The crystal and molecular structures of bis (pentafluorophenyl)disulphide and bis(pentafluorophenyl)diselenide

The structures of (C₆F₅)₂S₂ and (C₆F₅)₂Se₂ have been determined by single crystal, X-ray diffraction techniques. The compounds are isostructural although the molecules are packed differently in the crystal in comparison with their phenyl analogues. Important bond lengths and angles are: SS, 2.059(4)Å; SeSe, 2.319(4)Å; SC, 1.770Å; SeC, 1.910(15)Å; SSC, 101.3(3)°; SeSeC, 98.8(1)°.     

Identification of small molecule inhibitors that distinguish between non-transferrin bound iron uptake and transferrin-mediated iron transport

Chemical genetics is an emerging field that takes advantage of combinatorial chemical and small molecule libraries to dissect complex biological processes. Here we establish a fluorescence-based assay to screen for inhibitors of iron uptake by mammalian cells. Using this approach, we screened the National Cancer Institute's Diversity Set library for inhibitors of non-transferrin bound iron uptake. This screen identified 10 novel small molecule inhibitors of iron transport with IC(50) values that ranged from 5 to 30 microM. Of these ten compounds, only two blocked uptake of iron mediated by transferrin. Thus, this study characterizes the first small molecule inhibitors that distinguish between different pathways of iron transport.     

Thermal degradation of aramids: Part I—Pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of poly(1,3-phenylene isophthalamide) and poly(1,4-phenylene terephthalamide)

The thermal degradation reactions of poly(1,3-phenylene isophthalamide) or Nomex (I) and poly(1,4-phenylene terephthalamide) or Kevlar (II) aramids have been investigated in the temperature range 300–700°C by pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The initial degradation products below 400°C of (I) are carbon dioxide and water. At 400°C benzoic acid and 1,3-phenylenediamine are detected. Benzonitrile, aniline, benzanilide, N-(3-aminophenyl)benzamide as well as carbon monoxide and benzene are evolved in the range 430–450°C. The yields of these products increase rapidly in the range 450–550°C. Isophthalonitrile is observed at 475°C and hydrogen cyanide is detected above 550°C, as are other secondary products such as toluene, tolunitrile, biphenyl, 3-cyanobiphenyl and 3-aminobiphenyl. Pyrolysis of (II) below 500°C evolves only water and trace amounts of carbon dioxide. At 520–540°C the following degradation products have been detected: 1,4-phenylenediamine, benzonitrile, aniline, benzanilide and N-(4-aminophenyl)benzamide. These products as well as carbon dioxide and water increase appreciably between 550°C and 580°C; benzoic acid, terephthalonitrile, benzene and 4-cyanoaniline are also detected in this temperature range. Above 590°C, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, toluene, tolunitrile, biphenyl, 4-aminobiphenyl and 4-cyanobiphenyl are evolved. Degradation reactions consistent with the formation of these products, which involve initial heterolytic cleavage of the amide linkage for (I) and initial homolytic cleavage of the aromatic NH and amide bonds for (II), are described.     

Cu3(mu-S)2]3+ clusters supported by N-donor ligands: progress toward a synthetic model of the catalytic site of nitrous oxide reductase

By treating Cu(I) complexes of neutral, bidentate N-donor ligands with S8, clusters with novel delocalized mixed-valence [Cu3(mu-S)2]3+ cores have been isolated. X-ray crystal structures and UV-vis and resonance Raman spectral features of these clusters reveal similarities to the tetracopper-sulfide "CuZ" site in nitrous oxide reductase. A delocalized S = 1 ground state for the mixed-valent CuIIICu2II cores is supported by the observation of high symmetry in the X-ray structures and 10-line hyperfine features arising from coupling to three equivalent Cu ions in EPR spectra obtained at room temperature (shown) and 10 K. The delocalization we observe contrasts with the localization reported previously for a [Cu3(mu-O)2]3+ analogue (Root, D. E.; Henson, M. J.; Machonkin, T.; Mukherjee, P.; Stack, T. D. P.; Solomon, E. I. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 4982), which we rationalized through DFT calculations.     

Approximate molecular orbital theory for inorganic molecules

As a first stage in the development of a suitable molecular orbital method for treating inorganic systems, we consider the possible integral approximations that may be made to reduce the complexity of the computation. The significance of invariance of the approximations to different transformations is discussed and the effect of various levels of neglect of differential overlap is analysed by the S-expansion technique. A method — the many-centre ZDO method — that is computationally feasible but contains more information than the widely used CNDO approximation is given particular consideration.

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Zusammenfassung Als erste Stufe in der Entwicklung einer geeigneten Molekular-orbital-Methode für die Behandlung anorganischer Systeme untersuchen wir mögliche IntegralnÄherungen, die geeignet sind, die Berechnungen zu vereinfachen. Die Bedeutung der Invarianz der NÄherungen unter verschiedenen Transformationen wird diskutiert und der Einflu\ verschiedener Stufen der VernachlÄssigung der differentiellen überlappung wird mit der S-Entwicklungstechnik analysiert. Einer Methode, der Vielzentren-ZDO-Methode, die rechnerisch gut durchführbar ist, aber mehr an Information enthÄlt als die meistens benutzte CNDO-NÄherung, wird besondere Beachtung geschenkt.

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Résumé Dans une première étape lors du développement d'une méthode d'orbitales moléculaires convenant aux systèmes inorganiques, nous envisageons les approximations possible pour les intégrales. On discute la signification de l'invariance des ces approximations par rapport à différentes transformations et l'on analyse par la technique du développement en S l'effet des différents niveaux d'approximation du recouvrement différentiel nul. On considère en particular une méthode — la méthode ZDO polycentrique-quis'avère réalisable numériquementtout en contenant plus d'information que l'approximation CNDO couramment utilisée.

