Microwave‐assisted aqueous synthesis of new quaternary‐alloyed CdSeTeS quantum dots; and their bioapplications in targeted imaging of cancer cells

In this study, we report for the first time a one‐pot approach for the synthesis of new CdSeTeS quaternary‐alloyed quantum dots (QDs) in aqueous phase by microwave irradiation. CdCl₂ was used as a Cd precursor during synthesis, NaHTe and NaHSe were used as Te and Se precursors and mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) was used as a stabilizer and source of sulfur. A series of quaternary‐alloyed QDs of different sizes were prepared. CdSeTeS QDs exhibited a wide emission range from 549 to 709 nm and high quantum yield (QY) up to 57.7 %. Most importantly, the quaternary‐alloyed QDs possessed significantly long fluorescence lifetimes > 100 ns as well as excellent photostability. Results of high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) and powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy showed that the nanocrystals possessed a quaternary alloy structure with good crystallinity. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) showed that QDs possessed good water solubility and monodispersity in aqueous solution. Furthermore, CdSeTeS QDs were modified with alpha‐thio‐omega‐carboxy poly(ethylene glycol) (HS‐PEG‐COOH) and the modified QDs were linked to anti‐epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies. QDs with the EGFR antibodies as labeling probes were successfully applied to targeted imaging for EGFR on the surface of SiHa cervical cancer cells. We believe that CdSeTeS QDs can become useful probes for in vivo targeted imaging and clinical diagnosis. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

AN IMPROVED SYNTHESIS OF 9-[2-(DIETHOXYPHOSPHONOMETHOXY)ETHYL]ADENINE AND ITS ANALOGUES WITH OTHER PURINE BASES UTILIZING THE MITSUNOBU REACTION

Abstract

Unprotected adenine, 6-chloropurine, 2.6-diaminopurine. and 2-amino-6-chluropurine have been directly coupled with 2-(diethoxyphosphonomethoxy)ethanol under Mitsunobu reaction conditions to provide acyclic phosphonate nucleotide analogues which are intermediates for antiviral agents such as PMEA.     

A Convenient and Efficient Method for the Synthesis of Nucleoside H-Phosphonates Using a Novel Phosphonylating Agent

Abstract

In the present paper we describe the preparation of a novel crystalline phosphonylating agent 9-fluorenemethyl phosphonic acid 2 and a convenient and efficient method for the synthesis of nucleoside H-phosphonates 5.     

Study on the Interaction between the Inclusion Complex of Hematoxylin with β-Cyclodextrin and DNA

Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectra, fluorescence spectra, electrochemistry, and the thermodynamic method were used to discuss the interaction mode between the inclusion complex of hematoxylin with β-cyclodextrin and herring sperm DNA. On the condition of physiological pH, the result showed that hematoxylin and β-cyclodextrin formed an inclusion complex with binding ratio n_hematoxylin:n_{β-cyclodextrin} = 1:1. The interaction mode between β-cyclodextrin-hematoxylin and DNA was a mixed binding, which contained intercalation and electrostatic mode. The binding ratio between β-cyclodextrin-hematoxylin and DNA was n_{β-cyclodextrin -hematoxylin}:n_DNA = 2:1, binding constant was K^? _298.15K = 5.29 × 10⁴ L·mol^?1, and entropy worked as driven force in this action.     

Hydroxyl-Functionalized DNAs with Different Linkers and Their Complmentary Duplex Stability

Tert-butyldiphenylsilyl (TBDPS) was testified to be an appropriate orthogonal protecting group for novel 7-hydroxyl-functionalized 8-aza-7-deaza-2′-deoxyadenosine analogues. It was stable in partial and complete hydrogenation reactions used for the different linker preparation. The corresponding phosphoramidites and hydroxyl-functionalized oligodeoxynucleotides were synthesized and identified. The thermal effect of the hydroxyl group with different linkers on DNA duplexes was evaluated. It provided a feasible strategy for the preparation of hydroxyl-functionalized DNAs for the nucleic acid research.     

