Comparative preparations of homoleptic hydridic anions of iron and ruthenium using solution-based organometal hydrogenation techniques

A study of the preparations of the complex hydridic anions [MH(6)](4)(-) (M = Fe and Ru) reveals a number of distinctive features. Here a soluble homoleptic ruthenium hydride has been prepared for the first time. For example, both FeX(2) and [Ru(eta(4)-1,5-COD)X(2)], X = Cl and Br, react with PhMgBr solutions under hydrogen to produce the title compounds. The benzene liberated in these reactions is more readily hydrogenated in the case of a homogeneous room temperature ruthenium hydride preparation to both cyclohexane and cyclohexene. The (1)H NMR spectroscopic data show that the two complex anions have hydride absorptions in the low-frequency region, delta -20.3 and -14.7, respectively. Further, (1)H spin-lattice relaxation times (T(1)) for M-H are longer in the case of Ru vs Fe.     

Luminescent Sensing with Quantum Dots

Summary This review highlights recent advances in the use of quantum dots (QD’s) as luminescent sensors. The bulk of the study concentrates on systems that possess organic ligands bound to the surface of QD’s. These ligands vary from low molecular weight thiols to larger molecules such as maltose binding protein. All have one thing in common: when a target analyte binds to the ligand/receptor, a perturbation of the system occurs, that registers itself as a change in the luminescence intensity of the QD. Two main mechanisms are prevalent in controlling the luminescent intensity in such systems. The first is Photoinduced Electron Transfer (PET) and the second energy transfer. This review looks at current sensors that operate by using these mechanisms. Two component systems are also investigated where a quencher is first added to a solution of the QD, followed by addition of the target analyte that interacts with the quencher to influence the luminescence intensity.     

Electron-photon polarisation correlations in 140 eV electron impact excitation of helium

Electron-polarised photon coincidence techniques are used to determine linear and circular polarisation correlations from the differential electron impact excitation of the 2¹ P state of helium at an incident electron energy of 140 eV. At 30° and 45° electron scattering angles, all the Stokes parameters are determined, whereas at 52.5° onlyP ₂ is measured. Comparisons are made with the distorted wave (DW) calculations of Madison [11] and the first order many-body theory (FOMBT) of Cartwright and Csanak [4].     

A chemical inhibitor reveals the role of Raf kinase inhibitor protein in cell migration

Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) is a modulator of cell signaling that functions as an endogenous inhibitor of multiple kinases. We demonstrate here a positive role for RKIP in the regulation of cell locomotion. We discovered that RKIP is the relevant cellular target of locostatin, a cell migration inhibitor. Locostatin abrogates RKIP's ability to bind and inhibit Raf-1 kinase, and it acts by disrupting a protein-protein interaction, an uncommon mode of action for a small molecule. Small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of RKIP expression also reduces cell migration rate. Overexpression of RKIP converts epithelial cells to a highly migratory fibroblast-like phenotype, with dramatic reduction in the sensitivity of cells to locostatin. RKIP is therefore the compound's valid target and a key regulator of cell motility.     

The effect of engineered disulfide bonds on the stability of Drosophila melanogaster acetylcholinesterase

Background  

Acetylcholinesterase is irreversibly inhibited by organophosphate and carbamate insecticides allowing its use in biosensors for detection of these insecticides. Drosophila acetylcholinesterase is the most sensitive enzyme known and has been improved by in vitro mutagenesis. However, its stability has to be improved for extensive utilization.     

An Improves Method for the Cleavage of Methyl Esters

Synthetic organic chemists are continually looking for milder, more specific methods of effecting given transformations, and one such problem which recently arose in our laboratory involved ester cleavage. In particular, we sought a specific, wild, non-hydrolytic method for effecting teh ester - acid transformation under conditions which other acid or base sensitive functional groups would survive.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of Mineral Respiration: How Iron Hemes Synchronize Electron Transfer Rates

Anaerobic microorganisms of the Geobacter genus are effective electron sources for the synthesis of nanoparticles, for bioremediation of polluted water, and for the production of electricity in fuel cells. In multistep reactions, electrons are transferred via iron/heme cofactors of c‐type cytochromes from the inner cell membrane to extracellular metal ions, which are bound to outer membrane cytochromes. We measured electron production and electron flux rates to 5×10⁵ e s^?1 per G. sulfurreducens. Remarkably, these rates are independent of the oxidants, and follow zero order kinetics. It turned out that the microorganisms regulate electron flux rates by increasing their Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ ratios in the multiheme cytochromes whenever the activity of the extracellular metal oxidants is diminished. By this mechanism the respiration remains constant even when oxidizing conditions are changing. This homeostasis is a vital condition for living systems, and makes G. sulfurreducens a versatile electron source.     

General WP-Bailey chains

Motivated by a recent paper of Liu and Ma, we describe a number of general WP-Bailey chains. We show that many of the existing WP-Bailey chains (or branches of the WP-Bailey tree), including chains found by Andrews, Warnaar and Liu and Ma, arise as special cases of these general WP-Bailey chains. We exhibit three new branches of the WP-Bailey tree, branches which also follow as special cases of these general WP-Bailey chains. Finally, we describe a number of new transformation formulae for basic hypergeometric series which arise as consequences of these new WP-Bailey chains.