Conformation control of bilatrienes by peptides: A survey

Summary A variety of bilipeptides has been synthesized and investigated by UV-VIS and CD spectroscopy to explore the conformational influence of peptide ligands on the covalently bound tetrapyrrol moiety. The results obtained are complemented by those reported previously. From the comprehensive data thus available several features of the peptidic chain regulating interactions with the bilatriene moiety have been elucidated. Accordingly, the presence of three amide linkages at the ligand is prerequiste for induction of pronounced conformational changes consisting either in a complete transition ofM intoP helical bilatriene species by inversion of all torsional angles, or in a stretching of the chromophore. The kind of conformational influence can be controlled by varying the position of the prolyl entity within a given peptide.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Kurt Schaffner on occasion of his 60th birthday     

Isolation of a peptide ligand for affinity purification of factor VIII using phage display

Polypeptides for use in affinity chromatography of factor VIII were identified using phage display technology. Phage libraries were designed to express polypeptide fusions containing five to seven residues flanked by two cysteines that form a disulfide bond. Individual bacteriophage were selected for the ability of these polypeptides to bind factor VIII, and then release the protein under mild elution conditions. Strong consensus sequences were observed that appear to be necessary for this reversible interaction. Chemically synthesized ligands identified by this screening were immobilized onto a chromatographic support and used for affinity purification of factor VIII from a complex feedstream. A chromatographic step was developed that provided a 10000-fold reduction in host cell proteins and DNA, while providing exceptional product recovery.     

Cover Picture

The cover picture shows in the background the whole cell of a methanotrophic bacterium on which are superimposed components of methane monooxygenase (the structure of the hydroxylase component (top), one of the two four-helix bundles that house the catalytic diiron centers (left)) and a schematic diagram of the catalytic cycle by which the enzyme converts dioxygen and methane into methanol and water. More about this unusual enzyme system is reported by Lippard et al. on p. 2782 ff.     

Case for projectile kinetic energy gain in stopping power studies

Under certain collision conditions, a swift ion projectile colliding with a target will gain rather than lose kinetic energy, contrary to the standard conception of stopping power. In this work, we consider the conditions for such a collision such that the energy loss is negative, that is, that there will be projectile kinetic energy gain. In particular, for a target initially in the ground state we find that the projectile gains kinetic energy only when charge exchange and de‐excitation processes are involved. This occurs when the electron affinity of the projectile is larger than the ionization potential of the target. Consequences of this effect are analyzed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 94: 215–221, 2003     

Enzymatic synthesis of neopentylpolyol esters in organic media

Utilization of lipases for synthesis of esters of hydrophilic polyols has been investigated. The choice of a suitable solvent is crucial in this type of reaction. An interesting case is fatty acid esters from neopentylpolyols, such as trimethylolpropane, which are of great interest as high temperature lubricants. Enzymatic synthesis of trimethylolpropane tricaprylate was studied as an alternative to chemical manufacturing. Triester production occurred only if the water produced by esterification was continuously removed from the medium. In these condition, kinetics of appearance and transformation of mono-, di- and triesters were determined in order to define optimal conditions.     

Dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment of corn stover at high solids concentrations

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - The enzymatic digestibility of a pretreated substrate is enhanced by increasing the severity of the pretreatment conditions, apparently because a greater...     

Use of participant EQA results to assess sample homogeneity and stability for qualitative analytes

International requirements for PT and EQA state that providers must demonstrate that samples are homogeneous and stable. However, testing for homogeneity and stability can be expensive, use samples that could otherwise serve as quality-control materials, and can also fail to detect significant inhomogeneity and instability. In some situations it may be preferable to use the results from participants to identify problems with sample lots, if historic results follow predictable distributions and a statistical decision rule can be produced. An unusually high proportion of incorrect results may indicate that samples were inhomogeneous or unstable. Conditions under which this can be demonstrated are discussed, and the efficacy of the proposal is demonstrated with two examples. This procedure is especially effective when there are a large number of participants and/or a historic small proportion of incorrect results. Providers who adopt this proposal will need to retain samples for testing and assume the risk of distributing bad samples.Presented at the Eurachem PT Workshop September 2005, Portorož, Slovenia     

Stable attachment of redox groups for modified electrodes via cyanuric chloride

Methylaminopropylviologen (MAV) was covalently attached to glassy carbon electrodes via cyuranic chloride. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirmed the presence of bound MAV on the electrode surfaces. Electrochemical experiments of these electrodes indicated that the bound MAV was stable and electrochemically active for extended periods of time in aqueous media. The surface coverage of MAV was in the range, of 2.0–3.0×10^?10 mol cm^?2.