Supramolecular Chemistry of Cyclodextrin-Peptide Hybrids: Azobenzene-Tagged Peptides

AC17, which is composed of 17 amino acids and has an azobenzene moiety but has no cyclodextrin (CD) unit in the side chain, exhibits 54% helix content. However, AC17, which has both trans-azobenzene and -CD, shows 82% helix content. This result suggests that the helix structure is stabilized by host (CD)-guest (azobenzene) bridge in the side chain of the peptide. The helix content changed by trans-cis photoisomerization as shown by 64% helix content for AC17 in its cis form. This result suggests that cis-azobenzene unit is excluded from the -CD cavity, thus resulting in the smaller helix content. The helix contents for AC17, which has both azobenzene and -CD, are 94% in the cis form and 87% in the trans form, suggesting that the cis form is included in the -CD cavity. Azobenzene-tagged CD-peptide hybrids with histidine unit were also prepared and photoregulation of catalytic activity in ester hydrolysis was examined.     

Non-additivity in water-ion-water interactions

The three-body system Li⁺(H₂O)₂ was analyzed to study that non-additive part of the interaction potential which can be obtained by the Hartree-Fock approximation.For long and intermediate distances the three-body correction was found to be well represented by the induction energy, where bond dipoles are induced on each water molecule by point charges located on the (unpolarizable) lithium ion and on the other molecule respectively: for shorter distances this approximation was corrected by means of an exponential repulsive term. Such a potential model for non-additive interactions was extended to the more general situation Li⁺(H₂O)_n, and Monte-Carlo calculations were carried out on clusters containing up to six water molecules; comparison with other simulation results and with available data showed a significantly improved agreement with experiment. Tentative values for H are presented for n =7, 8,..., 20, where experimental data are not available.     

Ab initio crystal orbital studies on linear chains of H atoms

Anab initio crystal orbital method is used to calculate the energies of an infinite chain of H atoms and of linear arrangements of H₂ molecules with different interatomic distances. The H₂ arrangements are not stable in respect to isolated molecules. The cohesive energy of an optimized arrangement of H atoms chain is 0.0354 a.u.     

Hydration scheme of uracil and cytosine

The comparison of a pure electrostatic approximation and complete supermolecule SCF ab initio computations on the hydration scheme of uracil and cytosine shows that the electrostatic procedure is capable to reproduce the general aspects of the results of the supermolecule treatment provided that different distances of shortest approach be adopted for the distances between the oxygen of water and the nitrogen of NH₂ or NH groups or the oxygen of C-O groups on the one hand and the oxygen of water and pyridine-type nitrogens on the other hand.     

Das rheologische Verhalten der gebogenen α-Helix

Intrinsic viscosity and its shear dependence of polybenzyl-L-glutamat inm-cresol suggest a slightly bent -helix. Axis ratio and rotational diffusion constant of the envelopping cylinder are determined and the length of the helix calculated, which leads to the correct molecular weight. The amount of solvated and hydrodynamically immobilized water is estimated.

Herrn Prof. Dr.G. Zigeuner zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Synthesis, Properties, and Crystal and Molecular Structures of New Ni(II) Complexes with Sterically Hindered Methoxy-β-iminoketones

This paper describes a procedure for the synthesis of two new volatile complexes, C₂₂H₄₀N₂NiO₄ and C₂₀H₃₆N₂NiO₄, based on sterically hindered methoxy--iminoketones. The compounds were investigated by IR spectroscopy and DTA. Full crystal-chemical analysis has been carried out. The structures are molecular. The complexes have close geometrical characteristics; the distances are Ni–O 1.826 and Ni–N 1.842 ; the O–Ni–N chelate angle is 93.2°. The complexes have an intramolecular hydrogen bond N–H...O, estimated at 2.54 (2.08) . In both structures, the packing of complexes is similar to that in nickel(II) dipivalylmethanate.     

