Light and heat control over secondary structure and amyloid-like fiber formation in an overcrowded-alkene-modified Trp zipper

The external photocontrol over peptide folding, by the incorporation of molecular photoswitches into their structure, provides a powerful tool to study biological processes. However, it is limited so far to switches that exhibit only a rather limited geometrical change upon photoisomerization and that show thermal instability of the photoisomer. Here we describe the use of an overcrowded alkene photoswitch to control a model β-hairpin peptide. This photoresponsive unit undergoes a large conformational change and has two thermally stable isomers which has major influence on the secondary structure and the aggregation of the peptide, permitting the phototriggered formation of amyloid-like fibrils.     

AB initio SCF LCAO MO Calculations on styrene

Minimal basis set ab initio SCF LCAO MO calculations with gaussian-type have been performed for different conformations of the styrene molecule. The computations show the molecule to be planar and the rotational barrier of the vinyl group is estimated to 3.9 kcal/mole.     

Potentiometrische Bestimmung von Seltenen Erden (z. B. Erbium)

Zusammenfassung Eine schnelle und zuverlässige, potentiometrische Titrationsmethode zur Bestimmung von Erbium mit Ammoniumoxalatlösung in wäßrig-acetonischem Medium im Verhältnis 11 wurde ausgearbeitet. Man titriert in dem System Pt | ErCl₃ | Hg₂Cl₂ + KCl | Hg. Der Potentialsprung im Äquivalenzsättigungspunkt ist bereits auf Zugabe eines Tropfens Reagenslösung sehr deutlich. Der Meßfehler überschreitet nicht die Grenzen ±0,5%.Die Methode ist bei Metallionen, die mit Ammoniumoxalat schwerlösliche Niederschläge bilden, nicht anwendbar.

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Summary A rapid and accurate method for the potentiometric titration of erbium by means of ammonium oxalate solution in a water-acetone medium (11) has been worked out. The system Pt | ErCl₃ | Hg₂Cl₂ + KCl | Hg was used. The potential jump at the neutral point is distinct, even if only one drop of the reagent is added. The error of the measurement is not greater than ±0,5%- Metal ions forming insoluble precipitates with ammonium oxalate interfere with this method.

     

The canonical variables,the symplectic structure and the initial value formulation of the generalized Einstein-Cartan theory of gravity

Canonical variables for the generalized (non-metric) Einstein-Cartan theory of gravity are defined. The space of solutions is equipped with a closed differential 2-form . The symplectic 2-form has a diagonal representation in terms of canonical variables. A geometric interpretation of the canonical variables is presented and the 3+1 formulation of the field equations is given.     

Noncovalent Bonds through Sigma and Pi-Hole Located on the Same Molecule. Guiding Principles and Comparisons

Over the last years, scientific interest in noncovalent interactions based on the presence of electron-depleted regions called σ-holes or π-holes has markedly accelerated. Their high directionality and strength, comparable to hydrogen bonds, has been documented in many fields of modern chemistry. The current review gathers and digests recent results concerning these bonds, with a focus on those systems where both σ and π-holes are present on the same molecule. The underlying principles guiding the bonding in both sorts of interactions are discussed, and the trends that emerge from recent work offer a guide as to how one might design systems that allow multiple noncovalent bonds to occur simultaneously, or that prefer one bond type over another.     

Silver(I) complex with 2-amino-4,4α-dihydro-4α,7-dimethyl-3H-phenoxazin-3-one (Phx-1) ligand: crystal structure,vibrational spectra and biological studies

The first metal complex of Phx-1 ligand, bis(2-amino-4,4α-dihydro-4α,7-dimethyl-3H-phenoxazin-3-one)nitratosilver(I), [Ag(Phx-1)₂NO₃], has been obtained and investigated by single crystal X-ray diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy methods. The Ag⁺ is bonded to heterocyclic nitrogen atoms of two organic ligands and one oxygen atom of a nitrate anion. The Phx-1 ligand coordination mode is supported by IR and Raman spectra, interpreted with the help of theoretical DFT studies. The antibacterial activity of the ligand and its Ag(I) complex as well as some reference compounds were screened against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, applying microdilution procedures. High sensitivity to the studied complex was found for Rhodococcus erythropolis and Bacillus licheniformis strains. Modified Phx-1 ligand preparation procedures are also presented.