29Si and 13C chemical shifts and coupling constants of tris(phenyldimethylsilyl)methyl silicon compounds

Silicon-29 (δ ²⁹Si) NMR chemical shifts are reported for the first time for a number of tris(phenyldimethylsilyl)methyl silicon compounds (disilylated derivatives), (PhMe₂Si^A)₃C_αL, where LSi^BR₁R₂R₃, where R varies widely in electronegativity. δ ²⁹Si^B for these series exhibited to some extent good correlations with the electronegativities of the groups bonded to silicon (particularly, δ ²⁹Si^BMe₂X, X H, OH, OCH₃, COCH₃ and Cl). Substitution with electronegative atoms shifts the chemical shift of silicon to high field.The ¹³C NMR spectra of these compounds have been recorded and assigned. The chemical shifts of the α-carbon (C_α) resonances are shown to depend on the type of substituent on the silicon-B, thus ¹³C_α exhibit downfield shifts when X=oxygen ligand. The ¹³C phenyl resonances have been measured and show the same order of o, m and p signals, viz. δ ortho (downfield)>δ para>δ meta.The variation of ²⁹Si-¹H coupling constants with the electronegativity of X was studied.     

High-affinity binding sites for prostaglandin E on human lymphocytes.

Binding sites on human lymphocytes for prostaglandins were examined by incubating cells with [³H]prostaglandin (PG) A₁, E₁, E₂, F_1α, and F_2α. Specific reversible binding for [³H]PGE₁ and E₂ was found with a K_d of ~2 × 10^?9M and a B max of ~200 binding sites per cell, assuming uniform distribution. We detected no specific binding of [³H]PGA₁, F_1α, or F_2α to lymphocytes. Also, the addition of 10- to 1000-fold greater amounts of unlabeled PGA, F_1α, or F_2α did not inhibit the binding of [³H]PGE. The time course of [³H]PGE binding appeared to be bimodal with one component complete within 5 min at 37 °C and another component of binding increasing over a 40-min incubation. We feel that the rapid component of binding may represent cell surface receptors for PGE while the slower component may represent a specific uptake mechanism for PGE into the cell. Glass adherent cells had fewer binding sites than nonadherent cells. Preincubation of the cells overnight resulted in a loss of binding sites.     

Novel prostaglandin D2-derived activators of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ are formed in macrophage cell cultures

Incubation of RAW 264.7 murine macrophages with 9,15-dihydroxy-11-oxo-, (5Z,9α,13E,15(S))-Prosta-5,13-dien-1-oic acid [prostaglandin D₂ (PGD₂)] induced formation of considerable peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) activity [Nature 391 (1998) 79]. Because PGD₂ itself is a poor PPARγ ligand, we incubated RAW 264.7 macrophage cultures with prostaglandin D₂ for 24 h and studied the ability of the metabolites formed to activate PPARγ. PGD₂ products were extracted and fractionated by reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Chemical identification was achieved by UV spectroscopy, gas–liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and chemical syntheses of reference compounds. PGD₂ was converted to eight products, six of which were identified. Ligand-induced interaction of PPARγ with steroid receptor coactivator-1 was determined by glutathione-S-transferase pull-down assays and PPARγ activation was investigated by transient transfection of RAW 264.7 macrophages. In addition to the previously known ligand 11-oxo-(5Z,9,12E,14Z)-Prosta-5,9,12,14-tetraen-1-oic acid (15-deoxy-Δ^12,14-PGJ₂), a novel PPARγ ligand and activator viz. 9-hydroxy-11-oxo-, (5Z,9α,12E,14Z)-Prosta-5,12,14-trien-1-oic acid (15-deoxy-Δ^12,14-PGD₂) was identified. The biological significance of these results is currently under investigation.     

