Structural characterization and physicochemical properties of the exopolysaccharide produced by the moderately halophilic bacterium Chromohalobacter salexigens, strain 3EQS1.

A strain, 3EQS1, was isolated from a salt sample taken from Lake Qarun (Fayoum Province, Egypt). On the basis of physiological, biochemical, and phylogenetic analyses, the strain was classified as Chromohalobacter salexigens. By 72 h of growth at 25 °C, strain 3EQS1 produced large amounts (15.1 g L-1) of exopolysaccharide (EPS) in a liquid mineral medium (initial pH 8.0) containing 10% sucrose and 10% NaCl. The EPS was precipitated from the cell-free culture medium with chilled ethanol and was purified by gel-permeation and anion-exchange chromatography. The molecular mass of the EPS was 0.9 × 106 Da. Chemical analyses, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed that the EPS was a linear ß-D-(2 → 6)-linked fructan (levan). In aqueous solution, the EPS tended to form supramolecular aggregates with a critical aggregation concentration of 240 µg mL-1. The EPS had high emulsifying activity (E24, %) against kerosene (31.2 ± 0.4%), sunflower oil (76.9 ± 1.3%), and crude oil (98.9 ± 0.8%), and it also had surfactant properties. A 0.1% (w/v) aqueous EPS solution reduced the surface tension of water by 11.9%. The levan of C. salexigens 3EQS1 may be useful in various biotechnological processes.

One-Pot Synthesis, E-/Z-Equilibrium in Solution of 3-Hetarylaminomethylidenefuran-2(3H)-ones and the Way to Selective Synthesis of the E-Enamines.

We describe a method to synthesize a new class of hetarylaminomethylidene derivatives of furan-2(3H)-ones. The method uses 5-(4-chlorophenyl)furan-2(3H)-one, triethyl orthoformate, and heterocyclic amines with different ring sizes and heteroatoms under refluxing in absolute isopropyl alcohol. The obtained enamines exist in an equilibrium of E- and Z-isomers, whose configurations relative to the double exocyclic C=C bond were confirmed with a set of NMR spectroscopy data. The E-/Z-equilibrium of the synthesized compounds is affected by the configuration of the intermediate, the volume of its substituents, the site of enolate attack, the presence of intramolecular interactions of amino components, the time of the transformation, the order of mixing of the initial reagents, and the use of polar solvents in the NMR experiment. The advantages of the method are that the reaction time is short, the product yield is high, and product purification is easy.

Structure, Z' = 2 Crystal Packing Features of 3-(2-Chlorobenzylidene)-5-(p-tolyl)furan-2(3H)-one.

3-(2-Chlorobenzylidene)-5-(p-tolyl)furan-2(3H)-one (1), C18H13ClO2, crystallizes with Z = 8 and Z' = 2, and the structure at 100 K has orthorhombic (Pna21) symmetry. Each kind of molecule takes part in π-π stacking interactions to form infinite chains parallel to the c axis. We believe that the existence of two forms can be explained by the probable rotation around a single C-C bond. The quantum chemical modeling reveals that these molecules are almost equivalent energetically, and they can be described as the two most stable conformers (rotamers) with a minor rotational barrier of about 0.67 kcal/mol.

The degradative activity and adaptation potential of the litter-decomposing fungus Stropharia rugosoannulata.

The ability of the litter-decomposing basidiomycete Stropharia rugosoannulata DSM 11372 to degrade a wide range of structurally different environmental pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs: phenanthrene, anthracene, fluorene, pyrene, and fluoranthene), synthetic anthraquinone dyes containing condensed aromatic rings, environmentally relevant alkylphenol and oxyethylated alkylphenol representatives, and oil was demonstrated within the present study. 9,10-Anthraquinone, phenanthrene-9,10-quinone, and 9-fluorenone were identified as products of anthracene, phenanthrene, and fluorene degradation, respectively. Fungal degradation was accompanied by the production of the ligninolytic enzymes: laccase and Mn peroxidase, suggesting their involvement in pollutant degradation. Extracellular polysaccharide(s) (EPS) and emulsifying compound(s) were concomitantly produced. EPS composed of mannose, glucose, and galactose was isolated from the cultivation medium, and its effects on catalytic properties of purified laccase from S. rugosoannulata (the dominating ligninolytic enzyme under the applied conditions) were studied. A simultaneous decrease of KM and Vmax values observed for the enzymatic oxidation of non-phenolic (2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt; ABTS) and phenolic compounds (2,6-dimethoxyphenol) in presence of EPS suggest an interaction of EPS and laccase resulting in a modulation of the catalytic performance of the enzyme, which has, to the best of our knowledge, not been reported before. In line with such a modulation, the laccase-catalyzed oxidation of natural aromatic compounds (veratryl alcohol, adlerol) and environmental pollutants (the alkylphenol representative nonylphenol, the diphenylmethane derivative bisphenol A, and the PAH representative anthracene) was found to be enhanced in presence of EPS. The relevance of such effects for real environmental processes and their implications remain to be investigated.

