大豆硒蛋白构象的光谱法研究

采用荧光光谱、紫外光谱并结合红外光谱对比研究了大豆硒蛋白和大豆蛋白的结构区别,并用荧光相图法分析了脲诱导下两种蛋白的去折叠过程。考察了温度、pH值对大豆硒蛋白质构象的影响,同时对其乳化稳定性能进行了测定。结果表明,与大豆分离蛋白相比,大豆硒蛋白分子中的共价二硫键受到破坏,分子内氢键作用减弱,疏水相互作用增强,蛋白质分子发生伸展。大豆硒蛋白在溶液中只呈现“折叠”和“松散”两种状态,与大豆蛋白相比更容易被水解变性。升高温度,大豆硒蛋白溶液存在明显荧光热猝灭效应,疏水性逐渐增强,蛋白质分子趋于折叠。在pH值2.8～8.0的范围内,大豆硒蛋白的Trp残基主要分布于其分子外部的极性环境中,并随pH值变化在等电点两侧呈现不同的构象变化。在酸性环境中大豆硒蛋白较易发生从松散到折叠的构象转变,碱性条件则较有利于大豆硒蛋白以松散的结构存在。此外,基于紫外光谱数据分析了大豆硒蛋白乳化特性,结果表明降低温度有利于增强大豆硒蛋白的乳化性能,但使其稳定性能下降。     

高压下正戊醇的构象和氢键研究

压力是一个重要的物理参量,通过调节物质内部分子、原子间距离和相互作用力,可以引起物质结构和构象变化。正醇是一种最简单的羟基代替烷基链末端氢原子的有机物,通过氢键和烷基链之间的作用力结合在一起,被称为氢键液体。氢键的键能较小,在外部压力作用下,氢键容易被压缩而断裂或网络重排,从而导致晶体结构和对称性的改变,对材料的性能产生重要影响。正戊醇是一种短链正醇,结构虽然简单,却可以作为烷基链结构有机物的典型代表。然而,高压下正戊醇的性质研究较少,尤其压力作用下其构象变化和氢键研究尚未见报道,因此正戊醇高压研究有待进一步深入。拉曼光谱和红外光谱是高压研究中常用的谱学测量技术,能够原位探测压力作用下分子内部基团变化,是研究结构、构象和氢键作用的有效手段。基于此,利用金刚石对顶砧装置(DAC),结合拉曼光谱和红外光谱,在0~12.0 GPa压力范围对正戊醇进行了高压研究。实验结果分三部分讨论:(1)研究了压力作用下正戊醇的结构相变行为。压力在3.2 GPa时,拉曼特征峰变锐变窄,同时有特征峰劈裂和新特征峰出现的现象,说明在该压力点发生一次液固相转变。(2)揭示了正戊醇在高压下的构象变化。正戊醇存在两种构象:反式构象和扭曲构象。通过分析两种构象特征峰随压力的变化,发现正戊醇发生液固相转变的过程伴随有构象变化,液态时以扭曲构象为主,固态时以反式构象为主。(3)探究了高压对正戊醇氢键的影响。羟基的特征峰随压力的增加发生红移,说明在加压过程中氢键作用增强。伴随液固相变,羟基特征峰劈裂成多个峰,形成新的氢键网络或团簇,且随压力的增加氢键网络或团簇逐渐增大,说明氢键对压力非常敏感,且对正戊醇晶体结构的稳定起着促进作用。该研究不仅为正戊醇生产应用提供重要的指导作用,同时为其他同类或复杂分子体系的物理和化学特性研究提供参考。     

