Dynamics of Bacteriorhodopsin in the Dark-Adapted State from Solution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

To achieve efficient proton pumping in the light-driven proton pump bacteriorhodopsin (bR), the protein must be tightly coupled to the retinal to rapidly convert retinal isomerization into protein structural rearrangements. Methyl group dynamics of bR embedded in lipid nanodiscs were determined in the dark-adapted state, and were found to be mostly well ordered at the cytosolic side. Methyl groups in the M145A mutant of bR, which displays only 10 % residual proton pumping activity, are less well ordered, suggesting a link between side-chain dynamics on the cytosolic side of the bR cavity and proton pumping activity. In addition, slow conformational exchange, attributed to low frequency motions of aromatic rings, was indirectly observed for residues on the extracellular side of the bR cavity. This may be related to reorganization of the water network. These observations provide a detailed picture of previously undescribed equilibrium dynamics on different time scales for ground-state bR.     

Photopolymers for Rapid Prototyping of Soluble Mold Materials and Molding of Cellular Biomaterials

To substitute cross-linked photopolymers in rapid prototyping of mold materials and therefore extend the range of materials which can be casted, organo-soluble photopolymers were developed. Branched bisalkylacrylamides were suitable as base component for such formulations, due to their high reactivity, good mechanical properties, and excellent solubility of the formed polymers. These molding materials were used to prepare cellular biocompatible materials which could be used as bone replacement materials. Biocompatible crosslinkers based on methacrylates from hydrolyzed gelatine or lactic acid ethyleneglycol blockcopolymers and commercially available reactive diluents are the base components of such a formulation. Biocompatibility was investigated by osteoblast-like cells. Cellular biocompatible parts were obtained by thermal polymerization in soluble mould materials prepared by 3D-photoshaping.     

Correlation between intramolecular bond lengths and K-shell σ-shape resonances in gas-phase molecules

Analysis of K-shell excitation spectra of gas-phase molecules containing at least two atoms of either B, C. N. O or F reveals the existence of a striking correlation between the bond length of the atomic pair. the sum of their atomic numbers and the associated α-shape resonance energy. Empirical rules are established which allow the derivation of intramolecular distances with accuracies reliably better than ± 0.05 A from the K-.shell absorption spectrum of one of the atoms in the Molecule.     

Comparison of the Temperature Effect on the π∗←n and π∗←π Electronic Transition Bands of NO<Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript>(aq)

The effect of temperature on the π∗←π transition band in the UV absorption spectrum of NO₃⁻(aq) centered at ≈200 nm was studied in the temperature range 10–70 ^∘C. The observed temperature independence of this band was in contrast to the significant influence of temperature on the nitrate π∗←n transition reported recently by us. However, taking into account the electronic states involved in both the transitions, it was concluded that this finding was in accordance with our previous assumption that interconversion between spectrally distinct (with respect to π∗←n band) nitrate species included the rupture/formation of hydrogen bond(s) in the hydration shell of the nitrate ion.     

Zur Koordinationschemie des 1,3-Dithiol-2-thion-4,5-diselenolats (dsit) – ein Vergleich mit 1,3-Dithiol-2-thion-4,5-dithiolat (dmit)

Coordination Chemistry of 1,3-Dithiole-2-thione-4,5-diselenolate (dsit) — Comparison with 1,3-Dithiole-2-thione-4,5-dithiolate (dmit) Synthesis and properties of metal(II) and/or metal(III) bis-chelates of 1,3-dithiole-2-thione-4,5-diselenolate (dsit) of general type (Bu₄N)_n[M(dsit)₂] (n = 2: M ? Zn, Cd, Hg, Cu, Ni, Pd, Pt; n = 1: M ? Ni, Au) are described. By comparison of the ir, ¹³C nmr, epr spectra, cyclovoltammetric data, and x-ray investigations (nickel-bis-chelates) of chelates of dsit and those of the chelates of 1,3-dithiole-2-thione-4,5-dithiolate (dmit) the consequences of selenium for sulfur substitution on position 4 and 5 of the heterocyclic ligand are discussed.     

Neue Suboxid-Cluster [O5Ba18] in den Kristallstrukturen von Ba21M2O5 (M = Si,Ge)

Novel Suboxide Clusters [O₅Ba₁₈] in the Crystal Structures of Ba₂₁M₂O₅ (M = Si, Ge) The compounds Ba₂₁M₂O₅ (M = Si, Ge) crystallize in the cubic system with space group Fd3m, lattice constants 2 038.3(10) pm (Si), 2 039.8(9) pm (Ge) resp. and Z = 8. The crystal structure contains isolated Si/Ge atoms coordinated by barium atoms in an icosahedral arrangement. The oxygen atoms are situated in the centers of barium octahedra, four of which share common faces with an additional central octahedron. The novel clusters [O₅Ba₁₈] in principal are related to those in the crystal structures of the binary Cs/Rb suboxides.     

Eine neue Hochtemperaturform von TiO: H?TiO

A New High Temperature Form of TiO: H? TiO Single crystals of a high temperature form of TiO (H? TiO) were prepared above 3 000°C by CO₂-LASER technique. They crystallize with a hitherto unobserved crystal structure of oxides with titanium in the oxidation state two, isotypic to tungsten carbide with Ti²⁺ in a trigonal prismatic surrounding by oxygen. Space group D–P6 m2, a = 3.0310, c = 3.2377 Å, Z = 1.     

Study of short-lived silver isotopes with a laser ion source

The continuum part of the⁶Li (a,a)⁶Li (1.47–2.47 MeV) scattering data at E_a=50 MeV are extracted in two discretized bins. Coupled-channel calculations are carried out coupling the 1⁺ ground state of⁶Li with both the resonant, 3⁺ ₁ state, and two non-resonant continuum states. The discretized continuum of the⁶Li (p,p)⁶Li (1.75–3.25 MeV) scattering data at E_p=65 MeV are also analysed on the same footing. In both the cases the effect of coupling is found to be minimal.