31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of lipopolysaccharides from pseudomonas aeruginosa

Intact lipopolysaccharide antigens isolated from seven different immunotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been examined by ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy. These macromolecular complexes contain phosphorus covalently attached to the carbohydrate residues present in the lipid A moiety and the ‘core’ oligosaccharide region. The spectral signals for various ortho- and pyro-phosphoric esters were observed. All phosphate groups appeared to be mono-esterified. Certain shifts characteristic for phosphate diester groups, observed in lipopolysaccharide complexes from other Gram-negative bacteria, were absent. Furthermore, no evidence was found to indicate that phosphate groups are involved in the covalent linkage of individual lipopolysaccharide complexes to form dimers or trimers.     

Routes to higher-carbon sugar derivatives having keto-acetylenic and -alkenic,and α,β-unsaturated aldehyde functionality

Oxidative dimerization of 7,8-dideoxy-1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-d-glycero-α-d-galacto-oct-7-ynopyranoside (1) gave a high yield of the diyne 2, readily reduced by lithium aluminum hydride to the trans,trans-diene (4). The structures of 2 and 4 were established spectroscopically and by degradation of 4 to d-glycero-d-galacto-heptitol (perscitol). A mixture of the alkyne 1 and its 7-epimer 10 was readily oxidized by dimethyl sulfoxide-acetic anhydride to the 6-ketone 11, and the 8-alkene analog was similarly prepared from the alkenes derived from 1 and 10. Likewise, oxidation of 6,7-dideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-gluco(and β-L-ido)-hept-6-enopyranose gave the corresponding 5-ketone. The acetylenic ketone 11 gave a crystalline oxime and (2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazone, the latter being accompanied by the product of attack of the reagent at the acetylene terminus (C-8). Previous work had shown that formyl-methylenetriphenylphosphorane did not convert 1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-6-aldehydo-α-d-galacto-hexodialdo-1,5-pyranose into the corresponding C₈ unsaturated aldehyde, although the latter was obtainable via1 and 10 by an ethynylation-hydroboration sequence. The Wittig route with formylmethylenetriphenylphosphorane is shown to be satisfactory for obtaining C₇ unsaturated aldehydes from 3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-5-aldehydo-α-d-xylo-pentodialdo-1,4-furanose (22) and the 3-epimer of 22, respectively. These reactions provide convenient access to higher-carbon sugars and chiral dienes for synthesis of optically pure products of cyclo-addition reactions.     

A new method for determining sulfoxides in peptide molecules using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

The problem of the quantitative determination of sulfoxide groups in peptide molecules has been re-examined. The approaches currently available for the estimation of δ-sulfoxide amino acids are limited in number and characterized by serious shortcomings; in addition, the choice of methods for the estimation of γ-sulfoxide amino acids is even more restricted. A new, rapid, and nondestructive direct method for determining quantitatively all types of sulfoxides in peptide molecules by using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is described.     

Synthesis of C-substituted triazoles,isoxazoles, and pyrazoles by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to acetylenic sugars

Addition of phenyl azide to 3,5-di-O-acetyl-6,7-dideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-l-idio-hept-6-ynofuranose (1) and subsequent saponification gave a 4-substituted 1-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole derivative (3) whose optical rotatory dispersion (o.r.d.) curve was positive. The α-d-gluco analog (5) of 1 similarly gave the 5-epimer (7) of 3; its o.r.d. curve was negative. Both 3 and 7 were degraded to the known 1-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxaldehyde. Similarly, addition of 2,4,6-trimethylbenzonitrile N-oxide to 1 or 5 gave the corresponding, crystalline 3-mesitylisoxazoles as single products; ¹³C-n.m.r. spectroscopy was used to establish the orientation of addition. Related 3-mesitylisoxazoles (11 and 13) were obtained from 1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-d-glycero-α-d-galacto-oct-7-ynopyranose (10) and its l-glycero 6-epimer (12), respectively; 11 showed the expected, large levorotation, and the 6-epimer 13 was also levorotatory. Benzonitrile (N-phenyl)imine, prepared in situ from 1-(α-chlorobenzylidene)-2-phenylhydrazine and base, did not react with 10 (or its 6-epimer 12), but did react with the 6-keto analog to give a 5-substituted 1,3-diphenyl-1,2-diazole.     

