Patents and literature

Protein engineering and site-directed mutagenesis is becoming immensely important in both fundamental studies and commercial applications involving proteins and enzymes in biocatalysis. Protein engineering has become a powerful tool to help biochemists and molecular enzymologists elucidate structure-function relationships in enzymic active sites, to understand the intricacies of protein folding and denaturation, and to alter the selectivity of enzymatic catalysis. Commercial applications of engineered enzymes are being developed to increase protein stability, widen or narrow substrate specificity, and to develop novel approaches for use of enzymes in organic synthesis, drug design, and clinical applications. In addition to protein engineering, novel expression systems have been designed to prepare large quantities of genetically engineered proteins. Recent US patents and scientific literature on protein engineering, site-directed mutagenesis, and protein expression systems related to protein engineering are surveyed. Patent abstracts are summarized individually and a list of literature references are given.     

Determination of alcohol polyether average molar oligomer value/distribution via supercritical fluid chromatography coupled with UV and MS detection

Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) was used for the analysis of ethoxylated and propoxylated surfactants. Samples were derivatized to phenylated silyl ethers with a disilazane-chlorosilane mixture. Addition of a phenyl group to the surfactant allowed UV-absorbance detection of each oligomer. Acetonitrile and methanol were evaluated as mobile phase modifiers. Better peak shape was realized with methanol-modified CO2 on an octadecyl silica bonded phase than with acetonitrile-modified CO2. Peak assignments were made via SFC coupled with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in the positive ion mode. A sulfonamide-embedded alkyl stationary phase was also evaluated for separation of the derivatized samples. SFC-UV and SFC-ESI-MS data were jointly used for calculation of average molar oligomer values which were then compared to values calculated from 1H NMR data of non-derivatized samples. The derivatization or separation method using the sulfonamide embedded phase required no preliminary cleanup and yielded reproducible oligomer values that were consistent with those of the manufacturer's nominal values.     

Investigation of the ceriumIV oxidation of poly(vinyl alcohol)

Initiation of ceric ion-induced grafting from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) was studied by examining the formation and lifetime of colored complexes between cerium^IV and (1) a commercial PVOH, (2) a diol-free PVOH, and (3) several model 1,2-diols. UV/visible spectroscopy was employed using a wavelength of 520 nm. Results showed that the 1,2-diols, which are an inherent defect in PVOH, are the sites most reactive toward ceric ion. The observed rate constant for the reaction was found to increase with decreasing [Ce^IV] until the maximum rate was reached at which time reaction took place exclusively with 1,2-diols. The activation energy for oxidation of commercial PVOH at the maximum rate was 15.4 kcal/mol while that for diol-free PVOH was 22.4 kcal/mol. The 1,2-diols of PVOH displayed a high equilibrium constant for complexation with ceric ion, compared to the model 2,3-butanediol. It was suggested that the PVOH chain segments bring about crowding of the diol group, and this leads to a higher equilibrium constant for complexation. The lowest energy conformation of a PVOH chain segment containing a 1,2-diol linkage was calculated using the CHEMLAB-II molecular design program, and the 1,2-diol was predicted to be at the center of a sharp bend in the chain brought about by its presence.     

Electron impact and chemical ionization mass spectra of alkyldiphenylphosphine oxides

In the 70 e V electron impact mass spectra of a series of alkyldiphenylphosphine oxides (R?₂PO, R = Me, Et, n-Pr, i-Pr, n-Bu, i-Bu, t-Bu, neopentyl, n-decyl), molecular ions of low abundance are observed and [M + H]⁺ ions are formed to a small extent at high sample pressures. The major ions include [?₂PO]⁺, [?₂POH]⁺; [?₂CH₂PO]⁺ and [?₂CH₂POH]⁺ which are formed by rearrangement and cleavage processes. The chemical ionization mass spectra obtained with methane and isobutane reagents consist of [M + H]⁺ ions. The proton affinity of R?₂PO was found to be 219 ± 2.5 kcal mol^?1.     

Phosphate-selective electrodes containing immobilised ionophores

Phosphate selective electrodes have been produced based upon rubbery membranes containing heterocylic macrocycles as sensors covalently bound to a cross-linked polystyrene-block–polybutadiene-block–polystyrene (SBS) polymer. The membranes were robust and the best HPO₄²⁻-selective membrane fabricated was composed of 7.1% (m/m) dicumyl peroxide, 28.3% (m/m) 2-nitrophenyloctylether, 9.8% (m/m) 3-(10-undecenyl)-1,5,8-triazacyclodecane-2,4-dione, 31.0% (m/m) SBS and 23.8% (m/m) PoleStar™ 200R (clay-based filler). The characteristics of this electrode were a linear Nernstian range of 3.9×10⁻³ to 1×10⁻⁶ mol dm⁻³ HPO₄²⁻ with a limit of detection of 1.0×10⁻⁶ mol dm⁻³ HPO₄²⁻, a slope of −29.7±0.9 mV per activity decade and a pH range from 6 to 8. Selectivity coefficients for phosphate against various interfering anions (chloride, sulfate and nitrate) were determined. Response times were 2 min or under, stability of response and electrode lifetime in continuous use were also very satisfactory. The response behavior of HPO₄²⁻-ISEs based upon mobile and bound ionophores was comparable and suggests that mobility of the ionophore is not necessary to obtain a working ISE and that covalent binding of ionophores can be used to produce ISEs of increased stability and robustness.     

Tuning the Regioselective Functionalization of Trifluoromethylated Dienes via Lanthanum-Mediated Single C−F Bond Activation

The development of new fluorine-containing building blocks and their efficient synthetic access is currently a challenging research field. Herein, the highly regio- and stereoselective addition of a large range of aldehydes onto trifluoromethylated benzofulvenes was achieved using a simple La/I₂/DIBAL-Cl system via a selective C−F bond activation process. This versatile methodology provided homodienyl alcohols bearing a terminal CF₂-alkene with potential further applications, as shown by the dehydration to the first benzofulvenes carrying a difluorovinyl group. In addition, for certain electron-poor aldehydes, unprecedented ipso substitution of the CF₃ group in a diene was observed, which, according to DFT studies, is related to the presence of the large, Lewis-acidic lanthanum metal.