Notes Archive
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An Introduction To Protein Structure
Posted on December 27, 2010 | 2 CommentsProteins are working molecules of a cell that carry out the ‘program’ of activities encoded onto them by gene -
Medicinal Chemistry of the Peripheral Nervous System – Adrenergics and Cholinergic their Biosynthesis, Metabolism and Structure Activity Relationships
Posted on January 27, 2011 | No CommentsA summary of the medicinal chemistry of adrenergics and cholinergic drugs including biosynthesis of norepinephrine and biosynthesis of acetylcholine, metabolism of norepinephrine and metabolism of acetylcholine and the structure activity relationship of the adrenergic and cholinergic agents. -
Gene Therapy
Posted on January 28, 2011 | No CommentsGene Therapy is a technique for correcting defective genes that are responsible for disease development -
Multicomponent Reactions
Posted on January 28, 2011 | 1 CommentMulticomponent reactions (MCRs) are highly convergent reactions, with high atom efficiency, good bond forming capabilities and higher yields in comparison to a similar multistep reaction. -
c-MET
Posted on February 4, 2011 | No CommentsMET (mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor) is a proto-oncogene that encodes a protein MET, also known asc-Met or hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR). MET is a membrane receptor that is essential for embryonic development and wound healing. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is the only known ligand of the MET receptor. MET is normally expressed by cells of epithelial origin, while expression of HGF is restricted to cells of mesenchymal origin. Upon HGF stimulation, MET induces several biological responses that collectively give rise to a program known as invasive growth. Abnormal MET activation in cancer correlates with poor prognosis, where aberrantly active MET triggers tumor growth, formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) that supply the tumor with nutrients, and cancer spread to other organs (metastasis). MET is deregulated in many types of human malignancies, including cancers of kidney, liver, stomach, breast, and brain. Normally, only stem cells andprogenitor cells express MET, which allows these cells to grow invasively in order to generate new tissues in an embryo or regenerate damaged tissues in an adult. However, cancer stem cells are thought to hijack the ability of normal stem cells to express MET, and thus become the cause of cancer persistence and spread to other sites in the body. -
Malonic Ester Synthesis – Alkylation of Enolates
Posted on February 6, 2011 | No CommentsMalonic esters when reacted with alkyl halide (R-X) in the presence of base such as NaOH will produce ?-alkylated esters. However, reaction will not stop there. Over time, the reaction will also give disubstituted products as well as free acids. -
Acetoacetic Ester Synthesis – Alkylation of Enolates
Posted on February 8, 2011 | No CommentsAcetoacetic ester synthesis is similar to malonic ester synthesis.When ?-keto ester is reacted with a weak base such as Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) in the presence of alkyl halide (R-X), it produces ?-alkylated ?-keto esters and also di-alkylated products. However, upon acidification the mixture will lose a molecule of carbon dioxide to get decarboxylated to give ketones as well. This will be further explained with the mechanism. -
Using the non-selective nature of acetoacetic ester synthesis and malonic ester synthesis to produce cyclic compounds
Posted on February 9, 2011 | 2 CommentsAs has been discussed previously - acetoacetic ester synthesis and malonic ester synthesis are non-selective, in that, they can produce dialkylated products. This particular property of these reactions can be made use of to synthesize cyclic compounds using a alkyl dihalide. -
Chemistry of Enolates and Enols – Acidity of Alpha-Hydrogens
Posted on February 13, 2011 | 10 CommentsIn the presence of carbonyl functional group, the alpha-hydrogens of a molecule exhibit acidity i.e. in the presence of a base they can be abstracted very easily to yield a carbanion. The carbanion can be stabilized either with resonance to yield enolates. -
Catalytic Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition: Reactivity and Application
Posted on February 15, 2011 | No CommentsCopper catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) is one of the most reliable click reaction that has enabled the practical and efficient preparation of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3 triazoles from a wide range of substituted alkynes and azides which cannot be typically attained by the traditional Huisgen thermal cycloaddition reaction -
Direct Factor Xa Inhibitors as Anticoagulants
Posted on February 15, 2011 | No Commentsactor Xa is a zymogen of factor Xa, a serine protease, which occupies a pivotal position in the coagulation cascade. Factor Xa is found at the convergent point of extrinsic and intrinsic pathway leading to coagulation. -
Determination of Absorption Rate Constant
Posted on February 19, 2011 | 1 CommentAbsorption is characterized by evaluating the absorption rate constant ka from plasma concentration versus time data graphs. Most pharmacokinetic models assume first order kinetics for the oral absorption of the drug; however zero-order assumption can also occur -
A Primer on Measuring Concentrations – Molarity, Moles and Other Confusing Stuff
Posted on February 20, 2011 | No CommentsBeing pharmacy and pharmaceutical science students, we face concentrations all around us in some form or the other. This article is aimed to guide you better on how you can do the calculations and understand what is going on while calculating concentrations. We start off with the definition of Avagadro’s Number, cover gram molecular weight, moles, molarity etc. and will end with real life example problems with solutions which you can use to practice your calculations with. -
Chemistry of Enolates – C vs O Alkylation
Posted on February 25, 2011 | No CommentsEnolates can be very tricky to handle. Upon reaction with a base and in the presence of alkyl halide, the carbonyl compounds with ?-hydrogens can undergo a reaction to produce a mixture of c-alkylated product or o-alkylated product. -
Thermodynamic Product vs Kinetic Product – with example of enolate formation of 2-methylcyclohexanone
Posted on March 13, 2011 | 3 CommentsA chemical reaction in which more than one product can be formed is generally governed by either laws of thermodynamics or kinetics. It can therefore yield either thermodynamic products or kinetic products. -
Basic Concepts Of Pharmacology
Posted on March 26, 2011 | No CommentsPharmacology is the science of drugs and its physical and chemical properties and their affect on the body and how they interact with other substances. -
Formulation and Routes of Administration of Drugs
Posted on March 28, 2011 | 1 CommentDrugs can be given to a person in a variety of formulations. Formulations is a mixture in a particular state that the drug is supplied to the patient. It can be either solid, semisolid or liquid formulations. -
Adverse Drug Reactions
Posted on April 2, 2011 | No CommentsAdverse drug reactions are reactions that occur apart from the normal drug action. Adverse drug reactions are unwanted reactions and are often seen if higher or inappropriate doses of medicines are taken. They are also known as side reactions. -
Phenolates- O-alkylation and C-alkylation
Posted on April 9, 2011 | No CommentsPhenolates are formed when a phenolic hydroxy group is reacted in the presence of base. The phenolate anion can react with alkyl halides to produce either O-alkylated or C-alkylated products. -
Pharmacokinetics Basics- Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion
Posted on April 9, 2011 | No CommentsPharmacokinetics is the way the body acts on the drug once it is administered. The four processes involved are absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination.