Asymmetric reduction of ketones using recombinant E. coli cells that produce a versatile carbonyl reductase with high enantioselectivity and broad substrate specificity

The gene encoding a versatile biocatalyst that shows high enantioselectivity for a variety of ketones, SCR (Saccharomyces cerevisiae carbonyl reductase), has been identified, cloned, and expressed in Escherichia coli. Two types of expression systems with high NADPH-regenerating capacities have been constructed. One is the tandem system, where the genes encoding SCR and GDH (glucose dehydrogenase) are located in the same plasmid, and the other is the two-plasmid system, where each of the SCR and GDH genes is located in separate plasmids that can coexist in one E. coli cell. Asymmetric reduction of ketones with the recombinant E. coli cells gave synthetically useful 20 alcohols, 11 of which were enantiomerically pure. The productivity of one of these products was as high as 41 g/L.     

Effect of Ru crystal orientation on the adhesion characteristics of Cu for ultra-large scale integration interconnects

The adhesion of Cu on Ru substrates with different crystal orientations was evaluated. The crystal orientation of sputter deposited Ru could be changed from (1 0 0) to (0 0 1) by annealing at 650 °C for 20 min. The adhesion of Cu was evaluated by the degree of Cu agglomeration on Ru. Cu films on annealed Ru films with the (0 0 1) crystal orientation showed 28% lower RMS values and 50% lower Ru surface coverage than Cu as-deposited on Ru having the (1 0 0) crystal orientation after annealing at 550 °C for 30 min, which suggest that Cu wettability on the Ru(0 0 1) was better than that on the Ru(1 0 0) plane. The low lattice misfit of 4% between Cu(1 1 1) and Ru(0 0 1) may be the reason for this good adhesion property.     

Studies on cardiac ingredients of plants. VII: Chemical transformation of proscillaridin by means of the Diels-Alder reaction and biological activities of its derivatives.

The Diels-Alder reactions of a cardiac glycoside, proscillaridin (1), with some dienophiles were investigated. The reaction of 1 with alkenes such as methyl vinyl ketone and methyl acrylate afforded 3-oxo-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-enes (2-5) and para-substituted benzene derivatives (6 and 7), while 1 reacted with alkynes (3-butyn-2-one, methyl propiolate) to yield para- or meta-substituted benzene derivatives (6-9). The biological activities of the resulting derivatives were evaluated by the use of isolated guinea-pig papillary muscle preparations and Na+,K(+)-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) preparation from dog kidney. Among the proscillaridin derivatives, compounds 4 and 7 moderately inhibited Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity. Furthermore, the concentration range of 7 over which its positive inotropic effect on guinea-pig papillary muscle preparations, increased from 5% to 95% of maximum was broader than that of 1, i.e., concentration dependency was maintained over a greater range of concentration.     

T-violation neutron experiment and polarized3He

An experimental scheme of the spin detailed balance in polarized neutron transmission through a polarized nuclear target is discussed for the T-violation test. The value of the spin detailed balance is estimated by using the data of the scattering amplitudes. The nuclear polarizations of proton,³He and¹³⁹La are discussed for the T-violation experiment.     

Spatial distribution and formation of nitrate radical NO<Stack><Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript></Stack> in Antarctic calcitic evaporates

Nitrate radical NO₃²⁻ in calcitic evaporate was discovered in Antarctica. The distribution and formation of nitrate radical NO₃²⁻ in the calcite have been studied by pulse and continuous-wave electron spin resonance. In samples that had been annealed to destroy the NO₃²⁻, regeneration of the radical by γ-rays or UV light indicated that the radical was formed by UV light (with wavelengths less than 340 nm) from solar rays, not by environmental radiation. The nonuniform spatial distribution of the nitrate radical, which was deduced from high ratios of local spin density to total spin density, suggests that the nitrate impurity was introduced into the calcium carbonate after carbonate grain formation. Formation of the carbonate-containing nitrate requires the presence of high amounts of nitrate and a dry climate. Formation of the nitrate radical requires sample exposure to UV light. These conditions are satisfied in the environment of Antarctica.     

Numerical analysis of finite amplitude motion of waves and a moored floating body under severe storm conditions

The motion of a moored floating body under the action of wave forces, which is influenced by fluid forces, shape of the floating body and mooring forces, should be analysed as a complex coupled motion system. Especially under severe storm conditions or resonant motion of the floating body it is necessary to consider finite amplitude motions of the waves, the floating body and the mooring lines as well as non-linear interactions of these finite amplitude motions. The problem of a floating body has been studied on the basis of linear wave theory by many researchers. However, the finite amplitude motion under a correlated motion system has rarely been taken into account. This paper presents a numerical method for calculating the finite amplitude motion when a floating body is moored by non-linear mooring lines such as chains and cables under severe storm conditions.     

Approximate Solution of the Saha Equation — Temperature as an Explicit Function of Particle Densities

The Saha equation for a plasma in thermodynamic equilibrium (TE) is approximately solved to give the temperature as an explicit function of population densities. It is shown that the derived expressions for the Saha temperature are valid approximations to the exact solution. An application of the approximate temperature to the calculation of TE plasma parameters is also described.     

Structure and enantioselective synthesis of polyamine toxin MG30 from the venom of the spider Macrothele gigas

A novel polyamine toxin, named MG30, was isolated from the venom of the spider, Macrothele gigas, and its structure was elucidated by two-dimensional NMR and mass analysis. In addition, the enantioselective synthesis of MG30 was achieved to assign its absolute stereochemistry.