Purine 3′:5′‐cyclic nucleotides with the nucleobase in a syn orientation: cAMP,cGMP and cIMP

Purine 3′:5′‐cyclic nucleotides are very well known for their role as the secondary messengers in hormone action and cellular signal transduction. Nonetheless, their solid‐state conformational details still require investigation. Five crystals containing purine 3′:5′‐cyclic nucleotides have been obtained and structurally characterized, namely adenosine 3′:5′‐cyclic phosphate dihydrate, C₁₀H₁₂N₅O₆P·2H₂O or cAMP·2H₂O, (I), adenosine 3′:5′‐cyclic phosphate 0.3‐hydrate, C₁₀H₁₂N₅O₆P·0.3H₂O or cAMP·0.3H₂O, (II), guanosine 3′:5′‐cyclic phosphate pentahydrate, C₁₀H₁₂N₅O₇P·5H₂O or cGMP·5H₂O, (III), sodium guanosine 3′:5′‐cyclic phosphate tetrahydrate, Na⁺·C₁₀H₁₁N₅O₇P⁻·4H₂O or Na(cGMP)·4H₂O, (IV), and sodium inosine 3′:5′‐cyclic phosphate tetrahydrate, Na⁺·C₁₀H₁₀N₄O₇P⁻·4H₂O or Na(cIMP)·4H₂O, (V). Most of the cyclic nucleotide zwitterions/anions [two from four cAMP present in total in (I) and (II), cGMP in (III), cGMP⁻ in (IV) and cIMP⁻ in (V)] are syn conformers about the N‐glycosidic bond, and this nucleobase arrangement is accompanied by C_rib—H…N_pur hydrogen bonds (rib = ribose and pur = purine). The base orientation is tuned by the ribose pucker. An analysis of data obtained from the Cambridge Structural Database made in the context of syn–anti conformational preferences has revealed that among the syn conformers of various purine nucleotides, cyclic nucleotides and dinucleotides predominate significantly. The interactions stabilizing the syn conformation have been indicated. The inter‐nucleotide contacts in (I)–(V) have been systematized in terms of the chemical groups involved. All five structures display three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded networks.     

Antimicrobial properties of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles studied by flow cytometry and related techniques

This work reports the effect of silver bionanoparticles (Bio(AgNPs) synthesized by Actinobacteria CGG 11n on selected Gram (+) and Gram (–) bacteria. Flow cytometry, classical antibiogram method and fluorescent microscopy approach was used for evaluation of antimicrobial activity of Bio(AgNPs) and their combination with antibiotics. Furthermore, the performed research specified the capacity of flow cytometry method as an alternative to the standard ones and as a complementary method to electromigration techniques. The study showed antibacterial activity of both BioAgNPs and the combination of antibiotics/BioAgNPs against all the tested bacteria strains in comparison with a diffusion, dilution and bioautographic methods. The synergistic effect of antibiotics/BioAgNPs combination (e.g. kanamycin, ampicillin, neomycin and streptomycin) was found to be more notable against Pseudomonas aeruginosa representing a prototype of multi‐drug resistant “superbugs” for which effective therapeutic options are very limited.     

Hydrotalcite-derived Co-containing mixed metal oxide catalysts for methanol incineration

The Co–Mg–Al mixed metal oxides were prepared by calcination of co-precipitated hydrotalcite-like precursors at various temperatures (600–800 °C), characterised with respect to chemical (AAS) and phase (XRD) composition, textural parameters (BET), form and aggregation of cobalt species (UV–vis-DRS) and their redox properties (H₂-TPR, cyclic voltammetry). Moreover, the process of thermal decomposition of hydrotalcite-like materials to mixed metal oxide systems was studied by thermogravimetric method combined with the analysis of gaseous decomposition products by mass spectrometry. Calcined hydrotalcite-like materials were tested as catalysts for methanol incineration. Catalytic performance of the oxides depended on cobalt content, Mg/Al ratio and calcination temperature. The catalysts with lower cobalt content, higher Mg/Al ratio and calcined at lower temperatures (600 or 700 °C) were less effective in the process of methanol incineration. In a series of the studied catalysts, the best results, with respect to high catalytic activity and selectivity to CO₂, were obtained for the mixed oxide with Co:Mg:Al molar ratio of 10:57:33 calcined at 800 °C. High activity of this catalyst was likely connected with the presence of a Co–Mg–Al spinel-type phases, containing easy reducible Co³⁺ cations, formed during high-temperature treatment of the hydrotalcite-like precursor.     

Vitamin B12 Phosphate Conjugation and Its Effect on Binding to the Human B12‐Binding Proteins Intrinsic Factor and Haptocorrin

The binding of vitamin B₁₂ derivatives to human B₁₂ transporter proteins is strongly influenced by the type and site of modification of the cobalamin original structure. We have prepared the first cobalamin derivative modified at the phosphate moiety. The reaction conditions were fully optimized and its limitations examined. The resulting derivatives, particularly those bearing terminal alkyne and azide groups, were isolated and used in copper‐catalyzed alkyne–azide cycloaddition reactions (CuAAC). Their sensitivity towards light revealed their potential as photocleavable molecules. The binding abilities of selected derivatives were examined and compared with cyanocobalamin. The interaction of the alkylated derivatives with haptocorrin was less affected than the interaction with intrinsic factor. Furthermore, the configuration of the phosphate moiety was irrelevant to the binding process.     

Betaine and Carnitine Derivatives as Herbicidal Ionic Liquids

This study focused on the synthesis and subsequent characterization of herbicidal ionic liquids based on betaine and carnitine, two derivatives of amino acids, which were used as cations. Four commonly used herbicides (2,4‐D, MCPA, MCPP and Dicamba) were used as anions in simple (single anion) and oligomeric (two anions) salts. The obtained salts were subjected to analyzes regarding physicochemical properties (density, viscosity, refractive index, thermal decomposition profiles and solubility) as well as evaluation of their herbicidal activity under greenhouse and field conditions, toxicity towards rats and biodegradability. The obtained results suggest that the synthesized herbicidal ionic liquids displayed low toxicity (classified as category 4 compounds) and showed similar or improved efficacy against weed compared to reference herbicides. The highest increase was observed during field trials for salts containing 2,4‐D as the anion, which also exhibited the highest biodegradability (>75 %).