Dynamic kinetic resolution catalyzed by enzymes and metals

The development of new strategies to efficiently synthesize chiral compounds is of extreme importance. Dynamic kinetic resolution is a powerful tool to transform a racemic mixture into one enantiomer. This strategy overcomes the limitation of the maximum 50% yield in a kinetic resolution by combining it with an in situ racemization of the substrate. Recently, the coupling of enzymes and transition metals for dynamic kinetic resolution of a variety of molecules has attracted considerable attention and a deeper understanding of the compatibility of these two catalysts has been achieved.

Heterogeneity of adsorption mechanisms in chiral normal-phase liquid chromatography

The adsorption equilibria of two commonly employed strong mobile phase modifiers, ethyl acetate and 2-propanol, on a polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phase have been studied by modeling nonlinear perturbation peaks measured after equilibration of the column with hexane (the weak component of the binary mixture). The investigation of adsorption processes from dilute solutions for species that are strongly retained on the stationary phase could be performed by this approach. On the opposite, limits of traditional linear perturbation technique for isotherm determination, in presence of strong interactions, have been evidenced. Alcohol adsorption has been modeled by a single Langmuir isotherm, while the ester has required a BiLangmuir model. These findings have found to be in a semi-quantitative agreement with available spectroscopic data about 2-propanol and ethyl acetate adsorption on thin silica sol-gel films in contact with a weak solvent. Experimental features observed for racemic separation on polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phases, such as the dependence of the separation factor on the amount and type of the employed additive, have been explained in light of these measurements.

In vitro antimicrobial activity of the leaf extract of Harungana madagascariensis Lam. Ex Poir. (Hypericaceae) against strains causing otitis externa in dogs and cats

Otitis externa in dogs and cats is always caused by a combination of yeasts and bacteria, among which the most important are Malassezia pachydermatis, Staphylococcus intermedius and Pseudomonas species. These organisms often develop resistance to classical antimicrobial agents. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activities of an ethyl acetate leaf extract of Harungana madagascariensis against the organisms cited, to carry out the phytochemical investigation of this extract and to determine its bioactive chemical class using dilution techniques, the bioautography method and the standard phytochemical method described by Harborne (1973). Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and anthracenic derivatives. The bioassay showed that the antimicrobial properties may be attributed to astilbin, a flavanone derivative identified on the basis of its spectroscopic data. The results suggest that the extract could be used in an antimicrobial preparation effective against the whole range of organisms incriminated in otitis externa in dogs and cats, with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 250 microg/ml.

Synthesis and photophysical processes of 9-bromo-10-naphthalen-2-yl-anthracene

A novel luminescent compound, 9-bromo-10-naphthalen-2-yl-anthracene (BNA) is synthesized by Suzuki Cross-coupling reaction of 9-bromo-anthracene and naphthalene-2-boronic acid. The structure is characterized by (1)H NMR, IR and UV-vis spectroscopy. The photophysical processes of 9-bromo-10-naphthalen-2-yl-anthracene have been carefully investigated by UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectra. The results show that the compound emits blue and blue-violet light. The emission spectra exhibit obvious solvent effect. With the difference in polarity of solvents, The emission spectra is not only slightly blue shift with the increase of the solvent polarity but also change on the intensity of fluorescence at room temperature . The light emitting can be quenched by electron donor, N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA). On adding gradually DMA into the solution of BNA, the emission intensities of fluorescence are gradually decreased. The quenching effect follows the Stern-Volmer equation.

Acetate/Di-2-pyridyl Ketone Oximate “Blend” as a Source of High-Nuclearity Nickel(II) Clusters: Dependence of the Nuclearity on the Nature of the Inorganic Anion Present

The use of di-2-pyridyl ketone oxime [(py)2CNOH] in reactions with Ni(O2CMe)2.4H2O, in the presence or absence of extra inorganic anions (N3- and SCN-) has led to Ni4, Ni5, and Ni7 clusters; the magnetic study of the heptanuclear nickel(II) complex reveals an S = 3 ground state.

