Reactivities of the coordinated organonitriles in molybdenum(0) and tungsten(0) phosphine complexes: protonation of the nitrile carbon and cleavage of the CN triple bond

The molybdenum and tungsten dinitrogen-organonitrile complexes trans-[M(N₂)(NCR)(dppe)₂] (2, M=Mo; 4, M=W; R=Ph, C₆H₄Me-p, C₆H₄OMe-p, Me; dppe=Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂) underwent double protonation at the nitrile carbon atom with loss of N₂ and a change in oxidation state to +4 on treatment with hydrochloric acid to afford the cationic imido complexes trans-[MCl(NCH₂R)(dppe)₂]⁺. The solid-state structure of trans-[WCl(NCH₂CH₃)(dppe)₂][PF₆]·CH₂Cl₂ was determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Protonation of complexes 2 by fluoroboric acid or hydrobromic acid also formed the similar imido complexes trans-[MoX(NCH₂R)(dppe)₂]⁺ (X=F, Br). In contrast, the dinitrogen complex trans-[Mo(N₂)₂(dppe)₂] reacted with two equiv. of benzoylacetonitrile, a nitrile with acidic CH hydrogen atoms, to give the nitrido complex trans-[Mo(N)(NKCCHCOPh)(dppe)₂] (12), which was accompanied by evolution of dinitrogen and the formation of 1-phenyl-2-propen-1-one in high yields. For complex 12, the zwitterionic structure, where the anionic enolate ligand PhC(O⁺)=CHCN coordinates to the cationic Mo(IV) center through its nitrogen atom, was confirmed by spectroscopic measurements and single-crystal X-ray analysis. A unique intermolecular aromatic C---HO hydrogen bonding was observed in that crystal structure. Complex 12 is considered to be formed via the cleavage of the CN triple bond of benzoylacetonitrile on the metal. A reaction mechanism is proposed, which includes the double protonation of the nitrile carbon atom of the ligating benzoylacetonitrile on a low-valent molybdenum center.     

Single-locus control of the mast cell population in mouse skin

The number of mast cells in connective tissue from dorsal skin varied markedly among mouse strains. Inbred strains of mice were typed into three groups, high (NC and NZB mice), low (B6, B10, and BALB/c mice), and intermediate (C3H/He and DBA/2 mice), by their mast cell content in the skin. However, the strain differences in the number of mast cells was marginal at the age of weaning but became distinct with age. This could be explained mainly by the frequently observed clustering of mast cells in adult NC and NZB mice and the rarely observed clustering in younger mice as well as in adult B10 and BALB/c mice. The breeding experiment revealed that the difference in the number of mast cells between NC and B10 mice was controlled by a single autosomal dominant locus, for which we propose the designation Mcr (mast cell regulator). The role of the Mcr locus with regard to the frequency of the mast cell population in connective tissue is discussed.     

Enzymatic reactions in aqueous-organic media. IV. Chitin-alpha-chymotrypsin complex as a catalyst for amino acid esterification and peptide synthesis in organic solvents

Summary Chitin--chymotrypsin complex was found to be an effective catalyst for the esterification of N-acetyl-L-tryptophan in ethanol and for peptide synthesis from N-acetyl-L-tyrosine and glycinamide in acetonitrile. In the former reaction both initial rate of ester formation and equilibrium yield of the ester markedly increased by the complexation of chymotrypsin with chitin compared to free chymotrypsin.     

Lipoamidase (lipoyl-X hydrolase) from pig brain.

Although the optimum substrate for lipoamidase (lipoyl-X hydrolase) has not yet been determined, it is known that lipoamidase activity, as determined by hydrolysis of the synthetic substrate lipoyl 4-aminobenzoate (LPAB), is widely distributed in pig brain tissues, i.e. in the cerebrum, cerebellum and medulla. Over 95% of the enzyme activity is present in the membrane subfractions, indicating that brain lipoamidase is an integral membrane protein enzyme. To elucidate the chemical nature and the optimum substrate of the abundant lipoamidase in the brain, we isolated it from the membrane subfractions. After an 8-step purification procedure, brain lipoamidase was purified 601-fold and identified as a 140 kDa glycoprotein by SDS/PAGE. A mechanistic study to determine Km and Vmax, values was carried out using various synthetic compounds. Lipoyl-lysine, which is generally believed to be a naturally occurring substrate of lipoamidase, was first compared with biotinyl-lysine, because these two vitamins have reactive sulphur atoms and are similar in molecular mass and structure. The Km for lipoyl-lysine was 333 microM, whereas biotinyl-lysine was not hydrolysed. Stringent specificity for the lipoyl moiety is demonstrated, as expected. Dipeptides of amino acid-lysine structures were studied, and dipeptides of aspartyl- and glutamyl-lysine hydrolysis occurred at high Km (3 mM) values. Thus lysine in the moiety is not very effective as an optimum substrate. The chemical bond structures of the amide bond (lipoyl-lysine) and peptide bond (aspartyl-lysine) were hydrolysed. Next, the ester bond compound was tested, and it was observed that lipolylmethyl ester was hydrolysed at high specificity. These findings indicate that this enzyme has broad specificities with respect to bond structure; it therefore is a unique hydrolase having stringent specificity for lipoic acid and relatively broad specificity for the chemical bond and the X moiety. Various inhibitors were tested; a few reagents, such as organic mercurials, di-isopropylfluorophosphate, 1,10-phenanthroline, sodium azide and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor exhibited some inhibition (not more than 60%). Thus the active centre of this enzyme is a complex type. Although ATP is not hydrolysed and the lowest Km value is exhibited by the synthetic substrate reduced from LPAB (12 microM), some other compounds may still be expected to be hydrolysed by this unique and abundant brain lipoamidase.     

Microfibrils: a constitutive component of reticular fibers in the mouse lymph node

Summary Fibrous components other than collagen fibrils in the reticular fiber of mouse lymph node were studied by electron microscopy. Bundles of microfibrils not associated by elastin and single microfibrils dispersed among collagen fibrils were present. The diameter of the microfibrils was 13.29±2.43 nm (n=100). Elastin-associated microfibrils occurred at the periphery of the reticular fiber. Elastin was enclosed by microfibrils, thus forming the elastic fiber, which was clearly demonstrated by tannic acid-uranyl acetate staining. In the reticular fiber of lymph nodes, the elastic fiber consisted of many more microfibrils and a small amount of elastin. These microfibrils, together with the collagen fibrils, may contribut to the various functions of the reticular fibers.     

Nucleotide sequence analysis of cDNA encoding the coat protein of cucumber mosaic virus: genome organization and molecular features of the protein

The cDNA sequence coding for the coat protein of cucumber mosaic virus (Japanese Y strain) was cloned, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The sequence contains an open reading frame that encodes the coat protein composed of 218 amino acids. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the coat protein of this strain were compared with those of the Q strain; the homologies of the sequences were 78% and 81%, respectively. Further study of the sequences gave an insight into the genome organization and the molecular features of the coat protein. The coding region can be divided into three characteristic regions. The N-terminal region has conserved features in the positively charged structure, the hydropathy pattern and the predicted secondary structure, although the amino acid sequence is varied mainly due to frameshift mutations. It is noteworthy that the positions of arginine residues in this region are highly conserved. Both the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the central region are well conserved. The amino acid sequence of the C-terminal region is not conserved, because of frameshift mutations, however, the total number of amino acids is conserved. The nucleotide sequence of the 3'-noncoding region is divergent, but it could form a tRNA-like structure similar to those reported for other viruses. Detailed investigation suggests that the Y and Q strains are evolutionarily distant.