The urocortin peptides: biological relevance and laboratory aspects of UCN3 and its receptor.

The urocortins are polypeptides belonging to the corticotropin-releasing hormone family, known to modulate stress responses in mammals. Stress, whether induced physically or psychologically, is an underlying cause or consequence of numerous clinical syndromes. Identifying biological markers associated with the homeostatic regulation of stress could provide a clinical laboratory approach for the management of stress-related disorders. The neuropeptide, urocortin 3 (UCN3), and the corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) constitute a regulatory axis known to mediate stress homeostasis. Dysregulation of this peptide/receptor axis is believed to play a role in several clinical conditions including post-traumatic stress, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, and other health problems related to stress. Understanding the physiology and measurement of the UCN3/CRHR2 axis is important for establishing a viable clinical laboratory diagnostic. In this article, we focus on evidence supporting the role of UCN3 and its receptor in stress-related clinical syndromes. We also provide insight into the measurements of UCN3 in blood and urine. These potential biomarkers provide new opportunities for clinical research and applications of laboratory medicine diagnostics in stress management.

Stereoselective acetylation of hemicellulosic C5-sugars.

The stereoselective peracetylation of α-d-xylose (1) and α-l-arabinose (4) using a combination of triethylamine and acetic anhydride in the presence or absence of a catalytic amount of dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) is described. The peracetylated d-xylose and l-arabinose alpha pyranose anomers 2α and 5α are obtained in 97% and 56% yields respectively. The peracetylated d-xylose beta pyranose anomer 2ß is obtained in 71% yield through simple modification of the reaction conditions. Details regarding synthesis and isolation optimization studies under different conditions are presented below. The stereoselective peracetylation reactions disclosed here have been used to separate mixtures of d-xylose and l-arabinose as their peracetylated derivatives 2ß and 5α in 47% and 42% yields and can provide pure pentoses after deacetylation.

In-silico prediction of concentration-dependent viscosity curves for monoclonal antibody solutions.

Early stage developability assessments of monoclonal antibody (mAb) candidates can help reduce risks and costs associated with their product development. Forecasting viscosity of highly concentrated mAb solutions is an important aspect of such developability assessments. Reliable predictions of concentration-dependent viscosity behaviors for mAb solutions in platform formulations can help screen or optimize drug candidates for flexible manufacturing and drug delivery options. Here, we present a computational method to predict concentration-dependent viscosity curves for mAbs solely from their sequence-structural attributes. This method was developed using experimental data on 16 different mAbs whose concentration-dependent viscosity curves were experimentally obtained under standardized conditions. Each concentration-dependent viscosity curve was fitted with a straight line, via logarithmic manipulations, and the values for intercept and slope were obtained. Intercept, which relates to antibody diffusivity, was found to be nearly constant. In contrast, slope, the rate of increase in solution viscosity with solute concentration, varied significantly across different mAbs, demonstrating the importance of intermolecular interactions toward viscosity. Next, several molecular descriptors for electrostatic and hydrophobic properties of the 16 mAbs derived using their full-length homology models were examined for potential correlations with the slope. An equation consisting of hydrophobic surface area of full-length antibody and charges on VH, VL, and hinge regions was found to be capable of predicting the concentration-dependent viscosity curves of the antibody solutions. Availability of this computational tool may facilitate material-free high-throughput screening of antibody candidates during early stages of drug discovery and development.

Tumor specific liposomes improve detection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in vivo using optoacoustic tomography.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer often goes undiagnosed until late stage disease due in part to suboptimal early detection. Our goal was to develop a Syndecan-1 tagged liposome containing fluorescent dye as an improved contrast agent for detection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in vivo using multispectral optoacoustic tomography. RESULTS: The diagnostic capabilities and specificity to pancreatic adenocarcinoma of Syndecan-1 targeted liposomes were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Immunocytochemistry showed that liposomes preferentially bound to and released their contents into cells expressing high levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor. We determined that the contents of the liposome were released into the cell as noted by the change in propidium iodide fluorescence from green to red based upon nucleic acid binding. In an orthotopic mouse model, the liposomes preferentially targeted the pancreatic tumor with little off-target binding in the liver and spleen. Peak accumulation of the liposomes in the tumor occurred at 8 h post-injection. Multispectral optoacoustic tomographic imaging was able to provide high-resolution 3D images of the tumor and liposome location. Ex vivo analysis showed that non-targeted liposomes accumulated in the liver, suggesting that specificity of the liposomes for pancreatic adenocarcinoma was due to the presence of the Syndecan-1 ligand. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that Syndecan-1 liposomes were able to release cargo into IGF1-R expressing tumor cells. The Syndecan-1 liposomes demonstrated tumor specificity in orthotopic pancreatic cancer as observed using multispectral optoacoustic tomography with reduced kidney and liver uptake. By targeting the liposome with Syndecan-1, this nanovehicle has potential as a targeted theranostic nanoparticle for both drug and contrast agent delivery to pancreatic tumors.