Study of E/Z isomerization of (arylamino)methylidenefuran-2(3H)-ones by 1 H, 13 C, 15 N spectroscopy and DFT calculations in different solvents.

The structure and configuration of the series of previously unknown arylaminomethylidenefuran-2(3H)-ones have been determined in solution by 1 H, 13 C, 15 N nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy including two-dimensional experiments such as 1 H─1 H COSY, dqCOSY, 1 H─13 C HSQC, 1 H─13 C HMBC. It was found that synthesized substances exist as an equilibrium mixture of E- and Z-enamines in solution. It was established on the basis of density functional theory calculations that the exchange between the two push-pull enamines is a simple rotation around an exocyclic partial double bond that depends on the effect of the solvents. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Synthesis of Compounds of the Pyrimidine Series Based on the Reactions of 3-Arylmethylidenefuran-2(3H)-ones with N,N-Binucleophilic Reagents.

The arylmethylidene derivatives of furan-2(3H)-ones are important building blocks for the synthesis of various heterocyclic compounds containing pyrimidine and pyridazine structural fragments, analogues of nitrogen-containing bases of pyrimidine series. In order to continue the development of constructing of molecules containing pyridine and pyridazine fragments, this article is devoted to the synthesis of new biologically active compounds with these moieties. The introduction of a heterocyclic chromenone fragment changes the previously observed 5-R-3-arylmethylidenefuran-2(3H)-ones route of reaction with guanidine carbonate and leads to 3-[(2-amino-4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)pyrimidin-5-yl)methylene]-5-phenylfuran-2(3H)-ones (2a-d). The structure of the reaction products depends on the nature of the aromatic substituent at the C-3 position of the furanone ring. The interaction of 5-aryl-3-arylmethylidenefuran-2(3H)-ones (1e-h) with thiourea in the basic medium leads to the isolation of 5-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)-6-aryl-2-thioxotetrahydropyrimidine-4(1H)-ones (3a-d), demonstrating pronounced plant-growth regulatory activity. Optimal conditions for all discussed processes were developed.

Lipopolysaccharides of Herbaspirillum species and their relevance for bacterium-host interactions.

The lipopolysaccharides of Herbaspirillum lusitanum P6-12T (HlP6-12T) and H. frisingense GSF30T (HfGSF30T) was isolated by phenol-water extraction from bacterial cells and was characterized using chemical analysis and SDS-PAGE. It was shown that these bacteria produce LPSs that differ in their physicochemical properties and macromolecular organization. In this paper, the lipid A structure of the HlP6-12T LPS, was characterized through chemical analyses and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. To prove the effect of the size of micelles on their bioavailability, we examined the activity of both LPSs toward the morphology of wheat seedlings. Analysis of the HlP6-12T and HfGSF30T genomes showed no significant differences between the operons that encode proteins involved in the biosynthesis of the lipids A and core oligosaccharides. The difference may be due to the composition of the O-antigen operon. HfGSF30T has two copies of the rfb operon, with the main one divided into two fragments. In contrast, the HlP6-12T genome contains only a single rfb-containing operon, and the other O-antigen operons are not comparable at all. The integrity of O-antigen-related genes may also affect LPS variability of. Specifically, we have observed a hairpin structure in the middle of the O-antigen glycosyltransferase gene, which led to the division of the gene into two fragments, resulting in incorrect protein synthesis and potential abnormalities in O-antigen production.

Structure of the O-polysaccharide from the moderately halophilic bacterium Halomonas fontilapidosi KR26.

