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A series of novel monocyclometalated [Ir(tpy)(btp)Cl]+ complexes (Ir2-Ir5) were synthesized using 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (tpy) and 2-(2-pyridyl)benzo[b]thiophene (btp) ligands, as well as their derivatives bearing electron-donating tert-butyl (t-Bu) and electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl (CF3) groups. Ir2-Ir5 exhibited visible-light absorption stronger than that of the known complex [Ir(tpy)(ppy)Cl]+ (Ir1; ppy = 2-phenylpyridine). Spectroscopic and computational studies revealed that two triplet states were involved in the excited-state dynamics. One is a weakly emissive and short-lived ligand to ligand charge-transfer (LLCT) state originating from the charge transfer from the btp to the tpy ligand. The other is a highly emissive and long-lived ligand-centered (LC) state localized on the btp ligand. Interestingly, the excited state dominant with 3LLCT was completely changed to the 3LC state upon the introduction of substituents on both the tpy and btp ligands. For instance, the excited state of the parent complex Ir2 was weakly emissive (Φ = 2%) and short-lived (τ = 110 ns) in CH2Cl2; conversely, Ir5, fully furnished with t-Bu and CF3 groups, displayed intense phosphorescence with a prolonged lifetime (τ = 14 μs). This difference became increasingly prominent when the solvent was changed to aqueous CH3CN, most probably due to the 3LLCT stabilization. The predominant excited-state nature was switchable between the 3LLCT and 3LC states depending on the substituents employed; this was demonstrated through investigations of Ir3 and Ir4, bearing either the t-Bu or the CF3 group, where the complexes exhibited properties intermediate between those of Ir2 and Ir5. All of the Ir(III) complexes were tested as photosensitizers in photocatalytic H2 evolution over a Co molecular catalyst, and Ir5 outperformed the others, including Ir1, due to improvement in the following key properties: visible-light-absorption ability, excited-state lifetime, and reductive power of the one-electron-reduced species against the catalyst.

Rhizotaxis is established under changing environmental conditions via periodic priming of lateral root (LR) initiation at the root tips and adaptive LR formation along the primary root (PR). In contrast to the adaptable LR formation in response to nutrient availability, there is little information on root development during interactions with beneficial microbes. The Arabidopsis root system is characteristically modified upon colonization by the root endophytic fungus Serendipita indica, accompanied by a marked stimulation of LR formation and the inhibition of PR growth. This root system modification has been attributed to endophyte-derived indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). However, it has yet to be clearly explained how fungal IAA affects the intrinsic LR formation process. In this study, we show that diffusible compounds (chemical signals) other than IAA are present in the coculture medium of Arabidopsis and S. indica and induce auxin-responsive DR5::GUS expression in specific sections within the pericycle layer. The DR5::GUS expression was independent of polar auxin transport and the major IAA biosynthetic pathways, implicating unidentified mechanisms responsible for the auxin response and LR formation. Detailed metabolite analysis revealed the presence of multiple compounds that induce local auxin responses and LR formation. We found that benzoic acid (BA) cooperatively acted with exogenous IAA to generate a local auxin response in the pericycle layer, suggesting that BA is one of the chemical signals involved in adaptable LR formation. Identification and characterization of the chemical signals will contribute to a greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptable root development and to unconventional technologies for sustainable agriculture.

Molecular materials whose electronic states are multiply varied depending on external stimuli are among the most promising targets for the development of multiply accessible molecular switches. Here, we report a honeycomb layer composed of tetraoxolene-bridged iron (Fe) subunits whose charge-ordered states are multiply variable via thermal treatments and solvation/desolvation with the crystallinity intact. The compound is (NPr4)2[Fe2(Cl2An)3] (1-d; NPr4+ = tetra-n-propylammonium; Cl2An2− = 2,5-dichloro-3,6-dihydroxo-1,4-benzoquinonate), which possesses three charge-ordered states: a low-temperature (LT) phase [(Fe3+)2(Cl2An2−)(Cl2An˙3−)2]2−; an intermediate (IM) phase [(Fe2.5+)2(Cl2An2−)(Cl2An2.5−)2]2−; and a high-temperature (HT) phase [(Fe2+)2(Cl2An2−)3]2− that varies according to temperature. In addition, the LT phase of 1-d is reversibly changeable to another IM phase in its solvated compound 1via a solvation/desolvation process at room temperature. This example demonstrates a new multiple-switching system based on electron transfer and host–guest chemistry in a charge-flexible metal–organic framework., A two-dimensional honeycomb layer composed of tetraoxolene-bridged iron subunits whose charge-ordered states are multiply variable via thermal treatments and solvation/desolvation is present.

Ultrasmall particles, different from the larger size nanoparticles, have recently attracted significant attention in the scientific community in nanotechnology for catalytic, electronic and optical applications; however, their magnetic properties remain unexplored due to the difficult structural analysis. A challenging issue is to develop a preparation method for iron oxide particles (IOPs) with fine size control, and to determine the dependence of magnetic properties on the morphology and crystallinity of the magnetic particles. However, synthetic approaches to obtain IOPs, regarded as one of the new fields of magnetic nanoparticles, have been significantly limited. This article reported a developed synthetic method to prepare IOPs on carbon supports using pulsed arc plasma deposition (APD) in flowing oxygen gas, which clarified the finely-controlled formation of IOPs on graphene nanosheets. Structural characterization of the IOPs revealed the formation of crystalline γ-Fe2O3 ultrasmall particles with oxygen deficiency. The pulsed APD method for IOPs is the first simple and convenient technique to not only prevent significant aggregation and contamination by organic compounds and avoid the need for thermal pretreatment, but also provide uniform crystalline nano-order particles.

Kinetic control of molecular self-assembly remains difficult because of insufficient understanding of molecular self-assembly mechanisms. Here we report the formation of a metastable [Pd2L4]4+ cage structure composed of naphthalene-based ditopic ligands (L) and Pd(II) ions in very high yield (99%) under kinetic control by modulating the energy landscape. When self-assembly occurs with anionic guests in weakly cooordinating solvent then suitable intermedites and the metastable cage is formed. These conditions also prevent further transformation into the thermodynamically decomposed state. The cage formation pathways under kinetic control and the effect of the anions encapsulated on the self-assembly processes were investigated by QASAP (quantitative analysis of self-assembly process) and NASAP (numerical analysis of self-assembly process). It was found that the self-assembly with a preferred guest (BF4 -) proceeds through intermediates composed of no more components than the cage ([PdaLbXc]2a+ (a ≤ 2, b ≤ 4, X indicates a leaving ligand)) and that the final intramolecular cage-closure step is the rate-determining step. In contrast, a weaker guest (OTf-) causes the transient formation of intermediates composed of more components than the cage ([PdaLbXc]2a+ (a > 2, b > 4)), which are finally converted into the cage.

Sensitive chemo-switchable magnetic materials operating at room temperature are one of the most potential candidates for future chemical devices. Here, we report a discrete iron(III) complex that e...

An important technique to realize novel electron- and/or proton-based functionalities is to use a proton-electron coupling mechanism. When either a proton or electron is excited, the other one is modulated, producing synergistic functions. However, although compounds with proton-coupled electron transfer have been synthesized, crystalline molecular compounds that exhibit proton-transfer-coupled spin-transition (PCST) behavior have not been reported. Here, we report the first example of a PCST Fe(II) complex, wherein the proton lies on the N of hydrazone and pyridine moieties in the ligand at high-spin and low-spin Fe(II), respectively. When the Fe(II) complex is irradiated with light, intramolecular proton transfer occurs from pyridine to hydrazone in conjunction with the photoinduced spin transition via the PCST mechanism. Because the light-induced excited high-spin state is trapped at low temperatures in the Fe(II) complex-a phenomenon known as the light-induced excited-spin-state trapping effect-the light-induced proton-transfer state, wherein the proton lies on the N of hydrazone, is also trapped as a metastable state. The proton transfer was accomplished within 50 ps at 190 K. The bistable nature of the proton position, where the position can be switched by light irradiation, is useful for modulating proton-based functionalities in molecular devices.

Sesamin is a furofuran-type lignan that is found abundantly in seeds of Sesamum indicum (sesame) and has been widely accepted as a dietary supplement with positive effects on human health. The biological activity of sesamin in human cells and organs has been analysed extensively, although comparatively few studies show biological functions for sesamin in planta. Herein we screened sesamin-binding proteins (SBP) from sesame seedling extracts using sesamin-immobilized nano-beads. In subsequent peptide mass fingerprinting analyses, we identified a SBP, Steroleosin B, which is one of the membrane proteins found in oil bodies. In addition, pull-down assays and saturation transfer difference-nuclear magnetic resonance (STD-NMR) experiments demonstrated that sesamin binds directly to recombinant Steroleosin B in vitro. Finally, ectopic accumulations of sesamin and Steroleosin B in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants induced severe growth defects including suppression of leaf expansion and root elongation. Collectively, these results indicate that sesamin influences tissue development in the presence of Steroleosin B.

The development and the photophysical behavior of a transparent ion-exchange membrane based on a pH-sensitive polypyridyl ruthenium(II) complex, [(bpy)2RuII(H2bpib)RuII(bpy)2](ClO4)4 (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, H2bpib = 1,4-bis([1,10]phenanthroline[5,6-d]-imidazol-2-yl)benzene), are experimentally and theoretically reported. The emission spectra of [(bpy)2RuII(H2bpib)RuII(bpy)2]@Nafion film were observed between pH 2 and pH 11 and showed the highest relative emission intensity at pH 5 (λmaxem = 594.4 nm). The relative emission intensity of the film significantly decreased down to 75% at pH 2 and 11 compared to that of pH 5. The quantum yields (Φ) and lifetimes (τ) showed similar correlations with respect to pH, Φ = 0.13 and τ = 1237 ns at pH 5, and Φ = 0.087 and τ = 1014 ns and Φ = 0.069 and τ = 954 ns at pH 2 and pH 11, respectively. These photophysical data are overall considerably superior to those of the solution, with the radiative- (kr) and non-radiative rate constants (knr) at pH 5 estimated to be kr = 1.06 × 105 s−1 and knr = 7.03 × 105 s−1. Density functional theory calculations suggested the contribution of ligand-to-ligand- and intraligand charge transfer to the imidazolium moiety in Ru-H3bpib species, implying that the positive charge on the H3bpib ligand works as a quencher. The Ru-Hbpib species seems to enhance non-radiative deactivation by reducing the energy of the upper-lying metal-centered excited state. These would be responsible for the pH-dependent “off-on-off” emission behavior.

SUMMARYIn plants, the UV-B photoreceptor UV RESISTANCE LOCUS8 (UVR8) perceives UV-B and induces UV-B responses including synthesis of UV-B absorbing phenolic compounds such as anthocyanins. UVR8 absorbs a range of UV-B (260–335 nm). However, the responsiveness of plants to each UV-B wavelength has not been intensively studied so far. Here, we performed transcriptome and metabolome analyses of Arabidopsis using UV light emitting diodes (LEDs) with peak wavelengths of 280 and 310 nm to investigate the differences in the wavelength-specific UV-B responses. Irradiation with both UV-LEDs induced gene expression of the transcription factor ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5), which has a central role in the UVR8 signaling pathway. However, the overall transcriptomic and metabolic responses to 280 and 310 nm UV-LED irradiation were different. Most of the known UV-B-responsive genes, such as salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and defense-related genes, responded only to 280 nm UV-LED irradiation. Lipids, polyamines and organic acids were the metabolites most affected by 280 nm UV-LED irradiation, whereas the effect of 310 nm UV-LED irradiation on the metabolome was considerably less. Enzymatic genes involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway upstream in anthocyanin biosynthesis were up-regulated only by 280 nm UV-LED irradiation. On the other hand, no enzymatic genes downstream in anthocyanin biosynthesis were induced by the UV-LEDs, but rather, they were down-regulated by 310 nm UV-LED irradiation. These results revealed that the responsivenesses of Arabidopsis to 280 and 310 nm UV-B were significantly different, suggesting that UV-B signaling is mediated by more complex pathways than the current model.

To investigate the interactions of 57Fe atoms with sulfur hexafluoride SF6 molecules, in-beam Mossbauer spectra were measured for 57Mn implanted SF6 at 9 K and 65 K. Isolated 57Fe atoms or ions produced by β-decay were not trapped within the SF6 matrix. At 9 K, monomeric FeF2 and FeF3 molecules were produced by reaction of 57Fe with F atoms released by decomposition of the SF6 molecules. When the temperature of the SF6 solid was increased to 65 K, FeF4 was formed in addition to FeF2 and FeF3. Density functional calculations were performed to confirm the assignments of the candidate species identified in the Mossbauer spectra.

We successfully prepared and crystallographically characterized the first intermolecular charge-transfer (CT)-based vapochromic compound, (EV)(H3O)2[Fe(CN)6] (1-Wet, EV2+: 1,1′-diethyl-4,4′-bipyridine-1,1′-diium), an ethyl viologen-containing CT salt. 1-Wet, which is purple in color, is transformed into a brown powder (1-Dry) upon exposure to methanol vapor, drying over silica gel, or heating; 1-Dry returns to 1-Wet upon exposure to water vapor. These color changes are induced by hydration and dehydration, and gravimetric analyses suggest that 1-Dry is the dehydrated form of 1-Wet, namely, (EV)(H)2[Fe(CN)6]. Interestingly, desorption of water molecules from the oxonium ions in 1-Wet produces isolated protons (H+) that remain in 1-Dry as counter cations. Powder X-ray crystal structure analysis of 1-Dry reveals the presence of very short contacts between the nitrogen atoms of adjacent [Fe(CN)6]4– anions in the crystal. The isolated protons are trapped between the nitrogen atoms of cyanido ligands to form ve...

The iron mixed-valence complex ( n- C 3 H 7 ) 4 N[Fe II Fe III (dto) 3 ] (dto = C 2 O 2 S 2 ) exhibits a novel type of phase transition according electron transfer between Fe II and Fe III called charge transfer phase transition (CTPT). The existence of the CTPT highly depends on the 3d metal substitution with Zn, Mn, Cr, or Co for corresponding Fe site in ( n- C 3 H 7 ) 4 N[Fe II Fe III (dto) 3 ]. Here, we prepared a series of magnetically diluted complexes ( n- C 3 H 7 ) 4 N[Fe II Fe III 1− x V III x (dto) 3 ] ( x = 0–1), and carried out investigation of magnetic properties. Judging from the magnetic susceptibility measurement, there is no suppression of the CTPT unlike other 3d metal substituted cases. Moreover, 57 Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy revealed that about 60% of Fe II sites changed their spin states from high spin to low spin in case of substitution rate for x = 1.00. Since the difference of hardness and softness between metallic ions (Fe II , Fe III and V III ) and coordination sites of ligand (O or S in dto), this behavior is explained by the linkage isomerization of bridging ligand in formation process of the complex.

Sesamin is a furofuran-type lignan that is found abundantly in seeds of Sesamum indicum (sesame) and has been widely accepted as a dietary supplement with positive effects on human health. The biological activity of sesamin in human cells and organs has been analysed extensively, although comparatively few studies show biological functions for sesamin in planta. Herein we screened sesamin-binding proteins (SBP) from sesame seedling extracts using sesamin-immobilized nano-beads. In subsequent peptide mass fingerprinting analyses, we identified a SBP, Steroleosin B, which is one of the membrane proteins found in oil bodies. In addition, pull-down assays and saturation transfer difference-nuclear magnetic resonance (STD-NMR) experiments demonstrated that sesamin binds directly to recombinant Steroleosin B in vitro. Finally, ectopic accumulations of sesamin and Steroleosin B in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants induced severe growth defects including suppression of leaf expansion and root elongation. Collectively, these results indicate that sesamin influences tissue development in the presence of Steroleosin B.

A molecular salt with a bulky cation and anion, (H2bipip)(H)2[Fe(CN)6] (1) (H2bipip2+: 4,4′-bipiperidine-1,1′-diium), has been prepared. The salt comprises protons (H+) as counter cations. Single-crystal X-ray structure analysis revealed that the proton is trapped between two cyanido ligands of [Fe(CN)6]4− anions, forming a very short N⋯H+⋯N hydrogen bond.

The template effect is a key feature to control the arrangement of building blocks in assemblies, but its kinetic nature remains elusive compared to the thermodynamic aspects, with the exception of very simple reactions. Here we report a kinetic template effect in a self-assembled cage composed of flexible ditopic ligands and Pd(II) ions. Without template anion, a micrometer-sized sheet is kinetically trapped (off-pathway), which is converted into the thermodynamically most stable cage by the template anion. When the template anion is present from the start, the cage is selectively produced by the preferential cyclization of a dinuclear intermediate (on-pathway). Quantitative and numerical analyses of the self-assembly of the cage on the on-pathway revealed that the accelerating effect of the template is stronger for the early stage reactions of the self-assembly than for the final cage formation step itself, indicating the kinetic template effect. Thermodynamic template effects are widely used in supramolecular assembly, but kinetic template effects are less well understood. Here the contributions of thermodynamic and kinetic template effects in the self-assembly of palladium metallocages are disentangled using QASAP methodology.

