Small-angle scattering study of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus awamori</Emphasis> glycoprotein glucoamylase

Glucoamylase from fungus Aspergillus awamori is glycoside hydrolase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of α-1,4- and α-1,6-glucosidic bonds in glucose polymers and oligomers. This glycoprotein consists of a catalytic domain and a starch-binding domain connected by an O-glycosylated polypeptide chain. The conformation of the linker, the relative arrangement of the domains, and the structure of the full-length enzyme are unknown. The structure of the recombinant glucoamylase GA1 was studied by molecular modelling and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) methods. The experimental SANS data provide evidence that glucoamylase exists as a monomer in solution and contains a glycoside component, which makes a substantial contribution to the scattering. The model of full-length glucoamylase, which was calculated without taking into account the effect of glycosylation, is consistent with the experimental data and has a radius of gyration of 33.4 ± 0.6 Å.     

A New <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Dimethyl Purine from an Australian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dictyoceratid Sponge</Emphasis>

Abstract  

N6-methyl mucronatine (C₈H₁₂N₅O) has been isolated from a dictyoceratid sponge collected in South East Queensland. The solid state structure of the new metabolite (I) was confirmed by X-ray crystallography, while an NMR study in d ₄-MeOH reveals the presence of a minor tautomer identified as (II).     

Structural Features of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ortho</Emphasis>-hydroxy Bis-phenols and Their Comparison with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Para</Emphasis>-hydroxy Bis-phenols

Abstract The crystal structures of four bis-phenols are reported to substantiate the fact that the weak interactions play a major role in the crystal packing of bis-phenols. The reaction of 2,4-dimethylphenol with aldehydes such as 2-naphthaldehyde, terephthaldehyde in the presence of trifluoracetic acid gave 2-[bis(2-hydroxy 3,5-dimethylphenyl)methyl]naphthalene (1) and 4-[bis(2-hydroxy 3,5-dimethylphenyl) methyl]benzaldehyde (2), respectively. The 2-[bis-(2-hydroxy 3,5-dimethylphenyl)-methyl]naphthalene (1) crystallizes in orthorhombic, Pbca, a = 11.905(3) ?, b = 18.788(5) ?, c = 18.894(5) ?, 4-[bis(2-hydroxy 3,5-dimethylphenyl)methyl] benzaldehyde (2) in monoclinic, Cc, a = 8.880(3) ?, b = 16.394(7) ?, c = 13.700(5) ?, γ = 104.542(2)°. The reaction of 2-nitrobenzaldehyde with 2,4-dimethylphenol gave 2-benzo[c] isoxazo-3-yl 4,6-dimethylphenol (3) and its crystal parameters are orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁, a = 7.737(6) ?, b = 11.885(9) ?, c = 13.336(8) ?. The reaction of 2,6-dimethylphenol with 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and 2-chlorobenzaldehyde gave bis(4-hydroxy 3,5-dimethylphenyl)(4-nitrophenyl)methane (4) and bis(4-hydroxy 3,5-dimethylphenyl)(2-chlorophenyl)methane (5), respectively. The bis(4-hydroxy 3,5dimethylphenyl)(4-nitrophenyl)methane (4) crystallizes in monoclinic, C2/c, a = 25.921(1) ?, b = 12.202(4) ?, c = 15.6084(7) ?, β = 122.172(4)°, and bis(4-hydroxy 3,5-dimethylphenyl) (2-chlorophenyl)methane crystallizes as acetonitrile solvate (5) in triclinic, P-1, a = 12.314(3) ?, b = 14.111(3) ?, c = 15.078(5) ?, α = 98.268(2)°, β = 111.268(2)°, γ = 114.304(1)˚. The unit cell of 5 contains two pairs of crystallographically unsymmetric molecules of bis-phenols. Index abstract The crystal structures of four bis-phenols are reported to substantiate the fact that the weak interactions plays a major role in crystal packing and can induce symmetry non-equivalence among bis-phenols in unit cell of bis-phenols.      