Further thermoanalytical investigations of annealed keratins: The time and temperature dependence

DSC investigations of various keratins, modified keratins, and keratin model substances have shown that the first of the two endothermic peaks in the temperature range 230 °–255 °C is a microfibrillar helix peak and that the area under the peak represents a measure of the relative helix content of the sample. The peak area of every untreated keratin sample is equal to 100 % and decreases continuously with increasing extension or thermal degradation of the fiber. The relative helix content of annealed keratins depends upon the annealing time and the annealing temperature. Short annealing times at high temperatures, principally, have the same effect as long annealing times, at lower temperatures with one decisive difference: In the first case, the helix peak maximum is shifted to lower temperatures and, in the second case, to higher temperatures. It seems that these shifts, combined with amino acid analyses, are essential to the further understanding of the complicated thermal decomposition of keratins.     

Effect of doping and temperature on the crystal structure of (V1−xMox)2O3 above and below the metal/insulator transition

The crystal structure of new molybdenum-doped vanadium sesquioxides (V_1−xMo_x)₂O₃ (0?x?0.20) has been studied at low temperature (10 K) and up to room temperature, through neutron and X-ray powder diffraction. The transition from insulating I- to metallic M-type phases, either by doping or thermally driven, is accompanied by an abrupt decrease of all interatomic distances. Within each structural type however, at 10 K, the effect of doping is essentially the same as at room temperature: it increases cation-oxygen distances, and decreases cation-cation distances, making the cationic coordination octahedra more regular. Thermal effects differ for each phase type: all interatomic distances normally increase in the M-type phase (but with different octahedral modifications depending on doping), but they decrease or remain constant in the I-type phase. This produces an unusual negative thermal expansion coefficient up to 5% at low temperature for the doped compounds.     

Specific crystal structure of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) thin films studied by infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy

Infrared reflection–absorption (IR-RAS) and transmission spectra were measured for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) thin films to explore its specific crystal structure in the surface region. As IR-RAS is sensitive to the vibration mode of perpendicular orientation of the surface, differences between IR-RAS and transmission spectra indicate an orientation of the lamella structure in the surface of PHB thin films. The relative intensity of the crystalline CO stretching band in the IR-RAS spectrum is significantly weaker than that in the transmission spectrum. It may be concluded that the transient dipole moment of the CO stretching mode of the crystalline state is not oriented perpendicular but nearly parallel to the substrate surface. On the other hand, the relative intensity of the band at 3009 cm⁻¹ due to the C–H stretching mode of the C–HOC hydrogen bonding is similar between the IR-RAS and transmission spectra, suggesting that the C–H bond is oriented neither perpendicular nor parallel to the substrate surface but in an intermediate direction. Since the CO group of the C–HOC hydrogen bonding is oriented nearly parallel to the surface and its C–H group is in the intermediate direction, it is very likely that the C–HOC hydrogen bonding has a somewhat bent structure. These results are in good agreement with our previous conclusion that the C–HOC hydrogen bonding of PHB exists along the a-axis (not the b-axis) between the CH₃ group of one helix and the CO group of another helix.     

Accuracy and limitations of the pseudopotential method

Molecular model potential calculations have been performed within the SCF approximation on nine di- and triatomic molecules from the first row of the periodic table. We compare the molecular constants with ab initio SCF values and with model potential results obtained by other authors. Our results are accurate to a few per cent. The three most significant approximations in molecular model potential theory are: 1) The molecular model potential is the sum of atomic model potentials; 2) The atomic model potential is energy-independent; 3) The electron interaction model operator is l/r ₁₂. We arrive at the following general conclusions concerning these approximations: 1) The first approximation does not hold for strongly ionic molecules and for some highly excited molecular states. 2) Approximations 2 and 3 cancel to a large extent in molecules as they do in atoms, except in the case where approximation 1 breaks down. 3) Although various model- and pseudo-potentials yield reasonable results for atoms, not all of them are suitable for molecular calculations.     

The effect of Fe(II) ions on the 1,10-phenanthroline and neocuproine intercalates of γ-zirconium phosphate

1,10-Phenanthroline (phen), 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (neocuproine), and 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline have been intercalated between layers of -zirconium phosphate (-ZrP). The observed interlayer distances are not a simple function of the size of guest molecules. Despite the fact that -ZrP takes up very few Fe²⁺ ions, the phen and neocuproine intercalates do take up some Fe²⁺ ions without further changes in the interlayer distances. The chemical environments around Fe²⁺ ions between layers of the intercalates were investigated by⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. A fairly large fraction of the Fe²⁺ ions was found to be in a high-spin state. The low-spin [Fe(phen)₃]²⁺ ions are also ion exchanged on -ZrP, with the expansion of the interlayer up to 19.9 Å.     

