Spatial memory formation requires netrin-1 expression by neurons in the adult mammalian brain.

Netrin-1 was initially characterized as an axon guidance molecule that is essential for normal embryonic neural development; however, many types of neurons continue to express netrin-1 in the postnatal and adult mammalian brain. Netrin-1 and the netrin receptor DCC are both enriched at synapses. In the adult hippocampus, activity-dependent secretion of netrin-1 by neurons potentiates glutamatergic synapse function, and is critical for long-term potentiation, an experimental cellular model of learning and memory. Here, we assessed the impact of neuronal expression of netrin-1 in the adult brain on behavior using tests of learning and memory. We show that adult mice exhibit impaired spatial memory following conditional deletion of netrin-1 from glutamatergic neurons in the hippocampus and neocortex. Further, we provide evidence that mice with conditional deletion of netrin-1 do not display aberrant anxiety-like phenotypes and show a reduction in self-grooming behavior. These findings reveal a critical role for netrin-1 expressed by neurons in the regulation of spatial memory formation.

Acetylcholine synergizes with netrin-1 to drive persistent firing in the entorhinal cortex.

The ability of the mammalian brain to maintain spatial representations of external or internal information for short periods of time has been associated with sustained neuronal spiking and reverberatory neural network activity in the medial entorhinal cortex. Here, we show that conditional genetic deletion of netrin-1 or the netrin receptor deleted-in-colorectal cancer (DCC) from forebrain excitatory neurons leads to deficits in short-term spatial memory. We then demonstrate that conditional deletion of either netrin-1 or DCC inhibits cholinergic persistent firing and show that cholinergic activation of muscarinic receptors expressed by entorhinal cortical neurons promotes persistent firing by recruiting DCC to the plasma membrane. Together, these findings indicate that normal short-term spatial memory function requires the synergistic actions of acetylcholine and netrin-1.

Increasing the bioavailability of Ru(III) anticancer complexes through hydrophobic albumin interactions.

A series of pyridine-based derivatives of the clinically successful Ru(III)-based complexes indazolium [trans-RuCl4(1H-indazole)2] (KP1019) and sodium [trans-RuCl4(1H-indazole)2] (KP1339) have been synthesized to probe the effect of hydrophobic interactions with human serum albumin (hsA) on anticancer activity. The solution behavior and protein interactions of the new compounds were characterized by using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and UV/Vis spectroscopy. These studies have revealed that incorporation of hydrophobic substituents at the 4'-position of the axial pyridine ligand stabilizes non-coordinate interactions with hsA. As a consequence, direct coordination to the protein is inhibited, which is expected to increase the bioavailability of the complexes, thus potentially leading to improved anticancer activity. By using this approach, the lifetimes of hydrophobic protein interactions were extended from 2 h for the unsubstituted pyridine complex, to more than 24 h for several derivatives. Free complexes were tested for their anticancer activity against the SW480 human colon carcinoma cell line, exhibiting low cytotoxicity. Pre-treatment with hsA improved the solubility of every compound and led to some changes in activity. Particularly notable was the difference in activity between the methyl- and dibenzyl-functionalized complexes. The former shows reduced activity after incubation with hsA, indicating reduced bioavailability due to protein coordination. The latter exhibits little activity on its own but, following treatment with hsA, exhibited significant cytotoxicity, which is consistent with its ability to form non-coordinate interactions with the protein. Overall, our studies demonstrate that non-coordinate interactions with hsA are a viable target for enhancing the activity of Ru(III)-based complexes in vivo.

From low to very high birefringence in bis(2-pyridylimino)isoindolines: synthesis and structure-property analysis.

A series of new substituted 1,3-bis(2-pyridylimino)isoindolines--1,3-bis(2-pyridylimino)-5,6-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenoxy)isoindoline (2b), 1,3-bis(2-pyridylimino)-5,6-bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)isoindoline (2c), and 1,3-bis(2-pyridylimino)-5-tert-butylisoindoline (2d)--were synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The birefringence (Δn) of the crystals of unsubstituted 1,3-bis(2-pyridylimino)isoindoline (2a), 2b, 2c, and 2d were measured and found to vary greatly, with Δn values of 0.0654(3), 0.0629(17), 0.588(10), 0.701(12), respectively. A structure-property relationship for the birefringence values of 2a-2d was outlined and indicated that the anisotropy of the polarizability of the molecules plays a crucial role in the birefringence of the crystals. The greatest birefringence values are achieved when the molecules are oriented in a face-to-face configuration intermolecularly, and along the crystallographic face being measured.

