A fluorescence lifetime study of virginiamycin S using multifrequency phase fluorometry

Using multifrequency phase fluorometry, fluorescence lifetimes have been assigned to the different protolytic forms of the antibiotic virginiamycin S. These lifetimes are 0.476 +/- 0.005 ns for the uncharged form, 1.28 +/- 0.2 and 7.4 +/- 0.2 ns for the zwitterionic form, 1.19 +/- 0.01 ns for the negatively charged form, and 1.9 +/- 0.1 ns for the double negatively charged form. The assignments are based on lifetime measurements as a function of pH, volume percent ethanol, and excitation wavelength. Excited-state proton transfer is taken into account. It is complete at pH values lower than 1, and no fluorescence of the fully protonated charged form is observed. At pH 8, an excited-state pK* increase is calculated, but proton association is too slow to cause excited-state proton transfer. The addition of divalent cations, at pH 9.4, increases the lifetime of the negatively charged form to a value dependent upon the specific nature of the cation (7.58 +/- 0.06 ns for Mg2+, 6.54 +/- 0.02 ns for Ca2+, and 3.74 +/- 0.05 ns for Ba2+). Monovalent cations do not influence the lifetimes, indicating that their binding to the macrocycle does not influence the fluorescent moiety. The model compound 3-hydroxypicolinamide shows an analogous behavior, but the retrieved lifetime can differ significantly.     

Antiamyloid properties of fullerene C60 derivatives

A comparative estimation of the ability of complexes of fullerene C60 with polyvinylpyrrolidone and fullerene C60 derivatives (the sodium salt of the polycarboxylic derivative of fullerene C60, sodium fullerenolate), has been carried out. The fullerenes destroyed amyloid fibrils of the Abeta(1-42) peptide of the brain and the muscle X-protein. A study of the effect of fullerenes on muscle actin showed that complexes of fullerene C60 with polyvinylpyrrolidone and sodium fullerenolate did not prevent the filament formation of actin, nor did they destroy its filaments in vitro. Conversely, sodium salt of the polycarboxylic derivative of fullerene C60 destroyed actin filaments and prevented their formation. It was concluded that sodium fullerenolate and complexes of fullerene C60 with polyvinylpyrrolidone are the most effective antiamyloid compounds among the fullerenes examined.     

Antiamyloid properties of fullerene C<Subscript>60</Subscript> derivatives

A comparative estimation of the ability of complexes of fullerene C₆₀ with polyvinylpyrrolidone and fullerene C₆₀ derivatives (the sodium salt of the polycarboxylic derivative of fullerene C₆₀, sodium fullerenolate), has been carried out. The fullerenes destroyed amyloid fibrils of the Aβ(1–42) peptide of the brain and the muscle X-protein. A study of the effect of fullerenes on muscle actin showed that complexes of fullerene C₆₀ with polyvinylpyrrolidone and sodium fullerenolate did not prevent the filament formation of actin, nor did they destroy its filaments in vitro. Conversely, sodium salt of the polycarboxylic derivative of fullerene C₆₀ destroyed actin filaments and prevented their formation. It was concluded that sodium fullerenolate and complexes of fullerene C₆₀ with polyvinylpyrrolidone are the most effective antiamyloid compounds among the fullerenes examined.     

Orally available pyridinylpyrimidine derivatives as novel RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis inhibitors

An HTS campaign led to the identification of 4-pyrroldino-2-(pyridin-2-yl)pyrimidine compound 1 as an RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis inhibitor. The compound 1 showed high clearance values in microsomes, however. Modification of the pyrrolidino group to a benzylamino group improved human microsomal stability with a slight loss of in vitro activity. Substitution at the ortho position of the benzyl group ameliorated in vitro activity, and further fluorination of the benzyl group improved microsomal stability in rodents. Representative members of this series, compounds 20 and 23, exhibited efficacy in RANKL-induced osteopenic mice when administered orally at 0.3mg/kg.     

Photophysical properties of non-homoconjugated 1,2-dihydro, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro and 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydro-C60 derivatives.