Thermoanalytical investigations of extended and annealed keratins

DSC investigations have been used to characterize the microfibril-matrix complex of keratin consisting of helical low-sulfur microfibrils in a nonhelical high-sulfur matrix. The corresponding DSC curves display one or two endothermic peaks in the temperature range 230°–255°C. The first peak is a microfibrillar peak and the second one a matrix peak (cystine decomposition peak). DSC investigations of extended keratins have shown that the microfibrillar peak is a helix peak. DSC investigations of annealed keratins confirm our earlier assumption that the helix peak is no helix melting peak but an irreversible helix unfolding, superimposed by various decomposition reactions. The matrix peak of the above described keratin samples is less reproducible than the corresponding helix peak and cannot be used for further characterization studies of keratins.Dedicated to Professor E. G. Klesper on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

A Raman spectroscopic study of the uranyl phosphate mineral bergenite

Raman spectroscopy at 298 and 77 K of bergenite has been used to characterise this uranyl phosphate mineral. Bands at 995, 971 and 961 cm-1 (298 K) and 1006, 996, 971, 960 and 948 cm-1 (77K) are assigned to the nu1(PO4)3- symmetric stretching vibration. Three bands at 1059, 1107 and 1152 cm-1 (298 K) and 1061, 1114 and 1164 cm-1 (77 K) are attributed to the nu3(PO4)3- antisymmetric stretching vibrations. Two bands at 810 and 798 cm-1 (298 K) and 812 and 800 cm-1 (77 K) are attributed to the nu1 symmetric stretching vibration of the (UO2)2+ units. Bands at 860 cm-1 (298 K) and 866 cm-1 (77 K) are assigned to the nu3 antisymmetric stretching vibrations of the (UO2)2+ units. UO bond lengths in uranyls, calculated using the wavenumbers of the nu1 and nu3(UO2)2+ vibrations with empirical relations by Bartlett and Cooney, are in agreement with the X-ray single crystal structure data. Bands at (444, 432, 408 cm-1) (298 K), and (446, 434, 410 and 393 cm-1) (77 K) are assigned to the split doubly degenerate nu2(PO4)3- in-plane bending vibrations. The band at 547 cm-1 (298 K) and 549 cm-1 (77 K) are attributed to the nu4(PO4)3- out-of-plane bending vibrations. Raman bands at 3607, 3459, 3295 and 2944 cm-1 are attributed to water stretching vibrations and enable the calculation of hydrogen bond distances of >3.2, 2.847, 2.740 and 2.637 A. These bands prove the presence of structurally nonequivalent hydrogen bonded water molecules in the structure of bergenite.     

Complementary molecular orbital investigations on the conformation of choline derivatives

Quantum-mechanical computations by the PCILO method, applied previously to the study of the conformational properties of acetylcholine and its derivatives modified in the central part of this molecule, are extended to modifications involving its cationic head and its ester terminal. The replacement of the methyl groups of the cationic head by hydrogens or ethyl groups leads to a steep decline in parasympathomimetic activity. It is shown that the triethyl derivative conserves the gauche form as the most stable one. The redistribution of the electronic charges at the onium group implies, however, a transition from an ionic to a hydrophobic binding. The replacement of the methyls by two or three hydrogens leads to a different preferred gauche-gauche conformation. The replacement of the methyl group at the ester terminal by a phenyl ring enables a comparison with the conformational properties of local anesthetics. The study brings about evidence, substantiated by NMR spectroscopy, that acetylcholine analogs and protonated local anesthetics are conformationally similar. Choline ethers also show a general preference for a gauche conformation. Nevertheless, biological studies do not indicate a constant correlation between conformation and biological potency. Conformational analogies or discrepancies alone cannot thus account for the fine details of the biological activity which must depend also on the electronic structure.This work was supported by the A.T.P. N A 655-2303 of the C.N.R.S.     