Electron diffraction study of 1<Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis> illites with interstratified <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-vacant 2 : 1 layers

Illites from the volcanogenic Zn-Au-Ag sulfide deposit Galkinskoe (Northern Urals) have been investigated using oblique-texture electron diffraction patterns in combination with the simulation of diffraction effects. Along with single-phase tv/cv1M illites, the structures of which are formed by statistically interstratified dioctahedral 2: 1 layers with vacant trans- or cis-octahedra, illites in the form of a mixture of two interstratified tv/cv1M phases, with the dominance of tv- or cv layers, are identified. It is shown that in the latter case the diffraction pattern can also be interpreted within the single-phase tv/cv model, provided that the tv- and cv layers are distributed with some tendency to segregate. The structural features indicating the preference of the two-phase model are analyzed.     

Crystal Structure of Two <Emphasis Type="Italic">V</Emphasis>-shaped Ligands with <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Heterocycles

Two V-shaped ligands with N-heterocycles, bis(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl) phenyl)methanone (1), and bis(4-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)methanone (2) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Crystal structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The crystal of 1 is monoclinic, sp. gr. P2₁/c, Z = 4. The crystal of 2 is orthorhombic, sp. gr. Fdd2, Z = 8. X-ray diffraction analyses show that the V-shaped angles of 1 and 2 are 122.72(15)° and 120.7(4)°, respectively. Intermolecular C–H···O, C–H···N, C–H···π, and π···π interactions link the components into three-dimensional networks in the crystal structures.     

Internal deformations in substitutional quaternary solid solution <Emphasis Type="Italic">A</Emphasis><Superscript>3</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis><Superscript>5</Superscript>

A model that describes the bond-length distributions in quaternary A³B⁵ solid solutions and allows one to consider large clusters using a minimum of computational resources is suggested. The analytical expression for the radial-distribution function is obtained. The results of the modeling describe the known experimental data well. For a number of solid solutions, the deformation energy is evaluated in the approximation of the valent force field. It is shown that the main contribution to the energy comes from the bond-length dispersion.     

X-ray analysis of sideroxol from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sideritis leptoclada</Emphasis>

Sideroxol (1), a kaurane diterpene which has the ent-7α,18-dihydroxy-15β,16β-epoxykaurane structure (MW = 320.47, C₂₀H₃₂O₃) was obtained from the acetone extract of Sideritis leptoclada plant as well as from some other Sideritis species. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2₁, 2₁, 2₁ with a = 10.967(3), b = 24.555(5), c = 6.372(4) Å, Dc = 1.240 g cm⁻³, Z = 4, and refines to R = 0.065 for 721 independent reflections. The skeleton consists of three fused six-membered rings and a five-membered ring with fused epoxide. The six membered rings exhibited slightly distorted chair conformation. In addition to sideroxol, two kaurane and five kaurene diterpenes were isolated from the hexane and acetone extracts of the studied plant.     

Structure of 6,13-bis(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethylcarbamoyl) thioquinanthrene

The crystal structure of 6,13-bis-(N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl)thioquinanthrene 3 has been determined as monoclinic, with space group P2(1)/c with lattice parameters a = 10.044(2) Å, b = 21.385(4) Å, c = 10.889(3) Å, = 102.92(3)°, Z = 4 and D_calc = 1.342 Mg/m³. The middle 1,4-dithiin ring in the title compound 3, C₂₄H₂₀N₄O₂S₂ is in a boat conformation with the dihedral angle between the planes of the aromatic rings 132.45(8)°.     

