A novel amino acid racemization in vitamin b6-amino acid schiff base copper complexes: crystal structures of aquo (5'-phosphopyridoxylidene-dl-tyrosinato) copper(II) 3.5H2O and aquo (5'-phosphopyridoxylidene-dl-phenylalaninato) copper(II) 2.5H2O

A novel racemization observed in the Vitamin B6-amino acid Schiff base complexes, aquo (5'-phosphopyridoxylidene-l-tyrosinato) copper(II) and aquo (5'-phosphopyridoxylidene-l-phenylalaninato) copper(II) is described. The racemization taking place in solution under mild acidic conditions (pH 5-6) was confirmed by CD studies and the products were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structures of both complexes show almost parallel orientation of the aromatic side chain and the pyridoxal II-system. The activation of the αCsingle bondH group due to the intermolecular II- interaction is probably the reason for the unusual racemization observed.

Prospects of riboflavin carrier protein (RCP) as an antifertility vaccine in male and female mammals

Riboflavin carrier protein (RCP) is obligatorily involved in yolk deposition of the vitamin, riboflavin, in the developing oocyte of the hen. The production of this protein is inducible by oestrogen. It is evolutionarily conserved in terms of its physicochemical, immunological and functional characteristics. It is the prime mediator of vitamin supply to the developing fetus in mammals, including primates. Passive immunoneutralization of the protein terminates pregnancy in rats. Active immunization of rats and bonnet monkeys with avian RCP prevents pregnancy without causing any adverse physiological effects of the mother in terms of her vitamin status, reproductive cycles or reproductive-endocrine profile. Denatured, linearized RCP is more effective in eliciting neutralizing antibodies capable of interfering with embryonic viability either before or during peri-implantation stages. Two defined stretches of sequential epitopes, one located at the N-terminus and the other at the C-terminus of the protein have been identified. Active immunization with either of these epitopes conjugated with diptheria toxoid curtails pregnancy in rats and monkeys. Immunohistochemical localization of RCP on ovulated oocytes and early embryos shows that the antibodies cause degeneration only of early embryos. RCP is produced intra-testicularly and becomes localized on acrosomal surface of mammalian spermatozoa. Active immunization of male rats and monkeys with denatured RCP markedly reduces fertility by impairing the fertilizing potential of spermatozoa. These findings suggest that RCP, or its defined fragments, could be a novel, first generation vaccine for regulating fertility in both the sexes.

Structure of Sesbania mosaic virus at 3 angstrom resolution

Sesbania mosaic virus (SMV) is an isometric, ss-RNA plant virus found infecting Sesbania grandiflora plants in fields near Tirupathi, South India. The virus particles, which sediment at 116 S at pH 5.5, swell upon treatment with EDTA at pH 7.5 resulting in the reduction of the sedimentation coefficient to 108 S. SMV coat protein amino acid sequence was determined and found to have approximately 60% amino acid sequence identity with that of southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV). The amino terminal 60 residue segment, which contains a number of positively charged residues, is less well conserved between SMV and SBMV when compared to the rest of the sequence. The 3D structure of SMV was determined at 3.0 Å resolution by molecular replacement techniques using SBMV structure as the initial phasing model. The icosahedral asymmetric unit was found to contain four calcium ions occurring in inter subunit interfaces and three protein subunits, designated A, B and C. The conformation of the C subunit appears to be different from those of A and B in several segments of the polypeptide. These observations coupled with structural studies on SMV partially depleted of calcium suggest a plausible mechanisms for the initiation of the disassembly of the virus capsid.

Chiral Synthons from Monoterpenes.1 Stereoselective Syntheses of (-)5S, 6S, 9R-6-Isopropyl-9-Methyl-2-Oxaspiro[4.4]Nonan-3-One and (-) 3aR, 6R, 7aR-3a-Methyl-6-Isopropenylhexahydrobenzofuran-2-One

Highly stereoselective syntheses of two C-12 chiral synthons 3 and 9, mentioned in the title, starting from the monoterpenes R-1 imonene and R-carvone, using radical cyc 1 sation as key reaction, are described.

A comparative study of the early effects of phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene on the synthesis and transport of ribonucleic acid in rat liver.

