Publications by authors named "Wim De Borggraeve"

The glass transition dynamics and conductivity relaxation are studied for a series of non-stoichiometric protic ionic liquids (PILs) based on 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate and triflic acid with varying molar ratios (denoted as AT-55, AT-46, AT-37, AT-28, and AT-19) by broadband dielectric spectroscopy in a wide frequency (10-1-107 Hz) and temperature range (173-353 K). The results indicate that the addition of acid lowers the glass transition temperature, as confirmed by the activation energy fine structure analysis and a crossover in the conductivity relaxation time. Notably, samples with higher acid content deliver markedly increased conductivity.

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Upregulation of L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) is implicated in a range of cardiovascular and neurological disorders. Therefore, the development of toolboxes that unlock fast imaging protocols in live cells is coveted. Herein, we report a library of first-in-class far-red small-molecule-based fluorescent ligands (FluoDiPines), able to target LTCCs.

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Contrast-enhanced computed tomography offers a nondestructive approach to studying adipose tissue in 3D. Several contrast-enhancing staining agents (CESAs) have been explored, whereof osmium tetroxide (OsO) is the most popular nowadays. However, due to the toxicity and volatility of the conventional OsO, alternative CESAs with similar staining properties were desired.

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Sulfur(VI) Fluoride Exchange (SuFEx) chemistry stands as a well-established method for swiftly constructing complex molecules in a modular fashion. An especially promising segment of this toolbox is reserved for multidimensional SuFEx hubs: three or more substituents pluggable into a singular S centre to make 'beyond-linear' clicked constructions. Sulfurimidoyl difluorides (RNSOF) stand out as the prime example of this, however their preparation from the scarcely available thionyl tetrafluoride (SOF) limits this chemistry to only a few laboratories with access to this gas.

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Herein we report a novel methodology for the ex situ generation of SFCl by employing 4,4'-dipyridyl disulfide as a safe commercial reagent, obviating the need for lecture bottles. The method is applicable to certain SFCl-involving transformations by using a two-chamber reactor. Moreover, easily applying SFCl in different solvents is rendered feasible, while avoiding the use of glovebox techniques.

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Highly acidic protic ionic liquids (PILs) are promising materials for potential electrochemical applications due to their high proton conductivity and excellent thermal stability. Still, little is known about the correlation between charge transport and structural dynamics as well as the proton transport mechanism despite the large body of literature on this topic. Here, we have examined the charge transport and structural dynamics by employing broadband dielectric spectroscopy in two highly acidic PILs in their supercooled liquid and glassy states, which included the same anion [TfO]- and different cations, [Tau]+ vs [Ahs]+.

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Bacterial trans-acyltransferase polyketide synthases (trans-AT PKSs) are modular megaenzymes that employ unusual catalytic domains to assemble diverse bioactive natural products. One such PKS is responsible for the biosynthesis of the oximidine anticancer agents, oxime-substituted benzolactone enamides that inhibit vacuolar H -ATPases. Here, we describe the identification of the oximidine gene cluster in Pseudomonas baetica and the characterization of four novel oximidine variants, including a structurally simpler intermediate that retains potent anticancer activity.

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Sulfur(VI)-fluoride exchange (SuFEx) chemistry, an all-encompassing term for substitution events that replace fluoride at an electrophilic sulfur(VI), enables the rapid and flexible assembly of linkages around a S core. Although a myriad of nucleophiles and applications works very well with the SuFEx concept, the electrophile design has remained largely SO -based. Here, we introduce S≡N-based fluorosulfur(VI) reagents to the realm of SuFEx chemistry.

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To improve our understanding of the brain microstructure, high-resolution 3D imaging is used to complement classical 2D histological assessment techniques. X-ray computed tomography allows high-resolution 3D imaging, but requires methods for enhancing contrast of soft tissues. Applying contrast-enhancing staining agents (CESAs) ameliorates the X-ray attenuating properties of soft tissue constituents and is referred to as contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT).

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The sulfur-fluorine partnership occupies a privileged position in fluorine chemistry given the functional versatility that it imparts to organic structures. Despite this, available methodologies to forge S-F bonds are limited compared to C-F bond formation. Here, we describe a synthetic protocol that selectively enables the oxidative halogenation of aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic thiols to their corresponding SF Cl, SO F and SF derivatives.

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The supramolecular gelation of small molecules is typically preceded by an external stimulus to trigger the self-assembly. The need for this trigger stems from the metastable nature of most supramolecular gels and can limit their applicability. Herein, we present a small urea-based molecule that spontaneously forms a stable hydrogel by simple mixing without the addition of an external trigger.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The study presents a new imaging technique called Cryogenic Contrast-Enhanced MicroCT (cryo-CECT), which uses a contrast agent and controlled freezing to create detailed 3D images of tissue structures, allowing for analysis of components like muscle and collagen fibers.
  • * Cryo-CECT was successfully applied to analyze murine hearts under stress from surgery, providing insights into muscle fiber orientation, diameter, and fibrotic areas, indicating potential uses in both clinical situations and food preservation.
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Pentafluorosulfanyl (SF )-containing compounds and corresponding analogs are a highly valuable class of fluorine-containing building blocks owing to their unique properties. The reason for that is the set of peculiar and tremendously beneficial characteristics they can impart on molecules once introduced onto them. Despite this, their application in distinct scientific fields remains modest, given the extremely harsh reaction conditions needed to access such compounds.