Structure of Triammonium <Emphasis Type="Italic">fac</Emphasis>-Trichloridotrioxidorhenate(VII) Chloride with <Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis><Subscript>3<Emphasis Type="Italic">v</Emphasis></Subscript> Crystallographic Symmetry of the Complex Anion

Abstract  

The unstable crystals of triammonium fac-trichloridotrioxidorhenate(VII) chloride have been obtained from ammonium rhenate(VII) solution in concentrated hydrochloric acid. The crystal structure consists of fac-trichloridotrioxidorhenate(VII) anions, chloride anions and ammonium cations. Each fac-trichloridotrioxidorhenate(VII) anion and each chloride anion lies in special position of 3m site symmetry (cell parameters: a = 9.026(3) Å; c = 7.690(4) Å; space group: P6₃ mc). The ammonium cation lies in special position of m site symmetry. The following anion geometrical parameters of the fac-trichloridotrioxidorhenate(VII) anion have been obtained: Re–O bond length of 1.720(2) Å, Re–Cl bond length of 2.5428(9) Å, the bond angles: O–Re–O of 103.5(1)° and Cl–Re–Cl of 79.8(1)°.     

Crystal and Molecular Structures of Di-1-Adamantylthiophosphinic Chloride, <Emphasis Type="Italic">P</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">P</Emphasis>-Diphenyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Benzyl Phosphinothioic- and Selenoic- Amides

Abstract  Synthesis and X-ray structural determination of three phosphorus compounds are reported. (3b) is monoclinic P2(1)/c with a = 11.852(1), b = 12.825(1), c = 12.445(1) ?, β = 103.693(1)o; (4a) and (4b) are monoclinic P2(1)/n with a = 12.1422(16), b = 9.0860(12), c = 14.845(2) ?, β = 96.498(3)o for (4a), and a = 12.2714(16), b = 9.2812(12), c = 14.800(2) ?, β = 97.176(2)o for (4b). They all exhibit distorted tetrahedral geometry about the P atom. Ph₂P(X)NHC₇H₇ (X=S (4a) and X=Se (4b)) show typical P–S and P–Se double bond distances and P–N single bonds, while P–S bond in 1-Ad₂P(S)Cl (3b) is comparable to P–S single bonded probably due to the largeness of 1-adamantyl groups. Graphical Abstract  Synthesis and X-ray structural determination of 1-Ad₂P(S)Cl (3b), Ph₂P(S)NHC₇H₇ (4a) and Ph₂P(Se)NHC₇H₇ (4b) are reported.      

2<Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis> quasi-periodic Rauzy tiling as a section of 3<Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis> periodic tiling

A method for constructing a 2D quasi-periodic Rauzy tiling Til as a section of some 3D periodic tiling Til ^3D is considered. The translation lattice of the tiling Til ^3D and its connectivity graph are constructed using the discrete modeling of packings. The calculation of the layer-by-layer growth polyhedron for the tiling Til ^3D made it possible to estimate from upper the shape of a growth polygon for the tiling Til. As a result, the growth shape in six out of eight growth sectors has been rigorously proven. A set of quasi-periodic tilings (locally indistinguishable from the Rauzy tiling Til), including seven centrosymmetric tilings, has been obtained.     

Comparative analysis of spatial organization of laccases from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cerrena maxima</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coriolus zonatus</Emphasis>

Laccase (oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.10.3.2) belongs to the multicopper oxidase family. The main function of this enzyme is to perform electron transfer from the oxidized substrate through the mononuclear copper-containing site T1 to the oxygen molecule bound to the site T3 in the trinuclear T2/T3 cluster. The structures of two new fungal laccases from C. maxima and C. zonatus were solved on the basis of synchrotron X-ray diffraction data. Both laccases show high structural homology with laccases from other sources. The role of the carbohydrate component of laccases in structure stabilization and formation of ordered protein crystals was demonstrated. In the structures of C. maxima and C. zonatus laccases, two water channels of functional importance were found and characterized. The structural results reported in the present study characterize one of the functional states of the enzyme fixed in the crystal structure.     

