Selectivity mapping of the binding sites of (E)-resveratrol imprinted polymers using structurally diverse polyphenolic compounds present in Pinot noir grape skins.

This investigation describes a general procedure for the selectivity mapping of molecularly imprinted polymers, using (E)-resveratrol-imprinted polymers as the exemplar, and polyphenolic compounds present in Pinot noir grape skin extracts as the test compounds. The procedure is based on the analysis of samples generated before and after solid-phase extraction of (E)-resveratrol and other polyphenols contained within the Pinot noir grape skins using (E)-resveratrol-imprinted polymers. Capillary reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (ESI MS/MS) was then employed for compound analysis and identification.

Recent Developments in Chemical Synthesis with Biocatalysts in Ionic Liquids.

Over the past decade, a variety of ionic liquids have emerged as greener solvents for use in the chemical manufacturing industries. Their unique properties have attracted the interest of chemists worldwide to employ them as replacement for conventional solvents in a diverse range of chemical transformations including biotransformations. Biocatalysts are often regarded as green catalysts compared to conventional chemical catalysts in organic synthesis owing to their properties of low toxicity, biodegradability, excellent selectivity and good catalytic performance under mild reaction conditions.

Identification of protein binding partners of ALK-5 kinase inhibitors.

We have investigated the binding characteristics of a potent member of the bis-ortho-substituted five-membered nitrogen heterocycle class of ALK-5 kinase inhibitors with lysates of cultured HEK-293 cells to identify protein binding partners of potential biological significance. An affinity chromatographic resin containing an immobilized ALK-5 kinase inhibitor, 2-phenyl-4-[3-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]pyridine, was used to capture specific proteins from the cell lysate. The soluble inhibitor was then used to specifically elute the proteins which selectively bound to the pharmacophore ligand structure.