Efficient oxidation of alcohols with tert-butyl hydroperoxide catalyzed by Mo(CO)6 supported on multiwall carbon nanotubes

Efficient oxidation of alcohols with tert-butyl hydroperoxide catalyzed by Mo(CO)₆ supported on multiwall carbon nanotubes modified with 4-aminopyridine is reported. The effect of various parameters such as catalyst amount, solvent and oxidant was studied. The catalyst, [Mo(CO)₅@APy-MWCNT], showed high activity not only in the oxidation of benzylic and linear alcohols but also in the oxidation of secondary alcohols. The catalyst can be reused several times without significant loss of its activity.     

High-valent [Sn(Br8TPP)(OTf)2] as a highly efficient and reusable catalyst for selective methoxymethylation of alcohols and phenols: The effect of substituted bromines on the catalytic activity

High-valent tin(IV)octabromotetraphenylporphyrinato trifluoromethanesulfonate, [Sn^IV(Br₈TPP)(OTf)₂], was used for selective methoxymethylation of alcohols and phenols with formaldehyde dimethyl acetal (FDMA) at room temperature. Different primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols as well as phenols were converted to their corresponding methoxymethyl ethers with FMDA in the presence of an electron deficient tin(IV) porphyrin. The catalyst was reused several times without significant loss of its activity.     

Identification of archaeal proteins that affect the exosome function in vitro

Background  

The archaeal exosome is formed by a hexameric RNase PH ring and three RNA binding subunits and has been shown to bind and degrade RNA in vitro. Despite extensive studies on the eukaryotic exosome and on the proteins interacting with this complex, little information is yet available on the identification and function of archaeal exosome regulatory factors.     

A helix-forming αβγ-chimeric peptide with catalytic activity: a hybrid peptide ligase

We describe the catalytic activity of the first chimeric ligase containing a foldameric sequence of β- and γ-amino acids. The chimeric backbone provides for the spatial arrangement of all functional groups involved in the formation of the catalytic site to allow efficient catalysis to take place. Our finding indicates significant progress in the field of functionally active artificial motifs.     

Modulation of humoral immune response to oral BCG vaccination by Mycobacterium bovis BCG Moreau Rio de Janeiro (RDJ) in healthy adults

We hypothesize that the energy strategy of a cell is a key factor for determining how, or if, the immune system interacts with that cell. Cells have a limited number of metabolic states, in part, depending on the type of fuels the cell consumes. Cellular fuels include glucose (carbohydrates), lipids (fats), and proteins. We propose that the cell's ability to switch to, and efficiently use, fat for fuel confers immune privilege. Additionally, because uncoupling proteins are involved in the fat burning process and reportedly in protection from free radicals, we hypothesize that uncoupling proteins play an important role in immune privilege. Thus, changes in metabolism (caused by oxidative stresses, fuel availability, age, hormones, radiation, or drugs) will dictate and initiate changes in immune recognition and in the nature of the immune response. This has profound implications for controlling the symptoms of autoimmune diseases, for preventing graft rejection, and for targeting tumor cells for destruction.     

New porphyrin-polyoxometalate hybrid materials: synthesis, characterization and investigation of catalytic activity in acetylation reactions

New hybrid complexes based on covalent interaction between 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)porphyrinatozinc(ii) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)porphyrinatotin(iv) chloride, and a Lindqvist-type polyoxometalate, Mo(6)O(19)(2-), were prepared. These new porphyrin-polyoxometalate hybrid materials were characterized by (1)H NMR, FT IR and UV-Vis spectroscopic methods and cyclic voltammetry. These spectro- and electrochemical studies provided several spectral data for synthesis of these compounds. Cyclic voltammetry showed the influence of the polyoxometalate on the redox process of the porphyrin ring. The catalytic activity of tin(iv)porphyrin-hexamolybdate hybrid material was investigated in the acetylation of alcohols and phenols with acetic anhydride. The reusability of this catalyst was also investigated.     

A new renewal approximation for certain autocorrelated processes

We propose a new renewal approximation for autocorrelated streams with limiting index of dispersion less than unity. The superposition of independent processes and the splitting of an autocorrelated process are studied. The proposed approximation performs well on predicting the mean delay in a single server queueing system receiving autocorrelated processes.     

Intramolecular Charge Interactions as a Tool to Control the Coiled‐Coil‐to‐Amyloid Transformation

Under the influence of a changed environment, amyloid‐forming proteins partially unfold and assemble into insoluble β‐sheet rich fibrils. Molecular‐level characterization of these assembly processes has been proven to be very challenging, and for this reason several simplified model systems have been developed over recent years. Herein, we present a series of three de novo designed model peptides that adopt different conformations and aggregate morphologies depending on concentration, pH value, and ionic strength. The design strictly follows the characteristic heptad repeat of the α‐helical coiled‐coil structural motif. In all peptides, three valine residues, known to prefer the β‐sheet conformation, have been incorporated at the solvent‐exposed b, c, and f positions to make the system prone to amyloid formation. Additionally, pH‐controllable intramolecular electrostatic repulsions between equally charged lysine (peptide A) or glutamate (peptide B) residues were introduced along one side of the helical cylinder. The conformational behavior was monitored by circular dichroism spectroscopic analysis and thioflavin T fluorescence, and the resulting aggregates were further characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Whereas uninterrupted α‐helical aggregates are found at neutral pH, Coulomb repulsions between lysine residues in peptide A destabilize the helical conformation at acidic pH values and trigger an assembly into amyloid‐like fibrils. Peptide B features a glutamate‐based switch functionality and exhibits opposite pH‐dependent folding behavior. In this case, α‐helical aggregates are found under acidic conditions, whereas amyloids are formed at neutral pH. To further validate the pH switch concept, peptide C was designed by including serine residues, thus resulting in an equal distribution of charged residues. Surprisingly, amyloid formation is observed at all pH values investigated for peptide C. The results of further investigations into the effect of different salts, however, strongly support the crucial role of intramolecular charge repulsions in the model system presented herein.