Conformational stability of helical peptides containing a thioamide linkage

[structure: see text] Thioxo peptide analogues of the alpha-helical peptide GCN4-p1 were synthesized and evaluated for helicity and oligomeric state. Sedimentation equilibrium and CD measurements indicate that the thioxo peptides fold into parallel alpha-helical coiled coil structures essentially identical to the native structure. This work marks the first incorporation of a thioamide linkage into the backbone of an alpha-helix and demonstrates that a thioamide linkage is compatible with positions within the helix as well as near the C-terminus.     

A concise synthetic strategy to functionalized chromenones via [5+1] heteroannulation and facile C-N/C-S/C-O bond formation with various nucleophiles

A highly efficient strategy to 2,3-substituted chromen-4H-ones has been developed. The methodology involves unexpected intramolecular heteroannulation of readily accessible substituted 2-hydroxy-ω-nitroacetophenone with carbon disulfide in the presence K₂CO₃ followed by methylation with methyl iodide. These chromenones were further reacted with various nucleophiles such as amines, thiols, and alkoxide resulting in the facile C-N, C-S, and C-O bond formation. The scope and generality have been discussed.     

Rhodotorula aurantiaca penicillin V acylase: Active site characterization and fluorometric studies

Penicillin V acylase (PVA), a member of newly evolved Ntn-hydrolase superfamily, is a pharmaceutically important enzyme to produce 6-aminopenicillanic acid. Active site characterization of recently purified monomeric PVA from Rhodotorula aurantiaca (Ra-PVA), the yeast source, showed the involvement of serine and tryptophan in the enzyme activity. Modification of the protein with serine and tryptophan specific reagents such as PMSF and NBS showed partial loss of PVA activity and substrate protection. Ra-PVA was found to be a multi-tryptophan protein exhibiting one tryptophan, in native and, four in its denatured condition. Various solute quenchers and substrate were used to probe the microenvironment of the putative reactive tryptophan through fluorescence quenching. The results obtained indicate that the tryptophan residues of Ra-PVA were largely buried in hydrophobic core of the protein matrix. Quenching of the fluorescence by acrylamide was collisional. Acrylamide was the most effective quencher amongst all the used quenchers, which quenched 71.6% of the total intrinsic fluorescence of the protein, at a very less final concentration of 0.1 M. Surface tryptophan residues were found to have predominantly more electropositively charged amino acids around them, however differentially accessible for ionic quenchers. Denaturation led to shift in λ_max from 336, in native state, to 357 nm and more exposed to the solvent, consequently increase in fluorescence quenching with all quenchers. This is an attempt towards the conformational studies of Ra-PVA.     

On the Uniform Nonsingularity Property for Linear Transformations on Euclidean Jordan Algebras

In a recent paper, Chua and Yi introduced the so-called uniform nonsingularity property for a nonlinear transformation on a Euclidean Jordan algebra and showed that it implies the global uniqueness property in the context of symmetric cone complementarity problems. In a related paper, Chua, Lin, and Yi raise the question of converse. In this paper, we show that, for linear transformations, the uniform nonsingularity property is inherited by principal subtransformations and, on simple algebras, it is invariant under the action of cone automorphisms. Based on these results, we answer the question of Chua, Lin, and Yi in the negative.     

The crystal structure of 5-methyl-1-(octahydro-1-iodo-1H-1-inden-4-yl)-1H-tetrazole

The title compound is C₁₁H₁₇N₄I, F.W.=330.20, monoclinic, space groupP2₁/a,a=11.586(2),b=10.617(1),c=10.417(1) Å, =94.567(2)°,Z=4,F(000)=652, (MoK)=0.7107 Å, (MoK)=2.31 mm^–1,V=1277.31 Å₃,D _C=1.71 gcm^–3,D _m=1.70 gcm^–3. The structurewassolved by Patterson and Fourier methods and refined to anR value 0.031 for 1620 observed reflections. The connectivity and conformation of the addition product ofcis-1,5-cyclononadiene and iodine azide was determined by X-ray analysis. The reaction product contains a chair-conformation cyclohexane ring that iscis fused to a cyclopentane ring. The cyclopentane ring has an envelope conformation and an equatorially oriented iodine substituent. A planar tetrazole ring is axially substituted on the cyclohexane ring. The plane of the tetrazole ring makes a dihedral angle of 69.6° with the average plane of the carbon atoms of the cyclohexane ring.     

