Hyperfine structure of SrCl X2∑+ by microwave—optical polarization spectroscopy

The hyperfine structure of the X²∑⁺, υ = 0 state of ⁸⁸Sr³⁵Cl has been investigated using microwave—optical polarization spectroscopy. Resolution of the hyperfine structure in transitions between low-lying rotational states has allowed the first determination of magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole coupling constants. The results are: b = 18.663(89) MHz, c = 7.72(30)MHz, and eqQ = 3.96(84) MHz.     

Matrixreaktion von SiO mit F2. IR-spektroskopischer nachweis von molekularem OSiF2

SiO reacts with F₂, in an argon matrix after photolysis with a high-pressure mercury lamp to form OSiF₂. Isotopic splitting (¹⁶O/¹⁸O and ²⁸Si/²⁹Si) and force constant calculations show that the 6 fundamentals observed can be assigned to the planar molecule OSiF₂. The value of the force constant of the SiO double bond, which was calculated as approximately 9 × 10² N m^?1 in earlier investigations, is confirmed by this work.     

Methyl groups as probes for proteins and complexes in in-cell NMR experiments

Studying protein components of large intracellular complexes by in-cell NMR has so far been impossible because the backbone resonances are unobservable due to their slow tumbling rates. We describe a methodology that overcomes this difficulty through selective labeling of methyl groups, which possess more favorable relaxation behavior. Comparison of different in-cell labeling schemes with three different proteins, calmodulin, NmerA, and FKBP, shows that selective labeling with [(13)C]methyl groups on methionine and alanine provides excellent sensitivity with low background levels at very low costs.     

Genes encoding enzymes responsible for biosynthesis of L-lyxose and attachment of eurekanate during avilamycin biosynthesis

The oligosaccharide antibiotic avilamycin A is composed of a polyketide-derived dichloroisoeverninic acid moiety attached to a heptasaccharide chain consisting of six hexoses and one unusual pentose moiety. We describe the generation of mutant strains of the avilamycin producer defective in different sugar biosynthetic genes. Inactivation of two genes (aviD and aviE2) resulted in the breakdown of the avilamycin biosynthesis. In contrast, avilamycin production was not influenced in an aviP mutant. Inactivation of aviGT4 resulted in a mutant that accumulated a novel avilamycin derivative lacking the terminal eurekanate residue. Finally, AviE2 was expressed in Escherichia coli and the gene product was characterized biochemically. AviE2 was shown to convert UDP-D-glucuronic acid to UDP-D-xylose, indicating that the pentose residue of avilamycin A is derived from D-glucose and not from D-ribose. Here we report a UDP-D-glucuronic acid decarboxylase in actinomycetes.     

NMR relaxation study of the protonated form of 1,8-Bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene in isotropic solution: anisotropic motion outside of extreme narrowing and ultrafast proton transfer

The protonated form of 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene (DMANH(+)) consists of a rigid, aromatic framework, substituted by two amino groups that are connected by a strong, symmetric (on the NMR time-scale) hydrogen bond bridge. The reorientational motion of the molecule in dimethylformamide-d7 solution was characterized by T(1) and NOE measurements for aromatic (13)C nuclei. Treating the reorientation of DMANH(+) as anisotropic rotational diffusion of a rigid body, the diffusion tensor was determined with good accuracy. Measurements and interpretation of (15)N T(1) and NOE indicate that the proton transfer between potential minima in the hydrogen bond bridge is faster than the molecular reorientation.     

Effect of macromolecules and Triton X-100 on the triplet of aggregated chlorophyll in aqueous solution

Chlorophyll a (Chla) in aqueous solution (2-6% acetone) is present as mono- and dihydrated aggregated forms which are characterized by specific ground state absorption spectra. The amount of dihydrated form is larger in the presence of macromolecules, such as bovine serum albumin (BSA), lysozime and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), increasing from BSA to lysozime and PVA. Chla in aqueous acetone with and without macromolecules is characterized by low fluorescence and the absence of triplet-triplet (T-T) absorption. The ratio of dihydrated to monohydrated forms is significantly influenced by triton X-100. For lower triton X-100 concentrations, i.e. smaller than the critical micelle concentration of 0.26 mM (cmc), dihydrated forms are converted into monohydrated in both aqueous acetone and the presence of BSA or lysozime. In the presence of PVA dihydrated forms appeared to be resistant to triton X-100 action. Moreover, for triton X-100 concentrations of 2-3 times higher than cmc the amount of these forms is increased with time. T-T absorption of both mono- and dihydrated Chla aggregates was not detected in the presence of [triton X-100] < cmc. The lack of T-T absorption in aqueous acetone solution as well as in the presence of macromolecules implies that the triplet lifetime of the chlorophyll aggregates is short (tauT<10 ns) and/or the quantum yield of intersystem crossing is small (<5 x 10(-3)). The Chla monomers start to be formed as solubilized in the micelle for [triton X-100] larger than cmc, showing substantial fluorescence and T-T absorption.     