Concerning the biosynthesis of prostaglandin I2

Two diastereoisomers, 5R,6R-5-hydroxy-6(9α)-oxido-11α,15S-dihydroxyprost-13-enoic acid (7) and 5S,6S-5-hydroxy-6(9α)-oxido-11α,15S-dihydroxyprost-13-enoic acid (10) were synthesized for evaluation as possible biosynthetic intermediates in the enzymatic transformation of PGH₂ or PGG₂ into PGI₂. The synthetic sequence entails the stereospecific reduction of the 9-keto function in PGE₂ methyl ester after protecting the C-11 and C-15 hydroxyls as tbutyldimethylsilyl ethers. The resulting PGF_2α derivative was epoxidized exclusively at the C-5 (6) double bond to yield a mixture of epoxides, which underwent facile rearrangement with SiO₂ to yield the 5S,6S and 5R,6R-5-hydroxy-6(9α)-oxido cyclic ethers. It was found that dog aortic microsomes were unable to transform radioactive 9β-5S,6S[³H] or 9β-5R,6R[³H]-5-hydroxy-6(9α)-oxido cyclic ethers into PGI₂. Also, when either diastereoisomer was included in the incubation mixture, neither isomer diluted the conversion of [1-¹⁴C]arachidonic acid into [1-¹⁴C]PGI₂.     

Conformational properties of l-fucose and the tetrasaccharide building block of the sulfated l-fucan from Lytechinus variegatus

Although the 3D structure of carbohydrates is known to contribute to their biological roles, conformational studies of sugars are challenging because their chains are flexible in solution and consequently the number of 3D structural restraints is limited. Here, we investigate the conformational properties of the tetrasaccharide building block of the Lytechinus variegatus sulfated fucan composed of the following structure [l-Fucp4(SO₃⁻)-α(1-3)-l-Fucp2,4(SO₃⁻)-α(1-3)-l-Fucp2(SO₃⁻)-α(1-3)-l-Fucp2(SO₃⁻)] and the composing monosaccharide unit Fucp, primarily by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments performed at very low temperatures and using H₂O as the solvent for the sugars rather than using the conventional deuterium oxide. By slowing down the fast chemical exchange rates and forcing the protonation of labile sites, we increased the number of through-space ¹H–¹H distances that could be measured by NMR spectroscopy. Following this strategy, additional conformational details of the tetrasaccharide and l-Fucp in solution were obtained. Computational molecular dynamics was performed to complement and validate the NMR-based measurements. A model of the NMR-restrained 3D structure is offered for the tetrasaccharide.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from Stevia ovata and crystal structure of 11,13-dehydroeriolin

The aerial parts of Stevia ovata afforded three sesquiterpene lactones, of which one was new. Its structure was established by spectroscopic methods and chemical reactions. One of the compounds, 4α,5β-epoxy-8-epi-inunolide was chemically correlated with 11,13-dehydroeriolin. The structure of the latter was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The conformation of 11,13-dehydroeriolin in the solid is chair-chair [¹⁵D₅,₁D¹⁴].     

Hemogloblin α-gene duplication in macaques: Individual Macaca nemestrina with three structurally different α chains

The diversity of hemoglobin phenotypes observed among Malaysian Macaca nemestrina (pig-tailed macaques) has been attributed, in part, to the presence of duplicated α-chain loci in some members of this species. To date, evidence in support of this view has been indirect, consisting of variation in proportions of α^I (Asp₇₁, Gln₇₈) and α^II (Asp₇₁, His₇₈) chains among presumptive heterozygotes. However, the discovery that erythrocytes from some M. nemestrina contain α^I and α^II chains in company with a third, or α^III, chain (Gly₇₁, Gln₇₈) provides direct evidence of duplicated α-chain loci.     

The crystal and molecular structure of bis(2,2′-dipyridylamine-N,N′)di(nitrato-O)cadmium(II); Solid state 113Cd NMR,components and orientation of the chemical shift tensor relative to the donor ligands

The structure of the titled compound has been determined and refined. The structure consists of isolated molecules separated by ordinary Van der Waals' distances. The Cd atom is on a crystallographic center of symmetry. The coordination polyhedron of the Cd atom is distorted octahedral with four pyridine nitrogen donors in the equatorial plane and with axial oxygen atoms from the nitrate groups. The CdO distance is 2.599(4) Å, the CdN distances are 2.310(4) and 2.316(3) Å, and the NCdN bite angle is 79.0(1)°. The solid state magic angle spinning/cross polarization ¹¹³Cd NMR isotropic chemical shift is +51.4 ppm and the components of the chemical shift tensor are: S₁₁= −92 ppm, S₃₃ = +208 ppm and S₂₂ = +39 ppm and their directions are: in the CdN₄ plane and bisecting the NCdN bite angle, perpendicular to the CdN₄ plane and the third perpendicular to the other two, respectively. This permits the assignment of contributions to the chemical shift tensor of 50 ppm from pyridine nitrogen and of −50 ppm from nitrate oxygen. From the tensor components, atomic nitrogen can be distinguished from aliphatic nitrogen donors. Crystal data: C₂₀H₁₈O₆N₈Cd; M_r = 578.8, F(000) = 580, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a = 8.591(1), b = 16.496(2), c = 7.878(1) Å, β = 95.97°, λ = 0.71073 Å, Mo Kα, V = 1110(1) ų. Z = 2, D_m = 1.73(2), D_x = 1.73 g/cm³, μ = 10.3 cm⁻¹, R_f = 0.039, 1834 reflections, 160 parameters, T ∼ 298 K. Refinement was by full matrix least-squares with anisotropic temperature factors.     

