One-dimensional helical coordination polymers of cobalt(II) and iron(II) ions with 2,2′-bipyridyl-3,3′-dicarboxylate (BPDC)

One-dimensional (1-D) helical coordination polymers, [M^II(H₂O)₃(BPDC)]_n · nH₂O (M = Co (1), Fe (2)), have been prepared by the self-assembly of cobalt(II) and iron(II) ions, respectively, with 2,2′-bipyridyl-3,3′-dicarboxylic acid (H₂BPDC) in an aqueous solution. X-ray crystal structures of compounds 1 and 2 show that each metal ion displays a distorted octahedral coordination geometry including three water oxygen atoms, one oxygen atom of the carboxylate of a BPDC²⁻ belonging to the adjacent metal ion and two nitrogen atoms from the BPDC²⁻ acting as a chelating ligand. In 1 and 2, one carboxylate oxygen atom of coordinated BPDC²⁻ binds to the neighboring metal ion, which give rise to 1-D helical coordination polymers. The helical chains of 1 and 2 are linked by the hydrogen bonding interactions between the carboxylate oxygen atom of the BPDC²⁻ ion belonging to a chain and the water molecule of the adjacent helical chain, which lead to 2-D networks extending along the ab plane. The supramolecules 1 and 2 show isomorphous structures regardless of the metal ions.     

Gene-gene interaction analysis identifies a new genetic risk factor for colorectal cancer

Background

Adiponectin levels have been shown to be associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). Furthermore, a newly identified adiponectin receptor, T-cadherin, has been associated with plasma adiponectin levels. Therefore, we investigated the potential for a genetic association between T-cadherin and CRC risk.

Result

We conducted a case–control study using the Korean Cancer Prevention study-II cohort, which is composed of 325 CRC patients and 977 normal individuals. Study results revealed that rs3865188 in the 5’ flanking region of the T-cadherin gene (CDH13) was significantly associated with CRC (p = 0.0474). The odds ratio (OR) for the TT genotype as compared to the TA + AA genotype was 1.577 (p = 0.0144). In addition, the interaction between CDH13 and the adiponectin gene (APN) for CRC risk was investigated using a logistic regression analysis. Among six APN single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs182052, rs17366568, rs2241767, rs3821799, rs3774261, and rs6773957), an interaction with the rs3865188 was found for four (rs2241767, rs3821799, rs3774261, and rs6773957). The group with combined genotypes of TT for rs3865188 and GG for rs377426 displayed the highest risk for CRC development as compared to those with the other genotype combinations. The OR for the TT/GG genotype as compared to the AA/AA genotype was 4.108 (p = 0.004). Furthermore, the plasma adiponectin level showed a correlation with the gene-gene interaction, and the group with the highest risk for CRC had the lowest adiponectin level (median, 4.8 μg/mL for the TT/GG genotype vs.7.835 μg/mL for the AA/AA genotype, p = 0.0017).

Conclusions

The present study identified a new genetic factor for CRC risk and an interaction between CDH13 and APN in CRC risk. These genetic factors may be useful for predicting CRC risk.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12929-015-0180-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.Keyword: Gene-gene interaction, CRC, CDH13, rs3865188, APNSNPs     

Prolonged cell-free protein synthesis using dual energy sources: Combined use of creatine phosphate and glucose for the efficient supply of ATP and retarded accumulation of phosphate

The accumulation of inorganic phosphate inhibits protein synthesis in cell-free protein synthesis reactions that are energized by high-energy-phosphate-containing compounds. This study developed a new scheme for supplying energy using dual energy sources to enhance the regeneration of ATP and lower the rate of phosphate accumulation. In the proposed scheme, where creatine phosphate (CP) and glucose were simultaneously used as the energy sources, the phosphate released from the CP was subsequently used in the glycolytic pathway for the utilization of the glucose, which enhanced the ATP supply and reduced the rate of inorganic phosphate accumulation. When tested against different proteins, the developed method produced 2-3 times more protein than the conventional ATP regeneration methods using single energy sources.     

Microbial platforms to produce commercially vital carotenoids at industrial scale: an updated review of critical issues

Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology - Carotenoids are a diverse group of isoprenoid pigments that play crucial roles in plants, animals, and microorganisms, including body...     

Isocitrate dehydrogenase mutations: new opportunities for translational research

Over the last decade, comprehensive genome-wide sequencing studies have enabled us to find out unexpected genetic alterations of metabolism in cancer. An example is the identification of arginine missense mutations of isocitrate dehydrogenases-1 and -2 (IDH1/2) in glioma, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chondrosarcomas, and cholangiocarcinoma. These alterations are closely associated with the production of a new stereospecific metabolite, (R)-2-hydroxyglutarate (R-2HG). A large number of follow-up studies have been performed to address the molecular mechanisms of IDH1/2 mutations underlying how these events contribute to malignant transformation. In the meanwhile, the development of selective mutant IDH1/2 chemical inhibitors is being actively pursued in the scientific community and pharmaceutical industry. The present review article briefly discusses the important findings that highlight the molecular mechanisms of IDH1/2 mutations in cancer and provides a current status for development of selective mutant IDH1/2 chemical inhibitors. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(5): 266-270]     

Simple procedures for the construction of a robust and cost-effective cell-free protein synthesis system

In this study, as a part of our efforts to improve the robustness and economical feasibility of cell-free protein synthesis, we developed a simple method of preparing the cell extracts used for catalyzing cell-free protein synthesis reactions. We found that the high-speed centrifugation, pre-incubation, and dialysis steps of the conventional procedures could be omitted without losing the translational activity of the resulting cell extract. Instead, a simple centrifugation step at low speed (12,000 RCF for 10 min) followed by a brief period of incubation was sufficient for the preparation of an active extract to support cell-free protein synthesis with higher productivity and consistency. Compared to the present standard procedures for the preparation of the S30 extract, the overall cost of the reagents and processing time were reduced by 80 and 60%, respectively.