The photophysical properties of a novel series of non-homoconjugated 1,2-di-, 1,2,3,4-tetra-, and 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexasubstituted fullerenes (compounds 1, 2, and 3, respectively) have been systematically investigated. In this report, we examine the effect of substitution pattern of non-homoconjugated derivatized fullerenes on the ground state UV-Vis absorption, triplet state properties (lifetime, quantum yield, extinction coefficient), and singlet oxygen quantum yield. The non-homoconjugated fullerene derivatives 1-3 exhibit higher singlet oxygen quantum yield than analogous homoconjugated Bingel adducts with the same number of saturated C[double bond, length as m-dash]C bonds and exhibit decreasing quantum yield of singlet oxygen generation upon increasing the degree of functionalization on a single six member ring on the fullerene cage. This trend is similar for triplet quantum yield and triplet lifetime. The triplet extinction coefficient increases with functionalization. A detailed discussion comparing 1, 2, and 3 with functionalized homoconjugated systems and with other non-homoconjugated derivatives is presented.     

Correlation between mammalian cell cytotoxicity of flavonoids and the redox potential of phenoxyl radical/phenol couple

Flavonoids exhibit prooxidant cytotoxicity in mammalian cells due to the formation of free radicals and oxidation products possessing quinone or quinomethide structure. However, it is unclear how the cytotoxicity of flavonoids depends on the ease of their single-electron oxidation in aqueous medium, i.e., the redox potential of the phenoxyl radical/phenol couple. We verified the previously calculated redox potentials for several flavonoids according to their rates of reduction of cytochrome c and ferricyanide, and proposed experimentally-based values of redox potentials for myricetin, fisetin, morin, kaempferol, galangin, and naringenin. We found that the cytotoxicity of flavonoids (n=10) in bovine leukemia virus-transformed lamb kidney fibroblasts (line FLK) and murine hepatoma (line MH-22a) increases with a decrease in their redox potential of the phenoxyl radical/phenol couple and an increase in their lipophilicity. Their cytotoxicity was decreased by antioxidants and inhibitors of cytochromes P-450, α-naphthoflavone and isoniazide, and increased by an inhibitor of catechol-O-methyltransferase, 3,5-dinitrocatechol. It shows that although the prooxidant action of flavonoids may be the main factor in their cytotoxicity, the hydroxylation and oxidative demethylation by cytochromes P-450 and O-methylation by catechol-O-methyltransferase can significantly modulate the cytotoxicity of the parent compounds.     

Quantitative structure-activity relationships in prooxidant cytotoxicity of polyphenols: role of potential of phenoxyl radical/phenol redox couple

The aim of this work was to characterize the role of the potential of phenoxyl radical/phenol redox couple, E(7)(2), in the cytotoxicity of polyphenols. The cytotoxicity of polyphenols in bovine leukemia virus-transformed lamb kidney fibroblasts (line FLK), and human promyelocytic leukemia cells (line HL-60) was partly inhibited by catalase, by the antioxidant N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylene diamine and desferrioxamine, and potentiated by 1,3-bis-(2-chloro-ethyl)-1-nitrosourea, thus showing its prooxidant character. Dapsone, an inhibitor of myeloperoxidase, did not affect the cytotoxicity of polyphenols in HL-60 cells, whereas dicumarol, an inhibitor of DT-diaphorase, showed controversial effects on their cytotoxicity in FLK cells. Inhibitors of cytochromes P-450, alpha-naphthoflavone and izoniazide, decreased the cytotoxicity of several polyphenols, whereas 3,5-dinitrocatechol, an inhibitor of catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT), increased it. The cytotoxicity of 13 polyhydroxybenzenes was described by the equations: logcL50 (microM) = -0.67 + 5.46E(7)(2) (V) - 0.16 logD (FLK), and logcL50 (microM) = -1.39 + 6.90E(7)(2) (V) - 0.20logD (HL-60), where cL50 is compound concentration for 50% cell survival, and D is octanol/water distribution coefficient at pH 7.0. The flavonoids comprise a separate series of compounds with lower cytotoxicity. The correlations obtained quantitatively confirm the parallelism between the polyphenol cytotoxicity and the rates of their single-electron oxidation, and point to the leading role of formation of the reactive oxygen species in their cytotoxicity. Depending on the examined system, this parallelism may be distorted due to the cytochrome P-450 and COMT-catalyzed transformation of polyphenols.     

