Role of Low-Energy (<20 eV) Secondary Electrons in the Extraterrestrial Synthesis of Prebiotic Molecules.

We demonstrate for the first time that Galactic cosmic rays with energies as high as ∼1010 eV can trigger a cascade of low-energy (<20 eV) secondary electrons that could be a significant contributor to the interstellar synthesis of prebiotic molecules whose delivery by comets, meteorites, and interplanetary dust particles may have kick-started life on Earth. For the energetic processing of interstellar ice mantles inside dark, dense molecular clouds, we explore the relative importance of low-energy (<20 eV) secondary electrons-agents of radiation chemistry-and low-energy (<10 eV), nonionizing photons-instigators of photochemistry. Our calculations indicate fluxes of ∼102 electrons cm-2 s-1 for low-energy secondary electrons produced within interstellar ices due to attenuated Galactic cosmic-ray protons. Consequently, in certain star-forming regions where internal high-energy radiation sources produce ionization rates that are observed to be a thousand times greater than the typical interstellar Galactic ionization rate, the flux of low-energy secondary electrons should far exceed that of nonionizing photons. Because reaction cross sections can be several orders of magnitude larger for electrons than for photons, even in the absence of such enhancement, our calculations indicate that secondary low-energy (<20 eV) electrons are at least as significant as low-energy (<10 eV) nonionizing photons in the interstellar synthesis of prebiotic molecules. Most importantly, our results demonstrate the pressing need for explicitly incorporating low-energy electrons in current and future astrochemical simulations of cosmic ices. Such models are critically important for interpreting James Webb Space Telescope infrared measurements, which are currently being used to probe the origins of life by studying complex organic molecules found in ices near star-forming regions.

Selenium (IV,VI) reduction and tolerance by fungi in an oxic environment.

Microbial processes are known to mediate selenium (Se) oxidation-reduction reactions, strongly influencing Se speciation, bioavailability, and transport throughout the environment. While these processes have commonly been studied in anaerobic bacteria, the role that aerobic fungi play in Se redox reactions could be important for Se-rich soil systems, dominated by microbial activity. We quantified fungal growth, aerobic Se(IV, VI) reduction, and Se immobilization and volatilization in the presence of six, metal-tolerant Ascomycete fungi. We found that the removal of dissolved Se was dependent on the fungal species, Se form (i.e., selenite or selenate), and Se concentration. All six species grew and removed dissolved Se(IV) or Se(VI) from solution, with five species reducing both oxyanions to Se(0) biominerals, and all six species removing at least 15%-20% of the supplied Se via volatilization. Growth rates of all fungi, however, decreased with increasing Se(IV,VI) concentrations. All fungi removed 85%-93% of the dissolved Se(IV) within 10 d in the presence of 0.01 mm Se(IV), although only about 20%-30% Se(VI) was removed when grown with 0.01 mm Se(VI). Fungi-produced biominerals were typically 50- to 300-nm-diameter amorphous or paracrystalline spherical Se(0) nanoparticles. Our results demonstrate that activity of common soil fungi can influence Se form and distribution, and these organisms may therefore play a role in detoxifying Se-polluted environments.

Adult purpura fulminans associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use.

Purpura fulminans is an acute illness characterized by rapidly progressive dermal vascular thrombosis, leading to hemorrhagic necrosis of the skin. Here, we describe the case of a healthy woman who developed acute disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with purpura fulminans after intramuscular administration of a single dose of ketorolac. Review of literature showed only one case description of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (diclofenac)-related purpura fulminans with DIC.

Testing for Lorentz violation: constraints on standard-model-extension parameters via lunar laser ranging.

We present constraints on violations of Lorentz invariance based on archival lunar laser-ranging (LLR) data. LLR measures the Earth-Moon separation by timing the round-trip travel of light between the two bodies and is currently accurate to the equivalent of a few centimeters (parts in 10(11) of the total distance). By analyzing this LLR data under the standard-model extension (SME) framework, we derived six observational constraints on dimensionless SME parameters that describe potential Lorentz violation. We found no evidence for Lorentz violation at the 10(-6) to 10(-11) level in these parameters. This work constitutes the first LLR constraints on SME parameters.

Hydrogen peroxide effects on chromium oxidation state and solubility in four diverse, chromium-enriched soils.

