Development of Petri Net-Based Dynamic Model for Improved Production of Farnesyl Pyrophosphate by Integrating Mevalonate and Methylerythritol Phosphate Pathways in Yeast

In this case study, we designed a farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) biosynthetic network using hybrid functional Petri net with extension (HFPNe) which is derived from traditional Petri net theory and allows easy modeling with graphical approach of various types of entities in the networks together. Our main objective is to improve the production of FPP in yeast, which is further converted to amorphadiene (AD), a precursor of artemisinin (antimalarial drug). Natively, mevalonate (MEV) pathway is present in yeast. Methyl erythritol phosphate pathways (MEP) are present only in higher plant plastids and eubacteria, but not present in yeast. IPP and DAMP are common isomeric intermediate in these two pathways, which immediately yields FPP. By integrating these two pathways in yeast, we augmented the FPP synthesis approximately two folds higher (431.16 U/pt) than in MEV pathway alone (259.91 U/pt) by using HFPNe technique. Further enhanced FPP levels converted to AD by amorphadiene synthase gene yielding 436.5 U/pt of AD which approximately two folds higher compared to the AD (258.5 U/pt) synthesized by MEV pathway exclusively. Simulation and validation processes performed using these models are reliable with identified biological information and data.     

Glyoxylic acid in the reaction of isatoic anhydride with amines: a rapid synthesis of 3-(un)substituted quinazolin-4(3H)-ones leading to rutaecarpine and evodiamine

A dual reactant/catalyst role of glyoxylic acid in the reaction of isatoic anhydride with various amines afforded a novel, robust and rapid synthesis of 3-(un)substituted quinazolin-4(3H)-ones. This metal catalyst-free reaction proceeds via an unusual and unexpected cleavage of C–C bond. A shorter and common route to two alkaloids, that is, rutaecarpine and evodiamine is also accomplished.     

Cerium(Ⅳ) ammonium nitrate catalysed facile and efficient synthesis of polyhydroquinoline derivatives through Hantzsch multicomponent condensation

A general and convenient practical approach for the synthesis of polyhydroquinoline derivatives has been achieved via one-pot four-component Hantzsch condensation of aromatic aldehydes,dimedone,ethyl acetoacetate and ammonium acetate in the presence of a catalytic amount of cerium(Ⅳ) ammonium nitrate (CAN),in ethanol solvent at ambient temperature.Simple work-up,mild reaction conditions,inexpensive and non-toxic catalyst,and excellent product yields are the advantageous features of this method.     

Optically induced microfluidic reconfiguration

Reconfigurable systems, like the field-programmable gate array in electronics, have numerous advantages including cost, adaptability, robustness, and security. Despite this, few other chip-based technologies have developed equivalently ubiquitous reconfiguration methods. As a first step to applying this paradigm to channel-based microfluidics, we present here a rapid optofluidic technique to create, move, and remove arbitrary solid regions in a microfluidic flow simply by illumination with an optical pattern. While other techniques have shown the ability to manipulate individual particles using spatial light modulation, we demonstrate here the ability to create reconfigurable flow pathways and build morphable channel structures. These structures can be modified on the order of seconds using a combined photothermal and thermo-rheological effect. In addition to characterizing the effect, we also apply this technique to create dynamic traps for biomolecules, and demonstrate trapping of λ-DNA molecules and nanoparticles, with a 25 fold suppression of diffusion.     

Synthesis of Novel Drug‐Like Small Molecules Based on Quinoxaline Containing Amino Substitution at C‐2

A series of novel “drug‐like” small molecules based on quinoxaline containing amino substitution at C‐2 were synthesized. All these molecules were prepared either via the reaction of 2‐phenyl‐3‐(piperazin‐1‐yl)quinoxaline with acyl bromides or benzyl bromides or various carboxylic acids or via the reaction of 2‐chloro‐3‐phenylquinoxaline with various amines. The structures of these novel compounds were confirmed by spectral analysis. The strategy used is simple and efficient and afforded good yields of quinoxaline derivatives.     

Green synthesis and bioactivity of 2-amino-4H-chromen-4-yl-phosphonates

A simple and efficient one pot synthesis of 2-amino-4H-chromen-4-yl phosphonate derivatives has been accomplished by the condensation of salicylaldehyde, malononitrile/ethylcyanoacetate and triethyl phosphite/trimethyl phosphite in the presence of molecular iodine as catalyst in water at room temperature. All the reactions were very clean and the products were obtained in very good to excellent yields. The title compounds are characterized by IR, 1H-, 13C-, 31P-NMR and mass spectra, also studied their antimicrobial and antioxidant activity.     

An efficient regioselective copper catalyzed multi-component synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted pyrazoles

An efficient synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted 1,3-pyrazole derivatives has been developed via three-component coupling reaction involving 3-(dimethylamino)-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-one, hydrazine, and aryl halides in one pot process exhibiting high regioselectivity. The pyrazole synthesis proceeds via a sequential series of reactions such as Michael addition, heterocyclization, dehydration, and Ullmann cross-coupling.     

Shape control of piezolaminated thin-walled structures using nonlinear piezoelectric actuators

In the present paper a 2D-shell finite element model is proposed to carry out static analysis of piezolaminated composite shells by incorporating nonlinear constitutive relations in order to describe the electromechanical coupling under strong electric fields. The present shell element has 5 mechanical DOFs and 3 electrical DOFs per node. The developed composite piezolaminated shell element is employed to study the static behavior and shaping of spherical antenna reflector laminated with piezo-patches under both weak and strong electric fields. (© 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)