Tatiana P. Gerasimova

Genes involved in the development of bristles and hairs in Drosophila melanogaster

Mutations in three loci influencing the development of bristles and hairs were detected in experiments with strains containing either a mobilized Stalker or a mobilized P-element. The mutations in two genes, suppressor of scute and putative microchaete, modify phenotypic expression of mutations in the scute locus. In particular, su(sc) mutations suppress the sc-phenotype in the scutellum and enhance the Hw-phenotype in the thorax. Mutations in the third gene, pseudoscute, lead to reduction of all bristles and hairs. The latter locus seems to control the development of bristles independently of the achaete-scute complex control.

Synthesis and study of antimicrobial activity of quaternary ammonium benzofuroxan salts

It was found that quaternary ammonium salts of benzofuroxan based on o-, m-, and p-dibromoxylenes are formed as a mixture of two tautomers. Only one bromomethyl group participates in the quaternization of benzofuroxan with different dibromoxylenes. Bacteriostatic activity of the most active mixture of tautomers was two and four times higher than the reference drug, chloramphenicol, with respect to Staphylococcus aureus 209p and Bacillus cereus 8035, correspondingly. Hemolysis of these compounds does not exceed 1%, i.e., such compounds are not toxic.Graphical abstract

Ferrocene-Containing Sterically Hindered Phosphonium Salts

The synthesis and physical properties of the series of the ferrocenyl-containing sterically hindered phosphonium salts based on di(tert-butyl)ferrocenylphosphine is reported. Analysis of voltamogramms of the obtained compounds revealed some correlations between their structures and electrochemical properties. The elongation of the alkyl chain at the P atom as well as replacement of the Br− anion by [BF4]− shifts the ferrocene/ferrocenium transition of the resulting salts into the positive region. DFT results shows that in the former case, the Br− anion destabilizes the corresponding ion pair, making its oxidation easier due to increased highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy. Increased HOMO energy for ion pairs with the Br− ion compared to BF4− are caused by contribution of bromide atomic orbitals to the HOMO. The observed correlations can be used for fine-tuning the properties of the salts making them attractive for applications in multicomponent batteries and capacitors.