Par3 interacts with Prickle3 to generate apical PCP complexes in the vertebrate neural plate

Vertebrate neural tube formation depends on the coordinated orientation of cells in the tissue known as planar cell polarity (PCP). In the Xenopus neural plate, PCP is marked by the enrichment of the conserved proteins Prickle3 and Vangl2 at anterior cell boundaries. Here we show that the apical determinant Par3 is also planar polarized in the neuroepithelium, suggesting a role for Par3 in PCP. Consistent with this hypothesis, interference with Par3 activity inhibited asymmetric distribution of PCP junctional complexes and caused neural tube defects. Importantly, Par3 physically associated with Prickle3 and promoted its apical localization, whereas overexpression of a Prickle3-binding Par3 fragment disrupted PCP in the neural plate. We also adapted proximity biotinylation assay for use in Xenopus embryos and show that Par3 functions by enhancing the formation of the anterior apical PCP complex. These findings describe a mechanistic link between the apical localization of PCP components and morphogenetic movements underlying neurulation.

Iron Pincer Complexes as Catalysts in Cross-coupling of Aryl Halides and Phenylboronic Acid

Pincer complexes with iron as active metal center were synthesized to study their catalytic activity in Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions. Tridentate pincer ligand was synthesized by the reaction of diphenylchlorophosphine with m-aminophenol and m-phenylenediamine respectively in a 2:1 ratio in the presence of triethylamine as a base and tetrahydrofuran as solvent media. The resultant ligand was complexed with FeSO4 to obtain PCP complexes, C-1 with O and N atoms in the side arms and C-2 with both N atoms in the side arms. The synthesized complexes were examined for their C-C coupling efficiency in cross-coupling between phenyl boronic acid and para substituted halobenzenes. The research study aims to provide an alternative approach to the Pd catalyzed cross coupling methods, an otherwise subjugated method to obtain cross-coupled products. Also the study implores on the effect of variation in the side arm atom relating to the donating ability of the ligand and thereby relatively affecting the coupling yield of the catalysts.