Lipopolysaccharide was obtained from the aerobic moderately halophilic bacterium Halomonas fontilapidosi KR26. The O-polysaccharide was isolated by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide and was examined by chemical methods and by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including 1H,1H COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, and 1H,13C HSQC, and HMBC experiments. The following structure of the linear tetrasaccharide repeating unit was deduced. →2)-α-l-Rhap-(1→2)-α-l-Rhap-(1→3)-α-l-Rhap-(1→3)-ß-d-Galp-(1→.

3a-Phenyl-2,3,3a,4-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazol-1-one, a potential plant-growth regulator.

Molecules of the title compound, C16H14N2O, a potential plant-growth regulator, are linked into chains by intermolecular C=O∙∙∙H-N hydrogen bonds. These chains are weakly interconnected by π-π stacking interactions to form a three-dimensional framework. A comparison of the geometric parameters of the title molecule and several related benzimidazoles and pyrrolidones is presented.

Biological activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized with Paenibacillus polymyxa exopolysaccharides.

Recently, there has been increased interest in the synthesis of nanoparticles by using natural polysaccharides. These polysaccharides are eco-friendly, nontoxic, and cheap to prepare. On the other hand, the attention in hydrocolloids and films has significantly enhanced, and their application is very promising in the food, pharmaceutical, perfumery and cosmetics, oil, paper, and textile industries. In this context, the present study is aimed to prepare silver nanoparticles by using viscous and superviscous exopolysaccharides of the rhizobacterium Paenibacillus polymyxa strains, CCM 1465 and 88A, and examined the properties of the resultant nanoparticles. We examined the synthesis and properties of silver nanoparticles under variable synthetic conditions by using exopolysaccharides of the rhizobacteria Paenibacillus polymyxa CCM 1465 and 88A. To prepare nanoparticles, we used different combinations of exopolysaccharide and silver nitrate concentrations: 1-10 mg/mL and 1-40 mM, respectively. The resulting solutions were alkalinized from pH 7.5-12 and heated for 15, 30, and 60 min to determine the optimal synthetic conditions. We found that the exopolysaccharides of strains CCM 1465 and 88A reduced silver ions and acted as nanoparticle stabilizers. The prepared spherical, oval, and triangular particles were stable and ranged in size from 2 to 40 nm, depending on the strain and on the experimental conditions. The nanoparticles showed antibacterial and antifungal activity against Escherichia coli K-12, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 50.3, Bacillus subtilis 26-D, and Fusarium oxysporum. In addition, the nanoparticles were active against SK-MEL-2 human melanoma cells. This finding shows the promise of further research on the exopolysaccharides of P. polymyxa 1465 and 88А in different fields of science, including medicine.

Antitumor Effects of Microencapsulated Gratiola officinalis Extract on Breast Carcinoma and Human Cervical Cancer Cells In Vitro.

Flavonoid-containing Gratiola officinalis extract has been studied in relation to breast carcinoma and human cervical cancer cells in encapsulated and native form. Encapsulation was realized in polymer shells, which were formed by the layer-by-layer method using sequential adsorption of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) on the destructible cores. The extract was prepared by the author's method and characterized using high performance liquid chromatography. By means of optical and fluorescent microscopy, cell changes under the action of pure and encapsulated extracts were comprehensively studied, and statistical analysis was carried out. Cells were stained with propidium iodide, acridine orange, and Hoechst 33258. A fluorescence microscope with a digital video camera were used for cell imaging. The encapsulated extract caused 100% death of breast cancer SKBR-3 cells and 34% death of cervical cancer HeLa cells and prevented the formation of autophagosomes in both cultures. Analysis of the viability and morphological features of tumor cells under the action of microencapsulated extract allows us to consider microencapsulation as an effective strategy for delivering Gratiola officinalis extract to tumor cells and a promising way to overcome the protective autophagy.

Structure and genetics of the O-antigen of Enterobacter cloacae K7 containing di-N-acetylpseudaminic acid.

