A new type of sulfation reaction: -sulfonation for α,β-unsaturated carbonyl groups by a novel sulfotransferase SULT7A1.

Cytosolic sulfotransferases (SULTs) are cytosolic enzymes that catalyze the transfer of sulfonate group to key endogenous compounds, altering the physiological functions of their substrates. SULT enzymes catalyze the -sulfonation of hydroxy groups or -sulfonation of amino groups of substrate compounds. In this study, we report the discovery of -sulfonation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl groups mediated by a new SULT enzyme, SULT7A1, and human SULT1C4.

Photodynamic Therapy Using a Novel Phosphorus Tetraphenylporphyrin Induces an Anticancer Effect via Bax/Bcl-xL-related Mitochondrial Apoptosis in Biliary Cancer Cells.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses photosensitizer activation by light of a specific wavelength, and is a promising treatment for various cancers; however, the detailed mechanism of PDT remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the anticancer effect of PDT using a novel phosphorus tetraphenylporphyrin (Ptpp) in combination with light emitting diodes (Ptpp-PDT) in the NOZ human biliary cancer cell line. Cell viability and apoptosis were examined by MTT assay, flow cytometry and TUNEL assay for 24 hr after Ptpp-PDT.

The photospheric origin of the Yonetoku relation in gamma-ray bursts.

Long duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), the brightest events since the Big Bang itself, are believed to originate in an ultra-relativistic jet breaking out from a massive stellar envelope. Despite decades of study, there is still no consensus on their emission mechanism. One unresolved question is the origin of the tight correlation between the spectral peak energy and peak luminosity discovered in observations.

Photodynamic therapy of human biliary cancer cell line using combination of phosphorus porphyrins and light emitting diode.

A series of phosphorus porphyrin complexes ([(RO)P(tpp)]Cl, tpp = tetraphenylporphyrinato group, R = -(CHCHO)(CH)H; 1a: m = 2, n = 2; 1b: m = 2, n = 4; 1c: m = 2, n = 6; 1d: m = 3, n = 6) were used for the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of human biliary cancer cell line (NOZ) when exposed to the irradiation of light emitting diodes (LEDs). A Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) containing NOZ cells (2000 cell well) and 1 (0-100 nM) was introduced into a 96-well microplate and incubated for 24 h to accumulate 1 into the NOZ cells and to multiply the NOZ cells until the cell number reached 10 cells well. After replacing the DMEM medium containing 1 with a fresh DMEM medium without 1, the plates were irradiated for 30 min at 610 nm.

Additive effect of heparin on the photoinactivation of Escherichia coli using tricationic P-porphyrins.

Polycationic porphyrins have received substantial attention in developing singlet oxygen-sensitizers for biological use such as in the photoinactivation of bacteria and photodynamic therapy (PDT) of tumor cells because they have strong binding affinities for DNA and proteins. However, these strong cellular interactions can retard elimination of the drug after PDT. Therefore, the studies on the interactions of porphyrins with other molecules present much interest, in order to modulate the sensitizers' activity or even remove them from the human body after PDT.

Alkyl substituent effect on photosensitized inactivation of Escherichia coli by pyridinium-bonded P-porphyrins.

Activity of singlet oxygen sensitizers for photoinactivation of bacteria and photodynamic therapy of tumor cells has been evaluated using nonpathogenic model cells, such as Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and HeLa cells. Among them, E. coli, gram-negative bacterium, has complex membrane structures in the cell wall, resulting in an impermeable barrier to antimicrobial agents.

Assistance of human serum albumin to photo-sensitized inactivation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with axially pyridinio-bonded P-porphyrins.

As singlet-oxygen ((1)O2) sensitizer, water-soluble P-porphyrins (1) were prepared by the modification of axial ligands of tetraphenylporphyrinatophosphorus by N-alkyl-pyridinium group to give bis[3-(1-alkyl-4-pyridinio)propoxo]tetraphenylporphyrinatophosphorus(V) (alkyl=hexyl (1a) and butyl (1b)) and bis[5-(3-alkyl-1-pyridinio)-3-oxapentyloxo] tetraphenylporphyrinatophosphorus(V) (alkyl=hexyl (1c), butyl (1d), and ethyl (1e)). The quantum yields (ΦΔ) for the formation of (1)O2 were extremely high (e.g.

Concentration-dependent luminescence of ionic liquids containing trialkyl(pentafluorocyclotriphosphazenyl)ammonium moieties.

Room-temperature ionic liquid compounds (CpzNR3(+)X(-)) consisting of trialkyl(pentafluorocyclotriphosphazenyl)ammonium (CpzNR3(+)) and anions (X(-)) such as chloride and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (TFSI(-)) emitted blue luminescence under an excitation of 360 nm. The luminescent quantum yields (Φem) of CpzNR3(+)X(-) were determined to be 0.012-0.

Ethanol production from non-pretreated napiergrass through a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process followed by a pentose fermentation with Escherichia coli KO11.

Efficient ethanol production from lignocellulosic napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach) was examined by the combination of the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) with commercial cellulase and Saccharomyces cerevisiae NBRC 2044 and subsequent pentose fermentation (PF) by Escherichia coli KO11. Under the optimized conditions, the combination of the SSF and PF processes resulted in the production of 144 mg g(-1) of ethanol from the non-pretreated napiergrass powder. The ethanol yield was 44.

Quantitative analysis for a color-change of humidity indicator by microscopic absorption spectrometry.

A sensitive and easily distinguishable cobalt-free humidity indicator of porphyrin-silica gel-MgCl(2) composite was prepared from pH-induced spectra changeable tetraarylporphyrin, silica gel (SiO(2)), and MgCl(2). The pH change arose from proton release under dry conditions, and proton capture under humid conditions by a reversible reaction between MgCl(2) and a silanol group of SiO(2). A pink-orange porphyrin-Si(OH)(2)-MgCl(2) composite was dried to give a green protonated porphyrin-SiO(2)Mg composite.

Water-solubilization of alkyloxo(methoxo)porphyrinatoantimony bromides.

In order to develop water-soluble porphyrins, alkyloxo(methoxo)porphyrinatoantimony bromides (alkyl = hexyl (1a), decyl (1b), dodecyl (1c), tetradecyl (1d), octadecyl (1e)) were prepared. 1 had more than 1 mmol dm(-3) of solubility in water. From the dependence of the half-width of the bands in the absorption spectra and surface tension on the concentration of 1, it was estimated that 1b-d were present as aggregates in concentrations higher than 10 micromol dm(-3).

Guanine-specific DNA damage photosensitized by the dihydroxo(tetraphenylporphyrinato)antimony(V) complex.

The dihydroxo(tetraphenylporphyrinato)antimony(V) complex (SbTPP) demonstrates bactericidal activity under visible-light irradiation. This phototoxic effect could be caused by photodamage to biomolecules, but the mechanism has not been well understood. In this study, to clarify the mechanism of phototoxicity by SbTPP, DNA damage photosensitized by SbTPP was examined using [(32)P]-5'-end-labeled DNA fragments.