Thermodynamics of folding, stabilization, and binding in an engineered protein--protein complex

We analyzed the thermodynamics of a complex protein-protein binding interaction using the (engineered) Z(SPA)(-)(1) affibody and it's Z domain binding partner as a model. Free Z(SPA)(-)(1) exists in an equilibrium between a molten-globule-like (MG) state and a completely unfolded state, wheras a well-ordered structure is observed in the Z:Z(SPA)(-)(1) complex. The thermodynamics of the MG state unfolding equilibrium can be separated from the thermodynamics of binding and stabilization by combined analysis of isothermal titration calorimetry data and a separate van't Hoff analysis of thermal unfolding. We find that (i) the unfolding equilibrium of free Z(SPA)(-)(1) has only a small influence on effective binding affinity, that (ii) the Z:Z(SPA)(-)(1) interface is inconspicuous and structure-based energetics calculations suggest that it should be capable of supporting strong binding, but that (iii) the conformational stabilization of the MG state to a well-ordered structure in the Z:Z(SPA)(-)(1) complex is associated with a large change in conformational entropy that opposes binding.     

Zinc(II) and Mercury(II) Complexes of Pyrazole‐Based NNN‐Type Ligands: Syntheses,X‐ray Structures,Thermal Analyses and DFT Studies

Monomeric zinc(II) and mercury(II) complexes containing tripodal nitrogen donor ligand 2,6‐bis(3,4,5‐trimethyl‐N‐pyrazolyl)pyridine (btmpp) were synthesized, and characterized by elemental and spectroscopic (IR, UV/Vis) analyses, TG‐DTA and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. X‐ray analyses of the complexes [Zn(btmpp)Cl₂] ( 2 ) and [Hg(btmpp)(SCN)₂] ( 3 ) showed that both structures crystallize in space group P2₁/c with a = 7.9722(6), b = 18.3084(13), c = 13.3117(9) Å and Z = 4 for 2 and a = 8.7830(3), b = 21.1489(7), c = 12.0682(4) Å and Z = 4 for 3 . Both monomeric units contain pentacoordinate metal ions in distorted square‐pyramidal arrangement. The structures of complexes 2 and 3 were also computed with DFT methods at B3LYP/LanL2DZ level and are in good agreement with the experimental values obtained from X‐ray analysis. The NPa charge distributions, HOMO–LUMO gaps, and dipole moments for 1 , 2 , and 3 were also reported. Natural bond orbital analyses were performed to reveal local charges and charge transfers in 1 , 2 , and 3 .     

Solvent‐Catalyzed Ring–Chain–Ring Tautomerization in Axially Chiral Compounds

The mechanism of ring–chain–ring tautomerization and the prominent effect of the solvent environment have been computationally investigated in an effort to explain the enantiomeric interconversion observed in 2‐oxazolidinone derivatives, heterocyclic analogues of biphenyl atropisomers, which were isolated as single stable enantiomers and have the potential to be used as axially chiral catalysts. This study has shed light on the identity of the intermediate species involved in the ring–chain–ring tautomerization process as well as the catalytic effect of polar protic solvents. These mechanistic details will prove very useful in predicting and understanding ring–chain tautomeric equilibria in similar heterocyclic systems and will further enable experimentalists to devise appropriate experimental conditions in which axially chiral catalysts remain stable as single enantiomers.     

On the complex factorization of the Lucas sequence

In this paper, firstly we present a connection between determinants of tridiagonal matrices and the Lucas sequence. Secondly, we obtain the complex factorization of Lucas sequence by considering how the Lucas sequence can be connected to Chebyshev polynomials by determinants of a sequence of matrices.     

Halogen-Bonded BODIPY Frameworks with Tunable Optical Features**

The ability to tune the optical features of BODIPY materials in the solid state is essential for their photorelated application and requires efficient control of the crystal packing. In this study, such control of BODIPY supramolecular assemblies was achieved by deliberate design and synthesis of a BODIPY containing a strong halogen-bond (XB) acceptor (−NO₂) and donor (I, Br) to mediate XB interactions. The di-halogenated structures formed isostructural mono-coordinate motif B3 , B4 (1D tubular structure) and symmetric bifurcated motif B4-II (1D zigzag chains structure) through N−O⋅⋅⋅I, Br XB interactions. These XB interactions promote singlet-to-triplet intersystem crossing and triplet-to-singlet reverse intersystem crossing due to partial delocalization of oxygen electrons onto Br and I, which leads to unexpected fluorescence enhancement of B4-II . Finally, the indirect optical band gaps of B3 , B4 and B4-II were amenable to tuning in the range of 1.85–2.50 eV by XB-driven crystal packings.     

Asymmetric synthesis and molecular docking study of enantiomerically pure pyrrolidine derivatives with potential antithrombin activity

The (2R,4R,5S)- and (2S,4S,5R)-enantiomers of 4-(tert-butyl) 2-methyl 5-(4-bromophenyl)-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate 3 were synthesized efficiently with an ee of >90% on a gram scale using a FAM-catalytic methodology. Subsequent modification afforded enantiopure N-((4-chlorophenyl)thio)acetyl pyrrolidine derivatives 4, which are potential thrombin inhibitors according to comprehensive molecular docking studies.     

exo-Selective inverse-electron-demand hetero Diels–Alder reactions of norbornene with 5-benzylidine-2-arylimino-3-aryl-thiazolidine-4-thiones at room temperature

2-Arylimino-3-aryl-thiazolidine-4-thiones were synthesized from the corresponding thiazolidine-4-ones using Lawesson's reagent (LR) and converted into 5-benzylidine-2-arylimino-3-aryl-thiazolidine-4-thiones by reaction with benzaldehyde, which were then used as heterodienes in the inverse-electron-demand hetero Diels–Alder cycloadditions with norbornene as a dienophile at 25 ^°C. The reactions with norbornene were found to proceed with 100% exo-selectivity as determined by NMR experiments. The hetero Diels–Alder reactions with axially chiral heterodienes with ΔG^#>116 kJ/mol showed kinetic atroposelectivities up to 11:1. However, the products were found to equilibrate, as revealed by the 97.1 kJ/mol barrier to hindered rotation of the most sterically hindered product, to produce 2:1 diastereoselectivities after the 24 h reaction time.