Degree: Doctor

Affiliation(s):

CIQUP - FCUP

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Showing 5 latest publications. Total publications: 35
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1. Thermodynamic properties of 2-mercapto-, 2,5-dimethyl- and 2-mercapto-5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole, Silva, ALR Goncalves, JM; Morais, VMF; da Silva, MDMCR in JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL THERMODYNAMICS, 2022, ISSN: 0021-9614,  Volume: 165, 
Article,  Indexed in: crossref, scopus, wos  DOI: 10.1016/j.jct.2021.106644 P-00V-JHR
Abstract The focus of this work is the establishment of energetic-structural correlations of compounds containing a pentagonal heterocyclic ring with different substituents, and consequent contribution on the assessment of their thermodynamic stability and a thorough insight on the thiol-thione tautomeric equilibrium. In this work we report an experimental and computational thermochemical study of three mercaptothiadiazoles: 2-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole, 2-mercapto-5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole and 2,5-dimethyl1,3,4-thiadiazole. The experimental data were determined mainly from calorimetric techniques and from effusion method. Thermochemical properties such as the enthalpies of formation, both in crystalline and gaseous phases, the enthalpies of fusion and of sublimation of each compound, as well as the Gibbs energies of formation were derived. Thus, the methyl-substituted thiadiazole is the more stable species in both gaseous and crystalline phases. In addition, quantum chemical calculations were carried out for those isolated molecules. This approach confirms the thione form as the predominant tautomer for the mercaptothiadiazoles. Finally, the activation energies of the tautomeric equilibrium of the mercaptothiadiazoles were calculated in the gas-phase, aqueous and dimethylsulfoxide solutions, showing that the thiol ? thione single hydrogen transfers are quite unfavourable reactions in gas phase and in a presence of polar solvents. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd.

2. Metal-ligand binding energies in copper (II) and nickel (II) complexes with tetradentate N2O2 Schiff base ligands, Silva, ALR Oliveira, PCFC; Goncalves, JM; Morais, VMF; da Silva, MDMCR in INORGANICA CHIMICA ACTA, 2022, ISSN: 0020-1693,  Volume: 535, 
Article,  Indexed in: crossref, scopus, wos  DOI: 10.1016/j.ica.2022.120845 P-00W-1HE
Abstract This work constitutes a new contribution for understanding the relationship between the metal-ligand bonding and, indirectly, the inherent reactivity of metallic complexes with tetradentate N2O2 Schiff base ligands, being reported the energetic characterization of two transition metal complexes - (N,AT c -bis(salicylaldehydo)tetramethylenediiminate)nickel(II) and (N,N' -bis(salicylaldehydo)propylenediiminate)copper(II). The standard molar enthalpies of formation of these complexes were determined by solution-reaction calorimetry measurements. Their standard molar enthalpies of sublimation, at T = 298.15 K, were obtained by an effusion method. From these studies, the gas-phase enthalpies of formation of Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes, at T = 298.15 K, were derived. Differences between the metal-ligand and mean hydrogen-ligand bond dissociation enthalpies were derived and discussed in structural terms, in comparison with identical parameters for complexes of the same metals with analogous tetradentate Schiff bases. High-level quantum chemical calculations have also been conducted, complementing the results obtained experimentally.

3. Experimental and Theoretical Investigation on the Thermochemistry of 3-Methyl-2-benzoxazolinone and 6-Nitro-2-benzoxazolinone, Silva, ALR Costa, VMS; da Silva, MDMCR in MOLECULES, 2022, Volume: 27, 
Article,  Indexed in: crossref, scopus, wos  DOI: 10.3390/molecules27010024 P-00V-W39
Abstract The determination of the reliable thermodynamic properties of 2-benzoxazolinone derivatives is the main goal of this work. Some correlations are established between the energetic properties determined and the structural characteristics of the title compounds, and the reactivity of this class of compounds is also evaluated. Static-bomb combustion calorimetry and high-temperature Calvet microcalorimetry were used to determine, respectively, the standard molar enthalpies of formation in the solid state and the standard molar enthalpies of sublimation, both at T = 298.15 K. Using the results obtained for each compound, the respective gas-phase standard molar enthalpy of formation was derived. High-level quantum chemical calculations were performed to estimate the same property and the results evidence good accordance. Moreover, the gas-phase relative thermodynamic stability of 2-benzoxazolinone derivatives was also evaluated using the respective gas-phase standard molar Gibbs energy of formation. In addition, the relationship between the energetic and structural characteristics of the benzoxazolinones is presented, evidencing the enthalpic increments associated with the presence of a methyl and a nitro groups in the molecule, and this effect is compared with similar ones in other structurally related compounds.

