Crystal structure of tetraethylammonium fluoride-water (4/11), 4(C2H5)4N+F− · 11H2O,a clathrate hydrate containing linear chains of edge-sharing (H2O)4F− tetrahedra and bridging water molecules

Crystals of 4(C₂H₅)₄N⁺F^– · 11H₂O are orthorhombic, space groupPna2₁, witha=16.130(3),b=16.949(7),c=17.493(7) Å, andZ=4. The structure was shown to be a clathrate hydrate containing infinite chains of edge-sharing (H₂O)₄F^– tetrahedra extending parallel to thea axis. The chains are laterally linked by bridging water molecules to form a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded anion/water framework. The ordered (C₂H₅)₄N⁺ cations occupy the voids in two open channel systems running in theb andc directions. FinalR _F =0.091 for 2278 observed MoK data measured at 22°C. Supplementary Data: relating to this article are deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. SUP 82010 (20 pages).Dedicated to Professor H. M. Powell.     

31P- und 195Pt-NMR-Untersuchungen an Diplatin(I)-Komplexen des Typs [Pt2(μ-SPR2)2L2] (L = PR3, PhP(OPh)2, P(OPh)3, CNR)

³¹P and ¹⁹⁵Pt N.M.R. Investigations on Diplatinum (I) Complexes of the Type [Pt₂(μ-SPR₂)₂L₂] (L = PR₃, PhP(OPh)₂, P(OPh)₃, CNR) ³¹P-, ¹⁹⁵Pt-chemical shifts and ¹⁹⁵Pt–³¹P- resp. ³¹P–³¹P-coupling constants of a series of doubly bridged diplatinum(I) complexes are reported. ³¹P-coordination chemical shifts of the terminal ligands of complexes of type [Pt₂(μ-SPR₂)₂(P′R₃′)₂] and some of the various coupling constants are strongly influenced by the π-acceptor strength of these ligands. J(¹⁹⁵Pt–¹⁹⁵Pt) is found to change the sign among the series of complexes investigated. Thermal singlett triplet exitation giving rise to the paramagnetism of these complexes observed by preliminary EPR-measurements and confirmed by EHT-calculations is deduced from the large values of ²J(P–P′) and ³J(P′P′) as well as the unusually high temperature dependence of some coupling constants and other NMR features. The chemical stability of the doubly bridged core, the coordination shifts of the bridging phosphorus atoms and EHT-calculations suggest a view of aromaticity of the [Pt₂(μ-SPR₂)₂](M–M) unit of these complexes.     

QUANTUM EFFICIENCY AND PHOTOSENSITIVITY OF THE RHODOPSIN ⇌ METARHODOPSIN CONVERSION IN CRAYFISH PHOTORECEPTORS

Photosensitivity (K_λ) of a visual pigment is the product of the molecular absorption coefficient (α_λ) and the quantum efficiency for photoconversion (γ). Among the invertebrates, many visual pigments are stable not only in the rhodopsin (R) conformation but also as the photoproduct, metarhodopsin (M), We here employ a method for determining the photosensitivities of the two stable pigments of a rhodopsin-metarhodopsin pair, using kinetic analysis of fluorescence from metarhodopsin combined with measurements of spectral absorption made before and after saturation at the isosbestic wavelength of the pigment pair. A curve fitting technique, in which a theoretical function is scaled for best fit to the measured absorption spectrum of the photosteady-state mixture, yields values for the photosensitivity of rhodopsin at λ._max, the ratio of quantum efficiencies for rhodopsin—metarhodopsin interconversion, and the fractional composition of the steady-state mixture. With knowledge of the molecular extinction coefficient, the absolute values of quantum efficiency can be calculated. For crayfish ( Orconectes, Procambarus ) rhodopsin, measured in isolated rhabdoms, K_max= 1.05 x 10^-16 cm² at 535 nm with >7λR→M0.69. These values are similar to the photosensitivity and quantum efficiency of bleaching of vertebrate rhodopsins in digitonin solution (Dartnall, 1972). For the metarhodopsin, K_max= 1.02 x 10^-16 cm² at 510 nm, and λ_M-R= 0.49.     

Regioselective side-chain as well as nuclear monobromination of aromatic substrates with N-bromosuccinimide using phosphotungstic acid supported on zirconia as a heterogeneous catalyst

Regioselective monobromination of aromatic substrates with N-bromosuccinimide has been achieved in excellent isolated yields (84–98%) using phosphotungstic acid supported on zirconia as a novel heterogeneous catalyst. The catalyst has been characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface area and acidity measurements. Remarkably, the new catalyst system described brought about the side-chain bromination of aromatics to afford bromomethyl arenes in excellent yields (86–98%) without the need for a radical initiator. Recovery and recylability of the catalyst have been well established.     

Preparation and characterization of nanoaggregates of poly(ethylene oxide)-b-polymethacrylate and poly-L-lysine

Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-polymethacrylate (PEO-b-PMA), one of the double-hydrophilic block copolymers, has proved to the form nanoaggregates with poly-L-lysine (PLS). This was confirmed by turbidimetry, zeta-potential measurements, and dynamic light scattering. The nanoaggregate formation is induced by electrostatic charge neutralization of the PMA block with PLS. The properties of the aggregates are affected by PLS concentration as well PEO-b-PMA concentration. The aggregates have potential applications in biomedical science.     

Cloning and expression of full-lengthTrichoderma reesi cellobiohydrolase I cDNAs inEscherichia coli

The process of converting lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol via fermentation depends on developing economic sources of cellulases.Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase (CBH) I is a key enzyme in the fungal cellulase system; however, specific process application requirements make modification of the enzyme by site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) an attractive goal. To undertake SDM investigations, an efficient, cellulase-free host is required. To test the potential ofEscherichia coli as a host, T.reesei CBH I cDNA was expressed inE. coli strain GI 724 as a C-terminal fusion to thermostable thioredoxin protein. Full-length expression of CBH I was subsequently verified by molecular weight, Western blot analysis, and activity on soluble substrates.

     

Ylidyl‐substituted Phosphonio‐benzophospholides as Chelating Ligands

Phosphonio‐benzo[c]phospholides with an additional phosphonium ylide substituent in 3‐position were synthesized by deprotonation of appropriately substituted 1, 3‐bis‐phosphonio benzophospholide cations and characterized by spectroscopic and analytical data. The ability of these molecules to act as bidentate P, C‐chelating ligands to transition metal atoms was demonstrated in the reactions with [W(CO)₄(norbornadiene)] and [MCl₂(cyclooctadiene)] (M = Pd, Pt). The Pd^II and Pt^II complexes are distinguished by a strong inclination towards addition of H₂O to the 10π‐electron system of the ligand. The molecular structures of a W⁰ complex with a P, C‐chelating ylidyl‐phosphonio‐benzophospholide ligand and of the product resulting from H₂O‐addition to a corresponding Pt^II complex were determined. The structural parameters of the W⁰ complex provide evidence for the presence of substantial steric strain around the metal atom.     

Chemical biology of protein lipidation: semi-synthesis and structure elucidation of prenylated RabGTPases

Rab/Ypt guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) represent a family of key membrane traffic regulators in eukaryotic cells. For their function Rab/Ypt proteins require double modification with two covalently bound geranylgeranyl lipid moieties at the C-terminus. Generally, prenylated proteins are very difficult to obtain by recombinant or enzymatic methods. We generated prenylated RabGTPases using a combination of chemical synthesis and protein engineering. This semi-synthesis depends largely on the availability of functionalized prenylated peptides corresponding to the proteins' native structure or modifications. We developed solution phase and solid phase strategies for the generation of peptides corresponding to the prenylated C-terminus of Rab7 GTPase in preparative amounts enabling us to crystallize the mono-prenylated Ypt1:RabGDI complex. The structure of the complex provides a structural basis for the ability of RabGDI to inhibit the release of nucleotide by Rab proteins and a molecular basis for understanding a RabGDI mutant that causes mental retardation in humans.