Laboratory Evolution of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus circulans</Emphasis> Xylanase Inserted into <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyrococcus furiosus</Emphasis> Maltodextrin-Binding Protein for Increased Xylanase Activity and Thermal Stability Toward Alkaline pH

High xylanase activity and stability toward alkaline pH is strongly desired for pulping and bleaching processes. We previously enhanced thermal stability of Bacillus circulans xylanase (BCX) by inserting into a thermophilic maltodextrin-binding protein from Pyrococcus furiosus (PfMBP) (the resulting complex named as PfMBP-BCX165). In the present study, we aimed to evolve the inserted BCX domain within PfMBP-BCX165 for greater xylanase activity toward alkaline pH while maintaining enhanced thermal stability. No BCX sequence variation was required for the thermal stabilization, thus allowing us to explore the entire BCX sequence space for the evolution. Specifically, we randomized the BCX sequence within PfMBP-BCX165 and then screened the resulting libraries to identify a PfMBP-BCX165 variant, PfMBP-BCX165_T50R. The T50R mutation enhanced xylanase activity of PfMBP-BCX165 toward alkaline pH without compromising thermal stability. When compared to PfMBP-BCX165_T50R, the corresponding unfused BCX mutant, BCX_T50R, exhibited similar pH dependence of xylanase activity, yet suffered from limited thermal stability. In summary, we showed that one can improve thermal stability and xylanase activity of BCX toward alkaline pH by inserting into PfMBP followed by sequence variation of the BCX domain. Our study also suggested that insertional fusion to PfMBP would be a useful stabilizing platform for evolving many proteins.     

蔗渣纤维素黄原酸酯的制备及稳定性研究

以甘蔗渣为原材料,于20％(wt)的NaOH溶液中碱化24 h,在碱性条件下加入用量为0.5 mL/g的CS2,在30℃反应2.5 h,合成了蔗渣纤维素黄原酸酯(BCX)；并对其合成条件进行了优化,对其处理重金属离子的效果进行了评价.研究结果表明,BCX对重金属废水中的Ni2+、Cu2+、Zn2+、pb2+的去除率均在...     

Why substituting the asparagine at position 35 in Bacillus circulans xylanase with an aspartic acid remarkably improves the enzymatic catalytic activity? A quantum chemistry-based calculation study

Xylanases from Bacillus circulans (BCX) are known as configuration-retaining glycoside hydrolases, which hydrolyze xylans with two glutamic acid residues (Glu78 and Glu172) serving as catalytic active residues according to a double displacement mechanism. Existing experimental researches show that mutating the asparagines (Asn) to aspartic acid (Asp) at position 35 next to Glu172 can obviously improve the catalytic activity of BCX. To better understand the inherent mechanism for the experimental finding, we performed quantum chemistry calculations on two model systems to mimic the catalyses of wild-type and mutant BCXs. Geometrical structures and relative energies of intermediates and transition states involved in the hydrolysis reactions are given in detail. It is found that in the wild-type model system Asn35 interacts with Glu172 via a loose hydrogen bond, while in the mutant model system Asp35 forms a very tight hydrogen bond with Glu172. The glycosidic bond cleavage is proposed to be the rate-determining step for the hydrolysis reaction, whose barrier varies from 98 to 65 kJ mol⁻¹ when Asn35 is replaced by Asp35, showing the presence of Asp35 remarkably reduces the energy demand for the hydrolysis reaction. The present result provides a theoretical elucidation for why a single amino acid substitution can importantly influences catalytic activity of BCX.     

Magnetic field‐assisted liquid crystal alignment on a solid substrate: drift of easy orientation axis,anchoring energy and angular distribution of adsorbed liquid crystal molecules

The anchoring properties of a film of anisotropically adsorbed liquid crystal (LC) molecules on a rigid substrate have been studied. The LC film was prepared by cooling it from the isotropic phase in the presence of a magnetic field parallel to the surface of the substrate. Relationship between the anchoring energy, easy axis direction and angular distribution of the adsorbed molecules, and changes in their angular distribution due to adsorption–desorption, were studied. The dependence of the anchoring energy on the duration and the temperature at which the LC film is annealed allowed an estimation of the activation energy of desorption of LC molecules on ITO surface, ΔE≈0.55 eV. The results suggest that hydrogen bonds are responsible for the adsorption of LC molecules on the substrate.     

Liquid dewetting of ultrathin polystyrene films: Is there a molecular architecture effect?

