An anhydrous polymorphic form of trehalose

An anhydrous polymorphic form of alpha,alpha-trehalose was prepared from trehalose dihydrate by two different drying methods: (1) heating under vacuum; and (2) heating in hot air. Preparation of this anhydrous form by vacuum heating showed good reproducibility. This form was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. This anhydrous form was converted to an amorphous phase at 127 degrees C and was found to be hygroscopic. At 43% relative humidity at 25 degrees C, this form rapidly reverted to dihydrate, while the amorphous phase remained unchanged. When an amorphous phase coexisted with this form, the rate of water adsorption to the amorphous phase was slower than that to the amorphous phase alone. These properties of this anhydrous form of alpha,alpha-trehalose may explain the effects of trehalose in dehydration tolerance of plants and insects in the desert.     

Physicochemical characterization of silicon-containing glycolipids by DSC,FT-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction

Derivatives of dimethylalkylchlorosilanes are novel substances which may be used in formulations for drug targeting. In order to design their properties it is essential to perform physicochemical characterization. For this purpose, a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), FT-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction is well suited. For the starting material dimethyloctadecylchlorosilane (DMOC), the assignment of Raman bands is discussed. The influence of sugar-containing head groups on the structures of the hydrocarbon chains of 1-O-(dimethyldodecylsilyl)-[2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside] and 1-O-(dimethyloctadecylsilyl)-[2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside] was investigated using the band position of the symmetric methylene mode. The temperature dependence of conformationally sensitive bands in the CH(2)-stretching region (2800-2900 cm(-1)), C-C-stretching region (1000-1150 cm(-1)) and CH(3)-rocking region (830-900 cm(-1)) was studied to characterize the state of order of the alkyl chains. Using X-ray diffraction, the repeating distances of layered structures was determined. The phase transitions occurring were found to be completely reversible. The subcell of DMOC shows an orthorhombic perpendicular packing structure in the crystalline state.     

Determination of the degree of deacetylation of chitin and chitosan by X-ray powder diffraction

A new method to determine the degree of deacetylation (DD) of alpha-chitin and chitosan in the range of 17-94% DD using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) is proposed. The results were calibrated using (1)H NMR spectroscopy for chitosan and FTIR for chitin, in comparison with the potentiometric titration method. The results showed a good linear correlation between the CrI020 from XRD and the calibrated DD value. This method is found to be simple, rapid and nondestructive to the sample.     

Synthesis and characterization of chromium(III) octaphenylporphyrin complexes with various axial ligands: An insight into porphyrin distortion

Influence of axial ligands, MeCN, H₂O, py, and piperidine (pip), on distortion of (2,3,5,10,12,13,15,20-octaphenylporphinato)chromium(III), [Cr(OPP)]⁺, was investigated by X-ray crystallography and UV-vis and ESR spectroscopies. In crystal structures of [Cr(OPP)(MeCN)(H₂O)]ClO₄ · MeCN and [Cr(OPP)(H₂O)₂]ClO₄ · 3THF, the OPP²⁻ ligand had a planar structure. On the other hand, crystal structures of [Cr(OPP)(pip)₂]ClO₄ · 2CH₂Cl₂ and [Cr(OPP)(py)₂]ClO₄ exhibited a waved structure and a saddle-shaped structure with ruffling, respectively. In the UV-vis spectrum of [Cr(OPP)(py)₂]ClO₄ in CH₂Cl₂, the large red shift of the Soret band was observed. Furthermore, the small D value of 0.10 cm⁻¹ was obtained for [Cr(OPP)(py)₂]ClO₄ from the ESR spectrum in frozen 1,2-dichloroethane solution at 5 K. These results suggest that the OPP²⁻ ligand is distorted both in solid and in solution, and that the axial ligand would exert some effects on the porphyrin distortion.     

Triglycerides obtained by dry fractionation of milk fat: 2. Thermal properties and polymorphic evolutions on heating

The crystallographic and thermal properties of milk fat and fractions were investigated on heating using the coupling of synchrotron X-ray diffraction with differential scanning calorimetry. We showed that re-crystallisations occurred during the heating of the stearin and the olein fractions with the formation of a β′ 2L (41.1-42.6 Å) structure and a β′ 3L (66 Å) structure, respectively. By creating a quantified solid-liquid phase behaviour versus temperature diagram, the amount of the solid and liquid phases and the relative proportion of each of the crystalline structures within the solid phase were determined.     

