Nanoscale organization of the pathogen receptor DC-SIGN mapped by single-molecule high-resolution fluorescence microscopy.

DC-SIGN, a C-type lectin exclusively expressed on dendritic cells (DCs), plays an important role in pathogen recognition by binding with high affinity to a large variety of microorganisms. Recent experimental evidence points to a direct relation between the function of DC-SIGN as a viral receptor and its spatial arrangement on the plasma membrane. We have investigated the nanoscale organization of fluorescently labeled DC-SIGN on intact isolated DCs by means of near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) combined with single-molecule detection. Fluorescence spots of different intensity and size have been directly visualized by optical means with a spatial resolution of less than 100 nm. Intensity- and size-distribution histograms of the DC-SIGN fluorescent spots confirm that approximately 80 % of the receptors are organized in nanosized domains randomly distributed on the cell membrane. Intensity-size correlation analysis revealed remarkable heterogeneity in the molecular packing density of the domains. Furthermore, we have mapped the intermolecular organization within a dense cluster by means of sequential NSOM imaging combined with discrete single-molecule photobleaching. In this way we have determined the spatial coordinates of 13 different individual dyes, with a localization accuracy of 6 nm. Our experimental observations are all consistent with an arrangement of DC-SIGN designed to maximize its chances of binding to a wide range of microorganisms. Our data also illustrate the potential of NSOM as an ultrasensitive, high-resolution technique to probe nanometer-scale organization of molecules on the cell membrane.     

New synthetic “tricks” using old reagents. A mild method for the conversion of RCONHR′ to RCONHR″

N-Alkyl-N-nitrosoamides, RCON(NO)R′, react with primary aliphatic amines (NH₂R″), in refluxing dichloromethane or at room temperature, to give RCONHR″ in 65–98% yields.     

Recent developments in zinc oxide target chemistry

Zinc oxide targets irradiated with high energy protons at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF) contain a number of radioactive spallation products in quantities large enough to warrant recovery. This paper describes methods for recovering⁷Be,⁴⁶Sc, and⁴⁸V from such targets and offers suggestions on possible ways to recover additional isotopes. The proposed methods are based on traditional precipitation and ion exchange techniques, are readily adaptable to hot cell use, and produce no hazardous waste components. The products are obtained in moderate to high yields and have excellent radionuclidic purity.     

Cation transport by a redox-active synthetic ion channel

The synthesis, cation binding and transmembrane conductive properties of a novel group of synthetic ion channels containing a redox-active centre are described. Experiments using a black lipid membrane preparation revealed that these compounds function effectively as ion channels. Subsequent 23Na NMR spectroscopy studies focused on a synthesized ion channel with a ferrocene centre. When incorporated in vesicular bilayers, this channel was demonstrated to support a Na+ flux that was at least six times faster than ion transport by monensin. Since oxidation of the ferrocene moiety completely inhibited the Na+ transport, the redox-active centre provides a potential mechanism for controlling ion flux.     

Organonickel(II) Complexes with Anionic N-Donor Ligands. Hydration of coordinated nitriles at a nickel(II) site

The hydroxo complex (Bu₄N)₂[Ni₂(C₆F₅)₄(μ-OH)₂]reacts with 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluoro benzenamine (C₆F₅-NH₂), 1,3-diaryltriaz-1-enes (ArNH? N=N? Ar, Ar = Ph, 4-MeC₆H₄, 4-MeOC₆H₄), 7-aza-1H-indole (= 1H-pyrrolo[2.3-b]pyridine; Hazind), N-phenylpyridin-2-amine(pyNHPh), and N-phenylpyridine-2-carboxamide (py-CONHPh) at room temperature in acetone to give the binuclear complexes (Bu₄N)₂[Ni₂(C₆F₅)₄(μ-C₆F₅NH)₂] ( 1 ) and (Bu₄N)₂[{Ni(C₆F₅)₂} 2(μ-OH)(μ-azind)] ( 2 ) and the mononuclear complexes Bu₄N[Ni(C₆F₅)2(ArN₃Ar)] ( 3 – 5 ), Bu₄N[Ni(C₆F₅)₂(pyNPh)] ( 6 ), and Bu₄N[Ni(C₆F₅)₂(pyCONPh)] ( 7 ). The hydroxo.complex (Bu₄N)₂[{Ni(C₆F₅)2-(μ-OH)}₂] promotes the nucleophilic addition of water to pyridine-2-carbonitrile, 2-aminoacetonitrile, and 2-(dimethylamino)acetonitrile, and complexes 8 – 10 containing pyridine-2-carboxamidato, 2-aminoacetamidato and 2-(dimethylamino)acetamidato ligands are formed. Analytical (C, H, N) and spectroscopic (IR, ¹H and ¹⁹F-NMR, and FAB-MS) data were used for structural assignments. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of (Bu₄N)₂[{Ni(C₆F₅)₂}₂(μ-OH)(μ-azind)] ( 2 ) established the binuclear nature of the anion; the two Ni-atoms are bridged by an OH group and a 7-aza-7H-indol-7-yl group, but the central Ni? O? Ni? N? C? N ring is not planar, the dihedral angle between the Ni? O? Ni and Ni? N? C? N? Ni planes being 84.4°.     

Multistep energy transfer in single molecular photonic wires

We demonstrate the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of an unidirectional photonic wire based on four highly efficient fluorescence energy-transfer steps (FRET) between five spectrally different chromophores covalently attached to double-stranded DNA. The DNA-based modular conception enables the introduction of various chromophores at well-defined positions and arbitrary interchromophore distances. While ensemble fluorescence measurements show overall FRET efficiencies between 15 and 30%, single-molecule spectroscopy performed on four spectrally separated detectors easily uncovers subpopulations that exhibit overall FRET efficiencies of up to approximately 90% across a distance of 13.6 nm and a spectral range of approximately 200 nm. Fluorescence trajectories of individual photonic wires show five different fluorescence intensity patterns which can be ascribed to successive photobleaching events.     

Do solid surface potential barriers retard convoy peak electrons?

Using a coaxial cylindric electron spectrometer and an electrostatic ion energy analyzer in tandem, a direct measurement of the difference of the energy of convoy peak electron and the electron equivalent ion energy of protons emerging from the downstream surface of C, Au and Al foils is performed in the proton energy range from 60 to 250 keV. This measurement is made possible using the accepted evidence that for a gas target these energies are equal. It is found that also for the beam foil convoy peak electrons, within an experimental average uncertainty of about ±0.1 eV, there is no difference between these energies. If one accepts that the origin of convoy electrons is from inside the solid, the conclusion is that no retardation by the solid surface potential barrier, which is of the order of a few eV, is observed. This is attributed to the strong electron-ion Coulomb interaction which almost completely overshadows the force exerted on the electron by the field of the surface barrier.