A transparent film allowing tunable multicolor emission based on a composite of an organometallic compound and a cation-exchange membrane has been developed, in which the cyclometallated iridium(III) complex [IrIII(4Py-ppy)3] (=tris[2-(2-pyridinyl-&kappa, N)-4-(4-pyridinyl)phenyl-&kappa, C]iridium) (1) with pH-dependent emission wavelengths has been incorporated into Nafion by cation exchange. Soaking Nafion in the solution of 1 for 24 h and exposed to buffers at pH 2, 4, and 10 resulted in maximum emission wavelengths of 587, 560, and 503 nm, respectively. The photophysical properties of 1@Nafion were also enhanced, as its maximum emission wavelength was more blue-shifted than those of 602, 564, and 503 nm in the solutions. The emission quantum yields (&Phi, ) and lifetimes (&tau, ) of 1@Nafion prepared under an acidic condition were up to &Phi, = 1.8% and &tau, = 0.11, 0.92 &mu, s, which are considerably higher than the corresponding solutions of &Phi, = 0.5% and &tau, = 0.02, 0.18 &mu, s. This is attributed to the fact that 1 is surrounded by the polymer chains of Nafion and immobilized in a relatively rigid medium, which hinders non-radiative deactivation such as thermal relaxation.

Scopelophila ligulata is an Fe-hyperaccumulator moss growing in acidic environments, but the mechanism of Fe accumulation remains unknown. To understand the mechanism, we determined Fe species in S. ligulata samples. The moss samples were collected from four sites in Japan. The concentrations of Fe, P, S, Cl, and K in them were measured by induced coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Fe species in some of them were determined by Mossbauer spectroscopy and were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Fe species in S. ligulata samples were determined to be jarosite, ferritin, high-spin Fe(II) species, and akaganeite. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the biomineralization of jarosite in mosses. This result, combined with the fact that bacteria, a fungus, and a grass mineralize jarosite, suggests that its biomineralization is a common characteristic in a wide variety of living organisms. These findings indicate that the biomineralization of jarosite occurs not only in the region-specific species but in species adapted to a low-pH and metal-contaminated environment in different regions, provide a better understanding of the mechanism of Fe accumulation in the Fe-hyperaccumulator moss S. ligulata, and offer new insights into the biomineralization of jarosite.

The structural properties of the iron mixed-valence complex ( n-C3H7)4N[FeIIFeIII(dto)3] (dto = dithiooxalato, C2O2S2) have been investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) at low temperatures. ( n-C3H7)4N[FeIIFeIII(dto)3] has two-dimensional (2D) honeycomb layers consisting of alternating FeII and FeIII arrays bonded by bis-bidentate dithiooxalato ligands. Upon cooling, a superlattice structure with q = (1/3, 1/3, 0) was observed below 260 K, which corresponds to an order-disorder transition of the ( n-C3H7)4N+ ions between the honeycomb layers. The charge-transfer phase transition (CTPT) occurs at TC↑1/2 ∼ 120 K and TC↓1/2 ∼ 90 K upon heating and cooling, respectively, with an electron transfer between the FeII and FeIII ions, accompanied by a spin-state change, FeII ( S = 2; HS)-O2C2S2-FeIII ( S = 1/2; LS) ↔ FeIII ( S = 5/2; HS)-O2C2S2-FeII ( S = 0; LS). During the CTPT, the intersheet [FeIIFeIII(dto)3] distance decreased monotonously upon cooling, and an abrupt structural contraction was observed in the hexagonal 2D network. The volume contraction during the CTPT was quite small (∼0.7%), and differences in the structural distortions at the FeS6 and FeO6 sites were not found in the vicinity of the CTPT. We also calculated the orbital energies and the occupied spin states for the [Fe(O2C2S2)3] and [Fe(S2C2O2)3] octahedra in the vicinity of the CTPT by density functional theory (DFT). Because the local symmetry around the two coordinating iron ions is already lowered to trigonal symmetry, the CTPT did not cause any further deformation. This symmetry invariance resulted in an absence of orbital contributions to the total entropy change (Δ S) in the CTPT, which is in agreement with the previous heat capacity measurements. [Nakamoto, T; Miyazaki, Y; Itoi, M; Ono, Y; Kojima, N; Sorai, M. Heat Capacity of the Mixed-Valence Complex {[( n-C3H7)4N][FeIIFeIII(dto)3]}∞, Phase Transition because of Electron Transfer, and a Change in Spin-State of the Whole System. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2001, 40, 4716-4719.].

To develop an organic–inorganic hybrid photomagnet, we performed the intercalation of sulfonate-substituted spiropyran anions into layered cobalt hydroxides, obtaining the photoresponsive compound,...

A series of Mn x Fe3−x O4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) nanoparticles was successfully synthesized via a simple coprecipitation method. The starting material was a natural magnetite purified from local iron sand. Crystallite nanoparticles were produced by drying without using a high calcination temperature. Rietveld analysis of the X-ray diffractometry (XRD) data for all samples demonstrated that the Mn ions partially substituted the Fe ions in the spinel cubic structure of the Fe3O4 to form Mn x Fe3−x O4 phases. We applied two lognormal spherical and single mass fractal models to the analysis of the small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) data and revealed that the primary Mn x Fe3−x O4 particles ranged in size from 1.5 to 3.8 nm and formed three-dimensional clusters as secondary structures. The samples displayed superparamagnetic behavior, having the saturation magnetization which was most likely influenced by the competing contribution from Mn, the sizes of the primary particles, and their clusters. Further analysis revealed that the zero-field-cooled and field-cooled curves of the Mn x Fe3−x O4 nanoclusters exhibited a superparamagnetic phenomenon with the lowest magnetic blocking temperature approximately 145 K.

Highlight Planteose metabolism was uncovered as a key metabolic pathway for germination of Orobanche minor. Inhibition of planteose metabolism by nojirimycin resulted in selective inhibition of O. minor germination., Root parasitic weeds in Orobanchaceae cause serious damage to worldwide agriculture. Germination of the parasites requires host-derived germination stimulants, such as strigolactones, as indicators of host roots within reach of the parasite’s radicles. This unique germination process was focused on to identify metabolic pathways required for germination, and to design a selective control strategy. A metabolomic analysis of germinating seeds of clover broomrape, Orobanche minor, was conducted to identify its distinctive metabolites. Consequently, a galactosyl-sucrose trisaccharide, planteose (α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-fructofuranosyl-(2→1)-α-d-glucopyranoside), was identified as a metabolite that decreased promptly after reception of the germination stimulant. To investigate the importance of planteose metabolism, the effects of several glycosidase inhibitors were examined, and nojirimycin bisulfite (NJ) was found to alter the sugar metabolism and to selectively inhibit the germination of O. minor. Planteose consumption was similar in NJ-treated seeds and non-treated germinating seeds; however, NJ-treated seeds showed lower consumption of sucrose, a possible intermediate of planteose metabolism, resulting in significantly less glucose and fructose. This inhibitory effect was recovered by adding glucose. These results suggest that planteose is a storage carbohydrate required for early stage of germination of O. minor, and NJ inhibits germination by blocking the supply of essential glucose from planteose and sucrose. Additionally, NJ selectively inhibited radicle elongation of germinated seeds of Orobanchaceae plants (Striga hermonthica and Phtheirospermum japonicum). Thus, NJ will be a promising tool to develop specific herbicides to the parasites, especially broomrapes, and to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of this unique germination.

