Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Effect Of The Amide Substituent On The Biodistribution And Tolerance Of Lanthanide(Iii) Dota-Tetraamide Derivatives, Mark Woods, Peter Caravan, Carlos F.G.C. Geraldes, Matthew T. Greenfield, Garry Kiefer, Mai Lin, Kenneth Mcmillan, M. Isabel M. Prata, Ana C. Santos, Xiankai Sun, Jufeng Wang, Shanrong Zhang, Piyu Zhao, A. Dean Sherry

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objectives—Recent advances in the design of MRI contrast agents have rendered the lanthanide complexes of DOTA-tetraamide ligands of considerable interest, both as responsive MR agents and paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer agents. The potential utility of these complexes for in vivo applications is contingent upon them being well tolerated by the body. The purpose of this study was to examine how the nature of the amide substituent, and in particular its charge, affected the fate of these chelates postinjection.

Materials and Methods—Complexes of 6 DOTA-tetraamide ligands were prepared in which the nature of the amide substituent was systematically …

Polymeric Paracest Agents For Enhancing Mri Contrast Sensitivity, Yunkou Wu, Youfu Zhou, Olivier Quari, Mark Woods, Piyu Zhao, Todd B. Soesbe, Garry Kiefer, A. Dean Sherry

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Linear polymers of PARACEST agents were prepared by using classical free radical chain polymerization conditions. The Eu³⁺-polymers exhibited similar intermediate-to-slow water exchange and CEST characteristics as the Eu³⁺-monomers. This provided an avenue to lower the detection limit of these imaging agents substantially and makes them potentially useful as MRI sensors for molecular imaging.

The Original Build Up Of Genetic Information By Rna Recombination, Eric John Hayden

Dissertations and Theses

This research demonstrates chemical reactions of RNA molecules that allow them to increase in length, from non-catalytic oligomers to complex RNA enzymes. The purpose of this research was to explain the origin of large RNA polymers required for life to begin in the proposed "RNA World". To do this, the Azoarcus group I ribozyme was engineered to catalyze phosphodiester exchange reactions that result in the recombination of short oligomer substrates marked by ^5'CAU^3' recognition tags.

To demonstrate the ability to produce catalytic RNA sequences through recombination, substrate oligomers were synthesized that could produce ribozymes if large portions of …

Non-Canonical Binding Of Calmodulin To Aquaporin-0: Implications For Channel Regulation, Steve Reichow, Tamir Gonen

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of ubiquitous membrane channels that conduct water across cell membranes. AQPs form homo-tetramers containing four functional and independent water pores. Aquaporin-0 (AQP0) is expressed in the eye lens where its water permeability is regulated by calmodulin (CaM). Here we use a combination of biochemical methods and NMR spectroscopy to probe the interaction between AQP0 and CaM. We show CaM binds the AQP0 C-terminal domain in a calcium dependent manner. We demonstrate that only two CaM molecules bind a single AQP0 tetramer in a non-canonical fashion, suggesting a form of co-operativity between AQP0 monomers. Based on …

Nanostructered Aminophenylporphyrin Films For Use In Bulk Heterojunction And Inverse Dye-Sensitized Tio₂ Solar Cells, Michael George Walter

Dissertations and Theses

Conductive nanostructured films of poly-tetrakis-5,10,15,20-(4-aminophenyl)porphyrin (TAPP) can be grown electrochemically or through interfacial oxidative polymerization. The poly-TAPP nanomorphology is sensitive to the electrochemical solvent, potentiometric method, and the aminophenyl porphyrin monomer utilized. To elucidate the molecular structure of poly-TAPP and to correlate structures with proposed polymerization and conductivity mechanisms, reflectance FT-IR and spectroelectrochemistry were used to detect the presence and electroactivity of dihydrophenazine and phenazine polymer linkages formed during the polymerization.

Poly-TAPP nanofiber films were evaluated for use in a bulk heterojunction solar cell (with PCBM) and in an inverse dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cell using the poly-TAPP nanoporous scaffold to …

Synthesis And Relaxometric Studies Of A Dendrimer‐Based Ph‐Responsive Mri Contrast Agent, M. Meser Ali, Mark Woods, Peter Caravan, Ana C.L. Opina, Marga Spiller, James C. Fettinger, A. Dean Sherry

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

The design of effective pH responsive MRI contrast agents is a key goal in the development of new diagnostic methods for conditions such as kidney disease and cancer. A key factor determining the effectiveness of an agent is the difference between the relaxivity of the “on” state compared to that of the “off” state. In this paper, we demonstrate that it is possible to improve the pH-responsive action of a low molecular weight agent by conjugating it to a macromolecular construct. The synthesis of a bifunctional pH responsive agent is reported. As part of that synthetic pathway we examine the …

