Solvent-sensitive dyes to report protein conformational changes in living cells

Covalent attachment of solvent-sensitive fluorescent dyes to proteins is a powerful tool for studying protein conformational changes, ligand binding, or posttranslational modifications. We report here new merocyanine dyes that make possible the quantitation of such protein activities in individual living cells. The quantum yield of the new dyes is sharply dependent on solvent polarity or viscosity, enabling them to report changes in their protein environment. This is combined with other stringent requirements needed in a live cell imaging dye, including appropriate photophysical properties (excitation >590 nm, high fluorescence quantum yield, high extinction coefficient), good photostability, minimal aggregation in water, and excellent water solubility. The dyes were derivatized with iodoacetamide and succinimidyl ester side chains for site-selective covalent attachment to proteins. A novel biosensor of Cdc42 activation made with one of the new dyes showed a 3-fold increase in fluorescence intensity in response to GTP-binding by Cdc42. The dyes reported here should be useful in the preparation of live cell biosensors for a diverse range of protein activities.     

Sol-Gel Routes to Zeolite Membranes and Thin Films

The synthesis of zeolite membranes and thin films using the secondary growth process is briefly described. In this process colloidal zeolite particles (sols) are prepared hydrothermally and then subsequently deposited on substrates to produce uniform layers of controlled thickness, as illustrated with silicalite and zeolite-A. The formation and growth of the zeolite sols has been investigated in situ by small angle neutron scattering (SANS). SANS measurements on silicalite sols at progressively higher concentrations have provided details of the colloid interactions which lead to zeolite gel-layer structures which are uniform and free of defects.     

Organometallic Compounds of the Lanthanoides. LXVI. Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of [O(CH2CH2C5H4)2Y(μ-OH]2 and (MeC5H4)3Ho(H2O), two unusual products of the hydrolysis of organolanthanoide compounds

The partial hydrolysis of [O(CH₂CH₂C₅H₄)₂]Y(C₅H₄CH₃) 1 , [O(CH₂CH₂C₅H₄)₂]Y(C₅H₅) 3 , and [O(CH₂CH₂C₅H₄)₂]Ho(C₅H₄CH₃) 5 results in the formation of [O(CH₂CH₂CH₂C₅H₄)₂Y(μ-OH)₂]₂ 2 , (C₅H₅)₃Y(OH₂) 9 and (MeC₅H₄)₃Ho(OH₂) 11 . The new compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR and NMR spectra. The X-ray structural analyses shows 2 to be monoclinic, space group P2₁/n with a = 1146.0(3), b= 1046.6(3), c = 1514.9(3) pm, β = 94.83(2)°. The molecular structure shows bridging hydroxyl groups with a mean distance Y? O = 223.8(3) pm. 11 crystallizes in the cubic space group 14 3d with a = 1847.9(3)pm with Z = 16 molecules per unit cell. The molecules posses symmetry C₃-3, the coordination is trigonal pyramidal with three methylcyclopentadienyl anions and one water molecule as ligands. The distance Ho? O is 231 pm.     

Determination of the activity of diamine oxidases, urease and histidine ammonia-lyase by enzymatic assay of ammonia

