Design, synthesis, and validation of rigid linkers for bioactive peptides

Rigid linkers of variable length were synthesized and used to connect two NDP-α-MSH ligands. The linkers were incorporated by solid-phase synthesis. Biological evaluations indicate that there is virtually no effect of these linkers on ligand binding to the human melanocortin 4 receptor.     

Flocculation and Coalescence of Oil-in-Water Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Emulsions

The stability of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) oil-in-water emulsions has been investigated in the presence of added NaCl as well as in the presence of added surfactant. The emulsions were prepared using a combination of nonionic (C(x)E(y), x and y represent the number of methylene (C) and ethylene oxide (E) groups, respectively) and cationic (quarternary alkylammonium) surfactants. The droplets were observed to exhibit weak flocculation in the presence of high NaCl concentration (1 M). Phase separation and optical microscopic observations revealed that the principal mechanism for emulsion destabilization at high salt concentration was coalescence, which was accelerated at elevated temperature (50 degrees C). The effective coalescence rate for diluted emulsions was investigated using photon correlation spectroscopy. The small effective Hamaker constant for PDMS is the primary reason for the slow rate of coalescence observed for the emulsions at neutral pH in the presence of NaCl. The stability of PDMS emulsions to flocculation is qualitatively similar to that reported for low Hamaker constant dispersions (e.g., microgel particles). Addition of cationic surfactants (cetyltrimethylammonium chloride and dodecyl dimethylbenzylammonium chloride) to the negatively charged droplets after preparation was shown to decrease the emulsion stability once the surfactant concentration exceeded the CMC. Electrophoretic mobility measurements showed that added cationic surfactant changed the sign of the droplet charge from negative to positive at concentrations well below the CMC. Charged micelles of the same sign as the droplets are electrostatically excluded from close approach to the droplet surface within a distance (varepsilon) which results in depletion flocculation. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Self‐crosslinking borate anions for the production of tough UV‐cured polyelectrolyte surfaces

The first anion with four polymerizable groups has been synthesized and used to produce durable, crosslinked polyelectrolyte (PE) coatings in a single step. Sodium tetrakis(4‐vinylphenyl)borate (NaBSty₄) was produced by the reaction of BCl₃ and the Grignard of 4‐bromostyrene. The full series of borates NaBPh_xSty_4?x, x = 1?3, were also synthesized analogously by reaction of the styryl‐Grignard and PhBCl₂, Ph₂BCl, or Ph₃B. Anion exchange of the borates with tributyl 4‐vinylbenzylphosphonium chloride gave a family of organic salts developed for applications in photopolymerized coatings. The percent UV cure of the polymer films was determined by infrared spectroscopy and this relative level of curing was corroborated by differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The degree of crosslinking imparted to the polymer films by the different monomers has resulted in varied mechanical properties, which were probed by diamond tip scratch tests and nanoindentation. These clearly demonstrated that as the number of polymerizable groups increased, the film hardness increased correspondingly. The final hardness of the films exceeds those of other related systems and identifies styryl borates as viable crosslinking additives in UV curable technologies, especially in the production of durable PE films. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Implications upon theory discrimination of an accurate measurement of the time rate of change of the gravitational “constant” G and other cosmological parameters

A substantial improvement in the accuracy of ˙ G tests (The dot denotes the time derivative.) would make it realistic to speak in terms of a measurement of ˙G , rather than merely a smaller upper bound on | ˙G|. We show that the accuracy Δ | ˙G/G|≈? 10^‐14 yr^‐1 may be sufficient, given the accuracy of other cosmological parameters, to observe effects predicted by higher dimensions theories and, hence, to discriminate among different models. The ˙G design goal for the SEE (Satellite Energy Exchange) mission is Δ (˙G/G) ≈? 10^‐14 yr^‐1.     

Quantum chemical calculations on the Peterson olefination with alpha-silyl ester enolates

The reaction of stabilized Peterson reagents (alpha-silyl ester enolates) with ketones has been studied theoretically and experimentally. Enolate geometry was studied by trapping experiments and NMR spectroscopy and was found to differ markedly with the nature of the base (LiHMDS vs LDA vs KHMDS). The chelating effect of the lithium counterion was found to be critical for the reaction. For the two ketones studied, the combined weight of experimental and computational data assigns geometrical selectivity to the initial addition transition state, though in general there appears to be a fine balance between three possible choices for the rate-determining step.     

