New naphtho[1,8-ef]perimidines: synthesis, fluorescence studies and application for detection of nitroanalytes

A rational approach to the synthesis of substituted naphtho[1,8-ef]perimidines based on SNH methodology and cyclization reaction in the series of condensed azines with naphthalene substituents was presented. Photophysical properties of the obtained fluorophores were studied, in particular, green fluorescence in the 485–536 nm range with quantum yield up to 32.4% was detected. HOMO-LUMO energy values and distributions for the new compounds were calculated by the DFT method in comparison with nitroanalytes and perylene. Based on the data obtained, as well as on the results of fluorescence titration, the possibility of using the new diazaperylenes as potential chemosensors for the visual detection of nitro-containing explosives was shown.

Carbon nano-dot for cancer studies as dual nano-sensor for imaging intracellular temperature or pH variation

Cellular temperature and pH govern many cellular physiologies, especially of cancer cells. Besides, attaining higher cellular temperature plays key role in therapeutic efficacy of hyperthermia treatment of cancer. This requires bio-compatible, non-toxic and sensitive probe with dual sensing ability to detect temperature and pH variations. In this regard, fluorescence based nano-sensors for cancer studies play an important role. Therefore, a facile green synthesis of orange carbon nano-dots (CND) with high quantum yield of 90% was achieved and its application as dual nano-sensor for imaging intracellular temperature and pH was explored. CND was synthesized from readily available, bio-compatible citric acid and rhodamine 6G hydrazide using solvent-free and simple heating technique requiring purification by dialysis. Although the particle size of 19 nm (which is quite large for CND) was observed yet CND exhibits no surface defects leading to decrease in photoluminescence (PL). On the contrary, very high fluorescence was observed along with good photo-stability. Temperature and pH dependent fluorescence studies show linearity in fluorescence intensity which was replicated in breast cancer cells. In addition, molecular nature of PL of CND was established using pH dependent fluorescence study. Together, the current investigation showed synthesis of highly fluorescent orange CND, which acts as a sensitive bio-imaging probe: an optical nano-thermal or nano-pH sensor for cancer-related studies.

Bis(Tryptophan) Amphiphiles Form Ion Conducting Pores and Enhance Antimicrobial Activity against Resistant Bacteria

The compounds referred to as bis(tryptophan)s (BTs) have shown activity as antimicrobials. The hypothesis that the activity of these novel amphiphiles results from insertion in bilayer membranes and transport of cations is supported by planar bilayer voltage-clamp studies reported herein. In addition, fluorescence studies of propidium iodide penetration of vital bacteria confirmed enhanced permeability. It was also found that BTs having either meta-phenylene or n-dodecylene linkers function as effective adjuvants to enhance the properties of FDA-approved antimicrobials against organisms such as S. aureus. In one example, a BT-mediated synergistic effect enhanced the potency of norfloxacin against S. aureus by 128-fold. In order to determine if related compounds in which tryptophan was replaced by other common amino acids (H2N-Aaa-linker-Aaa-NH2) we active, a family of analogs have been prepared, characterized, and tested as controls for both antimicrobial activity and as adjuvants for other antimicrobials against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The most active of the compounds surveyed remain the bis(tryptophan) derivatives.

Redox sensing modulates the activity of ComE response regulator of Streptococcus mutans

