Resolving multiple overlapping calorimetric transitions by use of a microcomputer: studies on erythrocyte membranes

Buffer changes and certain drugs cause temperature shifts, amplitude changes, and transition broadening in the differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analysis of erythrocyte membranes. However, it has been difficult to interpret and quantitate these shifts and changes because the scans are composed of multiple overlapping transitions and because more than one transition may be simultaneously affected. An empirical approach has been developed by using Gaussian modeling to resolve these calorimetric transitions. Data analysis was carried out on a microcomputer using a nonlinear regression program (PCNONLIN) to fit the data scans. These results show that changes in the calorimetric scans of erythrocyte membranes due to alterations in the buffer environment, such as pH and osmolarity, can be resolved by fitting the data scans with the proposed mathematical model and optimizing the resolution parameters with PCNONLIN. In addition, resolution uncovered hidden characteristics that may not have been readily evident. Under certain conditions, for example, apparent transition shifts were shown to actually be amplitude changes and transition broadening. Determination of the limitations and validity of this method was accomplished with simulation studies. This technique offers a simple means for fitting overlapping DSC transitions by use of a commercially available nonlinear regression program that can be run on a microcomputer.     

Powerful simulated-annealing algorithm locates global minimum of protein-folding potentials from multiple starting conformations

Protein-folding potentials, designed with the explicit goal that the global energy minimum correspond to crystallographically observed conformations of protein molecules, may offer great promise toward calculating native protein structures. Achieving this promise, however, depends on finding an effective means of dealing with the multiple-minimum problem inherent in such potentials. In this study, a protein-folding-potential test system has been developed that exhibits the properties of general protein-folding potentials yet has a unique well-defined global energy minimum corresponding to the crystallographically determined conformation of the test molecule. A simulated-annealing algorithm is developed that locates the global minimum of this potential in four of eight test runs from random starting conformations. Exploration of the energy-conformation surface of the potential indicates that it contains the numerous local minima typical of protein-folding potentials and that the global minimum is not easily located by conventional minimization procedures. When the annealing algorithm is applied to a previously developed actual folding potential to analyze the conformation of avian pancreatic polypeptide, a new conformer is located that is lower in energy than any conformer located in previous studies using a variety of minimization techniques.     

Cluster chemistry: XXXVIII. Reactions between M(C2R)(PR′3 (M = Cu,Ag, Au; R = Ph,C6F5; R′ = Me Ph) and H2Os3(CO)10: X-ray structures of Os3Au(μ-CHCHR)(CO)10(PPh3) (R = Ph and C6F5)

The reactions of Os₃(μ-H)₂(CO)₁₀ with a series of Group IB metal acetylide-tertiary phosphine complexes are described. Whereas the compounds M(C₂C₆F₅)(PPh₃) (M = Cu, Ag, Au) afforded the complexes MOs₃(μ-CHCHC₆F₅)(CO)₁₀(PPh₃) cleanly and in high yield, complex mixtures of products were obtained from reactions of the analogous phenylacetylides. The complexes MOs₃(μ-CHCHPh)(CO)₁₀(PPh₃), MOs₃(μ-CHCHPh)(CO)₉(PPh₃)₂ and MOs₃(μ-H)(CO)₁₀(PPh₃) (of known structure), and MOs₃(μ-CHCHPh)(CO)₉(PPh₃)₂ and HMOs₃(CHCPh)(CO)₈ (of unknown structure) were characterised; Au(C₂Ph)(PMe₃) afforded similar derivatives. The reactions proceed by oxidative-addition and hydrogen migration steps; MP bond cleavage reactions also occur to a small extent. The molecular structures of AuOs₃(μ-CHCHC₆R₅)(CO)₁₀(PPh₃) (R = F or H) were determined by X-ray analyses. For R = F, crystals are triclinic, space group P$\text{1}$ with a 9.081(2), b 13.291(2), c 17.419(2) Å, α 84.49(1), β 76.20(2), γ 75.81(2)° and Z = 2; 4622 observed data [I > 2.5σ(I)] were refined to R = 0.027, R_W = 0.031. For R = H, crystals are triclinic, space group P$\text{1}$, with a 9.403(4), b 13.448(3), c 13.774(4) Å, α 83.34(2), β 88.66(3), γ 70.21(3)°, and Z = 2; 4405 observed data [I > 2.5σ(I)] were refined to R = 0.030, R_W = 0.033. The two molecules differ in the orientation of the Ph rings of the PPh₃ groups, but are otherwise similar to Os₃(μ-H)(μ-CHCHBu^t)(CO)₁₀ with the μ-H ligand replaced by the isolobal μ-Au(PPh₃) group.     

Halothiation as a Method for Oxidation of Primary Halides and Terminal Olefins to Aldehydes

The richly varied reactivity of the aldehyde group frequently imparts pivotal importance to this functionality in organic synthesis. This fact has resulted in the development of several methods for the elaboration of this structural unit from a variety of precursors.² The report delineates the feasibility of two new couplementary approaches which proceed under mild conditions and demonstrate the utility of “halothiation” as applied to the oxidation of primary halides and terminal olefins. We were led to investigate this approach as a direct consequence of our interest in the Ramberg-Bäcklund rearrangement³ where the preliminary step often involves α-chlorination of the sulfide substrate.⁴ Halothiation is defined by us as a three-step transformation involving introduction of an ArS moiety, directed α-chlorination of the resulting sulfide, and hydrolysis. In principle, of course, the ArSCH₂-unit is uniquely an aldehyde synthon and attention is therefore focused specifically on it at this time.     

Thermal Characterization of Polybutadiyne

Butadiyne was thermally polymerized from the vapor phase onto substrate polyethylene, poly(vinylidene fluoride), polytetrafluoro-ethylene, and fluorinated ethylene propylene films at 20°C. The reaction is characterized as an initial absorption of monomer into the film followed by polymerization in the condensed state. A postpolymerization thermal reaction of the polybutadiyne pendant ethynyl groups was conducted over a 120 to 470°C temperature range with a subsequent surface electrical resistivity decrease to 7 × 10¹¹ ohm/square. The reaction of the pendant acetylenic groups was monitored by DSC and IR spectroscopy and found to be more complex than an intramolecular conversion of an acetylenic polyene to a polyacene structure.     

Exact solution of Maxwell's equations for optical interactions with a macroscopic random medium

We report what we believe to be the first rigorous numerical solution of the two-dimensional Maxwell equations for optical propagation within, and scattering by, a random medium of macroscopic dimensions. Our solution is based on the pseudospectral time-domain technique, which provides essentially exact results for electromagnetic field spatial modes sampled at the Nyquist rate or better. The results point toward the emerging feasibility of direct, exact Maxwell equations modeling of light propagation through many millimeters of biological tissues. More generally, our results have a wider implication: Namely, the study of electromagnetic wave propagation within random media is moving toward exact rather than approximate solutions of Maxwell's equations.