One-pot synthesis of functionalized beta-amino sulfides/beta-amino selenides via ring opening of cyclic sulfamidates

A number of functionalized beta-amino and gamma-amino sulfides and selenides have been synthesized involving a one-pot process of ring opening of cyclic sulfamidates with `in situ' generated thiolate and selenoate species from diaryl disulfides and diphenyl diselenide using rongalite. A mild and efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of cysteines from serine.

Hydrochalcogenation of Symmetrical and Unsymmetrical Buta-1,3-diynes with Diaryl Dichalcogenides: Facile Entry to (Z)-1-(Organylchalcogeno)but-1-en-3-yne Derivatives

This work describes an efficient and stereoselective method for the hydrothiolation and -selenation of buta-1,3-diyne derivatives using diaryl disulfides or diselenides, respectively. In the presence of rongalite (HOCH2SO2Na) and potassium carbonate, buta-1,3-diynes undergo stereoselective addition of the thiolate or selenide anion generated in situ from diaryl disulfides or diselenides to afford the corresponding (Z)-1-sulfanyl-or (Z)-1-selanylalk-1-en-3-yne derivatives, respectively. The reaction of buta-1,3-diynes with diaryl disulfides or diselenides at higher temperature (70 degrees C) gave a mixture of monothiolation/selenation and bisthiolation/selenation products in moderate to good yields.

Analysis of sulfur-containing compounds in crude oils by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with sulfur chemiluminescence detection

This paper reports an analytical method for separating, identifying, and quantifying sulfur-containing compounds in crude oil fraction (IBP-360degreesC) samples based on comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with a sulfur chemiluminescence detector. Various sulfur-containing compounds and their groups were analyzed with one direct injection. 3620 peaks were detected including 1722 thiols/thioethers/ disulfides/1-ring thiophenes, 953 benzothiophenes, 704 dibenzothiophenes, and 241 benzonaphthothiophenes. The target sulfur compounds and their groups were identified based on the group separation feature and structured retention of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography as well as standard substances. The quantitative analysis of major sulfur-containing compounds and total sulfur was based on the linear response of the sulfur chemiluminescence detector using the internal standard method. The sulfur contents of target sulfur compounds and their groups in 4 crude oil fractions were also determined. The recoveries for standard sulfur-containing compounds were in the range of 90-102%. The quantitative result of total sulfur in the Oman crude oil fraction sample was compared with those from ASTM D 4294 standard method (total S by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry), the relative deviation (RD%) was 4.2% and the precision of the method satisfactory.

Regioselective Bis-Selenation of Allenes Catalyzed by Palladium Complexes: A Theoretical Study

The reaction mechanism of Pd(O)-catalyzed allene bis-selenation reactions is investigated by using density functional methods. The overall reaction mechanism has been examined. It is found that with the bulkier PMe3 ligand, the rate-determining step is the reductive elimination process, while allene insertion and reductive elimination processes are competitive for the rate-determining step with the PH3 ligand, indicating the importance of the ligand effect. For both cis and trans palladium complexes, allene insertion into the Pd-Se bond of the trans palladium complex using the internal carbon atom attached to the selenyl group is prefer-red among the four pathways of allene insertion processes. The formation of sigma-allyl and pi-allyl palladium complexes is favored over that of the sigma-vinyl palladium species. By using methylallene, the regioselectivity of monosubstituted allene insertion into the Pd-Se bond is analyzed.

Investigation into self-assembled monolayers of a polyether dendron thiol: Chemisorption, kinetics, and patterned surface

Different sizes of Frechet-type dendrons with a thiol group at the focal point were synthesized, well characterized, and used as building blocks for the preparation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on metal surfaces. From the studies of the kinetic process of dendron thiol self-assembling on gold, it is shown that the dendron thiol assembling proceeds with different adsorption rates depending on the assembly time. In contrast to normal alkanethiols forming highly molecular structures on metal surfaces, the SAMs of polyether dendron form patterned surfaces with nanometer-sized features and in long-range order. It is found that the patterned stripes are closely related to the size of the dendron, and the patterned stripes can be improved by thermal annealing.

The electrochemical reversibility of the polyaniline/organodisulfide composite cathode containing an organomonothiol

Organomonothiols were used to control the extent of 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole polymerization. When organomonothiols were incorporated into polyaniline/2,5-dimercapto-1,3, 4-thiadiazole composite cathode materials for lithium batteries, their electrochemical reversibility and charge-discharge capacities were improved significantly. (C) 1999 The Electrochemical Society. S0013-4651(99)01-078-2. All rights reserved.