Nanoclusters based on pentagondodecahedra with shells in the form of <Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis>32, <Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis>42, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis>50 deltahedra in crystal structures of intermetallic compounds

The TOPOS software package has been used to form a database of intermetallic compounds containing pentagondodecahedral d clusters (528 crystal structures of intermetallic compounds, 111 topological types, and 47 space symmetry groups). On the whole, 606 atomic d configurations have been selected which are described by 14 point symmetry groups. Examples of nanoclusters are presented which are precursors of the crystal structures of intermetallic compounds with the outer shell in the form of deltahedra D, which are formed above dodecahedra. These nanoclusters are identified in the automatic mode of structural data processing: D32 (K₈In₆Ge₄₀, Cs₃₀Na₃Sn₁₆₂), D ₄₂ (Ru₃Be₁₇, Y₃Cd₁₈, Ca₃(Cd₁₇Al)), and D ₅₀ (Yb₃Zn₁₈, Ce₃(Au₁₄Sn₃), Pr₃Cd₁₈, Eu₄Cd₂₅), where 32, 42, and 50 are the numbers of atoms in the shell. Similar deltahedra were found previously in icosahedral nanoclusters (precursors of intermetallic compounds). Structures with the dodecahedral nanocluster precursors containing D42 and D50 deltahedra are approximants of MCd_5.7 (M = Yb or Ca) quasicrystals and belong to the family of MCd₆ (M = Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Yb, Y, or Ca).     

Crystal Structure and Conformational Analysis of 4-[(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Dimethylamino)Benzylidene]-2-Phenyloxazole-5-One

Abstract  

Molecular and crystal structure of 4-[(p-N,N-dimethylamino)benzylidene]-2-phenyloxazol-5-one, C₁₈H₁₆N₂O₂, have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The title compound is monoclinic, with a = 12.1704(23) ?, b = 3.9810(5) ?, c = 30.9603(56) ?, β = 101.176(15)°, Z = 4, D _x = 1.32 g/cm³, μ(Mo Kα) = 0.087 mm⁻¹, and space group is P12₁/c1. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to a final R = 0.047 for 3166 reflections with I > 2σ(I). The crystal structure is stabilized by C–H⋯O and C–H⋯N type intra-molecular, C–H⋯O type inter-molecular interactions. To enlighten the flexibility and the geometric isomerism (E or Z) of the title compound, the selected torsion angle is varied from −180 to 180° in every 10° separately and molecular energy profile is calculated and analyzed.     

Structure of octaheme cytochrome <Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis> nitrite reductase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thioalkalivibrio nitratireducens</Emphasis> in a complex with phosphate

Octaheme cytochrome c nitrite reductase from Thioalkalivibrio nitratireducens (TvNiR) catalyzes the reduction of nitrite and hydroxylamine to ammonia. The structures of the free enzyme and of the enzyme in complexes with the substrate (nitrite ion) and the inhibitor (azide ion) have been solved previously. In this study we report the structures of the oxidized complex of TvNiR with phosphate and of this complex reduced by europium(II) chloride (1.8- and 2.0-Å resolution, the R factors are 15.9 and 16.7%, respectively) and the structure of the enzyme in the complex with cyanide (1.76-Å resolution, the R factor is 16.5%), which was prepared by soaking a crystal of the oxidized phosphate complex of TvNiR. In the active site of the enzyme, the phosphate ion binds to the iron ion of the catalytic heme and to the side chains of the catalytic residues Arg131, Tyr303, and His361. The cyanide ion is coordinated to the heme-iron ion and is hydrogen bonded to the residue His361. In the structure of reduced TvNiR, the phosphate ion is bound in the same manner as in the structure of oxidized TvNiR, and the nine_coordinated europium ion is located on the surface of one of the crystallographically independent monomers of the enzyme.     

Structure of cellulose <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acetobacter xylinum</Emphasis>

The data are presented on optimization of cellulose synthesis by Acetobacter xylinum (strain VKM V-880) and the structural characteristics of A. xylinum cellulose gel film synthesized during static cultivation. The structural changes caused by the removal of water from gel films are established and the structural organization of macromolecular chains in cellulose A. xylinum is studied.     