     

DESTRUCTION OF PHOTOREACTIVATING ENZYME BY 365 nm RADIATION*

Abstract— Following the observation that in vivo photoreactivation of 365-nm-induced pyrimidine dimers could not be observed chemically, a study was made of the inactivation of photoreactivating enzyme activity by this near-ultraviolet wavelength. It was observed that: (1) Dimers induced in extracted bacterial DNA by 365 nm radiation are completely photoreactivable and are monomerized as an exponential function of the photoreactivation time. (2) Photoreactivability of 254-nm-induced damage in Escherichia coli B/r Hcr is progressively destroyed in vivo as a function of the dose of 365 nm radiation. (3) The ability of the yeast photoreactivating enzyme to monomerize dimers induced at 365 nm in bacterial DNA is destroyed in vitro as a function of the dose of 365 nm radiation, and at a rate comparable to killing of E. coli. These results are consistent with biological measurements which indicate that photoreactivability of ultraviolet (near and far) lethal damage is reduced by exposure of the bacteria to 365 nm radiation.     

Alloxazines and isoalloxazines. Mass spectrometric analysis of riboflavin and related compounds

The positive ion electron-impact mass spectra of a series of alloxazines, iso-alloxazines and some derivatives have been examined. The compounds employed were lumichrome (7,8-dimethylalloxazine), 1,3-dimethyllumichrome, lumiflavin (7,8,10-trimethyl-iso-alloxazine), 3-methyllumiflavin, riboflavin [7,8-dimethyl-10-(D-1′-ribityl)-iso-alloxazine], riboflavin tetraacetate, 3-methylriboflavin tetraacetate and riboflavin tetrapropionate. By using exact mass measurements, metastable ion defocusing and the mass/composition shifts occurring with derivatives, it has been possible to arrive at detailed interpretations of the mass spectra of all compounds. With lumichrome and lumiflavin, fragmentation commences by elimination of HNCO from the pyrimidine ring. With riboflavin and its derivatives the ribityl chain cleaves off first, followed by decomposition of the iso-alloxazine ring. Application of these methods and findings to the structural analysis of chemically interesting modified flavins is predicted to be rewarding.     

Estimation of binding constants between ristocetin and teicoplanin and peptides using on-column ligand derivatization coupled to affinity capillary electrophoresis

This work utilizes on-column ligand synthesis and affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) to determine binding constants (K_b) of 9-flourenylmethyloxy carbonyl (Fmoc)-amino acid derivatives to the glycopeptide antibiotics ristocetin (Rist) and teicoplanin (Teic). In this technique, two separate plugs of sample are injected on to the capillary column and electrophoresed. The initial sample plug contains a d-Ala-d-Ala terminus peptide and either one or two non-interacting standard(s). The second plug contains a Fmoc-amino acid-N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester. The electrophoresis is then carried out with an increasing concentration of Rist or Teic in the running buffer. Upon electrophoresis the initial d-Ala-d-Ala peptide reacts with the Fmoc-amino acid yielding a new Fmoc-amino acid-d-Ala-d-Ala peptide derivative. Continued electrophoresis results in the binding of Rist or Teic to the Fmoc-amino acid-d-Ala-d-Ala peptide derivatives. Analysis of the change in the relative migration time ratio (RMTR) or electrophoretic mobility () of the Fmoc-amino acid-d-Ala-d-Ala peptide derivatives relative to the non-interacting standards, as a function of the concentration of Rist and Teic, yields a value for K_b. These findings demonstrate the advantage of coupling on-column ligand synthesis to ACE for estimating binding parameters between antibiotics and ligands.Abbreviations Rist Ristocetin - Teic Teicoplanin - ACE Affinity capillary electrophoresis - RMTR Relative migration time ratio     

Lipid modifications of a Ras peptide exhibit altered packing and mobility versus host membrane as detected by 2H solid-state NMR

The human N-ras protein binds to cellular membranes by insertion of two covalently bound posttranslational lipid modifications, which is crucial for its function in signal transduction and cell proliferation. Mutations in ras may lead to unregulated cell growth and eventually cancer, making it an important therapeutic target. Here we have investigated the molecular details of the membrane binding mechanism. A heptapeptide derived from the C-terminus of the human N-ras protein was synthesized including two hexadecyl modifications. Solid-state 2H NMR was used to determine the packing and molecular dynamics of the ras lipid chains as well as the phospholipid matrix. Separately labeling the chains of the peptide and the phospholipids with 2H enabled us to obtain atomically resolved parameters relevant to their structural dynamics. While the presence of ras only marginally affected the packing of DMPC membranes, dramatically lower order parameters (S(CD)) were observed for the ras acyl chains indicating modified packing properties. Essentially identical projected lengths of the 16:0 ras chains and the 14:0 DMPC chains were found, implying that the polypeptide backbone is located at the lipid-water interface. Dynamical properties of both the ras and phospholipid chains were determined from spin-lattice 2H relaxation (R1Z) measurements. Plots of R1Z rates versus the corresponding squared segmental order parameters revealed striking differences. We propose the ras peptide is confined to microdomains containing DMPC chains which are in exchange with the bulk bilayer on the 2H NMR time scale (approximately 10(-5) s). Compared to the host DMPC matrix, the ras lipid modifications are extremely flexible and undergo relatively large amplitude motions. It is hypothesized that this flexibility is a requirement for the optimal anchoring of lipid-modified proteins to cellular membranes.