Related Articles

Cytokinins and cytokinin nucleosides are purine derivatives with potential anticancer activity. N6-furfuryladenosine (FAdo, kinetin-riboside) displays antiproliferative and apoptogenic activity against various human cancer cell lines, and FAdo has recently been shown to suppress tumor growth in murine xenograft models of human leukemia and melanoma. In this study, FAdo-induced genotoxicity, stress response gene expression, and cellular ATP depletion were examined as early molecular consequences of FAdo-exposure in MiaPaCa-2 pancreas carcinoma, A375 melanoma, and other human cancer cell lines. FAdo, but not adenosine or N6-furfuryladenine, displayed potent antiproliferative activity that was also observed in human primary fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Remarkably, massive ATP depletion and induction of genotoxic stress as assessed by the alkaline comet assay occurred within 60 to 180 minutes of exposure to low micromolar concentrations of FAdo. This was followed by rapid upregulation of CDKN1A and other DNA damage/stress response genes (HMOX1, DDIT3, GADD45A) as revealed by expression array and Western analysis. Pharmacological and siRNA-based genetic inhibition of adenosine kinase suppressed FAdo cytotoxicity and also prevented ATP-depletion and p21-upregulation suggesting the importance of bioconversion of FAdo into the nucleotide form required for drug action. Taken together our data suggest that early induction of genotoxicity and energy crisis are important causative factors involved in FAdo cytotoxicity.

An enzyme of unknown function within the amidohydrolase superfamily was discovered to catalyze the hydrolysis of N-6-substituted adenine derivatives, several of which are cytokinins. Cytokinins are a common type of plant hormone and N-6-substituted adenines are also found as modifications to tRNA. Patl2390, from Pseudoalteromonas atlantica T6c, was shown to hydrolytically deaminate N-6-isopentenyladenine to hypoxanthine and isopentenylamine with a kcat/Km of 1.2 × 107 M−1 s−1. Additional substrates include N-6-benzyl adenine, cis- and trans-zeatin, kinetin, O-6-methylguanine, N-6-butyladenine, N-6-methyladenine, N,N-dimethyladenine, 6-methoxypurine, 6-chloropurine, and 6-thiomethylpurine. This enzyme does not catalyze the deamination of adenine or adenosine. A comparative model of Patl2390 was computed using the three-dimensional crystal structure of Pa0148 (PDB code: 3PAO) as a structural template and docking was used to refine the model to accommodate experimentally identified substrates. This is the first identification of an enzyme that will hydrolyze an N-6 substituted side chain larger than methylamine from adenine.

The preparation and characterization of a mixed-valence π-cation radical derivative of an iron(III) oxochlorinato complex is reported. The new complex has been synthesized by the one-electron oxidation of a pair of [Fe(oxoOEC)(Cl)] molecules to form the dimeric cation [Fe(oxoOEC)(Cl)]+2. The cation has been characterized by an X-ray analysis, Mössbauer spectroscopy, UV-vis and near-IR spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility measurements from 6–300 K. The crystal structure shows that the two rings have a smaller overlap area that those of the formally related nickel and copper octaethylporphyrinateethylporphinate derivatives, reflecting the larger steric congestion at the periphery in part of the oxochlorin rings. The Mössbauer data is consistent with two equivalent iron(III) centers. The unpaired electron is delocalized over the two oxochlorin rings and mediates a strong antiferromagnetic interaction between the high-spin iron(III) centers.

In the centrosymmetric dimeric title compound, [Cu2Cl4(C16H20N2O)4]·0.5H2O, the CuII atom is in a distorted trigonal–bipyramidal environment defined by two bridging Cl atoms, one terminal Cl atom and two N atoms from two monodentate 4-(adamantan-1-ylcarbamo­yl)pyridine ligands. The amine N atoms are involved in intra­molecular N—H⋯O and inter­molecular N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds. The latter hydrogen bonds link the complex mol­ecules into a ribbon along [010]. The uncoordinated water mol­ecule is 0.25-occupied.

A series of cobalt, nickel, copper, and zinc complexes of bidentate Schiff bases derived from the condensation reaction of 4-amino-5-mercapto-3-methyl/ethyl-1,2,4-triazole with 2,4-dichlorobenzaldehyde were synthesized and tested as antimicrobial agents. The synthesized Schiff bases and their metal complexes were characterized with the aid of elemental analyses, magnetic moment measurements, spectroscopic and thermogravimetric techniques. The presence of coordinated water in metal complexes was supported by infrared and thermal gravimetric studies. A square planar geometry was suggested for Cu(II) and octahedral geometry proposed for Co(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) complexes. The Schiff bases and their metal complexes have been screened for antibacterial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis) and antifungal activities (Aspergillus niger, A. flavus). The metal complexes exhibited significantly enhanced antibacterial and antifungal activity as compared to their simple Schiff bases.

Erbium(III) complexes of 2-hydroxy-l,4-naphthalenedione-1-oxime and its C-3 substituted derivatives are synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurements 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthalenedione-1-oxime derivatives are analysed using 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The molecular composition of the synthesized complexes is found to be [ML3(H2O)2]. The antimicrobial activity of these complexes is determined by well diffusion method against the target microorganisms- Staphylococcus aureus, Xanthomonas campestris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. The antimicrobial activities of 2- hydroxy-1,4-naphthalenedione-1-oximes and their complexes are compared. It is observed that 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthalenedione-l-oximes exhibit higher antifungal activity as compared to antibacterial activity. These activities are reduced upon complexation of these oximes with Erbium.

A starch-urea-based biodegradable coordination polymer modified by transition metal Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) was prepared by polycondensation of starch and urea. All the synthesized polymeric compounds were characterized by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), 1H-NMR spectroscopy, 13C-NMR spectroscopy, UV-visible spectra, magnetic moment measurements, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results of electronic spectra and magnetic moment measurements indicate that Mn(II), Co(II), and Ni(II) complexes show octahedral geometry, while Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes show square planar and tetrahedral geometry, respectively. The thermogravimetric analysis revealed that all the polymeric metal complexes are more thermally stable than the parental ligand. In addition, biodegradable studies of all the polymeric compounds were also carried out through ASTM standards of biodegradable polymers by CO2 evolution method.

We report the preparation and characterization of two meso-alkyl substituted porphyrin π-cation radical derivatives, [Fe(TalkylP.)(Cl)]SbCl6 (alkyl = ethyl or propyl). Both complexes have been characterized by UV/vis/near-IR, IR and Mössbauer spectroscopy, temperature-dependent solid-state magnetic susceptibility measurements and X-ray structure determinations. All data for both oxidized species are consistent with the formulation of the complexes as ring-oxidized iron(III) porphyrin species. The molecular structures of the two five-coordinate species have the typical square-pyramidal coordination group of high-spin iron(III) derivatives. The crystal structures also reveal that the species form cofacial π–π dimers with lateral shifts of 1.44 Å and 3.22 Å, respectively, for the propyl and ethyl radical derivatives. Both radicals exhibit porphyrin cores with alternating bond distance patterns in the inner 16-membered ring. In addition, [Fe(TEtP.)(Cl)]SbCl6 and [Fe(TPrP.)(Cl)]SbCl6 have been characterized by temperature-dependent (6–300K) magnetic susceptibility studies, the best fitting of the temperature-dependent moments reveal strong coupling between iron spins and porphyrin radical, and a smaller magnitude of antiferromagnetic coupling between ring radicals, which are opposite to those found in the five-coordinate iron(III) OEP radicals. The differences in structure and properties of the cation radical meso-alkyl and β-alkyl derivatives possibly reflect differences in properties of a 1u- and a 2u-forming radicals.

In the title complex, [Cu2Cl4(C17H22N2)2], the CuII cation is coordinated by a N,N′-dibenzyl­propane-1,2-diamine ligand and two Cl− anions, and a Cl− anion from an adjacent mol­ecule further bridges to the CuII cation in the apical position, with a longer Cu—Cl distance of 2.9858 (18) Å, forming a centrosymmetric dimeric complex in which each CuII cation is in a distorted square-pyramidal geometry. Intra­molecular N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonding is observed in the dimeric complex.

The asymmetric unit of the title complex, [Ir2Cl4(C12H19)2], a versatile starting material for the preparation of uniquely substituted penta­alkyl­cyclo­penta­dien­yl–iridium complexes, consists of an iridium(III) atom, a substituted cyclo­penta­dienyl ligand and two chlorine ligands. The full dimer is generated by an inversion center. In the dimer, the two IrIII atoms and two bridging Cl atoms form a perfectly planar ring. The two IrIII atoms and the two terminal Cl atoms also form a rigorous plane that is orthogonal [89.48 (3)°] to the Ir2Cl2 ring. The plane of the cyclo­penta­dienyl ligand forms a dihedral angle of 54.06 (7)° with respect to the Ir2Cl2 ring.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements of magnetic susceptibility have been utilized to study the equilibrium between two forms (high-spin monomer vs the antiferromagnetically coupled μ-oxo dimer) of ferriprotoporphyrin(IX) as a function of pH. The pH dependence of this equilibrium is significantly altered by the addition of either chloroquine or quinine. Chloroquine promotes the μ-oxo dimer whereas quinine promotes the monomer.

In the dimeric title compound, [Pd2Cl4{P(C8H9)3}2]·CH2Cl2, the metal complex molecule is situated about an inversion centre and is accompanied by a dichloro­methane solvent mol­ecule situated on a twofold rotation axis. The PdII atom has a slightly distorted square-planar coordination sphere. The effective cone angle for the tris­(3,5-dimethyl­phen­yl)phos­phane ligand was calculated to be 169°. In the crystal, the metal complex and solvent mol­ecules are linked via C—H⋯Cl inter­actions, generating chains along [10-2]. There are also C—H⋯π and weak π–π inter­actions present [centroid–centroid distance = 3.990 (2) Å, plane–plane distance = 3.6352 (15) Å and ring slippage = 1.644 Å], forming of a three-dimensional structure.

Manganese superoxide dismutase is an essential component of the mitochondrial antioxidant defense system of most eukaryotes. In the present study, we used a reverse-genetics approach to assess the contribution of the Cryptococcus neoformans manganese superoxide dismutase (Sod2) for antioxidant defense. Strains with mutations in the SOD2 gene exhibited increased susceptibility to oxidative stress as well as poor growth at elevated temperatures compared to isogenic wild-type strains. The sod2Δ mutants were also avirulent in a murine model of inhaled cryptococcosis. Reconstitution of a sod2Δ mutant restored Sod2 activity, eliminated the oxidative stress and temperature-sensitive (ts) phenotypes, and complemented the virulence phenotype. Characterization of the ts phenotype revealed a dependency between Sod2 antioxidant activity and the ability of C. neoformans cells to adapt to growth at elevated temperatures. The ts phenotype could be suppressed by the addition of either ascorbic acid (10 mM) or Mn salen (200 μM) at 30°C, but not at 37°C. Furthermore, sod2Δ mutant cells that were incubated for 24 h at 37°C under anaerobic, but not aerobic, conditions were viable when shifted to the permissive conditions of 25°C in the presence of air. These data suggest that the C. neoformans Sod2 is a major component of the antioxidant defense system in this human fungal pathogen and that adaptation to growth at elevated temperatures is also dependent on Sod2 activity.

We have studied the magnetic cluster compound Nb6F15 which has an odd number of 15 valence electrons per (Nb6F12)3+ cluster core, as a function of temperature using nuclear magnetic resonance, magnetic susceptibility, electron magnetic resonance and neutron powder diffraction. Nuclear magnetic resonance of the 19F nuclei shows two lines corresponding to the apical Fa−a nucleus, and to the inner Fi nuclei. The temperature dependence of the signal from the Fi nuclei reveals an antiferromagnetic ordering at T < 5 K, with a hyperfine field of ~2 mT. Magnetic susceptibility exhibits a Curie–Weiss behavior with TN ~5 K, and μeff ~1.57 μB close to the expected theoretical value for one unpaired electron (1.73 μB). Electron magnetic resonance linewidth shows a transition at 5 K. Upon cooling from 10 to 1.4 K, the neutron diffraction shows a decrease in the intensity of the low-angle diffuse scattering below Q ~0.27 Å−1. This decrease is consistent with emergence of magnetic order of large magnetic objects (clusters). This study shows that Nb6F15 is paramagnetic at RT and undergoes a transition to antiferromagnetic order at 5 K. This unique antiferromagnetic ordering results from the interaction between magnetic spins delocalized over each entire (Nb6F12i)3+ cluster core, rather than the common magnetic ordering.

Initiation of larval growth, induction of cell necrosis, and gall formation in the host were measured as criteria of resistance or susceptibility of tomato seedlings to the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid &White) Chitwood. Seedlings grown at 27 C on water agar containing additions were scored 3 or 4 days after infection.

In the absence of exogenous plant growth regulatory substances, approximately 73% of larvae that entered roots of susceptible plants showed growth, none induced necrosis and nearly all induced gall formation. In roots of a resistant variety, only 4% of the larvae grew, 88% induced necrosis of host cells, and only 29% induced galls. Exogenously supplied cytokinins shifted the response of the resistant plants toward the susceptible reaction. Exogenous kinetin at 0.4 and 0.8 µmolar allowed 55 and 57% of the nematodes to grow, reduced the incidence of necrosis to 32 and 31%, and increased gall formation to 73 and 65%. Three additional cytokinins, Zeatin, 6-(γ,γ-dimethylallylamino)purine, and 6-benzylaminopurine produced effects similar to kinetin. Exogenous indoleacetic acid, gibberellic acid, adenine, guanine, uracil, thymine, cytidine, and 6-methylaminopurine neither increased the percentage of larvae which grew nor decreased the extent of host cell necrosis.

New lanthanide(III) complexes with 2-[2-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl]-3-[hydroxyl-3-methoxybenzylamino]-1,2-dihydroquin- azoline-4(3H)-one (Hmpbaq) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, conductance measurements, magnetic susceptibilities, spectroscopic (IR, NMR, UV, EPR), and thermal studies. Molar conductance studies indicate 1 : 1 electrolytic behavior for these complexes. IR spectra indicate that Hmpbaq acts as a tridentate ligand coordinating through carbonyl oxygen, benzyl amine nitrogen, and deprotonated phenolic oxygen. TG and DTA studies of La(III) and Pr(III) complexes indicate the presence of two coordinated water molecules. Based on these studies, the complexes have been formulated as [La(mpbaq)2(H2O)2]·NO3, where Ln = La(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), Th(III), Dy(III), and Y(III). The ligand, lanthanide(III) salts, and the corresponding complexes have been simultaneously screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities and compared with the drugs in use.

Mixed ligand complexes of Ni(II) with 1,10-phenanthroline (1,10-Phen) and Schiff bases L1(MIIMP); L2(CMIIMP); L3(EMIIMP); L4(MIIMNP); L5(MEMIIMP); L6(BMIIMP); L7(MMIIMP); L8(MIIBD) have been synthesized. These metal chelates have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, Mass, UV-Vis, magnetic moments, and thermogravimetric (TG&DTA) analysis. Spectral data showed that the 1,10-phenanthroline act as neutral bidentate ligand coordinating to the metal ion through two nitrogen donor atoms and Schiff bases acts as monobasic bidentate coordinating through NO donor atoms. All Ni(II) complexes appear to have an octahedral geometry. The antimicrobial activity of mixed ligand complexes has been studied by screening against various microorganisms, it is observed that the activity enhances upon coordination. The DNA binding studies have been investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy, and the experimental results indicate that these complexes bind to CT DNA with the intrinsic binding constant Kb = 2.5 ± 0.2 × 105 M−1. MTT is used to test the anticancer effect of the complexes with HL60 tumor cell. The inhibition ratio was accelerated by increasing the dosage, and it had significant positive correlation with the medication dosage.

The knowledge of the host-guest complexes using cyclodextrins (CDs) has prompted an increase in the development of new formulations. The capacity of these organic host structures of including guest within their hydrophobic cavities, improves physicochemical properties of the guest. In the case of pesticides, several inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins have been reported. However, in order to explore rationally new pesticide formulations, it is essential to know the effect of cyclodextrins on the properties of guest molecules.

In this study, the inclusion complexes of bentazon (Btz) with native βCD and two derivatives, 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) and sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBECD), were prepared by two methods: kneading and freeze-drying, and their characterization was investigated with different analytical techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). All these approaches indicate that Btz forms inclusion complexes with CDs in solution and in solid state, with a stoichiometry of 1∶1, although some of them are obtained in mixtures with free Btz. The calculated association constant of the Btz/HPCD complex by DPV was 244±19 M−1 being an intermediate value compared with those obtained with βCD and SBECD. The use of CDs significantly increases Btz photostability, and depending on the CDs, decreases the surface tension. The results indicated that bentazon forms inclusion complexes with CDs showing improved physicochemical properties compared to free bentazon indicating that CDs may serve as excipient in herbicide formulations.

The title binuclear complex, [Cd2Cl4(C14H10N4)2], was synthesized by the hydro­thermal reaction of CdCl2 and the ligand 2,2′-bibenzimidazole. The mol­ecule lies on an inversion center and the metal center displays a strongly distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry. The CdII ions are coordinated by two N atoms from the organic ligand, and by one terminal and two bridging chloride anions. The crystal structure involves inter­molecular N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds, resulting in a one-dimensional supra­molecular structure.

The crystal structure of the title polymeric complex, [CuCl2(C3H6N4O)2]n, was obtained by the Rietveld refinement from laboratory X-ray powder diffraction data collected at room temperature. The unique CuII ion lies on an inversion center and is in a slightly distorted octa­hedral coordination environment. In the hydroxy­ethyl group, all H atoms, the O atom and its attached C atom are disordered over two positions; the site occupancy factors are ca 0.6 and 0.4. The OH group is involved in an intra­molecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bond.

Knockout and transgenic studies in mice demonstrate that normal somatic tissues redundantly express 3 cyclin D proteins, whereas tumor cells seem dependent on a single overexpressed cyclin D. Thus, selective suppression of the individual cyclin D deregulated in a tumor represents a biologically valid approach to targeted cancer therapy. In multiple myeloma, overexpression of 1 of the cyclin D proteins is a ubiquitous feature, unifying at least 7 different initiating genetic events. We demonstrate here that RNAi of genes encoding cyclin D1 and cyclin D2 (CCND1 and CCND2, respectively) inhibits proliferation and is progressively cytotoxic in human myeloma cells. By screening a chemical library using a cell-based assay for inhibition of CCND2 trans-activation, we identified the plant cytokinin kinetin riboside as an inhibitor of CCND2 trans-activation. Kinetin riboside induced marked suppression of CCND2 transcription and rapidly suppressed cyclin D1 and D2 protein expression in primary myeloma cells and tumor lines, causing cell-cycle arrest, tumor cell–selective apoptosis, and inhibition of myeloma growth in xenografted mice. Mechanistically, kinetin riboside upregulated expression of transcription repressor isoforms of cAMP-response element modulator (CREM) and blocked both trans-activation of CCND2 by various myeloma oncogenes and cis-activation of translocated CCND1, suggesting induction of an overriding repressor activity that blocks multiple oncogenic pathways targeting cyclin D genes. These data support targeted repression of cyclin D genes as a therapeutic strategy for human malignancies.

