Current methods for analyzing sialic acid diversity in modifications and linkages require multi-step processing, derivatization and chromatographic analyses. We here report a single step optical method for identification and quantification of different compositions of sialoglycans on glycoproteins and in serum. This was achieved by measuring and quantifying nanometal surface energy ...

The importance of dipeptides both in medicinal and pharmacological fields is well documented and many efforts have been made to find simple and efficient methods for their synthesis. For this reason, we have investigated the synthesis of α-N-protected dipeptide acids by reacting the easily accessible mixed anhydride of α-N-protected amino ...

A relay catalytic cascade process involving Lewis acid triggered ring-opening of cyclopropyl ketones with nitriles, the copper(i)-catalyzed Ritter process, and acid-promoted N-acyliminium ion cyclization is described, which efficiently provides thieno-, furano-, and benzo-indolizinones in moderate to good yields.

Development of sustainable technologies for the production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3HP) as a platform chemical has recently been gaining much attention owing to its versatility in applications for the synthesis of other specialty chemicals. Several proposed biological synthesis routes and strategies for producing 3HP from glucose and glycerol are reviewed ...

The synthesis of helical aromatic oligoamide foldamers derived from 8-amino-2-quinolinecarboxylic acid is described. The precursors are commercially available and products up to and including the octamer are obtained. The procedure covers the synthesis of the monomer, reduction of N-terminal nitro groups into amines, saponification of C-terminal methyl esters to form ...

Hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs) are very important chemicals for versatile applications in biodegradable polymer materials and cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. They are difficult to be synthesized via chemical routes due to the inertness of the fatty acyl chain. In contrast, these fatty acids make up a major class of natural ...

An iterative approach to optimising the accumulation of non-native long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in transgenic plants was undertaken in Arabidopsis thaliana. The contribution of a number of different transgene enzyme activities was systematically determined, as was the contribution of endogenous fatty acid metabolism. Successive iterations were informed by lipidomic ...

Diarylalkynones were synthesized from one-pot Pd-catalyzed carbonylative and noncarbonylative coupling reactions of propiolic acid with aryl iodides under a carbon monoxide atmosphere. Aryl iodide (2.0 equiv), propiolic acid (1.0 equiv), Pd(PPh3)2Cl2 (5 mol %), CuCl (10 mol %), Et3N (6.0 equiv), and CO (8 atm) were reacted under optimized conditions ...

A little cooperation goes a long way: The cooperative Brønsted/Lewis acid-base supramolecular catalysts formed in situ from simple chiral magnesium(II) binaphtholate aqua complexes promoted the highly enantioselective 1,4-hydrophosphinylation of α,β-unsaturated esters with diaryl phosphine oxides and 1,2-hydrophosphonylation of α,β-unsaturated ketones with dialkyl phosphites.

Chemical characterization and monitoring of fermentation broths and cell culture media provide significant information on the changes occurring within these complex and dynamic systems. Analytical methods based on CE in capillaries and microchips are attractive for integration in instrumental tools to obtain this critical data, improving the understanding and control ...

The ability to regenerate injured or lost body parts has been an age-old ambition of medical science. In contrast to humans, teleost fish and urodele amphibians can regrow almost any part of the body with seeming effortlessness. Retinoic acid is a molecule that has long been associated with these impressive ...

Mitigation measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions may have adverse effects on urban air quality and human exposure to harmful pollutants. The use of bioethanol fuelled vehicles is increasing worldwide and may create new undesired pollution effects. Different measurement campaigns were performed in a pilot study to contribute to the ...

The total synthesis of a methylated analogue of (+)-Salvianolic acid C has been achieved. Key aspects of the synthetic route include an economical Cu(i) acetylide coupling, unique carboxyl activation conditions via microwave irradiation and a novel lipase catalysed kinetic resolution of a racemic mixture of secondary alcohol Danshensu. The preparation ...

Insects, a traditional food in many parts of the world, are highly nutritious and especially rich in proteins and thus represent a potential food and protein source. A compilation of 236 nutrient compositions in addition to amino acid spectra and fatty acid compositions as well as mineral and vitamin contents ...

Arundic acid has been experimented in vitro and in vivo as a potential neuroprotective agent. It modulates astrocyte activation by inhibiting the enhanced astrocytic synthesis of S-100βprotein, responsible for inducing neuronal death. The phase II clinical trials for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke, as well as clinical development in ...

Four fluorescent tricyclic basic dyes with two hollow organic capsules namely cucurbit[n]urils (CB[n]), n = 7 and 8, compose the chemical tongue that is examined for α-amino acids recognition. This array is able to identify and discriminate 18 α-amino acids up to 10-4 M without the need of enzyme activation. ...

Recently catalytic systems combining Al, In or Zn Lewis acids with organic bases (amines, phosphines, N-heterocyclic carbenes) have been shown to efficiently promote the polymerization of lactones and polar olefins. In this frontier article, such dual approaches of polymerization catalysis are presented. Special attention is devoted to the mode of ...

