Crystal structure of O-benzyl-l-tyrosine N-carb-oxy anhydride.

In the title compound, C17H15NO4 (alternative name; O-benzyl-l-tyrosine N-carb-oxy anhydride), the oxazolidine ring is planer, with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.039 Å. The benz-yloxy and benzyl rings are almost coplanar, making a dihedral angle of 0.078 (10)°, and are inclined to the oxazolidine ring by 59.16 (11) and 58.42 (11)°, respectively. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by N-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming ribbons propagating along [010]. The ribbons are linked by C-H⋯π inter-actions, forming a three-dimensional supra-molecular structure. The oxazolidine rings of adjacent ribbons are arranged into a layer parallel to the ab plane. This arrangement is favourable for the polymerization of the compound in the solid state.

Crystal structure of ß-benzyl dl-aspartate N-carb-oxyanhydride.

In the title racemic compound, C12H11NO5 [systematic name: benzyl 2-(2,5-dioxooxazolidin-4-yl)acetate], the oxazolidine ring is planar, with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.03 Å. The benzyl ring is almost normal to the oxazolidine ring, making a dihedral angle of 80.11 (12)°. In the crystal, inversion dimers are formed between the l- and d-enanti-omers via pairs of N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. This arrangement is favourable for the polymerization of the compound in the solid state. The dimers are linked by C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming layers parallel to the ab plane.

The NESH/Abi-3-based WAVE2 complex is functionally distinct from the Abi-1-based WAVE2 complex.

BACKGROUND: Abl interactor (Abi) family proteins play significant roles in actin cytoskeleton organization through participation in the WAVE complex. Mammals possess three Abi proteins: Abi-1, Abi-2, and NESH/Abi-3. Abi-1 and Abi-2 were originally identified as Abl tyrosine kinase-binding proteins. It has been disclosed that Abi-1 acts as a bridge between c-Abl and WAVE2, and c-Abl-mediated WAVE2 phosphorylation promotes actin remodeling. We showed previously that NESH/Abi-3 is present in the WAVE2 complex, but neither binds to c-Abl nor promotes c-Abl-mediated phosphorylation of WAVE2. RESULTS: In this study, we characterized NESH/Abi-3 in more detail, and compared its properties with those of Abi-1 and Abi-2. NESH/Abi-3 was ectopically expressed in NIH3T3 cells, in which Abi-1, but not NESH/Abi-3, is expressed. The expression of NESH/Abi-3 caused degradation of endogenous Abi-1, which led to the formation of a NESH/Abi-3-based WAVE2 complex. When these cells were plated on fibronectin-coated dishes, the translocation of WAVE2 to the plasma membrane was significantly reduced and the formation of peripheral lamellipodial structures was disturbed, suggesting that the NESH/Abi-3-based WAVE2 complex was unable to help produce lamellipodial protrusions. Next, Abi-1, Abi-2, or NESH/Abi-3 was expressed in v-src-transformed NIH3T3 cells. Only in NESH/Abi-3-expressed cells did treatment with an Abl kinase inhibitor, imatinib mesylate, or siRNA-mediated knockdown of c-Abl promote the formation of invadopodia, which are ventral membrane protrusions with extracellular matrix degradation activity. Structural studies showed that a linker region between the proline-rich regions and the Src homology 3 (SH3) domain of Abi-1 is crucial for its interaction with c-Abl and c-Abl-mediated phosphorylation of WAVE2. CONCLUSIONS: The NESH/Abi-3-based WAVE2 complex is functionally distinct from the Abi-1-based one, and NESH/Abi-3 may be involved in the formation of ventral protrusions under certain conditions.

Crystal structure of γ-methyl l-glutamate N-carb-oxy anhydride.

In the title compound, C7H9NO5, alternative name N-carb-oxy-l-glutamic anhydride γ-methyl ester, the oxazolidine ring is essentially planar with a maximum deviation of 0.020 (3) Å. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the imino group and the carbonyl O atom in the methyl ester group, forming a tape structure along the a-axis direction. The tapes are linked by C-H⋯O inter-actions into a sheet parallel to the ac plane. The tapes are also stacked along the b axis with short contacts between the oxazolidine rings [C⋯O contact distances = 2.808 (4)-3.060 (4) Å], so that the oxazolidine rings are arranged in a layer parallel to the ab plane. This arrangement of the oxazolidine rings is very preferable for the polymerization of the title compound in the solid state.

Crystal structure of γ-ethyl-l-glutamate N-carb-oxy anhydride.

In the title compound (alternative name N-carboxy-l-glutamic anhydride γ-ethyl ester), C8H11NO5, the oxazolidine ring is essentially planar, with a maximum deviation of 0.019 (2) Å. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the imino group and the carbonyl O atom in the ethyl ester group, forming a tape structure along the c-axis direction. The oxazolidine rings of adjacent tapes are arranged into a layer parallel to the ac plane. This arrangement is favourable for the polymerization of the title compound in the solid state.