Non‐parallel recombination limits cre‐loxP‐based reporters as precise indicators of conditional genetic manipulation

Cre/LoxP‐mediated recombination allows for conditional gene activation or inactivation. When combined with an independent lineage‐tracing reporter allele, this technique traces the lineage of presumptive genetically modified Cre‐expressing cells. Several studies have suggested that floxed alleles have differential sensitivities to Cre‐mediated recombination, which raises concerns regarding utilization of Cre‐reporters to monitor recombination of other floxed loci of interest. Here, we directly investigate the recombination correlation, at cellular resolution, between several floxed alleles induced by Cre‐expressing mouse lines. The recombination correlation between different reporter alleles varied greatly in otherwise genetically identical cell types. The chromosomal location of floxed alleles, distance between LoxP sites, sequences flanking the LoxP sites, and the level of Cre activity per cell all likely contribute to observed variations in recombination correlation. These findings directly demonstrate that, due to non‐parallel recombination events, commonly available Cre reporter mice cannot be reliably utilized, in all cases, to trace cells that have DNA recombination in independent‐target floxed alleles, and that careful validation of recombination correlations are required for proper interpretation of studies designed to trace the lineage of genetically modified populations, especially in mosaic situations. genesis 51:436–442. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Delayed Treatment Effects of Xanthine Oxidase Inhibition on Systolic Overload-Induced Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Dysfunction

The nonpurine selective xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitor febuxostat attenuates development of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and dysfunction in mice when treatment is initiated within 1 hour of transverse aortic constriction (TAC). This study investigated whether a 7-day delay of treatment with the XO inhibitors febuxostat or allopurinol would reverse TAC-induced changes after onset of heart failure (HF). Neither treatment significantly affected TAC-induced LV hypertrophy; only febuxostat caused a modest improvement in LV function (～10% increase in LV ejection fraction). However, the purine analog allopurinol tended to increase mortality compared with vehicle or febuxostat in HF mice.     

Minocycline attenuates mechanical allodynia and expression of spinal NMDA receptor 1 subunit in rat neuropathic pain model

Recent studies have indicated that minocycline, a microglia inhibitor, could potentially be used as an antinociceptive agent in pain management, although the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we investigated the extent to which minocycline could influence pain behavior in association with the expression of the N-methyl-d-aspartic acid receptor 1 (NMDAR1) in a rat L5 spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model. We observed that the intrathecal injection of minocycline significantly attenuated mechanical allodynia in a rat SNL model from day 1 postinjection and persisted for at least 18 days. We also observed that the expression of NMDAR1 was increased in the spinal dorsal horn at 8 days after SNL, which could be partly inhibited through the intrathecal injection of minocycline. These findings suggest that the attenuation of allodynia in the SNL model following minocycline administration might be associated with the inhibited expression of NMDAR1 and, therefore, might play an important role in the minocycline-mediated antinociception.     

Isolation and molecular analysis of genes Stpk-V2 and Stpk-V3 homologous to powdery mildew resistance gene Stpk-V in a Dasypyrum villosum accession and its derivatives

Wheat-Dasypyrum villosum translocated chromosomes T6V#2S?6AL and T6V#4S?6DL are known to confer excellent resistance to wheat powdery mildew (PM). However, it is difficult to distinguish the two sources of PM resistance genes through multi-pathotype testing because to date no virulence for them has been found. To reveal the relationship between the PM resistance genes from the two translocations, the sequence of the Stpk-V gene, a key member of powdery mildew resistance locus Pm21, was used as a reference to isolate homologous genes from a D. villosum accession No.1026 and its derivatives 6V#4(6D) disomic substitution (DS) line RW15 and T6V#4S?6DL translocation line Pm97033. Two genes Stpk-V2 and Stpk-V3 were cloned from No.1026. Sequence alignment showed that Stpk-V2 and Stpk-V3 shared 98.2 % and 96.2 % of their DNA and 99.3 % and 100 % of their amino acids in identity with Stpk-V. Compared with Stpk-V, a 22-bp direct sequence repeat and a miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) were found in the intron 4 of Stpk-V2 and Stpk-V3, respectively. However, Stpk-V2 was not present in DS line RW15 and translocation line Pm97033 based on the PCR result, indicating that Stpk-V2 did not contribute to the PM resistance of RW15 and Pm97033. In the promoter region, a 78-bp insertion was found not only in Stpk-V2 and Stpk-V3, but also in its orthologous gene Stpk-A of wheat. In addition, there was a 17 bp/8 bp deletion/insertion in the putative promoter of Stpk-V3 in comparison with that of Stpk-V/Stpk-V2. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis indicated that the expression levels of Stpk-V and Stpk-V3 genes in the translocation lines were induced by the pathogen, but Stpk-V had a higher expression level than Stpk-V3 at 12 h after inoculation with Bgt. The diversity of Stpk-V gene will help to explore new resistance genes to PM in D. villosum for wheat breeding.