Monomeric diaryliron(II) complexes, Fe(Rind)2, have been obtained by introducing fused-ring bulky “Rind” groups. For Fe(Eind)2, a significant orbital contribution of the Fe(II) ion due to the linea...

Pinoresinol reductase and pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductase play important roles in an early step of lignan biosynthesis in plants. The activities of both enzymes have also been detected in bacteria. In this study, pinZ, which was first isolated as a gene for bacterial pinoresinol reductase, was constitutively expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. Higher reductive activity toward pinoresinol was detected in the resultant transgenic plants but not in wild-type plant. Principal component analysis of data from untargeted metabolome analyses of stem, root, and leaf extracts of the wild-type and two independent transgenic lines indicate that pinZ expression caused dynamic metabolic changes in stems, but not in roots and leaves. The metabolome data also suggest that expression of pinZ influenced the metabolisms of lignan and glucosinolates but not so much of neolignans such as guaiacylglycerol-8-O-4'-feruloyl ethers. In-depth quantitative analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) indicated that amounts of pinoresinol and its glucoside form were markedly reduced in the transgenic plant, whereas the amounts of glucoside form of secoisolariciresinol in transgenic roots, leaves, and stems increased. The detected levels of lariciresinol in the transgenic plant following β-glucosidase treatment also tended to be higher than those in the wild-type plant. Our findings indicate that overexpression of pinZ induces change in lignan compositions and has a major effect not only on lignan biosynthesis but also on biosynthesis of other primary and secondary metabolites.

Lipids are being increasingly used as biodiesel feedstock, and several saturated wax esters from Euglena gracilis are candidates for outdoor bulk production. Wax ester fermentation in Euglena is strongly increased by hypoxia, but key events underlying the metabolic shift toward wax ester biosynthesis are poorly understood. Profiling of wax esters and other lipophilic compounds is the first step for research toward the clarification of wax ester fermentation molecular mechanisms, and thus, a simple and comprehensive platform for their profiling is required. In this study, we established a profiling method for wax esters and lipophilic compounds in Euglena using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Using this method, we compared accumulation profiles of wax esters and lipophilic compounds between a wild-type Euglena Z strain and a bleached SM-ZK strain. Both the wild-type and the bleached strains contained C14:0 fatty acid-C14:0 fatty alcohol as a dominant wax ester. Wax ester fermentation initiated 4 h after the cessation of oxygen supply by halting the culture agitation resulting in linear increase and proportional changes of wax ester amounts during 24 h. However, complete anoxia by nitrogen gas aeration inhibited wax ester production and the addition of bicarbonates reversed the inhibition, suggesting that there is a need for an additional carbon source for wax ester fermentation under anoxia. Our simple method enables the investigation of metabolic responses leading to wax ester fermentation in Euglena.

Lignans are a class of phenylpropanoids that are widely distributed in the plant kingdom and some lignans are known to be present as glycosides. In the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, pinoresinol and lariciresinol as well as their glucosides are found to be accumulated in the roots, but the enzymes involved in the glucosylation of lignans remain to be characterized. UGT71C1 showed activity towards several phenylpropanoids in previous studies, although its activity towards lignans has not been investigated. In the present study, the involvement of UGT71C1 in lignan glucosylation was examined. Quantification of lignans in a T-DNA knockout line of the UGT71C1 gene, ugt71c1, by an ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry showed that the content of pinoresinol glucoside decreased in parallel with an increase of pinoresinol at the corresponding degree. Two major peaks corresponding to lariciresinol glucosides were detected in the mass chromatogram of the extract from the wild type and one of the peaks decreased in the ugt71c1 line suggesting that the amount of lariciersinol glucoside also decreased in the mutant. UGT71C1 expressed in Escherichia coli showed glucosyltransferase activity towards pinoresinol and lariciresinol. The present results suggest that UGT71C1 is involved in lignan glucosylation in A. thaliana.

We have investigated the magnetic properties of a photoresponsive organic–inorganic hybrid system, (SP-R)[FeIIFeIII(dto)3] (SP = spiropyran; R = Me, Et, Pr; dto = C2O2S2), under hydrostatic pressures. At ambient pressure, (SP-Et)[FeIIFeIII(dto)3] and (SP-Pr)[FeIIFeIII(dto)3] undergo one and two ferromagnetic phase transitions corresponding to the high-temperature phase with the spin configuration of FeII(S = 2)–FeIII(S = 1/2), while (SP-Me)[FeIIFeIII(dto)3] undergoes two ferromagnetic phase transitions corresponding to the coexistence of the high-temperature phase and the low-temperature phase with the spin configuration of FeII(S = 0)–FeIII(S = 5/2). Under hydrostatic pressures, (SP-R)[FeIIFeIII(dto)3] (R = Et, Pr) undergo a new ferromagnetic phase transition corresponding to the low-temperature phase caused by the pressure-induced charge transfer phase transition.