Design And Synthesis Of Antimalarial Drugs Based On A Chloroquine Scaffold, Steven James Burgess

Dissertations and Theses

There are between 350 and 500 million clinical cases of malaria each year, and over 1 million deaths, with pregnant women and children under the age of 5 being most at risk. Chloroquine (CQ) became the preferred drug to treat malaria in the late 1940s, but is now rendered mostly ineffective in many parts of the world, due to widespread CQ resistance by the malaria parasite. All other malaria treatments suffer from some drawbacks, which include development of resistance, side effects including toxicity, risk for pregnant women and young children, and high cost. Some existing, non-antimalarial, drugs have been found …

A Novel Approach To The Synthesis Of Silicon Nanowires, Joo Chick Chan

Dissertations and Theses

Contemporary VLS-SiNW synthetic methods employ CVD and laser ablation methods that produce single crystalline SiNW; which can be doped by co-flowing appropriate dopants, such as diborane (p-type) and phosphine (n-type). Not only are these gases toxic (non-green), but also the synthetic methods used are costly requiring elaborate instrumental assembly. This thesis presents a low-cost and "green" method in synthesizing and doping of SiNW in a glass tube. It was found that by selecting the appropriate metal catalyst, precursor reactants, and the reaction conditions both SiNW and carbon nanotube (CNT) can be synthesized on metallic (aluminum and copper), semiconducting (silicon) and …

Seminaphthofluorones Are A Family Of Water-Soluble, Low Molecular Weight, Nir-Emitting Fluorophores, Youjun Yang, Mark Lowry, Xiangyang Xu, Jorge O. Escobedo, Martha Sibrian-Vazquez, Lisa Wong, Corin M. Schowalter, Timothy J. Jensen, Frank R. Fronczek, Isiah M. Warner, Robert M. Strongin

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

A readily accessible new class of near infrared (NIR) molecular probes has been synthesized and evaluated. Specific fluorophores in this unique xanthene based regioisomeric seminaphthofluorone dye series exhibit a combination of desirable characteristics including (i) low molecular weight (339 amu), (ii) aqueous solubility, and (iii) dual excitation and emission from their fluorescent neutral and anionic forms. Importantly, systematic changes in the regiochemistry of benzannulation and the ionizable moieties afford (iv) tunable deep-red to NIR emission from anionic species and (v) enhanced Stokes shifts. Anionic SNAFR-6, exhibiting an unusually large Stokes …

Electron Crystallography Of Aquaporins, Simeon Andrews, Steve Reichow, Tamir Gonen

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Aquaporins are a family of ubiquitous membrane proteins that form a pore for the permeation of water. Both electron and X-ray crystallography played major roles in determining the atomic structures of a number of aquaporins. This review focuses on electron crystallography, and its contribution to the field of aquaporin biology. We briefly discuss electron crystallography and the two-dimensional crystallization process. We describe features of aquaporins common to both electron and X-ray crystallographic structures; as well as some structural insights unique to electron crystallography, including aquaporin junction formation and lipid-protein interactions.

Development And Investigation Of Unique Organic Materials To Detect Disease Biomarkers, George Kiplimo Samoei

Dissertations and Theses

Chemomechanical polymer gels with the capability of recognizing specific biological molecules are promising materials for many biomedical applications. Glucose-selective hydrogels have potential utility in the continuous monitoring of glucose and glucose-triggered insulin delivery for the management of diabetes. Herein, the development and study of the first material which detects glucose via significant volume changes in the challenging matrix human blood plasma is described. The material was created via the modification of PMMA with supramolecular binding sites. The polymer exhibits excellent selectivity and reversibility including continuous expansion-contraction cycles.

Simpol.1: A Simple Group Contribution Method For Predicting Vapor Pressures And Enthalpies Of Vaporization Of Multifunctional Organic Compounds, James F. Pankow, William E. Asher

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

The SIMPOL.1 group contribution method is developed for predicting the liquid vapor pressure p^o_L (atm) and enthalpy of vaporization Δ H_vap (kJ mol^-1) of organic compounds as functions of temperature (T). For each compound i, the method assumes log₁₀p^o_L,i (T)=∑_kν_k,ib_k(T) where ν_k,i is the number of groups of type k, and b_k (T) is the contribution to log₁₀p^o_L,i (T) by each group of type k. A …

Iron(Iii)-Salophene: An Organometallic Compound With Selective Cytotoxic And Anti-Proliferative Properties In Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer Cells, Thilo S. Lange, Kyu Kwang Kim, Rakesh K. Singh, Robert M. Strongin, Carolyn Mccourt, Laurent Brard

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: In this pioneer study to the biological activity of organometallic compound Iron(III)-salophene (Fe-SP) the specific effects of Fe-SP on viability, morphology, proliferation, and cell-cycle progression on platinum-resistant ovariancancer cell lines were investigated.