Synthesis and structural investigation of sandwich polyoxotungstates containing cerium (III/IV) and mono-lacunary Keggin tungstophosphate units

The two isostructural anions, [Ce^III(α-PW₁₁O₃₉)₂]¹¹⁻ and [Ce^IV(α-PW₁₁O₃₉)₂]¹⁰⁻, both composed of Ce^III/IV sandwiched by two mono-lacunary Keggin units [α-PW₁₁O₃₉]⁷⁻, were isolated as dimethylammonium salts and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The structures of the [Ce^III/IV(α-PW₁₁O₃₉)₂]^11−/10− anions exhibit two enantiomers d- and l-forms due to C₂ (2) symmetry from the square-antiprismatic coordination of the central Ce^III/IVO₈ polyhedron. The Ce^III compound crystallizes in achiral space group P2₁/n, while the Ce^IV analog in chiral space group P2₁ shows spontaneous resolution without any chiral auxiliaries. The correlation between the ionic radius of the central metal (M) and twist angle of the two mono-lacunary units was studied for a series of [M(α-PW₁₁O₃₉)₂]ⁿ⁻ (M = Ce^III/IV, Eu^III, Zr^IV, Hf^IV) anions and explained in terms of steric repulsion between the O atoms in the mono-lacunary units.     

Characterization of α1-adrenoceptors which mediate chronotropy in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes

1. In the present study, we investigated the effect of culture on α₁-adrenoceptors that mediate chronotropy and on α₁-adrenergic signal transduction in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes.2. The spontaneous beating rate of neonatal rat myocytes after 3 or 7 days in culture was 37.4 ± 4.2 or 102.0 ± 4.3 beats min⁻, respectively. The α₁-adrenoceptor-mediated chronotropic effect of norepinephrine was positive at day 3 of culture. In contrast to day 3 of culture, the neonatal myocytes exhibited a negative chronotropic response to norepinephrine on day 7 of culture. Both of these effects of norepinephrine were completely abolished by prazosin.3. The affinity (K_d) and/or density (B_max) of α₁-adrenoceptors labeled with [³H]prazosin in membranes from cultured myocytes were not significantly different between day 3 and day 7 of culture.4. The expression of G_s, G_i, G_q and G_o, α-subunits in membranes from cultured myocytes was found to be significantly increased with the passage of culture time by immunoblot analysis. In contrast, no significant differences in G_β-subunit expression were observed between day 3 and day 7 of culture.5. Norepinephrine-stimulated inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production by radio-binding protein in neonatal myocytes after 7 days of culture was significantly higher than that of the day 3 counterpart.6. No significant changes in phospholipid and cholesterol contents in membranes from neonatal myocytes were observed with longer culture times.7. These results suggest that changes in the responsiveness to α₁-adrenergic stimulation from positive to negative chronotropy during culture of cardiac myocytes are mediated, at least in part, by functional alterations in the α₁-adrenergic signal transduction systems, including both G-protein expression and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production.     

Binding of synthetic LKEKK peptide to human T-lymphocytes

The synthetic peptide LKEKK corresponding to sequence 16-20 of human thymosin-α₁ and 131-135 of human interferon-α₂ was labeled with tritium to specific activity 28 Ci/mol. The [³H]LKEKK bound with high affinity (K_d = 3.7 ± 0.3 nM) to donor blood T-lymphocytes. Treatment of cells with trypsin or proteinase K did not abolish [³H]LKEKK binding, suggesting the non-protein nature of the peptide receptor. The binding was inhibited by thymosin-α₁, interferon-α₂, and cholera toxin B subunit (K_i = 2.0 ± 0.3, 2.2 ± 0.2, and 3.6 ± 0.3 nM, respectively). Using [3H]LKEKK, we demonstrated the existence of a non-protein receptor common for thymosin-α₁, interferon-α₂, and cholera toxin B-subunit on donor blood T-lymphocytes.     

