Triple‐Helix‐Stabilizing Effects in Collagen Model Peptides Containing PPII‐Helix‐Preorganized Diproline Modules

Collagen model peptides (CMPs) serve as tools for understanding stability and function of the collagen triple helix and have a potential for biomedical applications. In the past, interstrand cross‐linking or conformational preconditioning of proline units through stereoelectronic effects have been utilized in the design of stabilized CMPs. To further study the effects determining collagen triple helix stability we investigated a series of CMPs containing synthetic diproline‐mimicking modules (ProMs), which were preorganized in a PPII‐helix‐type conformation by a functionalizable intrastrand C₂ bridge. Results of CD‐based denaturation studies were correlated with calculated (DFT) conformational preferences of the ProM units, revealing that the relative helix stability is mainly governed by an interplay of main‐chain preorganization, ring‐flip preference, adaptability, and steric effects. Triple helix integrity was proven by crystal structure analysis and binding to HSP47.     

Complexation of diazaperylene and bisisoquinoline with transition metal ions in the gas phase studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The complex formation of the ligands 1,12-diazaperylene (dap), 1,1'-bisisoquinoline (bis), 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) with transition metal ions (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ru, Os, Re, Pd, Pt, Ag and Cd) in the gas phase has been studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. With the exception of Ru, Os, Fe, Ni and Cu, singly charged complexes [MLn](+) (n = 1,2) were observed. The complexes of dap and bis with Ru, Os, Fe and Ni ions, and the mixed ligand complexes with bpy and phen, are preferably of the doubly charged type [ML3]2+. In addition, collision-induced dissociation (CID) measurements were employed to evaluate the relative stabilities of these complexes. The CID experiments of mixed-ligand complexes which contain both dap and phen or dap and bpy exhibit preferential elimination of bpy, indicating that bpy is a weaker ligand than phen and dap.     

New examples of indefinite hyper-Kähler symmetric spaces

Following the approach to pseudo-Riemannian symmetric spaces developed in [I. Kath, M. Olbrich, On the structure of pseudo-Riemannian symmetric spaces, arXiv:math.DG/0408249, 2004] we exhibit examples of indefinite hyper-Kähler symmetric spaces with non-abelian holonomy. Moreover, we classify indecomposable hyper-Kähler symmetric spaces whose metric has signature (4,4n)$(4,4n)$. Such spaces exist if and only if n∈{0,1,3}$n\in \{0,1,3\}$.     

An optimized method for the isolation and identification of membrane proteins

The purpose of this study was to develop a protocol suitable for membrane protein extraction from limited starting material and to identify appropriate conditions for two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis. We used A549 cells, a human alveolar type II cell line, and evaluated three protein extraction methods based on different separation principles, namely protein solubility, detergent-based and density-based organelle separation. Detergent-based extraction achieved the highest yield with 14.64% +/- 2.35 membrane proteins but sequential extraction with 7.35% +/- 0.78 yield and centrifugal extraction with 4.1% +/- 0.54 yield produced the purest fractionation of membrane proteins. Only the sequential and the detergent-based extraction proved suitable for small volumes of starting material. We identified annexin I + II, electron transfer flavoprotein beta-chain, H(+)-transporting ATP synthase, mitofilin and protein disulfide isomerase A3 as membrane and cytokeratin 8 + 18, actin and others as soluble proteins using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis and started to map the A549 cell proteome. Our data suggest that membrane proteins can be extracted efficiently from small samples using a simple sequential protein extraction method. They can be separated and identified successfully using optimized conditions in 2-D gel electrophoresis. The presented methods will be useful for further investigations of membrane proteins of alveolar and bronchial carcinomas.     

Viscosity studies of solutions of water inn-aliphatic alcohols at various temperatures

Viscosity measurements have been made at 25°C on solutions of water inn-propanol, and at 15, 25, 35, and 45°C on solutions of water inn-butanol,n-pentanol, andn-hexanol over the respective solubility ranges. For most of the systems, water decreases the viscosity of the dry alcohols, while for the lower members of the series literature data report an increase in viscosity on addition of water. These results are rationalized in terms of two kinds of interaction between water molecules and alcohols: participation of water molecules in chain formation for the lower alcohols and formation of water-centered complexes for butanol and higher alcohols.     

Adriadysiolide,the First Monoterpenoid Isolated from a Marine Sponge

Spectra and chemical transformations allow to establish the gross structure 6,7-epoxy-4,7-dimethyl-l-oxa-spiro[4.4]non-3-en-2-one for adriadysiolide ( 1 ), the first monoterpenoid isolated from a marine sponge, a Dysidea sp. of the Adriatic Sea. Its configuration 5R*, 6S*, 7S* as given in 1a is derived from diastereoselective total syntheses of both 1a and its diastereoisomer 1b via stereochemically predictable peracid epoxidations of olefinic precursors. Thus, OH assistance in allylic alcohol 8 leads to oxirane 13 which is subjected to methyl cuprate conjugate addition to give epiadriadysiolide ( 1b ), whilst electronic deactivation by a neighboring heterocyclic O-atom in intermediate 5 , derived from 8 mainly leads to adriadysiolide ( 1a ). Comparative ¹H-NMR shift-reagent effects with 1a and 1b , evaluated with the aid of molecular-mechanics calculations, support these conclusions.     

The high affinity of azacalix[3](2,6)pyridine derivatives for Be cations—a DFT study

It is shown using a reliable DFT method that N,N′,N″-tris(phenyl)azacalix[3](2,6)pyridine derivatives act as powerful sequestering agents for Be²⁺ cations in the gas phase and in acetonitrile solution due to cationic resonance and strong beryllium bonding in the complexes.     

Fiber Bragg grating based spatially resolved characterization of flux-pinning induced strain of rectangular-shaped bulk YBCO samples

We report on measurements of the spatially resolved characterization of flux-pinning induced strain of rectangular-shaped bulk YBCO samples. The spatially resolved strain measurements are accomplished by the use 2 fiber Bragg grating arrays, which are with an included angle of 45° fixed to the surface.In this paper first attempts to confirm the shape distortions caused by the flux-pinning induced strain as predicted in [1], [2] will be presented. Two sample setups, a single bulk and a “mirror” arrangement, will be compared. This mirror setup represents a model configuration for a measurement inside the superconductor, where demagnetization effects can be neglected and the magnetic field merely has a z-component.