Modeling spatial patterns in Dictyostelium

The life cycle of Dictyostelium discoideum provides a striking example of the transition from single cell behavior to multicellular cooperativity. In this paper the status of the attempts at making semiquantitative models of the aggregation phase of this cycle is reviewed. Specifically, it is discussed how the propagation of cAMP waves is a typical example of excitable signaling, which is then rendered unstable by coupling to cell chemotaxis. To investigate the streaming pattern that emerges from this clumping instability, we next turn to a new simulation strategy, which couples dynamical cell-like entities ("bions") to continuum chemical concentration fields. Finally, we discuss two directions for further research: One is the study of the robustness with respect to the variation of system parameters (such as the cell density) exhibited by the biological system, but not by any simple model. The other concerns going beyond the aggregation phase to tackle the three-dimensional problem of slug formation and motion.     

Über die Carotinoide Flavoxanthin und Chrysanthemaxanthin: 1H-NMR.-, 13C-NMR.- und Massen-Spektren und absolute Konfiguration. (Kritische Überprüfung veröffentlichter chemischer und physikalischer Daten)

On the Carotenoids Flavoxanthin and Chrysanthemaxanthin: ¹H-NMR., ¹³C-NMR. and Mass Spectra, Absolute Configuration, Survey of Published Data Very pure flavoxanthin ( 1 ) and chrysanthemaxanthin ( 2 ) have been reisolated from flower heads of Taraxacum officinale. Both compounds were characterized by chromatographic, chemical and chiroptical data and extensive NMR. measurements. Examination of many published data on 1 and 2 led to the conclusion that flavoxanthin has often been mistaken for chrysanthemaxanthin and vice versa. Chemical degradation of 1 and 2 to (?)-loliolide ( 5 ) coupled with NMR. evidence (ASIS, spin-decoupling, NOE) allowed the assignment of the absolute configurations of 1 and 2 . Thus (+)-flavoxanthin is (3S,5R,8R, 3′R,6′R)-5, 8-epoxy-5, 8-dihydro-β, ε-carotene-3, 3′-diol and (+)-chrysanthemaxanthin its C(8)-epimer.     

Syntheses and X-Ray Crystal Structures of 2-Aminoindenes and Aminocymantrenes

Substituted 2-aminoindenes have been synthesized in almost quantitative yields by reactions of amines such as methylpiperazine, trimethylethylenediamine, 1,4-diaza-cycloheptane and N,N′-dimethylethylenediamine with 2-indanone. The 2-aminoindenes can be deprotonated and reacted with BrMn(CO)₃(Py)₂ to produce the respective aminoindenyl-cymantrenes in yields between 55–70%. The X-ray crystal structures of 2-(methylpiperazine)indenyl-cymantrene 5 (P1 , a = 12.667(3) Å, b = 16.630(3) Å, c = 17.382(3) Å, α = 72.70(3)°, β = 74.59(3)°, γ = 88.66(3)°, V = 3364.1(12) Å ³, Z = 8, R1(2σ(I)) = 4.02%, wR2(2σ(I)) = 10.30%) and the HClO₄ adduct of 2-(trimethylethylenediamine)-indenyl-cymantrene 6 (Cc, a = 23.722(5) Å, b = 6.9080 Å, c = 13.264 Å, β = 111.77(3)°, V = 2018.6(7) Å 3, Z = 4, R1(2σ(I)) = 2.94%, wR2(2σ(I)) = 7.90%) were determined. In both complexes the indenyl-carbon bonded to nitrogen displays significantly longer bonds to manganese [223.5(3)–225.8(3) pm] than the other four carbon atoms [213.3(3)–219.1(3) pm]. The short indenyl-nitrogen bonds of 136.2(4) and 137.8(4) pm are indicative of a substantial multiple bond character. The complexation of Zn²⁺ by the nitrogen atoms of 6 results in significant shifts of the CO stretching frequencies.     

Neutral and ionic aluminum,gallium, and indium compounds carrying two or three terminal ethynyl groups