DNA cleavage by hydroxy-salicylidene-ethylendiamine-iron complexes.

Bis(hydroxy)salen.Fe complexes were designed as self-activated chemical nucleases. The presence of a hy-droxyl group on the two salicylidene moieties serve to form a hydroquinone system cooperating with the iron redox system to facilitate spontaneous formation of free radicals. We compared the DNA binding and cleaving properties of the ortho -, meta- and para -(bishydroxy) salen.Fe complexes with that of the corresponding chelate lacking the hydroxyl groups. DNA melting temperature studies indicated that the para complex exhibits the highest affinity for DNA. In addition, this para compound was considerably more potent at cleaving supercoiled plasmid DNA than the regio-isomeric ortho - and meta -hydroxy-salen.Fe complexes, even in the absence of a reducing agent, such as dithiothreitol used to activate the metal complex. The DNA cleaving activity of the para isomer is both time and concentration dependent and the complexed iron atom is absolutely essential for the sequence uniform cleavage of DNA. From a mechanistic point of view, electron spin resonance measurements suggest that DNA contributes positively to the activation of the semi-quinone system and the production of ligand radical species responsible for subsequent strand scission in the absence of a reducing agent. The para -hydroxy-salen.Fe complex has been used for detecting sequence-specific drug-DNA interactions. Specific binding of Hoechst 33258 to AT sequences and chromomycin to GC sequences were shown. The para -bis(hydroxy)salen.Fe derivative complements the tool box of footprinting reagents which can be utilised to produce efficient cleavage of DNA.     

Charge separation and energy transfer in a caroteno-C60 dyad: photoinduced electron transfer from the carotenoid excited states.

We have designed and synthesized a molecular dyad comprising a carotenoid pigment linked to a fullerene derivative (C-C(60)) in which the carotenoid acts both as an antenna for the fullerene and as an electron transfer partner. Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy was carried out on the dyad in order to investigate energy transfer and charge separation pathways and efficiencies upon excitation of the carotenoid moiety. When the dyad is dissolved in hexane energy transfer from the carotenoid S(2) state to the fullerene takes place on an ultrafast (sub 100 fs) timescale and no intramolecular electron transfer was detected. When the dyad is dissolved in toluene, the excited carotenoid decays from its excited states both by transferring energy to the fullerene and by forming a charge-separated C.+ -C(60).- . The charge-separated state is also formed from the excited fullerene following energy transfer from the carotenoid. These pathways lead to charge separation on the subpicosecond time scale (possibly from the S(2) state and the vibrationally excited S(1) state of the carotenoid), on the ps time scale (5.5 ps) from the relaxed S(1) state of the carotenoid, and from the excited state of C(60) in 23.5 ps. The charge-separated state lives for 1.3 ns and recombines to populate both the low-lying carotenoid triplet state and the dyad ground state.     

Fullerenes in biology

Fullerenes are chemical structures made of carbon atoms. The stable form is molecule composed of 60 carbon atoms arranged in a soccer ball-shaped structure. With respect to its electron donor and acceptor capability and photochemical behavior fullerenes can be effective antioxidants and radical scavengers or prooxidants and photosensitizers. These properties of fullerenes have paid attention on their possible biological applications. Results of previous studies point to the great dependance of fullerenes activity upon quality, quantity and geometry of substituents in fullerene derivatives. Some of fullerene derivatives show antiviral and antimicrobial activity, including anti-HIV properties. C60 and its derivatives are able to exhibit cytotoxic and enzyme-inhibiting abilities as well as radical-quenching and antioxidative abilities. Generation of reactive oxygen species under influence of visible light is another ability of fullerene derivetives desired in photodynamic therapy.     

