Surface Induced Dissociation Yields Quaternary Substructure of Refractory Noncovalent Phosphorylase B and Glutamate Dehydrogenase Complexes

Ion mobility (IM) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) coupled with native MS are useful for studying noncovalent protein complexes. Collision induced dissociation (CID) is the most common MS/MS dissociation method. However, some protein complexes, including glycogen phosphorylase B kinase (PHB) and L-glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) examined in this study, are resistant to dissociation by CID at the maximum collision energy available in the instrument. Surface induced dissociation (SID) was applied to dissociate the two refractory protein complexes. Different charge state precursor ions of the two complexes were examined by CID and SID. The PHB dimer was successfully dissociated to monomers and the GDH hexamer formed trimeric subcomplexes that are informative of its quaternary structure. The unfolding of the precursor and the percentages of the distinct products suggest that the dissociation pathways vary for different charge states. The precursors at lower charge states (+21 for PHB dimer and +27 for GDH hexamer) produce a higher percentage of folded fragments and dissociate more symmetrically than the precusors at higher charge states (+29 for PHB dimer and +39 for GDH hexamer). The precursors at lower charge state may be more native-like than the higher charge state because a higher percentage of folded fragments and a lower percentage of highly charged unfolded fragments are detected. The combination of SID and charge reduction is shown to be a powerful tool for quaternary structure analysis of refractory noncovalent protein complexes, as illustrated by the data for PHB dimer and GDH hexamer.

Zundel-Type H-Bonding in Biomolecular Ions

Using quantum chemical calculations and infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy in the fingerprint and X-H stretching regions, we demonstrate here that the all-Ala b ₆ fragment ion features a macrocyclic structure with C₂ symmetry. For this structure, the ionizing proton is equally shared by the Ala(1) and Ala(4) amide oxygens in a Zundel-type symmetric (X…H⁺…X) H-bond. Figure

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Syntheses and structural determination of mononuclear nine-coordinate (MnH)[GdIII(EDTA)(H2O)3] · 4H2O and 2D ladder-like binuclear nine-coordinate (MnH)2[Gd 2 III (H2TTHA)2] · 4H2O

Two title rare earth metal coordination compounds, (MnH)[Gd^III(Edta)(H₂O)₃] · 4H₂O (I) and (MnH)₂[Gd ₂ ^III (H₂Ttha)₂] · 4H₂O (II), where Mn = methylamine, H₄Edta = ethylenediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid, H₆Ttha = triethylenetetramine-N,N,N′,N″,N′″,N′″-hexaacetic acid), have been successfully synthesized through direct heating reflux and characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. In complex I, the Gd³⁺ ion is nine-coordinated by an Edta ligand and three water molecules, yielding a pseudo-monocapped square antiprismatic (MC-SAP) conformation. Complex I crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system with space group Fdd2. The cell dimensions are as follows: a = 19.5207(17), b = 35.387(3), c = 12.5118(11) Å, and V = 8642.8(13) ų. The central Gd³⁺ ion of II is also ninecoordinate, forming tricapped trigonal prismatic (TC-TP) conformation with three amine nitrogen atoms and six oxygen atoms. Complex II crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with P2/c space group. The crystal data are as follows: a = 14.4301(13), b = 11.2400(11), c = 17.7102(16) Å, β = 112.606(2)°, and V = 2651.8(4) ų. There retain outer-protonated and inner-protonated carboxyl oxygen atoms in the [Gd ₂ ^III (H₂Ttha)₂]^2? complex anion. In II, there are only one type of methylamine cation (MnH⁺) as the counter ion, which connects [Gd ₂ ^III (H₂Ttha)₂]^2? complex anions and lattice water molecules through hydrogen bonds, leading to the formation of 2D ladder-like layer structure.     

