Structure and molecular conformation of tussah silk fibroin films: Effect of heat treatment

Structural changes of tussah (Antheraea pernyi) silk fibroin films induced by heat treatment were studied as a function of the treatment temperature in the range 200–250°C. The DSC curve of tussah films with α-helix molecular conformation displayed characteristic endo and exo peaks at 216 and 226°C, respectively. These peaks first weakened and then completely disappeared after heating at 230°C. Accordingly, the TMA thermal shrinkage at 206°C disappeared when the films were heated at 230°C. The onset of weight loss was monitored at 210°C by means of TG measurements. X-ray diffraction profiles gradually changed from α-helix to β-sheet crystalline structure as the treatment temperature increased from 200 to 250°C. On raising the heating temperature above 200°C, the intensity of IR and Raman bands characteristic of β-sheet conformation increased in the whole ranges of amide and skeletal modes. The sample treated at 200°C showed a spectral pattern intermediate between α-helix and β-sheet molecular conformation. The IR marker band for random coil structure, still detectable at 200°C, disappeared at higher treatment temperatures. Spectral changes attributable to the onset of thermal degradation appeared at 230°C. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35: 841–847, 1997     

The pressure tolerance of different poly-l-lysine conformers in aqueous solution: Infrared spectroscopy and two-dimensional correlation analysis

Poly-l-lysine can form either of three different conformers as α-helix, anti-parallel β-sheet and random coil stably under appropriate conditions. In buffer solution poly-l-lysine exists in a random coil at about pH 4, an α-helix above pH 12, and transforms from α-helix to β-sheet when the sample is heated to 46 °C for 30 min. The effects of elevated hydrostatic pressure on three different initial conformers of poly-l-lysine are investigated with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and two-dimensional correlation analysis. Changes observed in the amide I′ band indicate that the α-helix conformer undergo hydration enhancement at low pressure (<400 MPa), then gradually transition into an α′-helix. Two initial conformers, the β-sheet and random coiled polypeptide, undergo conformational changes to an α-helix at low pressure and to an α′-helix at high pressure. Moreover, the conversion occurred at a lower pressure for the β-sheet (∼250 MPa) than for the α-helix (∼300 MPa) and the random coil (∼850 MPa).     

Structure and molecular conformation of tussah silk fibroin films: Effect of methanol

Structural changes of tussah (Antheraea pernyi) silk fibroin films treated with different water-methanol solutions at 20°C were studied as a function of methanol concentration and immersion time. X-ray diffraction measurements showed that the α-helix structure, typical of untreated tussah films, did not change for short immersion times (2 min), regardless of methanol concentration. However, crystallization to β-sheet structure was observed following immersion of tussah films for 30 min in methanol solutions ranging from 20 to 60% (v/v). IR spectra of tussah films untreated and methanol treated for 2 min exhibited strong absorption bands at 1265, 892, and 622 cm^?1, typical of the α-helix conformation. The intensity of the bands assigned to the β-sheet conformation (1245, 965, and 698 cm^?1) increased for the sample treated with 40% methanol for 30 min. Raman spectra of tussah films with α-helix molecular conformation exhibited strong bands at 1657 (amide I), 1263 (amide III), 1106, 908, 530, and 376 cm^?1. Following α → β conformational transition, amide I and III bands shifted to 1668, and to 1241, 1230 cm^?1, respectively. The band at 1106 cm^?1 disappeared and new bands appeared at 1095 and 1073 cm^?1, whereas the intensity of the bands at 530 and 376 cm^?1 decreased significantly. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The raman spectrum of biosynthetic human growth hormone. Its deconvolution,bandfitting, and interpretation

The Raman spectrum of amorphous biosynthetic human growth hormone, somatotropin, has been measured at high signal-to-noise ratios, using a CW argon ion laser and single channel detection. The rms signal-to-noise ratio varies from 1800:1 in the Amide I region near 1650 cm⁻¹ region, to 500:1 in the disulfide stretch region near 500 cm⁻¹.Component Raman bands have been extracted from the entire spectral envelope from 1800-400 cm⁻¹, by an interactive process involving both partial deconvolution and band-fitting. Interconsistency of all bands has been achieved by multiple overlapping of adjacent regions that had been isolated for the band-fitting programs.The resulting areas of the Raman component bands have been interpreted to show the ratios of peptide conformations in the hormone: 64% α-helix, 24% β-sheet, 8% β-turns and 4% γ-turns. Analysis of the tyrosine region, usually described as a Fermi resonance doublet near ∼830–850 cm⁻¹, shows four bands, at 825, 833, 853, and 859 cm⁻¹ in this macromolecule. Integrated intensities of these bands (2:2:2:2) are interpreted to show that only half of the eight tyrosine residues function as hydrogen-bond bridges via the acceptance of protons.Both disulfide bridges fall within the frequency ranges for normal, unstressed SS bonds: The 511 and 529 cm⁻¹ bands are indicative of the gauche-gauche-gauche and trans-gauche-gauche conformations, respectively.     

