Inelastic incoherent neutron scattering measurements of intact cells and tissues and detection of interfacial water

We have previously used inelastic incoherent neutron scattering spectroscopy to investigate the properties of aqueous suspensions of biomolecules as a function of hydration. These experiments led to the identification of signals corresponding to interfacial (hydration) water at low water content. A prediction from these studies was that in the crowded environment inside living cells, a significant proportion of the water would be interfacial, with profound implications for biological function. Here we describe the first inelastic incoherent neutron scattering spectroscopy studies of living cells and tissues. We find that the interfacial water signal is similar to that observed for water interacting with purified biomolecules and other solutes, i.e., it is strongly perturbed in the librational and translational intermolecular optical regions of the spectrum at 20-150 meV. The ratio of interfacial water compared to total water in cells (approximately 30%) is in line with previous experimental data for hydration water and calculations based on simple assumptions.     

Army ants algorithm for rare event sampling of delocalized nonadiabatic transitions by trajectory surface hopping and the estimation of sampling errors by the bootstrap method

The most widely used algorithm for Monte Carlo sampling of electronic transitions in trajectory surface hopping (TSH) calculations is the so-called anteater algorithm, which is inefficient for sampling low-probability nonadiabatic events. We present a new sampling scheme (called the army ants algorithm) for carrying out TSH calculations that is applicable to systems with any strength of coupling. The army ants algorithm is a form of rare event sampling whose efficiency is controlled by an input parameter. By choosing a suitable value of the input parameter the army ants algorithm can be reduced to the anteater algorithm (which is efficient for strongly coupled cases), and by optimizing the parameter the army ants algorithm may be efficiently applied to systems with low-probability events. To demonstrate the efficiency of the army ants algorithm, we performed atom-diatom scattering calculations on a model system involving weakly coupled electronic states. Fully converged quantum mechanical calculations were performed, and the probabilities for nonadiabatic reaction and nonreactive deexcitation (quenching) were found to be on the order of 10(-8). For such low-probability events the anteater sampling scheme requires a large number of trajectories ( approximately 10(10)) to obtain good statistics and converged semiclassical results. In contrast by using the new army ants algorithm converged results were obtained by running 10(5) trajectories. Furthermore, the results were found to be in excellent agreement with the quantum mechanical results. Sampling errors were estimated using the bootstrap method, which is validated for use with the army ants algorithm.     

Ditungsten Siloxide Hydrides, [(silox)(2)WH(n)()](2) (n = 1, 2; silox = (t)BuSiO), and Related Complexes

The addition of 4.0 equiv of Na(silox) to Na[W(2)Cl(7)(THF)(5)] afforded (silox)(2)ClW&tbd1;WCl(silox)(2) (1, 65%). Treatment of 1 with 2.0 equiv of MeMgBr in Et(2)O provided (silox)(2)MeW&tbd1;WMe(silox)(2) (2, 81%). In the presence of 1 atm of H(2), reduction of 1 with 2.0 equiv of Na/Hg in DME provided (silox)(2)HW&tbd1;WH(silox)(2) (3, 70%), characterized by a hydride resonance at delta 19.69 (J(WH) = 325 Hz, (1)H NMR). Exposure of 2 to 1 atm of H(2) yielded 3 and CH(4) via (silox)(2)HW&tbd1;WMe(silox)(2) (4); use of D(2) led to [(silox)(2)WD](2) (3-d(2)). Exposure of 3 to ethylene ( approximately 1 atm, 25 degrees C) in hexanes generated (silox)(2)EtW&tbd1;WEt(silox)(2) (5), but solutions of 5 reverted to 3 and free C(2)H(4) upon standing. NMR spectral data are consistent with a sterically locked, gauche, C(2) symmetry for 1-5. Thermolysis of 3 at 100 degrees C (4 h) resulted in partial conversion to (silox)(2)HW&tbd1;W(OSi(t)Bu(2)CMe(2)CH(2))(silox) (6a, approximately 60%) and free H(2), while extended thermolysis with degassing (5 d, 70 degrees C) produced a second cyclometalated rotational isomer, 6b (6a:6b approximately 3:1). When left at 25 degrees C (4 h) in sealed NMR tubes, 6 and free H(2) regenerated 3. Reduction of 1 with 2.0 equiv of Na/Hg in DME also afforded 6a (25%). When 3 was exposed to approximately 3 atm of H(2), equilibrium amounts of [(silox)(2)WH(2)](2) (7) were observed by (1)H NMR spectroscopy (3 + H(2) right harpoon over left harpoon 7; 25.9-88.7 degrees C, DeltaH = -9.6(4) kcal/mol, DeltaS = -21(2) eu). Benzene solutions of 3 and 1-3 atm of D(2) revealed incorporation of deuterium into the silox ligands, presumably via intermediate 6. In sealed tubes containing [(silox)(2)WCl](2) (1) and dihydrogen (1-3 atm), (1)H NMR spectral evidence for [(silox)(2)WCl](2)(&mgr;-H)(2) (8) was obtained, suggesting that formation of 3 from 1 proceeded via reduction of 8. Alternatively, 3 may be formed from direct reduction of 1 to give [(silox)(2)W](2) (9), followed by H(2) addition. Hydride chemical shifts for 7 are temperature dependent, varying from delta 1.39 (-70 degrees C, toluene-d(8)), to delta 3.68 (90 degrees C). (29)Si{(1)H} NMR spectra revealed a similar temperature dependence of the silox (delta 12.43, -60 degrees C, to delta 13.64, 45 degrees C) resonances. These effects may arise from thermal population of a low-lying, deltadelta, paramagnetic excited state of D(2)(d)() [(silox)(2)W](2)(&mgr;-H)(4) (DeltaE approximately 2.1 kcal/mol, chi(7a) approximately 0.03), an explanation favored over thermal equilibration with an energetically similar but structurally distinct isomer (e.g., [(silox)(2)WH(2)](2)(&mgr;-H)(2), DeltaG degrees approximately 0.69 kcal/mol, chi(7b) approximately 0.25) on the basis of spectral arguments. Extended Hückel and ab initio molecular orbital calculations on model complexes [(H(3)SiO)(2)W](2)(&mgr;-H)(4) (staggered bridged 7a', EHMO), [(H(3)SiO)(2)WH(2)](2) (all-terminal 7b', EHMO), [(H(3)SiO)(2)W](2) (9', EHMO), (HO)(4)W(2)(H(4)) (staggered-bridged 7", ab initio), and (HO)(4)W(2)(H(4)) (bent-terminal 7, ab initio) generally support the explanation of a thermally accessible excited state and assign 7 a geometry intermediate between the all-terminal and staggered-bridged forms.     