X-ray mapping in heterocyclic design: XV. Tricyclic heterocycles based on 2-oxo-2,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-cyclopenta[<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]pyridine-3-carbonitrile

The structures of five compounds are studied using single-crystal X-ray diffraction: 2-oxo-2,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopenta[b]pyridine-3-carbonitrile [a = 15.641(8) Å, b = 9.373(5) Å, c = 7.387(4) Å, β = 92.91(5)°, Z = 4, space group P2₁/c]; 1-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl]-2-oxo-2,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopenta[b]pyridine-3-carbonitrile [a = 4.728(4) Å, b = 28.035(11) Å, c = 11.184(3) Å, Z = 4, space group P2₁2₁2₁]; 2-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-oxoethoxy]-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridine-3-carbonitrile [a = 10.1202(13) Å, b = 11.2484(18) Å, c = 13.4323(19) Å, β = 102.05(1)°, Z = 4, space group P2₁/c]; 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3a, 6,7,8-tetrahydrocyclopenta[e][1.3]oxazolo[3.2-a]pyridine-4-carboxamide perchlorate [a = 7.702(2) Å, b = 9.599(3) Å, c = 23.798(5) Å, β = 93.44(2)°, Z = 4, space group P2₁/c]; and (3-amino-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]furo[3.2-e]pyridin-2-yl)(4-chlorophenyl)methanone [a = 7.3273(2) Å, b = 13.390(3) Å, c = 28.792(8) Å, Z = 8, space group Pbca]. The structures are solved using direct methods and refined by the full-matrix least-squares procedure in the anisotropic approximation to R = 0.0580, 0.0724, 0.0469, 0.0477, and 0.0418, respectively.     

Synthesis and structural studies of <Emphasis Type="Italic">tris</Emphasis>-2-chlorobenzylamine and <Emphasis Type="Italic">tris</Emphasis>-2-bromobenzylamine

The tris-2-chloro and 2-bromotribenzylamines are prepared from aqueous ammonia and 2-chlorobenzyl chloride and 2-bromobenzyl bromide, respectively, in ethanol. Recrystallization yielded colorless cubes of each product. The crystal structures are each solved in space group P , and are isostructural. The tris-2-chloro compound, 1, has a = 7.4226(5) Å, b = 9.0825(7) Å, c = 14.529(1) Å, = 78.279(1), = 82.389(1), = 84.661(1), and V = 948.41(12) ų with Z = 2, and d_calc = 1.368 Mg/m³. The tris-2-bromo analog, 2, has a = 7.6569(11) Å, b = 9.0922(13) Å, c = 14.614(2) Å, = 79.286(2), = 81.777(2), = 85.401(2), and V = 987.9(2) ų with Z = 2, and d_calc = 1.762 Mg/m³. Lithium–halogen exchange experiments conducted in tetrahydrofuran at –78C using n-butyl lithium revealed that no exchange occurred for the tris-2-chloro compound, but did occur for the tris-2-bromo analog to yield tribenzylamine upon quench and work-up.     

Relationship between the lengths of covalent and intermolecular bonds in <Emphasis Type="Italic">X</Emphasis>-H...<Emphasis Type="Italic">Y</Emphasis> bridges

The formula exp(−ln2((r ^XH − r ₀ ^XH)/(r _sym ^XH − r ₀ ^XH))^5/3) + exp(−ln2((r ^YH − r ₀ ^YH)/(r _sym ^YH − r ₀ ^YH))^5/3) = 1 is proposed, which relates the lengths of both covalent and hydrogen bonds in homo- and heterobridges. This formula is justified by the experimental data from the CSD bank, which was obtained by neutron diffraction for 108 O-H...N hydrogen bridges with bond angles exceeding 170°.     

Nanocrystalline <Emphasis Type="Italic">sp</Emphasis> <Superscript>2</Superscript> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">sp</Emphasis> <Superscript>3</Superscript> carbons: CVD synthesis and applications

The design and production of innovative materials based on nanocrystalline sp²- and sp³-coordinated carbons is presently a focus of the scientific community. We present a review of the nanostructures obtained in our labs using a series of synthetic routes, which make use of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques for the selective production of non-planar graphitic nanostructures, nanocrystalline diamonds, and hybrid two-phase nanostructures.