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Five β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) derivatives bearing substituted phenylcarbamate/3-(triethoxysilyl)propylcarbamate groups at the 2-, 3-, and 6-positions of glucose unit and another five derivatives containing benzoate at the 2-position and substituted phenylcarbamate/3-(triethoxysilyl)propylcarbamate groups at the 3- and 6-positions were synthesized using the regioselective esterification method. The obtained β-CD derivatives were efficiently immobilized onto the silica gel through the intermolecular polycondensation of a small amount of the triethoxysilyl groups, which were used as the chiral stationary phases (CSPs) for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The chiral separation properties of these CSPs were evaluated under the normal-phase HPLC. The effects of solvent polarity and the side chain structures of β-CD derivatives on the chiral recognition ability of the immobilized CSPs were investigated. Among these β-CD derivative CSPs, 2,3,6-tris(3,5-dichlorophenylcarbamate)-β-CD CSP showed a relatively high chiral recognition ability for the studied racemates. The regioselective esterification at the 2-position of glucose unit in the β-CD decreased the chiral recognition ability at the same conditions. For some racemates, the β-CD derivative CSPs showed chiral recognition abilities comparable or better to some chemical bonded β-CD derivative CSPs and 3,5-dichloro- and 3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamates of cellulose and amylose CSPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this investigation was to synthesize a doped polyaniline-containing coating and investigate the anti-corrosion properties of the coating on Mg-Li alloy. Design/methodology/approach – The doped polyaniline pigments were prepared by two different methods using ammonium persulphate as oxidant and hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, p-toluene sulfonic acid and sulfosalicylic acid as doping agents. The doped polyaniline was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The coatings consisted of polyaniline, epoxy resin and other additives that were formed on Mg-Li alloy. The anti-corrosion properties of the polyaniline-containing coating on the Mg-Li alloy were investigated in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution using open circuit potential logging and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Findings – The results of the electrochemical tests indicated that the polyaniline-containing coatings showed better anti-corrosion properties, as compared to conventional epoxy coatings on Mg-Li alloy when exposed in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. The coating containing 2 wt.% polyaniline (relative to the mass of epoxy resin) doped with hydrochloric acid had the best anti-corrosion properties on the Mg-Li alloy. Originality/value – Previous reports on the anti-corrosion properties of polyaniline-containing coatings focused mainly on the surface of iron, steel, aluminum and magnesium, and there have been few studies on the anti-corrosion properties as protective coatings for Mg-Li alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many neurotransmitters activate G-protein-gated inwardly rectifying K+ (Kir3) channels by stimulating G-protein-coupled receptors. However, in native systems, only receptors coupled to pertussis-toxin (PTX)-sensitive G proteins (Gi/Go) have been shown to be able to activate Kir3 channels through the βγ subunits of G proteins (Gβγ), whereas activation of receptors coupled to PTX-insensitive G proteins such as Gq or Gs do not activate Kir3 channels. The question remains as to how signaling specificity is achieved and what are its key determinants. In this study, we have used the Xenopus oocyte expression system to investigate specific activation of Kir3 channels by heterotrimeric G proteins. We have demonstrated the activation of Kir3.4 channels by agonist stimulation of non-PTX-sensitive G proteins under conditions of Gα subunit overexpression. We present evidence to suggest a key role for the coupling efficiency of Gα subunits in determining the specificity of Gβγ signaling to the channel. Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seemly paradoxical Gq agonist-stimulated phosphoinositide production has long been known, but the underlying mechanism and its physiological significance are not known. In this study, we studied cardiac phosphoinositide levels in both cells and whole animals under the stimulation of norepinephrine (NE), angiotensin II (Ang II), and other physiologically relevant interventions. The results demonstrated that activation of membrane receptors related to NE or Ang II caused an initial increase and a later fall in phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) levels in the primary cultured cardiomyocytes from adult rats. The possible mechanism underlying this increase in PIP2 was found to be through an enhanced activity of phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase IIIβ, which was mediated by an up-regulated interaction between phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase IIIβ and PKC; the increased activity of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase γ was also involved for NE-induced increase of PIP2. When the systolic functions of the NE/Ang II-treated cells were measured, a maintained or failed contractility was found to be correlated with a rise or fall in corresponding PIP2 levels. In two animal models of cardiac hypertrophy, PIP2 levels were significantly reduced in hypertrophic hearts induced by isoprenaline but not in those induced by swimming exercise. This study describes a novel mechanism for phosphoinositide metabolism and modulation of cardiac function.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) is a nonselective cation channel activated by capsaicin, low pH, and noxious heat and plays a key role in nociception. Understanding mechanisms for functional modulation of TRPV1 has important implications. One characteristic of TRPV1 is that channel activity induced by either capsaicin or other activators can be sensitized or modulated by factors involving different cell signaling mechanisms. In this study, we describe a novel mechanism for the modulation of TRPV1 function: TRPV1 function is modulated by 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS) and its analogs. We found that, in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons, although DIDS did not induce the activation of TRPV1 per se but drastically increased the TRPV1 currents induced by either capsaicin or low pH. DIDS also blocked the tachyphylaxis of the low pH-induced TRPV1 currents. 4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS), a DIDS analog, failed to enhance the capsaicin-evoked TRPV1 current but increased the low pH-evoked TRPV1 currents, with an effect comparable with that of DIDS. SITS also blocked the low pH-induced tachyphylaxis. DIDS also potentiated the currents of TRPV1 channels expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells, with an effect of left-shifting the concentration-response curve of the capsaicin-induced TRPV1 currents. This study demonstrates that DIDS and SITS, traditionally used chloride channel blockers, can modify TRPV1 channel function in an agonist-dependent manner. The results provide new input for understanding TRPV1 modulation and developing new modulators of TRPV1 function.