K+-channel activity-mediated alteration of the membrane potential and cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) is a pivotal mechanism in controlling pulmonary vasomotor tone. By using combined approaches of patch clamp, imaging fluorescent microscopy, and molecular biology, we examined the electrophysiological properties of K+ channels and the role of different K+ currents in regulating [Ca2+]cytand explored the molecular identification of voltage-gated K+(KV)- and Ca2+-activated K+(KCa)-channel genes expressed in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMC). Two kinetically distinct KV currents [ I K(V)], a rapidly inactivating (A-type) and a noninactivating delayed rectifier, as well as a slowly activated KCa current [ I K(Ca)] were identified. I K(V) was reversibly inhibited by 4-aminopyridine (5 mM), whereas I K(Ca) was significantly inhibited by charybdotoxin (10–20 nM). K+ channels are composed of pore-forming α-subunits and auxiliary β-subunits. Five KV-channel α-subunit genes from the Shaker subfamily (KV1.1, KV1.2, KV1.4, KV1.5, and KV1.6), a KV-channel α-subunit gene from the Shab subfamily (KV2.1), a KV-channel modulatory α-subunit (KV9.3), and a KCa-channel α-subunit gene ( rSlo), as well as three KV-channel β-subunit genes (KVβ1.1, KVβ2, and KVβ3) are expressed in PASMC. The data suggest that 1) native K+ channels in PASMC are encoded by multiple genes; 2) the delayed rectifier I K(V)may be generated by the KV1.1, KV1.2, KV1.5, KV1.6, KV2.1, and/or KV2.1/KV9.3 channels; 3) the A-type I K(V) may be generated by the KV1.4 channel and/or the delayed rectifier KV channels (KV1 subfamily) associated with β-subunits; and 4) the I K(Ca) may be generated by the rSlo gene product. The function of the KV channels plays an important role in the regulation of membrane potential and [Ca2+]cytin PASMC.

anti-FCGR3: anti-FCGR3 with neutralizing antibody; Ctrl-ESC: untreated ESCs; CXCL8: C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8; ectoESC: ESCs from ectopic lesion; ELM: ectopic lesion microenvironment; EMS: endometriosis; ESCs: endometrial stromal cells; eutoESC:eutopic ESCs; HCK: hematopoietic cellular kinase; HCK(OE): overexpression of HCK; IFNG: interferon gamma; IL23A (OE): overexpression of IL23A; KLRK1: Killer cell lectin like receptor K1; MAP1LC3B/LC3B: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; 3 -MA: 3-methyladenine; 3-MA-ESC: 3-MA-treated ESCs; MIR1185-1-3p: overexpression of HsMIR1185-1-3p; NK: natural killer; normESCs: normal ESCs; Rap-ESC:rapamycin-treated ESCs; PCNA: proliferating cell nuclear antigen; PF: peritoneal fluid; SFKs: SRC family of cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases; si-HCK: silencing of HCK; siIL23A: silencing of IL23A; USCs: uterus stromal cells.

No abstract

The kinetics of the reductive elimination step of a C(sp(3))-C(sp(2)) Negishi cross-coupling catalyzed by a 1:1 complex 2 of palladium and the phosphine/electron-deficient olefin ligand (E)-3-(2-diphenylphosphanylphenyl)-1-phenyl-propenone (1) was studied. Complex 2 is an exceptionally efficient and highly selective catalyst for Negishi cross-coupling reactions involving primary and secondary alkylzinc reagents bearing beta-hydrogen atoms. Turnover numbers (TONs) as high as 10(5) and turnover frequencies (TOFs) as high as 1000 s(-1) were observed. The reactions occurred rapidly and selectively even at 0 degrees C. The fact that the reaction was first order in [Pd] is consistent with homogeneous catalysis by Pd complexes rather than by Pd nanoparticles (NPs). Through systematic kinetic investigations of the Negishi coupling of ethyl 2-iodobenzoate with alkylzinc chlorides, the rate constants for reductive elimination of [Ar-Pd-C(sp(3))] were determined to be >0.3 s(-1), which is about 4 or 5 orders of magnitude greater than the values previously reported for [Pd(dppbz)] and [Pd(PPh(3))(2)] systems (dppbz = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene). The use of a 2:1 ratio of 1:Pd resulted in reduced catalytic activity and selectivity, presumably because the olefin moiety could no longer assist in the reductive elimination step. Importantly, hydrogenation of the C=C double bond in ligand 1 generated a saturated ligand (1H(2)), which was not only less effective than 1, but also gave rise to substantial amount of ethylbenzoate formed by competing beta-hydride elimination. Thus, the pi-accepting olefin moiety in 1 must enhance reductive elimination rates, and, consequently, inhibit formation of byproducts resulting from beta-hydride elimination.

[reaction: see text] A new catalytic method for direct alpha-selenenylation reactions of aldehydes and ketones has been developed. The results of exploratory studies have demonstrated that L-prolinamide is an effective catalyst for alpha-selenenylation reactions of aldehydes, whereas pyrrolidine trifluoromethanesulfonamide efficiently promotes reactions of ketones. Under optimized reaction conditions, using N-(phenylseleno)phthalimide as the selenenylation reagent in CH2Cl2 in the presence of L-prolinamide (2 mol %) or pyrrolidine trifluoromethanesulfonamide (10 mol %), a variety of aldehydes and ketones undergo this process to generate alpha-selenenylation products in high yields. Mechanistic insight into the L-proline and L-prolinamide catalyzed alpha-selenenylation reactions of aldehydes with N-(phenylseleno)phthalimide has come from theoretical studies employing ab initio methods and density functional theory. The results reveal that (1) the rate-limiting step of the process involves attack of the enamine intermediate at selenium in N-(phenylseleno)phthalimide and (2) the energy of the transition state for the reaction catalyzed by prolinamide is lower than that promoted by proline. This result is consistent with experimental observations. The role of hydrogen bond interactions in stabilizing the transition states for this process is also discussed.

Safe and effective vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants are the best approach to successfully combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the viral spike protein is a major target to develop candidate vaccines. α-Galactosylceramide (αGalCer), a potent invariant natural killer T cell (iNKT) agonist, was site-specifically conjugated to the N -terminus of the RBD to form an adjuvant–protein conjugate, which was anchored on the liposome surface. This is the first time that an iNKT cell agonist was conjugated to the protein antigen. Compared to the unconjugated RBD/αGalCer mixture, the αGalCer-RBD conjugate induced significantly stronger humoral and cellular responses. The conjugate vaccine also showed effective cross-neutralization to all variants of concern (B.1.1.7/alpha, B.1.351/beta, P.1/gamma, B.1.617.2/delta, and B.1.1.529/omicron). These results suggest that the self-adjuvanting αGalCer-RBD has great potential to be an effective COVID-19 vaccine candidate, and this strategy might be useful for designing various subunit vaccines.

No abstract

A Co(II) quaterpyridine-type complex has been prepared via a one-pot transformation of a 2,29-bipyridine Schiff-base ligand in the presence of a Lewis acidic metal salt.