X-ray crystal structure of iridoid glucoside aucubin and its aglycone

X-ray diffraction analyses of iridoid glycoside aucubin (1) and its aglycone aucubigenin (2) are reported. It was found that crystals of 1 are orthorhombic, with P2₁2₁2₁ space group, both cyclopentane ring and pyran ring adopt envelope conformations, and the Glc moiety is in the ⁴C₁ conformation. Crystals of 2 are monoclinic, with space group P2₁, the cyclopentane and pyran rings also adopt the envelope conformation. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were also determined. Intensive O–HO hydrogen bonds in both crystal lattices were observed.     

Structural characterization of wheat starch granules differing in amylose content and functional characteristics

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) together with several complementary techniques, such as differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction, have been employed to investigate the structural features that give diverse functional properties to wheat starches (Triticum aestivum L.) within a narrow range of enriched amylose content (36–43%). For these starches, which come from a heterogeneous genetic background, SAXS analysis of duplicate samples enabled structural information to be obtained about their lamellar architecture where differences in lamellar spacing among samples were only several tenths of nanometer. The SAXS analysis of these wheat starches with increased amylose content has shown that amylose accumulates in both crystalline and amorphous parts of the lamella. Using waxy starch as a distinctive comparison with the other samples confirmed a general trend of increasing amylose content being linked with the accumulation of defects within crystalline lamellae. We conclude that amylose content directly influences the architecture of semi-crystalline lamellae, whereas thermodynamic and functional properties are brought about by the interplay of amylose content and amylopectin architecture.     

Microwave assisted synthesis and solid-state characterization of lithocholyl amides of isomeric aminopyridines

Microwave (MW) assisted synthesis and solid state structural characterizations of novel lithocholyl amides of 2-, 3-, and 4-aminopyridine are reported. It is shown that the MW technique is a proper method in the preparation of N-lithocholyl amides of isomeric aminopyridines. It offers many advantages compared to conventional heating. The molecular and crystal structures as well as the polymorphic and hydrated forms of prepared conjugates with their thermodynamic stabilities have been characterized by means of high resolution liquid- and solid-state NMR spectroscopy, single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. Owing to the many biological functions of bile acids and amino substituted nitrogen heterocycles, knowledge of the crystal packing of these novel conjugates may have relevance for potential pharmaceutical applications.     

Quantitative measurement of indomethacin crystallinity in indomethacin-silica gel binary system using differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray powder diffractometry

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD) methods were developed for the quantitative analysis of the crystallinity of indomethacin (IMC) in IMC and silica gel (SG) binary system. The DSC calibration curve exhibited better linearity than that of XRPD. No phase transformation occurred in the IMC-SG mixtures during DSC measurement. The major sources of error in DSC measurements were inhomogeneous mixing and sampling. Analyzing the amount of IMC in the mixtures using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) could reduce the sampling error. DSC demonstrated greater sensitivity and had less variation in measurement than XRPD in quantifying crystalline IMC in the IMC-SG binary system. Published: February, 10, 2006     

Conformational analysis of the dipeptide taste ligand L-aspartyl-D-2-aminobutyric acid-(S)-α-ethylbenzylamide and its analogues by NMR spectroscopy,computer simulations and X-ray diffraction studies

A dipeptide taste ligand L -aspartyl-D -2-aminobutyric acid-(S)-α-ethylbenzylamide was found to be about 2000 times more potent than sucrose. To investigate the molecular basis of its potent sweet taste, we carried out conformational analysis of this molecule and several related analogues by NMR spectroscopy, computer simulations and X-ray crystallographic studies. The results of the studies support our earlier model that an ‘L’-shape molecular array is essential for eliciting sweet taste. In addition, we have identified an aromatic group located between the stem and the base of the ‘L-shape’, which is responsible for enhancement of sweetness potency. In this study, we also assessed the optimal size of the essential hydrophobic group (X) and the effects of the chirality of the second residue toward taste. ©1997 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis, solid-state characterization and antimicrobial activities of three different polymorphs of a copper(II) complex with 4-isopropyltropolone (hinokitiol)

