1D Hydrogen-Bonded Polymers Assembled by Tetraaza Macrocyclic Metal(II) Complexes and Inorganic Salts

The self-assembly of [M(L)]Cl₂·2H₂O (M = Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺, L = 3,14-dimethyl-2,6,13,17-tetraazatricyclo[14,4,0^1.18,0^7.12]docosane) with sodium 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylate (Na₃btcb) and KNO₃ generates the 1D hydrogen-bonded polymers with formulas [Ni(L)(H₂btcb^?)₂] (1) and [Cu(L)(NO₃)₂] (2). These polymer complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography, spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The crystal structure of 1 shows a distorted octahedral coordination geometry around the nickel(II) ion, with the four secondary amines of the macrocycle and two carboxylate oxygen atoms of the H₂btcb^? ligand in the trans position. In 2, the coordination environment around the central copper(II) ion reveals an axially elongated octahedron with four Cu–N bonds and two oxygen atoms of the nitrate ligand in the trans position. The cyclic voltammograms of the complexes undergo two one-electron waves corresponding to M^II/M^III and M^II/M^I processes. The electronic spectra and electrochemical behavior of the complexes are significantly affected by the nature of the axial ligands.     

Inhibitory effect of nikkomycin Z on chitin synthases in Candida albicans

Nikkomycin Z is a competitive inhibitor of chitin synthases in fungi. It has been reported that it inhibits chitin synthases (Chs) 1 and 3, but not 2, of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In our study, we found that: (a) nikkomycin Z inhibited all three Chs isozymes of Candida albicans (CaChs). The IC(50) value for CaChs1 is 15microM, for CaChs2 0.8microM, and for CaChs3 13microM; (b) nikkomycin Z inhibits vegetative growth of C. albicans differently in different growth media; growth inhibition was observed on Spider and corn meal agar plate, but not on Lee's plate; (c) growth inhibition by nikkomycin Z accompanied by the absence of septum and cell wall chitin, which in turn brought about cell lysis. Nikkomycin Z did not lyse cells in Lee's media and lysis was partially prevented in the presence of sorbitol as an osmostabilizer in Spider medium. Therefore, nikkomycin Z prevented the formation of septum and cell wall chitin by inhibiting chitin synthase activities in a growth medium-dependent manner.     

Transport and Magnetic Properties in MgB2 Single Crystals

We report measurements of the transport and the magnetic properties of high-quality MgB₂ single crystals with clear hexagonal-plate shapes. The Debye temperature of _D 1100 K, obtained from the zero-field resistance curve, suggests that the normal-state transport properties are dominated by electron-phonon interactions. The resistivity ratio between 40 K and 300 K is about 5. The superconducting anisotropy, , increases from a value around 2 near T _c to about 3.3 at 26 K. The low-field magnetization and the magnetic hysteresis curves show the bulk pinning of these crystals to be very weak.     

Pulmonary Toxicity and Proteomic Analysis in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluids and Lungs of Rats Exposed to Copper Oxide Nanoparticles

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were intratracheally instilled into lungs at concentrations of 0, 0.15, and 1.5 mg/kg bodyweight to 7-week-old Sprague–Dawley rats. The cytotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and oxidative stress were evaluated, followed by proteomic analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lungs of rats. The CuO NPs-exposed groups revealed dose-dependent increases in total cells, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, lactate dyhydrogenase, and total protein levels in BALF. Inflammatory cytokines, including macrophage inflammatory protein-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α, were increased in the CuO NPs-treated groups. The expression levels of catalase, glutathione peroxidase-1, and peroxiredoxin-2 were downregulated, whereas that of superoxide dismutase-2 was upregulated in the CuO NPs-exposed groups. Five heat shock proteins were downregulated in rats exposed to high concentrations of CuO NPs. In proteomic analysis, 17 proteins were upregulated or downregulated, and 6 proteins were validated via Western blot analysis. Significant upregulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase and fidgetin-like 1 and downregulation of annexin II, HSP 47 and proteasome α1 occurred in the CuO NPs exposed groups. Taken together, this study provides additional insight into pulmonary cytotoxicity and immunotoxicity as well as oxidative stress in rats exposed to CuO NPs. Proteomic analysis revealed potential toxicological biomarkers of CuO NPs, which also reveals the toxicity mechanisms of CuO NPs.