Mutation detection in the drug-resistant hepatitis B virus polymerase gene using nanostructured reverse micelles.

The emergence of drug-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been reported in patients with prolonged administration of lamivudine, which is a potent drug for the prevention of HBV infection. Lamivudine-resistant HBV has several types of mutations at the YMDD motif of its DNA polymerase. We successfully demonstrated that monitoring the hybridization behavior in nanostructured reverse micelles enables us to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). With the aid of reverse micelles, a model 40-mer oligonucleotide containing a single-base substitution was clearly distinguished from the normal, complementary oligonucleotide. In addition, we extended this technique to a high-throughput analysis. The results obtained with a 96-well micro-plate reader indicated the possibility of SNPs detection toward multiple samples of patients.     

Reactions between ammonium sulphate and metal oxides (metal=Cr,Mn and Fe) and thermal decomposition of the products

The reactions between ammonium sulphate and three metal oxides (Cr₂O₃, MnO₂ and Fe₂O₃) were studied. It was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and chemical analysis that stable reaction intermediates were formed consecutively in the course of the reactions.These were (NH₄)₃M(SO₄)₃ and NH₄M(SO₄)₂ for Cr₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃ and (NH₄)₂Mn₂(SO₄)₃ for MnO₂. The thermal decompositions of these intermediates and of the metal sulphates were carried out. The contracting-volume equation was valid for the decomposition of all the intermediates. The Arrhenius parameters were determined.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurden die Reaktionen zwischen Ammoniumsulfat und drei Metalloxiden (Cr₂O₃, MnO₂ und Fe₂O₃) untersucht. Durch Röntgendiffraktion und chemische Analyse wurde bestätigt, dass im Verlaufe der Reaktion stabile Zwischenprodukte gebildet werden. Es handelt sich dabei um (NH₄)₃M(SO₄)₃ und NH₄M(SO₄)₂ im Falle von Cr₂O₃ und Fe₂O₃ und um (NH₄)₂Mn₂(SO₄)₃ im Falle von MnO₂. Diese Zwischenprodukte und die Metallsulfate wurden thermisch zersetzt. Die Volumenkontraktionsgleichung war für die Zersetzung all dieser Zwischenprodukte gültig. Die Arrheniusparameter wurden bestimmt.

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Cr₂O₃, MnO₂ Fe₂O₃. , . , (NH₄)₃M(SO₄)₃ NH₄M(SO₄)₂, (NH₄)₂Mn₂(SO₄)₃. . . .

     

Preparation and characterization of modified 3-aminopropylsilyl silica phases with 1,8-naphthalic anhydrides in HPLC

Modified 3-aminopropylsilyl silica stationary phases with 1,8-naphthalic anhydrides [3-(1,8-naphthalimido)propyl (NAIP), 3-(4-amino-1,8-naphthalimido)propyl (4A-NAIP), 3-(3-nitro-1,8-naphthalimido)propyl (3N-NAIP), and 3-(4-nitro-1,8-naphthalimido)propyl modified silyl silica gel (4N-NAIP)] are prepared in a single reaction. Chromatographic properties of these phases are characterized using various solutes including monosubstituted benzenes, alkyl benzenes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in high-performance liquid chromatography. Even though the retention in these NAIPs is mainly based on the reversed-phase mode, 3N- and 4N-NAIP show a remarkable recognition toward aromatic hydrocarbons, which is attributed to their strong pi-pi interaction. Furthermore, the recognition ability is according to the molecular planarity and non-linearity of PAHs. Subsequently, 3N- and 4N-NAIP has a distinct selectivity from octadecyl silica and, therefore, will be a valuable alternative for a separation or a solid-phase extraction of aromatic compounds.     

A new method for the synthesis of some 9-β-D-arabinofuranosylpurines by a combination of chemical and enzymatic reactions

An enzymatic transarabinosylation between 2-chlorohypoxanthine and 1-β-$\text{D}$-arabinofuranosyluracil gave 9-β-$\text{D}$-arabinofuranosyl-2-chlorohypoxanthine which was chemically converted to 9-β-$\text{D}$-arabinofuranosylguanine and its derivatives.     

Synthesis of inorganic-organic hybrids by incorporation of inorganic components into organic polymer using metal alkoxides

Inorganic-organic hybrids have been synthesized by incorporation of the inorganic component of Ti(OC₂H₅)₄ into the organic polymer of ethyl cellulose. The inorganic-organic hybrids did not dissolve in toluene used as a solvent for the starting materials. The ethanol was formed as a by-product of the alcoholysis condensation reaction between Ti(OC₂H₅)₄ and ethyl cellulose. These results suggest that ethoxy groups of Ti(OC₂H₅)₄ react with hydroxy groups of ethyl cellulose to form cross-linking bonds of –O–Ti–O–. The reaction of Ti(OC₂H₅)₄ with ethyl cellulose was further investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The FT-IR spectroscopic experiments revealed that the Ti–O bond state of Ti(OC₂H₅)₄ was changed by refluxing a toluene solution of Ti(OC₂H₅)₄ with ethyl cellulose. The inorganic-organic hybrids have an interesting dielectric property; their dielectric constant is higher than that of ethyl cellulose and that of a simple mixture of TiO₂ and ethyl cellulose.     

Effect of urea addition on chiral separation of dansylamino acids by capillary zone electrophoresis with cyclodextrins

The chiral separation ability of unmodified and di- and trimethylated -, β- and γ-cyclodextrins (CDs) as chiral selectors in capillary zone electrophoresis was investigated in the presence of urea derivatives using twelve dansylamino acids as model solutes. The addition of these urea derivatives (unsubstituted, methyl-, ethyl- and 1,3-dimethylureas) produced dramatic enhancement in the enantioselectivity of unmodified β-CD but also reduced the enantioselectivities of the other CDs.     

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.     

Efficient copper-catalyzed coupling of aryl iodides and thiobenzoic acid

A highly efficient copper-catalyzed coupling reaction of aryl iodides and thiobenzoic acid, using 10 mol % of copper iodide, 20 mol % of 1,10-phenanthroline, and ⁱPr₂NEt in toluene, was developed. This methodology is applicable to a variety of aryl iodides.     

Determination of bisphenol A in human breast milk by HPLC with column-switching and fluorescence detection

A highly sensitive HPLC method was developed for the determination of xenoestrogenic compound, bisphenol A (BPA) in human breast milk samples. After a two-step liquid-liquid extraction, BPA was derivatized with fluorescent labeling reagent, 4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzoyl chloride (DIB-Cl). The excess fluorescent reagent could be removed effectively using a column-switching system. The separation of DIB-BPA from endogenous materials in milk was carried out on two C(18) columns and fluorescence intensity was monitored at 475 nm with the excitation of 350 nm. A good linearity (r = 0.994) was observed of BPA in the concentration range of 0.2-5.0 ng mL(-1) in breast milk, and the detection limit was 0.11 ng mL(-1) at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Intra- and inter-day precision (RSD, %) were less than 8.7 and 10.4, respectively. Twenty-three breast milk samples of healthy lactating women were analyzed for the BPA concentration; the mean value was 0.61 +/- 0.20 ng mL(-1), with no correlation to the lipid content of milk samples.