Synthesis, characterisation and in-vitro cytotoxicity of mixed ligand Pt(II) oxadiazoline complexes with hexamethylenetetramine and 7-nitro-1,3,5-triazaadamantane.

Trans-platinum(II) oxadiazoline complexes with 7-nitro-1,3,5-triazaadamantane (NO2-TAA) or hexamethylenetetramine (hmta) ligands have been synthesised from trans-[PtCl2(PhCN)2] via cycloaddition of nitrones to one of the coordinated nitriles, followed by exchange of the other nitrile by NO2-TAA or hmta. Stoichiometric control allows for the selective synthesis of mono- and dinuclear complexes where 7-NO2TAA and hmta act as mono- and bidentate ligands, respectively. Precursors and the target complexes trans-[PtCl2(hmta)(oxadiazoline)], trans-[PtCl2(NO2-TAA)(oxadiazoline)] and trans-[{PtCl2(oxadiazoline)}2(hmta)] were characterised by elemental analysis, IR and multinuclear (1H, 13C, 195Pt) NMR spectroscopy. DFT (B3LYP/6-31G*/LANL08) and AIM calculations suggest a stronger bonding of hmta with the [PtCl2(oxadiazoline)] fragment, in agreement with the experimentally observed reactivity in the ligand exchange (hmta > 7-NO2TAA). Replacement of the nitrile by hmta is predicted more exothermic than that with 7-NO2-TAA, although the activation barriers are similar. Protonation of the non-coordinated N atoms is anticipated to weaken the Pt-N bond and lower the activation barrier for ligand exchange. This effect might help activate these compounds in a slightly acidic environment such as some tumour tissues. Ten of the new compounds were tested for their in vitro cytotoxicity in the human cancer cell lines HeLa and A549. Some of the mononuclear complexes are more potent than cisplatin, and their activity is still high in A549 where cisplatin shows little effect. The dinuclear complexes are inactive, presumably due to their lipophilicity and reduced solubility in water

Supramolecular Peptide Nanofibrils with Optimized Sequences and Molecular Structures for Efficient Retroviral Transduction

Funder: German Research Foundation; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659Abstract: Amyloid‐like peptide nanofibrils (PNFs) are abundant in nature providing rich bioactivities and playing both functional and pathological roles. The structural features responsible for their unique bioactivities are, however, still elusive. Supramolecular nanostructures are notoriously challenging to optimize, as sequence changes affect self‐assembly, fibril morphologies, and biorecognition. Herein, the first sequence optimization of PNFs, derived from the peptide enhancing factor‐C (EF‐C, QCKIKQIINMWQ), for enhanced retroviral gene transduction via a multiparameter and a multiscale approach is reported. Retroviral gene transfer is the method of choice for the stable delivery of genetic information into cells offering great perspectives for the treatment of genetic disorders. Single fibril imaging, zeta potential, vibrational spectroscopy, and quantitative retroviral transduction assays provide the structure parameters responsible for PNF assembly, fibrils morphology, secondary and quaternary structure, and PNF‐virus‐cell interactions. Optimized peptide sequences such as the 7‐mer, CKFKFQF, have been obtained quantitatively forming supramolecular nanofibrils with high intermolecular β‐sheet content that efficiently bind virions and attach to cellular membranes revealing efficient retroviral gene transfer

Pairwise coupling of hair cell transducer channels links auditory sensitivity and dynamic range

Hair cells in the inner ear provide the basis for the exquisite hearing capabilities of mammals. These cells transduce sound-induced displacements of their mechanosensitive hair bundle into electrical currents within a fraction of a millisecond and with nanometer fidelity. Excitatory displacements of the hair cell¿s bundle tense tip links that open transducer channels. These channels are located either at one or at both ends of the links, where the latter possibility was thought to compromise sensitivity via negative cooperativity, and discarded for quantitatively describing the transduction process. Here, we show instead that this series mode of activation accurately explains measured transduction in hair cells. It enhances both sensitivity and dynamic range of hair cell transduction, by one channel that is extremely sensitive at small displacements while the other responds best to larger stimuli. Our results provide a new framework for exploring the dynamics of hair cell activation