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.     

Building Knowledge Bridges through Effective Science Communication

The ability to communicate is fundamental to life as we know it and the key to success in many cases is based on having good communication skills. Be it written, spoken, visual, auditory or otherwise, effective communication can open many doors to hidden knowledge that can benefit the world. Science as an entity, which itself stems from the Latin word Scientia, (Engl. “knowledge”), has a tradition of not being particularly well communicated, with long words, vast and confusing concepts, and information overloads. However, as good as communication between scientists has generally become, there is still room for improvement. This article hopes to inform and inspire scientists to lead by example, to educate and advise in the best ways that we can, not just for non-experts, but for the interest of everyone.     

Activity-Directed Synthesis of Inhibitors of the p53/hDM2 Protein–Protein Interaction

Protein–protein interactions (PPIs) provide a rich source of potential targets for drug discovery and biomedical science research. However, the identification of structural-diverse starting points for discovery of PPI inhibitors remains a significant challenge. Activity-directed synthesis (ADS), a function-driven discovery approach, was harnessed in the discovery of the p53/hDM2 PPI. Over two rounds of ADS, 346 microscale reactions were performed, with prioritisation on the basis of the activity of the resulting product mixtures. Four distinct and novel series of PPI inhibitors were discovered that, through biophysical characterisation, were shown to have promising ligand efficiencies. It was thus shown that ADS can facilitate ligand discovery for a target that does not have a defined small-molecule binding site, and can provide distinctive starting points for the discovery of PPI inhibitors.     

Scaling law analysis of electrohydrodynamics and dielectrophoresis for isomotive dielectrophoresis microfluidic devices

Isomotive dielectrophoresis (isoDEP) is a unique DEP geometrical configuration where the gradient of the field-squared () is constant. IsoDEP analyzes polarizable particles based on their magnitude and direction of translation. Particle translation is a function of the polarizability of both the particles and suspending medium, the particles’ size and shape, and the frequency of the electric field. However, other electrokinetics act on the particles simultaneously, including electrothermal hydrodynamics. Hence, to maximize the DEP force relative to over electrokinetic forces, design parameters such as microchannel geometry, fabrication materials, and applied electric field must be properly tuned. In this work, scaling law analyses were developed to derive design rules, relative to particle diameter, to reduce unwanted electrothermal hydrodynamics relative to DEP-induced particle translation. For a particle suspended in 10 mS/m media, if the channel width and height are below ten particle diameters, the electrothermal-driven flow is reduced by ∼500 times compared to a channel that is 250 particles diameters in width and height. Replacing glass with silicon as the device's underlying substrate for an insulative-based isoDEP reduces the electrothermal induced flow approximately 20 times less.     

Evaluating impacts of fish stock enhancement and biodiversity conservation actions on the livelihoods of small‐scale fishers on the Beijiang River,China

Inappropriate development and overexploitation have seriously degraded aquatic resources in China. Stakeholders identified three fish stock enhancement and biodiversity conservation scenarios for the Beijiang River: S1, increased fish restocking; S2, no fishing season and habitat conservation; and S3, strict pollution control. Potential impacts of these actions on the livelihoods of fishers were evaluated using applied economic modeling. Baseline costs and benefits came from logbooks from 30 fishers and a survey of 90 households in three villages. The financial net benefit for a household was US$1583 (￥11,160) annually, representing a 142% and 387% return on capital and operating costs, respectively. Larger catches associated with S1 and S2 generated a net benefit of US$1651 and US$1822, respectively. Strict pollution control resulting in higher catches (+20%) and lower operating costs (?20%) would increase the net benefit by 15.9% to US$1835 annually. Pollution control would benefit other resource users and is a prerequisite for ecological restoration. Recommendations for Resource Managers

• Stringent pollution control measures are essential to conserve aquatic biodiversity and enhance the livelihoods of fishers but will require considerable public and private sector investment.
• Enhanced fish stocks in the Beijiang River could benefit poor livelihoods but may not be sufficient to lift households out of poverty, aged fishers require government assistance to diversify their livelihoods, access alternative urban employment, and survive with dignity.
• Adopting the economic modeling approach presented here could enable responsible authorities to simultaneously evaluate fish stock enhancement and biodiversity conservation options.
• Broader application of the approach presented here could help ensure small‐scale inland fisheries are managed sustainably and aquatic ecosystems are restored and protected by 2020, in line with Target 6 of the United Nations’ Convention on Biological Diversity Strategic Plan for Biodiversity.

