Parallel iterative reaction path optimization in ab initio quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical modeling of enzyme reactions

The determination of reaction paths for enzyme systems remains a great challenge for current computational methods. In this paper we present an efficient method for the determination of minimum energy reaction paths with the ab initio quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical approach. Our method is based on an adaptation of the path optimization procedure by Ayala and Schlegel for small molecules in gas phase, the iterative quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) optimization method developed earlier in our laboratory and the introduction of a new metric defining the distance between different structures in the configuration space. In this method we represent the reaction path by a discrete set of structures. For each structure we partition the atoms into a core set that usually includes the QM subsystem and an environment set that usually includes the MM subsystem. These two sets are optimized iteratively: the core set is optimized to approximate the reaction path while the environment set is optimized to the corresponding energy minimum. In the optimization of the core set of atoms for the reaction path, we introduce a new metric to define the distances between the points on the reaction path, which excludes the soft degrees of freedom from the environment set and includes extra weights on coordinates describing chemical changes. Because the reaction path is represented by discrete structures and the optimization for each can be performed individually with very limited coupling, our method can be executed in a natural and efficient parallelization, with each processor handling one of the structures. We demonstrate the applicability and efficiency of our method by testing it on two systems previously studied by our group, triosephosphate isomerase and 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase. In both cases the minimum energy paths for both enzymes agree with the previously reported paths.     

Facile solvent-free synthesis of pure-phased AlN nanowhiskers at a low temperature

Pure hexagonal aluminum nitride (AlN) nanowhiskers have been successfully synthesized by directly reacting AlCl₃ with NaN₃ in non-solvent system at the low temperature of 450 °C for 24 h. The obtained products are characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction, which show that the obtained products are hexagonal phase AlN nanowhiskers with width from 10 to 80 nm and length up to several micrometers. The influencing factors of the formation of AlN nanowhiskers were discussed and a possible growth mechanism for AlN nanowhiskers was proposed. Additionally, the study on the corresponding optical properties and catalytic properties is also carried out.     

LyP-1 peptide-functionalized gold nanoprisms for SERRS imaging and tumor growth suppressing by PTT induced-hyperthermia

The gold nanoprisms (GNPs) have exhibited special plasmonic properties for biomedical applications because of their unique shapes and dimensions. Based on their optical performance, the NIR dye IR780 not only enabled the GNPs-based nanosystem as SERRS nanoparticles for Raman-encoded molecular imaging, but also enhanced the plasmonic photothermal property by laser irradiation. Meanwhile, the GNPs/IR780-Lyp-1 by introduction of tumor-homing peptide segment LyP-1, which presents high affinity to p32 protein, demonstrated the increased enrichment in tumor region and enhanced photothermal therapy efficacy.     

Differential-pulse voltammetric determination of trace formaldehyde using magnetic microspheres and magnetic electrode

A new type of magnetic polymer microsphere containing acylhydrazine groups on the surface was synthesized. They can be reacted with formaldehyde to produce an electroactive adduct. Reduction of these derivatives following aggregation on a magnetic electrode is possible and is effective in the indirect determination of formaldehyde. The experimental conditions and electrode structure are discussed. Under the optimum conditions, it was found that the peak potential (Ep) of formaldehyde is -1.01 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Formaldehyde in the range 1-1000 micrograms l-1 can be determined. The detection limit for formaldehyde is 0.3 microgram l-1 and the relative standard deviation for the determination of 100 micrograms l-1 formaldehyde was 2.26%. The method was applied to the determination of formaldehyde in environmental samples with satisfactory results.     