Reaction of derivatives of methyl 2,3-O-benzylidene-6-deoxy-α-L-mannopyranoside with butyllithium: Synthesis of methyl 2, 6-dideoxy-4-O-methyl-α-L-erytho-hexopyranosid-3-ulose

Methyl 2,3-O-benzylidene-6-deoxy-α-L-mannopyranoside (2) reacted with butyllithium to give a mixture of 1,5-anhydro-3-C-butyl-1,2,6-trideoxy-L-ribo-hex-1-enitol (3) and its L-arabino analogue (4), together with methyl 2,3,6-trideoxy-α-L-erythro-hex-2-enopyranoside (5). In contrast, the 4-O-methyl analogue (8) of 2 was converted by butyllithium into methyl 2,6-dideoxy-4-O-methyl-α-L-erythro-hexo-pyranosid-3-ulose (9), which was further characterized as its oxime 10. The 4-O-benzyl analogue of 8, obtained as two separate diastereoisomers (6 and 7) differing in configuration at C-2 of the dioxolane ring, gave a complex mixture of products on treatment with butyllithium.     

The effects of asphyxia on 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolism in the immature rat brain

Five-day-old rats subjected to prolonged asphyxia at 37 degrees C show a slower rate of synthesis of 5-HT as measured by the accumulation of the amine after inhibition of monoamine oxidase. During recovery from asphyxia 5-HT synthesis is markedly stimulated when measured over a 50 or 90 min period. No change in 5-HT synthesis was observed in 5-day-old rats during recovery from cold exposure or immobilization. The results indicate that the persistent increase in synthesis that follows resuscitation may be related to asphyxia per se rather than to the stress component of the treatment.     

Utilization of triaryl phosphates by a mixed bacterial population.

A mixed bacterial population that has been isolated by enrichment culture is capable of growth on Fyrquel 220, a commercial triaryl phosphate lubricant, as sole carbon source. The mixture was dominated by a yellow, Gram-negative rod which made up greater than 60% of the mixture. However, all attempts to grow this organism in pure culture on triaryl phosphate were unsuccessful. The mixed population was also capable of growth on tri-o-cresyl phosphate, trixylenyl phosphate, and triphenyl phosphate as sole carbon sources. Viable cell numbers increased 20- to 30-fold, reaching a maximum after 72-96 h growth. Only a small portion of the triaryl phosphate was used for growth; the major part was emulsified and remained in the culture medium. No evidence of extracellular enzymes capable of triaryl phosphate degradation could be found in concentrates of the culture supernatant after growth, though traces of what may have been triaryl phosphate breakdown products were observed. Cell-free extracts of the mixed culture catalyzed the release of inorganic phosphate when incubated with Fyrquel 220, tri-o-cresyl phosphate, trixylenyl phosphate, or triphenyl phosphate, indicating the presence of a phosphotriesterase or of a phosphodiesterase of wide specificity.     

Uptake of calcium by microvillous membranes of intestinal epithelial cells

Uptake or “binding” of Ca²⁺ ions by microvillous membranes occurs in the absence or presence of ATP. In its absence uptake is independent of temperature (3–37°C), reduced by the presence of other cations and is dependent upon pH and the number and type of “binding” sites of which there are at least two classes. Under certain conditions uptake of Ca²⁺ is increased by ATP. The degree of stimulation is dependent upon both the concentration of Ca²⁺ and ATP, the time and temperature of incubation and is partly dependent upon the presence of Mg²⁺ ions.