We have used a liquid dewetting method to investigate the glass transition temperature T_g of high molecular weight linear, long branched 3-arm star, and short branched 8-arm star polystyrene (PS) in the form of ultrathin films. The results of these dewetting experiments are consistent with prior studies of dewetting of linear PS films and show that, independent of molecular architecture, the glass transition temperature T_g reductions with decreasing film thickness, while important below about 20 nm, are weaker than those observed for linear PS supported on a rigid substrate and as well as those observed in freely standing films. The lack of a strong molecular architecture effect on the T_g-reductions is consistent with the T_g reductions for the dewetting from a liquid substrate reflects changes in segmental dynamics upon confinement rather than chain effects. This contrasts with changes, including increases seen in dewetting from a rigid substrate, for different molecular architectures reported in the literature.     

Speleands. Macropolycyclic receptor cages based on binding and shaping sub-units. Synthesis and properties of macrocycle cyclotriveratrylene combinations. Preliminary communication

Combination of a receptor unit with a rigid shaping unit produces a new type of receptor molecules of the cryptand class, hollow macropolycyclic molecules termed speleands, capable of substrate inclusion. Two members of this category of compounds 1 and 2 , have been synthesized by connecting in a single step, a macro-cyclic [18]-N₃O₃ binding unit with a rigid cyclotriveratrylene unit via three bridges. Compound 1 binds the rnethylammonium cation forming both external and internal complexes; for the latter a ‘speleme’ structure, schematically represented by 15 , may be proposed.     

How does tack depend on time of contact and contact pressure?

The tack of polymer melts on rigid substrates under conditions of short contact times and low pressures is examined. The substrate is modeled as a random rough surface with a distribution of asperities heights. The true contact area between the adhesive and the substrate is calculated for a given total load and elastic modulus of the substrate. The dependence of tack on contact time is accounted for by introducing the relaxation of the adhesive through a time-dependent elastic modulus. For relatively high pressures the tack is predicted to scale with 1/E so that for short contact times, t_c, the tack is predicted to scale with (t_c/τ_e)^1/2, where τ_e is the entanglement time. For lower pressures this simple scaling law is no longer valid and we predict a complex variation of tack with contact time and molecular parameters. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Rapid Access to Oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane Skeleton through Cu(I)‐Catalyzed Generation and Trapping of Vinyl‐o‐quinodimethanes (Vinyl‐o‐QDMs)†

A Cu(I)‐catalyzed three‐component reaction of terminal enynals/enynones, diazo compounds, and alkenes has been developed. With this method, a series of oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octanes were effectively synthesized in high yields under mild reaction conditions. This transformation is proposed to proceed through trapping of the cyclic vinyl‐o‐quinodimethanes (vinyl‐o‐QDMs) species, which were generated from terminal enynals/enynones and diazo compounds by alkenes. The obvious advantages of wide substrate scopes, mild reaction conditions, and high seteroselectivity and atom efficiency make this reaction highly appealing for construction of highly rigid [2.2.2]octane skeleton.     

Highly Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Cyclic Enol Acetates Catalyzed by a Rh–PennPhos Complex

The electron‐rich and conformationally rigid (R,S,R,S)‐Me‐PennPhos ligand (shown schematically) appears to chelate rhodium and form well‐defined chiral pockets. This allows, for example, efficient differentiation between the two enantiotopic approaches available to a substrate in a hydrogenation reaction. The Rh–Me‐PennPhos complex is the first catalyst for the highly enantioselective asymmetric hydrogenation of cyclic enol acetates. For example, 3,4‐dihydronaphth‐1‐yl acetate can be hydrogenated with up to 99% ee.     

A detailed elastic analysis of the flat punch (tack) test for pressure‐sensitive adhesives

Detailed finite element calculations are carried out in order to study the mechanical response of a compliant layer sandwiched between a rigid cylindrical flat punch and a rigid substrate. Two cases of practical interest are considered: one in which the layer is perfectly bonded to the punch and the substrate and one in which the interface between the punch and the layer is frictionless. The substrate is assumed to be perfectly bonded to the adhesive layer in both cases. Analytic expressions are obtained for the stresses away from the edges, and the effect of lateral constraint is examined. The compliances of the loading systems for both cases are obtained numerically, and accurate analytic expressions are determined based on these numeric results. The nature of the stress fields near the contact edge are explored, and their connections with the energy release rate are determined. The relevance of these calculations to two recent adhesion tests is discussed. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2769–2784, 2000     

Nematogenic block copolymers of rigid and flexible aromatic units. I. Synthesis and characterization