An experimental investigation of separating flow on a convex surface

The mean and turbulent characteristics of an incompressible turbulent boundary layer developing on a convex surface under the influence of an adverse pressure gradient are presented in this paper.The turbulence quantities measured include all the components of Reynolds stresses, auto-correlation functions and power spectra of the three components of turbulence. The results indicate the comparative influence of the convex curvature and adverse pressure gradient which are simultaneously acting on the flow. The investigation provides extensive experimental information which is much needed for a better understanding of turbulent shear flows.Nomenclature a, b constants in equation for velocity defect profile (Fig. 6) - c _f skin-friction coefficient (= _w/F _1/2 U ₁ ² ) - E(k ₁) one-dimensional wave number spectra - f frequency in Hz - G Clauser's equilibrium parameter = (H–1)/H(c _f /2) - H shape parameter (= ₁/ ₂) - k ₁ wave number (=2f/U) - L _u, L _v, L _w length scales of u, v and w fluctuations - p _s static pressure on the measurement surface - p _w reference tunnel wall static pressure - q ² total turbulent kinetic energy - R radius of curvature of the convex surface - R() auto-correlation function - T _u, T _v, T _w time scales of u, v and w fluctuations - U local mean velocity - U ₁ local free stream velocity - U _* friction velocity - u, v, w velocity fluctuations in x, y and z directions respectively - X streamwise coordinate measured along the surface from A (Fig. 1b) - x streamwise coordinate measured along the surface reckoned from station 9 - y coordinate normal to the surface - z spanwise coordinate - ₁/ _w · dp/dx - - boundary layer thickness - ₁ displacement thickness - ₂ momentum thickness - ₃ energy thickness - kinematic viscosity - density - time delay - _w wall shear stress     

Oxidation of ethanolamines by sodium N‐bromobenzenesulfonamide in alkaline buffer medium: A kinetic and mechanistic study

The kinetics of oxidation of ethanolamines, monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), and triethanolamine (TEA), by sodium N‐bromobenzenesulfonamide or bromamine‐B (BAB) in alkaline buffer medium (pH 8.7–12.2) has been studied at 40°C. The three reactions follow identical kinetics with first‐order in [oxidant] and fractional‐order each in [substrate] and [OH^?]. Under comparable experimental conditions, the rate of oxidation increases in the order: DEA > TEA > MEA. The added reaction product, benzenesulfonamide, retards the reaction rate. The addition of halide ions and the variation of ionic strength of the medium have no significant effect on the rate. The dielectric effect is negative. The solvent isotope effect k′(H₂O)/k′(D₂O) ≈ 0.92. Activation parameters for the composite reaction and for the rate‐limiting step were computed from the Eyring plots. Michaelis‐Menten type of kinetics is observed. The formation and decomposition constants of ethanolamine‐BAB complexes are evaluated. An isokinetic relationship is observed with β = 430 K indicating that enthalpy factors control the rate. For each substrate, a mechanism consistent with the kinetic data has been proposed. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 480–490, 2001     

Solution of convex conservation laws in a strip

In this paper we consider scalar convex conservation laws in one space variable in a stripD =(x, t): 0 ≤x ≤1,t > 0 and obtain an explicit formula for the solution of the mixed initial boundary value problem, the boundary data being prescribed in the sense of Bardos-Leroux and Nedelec. We also get an explicit formula for the solution of weighted Burgers equation in a strip.     

Elastic properties and spectroscopic studies of lithium lead borate glasses

Elastic properties of xLi₂O — 20PbO — (80-x)B₂O₃ glasses have been measured at a frequency of 10 MHz using X-cut and Y-cut quartz transducers. The trends in the variation of elastic moduli, Poisson’s ratio and Debye temperature have been studied. The elastic moduli namely longitudinal and young’s modulus show strong linear dependence while bulk and shear modulus vary marginally as a function of Li₂O concentration. The Poisson’s ratio is found to be almost constant and Debye temperature increases with the increase of Li₂O concentration. IR, MAS-NMR and glass transition temperature studies have been also carried out. Glass transition temperature is found to increase with increase of Li₂O concentration. IR and MAS-NMR spectra show characteristic features of borate network and systematic change as a function of Li₂O concentration. The variation in the elastic properties and structural features of IR and MAS-NMR indicate that Pb²⁺ ions are likely to occupy network forming positions in this glass system. Paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on Ionic Devices, Anna University, Chennai, India, Nov. 28–30, 2003.