Electrochemical studies of cytochrome c disulfide at gold electrodes

The electrochemistry of disulfide in cytochrome c on gold electrodes was reported. The observed electrochemical response was used to explain why the electrochemical reaction of cytochrome c is irreversible at gold electrodes. Disulfide bonds in cytochrome c were strongly adsorbed onto the surface of gold electrodes and caused slow rate of electron transfer of the heme group. It was found that the presence of disulfides in cytochrome c was responsible for the lack of electrochemical response of the heme group on a gold electrode. The mechanisms for this effect were studied using electrochemistry and photoelectron spectroscopy. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Cloning and characterization of a novel C-type lectin gene from shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

In invertebrates, C-type lectins play crucial roles in innate immunity responses by mediating the recognition of host cells to pathogens and clearing microinvaders, which interact with carbohydrates and function as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). A novel C-type lectin gene (LvLec) cDNA was cloned from hemocytes of Litopenaeus vannamei by expressed sequence tag (EST) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) PCR. The full-length cDNA of LvLec was of 618 bp, consisting of a 5'-terminal untranslated region (UTR) of 60 bp and a 3'-UTR of 87 bp with a poly (A) tail. The deduced amino acid sequence of LvLec possessed all conserved features critical for the fundamental structure, such as the four cysteine residues (Cys(53), Cys(128), Cys(144), Cys(152)) involved in the formation of disulfides bridges and the potential Ca2+/carbohydrate-binding sites. The high similarity and the close phylogenetic relationship of LvLec shared with C-type lectins from vertebrates and invertebrates. The structural features of LvLec indicated that it was an invertebrate counterpart of the C-type lectin family. The cDNA fragment encoding the mature peptide of LvLec was recombined and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)-pLysS. The recombinant protein (rLvLec) could agglutinate bacteria E. coli JM109 depending on Ca2+, and the agglutination could be inhibited by mannose and EDTA. These results indicated that LvLec was a new member of C-type lectin family and involved in the immune defence response to Gram negative bacteria in Litopenaeus vannamei. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Allylation of intraerythrocytic hemoglobin by raw garlic extracts.

Recent studies have shown that deoxygenated human red blood cells (RBCs) converted garlic-derived polysulfides into hydrogen sulfide, which in turn produced vasorelaxation in aortic ring preparations. The vasoactivity was proposed to occur via glucose- and thiol-dependent acellular reactions. In the present study, we investigated the interaction of garlic extracts with human deoxygenated RBCs and its effect on intracellular hemoglobin molecules. The results showed that garlic extract covalently modified intraerythrocytic deoxygenated hemoglobin. The modification identified consisted of an addition of 71 atomic mass units, suggesting allylation of the cysteine residues. Consistently, purified human deoxyhemoglobin reacted with chemically pure diallyl disulfide, showing the same modification as garlic extracts. Tandem mass spectrometry analysis demonstrated that garlic extract and diallyl disulfide modified hemoglobin's beta-chain at cysteine-93 (beta-93C) or cysteine-112 (beta-112C). These results indicate that garlic-derived organic disulfides as well as pure diallyl disulfide must permeate the RBC membrane and modified deoxyhemoglobin at beta-93C or beta-112C. Although the physiological role of the reported garlic extract-induced allyl modification on human hemoglobin warrants further study, the results indicate that constituents of natural products, such as those from garlic extract, modify intracellular proteins.

Reductive ligation mediated one-step disulfide formation of S-nitrosothiols.

A one-step reductive ligation mediated disulfide formation of S-nitrosothiols was developed. This reaction involves the reaction of the S-nitroso group with phosphine-thioesters to form sulfenamide and thiolate intermediates, which then undergo a fast intermolecular disulfide formation to form stable conjugates. This reaction can be used to design new biosensors of S-nitrosated proteins.

15N NMR relaxation data reveal significant chemical exchange broadening in the alpha-domain of human α-lactalbumin

Human alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA), a 123-residue calcium-binding protein, has been studied using (15)N NMR relaxation methods in order to characterize backbone dynamics of the native state at the level of individual residues. Relaxation data were collected at three magnetic field strengths and analyzed using the model-free formalism of Lipari and Szabo. The order parameters derived from this analysis are generally high, indicating a rigid backbone. A total of 46 residues required an exchange contribution to T(2); 43 of these residues are located in the alpha-domain of the protein. The largest exchange contributions are observed in the A-, B-, D-, and C-terminal 3(10)-helices of the alpha-domain; these residues have been shown previously to form a highly stable core in the alpha-LA molten globule. The observed exchange broadening, along with previous hydrogen/deuterium amide exchange data, suggests that this part of the alpha-domain may undergo a local structural transition between the well-ordered native structure and a less-ordered molten-globule-like structure.