Determination of trace hydrazine by differential pulse voltammetry using magnetic microspheres

A new type of magnetic polymer microspheres containing ketone groups on the surface was synthesized. It can be reacted with hydrazine to produce electroactive adduct. Reduction of this derivative that was aggregated on the magnetic electrode is possible and effective in indirect determination of hydrazine. The experimental conditions and electrode structure were discussed. Under optimum conditions, It was found that the peak potential (Ep) of hydrazine is -1.06 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Hydrazine in the range 0.3-500 mug l(-1) can be determined. The detection limits for hydrazine is 0.1 mug l(-1). The relative standard deviation for determination of 100 mug l(-1) hydrazine was 2.43 %. The method was applied to the determination of hydrazine in water samples with satisfactory results.     

The tautomerism of Omeprazole in solution: a 1H and 13C NMR study

The tautomerism of 5(6)-methoxy-2-([(4-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-2-pyridinyl)methyl] sulfinyl)-1H-benzimidazole (omeprazole) was determined in solution, K(T) = 0.59 in THF at 195 K, in favor of the 6-methoxy tautomer. The assignment of the signals was made by comparison with its two N-methyl derivatives in acetone-d6 and through theoretical calculations of the absolute shieldings (GIAO/DFT/6-311++G**).     

Studies on the Physicochemical Properties, Structure and Antitumor Activity of an Oligosaccharide Homologue SnS-2 from the Root of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsh

An oligosaccharide homologue named SnS-2 was isolated from the root of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl.SnS-2 was purified by means of gel-permeation chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography. Its physicochemical properties, including carbohydrate content and molecular weight were determined. The structure of SnS-2 was elucidated by chemical methods along with ^1H and ^13C NMR spectroscopy, including two-dimensional DQCOSY and H-detected ^1H, ^13C HMQC experiments. These results show that SnS-2 possesses a backbone consisting of terminal α-Galp-(1→, α-Galp-(1→6), α-Glcp-(1→6) and nonreducing end β-Fruf-(2→. The bioactive assay showed that it could inhibit the growth of Lewis pulmonary carcinoma implanted in mice.     

压力流驱动电色谱分析方法及其若干色谱行为

压力流驱动电色谱分析方法是一种新型色谱技术。它组合了ＨＰＬＣ和电泳两种技术，为分离提供了更多可控制的因素。介绍了压力流驱动电色谱的装置和毛细管电色谱柱的装置方法，从理论上讨论了影响电色谱分离的因素并用实验数据加以证明。最后尝试性地将电色谱法用于测定香蕉样品中萨索啉（Ｓａｌｓｏｌｉｎｏｌ）等的含量。     

负载型非晶态Cu/SiO2催化剂的非晶性质

以超细ＳｉＯ２为载体，用ＫＢＨ４还原Ｃｕ＾２＋盐溶液制备了非负载型Ｃｕ和负载型Ｃｕ／ＳｉＯ２催化剂，ＸＲＤ，ＴＥＭ和电子衍射分析结果表明，负载型Ｃｕ／ＳｉＯ２为完全非晶态，而非负载型Ｃｕ中存在着少量晶态Ｃｕ，ＤＳＣ结果表明，非晶态Ｃｕ／ＳｉＯ２的热稳定性明显高于非负载型Ｃｕ，说明超细ＳｉＯ２具有稳定非晶结构的作用，ＸＰＳ结果表明，还原产物中的铜原子呈Ｃｕ状态，ＩＣＰ分析结果表明，样品中的Ｂ含量均低     

Electrochemical characterization of boron-doped polycrystalline diamond thin-film electrodes

The electrochemical characterization of boron-doped polycrystalline diamond thin-film (BDF) electrodes was studied using the anodic scan after concentrating lead in 0.1 mol/L KCl - 41 micromol/L Hg(NO(3))(2) and 0.1 mol/L KNO(3) - 0.01 mol/L HNO(3) - 41 micromol/L Hg(NO(3))(2); accumulation voltage was -0.90 V. The results obtained were compared with those given by glassy carbon (GC) electrodes and proved that the BDF electrodes offered high sensitivity, good precision and extreme stability over a 2-month period. These electrodes provided good resolving power for the determination of lead and cadmium and gave satisfactory results in the analysis of a pure water sample.