Preferential selection of Arginine at the lipid-water-interface of TRPV1 during vertebrate evolution correlates with its snorkeling behaviour and cholesterol interaction.

TRPV1 is a thermo-sensitive ion channel involved in neurosensory and other physiological functions. The trans-membrane helices of TRPV1 undergo quick and complex conformational changes governed by thermodynamic parameters and membrane components leading to channel opening. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying such events are poorly understood.

Homometallic Dy Complexes of Varying Nuclearity from 2 to 21: Synthesis, Structure, and Magnetism.

The synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of four Dy coordination compounds isolated as [Dy (LH ) (μ -η :η -Piv)]Cl⋅2 MeOH⋅H O (1), [Dy (LH) (μ -OH) (Piv) (MeOH) ]⋅4 MeOH⋅2 H O (2), [Dy (LH ) (tfa) (O PtBu)(Cl) ]Cl ⋅15.5 H O⋅4 MeOH⋅5 CHCl (3) and [Dy (L) (LH) (tfa) ]Cl ⋅15 H O⋅7 MeOH⋅12 CHCl (4) are reported (Piv=pivalate, tfa=1,1,1-trifluoroacetylacetone, O PtBu=tert-butylphosphonate). Among these, 3 displays an equilateral triangle topology with a side length of 9.

Observation of Slow Relaxation and Single-Molecule Toroidal Behavior in a Family of Butterfly-Shaped Ln Complexes.

A family of five isostructural butterfly complexes with a tetranuclear [Ln ] core of the general formula [Ln (LH) (μ -η η Piv)(η -Piv)(μ -OH) ]⋅x H O⋅y MeOH⋅z CHCl (1: Ln=Dy , x=2, y=2, z=0; 2: Ln=Tb , x=0, y=0, z=6; 3: Ln=Er , x=2, y=2, z=0; 4: Ln=Ho , x=2, y=2, z=0; 5: Ln=Yb , x=2, y=2, z=0; LH =6-{[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]methyl}-N'-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)picolinohydrazide; PivH=pivalic acid) was isolated and characterized both structurally and magnetically. Complexes 1-5 were probed by direct and alternating current (dc and ac) magnetic susceptibility measurements and, except for 1, they did not display single-molecule magnetism (SMM) behavior. The ac magnetic susceptibility measurements show frequency-dependent out-of-phase signals with one relaxation process for complex 1 and the estimated effective energy barrier for the relaxation process was found to be 49 K.

TRPV3 mutants causing Olmsted Syndrome induce impaired cell adhesion and nonfunctional lysosomes.

TRPV3 is a non-selective cationic channel and is important for several physiological functions. It can be activated by physiological temperature and selective endogenous and exogenous compounds. TRPV3 is one of the key ion channel involved in Ca-signaling in keratinocyte and thus involved in skin-related functions.

Octanuclear Heterobimetallic {Ni4Ln4} Assemblies Possessing Ln4 Square Grid [2 × 2] Motifs: Synthesis, Structure, and Magnetism.

Octanuclear heterobimetallic complexes, [Ln4Ni4(H3L)4(μ3-OH)4(μ2-OH)4]4Cl·xH2O·yCHCl3 (Dy(3+), x = 30.6, y = 2 (1); Tb(3+), x = 28, y = 0 (2) ; Gd(3+), x = 25.3, y = 0 (3); Ho(3+), x = 30.

Polysaccharide-capped silver Nanoparticles inhibit biofilm formation and eliminate multi-drug-resistant bacteria by disrupting bacterial cytoskeleton with reduced cytotoxicity towards mammalian cells.

Development of effective anti-microbial therapeutics has been hindered by the emergence of bacterial strains with multi-drug resistance and biofilm formation capabilities. In this article, we report an efficient green synthesis of silver nanoparticle (AgNP) by in situ reduction and capping with a semi-synthetic polysaccharide-based biopolymer (carboxymethyl tamarind polysaccharide). The CMT-capped AgNPs were characterized by UV, DLS, FE-SEM, EDX and HR-TEM.

Hydrolases of the ILR1-like family of Arabidopsis thaliana modulate auxin response by regulating auxin homeostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Amide-linked conjugates of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) have been identified in most plant species. They function in storage, inactivation or inhibition of the growth regulator auxin. We investigated how the major known endogenous amide-linked IAA conjugates with auxin-like activity act in auxin signaling and what role ILR1-like proteins play in this process in Arabidopsis.

Why individual thermo sensation and pain perception varies? Clue of disruptive mutations in TRPVs from 2504 human genome data.

