Biosynthesis of isoprenoids. purification and properties of IspG protein from Escherichia coli

[Structure: see text]. The IspG protein is known to catalyze the transformation of 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate into 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl 4-diphosphate in the nonmevalonate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis. We have found that the apparent IspG activity in the cell extracts of recombinant Escherichia coli cells as observed by a radiochemical assay can be enhanced severalfold by coexpression of the isc operon which is involved in the assembly of iron-sulfur clusters. The recombinant protein was isolated by affinity chromatography under anaerobic conditions. With a mixture of flavodoxin, flavodoxin reductase, and NADPH as the reducing agent, stringent assay methods based on photometry or on 13C NMR detection of multiply 13C-labeled substrate/product ratios afforded catalytic activities greater than 60 nmol mg(-1) min(-1) for the protein "as isolated" (i.e., without reconstitution of any kind). Lower apparent activities were found using photoreduced deazaflavin as an artifactual electron donor, whereas dithionite was unable to serve as an artificial electron donor. The apparent Michaelis constant for 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate was 700 microM. The enzyme was inactivated by EDTA and could be reactivated by Mn2+. The pH optimum was at 9.0. The protein contained 2.4 iron ions and 4.4 sulfide ions per subunit. The replacement of any of the three conserved cysteine residues afforded mutant proteins which were devoid of catalytic activity and contained less than 6% of Fe2+ and less than 23% of S2- as compared to the wild-type protein. Sequence comparison indicates that putative IspG proteins of plants, the apicomplexan protozoan Plasmodium falciparum, and bacteria from the Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi group contain an insert of about 170-320 amino acid residues as compared with eubacterial enzymes.     

The use of imidazolium ionic liquids for the formation and stabilization of ir0 and rh0 nanoparticles: efficient catalysts for the hydrogenation of arenes

Stable transition-metal nanoparticles of the type [M(0)](n) are easily accessible through the reduction of Ir(I) or Rh(III) compounds dissolved in "dry" 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid by molecular hydrogen. The formation of these [M(0)](n) nanoparticles is straightforward; they are prepared in dry ionic liquid whereas the presence of the water causes the partial decomposition of ionic liquid with the formation of phosphates, HF and transition-metal fluorides. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) show the formation of [Ir(0)](n) and [Rh(0)](n) nanoparticles with 2.0-2.5 nm in diameter. The isolated [M(0)](n) nanoparticles can be redispersed in the ionic liquid, in acetone or used in solventless conditions for the liquid-liquid biphasic, homogeneous or heterogeneous hydrogenation of arenes under mild reaction conditions (75 degrees C and 4 atm). The recovered iridium nanoparticles can be reused several times without any significant loss in catalytic activity. Unprecedented total turnover numbers (TTO) of 3509 in 32 h, for arene hydrogenation by nanoparticles catalysts, have been achieved in the reduction of benzene by the [Ir(0)](n) in solventless conditions. Contrarily, the recovered Rh(0) nanoparticles show significant agglomeration into large particles with a loss of catalytic activity. The hydrogenation of arenes containing functional groups, such as anisole, by the [Ir(0)](n) nanoparticles occurs with concomitant hydrogenolysis of the C-O bond, suggesting that these nanoparticles behave as "heterogeneous catalysts" rather than "homogeneous catalysts".     

Proton controlled intramolecular communication in dinuclear ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes

The synthesis and characterization of two dinuclear ruthenium polypyridyl complexes based on the bridging ligands 5,5'-bis(pyridin-2' '-yl)-3,3'-bis(1H-1,2,4-triazole) and 5,5'-bis(pyrazin-2' '-yl)-3,3'-bis(1H-1,2,4-triazole) and of their mononuclear precursors are reported. The dinuclear compounds have been prepared by a Ni(0) catalyzed coupling of a mononuclear ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complex containing a brominated triazole moiety. Electrochemical and photophysical studies indicate that, in these dinuclear complexes, the protonation state of the bridge may be used to tune the intercomponent interaction between the two metal centers and that these species act as proton driven three-way molecular switches that can be read by electrochemical or luminescence techniques.     

Über Chalkogenidhalogenide des Chroms Synthese,Kristallstruktur und Magnetismus von Chromsulfidbromid,CrSBr

Chalkogenidehalides of Chromium. Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Magnetism of Chromiumsulfidebromide, CrSBr CrSBr is obtained from chromium metal and S₂Br₂ in a sealed quartz ampoule at 880°C. It forms air stable, black crystals. The crystal structure determination (space group Pmmn, lattice constants a = 476.7(2), b = 350.6(2), c = 796.5(4) pm, Z = 2, R = 0.026) shows, that CrSBr crystallizes in the FeOCl structure type. The structure consists of layers which are stacked perpendicular to the c axis. The layers are formed by distorted, edge sharing CrS₄Br₂ octahedra. The interatomic distances are Cr? S 239.7 and 241.5 pm, Cr? Br 249.4 pm. To explain the unusual temperature factor of the Br atom the structure determination was additionaly carried out at 205 K and 118 K. A linear decrease of the coefficients of the anisotropic temperature factors of all atoms was found. The coefficients can be extrapolated to zero for 0 K. This shows the large displacement parameter U₁₁ of the Br atom to be caused by thermal vibrations. Even under forced conditions CrSBr does not form intercalation compounds with pyridine or tetracyanoethylene. CrSBr shows a marked antiferromagnetic behavior with a Néel temperature of 132 K and a critical field of 0.35 Tesla at 4.2 K.     