Interaction of c(60)-fullerene and carboxyfullerene with proteins: docking and binding site alignment

The unique properties of fullerenes have raised the interest of using them for biomedical applications. Within this framework, the interactions of fullerenes with proteins have been an exciting research target, yet little is known about how native proteins can bind fullerenes, and what is the nature of these interactions. Moreover, though some proteins have been shown to interact with fullerenes, up to date, no crystal structure of such complexes was obtained. Here we report docking studies aimed at examining the interactions of fullerene in two forms (C60 nonsubstituted fullerene and carboxyfullerene) with four proteins that are known to bind fullerene derivatives: HIV protease, fullerene-specific antibody, human serum albumin, and bovine serum albumin. Our work provides docking models with detailed binding pockets information, which closely match available experimental data. We further compare the predicted binding sites using a novel multiple binding site alignment method. A high similarity between the physicochemical properties and surface geometry was found for fullerene's binding sites of HIV protease and the human and bovine serum albumins.     

DNA coated with cationic fullerene derivative. A possible microwire in water.

Fullerene derivative 2 carrying pyridinium cation bound to sonicated calf thymus DNA in water. The binding ratio was 1 fullerene unit to 1 phosphate residue, giving the complex where DNA strand is seemingly coated with electron-conducting fullerenes. Cyclic voltammetry shows three-step redox couples in the complex, and the current peaks were broadened and shifted to positive side as compared to uncomplexed 2. Binding of 2 onto grooves of DNA double helix was suggested.     

Complementation of SOD-deficient Escherichia coli by manganese porphyrin mimics of superoxide dismutase activity

Cationic Mn(III) porphyrins substituted on the methine bridge carbons (meso positions) with N-alkylpyridinium or N,N'-diethylimidazolium groups have been prepared and characterized, both chemically and as SOD mimics. The ortho tetrakis N-methylpyridinium compound was substantially more active than the corresponding para isomer. This ortho compound also exhibited a more positive redox potential and greater ability to facilitate the aerobic growth of a SOD-deficient Escherichia coli. Analogs with longer alkyl side chains and with methoxyethyl side chains, as well as with N,N'-diethylimidazolium and N,N'-dimethoxyethylimidazolium groups on the meso positions, have been prepared in anticipation of greater penetration of the cells due to greater lipophilicity. We now report that the more lipophilic compounds were effective at complementing the SOD-deficient E. coli at lower concentrations than were needed with the less lipophilic compounds. The greater efficacy of the more lipophilic compounds was achieved at the cost of greater toxicity that became apparent when these compounds were applied at higher concentrations.     

Direct interaction of baculovirus capsid proteins VP39 and EXON0 with kinesin-1 in insect cells determined by fluorescence resonance energy transfer-fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy

Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) replicates in the nucleus of insect cells to produce nucleocapsids, which are transported from the nucleus to the plasma membrane for budding through GP64-enriched areas to form budded viruses. However, little is known about the anterograde trafficking of baculovirus nucleocapsids in insect cells. Preliminary confocal scanning laser microscopy studies showed that enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-tagged nucleocapsids and capsid proteins aligned and colocalized with the peripheral microtubules of virus-infected insect cells. A colchicine inhibition assay of virus-infected insect cells showed a significant reduction in budded virus production, providing further evidence for the involvement of microtubules and suggesting a possible role of kinesin in baculovirus anterograde trafficking. We investigated the interaction between AcMNPV nucleocapsids and kinesin-1 with fluorescence resonance energy transfer-fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FRET-FLIM) and show for the first time that AcMNPV capsid proteins VP39 and EXON0, but not Orf1629, interact with the tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain of kinesin. The excited-state fluorescence lifetime of EGFP fused to VP39 or EXON0 was quenched from 2.4 ± 1 ns to 2.1 ± 1 ns by monomeric fluorescent protein (mDsRed) fused to TPR (mDsRed-TPR). However, the excited-state fluorescence lifetime of an EGFP fusion of Orf1629 remained unquenched by mDsRed-TPR. These data indicate that kinesin-1 plays an important role in the anterograde trafficking of baculovirus in insect cells.     

