Carbazole-Dendronized Luminescent Radicals.

A series of carbazole-dendronized tris(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)methyl (TTM) radicals have been synthesized. The photophysical properties of dendronized radicals up to the fourth generation were compared systematically to understand how structure-property relationships evolve with generation. The photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) was found to increase with the increasing generation, and the fourth generation (G4TTM) in cyclohexane solution showed a PLQY as high as 63 % at a wavelength of 627 nm (in the deep-red region) from the doublet state. The dendron modification strategy also showed a blue-shift of the emission on increasing the generation number, and the photostability was also increased compared to the bare TTM radical.

An Open-shell, Luminescent, Two-Dimensional Coordination Polymer with a Honeycomb Lattice and Triangular Organic Radical.

The use of organic radicals as building blocks is an effective approach to the production of open-shell coordination polymers (CPs). Two-dimensional (2D) CPs with honeycomb spin-lattices have attracted attention because of the unique electronic structures and physical properties afforded by their structural topology. However, radical-based CPs with honeycomb spin-lattices tend to have low chemical stability or poor crystallinity, and thus novel systems with high crystallinity and persistence are in strong demand. In this study, a novel triangular organic radical possessing three pyridyl groups, tris(3,5-dichloro-4-pyridyl)methyl radical (trisPyM) was prepared. It exhibits luminescence, high photostability, and a coordination ability, allowing formation of defined and persistent 2D CPs. Optical measurements confirmed the luminescence of trisPyM both in solution and in the solid state, with emission wavelengths, λem, of 665 and 700 nm, respectively. trisPyM exhibits better chemical stability under photoirradiation than other luminescent radicals: the half-life of trisPyM in CH2Cl2 was 10 000 times that of the tris(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)methyl radical (TTM), a conventional luminescent radical. Complexation between trisPyM and ZnII(hfac)2 yielded a single crystal of a 2D CP trisZn, possessing a honeycomb lattice with graphene-like spin topology. The coordination structure of trisZn is stable under evacuation at 60 °C. Moreover, trisZn exhibits luminescence at 79 K, with λem = 695 nm, and is a rare example of a luminescent material among 2D radical-based CPs. Our results indicate that trisPyM may be a promising building block in the construction of a new class of 2D honeycomb CPs with novel properties, including luminescence.

A theoretical investigation into the role of catalyst support and regioselectivity of molecular adsorption on a metal oxide surface: NO reduction on Cu/γ-alumina.

The role of catalyst support and regioselectivity of molecular adsorption on a metal oxide surface is investigated for NO reduction on a Cu/γ-alumina heterogeneous catalyst. For the solid surface, computational models of the γ-alumina surface are constructed based on the Step-by-Step Hydrogen Termination (SSHT) approach. Dangling bonds, which appear upon cutting the crystal structure of a model, are terminated stepwise with H atoms until the model has an appropriate energy gap. The obtained SSHT models reflect the realistic infrared (IR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV/Vis) spectra. Vibronic coupling density (VCD), as a reactivity index, is employed to elucidate the regioselectivity of Cu adsorption on γ-alumina and that of NO adsorption on Cu/γ-alumina in place of the frontier orbital theory that could not provide clear results. We discovered that the highly dispersed Cu atoms are loaded on Lewis-basic O atoms, which is known as the anchoring effect, located in the tetrahedral sites of the γ-alumina surface. The role of the γ-alumina support is to raise the frontier orbital of the Cu catalyst, which in turn gives rise to the electron back-donation from Cu/γ-alumina to NO. In addition, the penetration of the VCD distribution of Cu/γ-alumina into the γ-alumina support indicates that the excessive reaction energy dissipates into the support after NO adsorption and reduction. In other words, the support plays the role of a heat bath. The NO reduction on Cu/γ-alumina proceeds even in an oxidative atmosphere because the Cu-NO bond is strong compared to the Cu-O2 bond.

Enhanced solid-state phosphorescence of organoplatinum π-systems by ion-pairing assembly.

Anion binding and ion pairing of dipyrrolyldiketone PtII complexes as anion-responsive π-electronic molecules resulted in photophysical modulations, as observed in solid-state phosphorescence properties. Modifications to arylpyridine ligands in the PtII complexes significantly impacted the assembling behaviour and photophysical properties of anion-free and anion-binding (ion-pairing) forms. The PtII complexes, in the presence of guest anions and their countercations, formed various anion-binding modes and ion-pairing assembled structures depending on constituents and forms (solutions and crystals). The PtII complexes emitted strong phosphorescence in deoxygenated solutions but showed extremely weak phosphorescence in the solid state owing to self-association. In contrast, the solid-state ion-pairing assemblies with tetraalkylammonium cations exhibited enhanced phosphorescence owing to the formation of hydrogen-bonding 1D-chain PtII complexes dispersed by stacking with aliphatic cations. Theoretical studies revealed that the enhanced phosphorescence in the solid-state ion-pairing assembly was attributed to preventing the delocalisation of the electron wavefunction over PtII complexes.