Studies related to the origin of C18 neutral steroids isolated from extracts of urine from the male horse: The identification of urinary 19-oic acids and their decarboxylation to produce estr-4-en-17β-ol-3-one (19-nortestosterone) and estr-4-ene-3,17-dione (19-norandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione) during sample processing

For almost two decades we have known that enzymatic hydrolysis of "normal" urine samples from the entire male horse using Escherichia coli (E. coli) followed by solvolysis (ethyl acetate:methanol:sulphuric acid) results in the detection of significant amounts of estr-4-ene-3,17-dione (19-norandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione) along with estr-4-en-17beta-ol-3-one (19-nortestosterone, nandrolone) in extracts of the hydrolysed urine and that both steroids are isolated from the solvolysis fraction. This solvolysis process is targeted at the steroid sulphates. Also we have shown that 19-norandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione and 19-nortestosterone are isolated from testicular tissue extracts. Subsequently, evidence was obtained that 19-nortestosterone detected in extracts of "normal" urine from male horses may not be derived from the 17beta-sulphate conjugate. However, following administration of 19-nortestosterone based proprietary anabolic steroids to all horses (males, females and castrates), the urinary 19-nortestosterone arising from the administration is excreted primarily as the 17beta-sulphate conjugate. Thus, if the 19-nortestosterone-17beta-sulphate conjugate arises only following administration this has interesting implications for drug surveillance programmes to control administration of 19-nortestosterone based anabolic preparations to male horses. These results have led us to consider that the precursors to 19-nortestosterone and 19-norandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione, present in the urine prior to the hydrolysis steps, have the same basic structure except for the functionality at the 17-position. We have used preparative high pressure liquid chromatography (LC) and LC fractionation to separate these precursors from the high amounts of oestrogenic sulphates present in "normal" urine from the entire male horse. Purified fractions have then been studied by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify the precursors.

Effect of alkylimidazolium substituents on enantioseparation ability of single-isomer alkylimidazolium-β-cyclodextrin derivatives in capillary electrophoresis

A family of 6-mono(3-alkylimidazolium)-beta-cyclodextrins with one primary hydroxyl group replaced by an alkylimidazolium cation has been developed. The effect of alkyl substitutents on the enantioresolution ability of these single-isomer cyclodextrins towards dansyl amino acids has been studied by capillary electrophoresis. Systematical investigations on the effect of buffer pH and selector concentration on the enatioseparation show that chiral selectors with a shorter alkyl chain (R=C(n)H(2n+1), n</=4) presented more powerful chiral recognition ability. These newly introduced single-isomer beta-cyclodextrin derivatives proved to be effective chiral selectors for most selected dansyl amino acids at low buffer pH (e.g. pH 5.0) with selector concentration no less than 3mM. The apparent complex stability constants between alkylimidazolium beta-CDs and dansyl amino acids were also theoretically determined by using the mobility difference model proposed by Wren and Rowe. The side alkyl chains from both dansyl amino acids and alkylimidazolium beta-CDs displayed significant effect on the apparent complex stability constants. Both the optimum selector concentrations calculated according to the model, however, were much lower than the experimental values giving the maximum chiral resolution of enantiomers.

FT-IR, FT-Raman spectra and ab initio DFT vibrational analysis of p-bromophenoxyacetic acid

The Fourier transform Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectra of p-bromophenoxyacetic acid were recorded in the solid phase. The equilibrium geometry, harmonic vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities and Raman scattering activities were calculated by HF and DFT (B3LYP) method with the 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The scaled theoretical wavenumbers showed very good agreement with the experimental ones. A detailed interpretation of the infrared and Raman spectra of p-bromophenoxyacetic acid is reported on the basis of the calculated potential energy distribution. The theoretical spectrograms for the IR spectrum of the title molecule have been constructed.

Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity of azomethine derivatives derived from 2-formylphenoxyacetic acid

A series of eight new azomethine derivatives were synthesized by reacting 2-formylphenoxyacetic acid with aromatic amines. The chemical structures of these compounds were confirmed by means of 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, MS and elemental analysis. The compounds were assayed by the disc diffusion method for antibacterial against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Among the compounds tested, 2a, 2b, 2e, 2g and 2h exhibited good antibacterial activity, almost equal to that of Ciprofloxacin used as standard.

Highly enantioselective kinetic resolution of two tertiary alcohols using mutants of an esterase from Bacillus subtilis

Enzyme-catalyzed kinetic resolutions of secondary alcohols are a standard procedure today and several lipases and esterases have been described to show high activity and enantioselectivity. In contrast, tertiary alcohols and their esters are accepted only by a few biocatalysts. Only lipases and esterases with a conserved GGG(A)X-motif are active, but show low activity combined with low enantioselectivity in the hydrolysis of tertiary alcohol esters. We show in this work that the problematic autohydrolysis of certain compounds can be overcome by medium and substrate engineering. Thus, 3-phenylbut-1-yn-3-yl acetate was hydrolyzed by the esterase from Bacillus subtilis (BS2, mutant Gly105Ala) with an enantioselectivity of E = 56 in the presence of 20% (v/v) DMSO compared to E = 28 without a cosolvent. Molecular modeling was used to study the interactions between BS2 and tertiary alcohol esters in their transition state in the active site of the enzyme. Guided by molecular modeling, enzyme variants with highly increased enantioselectivity were created. For example, a Glu188Asp mutant converted the trifluoromethyl analog of 3-phenylbut-1-yn-3-yl acetate with an excellent enantioselectivity (E > 100) yielding the (S)-alcohol with > 99%ee. In summary, protein engineering combined with medium and substrate engineering afforded tertiary alcohols of very high enantiomeric purity.

C-acylations of polymeric phosphoranylidene acetates for C-terminal variation of peptide carboxylic acids

C-Acylations of polymer-supported 2-phosphoranylidene acetates ("linker reagents") with protected amino acids yielded 2-acyl-2-phosphoranylidene acetates as flexible intermediates for the C-terminal variation of carboxylic acids: peptidyl-2,3-diketoesters, peptidyl vinyl ketones, peptidyl-2-ketoaldehydes, and 1,3-diamino-2-hydroxy-propanes were obtained as products. [reaction: see text]

Sesterterpene sulfates as isocitrate lyase inhibitors from tropical sponge Hippospongia sp

Two sesterterpene sulfates (1-2) were isolated from tropical sponge Hippospongia sp. and their inhibitory activities against isocitrate lyase (ICL) from the rice blast fungus Mgnaporthe grisea were evaluated. Compound 3 was obtained by hydrolysis of compound 1. Compounds 1 and 3 were found to be potent ICL inhibitors, which inhibited appressorium formation and C(2) carbon utilization in M. grisea. Our results suggest that ICL plays crucial role in appressorium formation of M. grisea and is a new target for the protection of rice blast disease.

Effects of natural and novel synthetic jasmonates in experimental metastatic melanoma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

No current treatment reliably affects the course of metastatic melanoma. Consequently, novel approaches to the control of metastasis are actively sought. The overall goal of the present study was to identify new anti-metastatic agents active against melanoma cells.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Two directions were taken: 1. To determine whether the natural plant hormone methyl jasmonate, which kills cancer cells selectively, can suppress the characteristic metastatic behavior of B16-F10 melanoma cells; 2. To synthesize and identify novel jasmonate derivatives with better cytotoxic and anti-metastatic activities than methyl jasmonate.