Accumulation profiles of wax esters in Euglena gracilis Z were studied under several environmental conditions. The highest amount of total wax esters accumulated under hypoxia in the dark, and C28 (myristyl-myristate, C14:0-C14:0) was prevalent among all conditions investigated. The wax ester production was almost completely suppressed under anoxia in the light, and supplying exogenous inorganic carbon sources restored wax ester fermentation, indicating the need for external carbon sources for the wax ester fermentation. 13C-labeling experiments revealed specific isotopic enrichment in the odd-numbered fatty acids derived from wax esters, indicating that the exogenously-supplied CO2 was incorporated into wax esters via the propionyl-CoA pathway through the reverse tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. The addition of 3-mercaptopicolinic acid, a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) inhibitor, significantly affected the incorporation of 13C into citrate and malate as the biosynthetic intermediates of the odd-numbered fatty acids, suggesting the involvement of PEPCK reaction to drive wax ester fermentation. Additionally, the 13C-enrichment pattern of succinate suggested that the CO2 assimilation might proceed through alternative pathways in addition to the PEPCK reaction. The current results indicate that the mechanisms of anoxic CO2 assimilation are an important target to reinforce wax ester fermentation in Euglena.

Weathering steels (COR-TEN) were corroded by wet-dry cycles using a splay of various solutions in a laboratory. Corrosion products on weathering steel were characterized by X-ray diffractometry and Mossbauer spectrometry at room and low temperatures. Fine α-FeOOH, γ-FeOOH and γ-Fe 2O3 are fundamentally formed in various atmospheric conditions. β-FeOOH is additionally formed under the existence of chloride ions, but not formed when sulfate ions are coexisting. Spraying a NaF solution prevents the progress of corrosion.

The first stable anionic iron(0) complexes bearing an ate-type pentacoordinated germanium(IV) ligand were synthesized. The X-ray crystallographic analysis shows trigonal-bipyramidal and piano-stool...

Phenolic compounds (PCs) are frequently present in foods. However, little is known about the effect of PCs on enzymatic digestion process of food proteins and their products. In this study, the effect of gallic acid (GA) on in vitro digestion of β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) was investigated as a model system for analysis of the interaction between PCs and food proteins. GA showed no effect on the initial rate of β-LG digestion. However, after 1.5 h of digestion, the observed degree of hydrolysis of β-LG was lower in the presence than in the absence of GA. The peptides released from β-LG were characterized by LC/IT-TOF-MS and thirty peptides were identified. In particular, four new peaks were obtained following in vitro digestion of β-LG in the presence of GA. Met(7), Met(24) and Met(145) in the peptides corresponding to these peaks were oxidized to methionine sulfoxide residues.

The iron mixed-valence complex (n-C3H7)4N[FeIIFeIII(dto)3] exhibits a novel type of phase transition called charge-transfer phase transition (CTPT), where the thermally induced electron transfer between FeII and FeIII occurs reversibly at ∼120 K, in addition to the ferromagnetic phase transition at TC = 7 K. To investigate the mechanism of the CTPT, we have synthesized a series of magnetically diluted complexes (n-C3H7)4N[FeII1–xZnIIxFeIII(dto)3] (dto = C2O2S2; x = 0–1), and carried out magnetic susceptibility and dielectric constant measurements and 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy. With increasing ZnII concentration (x), the CTPT is gradually suppressed and disappears at x ≈ 0.13. On the other hand, the ferromagnetic transition temperature (TC) is initially enhanced from 7 K to 12 K between x = 0.00 and 0.05, despite the nonmagnetic nature of ZnII ions, and then it decreases monotonically from 12 K to 3 K with increasing ZnII concentration. This anomalous dependence of TC on ZnII concentration is related to ...

Host frameworks with the ability to store guest ions are very important in a wide range of applications including electrode materials for Li-ion batteries. In this report, we demonstrate that the ion storage ability of the cyanide-bridged coordination polymer (Prussian blue analogue, PBA) can be enhanced by suppressing vacancy formation. K-ions in the vacancy-suppressed PBA framework K1.72Mn[Mn(CN)6]0.93·□0.07·0.65H2O (□: a [Mn(CN)6]4– defect) were electrochemically extracted. The open circuit voltages (OCVs) during K-ion extraction exhibited two specific plateaus at 3.0 and 3.7 V vs Li/Li+. Ex situ X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy revealed drastic structural and electronic changes during K-ion extraction. Furthermore, after K-ion extraction, the vacancy-suppressed PBA framework was applied to the cathode material for a Li-ion battery. The charge/discharge experiments revealed that the framework can accommodate a large amount of Li-ions.

Heterometallic pentanuclear coordination compounds [Ln3+4Cu2+] involving light lanthanide ions, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, and Eu, were synthesized and structurally characterized. The exchange interactions between the Ln and Cu ions were evaluated by high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance and magnetization studies, clarifying the presence of ferromagnetic exchange couplings in Nd–Cu (JNd–Cu/kB = +0.30(6) K) and Sm–Cu (JSm–Cu/kB = +2.08(3) K), very small couplings in Ce–Cu and Pr–Cu, and the absence in Eu–Cu. A significant chemical trend is found in the order of the atomic number.

Sesamin is a major lignan constituent of sesame ( Sesamum indicum ) seed and considered responsible for a number of beneficial human health effects. We previously reported that sesamin is present in sesame leaves, and proposed use of sesame leaves as a sesamin-containing material. This study focused on the possibility that both leaf yield and sesamin content would be increased with increasing photoperiod. Additionally, it was hypothesized that sesamin content would be affected by photoperiod in relation to CYP81Q1 gene expression. We thus investigated the effect of photoperiod on growth and leaf sesamin content in relation to CYP81Q1 gene expression to confirm our hypothesis. Under short-day (SD) condition, increase of leaf area was suppressed due to the phase transition from vegetative to reproductive growth, which resulted in reduction of leaf yield. Under long-day (LD) conditions, vegetative growth was continued, and both leaf area and yield increased as photoperiod increased up to 24 h (continuous light). Sesamin accumulated particularly in the leaves of plants grown under a 24-h photoperiod for 4 weeks. High expression level of the CYP81Q1 gene in those plants indicates that photoperiod-dependent differences in leaf sesamin content correlate with differences in CYP81Q1 gene expression levels. We conclude that cultivation under continuous light enables high-yield production of sesame leaves containing distinctively high levels of sesamin.

