ChemInform Abstract: ScFe5P3, ScRu6P4, U2Mo30P19, and Other Ternary Phosphides with a Metal to Phosphorus Ratio Close to 2:1.

The new ternary phosphides ScFe₅P₃ (I), Sc(Ta_0.18Fe_0.82)Fe₄P₃ (II), ZrFe₅P₃ (III), ScRu₆P₄ (IV), ErRu₆P₄ (V), ZrCr₆P₄ (VI), Nd₂Ru₁₂P₇ (VII), and U₂Mo₃₀P₁₉ (VIII) are prepared from mixtures of the elements in most cases with elemental Sn as a flux (alumina crucibles, 650—950 °C, 7—10 d).     

Multi-Site Conformational Exchange in the Synthetic Neomycin-Sensing Riboswitch Studied by 19F NMR

The synthetic neomycin-sensing riboswitch interacts with its cognate ligand neomycin as well as with the related antibiotics ribostamycin and paromomycin. Binding of these aminoglycosides induces a very similar ground state structure in the RNA, however, only neomycin can efficiently repress translation initiation. The molecular origin of these differences has been traced back to differences in the dynamics of the ligand:riboswitch complexes. Here, we combine five complementary fluorine based NMR methods to accurately quantify seconds to microseconds dynamics in the three riboswitch complexes. Our data reveal complex exchange processes with up to four structurally different states. We interpret our findings in a model that shows an interplay between different chemical groups in the antibiotics and specific bases in the riboswitch. More generally, our data underscore the potential of ¹⁹F NMR methods to characterize complex exchange processes with multiple excited states.     

The COVID19-NMR Consortium: A Public Report on the Impact of this New Global Collaboration

The outbreak of COVID-19 in December 2019 required the formation of international consortia for a coordinated scientific effort to understand and combat the virus. In this Viewpoint Article, we discuss how the NMR community has gathered to investigate the genome and proteome of SARS-CoV-2 and tested them for binding to low-molecular-weight binders. External factors including extended lockdowns due to the global pandemic character of the viral infection triggered the transition from locally focused collaborative research conducted within individual research groups to digital exchange formats for immediate discussion of unpublished results and data analysis, sample sharing, and coordinated research between more than 50 groups from 18 countries simultaneously. We discuss key lessons that might pertain after the end of the pandemic and challenges that we need to address.