Facile separation of cyclic aliphatic and aromatic vapors using crystalline thiacalixarene assemblies with preorganized channels.

Conventional distillation methods cannot separate compounds with similar boiling points, molecular sizes, and volumes, such as cyclohexane and benzene or methylcyclohexane and toluene, effectively. The corresponding cyclic aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons cannot be separated effectively using the same type of sorption material. We report that crystalline thiacalixarene assemblies featuring preorganized channel-like adsorption sites are capable of both separations.

Selective separation of branched alkane vapor by thiacalixarene supramolecular crystals having shape-recognition properties.

Activated crystals of a supramolecular assembly of bromothiacalix[4]arene propyl ether with preorganized channel-like voids can selectively and effectively adsorb isooctane vapor from a vapor mixture of isooctane and n-heptane.

Alkane Shape- and Size-Recognized Selective Vapor Sorption in "Channel-Like" Crystals Based on Thiacalixarene Assemblies.

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Manabu Yamada at Akita University and colleagues from Yamagata University and Vellore Institute of Technology. The image depicts two activated "channel-like" crystals, effectively adsorb branched and cyclic alkanes from linear, branched, and cyclic alkane vapors. Read the full text of the article at 10.

Alkane Shape- and Size-Recognized Selective Vapor Sorption in "Channel-Like" Crystals Based on Thiacalixarene Assemblies.

Alkanes composed of C-C and C-H show a low electric polarization, and therefore, there is only very weak interaction between alkanes and adsorbents. Thus, it is difficult to separate a specific alkane from a mixture of alkanes by adsorption. Here, two activated "channel-like" crystals generated from brominated thiacalix[4]arene propyl ethers, which adopt 1,3-alternate and partial cone conformations, recognize specific alkane vapors depending on alkane-shape and -size, sorting in three-type alkane guests such as linear, branched, and cyclic alkanes.

Crystal structure of a supra-molecular lithium complex of --butyl-calix[4]arene.

Crystals of a supra-molecular lithium complex with a calix[4]arene derivative, namely tetra-methano-llithium 5,11,17,23-tetra--butyl-25,26,27-trihy-droxy-28-oxidocalix[4]arene methanol monosolvate, [Li(CHOH)](CHO)·CHOH or [Li(CHOH)]·(calix[4]arene)]·CHOH (where calix[4]arene represents a mono-anion species because of deprotonation of one H atom of the calixarene hy-droxy groups), were obtained from --butyl-calix[4]arene reacted with LiH in tetra-hydro-furan, followed by recrystallization from methanol. The asymmetric unit comprises one mono-anionic calixarene mol-ecule, one Li cation coordinated to four methanol mol-ecules, and one methanol mol-ecule included in the calixarene cavity. The calixarene mol-ecule maintains a cone conformation by intra-molecular hydrogen bonding between one phenoxide (-O) and three pendent calixarene hy-droxy groups (-OH).

Cadmium-coordinated supramolecule suppresses tumor growth of T-cell leukemia in mice.

Cadmium is a toxic pollutant with occupational and environmental significance, due to its diverse toxic effects. Supramolecules that conjugate and decontaminate toxic metals have potential for use in treatment of cadmium intoxication. In addition, metal-coordinating ability has been postulated to contribute to the cytotoxic effects of anti-tumor agents such as cisplatin or bleomycin.

Double stranded DNA discrimination by di-pyrene modified gamma-cyclodextrin.

Neutral fluorescent active di-pyrene modified gamma-cyclodextrin (1) was synthesized in order to discriminate with single and double strand DNA (ssDNA and dsDNA, respectively) with high selectivity. The binding and selectivity of 1 for dsDNA was indicated by increase of the fluorescent intensity in an addition of dsDNA. On the other hand, an increase of fluorescent intensity of 1 was not recognized in an addition of ssDNA.

A highly sensitive probe detecting low pH area of HeLa cells based on rhodamine B modified beta-cyclodextrins.

Two kinds of rhodamine modified beta-cyclodextrins (R-1 and R-2), which are coupled up ethylene diamine (EDA) and tetraethylene pentamine (TEPA) between Rh B and beta-cyclodextrin, respectively, have been synthesized. R-1 and 2 work as a new fluorogenic probe for monitoring pH of Hela cells, and MTT of assay R-1, R-2, and rhodamine B indicate that less a cytotoxicity of those R-1 and R-2 than that of rhodamine B, where R-1 has much less one than that of R-2. The fluorogenetic probe capability of R-2 was recognized in an area of acidic area in living cell, which is lysosome.

Development of electrochemical reporter assay using HeLa cells transfected with vector plasmids encoding various responsive elements.

Electrochemical assay using HeLa cell lines transfected with various plasmid vectors encoding SEAP (secreted alkaline phosphatase) as the reporter has been performed by using SECM (scanning electrochemical microscopy). The plasmid vector contains different responsive elements that include GRE (glucocorticoid response elements), CRE (cAMP responsive elements), or kappaB (binding site for NFkappaB (nuclear factor kappa B)) upstream of the SEAP sequence. The transfected HeLa cells were patterned on a culture dish in a 4x4 array of circles of diameter 300 microm by using the PDMS (poly(dimethylsiloxane)) stencil technique.

HSP90-like artificial chaperone activity based on indole beta-cyclodextrin.

Indole beta-cyclodextrin (beta-1) was found to be able to prevent aggregation of citrate synthase (CS) on heating condition. As a result, beta-1 showed anti-CS aggregation in this system by regulating in early stage. The depression mechanism of beta-1 for aggregation of CS is as follows: the beta-1 formed a complex with hydrophobic parts of the beta-sheet structure of CS.

Potassium-thiacalix[8]arene assembly: structure and guest sorption profiles.

Treatment of thiacalix[8]arene (3.8H) with KH in THF, followed by recrystallization from methanol, affords an adduct of [K4(3.4H)].

73-kDa molecular chaperone HSP73 is a direct target of antibiotic gentamicin.

Although gentamicin (GM) has been used widely as an antibiotic, the specific binding protein of the drug has not yet been understood sufficiently. Here we show that GM specifically associates with the 73-kDa molecular chaperone HSP73 and reduces its chaperone activity in vitro. In the present study, we investigated GM-specific binding proteins using a GM-affinity column and porcine kidney cytosol.

Mammalian HSP60 is quickly sorted into the mitochondria under conditions of dehydration.

There are few reports concerning the sorting mechanisms of mammalian HSP60 into the mitochondria from the cytoplasm. In the present study we investigated the protein import system. Based on immunoblotting and immuno-histochemistry, HSP60 was detected in both the cytoplasm and mitochondria.

Characterization of the 105-kDa molecular chaperone. Identification, biochemical properties, and localization.

We have characterized the biochemical properties of the testis and brain-specific 105-kDa protein which is cross-reacted with an anti-bovine HSP90 antibody. The protein was induced in germ cells by heat stress, resulting in a protein which is one of the heat shock proteins [Kumagai, J., Fukuda, J.

Guest-responsive fluorescence variations of gamma-cyclodextrins labeled with hetero-functionalized pyrene and tosyl moieties.

Regioselectively hetero-labeled hosts, 6A-pyrenebutylate-6X-tosyl-modified gamma-cyclodextrins (X = B or H, C or G, D or F, and E for gamma-1, gamma-2, gamma-3, and gamma-4, respectively), were synthesized in order to investigate their chemo-sensor properties for applications to organic compounds, such as bile acids and terpenes. The hosts (gamma-1, gamma-2, gamma-3, and gamma-4) exhibit pure monomer fluorescence. The guest-induced fluorescence emissions of these hosts were suppressed in the presence of guests.