Synthesis and preclinical testing of a selective beta-subtype agonist of thyroid hormone receptor ZTA-261.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid hormones (TH) regulate the basal metabolic rate through their receptors THRα and THRß. TH activates lipid metabolism via THRß, however, an excess amount of TH can lead to tachycardia, bone loss, and muscle wasting through THRα. In recent years, TH analogs that selectively bind to THRß have gained attention as new agents for treating dyslipidemia and obesity, which continue to pose major challenges to public health worldwide. METHODS: We developed a TH analog, ZTA-261, by modifying the existing THRß-selective agonists GC-1 and GC-24. To determine the THRß-selectivity of ZTA-261, an in vitro radiolabeled TH displacement assay was conducted. ZTA-261 was intraperitoneally injected into a mouse model of high-fat diet-induced obesity, and its effectiveness in reducing body weight and visceral fat, and improving lipid metabolism was assessed. In addition, its toxicity in the liver, heart, and bone was evaluated. RESULTS: ZTA-261 is more selective towards THRß than GC-1. Although ZTA-261 is less effective in reducing body weight and visceral fat than GC-1, it is as effective as GC-1 in reducing the levels of serum and liver lipids. These effects are mediated by the same pathway as that of T3, a natural TH, as evidenced by similar changes in the expression of TH-induced and lipid metabolism-related genes. The bone, cardiac, and hepatotoxicity of ZTA-261 are significantly lower than those of GC-1. CONCLUSIONS: ZTA-261, a highly selective and less toxic THRß agonist, has the potential to be used as a drug for treating diseases related to lipid metabolism.

Nearly 10% of the world's population suffers from obesity or is overweight. These conditions are closely related to disorders of lipid metabolism, posing significant challenges to individuals and healthcare systems. Thyroid hormone (TH) activates metabolism by binding to specific protein partners, called TH receptors (THRs). There are two types of THRs, THRα and THRß. THRß activates lipid metabolism; however, THRα negatively affects the heart, bone, and muscle when TH is in excess. This study developed a drug called ZTA-261 that selectively binds to THRß. Its administration to mice with induced obesity from a high-fat diet resulted in reduced body fat without any apparent toxicity. Therefore, ZTA-261 is a promising candidate to improve lipid metabolism and address the obesity epidemic.

Localised surface plasmon resonance inducing cooperative Jahn-Teller effect for crystal phase-change in a nanocrystal.

The Jahn-Teller effect, a phase transition phenomenon involving the spontaneous breakdown of symmetry in molecules and crystals, causes important physical and chemical changes that affect various fields of science. In this study, we discovered that localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) induced the cooperative Jahn-Teller effect in covellite CuS nanocrystals (NCs), causing metastable displacive ion movements. Electron diffraction measurements under photo illumination, ultrafast time-resolved electron diffraction analyses, and theoretical calculations of semiconductive plasmonic CuS NCs showed that metastable displacive ion movements due to the LSPR-induced cooperative Jahn-Teller effect delayed the relaxation of LSPR in the microsecond region. Furthermore, the displacive ion movements caused photo-switching of the conductivity in CuS NC films at room temperature (22 °C), such as in transparent variable resistance infrared sensors. This study pushes the limits of plasmonics from tentative control of collective oscillation to metastable crystal structure manipulation.

Spontaneous-Symmetry-Breaking Charge Separation Induced by Pseudo-Jahn-Teller Distortion in Organic Photovoltaic Material.

The driving force of charge separation in the initial photovoltaic conversion process is theoretically investigated using ITIC, a nonfullerene acceptor material for organic photovoltaic devices. The density functional theory calculations show that the pseudo-Jahn-Teller (PJT) distortion of the S1 excimer state induces spontaneous symmetry-breaking charge separation between the identical ITIC molecules even without the asymmetry of the surrounding environment. The strong PJT effect arises from the vibronic coupling between the pseudodegenerate S1 and S2 excited states with different irreducible representations (irreps), i.e., Au for S1 and Ag for S2, via the asymmetric vibrational mode with the Au irrep. The vibrational mode responsible for the spontaneous polarization, which is opposite in one ITIC monomer and the other, is the intramolecular C-C stretching vibration between the core IT and terminal IC units. These results suggest that controlling the PJT effect can improve the charge separation efficiency of the initial photovoltaic conversion process.