KEY RESULTS

We found that methyl jasmonate suppressed B16-F10 cell motility and inhibited the development of experimental lung metastases of these cells. Furthermore, methyl jasmonate suppressed the motility of a sub-clone of these cells over-expressing P-glycoprotein and exhibiting multidrug resistance. The synthetic derivative Compound I (5,7,9,10-tetrabromo derivative of methyl jasmonate, the most active derivative) had greater cytotoxic potency (IC(50), 0.04 mM) than methyl jasmonate (IC(50), 2.6mM). Compound I prevented B16-F10 cell adhesion efficiently and inhibited the development of lung metastases at a much lower dose than methyl jasmonate.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Natural and synthetic jasmonates have anti-metastatic actions. Further development of these agents for the suppression of metastasis in melanoma and other types of cancer is warranted.

Synthesis and insect antifeedant activity of aurones against Spodoptera litura larvae

A series of aurones were prepared from various phenols via phenoxy acetic acids and coumaranones and evaluated for insect antifeedant activity against the common cutworm (Spodoptera litura). The naturally occurring aurone was most active at an ED50 of 0.12 micromol/cm2. The synthetic precursor, coumaranones, showed that the introduction of methoxyl and methyl groups to the benzene ring increased insect antifeedant activity. Similarly, the tested aurones showed that the introduction of methoxyl group to the A and/or B rings increased the insect antifeedant activity, but 4,5,6- and 3',4',5'-trisubstituted compounds did not show this activity in this test. The hydroxylation of aurones in the B ring should be disadvantageous for insect antifeedant activity against S. litura. Although the melting points did not correlate well with the insect antifeedant activity, compounds that were nearly inactive had high melting points. A significant correlation was noted between biological activity (pED50) and a hydrogen-bonding parameter calculated from the Rf value obtained from SiOH thin-layer chromatography and a lipophilicity parameter (log k) calculated from the retention time in ODS high-performance liquid chromatography. The respective correlation coefficients (r) were -0.83 and -0.70. The introduction of alkoxy and alkyl groups along with adequate hydrogen bonding seems to contribute to the antifeedant activity of the compounds tested.

Structural and Spectroscopic Evidence for the Formation of Trinuclear and Tetranuclear Vanadium(III)/Carboxylate Complexes of Acetate and Related Derivatives in Aqueous Solution

The formation of vanadium(III) complexes with nuclearity greater than two is believed to occur in aqueous solution on the basis of potentiometric, electrochemical, and/or UV-vis spectroscopy titration measurements, although structural evidence for this is limited. Upon the addition of 1-2 equiv of acetate, propionate, chloroacetate, trifluoroacetate, or bromoacetate to an aqueous, acidic solution of vanadium(III), trinuclear and tetranuclear complexes are formed. The structures of [V4(mu-OH)4(mu-OOCCF3)4(OH2)8]Cl4.7.5H2O (1), [V4(mu-OH)4(mu-OOCCH3)4(OH2)8]Cl4.CH3COOH.12H2O (2), [V4(mu-OH)4(mu-OOCCH3)4(OH2)8]Cl4.3H2O (3), [V3(mu3-O)(mu-OOCCH2Br)6(OH2)3]CF3SO3.H2O (4), [V3(mu3-O)(mu-OOCCH2CH3)6(OH2)3]Cl.2H2O (5), [V3(mu3-O)(mu-OOCCH3)6(OH2)3]Cl.3.5H2O (6), and [V3(mu3-O)(mu-OOCCH2Cl)6(OH2)3]CF3SO3.H2O (7) have been determined by X-ray diffraction. Importantly, electrospray mass spectrometry and 1H NMR measurements suggest that these complexes are not purely solid-state phenomena but are also present in solution. For the vanadium(III)/acetate and vanadium(III)/propionate systems, two paramagnetic 1H NMR signals corresponding to two distinct complexes (species A and B) are observed in the 40-55 ppm region for 0.20 mol equiv of acetate or propionate, at pD 3.44. No corresponding signals are observed for the vanadium(III)/bromoacetate and vanadium(III)/chloroacetate systems under the same conditions or for the vanadium(III)/ trifluoroacetate system using 19F NMR spectroscopy. UV-vis spectra suggest that species B are structurally analogous for the vanadium(III)/acetate and vanadium(III)/propionate systems, whereas structurally different complexes are the major species for the other systems. Diffusion coefficients of species B for the vanadium(III)/acetate and vanadium(III)/propionate systems determined by pulsed-field-gradient spin-echo NMR spectroscopy measurements are (3.0 +/- 0.1) x 10-6 and (3.23 +/- 0.01) x 10-6 cm2 s-1, respectively, and are most consistent with species B being trimeric, rather than tetranuclear, complexes.

