Cloning and Characterization of Cold-Adapted α-Amylase from Antarctic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arthrobacter agilis</Emphasis>

In this study, the gene encoding an α-amylase from a psychrophilic Arthrobacter agilis PAMC 27388 strain was cloned into a pET-28a(+) vector and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The recombinant α-amylase with a molecular mass of about 80 kDa was purified by using Ni²⁺-NTA affinity chromatography. This recombinant α-amylase exhibited optimal activity at pH 3.0 and 30 °C and was highly stable at varying temperatures (30–60 °C) and within the pH range of 4.0–8.0. Furthermore, α-amylase activity was enhanced in the presence of FeCl₃ (1 mM) and β-mercaptoethanol (5 mM), while CoCl₂ (1 mM), ammonium persulfate (5 mM), SDS (10 %), Triton X-100 (10 %), and urea (1 %) inhibited the enzymatic activity. Importantly, the presence of Ca²⁺ ions and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) did not affect enzymatic activity. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis showed that recombinant A. agilis α-amylase hydrolyzed starch, maltotetraose, and maltotriose, producing maltose as the major end product. These results make recombinant A. agilis α-amylase an attractive potential candidate for industrial applications in the textile, paper, detergent, and pharmaceutical industries.     

Unconventional salt trend from soft to stiff in single neurofilament biopolymers

We present persistence length measurements on neurofilaments (NFs), an intermediate filament with protruding side arms, of the neuronal cytoskeleton. Tapping mode atomic force microscopy enabled us to visualize and trace at subpixel resolution photoimmobilized NFs, assembled at various subunit protein ratios, thereby modifying the side-arm length and chain density charge distribution. We show that specific polyampholyte sequences of the side arms can form salt-switchable intrafilament attractions that compete with the net electrostatic and steric repulsion and can reduce the total persistence length by half. The results are in agreement with present X-ray and microscopy data yet present a theoretical challenge for polyampholyte interchain interactions.     

A formal synthesis of (−)-swainsonine from a chiral aziridine

A formal synthesis of enantiomerically pure (−)-swainsonine was successfully achieved using intramolecular cyclization of the amino alcohol 4 which was derived from a readily available 1-(R)-α-methylbenzylaziridine-2-carboxylic acid (−)-menthol ester 6.     

Asymmetric organocatalytic reactions of o-hydroxycinnamaldehydes with organoboronic acids: a facile enantioselective access to chromanes and dihydrobenzopyranes

Catalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions of organoboronic acids to o-hydroxycinnamaldehydes, which afford chromanes and dihydrobenzopyranes, have been established using an organocatalyst derived from imidazolidinone. The chromanes have been obtained in high chemical yields and enantioselectivities and can be readily used to obtain a variety of chromane derivatives through subsequent transformations.     

Crystal structure and electronic properties of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) carbamate

A crystal structure of a carbamate of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP-carbamate) has been elucidated and its structural and electronic properties investigated by density functional theory calculations and natural bond orbital analyses.     

Two new phenolic amides from the seeds of Pharbitis nil

Two new phenolic amides, pharnilatins A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the seeds of Pharbitis nil. These new compounds possess a p-coumaroyl unit with a structurally unique side chain, (2S,3S)-2,3-dihydroxyputrescine. The chemical structures and absolute stereochemistries of the new compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses including 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments and chemical reactions. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited cytotoxicity against A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, and HCT-15 human tumor cells. However, none of the compounds inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated microglia cells.     

Micro-patterning of vapor-phase polymerized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) using ink-jet printing/soft lithography

Highly conductive and transparent poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) thin films can be prepared effectively via vapor-phase polymerization (VPP) with the addition of imidazole (Im) based derivatives. The addition of Im that has one and/or two alkyl substituents significantly improved the electrical conductivity of PEDOT thin films. In an effort to develop a facile PEDOT micro-patterning method, we investigated ink-jet printing and soft lithography. The procedure of oxidant patterning with a weak base followed by VPP of a 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomer provides an effective and simple method for micro-patterning of an intrinsic conductive polymer (ICP).     

Crystal Structure and Spectroscopic Properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-Dibromobis(1,2-ethanediamine)chromium(III) Perchlorate

Abstract  

The crystal structure of trans-[Cr(en)₂Br₂]ClO₄ (en = 1,2-ethanediamine) has been determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study at 150 K. The complex crystallizes in the space group P[`1] P\overline{1} of the triclinic system with two mononuclear formula units in a cell of dimensions a = 6.853(4), b = 8.109(5), c = 12.475(8) ?, α = 81.006(10)°, β = 77.005(10)° and γ = 74.981(10)°. The Cr atom is in a slightly distorted octahedral environment, coordinated by four nitrogen atoms of two en ligands and two bromine atoms in trans axial positions. The mean Cr–N(en) and Cr–Br bond lengths are 2.079(3) and 2.4743(10)?, respectively. The five-membered rings are in stable gauche conformations with N1–Cr1–N2 and N3–Cr2–N4 angles of 82.81(11)° and 83.67(11)°, respectively. The crystal packing is stabilized by a network of N–H···O and N–H···Br hydrogen bonds. The infrared and electronic absorption spectra are consistent with the results of X-ray crystallography.     

Crystal Structure of [2,13-Dibenzyl-5,16-dimethyl-2,6,13,17-tetraazatricyclo(14,4,0<Superscript>1.18</Superscript>,0<Superscript>7.12</Superscript>)docosane]copper(II) Diperchlorate

Abstract  

In the title compound, [Cu(C₃₄H₅₂N₄)](ClO₄)₂, the Cu(II) ion has a square-planar coordination somewhat distorted towards tetrahedral geometry. The macrocyclic ligand adopts a less stable trans-I (RSRS) configuration. The two benzyl groups and two secondary amine H atoms are oriented towards the same side of the macrocyclic plane. The two six-membered rings are in slightly distorted chair and unsymmetrical twist-boat forms while both five-membered chelate rings are in the gauche conformation. The longer distances (2.050(4) and 2.035(4) Å) of Cu–N(tertiary) compared to 2.017(4) and 1.990(4) Å for Cu–N(secondary) may be due to the steric effects of the attached two benzyl groups on the tertiary N atoms. The crystal structure is stabilized by hydrogen bonds between secondary NH groups and O atoms of perchlorate counter-ions.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Phenolato-Bridged Dinuclear Copper(II) Complex with (2-Hydroxybenzyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine

Abstract  

The tridentate Schiff base phenol-containing ligand (2-hydroxybenzyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (Hbpa) reacts with copper(II) perchlorate to give the phenolato-bridged dinuclear complex [Cu(bpa)(H₂O)]₂·2ClO₄ (1). Each copper(II) ion exhibits a distorted square-pyramidal environment, being coordinated by two nitrogen atoms and two phenolato oxygen atoms of the two deprotonated bpa ligands, and one oxygen atom of the water molecule. It crystallizes in the triclinic system P-1 with a = 7.8790(6), b = 8.9345(7), c = 12.0207(9) ?, α = 69.158(1), β = 85.307(1), γ = 76.629(1)°, V = 769.39(10) ?³, Z = 1. Cyclic voltammetry of 1 gives two oxidation and two reduced processes.