The syntheses of the ionic compounds [Li(+).2 dioxane (2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)N(SiMe(3))Al(C triplebond CSiMe(3))(3))(-)].0.75 dioxane (1), [(Li(+))(2).(dioxane)(7)](0.5) [2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)N(SiMe(3))Ga(C triplebond CSiMe(3))(3)(-)].1.5 dioxane (2), and [(Li(+))(2).(dioxane)(7)](0.5) [2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)N(SiMe(3))In(C triplebond CSiMe(3))(3)(-)].1.5 dioxane (3) by the reaction of the corresponding organo metal chloride with LiC triplebond CSiMe(3) are reported. The neutral ethynyl compounds Br-Al(C triplebond CtBu)(2).2 THF (4), Cl-Ga(C triplebond CtBu)(2).THF (5), Cl-In(C triplebond CtBu)(2).2 THF (6), Al(C triplebond CtBu)(3).C[N(Me)CMe](2) (7), Ga(C triplebond CtBu)(3).dioxane (8), and In(C triplebond CtBu)(3).NEt(3) (9) have been obtained in good yields from the reaction of AlBr(3), GaCl(3), and InCl(3) with LiC triplebond CtBu in the presence of a Lewis base. Compound 7 is the first heterocyclic carbene substituted ethynyl derivative. Aluminum and gallium compounds with three terminal ethynyl groups Al(C triplebond CPh)(3).NMe(3) (10) and Ga(C triplebond CPh)(3).NMe(3) (11) have been prepared by the reaction of AlH(3).NMe(3) or GaH(3).NMe(3) with three equivalents of phenylethyne. All the above-mentioned compounds have been structurally studied. In compound 1 the lithium ion is coordinated to the three terminal ethynyl groups, whereas in compounds 2 and 3 the lithium is coordinated to the solvent (dioxane). Compound 8 crystallizes as a coordination polymer with dioxane molecules bridging the individual gallium units.     

Organometallphosphin-substituierte übergangsmetallkomplexe XVII. Tetracarbonyl-di(organometallphosphin)-chrom-, -molybdän- und -wolfram-komplexe

Bicyclo[2.2.1]-2,5-heptadiene complexes of transition metal carbonyls have been treated with organometallic phosphines, to give the disubstituted compounds [(R₃M′)₃P]₂M(CO)₄ [R = CH₃; M′ = Ge, Sn; M = Cr, Mo, W] by exchange of ligands. The chemical and spectroscopic properties of the new compounds are reported.     

Transport properties of the Lorentz gas: Fourier's law

We investigate the stationary nonequilibrium (heat transporting) states of the Lorentz gas. This is a gas of classical point particles moving in a region gL containing also fixed (hard sphere) scatterers of radiusR. The stationary state considered is obtained by imposing stochastic boundary conditions at the top and bottom of , i.e., a particle hitting one of these walls comes off with a velocity distribution corresponding to temperaturesT ₁ andT ₂ respectively,T ₁ <T ₂. Letting be the average density of the randomly distributed scatterers we show that in the Boltzmann-Grad limit,,R 0 with the mean free path fixed, the stationary distribution of the Lorentz gas converges in theL ¹-norm to the stationary distribution of the corresponding linear Boltzmann equation with the same boundary conditions. In particular, the steady state heat flow in the Lorentz gas converges to that of the linear Boltzmann equation, which is known to behave as (T ₂-T ₁)/L for largeL, whereL is the distance from the bottom to the top wall: i.e., Fourier's law of heat conduction is valid in the limit. The heat flow converges even in probability. Generalizations of our result for scatterers with a smooth potential as well as the related diffusion problem are discussed.Research supported in part by NSF Grant no. Phy 77-22302.On leave of absence from the Fachbereich Physik der Universität, München. Work supported by a DFG fellowship.     

Extension of conjugation leading to bathochromic or hypsochromic effects in OPV series

Four OPV series 1-4 (a-d) with a terminal dialkylamino group as electron donor were prepared by Wittig-Horner reactions. To study the influence of the push-pull effect on the long-wavelength absorption, three of the four series contained terminal acceptor groups (CN, CHO, NO(2)). The length of the chromophores strongly affects the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT)-an effect which superimposes upon the extension of the conjugation. Increasing numbers n of repeat units cause an overall bathochromic shift for the purely donor-substituted series 1 a-4 a and the series 1 b-4 b with CN as weak acceptor. The two effects annihilate each other in the series 1 c-4 c with terminal CHO groups, so that the absorption maxima are almost independent of the length of the chromophore. A hypsochromic shift is observed for the series 1 d-4 d, which contains the strong acceptor group NO(2). This anomaly disappears on protonation of the dialkylamino group because the push-pull effect disappears in the ammonium salts. The results can be explained by semiempirical quantum mechanics (AM1, INDO/S). The HOMO-LUMO transition, which is mainly responsible for the ICT, becomes less important in the electron transitions S(0)-->S(1) when the distance between donor and acceptor is increased. The commonly used VB model, which contains an electroneutral and a zwitterionic resonance structure, is contrasted with a MO model with dipole segments at both ends of the OPV chains. The latter model turned out to be more appropriate-at least for donor-acceptor-substituted OPVs with n >/= 2.