Article
Chemistry, Organic
Giampiero Proietti, Julius Kuzmin, Azamat Z. Temerdashev, Peter Diner
Summary: Perfluorinated aromatic nitrenes can react with sulfinamides and sulfoxides to generate achiral and chiral SIAs and SOIs, with one enantiopure SIA serving as a novel chiral auxiliary in Grignard additions to imines, yielding the product in up to 96:4 diastereomeric ratio.
JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Ruslan Muhamadejev, Renate Melngaile, Paula Paegle, Ieva Zibarte, Marina Petrova, Kristaps Jaudzems, Janis Veliks
Summary: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer plays a crucial role in organic synthesis laboratories for structure determination, reaction control, and compound purity analysis. By utilizing CDCl3 residual solvent signal as an internal standard in qNMR, sample preparation is simplified, and analyte recovery is straightforward. If the guidelines provided are followed, the accuracy of this method is comparable to using 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene as an internal standard for qNMR.
JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuesheng Xie, Dayong Zheng, Ting Yang, Zhenzhen Zhang, Wenwu Xu, Houru Liu, Wei Li
Summary: This study compared the performance of quantitative H-1 NMR spectroscopy (qNMR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in sugar analysis. Both methods showed similar performance characteristics, including linearity range, accuracy, precision, recovery, and analysis times. After method validation, both qNMR and HPLC demonstrated good accuracy, precision, and stability. The qNMR method was found to be simple, sensitive, and rapid in quantifying the four sugars. Analysis of variance showed that HPLC and qNMR methods had no significant difference and could be used interchangeably for quantitative analysis of carbohydrates.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Joshua M. Kofsky, Gour C. Daskhan, Matthew S. Macauley, Chantelle J. Capicciotti
Summary: A new method for synthesizing azido sugars using fluorosulfuryl azide (FSO2N3) and a Cu(II) catalyst as a diazotransfer reagent is reported. The method allows for the conversion of hexosamine substrates to azido sugars in less than 5 minutes with quantitative yield, without the need for harsh conditions or long reaction times. The method is also applicable to other amino sugar derivatives and is orthogonal to O-sulfation.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Sudheer S. Kurup, Stanislav Groysman
Summary: Azo dyes, with their vivid colors and facile photoisomerization, are widely used in the chemical industry. However, the current synthetic methods often involve harsh reaction conditions and toxic reagents, leading to waste production. Transition metal catalyzed nitrene coupling offers a sustainable alternative with catalytic amounts of co-reactants and dinitrogen as the only by-product.
DALTON TRANSACTIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pratyush Kumar Mishra, Nirmali Sharma, Hyunwoo Kim, Changwook Lee, Hyun-Woo Rhee
Summary: GEN-Click is a genetically encoded copper-click reaction that allows spatial biotin labeling of azide or alkyne-tagged biomolecules in live cells. It provides a genetically controlled, spatially restricted, metal-catalyzed biorthogonal reaction for labeling various azido-bearing biomolecules.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Ana R. Humpierre, Abel Zanuy, Mirelys Saenz, Aldrin V. Vasco, Yanira Mendez, Bernhard Westermann, Felix Cardoso, Lauren Quintero, Darielys Santana, Vicente Verez, Yury Valdes, Daniel G. Rivera, Raine Garrido
Summary: Novel unimolecular bivalent glycoconjugates were developed and analyzed using quantitative NMR to address the structural complexity and composition of the vaccines, highlighting the efficiency of this technique in vaccine design.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ANALYSIS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Jose Laxio Arenas, Pascal Retailleau, Jean-Michel Gillet, Nour-Eddine Ghermani, Sandrine Ongeri, Benoit Crousse