Indanylacetic Acid Derivatives Carrying 4-Thiazolyl-phenoxy Tail Groups, a New Class of Potent PPAR α/γ/δ Pan Agonists: Synthesis, Structure−Activity Relationship, and In Vivo Efficacy

Compounds that simultaneously activate the three peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) subtypes alpha, gamma, and delta hold potential to address the adverse metabolic and cardiovascular conditions associated with diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. We recently identified the indanylacetic acid moiety as a well-tunable PPAR agonist head group. Here we report the synthesis and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of novel aryl tail group derivatives that led to a new class of potent PPAR pan agonists. While most of the tail group modifications imparted potent PPAR delta agonist activity, improvement of PPAR alpha and gamma activity required the introduction of new heterocyclic substituents that were not known in the PPAR literature. Systematic optimization led to the discovery of 4-thiazolyl-phenyl derivatives with potent PPAR alpha/gamma/delta pan agonistic activity. The lead candidate from this series was found to exhibit excellent ADME properties and superior therapeutic potential compared to known PPAR gamma activating agents by favorably modulating lipid levels in hApoA1 mice and hyperlipidemic hamsters, while normalizing glucose levels in diabetic rodent models.

Mechanistic Study of a Pd/C-Catalyzed Reduction of Aryl Sulfonates Using the Mg–MeOH–NH4OAc System

A method for the deoxygenation of phenolic hydroxy groups via aryl triflates or mesylates has been established by using a combination of Pd/C-Mg-MeOH. The addition of NH(4)OAc to the system markedly accelerated the reaction rate and expanded the scope of the reaction. Mechanistic studies suggested that a single-electron transfer process from the Pd(0) center to the benzene ring is involved in the reduction of aryl sulfonates and that NH(4)OAc works as a solubilization reagent of the Mg salt and as an accelerator of the electron transfer, thus enhancing the reaction process. Our method was also applicable to the regioselective deuteration of benzene derivatives with CH(3)OD as the solvent and deuterium source: the original hydroxy group could be efficiently replaced with a deuterium atom.

Oxyfunctionalization products of terpenoids with dimethyldioxirane and their biological activity

Oxyfunctionalization of the bioactive terpenoids, ursolic acid acetate (1), oleanolic acid acetate (5), lupeol acetate (12), and kaurenic acid (17), with dimethyldioxirane (DMDO) was investigated. Treatment of the terpenoids with DMDO under mild conditions afforded a variety of oxidation and oxydegradation products to yield naturally occurring and/or novel compounds in one step. After chromatographic separation, the structures of the individual isolated products were determined using spectroscopic methods including several homonuclear (1H-1H) and heteronuclear (1H-13C) shift-correlated 2D-NMR techniques. The inhibitory activity of the terpenoid derivatives against alpha-glucosidase was investigated and compounds 1, 3, 7, and 9 were found to exhibit potent activity.

Chemical, Pulse Radiolysis and Density Functional Studies of a New, Labile 5,6-Indolequinone and Its Semiquinone

