Synthesis of azafluorenones and related compounds using deprotocupration-aroylation followed by intramolecular direct arylation

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.International audienceThe efficiency of the deprotocupration-aroylation of 2-chloropyridine using lithiocuprates prepared from CuX (X=Cl, Br) and LiTMP (TMP=2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidido, 2 equiv) was investigated. CuCl was identified as a more suitable copper source than CuBr for this purpose. Different diaryl ketones bearing a halogen at the 2 position of one of the aryl groups were synthesized in this way from azines and thiophenes. These were then involved in palladium-catalyzed ring closure: substrates underwent expected CH-activation-type arylation to afford fluorenone-type compounds, and were also subjected to cyclization reactions leading to xanthones, notably in the presence of oxygen-containing substituents or reagents

FUS and TARDBP but Not SOD1 Interact in Genetic Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Mutations in the SOD1 and TARDBP genes have been commonly identified in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Recently, mutations in the Fused in sarcoma gene (FUS) were identified in familial (FALS) ALS cases and sporadic (SALS) patients. Similarly to TDP-43 (coded by TARDBP gene), FUS is an RNA binding protein. Using the zebrafish (Danio rerio), we examined the consequences of expressing human wild-type (WT) FUS and three ALS–related mutations, as well as their interactions with TARDBP and SOD1. Knockdown of zebrafish Fus yielded a motor phenotype that could be rescued upon co-expression of wild-type human FUS. In contrast, the two most frequent ALS–related FUS mutations, R521H and R521C, unlike S57Δ, failed to rescue the knockdown phenotype, indicating loss of function. The R521H mutation caused a toxic gain of function when expressed alone, similar to the phenotype observed upon knockdown of zebrafish Fus. This phenotype was not aggravated by co-expression of both mutant human TARDBP (G348C) and FUS (R521H) or by knockdown of both zebrafish Tardbp and Fus, consistent with a common pathogenic mechanism. We also observed that WT FUS rescued the Tardbp knockdown phenotype, but not vice versa, suggesting that TARDBP acts upstream of FUS in this pathway. In addition we observed that WT SOD1 failed to rescue the phenotype observed upon overexpression of mutant TARDBP or FUS or upon knockdown of Tardbp or Fus; similarly, WT TARDBP or FUS also failed to rescue the phenotype induced by mutant SOD1 (G93A). Finally, overexpression of mutant SOD1 exacerbated the motor phenotype caused by overexpression of mutant FUS. Together our results indicate that TARDBP and FUS act in a pathogenic pathway that is independent of SOD1

From a consortium sequence to a unified sequence: the Bacillus subtilis 168 reference genome a decade later

Comparative genomics is the cornerstone of identification of gene functions. The immense number of living organisms precludes experimental identification of functions except in a handful of model organisms. The bacterial domain is split into large branches, among which the Firmicutes occupy a considerable space. Bacillus subtilis has been the model of Firmicutes for decades and its genome has been a reference for more than 10 years. Sequencing the genome involved more than 30 laboratories, with different expertises, in a attempt to make the most of the experimental information that could be associated with the sequence. This had the expected drawback that the sequencing expertise was quite varied among the groups involved, especially at a time when sequencing genomes was extremely hard work. The recent development of very efficient, fast and accurate sequencing techniques, in parallel with the development of high-level annotation platforms, motivated the present resequencing work. The updated sequence has been reannotated in agreement with the UniProt protein knowledge base, keeping in perspective the split between the paleome (genes necessary for sustaining and perpetuating life) and the cenome (genes required for occupation of a niche, suggesting here that B. subtilis is an epiphyte). This should permit investigators to make reliable inferences to prepare validation experiments in a variety of domains of bacterial growth and development as well as build up accurate phylogenies

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome associated with COVID-19: An Emulated Target Trial Analysis.