Every individual varies in character and so do their sensory functions and perceptions. The molecular mechanism and the molecular candidates involved in these processes are assumed to be similar if not same. So far several molecular factors have been identified which are fairly conserved across the phylogenetic tree and are involved in these complex sensory functions.

Noradrenergic inputs from locus coeruleus to posterior ventral tegmental area are essential to support ethanol reinforcement.

Although dysregulation of the dopaminergic mesolimbic system is generally considered central to addiction, the involvement of other circuits is increasingly being appreciated. An interaction between locus coeruleus (LC) noradrenergic neurons and the posterior ventral tegmental area (pVTA) dopaminergic system, in the processing of drug-triggered reward, has been suggested, but not demonstrated in behaving animals. Herein, we try to tease out the precise role of noradrenergic neurons in the LC-VTA circuit in mediating reward and reinforcement behavior associated with ethanol.

Expression of temperature-sensitive ion channel TRPM8 in sperm cells correlates with vertebrate evolution.

Transient Receptor Potential cation channel, subfamily Melastatin, member 8 (TRPM8) is involved in detection of cold temperature, different noxious compounds and in execution of thermo- as well as chemo-sensitive responses at cellular levels. Here we explored the molecular evolution of TRPM8 by analyzing sequences from various species. We elucidate that several regions of TRPM8 had different levels of selection pressure but the 4th-5th transmembrane regions remain highly conserved.

Cross Redox Coupling of Aryl-Aldehydes and p-Benzoquinone.

Herein, we report an unprecedented Cross Redox Coupling (CRC) reaction catalyzed by Cu(OAc)2·H2O. As a proof-of-concept, direct coupling of aromatic aldehydes (or alcohols) and p-benzoquinone led to an ester in the presence of the Cu(II)-TBHP combination. During the coupling process, the C-H bond of the aldehydes was converted directly to a C-O bond.

AIEE phenomenon: tetraaryl vs. triaryl pyrazoles.

Tetraarylpyrazoles are synthesized from commercially available materials in three steps and found to exhibit Aggregation Induced Emission Enhancement (AIEE) characteristics. Removing one aryl unit from tetraarylpyrazole leads to Aggregation Caused Quenching (ACQ), thus the number of aryl groups plays an important role in exploring such a phenomenon.

Decanuclear Ln10 Wheels and Vertex-Shared Spirocyclic Ln5 Cores: Synthesis, Structure, SMM Behavior, and MCE Properties.

The reaction of a Schiff base ligand (LH3) with lanthanide salts, pivalic acid and triethylamine in 1:1:1:3 and 4:5:8:20 stoichiometric ratios results in the formation of decanuclear Ln10 (Ln = Dy (1), Tb (2), and Gd (3)) and pentanuclear Ln5 complexes (Ln = Gd (4), Tb (5), and Dy (6)), respectively. The formation of Ln10 and Ln5 complexes are fully governed by the stoichiometry of the reagents used. Detailed magnetic studies on these complexes (1-6) have been carried out.

Critical Assessment of the Strength of Hydrogen Bonds between the Sulfur Atom of Methionine/Cysteine and Backbone Amides in Proteins.

Gas-phase vibrational spectroscopy, coupled cluster (CCSD(T)), and dispersion corrected density functional (B97-D3) methods are employed to characterize surprisingly strong sulfur center H-bonded (SCHB) complexes between cis and trans amide NH and S atom of methionine and cysteine side chain. The amide N-H···S H-bonds are compared with the representative classical σ- and π-type H-bonded complexes such as N-H···O, N-H···O═C and N-H···π H-bonds. With the spectroscopic, theoretical, and structural evidence, amide N-H···S H-bonds are found to be as strong as the classical σ-type H-bonds, despite the smaller electronegativity of sulfur in comparison to oxygen.

Structurally Flexible C₃-Symmetric Receptors for Molecular Recognition and Their Self-Assembly Properties.

The bioinspired design and synthesis of building blocks and their assemblies by the supramolecular approach has ever fascinated scientists to utilize such artificial systems for numerous purposes. Flexibility is a basic feature of natural systems. However, in artificial systems this is difficult to control, especially if there is no preorganization of the component(s) of a system.

A Novel KERA Mutation in a Case of Autosomal Recessive Cornea Plana With Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma.

Purpose: Keratocan is a cornea-specific keratan sulfate proteoglycan found predominantly in the adult vertebrate eye. In human beings, mutations in keratocan (KERA) are associated with autosomal recessive cornea plana (CNA2), which is characterized by a flattened forward convex curvature of the cornea. Here, we report a novel mutation in a case of autosomal recessive bilateral cornea plana presenting with primary angle-closure glaucoma in a 41-year-old woman from Eastern India.