Thermal decomposition of lanthanum selenate pentahydrate in air and nitrogen

Thermogravimetric studies, supported by IR and X-ray diffraction measurements, were carried out for La₂(SeO₄)₃ · 5H₂O in order to establish its decomposition scheme under various experimental conditions. Several analytical methods were tested for the simultaneous determination of (Se(IV) and Se(VI) in the quenched samples. TG weight losses and analyses of the solid intermediates indicated that after dehydration La₂(SeO₄)₃ decomposes in nitrogen mainly to oxyselenite(IV) compoundsvia the normal selenite(IV) but in air the oxyselenate La₂O₂SeO₄ was detected as one of the intermediates. The final product of the thermal degradation is La₂O₃. TG curves of La₂(SeO₄)₃ · 5H₂O were also compared with those obtained for the isostructural neodymium compound.     

Racematspaltung von chiralen Ferrocenderivaten durch Gegenstromverteilung

Optical resolution by counter-current distribution has been demonstrated on a preparative scale for two chiral ferrocene derivatives, e.g. 1.2-(α-oxotetramethylene)ferrocene (1), and 1.2-(α-butenylene)ferrocene (2), resp., in the system cyclohexane—(+)-diethyltartrate. The optical yields were 12 and 1%, resp., and are in good agreement with the values calculated from the partition coefficients of the enantiomers. The optical purity of1 could be increased to 40% by crystallization from cyclohexane. A resolution of1 with an optical yield of 14% was also possible by thin layer partition chromatography on silica gel using the same solvents.     

Molecular gradients: an efficient approach for optimizing the surface properties of biomaterials and biochips

A variety of molecular gradients of alkanethiols with the structure HS-(CH(2))(m)-X (m = 15; X = COOH, CH(2)NH(2), or CH(3)) and oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated alkanethiols with the structures HS-(CH(2))(15)-CO-NH-Eg(n) (n = 2, 4, or 6), HS-(CH(2))(15)-CO-NH-Eg(2)-(CH(2))(2)-NH-CO-(CH(2))(4)-biotin, and HS-(CH(2))(15)-CO-NH-Eg(6)-CH(2)-COOH were prepared on polycrystalline gold films. These gradients were designed to serve as model surfaces for fundamental studies of protein adsorption and immobilization phenomena. Ellipsometry, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, operating in scanning mode, were used to monitor the layer composition, gradient profiles, tail group conformation, and overall structural quality of the gradient assemblies. The gradient profiles were found to be 4-10 mm wide, and they increased in width with increasing difference in molecular complexity between the thiols used to form the gradient. The oligo(ethylene glycol) thiols are particularly interesting because they can be used to prepare so-called conformational gradients, that is, gradients that display a variation in oligo(ethylene glycol) chain conformation from all trans on the extreme Eg(2,4) sides, via an amorphous-like phase in the mixing regimes, to helical at the extreme Eg(6) sides. We demonstrate herein a series of experiments where the above gradients are used to evaluate nonspecific binding of the plasma protein fibrinogen, and in agreement with previous studies, the highest amounts of nonspecifically bound fibrinogen were observed on all-trans monolayers, that is, on the extreme Eg(2,4) sides. Moreover, gradients between Eg(2) and a biotinylated analogue have been prepared to optimize the conditions for the immobilization of streptavidin. Ellipsometry and infrared spectroscopy reveal high levels of immobilization over a fairly broad range of compositions in the gradient regime, with a maximum between 50 and 60% of the biotinylated analogue in the monolayer. A pI gradient composed of (NH(3)(+)/COO(-))-terminated thiols was also prepared and evaluated with respect to its ability to separate differently charged proteins, pepsin, and lysozyme, on a solid surface.     

Saludimerines A and B, novel-type dimeric alkaloids with stereogenic centers and configurationally semistable biaryl axes

The first biarylic bis-morphinanedienone alkaloids, saludimerines A (3a) and B (3b), isolated from a tree of Croton flavens (Euphorbiaceae) are described. These naturally occurring dimers of the known alkaloid salutaridine are joined together via a rotationally hindered biaryl axis, giving rise to atropo-diastereomers that are configurationally stable at room temperature but slowly interconvert in methanolic solution within several days. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods and by partial synthesis, which was achieved by a highly atropo-diastereoselective biomimetic oxidative coupling of the monomeric precursor, salutaridine. Their axial configurations were elucidated by circular dichroism (CD) investigations, which succeeded despite the fact that the two atropo-diastereomers exhibit near-identical CD spectra. This remarkable phenomenon was rationalized by quantum chemical CD calculations. The configurational assignment of saludimerines A (3a) as P-axial and B (3b) as M was corroborated by atropisomer-specific NOE interactions between protons of the one molecular half with nuclei in the other.