Three ent-secoaromadendrane-type sesquiterpene hemiacetals and a bicyclogermacrene from Plagiochila ovalifolia and Plagiochila yokogurensis

A new ent-secoaromadendrane-type sesquiterpene hemiacetal, plagiochiline G, was isolated from Plagiochila ovalifolia. Four new ent-sesquiterpene hemiacetals, plagiochiline H and I, and two pungent methoxyplagiochilines A₁, A₂ and non-pungent methoxyplagiochiline C were also isolated from P. yokogurensis. The methoxylated plagiochilines A₁, A₂ and C were derived from the plagiochilines A and C during the extraction procedure. A new germacrene, ent-3α-acetoxybicyclogermacrene, ent-maaliol and the previously known ent- aromadendrane-type sesquiterpenes have been obtained from P. yokogurensis. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by ¹H NMR spectral data and by chemical correlation.     

Purification and partial characterization of a gibberellin 2β-hydroxylase fromPhaseolus vulgaris

A gibberellin 2β-hydroxylase has been purified from mature seeds ofPhaseolus vulgaris. The enzyme is of molecular weight 36,000 and has the characteristics of a dioxygenase; the cofactors areα-ketoglu-tarate, Fe²⁺ and ascorbate, and activity is stimulated by catalase. The V_max of the enzyme is 6.86 nmole h^?1 mg^?1, and the Km values for [1,2-³H₂]GA₁ andα-ketoglutarate are 0.085 μM and 21 μM, respectively. The purified enzyme preparation catalyzes hydroxylation of GA₁, GA₄, GA₉, and GA₂₀ but exhibits a marked preference for the 3-hydroxylated gibberellins as substrate.     

Phosphatidic acid integrates calcium signaling and microtubule dynamics into regulating ABA-induced stomatal closure in Arabidopsis

Specific cellular components have been identified to function in abscisic acid (ABA) regulation of stomatal apertures, including calcium, the cytoskeleton, and phosphatidic acid. In this study, the regulation and dynamic organization of microtubules during ABA-induced stomatal closure by phospholipase D (PLD) and its product PA were investigated. ABA induced microtubule depolymerization and stomatal closure in wide-type (WT) Arabidopsis, whereas these processes were impaired in PLD mutant (pldα1). The microtubule-disrupting drugs oryzalin or propyzamide induced microtubule depolymerization, but did not affect the stomatal aperture, whereas their co-treatment with ABA resulted in stomatal closure in both WT and pldα1. In contrast, the microtubule-stabilizing drug paclitaxel arrested ABA-induced microtubule depolymerization and inhibited ABA-induced stomatal closure in both WT and pldα1. In pldα1, ABA-induced cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_cyt) elevation was partially blocked, and exogenous Ca²⁺-induced microtubule depolymerization and stomatal closure were impaired. These results suggested that PLDα1 and PA regulate microtubular organization and Ca²⁺ increases during ABA-induced stomatal closing and that crosstalk among signaling lipid, Ca²⁺, and microtubules are essential for ABA signaling.     

Stereoselective synthesis and characterization of the optically labile chiral Cr(III) complex Δ-(+)589{Cr[(−)bdtp]3}

The diastereoisomeric complex Δ-(+)-tris(cyclicO,O′, 1 (R), 2(R)(−)dimethylethylene dithiophosphato)chromium(III), was synthesized stereoselectively in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution. The complex proves optically labile, [α]_D=+106, in CHCl₃, changing quickly to [α]_D=+211. The CD spectra in THF enable us to characterize the complex and show a configuration inversion which gives the diastereoisomeric equilibrium Λ⇌Δ with an excess of the Λ-(R,R)(R,R)(R,R) diastereoisomeric form. The equilibrium constant K=0.86 at 25 °C is indicative of a different thermodynamic stability between the two diastereoisomers in THF solution, Λ-(R,R)> Δ-(R,R), δΔH°=1.5 kJ mol⁻¹, δΔG°=0.3 kJ mol⁻¹, δΔS°=4 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹. The kinetic diastereoisomer Δ-(R,R)(R,R)(R,R) is stabilized in CHCl₃, CH₂Cl₂, EtOH solvents where it is highly soluble and optically stable with a maximum negative chirality factor, g=−5×10⁻³, in CHCl₃.     