利用微悬臂梁表面应力研究聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺分子的构象转变

提出了一种基于微悬臂梁传感技术研究大分子折叠/构象转变的新方法.通过分子自组装的方法将热敏性的聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(PNIPAM)分子链修饰到微悬臂梁的单侧表面,用光杠杆技术检测温度在20-40 ℃之间变化时由于微悬臂梁上的PNIPAM分子在水中的构象转变所引起的微悬臂梁变形.实验结果显示:在升温过程中,微悬臂梁的表面应力发生了变化并且导致微悬臂梁产生了弯曲变形,这个过程对应着微悬臂梁上的PNIPAM分子从无规线团构象到塌缩小球构象的构象转变.在降温过程中,微悬臂梁发生了反方向的弯曲变形,这对应着PNIPAM分子从塌缩小球构象向无规线团构象的构象转变.整个温度变化过程中构象转变是连续进行的,而在低临界溶解温度(约32 ℃)附近转变幅度较大,这与自由水溶液中PNIPAM分子的无规线团-塌缩小球构象转变相对应.实验结果还显示:由于PNIPAM分子在塌缩过程中氢键的形成和链段间可能的缠结效应,整个温度循环过程中微悬臂梁的变形是不可逆的且有明显的迟滞效应.     

分子动力学模拟研究DMSO-水体系的结构和相互作用

用分子动力学模拟方法结合核磁共振化学位移和红外光谱结果,研究二甲基亚砜DMSO水溶液在全浓度范围内的结构和弱相互作用. 表明径向分布函数分析,DMSO水溶液中既存在着传统的强氢键又存在C—H…O弱相互作用. 氢键网络分析发现DMSO水溶液体系在水富集区域,水分子倾向于自身缔合形成稳定的分子簇结构,而随着DMSO浓度的逐渐增加,水的有序结构受到破坏. DMSO的摩尔分数为0.35是一个特殊点,多种性质偏离理想混合最远. 水分子和DMSO分子发生了交叉缔合作用形成稳定的分子聚集体. 分子动力学统计的平均氢键数与核磁共振化学位移和红外波数变化数据结果进行比较,结果吻合很好.     

2,4-二硝基苯肼与牛血清白蛋白的相互作用

用荧光光谱研究了2,4-二硝基苯肼(DNPH)与牛血清白蛋白(BSA)的相互作用.实验结果表明,2,4-二硝基苯肼能导致BSA的内源荧光猝灭,猝灭机制为静态猝灭;根据热力学参数△H＜0、△S＜0,得出2,4-二硝基苯肼与BSA之间的主要作用力为氢键和范德华力;同步荧光的结果表明2,4-二硝基苯肼使BSA分子构象发生了改变,其分子内的色氨酸和酪氨酸残基疏水作用增强.     

三种蛋白和黄酮结合物中氢键与黄酮稳定性相关性分析研究

运用三维荧光光谱、紫外可见分光光谱以及傅里叶红外光谱等手段研究了蛋白与黄酮分子的相互作用,并结合相关性分析的统计学手段分析了蛋白与黄酮分子相互作用方式对黄酮稳定性的影响。实验结果表明,疏水相互作用是三种蛋白与黄酮分子之间主要的作用力,在牛血清白蛋白与黄酮的结合中有氢键的参与,同时发现在牛血清白蛋白体系中黄酮的稳定性明显增强。通过相关性分析证明蛋白对黄酮稳定性的提高与两者之间的分子间氢键有关,氢键结合作用越强蛋白对黄酮保护越明显。     

二氧化碳对质子化甲醇的溶剂化作用 (cited: 1)

利用团簇模型研究了二氧化碳对质子化甲醇的溶剂化作用．H⁺(CH₃OH)(CO₂)_n⁺(n=1～7)的量子化学计算结果表明,需要3个或4个二氧化碳分子完成甲醇的羟基第一溶剂层．除了氢键,二氧化碳分子间的相互作用对大团簇的稳定性也起到了重要的作用．在这些溶剂化作用的早期阶段,不容易发生质子从甲醇到二氧化碳的转移过程．模拟的红外光谱揭示了自由O-H伸缩振动、氢键作用后的O-H伸缩振动、以及二氧化碳的O-C-O伸缩振动频率是研究质子化甲醇溶剂化过程的灵敏探针．     

