钾离子浓度依赖的铅离子稳定G-四链体构型转化

已有研究普遍认为铅离子(Pb²⁺)诱导富G适体链形成的G-四链体(Pb²⁺-G4)比钾离子(K⁺)诱导富G适体链形成的G-四链体(K⁺-G4)更为稳定,因而Pb²⁺可以置换K⁺-G4中的K⁺,而且K⁺的存在不影响Pb²⁺-G4的稳定性。有趣的是本研究发现K⁺ (20 μmol∙L⁻¹–1 mmol∙L⁻¹)不仅可以诱导10 µmol∙L⁻¹ Pb²⁺稳定的T2TT(Pb²⁺-T2TT,杂合G4结构)发生构型转换,甚至还可取代Pb²⁺-T2TT中的Pb²⁺,形成K⁺稳定的T2TT (K⁺-T2TT,平行G4结构),最终转化形成的K⁺-G4结构与单独K⁺诱导富G适体链形成K⁺-G4的构型基本一致。随后,进一步考察了另外7条富G适体链,发现这一转化过程具有一定的普适性。该研究结果为理解G4构型转化以及内嵌离子交换提供了新的视角,也为拓展G4在生化分析和生物领域的应用提供了新的理论基础。     

Extraction of sodium and potassium picrates with 16-crown-5 into various diluents. Elucidation of fundamental equilibria determining the extraction selectivity for Na(+) over K(+)

The constants of the overall extraction equilibrium (K(ex)), the partition for various diluents having low dielectric constants (K(D,MLA)), the aqueous ion-pair formation (K(MLA)), and the dimer formation in CCl(4) of 16-crown-5 (16C5)-alkali metal (Na, K) picrate 1:1:1 complexes were determined at 25 degrees C; the distribution constants of 16C5 were also measured at 25 degrees C. The logK(MLA) of Na and K are 4.14+/-0.19 and 3.05+/-0.28, respectively. The partition behavior of 16C5 and its 1:1:1 complexes with the alkalimetal picrates can be explained by regular solution theory, except for CHCl(3); the molar volumes and solubility parameters of 16C5 and the 1:1:1 complexes were determined. The magnitude of K(ex) largely depends on that of K(MLA). For every diluent, 16C5 always shows Na(+) extraction-selectivity over K(+). The K(MLA) value most contributes to the extraction selectivity of 16C5 for Na(+) over for K(+) among the three fundamental equilibrium constants, the aqueous 1:1 complex-formation constant of 16C5 with the alkali metal ion, K(MLA), and K(D,MLA). Furthermore, correct contributions of a methylene group to distribution constants of organic compounds between diluents of low dielectric constants and water were determined by the distribution constants of 16C5 and 15-crown-5; the additivity of the contributions of functional groups to the partition constant of a crown ether was verified.     

A new sensitive reagent for identifying Ag(+) and Hg(2+)

This paper describes the synthesis of a new reagent: N,N′-difuroyl thiourea for the purpose of improving coordination capacity of thiourea compounds. It has been characterized by IR, UV, MS and ¹H-NMR as well as elemental analytical data. According to the studies on its analytical performance, it is found that this reagent can be used to identify Ag⁺ and Hg²⁺. Both of their sensitivities and selectivities are the best in all methods for the time being. The new methods are simple and convenient, and can provide satisfactory results on synthetic and standard samples.     

Total syntheses of (+)- and (-)-cacospongionolide B: new insight into structural requirements for phospholipase A(2) inhibition

The first total synthesis of the antiinflammatory marine sponge metabolite (+)-cacospongionolide B has been accomplished in 12 linear steps. The pivotal transformations include a three-step sequence coupling the two main regions of the natural product as well as generating the side chain dihydropyran ring. The activity of the synthetic analogues against bee venom phospholipase A(2) suggests that cacospongionolide B has an enantiospecific interaction with the enzyme that is independent of the gamma-hydroxybutenolide moiety.     

Why voltage-gated Ca(2+) and bacterial Na(+) channels with the same EEEE motif in their selectivity filters confer opposite metal selectivity

Voltage-gated sodium (Na(v)) and calcium (Ca(v)) channels, which play essential biological roles, are characterized by their ability to discriminate the "native" ion from other competing cations. Surprisingly, Na(+)-selective bacterial Na(v) and high voltage-activated Ca(2+)-selective Ca(v) channels both exhibit selectivity filters (the narrowest part of the open pore) lined by four Glu residues that interact specifically with the permeating ions. This raises the intriguing question why selectivity filters with the same EEEE motif are Na(+)-selective in Na(v) channels but Ca(2+)-selective in Ca(v) channels. We show that the different degree of metal hydration inside the pore, which is related to the pore size and rigidity, can account for the opposite ion selectivity in Na(v) and Ca(v) channels with identical EEEE selectivity filters. The results are consistent with experimental estimates of the metal hydration structure in Na(v) and Ca(v) channels with the EEEE motif. They suggest that the protein matrix, which can enhance or attenuate ion-protein interactions relative to ion-solvent interactions by controlling the pore's solvent accessibility, size/rigidity, and charge state, is a key determinant of Ca(2+)vs. Na(+) selectivity in EEEE selectivity filters.     