Structural changes in poly(L-alanine) induced by heat treatment

Structural changes in poly(L -alanine)(PLA), a model compound related to tussah silk fibroin, induced by heat treatment have been studied by differential thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy. PLA heated below 300°C shows x-ray patterns very similar to those of the α-helix crystalline phase, in addition to the diffraction patterns due to the β structure. Samples heated at 368°C exhibit predominantly the diffraction patterns due to the β crystalline phase. From infrared spectra, PLA samples heated below 280°C are found to be composed of all three molecular conformations: β sheet, random coil, and α helix. The intensity of the infrared absorption at 650 cm^?1 (amide V) assigned to the random coil conformation is decreased by heat treatment above 325°C. The content of the β-sheet structure remains almost constant when the specimen is heated below 325°C, and increases abruptly on heating to around 335°C, while the random coil content is decreased abruptly by heat treatment above 335°C. The α-helix content does not change, regardless of heat treatment. It is suggested therefore that the random coil conformation of PLA transforms directly into the β sheet on heat treatment above 335°C.     

Raman光谱研究铜锌超氧化物歧化酶及其金属取代衍生物的二级结构

本文测定了铜锌超氧化物歧化酶（Cu2Zn2SOD)及其金属取代衍生物Cu2Ni2SOD的Raman光谱,对图谱进行了归属,并定量测定了两种SOD的二级结构,同时对结构与活性的关系进行了讨论。     

“Parallel factor analysis of multi-excitation ultraviolet resonance Raman spectra for protein secondary structure determination”

Protein secondary structural analysis is important for understanding the relationship between protein structure and function, or more importantly how changes in structure relate to loss of function. The structurally sensitive protein vibrational modes (amide I, II, III and S) in deep-ultraviolet resonance Raman (DUVRR) spectra resulting from the backbone C–O and N–H vibrations make DUVRR a potentially powerful tool for studying secondary structure changes. Experimental studies reveal that the position and intensity of the four amide modes in DUVRR spectra of proteins are largely correlated with the varying fractions of α-helix, β-sheet and disordered structural content of proteins. Employing multivariate calibration methods and DUVRR spectra of globular proteins with varying structural compositions, the secondary structure of a protein with unknown structure can be predicted. A disadvantage of multivariate calibration methods is the requirement of known concentration or spectral profiles. Second-order curve resolution methods, such as parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), do not have such a requirement due to the “second-order advantage.” An exceptional feature of DUVRR spectroscopy is that DUVRR spectra are linearly dependent on both excitation wavelength and secondary structure composition. Thus, higher order data can be created by combining protein DUVRR spectra of several proteins collected at multiple excitation wavelengths to give multi-excitation ultraviolet resonance Raman data (ME-UVRR). PARAFAC has been used to analyze ME-UVRR data of nine proteins to resolve the pure spectral, excitation and compositional profiles. A three factor model with non-negativity constraints produced three unique factors that were correlated with the relative abundance of helical, β-sheet and poly-proline II dihedral angles. This is the first empirical evidence that the typically resolved “disordered” spectrum represents the better defined poly-proline II type structure.     

An in silico analysis of primary and secondary structure specificity determinants for human peptidylarginine deiminase types 2 and 4

Human peptidylarginine deiminases (hPADs) are a family of five calcium-dependent enzymes that facilitate citrullination, which is the post-translational modification of peptidyl arginine to peptidyl citrulline. The isozymes hPAD2 and hPAD4 have been implicated in the development and progression of several autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. To better characterize the primary and secondary structure determinants of citrullination specificity, we mined the literature for protein sequences susceptible to citrullination by hPAD2 or hPAD4. First, protein secondary structure classification (α-helix, β-sheet, or coil) was predicted using the PSIPRED software. Next, we used motif-x and pLogo to extract and visualize statistically significant motifs within each data set. Within the data sets of peptides predicted to lie in coil regions, both hPAD2 and hPAD4 appear to favor citrullination of glycine-containing motifs, while distinct hydrophobic motifs were identified for hPAD2 citrullination sites predicted to reside within α-helical and β-sheet regions. Additionally, we identified potential substrate overlap between coil region citrullination and arginine methylation. Together, these results confirm the importance and offer some insight into the role of secondary structure elements for citrullination specificity, and provide biological context for the existing hPAD specificity and arginine post-translational modification literature.     

