Determination of the stability constants for the binding of sulfonated morin with Fe

The complexation of the sodium salt of sulfonated morin (H₅SM⁻) with Fe²⁺ was studied by potentiometric titration as was its deprotonation. Only four of the five hydroxy groups were deprotonated under the conditions employed. The associated pK_a values are 3.80, 7.47, 9.24 and 11.48. Analysis of the titration data suggests formation of (H₃SM)Fe⁻, (H₂SM)Fe²⁻, (HSM)Fe³⁻ and (HSM)₂Fe⁸⁻. Log β values (based on HSM⁵⁻ as the ligand species) are 24.8, 16.1, 7.1 and 11.6, respectively. Theoretical calculations predict that the 7-hydroxy group is deprotonated first followed closely by the 3-hydroxy position. Deprotonation of the 2′-hydroxy group results in proton migration from the 3-hydroxy oxygen atom. These calculations along with previous results suggest that chelation of the metal ion likely occurs at the 3-hydroxy-4-keto site.     

Argentophilic interaction and anionic control of supramolecular structures in simple silver pyridine complexes

The synthesis and characterization of three simple 1:2 silver(I) pyridine adducts of different counter-anions, [Ag(py)₂]⁺ · X⁻ (X = ClO₄, 1; BF₄, 2; PF₆, 3), are reported. The structural studies for 1-3 reveal the presence of strong ligand-unsupported argentophilic interactions between [Ag(py)₂]⁺ ions, forming pairs of . The Ag?Ag contact distances are 2.96-3.00 Å. In 1 and 2, pairs of are further linked into 1-D infinite chains by a combined set of multiple Ag?Ag close contacts (3.34-3.37 Å), offset ‘head to head’ π-π stacking, and anion bridging interactions. Such combined set of interactions is anion-dependant with 1 and 2 containing anions of tetrahedral geometry and , affording essentially the same supramolecular architecture. Metal-anion interactions are crucial in organizing the 1-D chains into 3-D networks. The ES-MS studies of 1 and 2 provide positive evidence for the aggregation of silver(I) ions in solution. In contrast, for 3 with the counter-anion of octahedral , pairs of are organized into a 3-D network via a combined set of Ag?F contacts, C(H)?F hydrogen bonds, and ‘head to tail’ π-π stacking interactions. No extended 1-D polymeric chains of silver ions are present in 3.     

Structural and thermal properties of three novel alkaline earth metal coordination polymers based on 5-hydroxyisophthalate ligand

Three novel coordination polymers [Ca(5-OH-BDC)(H₂O)₃] · H₂O (1), [Sr(5-OH-BDC)(H₂O)₄] · H₂O (2) and [Ba(5-OH-BDC)(H₂O)₃] (3) were obtained by self-assembly of the corresponding alkaline earth metal chlorate with a ligand, 5-hydroxyisophthalic acid (5-OH-H₂BDC), and their structures were determined by X-ray crystallography. The results revealed that complexes 1, 2 and 3 have two-dimensional network with (6, 3) topology observed in the bc plane. Moreover, the two-dimensional layers can be assembled into three-dimensional supramolecular architectures via intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The two carboxylate groups of 5-OH-BDC²⁻ ligand adopt the same coordination mode in complex 1 as that in 2: a μ3-η2:η1 mode and a chelated mode while in complex 3 they coordinate to Ba(II) ions in a μ3-η2:η1 mode and a monodentate mode, which is not observed in previous reports. The constant-volume combustion energies, Δ_cU, of these complexes were determined by a precise rotating-bomb calorimeter at 298.15 K, then their standard enthalpies of combustion, , and the standard enthalpies of formation, , have been calculated.     

早期胚胎的发育选择:性别决定

性别决定是一个复杂的发育调控过程, 早期胚胎发育过程中, 雌雄二者必居其一的发育选择是胚胎性腺形成必须的发育决定。文章综述了动物性别决定的遗传系统、性腺发生、性别决定关键基因及其作用机制, 从分子进化的角度分析了性染色体与性别决定形成机制, 提示性别决定基因在进化中总是趋向异配性染色体。     

Stereoselective determination of benalaxyl in plasma by chiral high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector and application to pharmacokinetic study in rabbits

A chiral high-performance liquid chromatography method with diode array detector was developed and validated for stereoselective determination of benalaxyl (BX) in rabbit plasma. Good separation was achieved at 20 degrees C using cellulose tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) as chiral stationary phase, a mixture of n-hexane and 2-propanol (97:3) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The assay method was linear over a range of concentrations (0.25-25 microg/ml) in plasma and the mean recovery was greater than 90% for both enantiomers. The limits of quantification and detection for both enantiomers in plasma were 0.25 and 0.1 microg/ml, respectively. Intra- and interday relative standard deviations (RSDs) did not exceed 10% for three-tested concentrations. The method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic studies of BX enantiomers in rabbits. The result suggested that the pharmacokinetics of BX enantiomers was stereoselective in rabbits.     

