Synthesis,Inhibition Potency,Binding Mode,and Antiprotozoal Activities of Fluorescent Inhibitors of Trypanothione Reductase Based on Mepacrine‐Conjugated Diaryl Sulfide Scaffolds

Trypanothione reductase (TR) is a flavoenzyme unique to trypanosomatid parasites and a target for lead discovery programs. Various inhibitor scaffolds have emerged in the past, exhibiting moderate affinity for the parasite enzyme. Herein we show that the combination of two structural motifs of known TR inhibitors — diaryl sulfides and mepacrine — enables the simultaneous addressing of two hydrophobic patches in the active site. The binding efficacy of these conjugates is enhanced over that of the respective parent inhibitors. They show K_ic values for the parasite enzyme down to 0.9±0.1 μm and exhibit high selectivity for TR over human glutathione reductase (GR). Despite their considerable molecular mass and in some cases permanent positive charges, in vitro studies revealed IC₅₀ values in the low micromolar to sub‐micromolar range against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Trypanosoma cruzi, as well as the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which lack trypanothione metabolism. The inhibitors exhibit strong fluorescence due to their aminoacridine moiety. This feature allows visualization of the drugs in the parasite where high accumulation was observed by fluorescence microscopy even after short exposure times.     

Methods to Investigate the Adhesion of Soft Nano‐Coatings on Metal Substrates – Application to Polymer‐Coated Stents

Soft coatings are widely used to tailor the surface chemistry of materials without altering their bulk properties. However, the strength of adhesion between the coating and the substrate must be high enough for long‐term applications. This has become a major challenge in the medical field, especially for polymer‐coated stents, mainly due to several coating failures reported after mechanical expansion during clinical implantation. In this work, the applicability of current polymer‐metal adhesion tests to polymer‐coated stents is discussed. The small punch test was proposed as an adhesion test that allows fundamental studies on the adhesion and coating properties. This adhesion test was applied to thin fluorocarbon coatings deposited by plasma on 316L stainless steel.

     

In situ active chlorine generation for the treatment of dye-containing effluents

This study examined the possibility to remove colour causing-compounds from synthetic effluent by indirect electrochemical oxidation using iridium oxide anode electrodes. Using a high concentration of chloride ions (17.1 mM) and various current densities, it was possible to produce high concentration of active chlorine with a specific production rate of 2.8 mg min⁻¹ A⁻¹. The best performance for acid methyl violet 2B dye (MV2B) decomposition was obtained using Ti/IrO₂ anodes operated at a current density of 15 mA cm⁻² during 40 min of treatment in the presence of 3.42 mM of chloride ions. Under these conditions, more than 99% of MV2B was removed (with a reaction rate apparent constant of 0.20 min⁻¹), whereas COD and TOC removal were 51% and 75%, respectively. The electrolytic cell was then used for the degradation of three other synthetic dye solutions: Eosin yellowish (EOY), Trypan Blue (TRB), Acridine Orange (ACO). TRB was the most difficult dye to remove from solution with a value reaction rate constant of 0.12 min⁻¹, compared to 0.19 min⁻¹ and 0.24 min⁻¹ recorded for ACO and EOY dyes, respectively. More than 99% of these dyes were removed by electrochemical oxidation.     

Complexation of Tolane by Fluorinated Organomercurials—Structures and Luminescence Properties of an Unusual Class of Supramolecular π-Coordination Polymers

The interaction of the Hg(II) derivatives bis(pentafluoro)phenyl mercury (1), (pentafluoro)phenyl mercury chloride (2) and trimeric perfluoro-ortho-phenylene mercury (3) with tolane (diphenylacetylene) in CH₂Cl₂ leads to the formation of [1·tolane], [2 ₂·tolane], and [3·tolane·CH₂Cl₂]. These adducts have been characterized by elemental analysis, X-ray crystallography, and luminescence spectroscopy. In the solid state of these adducts, the tolane molecules interact with the molecules of 1, 2 and 3 via secondary Hg–π interactions and arene–fluoroarene interactions. As a result of an external mercury heavy atom effect, adducts [1·tolane] and [2 ₂·tolane] are phosphorescent at room temperature.     

Synthesis and characterization of cytidine derivatives that inhibit the kinase IspE of the non-mevalonate pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis

The enzymes of the non-mevalonate pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis are attractive targets for the development of novel drugs against malaria and tuberculosis. This pathway is used exclusively by the corresponding pathogens, but not by humans. A series of water-soluble, cytidine-based inhibitors that were originally designed for the fourth enzyme in the pathway, IspD, were shown to inhibit the subsequent enzyme, the kinase IspE (from Escherichia coli). The binding mode of the inhibitors was verified by co-crystal structure analysis, using Aquifex aeolicus IspE. The crystal structures represent the first reported example of a co-crystal structure of IspE with a synthetic ligand and confirmed that ligand binding affinity originates mainly from the interactions of the nucleobase moiety in the cytidine binding pocket of the enzyme. In contrast, the appended benzimidazole moieties of the ligands adopt various orientations in the active site and establish only poor intermolecular contacts with the protein. Defined binding sites for sulfate ions and glycerol molecules, components in the crystallization buffer, near the well-conserved ATP-binding Gly-rich loop of IspE were observed. The crystal structures of A. aeolicus IspE nicely complement the one from E. coli IspE for use in structure-based design, namely by providing invaluable structural information for the design of inhibitors targeting IspE from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Plasmodium falciparum. Similar to the enzymes from these pathogens, A. aeolicus IspE directs the OH group of a tyrosine residue into a pocket in the active site. In the E. coli enzyme, on the other hand, this pocket is lined by phenylalanine and has a more pronounced hydrophobic character.     

