Water concentration profiles in membranes measured by ESEEM of spin-labeled lipids

Electron spin-echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectroscopy of phospholipids spin-labeled systematically down the sn-2 chain was used to detect the penetration of water (D2O) into bilayer membranes of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine with and without 50 mol % cholesterol. Three-pulse stimulated echoes allow the resolution of two superimposed 2H-ESEEM spectral components of different widths, for spin labels located in the upper part of the lipid chains. Quantum chemical calculations (DFT) and ESEEM simulations assign the broad spectral component to one or two D2O molecules that are directly hydrogen bonded to the N-O group of the spin label. Classical ESEEM simulations establish that the narrow spectral component arises from nonbonded water (D2O) molecules that are free in the hydrocarbon chain region of the bilayer membrane. The amplitudes of the broad 2H-ESEEM spectral component correlate directly with those of the narrow component for spin labels at different positions down the lipid chain, reflecting the local H-bonding equilibria. The D2O-ESEEM amplitudes decrease with position down the chain toward the bilayer center, displaying a sigmoidal dependence on position that is characteristic of transmembrane polarity profiles established by other less direct spin-labeling methods. The midpoint of the sigmoidal profile is shifted toward the membrane center for membranes without cholesterol, relative to those with cholesterol, and the D2O-ESEEM amplitude in the outer regions of the chain is greater in the presence of cholesterol than in its absence. For both membrane types, the D2O amplitude is almost vanishingly small at the bilayer center. The water-penetration profiles reverse correlate with the lipid-chain packing density, as reflected by 1H-ESEEM intensities from protons of the membrane matrix. An analysis of the H-bonding equilibria provides essential information on the binding of water molecules to H-bond acceptors within the hydrophobic interior of membranes. For membranes containing cholesterol, approximately 40% of the nitroxides in the region adjacent to the lipid headgroups are H bonded to water, of which ca. 15% are doubly H bonded. Corresponding H-bonded populations in membranes without cholesterol are ca. 20%, of which ca. 6% are doubly bonded.     

π-facial interactions between Cl and [S4N3]. X-ray crystal structure of [S4N3]Cl

The X-ray structure of [S₄N₃]Cl reveals three independent molecules, which all display π-facial interactions between the Cl⁻ and the pseudo-aromatic [S₄N₃]⁺ rings to produce a structure containing “inverse sandwich” systems.     

Preferential hydration and the exclusion of cosolvents from protein surfaces

Protein stability is enhanced by the addition of osmolytes, such as sugars and polyols and inert crowders, such as polyethylene glycols. This stability enhancement has been quantified by the preferential hydration parameter which can be determined by experiments. To understand the mechanism of protein stability enhancement, we present a statistical mechanical analysis of the preferential hydration parameter based upon Kirkwood-Buff theory. Previously, the preferential hydration parameter was interpreted in terms of the number of hydration waters, as well as the cosolvent exclusion volume. It was not clear how accurate these interpretations were, nor what the relationship is between the two. By using the Kirkwood-Buff theory and experimental data, we conclude that the contribution from the cosolvent exclusion dominantly determines the preferential hydration parameters for crowders. For osmolytes, although the cosolvent exclusion largely determines the preferential hydration parameters, the contribution from hydration may not be negligible.     

Estimating reaction parameters in mechanism-enabled population balance models of nanoparticle size distributions: A Bayesian inverse problem approach

In order to quantitatively predict nano- as well as other particle-size distributions, one needs to have both a mathematical model and estimates of the parameters that appear in these models. Here, we show how one can use Bayesian inversion to obtain statistical estimates for the parameters that appear in recently derived mechanism-enabled population balance models (ME-PBM) of nanoparticle growth. The Bayesian approach addresses the question of “how well do we know our parameters, along with their uncertainties?.” The results reveal that Bayesian inversion statistical analysis on an example, prototype nanoparticle formation system allows one to estimate not just the most likely rate constants and other parameter values, but also their SDs, confidence intervals, and other statistical information. Moreover, knowing the reliability of the mechanistic model's parameters in turn helps inform one about the reliability of the proposed mechanism, as well as the reliability of its predictions. The paper can also be seen as a tutorial with the additional goal of achieving a “Gold Standard” Bayesian inversion ME-PBM benchmark that others can use as a control to check their own use of this methodology for other systems of interest throughout nature. Overall, the results provide strong support for the hypothesis that there is substantial value in using a Bayesian inversion methodology for parameter estimation in particle formation systems.     

Supercapacitors Based on c‐Type Cytochromes Using Conductive Nanostructured Networks of Living Bacteria

Supercapacitors have attracted interest in energy storage because they have the potential to complement or replace batteries. Here, we report that c‐type cytochromes, naturally immersed in a living, electrically conductive microbial biofilm, greatly enhance the device capacitance by over two orders of magnitude. We employ genetic engineering, protein unfolding and Nernstian modeling for in vivo demonstration of charge storage capacity of c‐type cytochromes and perform electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and charge–discharge cycling to confirm the pseudocapacitive, redox nature of biofilm capacitance. The biofilms also show low self‐discharge and good charge/discharge reversibility. The superior electrochemical performance of the biofilm is related to its high abundance of cytochromes, providing large electron storage capacity, its nanostructured network with metallic‐like conductivity, and its porous architecture with hydrous nature, offering prospects for future low cost and environmentally sustainable energy storage devices.     

Facile Oxidations of 1,4-Hydroquinones to 1,4-Benzoquinones with Bromomercury(II) Derivatives

Oxidation of 1,4-hydroquinones to 1,4-benzoquinones by mercuric oxide or mercuric trifluoroacetate in methanol has recently been described, and required reaction times of 1–12 hours.¹ We now report that use of bromomercury(II) species as oxidants under alkaline conditions greatly reduces the reaction time. This oxidation system has recently been used for conversion of aromatic aldehydes into carboxylic acids.²