PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Kazuki Sada

Publications and source records attributed to Kazuki Sada.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Face-selective decoration of an organic single crystal toward photochemical devices.

Face-selective decoration of a single crystal constructed from 1-pyrenemethylammonium chloride by an anionic porphyrin dye is reported. CLSM observations indicated that the {001} face of the single crystal was selectively coated by the anionic porphyrin (TPPS). This novel achievement could be the first step for preparation of multi-component composite materials mediated by anisotropy of organic single crystals toward photochemical devices.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Effective disruption of phosphoprotein-protein surface interaction using Zn(II) dipicolylamine-based artificial receptors via two-point interaction.

Protein phosphorylation is ubiquitously involved in living cells, and it is one of the key events controlling protein-protein surface interactions, which are essential in signal transduction cascades. We now report that the small molecular receptors bearing binuclear Zn(II)-Dpa can strongly bind to a bis-phosphorylated peptide in a cross-linking manner under neutral aqueous conditions when the distance between the two Zn(II) centers can appropriately fit in that of the two phosphate groups of the phosphorylated peptide. The binding property was quantitatively determined by ITC (isothermal titration calorimetry), induced CD (circular dichroism), and NMR. On the basis of these findings, we demonstrated that these types of small molecules were able to effectively disrupt the phosphoprotein-protein interaction in a phosphorylated CTD peptide and the Pin1 WW domain, a phosphoprotein binding domain, at a micromolar level. The strategy based on a small molecular disruptor that directly interacts with phosphoprotein is unique and should be promising in developing a designer inhibitor for phosphoprotein-protein interaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Porphyrin gels reinforced by sol-gel reaction via the organogel phase.

Porphyrins bearing four urea-linked dodecyl groups (3a) or four urea-linked triethoxysilylpropyl groups (3TEOS) at their peripheral positions were synthesized. 3a tends to assemble into a sheetlike two-dimensional structure due to the predominant hydrogen-bonding interaction among the urea groups and acts as a moderate gelator of organic solvents. On the other hand, its Cu(II) compelx (3a.Cu) tends to assemble into a fibrous one-dimensional structure due to the predominant porphyrin-porphyrin pi-pi stacking interaction and acts as an excellent gelator of many organic solvents. 3TEOS and 3TEOS.Cu, which also act as gelators, afforded similar superstructures as those of 3a and 3a.Cu, respectively, and as evidenced by SEM and TEM observations and XRD measurements, the original superstructures could be precisely immobilized by in situ sol-gel polycondensation of the triethoxysilyl groups. The TEM images of 3a gels and 3TEOS gels after sol-gel polycondensation showed a fine striped structure, the periodical distance of which was either 2 or 4 nm. X-ray crystallographic analysis of a single crystal obtained from a reference porphyrin bearing four urea-linked butyl groups revealed that there are two different porphyrin-stacked columns in the crystal and both the 2 nm distance and the 4 nm distance can appear, depending on the observation tilting angle. The hybrid gel prepared from 3TEOS.Cu by sol-gel polycondensation showed unique physicochemical properties such as a high sol-gel phase-transition temperature (>160 degrees C), sufficient elasticity, high mechanical strength, etc. Thus, the present study has established new concepts for molecular design of porphyrin-based gelators on the basis of cooperative and/or competitive actions of hydrogen-bonding and pi-pi stacking interactions and for immobilization of their superstructures leading to development of new functional organic/inorganic hybrid materials.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Sol-gel reaction of porphyrin-based superstructures in the organogel phase: creation of mechanically reinforced porphyrin hybrids.

We have demonstrated that a one-dimensional molecular assembly created by an H-aggregated porphyrin.Cu(II) stack can be immobilized, without a morphological change, by sol-gel polycondensation of the peripheral triethoxysilyl groups. The resultant gel prepared according to this flowchart has gained a very high thermal stability as well as a unique mechanical strength.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Organic intercalation material: reversible change in interlayer distances by guest release and insertion in sandwich-type inclusion crystals of cholic acid.