The O-antigen (O-polysaccharide) is an essential component of lipopolysaccharide on the surface of Gram-negative bacteria and plays an important role in interaction with host organisms. In this study, we investigated the chemical structure and characterized the gene cluster of Enterobacter cloacae K7 O-antigen. As judged by sugar analyses along with NMR spectroscopy data, E. cloacae K7 antigen has a tetrasaccharide O-unit with the following structure: →8)-ß-Psep5Ac7Ac-(2 â†’ 2)-ß-l-Rhap-(1 â†’ 4)-α-l-Rhap-(1 â†’ 3)-α-d-Galp-(1→ The O-antigen gene cluster of E. cloacae K7 between conserved genes galF and gnd was sequenced. Most genes necessary for the O-antigen synthesis were found in the cluster and their functions were tentatively assigned by comparison with sequences in the available databases.

(Z)-5-(4-Bromo-phen-yl)-3-{[(3,5-di-chloro-phen-yl)amino]-methyl-idene}furan-2(3H)-one.

The title compound, C17H10BrCl2NO2, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a large cell volume of 6207 (3) Å3. The asymmetric unit of the title compound investigated at 120 K contains two crystallographically independent mol-ecules (Z' = 2). Each mol-ecule demonstrates slight non-planarity in the solid state and a Z-configuration for the exocyclic C=C bond. The crystal packing reveals the presence of π-π stacking inter-actions between the substituted benzene rings [centroid-centroid distances of 3.836 (5) Å, shift distances in the range 1.272-1.843 Å].

7a-Phenyl-tetra-hydro-pyrrolo-[2,1-b]oxazol-5(6H)-one.

In the title compound, C12H13NO2, the pyrrolidinone moiety is almost flat while the oxazole ring adopts an envelope conformation with the carbon atom bearing the phenyl substituent as the flap: the angle between the mean planes of the fused heterocyclic rings is 45.47 (19)°. In the crystal, C-H⋯O and C-H⋯π contacts link the mol-ecules into infinite [010] chains.

Crystal structures, packing features, Hirshfeld surface analyses and DFT calculations of hydrogen-bond energy of two homologous 8a-aryl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-6(1H)-ones.

The crystal structures and packing features of two homologous Meyer's bicyclic lactams with fused pyrrolidone and medium-sized perhydropyrimidine rings, namely, 8a-phenyl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-6(1H)-one, C13H16N2O (1), and 8a-(4-methylphenyl)-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-6(1H)-one, C14H18N2O (2), were elucidated, and Hirshfeld surface plots were calculated and drawn for visualization and a deeper analysis of the intermolecular noncovalent interactions. Molecules of 1 and 2 are weakly linked by intermolecular C=O...H-N hydrogen bonds into chains, which are in turn weakly linked by other C=O...H-Car interactions. The steric volume of the substituent significantly affects the crystal packing pattern.

Isolation, structure, and potential biotechnological applications of the exopolysaccharide from Paenibacillus polymyxa 92.

Paenibacillus polymyxa 92, isolated from wheat roots, produced large amounts (38.4 g L-1) of exopolysaccharide (EPS) in a liquid nutrient medium containing 10 % (w/v) sucrose. The EPS was precipitated from the culture broth with cold acetone and was purified by gel filtration and anion-exchange chromatography. The molecular mass of the EPS was 2.29-1.10 × 105 Da. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra showed that the EPS was a linear ß-(2→6)-linked fructan (levan). Aqueous EPS solutions showed pseudoplastic behavior when shear stress was applied at different temperatures. By using the Ostwald-de Waele model, the rheological characteristics of the EPS solution were ascertained. The sorption capacity of the EPS for Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Cu(II) was investigated. Sorption was maximal (q = 481 mg g-1) for Cu(II) ions. In model experiments, treatment of wheat seeds with EPS solution significantly increased the length of seedling roots and shoots.

Crystal structure and features of 3',8-di-benzyl-idene-4a,5,6,7,8,8a-hexa-hydro-2'H-spiro-[chromene-2,1'-cyclo-hexa-n]-2'-one.

The synthesis and crystal structure of the title compound, C28H28O2, are reported. The C=C-C-C torsion angles in the phenyl-methyl-idene units are 166.6 (3) and -48.0 (4)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules form a three-dimensional network by means of weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The most important contributions to the crystal structure are the H⋯H inter-actions (68.8%), while the H⋯O contacts account for 4.5%.