Perspectives of biomolecular NMR in drug discovery: the blessing and curse of versatility

The versatility of NMR and its broad applicability to several stages in the drug discovery process is well known and generally considered one of the major strengths of NMR (Pellecchia et al., Nature Rev Drug Discov 1:211–219, 2002; Stockman and Dalvit, Prog Nucl Magn Reson Spectrosc 41:187–231, 2002; Lepre et al., Comb Chem High throughput screen 5:583–590, 2002; Wyss et al., Curr Opin Drug Discov Devel 5:630–647, 2002; Jahnke and Widmer, Cell Mol Life Sci 61:580–599, 2004; Huth et al., Methods Enzymol 394:549–571, 2005b; Klages et al., Mol Biosyst 2:318–332, 2006; Takeuchi and Wagner, Curr Opin Struct Biol 16:109–117, 2006; Zartler and Shapiro, Curr Pharm Des 12:3963–3972, 2006). Indeed, NMR is the only biophysical technique which can detect and quantify molecular interactions, and at the same time provide detailed structural information with atomic level resolution. NMR should therefore be ideally suited and widely requested as a tool for drug discovery research, and numerous examples of drug discovery projects which have substantially benefited from NMR contributions or were even driven by NMR have been described in the literature. However, not all pharmaceutical companies have rigorously implemented NMR as integral tool of their research processes. Some companies invest with limited resources, and others do not use biomolecular NMR at all. This discrepancy in assessing the value of a technology is striking, and calls for clarification—under which circumstances can NMR provide added value to the drug discovery process? What kind of contributions can NMR make, and how is it implemented and integrated for maximum impact? This perspectives article suggests key areas of impact for NMR, and a model of integrating NMR with other technologies to realize synergies and maximize their value for drug discovery.     

Quantitative Γ-HCNCH: determination of the glycosidic torsion angle χ in RNA oligonucleotides from the analysis of CH dipolar cross-correlated relaxation by solution NMR spectroscopy

A novel NMR pulse sequence is introduced to determine the glycosidic torsion angle χ in ¹³C,¹⁵N-labeled oligonucleotides. The quantitative Γ-HCNCH measures the dipolar cross-correlated relaxation rates (pyrimidines) and (purines). Cross-correlated relaxation rates of a ¹³C,¹⁵N-labeled RNA 14mer containing a cUUCGg tetraloop were determined and yielded χ-angles that agreed remarkably well with data derived from the X-ray structure of the tetraloop. In addition, the method was applied to the larger stemloop D (SLD) subdomain of the Coxsackievirus B3 cloverleaf 30mer RNA and the effect of anisotropic rotational motion was examined for this molecule. It could be shown that the χ-angle determination especially for nucleotides in the anti conformation was very accurate and the method was ideally suited to distinguish between the syn and the anti-conformation of all four types of nucleotides. Electronic Supplementary Material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Chitosan-mediated changes in cell wall composition, morphology and ultrastructure in two wood-inhabiting fungi

The effect of chitosan on cell wall deposition was investigated in the two wood-inhabiting fungal species Trichoderma harzianum (CBS 597.91) and Sphaeropsis sapinea (NZFS 2725). The study used three independent analytical techniques to quantify chitin in the fungal mycelium. A colorimetric method for the detection of d-glucosamine was compared with two gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) methods employing alditol acetates analysis and pyrolysis. The latter used a stable-isotope-labelled internal standard, d₃-N-acetyl glucosamine. At least in the case of S. sapinea, the study provided evidence of an increase in the chitin content in the mycelium due to chitosan treatment, indicating that chitosan treatment affected cell wall deposition. Electron microscopy techniques showed alteration in surface morphology and cell wall texture due to chitosan treatment. The implications of these results are discussed with a view to analysing possible mechanisms for growth inhibitory effects of chitosan on fungal hyphae.     

厚朴类中药厚朴酚及和厚朴酚含量测定

采用HPLC测定法,对几种中药厚朴及其不同地方代品中和厚朴酚、厚朴酚的含量测定分析。数据结果表明正品厚朴与地方代用品之间的和厚朴酚、厚朴酚的含量差别很大,正品厚朴也因产地不同含量存在差别。