Evaluation of intraportal venous flow distribution by unenhanced MR angiography using three-dimensional fast spin-echo with a selective tagging pulse: efficacy of subtraction of tag-on and tag-off images acquired during a single breath-hold.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of subtracted MR images from two sets of unenhanced three-dimensional (3D) MR angiography data (tag-on and tag-off images) acquired simultaneously during a single breath-hold in assessing the intraportal venous flow distribution to the distal branches from the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and the splenic vein (SpV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tag-on and tag-off MR images during a single breath-hold were obtained in 25 normal subjects. Tagging pulse was placed on the SMV or SpV separately to study inflow correlation of tagged blood into the portal vein. RESULTS: On the MR images tagged on the SMV, the mean ratings of visibility of tagged blood flow on the subtracted images were significantly higher (P = 0.016-0.0001) than those on the source images in almost all branches except second-ordered left portal vein (P = 0.096). On the subtracted MR images tagged on SMV, the tramline (16 of the 25 subjects) was the most common distribution pattern of the tagged blood inflow in the main portal vein. CONCLUSION: Subtracted MR images from two sets of unenhanced 3D MR angiography data (tag-on and tag-off images) acquired simultaneously would be effective to show the blood flow distribution of tagged blood into the portal vein and distal branches from SMV and SpV under the physiological condition without contrast injections.

Visualization of cerebrospinal fluid movement with spin labeling at MR imaging: preliminary results in normal and pathophysiologic conditions.

Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained for this study. This study was HIPAA compliant. The purpose of this study was to visualize the movement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) noninvasively by using an unenhanced magnetic resonance imaging technique. A time-spatial labeling inversion pulse (SLIP) technique was applied to label, or tag, CSF in a region of interest. The tagged CSF was clearly visualized at inversion times of 1500-4500 msec after pulse labeling in both intracranial and intraspinal compartments. Noninvasive visualization of CSF movement, including bulk and turbulent flow, in normal (n = 7) and altered (n = 2) physiologic conditions was possible by using the unenhanced time-SLIP technique.

Pre- and postprandial alterations of portal venous flow: evaluation with single breath-hold three-dimensional half-Fourier fast spin-echo MR imaging and a selective inversion recovery tagging pulse.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of food intake on portal flow using unenhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population included 29 healthy subjects. A selective inversion recovery tagging pulse was used on the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and splenic vein (SpV) to study the correlation of tagged blood in the portal vein (PV). MRI was performed before and 60-90 min after a meal. RESULTS: The flow signal from the SMV increased in 97% of the subjects after the meal. Before the meal the portal flow was dominated by flow from the SpV in 59% of the subjects, while it was dominated by flow from the SMV in 76% of the subjects after the meal. The most common distribution pattern of the flow signal from the SpV before the meal was in the central part of the main PV (55%), while it was in the left side (45%) after the meal. The most common distribution pattern of the flow signal from the SMV was in the bilateral sides of the main PV both before and after the meal (62%). CONCLUSION: This technique shows potential for evaluating pre- and postprandial alterations of flow from the SpV and SMV in the PV under physiological conditions.

Diffusion-weighted imaging of the liver: technical challenges and prospects for the future.

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has recently been attempted in the abdominal region. We review diffusion-weighted images of the liver, especially from the technical point of view. We discuss selection of pulse sequence parameters, effects of anti-breathing motion technique, tips for measuring apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and utility of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO), showing clinical cases, including those at 3T. Our current trial of new pulse sequencing, such as SPIO-mediated breath-holding black-blood fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (BH-BB-FLAIR), imaging is shown. Some prospects for the future in DWI of the liver are also stated.

N-carboxy-L-aspartic anhydride benzyl ester.

The structure of the title compound, benzyl (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2,5-dioxo-1,3-oxazol-4-yl)acetate, C(12)H(11)NO(5), has been determined in an attempt to explain the polymerization observed in the solid state. The molecules are linked by intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the imino group of the five-membered ring and an adjacent carbonyl O atom, along the c axis. Intramolecular hydrogen bonds are also formed, between the imino group and the carbonyl O atom of the ester group. The five-membered rings are arranged in a layer, sandwiched by layers incorporating the benzyl groups. This structure is thought to be preferable for the polymerization of the compound in the solid state, because the five-membered rings can react with each other in the layer.

Intraportal venous flow distribution: evaluation with single breath-hold ECG-triggered three-dimensional half-Fourier fast spin-echo MR imaging and a selective inversion-recovery tagging pulse.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intraportal blood flow distribution from splenic and superior mesenteric veins with an unenhanced MR angiographic technique using single breath-hold ECG-triggered three-dimensional (3D) half-Fourier fast spin-echo sequence and selective inversion-recovery tagging pulse. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventeen healthy volunteers were included in this prospective study. After obtaining regular single breath-hold ECG-triggered 3D half-Fourier fast spin-echo images without applying a tagging pulse, we placed the selective inversion-recovery tagging pulse on the superior mesenteric vein (TAG-A), the splenic vein (TAG-B), or on both (TAG-C) to study the inflow correlation of tagged or marked blood into the portal vein. MR images were evaluated subjectively by three reviewers. RESULTS: On MR images obtained using the TAG-A pulse to suppress the signal flow from the superior mesenteric vein into the portal vein, the most common pattern of signal loss was observed on the right half of the main portal vein (8/17 subjects). Conversely, on the MR images obtained using the TAG-B pulse, signal loss of the left half of the main portal vein was the most common pattern (11/17 subjects). Signal reduction from the splenic venous flow in the left portal vein was significantly greater than that from the superior mesenteric venous flow (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The unenhanced MR angiographic technique using single breath-hold ECG-triggered 3D half-Fourier fast spin echo with selective inversion-recovery tagging pulse has the potential to assess the intraportal blood flow distribution from the splenic and superior mesenteric veins.