Polymerization of miniature fullerenes in the cavity of nanotubes

The polymerization of four fullerenes C₂₈ in the cavity of closed single-walled carbon nanotube C₇₄₀ was investigated. It was shown that the formation of the oligomer of four C₂₈ fullerenes is observed at the pressure of 37.73 GPa, which is created by means of the charged fullerene C₆₀. Fullerene C₆₀ moves under the influence of an external electric field.     

Fluorogenic assay of alkaline phosphatase activity based on the modulation of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer

A new fluorogenic substrate 1, which enables the fast and quantitative analysis of alkaline phosphatase activity, has been developed. Selective enzymatic hydrolysis of 1 instantly generated fluorescent compound 2 in aqueous media, which undergo an excited-state intramolecular proton transfer process, resulting in a remarkable fluorescence turn-on signal with an unusually large Stokes shift.     

Isomeric N-alkylpyridylporphyrins and their Zn(II) complexes: inactive as SOD mimics but powerful photosensitizers

The ortho, meta, and para isomers of cationic N-alkylpyridylporphyrins and their Zn(II) complexes were compared in terms of their photodynamic properties. The ortho Zn(II) complex was found to be the most efficient in causing photooxidation of NADH in vitro. In Escherichia coli, however, the para and meta isomers were better photosensitizers than their ortho analogs. The lower potency of the ortho compound in vivo seems to be due to its lower intracellular concentration. All porphyrins tested were more efficient in killing E. coli and in photooxidizing NADH than the hematoporphyrin derivative. Antibiotic resistance did not affect the photokill, which implies that the cationic N-alkylpyridylporphyrins, as their Zn(II) complexes, can be used as bactericidal agents against antibiotic-resistant strains of gram-negative bacteria.     

Photophysical study of photoinduced electron transfer in a bis-thiophene substituted peryleneimide.

Based on femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopy and single photon timing experiments, intramolecular photoinduced charge transfer has been investigated in two systems containing a peryleneimide chromophore (P) and thiophene (T) groups. The first compound bearing a single thiophene ring (PT1) is used as model and shows a behavior similar to P, studied previously, while in the compound with two thiophene rings attached (PT2) electron transfer from the thiophene donor to the peryleneimide acceptor is observed in benzonitrile. Femtosecond fluorescence upconversion and femtosecond transient absorption experiments in benzonitrile indicate that this ion-pair state formation occurs in 19 ps. This ion-pair state then decays with two time constants of 1400 and 820 ps, probably corresponding to different conformations of the thiophene rings.     

Effect of quantum differences of ortho and para H2O spin-isomers on water properties: Biophysical aspect

Quantum differences of ortho/para H₂O spin-isomers are considered as a key factor that determines water property taking into account the ortho/para conversion and the unbalanced (1: 1) ortho/para ratio in water. The biophysical mechanism of jump in the permeability of erythrocytes through a microcapillary at 36.6°C in water-based physiological solution and at 37.4°C in heavy water is proposed and discussed.     

Synthesis of sulfanilamide derivatives and investigation of in vitro inhibitory activities and antimicrobial and physical properties

Novel sulfanilamide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for carbonic anhydrase inhibitory activity as a target for the treatment of glaucoma, and antibacterial properties for use in chemotherapy. Synthesized compounds were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and photoluminescence. In vitro inhibitory activities were measured by UV-Vis and some of the compounds were found have greater inhibitory effects than the lead compound sulfanilamide. The correlation between inhibitory activity, biological properties and the physicochemical properties of water solubility and partition coefficients was also investigated. Sulfanilamide derivatives gave intense emissions upon irradiation by UV light and a dimethyl substituted compound and a cyclic analog have photoluminescence quantum yields 42% and 31% and long excited-state lifetimes of 3.92 and 2.91 ns, respectively.