Host assisted molecular recognition by human serum albumin: Study of molecular recognition controlled protein/drug mimic binding in a microfluidic channel.

Human serum albumin (HSA) plays a pivotal role in drug release from its delivery vehicles such as cyclodextrins (CDs) by binding to the drugs. Here molecular recognition and binding of a drug mimic (CD1) to HSA have been explored in a microfluidic channel when CD1 is encapsulated in β-cyclodextrin (βCD) and heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin (TRIMEB), respectively, to investigate whether change of the host vehicle modulate the rate of drug binding to the serum protein. Molecular recognition of βCD encapsulated CD1 by HSA occurs by the conformational selection fit mechanism leading to rapid binding of CD1 to HSA (k ~ 700 s) when the βCD/CD1 complex interacts with HSA.

Deciphering the response of asymmetry in the hydrophobic chains of novel cationic lipids towards biological function.

Cationic liposomes, a type of non-viral vectors, often play the important biological function of delivering nucleic acids during cell transfection. Variations in the molecular architecture of di-alkyl dihydroxy ethyl ammonium chloride-based cationic lipids involving hydrophobic tails have been found to influence their biological function in terms of cell transfection efficiency. For example, liposomes based on a cationic lipid (Lip1814) with asymmetry in the hydrophobic chains were found to display higher transfection efficacy in cultured mammalian cell lines than those comprising of symmetric Lip1818 or asymmetric Lip1810.

A sensitive fluorescent probe for the polar solvation dynamics at protein-surfactant interfaces.

Relaxation dynamics at the surface of biologically important macromolecules is important taking into account their functionality in molecular recognition. Over the years it has been shown that the solvation dynamics of a fluorescent probe at biomolecular surfaces and interfaces account for the relaxation dynamics of polar residues and associated water molecules. However, the sensitivity of the dynamics depends largely on the localization and exposure of the probe.

Fluorescent pigment and phenol glucosides from the heartwood of Pterocarpus marsupium.

The fluorescence shown by extracts of the heartwood of Pterocarpus marsupium is attributed to salts of the new compound 1, whose structure was elaborated using detailed spectroscopic/spectrometric studies. The plant material also contains the nonfluorescent compounds 2 and 3. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by experimental and theoretically calculated electronic CD spectra, while that of 3 was deduced from ECD comparison with reported results in the α-hydroxydihydrochalcone series.

Synthesis of ether-linked oligoribo- and xylonucleosides from 3,5'-ether-linked pseudosaccharides.

First examples of di- and trinucleosides with ribose and xylose stereochemistry having internucleoside ether linkage were synthesized from 3,5'-ether-linked pseudosaccharides. The synthetic protocol involved removal of 1,2-isopropylidene protecting groups from the pseudosaccharides followed by acetylation and a subsequent Vorbruggen transglycosylation with uracil and N-benzoylaminopurine. The synthetic strategy is potentially important for the development of RNA analogues with internucleoside ether linkage.

Bis- and trisuracil nucleosides with nucleobases anchored to 11-, 12-, and 16-membered macrocyclic scaffolds: synthesis and aggregation study.

Bis- and trisuracil nucleosides, in which the nucleobases are anchored to isoxazoline ring-fused 11-, 12-, and 16-membered macrooxacycles, were synthesized by nucleosidation of 1,2-isopropylidenefuranose ring-fused macrocycles. The nucleosides exhibited spherical and fiber-like morphologies in water. In one case, the morphology was significantly altered by complexation with an adenine nucleoside via complementary base pairing.

Synthesis and intramolecular nitrile oxide cycloaddition of 3,5'-ether-linked pseudooligosaccharide derivatives: an approach to chiral macrooxacycles.

3,5'-ether-linked pseudooligopentose derivatives were synthesized for the first time from readily available carbohydrate precursors. The 1,2-isopropylidene-protected ether-linked oligopentoses are potentially important as precursors of novel RNA analogues. Intramolecular cycloaddition of the nitrile oxides prepared from these derivatives led to the diastereoselective formation of chiral isoxazolines fused to 10-16-membered oxacycles.

Expeditious synthesis of enantiopure symmetrical macroheterocycles by ring-closing metathesis of ether and tether-linked 1,2-O-isopropylidenefuranosides.

Bis-olefinic symmetrical carbohydrate derivatives were prepared by joining two 1,2-O-isopropylidenefuranose units either through an ether linkage or by a tether of variable size. The ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of these substrates using Grubbs' first-generation catalyst led to the synthesis of enantiopure symmetrical macroheterocycles containing nine- to twenty-five-membered rings fused to the 1,2-O-isopropylidenefuranose ring.