Solid-state,optical-rotation measurements on macromolecules using powder-suspensions

Summary We report techniques for measuring optical rotation of suspended solids, including dissymmetric molecular crystals (e.g. sodium chlorate and bromate), synthetic polymers, polypeptides and biopolymers. Examples include poly(triphenylmethyl methacrylate), poly-S-lactide, poly-L-hydroxyproline, hemocyanine, cellulose acetate andRNA. The results indicate that optical rotation measurements are sensitive to differences in secondary structure and can serve as a probe for structural differences between solid-state and solution.

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Messung der optischen Rotation von Makromolekülen im Festzustand unter Verwendung von Pulversuspensionen

Zusammenfassung Es wird über eine Methode zur Messung der optischen Rotation von Festkörpern in Suspensionen berichtet, wobei dissymetrische Kristalle (z. B. Natriumchlorat und -bromat), synthetische Polymere, Polypeptide und Biopolymere behandelt werden. Die Beispiele umfassen Poly(triphenylmethylmethacrylat), Poly-S-lactid, Poly-L-hydroxyprolin, Hemocyanin, Celluloseacetat undRNA. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß die optischen Rotationen bezüglich Unterschiede in der Sekundärstruktur empfindlich sind und daß diese Messungen als ein Maß für Strukturunterschiede zwischen Festzustand und Lösung herangezogen werden können.

     

Spectral and non-spectral interferences in inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry of environmental and biological samples is often hampered by spectral and non-spectral interferences. Spectral interferences, caused by the limited resolution of the quadrupole mass spectrometer, can be eliminated in a variety of ways. For their identification inspection of a signal versus carrier gas flowrate is useful. Anion exchange allows the removal of most S and Cl containing compounds, which are at the origin of the majority of spectral interferences. Matrix modification, for example the addition of ethanol and subsequent optimization of the gas flow rates in a number of cases enables the reduction of the interferences to insignificant values. Often a mathematical correction based on isotopic signal ratios can be applied. Non-spectral interferences can be divided in reversible, that is occurring while the sample is being measured, and irreversible matrix effects, that is clogging of the nebulizer and sampling orifices or deposition on the torch or in the ion lens stack. The errors associated with non-spectral interferences can be eliminated by appropriate calibration procedures, adapted sample preparation or limitation of the amount of sample delivered to nebulizer, plasma and sampling devices, for example by the application of flow injection. Applications of all the elimination procedures are described for the analysis of sea-water, estuarine water, soil and sewage extracts, percolate water, urine, serum and wine.     

Potential energy surfaces and nonadiabatic transitions in the asymptotic regions of ICN photodissociation to study the interference effects in the F1 and F2 spin-rotation levels of the CN products

One of the most spectacular yet unsolved problems for the ICN -band photodissociation is the non-statistical spin-rotation F₁ = N + 1/2 and F₂ = N − 1/2 populations for each rotation level N of the CN fragment. The F₁/F₂ population difference function f(N) exhibits strong N and λ dependences with an oscillatory behavior. Such details were found to critically depend on the number of open-channel product states, namely, whether both I (²P_3/2) and I (²P_1/2) are energetically available or not as the dissociation partner. First, in the asymptotic region, the exchange and dipole-quadrupole inter-fragment interactions were studied in detail. Then, as the diabatic basis, we took the appropriate symmetry adapted products of the electronic and rotational wavefunctions for the F₁ and F₂ levels at the dissociation limits. We found that the adiabatic Hamiltonian exhibits Rosen–Zener–Demkov type nonadiabatic transitions reflecting the switch between the exchange interaction and the small but finite spin-rotation interaction within CN at the asymptotic region. This non-crossing type nonadiabatic transition occurs with the probability 1/2, that is, at the diabatic limit through a sudden switch of the quantization axis for CN spin S from the dissociation axis to the CN rotation axis N . We have derived semiclassical formulae for f(N) and the orientation parameters with a two-state model including the 3A′ and 4A′ electronic states, and with a four-state model including the 3A′ through 6A′ electronic states. These two kinds of interfering models explain general features of the F₁ and F₂ level populations observed by Zare's group and Hall's group, respectively. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

高纯氧化钇中镧、铈、钐、铝、铅和铜的电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法测定

本文以纯Y_2O_3中杂质元素的ICP-AES测定为例,研究用数值微分技术解决光谱干扰同题。结果表明,导数光谱法不仅可以有效地消除来自基体的光谱干扰,还能减小谱线干扰对检测能力的影响。当分析物浓度较低时,导数光谱法的加入回收率明显优于离峰分析法,多数情况下也优于在峰法校正光谱干扰时的回收率。     

Validation of an empirical RNA-ligand scoring function for fast flexible docking using RiboDock®

We report the design and validation of a fast empirical function for scoring RNA-ligand interactions, and describe its implementation within RiboDock, a virtual screening system for automated flexible docking. Building on well-known protein-ligand scoring function foundations, features were added to describe the interactions of common RNA-binding functional groups that were not handled adequately by conventional terms, to disfavour non-complementary polar contacts, and to control non-specific charged interactions. The results of validation experiments against known structures of RNA-ligand complexes compare favourably with previously reported methods. Binding modes were well predicted in most cases and good discrimination was achieved between native and non-native ligands for each binding site, and between native and non-native binding sites for each ligand. Further evidence of the ability of the method to identify true RNA binders is provided by compound selection ('enrichment factor') experiments based around a series of HIV-1 TAR RNA-binding ligands. Significant enrichment in true binders was achieved amongst high scoring docking hits, even when selection was from a library of structurally related, positively charged molecules. Coupled with a semi-automated cavity detection algorithm for identification of putative ligand binding sites, also described here, the method is suitable for the screening of very large databases of molecules against RNA and RNA-protein interfaces, such as those presented by the bacterial ribosome.     

Two-beam interference detection of the changes in fibre structural parameters during low drawing process

A Pluta polarizing interference microscope with a fibre stretching device attached was used to detect the changes in molecular structure that occur during the fibre cold drawing process. Fibres drawn with low draw ratios show different types of deformation mechanisms. The interference patterns recorded at different draw ratios are used to relate the deformation mechanisms with the measured structural parameters. Some optical parameters are measured such as; refractive indices nand n birefringence n, the polarizability per unit volume , the orientation distribution function f(θ), the angle θ between the stretching direction and the chain axis, and the angle θ_m which the transition dipole moment of the molecular species makes with the molecular axis (chain axis). Three polymeric fibres (Polyethylene terephthalate PET, Polypropylene PP and Polyamide PA) were used in this study and their interferograms are illustrated.     

Stochastic detection of motor protein-RNA complexes by single-channel current recording.

A label- and immobilization-free approach to detecting the reversible formation of complexes between nucleic acids and proteins at the single-molecule level is described. The voltage-driven translocation of individual oligoribonucleotides through a nanoscale protein pore is observed by single-channel current recordings. The oligoribonucleotide 5'-C25A(25)-3' gives rise to current blockades with an average duration of approximately 0.5 ms. In the presence of the RNA-binding ATPase P4, a viral packaging motor from bacteriophage phi8, longer events of tens to hundreds of milliseconds are observed. Upon addition of ATP the long events disappear, indicating the dissociation of the P4RNA complex. The frequency of events also depends on the concentration of P4 and the length of the oligoribonucleotide, thereby confirming the specificity of the P4RNA events. This study shows that single-channel current recordings can be used to monitor RNA-protein complex formation, thus opening up a new means to examine the motor activity of RNA- or DNA-processing enzymes.