Methodology/Principal Findings: Fe-SP displayed selective cytotoxicity against SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 (ovarian epithelial adenocarcinoma) cell lines at concentrations between 100 nM and 1 μM, while the viability of HeLa cells (epithelial cervix adenocarcinoma) or primary lung or skin fibroblasts was not affected. SKOV-3 cells in contrast to fibroblasts after treatment with Fe-SP revealed apparent hallmarks of apoptosis including densely stained nuclear granular bodies within fragmented nuclei, highly condensed …

Towards The Rational Design Of Mri Contrast Agents: Electron Spin Relaxation Is Largely Unaffected By The Coordination Geometry Of Gadolinium(Iii)–Dota-Type Complexes, Alain Borel, Jonathan F. Bean, Robert B. Clarkson, Lothar Helm, Loïck Moriggi, A. Dean Sherry, Mark Woods

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Electron‐spin relaxation is one of the determining factors in the efficacy of MRI contrast agents. Of all the parameters involved in determining relaxivity it remains the least well understood, particularly as it relates to the structure of the complex. One of the reasons for the poor understanding of electron‐spin relaxation is that it is closely related to the ligand‐field parameters of the Gd³⁺ ion that forms the basis of MRI contrast agents and these complexes generally exhibit a structural isomerism that inherently complicates the study of electron spin relaxation. We have recently shown that two DOTA‐type ligands could be …

Determination Of Enantiomeric Compositions Of Analytes Using Novel Fluorescent Chiral Molecular Micelles And Steady State Fluorescence Measurements, Alicia A. Williams, Sayo O. Fakayode, Onur Alptürk, Christina M. Jones, Mark Lowry, Robert M. Strongin, Isiah M. Warner

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Novel fluorescent chiral molecular micelles (FCMMs) were synthesized, characterized, and employed as chiral selectors for enantiomeric recognition of non-fluorescent chiral molecules using steady state fluorescence spectroscopy. The sensitivity of the fluorescence technique allowed for investigation of low concentrations of chiral selector (3.0 x 10(-5) M) and analyte (5.0 x 10(-6) M) to be used in these studies. The chiral interactions of glucose, tartaric acid, and serine in the presence of FCMMs poly(sodium N-undecanoyl-L-tryptophanate) [poly-L-SUW], poly(sodium N-undecanoyl-L-tyrosinate) [poly-L-SUY], and poly(sodium N-undecanoyl-L-phenylalininate) [poly-SUF] were based on diastereomeric complex formation. Poly-L-SUW had a significant fluorescence emission spectral difference as compared to poly-L-SUY and …

Discrete Sums For The Rapid Determination Of Exponential Decay Constants, Michael A. Everest, Dean B. Atkinson

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Several computational methods are presented for the rapid extraction of decay time constants from discrete exponential data. Two methods are found to be comparably fast and highly accurate. They are corrected successive integration and a method involving the Fourier transform (FT) of the data and the application of an expression that does not assume continuous data. FT methods in the literature are found to introduce significant systematic error owing to the assumption that data are continuous. Corrected successive integration methods in the literature are correct, but we offer a more direct way of applying them which we call linear regression …

Modulation Of Water Exchange In Europium(Iii) Dota–Tetraamide Complexes Via Electronic Substituent Effects, S. James Ratnakar, Mark Woods, Angelo J.M. Lubag, Zoltan Kovacs, A. Dean Sherry

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

The chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) efficiency for a series Eu³⁺-based tetraamide complexes bearing p-substituents on a single coordinating pendant arm is highly sensitive to water exchange rates. The CEST effect increases in the order Me < MeO < F ∼ CO₂^tBu < CN ≪ H. These results show that CEST contrast can be modulated by changes in electron density at a single ligating atom, and this forms the basis of creating imaging agents that respond to chemical oxidation and reduction.