柠檬黄与玉米醇溶蛋白的相互作用研究

为了对玉米醇溶蛋白的改性研究及柠檬黄色素的安全使用评估提供理论依据,借助于荧光光谱法、紫外光谱法、全内反射-傅里叶红外光谱(ATR-FTIR)自去卷积计算及核磁共振氢谱研究了人工合成色素柠檬黄对玉米醇溶蛋白构象的影响。结果表明,柠檬黄对玉米醇溶蛋白有明显的荧光猝灭作用,猝灭机理较复杂。柠檬黄可以与玉米醇溶蛋白结合,分子间主要以疏水作用力结合,利用Stern-Volmer方程和Van't Hoff公式计算获得结合比为1∶1,结合常数K_a值较大。通过FTIR的自去卷积计算分析,这种结合反应导致玉米蛋白二级结构中α螺旋结构、β折叠和β转角均发生显著改变。核磁共振氢谱分析表明由于玉米醇溶蛋白具有两亲性,当溶剂为二甲基亚砜时,混合溶液为低极性环境,化学位移略向高磁场移动;当溶剂为重水D_2O时,化学位移明显地向低磁场移动,而且这种作用与反应时间长短无关。进一步说明在极性和低极性的环境下柠檬黄都会引起玉米醇溶蛋白构象的改变。     

荧光光谱法研究2-硝基苯胺与牛血清白蛋白的相互作用

采用荧光光谱法研究了不同酸度下,2-硝基苯胺与牛血清白蛋白(BSA)间的相互作用。实验结果表明,2-硝基苯胺对BSA的猝灭机制属于静态猝灭过程。经研究得到了不同酸度和不同温度下2-硝基苯胺与BSA反应的结合常数、结合位点数。根据热力学常数确定了二者间的作用力类型为氢键和疏水作用力。同步荧光结果表明,2-二硝基苯胺的存在改变了牛血清白蛋白的分子构象。     

光谱法联合分子对接和等温滴定微量热法研究全氟壬酸与人血清白蛋白的相互作用

全氟壬酸(PFNA)是在血清中检测到第三多的全氟烷酸类(PFAAs)新型有毒环境污染物。目前PFNA对人血清白蛋白(HSA)结构甚至是功能的影响还处于起步阶段,借助于多光谱、分子对接和等温滴定微量热(ITC)技术研究了PFNA和HSA相互作用的结合机理。所有荧光数据均进行了内滤光校正以获得更准确的结合参数。荧光结果表明PFNA通过动静态猝灭方式可以猝灭HSA的内源荧光。取代实验和分子对接结果表明,PFNA主要通过极性键、疏水力和卤素键键合在HSA亚域ⅡA疏水腔中,最佳对接自由能为-26.54 kJ·mol-1,表明PFNA分子与HSA有较大的结合亲和力。ITC表明两者的结合属于两类结合位点模型并给出了相应的热力学参数：第一类结合位点有较大的亲和力,属于焓驱动,静电力和卤键作为主要驱动力;第二类结合位点亲和力较小,主要驱动力是疏水力。三维荧光光谱揭示PFNA与HSA生成复合物后,可以改变HSA的构象,引起Trp和Tyr残基微环境疏水性增强。圆二色谱(CD)定量测定了HSA与PFNA作用前后的二级结构含量：α-螺旋、β-折叠和β-转角含量分别降低14.3%,5.3%和3.5%,无规卷曲含量从14.4%增加到37.5%。以上结果表明,PFNA与HSA的结合可以改变HSA的二级结构,进而可能影响HSA的生理功能。结果阐述了PFNA与HSA相互作用机理,并且为PFNA在体内的运输和分配提供了可靠的生物物理和生物化学的相关依据。     

