Diverse dimerization of molecular tweezers with a 2,4,6-triphenyl-1,3,5-triazine spacer in the solid state.

Molecular tweezers with a 2,4,6-triphenyl-1,3,5-triazine spacer exhibit diverse dimerization through pi-pi stacking interactions in the solid state, and these dimeric species form highly organized supramolecular networks.

A new quadruple hydrogen-bonding module with a DDAA array: formation of a stable homodimer without competition from undesired hydrogen-bonded dimers.

A new DDAA hydrogen-bonding module (UImp-2), based on a ureidoimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine structure, forms a highly stable homodimer (K(dim) > 1.1 x 10(5) M(-1) in CDCl(3)) without competition from undesired hydrogen-bonded dimers.

Cp(2)Ni-KOt-Bu-BEt(3) (or PPh(3)) catalyst system for direct C-H arylation of benzene, naphthalene, and pyridine.

Ni-catalyzed direct C-H arylation of benzene and naphthalene using aryl halides was investigated. For the first time, the arylation was successfully catalyzed by Cp(2)Ni (5 mol %) in the presence of KOt-Bu and BEt(3). This Ni catalyst system was also applied to direct C-H arylation of pyridine, an electron-deficient heteroarene; PPh(3) was used instead of BEt(3) in this case.

Nickel-catalyzed vinylation of aryl chlorides and bromides with vinyl ZnBr.MgBrCl.

The Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl halides and vinylzinc bromide for the synthesis of styrene derivatives was investigated. Of the catalysts surveyed, the combination of Ni(acac)(2) and Xantphos was found to be the most effective for this cross-coupling. This catalyst could be used in reactions with various aryl bromides and chlorides, including electron-rich aryl chlorides such as chloroanisoles.

A new strategy toward the total synthesis of stachyflin, a potent anti-influenza A virus agent: concise route to the tetracyclic core structure.

[reaction: see text] A new strategy directed toward the total synthesis of stachyflin, a potent and novel anti-influenza A virus agent isolated from a microorganism, has been presented through the enantioselective synthesis of the tetracyclic core structure. The synthetic method features a BF(3) x Et(2)O-induced domino epoxide-opening/rearrangement/cyclization reaction as the key step.

Polymeric transdermal drug penetration enhancer. The enhancing effect of oligodimethylsiloxane containing a glucopyranosyl end group.

Oligodimethylsiloxanes (ODMSs) containing a beta-D-glucopyranosyl group at one chain end (Glc-ODMSs) with various molecular weights were prepared to develop a silicone-based polymeric transdermal penetration enhancer with a non-ionic polar end group. Glc-ODMSs were prepared by hydrosilylation of hydrosilyl-terminated ODMS with 1-allyl-beta-D-glucose tetraacetate in the presence of bis(benzonitrile)platinum dichloride as the catalyst, followed by hydrolysis of the acetyl groups with sodium methoxide. The enhancing effect in the drug penetration was evaluated by in vitro experiments using a two-chamber diffusion cell.

Studies toward the total synthesis of popolohuanone E: enantioselective synthesis of 8-O-methylpopolohuanone E.

[structure: see text]. 8-O-methylpopolohuanone E (2) was synthesized in a highly convergent manner starting from the cis-fused decalin derivative accessible from the (-)-Wieland-Miescher ketone analogue. The synthetic method features a biogenetic-type annulation of the phenolic and quinone segments to regioselectively construct the central tricyclic ring system as the key step.

Studies toward the total synthesis of scyphostatin: first entry to the highly functionalized cyclohexenone segment.

The cyclohexenone segment 2 of scyphostatin (1), a potent inhibitor of neutral sphingomyelinase, was synthesized in an enantioselective manner starting from the bromo ether 5 and D-serinal derivative 3. The synthetic method features a coupling reaction of 5 with 3 to construct the asymmetric quaternary carbon center and a stereospecific epoxide ring formation as the key steps.

Production of eicosapentaenoic acid by a recombinant marine cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp.

The eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) synthesis gene cluster from an EPA-producing bacterium, Shewanella sp. SCRC-2738, was cloned into a broad-host range vector, pJRD215, and then introduced into a marine cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp. NKBG15041c, by conjugation.

Identification of cDNAs encoding two novel nuclear proteins, IMUP-1 and IMUP-2, upregulated in SV40-immortalized human fibroblasts.

Using a model system of young, senescent and SV40-immortalized WI-38 fibroblasts, we identified two mRNAs upregulated in immortalized cells (imup-1, immortalization-upregulated protein 1, and imup-2). Compared to normal tissues, both genes were more frequently expressed in cancer cells. The open reading frame of imup-1 spans 321bp, coding for a 10.

Strain-dependent antibody response induced by DNA immunization.

The antibody (Ab) response induced by DNA-based immunization was compared in various strains of inbred, H-2 congenic and outbred mice with different haplotypes of mouse major histocompatibility complex (H-2). Two different plasmid expression vectors encoding Aequorea victoria green fluorescent protein (GFP) or Escherichia coli, beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) were introduced into quadriceps muscle, and Ab production was examined using both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot analysis. The beta-gal plasmid DNA immunization induced strong Ab production in all inbred, H-2 congenic and outbred strains at the early stages of immunization.

Covalent modifier NEDD8 is essential for SCF ubiquitin-ligase in fission yeast.