2-[(Di-methyl-phenyl-phosphanyl-idene)aza-nium-yl]-5-methyl-benzene-sulfonate benzene monosolvate.

The title compound, C15H18NO3PS·C6H6, is a rare example of a crystallographically characterized exocyclic phosphiniminium-arene-sulfonate zwitterion, which crystallises as its benzene solvate. The crystal structure shows that the N atom is protonated and that the iminium H atom forms both intra- and inter-molecular hydrogen bonds to the single-bonded sulfonate O atom in an R 2 (2)(4) graph-set motif. The dihedral angle between the aromatic rings in the main molecule is 89.49 (8)°.

Synthetic Utility of Epoxides for Chiral Functionalization of Isoxazoles.

The lithio-anion of isoxazole 2 was found to ring open propylene oxide in good yields with complete regioselectivity. Vinylic and benzylic epoxides were utilized as key examples of electrophiles and found to produce a mixture of regioisomeric adducts. Additionally, the use of chiral epoxides was explored, and absolute configuration was determined by X-ray crystallography to prove that nucleophilic attack at the benzylic carbon of (R)-styrene oxide proceeds with 100% inversion at the benzylic carbon to afford the (S)-alcohol (4b).

Acrylonitrile insertion reactions of cationic palladium alkyl complexes.

The reactions of acrylonitrile (AN) with "L(2)PdMe+" species were investigated; (L(2) = CH(2)(N-Me-imidazol-2-yl)(2) (a, bim), (p-tolyl)(3)CCH(N-Me-imidazol-2-yl)(2) (b, Tbim), CH(2)(5-Me-2-pyridyl)(2) (c, CH(2)py'(2)), 4,4'-Me(2)-2,2'-bipyridine (d), 4,4'-(t)Bu(2)-2,2'-bipyridine (e), (2,6-(i)Pr(2)-C(6)H(3))N=CMeCMe=N(2,6-(i)Pr(2)-C(6)H(3)) (f)). [L(2)PdMe(NMe(2)Ph)][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] (2a-c) and [{L(2)PdMe}(2)(mu-Cl)][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] (2d-f) react with AN to form N-bound adducts L(2)Pd(Me)(NCCH=CH(2))(+) (3a-f). 3a-e undergo 2,1 insertion to yield L(2)Pd{CH(CN)Et}+, which form aggregates [L(2)Pd{CH(CN)Et}](n)(n)(+) (n = 1-3, 4a-e) in which the Pd units are proposed to be linked by PdCHEtCN- - -Pd bridges. 3f does not insert AN at 23 degrees C. 4a-e were characterized by NMR, ESI-MS, IR and derivatization to L(2)Pd{CH(CN)Et}(PR(3))+ (R = Ph (5a-e), Me (6a-c)). 4a,b react with CO to form L(2)Pd{CH(CN)Et}(CO)+ (7a,b). 7a reacts with CO by slow reversible insertion to yield (bim)Pd{C(=O)CH(CN)Et}(CO)+ (8a). 4a-e do not react with ethylene. (Tbim)PdMe+ coordinates AN more weakly than ethylene, and AN insertion of 3b is slower than ethylene insertion of (Tbim)Pd(Me)(CH(2)=CH(2))(+) (10b). These results show that most important obstacles to insertion polymerization or copolymerization of AN using L(2)PdR+ catalysts are the tendency of L(2)Pd{CH(CN)CH(2)R}+ species to aggregate, which competes with monomer coordination, and the low insertion reactivity of L(2)Pd{CH(CN)CH(2)R}(substrate)+ species.