Design, synthesis, photophysical and electrochemical properties of 2-(4,5-diphenyl-1-p-aryl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenol-based boron complexes.

New hybrid organic-inorganic boron compounds using an imidazole core have been readily synthesized by a two-step procedure from commercially available simple starting materials. All boron compounds were fully characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, LC-MS, thermogravimetric analysis, cyclic voltammetry and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis (for & ). The photoluminescence measurements of revealed distinct emission peak maxima located at 378, 379 and 387 nm, respectively.

Sialic acids: biomarkers in endocrinal cancers.

Sialylations are post translational modification of proteins and lipids that play important role in recognition, signaling, immunological response and cell-cell interaction. Improper sialylations due to altered sialyl transferases, sialidases, gene structure and expression, sialic acid metabolism however lead to diseases and thus sialic acids form an important biomarker in disease. In the endocrinal biology such improper sialylations including altered expression of sialylated moieties have been shown to be associated with disorders.

Solvent-free ball-milling subcomponent synthesis of metallosupramolecular complexes.

Subcomponent self-assembly from components A, B, C, D, and Fe(2+) under solvent-free conditions by self-sorting leads to the construction of three structurally different metallosupramolecular iron(II) complexes. Under carefully selected ball-milling conditions, tetranuclear [Fe4 (AD2 )6 ](4-) 22-component cage 1, dinuclear [Fe2 (BD2 )3 ](2-) 11-component helicate 2, and 5-component mononuclear [Fe(CD3 )](2+) complex 3 were prepared simultaneously in a one-pot reaction from 38 components. Through subcomponent substitution reaction by adding subcomponent B, the [Fe4 (AD2 )6 ](4-) cage converts quantitatively to the [Fe2 (BD2 )3 ](2-) helicate, which, in turn, upon addition of subcomponent C, transforms to [Fe(CD3 )](2+) , following the hierarchical preference based on the thermodynamic stability of the complexes.

Synthesis of a cyclometalated 1,3,5-triphenylpyrazole palladium dimer and its activity towards cross coupling reactions.

A phosphine free 1,3,5-triphenylpyrazole acetate-bridged palladacycle was prepared from simple commercially available starting materials. The activity of the palladacycle in the Mizoroki-Heck and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions was evaluated. The palladacycle precatalyst shows a wide substrate scope, both in Mizoroki-Heck as well as in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions using low catalyst loadings viz.

Radical-Induced Metal and Solvent-Free Cross-Coupling Using TBAI-TBHP: Oxidative Amidation of Aldehydes and Alcohols with N-Chloramines via C-H Activation.

A solvent-free cross-coupling method for oxidative amidation of aldehydes and alcohols via a metal-free radial pathway has been demonstrated. The proposed methodology uses the TBAI-TBHP combination which efficiently induces metal-free C-H activation of aldehydes under neat conditions at 50 °C or ball-milling conditions at room temperature.

Fused core-modified planar antiaromatic 32π heptaphyrins: unusual synthesis and structural diversity.

The condensation reaction of fused dithienothiophene (DTT) diol with a core-modified tripyrrane led to the formation of acid and its concentration dependent products, sapphyrin and heptaphyrin. The single crystal X-ray analysis of sulphur and selenium heptaphyrin exhibits planar conformation owing to fusion. The experimental and theoretical calculations revealed the antiaromatic electronic structure of Hückel 4nπ.

Interaction between dopamine and neuropeptide Y in the telencephalon of the Indian major carp, Cirrhinus cirrhosus.

In teleosts, while neuropeptide Y (NPY) has emerged as one of the potent regulators of GnRH-LH axis, entopeduncular nucleus (EN) in the ventral telencephalon serves as major site for NPY synthesis/storage. Neurons of the EN innervate preoptic area and pituitary, respond to gonadal steroids, undergo reproduction phase-related changes, and are believed to convey sex steroid-borne information to GnRH neurons. In spite of the importance of EN, the neural circuitry associated with the nucleus has not been defined.

meso-Aryl core-modified fused sapphyrins: syntheses and structural diversity.

Two new, fused core-modified expanded porphyrins, sapphyrins 3 and 4, were synthesized by a simple acid-catalyzed condensation of electron-rich and rigid precursor, dithienothiophene (DTT) diol, and core-modified tripyrrane. These sapphyrins exhibit structural diversity depending upon the heteroatom present in the macrocyclic framework, where the thiophene ring is inverted in 3, while the selenophene ring in 4 exists in normal and inverted form in the free base and addition of two protons shifts the equilibrium to inverted form.