Molecular mechanisms of nano-sized polystyrene plastics induced cytotoxicity and immunotoxicity in Eisenia fetida.

Nanoplastics (NPs) are currently everywhere and environmental pollution by NPs is a pressing global problem. Nevertheless, until now, few studies have concentrated on the mechanisms and pathways of cytotoxic effects and immune dysfunction of NPs on soil organisms employing a multidimensional strategy. Hence, earthworm immune cells and immunity protein lysozyme (LZM) were selected as specific receptors to uncover the underlying mechanisms of cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and immunotoxicity resulting from exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs), and the binding mechanisms of PS-NPs-LZM interaction. Results on cells indicated that when earthworm immune cells were exposed to high-dose PS-NPs, it caused a notable rise in the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in oxidative stress. PS-NPs exposure significantly decreased the cell viability of earthworm immune cells, inducing cytotoxicity through ROS-mediated oxidative stress pathway, and oxidative injury effects, including reduced antioxidant defenses, lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and protein oxidation. Moreover, PS-NPs stress inhibited the intracellular LZM activity in immune cells, resulting in impaired immune function and immunotoxicity by activating the oxidative stress pathway mediated by ROS. The results from molecular studies revealed that PS-NPs binding destroyed the LZM structure and conformation, including secondary structure changes, protein skeleton unfolding/loosening, fluorescence sensitization, microenvironment changes, and particle size changes. Molecular docking suggested that PS-NPs combined with active center of LZM easier and inhibited the protein function more, and formed a hydrophobic interaction with TRP 62, a crucial amino acid residue closely associated with the function and conformation of LZM. This is also responsible for LZM conformational changes and functional inhibition /inactivation. These results of this research offer a fresh outlook on evaluating the detriment of NPs to the immune function of soil organisms using cellular and molecular strategies.

Anticancer Properties and Mechanisms of Singly-Protonated Dehydronorcantharidin Silver Coordination Polymer in a Bladder Cancer Model.

Bladder cancer is the most common malignant urinary system tumor. Chemotherapy is frequently used as a treatment regimen for patients with bladder cancer, however, new and effective drugs for bladder cancer need to be developed. The present study examined the effects and mechanisms of Ag-SP-DNC, a silver and singly-protonated dehydronorcantharidin complex, on bladder cancer in vitro and in vivo. It was identified that Ag-SP-DNC suppressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in bladder cancer cells in vitro, a suppression associated with G0/G1 phase arrest and elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Furthermore, Ag-SP-DNC enhanced the cleaved caspase-3 levels, disrupted the mitochondrial transmembrane potential balance, and induced intracellular calcium overload. The Ag-SP-DNC-induced bladder cancer cell apoptosis was significantly decreased following treatment with a broad caspase inhibitor, zVAD-fmk. In addition, treatment of MB49 tumor-bearing mice with Ag-SP-DNC significantly inhibited tumor growth and decreased the anti-apoptosis and cell cycle promotion protein levels in the tumor. The results of the present study suggested that Ag-SP-DNC elicits a strong anticancer effect against bladder cancer, and can therefore be used as a promising treatment for bladder cancer.

Investigations on the effects of Cu(2+) on the structure and function of human serum albumin.

Human serum albumin (HSA) is the most prominent protein in blood plasma with important physiological functions. Although copper is an essential metal for all organisms, the massive utilization of copper has led to concerns regarding its potential health impact. To better understand the potential toxicity and toxic mechanisms of Cu(2+), it is of vital importance to characterize the interaction of Cu(2+) with HSA. The effect of Cu(2+) on the structure and function of HSA in vitro were investigated by biophysical methods including fluorescence techniques, circular dichroism (CD), time-resolved measurements, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), molecular simulations and esterase activity assay. Multi-spectroscopic measurements proved that Cu(2+) quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA in a dynamic process accompanied by the formation of complex and alteration of secondary structure. But the Cu(2+) had minimal effect on the backbone and secondary structure of HSA at relatively low concentrations. The ITC results indicated Cu(2+) interacted with HSA spontaneously through hydrophobic forces with approximately 1 thermodynamic identical binding sites at 298 K. The esterase activity of HSA was inhibited obviously at the concentration of 8 × 10(-5) M. However, molecular simulation showed that Cu(2+) mainly interacted with the amino acid residues Asp (451) by the electrostatic force. Thus, we speculated the interaction between Cu(2+) and HSA might induce microenvironment of the active site (Arg 410). This study has provided a novel idea to explore the biological toxicity of Cu(2+) at the molecular level.

