53rd National Meeting of the Italian Society of Biochemistryand Molecular Biology (SIB)andNational Meeting of Chemistry of Biological Systems – Italian Chemical Society (SCI - Section CSB)

The 53rd National Congress of the Italian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SIB), which will be held in Riccione from 23 to 26 September, is characterised by the elevated scientific level and interdisciplinary interest of the numerous sessions in which it is organised. The Scientific Programme comprises three joint Symposia of the SIB and the Chemistry of Biological Systems section of the Italian Chemistry Society (SCI) on Molecular Systems Biology, Chemistry of Nucleic Acids, Protein and Drug Structure, and Environmental Biotechnology. These Symposia address groundbreaking arguments, making the joint interest of the two societies particularly fascinating; the joint organisation of these events in fact signals the shared intention to proceed along the path of scientific exchange. The topics of the other sessions have been chosen by the Scientific Committee on the basis of their scientific relevance and topicality, with particular attention paid to the selection of the speakers. The SIB sessions will range from Signal Transduction and Biomolecular Targets, Protein Misfolding and its Relationship with Disease, Emerging Techniques in Biochemistry, Gene Silencing, Redox Signalling and Oxidative Stress, Lipids in Cell Communication and Signal Transduction, Mitochondrial Function and Dysfunction

53rd National Meeting of the Italian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SIB) and National Meeting of Chemistry of Biological Systems – Italian Chemical Society (SCI - Section CSB)

Il 53° Congresso Nazionale della Società Italiana di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare che si tiene a Riccione dal 23 al 26 Settembre si distingue per l'alto livello scientifico e l'interesse interdisciplinare delle numerose sessioni nelle quali è strutturato. Il Programma scientifico vede tre Simposi congiunti della SIB con la Sezione della Chimica dei Sistemi Biologici della Società Italiana di Chimica (SCI) su Molecular Systems Biology, Chemistry of Nucleic Acids, Protein and Drug Structure, Environmental Biotechnology. Questi Simposi, riguardano argomenti di avanguardia per i quali fa piacere l'interesse condiviso delle due Società, che per la prima volta organizzano dei Simposi congiunti a significare l'intento di procedere insieme negli scambi scientifici. Gli argomenti delle altre sessioni sono stati scelti dal comitato scientifico in base alla loro rilevanza e attualità scientifica, con particolare cura nella individuazione dei relatori. Le sessioni SIB spazieranno da Signal Transduction and Biomolecular Targets, Protein Misfolding and its Relationship with Diseases, Emerging Techniques in Biochemistry, Gene Silencing, Redox Signalling and Oxidative Stress, Lipids in Cell Communication and Signal Transduction, Mitochondrial Function and Dysfunction

Non-covalent interactions in organotin(IV) derivatives of 5,7-ditertbutyl- and 5,7-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine as recognition motifs in crystalline self- assembly and their in vitro antistaphylococcal activity

Non-covalent interactions are known to play a key role in biological compounds due to their stabilization of the tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins [1]. Ligands similar to purine rings, such as triazolo pyrimidine ones, are very versatile in their interactions with metals and can act as model systems for natural bio-inorganic compounds [2]. A considerable series (twelve novel compounds are reported) of 5,7-ditertbutyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (dbtp) and 5,7-diphenyl- 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (dptp) were synthesized and investigated by FT-IR and 119Sn M\uf6ssbauer in the solid state and by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, in solution [3]. The X-ray crystal and molecular structures of Et2SnCl2(dbtp)2 and Ph2SnCl2(EtOH)2(dptp)2 were described, in this latter pyrimidine molecules are not directly bound to the metal center but strictly H-bonded, through N(3), to the -OH group of the ethanol moieties. The network of hydrogen bonding and aromatic interactions involving pyrimidine and phenyl rings in both complexes drives their self-assembly. Noncovalent interactions involving aromatic rings are key processes in both chemical and biological recognition, contributing to overall complex stability and forming recognition motifs. It is noteworthy that in Ph2SnCl2(EtOH)2(dptp)2 \u3c0\u2013\u3c0 stacking interactions between pairs of antiparallel triazolopyrimidine rings mimick basepair interactions physiologically occurring in DNA (Fig.1). M\uf6ssbauer spectra suggest for Et2SnCl2(dbtp)2 a distorted octahedral structure, with C-Sn-C bond angles lower than 180\ub0. The estimated angle for Et2SnCl2(dbtp)2 is virtually identical to that determined by X-ray diffraction. Ph2SnCl2(EtOH)2(dptp)2 is characterized by an essentially linear C-Sn-C fragment according to the X-ray all-trans structure. The compounds were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity on a group of reference staphylococcal strains susceptible or resistant to methicillin and against two reference Gramnegative pathogens [4] . We tested the biological activity of all the specimen against a group of staphylococcal reference strains (S. aureus ATCC 25923, S. aureus ATCC 29213, methicillin resistant S. aureus 43866 and S. epidermidis RP62A) along with Gram-negative pathogens (P. aeruginosa ATCC9027 and E. coli ATCC25922). Ph2SnCl2(EtOH)2(dptp)2 showed good antibacterial activity with a MIC value of 5 \u3bcg mL-1 against S. aureus ATCC29213 and also resulted active against methicillin resistant S. epidermidis RP62A

Program director`s report for the Office of Health and Environmental Research

LBNL performs basic and applied research and develops technologies in support of the Department of Energy Office of Health and Environmental Research`s mission to explore and mitigate the long-term health and environmental consequences of energy use and to advance solutions to major medical challenges. The ability of the Laboratory to engage in this mission depends upon the strength of its core competencies. In addition, there are several key capabilities that are crosscutting, or underlie, many of the core competencies. They are: bioscience and biotechnology; environmental assessment and remediation; advanced detector systems; materials characterization and synthesis; chemical dynamics, catalysis, and surface science; advanced technologies for energy supply and energy efficiency; particle and photon beams; national research facilities; computation and information management; engineering design and fabrication technologies; and education of future scientists and engineers. Research in progress and major accomplishments are summarized for projects in analytical technology; environmental research; health effects; molecular carcinogenesis; general life sciences; human genome project; medical applications; and imaging of E-binding proteins