Surprising Complexity of the [Gd(AAZTA)(H2O)2]- Chelate Revealed by NMR in the Frequency and Time Domains

Typically, Ln(III) complexes are isostructural along the series, which enables studying one particular metal chelate to derive the structural features of the others. This is not the case for [Ln(AAZTA)(H2O)x]- (x = 1, 2) systems, where structural variations along the series cause changes in the hydration number of the different metal complexes, and in particular the loss of one of the two metal-coordinated water molecules between Ho and Er. Herein, we present a 1H field-cycling relaxometry and 17O NMR study that enables accessing the different exchange dynamics processes involving the two water molecules bound to the metal center in the [Gd(AAZTA)(H2O)2]- complex. The resulting picture shows one Gd-bound water molecule with an exchange rate ∼6 times faster than that of the other, due to a longer metal-water distance, in accordance with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The substitution of the more labile water molecule with a fluoride anion in a diamagnetic-isostructural analogue of the Gd-complex, [Y(AAZTA)(H2O)2]-, allows us to follow the chemical exchange process by high-resolution NMR and to describe its thermodynamic behavior. Taken together, the variety of tools offered by NMR (including high-resolution 1H, 19F NMR as a function of temperature, 1H longitudinal relaxation rates vs B0, and 17O transverse relaxation rates vs T) provides a complete description of the structure and exchange dynamics of these Ln-complexes along the series

Bifunctional Paramagnetic and Luminescent Clays Obtained by Incorporation of Gd3+and Eu3+Ions in the Saponite Framework

A novel bifunctional saponite clay incorporating gadolinium (Gd3+) and europium (Eu3+) in the inorganic framework was prepared by one-pot hydrothermal synthesis. The material exhibited interesting luminescent and paramagnetic features derived from the co-presence of the lanthanide ions in equivalent structural positions. Relaxometry and photoluminescence spectroscopy shed light on the chemical environment surrounding the metal sites, the emission properties of Eu3+, and the dynamics of interactions between Gd3+ and the inner-sphere water placed in the saponite gallery. The optical and paramagnetic properties of this solid make it an attractive nanoplatform for bimodal diagnostic applications

The chemical consequences of the gradual decrease of the ionic radius along the Ln-series

[Abstract] In the periodical system, the lanthanides (the 15 elements in the periodic table between barium and hafnium) are unique in the sense that their trivalent cations have their valence electrons hidden behind the 5s and 5p electrons. They show a gradual decrease in ionic radius with increasing atomic number (also known as the lanthanide contraction). The resulting steric effects determine to a large extent the geometries of complexes of these ions. Here, we discuss these effects, particularly upon the properties of the complexes in aqueous solution, for selected families of Ln3+-complexes of oxycarboxylate and aminocarboxylate ligands. The physical properties of the cations are very different, which is very useful for the elucidation of the configuration, conformation and the dynamics of the complexes by X-ray techniques, NMR spectroscopy, and optical techniques. Often the structural analysis is assisted by computational methods

Magnetic and relaxation properties of vanadium(iv) complexes: an integrated H-1 relaxometric, EPR and computational study

We report a detailed study of the magnetic and relaxation properties of a series of oxovanadium(IV) complexes comprising the aqua ion [VO(H2O)5]2+ and [VO(ox)2]2- (ox = oxalate), [VO(nta)]- (nta = nitrilotriacetate), [VO(dtpa)] 3- (dtpa = diethylenetriaminepentaacetate) and [VO(acac)2] (acac = acetylacetonato) in solution. The complexes were characterized using continuous wave (X-band) and pulsed (Q-band) EPR measurements and 1H nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) studies in the 0.01-120 MHz 1H Larmor frequency range. The 51V A-tensor parameters obtained from the analysis of EPR spectra are in good agreement with those obtained using theoretical calculations at the DFT and coupled-cluster levels (DLPNO-CCSD), while g-tensors were obtained with CASSCF/NEVPT2 calculations. EPR measurements reveal significant differences in the electronic Te1 and Te m relaxation times, with [VO(acac)2] showing a markedly different behaviour due to the trans coordination geometry. The NMRD profiles measured at different temperatures have contributions from both the outer- and inner-sphere mechanisms, with the latter showing contributions from the dipolar and scalar mechanisms. The rotational correlation times ( tR) obtained from the fitting of NMRD and EPR data are in good mutual agreement. The scalar mechanism depends on the hyperfine coupling constants of the coordinated water molecule Haiso, which were obtained from the fitting of the NMRD profiles and DFT calculations. Finally, the analysis of the data provided information on the exchange rate of coordinated water molecules, which display mean residence times of similar to 7-17 mu s at 298 K

Genome-wide parent-of-origin DNA methylation analysis reveals the intricacies of human imprinting and suggests a germline methylation-independent mechanism of establishment

Differential methylation between the two alleles of a gene has been observed in imprinted regions, where the methylation of one allele occurs on a parent-of-origin basis, the inactive X-chromosome in females, and at those loci whose methylation is driven by genetic variants. We have extensively characterized imprinted methylation in a substantial range of normal human tissues, reciprocal genome-wide uniparental disomies, and hydatidiform moles, using a combination of whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and high-density methylation microarrays. This approach allowed us to define methylation profiles at known imprinted domains at base-pair resolution, as well as to identify 21 novel loci harboring parent-of-origin methylation, 15 of which are restricted to the placenta. We observe that the extent of imprinted differentially methylated regions (DMRs) is extremely similar between tissues, with the exception of the placenta. This extra-embryonic tissue often adopts a different methylation profile compared to somatic tissues. Further, we profiled all imprinted DMRs in sperm and embryonic stem cells derived from parthenogenetically activated oocytes, individual blastomeres, and blastocysts, in order to identify primary DMRs and reveal the extent of reprogramming during preimplantation development. Intriguingly, we find that in contrast to ubiquitous imprints, the majority of placenta-specific imprinted DMRs are unmethylated in sperm and all human embryonic stem cells. Therefore, placental-specific imprinting provides evidence for an inheritable epigenetic state that is independent of DNA methylation and the existence of a novel imprinting mechanism at these loci

Gd(III) complexes intercalated into hydroxy double salts as potential MRI contrast agents

The ion exchange intercalation of two Gd-based magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents into hydroxy double salts (HDSs) is reported. The presence of Gd3+ diethylenetriaminepentaacetate and Gd3+ diethylenetriaminepenta(methylenephosphonate) complexes in the HDS lattice after intercalation was confirmed by microwave plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. The structural aspects of the HDS-Gd composites were studied by X-ray diffraction, with the intercalates having an interlayer spacing of 14.5–18.6 Å. Infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of characteristic vibration peaks associated with the Gd3+ complexes in the intercalation compounds. The proton relaxivities of the Gd3+ complex-loaded composites were 2 to 5-fold higher in longitudinal relaxivity, and up to 10-fold higher in transverse relaxivity, compared to solutions of the pure complexes. These data demonstrate that the new composites reported here are potentially potent MRI contrast agents

Distinct DNA methylomes of newborns and centenarians

Human aging cannot be fully understood in terms of the constrained genetic setting. Epigenetic drift is an alternative means of explaining age-associated alterations. To address this issue, we performed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) of newborn and centenarian genomes. The centenarian DNA had a lower DNA methylation content and a reduced correlation in the methylation status of neighboring cytosine--phosphate--guanine (CpGs) throughout the genome in comparison with the more homogeneously methylated newborn DNA. The more hypomethylated CpGs observed in the centenarian DNA compared with the neonate covered all genomic compartments, such as promoters, exonic, intronic, and intergenic regions. For regulatory regions, the most hypomethylated sequences in the centenarian DNA were present mainly at CpG-poor promoters and in tissue-specific genes, whereas a greater level of DNA methylation was observed in CpG island promoters. We extended the study to a larger cohort of newborn and nonagenarian samples using a 450,000 CpG-site DNA methylation microarray that reinforced the observation of more hypomethylated DNA sequences in the advanced age group. WGBS and 450,000 analyses of middle-age individuals demonstrated DNA methylomes in the crossroad between the newborn and the nonagenarian/centenarian groups. Our study constitutes a unique DNA methylation analysis of the extreme points of human life at a single-nucleotide resolution level

Potentiation of 5-fluorouracil encapsulated in zeolites as drug delivery systems for in vitro models of colorectal carcinoma