The simplest structure of a stable radical showing high fluorescence efficiency in solution: benzene donors with triarylmethyl radicals.

Donor-radical acceptor systems have recently attracted much attention as efficient doublet emitters that offer significant advantages for applications such as OLEDs. We employed an alkylbenzene (mesityl group) as the simplest donor to date and added it to a diphenylpyridylmethyl radical acceptor. The (3,5-difluoro-4-pyridyl)bis[2,6-dichloro-4-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)phenyl]methyl radical (Mes2F2PyBTM) was prepared in only three steps from commercially available reagents. A stable radical composed of only one pyridine ring, four benzene rings, methyl groups, halogens, and hydrogens showed fluorescence of over 60% photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) in chloroform, dichloromethane, and PMMA. The key to high fluorescence efficiency was benzene rings perpendicular to the diphenylpyridylmethyl radical in the doublet ground (D0) state. The relatively low energy of the ß-HOMO and the electron-accepting character of the radical enabled the use of benzenes as electron donors. Furthermore, the structural relaxation of the doublet lowest excited (D1) state was minimized by steric hindrance of the methyl groups. The reasons for this high efficiency include the relatively fast fluorescence transition and the slow internal conversion, both of which were explained by the overlap density between the D1 and D0 states.

Synthesis of [18F] fluorine-labeled K-2 derivatives as radiotracers for AMPA receptors.

INTRODUCTION: AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor) receptors play a central role in neurotransmission and neuronal function. A positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for AMPA receptors, [11C]K-2, was recently developed by us to visualize AMPA receptors in the living human brain. [11C]K-2 is a derivative of 4-[2-(phenylsulphonylamino)ethylthio]-2,6-difuluoro-phenoxyacetamide (PEPA), and is labeled with the radioactive isotope 11C, which has a short half-life. PET drugs are usually labeled with 18F because of its long half-life. Therefore, we screened and identified potential 18F-labeled PET drugs for AMPA receptors (AMPA-PET drugs), which could provide an image equivalent to that of [11C]K-2. METHODS: Derivatives of K-2 labeled with 18F were synthesized and administered to rats and PET imaging was performed. The transferability of each compound to the brain and its correlation with the PET image of [11C]K-2 were evaluated from the obtained PET images. Furthermore, the specific binding ability of promising compounds to the AMPA receptor was evaluated by the PET imaging of rats, which we specifically knocked down the expression of AMPA by the lentivirus-mediated introduction of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeted to subunits of the AMPA receptor (GluA1-A3). The specific binding ability was also evaluated through electrophysiological experiments with acute brain slices. RESULTS: Some of the synthesized 18F-labeled candidate compounds showed a distribution similar to that of K-2, with reasonable transferability to the brain. In addition, from the evaluation of the specific binding ability to the AMPA receptor, a promising structure of an 18F-labeled AMPA PET drug was identified. This study also revealed that the alkylation of the sulfonamide group of PEPA enhances brain transferability.

[11C]K-2 image with positron emission tomography represents cell surface AMPA receptors.

The glutamate α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptors (AMPARs) is an important molecule in neurotransmission. We have recently developed the first positron emission tomography (PET) tracer [11C]K-2 to visualize and quantify AMPARs in the living human brain. After injection, [11C]K-2 is hydrolyzed at the terminal amide (and is thus metabolized to a major metabolite, [11C]K-2OH) within 10 min, representing the PET image in rodents and humans. Here, we found that K-2OH did not penetrate the cell membrane but slowly passed through the blood brain barrier (BBB) with paracellular transport. Furthermore, major efflux transporters in the BBB did not carry K-2OH. Logan graphical analysis exhibited reversible binding kinetics of this radiotracer in healthy individuals; these results demonstrated that the PET image of this tracer represents cell surface AMPARs with passive penetration of [11C]K-2OH through the BBB, resulting in reversible binding kinetics. Thus, PET images with this tracer depict the physiologically crucial fraction of AMPARs.

Involvement of TRPM2 and TRPM8 in temperature-dependent masking behavior.

