Amino acids and peptides. XIII. Synthetic studies on N-terminal tripeptide amide analogs of fibrin alpha-chain

N-Terminal tripeptide analogs of fibrin alpha-chain were synthesized and their inhibitory effect on fibrinogen/thrombin clotting was examined. A new water-soluble active ester, 3-pyridinium ester, was used for the synthesis. Among the synthetic peptides, H-Gly-Pro-Arg-hexamethyleneimine exhibited the highest inhibitory effect on fibrinogen-thrombin clotting.     

An enkephalin-degrading aminopeptidase from rat brain catalyzes the hydrolysis of a neuropeptide, kyotorphin (L-Tyr-L-Arg).

We studied the hydrolysis of a neuropeptide kyotorphin (L-Tyr-L-Arg) by an enkephalin-degrading aminopeptidase purified from cytosol of rat brain in vitro. The purified enzyme was homogeneous as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), gel filtration and isoelectric focusing. The aminopeptidase with an apparent molecular weight (Mr) = 98000 catalyzed the hydrolysis of Leu- and Met-enkephalins with Km values of 125 and 142 microM, respectively. The enzyme activity was inhibited by bestatin, amastatin and puromycin but not by pepstatin, leupeptin and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF). Kyotorphin was degraded by the aminopeptidase at pH 7.0, and the Vmax and Km values were 9.2 mumol/min/mg protein and 95 microM, respectively. The Km value for kyotorphin was compatible to those for Leu- and Met-enkephalins. Taken together, these results suggest a possible involvement of the enkephalin-degrading aminopeptidase in cytosolic degradation of kyotorphin in neuronal cells of rat brain.     

Analysis method of the angiotensin-I converting enzyme inhibitory activity based on micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

A micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) method was developed for estimating the angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity by separating the hippuric acid liberated in the ACE reaction mixture in the presence of an inhibitor, captopril. The hippuric acid was successfully separated and detected by MEKC with a 25 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate solution in a 25 mM phosphate-50 mM borate buffer at pH 7.0; the total analysis took about 5 min. A good linear relationship was observed between the inhibitor and the peak area of hippuric acid release. No significant difference in the ACE inhibitory activity (IC50) of captopril (an antihypertensive medicine) or autolyzed-mushrooms (functional foods) was observed between the conventional method and the MEKC method. The MEKC method was found to be a useful technique for a rapid assay of the ACE inhibitory activity.     

Flow-injection determination of 3-hdroxybutyrate in serum with an immobilized 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase reactor and chemiluminescence detection

A flow-injection system for the determination of 3-hydroxybutyrate in serum is described. 3-Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase is immobilized on poly(vinyl alcohol) beads and incorporated in a flow-injection system. 1-Methoxy-5-methylphenazinium methylsulphate reacts with enzymatically generated NADH to give H₂O₂, which is detected chemiluminometrically with the reaction of luminol and hexacynoferrate(III). Serum is diluted and filtered through an ultrafiltration membrane. The system responds linearly to injected samples (80 μl) in the concentration range 0.5–300 μM; the detection limit is 0.1 μM. The within-day relative standard deviation (n = 90) for 58 μM 3-hydroxybutyrate in serum is 0.8%. The maximum throughout is 20 samples per hour. The immobilized enzyme is stable for at least 1 month.     

Structural and electrical properties of crystalline (1−x)Ta2O5−xTiO2 thin films fabricated by metalorganic decomposition

Polycrystalline (1−x)Ta₂O₅−xTiO₂ thin films were formed on Si by metalorganic decomposition (MOD) and annealed at various temperatures. As-deposited films were in the amorphous state and were completely transformed to crystalline after annealing above 600 °C. During crystallization, a thin interfacial SiO₂ layer was formed at the (1−x)Ta₂O₅−xTiO₂/Si interface. Thin films with 0.92Ta₂O₅–0.08TiO₂ composition exhibited superior insulating properties. The measured dielectric constant and dissipation factor at 1 MHz were 9 and 0.015, respectively, for films annealed at 900 °C. The interface trap density was 2.5×10¹¹ cm⁻² eV⁻¹, and flatband voltage was −0.38 V. A charge storage density of 22.8 fC/μm² was obtained at an applied electric field of 3 MV/cm. The leakage current density was lower than 4×10⁻⁹ A/cm² up to an applied electric field of 6 MV/cm.     

Hydration Structure Around the Carboxyl Group Studied by Neutron Diffraction with 12C/13C and H/D Isotopic Substitution Methods

Time-of-Flight (TOF) neutron diffraction measurements have been carried out on aqueous 8 mol% sodium acetate solutions in D₂O. Scattering cross sections that were observed for sample solutions involving ¹²C/¹³C and H/D isotopically substituted acetate ions were used to derive the first-order difference functions, Δ_H(Q) and Δ_C(Q), and corresponding distribution functions, G _H(r;r) and G _C(r;r), which describe the environmental structure around the methyl and the carboxyl groups within the acetate ion, respectively. Structural parameters concerning the first hydration shell of the carboxyl group within the acetate ion were obtained through the least squares fit to the observed intermolecular difference function, Δ_C ^inter(Q). The nearest neighbor C _O...D _W1 (C_O: carboxyl carbon atom, D_W1: water deuterium atom) distance, r(C _O...D _W1 ), and the angle, ∠ C _O ...D _W1 -O _W (O _W : water oxygen atom), were determined to be 2.63(1) Å and 120(1)°, respectively. The coordination number, n(C _O ...D _W1 ), was obtained to be 4.0(1). These results are consistent with the hydration structure in which water molecules in the first hydration shell of the carboxyl group are hydrogen-bonded with oxygen atoms of the carboxyl group.     

A new strategy for construction of eight-membered carbocycles by Brook rearrangement mediated [6 + 2] annulation

[reaction: see text] A newly developed strategy for construction of eight-membered carbocycles via [6 + 2] annulation that involves the combination of beta-alkenoyl acylsilanes and a vinyllithium derivative is described. A unique feature of this annulative approach is that it enables in one operation and a stereoselective manner construction of eight-membered ring systems containing useful functionalities for further synthetic elaboration from readily available six- and two-carbon components.     

Palladium-catalyzed oxidation of alcohols via their allyl carbonates under neutral conditions

Treatment of alkyl allyl carbonates derived from various alcohols with a palladium catalyst in MeCN affords ketones and aldehydes in high yields. This new method of oxidation of alcohols can be applied to various alcohols except simple primary alcohols.     

Cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides with allylic and benzylic Grignard reagents and their application to tandem radical cyclization/cross-coupling reactions

Details of cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides with allylic Grignard reagents are disclosed. A combination of cobalt(II) chloride and 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (DPPE) or 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (DPPP) is suitable as a precatalyst and allows secondary and tertiary alkyl halides--as well as primary ones--to be employed as coupling partners for allyl Grignard reagents. The reaction offers a facile synthesis of quaternary carbon centers, which has practically never been possible with palladium, nickel, and copper catalysts. Benzyl, methallyl, and crotyl Grignard reagents can all couple with alkyl halides. The benzylation definitely requires DPPE or DPPP as a ligand. The reaction mechanism should include the generation of an alkyl radical from the parent alkyl halide. The mechanism can be interpreted in terms of a tandem radical cyclization/cross-coupling reaction. In addition, serendipitous tandem radical cyclization/cyclopropanation/carbonyl allylation of 5-alkoxy-6-halo-4-oxa-1-hexene derivatives is also described. The intermediacy of a carbon-centered radical results in the loss of the original stereochemistry of the parent alkyl halides, creating the potential for asymmetric cross-coupling of racemic alkyl halides.