There exist at least three different polymorphs in the copper(II) complex [Cu(hino)₂] with a hinokitiol ligand (Hhino; 4-isopropyltropolone¹). In addition to deep-green plate crystals 1a and deep-green rod crystals 1b, whose crystal structures have been recently reported, novel green needle crystals 1c of [Cu(hino)₂] were found, the crystal structure of which was here determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Since only one crystal structure has been reported for the copper(II) complex [Cu(trop)₂] with a tropolone ligand (Htrop), the polymorphism found in the crystals of [Cu(hino)₂] would be due to the presence of the isopropyl group on the tropolone ring. The synthetic conditions giving the three polymorphs in good yields were found and the crystals were characterized with elemental analysis, FT-IR, TG/DTA and X-ray powder diffraction (XPD) measurements, as well as solution molecular weight measurements for 1a. The solid-state magnetic behaviors or the temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibilities were measured with Superconductivity Quantum Interference Devices (SQUID): 1a showed a weak ferromagnetic interaction, 1b showed a paramagnetic nature with S=1/2, while 1c showed a weak antiferromagnetic interaction. The antimicrobial activities for selected bacteria, yeasts and molds were also measured in the water-suspension system: 1a and 1b showed no activity, while 1c showed modest activities, and these activities were compared with those of the neutral Hino and the anionic hino⁻ ligands.     

Structural and morphological characterization of hemozoin produced by Schistosoma mansoni and Rhodnius prolixus

Hemozoin (Hz) is a heme crystal produced upon the digestion of hemoglobin (Hb) by blood-feeding organisms as a main mechanism of heme disposal. The structure of Hz consists of heme dimers bound by reciprocal iron-carboxylate interactions and stabilized by hydrogen bonds. We have recently described heme crystals in the blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni, and in the kissing bug, Rhodnius prolixus. Here, we characterized the structures and morphologies of the heme crystals from those two organisms and compared them to synthetic β-hematin (βH). Synchrotron radiation X-ray powder diffraction showed that all heme crystals share the same unit cell and structure. The heme crystals isolated from S. mansoni and R. prolixus consisted of very regular units assembled in multicrystalline spherical structures exhibiting remarkably distinct surface morphologies compared to βH. In both organisms, Hz formation occurs inside lipid droplet-like particles or in close association to phospholipid membranes. These results show, for the first time, the structural and morphological characterization of natural Hz samples obtained from these two blood-feeding organisms. Moreover, Hz formation occurring in close association to a hydrophobic environment seems to be a common trend for these organisms and may be crucial to produce very regular shaped phases, allowing the formation of multicrystalline assemblies in the guts of S. mansoni and R. prolixus.     

Immobilization of Nickel by Bacterial Isolates from the Indian Ridge System and the Chemical Nature of the Accumulated Metal

Bacterial isolates from Carlsberg-Ridge waters were tested for their ability to immobilize Ni. For this, test cultures were suspended for 60 d in seawater with and without added Ni at concentrations of 10 to 10,000 μ M. At an initial concentration of 100 μ M, isolates CR35 and CR48 caused a 89.8 and 6.95 μ M decrease in dissolved Ni at 28 2°C and a 14.75 and 6.38 μ M at 3 1°C. Analyses showed the contribution of hydroxyl, carbonyl, sulfide and phosphoryl groups in Ni binding. The study proves that Ni immobilization can occur even in the absence of Mn and suggests their plausible role in the ridge ecosystem.     

The thermotropic phase behaviour and phase structure of a homologous series of racemic beta-D-galactosyl dialkylglycerols studied by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction

The thermotropic phase behaviour of aqueous dispersions of some synthetic 1,2-di-O-alkyl-3-O-(beta-D-galactosyl)-rac-glycerols (rac-beta-D-GalDAGs) with both odd and even hydrocarbon chain lengths was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small-angle (SAXS) and wide-angle (WAXS) X-ray diffraction. DSC heating curves show a complex pattern of lamellar (L) and nonlamellar (NL) phase polymorphism dependent on the sample's thermal history. On cooling from 95 degrees C and immediate reheating, rac-beta-D-GalDAGs typically show a single, strongly energetic phase transition, corresponding to either a lamellar gel/liquid-crystalline (L(beta)/L(alpha)) phase transition (N< or =15 carbon atoms) or a lamellar gel/inverted hexagonal (L(beta)/H(II)) phase transition (N> or =16). At higher temperatures, some shorter chain compounds (N=10-13) exhibit additional endothermic phase transitions, identified as L/NL phase transitions using SAXS/WAXS. The NL morphology and the number of associated intermediate transitions vary with hydrocarbon chain length. Typically, at temperatures just above the L(alpha) phase boundary, a region of phase coexistence consisting of two inverted cubic (Q(II)) phases are observed. The space group of the cubic phase seen on initial heating has not been determined; however, on further heating, this Q(II) phase disappears, enabling the identification of the second Q(II) phase as Pn3 m (space group Q(224)). Only the Pn3 m phase is seen on cooling. Under suitable annealing conditions, rac-beta-D-GalDAGs rapidly form highly ordered lamellar-crystalline (L(c)) phases at temperatures above (N< or =15) or below (N=16-18) the L(beta)/L(alpha) phase transition temperature (T(m)). In the N< or =15 chain length lipids, DSC heating curves show two overlapping, highly energetic, endothermic peaks on heating above T(m); corresponding changes in the first-order spacings are observed by SAXS, accompanied by two different, complex patterns of reflections in the WAXS region. The WAXS data show that there is a difference in hydrocarbon chain packing, but no difference in bilayer dimensions or hydrocarbon chain tilt for these two L(c) phases (termed L(c1) and L(c2), respectively). Continued heating of suitably annealed, shorter chain rac-beta-D-GalDAGs from the L(c2) phase results in a phase transition to an L(alpha) phase and, on further heating, to the same Q(II) or H(II) phases observed on first heating. On reheating annealed samples with longer chain lengths, a subgel phase is formed. This is characterized by a single, poorly energetic endotherm visible below the T(m). SAXS/WAXS identifies this event as an L(c)/L(beta) phase transition. However, the WAXS reflections in the di-16:0 lipid do not entirely correspond to the reflections seen for either the L(c1) or L(c2) phases present in the shorter chain rac-beta-D-GalDAGs; rather these consist of a combination of L(c1), L(c2) and L(beta) reflections, consistent with DSC data where all three phase transitions occur within a span of 5 degrees C. At very long chain lengths (N> or =19), the L(beta)/L(c) conversion process is so slow that no L(c) phases are formed over the time scale of our experiments. The L(beta)/L(c) phase conversion process is significantly faster than that seen in the corresponding rac-beta-D-GlcDAGs, but is slower than in the 1,2-sn-beta-D-GalDAGs already studied. The L(alpha)/NL phase transition temperatures are also higher in the rac-beta-D-GalDAGs than in the corresponding rac-beta-D-GlcDAGs, suggesting that the orientation of the hydroxyl at position 4 and the chirality of the glycerol molecule in the lipid/water interface influence both the L(c) and NL phase properties of these lipids, probably by controlling the relative positions of hydrogen bond donors and acceptors in the polar region of the membrane.     

Structural insights into thermostabilization of leucine dehydrogenase from its atomic structure by cryo-electron microscopy

Leucine dehydrogenase (LDH, EC 1.4.1.9) is a NAD⁺-dependent oxidoreductase that catalyzes the deamination of branched-chain l-amino acids (BCAAs). LDH of Geobacillus stearothermophilus (GstLDH) is a highly thermostable enzyme that has been applied for the quantification or production of BCAAs. Here the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of apo and NAD⁺-bound LDH are reported at 3.0 and 3.2?Å resolution, respectively. On comparing the structures, the two overall structures are almost identical, but it was observed that the partial conformational change was triggered by the interaction between Ser147 and the nicotinamide moiety of NAD⁺. NAD⁺ binding also enhanced the strength of oligomerization interfaces formed by the core domains. Such additional interdomain interaction is in good agreement with our experimental results showing that the residual activity of NAD⁺-bound form was approximately three times higher than that of the apo form after incubation at 80?°C. In addition, sequence comparison of three structurally known LDHs indicated a set of candidates for site-directed mutagenesis to improve thermostability. Subsequent mutation analysis actually revealed that non-conserved residues, including Ala94, Tyr127, and the C-terminal region, are crucial for oligomeric thermostability.     

Synthesis, characterization, and cytotoxicity of trimethylplatinum(IV) complexes with 2-thiocytosine and 1-methyl-2-thiocytosine ligands

The reaction of [PtMe₃(MeOH)(bpy)][BF₄] (1) with the thionucleobases 2-thiocytosine (SCy, 2) and 1-methyl-2-thiocytosine (1-MeSCy, 3) resulted in the formation of the complexes [PtMe₃(bpy)(SCy-κS)][BF₄] (4) and [PtMe₃(bpy)(1-MeSCy-κS)] [BF₄] (5), respectively. The complexes were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy as well as by single-crystal X-ray analyses of 4 · MeOH and 5. In 4 · MeOH two strong hydrogen bonds (N4-H?N3′: N4?N3′ 2.976(7) Å) between the thiocytosine ligands give rise to base pairing thus forming dinuclear cations [{PtMe₃(bpy)(SCy-κS)}₂]²⁺. In both complexes the platinum atom is octahedrally coordinated [PtC₃N₂S] by three methyl ligands, the 2,2′-bipyridine ligand and the κS coordinated nucleobase (configuration index: OC-6-33). The structural investigations gave evidence that the sulfur atoms of the nucleobase ligands in 4 · MeOH and 5 have to be regarded as sp³ and sp² hybridized, respectively. Thus, the ligand in 4 · MeOH has to be considered as the deprotonated thiol-amino form of thiocytosine being reprotonated at N1. In complex 5 the 1-MeSCy is coordinated in its thione-amino form. DFT-calculations of the base-paired dinuclear cation in 4 as well as of 4 itself gave proof of the strength of the hydrogen bond (8.5 kcal/mol) and exhibited that cation-anion interactions influence the conformation of the complex. In vitro cytotoxicity studies of 4 and 5 using nine different human tumor cell lines revealed moderate cytotoxic activity.     