Gold(II) phthalocyanine revisited: synthesis and spectroscopic properties of gold(III) phthalocyanine and an unprecedented ring-contracted phthalocyanine analogue.

In 1965, gold(II) phthalocyanine (AuPc, 1) was described to be synthesized from unsubstituted 1,3-diiminoisoindoline and gold powder or AuBr. Compound 1 has been regarded as a rare example of a paramagnetic gold(II) complex. However, its chemistry, especially the oxidation state of the central gold ion, has not been previously explored due to the inherent insolubility of 1 caused by its unsubstituted structure. In our attempt to synthesize soluble AuPcs by using 5,6-di-substituted 1,3-diiminoisoindolines, gold(III) phthalocyanine chloride (3) and a gold(III) complex of an unprecedented ring-contracted phthalocyanine analogue ([18]tribenzo-pentaaza-triphyrin(4,1,1), 4) were isolated. With this discrepant result from the original literature in hand, a reinvestigation of the original AuPc synthesis by using unsubstituted 1,3-diiminoisoindoline and various gold salts (including gold powder and AuBr) was performed, finding that only unsubstituted analogues of 3 and 4 or free-base phthalocyanine were obtained. No gold(II)-containing species could be isolated.

Pyridine analogues of the antimetastatic Ru(III) complex NAMI-A targeting non-covalent interactions with albumin.

A series of pyridine-based derivatives of the antimetastatic Ru(III) complex imidazolium [trans-RuCl(4)(1H-imidazole)(DMSO-S)] (NAMI-A) have been synthesized along with their sodium-ion compensated analogues. These compounds have been characterized by X-ray crystallography, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), NMR, and electrochemistry, with the goal of probing their noncovalent interactions with human serum albumin (hsA). EPR studies show that the choice of imidazolium ligands and compensating ions does not strongly influence the rates of ligand exchange processes in aqueous buffer solutions. By contrast, the rate of formation and persistence of interactions of the complexes with hsA is found to be strongly dependent on the properties of the axial ligands. The stability of noncovalent binding is shown to correlate with the anticipated ability of the various pyridine ligands to interact with the hydrophobic binding domains of hsA. These interactions prevent the oligomerization of the complexes in solution and limit the rate of covalent binding to albumin amino acid side chains. Electrochemical studies demonstrate relatively high reduction potentials for these complexes, leading to the formation of Ru(II) species in aqueous solutions containing biological reducing agents, such as ascorbate. However, EPR measurements indicate that while noncovalent interactions with hsA do not prevent reduction, covalent binding produces persistent mononuclear Ru(III) species under these conditions.

Optimization and structure-activity relationships of a series of potent inhibitors of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pyruvate kinase as novel antimicrobial agents.

A novel series of hydrazones were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pyruvate kinase (PK). PK has been identified as one of the most highly connected 'hub proteins' in MRSA. PK has been shown to be critical for bacterial survival which makes it a potential target for development of novel antibiotics and the high degree of connectivity implies it should be very sensitive to mutations and thus less able to develop resistance. PK is not unique to bacteria and thus a critical requirement for such a PK inhibitor would be that it does not inhibit the homologous human enzyme(s) at therapeutic concentrations. Several MRSA PK inhibitors (including 8d) were identified using in silico screening combined with enzyme assays and were found to be selective for bacterial enzyme compared to four human PK isoforms (M1, M2, R and L). However these lead compounds did not show significant inhibitory activity for MRSA growth presumably due to poor bacterial cell penetration. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies were carried out on 8d and led us to discover more potent compounds with enzyme inhibiting activities in the low nanomolar range and some were found to effectively inhibit bacteria growth in culture with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) as low as 1 µg/mL. These inhibitors bind in two elongated flat clefts found at the minor interfaces in the homo-tetrameric enzyme complex and the observed SAR is in keeping with the size and electronic constraints of these binding sites. Access to the corresponding sites in the human enzyme is blocked.

Non-innocent ligand behavior of a bimetallic Ni Schiff-base complex containing a bridging catecholate.