Summary: The 5-fluoro triazole amino acid scaffold prepared by halogen exchange was successfully incorporated into peptides. The X-ray diffraction results revealed an important localization of the 5-fluoro triazole motif on one side of the negative potential surface, with the fluorine atom showing a cylindrical shape in its electron density deformation.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alex C. Seastram, Mishra Deepak Hareram, Thomas M. B. Knight, Louis C. Morrill
Summary: An electrochemical method for the azidocyanation of alkenes via 1,4-nitrile migration has been developed. The method is applicable to various alkene containing cyanohydrins and provides access to a broad range of synthetically useful 1,2-azidonitriles. The methodology has also been extended to alkene sulfonylcyanation and the synthesis of a trifunctionalized hexanenitrile.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Claire Empel, Rene M. Koenigs
Summary: Photochemistry, a classic discipline in chemistry, has witnessed significant developments in the access and application of reactive intermediates. This perspective focuses on the utilization of nitrene intermediates for amination reactions under photochemical conditions, which hold great importance in modern drug discovery and agrochemistry.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yujing Guo, Claire Empel, Chao Pei, Hao Fang, Sripati Jana, Rene M. Koenigs
Summary: The amination with monovalent, nitrogen-based intermediates is important in organic synthesis, but the high basicity of reagents poses challenges to metal-catalyzed amination. We describe a photochemical approach using free nitrene radical anions as reactive intermediates for intermolecular amination of allenes, which overcomes current limitations.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jack Cheeseman, Concepcion Badia, Rebecca Thomson, Gunter Kuhnle, Richard A. Gardner, Daniel I. R. Spencer, Helen M. Osborn
Summary: N-Acetylneuraminic acid is a crucial nine-carbon monosaccharide that plays vital roles in various biological functions. Recent research has identified acetylated sialic acid derivatives as potential biomarkers for specific cancers. This study successfully synthesized and analyzed these derivatives using quantitative NMR spectroscopy.
Article
Plant Sciences
Anna Mascellani, Lucia Natali, Andrea Cavallini, Flavia Mascagni, Giovanni Caruso, Riccardo Gucci, Jaroslav Havlik, Rodolfo Bernardi
Summary: Under salt stress, the transcription levels of carbohydrate metabolism-related genes in ripe fig fruits generally increased, but there was no significant change in glucose and fructose content, while the increases in sucrose and D-sorbitol contents may be attributed to the up-regulation of gene transcription.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Andrey Bubyrev, Ksenia Malkova, Grigory Kantin, Dmitry Dar'in, Mikhail Krasavin
Summary: A three-component synthesis of 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles can be achieved from alpha-acetyl-alpha-diazomethane sulfonamides, primary aliphatic amines, and aromatic aldehydes. The synthesis can proceed in two alternative variants based on the substitutions in the diazo reagent. Depending on the variant, the intermediates are either isolated and subjected to aromatization, or both transformations take place in a single step at room temperature.
JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Lodsna Borkotoky, Uma Devi Newar, Bipul Sarma, Ram Awatar Maurya
Summary: Heating a mixture of phenacyl azides, aldehydes, and cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyls without any solvent, catalyst, or additive at 100 degrees C led to efficient three-component redox-neutral coupling to yield fi-enaminodiones with high yields (75-86%). The synthesis of 34 structurally diverse fi-enaminodiones was demonstrated by using differentially substituted phenacyl azides, aldehydes, 4-hydroxycoumarins, and 4-hydroxy-1-methylquinolin-2(1H)-one, and dimedone as substrates, with dinitrogen and water as the only byproducts.
JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Idoia Gallego, Ilia Villate-Beitia, Cristina Soto-Sanchez, Margarita Menendez, Santiago Grijalvo, Ramon Eritja, Gema Martinez-Navarrete, Lawrence Humphreys, Tania Belen Lopez Mendez, Gustavo Puras, Eduardo Fernandez, Jose Luis Pedraz
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2020)
Article
Biology
Ruben Hervas, Maria del Carmen Fernandez-Ramirez, Albert Galera-Prat, Mari Suzuki, Yoshitaka Nagai, Marta Bruix, Margarita Menendez, Douglas V. Laurents, Mariano Carrion-Vazquez
Summary: The divergent prion-like domains (PLDs) of CPEB proteins from different species retain the ability to form a generic amyloid-like fold through different assembly mechanisms, with structural differences at the beginning of their amyloid assembly pathways.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria A. Campanero-Rhodes, Ioanna Kalograiaki, Begona Euba, Enrique Llobet, Ana Arda, Jesus Jimenez-Barbero, Junkal Garmendia, Dolores Solis
Summary: This study demonstrated that four human galectins can bind to Gram-negative bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae, showing versatility in recognizing different bacterial structures. Galectins-3, -4, and -8 were found to bind to both types of bacteria, with galectin-1 lacking this ability. The results highlight the potential existence of previously overlooked galectin ligands on bacterial surfaces.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Marta Perez-Illana, Natalia Martin-Gonzalez, Mercedes Hernando-Perez, Gabriela N. Condezo, Jose Gallardo, Margarita Menendez, Carmen San Martin, Pedro J. de Pablo
Summary: This study investigates the impact of acidic conditions on adenovirus particles, revealing that short-term acidification leads to softening of the virion and reduced accessibility of the genome. The main effect observed is the compaction of the nucleoproteic core, shedding light on a previously unknown role for chemical cues in adenovirus uncoating.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Ariadna Fernandez-Calvet, Begona Euba, Celia Gil-Campillo, Arancha Catalan-Moreno, Javier Moleres, Sara Marti, Alexandra Merlos, Jeroen D. Langereis, Francisco Garcia-del Portillo, Lauren O. Bakaletz, Garth D. Ehrlich, Eric A. Porsch, Margarita Menendez, Joshua C. Mell, Alejandro Toledo-Arana, Junkal Garmendia
Summary: This study reveals the molecular mechanisms of NTHi pathoadaptation based on within-patient lifestyle switching controlled by phase variation. Adhesins such as HMW1A in NTHi display allelic variation, driving changes in epithelial invasion phenotype over time. This highlights the importance of bacterial adaptation in chronic infections and the role of genetic variants in shaping bacterial behavior.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Adele Vanacore, Giuseppe Vitiello, Alan Wanke, Domenico Cavasso, Luke A. Clifton, Lisa Mahdi, Maria Asuncion Campanero-Rhodes, Dolores Solis, Manfred Wuhrer, Simone Nicolardi, Antonio Molinaro, Roberta Marchetti, Alga Zuccaro, Luigi Paduano, Alba Silipo
Summary: Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are important outer membrane components of Gram-negative bacteria, playing a crucial role in host-microbial interactions. Understanding how plants perceive and distinguish LPS from beneficial and pathogenic bacteria is a pressing question. This study investigated the structure, membrane properties, and immune recognition of LPS isolated from the root microbiota member Herbaspirillum sp. Root189 in Arabidopsis thaliana, highlighting the role of LPS in plant-microbial crosstalk and the influence of O-antigen modifications on LPS host recognition.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Cristina Gallego-Paramo, Noelia Hernandez-Ortiz, Ruben M. Buey, Palma Rico-Lastres, Guadalupe Garcia, J. Fernando Diaz, Pedro Garcia, Margarita Menendez
Summary: The structural and functional characteristics of Skl and Pal endolysins were studied, revealing a common dimeric architecture and efficient anti-pneumococcal activity. The study also highlighted the catalytic mechanism and substrate binding sites of these endolysins, providing new insights into their potential as therapeutic agents against drug-resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Myriam Sainz-Ramos, Ilia Villate-Beitia, Idoia Gallego, Nuseibah AL Qtaish, Margarita Menendez, Laura Lagartera, Santiago Grijalvo, Ramon Eritja, Gustavo Puras, Jose Luis Pedraz
Summary: Lipid nanocarriers, such as niosomes, are promising candidates for non-viral gene delivery due to their biocompatibility and versatility. This study evaluated the effects of incorporating chloroquine in niosomes and different non-ionic surfactant compositions on their biophysical properties. Results showed that chloroquine incorporation improved the performance of niosomes, while variations in surfactant substitution and protocol had less impact.
