Nonribosomal peptide synthesis in animals: the cyclodipeptide synthase of Nematostella

Cyclodipeptide synthases (CDPSs) are small enzymes structurally related to class-I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs). They divert aminoacylated tRNAs from their canonical role in ribosomal protein synthesis, for cyclodipeptide formation. All the CDPSs experimentally characterized to date are?bacterial. We show here that a predicted CDPS from the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis is an active CDPS catalyzing the formation of various cyclodipeptides, preferentially containing tryptophan. Our findings demonstrate that eukaryotes encode active CDPSs and suggest that all CDPSs have?a similar aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-like architecture and ping-pong mechanism. They also raise questions about the biological roles of the cyclodipeptides produced in bacteria and eukaryotes.     

Separation of chlorins and carotenoids in capillary electrophoresis

The present study reports the investigation of capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the separation of the photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll derivatives as well as carotenoids) together. Various CE methods, such as micellar electrokinetic chromatography, capillary electrokinetic chromatography, and nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE) are tested, with coated and uncoated capillary columns to evaluate optimal separation conditions using diode array detection. The effect of different type and composition of organic solvents and surfactants on the separation is discussed. Detection limits are found in the range of 1.14-2.45 ppm. According to the system suitability results, the most effective separation is observed using NACE with Aliquat 336 as cationic surfactant in coated capillary and mixture of MeOH-ACN-THF (5:4:1, v/v/v) as solvent. Quantitative evolution is investigated, and recovery percentage values are found to be 96.7-102%.     

2p Photoabsorption in amorphous,trigonal and monoclinic selenium

The 2p photoabsorption spectra of amorphous and polycrystalline trigonal and α-monoclinic selenium have been studied. Our experimental results, accounting for the transition probabilities and inner level broadening, are in qualitative agreement with Kramer's pseudo-potential formalism calculations of the density of unoccupied states. The amorphous selenium spectrum seems intermediate between the two crystalline form spectra and we deduce that both trigonal chains and monoclinic rings are randomly distributed in the amorphous phase.     

Blends of carbon blacks and multiwall carbon nanotubes as reinforcing fillers for hydrocarbon rubbers

The reinforcement of a styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR) by single fillers—carbon black (CB) or multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)—or by mixtures of CB and MWNTs, is investigated. The morphologies, mechanical and electrical properties of the composites, are analyzed. A significant improvement in the tensile properties is observed for samples containing a dual phase. Using atomic force (AFM) and transmission electron (TEM) microscopies, we demonstrate that the double loading improves the dispersion of the nanotubes in SBR. Electrical measurements show lower resistivity and a lower percolation threshhold for composites containing blends of fillers, which provides further evidence of better dispersion. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 46: 1939–1951, 2008     

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Electronic structure of red amorphous phosphorus studied by X-ray spectroscopy

A SXS study of occupied and unoccupied 3p states of semiconducting red amorphous phosphorus is presented. It is shown that in the upper part of the valence band, partially hybridized sp spates are present among p pure states, whereas the bottom of the valence band is almost s-like. The results are discussed in connection with theoretical data available for black phosphorus.     

An inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy study of the adsorption of CO on Rh

Inelastic Electron Tunneling Spectroscopy of CO adsorbed on alumina supported Rh allows the observation of the low frequency metal-carbon vibrational modes (~1000 cm^?1) that cannot be seen by Infrared Spectroscopy. We present a preliminary attempt to assign the modes observed, using istopic shifts $\text{C}{}^{16}\text{O}\text{C}{}^{18}\text{O}$.     

Preparation and Crystal Structure Determination of the New Intermetallic Compound RbGa3

The compound has tetragonal symmetry, space group I4 m2 with: a=b=6.315(2) and c = 15.000(2) Å and contains 6 formula units. Diffraction data with 0 < 2θ < 50° (MoKα radiation) were collected on a Nonius CAD-4 automatic diffractometer within the octant hkl. The structure was solved by Patterson synthesis and refined by full-matrix least squares to a final R(F) of 4.9% for 159 independent reflections with I > 3σ(I). The structure consists of a stacking of gallium triangular-faced dodecahedra linked to each others through direct and bifurcated Ga? Ga bonds in a non-compact netting leaving room for a sublattice of rubidium atoms with shortened Rb? Rb distances.