Novel synthesis of 3-aminopropionitriles by ring opening of 2-oxazolidinones with cyanide ion

金沢大学医薬保健研究域薬学系Nucleophilic attack of cyanide ion on the 5-position of 2-oxazolidinones in the presence of 18-crown-6 gave 3-aminopropionitriles. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Effects of Ca substitution on the local structure and oxide–ion behavior of layered perovskite lanthanum nickelate

La2NiO4+δ-based materials with a layered perovskite structure have attracted significant attention as air–electrode materials for use in solid oxide fuel cells. In particular, Ca-substituted materials, La2-xCaxNiO4+δ, have been investigated, as the partial substitution of La with Ca can improve oxide–ion conduction in crystals. However, the local structures around the conducting oxide ion and Ca dopant are not been well understood because their distributions cannot be characterized by a general structure analysis only using Bragg peaks. Therefore, we examine the atomic structure of La1.75Ca0.25NiO4+δ by a combination of molecular dynamics simulations and a reverse Monte Carlo modeling using the Faber–Ziman structure factor, real-space function, and the Bragg profile simultaneously. The results indicate that conducting oxide ions are introduced into rocksalt layers in the crystal and are present around La but not Ca. Furthermore, it is found that ionic diffusion is accompanied by a change in the rocksalt layer volume, which can be suppressed by the partial substitution with Ca. This can be regarded as a major reason why Ca substitution improves oxide–ion diffusion in the La2NiO4+δ layered perovskite

Hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and impaired endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation in mice lacking insulin receptor substrate-1.

Insulin resistance is often associated with atherosclerotic diseases in subjects with obesity and impaired glucose tolerance. This study examined the effects of insulin resistance on coronary risk factors in IRS-1 deficient mice, a nonobese animal model of insulin resistance. Blood pressure and plasma triglyceride levels were significantly higher in IRS-1 deficient mice than in normal mice. Impaired endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation was also observed in IRS-1 deficient mice. Furthermore, lipoprotein lipase activity was lower than in normal mice, suggesting impaired lipolysis to be involved in the increase in plasma triglyceride levels under insulin-resistant conditions. Thus, insulin resistance plays an important role in the clustering of coronary risk factors which may accelerate the progression of atherosclerosis in subjects with insulin resistance

WHATS-3: An Improved Flow-Through Multi-bottle Fluid Sampler for Deep-Sea Geofluid Research

Deep-sea geofluid systems, such as hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, are key to understanding subseafloor environments of Earth. Fluid chemistry, especially, provides crucial information toward elucidating the physical, chemical, and biological processes that occur in these ecosystems. To accurately assess fluid and gas properties of deep-sea geofluids, well-designed pressure-tight fluid samplers are indispensable and as such they are important assets of deep-sea geofluid research. Here, the development of a new flow-through, pressure-tight fluid sampler capable of four independent sampling events (two subsamples for liquid and gas analyses from each) is reported. This new sampler, named WHATS-3, is a new addition to the WHATS-series samplers and a major upgrade from the previous WHATS-2 sampler with improvements in sample number, valve operational time, physical robustness, and ease of maintenance. Routine laboratory-based pressure tests proved that it is suitable for operation up to 35 MPa pressure. Successful field tests of the new sampler were also carried out in five hydrothermal fields, two in Indian Ocean, and three in Okinawa Trough (max. depth 3,300 m). Relations of Mg and major ion species demonstrated bimodal mixing trends between a hydrothermal fluid and seawater, confirming the high quality of fluids sampled. The newly developed WHATS-3 sampler is well-balanced in sampling capability, field usability, and maintenance feasibility, and can serve as one of the best geofluid samplers available at present to conduct efficient research of deep-sea geofluid systems

Calcium sparks enhance the tissue fluidity within epithelial layers and promote apical extrusion of transformed cells

In vertebrates, newly emerging transformed cells are often apically extruded from epithelial layers through cell competition with surrounding normal epithelial cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Here, using phospho-SILAC screening, we show that phosphorylation of AHNAK2 is elevated in normal cells neighboring RasV12 cells soon after the induction of RasV12 expression, which is mediated by calcium-dependent protein kinase C. In addition, transient upsurges of intracellular calcium, which we call calcium sparks, frequently occur in normal cells neighboring RasV12 cells, which are mediated by mechanosensitive calcium channel TRPC1 upon membrane stretching. Calcium sparks then enhance cell movements of both normal and RasV12 cells through phosphorylation of AHNAK2 and promote apical extrusion. Moreover, comparable calcium sparks positively regulate apical extrusion of RasV12-transformed cells in zebrafish larvae as well. Hence, calcium sparks play a crucial role in the elimination of transformed cells at the early phase of cell competition