Cellulose synthesis in maize: isolation and expression analysis of the cellulose synthase (CesA) gene family

Stalk lodging in maize results in significant yield losses. We have determined that cellulose per unit length of the stalk is the primary determinant of internodal strength. An increase in cellulose concentration in the wall might allow simultaneous improvements in stalk strength and harvest index. Cellulose formation in plants can be perturbed by mutations in the genes involved in cellulose synthesis, post-synthetic cellulose alteration or deposition, N-glycosylation, and some other genes with as yet unknown functions. We have isolated 12 members of the cellulose synthase (CesA) gene family from maize. The genes involved in primary wall formation appear to have duplicated relatively independently in dicots and monocots. The deduced amino acid sequences of three of the maize genes, ZmCesA10–12, cluster with the Arabidopsis CesA sequences that have been shown to be involved in secondary wall formation. Based on their expression patterns across multiple tissues, these three genes appear to be coordinately expressed. The remaining genes show overlapping expression to varying degrees with ZmCesA1, 7, and 8 forming one group, ZmCesA3 and 5 a second group, and ZmCesA2 and 6 exhibiting independent expression of any other gene. This suggests that the varying levels of coexpression may just be incidental except in the case of ZmCesA10–12, which may interact with each other to form a functional enzyme complex. Isolation of the expressed CesA genes from maize and their association with primary or secondary wall formation has made it possible to test their respective roles in cellulose synthesis through mutational genetics or transgenic approaches. This information would be useful in improving stalk strength.     

Syntheses and characterization of mono and dinuclear complexes of platinum group metals bearing benzene-linked bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligands

Reaction of the benzene-linked bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligands, 1,4-bis{bis(pyrazolyl)-methyl}benzene (L1) and 1,4-bis{bis(3-methylpyrazolyl)methyl}benzene (L2), with pentamethylcyclopentadienyl rhodium and iridium complexes [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)M(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ (M = Rh and Ir) in the presence of NH₄PF₆ results under stoichiometric control in both, mono and dinuclear complexes, [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl(L)]⁺ {L = L1 (1); L2 (2)}, [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl(L)]⁺ {L = L1 (3); L2 (4)} and [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl}₂(μ-L)]²⁺ {L = L1 (5); L2 (6)}, [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl}₂(μ-L)]²⁺ {L = L1 (7); L2 (8)}. In contrast, reaction of arene ruthenium complexes [(η⁶­arene)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ (arene = C₆H₆, p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me and C₆Me₆) with the same ligands (L1 or L2) gives only the dinuclear complexes [{(η⁶-C₆H₆)RuCl}₂(μ-L)]²⁺ {L = L1 (9); L2 (10)}, [{(η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me)RuCl}₂(μ-L)]²⁺ {L = L1 (11); L2 (12)} and [{(η⁶-C₆Me₆)RuCl}₂(μ-L)]²⁺ {L = L1 (13); L2 (14)}. All complexes were isolated as their hexafluorophosphate salts. The single-crystal X-ray crystal structure analyses of [7](PF₆)₂, [9](PF₆)₂ and [11](PF₆)₂ reveal a typical piano-stool geometry around the metal centers with six-membered metallo-cycle in which the 1,4-bis{bis(pyrazolyl)-methyl}benzene acts as a bis-bidentate chelating ligand.     

Study of half sandwich platinum group metal complexes containing tetradentate N-donor ligand bearing two di-pyridylamine units linked by an aromatic spacer

A general approach for the preparation of dinuclear η⁵- and η⁶-cyclic hydrocarbon platinum group metal complexes, viz. [(η⁶-arene)₂Ru₂(NN∩NN)Cl₂]²⁺ (arene = C₆H₆, 1; p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me, 2; C₆Me₆, 3), [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₂M₂(NN∩NN)Cl₂]²⁺ (M = Rh, 4; Ir, 5), [(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂M₂(NN∩NN)(PPh₃)₂]²⁺ (M = Ru, 6; Os, 7), [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₂Ru₂(NN∩NN)(PPh₃)₂]²⁺ (8) and [(η⁵-C₉H₇)₂Ru₂(NN∩NN)(PPh₃)₂]²⁺ (9), bearing the bis-bidentate ligand 1,2-bis(di-2-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene (NN∩NN), which contains two chelating di-pyridylamine units connected by an aromatic spacer, is reported. The cationic dinuclear complexes have been isolated as their hexafluorophosphate or hexafluoroantimonate salts and characterized by use of a combination of NMR, IR and UV-vis spectroscopic methods and by mass spectrometry. The solid state structure of three derivatives, [2][SbF₆]₂, [3][PF₆]₂ and [4][PF₆]₂, has been determined by X-ray structure analysis.     