Folding of the thrombin aptamer into a G-quadruplex with Sr(2+): stability, heat, and hydration.

It has been shown that the DNA aptamer d(G(2)T(2)G(2)TGTG(2)T(2)G(2)) adopts an intramolecular G-quadruplex structure in the presence of K+. Its affinity for trombin has been associated with the inhibition of thrombin-catalyzed fibrin clot formation. In this work, we used a combination of spectroscopy, calorimetry, density, and ultrasound techniques to determine the spectral characteristics, thermodynamics, and hydration effects for the formation of G-quadruplexes with a variety of monovalent and divalent metal ions. The formation of cation-aptamer complexes is relatively fast and highly reproducible. The comparison of their CD spectra and melting profiles as a function of strand concentration shows that K+, Rb+, NH(4)+, Sr(2+), and Ba(2+) form intramolecular cation-aptamer complexes with transition temperatures above 25 degrees C. However, the cations Li+, Na+, Cs+, Mg(2+), and Ca(2+) form weaker complexes at very low temperatures. This is consistent with the observation that metal ions with ionic radii in the range 1.3-1.5 A fit well within the two G-quartets of the complex, while the other cations cannot. The comparison of thermodynamic unfolding profiles of the Sr(2+)-aptamer and K+ -aptamer complexes shows that the Sr(2+)-aptamer complex is more stable, by approximately 18 degrees C, and unfolds with a lower endothermic heat of 8.3 kcal/mol. This is in excellent agreement with the exothermic heats of -16.8 kcal/mol and -25.7 kcal/mol for the binding of Sr(2+) and K+ to the aptamer, respectively. Furthermore, volume and compressibility parameters of cation binding show hydration effects resulting mainly from two contributions: the dehydration of both cation and guanine atomic groups and water uptake upon the folding of a single-strand into a G- quadruplex structure.     

A DNAzyme cascade for the amplified detection of Pb(2+) ions or L-histidine

DNAzyme cascades activated by Pb(2+)- or L-histidine-dependent DNAzymes yield the horseradish peroxidase-mimicking catalytic nucleic acids that enable the colorimetric or chemiluminescence detection of Pb(2+) or L-histidine.     

Amide Group Coordination to the Pb(2+) Ion

The binary and ternary (2,2'-bipyridine) complexes of dipositive lead formed by N-carbonyl and N-sulfonyl amino acids, which are ligands containing the peptide and the sulfonamide group, respectively, were investigated in aqueous solution by NMR and differential pulse polarography, and some were also characterized crystallographically. N-Tosylglycine, N-tosyl-beta-alanine, and N-benzoylglycine behave as simple carboxylate ligands at acid pH, while around neutrality they switch to dianionic N,O-bidentate chelating ligands due to the involvement of the deprotonated amide nitrogen as an additional donor site. The same coordination behavior is maintained in the presence of 2,2'-bipyridine. The binary and ternary species formed in solution, and their stability constants were determined and compared with those of the homologous complexes of Pd(2+), Cu(2+), Cd(2+), and Zn(2+). The Pb(2+) ion is the only dipositive metal which is effective in promoting peptide nitrogen deprotonation in benzoylglycine. The molecular structures of [Pb(N-tosylglycinato-N,O)(H(2)O)] (1), [Pb(N-benzoylglycinato-O)(2)(H(2)O)(2)].2H(2)O (2), and [Pb(N-tosylglycinato-O)(2)(bpy)] (3) were determined by X-ray crystallography (O and N,O refer to the ligands binding as carboxylates and as N,O-chelating dianions, respectively). These compounds are all polymeric with six- to eight-coordinate metals showing distorted coordination geometries indicative of a stereochemically active metal lone pair. Polymerization is invariably determined by a bidentate chelate carboxylate group with one oxygen bridging between two metals, and in 2 and 3 it occurs through the formation of chains of Pb(2)O(2) square-planar rings. The binding set in 1, involving a deprotonated amide nitrogen and a sulfonic oxygen, is unprecedented for the Pb(2+) ion. This work provides new information on the solution and solid state chemistry of dipositive lead with ligands of biological interest, a research area that has received little attention in the past, although it is of great relevance for understanding the mechanisms of metal toxicity.     