At 2-3 h after phenobaribtal administration, the drug has no effect on nucleoplasmic RNA synthesis and decreases nucleolar RNA synthesis. However, at this time there is an increase in the labelling of cytoplasmic poly(A)-containing RNA, even though there is decreased labelling of total polyribosomal RNA. The decrease in labelling of nucleolar and total polyribosomal RNA owing to phenobarbital is a transient phenomenon. Under similar conditions, 3-methylcholanthrene has no effect on nucleolar RNA synthesis, but leads to an increase in synthesis of nucleoplasmic and cytoplasmic poly(A)-containing RNA. Cytosol isolated from phenobarbital-treated, but not from 3-methyl-cholanthrene-treated, animals facilitates an enhanced transport of RNA from nuclei. At the time points investigated, 3-methylcholanthrene or its metabolite shows a 10-15-fold higher concentration in the chromatin than that of phenobarbital or its metabolite. It is suggested that the primary effect of phenobarbital is at the cytoplasmic level, promoting the transport of RNA from the nuclei, which can act as a trigger for enhanced transcription at later periods. 3-Methylcholanthrene or its metabolite directly binds to the chromatin and evokes a selective transcriptional response.

Study of As2(Se,Te)3 glasses by X-ray absorption and photoelectron spectroscopy

Arsenic selenide-telluride glasses have been investigated by X-ray absorption and photoelectron spectroscopy. The core electron energy shifts and chemical shifts in K-absorption edge measurements associated with the glass-crystal transitions of pure As2Se3 and As2Te3 have been studied. The effect of composition on the core level energy and valence bands of As2(Se,Te)3 glasses, has been discussed. Mixed-composition glasses are found to be considerably ionic.

Firing delay scheme for 3-Ï thyristor converters

A simple firing delay circuit for 3-φ fully controlled bridge using a phase locked loop is described. The circuit uses very few components and is an improved scheme over the existing methods. The use of this circuit in three-phase thyristor converters and 'circulating current free' mode dual converters is described.

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.

4-Chloro-N-(3-chlorophenyl)benzamide

The title compound, C13H9Cl2N, has an intramolecular C-H center dot center dot center dot O close contact, and presents the NH group syn to the meta-chloro group in the aniline ring and trans to the C=O group. The crystal packing is formed by infinite chains of N-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds along the c axis. Cl center dot center dot center dot Cl [3.474 (1) angstrom] contacts link chains. The crystal used for data collection was a twin, the domains related by the twin law 0.948 (1)/0.052 (1).

Ethyl 3-oxo-2-[(4-sulfamoylphenyl)hydrazono]butyrate

In the title compound, C12H15N3O5S, an intramolecular N-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bond between the hydrazine unit and one of the carbonyl groups may influence the molecular conformation. In the crystal structure, intermolecular N-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds, including one which is bifurcated, link the molecules into a two-dimensional network.

Ethyl 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carbox ylate monohydrate

In the title compound, C14H16N2O4 center dot H2O, the dihedral angles between the planes of the 4-hydroxyphenyl and ester groups with the plane of the six-membered tetrahydropyrimidine ring are 87.3 (1) and 75.9 (1)degrees, respectively. The crystal structure is stabilized by O-H center dot center dot center dot O and N-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonding between the water molecule and the organic functionalities.

Ethyl 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-6-methyl-2-thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate

In the title compound, C14H15ClN2O2S, the tetrahydropyrimidine ring adopts a twisted boat conformation with the carbonyl group in an s-trans conformation with respect to the C C double bond of the six-membered tetrahydropyrimidine ring. The molecular conformation is determined by an intramolecular C-H center dot center dot center dot pi interaction. The crystal structure is further stabilized by intermolecular N-H center dot center dot center dot O molecular chains and centrosymmetric N-H center dot center dot center dot S dimers.

Purification and properties of protocatechuate-3,4-dioxygenase from Tecoma stans L

Protocatechuate-3,4-dioxygenase from the leaves of Tecoma stans was purified to near homogeneity and some of its properties studied. It was optimally active at pH 5.2 and at 40°C. Its molecular weight of approx. 150 000 was determined by gel filtration on a Sephadex G-150 column. The Km value for protocatechuate was found to be 330 μM and for ferrous sulfate, 40 μM. The enzyme was highly specific for protocatechuate and did not attack any of the substrate analogues. None of the substrate analogues tested inhibited the enzyme activity. Sulfhydryl reagents inhibited the enzyme activity which could be partially reversed by sulfhydryl compounds. The dioxygenase activity was not associated with polyphenol oxidase activity.

Oxidation of bis-(2-hydroxy-1-naphthyl)methane with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone. X-Ray crystal structure of a novel product

A novel compound obtained by the oxidation of the title compound with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone has been assigned structure (5) on the basis of spectral data and X-ray crystal structure analysis.