Cholic acid (CA) forms inclusion crystals that have a sandwich-type lamellar structure constructed by the alternative stacking of host bilayers and guest layers. Five disubstituted benzenes, o-toluidine, m-fluoroaniline, o-chlorotoluene, o-bromotoluene, and indene, are accommodated in the two-dimensional void space between the host bilayers at 1:2 host-guest stoichiometries. Thermal gravimetric analysis of the inclusion crystals revealed that all the guest molecules, except o-toluidine, are released in two separate steps, indicating the formation of intermediate crystals after the first guest release. Adequate heat treatment of the four inclusion crystals induces release of half or three quarters of the guest molecules. X-ray diffraction patterns of the intermediate crystals revealed that the crystals have a bilayer structure the same as those of the common CA inclusion crystals. They have one-dimensional cavities, in which the guest molecules are included at a 1:1 or 2:1 host-guest stoichiometry. These facts indicate that the host bilayers move 1.6-4.5 A perpendicular to the layer direction by desorption of the guest molecules. Furthermore, a reverse structural change is also achieved by absorption of the guest molecules to regenerate the starting sandwich-type inclusion crystals. This reversible change in the host bilayer by the guest sorption and desorption is a novel example of organic intercalation materials.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Molecular recognition and fluorescence sensing of monophosphorylated peptides in aqueous solution by bis(zinc(II)-dipicolylamine)-based artificial receptors.

The phosphorylation of proteins represents a ubiquitous mechanism for the cellular signal control of many different processes, and thus selective recognition and sensing of phosphorylated peptides and proteins in aqueous solution should be regarded as important targets in the research field of molecular recognition. We now describe the design of fluorescent chemosensors bearing two zinc ions coordinated to distinct dipicolylamine (Dpa) sites. Fluorescence titration experiments show the selective and strong binding toward phosphate derivatives in aqueous solution. On the basis of (1)H NMR and (31)P NMR studies, and the single-crystal X-ray structural analysis, it is clear that two Zn(Dpa) units of the binuclear receptors cooperatively act to bind a phosphate site of these derivatives. Good agreement of the binding affinity estimated by isothermal titration calorimetry with fluorescence titration measurements revealed that these two receptors can fluorometrically sense several phosphorylated peptides that have consensus sequences modified with natural kinases. These chemosensors display the following significant features: (i) clear distinction between phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated peptides, (ii) sequence-dependent recognition, and (iii) strong binding to a negatively charged phosphorylated peptide, all of which can be mainly ascribed to coordination chemistry and electrostatic interactions between the receptors and the corresponding peptides. Detailed titration experiments clarified that the phosphate anion-assisted coordination of the second Zn(II) to the binuclear receptors is crucial for the fluorescence intensification upon binding to the phosphorylated derivatives. In addition, it is demonstrated that the binuclear receptors can be useful for the convenient fluorescent detection of a natural phosphatase (PTP1B) catalyzed dephosphorylation.

Biomimetic Materials↗
PubMed2004

Crystal structures and topochemical polymerizations of 7,7,8,8-tetrakis(alkoxycarbonyl)quinodimethanes.

Highly conjugated monomers, 7,7,8,8-tetrakis(alkoxycarbonyl)quinodimethanes (methoxy (1a), ethoxy (1b), isopropoxy (1c), benzyloxy (1d), chloroethoxy (1e), and bromoethoxy (1f)), were synthesized. Recrystallizations of 1a, 1c, 1e, and 1f yielded two crystal forms (prisms (1a-A) and needles (1a-B), needles (1c-A) and plates (1c-B), prisms (1e-A) and plates (1e-B), and prisms (1f-A) and needles (1f-B)), which have different molecular packing modes by X-ray crystal structure analysis, indicating that the crystals are polymorphic. In the photopolymerizations of these monomer crystals in the solid state, 1a-A, 1e-A, and 1f-A polymerized topochemically to give crystalline polymers. For their thermal polymerizations in the solid state, in addition to 1a-A, 1e-A, and 1f-A, 1e-B and 1f-B polymerized, but polymers formed from the 1e-B and 1f-B were amorphous. The packing of quinodimethane molecules in the crystals was defined by four kinds of parameters, stacking distance (d(s)), the distance between the reacting exomethylene carbon atoms (d(cc)), the angles formed between the stacking axis and longer axis of the monomer molecule (theta(1)), and the shorter axis of the monomer molecule (theta(2)), and then the polymerization reactivity of these quinodimethanes in the solid state was discussed on the basis of these parameters.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Organic layered crystals with adjustable interlayer distances of 1-naphthylmethylammonium n-alkanoates and isomerism of hydrogen-bond networks by steric dimension.

A series of 1-naphthylmethylammonium n-alkanoates from acetate to triacontanoate produce isomorphic layered structures in the crystalline state. The interlayer distances, d-spacings, are proportional to the lengths of the alkyl chains. This is attributed to synergic intermolecular interactions; pi-pi and CH-pi interactions of the naphthalene rings between the cations, hydrophobic interactions of the alkyl chains, and two-dimensional hydrogen-bond networks between the primary ammonium cations and the carboxylate anions. Salts made from carboxylic acids wider than 5.5 A in the cross sections produce another columnar structure with a one-dimensional ladder-type hydrogen-bond network. Steric parameters of the acid components provide an explanation for the isomerism of the hydrogen-bond network.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Semi-wet peptide/protein array using supramolecular hydrogel.

