Secure and robust cloud computing for high-throughput forensic microsatellite sequence analysis and databasing.

Next-generation Sequencing (NGS) is a rapidly evolving technology with demonstrated benefits for forensic genetic applications, and the strategies to analyze and manage the massive NGS datasets are currently in development. Here, the computing, data storage, connectivity, and security resources of the Cloud were evaluated as a model for forensic laboratory systems that produce NGS data. A complete front-to-end Cloud system was developed to upload, process, and interpret raw NGS data using a web browser dashboard.

Room Temperature Catalyst System for the Hydroarylation of Olefins.

A simple protocol for the hydroarylation of olefins to yield diarylmethine products is described. A Friedel-Crafts-type synthetic strategy allows direct access to biorelevant products in high atom efficiency. A combination of substoichiometric amounts of TMSCl and ZnBr promotes a rapid hydroarylation process at ambient temperature.

Pd-Catalyzed Carboamination of Alkylidenecyclopropanes: Synthesis of Congested Pyrrolidines and Piperidines.

The synthesis of densely functionalized N-heterocycles is an ongoing challenge in chemical synthesis. Herein, we report an efficient method for the construction of pyrrolidine and piperidine scaffolds using a palladium-catalyzed carboamination of alkylidenecyclopropanes.

Ni-Catalyzed Enantioselective C-Acylation of α-Substituted Lactams.

A new strategy for catalytic enantioselective C-acylation to generate α-quaternary-substituted lactams is reported. Ni-catalyzed three-component coupling of lactam enolates, benzonitriles, and aryl halides produces β-imino lactams that then afford β-keto lactams by acid hydrolysis. Use of a readily available Mandyphos-type ligand and addition of LiBr enable the construction of quaternary stereocenters on α-substituted lactams to form β-keto lactams in up to 94% ee.

Metal Ion Complexes of N,N'-Bis(2-Pyridylmethyl)-trans-1,2-Diaminocyclohexane-N,N'-Diacetic Acid, H2bpcd: Cis/Trans Isomerization Equilibria.

The synthesis of N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N'-diacetic acid (H2bpcd) and its complexation of Ga(III) and Co(III) are reported. H2bpcd and the metal-bpcd(2-) complexes, isolated as hexafluorophosphate salts, were characterized by elemental analysis, X-ray crystallography, IR spectroscopy, and (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. [Ga(bpcd)]PF6, [Ga(C22H26N4O4)]PF6, crystallized in the orthorhombic space group Ibca, with a = 13.

Catalytic Kinetic Resolution of a Dynamic Racemate: Highly Stereoselective β-Lactone Formation by -Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysis.

This study describes the combined experimental and computational elucidation of the mechanism and origins of stereoselectivities in the NHC-catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of α-substituted-β-ketoesters. Density functional theory computations reveal that the NHC-catalyzed DKR proceeds by two mechanisms, depending on the stereochemistry around the forming bond: 1) a concerted, asynchronous formal (2+2) aldol-lactonization process, or 2) a stepwise spiro-lactonization mechanism where the alkoxide is trapped by the NHC-catalyst. These mechanisms contrast significantly from mechanisms found and postulated in other related transformations.

Catalytic dynamic kinetic resolutions with N-heterocyclic carbenes: asymmetric synthesis of highly substituted β-lactones.

New DKR type: An N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic α-substituted β-keto esters has been developed. This method relies on the epimerization of an NHC-enol intermediate before subsequent aldol/acylation events. Highly substituted β-lactones are produced in good yield with good to excellent selectivities (see scheme).

Synthesis of diaryl ketones via a phosphine-free Fukuyama reaction.

The synthesis of unsymmetrical diaryl ketones via the Fukuyama coupling of thioesters and organozinc reagents is described. Typically, the synthesis of diaryl ketones using this methodology provides low yields. The simple complex, Pd(dba)(2), was found to convert a variety of aryl thioesters to diaryl ketones in good yields.

Transition metal catalyzed synthesis of aryl sulfides.

The presence of aryl sulfides in biologically active compounds has resulted in the development of new methods to form carbon-sulfur bonds. The synthesis of aryl sulfides via metal catalysis has significantly increased in recent years. Historically, thiolates and sulfides have been thought to plague catalyst activity in the presence of transition metals.

Zinc-mediated palladium-catalyzed formation of carbon-sulfur bonds.

A catalytic amount of zinc chloride in combination with a palladium catalyst ligated by a monodentate phosphine allows the coupling of aryl and alkyl thiols with aryl bromides in high yields. The addition of zinc chloride to a palladium catalyst system that reportedly failed to promote sulfide formation allows this once ineffective catalyst system to provide the sulfide product in good yield. This paper describes a high-yielding and general monodentate phosphine-ligated palladium catalyst for biaryl and alkyl aryl sulfide formation.

A practical, metal-free synthesis of 1H-indazoles.

The synthesis of 1H-indazoles is achieved from o-aminobenzoximes by the selective activation of the oxime in the presence of the amino group. The reaction occurs with a variety of substituted o-aminobenzoximes using a slight excess of methanesulfonyl chloride and triethylamine at 0-23 degrees C and is amenable to scale-up. The synthesis of 1H-indazoles under these conditions is extremely mild compared with previous synthetic approaches and affords the desired compounds in good to excellent yields.

Inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine generation by CTLA4-Ig in the skin and colon of mice adoptively transplanted with CD45RBhi CD4+ T cells correlates with suppression of psoriasis and colitis.