RATIONALE: Whether COVID patients may benefit from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) compared with conventional invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the effect of ECMO on 90-Day mortality vs IMV only Methods: Among 4,244 critically ill adult patients with COVID-19 included in a multicenter cohort study, we emulated a target trial comparing the treatment strategies of initiating ECMO vs. no ECMO within 7 days of IMV in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (PaO2/FiO2 <80 or PaCO2 ≥60 mmHg). We controlled for confounding using a multivariable Cox model based on predefined variables. MAIN RESULTS: 1,235 patients met the full eligibility criteria for the emulated trial, among whom 164 patients initiated ECMO. The ECMO strategy had a higher survival probability at Day-7 from the onset of eligibility criteria (87% vs 83%, risk difference: 4%, 95% CI 0;9%) which decreased during follow-up (survival at Day-90: 63% vs 65%, risk difference: -2%, 95% CI -10;5%). However, ECMO was associated with higher survival when performed in high-volume ECMO centers or in regions where a specific ECMO network organization was set up to handle high demand, and when initiated within the first 4 days of MV and in profoundly hypoxemic patients. CONCLUSIONS: In an emulated trial based on a nationwide COVID-19 cohort, we found differential survival over time of an ECMO compared with a no-ECMO strategy. However, ECMO was consistently associated with better outcomes when performed in high-volume centers and in regions with ECMO capacities specifically organized to handle high demand. This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Isoprene concentrations in the surface South Atlantic waters during during Marion Dufresne cruise MD160 (OOMPH MD07 leg 2) in March 2007

Isoprene concentrations in the surface South Atlantic waters, measured during the OOMPH (Leg 2) cruise in March 2007 on board the R/V Marion Dufresne. Measurements were made on-line with water extracted from the "ship's membrane pump" (~8m under the surface)

Air-quality measurements in megacities: Focus on gaseous organic and particulate pollutants and comparison between two contrasted cities, Paris and Beijing

International audienc

Agriculture et qualité de l'air : conclusions générales et perspectives

Agriculture et qualité de l'air : conclusions générales et perspectives. Agriculture et Qualité de l'Ai

Measurement of Lipid Transport in Mitochondria by the MTL Complex

International audienceMembrane biogenesis requires an extensive traffic of lipids between different cell compartments. Two main pathways, the vesicular and non-vesicular pathways, are involved in such a process. Whereas the mechanisms involved in vesicular trafficking are well understood, fewer is known about non-vesicular lipid trafficking, particularly in plants. This pathway involves the direct exchange of lipids at membrane contact sites (MCSs) between organelles. In plants, an extensive traffic of the chloroplast-synthesized digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) to mitochondria occurs during phosphate starvation. This lipid exchange occurs by non-vesicular trafficking pathways at MCSs between mitochondria and plastids. By a biochemical approach, a mitochondrial lipoprotein super-complex called MTL (Mitochondrial Transmembrane Lipoprotein complex) involved in mitochondria lipid trafficking has been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana. This protocol describes the method to isolate the MTL complex and to study the implication of a component of this complex (AtMic60) in mitochondria lipid trafficking

Mesure de la réactivité atmosphérique totale avec les radicaux hydroxyles (OH) (développement et applications en Ile-de-France)