High concentrations of H2O2 are being tested for in situ oxidation and remediation of buried organic contaminants in soils and groundwater. Peroxide is being considered as a direct chemical oxidant in Fenton-type reactions or as a source of oxidizing equivalents in bioremediation schemes. How H2O2 affects the oxidation state and solubility of Cr(III) and Cr(VI), common co-contaminants with organic chemicals, is explored here in four chemically diverse soils containing elevated levels of Cr. Soil contaminated with soluble Cr(VI) from chromite ore processing residue and soil containing high levels of recently reduced Cr (III) from electroplating waste both released dissolved Cr(VI) after single applications of up to 24 mM H2O2. In no case was there evidence that H202 reduced preexisting Cr(VI) to Cr(III), even though this would be allowed thermodynamically. Chromate in the leachates exceeded the U.S. EPA drinking water standard for total dissolved Cr (2 microM) by a factor of 10-1000. Anaerobic conditions in an organic-rich, tannery waste-contaminated soil protected Cr(III) from oxidation and mobilization. Mineral forms of Cr in serpentinitic soil near a former chromite mine also resisted oxidation on the time scale of days. Mobilization of Cr(VI) could be a hazardous consequence of using H2O2 for in situ remediation of chemically complex wastes, but H2O2 could prove attractive for ex situ treatment (i.e., soil washing). This paper demonstrates marked differences among Cr-contaminated soils in their capacity to release Cr(VI) upon chemical treatment with H2O2.

A remarkable temperature-dependent, accidental degeneracy of 31P NMR chemical shifts in Ru(II) diphosphine/diimine complexes.

Several cis-RuX2((R)-BINAP)(diimine) complexes have been prepared, and many of these exhibit an unusual temperature-dependent, accidental degeneracy of the 31P shifts in their solution NMR spectra.

Synthesis of new hypoxia markers EF1 and [18F]-EF1.

We report on the preparation of a hypoxia marker 2-(2-nitroimidazol-1[H]-yl)-N-(3-fluoropropyl)acetamide (EF1) and its 18F analog, 2-(2-nitroimidazol-1[H]-yl)-N- (3-[18F]fluoropropyl)acetamide ([18F]-EF1). Two methods for the preparation of 3-fluoropropylamine, the EF1 side chain, are described. [18F]-EF1 was prepared with a radiochemical yield of 2% by nucleophilic substitution of bromine in 2-(2-nitroimidazol-1[H]-yl)-N-(3-bromopropyl)acetamide (EBr1) by carrier-added 18F in DMSO at 120 degrees C. Our results demonstrate the preparation of clinically relevant amounts of [18F]-EF1 for use as a non-invasive hypoxia marker with detection using positron emission tomography (PET).

Porphyrins and metalloporphyrins: potential hypoxic agents.

Synthetic water-soluble porphyrins and their metalloporphyrin derivatives with Co(III), Cu(II), Ru(II) and Pt(II), containing various functional groups within the meso-positions of the porphyrin, were synthesised and evaluated as hypoxic agents, especially as cytotoxins and radiosensitisers. Cobalt complexes of the porphyrins containing positively charged methylpyridinium groups showed selective toxicity toward hypoxic Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. The Co(III) complexes of the cationic and the anionic porphyrins are all weak radiosensitisers toward hypoxic cells, the highest sensitisation enhancement ratio (SER = 1.22, at 50 muM) being with a porphyrin complex containing a cis-arrangement of two nitro and two methylpyridinium meso-substituents. A copper complex of a tetracationic porphyrin showed slight radiosensitisation activity with an SER value of about 1.1. The other metalloporphyrins showed no hypoxic selectivity or radiosensitisation activity. In total, over 50 porphyrin free bases have been synthesised, of which half are water-soluble and have been metallated; thus, the chemistry is now in place for further development of water-soluble hypoxic agents.

Peer reviewed: the challenge of remediating chromium-contaminated soil.

The complex chemistry of chromium compounds presents unique measurement and regulatory challenges.

Further studies on toxic and radiosensitizing properties of ruthenium complexes of 4-nitroimidazoles.

Transition metal complexes containing nitroimidazole ligands have been shown previously to act as radiosensitizers of hypoxic cells in vitro. As part of our study on metal-radiosensitizer complexes, we were encouraged by a ruthenium (Ru) sensitizer, RuCl2(DMSO)2(4(5)-nitroimidazole)2, 1, which showed better radiosensitizing properties and lower toxicity than the free ligand. In this study, we have extended our investigation to include the various other substituted 4-nitroimidazoles as ligands. The new Ru complexes, analogues of 1, were synthesized, identified and characterized and their toxicity and radiosensitizing abilities examined in vitro using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Like 1, each of these ruthenium complexes has lower CHO hypoxic toxicity than the free ligands alone at equimolar concentration. These newer complexes gave sensitizing enhancement ratio (SER) values of 1.1 to 1.3 at 1.0 X 10(-4) mol dm-3 compared with 1.6 for 1. Unlike complex 1, the new complexes do not bind to plasmid DNA (assessed by inhibition of restriction endonuclease activity), possibly because the chloride (Cl-) ligand does not dissociate. In addition, the redox potential of the coordinated imidazole ligands is relatively unchanged compared to that of the free ligand. These factors may explain the more favourable properties of 1 compared with those of the new 4-nitroimidazole complexes of Ru.

