Binding sites of nitrogenase: kinetic and theoretical studies of cyanide binding to extracted FeMo-cofactor derivatives

The first kinetic study of a substrate (CN(-)) binding to the isolated active site (extracted FeMo-cofactor) of nitrogenase is described. The kinetics of the reactions between CN(-) and various derivatives of extracted FeMo-cofactor [FeMoco-L; where L is bound to Mo, and is NMF, Bu(t)NC, or imidazole (ImH)] have been followed using a stopped-flow, sequential-mix method in which the course of the reaction is followed indirectly, by monitoring the change in the rate of the reaction of the cofactor with PhS(-). The kinetic results, together with DFT calculations, indicate that the initial site of CN(-) binding to FeMoco-L is controlled by a combination of the electron-richness of the cluster core and lability of the Mo-L bond. Ultimately, the reactions between FeMoco-L and CN(-) involve displacement of L and binding of CN(-) to Mo. These reactions occur with a variety of rates and rate laws dependent on the nature of L. For FeMoco-NMF, the reaction with CN(-) is complete within the dead-time of the apparatus (ca. 4 ms), while with FeMoco-CNBu(t) the reaction is much slower and exhibits first order dependences on the concentrations of both FeMoco-CNBu(t) and CN(-) (k = 2.5 +/- 0.5 x 10(4) dm(3) mol(-1) s(-1)). The reaction of FeMoco-ImH with CN(-) occurs at a rate which exhibits a first order dependence on FeMoco-ImH but is independent of the concentration of CN(-) (k = 50 +/- 10 s(-1)). The results are interpreted in terms of CN(-) binding directly to the Mo site for FeMoco-NMF and FeMoco-ImH, but with FeMoco-CNBu(t) initial binding at an Fe site is followed by movement of CN(-) to Mo. Complementary DFT calculations are consistent with this interpretation, indicating that, in FeMoco-L, the Mo-L bond is stronger for L = ImH than for L = CNBu(t) and the binding of CN(-) to Mo is stronger than to any Fe atom in the cofactor.     

An indium(III)–water chain based on an unusual acyclic water pentamer

An in situ reaction under hydro­thermal conditions leads to the formation of the title compound, diaqua­(pyridine‐2‐carboxyl­ato)­(pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxyl­ato)indium(II) trihydrate, [In(C₆H₄NO₂)(C₇H₃NO₄)(H₂O)₂]·3H₂O, in which the central In^III atom is seven‐coordinated by one pyridine‐2,6‐di­carboxyl­ate ligand, one pyridine‐2‐carboxyl­ate ligand and two water mol­ecules in a penta­gonal–bipyramidal coordination environment. An indium(III)–water chain based on an unusual water pentamer is observed.     

LC-ESI-MS Determination of Bilobalide and Ginkgolides in Canine Plasma

A sensitive and selective method using liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection was developed for the quantification of bilobalide and ginkgolides in canine plasma. The analytes were extracted with diethyl ether-dichloromethane-isopropanol (6:3:1, v/v) after spiking the samples with daidzein (internal standard). The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of the method was 2.5 μg L⁻¹ for ginkgolide B and 10.0 μg L⁻¹ for bilabolide, ginkgolide A and ginkgolide C. The accuracy of the method was within 15% of the actual values over a wide range of plasma concentrations. The intra-day and inter-day precision was better than 15% (R.S.D.). Finally, the LC-ESI-MS method was successfully applied to study the pharmacokinetics of ginkgolides and bilabolide after administration of Ginkgo biloba extracts to dogs.     

Reactivity of Ar'GeGeAr' (Ar' = C6H3-2,6-Dipp2, Dipp = C6H3-2,6-iPr2) toward alkynes: isolation of a stable digermacyclobutadiene

The first reactions of the "digermyne" Ar'GeGeAr' (1, Ar' = C6H3-2,6-Dipp2, Dipp = C6H3-2,6-iPr2) with alkynes are reported. 1 reacts with 1 equiv of H5C6CCC6H5 to afford the 1,2-digermacyclobutadiene 2 in high yield, while it reacts with 2 equiv of the less hindered alkyne Me3SiCCH to yield an unexpected bicyclic compound 3. Molecular structures of 2 and 3 were determined by X-ray crystallography. A possible mechanism for the formation of 3 is discussed. The high reactivity of 1, even at room temperature, emphasizes the fundamental differences between the GeGe and CC multiple bonds.     