Article
Microbiology
Nahikari Lopez-Lopez, David San Leon, Sonia de Castro, Roberto Diez-Martinez, Manuel Iglesias-Bexiga, Maria Jose Camarasa, Margarita Menendez, Juan Nogales, Junkal Garmendia
Summary: This study focuses on the human-adapted pathogen Haemophilus influenzae and identifies new metabolic drug targets through the construction of a high-quality genome-scale metabolic model. The results provide valuable insights into potential drug targets and validate the effectiveness of a specific inhibitor against the targeted enzyme.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maria del Carmen Fernandez-Ramirez, Kevin Kan-Shing Ng, Margarita Menendez, Douglas V. Laurents, Ruben Hervas, Mariano Carrion-Vazquez
Summary: Understanding the early stages of amyloid formation is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies. Although the mechanism of tau protein aggregation, a key feature of neurodegenerative diseases, is still unclear, this study used single-molecule force spectroscopy to investigate the conformational landscape of the monomeric tau repeat domain. The researchers discovered different conformational states influenced by mutations and the chemical environment, with pathological mutations and an amyloidogenic milieu favoring expanded conformations. The findings provide insight into the complex aggregation process of tau protein and its relevance to different tauopathies.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cristina Gallego-Paramo, Noelia Hernandez-Ortiz, Pedro Garcia, Margarita Menendez
Summary: In this study, we investigated the tuning of natural lysin activity by acquiring enzymatic active domains (EADs) and cell wall binding domains (CWBDs). By combining EAD of Skl and cell wall choline-binding domain (CBD) of LytA, a chimeric lysin QSLA with superior antibacterial capacity was produced. The QSLA showed increased bacterial killing and extended substrate range compared to parental enzymes. This study provides a novel approach to design superior lysins and presents a promising therapeutic perspective.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ivan Acebron, Maria Asuncion Campanero-Rhodes, Dolores Solis, Margarita Menendez, Carolina Garcia, M. Pilar Lillo, Jose M. Mancheno
Summary: This article introduces a new fungal lectin LBL, which can recognize and bind to various complex polysaccharide structures, and exhibit toxicity to invaders and parasites. The research found that LBL has a high affinity for insect cellular extracts, especially for fruit flies in the adult and pupa stages.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Geography, Physical
D. Ballesteros, A. de la Hera-Portillo, M. Llorente, R. Vila, M. M. Corral Lledo, E. Galindo Rodriguez, J. Lopez, L. Moreno, M. Menendez, P. Caldevilla, M. Ghanem, A. Hind, B. Chulli, N. E. Laftouhi, F. K. Abdel-Gawad, M. Alemparte
Summary: Karst aquifers, caves, and springs are unique sites with scientific, touristic, and water resource values. However, their management is challenging due to various factors and changes in surface hydrology and groundwater.
EUROKARST 2022: ADVANCES IN THE HYDROGEOLOGY OF KARST AND CARBONATE RESERVOIRS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yang Shen, Ioanna Kalograiaki, Alessio Prunotto, Matthew Dunne, Samy Boulos, Nicholas M. I. Taylor, Eric T. Sumrall, Marcel R. Eugster, Rebecca Martin, Alicia Julian-Rodero, Benjamin Gerber, Petr G. Leiman, Margarita Menendez, Matteo Dal Peraro, Francisco Javier Canada, Martin J. Loessner
Summary: This study reveals the molecular interaction mechanism between the Listeria phage endolysin domain CBD500 and its cell wall teichoic acid (WTA) ligands, showing that 3' O-acetylated GlcNAc residues are the key epitope recognized by CBD. The findings provide insights into a previously unknown recognition mechanism that phage endolysin specifically targets WTA, suggesting a flexible model for regulating endolysin specificity.