Molecular insight into the high selectivity of double-walled carbon nanotubes

Combining experimental knowledge with molecular simulations, we investigated the adsorption and separation properties of double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) against flue/synthetic gas mixture components (e.g. CO(2), CO, N(2), H(2), O(2), and CH(4)) at 300 K. Except molecular H(2), all studied nonpolar adsorbates assemble into single-file chain structures inside DWNTs at operating pressures below 1 MPa. Molecular wires of adsorbed molecules are stabilized by the strong solid-fluid potential generated from the cylindrical carbon walls. CO(2) assembly is formed at very low operating pressures in comparison to all other studied nonpolar adsorbates. The adsorption lock-and-key mechanism results from perfect fitting of rod-shaped CO(2) molecules into the cylindrical carbon pores. The enthalpy of CO(2) adsorption in DWNTs is very high and reaches 50 kJ mol(-1) at 300 K and low pore concentrations. In contrast, adsorption enthalpy at zero coverage is significantly lower for all other studied nonpolar adsorbates, for instance: 35 kJ mol(-1) for CH(4), and 14 kJ mol(-1) for H(2). Applying the ideal adsorption solution theory, we predicted that the internal pores of DWNTs have unusual ability to differentiate CO(2) molecules from other flue/synthetic gas mixture components (e.g. CO, N(2), H(2), O(2), and CH(4)) at ambient operating conditions. Computed equilibrium selectivity for equimolar CO(2)-X binary mixtures (where X: CO, N(2), H(2), O(2), and CH(4)) is very high at low mixture pressures. With an increase in binary mixture pressure, we predicted a decrease in equilibrium separation factor because of the competitive adsorption of the X binary mixture component. We showed that at 300 K and equimolar mixture pressures up to 1 MPa, the CO(2)-X equilibrium separation factor is higher than 10 for all studied binary mixtures, indicating strong preference for CO(2) adsorption. The overall selective properties of DWNTs seem to be superior, which may be beneficial for potential industrial applications of these novel carbon nanostructures.     

An ion-exchange separation of Cu(2+), Cd(2+), Pb(2+) and Tl(+) on silica gel with polarographic detection

The HPLC separation of heavy metal cations was studied with a column packed with Separon SGX silica gel. The retention of the cations is controlled by an ion-exchange mechanism. The ion-exchange capacity is primarily dependent on the mobile phase pH. The analyte retention is further affected by the type and concentration of the completing agent present and of the counterion. The effect of acetate, tartrate and -hydroxyisobutyrate as complexing agents and that of methanol as the organic modifier were studied in detail and the results were compared with the theoretical model of ion-exchange separation. Simple mixtures of metals can be rapidly separated on a short column (30 × 3.3 mm i.d.), e.g., with a mobile phase containing 10⁻²M tartrate at pH 6.0. The metals separated can be detected by dc amperometry at a hanging mercury drop electrode. The limits of detection at an electrode potential of −0.95 V (Ag/AgCl) are in the units—tens of ng range with 20-μl samples with satisfactory precision (RSD values of 2–6%). The main advantages of the method are rapidly and simplicity because derivatization of the analytes is not required.     

Pb2+ induced DNA conformational switch from hairpin to G-quadruplex: electrochemical detection of Pb2+

Conformational switch from hairpin DNA to G-quadruplex induced by Pb(2+) is studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the presence of [Fe(CN)(6)](3-/4-) as the redox probe. In the presence of Pb(2+), the G-rich hairpin DNA opens the stem-loop and forms G-quadruplex structure, which gives rise to a sharp increase in the charge-transfer resistance (R(CT)) of the film reflected by the EIS. This structural change is also confirmed by circular dichroism (CD) measurements and UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis and calculated by density functional theory (DFT). On the basis of this, we develop a label-free electrochemical DNA biosensor for Pb(2+) detection. With increasing concentrations of Pb(2+), the differences in the charge-transfer resistance R(CT) before and after the Pb(2+) incubation is linearly dependent on the logarithm of Pb(2+) concentration within a range from 50 μM to 0.5 nM. The biosensor also exhibits good selectivity for Pb(2+) over other metal ions. This is a simple and label-free electrochemical method for Pb(2+) detection making use of the G-quadruplex.     

Design, synthesis and X-ray structure of protein-ligand complexes: important insight into selectivity of memapsin 2 (beta-secretase) inhibitors

Structure-based design, synthesis, and X-ray structure of protein-ligand complexes of memapsin 2 are described. The inhibitors are designed specifically to interact with S2- and S3-active site residues to provide selectivity over memapsin 1 and cathepsin D. Inhibitor 6 has exhibited exceedingly potent inhibitory activity against memapsin 2 and selectivity over memapsin 1 (>3800-fold) and cathepsin D (>2500-fold). A protein-ligand crystal structure revealed cooperative interactions in the S2- and S3-active sites of memapsin 2. These interactions may serve as an important guide to design selectivity over memapsin 1 and cathepsin D.     