Streptococcus mutans , a dental pathogen, encodes the ComDE two-component system comprised of a histidine kinase (ComD) and a response regulator (ComE). This system is necessary for production of bacteriocins and development of genetic competence. ComE interacts with its cognate promoters to activate the transcription of bacteriocin and competence related genes. Previous transcriptomic studies indicated that expressions of bacteriocin genes were upregulated in the presence of oxygen. To understand the relationship between the aerobic condition and bacteriocin expression, we analyzed the S. mutans ComE sequence and its close homologs. Surprisingly, we noticed the presence of cysteine (Cys) residues located at positions 200 and 229, which are highly conserved among the ComE homologs. Here we investigated the role of Cys residues of S. mutans ComE in the activation of bacteriocin transcription using the P nlmA promoter that expresses bacteriocin NlmA. We constructed both single mutants and double mutants by replacing the Cys residues with serine and performed complementation assays. We observed that the presence of Cys residues is essential for P nlmA activation. With purified ComE mutant proteins we found that ComE double mutants displayed a nearly two-fold lower association rate than wild-type ComE. Furthermore, ANS fluorescence studies indicated that the double mutants displayed wider conformation changes than wild-type ComE. Finally, we demonstrated that close streptococcal ComE homologs successfully activate the P nlmA expression in vivo . This is the first report suggesting that S. mutans ComE and its homologs can sense the oxidation status of the cell, a phenomenon similar to the AgrA system of Staphylococcus aureus but with different outcome. IMPORTANCE Streptococci are an important species that prefer to grow under anaerobic or microaerophilic environments. Studies have shown that streptococci growth in an aerobic environment generates oxidative stress responses by activating various defense systems including production of antimicrobial peptides called bacteriocins. This study highlights the importance of a two-component response regulator (ComE) that senses the aerobic environment and induces bacteriocin production in Streptococcus mutans , a dental pathogen. We believe increased bacteriocin secretion under aerobic conditions is necessary for survival and colonization of S. mutans in the oral cavity by inhibiting other competing organisms. Redox sensing by response regulator might be a wide-spread phenomenon, since two other ComE homologs from pathogenic streptococci that inhabit diverse environmental niches also perform a similar function.

Synthesis, Characterization, Fluorescence and Antimicrobial studies of Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes derived from Schiff’s base (E)-2-(5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzylidene)-N-(4-phenylthiazol-2-yl)hydrazinecarboxamide

A series of Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes of (E)-2-(5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzylidene)-N-(4-phenylthiazol-2-yl)hydrazinecarboxamide (HL) with ONO donor ligand was synthesized. The ligand (HL) was prepared by the condensation of N-(4-phenylthiazol-2-yl)hydrazinecarboxamide with 5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde. The HL and its metal complexes have been characterized using elemental analysis and various spectral techniques such as, FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR, Mass, UV–Visible, ESR, thermal analysis (TGA), magnetic moment, conductivity and powder-XRD. The Powder XRD pattern indicates hexagonal or tetragonal system for HL and its metal complexes. The fluorescence studies exhibits strong emission in the range of 400-500 nm for HL. Further in comparison the HL, Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes showed enhanced emission whereas Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) showed poor emission. The antimicrobial activities of the HL and its metal complexes were studied by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method wherein the metal complexes showed better activity as compare to free ligand.

Molecular Basis of Interactions between the Antibiotic Nitrofurantoin and Human Serum Albumin: A Mechanism for the Rapid Drug Blood Transportation

Nitrofurantoin is an antimicrobial agent obtained through the addition of a nitro group and a side chain containing hydantoin to a furan ring. The interactions of the antibiotic with human serum albumin (HSA) have been investigated by fluorescence, UV-VIS, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy, and protein-ligand docking studies. The fluorescence studies indicate that the binding site of the additive involves modifications of the environment around Trp214 at the level of subdomain IIA. Fluorescence and UV-VIS spectroscopy, displacement studies, and FTIR experiments show the association mode of nitrofurantoin to HSA, suggesting that the primary binding site of the antibiotic is located in Sudlow’s site I. Molecular modeling suggests that nitrofurantoin is involved in the formation of hydrogen bonds with Trp214, Arg218, and Ser454, and is located in the hydrophobic cavity of subdomain IIA. Moreover, the curve-fitting results of the infrared Amide I’ band indicate that the binding of nitrofurantoin induces little change in the protein secondary structure. Overall, these data clarify the blood transportation process of nitrofurantoin and its rapid transfer to the kidney for its elimination, hence leading to a better understanding of its biological effects and being able to design other molecules, based on nitrofurantoin, with a higher biological potential.