The geometric and electronic structure of a bimetallic Ni Schiff-base complex and its one-electron oxidized form have been investigated in the solid state and in solution. The two salen units in the neutral complex 1 are linked via a bridging catecholate function. The one-electron oxidized form [1](+) was determined to exist as a ligand radical species in solution, with the electron hole potentially localized on the redox-active dioxolene, the phenolate ligands, or delocalized over the entire ligand system. Electrochemical experiments and UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy, in combination with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, provide insight into the locus of oxidation and the degree of delocalization in this system. The one-electron hole for [1](+) was determined experimentally to be localized on the dioxolene bridge with a small amount of spin density on the outer phenolate moieties predicted by the calculations. The resonance Raman spectrum of [1](+) (λ(ex) = 413 nm) in CH(2)Cl(2) solution clearly exhibited a new band at 1315 cm(-1) in comparison to 1, which is predicted to be a combination of dioxolene ring and C-O bond stretching modes, consistent with oxidation of the bridging moiety in [1](+). Analysis of the NIR bands for [1](+), in association with time-dependent DFT calculations, suggests that the low energy bands are ligand to ligand charge transfer transitions from the terminal phenolates to the central dioxolene unit. In combination, this data is consistent with a description of the overall electronic structure of [1](+) as a bridge-localized semiquinone ligand radical species. This is in contrast to the mixed-valence ground state description for many one-electron oxidized Ni salen monomer systems, and analysis in terms of intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) theory.

Phthalocyanine as a chemically inert, redox-active ligand: structural and electronic properties of a Nb(IV)-oxo complex incorporating a highly reduced phthalocyanine(4-) anion.

This report describes the reduction of a niobium(V) phthalocyanine complex and investigation of the electronic structure of the resulting products. The reduction of PcNbCl(3) (Pc = phthalocyanine dianion) with 5.5 equiv of potassium graphite in 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) resulted in the isolation of K(2)PcNbO.5DME (1a). Addition of 18-crown-6 to 1a gave [K(18-crown-6)](2)(mu-DME)PcNbO (1b). Both 1a and 1b were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In both complexes, the niobium center adopts a square pyramidal geometry and is coordinated by four basal Pc nitrogen atoms and an apical oxo ligand. Notably, the Pc ligand in 1a is saddle-shaped, with significant bond length alternation, rather than flat with delocalized bonding. The production of ethylene during the reduction of PcNbCl(3), detected by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), suggests that the oxo ligand likely results from double C-O bond activation of DME solvent. A combination of spectroscopic techniques and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to establish the electronic structure of 1a. The close correspondence of the electronic absorption spectrum of 1a to that of [PcZn](2-) with a di-reduced Pc(4-) ligand, indicates a similar electronic structure for the two complexes. Evaluation of the electronic transitions for 1a and [PcZn](2-) by time-dependent DFT calculations further suggests a similar electronic structure for both complexes, indicating that differences in symmetry between 1a and [PcZn](2-) do not significantly affect the nature of the electronic transitions. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of 1a in solution at room temperature gave a 10-line spectrum, while frozen-solution X- and Q-band EPR spectra are consistent with powder-pattern spectra defined by uniaxial g and (93)Nb hyperfine tensors: these imply the presence of a d(1) Nb(IV) metal center. EPR and electron nuclear double resonance spectroscopy suggests that the spin density in 1a is centered almost completely on the niobium, in agreement with the DFT calculations. These results illustrate the value of Pc as a chemically inert, redox-active ligand for stabilizing reactive metal centers.

Pre- and post-synaptic roles for DCC in memory consolidation in the adult mouse hippocampus.

The receptor deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) and its ligand netrin-1 are essential for axon guidance during development and are expressed by neurons in the mature brain. Netrin-1 recruits GluA1-containing α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs) and is critical for long-term potentiation (LTP) at CA3-CA1 hippocampal Schaffer collateral synapses, while conditional DCC deletion from glutamatergic neurons impairs hippocampal-dependent spatial memory and severely disrupts LTP induction. DCC co-fractionates with the detergent-resistant component of postsynaptic density, yet is enriched in axonal growth cones that differentiate into presynaptic terminals during development. Specific presynaptic and postsynaptic contributions of DCC to the function of mature neural circuits have yet to be identified. Employing hippocampal subregion-specific conditional deletion of DCC, we show that DCC loss from CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons resulted in deficits in spatial memory, increased resting membrane potential, abnormal dendritic spine morphology, weaker spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic activity, and reduced levels of postsynaptic adaptor and signaling proteins; however, the capacity to induce LTP remained intact. In contrast, deletion of DCC from CA3 neurons did not induce detectable changes in the intrinsic electrophysiological properties of CA1 pyramidal neurons, but impaired performance on the novel object place recognition task as well as compromised excitatory synaptic transmission and LTP at Schaffer collateral synapses. Together, these findings reveal specific pre- and post-synaptic contributions of DCC to hippocampal synaptic plasticity underlying spatial memory.