Ion exchange of Pb(2+), Cu(2+), Fe(3+), and Cr(3+) on natural clinoptilolite: selectivity determination and influence of acidity on metal uptake

In the present study ion exchange of Pb(2+), Cu(2+), Fe(3+), and Cr(3+) on natural Greek clinoptilolite was examined in terms of selectivity toward the above heavy metals in single- and multicomponent solutions in batch systems. Also examined are the influence of clinoptilolite on solution acidity and the effect of acidity on the ion exchange process. Clinoptilolite increases solution acidity due to the exchange of H(+) cations with the cations initially present in its structure. H(+) cations should be considered as competitive ones in ion exchange processes, and consequently ion exchange of metals is favored at high acidity values. Cu(2+) and Cr(3+) are the most sensitive cations with respect to acidity. Selectivity determination demonstrates that the selectivity at total concentration 0.01 N and acidity 2 in both single- and multicomponent solutions is following the order Pb(2+)>Fe(3+)>Cr(3+) > or =Cu(2+). This order is set since the first days of equilibration. However, Cu(2+) shows remarkable changes in selectivity and generally its uptake and selectivity are increasing with time. On the other hand selectivity in single metal solutions where acidity is not adjusted is following the order Pb(2+)>Cr(3+)>Fe(3+) congruent with Cu(2+).     

Application of N-PLS calibration to the simultaneous determination of Cu(2+), Cd(2+) and Pb(2+) using peptide modified electrochemical sensors

The simultaneous determination of Cu(2+), Cd(2+) and Pb(2+) is demonstrated at four modified gold electrodes using N-PLS calibration. Three of the electrodes were modified with the peptides Gly-Gly-His, gamma-Glu-Cys Gly and human angiotensin I which were covalently attached to thioctic acid self-assembled monolayers and the fourth electrode was modified with thioctic acid only. Voltammetry at the modified electrodes in the presence of the three metal ions revealed one peak due to the reduction of copper and another due to the overlapping peaks of cadmium and lead which made quantification using conventional methods difficult. N-PLS was used to calibrate and predict trace concentrations (100 nM to 10 microM) of mixtures of Cu(2+), Cd(2+) and Pb(2+).     

Gold catalysis: deuterated substrates as the key for an experimental insight into the mechanism and selectivity of the phenol synthesis

The second phase of the gold-catalyzed phenol synthesis, the ring opening of the intermediate arene oxide, follows general acid catalysis. The product selectivity is determined by the substrate only and can be explained by the stability of the intermediate arenium ions. Thus, even remote substitutents can be used to control the chemoselectivity of the overall reaction by electronic influences and their influence is stronger than the steric influence of neighboring substituents. This is supported by quantum chemical calculations of the intermediates. The lack of exchange of deuterium labels excludes even equilibria with acetylide or vinylidene intermediates and the observed deuterium distribution in the final products is in accord with the NIH-shift reaction. In addition, these findings now explain previously obtained results.     

Electronic state selectivity in dication-molecule single electron transfer reactions: NO(2+) + NO

The single-electron transfer reaction between NO(2+) and NO, which initially forms a pair of NO(+) ions, has been studied using a position-sensitive coincidence technique. The reactivity in this class of collision system, which involves the interaction of a dication with its neutral precursor, provides a sensitive test of recent ideas concerning electronic state selectivity in dicationic single-electron transfer reactions. In stark contrast to the recently observed single-electron transfer reactivity in the analogous CO(2)(2+)/CO(2) and O(2)(2+)/O(2) collision systems, electron transfer between NO(2+) and NO generates two product NO(+) ions which behave in an identical manner, whether the ions are formed from NO(2+) or NO. This observed behaviour is in excellent accord with the recently proposed rationalization of the state selectivity in dication-molecule SET reactions using simple propensity rules involving one-electron transitions.     

Interaction of Cu(+) and Cu(2+) ions with alpha-alanine. A density functional study

The Cu(+) and Cu(2+) preferred binding sites on alpha-alanine and their affinity values for this amino acid were determined at the density functional level using three different hybrid exchange correlation potentials and the 6-311++G** basis set. The results demonstrated that the two ions both give stable complexes with alpha-alanine but the stability order of the metalated species and the coordination sites are different depending on the nature of the cation. In particular, the Cu(+)-alpha-alanine ground-state structure is characterized by an eta(2)-N,O coordination with the nitrogen and oxygen atoms belonging to the amino and carbonyl groups, respectively. In contrast, the most stable complex of the Cu(2+)-alpha-alanine system has an eta(2)-O,O coordination with the cation bonded to the -CO(2) (-) moiety of the zwitterionic form of the amino acid. Comparison with the Cu(+) and Cu(2+) affinity values for glycine, computed at the same levels of theory, demonstrated that the relative values do not change significantly as different hybrid functionals are used, although the absolute affinities are strongly influenced by the choice of the hybrid potential.