Comparative study of the photophysical properties of indoprofen photoproducts in relation with their DNA photosensitizing properties.

The photophysical properties of indoprofen photoproducts have been examined in various solvents by absorbance and emission spectroscopies in relation with their photosensitizing properties. The photophysical properties of 2-[4-(1-hydroxy)ethylphenyl]isoindolin-1-one (HOINP) and 2-(4-ethylphenyl)isoindolin-1-one (ETINP) are typical of a singlet excited state when the ones of 2-(4-acetylphenyl)isoindolin-1-one (KINP) are based on its triplet excited state according to previous work. The effect of solvent polarity on the absorption and fluorescence properties of HOINP and ETINP has been investigated as a function of Delta f, the Lippert solvent polarity parameter. A solvatochromic effect, function of the polarity region, has been observed for both photoproducts due to a change in the dipole moment of the compound upon excitation. In low-polarity regions, the excited state dipole moment of HOINP undergoes only a moderate increase (11.5 D) as compared to the dipole moment of the ground state (4.5 D) suggesting that the fluorescence arises from the locally excited state while in high-polarity regions it is strongly increased (42.9 D), which can imply that the emission takes place from a charge transfer state. In the case of ETINP, it would seem that the emitting state is rather a charge transfer state whatever the region is (16.9 and 31.8 D for the calculated excited-state dipole moments in the low and high-polarity regions, respectively). HOINP and ETINP do not produce thymine dimers by photosensitization but induce photooxidative damage via an electron transfer mechanism.     

New polyazole derivatives from 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,3-dioxolane. Antifungal activity. Structure-activity relationships

Six new polyazole derivatives from 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,3-dioxolane were studied for their antifungal activity against pathogenic fungi for humans and animals. The antimycotic effect was largely restricted to the filamentous fungi with Aspergillus fumigatus and Scedosporium apiospermum being remarkably susceptible. Three compounds were as effective as the two references, ketoconazole and oxiconazole. The structure-activity relationships revealed that an oxime group combined with four chlorine atoms increased the antifungal properties of the chemical series.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

expA: A conditional mutation affecting the expression of a group of exported proteins in Escherichia coli K-12

Summary A mutant of Escherichia coli K-12 was isolated as conditionally deficient in the expression of two exported proteins simultaneously (i.e. two acid phosphatases) The mutant was found to be thermosensitive on minimal medium at 37°C and above, but grew normally on rich media at these temperatures. The mutation, named expA and located at 22 min on the recalibrated linkage map, depressed the levels of six periplasmic enzymatic activities in bacteria grown at 37°C. At least ten proteins were greatly reduced in the periplasm under these conditions. The mutation also affected some outer membrane proteins, among which were the ompF protein and a protein which may be protein III, but had little effect on cytoplasmic membrane proteins. The gel patterns of the soluble cytoplasmic proteins were not modified except for one major protein of MW 47,000. The activities of -galactosidase and of aspartate transcarbamylase were unmodified. After growth at 30°C no difference was observed between expA and expA ⁺ isogenic strains. The results are discussed with respect to the mechanism of protein export.Enzymes E.C. 3.1.3.2 Acid phosphatase (optimum pH 2.5) - E.C. 3.1.3.2 Acid phosphatase (optimum pH 4.5) - E.C. 3.1.3.1 Alkaline phosphatase - E.C. 3.4.11 Aminopeptidase-N - E.C. 2.1.3.2 Aspartate transcarbamylase - E.C. 3.2.1.23 -galactosidase - E.C. 3.1.27.1 RNase I Abbreviations PNP-OH Para-nitro-phenol - PNA Para-nitro-anilide - PNP-P Para-nitro-phenyl-phosphate - Bis-PNP-P Bis-para-nitro-phenyl-phosphate - IPTG Isopropyl--thiogalactopyranoside, Nitrosoguanidine N-methyl, N'-nitro, N, Nitrosoguanidine, Tris Tris (hydromethyl) aminomethane     

Combined NADPH Oxidase 1 and Interleukin 10 Deficiency Induces Chronic Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Causes Ulcerative Colitis-Like Disease in Mice