     

Synthesis,Structure, and DFT Analysis of the THF Solvate of 2-Picolyllithium: A 2-Picolyllithium Solvate with Significant Carbanionic Character

Previous studies of different solvates of 2-methylpyridyllithium (2-picolyllithium) have uncovered electronic structures corresponding to aza-allyl and enamido resonance forms of the metallated pyridine-based compounds. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of [2-CH₂Li(THF)₂C₅H₄N], a new THF solvate. X-ray crystallographic studies reveal a dimeric arrangement featuring a non-planar eight-membered [NCCLi]₂ ring, in which the primary cation-anion interaction is between the central Li atom and the C atom of the deprotonated methyl group [length, 2.285(2) Å], suggesting a new carbanionic resonance structure for this 2-picolyllithium series. The significant carbanionic character of [2-CH₂Li(THF)₂C₅H₄N] was confirmed by gas-phase DFT calculations [B3LYP/6-311+G(d)] with the calculated electron density interrogated by means of quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses. For comparison these computational analyses were also performed on the literature structures of [2-CH₂Li(2-Picoline)C₅H₄N] and [2-CH₂Li(PMDETA)C₅H₄N]. In a reactivity study, [2-CH₂Li(THF)₂C₅H₄N] was found to undergo nucleophilic addition to pyridine to generate dipyridylmethane in a good yield.     

Estimation of the curing rate of acrylamide used as a consolidant in heritage sandstone conservation

An investigation of the curing (polymerisation) rate of acrylamide was carried out using isothermal and non-isothermal DSC in order to estimate the time for complete conversion of monomer at ambient temperatures. The non-isothermal data were used to model the rate using integral isoconversional and incremental isoconversional kinetic methods. Applying the equations for integral isoconversional methods and extrapolating to ambient temperatures resulted in non-sensical conversion–time curves, where the time estimated decreased for increasing degree of conversion to be reached. This odd behaviour was attributed to the incorrectness of the integration where the kinetic parameters (e.g. the activation energy) are a function of conversion. The problem was addressed by applying incremental methods which provided more reasonable results as the integration is carried out over small conversion increments where the kinetic parameters are assumed to be constant. Estimates of the conversion were compared to isothermal measurements and, although isothermal DSC produced significant variability in the data, extrapolated estimates from non-isothermal kinetic analysis produced, at best, an upper boundary for the estimation of the time to reach a fixed degree of conversion.     

Intramolecular Fluorocyclizations of Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids with a Stable Hypervalent Fluoroiodane Reagent

A new class of fluorinated lactones was prepared by the intramolecular fluorocyclizations of unsaturated carboxylic acids by using the stable fluoroiodane reagent in combination with AgBF₄. This unique reaction incorporates a cyclization, an aryl migration, and a fluorination all in one step. The fluoroiodane reagent, prepared easily from fluoride, can also be used without a metal catalyst to give moderate yields within just 1 hour, thus demonstrating that it is a suitable reagent for developing new ¹⁸F‐labelled radiotracers for PET imaging.     

Inversion twinning in a second polymorph of the hydrochloride salt of the recreational drug ethylone

A second polymorph of the hydrochloride salt of the recreational drug ethylone, C₁₂H₁₆NO₃⁺·Cl⁻, is reported [systematic name: (±)‐2‐ethylammonio‐1‐(3,4‐methylenedioxyphenyl)propane‐1‐one chloride]. This polymorph, denoted form (A), appears in crystallizations performed above 308 K. The originally reported form (B) [Wood et al. (2015). Acta Cryst. C 71 , 32–38] crystallizes preferentially at room temperature. The conformations of the cations in the two forms differ by a 180° rotation about the C—C bond linking the side chain to the aromatic ring. Hydrogen bonding links the cations and anions in both forms into similar extended chains in which any one chain contains only a single enantiomer of the chiral cation, but the packing of the ions is different. In form (A), the aromatic rings of adjacent chains interleave, but pack equally well if neighbouring chains contain the same or opposite enantiomorph of the cation. The consequence of this is then near perfect inversion twinning in the structure. In form (B), neighbouring chains are always inverted, leading to a centrosymmetric space group. The question as to why the polymorphs crystallize at slightly different temperatures has been examined by density functional theory (DFT) and lattice energy calculations and a consideration of packing compactness. The free energy (ΔG) of the crystal lattice for polymorph (A) lies some 52 kJ mol⁻¹ above that of polymorph (B).     

Sponge-nested polymer monoliths: Versatile materials for the solid-phase extraction of bisphenols

Polymer monoliths are promising materials for sample preparation due to their high porosity, pH stability, and simple preparation. The use of melamine formaldehyde foams has been reported as an effective support to prepare highly robust silica and polymer monoliths. Herein, divinylbenzene monoliths based on a 50:50 (%, w/w) crosslinker/porogen ratio have been nested within a melamine-formaldehyde sponge, resulting in monoliths with a surface area higher than 400 m²/g. The extraction performance of these monoliths was evaluated for the extraction of endocrine-disrupting bisphenols from aqueous solutions. We evaluated for the first time the versatility of sponge-nested polymer monoliths by comparing three different extraction modes (vortex mixing, magnetic stirring, and orbital shaking). Vortex mixing showed a comparable recovery of bisphenols (39%–81%) in a shorter extraction time (30 min, instead of 2 h). In addition, the robustness of the sponge-nested polymer monoliths was demonstrated for the first time by reshaping a larger monolithic cube (0.125 cm³) into four smaller pieces (4 × 0.03125 cm³) leading to a 16%–21% increase in extraction efficiency. This effect was attributed to an increase in the effective contact area with the sample, obtaining a higher analyte extraction capacity.