Thermotropic phase transition in soluble nanoscale lipid bilayers

The role of lipid domain size and protein-lipid interfaces in the thermotropic phase transition of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) bilayers in Nanodiscs was studied using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and generalized polarization (GP) of the lipophilic probe Laurdan. Nanodiscs are water-soluble, monodisperse, self-assembled lipid bilayers encompassed by a helical membrane scaffold protein (MSP). MSPs of different lengths were used to define the diameter of the Nanodisc lipid bilayer from 76 to 108 A and the number of DPPC molecules from 164 to 335 per discoidal structure. In Nanodiscs of all sizes, the phase transitions were broader and shifted to higher temperatures relative to those observed in vesicle preparations. The size dependences of the transition enthalpies and structural parameters of Nanodiscs reveal the presence of a boundary lipid layer in contact with the scaffold protein encircling the perimeter of the disc. The thickness of this annular layer was estimated to be approximately 15 A, or two lipid molecules. SAXS was used to measure the lateral thermal expansion of Nanodiscs, and a steep decrease of bilayer thickness during the main lipid phase transition was observed. These results provide the basis for the quantitative understanding of cooperative phase transitions in membrane bilayers in confined geometries at the nanoscale.     

Concomitant length and diameter separation of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Gel electrophoresis and column chromatography conducted on individually dispersed, ultrasonicated single-walled carbon nanotubes yield simultaneous separation by tube length and diameter. Electroelution after electrophoresis is shown to produce highly resolved fractions of nanotubes with average lengths between 92 and 435 nm. Separation by diameter is concomitant with length fractionation, and nanotubes that have been cut shortest also possess the greatest relative enrichments of large-diameter species. Longer sonication time causes increased electrophoretic mobility in the gels; thus, ultrasonic processing determines the degree of both length and diameter separation of the nanotubes. The relative quantum yield decreases nonlinearly as the nanotube length becomes shorter. These techniques constitute a preparative, scalable method for separating nanotubes by two important attributes required for electronic and sensor applications.     

Shape resonances in slow electron scattering by aromatic molecules. I. Anthraquinone derivatives

A series of anthraquinone (C(14)O(2)H(8)) derivatives has been studied by means of electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry (ECNI-MS), photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), and AM1 quantum chemical calculations. Mean lifetimes of molecular negative ions M(-.) (MNI) have been measured. The mechanism of long-lived MNI formation in the epithermal energy region of incident electrons has been investigated. A simple model of a molecule (a spherical potential well with the repulsive centrifugal term) has been applied for the analysis of the energy dependence of cross sections at the first stage of the electron capture process. It has been shown that a temporary resonance of MNI at the energy approximately 0.5 eV corresponds to a shape resonance with lifetime 1-2.10(-13) s in the f-partial wave (l = 3) of the incident electron. The next resonant state of MNI at the energy approximately 1.7 eV has been associated with the electron excited Feshbach resonance (whose parent state is a triplet npi* transition). In all cases the initial electron state of the MNI relaxes into the ground state by means of a radiationless transition, and the final state of the MNI is a nuclear excited resonance with a lifetime measurable on the mass spectrometry timescale. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Defining CYP3A4 structural responses to substrate binding. Raman spectroscopic studies of a nanodisc-incorporated mammalian cytochrome P450

Resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy is used to help define active site structural responses of nanodisc-incorporated CYP3A4 to the binding of three substrates: bromocriptine (BC), erythromycin (ERY), and testosterone (TST). We demonstrate that nanodisc-incorporated assemblies reveal much more well-defined active site RR spectroscopic responses as compared to those normally obtained with the conventional, detergent-stabilized, sampling strategies. While ERY and BC are known to bind to CYP3A4 with a 1:1 stoichiometry, only the BC induces a substantial conversion from low- to high-spin state, as clearly manifested in the RR spectra acquired herein. The third substrate, TST, displays significant homotropic interactions within CYP3A4, the active site binding up to 3 molecules of this substrate, with the functional properties varying in response to binding of individual substrate molecules. While such behavior seemingly suggests the possibility that each substrate binding event induces functionally important heme structural changes, up to this time spectroscopic evidence for such structural changes has not been available. The current RR spectroscopic studies show clearly that accommodation of different size substrates, and different loading of TST, do not significantly affect the structure of the substrate-bound ferric heme. However, it is here demonstrated that the nature and number of bound substrates do have an extraordinary influence on the conformation of bound exogenous ligands, such as CO or dioxygen and its reduced forms, implying an effective mechanism whereby substrate structure can impact reactivity of intermediates so as to influence function, as reflected in the diverse reactivity of this drug metabolizing cytochrome.     

