Validating the Biphilic Hypothesis of Nontrigonal Phosphorus(III) Compounds.

Constraining σ3 -P compounds in nontrigonal, entatic geometries has proven to be an effective strategy for promoting biphilic oxidative addition reactions more typical of transition metals. Although qualitative descriptions of the impact of structure and symmetry on σ3 -P complexes have been proposed, electronic structure variations responsible for biphilic reactivity have yet to be elucidated experimentally. Reported here are P K-edge XANES data and complementary TDDFT calculations for a series of structurally modified P(N)3 complexes that both validate and quantify electronic structure variations proposed to give rise to biphilic reactions at phosphorus. These data are presented alongside experimentally referenced electronic structure calculations that reveal nontrigonal structures predicted to further enhance biphilic reactivity in σ3 -P ligands and catalysts.

P-N Cooperative Borane Activation and Catalytic Hydroboration by a Distorted Phosphorous Triamide Platform.

Studies of the stoichiometric and catalytic reactivity of a geometrically constrained phosphorous triamide 1 with pinacolborane (HBpin) are reported. The addition of HBpin to phosphorous triamide 1 results in cleavage of the B-H bond of pinacolborane through addition across the electrophilic phosphorus and nucleophilic N-methylanilide sites in a cooperative fashion. The kinetics of this process of were investigated by NMR spectroscopy, with the determined overall second-order empirical rate law given by ν = -k[1][HBpin], where k = 4.76 × 10-5 M-1 s-1 at 25 °C. The B-H bond activation process produces P-hydrido-1,3,2-diazaphospholene intermediate 2, which exhibits hydridic reactivity capable of reacting with imines to give phosphorous triamide intermediates, as confirmed by independent synthesis. These phosphorous triamide intermediates are typically short lived, evolving with elimination of the N-borylamine product of imine hydroboration with regeneration of the deformed phosphorous triamide 1. The kinetics of this latter process are shown to be first-order, indicative of a unimolecular mechanism. Consequently, catalytic hydroboration of a variety of imine substrates can be realized with 1 as the catalyst and HBpin as the terminal reagent. A mechanistic proposal implicating a P-N cooperative mechanism for catalysis that incorporates the various independently verified stoichiometric steps is presented, and a comparison to related phosphorus-based systems is offered.

Reversible intermolecular E-H oxidative addition to a geometrically deformed and structurally dynamic phosphorous triamide.

The synthesis and reactivity of geometrically constrained tricoordinate phosphorus (σ(3)-P) compounds supported by tridentate triamide chelates (N[o-NR-C6H4]2(3-); R = Me or (i)Pr) are reported. Studies indicate that 2 (P{N[o-NMe-C6H4]2}) adopts a Cs-symmetric structure in the solid state. Variable-temperature NMR studies demonstrate a low-energy inversion at phosphorus in solution (ΔG(‡)(exptl)(298) = 10.7(5) kcal/mol), for which DFT calculations implicate an edge-inversion mechanism via a metastable C2-symmetric intermediate. In terms of reactivity, compound 2 exhibits poor nucleophilicity, but undergoes oxidative addition at ambient temperature of diverse O-H- and N-H-containing compounds (including alcohols, phenols, carboxylic acids, amines, and anilines). The resulting pentacoordinate adducts 2·[H][OR] and 2·[H][NHR] are characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, and their structures (which span the pseudorotation coordinate between trigonal bipyramidal and square planar) are evaluated in terms of negative hyperconjugation. At elevated temperatures, the oxidative addition is shown to be reversible for volatile alcohols and amines.

Intermolecular N-H oxidative addition of ammonia, alkylamines, and arylamines to a planar σ(3)-phosphorus compound via an entropy-controlled electrophilic mechanism.

Ammonia, alkyl amines, and aryl amines are found to undergo rapid intermolecular N-H oxidative addition to a planar mononuclear σ(3)-phosphorus compound (1). The pentacoordinate phosphorane products (1·[H][NHR]) are structurally robust, permitting full characterization by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Isothermal titration calorimetry was employed to quantify the enthalpy of the N-H oxidative addition of n-propylamine to 1 ((n)PrNH2 + 1 → 1·[H][NH(n)Pr], ΔHrxn(298) = -10.6 kcal/mol). The kinetics of n-propylamine N-H oxidative addition were monitored by in situ UV absorption spectroscopy and determination of the rate law showed an unusually large molecularity (ν = k[1][(n)PrNH2](3)). Kinetic experiments conducted over the temperature range of 10-70 °C revealed that the reaction rate decreased with increasing temperature. Activation parameters extracted from an Eyring analysis (ΔH(⧧) = -0.8 ± 0.4 kcal/mol, ΔS(⧧) = -72 ± 2 cal/(mol·K)) indicate that the cleavage of strong N-H bonds by 1 is entropy controlled due to a highly ordered, high molecularity transition state. Density functional calculations indicate that a concerted oxidative addition via a classical three-center transition structure is energetically inaccessible. Rather, a stepwise heterolytic pathway is preferred, proceeding by initial amine-assisted N-H heterolysis upon complexation to the electrophilic phosphorus center followed by rate-controlling N → P proton transfer.

