The octarepeat domain of the prion protein binds Cu(II) with three distinct coordination modes at pH 7.4

The prion protein (PrP) binds Cu2+ in its N-terminal octarepeat domain. This unusual domain is comprised of four or more tandem repeats of the fundamental sequence PHGGGWGQ. Previous work from our laboratories demonstrates that at full copper occupancy, each HGGGW segment binds a single Cu2+. However, several recent studies suggest that low copper occupancy favors different coordination modes, possibly involving imidazoles from histidines in adjacent octapeptide segments. This is investigated here using a combination of X-band EPR, S-band EPR, and ESEEM, along with a library of modified peptides designed to favor different coordination interactions. At pH 7.4, three distinct coordination modes are identified. Each mode is fully characterized to reveal a series of copper-dependent octarepeat domain structures. Multiple His coordination is clearly identified at low copper stoichiometry. In addition, EPR detected copper-copper interactions at full occupancy suggest that the octarepeat domain partially collapses, perhaps stabilizing this specific binding mode and facilitating cooperative copper uptake. This work provides the first complete characterization of all dominant copper coordination modes at pH 7.4.     

First-principles investigations of the polarizability of small-sized and intermediate-sized copper clusters

Density functional theory calculations are used to compute the dipole polarizabilities of copper clusters. Structures for the clusters are taken from the literature for n = 2-32 and several isomers are used for each cluster size for n < or = 10. The calculated polarizabilities are in good agreement with the prediction of a simple jellium model, but much smaller than experimental observations for n = 9-32 [M. B. Knickelbein, J. Chem. Phys., 120, 10450 (2004)]. To investigate this difference, the calculated polarizabilities are tested for the effects of basis set, electron correlation, and equilibrium geometry for small-size clusters (n = 2-10). These effects are too small to account for the theory-experiment gap. Temperature effects are also studied. