Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase activity in methemoglobin reduction by methylene blue and cyst amine: study on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient individuals, on normal subjects and on riboflavin-treated subjects

Os autores padronizaram métodos para a avaliação da atividade da glicose-6-fosfato desidrogenase e glutationa redutase. O princípio geral do primeiro método baseou-se na formação de metahemoglobina pelo nitrito de sódio, seguido da estimulação da via das pentoses pelo azul de metileno. Foram estudados 46 indivíduos adultos, sendo 23 do sexo masculino e 23 do feminino, não deficientes em glicose-6-fosfato desidrogenase (G6PD), com idades variando entre 20 e 30 anos. Os resultados revelaram que a redução da metahemoglobina pelo azul de metileno para sangue total, foram de 154.50 e 139.90 mg/min (p<0.05) respectivamente para o sexo masculino e feminino. Para hemácias lavadas os valores foram de 221.10 e 207.85 mg/min (n.s.) respectivamente. Estas observações permitiram concluir que ao se empregar hemácias lavadas e 0.7 g% de concentração de nitrito de sódio, por um lado não houve diferença entre os sexos e por outro, abreviou o tempo de leitura da quantidade residual de metahemoglobina para 90 minutos. A avaliação da atividade da glutationa redutase foi feita baseado no fato de que a cistamina (agente tiol) liga-se aos grupos SH da hemoglobina formando complexos. Estes complexos são revertidos pela ação da glutationa redutase, ocorrendo conjuntamente nesta reação a redução da metahemoglobina. Foram estudados 32 indivíduos adultos, sendo 16 do sexo masculino e 16 do feminino, não deficientes em G6PD, com idades variando entre 20 e 30 anos. Os resultados revelaram valores de redução da metahemoglobina pela cistamina de 81.27 e 91.13 mg/min (p<0.01) respectivamente para o sexo masculino e feminino. Estas observações permitiram concluir que o emprego de hemácias lavadas e 0.1 molar de concentração de cistamina torna possível a leitura da quantidade residual de metahemoglobina aos 180 minutos de incubação. A atividade da glutationa redutase avaliada por meio da redução da metahemoglobina pela cistamina, foi estudada em 14 indivíduos do sexo feminino antes e após o tratamento com 10 mg por dia de riboflavina durante 8 dias. Os resultados foram de 73.69 e 94.26 mg/min (p<0.01) antes e após o tratamento. Estas observações permitiram concluir que a oferta de riboflavina, mesmo para indivíduos normais, aumenta a atividade da glutationa redutase. Foram ainda avaliados 3 indivíduos da raça negra e deficientes em G6PD, sendo 2 do sexo masculino e 1 do feminino. Houve ativação parcial da G6PD e glutationa redutase, sendo estas alterações mais intensas nos indivíduos do sexo masculino. Considerando-se a raça e as características laboratoriais observadas, foi possível sugerir que a deficiência em G6PD verificada é do tipo Africano, bem como, permitiu considerar os indivíduos do sexo feminino coin o sendo heterozigoto para esta deficiência. Por fim, a análise dos resultados em seu conjunto permitiu concluir que os métodos propostos se mostraram eficientes para avaliar a atividade da G6PD e glutationa redutase. Esta última é dependente da via das pentoses, geradora de NADPH e da riboflavina, vitamina precursora de FAD.

KIR genes and their human leukocyte antigen ligands in the progression to cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Noradrenaline and mixed alpha(2)-adrenoceptor/imidazoline-receptor ligands: effects on sodium intake

The effect of noradrenaline, and mixed ligands to alpha(2)-adrenoceptors (alpha(2)-AR) and imidazoline receptors (IR), injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.), on sodium intake of sodium depleted rats, was tested against idazoxan, a mixed antagonist ligand to alpha(2)-AR and IR. The inhibition of sodium intake induced by noradrenaline (80 nmol) was completely reversed by idazoxan (160 and 320 nmol) injected i.c.v. The inhibition of sodium intake induced by mixed ligands to alpha(2)-AR and IR, UK14,304, guanabenz and moxonidine, was antagonized from 50 to 60% by idazoxan i.c.v. The results demonstrate that noradrenaline, a non-ligand for IR, acts on alpha(2)-AR inhibiting sodium intake. The possibility that either alpha(2)-AR or IR mediate the effect of mixed agonists on sodium intake remains an open question. (C) 1999 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Structure of human PNP complexed with ligands

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) is a key enzyme in the purine-salvage pathway, which allows cells to utilize preformed bases and nucleosides in order to synthesize nucleotides. PNP is specific for purine nucleosides in the beta-configuration and exhibits a strong preference for purines containing a 6-keto group and ribosyl-containing nucleosides relative to the corresponding analogues. PNP was crystallized in complex with ligands and data collection was performed using synchrotron radiation. This work reports the structure of human PNP in complex with guanosine (at 2.80 angstrom resolution), 3' deoxyguanosine (at 2.86 angstrom resolution) and 8-azaguanine (at 2.85 angstrom resolution). These structures were compared with the PNP-guanine, PNP-inosine and PNP-immucillin-H complexes solved previously.

Determining the structural basis for specificity of ligands using crystallographic screening

Crystallographic screening has been used to identify new inhibitors for potential target for drug development. Here, we describe the application of the crystallographic screening to assess the structural basis of specificity of ligands against a protein target. The method is efficient and results in detailed crystallographic information. The utility of the method is demonstrated in the study of the structural basis for specificity of ligands for human purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP). Purine nucleoside phosphorylase catalyzes the phosphorolysis of the N-ribosidic bonds of purine nucleosides and deoxynucleosides. This enzyme is a target for inhibitor development aiming at T-cell immune response modulation and has been submitted to extensive structure-based drug design. This methodology may help in the future development of a new generation of PNP inhibitors.

Highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays and photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of aromatic amine

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Electrochemical and spectroscopic studies of tungstencarbonyl complexes containing nitrogen and phosphorous ligands

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Basicities of primary arylamines and calculated amine nitrogen electronic charges

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Cycloaddition reaction of the azido-bridged cyclometallated complex [Pd(dmba)N-3](2) with CS2. Crystal and molecular structure of DI(mu, N,S-1,2,3,4-thiatriazole-5-thiolate) bis[(N,N-dimethylbenzyl-amine-C-2,N)palladium(II)]

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of carbon disulfide to the coordinated azide in the cyclometallated compound [Pd(dmba)(N-3)](2) (1), dmba = N,N-dimethylbenzylamine, was investigated. The compound obtained di(mu, N,S-1,2,3,4-thiatriazole-5-thiolate)-bis[(N,N-dimethylbenzylamine-C-2,N)palladium(II)] (2), was characterized by IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Complex (2) is dimeric with the two [Pd(N,N-dimethylbenzylamine)] moieties being connected by the two vicinal bridging N,S-1,2,3,4-thiatriazole-5-thiolate anions in a square-planar coordination for the palladium atoms.

Mono- and dinuclear palladium(II) compounds containing nitrogen ligands. Crystal and molecular structure of [Pd(N,C-dmba)(NCO)(2,3-lut)] and [Pd(H2CCOMe)Cl(2,2 '-bipy)]

The cyanate-bridged cyclopalladated compound [Pd(N,C-dmba)(mu-NCO)](2) (1) (dmba = PhCH2NMe2) reacts in CH2Cl2 with 2,3-lutidine (2,3- lut), 3,4-lutidine (3,4-lut), 2,2'-bipyridine (2,2'-bipy) and 4,4'-bipyridine (4,4'-bipy), to give [Pd(N, C-dmba)(NCO)(2,3-lut)] (2), [Pd(N,C-dmba)(NCO)(3,4-lut)] (3), [{Pd(N,C-dmba)(NCO)}(2)(mu-2,2'-bipy)] .CH2Cl2 (4) and [{Pd(N,C-dmba)(NCO)}(2)(mu-4,4'-bipy)] . CH2Cl2 (5), respectively. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, i.r. and n. m. r. spectroscopy and also by t.g.a. The i.r. spectra of (2 - 5) display typical bands of monodentate N-bonded cyanate groups, whereas the n. m. r. data of (4) are consistent with the presence of a bridging 2,2'-bipyridine ligand. Complex (4) decomposes slowly in acetone. One of the products formed, [Pd(H2CCOMe) Cl(2,2'-bipy)] (6), was characterized by X-ray diffraction. As inferred from the t.g.a., the thermal stability decreases in the order: [{Pd(N,C-dmba)(NCO)}(2) (mu-4,4'-bipy)]. CH2Cl2 (5) > [Pd(N,C-dmba)(2,3-lut)( NCO)] (2) = [Pd(N, C-dmba)(3,4-lut)(NCO)] (3) > [{Pd(N,C-dmba)(NCO)}(2)(mu- 2,2'-bipy)] .CH2Cl2 (4). According to thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction patterns compounds (2 - 3) decompose into metallic palladium Pd(0), whereas (4 - 5) decompose with the formation of PdO. The X-ray crystal and molecular structure of [Pd(N, C-dmba)( NCO)(2,3-lut)] (2) was determined. The lutidine unit is perpendicular to the coordination plane.

Synthesis and thermal characterization of luminescent powers of terbium(III) with mixed ligands

This work deals with the synthesis and thermal decomposition of complexes of general formula: Ln(beta-dik)(3)L (where Ln=Tb(+3), beta-dik=4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenyl-1,3butanedione(btfa) and L=1,10-fenantroline(phen) or 2,2-bipiridine(bipy). The powders were characterized by melting point, FTIR spectroscopy, LTV-visible, elemental analysis, scanning differential calorimeter(DSC) and thermogravimetry(TG). The TG/DSC curves were obtained simultaneously in a system DSC-TGA, under nitrogen atmosphere. The experimental conditions were: 0.83 ml.s(-1) carrier gas flow, 2.0 +/- 0.5 mg samples and 10 degrees C.min(-1) heating rate. The CHN elemental analysis of the Tb(btfa)(3)bipy and Tb(btfa)(3)phen complexes, are in good agreement with the expected values. The IR spectra evinced that the metal ion is coordinated to the ligands via C=O and C-N groups. The TG/DTG/DSC curves of the complexes show that they decompose before melting. The profiles of the thermal decomposition of the Tb(btfa)3phen and Tb(btfa)3bipy showed six and five decomposition stages, respectively. Our data suggests that the thermal stability of the complexes under investigation followed the order: Tb(btfa)(3)phen < Tb(btfa)(3)bipy.

SAXS study of formation and growth of tin oxide nanoparticles in the presence of complexing ligands

The effect of acetylacetone (acac) complexing ligand on the formation and growth of tin oxide-based nanoparticles during thermohydrolysis at 70 degreesC of a tin precursor SnCl4-n(acac)(n) (0 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 2) solution was analyzed by in situ small-angle X-ray scattering. A. transparent and stable sol was obtained after 2 h of thermohydrolysis at 70 degreesC, allowing the quantitative determination of the particle volume distribution function and its variation with the reaction time. The number of colloidal particles for equivalent thermohydrolysis temperature and time decreases as the [acac]/[Sn] ratio in initial solution increases from 0.5 to 6. Instead, the amount of soluble species remaining in solution increases for increasing [acac]/[Sn] ratio within the same range. This indicates that increasing amounts of Sn-acetylacetone complexes partially prevent the hydrolysis and consequent formation of colloidal particles. The N-2 adsorption isotherm characterization of freeze-dried powders demonstrates that the average pore size is approximately equal to the average size (approximate to9 Angstrom) of the colloidal primary particles in the sol, and that the porosity and surface area (approximate to200 m(2) g(-1)) are independent of the acac content in the initial solution.