Durene-capped porphyrin complexes of iron(II). Binding of imidazoles, and spectroscopic trends within Fe(porp)B(L) species (B = imidazole base; L = RNC, CO, O2).

Solution equilibria are presented for in situ reactions of the type FeII(porp) + B----FeII(porp)B, where porp represents the dianion of some durene-capped porphyrins with variable length linking methylene straps, and B is 1-methyl, 1,2-dimethyl, or 1,5-dicyclohexylimidazole. Increasing distortion of the porphyrin skeleton has no effect on coordination of B at the unhindered side of the capped porphyrin. Increasing skeleton distortion gives rise to regular trends within the visible spectra of the free base porphyrins, the hemin (FeIII) chlorides, and six-coordinate FeII(porp)B(L) species (L = RNC, CO, O2), while the visible spectra of FeII(porp) and of FeII(porp)B species are independent of the nature of porp and B, which may be related to greater flexibility of the lower coordination number systems. v(CO) data for the FeII(porp)(CO)B species are discussed briefly.

Chromosome-damaging activity of a ruthenium radiosensitizer, RuCl2 (DMSO)2 (4-nitroimidazole)2, in Chinese hamster ovary cells in vitro.

The metal complex, RuCl2 (DMSO)2 (4-nitroimidazole)2, 1, which has hypoxic radiosensitizing properties, was examined for genotoxic activity, as measured by the in vitro induction of chromosome aberrations (chromatid breaks and chromatid exchanges) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. A dose-dependent increase in the frequencies of metaphases with chromatid aberrations was observed for 1. Addition of S9 liver microsomal mixture and 1 to the cultured CHO cells did not alter the clastogenic activity noted for the complex itself. The clastogenic (chromosome damaging) activity of a precursor complex, cis-RuCl2(DMSO)4 and the ligand, 4-nitroimidazole (4-NO2-Im) were found to be less than that of 1 at corresponding concentrations. A comparison with two drugs used clinically with radiation, cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) (cis-DDP) and misonidazole (miso), indicated that the clastogenic activity of 1 was similar to miso and much less than that of cis-DDP.

A new ruthenium radiosensitizer: RuCl2(DMSO)2(4-nitroimidazole)2.

Earlier studies on Ru complexes, such as, cis-RuCl2(DMSO)4, as antineoplastic agents, have suggested a DNA binding mechanism similar to that of the clinically successful platinum complex, cis-diammine(dichloro)platinum(II), (cis-DDP). As part of our study on metal-radiosensitizer complexes, cis-RuCl2(DMSO)4 is used as a precursor for synthesis of Ru(II)-nitroimidazole complexes. These complexes were identified and characterized and their toxicity and radiosensitizing abilities were examined in vitro. In the series of Ru(II)-nitroimidazole complexes synthesized, RuCl2(DMSO)2(4-nitroimidazole)2, "Ru-(4-nitro)," was the most effective radiosensitizer. At 200 microM, Ru-(4-nitro) produced a sensitizer enhancement ratio (SER) of 1.6 in hypoxic Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, but did not sensitize oxic CHO cells. Other Ru-nitroimidazole complexes gave SER values of 1.2-1.4 at 200 microM. These Ru(II)-nitroimidazole complexes also showed lower toxicity than the free nitroimidazoles alone at equimolar concentration. The enhanced radiosensitizing effect of Ru-(4-nitro) may be due to the metal's ability to target the sensitizer to DNA, or may be related to changes in reduction potential: from -685 mV for the free ligand to -355 mV and -615 mV for the complex. This complex did not deplete non-protein sulfhydryls (NPSH) at the time intervals and concentrations used. DNA binding was studied using inhibition of restriction enzyme activity on plasmid DNA.

Preparation of ruthenium(II) and ruthenium(III) myoglobin and the reaction of dioxygen, and carbon monoxide, with ruthenium(II) myoglobin.

Ruthenium myoglobins have been prepared by the reconstitution of horse heart apomyoglobin with either ruthenium(II) or ruthenium(III) mesoporphyrin IX (MpIX) derivatives. The ruthenium(II) and -(III) myo globins (RuMb and RuMb+, respectively) contain one ruthenium porphyrin/heme binding site; the species are readily interconverted using dithionite for reduction and bromine for oxidation. RuMb binds carbon monoxide to give the known carbonyl complex. Reversible oxygenation occurs readily with protein-free RuII(MpIX) species in dimethylformamide, but RuMb in phosphate buffer is irreversibly oxidized by dioxygen to give RuMb+ via an outer sphere electron transfer mechanism.