富硒蛹虫草试样中硒的形态分析

本文采用连续浸提法研究了富硒蛹虫草中硒的赋存形态。结果表明,碱溶态>盐溶态>水溶态>醇溶态>残渣态。可见,碱浸取是获取植物蛋白的有效途径,在富硒蛹虫草试样中硒主要以硒蛋白的形式存在。     

Determination of electron affinity of carbonyl radicals by means of negative ion mass spectrometry

Appearance energies of [M-H](-) ions from carbonyl compounds R-CO-R' (R,R' = H, CH(3), NH(2), OH) have been measured by means of negative ion mass spectrometry in resonant electron capture mode. Values of electron affinity of the corresponding radicals, CH(2)&dbond;C(X)O, NH&dbond;C(X)O and O&dbond;C(X)O, have been determined. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

P450 CYP17A1 Variant with a Disordered Proton Shuttle Assembly Retains Peroxo-Mediated Lyase Efficiency

Human cytochrome P450 CYP17A1 first catalyzes hydroxylation at the C17 position of either pregnenolone (PREG) or progesterone (PROG), and a subsequent C₁₇−C₂₀ bond scission to produce dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) or androstenedione (AD). In the T306A mutant, replacement of the Threonine 306 alcohol functionality, essential for efficient proton delivery in the hydroxylase reaction, has only a small effect on the lyase activity. In this work, resonance Raman spectroscopy is employed to provide crucial structural insight, confirming that this mutant, with its disordered proton shuttle, fails to generate essential hydroxylase pathway intermediates, accounting for the loss in hydroxylase efficiency. Significantly, a corresponding spectroscopic study with the susceptible lyase substrate, 17-OH PREG, not only reveals an initially trapped peroxo-iron intermediate experiencing an H-bond interaction of the 17-OH group with the proximal oxygen of the Fe-O_p-O_t fragment, facilitating peroxo- attack on the C₂₀ carbon, but also unequivocally shows the presence of the subsequent hemiketal intermediate of the lyase reaction.     

PPT文件中的动画制作及在教学中的应用

介绍了利用PowerPoint软件的自定义动画中的"进入"、"强调"、"退出"、"动作路径"四类效果,制作教学中常用的化学结构式、图表、原理图、选择题等的动画制作的方法,以及常用图表的讲解、重点内容的强调、利用现有矢量性质剪帖画改制成自己所需图画的简易方法.PPT文件制作动画,操作简单,避免了超链接的麻烦,形成的文件小,便于拷贝,可制作出具有Flash效果的漂亮、生动的动画,丰富了教学内容、提升了教学效果.     

Directed self-assembly of monodisperse phospholipid bilayer Nanodiscs with controlled size

Using a recently described self-assembly process (Bayburt, T. H.; Grinkova, Y. V.; Sligar, S. G. Nano Letters 2002, 2, 853-856), we prepared soluble monodisperse discoidal lipid/protein particles with controlled size and composition, termed Nanodiscs, in which the fragment of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayer is surrounded by a helical protein belt. We have customized the size of these particles by changing the length of the amphipathic helical part of this belt, termed membrane scaffold protein (MSP). Herein we describe the design of extended and truncated MSPs, the optimization of self-assembly for each of these proteins, and the structure and composition of the resulting Nanodiscs. We show that the length of the protein helix surrounding the lipid part of a Nanodisc determines the particle diameter, as measured by HPLC and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Using different scaffold proteins, we obtained Nanodiscs with the average size from 9.5 to 12.8 nm with a very narrow size distribution (+/-3%). Functionalization of the N-terminus of the scaffold protein does not perturb their ability to form homogeneous discoidal structures. Detailed analysis of the solution scattering confirms the presence of a lipid bilayer of 5.5 nm thickness in Nanodiscs of different sizes. The results of this study provide an important structural characterization of self-assembled phospholipid bilayers and establish a framework for the design of soluble amphiphilic nanoparticles of controlled size.