The ‘division of labour’ model of eye evolution

The ‘division of labour’ model of eye evolution is elaborated here. We propose that the evolution of complex, multicellular animal eyes started from a single, multi-functional cell type that existed in metazoan ancestors. This ancient cell type had at least three functions: light detection via a photoreceptive organelle, light shading by means of pigment granules and steering through locomotor cilia. Located around the circumference of swimming ciliated zooplankton larvae, these ancient cells were able to mediate phototaxis in the absence of a nervous system. This precursor then diversified, by cell-type functional segregation, into sister cell types that specialized in different subfunctions, evolving into separate photoreceptor cells, shading pigment cells (SPCs) or ciliated locomotor cells. Photoreceptor sensory cells and ciliated locomotor cells remained interconnected by newly evolving axons, giving rise to an early axonal circuit. In some evolutionary lines, residual functions prevailed in the specialized cell types that mirror the ancient multi-functionality, for instance, SPCs expressing an opsin as well as possessing rhabdomer-like microvilli, vestigial cilia and an axon. Functional segregation of cell types in eye evolution also explains the emergence of more elaborate photosensory–motor axonal circuits, with interneurons relaying the visual information.     

Duration of the mitotic cycle at the period of synchronous cleavage division (t0) in the starfish Asterina pectinifera (Müller et Troschel)

The duration of a single division (tau 0) in a period of synchronous cleavage, time of development before the start of cleavage, and rotation, hatching and gastrulation stages in A. pectinifera at different temperatures were estimated. The range of temperatures optimal for embryonic and early larval development of the starfish was determined.     

Synthesis of (NBu4)2[Pd2(μ-Br)2(C6X5)2Br2] (X=F,Cl), new and more versatile precursors of pentahalophenyl derivatives of palladium(II)

The title compounds (1, X=F; 2, X=Cl) were obtained in quantitative yield by refluxing together (NBu₄)₂[Pd₂(μ-Br)₂(C₆X₅)₄] and (NBu₄)₂[Pd₂(μ-Br)₂Br₄]. Treatment of 1 or 2 with AgClO₄ (Pd:Ag= 1:1) gave solutions which behaved as containing ‘Pd(C₆X₅)Br’. 1, 2 and the ‘Pd(C₆X₅)Br’ solutions were checked as precursors of mono-pentahalophenyl derivatives, yielding a variety of complexes [Pd(C₆X₅)Br(L-L)] (L-L=bipy, tmen, dpe, COD), [Pd(C₆X₅)BrL₂] (L=p-TolNH₂, py, PPh₃, AsPh₃, SbPh₃), [Pd₂(μ-Br)₂(C₆X₅)₂L₂] (X=F, L=AsPh₃; X=Cl, L=SbPh₃) and (NBu₄)[Pd(C₆X₅)Br₂L] (X=F, L= py, AsPh₃, SbPh₃; X=Cl, L=p-TolNH₂, py, PPh₃, AsPh₃, SbPh₃). The solutions of ‘Pd(C₆X₅)Br’ proved to be the best general precursors of complexes [Pd(C₆X₅)BrL₂] although complexes with OPPh₃ could not be obtained.     

125Te Mössbauer spectra of the intercalation compound (Te2)2(I2)

The quadrupole split asymmetric ¹²⁵Te Mössbauer spectrum recorded from the compound (Te₂)₂(I₂), in which monomolecular planar layers of iodine molecules are intercalated between layers of tellurium, is a reflection of the distorted environment of tellurium atoms in a two-dimensional layered compound in which the elongated flat crystals are preferentially orientated. The differences between the Mössbauer parameters recorded from (Te₂)₂(I₂) and those recorded from elemental tellurium and the tellurium(0) species in the compound Te₃Cl₂ are associated with small differences between the environments of tellurium in the three compounds. The Mössbauer spectra recorded from (Te₂)₂(I₂) are consistent with a recently proposed model on which the electronic band structure of (Te₂)₂(I₂) has been derived.     

Inhibition of mitochondrial division through covalent modification of Drp1 protein by 15 deoxy-Δ-prostaglandin J2

Arachidonic acid derived endogenous electrophile 15d-PGJ2 has gained much attention in recent years due to its potent anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory actions mediated through thiol modification of cysteine residues in its target proteins. Here, we show that 15d-PGJ2 at 1 μM concentration converts normal mitochondria into large elongated and interconnected mitochondria through direct binding to mitochondrial fission protein Drp1 and partial inhibition of its GTPase activity. Mitochondrial elongation induced by 15d-PGJ2 is accompanied by increased assembly of Drp1 into large oligomeric complexes through plausible intermolecular interactions. The role of decreased GTPase activity of Drp1 in the formation of large oligomeric complexes is evident when Drp1 is incubated with a non-cleavable GTP analog, GTPγS or by a mutation that inactivated GTPase activity of Drp1 (K38A). The mutation of cysteine residue (Cys644) in the GTPase effector domain, a reported target for modification by reactive electrophiles, to alanine mimicked K38A mutation induced Drp1 oligomerization and mitochondrial elongation, suggesting the importance of cysteine in GED to regulate the GTPase activity and mitochondrial morphology. Interestingly, treatment of K38A and C644A mutants with 15d-PGJ2 resulted in super oligomerization of both mutant Drp1s indicating that 15d-PGJ2 may further stabilize Drp1 oligomers formed by loss of GTPase activity through covalent modification of middle domain cysteine residues. The present study documents for the first time the regulation of a mitochondrial fission activity by a prostaglandin, which will provide clues for understanding the pathological and physiological consequences of accumulation of reactive electrophiles during oxidative stress, inflammation and degeneration.     