Pyrolysis studies of aromatic polyesters

The products of pyrolysis, at 400°C in vacuo (1 Pa), of poly(ethyleneterephthalate) (PET) and poly(butyleneterephthalate) (PBT) were studied. The products were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry technique. The highly volatile products of PET contained acetaldehyde, benzene, toluene, styrene and ethylbenzene and in the case of PBT, butadiene, tetrahydrofuran, vinylcyclohexene and ethylbenzene were the major products. A qualitative analysis of the products of low volatility revealed that the main components were benzoic acid, terephthalic acid, monovinyl esters of terephthalic acid and higher oligomers in the case of PET, whereas benzoic acid, monobutenyl esters of terephthalic acid and higher oligomers were the main products from PBT. The results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained from pyrolysis experiments, carried out directly in the mass spectrometer. Mechanisms to explain the occurrence of the different products are proposed.     

One-dimensional magnetism and crystal structure ofcatena-di-bromobis(3,5-dimethylpyridine)copper(II)

Summary Crystals ofcatena-di--bromobis(3,5-dimethylpyridine)copper(II) are monoclinic, space group P2₁/a. The unit cell constants area=13.900(2),b=14.416(2),c=4.097(1) Å,=93.49(2)°, V=819.4 ų and Z=2. The structure was determined from powder data using a Guinier-Johansson focussing powder camera. The structure was solved using a simplex method for function minimization to a conventional R-value of 0.13.The structure consists of infinite linear chains parallel toc in which the copper coordination is distorted elongated octahedral. Cu-Br distances were found to be 2.449(7) and 3.286(7) Å, whereas the Cu-N bond length is 2.02(2) Å. All distances are in the range usually observed for this type of compounds.The antiferromagnetic superexchange interactions between adjacent Cu^II ions (J = –21 cm^–1) has been compared with those observed in structural similar CuBr₂L₂ compounds. The differences in observed J-values are discussed briefly, in relation to the structural variations. It appears that very small changes in structural parameters strongly affect the magnetic exchange.     

The discovery of two kinds of ion pairs

The discovery and implications of the existence of two kinds of ion pairs in solutions of carbanion salts is described. Also discussed are the factors controlling tight–loose ion pair equilibrium: the nature of the carbanion and its counterion, temperature, pressure, solvent, and cation‐complexing additives. A few examples are presented of the effect of these ionic species on the mechanisms of anionic polymerization and proton transfer. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3655–3667, 2004     

Ueber die Titration der Schwefels?ure mit Benzidinchlorhydrat

Zusammenfassung In Vorstehendem wurde zunächst die Ausführung der von einem von uns ausgearbeiteten Schwefelsäuretitration mittelst Benzidinchlorhydrats nochmals genau beschrieben, sodann wurden die Bedingungen festgestellt, unter denen verschiedene Schwefelsäuremengen am genauesten zu bestimmen waren. Es hat sich dabei herausgestellt, dass die Schwefelsäure bis zu 0,01g H₂SO₄ herunter nach der beshriebenen Methode auf 1–2 genau bestimmt werden kann. Die Anwendung der Methode auf verschiedene Fälle (Ammoniumsulfat, Alaun, Zinksulfat-heptahydrat, Mohr'sches Salz, Mangansulfat-tetrahydrat), wobei die Metalle in einigen Fällen vorher ausgefällt wurden, bestätigten die zuvor festgestellten Regeln; ausserdem wurde gezeigt, dass beim Ausfällen von Zink, Eisen und Mangan nach dem angegebenen Verfahren Schwefelsäure nicht mitgerissen wird. Die Zeit, welche eine derartige Bestimmung, auch wenn die beschriebenen Ausfällungen vorgenommen werden müssen, bei einiger Uebung erfordert, ist sehr kurz, weil alles Auswaschen und so weiter in Fortfall kommt, so dass auch hier ein Vortheil gegenüber dem gewichtsanalytischen Verfahren vorhanden ist.     

Insight into the extractability of metals from soils using an implementation of the linear adsorption isotherm model

This paper deals with an often overlooked artifact in sequential and single extraction of metals from soils, viz. the volume to mass (V/m) ratio as a potential source for inadequate extraction yields. We offer a theoretical framework to get a grip on this intricate parameter and came up with a model based on a linear adsorption isotherm to derive the correct maximal metal extractability for a certain extractant. We verified the model experimentally using 0.1 mol l⁻¹ nitric acid for extraction of seven metals (Cr, Co, Cu, Cd, Pb, Ni and Zn) from an urban soil sample, and concluded that commonly used V/m ratios in the range of 10-40 ml g⁻¹ may give as much as 50% too low extraction yields. Thus, a strong caveat is in place as to be very critical what V/m ratios to use and preferably apply the model derived to obtain the correct maximal extractability using a variable V/m ratio method.