4. Adherens Junction Integrity Is a Critical Determinant of Sodium Iodide Symporter Residency at the Plasma Membrane of Thyroid Cells, Faria, M; Vareda, J; Miranda, M; Bugalho, MJ; Silva, AL Matos, P in CANCERS, 2022, ISSN: 2072-6694,  Volume: 14, 
Article,  Indexed in: scopus, wos  DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215362 P-00X-GGZ
Abstract Simple Summary Most cases of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) are associated with a good prognosis. However, a significant number progress to advanced disease exhibiting aggressive clinical characteristics. These cases have a poorer prognosis because they become resistant to radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment. One of the causes for this resistance is the reduction of the channel responsible for iodide uptake (NIS-the sodium iodide symporter) at the plasma membrane (PM) of metastatic thyroid cancer cells. Here we describe that cell-cell adhesion is a key determinant for NIS residency at the PM, suggesting that loss of cell-cell adhesion during metastization contributes to RAI treatment resistance in advanced TC. Our findings indicate that successful resensitization therapies might require the use of agents that improve epithelial cell-cell adhesion in refractory TC cells. While most cases of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) are associated with a good prognosis, a significant number progress to advanced disease exhibiting aggressive clinical characteristics and often becoming refractory to radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment, the current gold-standard therapeutic option for metastatic disease. RAI-refractoriness is caused by defective functional expression of the sodium-iodide symporter (NIS), which is responsible for the active transport of iodide across the plasma membrane (PM) into thyroid follicles. NIS deficiency in these tumors often reflects a transcriptional impairment, but also its defective targeting and retention at the cells' PM. Using proteomics, we previously characterized an intracellular signaling pathway derived from SRC kinase that acts through the small GTPase RAC1 to recruit and bind the actin-anchoring adaptor EZRIN to NIS, regulating its retention at the PM of both non-transformed and cancer thyroid cells. Here, we describe how by reanalyzing the proteomics data, we identified cell-cell adhesion as the molecular event upstream the pathway involved in the anchoring and retention at the PM. We show that by interacting with NIS at the PM, adherens junction (AJ)-associated P120-catenin recruits and is phosphorylated by SRC, allowing it to recruit RAC1 to the complex. This enables SRC-phosphorylated VAV2 exchange factor to activate RAC1 GTPase, inducing NIS retention at the PM, thus increasing its abundance and function at the surface of thyroid cells. Our findings indicate that the loss of epithelial cell-cell adhesion may contribute to RAI refractoriness, indicating that in addition to stimulating NIS expression, successful resensitization therapies might require the employment of agents that improve cell-cell adhesion and NIS PM retention in refractory TC cells.

5. Energetics of tetradentate N2O2 schiff bases containing different alkyldiimine brigdes, Silva, ALR Goncalves, JM; Morais, VMF da Silva, MDMCR in THERMOCHIMICA ACTA, 2021, ISSN: 0040-6031,  Volume: 695, 
Article,  Indexed in: crossref, scopus, wos  DOI: 10.1016/j.tca.2020.178817 P-00T-6B5
Abstract This work is part of a comprehensive study of the thermal properties of several molecules of tetradentate Schiff bases, obtained as condensation products of salicylaldehyde with alkyldiamines. Herein, we report an experimental thermochemical study of SALPN (N,N'-bis(salicylaldehydo)propylenediimine) and a computational thermochemical study of SALEN (N,N' -bis(salicylaldehydo)dimethylenediimine), SALPN and SALBUTEN (N,N'-bis(salicylaldehydo)tetramethylenediimine) ligands. The standard (p degrees =0.1 MPa) molar enthalpy of formation of crystalline SALPN, at T = 298.15 K, was determined using the static-bomb calorimetry technique. Also, the enthalpy of fusion of this ligand has been determined by differential scanning calorimetry. Additionally, using quantum chemical calculations at the CCSD(T) level of theory, we have calculated the gas-phase standard molar enthalpies of formation of three Schiff base ligands, SALEN, SALPN and SALBUTEN. Moreover, a computational study of the molecular structures of the ligands has been carried out.