An Attempt to Estimate the Charge Distribution in Sigma-Bond Systems

A classical inductive-effect model has been utilized in an attempt to estimate the change distribution in relatively complicated σ-bond systems. It is assumed that the formal charge on an atom is given as a vectorial sum of the polarities of the bonds attached to that atom and, further, that each bond induces a constant fraction of its own polarity in all of its neighboring bonds. Significance of the model has been tested for several model compounds which permit the closed-form solutions for the distributions of the internally self-consistent bond polarities. The model has been applied to the calculations of the charge distributions in alkanes, ｫ-alkyl halides and hydrated metallic ions ; the results are found to be compatible with observations

Highly Active Ni- and Co-Based Bimetallic Catalysts for Hydrogen Production From Ammonia-Borane

Ammonia-borane is one of the most promising candidates for hydrogen carriers. A series of Ni- and Co-based bimetallic catalysts supported on SiO2 (Ni–M/SiO2 and Co–M/SiO2; M = Ga, Ge, Sn, Zn) was prepared and tested as catalysts for hydrogen production from ammonia-borane (AB) in water or methanol. Ni–Zn/SiO2 and Co–Ge/SiO2 exhibited catalytic activities much higher than those of monometallic Ni/SiO2 and Co/SiO2, respectively. Ni–Zn/SiO2 showed a high catalytic activity when water was used as a solvent, where the reaction was completed within 6 min at room temperature with a specific reaction rate of 4.3 ml min−1 mmol-cat−1 mM-AB−1. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest value among those reported using 3d metal-based catalysts. Co–Ge/SiO2 afforded a five-fold higher reaction rate than that of the corresponding monometallic Co/SiO2. XRD, TEM, and HAADF-STEM-EDS analyses revealed that Ni0.75Zn0.25 and Co0.8Ge0.2 solid-solution alloys were formed with high phase purities. An XPS study showed that Co atoms in Co0.8Ge0.2 were electron-enriched due to electron transfer from Ge to Co, which may be the origin of the improved catalytic activity

Silenced Expression of NFKBIA in Lung Adenocarcinoma Patients with a Never-smoking History

Nuclear factor of κ-light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells inhibitor α (NFKBIA), which is a tumor suppressor gene, was found to be silenced in lung adenocarcinomas. We examined NFKBIA expression, mutations in the EGFR and K-ras genes, and EML4-ALK fusion in 101 resected lung adenocarcinoma samples from never-smokers. NFKBIA expression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry. NFKBIA expression was negative in 16 of the 101 samples (15.8%). EGFR and K-ras mutations and EML4-ALK fusion were detected in 61 (60.5%), 1 (1.0%), and 2 (2.0%) of the 101 samples, respectively, in a completely mutually exclusive manner. Negative NFKBIA expression was observed significantly more frequently among the tumors with none of the three genetic alterations compared to those with such alterations (p＝0.009). In addition, negative NFKBIA expression was significantly more frequent among the EGFR-wild type samples compared to the EGFR-mutant samples (p＝0.013). In conclusion, NFKBIA expression was silenced in adenocarcinomas without EGFR/K-ras mutations or EML4-ALK fusion, suggesting that the silencing of NFKBIA may play an important role in the carcinogenesis of adenocarcinomas independent of EGFR/K-ras mutations or EML4-ALK fusion

Characterization of human UGT2A3 expression using a prepared specific antibody against UGT2A3

UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 2A3 belongs to a UGT superfamily of phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes that catalyzes the glucuronidation of many endobiotics and xenobiotics. Previous studies have demonstrated that UGT2A3 is expressed in the human liver, small intestine, and kidney at the mRNA level; however, its protein expression has not been determined. Evaluation of the protein expression of UGT2A3 would be useful to determine its role at the tissue level. In this study, we prepared a specific antibody against human UGT2A3 and evaluated the relative expression of UGT2A3 in the human liver, small intestine, and kidney. Western blot analysis indicated that this antibody is specific to UGT2A3 because it did not cross-react with other human UGT isoforms or rodent UGTs. UGT2A3 expression in the human small intestine was higher than that in the liver and kidney. Via treatment with endoglycosidase, it was clearly demonstrated that UGT2A3 was N-glycosylated. UGT2A3 protein levels were significantly correlated with UGT2A3 mRNA levels in a panel of 28 human liver samples (r = 0.64, p <0.001). In conclusion, we successfully prepared a specific antibody against UGT2A3. This antibody would be useful to evaluate the physiological, pharmacological, and toxicological roles of UGT2A3 in human tissues. (C) 2019 The Japanese Society for the Study of Xenobiotics. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Gene expression profile and pathogenicity of biofilm-forming Prevotella intermedia strain 17

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Prevotella intermedia </it>(<it>P. intermedia</it>), a gram-negative, black-pigmented anaerobic rod, has been implicated in the development of chronic oral infection. <it>P. intermedia </it>strain 17 was isolated from a chronic periodontitis lesion in our laboratory and described as a viscous material producing strain. The stock cultures of this strain still maintain the ability to produce large amounts of viscous materials in the spent culture media and form biofilm-like structures. Chemical analyses of this viscous material showed that they were mainly composed of neutral sugars with mannose constituting 83% of the polysaccharides. To examine the biological effect of the extracellular viscous materials, we identified and obtained a naturally-occurring variant strain that lacked the ability to produce viscous materials <it>in vitro </it>from our stock culture collections of strain 17, designated as 17-2. We compared these two strains (strains 17 versus 17-2) in terms of their capacities to form biofilms and to induce abscess formation in mice as an indication of their pathogenicity. Further, gene expression profiles between these two strains in planktonic condition and gene expression patterns of strain 17 in solid and liquid cultures were also compared using microarray assays.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Strain 17 induced greater abscess formation in mice as compared to that of the variant. Strain 17, but not 17-2 showed an ability to interfere with the phagocytic activity of human neutrophils. Expression of several genes which including those for heat shock proteins (DnaJ, DnaK, ClpB, GroEL and GroES) were up-regulated two to four-fold with statistical significance in biofilm-forming strain 17 as compared to the variant strain 17-2. Strain 17 in solid culture condition exhibited more than eight-fold up-regulated expression levels of several genes which including those for levanase, extracytoplasmic function-subfamily sigma factor (σ^E; putative) and polysialic acid transport protein (KpsD), as compared to those of strain 17 in liquid culture media.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results demonstrate that the capacity to form biofilm in <it>P. intermedia </it>contribute to their resistance against host innate defence responses.</p