Impact of pH on the structure and function of neural cadherin.

Neural (N-) cadherin is a transmembrane protein within adherens junctions that mediates cell-cell adhesion. It has 5 modular extracellular domains (EC1-EC5) that bind 3 calcium ions between each of the modules. Calcium binding is required for dimerization.

Toward molecular rotors: tetra-N-heterocyclic carbene Ag(I)-halide cubane-type clusters.

1,3-Bis(3'-butylimidazol-1'-yl)benzene diiodide (2a), 1,3-bis(3'-but-3''-enyl-imidazolium-3'-yl)benzene diiodide (2b), 1,3-bis(3'-pent-4''-enyl-imidazolium-3'-yl)benzene diiodide (2c), 1,3-bis(4'-butyl-1',2',4'-triazolium-1'-yl)benzene diiodide (2d), or 1,3-bis(4'-butyl-1',2',4'-triazolium-1'-yl)benzene dibromide (2e) was reacted with Ag2O yielding unprecedented tetra-N-heterocyclic carbene-Ag(I)-X cubane-type clusters. These were characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, ESI-TOF MS, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography. Results from VT (13)C NMR spectroscopy and cross-over experiments are consistent with intramolecular exchange suggesting that the Ag(I) complexes are molecular rotors.

Oxidative stress contributes to soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 induced vascular dysfunction in pregnant rats.

Background: Recent evidence indicates that both increased oxidative stress and an altered balance between pro- and anti-angiogenic factors such as vascular-endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the soluble VEGF receptor (sFlt-1) contribute to endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia. We hypothesized that chronic infusion of sFlt-1 to mimic the increase observed in preeclamptic patients would reduce plasma VEGF concentrations, increase blood pressure (BP) and vascular superoxide levels, and cause endothelial dysfunction in the pregnant rat.

Methods: Recombinant sFlt-1 was infused (500 ng/h) during days 13-18 of pregnancy.