Caged Thiophosphotyrosine Peptides

No Abstract     

Vapor-phase raman spectrum and ring-puckering vibration of cyclopentene

The vapor-phase Raman spectrum of cyclopentene has been recorded and eleven lines corresponding to the Δν=2 transitions of the ring-puckering have been observed. A difference band sequence with 3070.4cm⁻¹ as the reference band has also been observed.     

Topology and spin alignment utilizing the excited molecular field in π-conjugated organic spin systems

The design and experimental investigations of photo-induced high-spin organic systems (the photo-excited quartet (S = 3/2) and quintet (S = 2) states) is reviewed with focusing π-conjugated organic spin systems. In order to study the photo-induced spin alignments on the excited states, the photo-excited high-spin states of π-conjugated stable radical systems and their π-topological isomers were studied by the time-resolved ESR experiments. The relationship between the π-topology and spin alignment on the photo-excited states is clarified. The mechanism of the photo-induced intramolecular spin alignment and the role of the spin polarization and spin delocalization are revealed with the help of the molecular orbital calculations. One of the key processes for the photo-control of the organic molecular magnetism is established. The guiding principle designing the photo-excited high-spin system and the role of π-topology are clarified. Potential developments toward the functional materials are also proposed utilizing the π-conjugated organic spin systems with the photo-excited high-spin states.     

Reduction and methyl transfer kinetics of the alpha subunit from acetyl coenzyme a synthase

Stopped-flow was used to evaluate the methylation and reduction kinetics of the isolated alpha subunit of acetyl-Coenzyme A synthase from Moorella thermoacetica. This catalytically active subunit contains a novel Ni-X-Fe4S4 cluster and a putative unidentified n = 2 redox site called D. The D-site must be reduced for a methyl group to transfer from a corrinoid-iron-sulfur protein, a key step in the catalytic synthesis of acetyl-CoA. The Fe4S4 component of this cluster is also redox active, raising the possibility that it is the D-site or a portion thereof. Results presented demonstrate that the D-site reduces far faster than the Fe4S4 component, effectively eliminating this possibility. Rather, this component may alter catalytically important properties of the Ni center. The D-site is reduced through a pathway that probably does not involve the Fe4S4 component of this active-site cluster.     

The Vroman effect: a molecular level description of fibrinogen displacement

The molecular level details of the displacement of surface adsorbed fibrinogen from silica substrates were studied by atomic force microscopy, immunochemical assays, fluorescence microscopy, and vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy. The results showed that human plasma fibrinogen (HPF) can be readily displaced from the interface by other plasma proteins near neutral pH because the positively charged alpha C domains on HPF sit between the rest of the macromolecule and the underlying surface. The alpha C domains make weak electrostatic contact with the substrate, which is manifest by a high degree of alignment of Lys and Arg residues. Upon cycling through acidic pH, however, the alpha C domains are irreversibly removed from this position and the rest of the macromolecule is free to engage in stronger hydrogen bonding, van der Waals, and hydrophobic interactions with the surface. This results in a 170-fold decrease in the rate at which HPF can be displaced from the interface by other proteins in human plasma.     

Electron spin relaxation in liquids : edited by L.T. Muus and P.W. Atkins,Plenum Press,New York, 1972, pp. xiv + 537, price £29.50

The infrared and Raman spectra of trimethylarsine sulfide, trimethylarsine selenide, and their perdeuterated analogues have been recorded. An assignment of 22 of the 24 fundamental vibrational frequencies (exclusive of the methyl torsions) has been made for each molecule. Assignments were made on the basis of symmetry selection rules and comparison with structurally similar molecules.A normal coordinate analysis for each of these molecules was carried out to reinforce the assignments. Assuming a valence force field for each molecule of C_3v symmetry, a set of 24 force constants was refined to give a least squares fit of the calculated frequencies to the observed frequencies. Calculations of the potential energy distribution for each molecule show that there exists little coupling between the different modes.     

Inactivation of nitroalkane oxidase upon mutation of the active site base and rescue with a deprotonated substrate

Mutation of Asp402 in nitroalkane oxidase to Asn or Ala inactivates the enzyme with neutral nitroethane as substrate, but the activity can be rescued with the nitroethane anion. The V/K values of the D402N and D402A enzymes with the nitroethane anion are independent of pH, whereas the V/K values of the wild-type and D402E enzymes are pH dependent with both the protonated and the deprotonated forms of nitroethane. Moreover, although the V/K value of the D402E enzyme with neutral nitroethane is 20-fold less than that of the wild-type enzyme, there is only a 2-fold difference in the V/K values with the nitroethane anion. These results are fully consistent with a primary role for Asp402 as the active site base in nitroalkane oxidase which abstracts the substrate alpha-proton.     

Hydroxy peroxy nitrites and nitrates from OH initiated reactions of isoprene

The reaction of hydroxy peroxy radicals (RO(2)) with NO represents one of the most crucial tropospheric processes, leading to terrestrial ozone formation or NO(x)() removal and chain termination. We investigate the formation of hydroxy peroxy nitrites (ROONO) and nitrates (RONO(2)) from the OH-isoprene reactions using DFT and ab initio theories and variational RRKM/master equation (vRRKM/ME) formalism. The binding energies of ROONO from NO addition to RO(2) are determined to be in the range of 20-22 kcal mol(-)(1), and the bond dissociation energies of ROONO to form an alkoxy radical (RO) and NO(2) range from 6 to 9 kcal mol(-)(1). Isomerization of ROONO to RONO(2) is exothermic by 22-28 kcal mol(-)(1). The entrance and exit channels of the RO(2)-NO reaction are found to be barrierless, and the rate constants to form ROONO are calculated to be 3 x 10(-)(12) to 2 x 10(-)(11) cm(3) molecule(-)(1) s(-)(1) using the canonical variational transition state theory. The vRRKM/ME analysis reveals negligible stabilization of excited ROONO and provides an assessment of ROONO isomerization to RONO(2).     

Ab initio and DFT calculations for the structure and vibrational spectra of cyclopentene and its isotopomers

Ab initio calculations using the MP2/cc-pVTZ basis set do an excellent job of predicting the inversion barrier (247 vs. 232 cm⁻¹) and dihedral angle (26°) of cyclopentene. DFT calculations also do an excellent job of predicting the vibrational frequencies of the d₀, d₁, d₄, and d₈ isotopomers. They have also allowed the reassignments of several of the vibrational frequencies.     

An algebraic method that includes Gibbs minimization for performing phase equilibrium calculations for any number of components or phases

The most widely used technique for performing phase equilibria calculations is the K-value method (equality of chemical potentials). This paper proposes a more efficient algorithm to achieve the results that includes Gibbs minimization when we know the number of phases. Using the orthogonal derivatives, the tangent plane equation and mass balances, it is possible to reduce the Gibbs minimization procedure to the task of finding the solution of a system of non-linear equations. Such an operation is easier and faster than finding tangents or areas, and appears to converge as fast as the K-value method. Examples illustrate application of the new technique to two and three phases in equilibrium for binary and ternary mixtures.