Interaction of human β-defensin 2 (HBD2) with glycosaminoglycans

Human β-defensin 2 (HBD2) is a member of the defensin family of antimicrobial peptides that plays important roles in the innate and adaptive immune system of both vertebrates and invertebrates. In addition to their direct bactericidal action, defensins are also involved in chemotaxis and Toll-like receptor activation. In analogy to chemokine/glycosaminoglycan (GAG) interactions, GAG-defensin complexes are likely to play an important role in chemotaxis and in presenting defensins to their receptors. Using a gel mobility shift assay, we found that HBD2 bound to a range of GAGs including heparin/heparan sulfate (HS), dermatan sulfate (DS), and chondroitin sulfate. We used NMR spectroscopy of (15)N-labeled HBD2 to map the binding sites for two GAG model compounds, a heparin/HS pentasaccharide (fondaparinux sodium; FX) and enzymatically prepared DS hexasaccharide (DSdp6). We identified a number of basic amino acids that form a common ligand binding site, which indicated that these interactions are predominantly electrostatic. The dissociation constant of the [DSdp6-HBD2] complex was determined by NMR spectroscopy to be 5 ± 5 μM. Binding of FX could not be quantified because of slow exchange on the NMR chemical shift time scale. FX was found to induce HBD2 dimerization as evidenced by the analysis of diffusion coefficients, (15)N relaxation, and nESI-MS measurements. The formation of FX-bridged HBD2 dimers exhibited features of a cooperative binding mechanism. In contrast, the complex with DSdp6 was found to be mostly monomeric.     

Preparation of (±)-2-(2,3-2H2)Jasmonic Acid and Its Methyl Ester,Methyl (±)-2-(2,3-2H2)Jasmonate

For use as the internal standards in a quantitative analysis of natural jasmonic acid (JA) and methyl jasmonate (JAMe) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring, (±)-2-(2,3–²H₂)JA and its methyl ester, (±)-2-(2,3–²H₂)JAMe, were efficiently prepared from 2-(2–pentyl)-2-cyclopentenone through catalytic semi-deuteriogenation of acetylenic intermediates with deuterium gas in pyridine.     

A New Synthesis of 9-(2-Deoxy-2-fluoro-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)guanine (araF-G)

Abstract

Interesting and very promising antisense properties of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoroarabinonucleic acids ((a) Wilds, C.J.; Damha, M.J. 2′-Deoxy-2′-fluoroarabinonucleosides and oligonucleotides (2′F-ANA): synthesis and physicochemical studies. Nucl. Acids Res. 2000, 28, 3625–3635; (b) Viazovkina, E.; Mangos, M.; Elzagheid, M.I.; Damha, M.J. Current Protocols in Nucleic Acid Chemistry 2002, 4.15.1–4.15.21) (2′F-ANA) has encouraged our research group to optimize the synthetic procedures for 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-β-D-arabinonucleosides (araF-N). The synthesis of araF-U, araF-T, araF-A and araF-C is straightforward, (Tann, C.H.; Brodfuehrer, P.R.; Brundidge, S.P.; Sapino, C., Jr. Howell H.G. Fluorocarbohydrates in synthesis. An efficient synthesis of 1-(2-deoxy-2-fluoro-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5-iodouracil (β-FIAU) and 1-(2-deoxy-2-fluoro-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)thymine (β-FMAU). J. Org. Chem. 1985, 50, 3644–3647; Howell, H.G.; Brodfuehrer, P.R.; Brundidge, S.P.; Benigni, D.A.; Sapino, C., Jr. Antiviral nucleosides. A stereospecific, total synthesis of 2′-fluoro-2′-deoxy-β-D-arabinofuranosyl nucleosides. J. Org. Chem. 1988, 53, 85–88; Maruyama, T.; Takamatsu, S.; Kozai, S.; Satoh, Y.; Izana, K. Synthesis of 9-(2-deoxy-2-fluoro-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)adenine bearing a selectively removable protecting group. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 1999, 47, 966–970) however, the synthesis of the guanine analogue is more complicated and affords poor to moderate yields of araF-G (4) ((a) Elzagheid, M.I.; Viazovkina, E.; Masad, M.J. Synthesis of protected 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-β-D-arabinonucleosides. Synthesis of 2′-fluoroarabino nucleoside phosphoramidites and their use in the synthesis of 2′F-ANA. Current Protocols in Nucleic Acid Chemistry 2002, 1.7.1–1.7.19; (b) Tennila, T.; Azhayeva, E.; Vepsalainen, J.; Laatikainen, R.; Azhayev, A.; Mikhailopulo, I. Oligonucleotides containing 9-(2-deoxy-2-fluoro-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)-adenine and -guanine: synthesis, hybridization and antisense properties. Nucleosides, Nucleotides and Nucl. Acids 2000, 19, 1861–1884). Here we describe an efficient synthesis of araF-G (4) that involves coupling of 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-3,5-di-O-benzoyl-α-D- arabinofuranosyl bromide (1) with 2-chlorohypoxanthine (2) to afford 2-chloro-β-araF-I (3) in 52% yield. Nucleoside (3) was transformed into araF-G (4) by treatment with methanolic ammonia (150°C, 6 h) in 67% yield.     

