Spectroscopy and reactivity of a photogenerated tryptophan radical in a structurally defined protein environment

Near-UV irradiation of structurally characterized [Re(I)(CO)3(1,10-phenanthroline)(Q107H)](W48F/Y72F/H83Q/Y108W)AzM(II) [Az = Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin, M = Cu, Zn]/[Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2 produces a tryptophan radical (W108*) with unprecedented kinetic stability. After rapid formation (k = 2.8 x 106 s-1), the radical persists for more than 5 h at room temperature in the folded ReAzM(II) structure. The absorption spectrum of ReAz(W108*)M(II) exhibits maxima at 512 and 536 nm. Oxidation of K4[Mo(CN)8] by ReAz(W108*)Zn(II) places the W108*/W108 reduction potential in the protein above 0.8 V vs NHE.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of a new family of Ni(4) spin clusters

A new family of tetranuclear Ni complexes [Ni(4)(ROH)(4)L(4)] (H(2)L = salicylidene-2-ethanolamine; R = Me (1) or Et (2)) has been synthesized and studied. Complexes 1 and 2 possess a [Ni(4)O(4)] core comprising a distorted cubane arrangement. Magnetic susceptibility and inelastic neutron scattering studies indicate a combination of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic pairwise exchange interactions between the four Ni(II) centers, resulting in an S = 4 spin ground state. Magnetization measurements reveal an easy-axis-type magnetic anisotropy with D approximately -0.93 cm(-)(1) for both complexes. Despite the large magnetic anisotropy, no slow relaxation of the magnetization is observed down to 40 mK. To determine the origin of the low-temperature magnetic behavior, the magnetic anisotropy of complex 1 was probed in detail using inelastic neutron scattering and frequency domain magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The spectroscopic studies confirm the easy-axis-type anisotropy and indicate strong transverse interactions. These lead to rapid quantum tunneling of the magnetization, explaining the unexpected absence of slow magnetization relaxation for complex 1.     

Über die Reduktionsformen einiger nichtenolisierenden aromatischer Ketone und Chinone,welche die Vinylpolymerisation zu initiieren vermögen

It is known that the reduction forms of aromatic carbonyl compounds (ACC) initiate anionic polymerization of vinyl monomers. The ability of the reduction forms to transfer an electron to the interacting molecules is defined also by the electron affinity of the partners. To obtain data about the electron affinity the half-wave potentials of polarographic reduction were measured and compared with the values of the lowest antibonding molecular orbital, according to theHückel's method. A linear correlation between the potentials of polarographic reduction and the energy of the lowest antibonding molecular orbit was found. The results prove the correctness of the previously determined electroaffinity defined by electron transfers between the reduction forms and neutral molecules. From the data of quantum chemical calculation and the polarographic reduction ofACC the changes of the free energy, enthalpy and the equilibrum constant for electron transfer reaction were calculated. The initiation ability of the reduction forms ofACC and the elctron affinity discussed.     

Visible light-induced water oxidation on mesoscopic alpha-Fe2O3 films made by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

Alpha-Fe(2)O(3) films having a mesoscopic leaflet type structure were produced for the first time by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) to explore their potential as oxygen-evolving photoanodes. The target of these studies is to use translucent hematite films deposited on conducting fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass as top electrodes in a tandem cell that accomplishes the cleavage of water into hydrogen and oxygen by sunlight. The properties of layers made by USP were compared to those deposited by conventional spray pyrolysis (SP). Although both types of films show similar XRD and UV-visible and Raman spectra, they differ greatly in their morphology. The mesoscopic alpha-Fe(2)O(3) layers produced by USP consist mainly of 100 nm-sized platelets with a thickness of 5-10 nm. These nanosheets are oriented mainly perpendicularly to the FTO support, their flat surface exposing (001) facets. The mesoscopic leaflet structure has the advantage that it allows for efficient harvesting of visible light, while offering at the same time the very short distance required for the photogenerated holes to reach the electrolyte interface before recombining with conduction band electrons. This allows for water oxidation by the valence band holes even though their diffusion length is only a few nanometers. Distances are longer in the particles produced by SP favoring recombination of photoinduced charge carriers. Open-circuit photovoltage measurements indicate a lower surface state density for the nanoplatelets as compared to the round particles. These factors explain the much higher photoactivity of the USP compared to the SP deposited alpha-Fe(2)O(3) layers. Addition of hydrogen peroxide to the alkaline electrolyte further improves the photocurrent-voltage characteristics of films generated by USP indicating the hole transfer from the valence band of the semiconductor oxide to the adsorbed water to be the rate-limiting kinetic step in the oxygen generation reaction.     

Characterization of modified low density lipoprotein subfractions by capillary isotachophoresis

Oxidative modification of low density lipoproteins (LDLs) is an important pathogenetic factor in atherosclerosis. The various steps in oxidative modifications of LDL can be monitored using different methodologies with varying degrees of complexity. In this study, we propose capillary isotachophoresis (CITP) as a suitable tool to detect and measure the degree of oxidation of LDL. LDL was isolated from pooled plasma of healthy volunteers by sequential ultracentrifugation, and oxidation was performed in vitro as well as in cell culture experiments. Native LDL and oxidatively modified LDL were characterized by apo B-100 fluorescence and conjugated diene formation. Samples were separated by CITP combined with sudan black B staining. To underline the inherent advantages of this approach, CITP was compared with classical lipoprotein electrophoresis using agarose gel. We demonstrate the CITP method to be highly sensitive, as changes in peak area of the separated LDL subfractions were detected after only 2 h of oxidation. The leading LDL peaks increased, while the terminating LDL peaks decreased in parallel throughout the duration of oxidation. The LDL samples, oxidized for 4-24 h, also exhibited an increased migration velocity of the fractions. In summary, we present the first study investigating LDL-subfractions separated by CITP and the alterations of these LDL-subfractions after gradual in vitro oxidation and after oxidative modification by monocyte-derived macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells.     