Structure and electronic properties of tris(4-hydroxy-1,5-naphthyridinato) aluminum (AlND3) and its methyl derivatives: a theoretical study

Molecular structures of the ground state (S₀) of tris(4-hydroxy-1,5-naphthyridinato) aluminum (AlND3) and its methyl derivatives have been optimized using B3LYP/6-31G(D) and the first singlet excited state (S₁) using CIS/6-31G(D) method, respectively. The frontier molecular orbitals characteristics of these Al-complexes have been analyzed systematically in order to understand the electronic transitions. It is seen from these results that in all these complexes, like in earlier reported mer-Alq3, the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) is localized on the pyridine-4-ol ring of A-ligand while lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) is on the pyridyl ring of B-ligand for S₀ states irrespective of the methyl substitution present on the ligands. The absorption and emission wavelengths have been evaluated at the TD-PBE0/6-31G(D) level and found to be comparable with the experiment. The charge transfer integrals have been calculated for AlND3, and results reveals that electron transport is larger than hole transport. The reorganization energies have been calculated at B3LYP/6-31G(D) level for these complexes, and the results show that the charge mobilities of these complexes are comparable with mer-Alq3.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of some new class of benzothiazole–pyrazole ligands containing arene ruthenium,rhodium and iridium complexes

Transition Metal Chemistry - Metal complexes 1–9 have been synthesized by reacting the benzothiazole–pyrazole derivative ligands (L1, L2 and L3) with the metal precursors of ruthenium...     

Synthesis,structural and chemosensitivity studies of arene d6 metal complexes having N‐phenyl‐N´‐(pyridyl/pyrimidyl)thiourea derivatives

The d⁶ metal complexes of thiourea derivatives were synthesized to investigate its cytotoxicity. Treatment of various N‐phenyl‐N´ pyridyl/pyrimidyl thiourea ligands with half‐sandwich d⁶ metal precursors yielded a series of cationic complexes. Reactions of ligand (L1‐L3) with [(p‐cymene)RuCl₂]₂ and [Cp*MCl₂]₂ (M = Rh/Ir) led to the formation of a series of cationic complexes bearing general formula [(arene)M(L1)к²_(N,S)Cl]⁺, [(arene)M(L2)к²_(N,S)Cl]⁺ and [(arene)M(L3)к²_(N,S)Cl]⁺ [arene = p‐cymene, M = Ru ( 1 , 4 , 7 ); Cp*, M = Rh ( 2 , 5 , 8 ); Cp*, Ir ( 3 , 6 , 9 )]. These compounds were isolated as their chloride salts. X‐ray crystallographic studies of the complexes revealed the coordination of the ligands to the metal in a bidentate chelating N,S‐ manner. Further the cytotoxicity studies of the thiourea derivatives and its complexes evaluated against HCT‐116 (human colorectal cancer), MIA‐PaCa‐2 (human pancreatic cancer) and ARPE‐19 (non‐cancer retinal epithelium) cancer cell lines showed that the thiourea ligands displayed no activity. Upon complexation however, the metal compounds possesses cytotoxicity and whilst potency is less than cisplatin, several complexes exhibited greater selectivity for HCT‐116 or MIA‐PaCa‐2 cells compared to ARPE‐19 cells than cisplatin in vitro. Rhodium complexes of thiourea derivatives were found to be more potent as compared to ruthenium and iridium complexes.     

Spectral, structural and DFT studies of platinum group metal 3,6-bis(2-pyridyl)-4-phenylpyridazine complexes and their ligand bonding modes

Reactions of 3,6-bis(2-pyridyl)-4-phenylpyridazine (L^ph) with [(η⁶-arene)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ (arene = C₆H₆, p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me and C₆Me₆), [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)M(μ-Cl)Cl]₂, (M = Rh and Ir) and [(η⁵-Cp)Ru(PPh₃)₂Cl] (Cp = C₅H₅, C₅Me₅ and C₉H₇) afford mononuclear complexes of the type [(η⁶-arene)Ru(L^ph)Cl]PF₆, [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)M(L^ph)Cl]PF₆ and [(Cp)Ru(L^ph)(PPh₃)]PF₆ with different structural motifs depending on the π-acidity of the ligand, electronic properties of the central metal atom and nature of the co-ligands. Complexes [(η⁶-C₆H₆)Ru(L^ph)Cl]PF₆1, [(η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me)Ru(L^ph)Cl]PF₆2, [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ir(L^ph)Cl]PF₆5, [(η⁵-Cp)Ru(PPh₃)(L^ph)]PF₆, (Cp = C₅H₅, 6; C₅Me₅, 7; C₉H₇, 8) show the type-A binding mode (see text), while complexes [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(L^ph)Cl]PF₆3 and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(L^ph)Cl]PF₆4 show the type-B binding mode (see text). These differences reflect the more electron-rich character of the [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ complexes compared to the other starting precursor complexes. Binding modes of the ligand L^ph are determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray analysis as well as evidence obtained from the solid-state structures and corroborated by density functional theory calculations. From the systems studied here, it is concluded that the electron density on the central metal atom of these complexes plays an important role in deciding the ligand binding sites.