Enzymatic-assisted polymerization of the lignin obtained from a macroalgae consortium, using an extracellular laccase-like enzyme (Tg-laccase) from .

In the past decade, Mexican coasts have received an enormous influx of macroalgae species, producing serious environmental and public health concerns. Here, we developed a green methodology to generate a new polymer from the lignin contained in the macroalgae. The methodology consists in lignin extraction-by-boiling and its subsequent polymerization with a laccase-like enzyme from the green algae (Tg-laccase).

The Peptide AmPep1 Derived from Amaranth Recognizes the Replication Hairpin of TYLCV Disturbing Its Replication Process in Host Plants.

Antiviral compounds targeting viral replicative processes have been studied as an alternative for the control of begomoviruses. Previously, we have reported that the peptide AmPep1 has strong affinity binding to the replication origin sequence of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). In this study, we describe the mechanism of action of this peptide as a novel alternative for control of plant-infecting DNA viruses.

Full Structural Characterization of Homoleptic Complexes of Diacetylcurcumin with Mg, Zn, Cu, and Mn: Cisplatin-level Cytotoxicity in Vitro with Minimal Acute Toxicity in Vivo.

At the present time, scientists place a great deal of effort worldwide trying to improve the therapeutic potential of metal complexes of curcumin and curcuminoids. Herein, the synthesis of four homoleptic metal complexes with diacetylcurcumin (DAC), using a ligand designed to prevent the interaction of phenolic groups, rendering metal complexes through the β-diketone functionality, is reported. Due to their physiological relevance, we used bivalent magnesium, zinc, copper, and manganese for complexation with DAC.

A New Family of Homoleptic Copper Complexes of Curcuminoids: Synthesis, Characterization and Biological Properties.

We report herein the synthesis and crystal structures of five new homoleptic copper complexes of curcuminoids. The scarcity of reports of homoleptic complex structures of curcuminoids is attributed to the lack of crystallinity of such derivatives, and therefore, their characterization by single crystal X-ray diffraction is rare. The ligand design suppressing the phenolic interaction by esterification or etherification has afforded a significant increase in the number of known crystal structures of homoleptic metal complexes of curcuminoids revealing more favorable crystallinity.

Resistance-modifying Activity in Vinblastine-resistant Human Breast Cancer Cells by Oligosaccharides Obtained from Mucilage of Chia Seeds (Salvia hispanica).

The multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype is considered as a major cause of the failure in cancer chemotherapy. The acquisition of MDR is usually mediated by the overexpression of drug efflux pumps of a P-glycoprotein. The development of compounds that mitigate the MDR phenotype by modulating the activity of these transport proteins is an important yet elusive target.

Retro-Curcuminoids as Mimics of Dehydrozingerone and Curcumin: Synthesis, NMR, X-ray, and Cytotoxic Activity.

Curcumin and its derivatives have been extensively studied for their remarkable medicinal properties, and their chemical synthesis has been an important step in the optimization of well-controlled laboratory production. A family of new compounds that mimic the structure of curcumin and curcuminoids, here named -curcuminoids (-), was synthesized and characterized using 1D ¹H- and C-NMR, IR, and mass spectrometry; the X-ray structure of , , , , , , and are reported here for the first time. The main structural feature of these compounds is the reverse linkage of the two aromatic moieties, where the acid chloride moiety is linked to the phenolic group while preserving α, β-unsaturated ketone functionality.

Experimental and computational studies on the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by curcumin and some of its derivatives.

Recent studies have demonstrated several biological activities of curcumin with therapeutic potential against Alzheimer's disease, among them the inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Aiming at identifying the chemical features relevant for this activity, the inhibition of curcumin and a set of 7 derivatives against AChE of E. electricus was measured.

Structural analysis as an alternative to identify and determine mode of action of antimicrobial peptides: proposition of a kinetic model based on molecular dynamics studies.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constitute an important alternative in the search for new treatments against pathogens. We analyzed the sequence variability in cytokine and chemokine proteins to investigate whether these molecules contain a sequence useful in the development of new AMPs. Cluster analysis allowed the identification of tracts, grouped in five categories showing structure and sequence homology.

Structural determinants of gating in the TRPV1 channel.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channels mediate several types of physiological responses. Despite the importance of these channels in pain detection and inflammation, little is known about how their structural components convert different types of stimuli into channel activity. To localize the activation gate of these channels, we inserted cysteines along the S6 segment of mutant TRPV1 channels and assessed their accessibility to thiol-modifying agents.