Summary The activities of diamine oxidases (DAO) from submaxillary glands, parotid glands and kidneys, from human serum during the pregnancy and from pig serum and of DAO from pea seedlings and the activities of urease and histidine ammonia-lyase have been determined by measuring NH₄ ⁺ released from the corresponding substrates. Ammonia has been determined with the aid of glutamate dehydrogenase reaction in the coupled optic test. The specifity and sensitivity of the method, by which still 3×10^–9 Mol of NH₄ ⁺ could be measured, is excellent, the performance simple and rapid. The sensitivity could be enhanced by fluorometric determination of NAD⁺ in strong alkali solution. A method for the preparation of tissues for the spectrophotometric test of DAO is described. The importance of DAO determination in different diseases is briefly discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Die Aktivität von Diaminoxydasen aus Speicheldrüsen und Nieren, aus menschlichem Serum während der Schwangerschaft und Schweineserum und aus Erbsenkeimlingen sowie die Aktivität der Urease und Histidase wurden anhand der NH₃-Abspaltung aus ihren entsprechenden Substraten bestimmt. Das entstehende Ammoniak wurde dabei mit Hilfe der Glutamatdehydrogenasereaktion im gekoppelten optischen Test gemessen. Spezifität und Empfindlichkeit der Methode, mit der noch 3 · 10^–9 Mol NH₄ ⁺ bestimmt werden können, sind ausgezeichnet, die Durchführung einfach und rasch. Die Empfindlichkeit konnte außerdem noch durch die fluorimetrische Bestimmung von NAD⁺ gesteigert werden. Für die Bestimmung der Diaminoxydasen im Gewebe wird eine Methode der Aufarbeitung des Gewebes angegeben, die praktisch keinen Verlust an Gesamtaktivität gegenüber dem Ausgangshomogenat aufweist. Die Bedeutung der Diaminoxydasebestimmung für die Klinik wird kurz diskutiert.

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Supported by a grant from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Propene polymerization with Ziegler-type catalysts formed from Me2Si(Ind)2ZrMe2 and cation-generating reagents

Kinetic and polymer analytical results obtained with the systems Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrMe₂/[B(C₆F₄Si(i-Pr)₃)₄]⁻ [(C₆H₅)₃C]⁺ (2) and Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrMe₂/[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ [(C₆H₅)₃C]⁺ (3) in olefin polymerizations are compared (Me: methyl; Ind: indenyl). Both systems show that the polymerization rate increases with increasing metallocene concentration in a surplus due to the formation of binuclear species. The expected influence of increasing cation-anion distance on the stereo-errors of the poly(propylene)s when changing from system 3 into system 2 could not be detected.     

Modifying the Steric Properties in the Second Coordination Sphere of Designed Peptides Leads to Enhancement of Nitrite Reductase Activity

Protein design is a useful strategy to interrogate the protein structure‐function relationship. We demonstrate using a highly modular 3‐stranded coiled coil (TRI‐peptide system) that a functional type 2 copper center exhibiting copper nitrite reductase (NiR) activity exhibits the highest homogeneous catalytic efficiency under aqueous conditions for the reduction of nitrite to NO and H₂O. Modification of the amino acids in the second coordination sphere of the copper center increases the nitrite reductase activity up to 75‐fold compared to previously reported systems. We find also that steric bulk can be used to enforce a three‐coordinate Cu^I in a site, which tends toward two‐coordination with decreased steric bulk. This study demonstrates the importance of the second coordination sphere environment both for controlling metal‐center ligation and enhancing the catalytic efficiency of metalloenzymes and their analogues.     

Intermolecular alkyl/aryl exchange of 2-iminothiazoles with isothiocyanates and isocyanates: scopes and limitations

2-Iminothiazole, an isoform of 2-aminothiazole, is a scaffold of synthetic and medicinal significance. We have reported an efficient method by which alkyl group of 2-alkyliminothiazoles is changed into other alkyl groups by isothiocyanates. In this article, a detailed mechanistic aspect, and the scopes and limitations were disclosed. All the reactions were carried out in toluene at 105 °C without any additive. The reaction is a reversible process and the equilibrium is determined by the reactivity of both reactants, in which the more electron-withdrawing alkyl or aryl groups at the 2-imino group or isothiocyanate showed higher reactivities. With this simple method, we effectively altered the alkyl group attached on the imine nitrogen. A synthetic problem in 2-iminothiazole chemistry, synthesis of amino acid-derived 2-iminothiazole was solved in a very simple manner. Using suitably designed 2-iminothiazole substrate, the electrophilic reactivity of various isothiocyanates could be empirically compared by this exchange reaction. Moreover, successful exchange reaction using isocyanates instead of isothiocyanates broadened the utility of this reaction.