The Cis-Δ2,3-Double Bond Of Phoslactomycins Is Generated By A Post-Pks Tailoring Enzyme, Nadaraj Palaniappan, Mamoun M. Alhamadsheh, Kevin A. Reynolds

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

The antifungal phoslactomycins (PLM A-F), produced by Streptomyes sp HK803, are structurally unusual in that three of their four double bonds are in the cis form (Δ^12,13, Δ^14,15, Δ^2,3). The PLM polyketide synthase (PKS) has the predicted dehydratase catalytic domain in modules 1,2 and 5 required for establishing two of these cis double bonds (Δ^12,13Δ^14,15), as well as the only trans Δ^6,7double bond. By contrast, the formation of the cis Δ^2,3 in the unsaturated lactone moiety of PLMs has presented an enigma because the predicted dehydratase domain …

An Embarrassment Of Riches: The Enzymology Of Rna Modification, Dirk Iwata-Reuyl

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

The maturation of transfer RNA (tRNA) involves extensive chemical modification of the constituent nucleosides and results in the introduction of significant chemical diversity to tRNA. Many of the pathways to these modified nucleosides are characterized by chemically complex transformations, some of which are unprecedented in other areas of biology. To illustrate the scope of the field, recent progress in understanding the enzymology leading to the formation of two distinct classes of modified nucleosides, the thiouridines and queuosine, a 7-deazaguanosine, is reviewed. In particular, recent data validating the involvement of several proposed intermediates in the formation of thiouridines are discussed, including …

Electrical Detection Of The Temperature Induced Melting Transition Of A Dna Hairpin Covalently Attached To Gold Interdigitated Microelectrodes, Greg P. Brewood, Yaswanth Rangineni, Daniel J. Fish, Ashwini Bhandiwad, David R. Evans, Raj Solanki, Albert S. Benight

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

The temperature induced melting transition of a self-complementary DNA strand covalently attached at the 5' end to the surface of a gold interdigitated microelectrode (GIME) was monitored in a novel, label-free, manner. The structural state of the hairpin was assessed by measuring four different electronic properties of the GIME (capacitance, impedance, dissipation factor and phase angle) as a function of temperature from 25 degrees C to 80 degrees C. Consistent changes in all four electronic properties of the GIME were observed over this temperature range, and attributed to the transition of the attached single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) from an intramolecular, folded …

Chiral Recognition Of Amino Acids By Use Of A Fluorescent Resorcinarene, Gerald I. Richard, Hadi M. Marwani, Shan Jiang, Sayo O. Fakayode, Mark Lowry, Robert M. Strongin, Isiah M. Warner

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

The spectroscopic properties of a chiral boronic acid based resorcinarene macrocycle employed for chiral analysis were investigated. Specifically, the emission and excitation characteristics of tetraarylboronate resorcinarene macrocycle (TBRM) and its quantum yield were evaluated. The chiral selector TBRM was investigated as a chiral reagent for the enantiomeric discrimination of amino acids using steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy. Chiral recognition of amino acids in the presence of the macrocycle was based on diastereomeric complexes. Results demonstrated that TBRM had better chiral discrimination ability for lysine as compared to the other amino acids. Partial least squares regression modeling (PLS-1) of spectral data for macrocycle-lysine …

Unsymmetric Aryl–Alkyl Disulfide Growth Inhibitors Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus And Bacillus Anthracis, Edward Turos, Kevin D. Revell, Praveen Ramaraju, Danielle A. Gergeres, Kerriann Greenhalgh, Ashley Young, Nalini Sathyanarayan, Sonja Dickey, Daniel Lim, Mamoun M. Alhamadsheh, Kevin A. Reynolds

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study describes the antibacterial properties of synthetically-produced mixed aryl alkyl disulfide compounds as a means to control the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus anthracis. Some of these compounds exerted strong in vitro bioactivity. Our results indicate that among the twelve different aryl substituents examined, nitrophenyl derivatives provide the strongest antibiotic activities. This may be the result of electronic activation of the arylthio moiety as a leaving group for nucleophilic attack on the disulfide bond. Small alkyl residues on the other sulfur provide the best activity as well, which for different bacteria appears to be somewhat dependent on …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Novel Chiral Ionic Liquids And Investigation Of Their Enantiomeric Recognition Properties, David K. Bwambok, Hadi M. Marwani, Vivian E. Fernand, Sayo O. Fakayode, Mark Lowry, Ioan Negulescu, Robert M. Strongin, Isiah M. Warner

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

We report the synthesis and characterization of amino acid ester based chiral ionic liquids, derived from L- and D-alanine tert butyl ester chloride. The synthesis was accomplished via an anion metathesis reaction between commercially available L- and D-alanine tert butyl ester chloride using a variety of counterions such as lithium bis (trifluoromethane) sulfonimide, silver nitrate, silver lactate, and silver tetrafluoroborate. Both enantiomeric forms were obtained as confirmed by bands of opposite sign in the circular dichroism spectra. The L- and D-alanine tert butyl ester bis (trifluoromethane) sulfonimide were obtained as liquids at room temperature and intriguingly exhibited the highest thermal …