Stabilization of different redox levels of a tridentate benzoxazole amidophenoxide ligand when bound to Co(iii) or V(v).

A tridentate benzoxazole-containing aminophenol ligand NNOH2 was coordinated to Co and V metal centers and the electronic structure of the resultant complexes characterized by both experimental and theoretical methods. The solid state structure of the Co complex exhibits a distorted octahedral geometry with two tridentate ligands bound in meridional fashion, and coordination-sphere bond lengths consistent with a Co(iii) oxidation state. EPR and magnetic data support a S = 1/2 ground state, and a formal electronic description of Co(iii)(NNOAP)(NNOISQ) where NNOAP corresponds to an amidophenoxide and NNOISQ to the iminosemiquinone redox level. However, the metrical parameters are similar for both ligands in the solid state, and DFT calculations support delocalization of the ligand radical over both ligands, affording an intermediate ligand redox level Co(iii)(NNO1.5-)(NNO1.5-). The vanadyl complex exhibits a distorted octahedral geometry in the solid state consistent with a V(v) metal center and amidophenoxide (NNOAP), acetylacetonate and oxo ligands. The ligand metrical parameters are consistent with significant amidophenoxide to V(v) π donation. Overall, our results highlight the roles of electron transfer, delocalization, and π bonding in the metal complexes under study, and thus the complexity in assignment of the electronic structure in these systems.

Cyclometalation and coupling of a rigid 4,5-bis(imino)acridanide pincer ligand on yttrium.

An extremely rigid NNN-donor proligand, 4,5-bis{(diphenylmethylene)amino}-2,7,9,9-tetramethylacridan, H[AIm2] was prepared in five steps starting from 5-methyl-2-aminobenzoic acid and 4-bromotoluene. Reaction of intensely orange H[AIm2] with LiCH2SiMe3 formed deep blue Li(x)[AIm2]x (x = 2 in the solid state), while reaction with [Y(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2] (0.5 equiv.) afforded deep blue [Y(AIm2)(AIm)] (1; AIm = an AIm2 ligand cyclometalated at the ortho-position of one of the phenyl rings). Compound 1 slowly isomerizes to form green-brown 2, which contains a single trianionic, hexadentate ligand that features one amine, two imine, and three amido donors. The acridanide backbone and one imine group in each of the original AIm2 ligands is intact, but the two acridanide backbones are now linked by an isoindoline heterocycle. Yttrium in 2 is coordinated to six nitrogen donors and the ortho carbon of an isoindoline phenyl substituent. The intense colours of H[AIm2], Li(x)[AIm2]x and 1 were shown by TD-DFT calculations to arise from charge transfer transitions from the HOMO, which is localized on the acridanide ligand backbone, to the LUMO and LUMO+1, which are localized on the imine substituents. The conversion of 1 to 2 was studied by UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy and is first-order with a half-life of 7.8 hours at room temperature.

Synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of copper(II) complexes containing a redox-active benzoxazole iminosemiquinone ligand.

A tridentate benzoxazole-containing aminophenol ligand HL(BAP) was synthesized and complexed with Cu(II). The resulting Cu(II) complexes were characterized by X-ray, IR, UV-vis-NIR spectroscopies, and magnetic susceptibility studies, demonstrating that the ligand is oxidized to the o-iminosemiquinone form [L(BIS)](-) in the isolated complexes. L(BIS)Cu(II)Cl exhibits a distorted tetrahedral geometry, while L(BIS)Cu(II)OAc is square pyramidal. In both solid state structures the ligand is coordinated to Cu(II)via the benzoxazole, as well as the nitrogen and oxygen atoms from the o-iminosemiquinone moiety. The chloride, or acetate group occupies the fourth and/or fifth positions in L(BIS)Cu(II)Cl and L(BIS)Cu(II)OAc, respectively. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that both complexes are diamagnetic due to antiferromagnetic coupling between the d(9) Cu(II) centre and iminosemiquinone ligand radical. Electrochemical studies of the complexes demonstrate both a quasi-reversible reduction and oxidation process for the Cu complexes. While L(BIS)Cu(II)X (X = Cl) is EPR-silent, chemical oxidation affords a species with an EPR signal consistent with ligand oxidation to form a d(9) Cu(II) iminoquinone species. In addition, chemical reduction results in a Cu(II) centre most likely bound to an amidophenoxide. Mild and efficient oxidation of alcohol substrates to the corresponding aldehydes was achieved with molecular oxygen as the oxidant and L(BIS)Cu(II)X-Cs2CO3 as the catalyst.