In situ growth mechanism and the thermodynamic functions of zinc oxide nano-arrays and hierarchical structure

We report the one-step synthesis of zinc oxide nanomaterials with arrays and hierarchical structure at room temperature. The zinc oxide nanomaterials can be synthesized via a simple method without catalyst. Furthermore, we explained the growth mechanisms of the two systems. In situ growth experiment provided the information of thermodynamics and kinetics, and based on that, growth mechanism was given a further explanation via the curve of in situ growth. Moreover, the relations between thermodynamic functions and the potential difference can be established by the electrochemical method. Take bulk zinc oxide reference. The thermodynamic functions of nano zinc oxide such as standard molar entropy, standard molar Gibbs free energy of formation, and standard molar enthalpy of formation can be calculated. The change rules of thermodynamic functions at different reaction times evidenced the growth mechanism more deeply. This work may contribute to the analysis of growth mechanism for nanostructures and obtain the thermodynamic functions of nanomaterials.     

Preparation of dendritic‐like CdS by hydrothermal method and its photocatalytic performance

In this article, dendritic‐like CdS has been prepared by a hydrothermal method using thiourea as the sulfur source, and the effects of experimental conditions on the morphologies of CdS have been investigated. The performances of CdS have been analyzed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and the fluorescence and photodegradation properties of CdS have also been investigated. The XRD result indicates that the dendritic‐like CdS are of hexagonal phase and they are highly crystallized. Also, the FESEM results show that the ratio of raw material affects the yield of CdS, the reaction time affects the morphology of CdS. The best morphology of CdS is dendritic structures and the length is about 6 μm. The fluorescence spectrum shows three peaks at 470 nm, 513 nm and 547 nm, which indicates that the dendritic‐like CdS mainly emits green and blue fluorescence. Moreover, the dendritic‐like CdS exhibits good photocatalytic activity and its photodegradation rate to methylene blue can reach 92%. The growth mechanism for the formation of CdS with dendritic structure is also described.     

Optical properties of flower‐like CdS prepared by a hydrothermal method with SDBS as surfactant

In this article, flower‐like CdS structures have been prepared by a hydrothermal method with SDBS as surfactant. The influences of different experimental conditions on the morphologies, UV‐Vis and fluorescence properties of CdS have been investigated. The performances of CdS have been analyzed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), ultraviolet‐visible (UV–Vis) and room‐temperature photoluminescence (PL). The XRD result indicates that the flower‐like CdS structures are of hexagonal phase. The FESEM results indicate that the main role of SDBS is to make the CdS crystals assemble together to form the flower‐like structures. The UV–Vis results show CdS has a strong absorption in the ultraviolet region and visible‐light region. The PL results show CdS has two emission peaks, respectively at 461 nm and 553 nm. The growth mechanism for the formation of flower‐like CdS structures is also described.     

Theoretical studies of electronic structure and structural properties of anhydrous alkali metal oxalates

The theoretical analysis of electronic structure and bonding properties of anhydrous alkali metal oxalates, based on the results of DFT FP-LAPW calculations, Bader’s QTAIM topological properties of electron density, Cioslowski and Mixon’s topological bond orders [reported in the first part of this paper by Kole?yński (doi:10.1007/s10973-013-3126-z)] and Brown’s Bond Valence Model calculations, carried out in the light of thermal decomposition pathway characteristic for these compounds are presented. The obtained results shed some additional light on the origins of the complex pathway observed during thermal decomposition process (two stage process, first the formation of respective carbonate and then decomposition to metal oxide and carbon dioxide). For all structures analyzed, strong similarities in electronic structure and bonding properties were found (ionic-covalent bonds in oxalate anion with C–C bond as the weakest one in entire structure and almost purely ionic between oxalate group and alkali metal cations), allowing us to propose the most probable pathway consisting of consecutive steps, leading to carbonate anion formation with simultaneous cationic sublattice relaxations, which results in relative ease of respective metal carbonate formation.     

Thermogravimetric study of the reduction of basic lead sulphate

In this paper, the results of the study of the reduction of basic lead sulphate with a gas (CO + CO₂) mixture are presented. This is a secondary reaction during the reduction of lead sulphate. The change in the both lead and PbS content in the reaction products, depending on the process temperature and the composition of the gaseous phase, was established. The comparison of the rate of the reduction reaction of lead sulphate and basic lead sulphate shows that the process proceeding with a higher output is the reduction of basic lead sulphate.