Three types of wholly aromatic block copolymers were synthesized using the phosphorylation reactions of Yamazaki and Higashi. Each copolymer contained blocks of rigid and flexible units. The first copolymer, PBA/PABH-T, contains blocks of poly(p-benzamide) and the polyterephthalamide of p-aminobenzhydrazide. The second copolymer, PBA/MPD-I, contains blocks of poly(p-benzamide) and poly(p-phenylene isophthalamide), whereas the third, PPD T/MPD-I, contains blocks of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) and poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide). Three synthetic routes were used for the preparation of the block copolymers. In the two-step polycondensation (A), monomers of the flexible block are added to the rigid prepolymer. The multistep method (B) differs in that the rigid prepolymer is carboxy-terminated prior to addition of the monomers of the flexible block. Carboxy-terminated prepolymer of the rigid block is reacted with amine-terminated prepolymer of the flexible block in the two-pot condensation (C). The presence of a considerable amount of the flexible homopolymer is indicated by viscosity, extraction, and NMR studies, particularly when methods A and C were used. The flexible homopolymer can be extracted by using a nonsolvent for the rigid blocks. Extraction of the rigid homopolymer (which may also be presumed to be produced) entails a more elaborate procedure. In principle, one can use these methods to obtain pure block copolymer for study of mixtures with the rigid and flexible homopolymers. Phase studies of some of these systems will be reported in a following paper.     

Elastomeric adhesives: Effect of cross link density on joint strength

The dependence of joint strength upon the molecular weight between crosslinks M_c of an adhesive has been investigated for joints which consist of a crosslinked, amorphous rubber adhering to a rigid polymeric substrate. The joint strength was found to be independent of M_c if results were compared at the same effective rate of testing. If, however, values of joint strength were compared at a particular test temperature and rate, the joint strength generally increased as the value of M_c decreased. This result can be explained by the increase of the glass transition temperature of the adhesive with increasing crosslink density.     

Investigation of shear failure mechanisms of pressure‐sensitive adhesives

We report new experiments investigating the failure mechanisms in shear, of thin layers of acrylic pressure‐sensitive adhesives (PSA). We have developed a novel experimental device able to shear a soft adhesive layer confined between a rigid hemispherical lens and a rigid glass substrate. Using the resources of in situ contact visualization, the nonhomogeneous deformation of the layer and the shear failure processes were observed optically. Depending on the rheological properties of the adhesive, ratios of the contact radius over the layer thickness of 10–30 were achieved, mimicking well the contact conditions encountered in a thin adhesive layer within a joint. When the adhesive was weakly crosslinked, we observed a fluid‐like behavior and could measure a reasonable value for the viscosity of the PSA, implying that flow can occur in the layer and failure will occur by creep. On the other hand, for a more crosslinked adhesive, closer to what is used in applications, a stick‐slip peeling behavior was observed, which involves a coupling between peeling mechanisms at the leading edge of the contact and interfacial slippage. Such a process suggests a failure by fracture rather than by creep. Interestingly, the peeling mechanisms and the associated stress levels change significantly when the layer becomes as thin as 20 μm, implying a fracture process that is controlled by a critical energy release rate in shear G_IIc rather than by a critical shear stress causing failure of the interfacial bonds. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 3316–3330, 2005     

Ultra-high Tg and ultra-low coefficient of thermal expansion polyimide films based on hydrogen bond interaction

To tolerate high processing temperature during the fabrication of low-temperature polycrystalline silicon thin-film transistors (LTPS–TFT) in flexible OLED devices, the polyimide (PI) films, which are used as substrate, should have ultra-high glass transition temperature (T_g > 450°C) and ultra-low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE at 0–5 ppm K⁻¹). In this paper, two novel heterocyclic monomers, namely, N,N'-(xanthone-2,7-diyl)bis(4-aminobenzamide) (p-DAXBA) and N,N'-(xanthone-2,7-diyl)bis(3-aminobenzamide) (m-DAXBA), which contain a xanthone moiety, are prepared and polycondensed with pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), respectively. PI films (PIa and PIb) with intrinsic high T_g and low CTE are designed from the perspective of rigid conjugate xanthone structure and hydrogen bonding interaction. It is found that the PIa films prepared by p-DAXBA have better linear structure of molecular chains and show relatively higher T_g and lower CTE. The T_g of PIa-40 is greater than 450°C, and CTE can reach as low as 2.7 ppm K⁻¹, tensile strength of 179 MPa, modulus of 5.67 GPa, indicating potential application prospect as a flexible OLED substrate.     