A ubiquitin-like modifier, NEDD8, is covalently attached to cullin-family proteins, but its physiological role is poorly understood. Here we report that the NEDD8-modifying pathway is essential for cell viability and function of Pcu1 (cullin-1 orthologue) in fission yeast. Pcu1 assembled on SCF ubiquitin-ligase was completely modified by NEDD8.

Association of two nuclear proteins, Npw38 and NpwBP, via the interaction between the WW domain and a novel proline-rich motif containing glycine and arginine.

We have previously reported a nuclear protein possessing a WW domain, Npw38 (Komuro, A., Saeki, M., and Kato, S.

Suppressive effect of norzoanthamine hydrochloride on experimental osteoporosis in ovariectomized mice.

Norzoanthamine is an alkaloid isolated from a colonial zoanthid. We examined the effects of norzoanthamine hydrochloride on bone weight, strength and morphology in ovariectomized mice, a postmenopausal osteoporosis model. Norzoanthamine hydrochloride significantly suppressed the decrease in femoral weight and bone biomechanical parameters caused by ovariectomy without an increase in uterine weight.

Arg-gingipain inhibition and anti-bacterial activity selective for Porphyromonas gingivalis by malabaricone C.

Effects of malabaricon C, isolated from nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), on Arg-gingipain activity and growth of several kinds of anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms were investigated. Malabaricone C irreversibly inhibited Arg-gingipain by 50% at a concentration of 0.7 microgram/ml and selectively suppressed Porphyromomas gingivalis growth.

Multi-ubiquitination of a nascent membrane protein produced in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate.

During a large-scale in vitro translation analysis of a human full-length cDNA bank, we found many clones producing in vitro translation products showing ladder bands on a fluorogram with the equidistance of about 9 kDa at the position larger than the molecular mass expected from the open reading frame. We have analyzed a clone showing a typical pattern of the ladder bands. This clone encoded a 188-amino acid polypeptide containing a putative transmembrane domain.

(2E,6R)-8-hydroxy-2,6-dimethyl-2-octenoic acid, a novel anti-osteoporotic monoterpene, isolated from Cistanche salsa.

(2E,6R)-8-Hydroxy-2,6-dimethyl-2-octenoic acid [(R)-HDOA], a novel monoterpene from Cistanche salsa, a Chinese herb, was found to be an anti-osteoporotic compound. The extract of Cistanche salsa significantly suppressed the bone weight loss in ovariectomized mice, a postmenopausal osteoporosis model. The active substance was then purified by using this osteoporotic model and the chemical structure was determined.

4-Phenylthiazole derivatives inhibit IL-6 secretion in osteoblastic cells and suppress bone weight loss in ovariectomized mice.

A series of 4-phenylthiazole derivatives were synthesized and tested their inhibitory effect on the interleukin-6 secretion stimulated by PTH in osteoblastic cells. SCRC2941-18, 2-amino-4-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-methylthiazole, was found to be the most potent inhibitor in the derivatives. Furthermore, SCRC2941-18 significantly suppressed the bone weight loss in the ovariectomized mice, an osteoporosis model.

Polymer-bound N-hydroxysuccinimide esters: a column-free fluorescent-labeling method.

Polymer-bound N-hydroxysuccinimide esters of 1-pyrenebutyric acid, 6-carboxyfluorescein diacetate, and biotin were efficiently prepared. Column-free fluorescent- and biotin-labeling reactions of various amines using these resins were successfully demonstrated.

Npw38, a novel nuclear protein possessing a WW domain capable of activating basal transcription.

We have found a novel cDNA encoding a 265 amino acid protein possessing a WW domain in our full-length cDNA bank. The WW domain was sandwiched between an acidic region and an acidic-basic amino acid repetitive region. In vitro transcription/translation of the cDNA produced a 38 kDa product that was also found in the cell lysate by western blot analysis.

Biological activities of 1,1,6-trisubstituted indanes: beyond magainin 2.

MSI-78 is a peptide analog of naturally occurring magainin 2 isolated from the skin of Xenopus laevis. The peptide is known to have one of the strongest antibacterial activities in magainin 2 analogs against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). To find novel compounds superior to MSI-78, we have further designed, synthesizing 1,1-di(4-aminobutyl)-6-benzylindane (PM4) and 1,1-dibenzyl-6-(4-aminobutyl) indane (PM5), and tested their inhibitory ability of the growth of S.

Design of protein function by physical perturbation method.

Based on three-dimensional structure of proteins, a rational strategy to design the protein function by physical perturbation method was proposed and tested on one of the well-examined enzymes, thermolysin for higher catalytic activity. An attempt was made to change the electrostatic potential and the dynamic property of three-dimensional structure around the active sites by single-amino-acid mutations, and the physical property of the mutants was then evaluated. Several mutants were found to have remarkably higher enzymatic activity than wild type.

A new NEDD8-ligating system for cullin-4A.

NEDD8 is a ubiquitin (Ub)-like protein. Here we report a novel ubiquitinylation-related pathway for modification by NEDD8. NEDD8 was activated by an E1 (Ub-activating enzyme)-like complex, consisting of APP-BP1 and hUba3 with high respective homologies to the amino- and carboxy-terminal regions of E1 and then linked to hUbc12 (a human homolog of yeast Ub-conjugating enzyme Ubc12p).