Heterometallic polymeric coordination compounds [{Ln(hfac)2(CH3OH)}2{Cu(dmg)(Hdmg)}2]n (abbreviated as [Ln2Cu2]n) involving light lanthanoid ions, Pr, Nd, Sm, and Eu, were synthesized, where H2dmg and Hhfac stand for dimethylglyoxime and 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane-2,4-dione, respectively. The X-ray crystallographic analysis shows that their structures are isomorphous to those of the known heavy lanthanoid analogs. The exchange couplings were evaluated by high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance and pulsed-field magnetization studies, giving ferromagnetic exchange parameters: JPr–Cu/kB = 0.039(1) K, JNd–Cu/kB = 0.38(1) K, JSm–Cu/kB = 0.95(2) K, and no interaction between Eu and Cu ions. A significant trend is found in the order of the periodic table. The ferro- and antiferromagnetic 4f–3d couplings were characterized for the light and heavy lanthanoid derivatives, respectively. The magnitude of JLn–Cu decreases with a decrease of the 4f-spin portion, i.e., the number of unpaired electrons, whether the coupling is ferro- or antiferromagnetic.

Toward the realization of a ligand-driven light-induced spin change (LD-LISC) around room temperature, we have investigated the spin-crossover phenomenon in [Fe(stpy) 4 (X) 2 ] (stpy = styrylpyridine, X = NCS, NCBH 3 ) under high pressure. The spin transition temperature increases from 110 to 220 K with increasing applied pressure up to 0.75 GPa for [Fe( trans -stpy) 4 (NCS) 2 ], while [Fe( cis -stpy) 4 (NCS) 2 ] shows the high-spin state in the temperature region between 2 and 300 K even at 0.75 GPa. In the case of X = NCBH 3 , due to the stronger ligand field of NCBH 3 , the spin transition temperature increases from 240 to 360 K with increasing applied pressure up to 0.50 GPa for [Fe( trans -stpy) 4 (NCBH 3 ) 2 ]. In the case of [Fe( cis -stpy) 4 (NCBH 3 ) 2 ], the spin state is the high-spin state in the temperature region between 2 and 300 K. However, the spin transition appears at 125 K under 0.5 GPa and the transition temperature increases with increasing applied pressure. In this way, we have decided the applied pressure region of 0.65–1.09 GPa where [Fe(stpy) 4 (NCBH 3 ) 2 ] undergoes LD-LISC at room temperature.

We synthesized and characterized a new compound [{Dy(hfac)3}2Pd(dpk)2] ([Dy2Pd]; Hdpk = di-2-pyridyl ketoxime), which is isostructural with the known [Dy2Cu] and [Dy2Ni]. The study of the [Dy2Pd] compound containing diamagnetic Pd ion is indispensable to clarify a contribution of the exchange coupling for a 4f–3d single-molecule magnet behavior. From the ac susceptibility measurements on [Dy2Pd], we obtained Δ/kB = 28.6(11) K and TB = 1.1 K. In accordance with the blocking behavior, the pulsed-field magnetization showed the hysteresis behavior below 1.1 K. These parameters on [Dy2Pd] having SPd = 0 was compared with those of the derivatives having SCu = 1/2 (Δ/kB = 47 K and TB = 1.8 K) and SNi = 1 (Δ/kB = 62(4) K and TB = 2.5 K). The TB and Δ steadily increase with the increasing 3d(4d) spin quantum number.

We have investigated the ferromagnetic states for (n-CnH2n + 1)4N[FeIIFeIII(dto)3] (n = 3–6; dto = C2O2S2) by means of 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy. The major component of the spin configuration in the ferromagnetic states for n = 3 and 4 is the low-temperature phase (LTP) with the FeIII (S = 5/2) and FeII (S = 0) states. The high-temperature phase (HTP) of n = 4 remains by more than 20%, which is consistent with two ferromagnetic transitions (TC = 7 & 13 K). Moreover, it was revealed that the Mossbauer spectra in the ferromagnetic states for n = 5 and 6 correspond to the HTP consisting of the FeII (S = 2) and FeIII (S = 1/2) states.

Lignans are phenylpropanoid dimers in which the monomers are linked by the central carbon (C8) atoms. Because many lignans have physiological effects, including antioxidant activity, they are now in demand as components in health foods. However, the lignan biosynthetic pathways in plants are only now being understood. Recently, lariciresinol was detected in Arabidopsis thaliana. This observation indicated the existence of common lignan biosynthetic pathways in A. thaliana, despite a low amount of lignans other than lariciresinol glycosides. In this study, we established a highly sensitive analytical method that enables quantification of both glycoside and aglycone forms of lignans in A. thaliana simultaneously using capillary liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-ion trap mass spectrometry. Some lignans not previously detected in A. thaliana were quantified in extracts of both roots and shoots. Our method can be used for the comprehensive analysis of lignans in small samples from mutants and transformants. This method will be utilized to elucidate the metabolic pathways and physiological roles of lignans as well as the regulation of their biosynthesis in plants.

In a previous study, we reported the production of the exogenous lignan, sesamin, using the Forsythia koreana transgenic cells (CPi-Fk cells) in which an exogenous sesamin-synthase CYP81Q1 is stably expressed while an endogenous pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductase is suppressed by RNA interference. Here, we present the effects of light on the production of sesamin and an endogenous lignan pinoresinol which is a precursor of sesamin in CPi-Fk cells. CPi-Fk cells showed a 2.3-fold, 2.7-fold, or 1.6-fold increase in sesamin production after two-week irradiation with white fluorescent, blue LED, or red LED light, respectively, compared with the level obtained under the dark condition. Likewise, CPi-Fk cells showed an approximately 1.5 to 3.0-fold increase in pinoresinol (aglycone and glucosides) production. Furthermore, expression of the pinoresinol-glucosylating enzyme UGT71A18 was suppressed in CPi-Fk cells under blue or red light. Considering that white fluorescent light contains the blue wavelength and that CYP81Q1 fails to convert pinoresinol glucosides to sesamin, it is concluded that blue light plays a major role in the up-regulation of the production of sesamin by CPi-Fk via an enhancement of the production of pinoresinol aglycone and a reduction of UGT71A18. This is the first report on the elevation of lignan biosynthesis by light.