磁共振技术在丝素蛋白结构与功能研究中的应用

丝素蛋白纤维因其优异的力学性能和良好的生物相容性而得到广泛关注. 人们通过对丝素蛋白二级结构的构象转变及其诱导因素的研究,试图阐明蚕吐丝机理、相关蛋白结构与功能的关系,为人工合成性能优良的丝纤维材料以及认识生命过程提供有益指导和帮助. 磁共振技术是研究丝素蛋白结构最有效的方法之一. 我们课题组多年来运用核磁共振（NMR）的方法研究了桑蚕丝素蛋白的构象及环境对其的影响因素,如pH、金属离子（K⁺、Na⁺、Ca²⁺、Cu²⁺、Zn²⁺）等,并运用电子自旋顺磁共振（EPR）方法研究了金属Cu²⁺离子与丝素蛋白的相互作用,试图揭示蛋白质构象转变与金属离子影响的内在联系. 另外,我们还发展了一种广义二维核磁共振相关技术,有效缩短了传统二维核磁共振的实验时间. 本文将综述这些年来我们所做的相关工作.     

Formation of silk fibroin nanoparticles in water-miscible organic solvent and their characterization

When Silk fibre derived from Bombyx mori, a native biopolymer, was dissolved in highly concentrated neutral salts such as CaCl₂, the regenerated liquid silk, a gradually degraded peptide mixture of silk fibroin, could be obtained. The silk fibroin nanoparticles were prepared rapidly from the liquid silk by using water-miscible protonic and polar aprotonic organic solvents. The nanoparticles are insoluble but well dispersed and stable in aqueous solution and are globular particles with a range of 35–125 nm in diameter by means of TEM, SEM, AFM and laser sizer. Over one half of the ɛ-amino groups exist around the protein nanoparticles by using a trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) method. Raman spectra shows the tyrosine residues on the surface of the globules are more exposed than those on native silk fibers. The crystalline polymorph and conformation transition of the silk nanoparticles from random-coil and α-helix form (Silk I) into anti-parallel β-sheet form (Silk II) are investigated in detail by using infrared, fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy, DSC, ¹³C CP-MAS NMR and electron diffraction. X-ray diffraction of the silk nanoparticles shows that the nanoparticles crystallinity is about four fifths of the native fiber. Our results indicate that the degraded peptide chains of the regenerated silk is gathered homogeneously or heterogeneously to form a looser globular structure in aqueous solution. When introduced into excessive organic solvent, the looser globules of the liquid silk are rapidly dispersed and simultaneously dehydrated internally and externally, resulting in the further chain–chain contact, arrangement of those hydrophobic domains inside the globules and final formation of crystalline silk nanoparticles with β-sheet configuration. The morphology and size of the nanoparticles are relative to the kinds, properties and even molecular structures of organic solvents, and more significantly to the looser globular substructure of the degraded silk fibroin in aqueous solution. It is possible that the silk protein nanoparticles are potentially useful in biomaterials such as cosmetics, anti-UV skincare products, industrial materials and surface improving materials, especially in enzyme/drug delivery system as vehicle.     

Influence of grafting with acrylate compounds on the conformational rearrangements of silk fibroin upon electrospinning and treatment with aqueous methanol

Silk fabrics from Bombyx mori silkworm were grafted with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as well as a binary system of HEMA and 4‐hydroxybutyl acrylate (HBA) and then analysed by Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopy to elucidate the interactions between the components and their possible conformational changes. The samples were then dissolved in trifluoroacetic acid and electrospun; the influence of the grafted polymers on the silk fibroin rearrangements upon these treatments was investigated by vibrational spectroscopy. Upon grafting, the fabrics underwent conformational rearrangements towards a more unordered state, although they kept their prevailing β‐sheet conformation; also the polymeric component underwent hydrogen bonding and backbone rearrangements upon interaction with silk fibroin and the occurrence of strong covalent bonds cannot be excluded. By immersing the as‐electrospun grafted and pure fibroin nanofibres (prevalently unordered) in aqueous methanol, they partially recovered the β‐sheet content observed in the corresponding starting fabrics; the percentage of recovery decreased along the series: pure silk > HEMA‐grafted silk > HEMA and HBA‐grafted silk. This trend suggests that the presence of the polyHEMA grafted component hinders the silk fibroin recrystallization into β‐sheet upon aqueous methanol treatment; moreover, the addition of the more sterically hindered HBA monomer in the grafting system further prevented this process. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Silk peptide production from whole silkworm cocoon using ultrasound and enzymatic treatment and its suppression of solar ultraviolet-induced skin inflammation