Le radical hydroxyle (OH) représente le plus important oxydant dans la troposphère et le puits de la plus grande partie des composés à l état de trace de l atmosphère. Si les sources des radicaux hydroxyles sont aujourd hui relativement bien connues, le terme puits des OH, connu sous le terme de réactivité atmosphérique totale avec les radicaux OH (ou réactivité OH) (s-1), reste encore difficile à quantifier. En raison de la complexité des instruments nécessaires, peu de mesures de OH et de réactivité sont actuellement disponibles et la nouvelle méthode proposée par Sinha et al., (2008) représente une alternative prometteuse pour la quantification de la réactivité atmosphérique totale avec les radicaux hydroxyles. Cette méthode est appelée Méthode Comparative de Réactivité (CRM) et est basée sur la mesure rapide d une molécule normalement absente de l atmosphère (ici pyrrole, C4H5N) et qui réagit à un taux connu avec les radicaux hydroxyles produits artificiellement dans une petite cellule de réaction en verre. La comparaison des concentrations de pyrrole obtenues en présence/absence d air ambiant, dans un champ de radicaux constant, permet de quantifier la réactivité de l air ambiant. Cette thèse a eu pour objectif principal le développement et l optimisation de cette méthode pour la mesure de réactivité en zone urbaine, fortement riche en monoxyde d azote (NO), composé identifié comme produisant des artefacts de la mesure. De même, il fallait proposer une méthodologie pour intégrer toutes les corrections, inhérentes à la méthode, à appliquer aux valeurs brutes de réactivité. Une fois la méthode mise au point, le deuxième objectif de ces travaux était la caractérisation de la réactivité atmosphérique totale avec les radicaux OH à Paris, une des rares mégacités existantes en Europe et où aucune mesure de réactivité n avait été rapportée auparavant. L étude réalisée pendant la campagne d hiver 2010 du projet européen MEGAPOLI a permis de caractériser le niveau de réactivité à Paris pendant deux régimes de masses d air différentes, océanique / continental. Ainsi il a été possible de distinguer un niveau de réactivité purement local de Paris et Ile de France (impacté par le caractère trafic de cette ville européenne et étant comparable aux niveaux enregistrés à New York et Tokyo), et un niveau fort, importé, caractéristique d un transport longue distance. De même, l étude a révélé que pendant l import continental, de forts pourcentages ont été enregistrés de réactivité manquante, définie comme la différence entre la valeur mesurée et une valeur théorique, calculée à partir des composés réagissant avec OH et mesurés pendant la campagne. La nature des espèces non-mesurées et contribuant à cette réactivité a été déterminée comme oxydée, issue des processus de processing des masses d air sur le trajet long distance. Ce travail apporte dans un premier temps des informations uniques sur la méthode CRM pour la mesure de la réactivité OH (fonctionnement, traitement des données) et contribue par la suite à la caractérisation des niveaux de réactivité dans la région parisienne.The hydroxyl radical (OH) represents the most important oxidant of the troposphere and the sink of most trace compounds in the atmosphere. If the sources of the OH radicals are nowadays relatively well constrained, the sink term, also known as the total atmospheric reactivity with the OH radicals (or simply OH reactivity) (s-1), is still difficult to quantify. Due to the complexity of the used instruments, only few OH reactivity measurements are currently available. A new method proposed by Sinha et al. (2008) represents a promising alternative to the quantification of the total ambient OH reactivity. This method, also called the Comparative Reactivity Method (CRM), is based on the rapid measurement of a molecule normally not present in the ambient air (here, pyrrole, C4H5N) and which reacts at a known rate with OH radicals artificially generated into a glass reaction cell. Comparing the measured signals of pyrrole with and without ambient air within a constant OH field allows the quantification of the total OH reactivity of the ambient air. The main objective of this PhD work was the development and the improvement of this method for OH reactivity measurements in urban areas, which are abundant in nitrogen oxide (NO), a compound known to produce artifacts in the reactivity measurement. In the same time, it was necessary to propose a methodology to integrate all corrections (inherent to the method) to the raw reactivity data. Once the method adjusted, the second aim of this work was the characterization of the ambient OH reactivity in Paris, one of the few Megacities in Europe and where no other reactivity measurements were previously reported. The study conducted during the 2010 winter campaign of the MEGAPOLI European project allowed to quantify the OH reactivity level in Paris during two different air mass regimes, marine/continental. It was therefore possible to distinguish between a purely local OH reactivity level (about 20s-1) of Paris and Ile de France (impacted by the traffic character of this European city and comparable to levels registered in New York and Tokyo) and a high (more than 100 s-1) , imported level characterized by a long distance transport. The study also revealed that during the continental import, high percentages (up to 75%) were registered of the missing OH reactivity, defined as the difference between the measured reactivity and a theoretical value obtained from the reactive compounds measured during the same campaign. The nature of the non-measured species contributing to this missing reactivity was determined as oxidized, issued of the air masses processed during the long distance transport. This work brings unique information on the CRM method and contributes to the characterization of the OH reactivity levels in the region of Paris.PARIS11-SCD-Bib. électronique (914719901) / SudocSudocFranceF