Interaction of the Laburnum anagyroides lectin with fucoantigens

We studied interaction of the lectin from the bark of Golden Rain shrub (Laburnum anagyroides, LABA) with a number of basic fucose-containing carbohydrate antigens by changes in its tryptophan fluorescence. The strongest LABA binding was observed for the trisaccharide H of type 6 [α-L-Fucp-(1-2)-β-D-Galp-(1-4)-D-Glc, K _a = 4.2 × 10³ M^?1]. The following antigens were bound with a weaker affinity: H-disaccharide α-L-Fucp-(1-2)-D-Gal, a glucoanalogue of tetrasaccharide Le^y α-L-Fucp-(1-2)-β-D-Galp-(1-4)-[α-L-Fucp-(1-3)]-D-Glc, and 6-fucosyl-N-acetylglucosamine, a fragment of core of the N-glycans family (K _a 1.1?1.7 × 10³ M^?1). The lowest binding was observed for L-fucose (K _a = 2.7 × 10² M^?1) and trisaccharide Le^a, (β-Galp-(1-3)-[α-L-Fucp-(1-4)]-GlcNAc (K _a = 6.4 × 10² M^?1). The Le^d, Le^a, and Le^x pentasaccharides and Le^b hexasaccharide were not bound to LABA.     

Crystal structure and magnetic measurements of [Cr(en)3] [ZnCl4]Cl

The compound [Cr(en)₃][ZnCl₄]Cl has been synthesized by reaction of CrCl₃·6H₂O, Zn and [Cr(en)₃]₂(SO₄)₃ in HCl. Its molecular and crystalline structure was determined by X-ray diffraction methods, being monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=21.215(3), b=12.532(2), c=13.707(2) Å, β=95.21°, V= 3629(2) ų, D_x=1.738g cm⁻³, MW=474.9, Z= 8, F(000)=1928, λ(Mo Kα)=0.71069 Å, μ(Mo Kα)= 27.04 cm⁻¹, 288 K. No significant exchange interactions between Cr(III) cations in the crystalline lattice were found. Curie-Weiss behavior was found in the three directions tested (g₁=2.06±0.02,g₂= 2.08±0.02,g₃=2.09±0.01), T=1.2-1.4 K.     

Biosynthesis of 1α,2α,3β-trihydroxy-p-menthane by Fusicoccum amygdali

Measurement of isotope ratios in 1α,2α,3β-trihydroxy-p-menthane, which has been biosynthesized in Fusicoccum amygdali from ³H- and ¹⁴C-labelled mevalonate and in its degradation product diosphenol indicates that: (a) four tritium atoms arising from [5-³H₂, 2-¹⁴C]MVA are retained, one more than suggested from the hydroxylation pattern, (b) menth-2-ene-1-ol is generated from an α-terpinyl cation through a 1,3-hydride shift and (c) trans-cleavage of an α-epoxide by hydrolysis gives 1α,2α,3β-trihydroxy-p-menthane.     

Class II α-mannosidase from Aspergillus fischeri: Energetics of catalysis and inhibition

Energetics of the catalysis of Class II α-mannosidase (E.C.3.2.1.24) from Aspergillus fischeri was studied. The enzyme showed K_cat/K_m for Man (α1-3) Man, Man (α1-2) Man and Man (α1-6) Man as 7488, 5376 and 3690 M^?1 min^?1, respectively. The activation energy, E_a was 15.14, 47.43 and 71.21 kJ/mol for α1-3, α1-2 and α1-6 linked mannobioses, respectively, reflecting the energy barrier in the hydrolysis of latter two substrates. The enzyme showed K_cat/K_m as 3.56 × 10⁵ and 4.61 × 10⁵ M^?1 min^?1 and E_a as 38.7 and 8.92 kJ/mol, towards pNPαMan and 4-MeUmbαMan, respectively. Binding of Swainsonine to the enzyme is stronger than that of 1-deoxymannojirimycin.