Ideal enantiomeric resolution by recrystallization of a racemic compound (part 4): Relationship between enantiomeric resolution phenomenon and crystal properties

A new example of a racemate showing unusual enantiomeric resolution phenomenon, in which simple recrystallization of the racemate leads to remarkable enantiomeric enrichment of either enantiomer up to 100% ee in the mother liquor, has been found. This compound is (±)-[2-[4-(3-ethoxy-2-hydroxypropoxy)phenylcarbamoyl]-ethyl]dimethylsulfonium p-nitrobenzenesulfonate [EtOCH₂CH(OH)CH₂OC₆H₄NHCOCH₂CH₂SMe₂⁺O₂NC₆H₄SO₃⁻] [(±)-SN]. By repeating recrystallization of (±)-SN and the resulting deposited crystals successively and collecting the resulting enantiomerically enriched mother liquors with the same chirality sense, highly efficient enantiomeric resolution of the racemate into its separate enantiomers has been accomplished. The relationship between the occurrence of this enantiomeric resolution phenomenon and the crystal properties has been investigated with respect to SN and its aryl- and alkylsulfonate derivatives. The mode of enantiomeric resolution of (±)-SN was similar to that of para-substituted benzenesulfonate derivatives (±)-ST (4-MeC₆H₄SO₃⁻) and (±)-SC (4-ClC₆H₄SO₃⁻) previously reported, whereas the unsubstituted derivative (±)-SB (C₆H₅SO₃⁻) and alkysulfonate derivatives (±)-SO (n-C₈H₁₇SO₃⁻) and (±)-SM (CH₃SO₃⁻) did not show such an enantiomeric resolution phenomenon. The crystalline form of the former racemates that underwent the enantiomeric resolution was racemic compounds, while the latter were mixed crystals (solid solutions) composed of the respective optical antipodes. Chirality 9:220–224, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Molecular characterization of ORFs 2 to 7 of Korean porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (CA) and its protein expression by recombinant baculoviruses

To determine the characteristics of the Korean porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), CA, which was isolated from the serum of an infected pig in 2006, we investigated the nucleotide sequence and expression of the structural ORFs (ORFs 2 to 7) using the bApGOZA system. We found that the structural ORFs 2 to 7 of CA consisted of 3188 nucleotides that were the same as those formed from VR-2332. Comparison of the CA with the other strains revealed nucleotide sequence identity ranging from 89.8 to 99.5%. To better understand the genetic relationships between other strains, phylogenetic analyses were performed. The CA strain was closely related to the other North American genotype strains but formed a distinct branch with high bootstrap support. Additionally, expression levels of the PRRSV proteins in insect cells were strong or partially weak. The results of this study have implications for both the taxonomy of PRRSV and vaccine development.     

Schistosoma mansoni: development of the vitelline cell, its role in drug sequestration, and changes induced by Astiban.

The ultrastructure of four stages in the development of the vitelline cell of Schistosoma mansoni has been described, and the effect of different regimes of Astiban on the morphology of these cells was investigated. The drug had a highly selective action, rapidly destroying those cells at a stage of granular endoplasmic reticulum development, had a less immediate effect on the “mature” cells, and had no apparent effect on the first stages in development. These cells persisted and were able to continue development when the drug was withdrawn. Acid phosphatase tests at an ultrastructural level showed a considerable increase in activity in the cytosegresomes of affected “mature” cells. The ribosomal complexes present in the “mature” cells represent the early stages of cytosegresome formation, and these cytosegresomes increased in number in affected “mature” cells. X-ray analysis of both araldite and cryosections in the transmission electron microscope revealed a concentration of the element antimony in the cytosegresomes and vitelline droplets. On this basis, it is suggested that cytosegresomes play a role in drug sequestration by the vitelline cells.