A classical approach to dissociative electron attachment DA: application to temperature effects in the DA cross section of CF3Cl

A classical theory of dissociative attachment (DA) is developed. The DA cross section σ_{ν → DA} of a molecule in the initial vibrational state ν is calculated. The model is applied to the negative ion formation in low energy electron scattering from CF₃Cl molecules. Temperature effects of the DA cross section of CF₃Cl can be explained within our classical model.     

Comparison of diatomics-in-molecules and simple valence-bond potential surfaces for FH2

The method of diatomics-in-molecules (DIM) is applied to the FH₂ system. With spin—orbit interaction neglected, all elements of the 24 × 24 hamiltonian matrix are tabulated as analytic functions of the six diatomic fragment potential curves. It is found that neglect of off-diagonal 8 × 8 blocks in the DIM hamiltonian matrix leads to an energy expression for the ground 1 ²A′ level which is identical to the valence-bond formula used by Blais and Truhlar in dynamical studies of the F + D₂ reaction. The ²A″ excited level from DIM theory is identical to the result derived by Blais and Truhlar, without neglect of the 8 × 8 off-diagonal blocks. The DIM and simple valence-bond energies are compared numerically for noncollinear geometries.     

Improved synthesis of 3-aralkylidine-5-arylthiophen-2-(3H)ones

3-Aralkylidene-5-arylthiophen-2-(3H)ones can be prepared in two steps from 4-aryl-4-oxobutanoic acids through the intermediacy of butenolides and thiophenones generated by the sequential action of acetic anhydride, sodium hydrosulfide and aromatic aldehydes.     

Luminescence characteristics of several classes of drugs affecting the central nervous system

The excitation, fluorescence and phosphorescence characteristics of 29 compounds of psychopharmacological interest have been studied in ethanol at 77 k. Phosphorescence lifetimes are reported and the low-temperature luminescence spectra discussed. Luminescence characteristics of several important 1,4-benzodiazepines in acidic, basic and neutral solution are reported.     

Effects of molecular structure and environment on the photodimerization of substituted anthracenes

Photochemical and photophysical studies of a number of 9-substituted anthracene sandwich pairs in their corresponding photodimer crystal matrices have been carried out. Corresponding studies have also been made in methylcyclohexane matrices at 6 K. Photodimerization of the 9-methyl, 9-chloro and 9-cyano derivatives in the photodimer matrices occurs at 6 K with unit quantum yield. The presence of excimer fluorescence from sandwich pairs indicates the lack of a perfect topochemical orientation while activation processes, leading to photodimerization, involve molecular re-orientation from more stable ground state configurations which are achieved within the constraints imposed by the solvent or crystalline cage.     

Direct monitoring of metal ion transfer between two trafficking proteins

To avoid the toxic effects of both essential and nonessential metal ions, cells elaborate a variety of metal ion trafficking proteins that regulate metal ion mobility. While structures of several trafficking proteins have been determined, kinetic characterization of metal ion transfer between cognate protein partners and the factors controlling transfer has lagged behind, in part due to a limitation on methods to monitor the rapid transfer. In this Communication we report studies on the kinetics of Hg2+ transfer between separately expressed components of the flavoenzyme mercuric ion reductase (MerA) that take advantage of the sensitivity of the flavin fluorescence to the charge state of a cysteine thiol in the Hg2+ binding pathway. The thiolate form of C558 in the Tn501 MerA partially quenches the fluorescence of the oxidized enzyme. Protonation or binding of Hg2+ to the thiolate increases the fluorescence, providing a sensitive probe for kinetic analysis of the Hg2+ binding reaction. The kinetics of Hg2+ transfer in both directions between the cysteine pair of the separately expressed N-terminal domain and the C-terminal cysteines (C558, C559) of the catalytic core are presented, along with a model describing the overall process.     

Luminescence determination of benzoquinoline isomers in complex samples

The room-temperature phosphorescence (r.t.p.) and fluorescence spectra of benzoquinoline isomers are investigated. The isomers can be resolved into the linear or angular subgroups on the basis of their fluorescence and r.t.p. spectra by using conventional fixed excitation. Second-derivative and synchronous scanning techniques can be combined to improve the selectivity of the r.t.p. and fluorescence methods. These simple luminescence techniques were used to estimate three benzoquinoline isomers in a coal tar fraction. Direct analysis of this complex sample allowed acridine to be estimated and upper limits to be provided for benzo(h)quinoline and phenanthridine; the presence of three other isomers was not detected. Comparative studies with data obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography are reported.