For fabricating photoresponsive multifunctional materials, we have developed the potassium salt of a new anionic spiropyran, 1′,3′,3′-trimethyl-6-nitrospiro[2H-1-benzopyran-2,2′-indoline]-5′-sulfon...

Leaves of Sesamum spp. are used as leafy vegetables in Nigeria and many tropical areas around the world. Sesame (Sesamum indicum) leaves are also being used in Japan as a new food material containing functional components. Sesamin, a major lignan constituent of sesame seed, is considered responsible for a number of beneficial health effects in humans, but has not previously been detected in sesame leaves. We established an analytical method of detecting sesamin in sesame leaves using ultra performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (UPLC-FLD), and investigated genotypic differences in sesamin content of two Japanese sesame varieties that differ in seed sesamin content (15 and 5 mg g−1 DW in ‘Gomazou’ and ‘Kin-goma’, respectively, quantified by the established method). Our method enabled quantification of sesamin in sesame leaves for the first time. The sesamin content of ‘Gomazou’ and ‘Kin-goma’ leaves at 5 weeks after sowing was 2.6 and 0.5 μg g−1 DW, respectively, which is approximately 1/5000 or less of the sesamin content of seeds. The higher sesamin content of ‘Gomazou’ suggests that sesamin content of leaves correlates with that of seeds. The expression of the sesamin biosynthetic gene CYP81Q1 was considerably higher in ‘Gomazou’ than in ‘Kin-goma’, indicating that genotypic difference of CYP81Q1 gene expression is one of the important factors affecting leaf sesamin contents.

Natural polyisoprene is a biopolymer consisting of isoprene units (C(5)H(8)) that is used commercially in household, medical, and industrial materials. For the management of natural polyisoprene production, the selection of high-yield polyisoprene-producing trees, and an understanding of polyisoprene biosynthesis, a high-throughput and highly sensitive screening method for the quantification of polyisoprene is required. In this study, we examined pyrolysates from polyisoprenes, polyprenols, carotenoids, ubiquinone (CoQ-10), and sterols by pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (PyGC/MS) and determined that the amounts of isoprene and limonene released from polyprenols and polyisoprenes were dependent upon their molecular weights. Based on these results, we developed a relative quantification method for polyisoprene in leaves by direct analysis of 1 mg of leaves using PyGC/MS. This novel quantification method eliminated extraction steps and can be used in the measurement of polyisoprene contents in Eucommia ulmoides and Hevea brasiliensis.

Lignan is a large class of plant secondary metabolites, which has long attracted pharmacological interest because of its anti-tumor and estrogenic activities. Forsythia plants are known to produce a wide variety of lignans, such as (−)-matairesinol, (−)-secoisolariciresinol, (+)-pinoresinol, and (+)-phillygenin. The majority of such lignans are accumulated in glucoside forms. However, their glucosylation mechanisms largely remain to be elucidated. Here we describe the sequence, enzymatic activities, and gene expression profiles of UDP-sugar dependent-glycosyltransferases (UGT) from Forsythia koreana through a reverse-genetic approach. A Forsythia UGT, UGT71A18 protein, expressed in E. coli, preferentially glucosylated furofuran-class lignans, including (+)-pinoreisnol, (+)-epipinoreisnol, and (+)-phylligenin. Moroeover, the recombinant UGT71A18 exhibited specificity to UDP-glucose as a glycosyl donor. Gene expression analysis revealed that UGT71A18 is expressed predominantly in leaves and the suspension cell culture of F. koreana, and that the UGT71A18 transcript is upregulated in the transgenic cell culture expressing the RNAi construct of the pinoresinol lariciresinol reductase (PLR) gene, compared to non-transformants. These results are consistent with the remarkable elevation of pinoresinol glucosides in the PLR-RNAi lines. Collectively, the present data strongly suggests that UGT71A18, in part, is responsible for glucosylation of furofuran-class lignans, including (+)-pinoresinol and/or structurally related lignans in vivo.

Lignans are a large class of secondary metabolites in plants, with numerous biological effects in mammals, including antitumor and antioxidant activities. Sesamin, the most abundant furofuran-class lignan in sesame seeds (Sesamum plants), is produced by the cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP81Q1 from the precursor lignan, pinoresinol. In contrast, Forsythia plants produce dibenzylbutyrolactone-class lignans, such as matairesinol, from pinoresinol via the catalysis of pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductase (PLR) and secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase. Here we present the engineering of lignan biosynthesis in Forsythia cell suspension cultures for the development of an efficient production method of beneficial lignans. A suspension cell culture prepared from leaves of Forsythia koreana produced lignans, mainly pinoresinol and matairesinol glucosides, at levels comparable with that obtained from the leaves. In an attempt to increase the pinoresinol content in Forsythia, we generated a transgenic cell line overexpressing an RNA interference (RNAi) construct of PLR (PLR-RNAi). Down-regulation of PLR expression led to a complete loss of matairesinol and an accumulation of approximately 20-fold pinoresinol in its glucoside form in comparison with the non-transformant. Moreover, the Forsythia transgenic cells co-expressing CYP81Q1 and PLR-RNAi exhibited production of sesamin as well as accumulation of pinoresinol glucoside. These data suggest Forsythia cell suspension to be a promising tool for the engineering of lignan production. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on transgenic production of an exogenous lignan in a plant species.

Crystal structure analysis of the title compound revealed the presence of a hydrogen bond in an intermolecular LH⋯L contact with the O⋯O distance of 2.4252(16) A to form a one-dimensional polymeric structure. Magnetic study clarified that a relatively large exchange coupling was determined as 2J/kB = −33.2(2) K from the Bonner–Fisher analysis and ascribable to the super–superexchange coupling along the Cu–O–H⋯O–Cu path.