Interactions of cytochrome C with N-acylated phosphatidylethanolamine lipids.

N-acylphosphatidylethanolamines (NAPEs) are naturally occurring derivatives of phosphatidylethanolmine (PE) in which the PE amino group is attached to an acyl chain. Given their occurrence in natural systems, there is interest in knowing the effect of NAPEs on membrane dynamic structure and function. This study examines the ability of NAPEs to affect the association of the cytochrome c and Zn-heme cytochrome c with the surface of bilayer membranes. Fluorescence titration experiments show that cationic cytochrome c has the same high affinity for the surfaces of anionic vesicles that are rich in NAPEs or diplalmitoyphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) but the protein/membrane interaction in each case is quite different. Cytochrome c adsorption to DPPG membranes is relatively irreversible due to the DPPG molecules adopting an extended conformation that promotes strong hydrophobic contact with the adsorbed protein. In contrast, cytochrome c association with N-acyl DPPE membranes is due primarily to reversible electrostatic interactions with the anionic headgroup, and not hydrophobic contact with the N-acyl chain. The presence of a small mole fraction of an N-propionyl derivative of DPPE (N-C3:0-DPPE) diminishes cytochrome c affinity for vesicles containing a large amount of DPPG apparently by relieving the membrane packing strain that drives the extended DPPG conformation.

Airway epithelial indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase inhibits CD4+ T cells during Aspergillus fumigatus antigen exposure.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) suppresses the functions of CD4(+) T cells through its ability to metabolize the essential amino acid tryptophan. Although the activity of IDO is required for the immunosuppression of allergic airway disease by the Toll-Like-Receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist, oligonucleotides comprised of cytosine and guanine nucleotides linked by phosphodiester bonds (CpG) DNA, it is unclear whether IDO expression by resident lung epithelial cells is sufficient to elicit these effects. Therefore, we created a transgenic mouse inducibly overexpressing IDO within nonciliated airway epithelial cells. Upon inhalation of formalin-fixed Aspergillus fumigatus hyphal antigens, the overexpression of IDO from airway epithelial cells of these mice reduced the number of CD4(+) T cells within the inflamed lung and impaired the capacity of antigen-specific splenic CD4(+) effector T cells to secrete the cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IFN-γ. Despite these effects, allergic airway disease pathology was largely unaffected in mice expressing IDO in airway epithelium. In support of the concept that dendritic cells are the major cell type contributing to the IDO-inducing effects of CpG DNA, mice expressing TLR9 only in the airway epithelium did not augment IDO expression subsequent to the administration of CpG DNA. Furthermore, the systemic depletion of CD11c(+) cells rendered mice incapable of CpG DNA-induced IDO expression. Our results demonstrate that an overexpression of IDO within the airway epithelium represents a novel mechanism by which the number of CD4(+) T cells recruited to the lung and their capacity to produce cytokines can be diminished in a model of allergic airway disease, and these results also highlight the critical role of dendritic cells in the antiasthmatic effects of IDO induction by CpG DNA.

Reversed-phase ion-pair liquid chromatography analysis and purification of small interfering RNA.

Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-induced gene silencing shows great promise in genomic research and therapeutic applications. siRNA duplexes are typically assembled from complementary synthetic oligonucleotides. High-purity single-stranded species are required for in vivo applications. Methods for separation, characterization, and purification of short RNA strands have been developed based on reversed-phase ion-pair liquid chromatography. The purification strategies were developed for both single-stranded and duplex RNA species. The method of duplex purification uses on-column annealing of complementary RNA strands, followed by separation of the target duplex from truncated duplexes and single-stranded RNA forms. The proposed method significantly reduces the purification time of synthetic siRNA.

Nitric oxide regulation of MMP-9 activation and its relationship to modifications of the cysteine switch.

Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are Zn-containing endopeptidases involved in the degradation of extracellular matrix components and are typically secreted in a latent (pro-MMP) form and activated either by proteolytic or oxidative disruption of a conserved cysteine switch. Several recent studies have suggested that nitric oxide (NO) can contribute to the activation of MMPs, but the mechanisms involved are incompletely understood. We investigated the ability of NO to regulate the activation of (pro)MMP-9 using a variety of NO-donor compounds and characterized modifications of the cysteine switch using a synthetic peptide (PRCGVPDLGR) representing the cysteine switch domain of MMP-9. Among the NO-donors used, only S-nitrosocysteine (SNOC) was found to be capable of modest activation of proMMP-9, but S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) or the NONOates, DEA-NO, SPER-NO, or DETA-NO, were ineffective. In fact, high concentrations of DETA-NO were found to inhibit MMP-9 activity, presumably by direct interaction with the active-site Zn (2+). Analysis of chemical modifications within the Cys-containing peptide, PRCGVPDLGR, revealed rapid and transient S-nitrosylation by SNOC and GSNO, and formation of mixed disulfides and dimerized peptide as major final products. Similarly, NONOates induced transient S-nitrosylation and primarily peptide dimerization. Coordination of the peptide Cys with a synthetic Zn (2+) complex, to more closely mimic the structure of the active site in proMMP-9, reduced peptide nitrosylation and oxidation by NONOates, but enhanced peptide nitrosylation by SNOC and GSNO. Collectively, our results demonstrate that NO is incapable of directly activating proMMP-9 and that S-nitrosylation of MMP-9 propeptide by NO-donors is unrelated to their ability to regulate MMP-9 activity.

A sensitive multidimensional method for the detection, characterization, and quantification of trace free drug species in antibody-drug conjugate samples using mass spectral detection.

Conjugation processes and stability studies associated with the production and shelf life of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) can result in free (non-conjugated) drug species. These free drug species can increase the risk to patients and reduce the efficacy of the ADC. Despite stringent purification steps, trace levels of free drug species may be present in formulated ADCs, reducing the therapeutic window. The reduction of sample preparation steps through the incorporation of multidimensional techniques has afforded analysts more efficient methods to assess trace drug species. Multidimensional methods coupling size-exclusion and reversed phase liquid chromatography with ultra-violet detection (SEC-RPLC/UV) have been reported, but offer limited sensitivity and can limit method optimization. The current study addresses these challenges with a multidimensional method that is specific, sensitive, and enables method control in both dimensions via coupling of an on-line solid phase extraction column to RPLC with mass spectral detection (SPE-RPLC/MS). The proposed method was evaluated using an antibody-fluorophore conjugate (AFC) as an ADC surrogate to brentuximab vedotin and its associated parent maleimide-val-cit-DSEA payload and the derived N-acetylcysteine adduct formed during the conjugation process. Assay sensitivity was found to be 2 orders more sensitive using MS detection in comparison to UV-based detection with a nominal limit of quantitation of 0.30 ng/mL (1.5 pg on-column). Free-drug species were present in an unadulterated ADC surrogate sample at concentrations below 7 ng/mL, levels not detectable by UV alone. The proposed SPE-RPLC/MS method provides a high degree of specificity and sensitivity in the assessment of trace free drug species and offers improved control over each dimension, enabling straightforward integration into existing or novel workflows.

Investigation of microbore UPLC and nontraditional mobile phase compositions for bioanalytical LC-MS/MS.

BACKGROUND: The movement towards environmentally friendly or green chemistry solutions has gained more prominence recently in the scientific community. One way in which scientists can address this issue is to limit the use of hazardous chemicals in their everyday processes. Therefore, the focus of this study was on the utilization of microbore-scale chromatography and nontraditional alcoholic mobile phases as an alternative approach to traditional bioanalytical LC-MS/MS assay parameters. RESULTS: Replacement of the traditional narrowbore LC column with a microbore format reduced solvent consumption and produced a greater than threefold increase in S/N. The nontraditional alcoholic mobile phases, ethanol or isopropanol, produced either greater peak area counts, or S/N, for over half of the compounds evaluated, compared with the traditional organic mobile phases of acetonitrile and methanol. These nontraditional alcoholic mobile phases also showed improved capability in the removal of plasma phospholipid components from the chromatographic column. The ionizable background detected in each of the organic mobile phases utilized in this study produced a unique background that may or may not interfere with compounds undergoing analysis. CONCLUSION: The combination of microbore columns and nontraditional alcoholic mobile phases has been shown to produce effective, alternative method conditions to traditional bioanalytical LC-MS/MS method parameters.