Intramolecular formation of excimers in model compounds for polyesters obtained from 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid and cyclohexanediols

The fluorescence in dilute solution has been measured as a function of solvent viscosity for four bichromophoric models for polyesters with naphthalene in the rigid aromatic unit and diols derived from cyclohexane as the flexible spacer. The spacers are 1,2-cis-cyclohexanediol, 1,2-trans-cyclohexanediol, a 1:2 mixture of 1,3-cis- and 1,3-trans-cyclohexanediols, and a 1:2 mixture of 1,4-cis- and 1,4-trans-cyclohexanediols. The shape of the emission spectra for the molecules in this series is less sensitive to the viscosity of the medium than was the case for an analogous series in which a methylene or oxyethylene spacer replaces the cyclohexanediol spacer. The dependence of the excimer emission on the type of spacer is different also in the series in which the rigid units contain naphthalene or benzene. When the rigid units contain naphthalene, excimer formation is maximal if the spacer contains 1,2-trans-cyclohexanediol, but this spacer produces a molecule with a very small tendency for excimer formation in its polymers with terephthalate. A conformational analysis correctly concludes that the spacer most conducive to excimer formation should be 1,2-trans-cyclohexanediol, but it does not identify the correct order of the remaining three bichromophoric model compounds. The problem may reside in the method for taking into account the finite width of the torsional well associated with each rotational isomer. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Enantiopure Narrow Bite‐Angle POP Ligands: Synthesis and Catalytic Performance in Asymmetric Hydroformylations and Hydrogenations

Herein is reported the preparation of a set of narrow bite‐angle P–OP ligands the backbone of which contains a stereogenic carbon atom. The synthesis was based on a Corey–Bakshi–Shibata (CBS)‐catalyzed asymmetric reduction of phosphomides. The structure of the resulting 1,1‐P–OP ligands, which was selectively tuned through adequate combination of the configuration of the stereogenic carbon atom, its substituent, and the phosphite fragment, proved crucial for providing a rigid environment around the metal center, as evidenced by X‐ray crystallography. These new ligands enabled very good catalytic properties in the Rh‐mediated enantioselective hydrogenation and hydroformylation of challenging and model substrates (up to 99 % ee). Whereas for asymmetric hydrogenation the optimal P–OP ligand depended on the substrate, for hydroformylation, a single ligand was the highest‐performing one for almost all studied substrates: it contains an R‐configured stereogenic carbon atom between the two phosphorus ligating groups, and an S‐configured 3,3′‐diphenyl‐substituted biaryl unit.     

Forces between a Rigid Probe Particle and a Liquid Interface

The effect of disjoining pressure between a rigid spherical probe particle (attached to an AFM cantilever) and a liquid interface (e.g., oil/water or air/water) is treated in an analytic manner to describe the total force F exerted on the probe as a function of the distance X of the probe from the rigid substrate (AFM stage) on which the liquid interface resides. Two cases (i) a flat interface under gravity and (ii) a drop whose size is sufficiently small that gravity can be neglected have been examined. A simple numerical algorithm is given for computing F(X) (the AFM observable) from a given form for the disjoining pressure. Numerical results are displayed for electrostatic probe/interface interactions which reveal the linear compliance regime experimentally observed in AFM experiments on these systems. The slope of the linear compliance regime is shown to be a function of the properties of the interface (capillary length, particle radius, drop size, contact angle of drop on rigid substrate etc.). Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Dielectric relaxation of poly(phenylene sulfide) containing a fraction of rigid amorphous phase

The dielectric relaxation behavior of poly(phenylene sulfide), PPS, has been investigated from room temperature to 180°C. This study was undertaken to examine the mobility of the amorphous phase through the glass transition region, to determine the contribution that rigid amorphous phase material makes to the relaxation process. Semicrystalline samples contain a fraction of the rigid amorphous phase, which was determined from the heat capacity increment at the glass transition, using degree of crystallinity determined from x-ray scattering. In the dielectric experiment, we measured the temperature and frequency dependence of the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function. ε″ vs. ε′ was used to determine the dielectric relaxation intensity, δε = ε_s–ε∞, at temperatures above the glass transition. For amorphous PPS, δε decreases as temperature increases, while for all semicrystalline PPS, δε increases with temperature. The ratio of semicrystalline intensity to amorphous intensity determines the total fraction of dipoles which are already relaxed at a given temperature. Results indicate that more and more rigid amorphous phase material relaxes as the temperature is increased. This provides the first evidence that rigid amorphous phase material in PPS contains chains that possess different levels of molecular mobility. Finally, to the temperature of the loss peak maximum, at a given frequency, we assign the value of the dielectric T_g. For both melt and cold crystallization, the dielectric T_g systematically decreases as the crystallization temperature increases, and as the fraction of rigid amorphous phase decreases.     

Double carbon-halogen bond in the compounds H2CX+, H2CCX+, and H2BCX (X = F, Cl)

The structure of formaldehyde and ketene analogs H₂CX and H₂CCX (X = O, F⁺, Ne²⁺, S, Cl⁺, Ar²⁺), and also of boron-containing compounds H₂BCX (X = F, Cl), was studied by ab initio [CCD(full)/6-311+G**] and DFT (B3LYP/6-311+G**) calculations. In all the halogen-containing species except H₂BCF, a double carbon-halogen bond is formed.Translated from Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, Vol. 74, No. 10, 2004, pp. 1649–1654.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Minyaev, Gribanova.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.