Enzyme-catalysed oxygenation and deoxygenation routes to chiral thiosulfinates

Enantioenriched thiosulfinates have been obtained by dioxygenase- and chloroperoxidase-catalysed oxidation of 1,2-disulfides and dimethyl sulfoxide reductase-catalysed deoxygenation.

Application Of the Michaelis-Arbuzov Reaction to the Synthesis Of Internucleoside 3'-S-Phosphorothiolate Linkages

The 5'-O-monomethoxytrityl-3'-S-(aryldisulfanyl)-3'-deoxythymidines 7 and 8 have been prepared by the reaction of 5'-O-monomethoxytrityl-3'-thiothymidine with the appropriate arenesulfenyl chloride. These disulfides undergo a Michaelis–Arbusov reaction with simple trialkyl phosphites to yield 5'-O-monomethoxytrityl-3'-thiothymidin-3'-yl O,O-dialkyl phosphorothiolates. More interestingly, 3'-deoxy-3'-S-(2, 4-dinitrophenylsulfanyl)-5'-O-monomethoxytritylthymidine 8 reacts with a variety of thymidin-5'-yl dialkyl phosphites to give dithymidine phosphorothiolate triesters with the phosphorothiolate group protected with either a methyl or a 2-cyanoethyl group. 3'-O-(tert-Butyldimethylsilyl)thymidin-5'-yl triethylammoniumphosphonate 17 is converted into the corresponding bis-(O-trimethylsilyl) phosphite by treatment with bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide. in situ Reaction of this phosphate with disulfide 8 gives, after work-up, the dithymidine phosphorothiolate diester directly. Methylation of compound 17 with methyl chloromethanoate, followed by silylation and subsequent reaction with disulfide 8, gives the methyl-protected dithymidine phosphorothiolate triester.

Novel glutathione disulfide transferase function of CC-glutaredoxins involved in disease resistance and flower development

Glutaredoxins are oxidoreductases capable of reducing protein disulfide bridges and glutathione mixed disulfides through the process of deglutathionylation and glutathionylation. Lately, redox-mediated modifications of functional cysteine residues of TGA1 and TGA8 transcription factors have been postulated. Namely, GRX480 and ROXY1 glutaredoxins have been previously shown to interact with TGA proteins and have been suggested to regulate redox state of these proteins. TGA1, together with TGA2, is involved in systemic acquired resistance (SAR) establishment in the plant Arabidopsis thaliana through PR1 (Pathogenesis related 1) gene activation. They both form an enhanceosome complex with the NPR1 protein (non-expressor of pathogenesis related gene 1) which leads to PR1 transcription. Although TGA1 is capable of activating PR1 transcription, the ability of the TGA1 NPR1 enhanceosome complex to assembly is based on the redox status of TGA1. We identified GRX480 as a glutathionylating enzyme that catalyzes the TGA1 glutathione disulfide transferase reaction with a Km of around 20μM GSSG (oxidized glutathione). Out of four cysteine residues found within TGA1, C172 and C266 were found to be glutathionylated by this enzyme. We also confirmed TGA1 glutathionylation in vivo and showed that this modification takes place while TGA1 is associated with the PR1 promoter enzymatically via GRX480. Furthermore, we show that glutathionylation via GRX480 abolishes TGA1's interaction with NPR1 and consequently prevents the TGA1-NPR1 transcription activation of PR1. When glutathionylated, TGA1 is recruited to the PR1 promoter and acts as a repressor. Therefore, glutathionylation is a mechanism that prevents TGA1 NPR1 interaction, allowing TGA1 to function as a repressor of PR1 transcription. Surprisingly, GRX480 was not able to deglutathionylate proteins demonstrating the irreversible nature of the reaction. Moreover, we demonstrate that other members of CC-class glutaredoxins, namely ROXY1 and ROXY2, can also catalyze protein glutathionylation. The TGA8 protein was previously shown to interact with NPR1 analogs, BOP1 and BOP2 proteins. However, unlike the case of TGA1 NPR1 interaction, here we demonstrate that TGA8-BOP1 interaction is not redox regulated and that TGA8 glutathionylation by ROXY1 and ROXY2 enzymes does not abolish this interaction in vitro. However, TGA8 glutathionylation results in TGA8 oligomer disassembly into smaller complexes and monomers. Our results suggest that CC-Grxs are unable to reduce mixed disulfides, instead they efficiently catalyze the opposite reaction which distinguishes them from traditional glutaredoxins. Therefore, they should not be classified as glutaredoxins but as protein glutathione disulfide transferases.

