A new luciferase reporter gene assay for the detection of androgenic and antiandrogenic effects based on a human prostate specific antigen promoter and PC3/AR human prostate cancer cells.

We developed a new mammalian cell-based luciferase reporter gene assay for androgenic and antiandrogenic activities of chemicals and environmental samples. Environmental samples usually have a complex matrix that may contain the constituents acting as androgen receptor (AR) agonists, AR antagonists or aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists. AhR agonists are known to elicit the antiandrogenic effect through cross-talk between AR and AhR signal transduction pathways. In this study, PC3/AR human prostate carcinoma cells were transiently transfected with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) promoter-driven luciferase expression plasmid. The cells were treated with a test compound or an environmental sample for 24 h at 37 degrees C and then measured for luciferase activity. The luciferase activity was induced by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in a concentration-dependent manner in a concentration range from 10 fM to 1 nM. R1881, a synthetic androgen receptor agonist, induced luciferase activity and its inductive effects was additive to that of DHT. The luciferase activity was not induced by cortisol, a glucocorticoid, progesterone, a progestin, and 17beta-estradiol, an estrogen in a concentration range of up to 1 microM. DHT-induced luciferase activity was reduced by bicalutamide and cyproterone acetate, AR antagonists, and also by benzo[a]pyrene, an aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist, through AhR-mediated pathways. All of these findings indicate that the present assay system correctly responds to AR agonists, AR antagonists and AhR agonist and, therefore, it is a powerful tool for the sensitive and selective screening of chemicals and environmental samples for their androgenic and antiandrogenic activities. We developed the first assay system, in which the expression of luciferase was driven by the promoter of a prostate-specific antigen gene, a typical human androgen-regulated gene.     

Photoinduced magnetization of the cyano-bridged 3d-4f heterobimetallic assembly Nd(DMF)(4)(H(2)O)(3)(micro-CN)Fe(CN)(5).H(2)O (DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide)

Photoinduced magnetization of the cyano-bridged 3d-4f heterobimetallic assembly Nd(DMF)4(H2O)3(mu-CN)Fe(CN)5.H2O (1) (DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide) is described in this paper. The chiMT values are enhanced by about 45% after UV light illumination in the temperature range of 5-50 K. We propose that UV light illumination induces a structural distortion in 1. This small structural change is propagated by molecular interactions in the inorganic network. Furthermore, the cooperativity resulting from the molecular interaction functions to increase the activation energy of the relaxation processes, which makes observation of the photoexcited state possible. The flexible network structure through the hydrogen bonds in 1 plays an essential role for the photoinduced phenomenon. This finding may open up a new domain for developing the molecule-based magnetic materials.     

Some N-alkyl-naphthylazo pyridinium salts as new reagents for the spectrophotometric determination of anionic surfactants

Summary Eleven pyridinium azo dyes with straight-chain alkyl groups C_nH_2n+1–(n=6–18) and bromoalkyl groups BrC_mH_2m–(m=6–12) were synthesized with the intention of developing reagents for the determination of low levels of anionic surfactants in an aqueous medium. The effect of the alkyl chain length of these reagents on the reactivity with anionic surfactants such as sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS), sodium linear-dodecylbenzenesulphonate (DBS), sodium dodecylsulphonate (DS) and sodium laurate (SL) was studied. It was found that the alkyl chain length played an important role in the formation of ion associates and the composition of the ion associates formed. These reagents were classified into four groups with respect to the reactivity with anionic surfactants. The first group (n,m=6) reacts only with DBS. The second group (n,m=8) reacts with SDS, DBS and DS. The third group (n,m=10, 12) reacts with SDS, DBS and DS; however, the colour intensity of the DBS-ion associate was unstable. The fourth group (n=14, 16, 18) reacts with all anionic surfactants examined, and the composition of the ion associates with SDS and DS was 2:1 ([reagent]/[surfactant]) though that of the ion associates of the three reagent groups mentioned above was 1:1. The optimal conditions for the determination of anionic surfactants in river water with 1-octyl-4-(4-aminonaphthylazo)-pyridinium bromide was examined. The calibration graph was linear up to 3×10^–6 mol/l, and the apparent molar absorptivity of the ion associate was 3.8×10⁴ l mol^–1 cm^–1 (at 427 nm). The relative standard deviation for 2.4×10^–6 mol/l SDS was 4.9%. Recoveries of 88–107% were found for 8.0×10^–7 mol/l SDS in river water samples.     

Electrical conductivity modulation coupled to a high-spin-low-spin conversion in the molecular system [FeIII(qsal)2][Ni(dmit)2]3.CH3CN.H2O

The synergy between the electrical conductivity within the stacks of Ni(dmit)2 in the newly electrocrystallized [Fe(qsal)2][Ni(dmit)2]3.CH3CN.H2O and the spin conversion of Fe(qsal)2 is evidenced. In addition, the presence of a light-induced excited spin state trapping effect suggests that this complex is a prototypal photoswitchable spin-crossover molecular conductor.     