Magnetic and electric properties are investigated for the nanosized YMnO3 samples with different grain sizes (25 nm to 200 nm) synthesized by a modified Pechini method. It shows that magnetic and electric properties are strongly dependent on the grain size. The magnetic characterization indicates that with increasing grain size, the antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition temperature increases from 52 to 74 K. A corresponding shift of the dielectric anomaly is observed, indicating a strong correlation between the electric polarization and the magnetic ordering. Further analysis suggests that the rising of AFM transition temperature with increasing grain size should be from the structural origin, in which the strength of AFM interaction as well as the electrical polarization is dependent on the in-plane lattice parameters. Furthermore, among all samples, the sample with grain size of 95 nm is found to have the smallest leakage current density (< 1 μA/cm2).

PACS: 75.50.Tt, 75.50.Ee, 75.85.+t, 77.84.-s

The biocontrol potential of entomopathogenic fungi against arthropod pests depends on not only their virulence to target pests but tolerance to outdoor high temperature and solar UV irradiation. Two Beauveria bassiana superoxide dismutases (SODs), BbSod2 and BbSod3, were characterized as cytosolic and mitochondrial manganese-cored isoenzymes (MnSODs) dominating the total SOD activity of the fungal entomopathogen under normal growth conditions. To probe their effects on the biocontrol potential of B. bassiana, ΔBbSod2, ΔBbSod3, and three hairpin RNA-interfered (RNAi) mutants with the transcripts of both BbSod2 and BbSod3 being suppressed by 91–97% were constructed and assayed for various phenotypic parameters in conjunction with ΔBbSod2/BbSod2, ΔBbSod3/BbSod3 and wild-type (control strains). In normal cultures, the knockout and RNAi mutants showed significant phenotypic alterations, including delayed sporulation, reduced conidial yields, and impaired conidial quality, but little change in colony morphology. Their mycelia or conidia became much more sensitive to menadione or H2O2-induced oxidative stress but had little change in sensitivity to the hyperosmolarity of NaCl and the high temperature of 45°C. Accompanied with the decreased antioxidative capability, conidial tolerances to UV-A and UV-B irradiations were reduced by 16.8% and 45.4% for ΔBbSod2, 18.7% and 44.7% for ΔBbSod3, and ∼33.7% and ∼63.8% for the RNAi mutants, respectively. Their median lethal times (LT50s) against Myzus persicae apterae, which were topically inoculated under a standardized spray, were delayed by 18.8%, 14.5% and 37.1%, respectively. Remarkably, the effects of cytosolic BbSod2 and mitochondrial BbSod3 on the phenotypic parameters important for the fungal bioncontrol potential were additive, well in accordance with the decreased SOD activities and the increased superoxide levels in the knockout and RNAi mutants. Our findings highlight for the first time that the two MnSODs co-contribute to the biocontrol potential of B. bassiana by mediating cellular antioxidative response.

The title dinuclear nickel(II) complex, [Ni2Cl4(C11H10N2O)2], lies on a centre of symmetry located at the centroid of the four-membered ring formed by the two Ni atoms and the bridging chloride ions. The NiII atom is five-coordinated in a square-pyramidal geometry by the imine and pyridine N atoms of the Schiff base ligand, and by one terminal and two bridging Cl atoms. The Ni⋯Ni distance is 3.506 (2) Å. The O atom of the furan substituent in the ligand unit is not involved in coordination to the Ni atom.

The title compound, [V2Cl4O2(CH3CN)4], is a centrosymmetric dinuclear VIV complex associated with four mol­ecules of acetonitrile. The coordination around both VIV atoms is essentially square-planar, involving three Cl atoms and one O atom [maximum deviation = 0.017 (3) Å for the O atom]. The augmented octahedral coordination of the metal atom is completed by the N atoms of acetonitrile ligands. The VIV atoms are linked by two Cl atoms, acting as bridging atoms. The crystal studied was a non-merohedral twin with a ratio of the two twin components of 0.8200 (3):0.1800 (3). Although Cl and O atoms are present as potential acceptors in the title compound, no hydrogen bonds were observed in the crystal structure.