Transfer of CD45RBhi CD4 + naïve T cells into severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice induces colitis and skin lesions. Recipients treated with cyclosporin A (CsA), CTLA4-Ig, or vehicle were evaluated for weight loss, skin lesions, and cutaneous blood flow. Necropsy, histological, hematological and cytokine analyses were performed at the conclusion of the experiment to confirm the clinical findings.

CD4 mAb induced apoptosis of peripheral T cells: multiparameter subpopulation analysis by flow cytometry using Attractors.

Studies describing the induction of apoptosis for CD4 mAbs do not delineate between epitope-dependent and Fc-driven epitope cross-linking induced cell death. Keliximab and clenoliximab are two CD4 mAbs that differ only in their heavy chain isotypes, being an IgG1 and a modified IgG4, respectively. These antibodies suppress CD4 T cell responses in vitro and in vivo and have been in human clinical trials for the treatment of RA and asthma.

Human calcium-independent phospholipase A2 mediates lymphocyte proliferation.

Activation of lymphocytes induces blastogenesis and cell division which is accompanied by membrane lipid metabolism such as increased fatty acid turnover. To date little is known about the enzymatic mechanism(s) regulating this process. Release of fatty acids such as arachidonic acid requires sn-2-deacylation catalyzed by a class of enzymes known as phospholipases A(2) (PLA(2), EC ).

CKbeta-8 [CCL23], a novel CC chemokine, is chemotactic for human osteoclast precursors and is expressed in bone tissues.

We have previously demonstrated that a tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive subpopulation of mononuclear cells isolated from collagenase digests of human osteoclastoma tissue exhibits an osteoclast phenotype and can be induced to resorb bone. Using these osteoclast precursors as a model system, we have assessed the chemotactic potential of 16 chemokines. Three CC chemokines, the recently described CKbeta-8, RANTES, and MIP-1alpha elicited significant chemotactic responses.

Antibodies to TR2 (herpesvirus entry mediator), a new member of the TNF receptor superfamily, block T cell proliferation, expression of activation markers, and production of cytokines.

TR2 (TNFR-related 2) is a recently identified member of the TNFR family with homology to TNFRII. We have demonstrated previously that TR2 mRNA is expressed in resting and activated human T cells and that TR2-Ig partially inhibits an allogeneic mixed leukocyte proliferation response. We now characterize TR2 further by the use of specific mAbs.

Osteoprotegerin is a receptor for the cytotoxic ligand TRAIL.

TRAIL is a tumor necrosis factor-related ligand that induces apoptosis upon binding to its death domain-containing receptors, DR4 and DR5. Two additional TRAIL receptors, TRID/DcR1 and DcR2, lack functional death domains and function as decoy receptors for TRAIL. We have identified a fifth TRAIL receptor, namely osteoprotegerin (OPG), a secreted tumor necrosis factor receptor homologue that inhibits osteoclastogenesis and increases bone density in vivo.

Carvedilol, a multiple-action neurohumoral antagonist, inhibits mitogen-activated protein kinase and cell cycle progression in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Recent findings that the multiple-action neurohumoral antagonist carvedilol inhibits the mitogenic effects of a broad variety of mitogens and produces marked protection against neointima formation after balloon angioplasty injury prompted further study into the molecular and biochemical mechanism of action. In the present study, the effects of carvedilol on mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activity and cell cycle progression were evaluated. Carvedilol produced significant concentration-dependent inhibition of mitogen-induced MAP kinase activity in rat smooth muscle cells.

Cloning and characterization of a novel integrin beta3 subunit.

We have identified a novel integrin beta3 subunit, termed beta3C, from a human osteoclast cDNA library. The COOH-terminal sequence and 3'-untranslated region of the beta3C subunit differs from the previously reported beta3A (platelet) and beta3B (placenta) sequences, while the regions coding for the transmembrane and extracellular domains are identical. The beta3C cytoplasmic domain contains 37 amino acids, the last 17 of which are encoded by a novel exon located about 6 kilobase pairs downstream of exon 14 of the beta3A gene.

Purification and characterization of fully functional human osteoclast precursors.

The identification and purification of human osteoclast precursors is essential to further our understanding of the mechanisms that control human osteoclast differentiation. Osteoclastoma tissue potentially provides a rich source of human osteoclast precursors, and in previous studies we have demonstrated the existence of a population of mononuclear cells within this tissue that is reactive with osteoclast-selective vitronectin receptor monoclonal antibodies. In this study, mononuclear cells expressing the vitronectin receptor, as defined by their ability to react with a murine monoclonal antibody to the beta 3 chain of the vitronectin receptor (87MEM1), were isolated from collagenase digests of osteoclastoma tissue using a fluorescence activated cell sorter.

Differential recognition by CD28 of its cognate counter receptors CD80 (B7.1) and B70 (B7.2): analysis by site directed mutagenesis.

CD28, which is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of molecules (IgSF), is a homodimer of two polypeptides containing a single V-like domain with short transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions. It serves as a co-signalling molecule for T cell activation through binding to its cognate counter-receptors CD80 and B70, expressed on antigen presenting cells. In the current study, we investigated the regions of CD28 which are involved in its interactions with CD80 and B70, using site directed mutagenesis, CD28 mAb epitope mapping, receptor based adhesion assays and direct binding of Ig-fusion proteins to cell surface receptors.