MOF‐on‐MOF: Oriented Growth of Multiple Layered Thin Films of Metal–Organic Frameworks

The precise alignment of multiple layers of metal–organic framework (MOF) thin films, or MOF‐on‐MOF films, over macroscopic length scales is presented. The MOF‐on‐MOF films are fabricated by epitaxially matching the interface. The first MOF layer (Cu₂(BPDC)₂, BPDC=biphenyl‐4,4′‐dicarboxylate) is grown on an oriented Cu(OH)₂ film by a “one‐pot” approach. Aligned second (Cu₂(BDC)₂, BDC=benzene 1,4‐dicarboxylate, or Cu₂(BPYDC)₂, BPYDC=2,2′‐bipyridine‐5,5′‐dicarboxylate) MOF layers can be deposited using liquid‐phase epitaxy. The co‐orientation of the MOF films is confirmed by X‐ray diffraction. Importantly, our strategy allows for the synthesis of aligned MOF films, for example, Cu₂(BPYDC)₂, that cannot be grown on a Cu(OH)₂ surface. We show that aligned MOF films furnished with Ag nanoparticles show a unique anisotropic plasmon resonance. Our MOF‐on‐MOF approach expands the chemistry of heteroepitaxially oriented MOF films and provides a new toolbox for multifunctional porous coatings.     

Five‐State Molecular Shuttling of a Pair of [2]Rotaxanes: Distinct Outputs in Response to Acid and Base Stimuli

In this study we synthesized two acid‐/base‐controllable [2]rotaxanes featuring aminodiazobenzene and aminocoumarin units, respectively, as chromophores and dibenzo[24]crown‐8 and dibenzo[25]crown‐8 units, respectively, as their macrocyclic components. Each [2]rotaxane contained N‐alkylarylamine (ammonium) and N,N‐dialkylamine (ammonium) centers as binding sites for their crown ether components. The absorption patterns of the chromophores were dependent on the position of the encircling macrocyclic component and the degree of protonation, with three distinct states (under acidic, neutral, and basic conditions) evident for each [2]rotaxane. The mixed [2]rotaxane system displayed stepwise and independent molecular shuttling behavior based on the degree of protonation of the amino groups in response to both the amount and strength of added acids or bases; as such, the system provided five different absorption signals as outputs that could be read using UV/Vis spectroscopy.     

Highly oriented growth of titanate nanotubes (TNTs) in micro and confinement spaces on sol–gel derived amorphous TiO2 thin films under moderate hydrothermal condition

Synthesis of titanate nanotubes (TNTs) from sol–gel derived amorphous TiO₂ thin films under moderate hydrothermal condition has been reported. TNTs from film possess a tubular morphology that is the same crystalline phase as one synthesized from TiO₂ powder so far. TNTs obtained in this study are not entangled one another but oriented and isolated on the substrate. Growth of highly oriented TNTs is observed in micro grooves of amorphous TiO₂ thin film. Their orientation is also maintained with the growth of TNTs.     

Heteroatom-guided torquoselective olefination of alpha-oxy and alpha-amino ketones via ynolates

Ynolates were found to react with alpha-alkoxy-, alpha-siloxy-, and alpha-aryloxyketones at room temperature to afford tetrasubstituted olefins with high Z selectivity. Since the geometrical selectivity was determined in the ring opening of the beta-lactone enolate intermediates, the torquoselectivity was controlled by the ethereal oxygen atoms. From experimental and theoretical studies, the high Z selectivity is induced by orbital and steric interactions rather than by chelation. In a similar manner, alpha-dialkylamino ketones provided olefins with excellent Z selectivity. These products can be easily converted into multisubstituted butenolides and gamma-butyrolactams in good yield.     

Determination of sulfates of androsterone and epiandrosterone in human serum using isotope diluted liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry

A promising liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) for analysis of the sulfates of 5alpha-androgen, androsterone and epiandrosterone (A-S and EpiA-S) in human serum was developed. The method was used to assess one of the markers of 5alpha-reductase activity of males including patients with prostate cancer (PC). After deproteinization with acetonitrile, the androgen sulfates and the internal standard, [7,7,16,16-2H4]dehydroepiandrosterone-S, were extracted from human serum using a solid-phase extraction cartridge and washed with hexane. The extract was reconstituted and applied to the LC/ESI-MS system operated in the selected ion monitoring mode. The method was validated over the range 0.02-5 microg/mL (A-S) and 0.005-1.5 microg/mL (EpiA-S) using 10 microL of human serum. The method was a concise procedure without chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis of the conjugates, purification by high-performance liquid chromatography and/or derivatization, and proved to be satisfactory in its reproducibility and accuracy. The levels of these androgen sulfates tended to decrease during aging, and the A-S levels in the sera obtained from both healthy males and patients with PC were correlated with their EpiA-S levels.