In vitro and in vivo anticancer effects of singly protonated dehydronorcantharidin silver coordination polymer in CT-26 murine colon carcinoma model.

Silver complexes are active constituents of the metal-based compounds; several studies suggest that silver complexes possess antimicrobial and anticancer properties. We have recently reported that Ag-SP-DNC, a novel silver and singly protonated dehydronorcantharidin complex, triggers oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis of lung cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the anticancer effects of Ag-SP-DNC in CT-26 murine colon carcinoma model. Ag-SP-DNC induced apoptosis of CT-26 cells, together with inhibition of cell proliferation; treatment of CT-26 tumor-bearing mice with Ag-SP-DNC delayed tumor growth. We also explored the mechanism of action of Ag-SP-DNC and found that Ag-SP-DNC treatment of CT-26 cells was associated with high levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species. The further experiments revealed that Ag-SP-DNC-treated cells underwent loss of mitochondrial membrane potential concomitant with intracellular calcium overload and caspase-3 activation. Taken together, our study demonstrates the potent anticancer effects of Ag-SP-DNC to colorectal cancer.

Experimental and theoretical studies of the products of addition-elimination reactions between benzil dihydrazone and three isomeric chlorobenzaldehydes.

A series of mono- and di-Schiff bases formed between benzil dihydrazone {BDH; systematic name: (1Z)-[(2E)-2-hydrazinylidene-1,2-diphenylethylidene]hydrazine} and three isomeric chlorobenzaldehydes were designed and synthesized to be used as model compounds to help to explain the reaction mechanisms for the formation of Schiff bases. These compounds are 1-(2-chlorobenzylidene)-2-{2-[2-(2-chlorobenzylidene)hydrazin-1-ylidene]-1,2-diphenylethylidene}hydrazine (BDHOCB), and the 3-chloro (BDHMCB) and 4-chloro (BDHPCB) analogues, all having the formula C28H20Cl2N4. Surprisingly, only di-Schiff bases were obtained; our attempts to push the reaction in favour of the mono-Schiff bases all failed. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to explain the trend in the experimental results. In the case of the systems studied, the type of Schiff base produced exhibits a clear dependence on the HOMO-LUMO energy gaps (ΔE(HOMO-LUMO)), i.e. the product is mainly governed by its stability. The compounds were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry, elemental analysis, melting point, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. The structural features of the three new Schiff bases are similar. For instance, they have the same chemical formula, all the molecules have a symmetrical double helix structure, with each Ph-C=N-N=C-Ph arm exhibiting an anti conformation, and their supramolecular interactions include intermolecular π-π and weak C-H...π stacking interactions. The crystal systems are different, however, viz. triclinic (space group P1¯) for BDHPCB, monoclinic (space group P2(1)/n) for BDHOCB and orthorhombic (space group Pnna) for BDHMCB.

Singly protonated dehydronorcantharidin silver coordination polymer induces apoptosis of lung cancer cells via reactive oxygen species-mediated mitochondrial pathway.

Silver complexes have been shown to possess antimicrobial and anticancer properties. Ag-SP-DNC, a novel silver and singly protonated dehydronorcantharidin complex, was synthesized in our previous study. In this study, we offer evidence that Ag-SP-DNC elicits a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis in lung cancer cells. Ag-SP-DNC inhibited the growth of A549 cells by inducing G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Ag-SP-DNC induced apoptosis was associated with the levels of intracellular ROS. The further study revealed that Ag-SP-DNC disrupted the mitochondrial membrane potential, induced the caspase-3 activation and led to the translocation of apoptosis inducing factor and endonucleaseG to the nucleus. These findings have important implications for the development of silver complexes for anticancer applications.

1-(2-Hy-droxy-eth-yl)pyrrole-2,5-dione.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(6)H(7)NO(3), contains two mol-ecules (A and B) related by a non-crystallographic twofold pseudo-axis. The mol-ecules are joined in the (AABB)(n) manner by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds between their hy-droxy groups, thus forming C(2) chains along the a-axis direction. Neighboring mol-ecules of the same kind (A and A, or B and B) are related by inversion centers, so that all hy-droxy H atoms are disordered other two sets of sites with half occupancies (superimposed O-H⋯O and O⋯H-O fragments). The mol-ecules are further linked by C-H⋯O inter-actions, which can be considered to be weak hydrogen bonds.

exo,exo-4-(2-Hy-droxy-eth-yl)-10-oxa-4-aza-tricyclo-[5.2.1.0]dec-8-ene-3,5-dione.