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease affecting the rectum which progressively extents. Its etiology remains unknown and the number of treatments available is limited. Studies of UC patients have identified an unbalanced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the non-inflamed colonic mucosa. Animal models with impaired ER stress are sensitive to intestinal inflammation, suggesting that an unbalanced ER stress could cause inflammation. However, there are no ER stress-regulating strategies proposed in the management of UC partly because of the lack of relevant preclinical model mimicking the disease. Here we generated the IL10/Nox1^dKO mouse model which combines immune dysfunction (IL-10 deficiency) and abnormal epithelium (NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox1) deficiency) and spontaneously develops a UC-like phenotype with similar complications (colorectal cancer) than UC. Our data identified an unanticipated combined role of IL10 and Nox1 in the fine-tuning of ER stress responses in goblet cells. As in humans, the ER stress was unbalanced in mice with decreased eIF2α phosphorylation preceding inflammation. In IL10/Nox1^dKO mice, salubrinal preserved eIF2α phosphorylation through inhibition of the regulatory subunit of the protein phosphatase 1 PP1R15A/GADD34 and prevented colitis. Thus, this new experimental model highlighted the central role of epithelial ER stress abnormalities in the development of colitis and defined the defective eIF2α pathway as a key pathophysiological target for UC. Therefore, specific regulators able to restore the defective eIF2α pathway could lead to the molecular remission needed to treat UC.     

Application of microfluidic chip with integrated optics for electrophoretic separations of proteins

This paper describes the fabrication, the characterization and the applications of a capillary electrophoresis microchip. This hybrid device (glass/PDMS) features channels and optical waveguides integrated in one common substrate. It can be used for electrophoretic separation and fluorimetric detection of molecules. The microfluidic performance of the device is demonstrated by capillary zone and gel electrophoresis of proteins.     

Synthesis and characterization of copper and manganese complexes of monodentate functionalized isocyanide: trimethylsilylmethylisocyanide and p-tolylsulfonylmethylisocyanide

Reaction of excess CNCH₂SiMe₃(L) with CuX₂·nH₂O (X=NO₃⁻, n=3; ClO₄⁻, n=6) in THF gives the Cu^I complexes [CuL₄]NO₃ (1) and [CuL₄]ClO₄ (2). When CuCN is used as starting material, complex 3, Cu(L₃)CN, C₄H₁₀O·3H₂O, is obtained. Immediate reduction occurs with AgNO₃ precipitating metallic Ag. Reactions with MnCl₂·6H₂O and Mn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O in THF produce two new compounds which analyze as MnL₄Cl₂·4H₂O (6) and MnL₂(NO₃)₂·H₂O (7). When excess p-tolylsulfonylmethylisocyanide (L′) is reacted with Cu(NO₃)₂, the mixed-valence Cu^I---Cu^II complex Cu₂L′₆(NO₃)₃ (5) is precipitated, while using CuCN gives the Cu^I dimer Cu₂L′₄(CN)₂ (4). In analogous conditions the manganese complex MnL′₂(NO₃)₂·C₃H₆O·3H₂O (8) is precipitated. All these complexes have been isolated, characterized by IR, NMR for diamagnetic species, magnetic susceptibilities, EPR measurements and electrochemical analyses. Influence of the two substituents is discussed.     

Palladium(II) complexes obtained from 3,4-bis(cyanamido)cyclobutane-1,2-dione dianion

Three palladium(II) complexes have been synthesized, using 3,4-bis(cyanamido) cyclobutane-1,2-dione dianion (3,4-bis(cyanamido)squarate or 3,4-NCNsq²⁻): [Pd(en)(3,4-NCNsq)] · 1.5H₂O (1) (en=1,2-diaminoethane), [Pd(en)(3,4-(NC(O)NH₂)sq)] · 0.5H₂O (2) and K₃Na[Pd₂(3,4-(NCN)₂sq)₄] · 5H₂O (3). Complex 1 has been characterized by elemental analysis, IR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. Complexes 2 and 3 have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In complex 2, the unusual hydration of the cyanamido ligand was observed, it proceeds in the coordination sphere of the palladium and leads to a chelating urea squarate ligand. Complex 3 is an anionic dinuclear complex containing four bridging cyanamido squarate ligands. In complexes 2 and 3, the 3,4-NCNsq²⁻ ligand (hydrated or not) is, for the first time, coordinated to the metal atom by the two amido nitrogen atoms, either in a chelating mode (complex 2) or in a bridging mode giving a short Pd ? Pd distance of 2.8866(15) Å (complex 3). Electrochemical studies in acetonitrile and dmf solutions have been performed on complexes 1 and 3.