The protein microarray is a crucial biomaterial for the rapid and high-throughput assay of many biological events where proteins are involved. In contrast to the DNA microarray, it has not been sufficiently established because of protein instability under the conventional dry conditions. Here we report a novel semi-wet peptide/protein microarray using a supramolecular hydrogel composed of glycosylated amino acetate. The spontaneous gel-formation and amphiphilic properties of this supramolecular hydrogel have been applied to a new type of peptide/protein gel array that is compatible with enzyme assays. Aqueous cavities created in the gel matrix are a suitable semi-wet reaction medium for enzymes, whereas the hydrophobic domains of the fibre are useful as a unique site for monitoring the reaction. This array system overcomes several drawbacks of conventional protein chips, and thus can have potential applications in pharmaceutical research and diagnosis.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed2003

Excellent enantio-selective enclathration of (2R,3S)-3-methyl-2-pentanol in channel-like cavity of 3-epideoxycholic acid, interpreted by the four-location model for chiral recognition.

Pure (2R,3S)-3-methyl-2-pentanol is resolved from the racemates by a steroidal host; the interpretation of the recognition mechanism based on the crystal structure reveals that CH/O interaction between the host and guest plays a decisive role in enantio-selective enclathration of the small aliphatic secondary alcohol.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Binary organogelators which show light and temperature responsiveness.

The gelation ability of 10 alkylammonium (CnH(2n+1)NH3+ where n=4-11, 12 and 16) anthracene-9-carboxylates (1n) has been evaluated. In cyclohexane, 1(4), 1(5), 1(6) and 1(7) only provided precipitates whereas 1(11), 1(12) and 1(16) provided very viscous solutions. In contrast, 1(8) 1(9) and 1(10) resulted in gels. The critical gelation concentration of 1(10) was very low (5.0 x 10(-4) mol dm(-3)). SEM observations showed that in the gel phase the morphology changes from straight fibrils to frizzy fibrils with the increase in n, whereas in the sol phase the formation of the sheet-like, two-dimensional aggregate is recognized. When the cyclohexane 1(10) gel was photoirradiated (lambda > 300 nm), the UV-VIS absorption bands assignable to monomeric anthracene were decreased and the gel was changed into the sol. It was confirmed by dark-field optical microscopy that the fibrillar bundles supporting the gel formation gradually disappear with photoirradiation time. When this sol was warmed at 30 degrees C in the dark, the gel was not regenerated but the precipitation of 1(10) resulted. When this sol was heated once at the bp of cyclohexane and cooled to 15 degrees C, the solution was changed into the gel again. This finding indicates that the fibrillar structure required for the gel formation is not reconstructed at 30 degrees C but obtained only when the hot cyclohexane solution is cooled.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Hydrogen-bond-assisted control of H versus J aggregation mode of porphyrins stacks in an organogel system.

To obtain insights into a correlation relationship between the structure and the aggregation mode in an organogel system, we synthesized gelators 2a-4a bearing a porphyrin moiety as a one-dimensional aggregation unit and amide groups as peripheral hydrogen-bonding sites. Gelators 3a and 3b bearing the amide groups at the 4-position of the meso-phenyl groups are classified as versatile gelators, gelating 10 and 14 solvents, respectively, among 23 solvents tested herein. In contrast, gelators 2a and 4a bearing the amide groups at the 3,5-positions and 3-position, respectively, are classified as poor gelators. Examination by spectroscopic methods (UV-vis, ATR-FTIR, XRD, etc.) revealed that in the organogel phase porphyrins in 3a adopt the H aggregation mode whereas those in 2a and 4a adopt the J aggregation mode. X-ray analysis of the single crystals established that in fact 3b features a columnar stack of porphyrin moieties that can be classified as the H-aggregate, whereas 2a results in a two-dimensional a-b plane, in which porphyrin moieties are arranged in the J-aggregate. Very interestingly, the difference in the H versus J aggregation mode is well-reflected by the difference in the macroscopic aggregate morphology observed by SEM: 3a + cyclohexane gel results in a one-dimensionally aggregated fibrillar structure, whereas 2a + cyclohexane gel results in a two-dimensional sheetlike structure. These findings indicate that the H versus J aggregation mode of porphyrin stacks can be controlled by the peripheral hydrogen-bonding interactions and the microscopic hydrogen-bonding network structure is well-reflected by the macroscopic SEM-observed structure.

Journal Article↗