Fluorometric detection of enzyme activity with synthetic supramolecular pores

The reversible blockage of synthetic pores formed by rigid-rod beta barrels, either by substrates or products, was used to sense a variety of enzymatic reactions in high-throughput format with "naked-eye" fluorescent detection. Improvement of sensor sensitivity beyond three orders of magnitude by straightforward internal mutations underscores the functional plasticity of rigid-rod beta barrels. Such detectors of enzyme activity with the aforementioned characteristics are needed in areas as diverse as proteomics and environmentally benign organic synthesis.     

Synthesis and antiviral activities of amide derivatives containing the alpha-aminophosphonate moiety

Starting from (substituted-)benzaldehydes, the title compounds 6 were synthesized through five step reactions. Benzaldehydes were treated with ammonium hydroxide, followed by dialkyl phosphite, to give dialkyl N-(arylmethylene)-1-amino-1-aryl methylphosphonates ( 3). Phosphonates 3 were then easily hydrolyzed to give dialkyl 1-amino-1-aryl-methylphosphonates 5. Target compounds 6 were then obtained by the reaction of 5 and substituted benzoic or cinnamic acid. Their structures were clearly verified by spectroscopic data (IR, 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR, and elemental analysis). These compounds were shown to be antivirally active in the bioassay. It was found that title compounds 6g, 6l, and 6n had the same inactivation effect of TMV (EC 50 = 54.8, 60.0, and 65.2 microg/mL, respectively) as commercial product Ningnanmycin (EC50 = 55.6 microg/mL). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the synthesis and antiviral activity of amide derivatives containing an alpha-aminophosphonate moiety.     

Photoproduction of proton gradients with pi-stacked fluorophore scaffolds in lipid bilayers

Rigid p-octiphenyl rods were used to create helical tetrameric pi-stacks of blue, red-fluorescent naphthalene diimides that can span lipid bilayer membranes. In lipid vesicles containing quinone as electron acceptors and surrounded by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as hole acceptors, transmembrane proton gradients arose through quinone reduction upon excitation with visible light. Quantitative ultrafast and relatively long-lived charge separation was confirmed as the origin of photosynthetic activity by femtosecond fluorescence and transient absorption spectroscopy. Supramolecular self-organization was essential in that photoactivity was lost upon rod shortening (from p-octiphenyl to biphenyl) and chromophore expansion (from naphthalene diimide to perylene diimide). Ligand intercalation transformed the photoactive scaffolds into ion channels.     

Synthesis and bioactivity of novel sulfone derivatives containing 2,4-dichlorophenyl substituted 1,3,4-oxadiazole/thiadiazole moiety as chitinase inhibitors

The paper reported the synthesis and antifungal properties and mechanism of action of a series of 2-substituted methylthio-5-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole/thiadiazole and their corresponding sulfones. The preliminary biological test showed these compounds exhibit moderate to good antifungal activity. Particularly, the compounds 7g and 7c inhibited mycelia growth by approximately 50% (EC₅₀) at 2.6–59.2 μg/mL and 17.2–54.4 μg/mL respectively against nine kinds of fungi. The extent of inhibition induced by 7c on Rhizoctonia solani and underlying mechanism of action were studied in vitro. Docking simulation was performed to position selected compounds into the active site of family 18 chitinases. Variation in d-GlcNAc content and chitinase activity indicated that 7c can act as chitinase inhibitor for controlling fungal pathogens in plants.     

Synthesis and antiviral activities of pyrazole derivatives containing an oxime moiety

Target compounds 4a- n were obtained by the reaction of 1-substituted phenyl-3-methyl-5-substituted phenylthio-4-pyrazolaldoximes (3) with chloromethylated heterocyclic compounds (ClCH 2-R 3) under reflux conditions in ethanol. Subsequently, the oxidation of 4a- e with KMnO 4 in HOAc at room temperature afforded eight new compounds, 5a- h. The synthesized compounds were characterized by physical constants, and the structures of the title compounds were confirmed by IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, and elemental analysis. The bioassay revealed that the compounds possessed antiviral activities. It was found that title compounds 4a and 4g had the same inactivation effects against TMV (EC 50 = 58.7 and 65.3 microg/mL) as the commercial product Ningnanmycin (EC 50 = 52.7 microg/mL). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the antiviral activity of pyrazole derivatives containing an oxime moiety.     

Neuroprotective effect of naringin by modulation of endogenous biomarkers in streptozotocin induced painful diabetic neuropathy

Diabetes mellitus is a serious debilitating epidemic affecting all social strata in developing as well as developed countries. Diabetic neuropathy is most common of secondary complications associated with diabetes mellitus and is characterized by slowing of nerve conduction velocity, elevated pain, sensory loss and nerve fiber degeneration. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of naringin against streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic neuropathic pain in laboratory rats. Four weeks after intraperitoneal injection of STZ resulted in significant decrease in mechano-tactile allodynia, mechanical hyperalgesia, thermal hyperalgesia and motor nerve conduction velocity. Activity of endogenous antioxidant like superoxide dismutase as well as membrane bound inorganic phosphate enzyme was also found to be significantly decreased. It not only caused neural cell apoptosis but also enhanced lipid peroxide, nitrite, and inflammatory mediators' (TNF-α) level. Chronic treatment with naringin (40 and 80mg/kg) for 4 weeks significantly and dose dependently attenuated the decrease in level of nociceptive threshold, endogenous antioxidant and membrane bound inorganic phosphate enzyme. It also decreased the elevated levels of oxidative-nitrosative stress, inflammatory mediators as well as apoptosis in neural cells significantly and dose dependently. The important finding of the study is that, the naringin-insulin combination not only attenuated the diabetic condition but also reversed the neuropathic pain, whereas insulin or naringin alone only improved hyperglycemia but partially reversed the pain response in diabetic rats. Thus, naringin is a potential flavonone bearing antioxidant, antiapoptotic and disease modifying property acting via modulation of endogenous biomarker to inhibit diabetes induced neuropathic pain.     

Synthesis and antiviral activities of cyanoacrylate derivatives containing an alpha-aminophosphonate moiety

Target compounds 8 were obtained by the reaction of alkyl 2-cyano-3,3-dimethylthioacrylate or cyarylamide (7a-7e) and alpha-aminobenzylphosphonate (5a-5e) under reflux condition using ethanol as solvent. Their structures were clearly verified by spectroscopic data (IR and 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR) and elemental analysis. These compounds were shown to be antivirally active in the bioassay. It was found that title compounds 8d and 8e had the same inactivation effect against tobacco mosaic virus (EC 50 = 55.5 and 55.3 microg/mL) as the commercial product ningnanmycin (EC 50 = 50.9 microg/mL). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the synthesis and antiviral activity of cyanoacrylate derivatives containing an alpha-aminophosphonate moiety.