Remaining Fatigue Life Assessment of Plasma Sprayed Thermal Barrier Coatings

Ceramic functional coatings are frequently applied to structural materials, covering a wide range of thermomechanical and electrochemical applications. The main limiting feature is their reliability when subjected to cyclic transient thermal stresses. The study described in this article is a continuation of earlier research study focused on acoustic emission (AE) monitoring of the thermomechanical aging effects in ceramic coatings. Here, emphasis is placed on the usefulness of combining AE short-term monitoring with finite element modeling (FEM) to predict the performance of such coatings when subjected to cyclic thermal loads. The FEM study presented in this article is based on a three-dimensional, time-dependent approach, of the stress fields that developed within the coatings during the post-deposition cooling step and the thermal cycling. Experiments were conducted using yttrium-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and Alumina (Al₂O₃) ceramic coatings combined with a NiCr-based intermetallic bond coat.     

Role of vanadium oxide on the lithium silicate glass structure and properties

The structural role of V in 28Li₂O–72SiO₂ (in mol%) lithium silicate glass doped with 0.5 mol% V₂O₅ was assessed using ²⁹Si and ⁵¹V Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopy techniques. Despite the low amount of V₂O₅ used, the structural information obtained or deduced from the statistical analysis of the NMR data could explain the evolution of glass properties after V₂O₅ addition. The XPS results indicated that all vanadium exists in 5+ oxidation state. Both the ²⁹Si NMR and FTIR data point toward an increase in the polymerization of the silicate network, caused by the V₂O₅ acting as network former, capable to form various tetrahedral units (for n = 0, 1, and 2) in the glasses. These units, which are similar to phosphate units, scavenge the Li⁺ ions and cause the silicate network to polymerize. However, in an overall balance, the entire glass network is depolymerized due to the additional nonbridging oxygens contributed by the vanadium polyhedra. The addition of vanadium causes the network to expand and increases the ionic conductivity.     

Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Bilberry (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Vaccinium myrtillus</Emphasis>) Leaves in Northern Europe Following Foliar Development and Along Environmental Gradients

Bilberry is a characteristic field layer species in the boreal forests and is an important forage plant for herbivores of the North European ecosystem. Bilberry leaves contain high levels of phenolic compounds, especially hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonols, catechins, and proanthocyanidins. We investigated the phenolic composition of bilberry leaves in two studies, one following foliar development in forest and open areas, and the other along a wide geographical gradient from south to north boreal forests in Finland. An analysis of bilberry leaves collected in open and forest areas showed that major phenolic changes appeared in the first stages of leaf development, but, most importantly, synthesis and accumulation of flavonoids was delayed in the forest compared to the high light sites. Sampling along a geographical gradient in the boreal zone indicated that leaves from higher latitudes and higher altitudes had greater soluble phenolic and flavonol levels, higher antioxidant capacity, and lower contents of chlorogenic acid derivatives. The ecological significance of the results is discussed.     

How much do water deficits alter the nitrogen nutrition status of forage crops?

Water deficits alter the nitrogen nutrition of crops. In grasslands, this has a major impact on both forage yield and nitrogen fluxes in the soil. It is important to assess the N balance in order to adjust fertilization to the expected needs of the crop and thus minimize any environmentally negative impacts of crops. Grassland species, including grasses, display a diverse ability to utilise soil resources. Nitrogen fluxes and the nitrogen absorption by grass swards of two species with contrasting rooting depths were computed using the appropriate module from the STICS simulation platform. In the case of the deep-rooted species, tall fescue, soil mineral N fluxes to the roots were very close to N uptake values, consistent with its nitrogen nutrition index being lower than one. In the case of the shallow-rooted species Italian ryegrass, there was a large excess in terms of N supply, which was also consistent with its non-limiting nitrogen nutrition index. In both species, and even when nitrogen demands for growth were fully satisfied, the nitrogen nutrition index was closely and linearly related to the soil mineral N flux to roots.     

The Study of a 231 French Patient Cohort Significantly Extends the Mutational Spectrum of the Two Major Usher Genes MYO7A and USH2A

Usher syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by congenital hearing loss combined with retinitis pigmentosa, and in some cases, vestibular areflexia. Three clinical subtypes are distinguished, and MYO7A and USH2A represent the two major causal genes involved in Usher type I, the most severe form, and type II, the most frequent form, respectively. Massively parallel sequencing was performed on a cohort of patients in the context of a molecular diagnosis to confirm clinical suspicion of Usher syndrome. We report here 231 pathogenic MYO7A and USH2A genotypes identified in 73 Usher type I and 158 Usher type II patients. Furthermore, we present the ACMG classification of the variants, which comprise all types. Among them, 68 have not been previously reported in the literature, including 12 missense and 16 splice variants. We also report a new deep intronic variant in USH2A. Despite the important number of molecular studies published on these two genes, we show that during the course of routine genetic diagnosis, undescribed variants continue to be identified at a high rate. This is particularly pertinent in the current era, where therapeutic strategies based on DNA or RNA technologies are being developed.