Silk fibroin, which is derived from sericin through degumming, is mainly used as a biomaterial. However, interest in functional verification and industrial applications of sericin has been growing for several years. We used ultrasonication to simplify the extraction process of the silk peptide under low salt conditions at 20 °C, instead of using the conventional conditions of high salt and temperature. The concentration of the silk peptide was measured to determine the optimized extraction time and solvent, which were 4 h and 0.1 N NaOH, respectively. The molecular weight of the enzyme-treated silk peptide was measured using SDS-PAGE and GPC. Silk peptide treated with papain after ultrasound had a molecular weight of less than 5 kDa, and the papain treated-silk peptide reduced solar ultraviolet-induced COX-2 expression through inhibition of ERK phosphorylation. This is the first study investigating simultaneous extraction of fibroin and sericin, which can be used for mass production of food materials.     

Hydrogen bonding and clusters in supercritical methanol–water mixture by neutron diffraction with H/D substitution combined with empirical potential structure refinement modelling

ABSTRACT

Neutron diffraction measurements of H/D isotopic substitution have been performed for seven H/D substituted methanol-water mixtures of 0.3?mol fraction of methanol (x_M) under the supercritical (618?K, 100?MPa) and ambient (298?K, 0.1?MPa) conditions. The seven structure factors obtained were subjected to an empirical potential structure refinement (EPSR) modelling to derive all site-site pair correlation functions, coordination number distributions, spatial density functions, and cluster distributions. Water has a four coordinated structure in the first coordination shell under both ambient and supercritical conditions; however, the spatial density distribution of water molecules in the second coordination shell is delocalised under the supercritical condition. The mean coordination number of all atomic pairs with hydrophilic interactions decreases in the supercritical state. On the other hand, the mean coordination number of interactions between the hydrophobic part of methanol and water molecule is less sensitive to temperature. In the supercritical condition, water clusters with a wide size distribution are generated in a methanol-water mixture as well as in pure water. Since the critical temperature of a methanol-water mixture is lower than that of pure water, it can be concluded that the addition of methanol can generate fragment water clusters at a lower temperature.     

Raman and surface enhanced Raman scattering of a black dyed silk

The Raman and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of a black dyed silk sample (BDS) were registered. The spectral analysis was performed on the basis of Raman and SERS spectral data of isolated samples of Bombyx mori silk fibroin, its motif peptide component (GAGAGS) and the synthetic reactive black 5 dye (RB5). The macro FT‐Raman spectrum of the silk sample is consistent with a silk II‐Cp crystalline fraction of Bombyx mori silk fibroin; the SERS spectrum is highly consistent with conformational modifications of the fibroin due to the interactions with the Ag nanoparticles. The GAGAGS peptide sequence dominates the Raman spectrum of the silk. The SERS spectrum of the peptide suggests a random coil conformation imposed by the surface interaction; the serine residue in the new conformation is exposed to the surface. Quantum chemical calculations for a model of the GAGAGS–Ag surface predict a nearly extended conformation at the Ag surface. The Raman spectrum of the dye was analysed, and a complete band assignment was proposed; it was not possible to propose a preferential orientation or organization of the molecule on the metal surface. Quantum chemical calculations for a model of the dye interacting with a silver surface predict a rather coplanar orientation of the RB5 on the Ag metal surface. The Raman spectrum of the BDS sample is dominated by signals from the dye; the general spectral behaviour indicates that the dye mainly interacts with the silk through the sulphone (–SO₂–) and sulphonate (–SO₂–O–) groups. Besides the presence of dye signals, mainly ascribed to the sulphone and sulphonate bands, the SERS spectrum of the BDS sample also displays bands belonging to the amino acids alanine, glycine, serine and particularly tyrosine. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of solvent on the cation-sensitive fluorescence of polyanions bearing 4′-acryloylbenzo-18-crown-6 Units