The role of protonated nucleotides in modulating the pH-dependent properties of nucleic acids is one of the emerging frontiers in the field of nucleic acid biology. The recent development of a constant pH molecular dynamics simulation (CPHMD(MSλD)) framework for simulating nucleic acids has provided a tool for realistic simulations of ...

This study shows the performance of MagNA Pure 96 automated nucleic acid extraction for the quantitative detection of cytomegalovirus DNA in clinical samples by real-time PCR. The obtained results demonstrate that this workflow is characterized by high sensitivity and linearity and ensures reliable, reproducible clinical diagnostics.

3-Hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) is a valuable platform chemical that can be produced biologically from glucose or glycerol. This review article provides an overview and the current status of microbial 3-HP production. The constraints of microbial 3-HP production and possible solutions are also described. Finally, future prospects of biological 3-HP production ...

In this work, we show how an extensive and fast quantification of the main components in green coffee oil can be achieved by NMR, with minimal sample manipulation and use of organic solvents. The approach is based on the integration of characteristic NMR signals, selected because of their similar relaxation ...

In spite of their attractive features, widespread biomedical applications of CS nanoparticles are yet to be realized due to their poor stability in physiological conditions, such as in buffer system at pH 7.4. Buffer-stable chitosan-based hybrid NPs (HNPs) are reported and characterized. Buffer stability is achieved by introducing polyglutamic acid ...

This study focuses on the long stretch of highly conserved amino acids in the membrane proximal part of the HIV-1 cytoplasmic tail (Env amino acids (aa) 706-718) upstream of the overlap with the tat and rev second coding exons. Changes in Env aa 713 and 715, although they did not ...

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are increasingly attracting scientific attention owing to their significant health-promoting role in the human body. However, the human body lacks the ability to produce them in vivo. The limitations associated with the current sources of ω-3 fatty acids from animal and plant ...

A simple and efficient Ru-catalyzed conjugate addition reaction of arylboronic acids to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones under neutral conditions without any additional ligands has been developed. This Ru(II)-catalytic system fulfilled both the inhibition of the beta-hydride elimination in the catalytic cycle, and minimized the protonolysis of arylboronic acids.

A palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative C2-acylation of indoles with α-oxocarboxylic acids was achieved. This protocol represents a novel and complementary approach to 2-aroylindoles.

Commercial cucumber fermentations are typically carried out in 40000 L fermentation tanks. A secondary fermentation can occur after sugars are consumed that results in the formation of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids, concomitantly with the loss of lactic acid and an increase in pH. Spoilage fermentations can result in significant ...

Pharmacologic treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease is based upon gastric acid suppression with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). In many patients, symptoms persist despite PPI treatment. For some, ongoing symptoms may be due to nonacid reflux. Accurate measurement of nonacid reflux is not possible with conventional ambulatory pH monitoring. Impedance-pH monitoring ...

Individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS) have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, therefore, research has been directed at reducing various components that contribute to MetS and associated metabolic impairments, including chronic low-grade inflammation. Epidemiological, human, animal and cell culture studies provide evidence that dietary n-3 polyunsaturated ...

N-acetyl neuraminic acid is produced by alkaline epimerization of N-acetyl glucosamine to N-acetyl mannosamine then subsequent condensation with pyruvate catalyzed by free N-acetyl neuraminic acid aldolase. The high alkaline conditions of this process result in the degradation of reactants and products while the purification of free enzymes to be used ...

While LDL-cholesterol lowering has become the cornerstone of cardiovascular risk reduction strategies, considerable interest in additional targeting of hypertriglyceridemia continues. While ω-3 fatty acids are commonly used in clinical practice for triglyceride lowering, no large-scale clinical trial evaluating their impact on clinical events has been performed. As a result, there ...

The synthesis of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) by a two-step in situ (reactive) esterification/transesterification from Jatropha curcas L. (JCL) seeds using microwave system has been investigated. Free fatty acid was reduced from 14% to less than 1% in the first step using H2SO4 as acid catalyst after 35min of ...

Phytochemical investigation of the CH2Cl2 extract of the aerial parts of Artemisia alba Turra afforded one new irregular sesquiterpenoid, artemiric acid, and five known metabolites: hydroxydavanone, the coumarins isofraxidin and scopoletin, (6S*, 7S*,10R*)-6,10 -dimethyl-7,10-epoxyocta-11-enoic acid and artalbic acid. From the MeOH extract three flavonoids were identified: chrysoeriol, quercetin and isorhamnetin. ...

The homogeneously catalyzed disproportionation of formic acid to methanol, water, and carbon dioxide is accomplished by only 10 ppm of a readily accessible iridium catalyst, [Cp*Ir(bpy)(H2 O)]2+ (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, bpy=2,2'-bipyridine). Methanol is produced under mild, aqueous conditions, without the use of any organic solvents or hydrogen gas.

