M. Margarida C. A. Castro

Bio: M. Margarida C. A. Castro is an academic researcher from University of Coimbra. The author has contributed to research in topics: Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy & Vanadate. The author has an hindex of 21, co-authored 66 publications receiving 1726 citations. Previous affiliations of M. Margarida C. A. Castro include University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center & University of Texas at Dallas.

In vitro study of the insulin-mimetic behaviour of vanadium(IV, V) coordination compounds

Abstract: A representative set of vanadium(IV and V) compounds in varying coordination environments has been tested in the concentration range 1 to 10–6 mM, using transformed mice fibroblasts (cell line SV 3T3), with respect to their short-term cell toxicity (up to 36 hours) and their ability to stimulate glucose uptake by cells. These insulin-mimetic tests have also been carried out with non-transformed human fibroblasts (cell line F26). The compounds under investigation comprise established insulin-mimetic species such as vanadate ([H2VO4]–), [VO(acetylacetonate)2], [VO2(dipicolinate)]– and [VO(maltolate)2], and new systems and coordination compounds containing OO, ON, OS, NS and ONS donor atom sets. A vitality test assay, measuring the reduction equivalents released in the mitochondrial respiratory chain by intracellular glucose degradation, is introduced and the results are counter-checked with 3H-labelled glucose. Most compounds are toxic at the 1 mM concentration level, and most compounds are essentially non-toxic and about as effective as or more potent than insulin at concentrations of 0.01 mM and below. VV compounds tend to be less toxic than VIV compounds, and complexes containing thio functional ligands are somewhat more toxic than others. Generally, ON ligation is superior in insulin-mimetic efficacy to OO or O/NS coordination, irrespective of the vanadium oxidation state. There is, however, no striking correlation between the nature of the ligand systems and the insulin-mimetic potency in these cell culture tests, encompassing 41 vanadium compounds, the results on 22 of which are reported in detail here. The syntheses and characteristics of various new compounds are provided together with selected speciation results. The crystal and molecular structures of {[VO(naph-tris)]2} [where naph-tris is the Schiff base formed between o-hydroxynaphthaldehyde and tris(hydroxymethyl)amine] are reported. Electronic supplementary material to this paper can be obtained by using the Springer Link server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00775-001-0311-5

N,N'-Ethylenebis(pyridoxylideneiminato) and N,N'-Ethylenebis(pyridoxylaminato): Synthesis, Characterization, Potentiometric, Spectroscopic, and DFT Studies of Their Vanadium(IV) and Vanadium(V) Complexes

Abstract: The Schiff base N,N'-ethylenebis(pyridoxylideneiminato) (H(2)pyr(2)en, 1) was synthesized by reaction of pyridoxal with ethylenediamine; reduction of H(2)pyr(2)en with NaBH(4) yielded the reduced Schiff base N,N'-ethylenebis(pyridoxylaminato) (H(2)Rpyr(2)en, 2); their crystal structures were determined by X-ray diffraction The totally protonated forms of 1 and 2 correspond to H(6)L(4+), and all protonation constants were determined by pH-potentiometric and (1)H NMR titrations Several vanadium(IV) and vanadium(V) complexes of these and other related ligands were prepared and characterized in solution and in the solid state The X-ray crystal structure of [V(V)O(2)(HRpyr(2)en)] shows the metal in a distorted octahedral geometry, with the ligand coordinated through the N-amine and O-phenolato moieties, with one of the pyridine-N atoms protonated Crystals of [(V(V)O(2))(2)(pyren)(2)]2 H(2)O were obtained from solutions containing H(2)pyr(2)en and oxovanadium(IV), where Hpyren is the "half" Schiff base of pyridoxal and ethylenediamine The complexation of V(IV)O(2+) and V(V)O(2) (+) with H(2)pyr(2)en, H(2)Rpyr(2)en and pyridoxamine in aqueous solution were studied by pH-potentiometry, UV/Vis absorption spectrophotometry, as well as by EPR spectroscopy for the V(IV)O systems and (1)H and (51)V NMR spectroscopy for the V(V)O(2) systems Very significant differences in the metal-binding abilities of the ligands were found Both 1 and 2 act as tetradentate ligands H(2)Rpyr(2)en is stable to hydrolysis and several isomers form in solution, namely cis-trans type complexes with V(IV)O, and alpha-cis- and beta-cis-type complexes with V(V)O(2) The pyridinium-N atoms of the pyridoxal rings do not take part in the coordination but are involved in acid-base reactions that affect the number, type, and relative amount of the isomers of the V(IV)O-H(2)Rpyr(2)en and V(V)O(2)-H(2)Rpyr(2)en complexes present in solution DFT calculations were carried out and support the formation and identification of the isomers detected by EPR or NMR spectroscopy, and the strong equatorial and axial binding of the O-phenolato in V(IV)O and V(V)O(2) complexes Moreover, the DFT calculations done for the [V(IV)O(H(2)Rpyr(2)en)] system indicate that for almost all complexes the presence of a sixth equatorial or axial H(2)O ligand leads to much more stable compounds

Tm(DOTP)5−: A 23Na+ shift agent for perfused rat hearts

Abstract: Tm(DOTP)5−, the thulium(III) complex of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane N,N′,N″,N‴tetra(methylenephosphonate), is introduced as a 23Na1 shift agent for use in discrimination of the NMR resonances of intra- and extracellular 23Na+ ions in perfused rat hearts. The novel shift agent is directly compared to the widely used Dy(TTHA)3- (dysprosium(III) triethylenetetraminehexaacetate). © 1990 Academic Press, Inc.