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Sulfur(vi) Fluoride Exchange (SuFEx) chemistry has emerged as a next-generation click reaction, designed to assemble functional molecules quickly and modularly. Here, we report the generation of trifluoromethanesulfonyl fluoride (CFSOF) gas in a two chamber system, and its use as a new SuFEx handle to efficiently synthesize triflates and triflamides. This broadly tolerated protocol lends itself to peptide modification or to telescoping into coupling reactions.

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PharmaSea performed large-scale in vivo screening of marine natural product (MNP) extracts, using zebrafish embryos and larvae, to identify compounds with the potential to treat epilepsy. In this study, we report the discovery of two new antiseizure compounds, the 2,5-diketopiperazine halimide and its semi-synthetic analogue, plinabulin. Interestingly, these are both known microtubule destabilizing agents, and plinabulin could have the potential for drug repurposing, as it is already in clinical trials for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

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Article Synopsis
  • Steviol glycosides were tested with bacteria from a Stevia plantation in Paraguay, leading to the formation of steviol and its degradation products during experiments.
  • Advanced analysis techniques like X-ray, NMR, and chemical synthesis were used to determine the structures of these new compounds, identified as a tricyclic ketone and its reduced form.
  • One of the degradation products features a specific ()-configuration at its alcohol site, highlighting its unique structural characteristics.
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Herein, the effects of an electric field on radicals are investigated for a set of model radicals with varying complexity. An electric field impacts the intrinsic philicity of a radical, as quantified by the global electrophilicity index, ω. The extent of change in philicity depends on the directionality and strength of the applied electric field and the dipole moment and polarizability of the radical.

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Radiometric assays have widely been used for measuring protein kinase activity for decades. In addition, several non-radiometric kinase assay formats have been developed over the years, including luciferase-based and fluorescence-based assays. However, radiometric assays are still considered as the "gold standard" for protein kinase assays, because of their direct readout, high sensitivity, reproducibility, reliability, and very low background signals.

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Supramolecular gels form a class of soft materials that has been heavily explored by the chemical community in the past 20 years. While a multitude of experimental techniques has demonstrated its usefulness when characterizing these materials, the potential value of computational techniques has received much less attention. This review aims to provide a complete overview of studies that employ computational tools to obtain a better fundamental understanding of the self-assembly behavior of supramolecular gels or to accelerate their development by means of prediction.

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An efficient, scalable and sustainable method for the quantitative deprotection of the tert-butyl carbamate (N-Boc) protecting group is described, using down to near-stoichiometric amounts of hydrogen chloride gas in solvent-free conditions. We demonstrate the ex situ generation of hydrogen chloride gas from sodium chloride and sulfuric acid in a two-chamber reactor, introducing a straightforward method for controlled and stoichiometric release of HCl gas. The solvent-free conditions allow deprotection of a wide variety of N-Boc derivatives to obtain the hydrochloride salts in quantitative yields.

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Protein kinase D (PKD) is a serine/threonine kinase family belonging to the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase group. Since its discovery two decades ago, many efforts have been put in elucidating PKD's structure, cellular role and functioning. The PKD family consists of three highly homologous isoforms: PKD1, PKD2 and PKD3.

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Background: The reason why patients photosensitized to the drug ketoprofen (KP) may develop severe photoallergic skin reactions to octocrylene (OCT), an organic ultraviolet filter in sunscreens and cosmetics, remains largely unknown. OCT can be synthesized by using unsubstituted benzophenone (BP), a possible human carcinogen.

Objectives: To verify if, and to what extent, BP residues are present in OCT-containing consumer products.

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Despite the fact that transmembrane proteins represent the main therapeutic targets for decades, complete and in-depth knowledge about their biochemical and pharmacological profiling is not fully available. In this regard, target-tailored small-molecule fluorescent ligands are a viable approach to fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle. Such tools, coupled with the ability of high-precision optical techniques to image with an unprecedented resolution at a single-molecule level, helped unraveling many of the conundrums related to plasma proteins' life-cycle and druggability.

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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Tetradenia riparia (commonly known as ginger bush) is frequently used in traditional African medicine to treat foodborne infections including diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, and stomach ache.

Aim Of The Study: The present study aims to identify in Tetradenia riparia the compounds active against foodborne pathogens.

Materials And Methods: Dried Tetradenia riparia leaf powder was consecutively extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water.

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