Vitronectin modulates human mesenchymal stem cell response to insulin-like growth factor-I and transforming growth factor beta 1 in a serum-free environment

The use of animal sera for the culture of therapeutically important cells impedes the clinical use of the cells. We sought to characterize the functional response of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) to specific proteins known to exist in bone tissue with a view to eliminating the requirement of animal sera. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), via IGF binding protein-3 or -5 (IGFBP-3 or -5) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta(1)) are known to associate with the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein vitronectin (VN) and elicit functional responses in a range of cell types in vitro. We found that specific combinations of VN, IGFBP-3 or -5, and IGF-I or TGF-beta(1) could stimulate initial functional responses in hMSCs and that IGF-I or TGF-beta(1) induced hMSC aggregation, but VN concentration modulated this effect. We speculated that the aggregation effect may be due to endogenous protease activity, although we found that neither IGF-I nor TGF-beta(1) affected the functional expression of matrix metalloprotease-2 or -9, two common proteases expressed by hMSCs. In summary, combinations of the ECM and growth factors described herein may form the basis of defined cell culture media supplements, although the effect of endogenous protease expression on the function of such proteins requires investigation.

Acid-catalysed cyclisations: structures of novel products isolated in the reaction of 2-[3-(2,6-dimethoxyphenyl)but-2-enyl]-2-methylcyclopentane-1,3-dione with MeOH-HCl

Reaction of the title compound (1a) with anhydrous MeOH-HCl gave 2-endo-(2,6-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-exo-methyl-5-methylbicyclo[3.2.1]octane-6,8-dione (3a), 1,5,14-timethoxy-5,8-seco-6,7-dinorestra-1,3,5(10),9(11)-tetraen-17-one (4), 1,5-dimethoxy-5,8-seco-6,7-dinorestra-1,3,5(10),8,14-pentaen-17-one (5), and 3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2,7-dimethoxy-3,6-dimethyl-3,2,6-(13-oxopropan[1]yI[3]ylidene)-2H-1-benzoxocin (6). Structures assigned to compounds (3a), (4), and (6) are based on spectral data. The exo-tricyclic acetal structure (6) was further confirmed by the analysis of the 1H n.m.r. spectra of the isomeric alcohols (11) and (12), obtained by sodium borohydride reduction of (6).

N-{1-[(3-Bromopropyl)aminocarbonyl]ethyl}-2-(2-nitrobenzenesulfonamido)propionamide

In the title compound, C15H21BrN4O6S, all three NH groups are involved in intermolecular N-H center dot center dot center dot O interactions which, together with two intermolecular C-H center dot center dot center dot O contacts, lead to a continuous antiparallel beta-sheet structure. There are no pi-pi interactions between molecules, and two C-H center dot center dot center dot pi interactions primarily govern the linkage between sheets.

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition reaction of ?,?-unsaturated esters and lactones with diazomethane

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of diazomethane to the alpha,beta-unsaturated esters and lactones such as 2-4, 6-8, 10 and 13 occurs in a stereoselective manner affording conjugated Delta(2)-pyrazolines. E and Z isomers of D-mannitol lead to identical product which was cyclised to investigate the absolute stereochemistry of the product. The regiospecificities of all the reactions are consistent with FMO coefficients obtained through AM1 calculations.

Reduction of oxygen impurity at GaN/beta-Si(3)N(4)/Si interface via SiO(2) to Ga(2)O conversion by exposing of Si surface under Ga flux

The removal of native oxide from Si (1 1 1) surfaces was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectra (SIMS) depth profiles. Two different oxide removal methods, performed under ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) conditions, were carried out and compared. The first cleaning method is thermal desorption of oxide at 900 degrees C. The second method is the deposition of metallic gallium followed by redesorption. A significant decrease in oxygen was achieved by thermal desorption at 900 degrees C under UHV conditions. By applying a subsequent Ga deposition/redesorption, a further reduction in oxygen could be achieved. We examine the merits of an alternative oxide desorption method via conversion of the stable SiO(2) surface oxide into a volatile Ca(2)O oxide by a supply of Ga metals. Furthermore, ultra thin films of pure silicon nitride buffer layer were grown on a Si (1 1 1) surface by exposing the surface to radio-frequency (RF) nitrogen plasma followed by GaN growth. The SIMS depth profile shows that the oxygen impurity can be reduced at GaN/beta-Si(3)N(4)/Si interfaces by applying a subsequent Ga deposition/redesorption. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Non-existence of tight neighborly triangulated manifolds with beta(1)=2

All triangulated d-manifolds satisfy the inequality ((f0-d-1)(2)) >= ((d+2)(2))beta(1) for d >= 3. A triangulated d-manifold is called tight neighborly if it attains equality in this bound. For each d >= 3, a (2d + 3)-vertex tight neighborly triangulation of the Sd-1-bundle over S-1 with beta(1) = 1 was constructed by Kuhnel in 1986. In this paper, it is shown that there does not exist a tight neighborly triangulated manifold with beta(1) = 2. In other words, there is no tight neighborly triangulation of (Sd-1 x S-1)(#2) or (Sd-1 (sic) S-1)(#2) for d >= 3. A short proof of the uniqueness of K hnel's complexes for d >= 4 under the assumption beta(1) not equal 0 is also presented.

