Structures of E. coli peptide deformylase bound to formate: insight into the preference for Fe2+ over Zn2+ as the active site metal

E. coli peptide deformylase (PDF) catalyzes the deformylation of nascent polypeptides generated during protein synthesis. While PDF was originally thought to be a zinc enzyme, subsequent studies revealed that the active site metal is iron. In an attempt to understand this unusual metal preference, high-resolution structures of Fe-, Co-, and Zn-PDF were determined in complex with its deformylation product, formate. In all three structures, the formate ion binds the metal and forms hydrogen-bonding interactions with the backbone nitrogen of Leu91, the amide side chain of Gln50, and the carboxylate side chain of Glu133. One key difference, however, is how the formate binds the metal. In Fe-PDF and Co-PDF, formate binds in a bidentate fashion, while in Zn-PDF, it binds in a monodentate fashion. Importantly, these structural results provide the first clues into the origins of PDF's metal-dependent activity differences. On the basis of these structures, we propose that the basis for the higher activity of Fe-PDF stems from the better ability of iron to bind and activate the tetrahedral transition state required for cleavage of the N-terminal formyl group.     

Advances in arsenic speciation techniques

The present review describes the speciation techniques of arsenic. The principal advanced techniques discussed are gas chromatography, reversed-phase liquid chromatography, ion chromatography, capillary electrophoresis. Some other techniques are also mentioned. The extraction procedures of arsenic species from unknown samples are also discussed. Arsenic speciation is summarized in tabular form and optimizing parameters are also discussed.     

Synthesis and characterization of a novel copolymer of glyoxal dihydrazone and glyoxal dihydrazone bis(dithiocarbamate) and application in heavy metal ion removal from water

We demonstrate synthesis of water insoluble, novel copolymer P_A1 from condensation of glyoxal dihydrazone and glyoxal dihydrazone bis(dithiocarbamate) monomers having high capacity to remove metal ions from aqueous solution. The presence of a high atomic percentage of nitrogen and sulfur atoms in P_A1 leads to strong ligating ability with metal ions. The monomers and the polymer have been characterized by FTIR, UV–Visible spectroscopy, CHNS elemental analysis, NMR, MALDI-MS, and TG/DTA. As a proof of concept, the P_A1 is tested for its ability to remove heavy metal ions Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Fe²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺, and CrO ₇ ^2? from aqueous solutions. P_A1 efficiently removed metals ions from the metal solutions. The highest absorption ability has been observed toward the iron salts where 0.969 g metal salt is absorbed by 1 g polymer. This study has implication for inexpensive and efficient polymer for purification of water.     

One-Pot Synthesis and Fungicidal Activity of Pyrimidinylidenamido- and Thiazolinylidenamidomonothiophosphoric Esters

A novel one-pot synthesis of four new classes of amidothiophosphoric esters and trisamidothiophosphoric esters is developed. (1-Alkyl-2-pyrimidinylidenamido)bis(diethylamido)thiophosphates, (1-alkyl-2-pyrimidinylidenamido)bis (O-2/4-methylphenyl)thiophosphates, (3-alkyl-2-thiazolinylidenamido)bis (diethylamido)thiophosphate and (3-alkyl-2-thiazolinylidenamido)bis(O-2/4-methylphenyl)thiophosphates are obtained from the nucleophilic substitution and oxidation of N-alkyl-2-cycloiminylidenaminodichlorophosphines generated in situ from the reaction of the corresponding N-alkyl-2-aminocycloiminium halide with phosphorus trichloride and triethylamine. The synthesized thiophosphoric esters have been investigated for fungicidal properties.     

SYNTHESIS AND SEMIEMPIRICAL CALCULATIONS OF THIAZOLIDINONE AND IMIDAZOLIDINONE DERIVATIVES OF α-DIONES

The condensation reactions of α-diones with rhodanine and creatinine to give acenaphthylidene, isatylidene and thioisatylidene derivatives, which may act as potential bioactive compounds, are described. The synthesized compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis and spectral studies, as well as by molecular modelling using PCWIN model.     

Patterning Flexible Substrates Using Surface Relief Structures in Azobenzene Functionalized Polymer Films

A novel method for maskless micro-patterning of polymeric substrates is presented. First, an azobenzene functionalized polymer film is spin-coated on a Poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) sheet. Then surface relief structures are optically inscribed on the polymer film by interference of laser beams. The patterned azobenzene functionalized film is then etched in the plasma chamber such that the gratings are transferred to the PET substrate. Finally, any remaining azobenzene functionalized polymer is dissolved away using an appropriate solvent. This method of patterning can be broadly applied to a variety of flexible/polymeric substrates and the resolution is not limited by the substrate thermo-mechanical properties.     

Thermodynamic investigation on M–Te–O (M = Sc, Y) system

The standard Gibbs energy of formation of M₂TeO₆ and M₆TeO₁₂ (where M = Sc, Y), was determined from its vapor pressure measurements by employing thermogravimetry-based transpiration technique. This technique was validated by measuring the vapor pressure of well-studied substances such as TeO₂(s) and CdCl₂(s). The temperature dependence of the vapor pressure of TeO₂(g) over the mixtures M₆TeO₁₂ + M₂O₃ (where M = Sc, Y), generated by the incongruent vaporization reaction, M₆TeO₁₂(s) → 3M₂O₃(s) + TeO₂(g) + ½O₂(g) were measured in the temperature range 1,413–1,473 K and 1,623–1,743 K for Sc₆TeO₁₂(s) and Y₆TeO₁₂(s), respectively. Similarly, the vapor pressure of TeO₂(g) over the mixtures M₂TeO₆(s) + M₆TeO₁₂(s) generated by the vaporization reaction, 3M₂TeO₆(s) → M₆TeO₁₂(s) + 2TeO₂(g) + O₂(g) was measured in the temperature range (1,223–1,293 K) and (1,333–1,423 K) for Sc₂TeO₆(s) and Y₂TeO₆(s), respectively. From the vapor pressure measurements, the standard Gibbs energy of formation of M₆TeO₁₂ and M₂TeO₆ were derived.     

Thermal analysis of interaction between 2-PAM chloride and various excipients in some binary mixtures by TGA and DSC

Pralidoxime chloride known as 2-PAM chloride is used as antidote for nerve agent’s poisoning. This study was undertaken to establish the compatibility of 2-PAM chloride with a number of commonly used excipients by using thermoanalytical technique viz., differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry/differential thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) used in pharmaceutical formulation. The TG and DSC both results demonstrated that polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, microcrestline cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, ethyl cellulose found to be compatible with 2-PAM chloride and chosen for the preparation of antidote against chemical warfare agents.     

Fe3O4 – Glutathione stabilized Ag nanoparticles: A new magnetically separable robust and facile catalyst for aqueous phase reduction of nitroarenes

The heterostructured Ag nanoparticles decorated Fe₃O₄ Glutathione (Fe₃O₄‐Glu‐Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by sonicating glutathione (Glu) with magnetite and further surface immobilization of silver NPs on it. The ensuing magnetic nano catalyst is well characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The prepared Fe₃O₄‐Glu‐Ag nanoparticles have proved to be an efficient and recyclable nanocatalyst with low catalyst loading for the reduction of nitroarenes and heteronitroarenes to respective amines in the presence of NaBH₄ using water as a green solvent which could be easily separated at the end of a reaction using an external magnet and can be recycled up to 5 runs without any significant loss in catalytic activity. Gram scale study for the reduction of 4‐NP has also being carried out successfully and it has been observed that this method can serve as an efficient protocol for reduction of nitroarenes on industrial level.