Characterization of Lanthanide(III) DOTP Complexes: Thermodynamics, Protonation, and Coordination to Alkali Metal Ions

Abstract: Several solution properties of complexes formed between the trivalent lanthanide ions (LnIII) and the macrocyclic ligand DOTP8-, including stability constants, protonation equilibria, and interactions of the LnDOTP5- complexes with alkali metal ions, have been examined by spectrophotometry, potentiometry, osmometry, and 1H, 31P, and 23Na NMR spectroscopy. Spectrophotometric competition experiments between DOTP and arsenazo III for complexation with the LnIII ions at pH 4 indicate that the thermodynamic stability constants (log KML) of LnDOTP5- range from 27.6 to 29.6 from LaIII to LuIII. The value for LaDOTP5- obtained by colorimetry (27.6) was supported by a competition experiment between DOTP and EDTA monitored by 1H NMR (27.1) and by a potentiometric competition titration between DTPA and DOTP (27.4). Potentiometric titrations of several LnDOTP5- complexes indicated that four protonation steps occur between pH 10 and 2; the protonation constants determined by potentiometry were consistent with 31P shif...

Influence of global ischemia on intracellular sodium in the perfused rat heart

Abstract: Intracellular [Na+], [H+], and [ATP] and mechanical performance were measured in the isovolumic perfused rat heart during ischemia. The concentration of intracellular sodium, [Na+]i, was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy under control conditions, and [Na+] was monitored by 23Na NMR spectroscopy at 1-min intervals under control conditions and during global ischemia. [ATP], [H+], and [Pi] were measured by 31PNMR in a separate group under identical conditions. The control [Na+]i measured by atomic absorption was 30.7 ± 3.3 mM(mean ± SD, n = 6), and [Na+]i measured by NMR was 6.2 ± 0.5 mM(n = 3). Brief ischemia (10 min) was associated with a 54% increase in [Na+]i which reversed completely with reperfusion. Developed pressure also returned to control values upon reperfusion. Prolonged ischemia (30 min) produced continuous further accumulation of sodium (0.53 mM/min, r2 = 0.99). [H+] also increased approximately linearly early in ischemia (0.084 μM/min, r2 = 0.97). The rate of increase in [Na+]i was more than 4000 times greater than the increase in [H+] on a molar basis. Nevertheless, [H+]/[Na+] increased early in ischemia because the proportional change in [H+] was greater than that in [Na+] i. These results indicate that (1) intracellular sodium measured by NMR in the functioning heart is about 20% of total intracellular sodium; (2) intracellular acidosis and accumulation of sodium develop simultaneously during global ischemia; (3) increased intracellular sodium content is not in itself an indicator of irreversible injury; and (4) recovery of mechanical performance is associated with return of [Na+] (measured by NMR) to baseline after brief ischemia. The mechanism of the increase in sodium content detected by NMR is unknown. © 1990 Academic Press, Inc.

Gadolinium(III) Chelates as MRI Contrast Agents: Structure, Dynamics, and Applications

Abstract: A. Water Exchange 2326 B. Proton Exchange 2327 C. Electronic Relaxation 2327 D. Relaxivity 2331 E. Outerand Second-Sphere Relaxivity 2334 F. Methods of Improving Relaxivity 2336 V. Macromolecular Conjugates 2336 A. Introduction 2336 B. General Conjugation Methods 2336 C. Synthetic Linear Polymers 2336 D. Synthetic Dendrimer-Based Agents 2338 E. Naturally Occurring Polymers (Proteins, Polysaccharides, and Nucleic Acids) 2339

Mechanisms of Insulin Action and Insulin Resistance

Abstract: The 1921 discovery of insulin was a Big Bang from which a vast and expanding universe of research into insulin action and resistance has issued. In the intervening century, some discoveries have ma...

The chemistry and biochemistry of vanadium and the biological activities exerted by vanadium compounds.

Abstract: 6.1.2. Aqueous V(III) Chemistry 877 6.1.3. Oxidation State of Vanadium in Tunicates 878 6.1.4. Uptake of Vanadate into Tunicates 879 6.1.5. Vanadium Binding Proteins: Vanabins 879 6.1.6. Model Complexes and Their Chemistry 880 6.1.7. Catechol-Based Model Chemistry 880 6.1.8. Vanadium Sulfate Complexes 881 6.2. Fan Worm Pseudopotamilla occelata 883 7. Vanadium Nitrogenase 883 7.1. Nitrogenases 883 7.2. Biochemistry of Nitrogenase 884 7.3. Clusters in Nitrogenase and Model Systems: Structure and Reactivity 885

Cardiac Ionic Currents and Acute Ischemia: From Channels to Arrhythmias

Abstract: The aim of this review is to provide basic information on the electrophysiological changes during acute ischemia and reperfusion from the level of ion channels up to the level of multicellular prep...