Crystal structures of three thiourea (tu) complexes of Pt(II): trans-[(tu)2Pt(NH3)2]Cl2, trans-[(tu)2Pt(CH3NH2)2]Cl2·3H2O and [Pt(tu)4]Cl2

The structures of three Pt(II) thiourea complexes, trans-[(tu)₂Pt(NH₃)₂]Cl₂ (1), trans-[(tu)₂Pt(CH₃NH₂)₂]Cl₂·3H₂O (2) and [Pt(tu)₄]Cl₂ (3), have been determined by X-ray diffraction and refined to R = 0.049 for 1026 reflections (1), R = 0.057 for 2547 reflections (2) and R = 0.046 for 2792 reflections (3). All the compounds crystallize in the space group P2₁/c and have cell dimensions: a = 5.437(1), b = 6.450(1), c = 17.980(3) Å, β = 96.05(2)°, Z = 2 (compound 1); a = 9.225(1), b = 15.404(2), c = 12.601(2) Å, β = 105.39(2)°, Z = 4 (compound 2); and a = 9.051(6), b = 10.203(6), c = 18.263(8) Å, β = 91.12(8)°, Z = 4 (compound 3). The unit cell of 1 and 3 contains only a single type of cation, while that of 2 is formed from two independent cations. In 1 and 2 the coordination spheres of the Pt atoms are rather similar, with angles close to 90° and coplanarity of the metal and respective donor atoms. Instead, in 3 the four sulfur atoms, which surround the Pt, display a slight distortion (0.06 Å from the mean plane) towards tetrahedral.     

New synthesis of seven-coordinate complexes of molybdenum(II) and tungsten(II) containing bidentate phosphorus ligands, [MI2(CO)3{Ph2P(CH2)nPPh2}] (n = 1–6)

A new high yielding synthesis of the seven-coordinate complexes [MI₂(CO)₃{Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂}] (M = Mo and W; n = 1–6) is described. The procedure involves reacting the complexes [MI₂(CO)₃(NCMe)₂] in CH₂Cl₂ with an equimolar amount of the bidentate phosphorus ligand. The low temperature (−70 °C) ¹³C NMR spectra of the complexes [Wl₂(CO)₃{Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂}] (n = 3 and 5) indicates that the geometry is capped octahedral with a carbonyl ligand in the unique capping position.     

Synthesis of (2′S)-1-(2-C-Azidomethyl-2-deoxy and 2-C-Cyanomethyl-2-deoxy-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)cytosines

Abstract

2′-C-Cyanomethyl-2′-deoxy-arabinosylcytosine 3 and 2′-C-azidomethyl-2′-deoxy-arabinosylcytosine 4 were synthesized from uridine. The antineoplastic activities of these compounds were evaluated.     

Inhibition of Cytidine Deaminase by Derivatives of 1-(β-D-Ribofuranosyl)-Dihydropyrimidin-2-One (Zebularine)

Abstract

The 2′-deoxy and ara derivatives of 1-β-(D-ribofuranosyl)-1,2-dihydropyrimidin-2-one (zebularine) were synthesized by improved routes and tested for their inhibitory properties against cytidine deaminase. It was shown that the K_i′s of both compounds were comparable to that of the parent zebularine in inhibition studies with purified enzyme. In contrast to zebularine, 2′-deoxy and ara zebularine showed only nominal cytotoxicity against MOLT-4 and L1210 cells in vitro. A model compound for the inhibition of deoxycytidylate deaminase, 2′-deoxyzebularine 5′-monophosphate (6), was also prepared.     

Biotransformation of (±)-2-methylcyclohexanone by fungi

The biotransformation of 2-methylcyclohexanone (1) using 16 fungal strains and some mushroom cultures was investigated. Fusarium sp. was one of the effective biocatalysts for oxidoreduction of 2-methylcyclohexanone (1). cis-2-Methylcyclohexanol (2a) was isomerized to trans-2-methylcyclohexanol (2b) by Fusarium sp. In addition, the corresponding lactones 3 was obtained by Baeyer-Villiger oxidation using Fusarium sp. AP-2 (46%, 94% ee).