Syntheses, crystal structures, visible and near-IR luminescent properties of ternary lanthanide (Dy3+, Tm3+) complexes containing 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenyl-1,3-butanedione and 1,10-phenanthroline

The ligands 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenyl-1.3-butanedione (Hbfa) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) were used to prepare ternary lanthanide (Ln) complexes [Dy(bfa)(3)phen and Tm(bfa)(3)phen]. Crystal data: Dy(bfa)(3)phen C(42)H(26)FqN(2)O(6)Dy, triclinic, P (1) over bar, a= 9.9450(6) angstrom, b = 14.0944(9) angstrom, c = 14.6043(9) angstrom, alpha = 82.104(1)degrees, beta = 87.006(1)degrees, gamma = 76.490(1)degrees, V = 1971.1(2)angstrom(3), Z = 2; Tm(bfa)(3)phen C42H26F9N2O6Tm, triclinic, P (1) over bar, a = 9.898(5)angstrom, b = 13.918(5)angstrom, c = 14.753(5)angstrom, a = 83.517(5)degrees, alpha = 86.899(5)degrees, gamma = 76.818(5)degrees, V = 1965.3(14)angstrom(3), Z = 2. The coordination number of the central Ln(3+) (Ln = Dy, Tm) ion is eight, with six oxygen atoms from three Hbfa ligands and two nitrogen atoms from the phen ligand.

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structure of a charge transfer salt based on 1.3-cyclopentadiene tetrabutylammoniumdodecamolybdosilicoate

A charge transfer salt, (Bu4N)(4) (C5H6)[(HSiMo11MoO40)-Mo-VI-O-V] has been photochemically synthesized from (Bu4N)(4)SiMo12O40 and 1.3-cyclopentadiene and Characterized, by elemental analysis, IR spectra, solid diffusion reflectance electronic spectra, CV and ESR. The X-ray crystal structure revealed that the title complex crystal data are as follows: triclinic, space group P (1) over bar, a = 14.347(3), b = 14.423(3), c = 27.158(5) Angstrom, alpha = 96.90(3), beta = 104.18(3), gamma = 98.20(3)degrees, V = 5322(2) Angstrom (3), Z = 2, M-r = 2855. 30, D-c = 1.782g.cm(-3), F(000) = 2860, R = 0.0719, wR = 0.198. The title compound is composed of 1.3-cyclopentadiene, four tetrabutylammonium and [(SiMo11MoO40)-Mo-VI-O-V](4-) anion.

Synthesis and crystal structure of [Nd(eta(6)-1,3,5-C6H3Me3)(AlCl4)(3)]( C6H6) and structural comparison of Ln(eta(6)-arene)(AlCl4)(3)

Reaction of NdCl3, with AlCl3 and mesitylene in benzene gives complex [Nd(eta (6)-1,3,5-C6H3Me3) (AlCl4)(3)] (C6H6) (1) which was characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, MS and X-lay diffractions. The X-ray determination indicates that 1 has a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry and crystallizes in the monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n with a = 0.9586(2), b = 1.1717(5), c = 2.8966(7) nm, beta = 90.85 (2)degrees, V = 3.2529(6) nm(3), D-c = 1.573 g/cm(3), Z = 4. A comparison of bond parameters for all the reported Ln(eta (6)-Ar) (AlCl4)(3) complexes indicates that the bond distance of Ln-C is shortened with the increasing of methyl group on benzene and with the decreasing of radius of lanthanide ions.

Synthesis and crystal structure of (1,3-(Bu2C5H3)-Bu-t)(2)Sm(mu-Cl)(2)Li(THF)(2)

Anhydrous SmCl3 reacts with two equal of Li(1-3-(Bu2C5H3)-Bu-t) to give a complex (1,3-(Bu2C5H3)-Bu-t)(2) Sm(mu -Cl)(2)Li(THF)(2) (C34H58Cl2LiO2Sm, M-r = 726.99), monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, a = 10.615(2), b = 21.037(4), c = 17.166(3) Angstrom, beta = 93.60(3)degrees, V = 3825.7 (13) Angstrom (3), Z = 4, D-c = 1.262 Mg/m(3), mu = 1.699 mm(-1) and F(000) = 1508, final R = 0.0387 and wR = 0.0741 for 5320 observed[I greater than or equal to2 sigma (I)] reflections. The average Sm - C distance is 2.73 Angstrom. Sm - Cl1 and Sm - Cl2 distances are 2.719 (2) and 2. 697 (2) Angstrom, respectively. Two 1, 3-(Bu2C5H3)-Bu-t-ring centroids and two mu (2)-bridging chloride atoms around Sm atom form a distorted tetrahedron.