便携式温度计校验仪的研制

介绍便携式温度计校验仪的工作原理及研制过程。对该仪器的恒温槽体机械结构、制冷器和散热器的设计、恒温槽体温度测量及控制等进行了详细叙述。该仪器提供的温度场稳定、均匀，在-20～100℃范围内可任意设定温度。解决了温度计现场快速校准的问题。     

Epoxide assisted sol-gel synthesis of rutile NixTi1-3xSb2xO2 solid solution nanoparticles

Rutile Ni _x Ti_1-3x Sb_2x O₂ solid solution nanoparticles were synthesized by a sol-gel route using propylene oxide as a gelation agent. Titanium oxide nanopowder and 12% TiCl₃ solution were used as the source for titanium to investigate the influence of the titanium precursors on the formation of the target materials. It was found that the nanoparticles prepared using 12% TiCl₃ solution showed a much lower phase formation temperature (700°C) as compared to those prepared from TiO₂ nanoparticles (1000°C). This lower phase formation temperature allowed a substantial reduction of the aggregation of the particles during calcination leading to the formation of nearly mono-dispersed nanoparticles of about 20 nm. The results of this work show that the epoxide assisted sol-gel method is capable to produce titanium-based ternary oxide solid solution nanoparticles, owing to the formation of a highly homogeneous precursor gel intermediate.     

锂离子蓄电池正极材料LiFePO4研究进展

锂离子电池正极材料正在向着高比能量、长寿命、低成本、环境友好的方向发展,而具有橄榄石结构的LiFePO_4正极材料以其结构稳定、成本低、无污染等优点成为21世纪最理想的绿色电源,但自身也存在缺点。综述了锂离子电池正极材料LiFePO_4的研究进展。系统地阐述了LiFePO_4的晶体结构特征及性能、多种合成方法以及掺杂多种导电材料和控制晶体生长制备纳米粉体对材料性能的影响。对该材料的应用前景进行了展望,并提出了下一步可能的研究趋势。     

Ultrasensitive small molecule fluorogenic probe for human heparanase

Heparanase (HPA) is a critical enzyme involved in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and its elevated expression has been linked with diseases such as various types of cancer and inflammation. The detection of heparanase enzymatic activity holds tremendous value in the study of the cellular microenvironment, and search of molecular therapeutics targeting heparanase, however, no structurally defined probes are available for the detection of heparanase activity. Here we present the development of the first ultrasensitive fluorogenic small-molecule probe for heparanase enzymatic activity via tuning the electronic effect of the substrate. The probe exhibits a 756-fold fluorescence turn-on response in the presence of human heparanase, allowing one-step detection of heparanase activity in real-time with a picomolar detection limit. The high sensitivity and robustness of the probe are exemplified in a high-throughput screening assay for heparanase inhibitors.

Heparanase, a critical enzyme involved in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix, activates a disaccharide probe HADP to give a strong fluorescence signal.     

Separation and determination of seven fluoroquinolones by pressurized capillary electrochromatography

In this paper, pressurized CEC was used for the separation and determination of seven fluoroquinolones (FQs). The effect of different experimental conditions, such as the concentration and pH of the buffer, the organic modifier concentration, the surfactant and ion-paring agents added to the electrolyte, and applied voltage were studied. All the seven FQs were baseline separated using mobile phase containing 27% v/v ACN, 5 mmol/L Na2HPO4 buffer (pH 4.0 adjusted using citric acid), 11 mmol/L SDS, and 0.01% TEA v/v at detection wavelength of 287 nm and at an applied voltage of -10 kV. The calibration curves were linear (r>0.9991) over a concentration range of 1.0-50.0 mg/L for norfloxacin (NFLX); 2.5-50.0 mg/L for fleroxacin (FLX), ciprofloxacin (CPFX), and lomefloxacin (LMX); and 5.0-50.0 mg/L for enoxacin (ENX), ofloxacin (OFLX), and gatifloxacin (GFLX). The detection limits (S/N = 3) for ENX, OFLX, FLX, NFLX, CPFX, LMX, and GFLX were 0.5, 0.8, 0.4, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/L, respectively. The method is simple, rapid, and reproducible. It was successfully applied to the analysis of fish muscle samples spiked with FQs. Mean recoveries ranged from 81.6 to 97.6%.     

Bistatic scattering by arbitrarily shaped objects with rough surface at optical and infrared frequencies

The scattering cross sections for arbitrarily shaped dielectric objects with rough surface are determined for optical and infrared frequencies using the Kirchhoff approximation. The formula of the coherent scattering cross section is derived, and numerical method of incoherent scattering cross section is given. As a specific example, the infrared laser scattering cross sections of rough spheres are calculated at 1.06 m.