Characterization of the gating brake in the I-II loop of Ca(v)3.2 T-type Ca(2+) channels.

Mutations in the I-II loop of Ca(v)3.2 channels were discovered in patients with childhood absence epilepsy. All of these mutations increased the surface expression of the channel, whereas some mutations, and in particular C456S, altered the biophysical properties of channels.

catena-Poly[[[aqua[3-(2-pyridylsulfanyl)propionato N-oxide-kappaO1]copper(II)]-mu-[3-(2-pyridylsulfanyl)propionato N-oxide-kappa3O3:O1,O1'] dihydrate].

In the title complex, {[Cu(C8H8NO3S)2(H2O)] x 2 H2O}n, the Cu(II) cation has a distorted square-pyramidal coordination environment consisting of five O atoms, one from a water molecule, one from an N-O group and the other three from the carboxylate groups of two 3-(2-pyridylsulfanyl)propionate N-oxide anions. The aqua[3-(2-pyridylsulfanyl)propionato N-oxide]copper(II) moieties are bridged by 3-(2-pyridylsulfanyl)propionate N-oxide anions to form an infinite three-dimensional coordination polymer with a zigzag chain structure. The crystal structure is stabilized by hydrogen bonds.

Synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity evaluation of unsymmetrical selenides.

The alkylation reaction of 2,2'-diseleno and 4,4'-diseleno-bis(benzoic acid) derivatives in the presence of sodium borohydride and alkyl halides allowed the synthesis of various new o- and p-alkylselenenylated benzoic acid derivatives in good yields. The anti-inflammatory activity of selected selenide derivatives on granuloma induced by subcutaneous implantation of cotton pellets in Wistar rats was examined. Selenium derivatives 2a, 2c and 2e showed anti-inflammatory activity although to a lesser extent as compared to indomethacin, however they were found less toxic than the latter.

Isolation and biochemical characterization of an antifungal peptide from Amaranthus hypochondriacus seeds.

An antifungal peptide, Ay-AMP, was isolated from Amaranthus hypochondriacus seeds by acidic extraction and then purified by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. The molecular mass of this peptide, as determined by mass spectrometry, is 3184 Da. The peptide belongs to the superfamily of chitin-binding proteins, containing a single cysteine/glycine-rich chitin-binding domain, and it was found that Ay-AMP degrades chitin.

Crystal structure of 2-selenobenzyl-1-benzoic acid.

C14H12O2Se is monoclinic, P2(1)/c. Unit-cell dimensions at 293 K are a = 8.1055(7), b = 5.

Crystal structure of 6-benzylamino-9-[2-tetrahydropyranyl]-9H-purine.

C17H19O2N5 is monoclinic, P2(1)/n. Unit-cell dimensions at 293 K are a = 10.802(1), b = 24.

Crystal structure of 2-Se-(2-methyl-2-propenyl)-1-benzoic acid.

C11H12O2Se is triclinic, P1. Unit-cell dimensions at 293 K are a = 5.8450(10), b = 8.

Crystal structures of N,N'-(m-tolyl)thiourea and N,N'-(p-tolyl)thiourea.

C15H16N2S is monoclinic [orthorhombic], P2(1)/c [Pbcn]. Unit-cell dimensions at 293 K are a = 9.506(1), b = 7.

Crystal structure of dibenzoyl diselenide.

C14H10O2Se2 is monoclinic, P2(1)/c. The unit-cell dimensions at 293 K are a = 12.795(2), b = 12.

Amino acid sequence, biochemical characterization, and comparative modeling of a nonspecific lipid transfer protein from Amaranthus hypochondriacus.

Plant nonspecific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are characterized by their ability to bind a broad range of hydrophobic ligands in vitro. Their biological function has not yet been elucidated, but they could play a major role in plant defense to physical and biological stress. An nsLTP was isolated from Amaranthus hypochondriacus seeds and purified by gel filtration and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography techniques.

Crystal structure of 1beta-hydroxy-beta-homopipitzolone (9-hydroxy-2,6,9-trimethyltricyclo[6,3,1,0(1,6)]dodeca-5,10,11,12-tetraone).

C15H18O5 is orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1). The unit-cell dimensions at 293 K are a = 6.526(3), b = 10.

Crystal structure and synthesis of 17alpha-(5-chlorovaleroyloxy)-16beta-methylpregna-4,6-diene-3,20-dione.

C27H37O4Cl is orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1). The unit-cell dimensions at 293 K are a = 7.1388(15), b = 12.