The chemical and spectroscopic characterization of 5,6-indolequinones and their semiquinones, key transient intermediates in the oxidative conversion of 5,6-dihydroxyindoles to eumelanin biopolymers, is a most challenging task. In the present paper, we report the characterization of a novel, relatively long-lived 5,6-indolequinone along with its semiquinone using an integrated chemical, pulse radiolytic, and computational approach. The quinone was obtained by oxidation of 5,6-dihydroxy-3-iodoindole (1a) with o-chloranil in cold ethyl acetate or aqueous buffer: it displayed electronic absorption bands around 400 and 600 nm, was reduced to 1a with Na2S2O4, and reacted with o-phenylenediamine to give small amounts of 3-iodo-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]phenazine (2). The semiquinone exhibited absorption maxima at 380 nm (sh) and 520 nm and was detected as the initial species produced by pulse radiolytic oxidation of 1a at pH 7.0. DFT investigations indicated the 6-phenoxyl radical and the N-protonated radical anion as the most stable tautomers for the neutral and anion forms of the semiquinone, respectively. Calculated absorption spectra in water gave bands at 350 (sh) and 500 nm for the neutral form and at 310 and 360 (sh) nm for the anion. Disproportionation of the semiquinone with fast second-order kinetics (2k = 1.1 x 1010 M-1 s-1) gave a chromophore with absorption bands resembling those of chemically generated 1a quinone. Computational analysis predicted 1a quinone to exist in vacuo as the quinone-methide tautomer, displaying low energy transitions at 380 and 710 nm, and in water as the o-quinone, with calculated absorption bands around 400 and 820 nm. A strong participation of a p orbital on the iodine atom in the 360-380 nm electronic transitions of the o-quinone and quinone-methide was highlighted. The satisfactory agreement between computational and experimental electronic absorption data would suggest partitioning of 1a quinone between the o-quinone and quinone-methide tautomers depending on the medium.

pH transitions in cation exchange chromatographic columns containing weak acid groups

Complex pH transitions occur in cation exchange columns used for protein chromatography during equilibration and salt elution steps when the stationary phase contains weak acid groups even if the mobile phase is buffered and the buffering species do not interact with the stationary phase. In this work, we present a local equilibrium model to predict the magnitude and duration of these pH transients. The model equations are solved by the method of characteristics and by numerical simulations using an equilibrium-dispersive model. By incorporating an explicit description of the dissociation of the weakly ionogenic groups in the resin, we show that counterion binding in the column can be predicted for different buffer systems based on a single experimental resin titration curve without having to resort to empirically defined adsorption equilibrium constants. Model predictions based on these assumptions are found to be in excellent agreement with experimental results obtained for three different resins containing varying concentrations of weak acid groups. Four common buffer systems, acetate, citrate, MES, and phosphate are considered with both step and gradient changes in salt concentration at pH 5.5. Each buffer yields a different pH excursion behavior. We demonstrate that when the counterion concentration is kept constant in each of these buffers, which is needed to attain identical protein adsorption behavior, the magnitude of the pH transitions occurring during salt steps is nearly independent of the buffer system. On the other hand, the duration of the pH transitions is smallest for MES suggesting that this buffer system is preferable where pH variations are to be prevented.

Alterations in secondary metabolism of aposymbiotically grown mycobionts of Xanthoria elegans and cultured resynthesis stages

HPLC analyses of Xanthoria elegans cultivated on different media and either aposymbiontically or with its photobiont revealed that the carbon source and the presence of the algal partner have an impact on the secondary metabolism of the mycobiont. The aposymbiotically (without photobiont) grown mycobiont contained up to 70% more of the main compounds in its thallus than in resynthesis stage. Although this is speculative, the induction of the polyketide pathway may be a feedback mechanism to the absence of the photobiont. All cultures produce a variety of substances which were not detectable in the voucher specimen. Besides physcion (the major substance), we were able to identify emodin as well as physcion-bisanthrone, teloschistin monoacetate and derivatives. A strong inducible effect on the production of physcion, physcion-bisanthrone and on their precursors and derivatives was found for mannitol. By contrast, supplementation of ribitol had negligible effects, if any, on polyketide quantities although it is the main carbon source for the mycobiont in free-living lichens with Trebouxia photobiont.