Biological UV dosimeters in the assessment of the biological hazard from environmental radiation

To determine the impact of environmental UV radiation, biological dosimeters that weight directly the incident UV components of sunlight have been developed, improved and evaluated in the frame of the BIODOS project. Four DNA-based biological dosimeters ((i) phage T7, (ii) uracil thin layer, (iii) spore dosimeter and (iv) DLR-biofilm) have been assessed from the viewpoint of their biological relevance, spectral response and quantification of their biological effectiveness. The biological dosimeters have been validated by comparing their readings with weighted spectroradiometer data, by comparison with other biological doses, as well as with the determined amounts of DNA UV photoproducts. The data presented here demonstrate that the biological dosimeters are potentially reliable field dosimeters for measuring the integrated biologically effective irradiance for DNA damage.     

Effects of internal hydrogen bonds between amide groups: protonation of alicyclic diamides

The proton affinity (PA) of cyclopentane carboxamide 1, cyclohexane carboxamide 2 and their secondary and tertiary amide derivatives S1, S2, T1 and T2, was determined by the thermokinetic method and the kinetic method [PA(1) = 888 +/- 5 kJ mol(1); PA(2) = 892 +/- 5 kJ mol(1); PA(S1) = 920 +/- 6 kJ mol(1); PA(S2) = 920 +/- 6 kJ mol(1); PA(T1) = 938 +/- 6 kJ mol(1); PA(T2) = 938 +/- 6 kJ mol(1)]. Special entropy effects are not observed. Additionally, the effects of protonation have been studied using an advanced kinetic method for all isomers 37 of cyclopentane dicarboxamides and cyclohexane dicarboxamides (with the exception of cis-cyclopentane-1,2-dicarboxamide) and their bis-tertiary derivatives T3T7 by estimating the PA and the apparent entropy of protonation Delta(DeltaS(app)). Finally, the study was extended to bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene-2,3-dicarboxamide 8 and its bis-tertiary derivative T8, to all stereoisomers of bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2,3-dicarboxamide 9, their secondary and tertiary amide derivatives S9 and T9, and to endoendobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2,5-dicarboxamide 10 and the corresponding secondary and tertiary derivatives S10 and T10. Compared with 1 and 2, all alicyclic diamides exhibit a significant increase of the PA (DeltaPA) and special entropy effects on protonation. For alicyclic diamides, which can not accommodate a conformation appropriate for building a proton bridge, the values of DeltaPA and Delta(DeltaS(app)) are small to moderate. This is explained by ion / dipole interactions between the protonated and neutral amide group which stabilize the protonated species but hinder the free rotation of the amide groups. If any of the conformations of the alicyclic diamide allows formation of a proton bridge, DeltaPA and Delta(DeltaS(app)) increase considerably. A spectacular case is cis-cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxamide 7c which is the most basic monocyclic diamide, although generation of the proton bridge requires the unfavorable boat conformation with both amide substituents at a flagpole position. A pre-orientation of the two amide groups in such a 1,4-position in 10 results in a particularly large PA of < 1000 kJ mol(1). The observation of comparable values for Delta(DeltaS(app)) for linear and monocyclic diamides indicates that a major part of the entropy effects originates from freezing the free rotation of the amide groups by formation of the proton bridge. This is corroborated by observing corresponding effects during the protonation of dicarboxamides containing the rigid bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane carbon skeleton, where the only internal movements of the molecules corresponds to rotation of the amide substituents.     

Homogenization of the Navier-Stokes equations in open sets perforated with tiny holes I. Abstract framework,a volume distribution of holes

This paper treats the homogenization of the Stokes or Navier-Stokes equations with a Dirichlet boundary condition in a domain containing many tiny solid obstacles, periodically distributed in each direction of the axes. (For example, in the three-dimensional case, the obstacles have a size of ³ and are located at the nodes of a regular mesh of size .) A suitable extension of the pressure is used to prove the convergence of the homogenization process to a Brinkman-type law (in which a linear zero-order term for the velocity is added to a Stokes or Navier-Stokes equation).     

Homogenization of the Navier-Stokes equations in open sets perforated with tiny holes II: Non-critical sizes of the holes for a volume distribution and a surface distribution of holes

This paper is devoted to the homogenization of the Stokes or Navier-Stokes equations with a Dirichlet boundary condition in a domain containing many tiny solid obstacles, periodically distributed in each direction of the axes. For obstacles of critical size it was established in Part I that the limit problem is described by a law of Brinkman type. Here we prove that for smaller obstacles, the limit problem reduces to the Stokes or Navier-Stokes equations, and for larger obstacles, to Darcy's law. We also apply the abstract framework of Part I to the case of a domain containing tiny obstacles, periodically distributed on a surface. (For example, in three dimensions, consider obstacles of size ², located at the nodes of a regular plane mesh of period .) This provides a mathematical model for fluid flows through mixing grids, based on a special form of the Brinkman law in which the additional term is concentrated on the plane of the grid.