Rhône-Poulenc

About: Rhône-Poulenc is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Alkyl & Catalysis. The organization has 8909 authors who have published 8934 publications receiving 182241 citations. The organization is also known as: Rhone-Poulenc.

Comparative study of CS2 hydrolysis catalyzed by alumina and titania

Abstract: The study is devoted to the comparison between the activity of γ-alumina and titania (anatase) toward CS2 hydrolysis. It is shown that, without any other sulfur compound, like H2S and SO2, and without O2 traces in the feed, alumina is more active than titania at 320°C. The IR study of CS2 adsorption on alumina evidences the participation of the most basic OH groups and the formation of hydrogen thiocarbonate and hydrogen carbonate species, providing some information on the nature of the active sites and the reaction mechanism. Chemisorbed COS appears as a reaction intermediate. Realistic industrial Claus conditions imply, in addition to CS2 and H2O, the presence of H2S, SO2 and O2 traces in the feed. It appears that the presence of O2 traces in the CS2–H2O mixture brings about a decrease in activity of the alumina and titania. This is due to sulfate formation as shown by the IR analysis of the catalysts after the reaction. Moreover, IR studies evidence that sulfate species are reduced by H2S at 320°C on TiO2, contrary to results obtained on Al2O3, explaining why TiO2 is much more effective than Al2O3 when the CS2+H2O feed also contains H2S and O2 traces.

In vivo micronucleus test using mouse hepatocytes

Abstract: The bone-marrow micronucleus (BMM) test is highly specific for clastogenic effects but its sensitivity is determined to a great extent by the substances tested, particularly by their metabolism. Some compounds, such as unstable mutagens or those which generate short-lived metabolites, are not detected in this test because the metabolites produced in the liver do not reach the bone marrow. In an attempt to provide qualitative and quantitative assessments of chromosomal mutations produced in vivo by genotoxic agents not detected in the mouse BMM test, a mouse-liver micronucleus test, adapted from Tates model, was developed. The animals were treated twice, with an interval of 24 h between treatments, and then subjected to partial hepatectomy (PH) 24 h after the second treatment in order to induce mitotic stimulation. The incidence of micronucleated hepatocytes was determined 96 h after PH. The test was evaluated with 5 procarcinogens, each with a complex metabolic pattern: dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), diethylnitrosamine (DEN), 1,1-dimethylhydrazine (1,1-DMH), 4-aminophenol (4-APOL), 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABPYL) and one direct unstable mutagen, beta-propiolactone (BPL). All these compounds are negative in the mouse BMM test but caused a major increase in the incidence of micronuclei in mouse hepatocytes. This test is simple and can be readily compared with the BMM test. Furthermore, it offers a better assessment of the impact of a compound at the chromosomal level in a metabolically competent cell and can therefore be used for the evaluation of the genotoxic activity of compounds with complex metabolic pathways.

Antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus of semisynthetic injectable streptogramins: RP 59500 and related compounds

Abstract: Pristinamycin displays unique antibacterial properties due to the synergy between its two components, pristinamycin I and pristinamycin II. Because this antibiotic is not water-soluble, its administration is restricted to the oral route, and its therapeutic potential is thereby limited. Novel water-soluble derivatives of the naturally-occurring antibiotic pristinamycin were obtained by modifications of its two major components. The modifications included regioselective and stereoselective substitution alpha to the carbonyl group in the 4-oxo-pipecolic acid residue of pristinamycin IA (PIA) and stereoselective conjugate addition to the double bond of the dehydroproline ring in pristinamycin IIA (PIIA). We report here the in-vitro and in-vivo activities of some representative water-soluble derivatives of pristinamycin IA and pristinamycin IIA against Staphylococcus aureus reference strains, sensitive or resistant to methicillin and/or macrolides.

Investigation of functional and morphological integrity of freshly isolated and cryopreserved human hepatocytes.

Abstract: There is a pressing need for alternative therapeutic methods effective in the treatment of patients with liver insufficiency. Isolated human hepatocytes may be a viable alternative or adjunct to orthotopic liver transplantation in such patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the viability and functional integrity of freshly isolated and cryopreserved human hepatocytes, in preparation for a multi-center human hepatocyte transplantation trial. We are currently processing transplant-grade human parenchymal liver cells from nondiseased human livers that are obtained through a network of organ procurement organizations (OPOs). Thus far, sixteen hepatocyte transplants have been performed using hepatocytes processed by our methods. At the time of referral all specimens were deemed unsuitable for transplantation due to anatomical anomalies, high fat content, medical history, etc. Hepatocytes were isolated from encapsulated liver sections by a modified two-step perfusion technique. Isolated cells were cryopreserved and stored in liquid nitrogen for one to twelve months. The total yield of freshly isolated hepatocytes averaged 3.7x10(7) cells per gram of wet tissue. Based on trypan blue exclusion, fresh preparations contained an average of 85% viable hepatocytes vs. 70% in cryopreserved samples. The plating efficiencies of cells seeded immediately after isolation ranged from 87% to 98%, while those of cryopreserved/thawed cells were markedly lower. Flow cytometry analysis of cells labeled with 5,6-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) showed that there was no significant difference in viability compared with trypan blue staining. Both freshly isolated hepatocytes and those recovered from cryopreservation showed typical and intact morphology as demonstrated by light and electron microscopy. The product of the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reaction was always expressed more intensely in cultures of freshly isolated hepatocytes. Measurements of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage were inversely correlated with trypan blue exclusion and CFSE labeling. Energy status, evaluated by the intracellular ATP concentration measurements, and various liver-specific functions such as urea synthesis and metabolism of 7-ethoxycoumarin were maintained both in fresh and cryopreserved/thawed hepatocytes. However, the activities were expressed at different levels in thawed cells. These data illustrate the importance and feasibility of human hepatocyte banking. In addition, it is clear that further refinements in the methods of hepatocyte isolation and cryopreservation are needed to utilize more fully these valuable cells in the clinic.

Dimerisation of maize glutathione transferases in recombinant bacteria.

Abstract: Two cDNAs encoding novel type III maize (Zea mays) GST subunits, ZmGST VI and ZmGST VII, have been cloned in addition to the previously described ZmGST V. Together with the type I GSTs ZmGST I and ZmGST III, these subunits were expressed in Escherichia coli, both individually and in tandem combinations using a customised pET vector. The GST dimers formed were then characterised. When type I GSTs were co-expressed only the respective homodimers were formed rather than the ZmGST I-III heterodimer. The failure to form this heterodimer, together with the negligible herbicide-detoxifying activity associated with recombinant ZmGST III-III, suggests that the identity of herbicide-detoxifying isoenzymes described in maize as being composed of ZmGST III subunits requires re-evaluation. In contrast, co-expression of the type III GSTs ZmGST V and ZmGST VI resulted in the formation of ZmGST V-V, ZmGST VI-VI and ZmGST V-VI dimers in the ratio 1:1:2 as predicted for random subunit association. ZmGST V-VI had kinetic characteristics intermediate between those of the two homodimers, indicating that the subunits were catalytically independent of one another. Co-expression of ZmGST V and ZmGST VII resulted in the formation of ZmGST V-VII and this isoenzyme was subsequently identified in maize plants. Attempts to dimerise type I GST subunits with type III GST subunits proved unsuccessful. These results demonstrate the utility of co-expressing recombinant GSTs to explore the potential of subunit-subunit associations and to help unravel the complexity of homodimeric and heterodimeric GSTs in plants.