Power generation using different cation, anion, and ultrafiltration membranes in microbial fuel cells

Proton exchange membranes (PEMs) are often used in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to separate the liquid in the anode and cathode chambers while allowing protons to pass between the chambers. However, negatively or positively charged species present at high concentrations in the medium can also be used to maintain charge balance during power generation. An anion exchange membrane (AEM) produced the largest power density (up to 610 mW/m2) and Coulombic efficiency (72%) in MFCs relative to values achieved with a commonly used PEM (Nafion), a cation exchange membrane (CEM), or three different ultrafiltration (UF) membranes with molecular weight cut offs of 0.5K, 1K, and 3K Daltons in different types of MFCs. The increased performance of the AEM was due to proton charge-transfer facilitated by phosphate anions and low internal resistance. The type of membrane affected maximum power densities in two-chamber, air-cathode cube MFCs (C-MFCs) with low internal resistance (84-91 omega for all membranes except UF-0.5K) but not in two-chamber aqueous-cathode bottle MFCs (B-MFCs) due to their higher internal resistances (1230-1272 omega except UF-0.5K). The UF-0.5K membrane produced very high internal resistances (6009 omega, B-MFC; 1814omega, C-MFC) and was the least permeable to both oxygen (mass transfer coefficient of k(O) = 0.19 x 10(-4) cm/s) and acetate (k(A) = 0.89 x 10(-8) cm/s). Nafion was the most permeable membrane to oxygen (k(O) = 1.3 x 10(-4) cm/s), and the UF-3K membrane was the most permeable to acetate (k(A) = 7.2 x 10(-8) cm/s). Only a small percent of substrate was unaccounted for based on measured Coulombic efficiencies and estimates of biomass production and substrate losses using Nafion, CEM, and AEM membranes (4-8%), while a substantial portion of substrate was lost to unidentified processes for the UF membranes (40-89%). These results show that many types of membranes can be used in two-chambered MFCs, even membranes that transfer negatively charged species.

Complexation study of cinalukast and montelukast with cyclodextrines

A fluorimetric study on the spectral characteristics of two antileukotrienes, cinalukast and montelukast, has been performed. Ionization constants of both of them have been photometrically calculated. Cinalukast pK(a) in ethanol:water 50:50 (v/v) medium resulted to be 2.2+/-0.1. Because the spectral characteristics of montelukast are widely affected by the solvent nature, pK(a) was estimated in two different ethanol:water media, 70:30 (v/v) and 10:90 (v/v) and the values calculated were pK(a)=2.9+/-0.1, and pK(a1)=2.0+/-0.1 and pK(a2)=6.5+/-0.1, respectively. It has been proven that the fluorescence of both, cinalukast and montelukast, is significantly intensified in the presence of cyclodextrins (CyDs). The host-guest complexation processes between cinalukast and alpha-CyD or heptakis-(2,6-di-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (DIMEB) and between montelukast and DIMEB have been investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. A 1:1 stoichiometric ratio was established for the three studied inclusion complexes. The changes produced on the fluorescence of cinalukast or montelukast, when they are included on the hydrophobic CyD cavity are used to calculate their association constants by a non-linear regression method. Semiempirical MO calculations using AM1 method were performed in order to characterize the studied inclusion complexes. A new method for cinalukast determination in human serum, based on the fluorescence of the complex cinalukast-DIMEB exhibiting limit of detection of 7.95 ng mL(-1) has been proposed with satisfactory results. Adequate recovery values between 95 and 103% were calculated at five different concentration levels.

Alignment of a conjugated polymer onto amyloid-like protein fibrils

The amyloid-like fibril is a biomolecular nanowire template of very high stability. Here we describe the coordination of a conjugated polyelectrolyte, poly(thiophene acetic acid) (PTAA), to bovine insulin fibrils with widths of <10 nm and lengths of up to more than 10 microm. Fibrils complexed with PTAA are aligned on surfaces through molecular combing and transfer printing. Single-molecule spectroscopy techniques are applied to chart spectral variation in the emission of these wires. When these results are combined with analysis of the polarization of the emitted light, we can conclude that the polymer chains are preferentially aligned along the fibrillar axis.