Masking is a direct behavioral response to environmental changes and plays an important role in the temporal distribution of activity. However, the mechanisms responsible for masking remain unclear. Here we identify thermosensors and a possible neural circuit regulating temperature-dependent masking behavior in mice. Analysis of mice lacking thermosensitive transient receptor potential (TRP) channels (Trpv1/3/4 and Trpm2/8) reveals that temperature-dependent masking is impaired in Trpm2- and Trpm8-null mice. Several brain regions are activated during temperature-dependent masking, including the preoptic area (POA), known as the thermoregulatory center, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which is the primary circadian pacemaker, the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT), and the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The POA, SCN, PVT are interconnected, and the PVT sends dense projections to the NAc, a key brain region involved in wheel-running activity. Partial chemical lesion of the PVT attenuates masking, suggesting the involvement of the PVT in temperature-dependent masking behavior.

Action spectrum for photoperiodic control of thyroid-stimulating hormone in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica).

At higher latitudes, vertebrates exhibit a seasonal cycle of reproduction in response to changes in day-length, referred to as photoperiodism. Extended day-length induces thyroid-stimulating hormone in the pars tuberalis of the pituitary gland. This hormone triggers the local activation of thyroid hormone in the mediobasal hypothalamus and eventually induces gonadal development. In avian species, light information associated with day-length is detected through photoreceptors located in deep-brain regions. Within these regions, the expressions of multiple photoreceptive molecules, opsins, have been observed. However, even though the Japanese quail is an excellent model for photoperiodism because of its robust and significant seasonal responses in reproduction, a comprehensive understanding of photoreceptors in the quail brain remains undeveloped. In this study, we initially analyzed an action spectrum using photoperiodically induced expression of the beta subunit genes of thyroid-stimulating hormone in quail. Among seven wavelengths examined, we detected maximum sensitivity of the action spectrum at 500 nm. The low value for goodness of fit in the alignment with a template of retinal1-based photopigment, assuming a spectrum associated with a single opsin, proposed the possible involvement of multiple opsins rather than a single opsin. Analysis of gene expression in the septal region and hypothalamus, regions hypothesized to be photosensitive in quail, revealed mRNA expression of a mammal-like melanopsin in the infundibular nucleus within the mediobasal hypothalamus. However, no significant diurnal changes were observed for genes in the infundibular nucleus. Xenopus-like melanopsin, a further isoform of melanopsin in birds, was detected in neither the septal region nor the infundibular nucleus. These results suggest that the mammal-like melanopsin expressed in the infundibular nucleus within the mediobasal hypothalamus could be candidate deep-brain photoreceptive molecule in Japanese quail. Investigation of the functional involvement of mammal-like melanopsin-expressing cells in photoperiodism will be required for further conclusions.

Impaired Circadian Photoentrainment in Opn5-Null Mice.

The master circadian pacemaker in mammals resides in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) and is synchronized to ambient light/dark cycles (i.e., photoentrainment). Melanopsin (Opn4) and classical rod-cone photoreceptors are believed to provide all the photic input necessary for circadian photoentrainment. Although the UVA-sensitive photopigment Opn5 is known to be expressed in retinal ganglion cells, its physiological role remains unclear and a potential role for Opn5 in the photoentrainment of the master clock has not been addressed. Here we report impaired photoentrainment and phase shifting to UVA light in Opn5-null mice. However, triple-knockout mice lacking all known functional circadian photoreceptors (i.e., rods, cones, and melanopsin) failed to entrain to UVA-light/dark cycles, despite the presence of Opn5, demonstrating that Opn5 alone is not sufficient for photoentrainment of the SCN clock. Since Opn5 is involved in the regulation of the retinal circadian clock, disrupted retinal function may cause impaired circadian photoentrainment in Opn5-null mice.

Identification of circadian clock modulators from existing drugs.

Chronic circadian disruption due to shift work or frequent travel across time zones leads to jet-lag and an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The development of new pharmaceuticals to treat circadian disorders, however, is costly and hugely time-consuming. We therefore performed a high-throughput chemical screen of existing drugs for circadian clock modulators in human U2OS cells, with the aim of repurposing known bioactive compounds. Approximately 5% of the drugs screened altered circadian period, including the period-shortening compound dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA; also known as prasterone). DHEA is one of the most abundant circulating steroid hormones in humans and is available as a dietary supplement in the USA Dietary administration of DHEA to mice shortened free-running circadian period and accelerated re-entrainment to advanced light-dark (LD) cycles, thereby reducing jet-lag. Our drug screen also revealed the involvement of tyrosine kinases, ABL1 and ABL2, and the BCR serine/threonine kinase in regulating circadian period. Thus, drug repurposing is a useful approach to identify new circadian clock modulators and potential therapies for circadian disorders.