(E)-7-[(4-Nitro-phen-yl)diazen-yl]-3a-(p-tol-yl)-2,3,3a,4-tetra-hydro-1H-benzo[d]pyrrolo-[1,2-a]imidazol-1-one 0.58-dimethyl sulfoxide 0.42-aceto-nitrile solvate: crystal structure, Hirshfeld analysis and DFT estimation of the energy of inter-molecular inter-actions.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C23H19N5O3·0.58C2H6OS·0.42C2H3N, prepared by the azo coupling of the 4-nitro-phenyl-diazo-nium salt with 3a-(p-tol-yl)-2,3,3a,4-tetra-hydro-1H-benzo[d]pyrrolo-[1,2-a]imidazol-1-one, the azo mol-ecules are linked by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into chains along the a-axis direction, and by the π-π inter-action into [101] chains. The dimethyl sulfoxide and aceto-nitrile solvent mol-ecules occupy the same positions, with populations of 0.585 (3) and 0.415 (3), respectively. These mol-ecules take part in C-H⋯O(N) and C-H⋯π contacts. The energy of the π-π inter-actions was estimated using DFT calculations. The Hirshfeld mol-ecular surface analysis revealed the positions of the most important inter-molecular contacts, such as hydrogen bonds and π-π inter-actions.

Peroxidases from root exudates of Medicago sativa and Sorghum bicolor: Catalytic properties and involvement in PAH degradation.

Peroxidases from root exudates of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) were purified and characterized, and their ability to oxidize native PAHs and PAH-derivatives was evaluated. The obtained data confirm that peroxidases are involved in the rhizosphere degradation of PAHs. Nondenaturing PAGE showed that the peroxidases of both plants were represented by a range of isoforms/isoenzymes (five to eight). Minor forms were lost during further purification, and as a result, the major anionic form from alfalfa root exudates and the major cationic form from those of sorghum were obtained. Both electrophoretically homogeneous peroxidases were monomeric proteins with a molecular weight of about 46-48 kDa. The pH optima and the main catalytic constants for the test substrates were determined. On the basis of their molecular and catalytic properties, the obtained enzymes were found to be typical plant peroxidases. Derivatives of PAHs and potential products of their microbial degradation (9-phenanthrol and 9,10-phenanthrenequinone), unlike the parent PAH (phenanthrene), inhibited the catalytic activity of the peroxidases, possibly indicating greater availability of the enzymes' active centers to these substances. Peroxidase-catalyzed decreases in the concentrations of a number of PAHs and their derivatives were observed. Sorghum peroxidase oxidized anthracene and phenanthrene, while alfalfa peroxidase oxidized only phenanthrene. 1-Hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid was best oxidized by peroxidase of alfalfa. However, quinone derivatives of PAHs were unavailable to sorghum peroxidase, but were oxidized by alfalfa peroxidase. These results indicate that the major peroxidases from root exudates of alfalfa and sorghum can have a role in the rhizosphere degradation of PAHs.

The coupling of the plant and microbial catabolisms of phenanthrene in the rhizosphere of Medicago sativa.

We studied the catabolism of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon phenanthrene by four rhizobacterial strains and the possibility of enzymatic oxidation of this compound and its microbial metabolites by the root exudates of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in order to detect the possible coupling of the plant and microbial metabolisms under the rhizospheric degradation of the organic pollutant. A comparative study of phenanthrene degradation pathways in the PAH-degrading rhizobacteria Ensifer meliloti, Pseudomonas kunmingensis, Rhizobium petrolearium, and Stenotrophomonas sp. allowed us to identify the key metabolites from the microbial transformation of phenanthrene, including 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, 2-carboxybenzaldehyde, and 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic, salicylic, and o-phthalic acids. Sterile alfalfa plants were grown in the presence and absence of phenanthrene (0.03 g kg(-1)) in quartz sand under controlled environmental conditions to obtain plant root exudates. The root exudates were collected, concentrated by ultrafiltration, and the activity of oxidoreductases was detected spectrophotometrically by the oxidation rate for various substrates. The most marked activity was that of peroxidase, whereas the presence of oxidase and tyrosinase was detected on the verge of the assay sensitivity. Using alfalfa root exudates as a crude enzyme preparation, we found that in the presence of the synthetic mediator, the plant peroxidase could oxidize phenanthrene and its microbial metabolites. The results indicate the possibility of active participation of plants in the rhizospheric degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their microbial metabolites, which makes it possible to speak about the coupling of the plant and microbial catabolisms of these contaminants in the rhizosphere.