以Au/Cu纳米棒为基底的肺腺癌组织的特征表面增强拉曼光谱研究

通过金铜共混法制备了Au/Cu合金纳米棒,研究了铜掺杂对金纳米棒等离子体共振吸收和结构的影响,探究了Au/Cu合金纳米棒的等离子体共振拉曼增强效应.以Au/Cu合金纳米棒为基底对肺腺癌组织和癌旁正常组织进行了表面增强拉曼光谱检测.结果显示,癌变组织具有比癌旁正常组织更强的拉曼信号峰,位于1250,1344,1408,1568,1608和2560 cm~(-1)附近的拉曼峰分别与蛋白质的AmideⅡ氨基化合物、C—H弯曲振动、核酸中CH_3的对称变角振动、蛋白质色氨酸惰性环振动、蛋白质酰胺I谱带分子间反平行β-折叠的C—O健伸缩振动和蛋白质的巯基(S—H)伸缩振动有关,2936 cm~(-1)附近的拉曼峰为蛋白质CH_2的对称伸缩振动和CH_3的反对称伸缩振动共同作用产生.以铜掺杂的金纳米棒为基底的表面增强拉曼光谱法有望成为检测肺癌组织的有效手段.     

用桑蚕丝素蛋白固定脲酶的研究及脲酶电极的制备

提出了一种新的酶固定化方法, 即通过甲醇处理, 使蚕丝素蛋白膜的构象由random coil向β-sheet发生根本性的变化, 从而将酶固定在β-sheet所特有的分子间氢键中。利用此方法所制成的脲酶电极, 在合适的操作条件下, 各项响应指标均令人满意, 并且脲酶的耐温性能被大大提高, 电极的有效使用寿命长达三个月以上。此种酶固定化方法原则上能够应用于其他不破坏蚕丝素蛋白分子结构的可溶性酶。     

pH值和钙离子对尖吻蝮蛇抗血小板凝集素二级结构的影响

尖吻蝮蛇毒中抗血小板凝集素是凝血因子IX/凝血因子X结合蛋白，它具有抗凝血和抑制血小板凝集双重活性。用红外光谱、拉曼光谱和CD谱研究了抗血小板凝集素的二级结构以及pH值和钙离子对其二级结构的影响。用CD谱测得，在水溶液中，抗血小板凝集素的主要骨架构象为β-折叠(26.3%)和α-螺旋(19.6%)结构。拉曼光谱显示，在粉末状态，其α-螺旋含量显著降低。CD谱还表明，抗血小板凝集素在pH值3.0～11.0范围内保持稳定的天然结构，钙离子诱导的抗血小板凝集素结构变化是可逆的，钙离子在稳定抗血小板凝集素的天然结构中起重要作用。     

On the existence of multiple conformations in cyclopropylamine

The vibrational spectra of cyclopropylamine have been reconsidered; the results are consistent with our earlier studies describing a trans/gauche conformational equilibrium. The conformer having the amino protons trans to the ring CC bonds is more stable than the gauche conformer. The equilibrium in cyclopropylamine is discussed and contrasted with a recent report in which only one conformer was identified.     

Ionic Liquid-Induced Structural and Activity Changes in Hen Egg White Lysozyme

Lysozyme crystals in the presence of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C₄mim]BF₄), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C₄mim]Cl), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide([C₄mim]Br), and 1,3-dimethylimidazolium iodine([dmim]I) were prepared, and the influence of ionic liquids (ILs) on the structure and activity change of lysozyme was investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the major secondary structures of α-helix and β-sheet for lysozyme. It was interesting to note that increases of the band near 2,935 and 1,656 cm^?1 from Raman spectroscopy are attributed to the unfolding of lysozyme molecules. A shift in amide III from 1,230 to 1,270 cm^?1 in adding [dmim]I occurs, indicating a transformation from β-sheet to random coil. With regard to adding [C₄mim]BF₄, [C₄mim]Cl, and [C₄mim]Br, α-helix and β-sheet are the predominant structures for lysozyme. The activity study showed that the ILs used brought a positive effect. Especially, [dmim]I leads to a drastic increase in relative activity, and its value reaches 50 %.     

Conformational analysis—CXVII : Methyl ethyl disulfide. Molecular mechanics and molecular orbital calculations

The conformation of methyl ethyl disulfide was investigated by molecular mechanics calculations using a recently developed force field for sulfur-containing alkanes. The results indicate that in the gas phase the molecule exists predominantly in two conformations, both with the CSSC dihedral angle gauche (84°), and the SSCC dihedral angle either gauche (72°) or trans (179°), and the methyl protons staggered. Ab initio molecular orbital calculations using an STO-3G basis set were employed to corroborate that these two conformations are of roughly equal stability, and that the next most stable conformation (by 0.6 kcal/mole) has the SSCC dihedral angle gauche (295°) with the terminal methyls proximal. In contrast to earlier CNDO/2 (spd) predictions, the SSCC cis conformer is the least stable, and no sizable attractive S?HC nonbonded interactions are discerned. Reasons for this are traced to a failure of the CNDO/2 method, which is especially serious when d orbitals are included in the basis set (spd) and the rigid rotor approximation is used. The present results are found to be consistent with recent electron diffraction, IR, Raman spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction data. The conformation of diethyl disulfide was also investigated by molecular mechanics calculations, and again gauche and trans SSCC arrangements are predicted to be preferred.     