The studies of potentiation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a traditional drug used in the treatment of several cancers, including colorectal (CRC), were carried out with zeolites Faujasite in the sodium form, with different particle sizes (NaY, 700nm and nanoNaY, 150nm) and Linde type L in the potassium form (LTL) with a particle size of 80nm. 5-FU was loaded into zeolites by liquid-phase adsorption. Characterization by spectroscopic techniques (FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C and 27Al solid-state MAS NMR), chemical analysis, thermal analysis (TGA), nitrogen adsorption isotherms and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), demonstrated the successful loading of 5-FU into the zeolite hosts. In vitro drug release studies (PBS buffer pH 7.4, 37°C) revealed the release of 80-90% of 5-FU in the first 10min. To ascertain the drug release kinetics, the release profiles were fitted to zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, Hixson-Crowell, Korsmeyer-Peppas and Weibull kinetic models. The in vitro dissolution from the drug delivery systems (DDS) was explained by the Weibull model. The DDS efficacy was evaluated using two human colorectal carcinoma cell lines, HCT-15 and RKO. Unloaded zeolites presented no toxicity to both cancer cells, while all DDS allowed an important potentiation of the 5-FU effect on the cell viability. Immunofluorescence studies provided evidence for zeolite-cell internalization.RA is recipient of fellowship SFRH/BI/51118/2010 from Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal). This work was supported by the FCT projects refs. PEst-C/QUI/UI0686/2011 and PEst-C/CTM/LA0011/2011 and the Centre of Chemistry and Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (University of Minho, Portugal). The NMR spectrometer is part of the National NMR Network (RNRMN), supported with funds from FCT/QREN (Quadro de Referencia Estrategico Nacional)

Zeolite structures loading with an anticancer compound as drug delivery systems

The authors are thankful to Dr. A. S. Azevedo for collecting the powder diffraction data.Two different structures of zeolites, faujasite (FAU) and Linde type A (LTA), were studied to investigate their suitability for drug delivery systems (DDS). The zeolites in the sodium form (NaY and NaA) were used as hosts for encapsulation of α-cyano-4- hydroxycinnamic acid (CHC). CHC, an experimental anticancer drug, was encapsulated in both zeolites by diffusion in liquid phase. These new drug delivery systems, CHC@zeolite, were characterized by spectroscopic techniques (FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C and 27Al solidstate MAS NMR, and UV−vis), chemical analysis, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of the zeolites and CHC@zeolite drug deliveries on HCT-15 human colon carcinoma cell line viability was evaluated. Both zeolites alone revealed no toxicity to HCT-15 cancer cells. Importantly, CHC@zeolite exhibit an inhibition of cell viability up to 585-fold, when compared to the non-encapsulated drug. These results indicate the potential of the zeolites for drug loading and delivery into cancer cells to induce cell deathO.M. and R.A. are recipients of fellowships (SFRH/BD/36463/2007, SFRH/BI/51118/2010) from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal). This work was supported by the FCT projects refs PEst-C/ QUI/UI0686/2011, PEst-C/CTM/LA0011/2011, and PTDC/ SAU-FCF/104347/2008, under the scope of “Programa Operacional Temático Factores de Competitividade” (COMPETE) of “Quadro Comunitário de Apoio III” and cofinanced by Fundo Comunitário Europeu FEDER, and the Centre of Chemistry and Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (University of Minho, Portugal)

Human oocyte-derived methylation differences persist in the placenta revealing widespread transient imprinting

Thousands of regions in gametes have opposing methylation profiles that are largely resolved during the post-fertilization epigenetic reprogramming. However some specific sequences associated with imprinted loci survive this demethylation process. Here we present the data describing the fate of germline-derived methylation in humans. With the exception of a few known paternally methylated germline differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with known imprinted domains, we demonstrate that sperm-derived methylation is reprogrammed by the blastocyst stage of development. In contrast a large number of oocyte-derived methylation differences survive to the blastocyst stage and uniquely persist as transiently methylated DMRs only in the placenta. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this phenomenon is exclusive to primates, since no placenta-specific maternal methylation was observed in mouse. Utilizing single cell RNA-seq datasets from human preimplantation embryos we show that following embryonic genome activation the maternally methylated transient DMRs can orchestrate imprinted expression. However despite showing widespread imprinted expression of genes in placenta, allele-specific transcriptional profiling revealed that not all placenta-specific DMRs coordinate imprinted expression and that this maternal methylation may be absent in a minority of samples, suggestive of polymorphic imprinted methylation