Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Dario Pasini.
Voltage-sensitive blockage by ADP, ATP and phytate (IP6) demonstrates that active-site contraction toward the middle of newly synthesized rigid-rod beta-barrels provides a general strategy to rationally create and modulate the voltage sensitivity (and to increase the efficiency) of molecular recognition by synthetic multifunctional pores.
Studies on synthetic multifunctional pores with external and internal active sites for ligand gating and noncompetitive blockage are presented, with emphasis on the contribution of external ligands to the characteristics of pore. A comparison between different synthetic multifunctional pores reveals that the location of functional groups in rigid-rod beta-barrel pores is precisely reflected in the function: molecular recognition at the outer barrel surface results in pore opening, while molecular recognition at the inner barrel surface results in pore closing. Negligible nonspecific leakage, disappearance of pH gating, inhibition of intervesicular pore transfer, and maybe also the flickering of currents of single open pores characterize external ligands as adhesive cushions that liberate the pore from lateral pressure exerted by the surrounding membrane. Refined molecular models show good agreement with pore design and experimental facts with regard to function.
We describe the synthesis and characterization of C(2) symmetrical double chromophores, in which two identical chromophores are linked through ethylene glycol spacers of increasing lengths. The complexation ability of the trans stereopure form for each diastereoisomeric pair showed how the two chromophores, when the spacer unit is comprised of a diethylene or a triethylene glycol moiety, are able to interact in a positive way, stabilizing the resulting complexes when compared with single chromophore analogous compounds.
The synthesis and characterization of novel optically-active macrocycles, obtained by esterification reaction from a binaphthyl-containing diol and phthalic or terephthalic acids, and possessing overall D2 or D3 symmetry, is described.
[reaction: see text] A series of new crown ethers, incorporating a malonate ester functionality, have been synthesized and derivatized with pi-electron rich aldehydes to give, conjugated, extended "push-pull" compounds. Their ability to bind Lewis acid-like metal cations, such as Mg(2+) and Eu(3+), has been characterized, and the relative stability constants are presented. When the metal cation is bound to the malonate moiety within the crown ether cavity, the D-pi-A character of the molecular structure is greatly enhanced.
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