Conformational equilibrium of dicyclopropyl ketone

The i.r. and Raman spectra of liquid dicyclopropyl ketone have been reinvestigated from 4000 to 200 cm⁻¹ with higher resolution than previously obtained. In addition, the i.r. spectrum of the polycrystalline solid was recorded from 4000 to 400 cm⁻¹. Contrary to published results, evidence has been obtained for a conformational equilibrium between the predominant cis—cis form and the gauche—gauche conformer.     

Structures of 18-crown-6, 15-crown-5 and their metal complexes in methanol solution as studied by Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectra of 18-crown-6, 15-crown-5, and their complexes with Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Ba²⁺ have been investigated in methanol solution. Normal coordinate calculations are presented for the D_3d⁻ and C_i-symmetric structures of 18-crown-6. Analysis of the Raman spectra gives information on the ring conformations of the crown ethers and the stoichiometry of complexation. The uncomplexed ethers adopt diverse conformational states in methanol at room temperature, the D_3d state being the most stable in 18-crown-6 and various states equally stable in 15-crown-5. Most of the cations form 1:1 or 2:1 crown—metal complexes depending on the cation size relative to the hole size of crown. Exceptionally, Cs⁺ forms both 1:1 and 2:1 complexes with 18-crown-6. The ring structures in complexes of 18-crown-6 are not much distorted from the D_3d one, though the distortion is rather large in the 2:1 Cs²⁺ and 1:1 Ca⁺ complexes. Complexes of 15-crown-5 exhibit for types of ring structure depending on the size and charge of the cation. These structures are likely to involve distortion from the gauche or gauche′ conformation about the CC bonds and various conformation about the CO bonds.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering of 1-butanethiol in silver sol

The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of 1-butanethiol was investigated in a silver sol. The molecule was found to be chemisorbed dissociatively on the silver surface by rupture of its SH bond. It is concluded that conformers of 1-butanethiol adsorbed selectively on the silver surface, the trans conformer around the C (1)C (2) axes being more likely adsorbed when the bulk concentration of the molecule is enough for the full monolayer coverage. The vibrational assignment of the molecule in liquid phase has also been refined by using the SERS data.     

Conformational studies of α-substituted carbonyl compounds—V. Evidence for hyperconjugative interactions in 2-iodosubstituted carbonyl systems. ω-iodo-p-substituted acetophenones

The infrared carbonyl stretching (ν_CO) frequencies as well as the carbon—iodine (ν_CI) Raman and infrared frequencies for some ω-iodo-p-substituted acetophenones are reported. Although in the title compounds the solvent effect on the carbonyl band does not indicate the existence of cis/gauche rotational isomerism, the comparison between the ν_CO frequencies in the fundamental transition with those in the 1st overtone (in CCl₄) indicates the presence of the cis/gauche rotational isomerism. On going from electron-donating to electron-attracting substituents in the ω-iodo-series, the progressive increase in the gauche carbonyl shifts (Δν_g) together with the progressive decrease in the ν_CI frequencies suggest the increasing contribution of the hyperconjugative interaction between π_CO and σ_CI orbitals. The u.v. spectra of the title compounds display the n → π*_CO band which is bathochromically shifted in relation to the corresponding acetophenones, indicating the π*_CO/σ*_CI hyperconjugative interaction in the excited state. [¹³C] NMR data for the methylene group of the ω-iodoacetophenones in comparison with those of ω-bromoacetophenones [1] as well as with those for the methyl group of the unsubstituted acetophenones corroborates the existence of the π_CO/σ_CI hyperconjugation in the fundamental state of the title compounds.     

Vibrational and conformational analysis of n-propylamine by means of i.r. spectroscopy and ab initio MO calculations

The gas-phase i.r. absorption spectra of normal and amino-deuterated n-propylamine were observed. Most of the observed bands were assigned with the help of ab initio MO calculations for the normal frequencies. The ab initio force constants were scaled to fit the observed spectrum by a least squares method. The existence of five rotational isomers is suggested from an analysis of the NH₂ wagging and torsion bands. The gauche-conformers about the CN axis are found to occupy about 70 % of all n-propylamine molecules, and the gauche-conformers about the CC axis are found to be more abundant than the trans-conformers.