In the crystal of the title compound, C(10)H(11)NO(4), the hy-droxy group forms an O-H⋯O(carbon-yl) hydrogen bond with an adjacent molecule, so forming chains which extend along (010). Further weak C-H⋯O hydrogen-bonding associations give an infinite three-dimensional network structure.

A two-dimensional undulating Ag(I) coordination polymer constructed of Ag-C and Ag-O bonds: poly[[[µ3-(5,6-η):κO(2):κO(2)-(±)-(1S,2S,3R,4R)-3-carboxy-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylato]silver(I)] monohydrate].

The title coordination polymer, {[Ag(C(8)H(7)O(5))]·H(2)O}(n), is built from Ag(+) cations and singly protonated dehydronorcantharidin (SP-DNC) anions, with a distorted trigonal-planar geometry at the metal centre. The coordination number of Ag(I) is three (with one Ag-π bond and two Ag-O bonds, one from each of three different SP-DNC ligands), if only formal Ag-ligand bonds are considered, but can be regarded as five if longer weak Ag···O interactions are also included. The two-dimensional corrugated-sheet coordination polymer forms a non-interpenetrating framework with (4.8(2)) topology. Disordered water molecules are sandwiched between the sheets.

4,4'-(Phenyl-imino)dibenzaldehyde.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(20)H(15)NO(2), contains one half-molecule with the central N atom and two C atoms of the benzene moiety lying on a twofold rotation axis. Weak C-H⋯O inter-actions join the mol-ecules together into an infinite three-dimensional network.

Methyl pyrazine-2-carboxyl-ate.

The title compound, C(6)H(6)N(2)O(2), is approximately planar [r.m.s. deviation = 0.0488 (3) Å]. In the crystal, weak inter-molecular C-H⋯O and C-H⋯N inter-actions join the mol-ecules into an infinite three-dimensional network.

Theoretical study on the gas-phase acidity of multiple sites of Cu+-adenine and Cu2+-adenine complexes.

The acidities of multiple sites in Cu(+)-adenine and Cu(2+)-adenine complexes have been investigated theoretically. To compare, the acidities of adenine (A) and adenine radical cation (A(*+)) have also been included. The results clearly indicate that the acidities of C-H and N-H groups in Cu(+/2+)-adenine are significantly enhanced relative to the neutral adenine. The acidic order for a given site on adenine and adenine derivatives is as follows: Cu(2+)-adenine > A(*+) > Cu(+)-adenine > A. For Cu(+)-adenine and Cu(2+)-adenine, N3-coordination exhibits N9-H acid, and N1- and N7-coordination exhibits N6-H(a) and N6-H(b) acid, respectively. Additionally, it is found that C2-H group is surprisingly acidic in the coordination complexes. Calculations in aqueous solution reveal that our results can be extrapolated to aqueous solution. Analyses of the electronic properties interpret the highest acidity of Cu(2+)-adenine among the adenine derivatives studied. Also, Electrostatic potential calculations of [A(-H(+))](-) and [A(-H(+))](*) indicate that the removal of H(a) or H(b) from the amino group favors the bidentate coordination, which provides a dative bond from the deprotonated N and the original coordination ligand to copper ion besides the electrostatic interaction between them and thereby stabilizes the [A(-H(+))](-)/[A(-H(+))](*). NBO analysis confirms the electrostatic potential result.

Characterizing the properties of the N7,N9-dimethylguaninium chloride ion pairs: prospecting for the design of a novel ionic liquid.

The structures, infrared spectra, and electronic properties of the N7,N9-dimethylguaninium chloride have been studied. The interaction of one cation with one to four Cl anions and one Cl anion with two cations were investigated. Fifteen stable conformers are obtained. It is found that there are four acidic regions in the vicinity of the guaninium cations. In these regions, the cation could H-bond with one to three Cl anions but no more than three nearest anions. One Cl anion could H-bond with two cations. Additionally, evidence of a Cl...pi interaction between the anion and cation is observed. Among these structures, one cation interaction with two anions and two cations interaction with one anion have the larger interaction energies than the other series. Natural bond orbital analyses and molecular orbitals reveal that the charge transfer from anion(s) to the cation(s) occurs mainly through either the Cllp --> sigma C-H, Cllp --> sigma N-H, or Cllp --> pi C8-N7 interactions. The interaction between Cl and sigma (C/N-H) or pi C-N produces a small bond order. This indicates that the Cl...H (Cl...pi) interaction exhibits a weak covalent character and suggests a strong ionic H-bond (Cl...pi bond). What's more, formation of Cl...H/Cl...pi bond decreases the bond order of the associated C/N-H bond or C8-N7 bond. In addition, examination of vibrational spectrum of each conformer explains the origin of H-bonding character.