%, being PBE functional those that give the main deviation. The close overlap of the orbitals between the rings facilitates chromophore delocalization to account for the observation of high β_total in these compounds. Therefore, we expected that the contribution by coupling of the transition moment between first and higher excited states should be lie much higher due to phane effect than that for ring units.

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Fig. 1 a Single [2.2]p-cyclophane core molecule. b Geometric parameters of interest c Highlights for the 4, 7, 12, and 15 positions, which are substituted by (-NO₂/-NH₂) acceptor/donor pair

     

Liposomal Encapsulation of Carvacrol to Obtain Active Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Films

Lecithins of different origins and compositions were used for the liposomal encapsulation of carvacrol within the framework of the development of active films for food packaging. Liposomes were incorporated into aqueous polymeric solutions from fully (F) and partially (P) hydrolysed Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to obtain the films by casting. The particle size distribution and ζ-potential of the liposomal suspensions, as well as their stability over time, were evaluated. Liposomal stability during film formation was analysed through the carvacrol retention in the dried film and the film microstructure. Subtle variations in the size distributions of liposomes from different lecithins were observed. However, the absolute values of the ζ-potential were higher (−52, −57 mV) for soy lecithin (SL) liposomes, followed by those of soy lecithin enriched with phosphatidylcholine (SL-PC) (−43, −50 mV) and sunflower lecithin (SFL) (−33, −38 mV). No significant changes in the liposomal properties were observed during the study period. Lyotropic mesomorphism of lipid associations and carvacrol leakage occurred to differing extents during the film drying step, depending on the membrane lipid composition and surface charge. Liposomes obtained with SL-PC were the most effective at maintaining the stability of carvacrol emulsion during film formation, which led to the greatest carvacrol retention in the films, whereas SFL gave rise to the least stable system and the highest carvacrol losses. P-PVA was less sensitive to the emulsion destabilisation due to its greater bonding capacity with carvacrol. Therefore, P-PVA with carvacrol-loaded SL-PC liposomes has great potential to produce active films for food packaging applications.     

Front‐tracking by the level‐set and the volume penalization methods in a two‐phase microfluidic network

Two‐phase immiscible fluids in a two‐dimensional micro‐channels network are considered. The incompressible Stokes equations are used to describe the Newtonian fluid flow, while the Oldroyd‐B rheological model is used to capture the viscoelastic behavior. In order to perform numerical simulations in a complex geometry like a micro‐channels network, the volume penalization method is implemented. To follow the interface between the two fluids, the level‐set method is used, and the dynamics of the contact line is modeled by Cox law. Numerical results show the ability of the method to simulate two‐phase flows and to follow properly the contact line between the two immiscible fluids. Finally, simulations with realistic parameters are performed to show the difference when a Newtonian fluid is pushed by a viscoelastic fluid instead of a Newtonian one. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of Metallothionein Detection by Using Brdicka Reaction and Enzyme‐Linked Immunosorbent Assay Employing Chicken Yolk Antibodies

In this study, two methods for metallothioneins (MT) determination in a biological sample were compared. Particularly, twenty five human and nine pig blood serum samples and liver and kidney samples from thirty five carps (Cyprinus carpio) were analyzed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and differential pulse voltammetry Brdicka's reaction. The results obtained by these two methods were in good agreement. For commercially available MT standard the correlation coefficient between the single concentrations signal height was 0.99. In biological samples the correlation coefficients were 0.90 for fish liver and kidney samples, 0.91 for pig blood serum and 0.93 for human blood serum.     

Determination of anti-inflammatory drugs in water samples, by in situ derivatization, solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

In this work, the reactions of various copper ions with 1,3,3-trimethyl-2-[5-(1,3,3-trimethyl-1,3-dihydro-indol-2-ylidene)-penta-1,3-dienyl]-3H-indolium--more commonly known as dimethylindodicarbocyanine polymethyne dye (DIDC)--as well as the application of the results obtained for the development of a spectrophotometric method for the determination of Cu(I), Cu(II) and Cu(III) are described. Cu(I) and Cu(II) in the presence of chloride ions and DIDC reagent are extractable by a variety of organic solvents. It is important to emphasize that Cu(I) was extracted under considerably different experimental conditions than Cu(II). The optimum conditions for the extraction of the Cu ion associates with DIDC by amyl acetate and the determination of Cu(I) and Cu(II) were found to be: pH 3-5 and pH 3-6 and chloride concentrations of 0.5-0.8 mol L(-1) and 3-6 mol L(-1) for Cu(I) and Cu(II), respectively. The molar absorptivities for Cu(I) and Cu(II) are 1.8x10(5) L mol(-1) cm(-1) and 1.2x10(5) L mol(-1) cm(-1), respectively. A reaction mechanism is suggested. Cu(III) does not extract in the presence of chloride ions. However, Cu(III) is a strong oxidative agent which can cause the decolourisation of the DIDC reagent. The optimum conditions for Cu(III) determination were found to be: 2x10(-5) mol L(-1) DIDC; pH 8; water:acetone 4:1 medium. The developed procedures were tested for the determination of Cu(I), Cu(II) and Cu(III) in semiconductor samples.     

Synthesis of new benzo[b]thieno fused ring systems via transition metal-mediated cyclisations

The compact synthesis of a new ring fused benzo[b]thieno derivative with an embedded nine-membered ring system via ring closing metathesis methodology is described. The preparation of the novel 11H-benzo[b]thieno[2,3-c]pyrrolo[2,3-a]indol-11-one via palladium-mediated oxidative cyclisation of benzo[b]thien-2-oyl indole derivatives is also reported.