Nanopatterning and functionalization of phospholipid-based Langmuir-Blodgett and Langmuir-Schaefer films

Durant les dernières décennies, la technique Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) s’est beaucoup développée dans l’approche « bottom-up » pour la création de couches ultra minces nanostructurées. Des patrons constitués de stries parallèles d’environ 100 à 200 nm de largeur ont été générés avec la technique de déposition LB de monocouches mixtes de 1,2-dilauroyl-sn-glycéro-3-phosphatidylcholine (DLPC) et de 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycéro-3-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) sur des substrats de silicium et de mica. Afin d’amplifier la fonctionnalité de ces patrons, la 1-palmitoyl-2-(16-(S-methyldithio)hexadécanoyl)-sn-glycéro-3-phosphatidylcholine (DSDPPC) et la 1-lauroyl-2-(12-(S-methyldithio)dodédecanoyl)-sn-glycéro-3-phosphatidylcholine (DSDLPC) ont été employées pour la préparation de monocouches chimiquement hétérogènes. Ces analogues de phospholipide possèdent un groupement fonctionnel méthyldisulfide qui est attaché à la fin de l’une des chaînes alkyles. Une étude exhaustive sur la structure de la phase des monocouches Langmuir, Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) et LB de la DSDPPC et de la DSDLPC et leurs différents mélanges avec la DPPC ou la DLPC est présentée dans cette thèse. Tout d’abord, un contrôle limité de la périodicité et de la taille des motifs des stries parallèles de DPPC/DLPC a été obtenu en variant la composition lipidique, la pression de surface et la vitesse de déposition. Dans un mélange binaire de fraction molaire plus grande de lipide condensé que de lipide étendu, une vitesse de déposition plus lente et une plus basse pression de surface ont généré des stries plus continues et larges. L’addition d’un tensioactif, le cholestérol, au mélange binaire équimolaire de la DPPC/DLPC a permis la formation de stries parallèles à de plus hautes pressions de surface. La caractérisation des propriétés physiques des analogues de phospholipides a été nécessaire. La température de transition de phase de la DSDPPC de 44.5 ± 1.5 °C comparativement à 41.5 ± 0.3 °C pour la DPPC. L’isotherme de la DSDPPC est semblable à celui de la DPPC. La monocouche subit une transition de phase liquide-étendue-à-condensée (LE-C) à une pression de surface légèrement supérieure à celle de la DPPC (6 mN m-1 vs. 4 mN m-1) Tout comme la DLPC, la DSDLPC demeure dans la phase LE jusqu’à la rupture de la monocouche. Ces analogues de phospholipide existent dans un état plus étendu tout au long de la compression de la monocouche et montrent des pressions de surface de rupture plus basses que les phospholipides non-modifiés. La morphologie des domaines de monocouches Langmuir de la DPPC et de la DSDPPC à l’interface eau/air a été comparée par la microscopie à angle de Brewster (BAM). La DPPC forme une monocouche homogène à une pression de surface (π) > 10 mN/m, alors que des domaines en forme de fleurs sont formés dans la monocouche de DSDPPC jusqu’à une π ~ 30 mN m-1. La caractérisation de monocouches sur substrat solide a permis de démontrer que le patron de stries parallèles préalablement obtenu avec la DPPC/DLPC était reproduit en utilisant des mélanges de la DSDPPC/DLPC ou de la DPPC/DSDLPC donnant ainsi lieu à des patrons chimiquement hétérogènes. En général, pour obtenir le même état de phase que la DPPC, la monocouche de DSDPPC doit être comprimée à de plus hautes pressions de surface. Le groupement disulfide de ces analogues de phospholipide a été exploité, afin de (i) former des monocouches auto-assemblées sur l’or et de (ii) démontrer la métallisation sélective des terminaisons fonctionnalisées des stries. La spectrométrie de photoélectrons induits par rayons X (XPS) a confirmé que la monocouche modifiée réagit avec la vapeur d’or pour former des thiolates d’or. L’adsorption de l’Au, de l’Ag et du Cu thermiquement évaporé démontre une adsorption préférentielle de la vapeur de métal sur la phase fonctionnalisée de disulfide seulement à des recouvrements sub-monocouche.