BACKGROUND: Environmental contaminants have previously been linked to components of the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). However, exposure to environmental contaminants is in part determined by various lifestyle factors. OBJECTIVE: Using an "Environmental Wide Association Study" (ELWAS) integrating environmental contaminants and lifestyle factors, we aimed to evaluate a possible additive role of ...

The three aromatic amino acids, tyrosine, tryptophan and phenylalanine, play different physiological roles in life processes. Metal ions capable of binding these amino acids may aid in the reduction of effective concentration of these amino acids in any physiological system. Here we have studied the efficacy of some heavy metals ...

Lactate dehydrogenase from the thermophilic organism Geobacillus stearothermophilus (formerly Bacillus stearothermophilus) (bsLDH) has a crucial role in producing chirally pure hydroxyl compounds. α-Hydroxy acids are used in many industrial situations, ranging from pharmaceutical to cosmetic dermatology products. One drawback of this enzyme is its limited substrate specificity. For instance, l-lactate ...

Microalgae are primary producers of the food chain and hold prominence towards pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. Fatty acids (FAs) are one of the primary metabolites of microalgae, which enrich their utility both in the form of food and fuels. Additionally, the vast structural diversity coupled with taxonomic specificity makes these ...

Shikimic acid has wide use in pharmaceuticals due to its application in the synthesis of drug Tamiflu used in the treatment of Swine flu. The high cost and limited availability of shikimic acid isolated from plants has impeded the use of this valuable building block of the drug. In this ...

The analysis of sialylated glycans is critical for understanding the role of sialic acid in normal biological processes as well as in disease. However, the labile nature of sialic acid typically renders routine analysis of this monosaccharide by mass spectrometric methods has been difficult. To overcome this difficulty we pursued ...

Biodiesel production from cotton-seed cake (CSC) and the pretreatment of the remaining biomass for dark fermentative hydrogen production was investigated. The direct conversion to biodiesel with alkali free fatty acids neutralization pretreatment and alkali transesterification resulted in a biodiesel with high esters content and physicochemical properties fulfilling the EN-standards. Blends ...

The aromatic amino acid hydroxylases tryptophan hydroxylase and tyrosine hydroxylase are responsible for the initial steps in the formation of serotonin and the catecholamine neurotransmitters, respectively. Both enzymes are nonheme iron-dependent monooxygenases that catalyze the insertion of one atom of molecular oxygen onto the aromatic ring of their amino acid ...

One-pot and efficient syntheses of structurally diverse isoquinolin-3-ones and isoquinolin-3-one-based benzo-1,4-diazepin-2,5-diones have been developed. The notable features of the process include the Ugi condensation of mono-masked phthalaldehydes with amines, carboxylic acids and isonitriles, followed by HClO4-mediated intramolecular condensation of the carbonyl with amide.

This study investigates the potential for extracting sugars from the polysaccharides of Eastern redcedar. Pretreatment temperature, time, sulfuric acid loading, sodium bisulfite loading and impregnation time were varied using factorial treatment design experiments for identifying near optimal overall wood glucan-to-glucose yields during acid bisulfite pretreatments. The highest overall wood glucan-to-glucose ...

The presence of iduronic acid in chondroitin/dermatan sulfate changes the properties of the polysaccharides, as it generates a more flexible chain with increased binding potentials. Iduronic acid in chondroitin/dermatan sulfate influences multiple cellular properties such as migration, proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis and regulation of cytokine/growth factor activities. During pathological conditions such ...

With the maturation of microfluidic technologies, microchip electrophoresis has been widely employed for amino acid analysis owing to its advantages of low sample consumption, reduced analysis time, high throughput, and potential for integration and automation. In this article, we review the recent progress in amino acid analysis using microchip electrophoresis ...

Osmotic distillation technique was used for the total dealcoholization of a red wine (Aglianico grape variety) up to 0.19vol.%. The dealcoholization process was performed in subsequent cycles which gave rise wine samples at different alcoholic degrees. The effect of processing on the main chemical and physical properties of Aglianico wine ...

Carnitine acyltransferases catalyze the reversible conversion of acyl-CoAs into acylcarnitine esters. This family includes the mitochondrial enzymes carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 (CPT2) and carnitine acetyltransferase (CrAT). CPT2 is part of the carnitine shuttle that is necessary to import fatty acids into mitochondria and catalyzes the conversion of acylcarnitines into acyl-CoAs. In ...

Trametes versicolor is a mushroom used as a traditional Chinese medicine (Yun-zhi) for a wide array of seemingly disparate conditions. We hypothesized that many of its multiple purported activities could be mediated through stimulation of beneficial mutualist components of the microbiota. Human fecal microbiota was cultured anaerobically to determine its ...

PURPOSE: To present a novel approach of greatly enhancing aqueous solubility of a model weakly basic drug, haloperidol, by using weak acids that would not form salts with the drug and to attain physically stable form of amorphous drug by drying such aqueous solutions. METHOD: Aqueous solubility of haloperidol in ...