Changes in the fluorescence intensity of polyanions bearing 4-acryloylbenzo-18-crown-6 units on the addition of cations were studied in a mixed solvent of methanol and water at 30°C. The sensitivity of the change in fluorescence intensities of the polymers toward cations was strongly enhanced compared to that of the corresponding model compound. When alkali metal cations were added, the fluorescence intensity of the polymers decreased in the orders Li⁺>Na⁺>Cs⁺>Rb⁺>K⁺ in a methanol-water (19) mixture and Li⁺>Na⁺>Rb⁺>K⁺Cs⁺ in a methanol-water (91) mixture. Alkaline earth metal cations and alkylamine hydrochlorides decreased the fluorescence intensity of the polymers in a methanol-water (19) mixture. The cation-dependent decrease in the fluorescence intensity of the polymers was affected by the water fraction in a mixed solvent of methanol and water.     

The effect of halogen substitution on the structure and electronic spectra of fluorone dyes

By means of the B3LYP density functional method with the use of the polarized continuum model PCM, we have performed quantum-chemical computations of the electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra of fluorone dianions: fluorescein, dibromofluorescein, eosin, erythrosine, and Rose Bengal in vacuum and methanol. We have revealed conformational features of the structure of fluorone dianions (charge redistribution, changes in the bond lengths and angles between bonds) second by the halogen substitution, the transition from the ground state to an excited state, and the change of the solvent (vacuum-methanol). Absorption and fluorescence wavelengths, constant dipole moments, transition dipole moments, and oscillator strengths have been calculated. We have showed that, upon halogenation of fluorones, the absorption spectra are redshifted and the Stokes shift decreases, which is qualitatively consistent with experimental results.     

Protein dynamical transition does not require protein structure

Terahertz time domain spectroscopy shows that the protein dynamical transition, the rapid increase in protein dynamics occurring at approximately 200 K, needs neither tertiary nor secondary structure. Further, short chain alanine studies find a dynamical transition down to penta-alanine, with no transition observed for di-alanine or tri-alanine. These results reveal the temperature dependence arises strictly from the side-chain interaction with the solvent. The lack of a transition for shorter chain peptides may indicate a qualitative change in this interaction occurs at a specific peptide chain length.     

Affinity of protein fibres towards sulfation

Wool, Bombyx mori and Antheraea pernyi (Tussah) silk fibres were treated with chlorosulfonic acid in pyridine and investigated by FT‐IR and FT‐Raman spectroscopies as well as mechanical measurements. The reactivity towards sulfation was found to decrease along the series: wool > Bombyx mori silk fibroin > Tussah silk fibroin, in agreement with weight gain which decreased along the same series. Accordingly, Tussah silk maintained its intrinsic tensile properties essentially unchanged upon the treatment, while for Bombyx mori silk fibroin, the tensile performance decreased sharply especially at longer reaction times. Sulfated wool was characterized by an increased fibre extensibility. New IR and Raman bands attributable to various vibrations of sulfated groups were detected in sulfated wool and to a lower extent in Bombyx mori silk fibroin fibres; all the fibres underwent conformational rearrangements upon sulfation, independent of the sulfation yield. Wool fibres treated with chlorosulfonic acid in pyridine bound considerable amounts of sulfate mainly through the hydroxyl groups of serine, threonine and tyrosine. Also, tryptophan and basic amino acids were found to participate to the reaction. B. mori silk fibroin fibres appeared to bind a minor amount of sulfate groups mainly trough the hydroxyl groups of Ser. Weight gain, spectroscopic and mechanical data are discussed in relation to the difference in fibre morphology, structure and crystallinity, as well as to the amount and accessibility of potentially reactive amino acids. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.