Cation-Controlled Formation and Interconversion of the fac/fac and mer/mer Stereoisomers of a Triple-Stranded Helicate.

Two biscatecholester ligands with oligoether spacers were used to prepare dinuclear titanium(IV) triscatecholate based helicates. In the case of Li4 [(1/2)3 Ti2 ], "classical" helicates with three internally bound Li+ ions and syn-oriented ligands in the complex units (fac/fac isomer) were obtained. In the case of the sodium salt Na4 [(2)3 Ti2 ], a different homochiral dinuclear triple-stranded helicate with two internally bound Na+ ions was formed. The complex units are anti-configured, and two of the ligand spacers are connecting internal with external positions of the helicate (mer/mer isomer). Removal of the sodium ions and addition of lithium ions leads to the switching from one topology to the other with an expanded helicate [(2)3 Ti2 ]4- as an intermediate. Switching back to the "non-classical" helicate cannot be observed because severe structural rearrangements would be required.

Cation-translocation based isomerism offers a tool for the expansion of compressed helicates.

A series of compressed M[Li313Ti2] (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) and expanded helicates M4[13Ti2] has been obtained. The helicates Li3[M13Ti2] or M4[13Ti2] with M = Na+, K+, Rb+, or Cs+ adopt the expanded structure in solution. By crystallization the compressed structures M[Li313Ti2] (M = Na, Rb) are obtained. This represents an example of cation-translocation based isomerism.

Aggregated Tau-PHF6 (VQIVYK) Potentiates NLRP3 Inflammasome Expression and Autophagy in Human Microglial Cells.

Intra-neuronal misfolding of monomeric tau protein to toxic ß-sheet rich neurofibrillary tangles is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Tau pathology correlates not only with progressive dementia but also with microglia-mediated inflammation in AD. Amyloid-beta (Aß), another pathogenic peptide involved in AD, has been shown to activate NLRP3 inflammasome (NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3), triggering the secretion of proinflammatory interleukin-1ß (IL1ß) and interleukin-18 (IL18). However, the effect of tau protein on microglia concerning inflammasome activation, microglial polarization, and autophagy is poorly understood. In this study, human microglial cells (HMC3) were stimulated with the unaggregated and aggregated forms of the tau-derived PHF6 peptide (VQIVYK). Modulation of NLRP3 inflammasome was examined by qRT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, and Western blot. We demonstrate that fibrillar aggregates of VQIVYK upregulated the NLRP3 expression at both mRNA and protein levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner, leading to increased expression of IL1ß and IL18 in HMC3 cells. Aggregated PHF6-peptide also activated other related inflammation and microglial polarization markers. Furthermore, we also report a time-dependent effect of the aggregated PHF6 on BECN1 (Beclin-1) expression and autophagy. Overall, the PHF6 model system-based study may help to better understand the complex interconnections between Alzheimer's PHF6 peptide aggregation and microglial inflammation, polarization, and autophagy.

The Role of the Hydrogen Source on the Selective Production of γ-Valerolactone and 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran from Levulinic Acid.

A mechanistic study of the hydrogenation reaction of levulinic acid (LA) to 2-methyltetrahydrofuyran (MTHF) was performed using three different solvents under reactive H2 and inert N2 atmospheres. Under the applied reaction conditions, catalytic transfer hydrogenation and hydrogenation with molecular H2 were effective at producing high yields of γ-valerolactone. However, the conversion of this stable intermediate to MTHF required the combination of both hydrogen sources (the solvent and the H2 atmosphere) to achieve good yields. The reaction system with 2-propanol as solvent and Ni-Cu/Al2 O3 as catalyst allowed full conversion of LA and a MTHF yield of 80 % after 20 h reaction time at 250 °C and 40 bar of H2 (at room temperature). The system showed the same catalytic activity at LA feed concentrations of 5 and up to 30 wt%, and also when high acetone concentration at the beginning of the reaction were added, which confirmed the potential industrial applications of this solvent/catalyst system.