Near infrared light induced plasmonic hot hole transfer at a nano-heterointerface.

Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)-induced hot-carrier transfer is a key mechanism for achieving artificial photosynthesis using the whole solar spectrum, even including the infrared (IR) region. In contrast to the explosive development of photocatalysts based on the plasmon-induced hot electron transfer, the hole transfer system is still quite immature regardless of its importance, because the mechanism of plasmon-induced hole transfer has remained unclear. Herein, we elucidate LSPR-induced hot hole transfer in CdS/CuS heterostructured nanocrystals (HNCs) using time-resolved IR (TR-IR) spectroscopy. TR-IR spectroscopy enables the direct observation of carrier in a LSPR-excited CdS/CuS HNC. The spectroscopic results provide insight into the novel hole transfer mechanism, named plasmon-induced transit carrier transfer (PITCT), with high quantum yields (19%) and long-lived charge separations (9.2 µs). As an ultrafast charge recombination is a major drawback of all plasmonic energy conversion systems, we anticipate that PITCT will break the limit of conventional plasmon-induced energy conversion.

Different Photoperiodic Responses in Four Lines of Japanese Quail.

Organisms measure day length to better adapt to seasonal changes in the environment; this phenomenon is called photoperiodism. The Japanese quail has a highly sophisticated photoperiodic mechanism and is an excellent model for the study of photoperiodism. Various lines of quail have been established during the domestication process. In the present study, we examined the effect of long day (LD) followed by short day (SD) on testicular weight in four lines of quail (L, AMRP, NIES-Br, and WE). When the quail were raised under SD conditions, testicular development was suppressed in all examined lines. The speed of the LD-induced testicular development of NIES-Br line was faster than that of AMRP line, while the speed of the SD-induced testicular regression of L line was significantly faster than that of WE line. These quail lines provide excellent model to uncover the underlying mechanism of seasonal testicular regression.

Low temperature-induced circulating triiodothyronine accelerates seasonal testicular regression.

In temperate zones, animals restrict breeding to specific seasons to maximize the survival of their offspring. Birds have evolved highly sophisticated mechanisms of seasonal regulation, and their testicular mass can change 100-fold within a few weeks. Recent studies on Japanese quail revealed that seasonal gonadal development is regulated by central thyroid hormone activation within the hypothalamus, depending on the photoperiodic changes. By contrast, the mechanisms underlying seasonal testicular regression remain unclear. Here we show the effects of short day and low temperature on testicular regression in quail. Low temperature stimulus accelerated short day-induced testicular regression by shutting down the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis and inducing meiotic arrest and germ cell apoptosis. Induction of T3 coincided with the climax of testicular regression. Temporal gene expression analysis over the course of apoptosis revealed the suppression of LH response genes and activation of T3 response genes involved in amphibian metamorphosis within the testis. Daily ip administration of T3 mimicked the effects of low temperature stimulus on germ cell apoptosis and testicular mass. Although type 2 deiodinase, a thyroid hormone-activating enzyme, in the brown adipose tissue generates circulating T3 under low-temperature conditions in mammals, there is no distinct brown adipose tissue in birds. In birds, type 2 deiodinase is induced by low temperature exclusively in the liver, which appears to be caused by increased food consumption. We conclude that birds use low temperature-induced circulating T3 not only for adaptive thermoregulation but also to trigger apoptosis to accelerate seasonal testicular regression.

Tissue-specific posttranslational modification allows functional targeting of thyrotropin.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH; thyrotropin) is a glycoprotein secreted from the pituitary gland. Pars distalis-derived TSH (PD-TSH) stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones (THs), whereas pars tuberalis-derived TSH (PT-TSH) acts on the hypothalamus to regulate seasonal physiology and behavior. However, it had not been clear how these two TSHs avoid functional crosstalk. Here, we show that this regulation is mediated by tissue-specific glycosylation. Although PT-TSH is released into the circulation, it does not stimulate the thyroid gland. PD-TSH is known to have sulfated biantennary N-glycans, and sulfated TSH is rapidly metabolized in the liver. In contrast, PT-TSH has sialylated multibranched N-glycans; in the circulation, it forms the macro-TSH complex with immunoglobulin or albumin, resulting in the loss of its bioactivity. Glycosylation is fundamental to a wide range of biological processes. This report demonstrates its involvement in preventing functional crosstalk of signaling molecules in the body.