Screened potential in π-electron systems and its application to the estimation of excitation energies

A diagrammatic technique was developed for the estimation of the screened potential of -electron systems. The screened potential was expanded in terms of the polarization propagators which were constructed from either the singlet, , or triplet vertex part, . These vertex parts correspond to the singlet or triplet excitations, respectively, in the Random Phase Approximation (RPA) containing exchange diagrams. The excitation energies were calculated by using the screened potential in the framework of RPA with exchange. The excitation energies of several conjugated molecules with or without a hetero atom are in agreement with the experimental data.     

Patterning of biomolecules on a poly(-caprolactone) film surface functionalized by ion implantation

Biomolecule patterning is important due to its potential applications in biodevices, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. In this study, we developed a new method for a biomolecular patterning on poly(-caprolactone) (PCL) films based on ion implantation. Ion implantation on a PCL film surface resulted in the formation of carboxylic acid groups. The generated carboxylic acid groups were used for the covalent immobilization of amine-functionalized p-DNA, followed by hybridization with fluorescently tagged c-DNA. Biotin-amine was also covalently immobilized on the carboxylic acid generated PCL surfaces. Successful biotin-specific binding of streptavidin further confirmed the potential of this strategy for patterning of various biomolecules.     

A simulation of the exchange potential in unrestricted and restricted Hartree-Fock calculations studied on atoms

The spherical average of the Hartree-Fock exchange potential depending on each spin orbital is compared with Slater's exchange potential, V _xs, as demonstrated for the phosphorus atom. It is shown that the former potential can be simulated by (a + br)V _xs, where r is the radius and the constants a and b are calculated for each spin orbital. This simulation is tested for the iron atom and it is found that the results agree well with those obtained from unrestricted and restricted Hartree-Fock calculations, respectively. The applicability of this new method in energy band structure calculations is briefly discussed.Dedicated to Professor H. Hartmann on the occasion of his 65th birthday.     

Amperometric detection in TMB/HRP-based assays

3,3,5,5-Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) is the most commonly used chromogen for horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and so its performance as an electrochemical substrate was evaluated. Measurements of HRP activity in solution were carried out by using an amperometric detector coupled to a flow injection analysis (FIA) system. The enzymatic product was easily detected at a potential of +0.1 V (vs. Ag-pseudoreference electrode) at a bare screen-printed electrode placed in a homemade electrochemical flow cell. A high flow rate (4.3 mL min^–1) of 0.5 M H₂SO₄ was used to obtain repeatable signals and a short analysis time. The detection limit achieved after 15 min of incubation was 2×10^–14 M of HRP. The applicability of the amperometric detector to ELISAs was demonstrated by using a commercially available kit for the quantification of interleukin-6 (IL-6) without modifying the kit manufacturers protocol or the reagents for this test.     

The inclusion of rhodium(II)α-methyl-cinnamate in β-cyclodextrin

The preparation and characterization of the 1:1 inclusion compound of rhodium(II) -methyl cinnamate in -cyclodextrin is reported. Evidence of inclusion was obtained from X-ray powder diffraction results, Raman, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopic studies and thermal analysis. Given the potential antitumor activity of the rhodium(II) carboxylate and its virtual insolubility in water, its inclusion in -cyclodextrin opens the possibility for its transference to the aqueous phase.     

Conformational behaviour of 2,2′-bipyrrole

The rotational potential around the interannular bond in 2,2-bipyrrole has been calculated making use of standard minimal STO-3G and split valence 4-31G basis sets. Geometrical optimization concerning the most significant interannular internal parameters has been performed with both basis sets. The trans conformer is predicted to be more stable than the cis. The minimal basis set predicts the existence of a cisoid-gauche minimum which after limited optimization becomes very shallow and it seems to be an artifact of the rigid rotor approximation. At 4-31G level, both the trans and cis conformers represent maxima in the potential curve and two gauche minima appear at =46.0° and =147.6°, the latter being the absolute minimum. The absolute maximum of the potential curve corresponds to the cis conformer.