Temperature Dependence of Radiative and Nonradiative Rates from Time-Dependent Correlation Function Methods

The temperature dependence of the rate constants in radiative and nonradiative decays from excited electronic states has been studied using a time-dependent correlation function approach in the framework of the adiabatic representation and the harmonic oscillator approximation. The present work analyzes the vibrational aspect of the processes, which gives rise to the temperature dependence, with the inclusion of mode-mixing, as well as of frequency change effects. The temperature dependence of the rate constants shows a contrasting nature, depending on whether the process has been addressed within the Franck-Condon approximation or beyond it. The calculation of the Duschinsky matrix and the shift vector between the normal modes of the two states can be done in Cartesian and/or internal coordinates, depending on the flexibility of the investigated molecule. A new computational code has been developed to calculate the rates of intersystem crossing, internal conversion, and fluorescence for selected molecules as functions of temperature

Substrate specificity of the Plasmodium falciparum glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthetic pathway and inhibition by species-specific suicide substrates

The substrate specificities of the early glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthetic enzymes of Plasmodium were determined using substrate analogues of D-GlcNalpha1-6-D-myo-inositol-1-HPO4-sn-1,2-dipalmitoylglycerol (GlcN-PI). Similarities between the Plasmodium and mammalian (HeLa) enzymes were observed. These are as follows: (i) The presence and orientation of the 2'-acetamido/amino and 3'-OH groups are essential for substrate recognition for the de-N-acetylase, inositol acyltransferase, and first mannosyltransferase enzymes. (ii) The 6'-OH group of the GlcN is dispensable for the de-N-acetylase, inositol acyltransferase, all four of the mannosyltransferases, and the ethanolamine phosphate transferase. (iii) The 4'-OH group of GlcNAc is not required for recognition, but substitution interferes with binding to the de-N-acetylase. The 4'-OH group of GlcN is essential for the inositol acyltransferase and first mannosyltransferase. (iv) The carbonyl group of the natural 2-O-hexadecanyl ester of GlcN-(acyl)PI is essential for substrate recognition by the first mannosyltransferase. However, several differences were also discovered: (i) Plasmodium-specific inhibition of the inositol acyltransferase was detected with GlcN[L]-PI, while GlcN-(2-O-alkyl)PI weakly inhibited the first mannosyltransferase in a competitive manner. (ii) The Plasmodium de-N-acetylase can act on analogues containing N-benzoyl, GalNAc, or betaGlcNAc whereas the human enzyme cannot. Using the parasite specificity of the later two analogues with the known nonspecific de-N-acetylase suicide inhibitor [Smith, T. K., et al. (2001) EMBO J. 20, 3322-3332], GalNCONH(2)-PI and GlcNCONH(2)-beta-PI were designed and found to be potent (IC50 similar to0.2 muM), Plasmodium-specific suicide substrate inhibitors. These inhibitors could be potential lead compounds for the development of antimalaria drugs.</p

Phytochemical study of Fagraea spp. uncovers a new terpene alkaloid with anti-inflammatory properties

Phytochemical investigation of the stem bark of F. racemosa JACK ex WALL (Loganiaceae) from East Java, Indonesia, has resulted in the isolation of a new alkaloid fagraeoside along with the iridoid glycoside secologanoside. Fagraeoside may be derived from the condensation of secologanin with L-asparagine, and represents a rare example of a terpene alkaloid in which the amino acid component is non-aromatic. Investigation of three additional species of Fagraea provided known lignans, iridoid or secoiridoid glycosides, and flavanol-6-C-glucosides, thus it is likely that iridoid and secoiridoid glucosides are chemotaxonomic markers for the Fagraea genus. Fagraeoside inhibited the production of prostaglandin E(2) in 3T3 murine fibroblasts (IC(50) similar to 5.1 mu M), and was not cytotoxic to this cell line or to a P388 murine leukaemia cell line. Selected isolated compounds, including fagraeoside, showed low to moderate activity in anti-acetylcholinesterase screening

Fine Tuning Reactivity: Synthesis and Isolation of 1,2,3,12b-Tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-f]phenanthridines

A facile route for the synthesis and isolation of 1,2,3,12b-tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-f]phenanthridines (TIPs) hits been developed. The heterocycle is a reactive intermediate in the three-step cascade synthesis of 2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[1,2-f]phenanthridinium cations (DIPs), a biologically active DNA intercalating framework; however, the intermediate has previously only been characterized in situ Derivatization Of the Structure at the imidazo-N position controls the reactivity of the intermediate with respect to electronic potential and pK(a) allowing isolation of a selection of TIP structures. Correlations between these parameters and reaction outcome have been made, and other influences such its steric and solvent effects have also been investigated