Multiple ligand-binding modes in bacterial R67 dihydrofolate reductase

Summary R67 dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), a bacterial plasmid-encoded enzyme associated with resistance to the drug trimethoprim, shows neither sequence nor structural homology with the chromosomal DHFR. It presents a highly symmetrical toroidal structure, where four identical monomers contribute to the unique central active-site pore. Two reactants (dihydrofolate, DHF), two cofactors (NADPH) or one of each (R67•DHF•NADPH) can be found simultaneously within the active site, the last one being the reactive ternary complex. As the positioning of the ligands has proven elusive to empirical determination, we addressed the problem from a theoretical perspective. Several potential structures of the ternary complex were generated using the docking programs AutoDock and FlexX. The variability among the final poses, many of which conformed to experimental data, prompted us to perform a comparative scoring analysis and molecular dynamics simulations to assess the stability of the complexes. Analysis of ligand–ligand and ligand–protein interactions along the 4 ns trajectories of eight different structures allowed us to identify important inter-ligand contacts and key protein residues. Our results, combined with published empirical data, clearly suggest that multipe binding modes of the ligands are possible within R67 DHFR. While the pterin ring of DHF and the nicotinamide ring of NADPH assume a stacked endo-conformation at the centre of the pore, probably assisted by V66, Q67 and I68, the tails of the molecules extend towards opposite ends of the cavity, adopting multiple configurations in a solvent rich-environment where hydrogen-bond interactions with K32 and Y69 may play important roles.     

Measurement of solar UVB variations by polysulphone film

Sheets of polysulphone film have been extensively used as detectors to monitor solar UVB radiation. The advantages of polysulphone detectors are that they are small in size, they have good thermal stability and they are sensitive to UVB radiation. The principal disadvantage of polysulphone detectors is that their spectral sensitivity includes part of the short-wavelength UVA. In this study, we investigate the spectral sensitivity of the polysulphone detector with a series of monochromatic (+/- 2 nm) excitations. We then compare the polysulphone-effective solar radiation with the erythemally effective solar radiation by comparing solar UVB data obtained with polysulphone films with those obtained with a spectroradiometer. From polysulphone data on the seasonal variation of solar UVB radiation, we estimate the corresponding fluctuations of the absorption of the ozone layer. We show that the spectral sensitivity of the polysulphone film is closer to the erythema action spectrum than that indicated by earlier data and that polysulphone detectors can be used to predict the erythema risk of solar UVB. Measurements on solar UVB with polysulphone films and with a spectroradiometer were found to be strongly correlated (R2 > 0.95). Finally, polysulphone-based measurements provide a good measure of the fluctuations of the stratospheric ozone layer.     

Stimuli-responsive supramolecular assemblies of linear-dendritic copolymers

With the goal of developing a pH-responsive micelle system, linear-dendritic block copolymers comprising poly(ethylene oxide) and either a polylysine or polyester dendron were prepared and hydrophobic groups were attached to the dendrimer periphery by highly acid-sensitive cyclic acetals. These copolymers were designed to form stable micelles in aqueous solution at neutral pH but to disintegrate into unimers at mildly acidic pH following loss of the hydrophobic groups upon acetal hydrolysis. Micelle formation was demonstrated by encapsulation of the fluorescent probe Nile Red, and the micelle sizes were determined by dynamic light scattering. The structure of the dendrimer block, its generation, and the synthetic method for linking the acetal groups to its periphery all had an influence on the critical micelle concentration and the micelle size. The rate of hydrolysis of the acetals at the micelle core was measured for each system at pH 7.4 and pH 5, and it was found that all systems were stable at neutral pH but underwent significant hydrolysis at pH 5 over several hours. The rate of hydrolysis at pH 5 was dependent on the structure of the copolymer, most notably the hydrophobicity of the core-forming block. To demonstrate the potential of these systems for controlled release, the release of Nile Red as a "model payload" was examined. At pH 7.4, the fluorescence of micelle-encapsulated Nile Red was relatively constant, indicating it was retained in the micelle, while at pH 5, the fluorescence decreased, consistent with its release into the aqueous environment. The rate of release was strongly correlated with the rate of acetal hydrolysis and was therefore controlled by the chemical structure of the copolymer. The mechanism of Nile Red release was investigated by monitoring the change in size of the micelles over time at acidic pH. Dynamic light scattering measurement showed a size decrease over time, eventually reaching the size of a unimer, thus providing evidence for the proposed micelle disintegration.     

Carbon-13 and proton NMR parameters of neopentyl-and trimethylsilylmethyl-thallium(III) derivatives and the x-ray crystal structure of bis(trimethylsilylmethyl)chlorothallium(III)

Carbon-13 and proton NMR spectra have been determined for organothallium (III) derivatives of the types RTlX₂ and R₂ TlX (R  (CH₃)₃CCH₂ or (CH₃)₃SiCH₂; X  Cl, Br or O₂CCH(CH₃)₂). The dependence of coupling of ¹³C and ¹H to thallium on the number and nature of R groups is discussed in terms of the Fermi contact mechanism for spinspin coupling.The crystal structure of [(CH₃)₃SiCH₂]₂ TlCl has been determined. The compound crystallises in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n, with a 10.618, b 24.492, c 6.017 Å, β 99.76°. The molecule is dimeric with each four-coordinate thallium atom bonded unequally to two bridging chlorine atoms. The CTlC angle is 168°.