STUDIES ON OLEFIN-COORDINATING TRANSITION-METAL CARBENE COMPLEXES .20. SYNTHESIS OF 1,3-CYCLOHEXADIENE(DICARBONYL) [ETHOXY(ARYL)-CARBENE]IRON COMPLEXES AND THEIR PHOSPHINE ADDUCTS - CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF C6H8(CO)2FEC(OC2H5)C6H4CH3-O

Reaction of 1,3-cyclohexadiene(tricarbonyl)iron (1) with ortho-substituted aryllithium reagents ArLi (Ar=o-CH3C6H4, o-CH3OC6H4, o-CF3C6H4) in ether at low temperature, and subsequent alkylation of the acylmetalates formed with Et3OBF4 in aqueous solution at 0-degrees-C or in CH2Cl2 at -60-degrees-C gave the 1,3-cyclohexadiene(dicarbonyl)[ethoxy(aryl)carbene]iron complexes (eta4-C6H8)(CO)2FeC(OC2H5)Ar (3, Ar = o-CH3C6H4; 4, Ar = o-CH3OC6H4), and the isomerized product (eta3-C6H8)(CO)2FeC(OC2H5)C6H4CF3-o (5), respectively, among which the structure of 3 has been established by an X-ray diffraction study. Complex 3 is monoclinic, space group P2(1) with a = 8.118(4), b = 7.367(4), c = 14.002(6) angstrom, beta = 104.09(3)-degrees, V = 812.2(6) angstrom3, Z = 2, D(c) = 1.39 g cm-3, R = 0.056, and R(w) = 0.062 for 976 observed reflections. Complexes 3 and 5 were converted into the chelated allyliron phosphine adducts(eta3-C6H8)(CO)2(PR31)FeC(OC2H5)Ar (6, Ar = o-CH3C6H4, R1 = Ph; 7, Ar = o-CH3C6H4, R1 = OPh; 9, Ar = o-CF3C6H4, R1 = Ph), by reaction with phosphines in petroleum ether at low temperatures.

STRUCTURE OF 1,3-PROPANEDIAMMONIUM TETRACHLOROCOBALTATE(II)

[CoCl4(C3H12N2)], M(r) = 276.87, monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 10.703 (2), b = 10.653 (1), c = 10.852 (2) angstrom, beta = 118.46 (1)-degrees, V = 1087.8 angstrom 3, Z = 4, D(x) = 1.69 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K-alpha) = 0.71073 angstrom, mu = 22.60 cm-1, F(000) = 556, T = 298 K, final R = 0.059 for 1068 unique reflections [I > 3-sigma(I)]. The Co(II) ion is coordinated by four Cl atoms in a tetrahedral geometry. The paraffinic chains which bridge the tetrahedra have a nearly planar zigzag configuration.

Cell surface beta 1, 4-galactosyltransferase 1 promotes apoptosis by inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor pathway.

Our previous studies have shown that overexpression of beta1,4-galactosyltransferase1 (beta1,4GT1) leads to increased apoptosis induced by cycloheximide (CHX) in SMMC-7721 human hepatocarcinoma cells. However, the role of beta1,4GT1 in apoptosis remains unclear. Here we demonstrated that cell surface beta1,4GT1 inhibited the autophosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) especially at Try 1068. The phosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), which are downstream molecules of EGFR, were also reduced in cell surface beta1,4GT1-overexpressing cells. Furthermore, the translocations of Bad and Bax that are regulated by PKB/Akt and ERK1/2 were also increased in these cells. As a result, the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol was increased and caspase-3 was activated. In contrast, RNAi-mediated knockdown of beta1,4GT1 increased the autophosphorylation of EGFR. These results demonstrated that cell surface beta1,4GT1 may negatively regulate cell survival possibly through inhibiting and modulating EGFR signaling pathway.

The beta-(1--

The stimulatory effects of the synthetic beta-(1-->6)-branched beta-(1-->3) glucohexaose and its analogues containing an alpha-(1-->3)-linked bond on the mouse spleen were studied for elucidation of the mechanism of their antitumor activity, and their stimulatory effects were compared with Lentinan. The mouse spleen's weight was increased after the intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of the oligosaccharides compared with the saline group. In addition, routinely hematoxylin and eosin (HE)-stained spleen sections showed that the injection also changed the spleen's histopathology. RNA samples were isolated from splenocytes of oligosaccharides, Lentinan or saline-injected mice. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Northern blot showed that the administration of the oligosaccharides or Lentinan enhanced mouse spleen mRNA production of TNF-alpha but not IL-2. The injection also enhanced Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced mouse splenocytes proliferation, but the in vitro administration of the oligosaccharides did not have the proliferation-enhancing effect. Taken together, these results suggest that the synthetic beta-(1-->6)-branched beta-(1-->3) glucohexaose and its analogues containing an alpha-(1-->3)-linked bond have similar stimulatory effects as Lentinan. Additionally, they may exert their antitumor effects through the induction of splenocytes mediated immune responses.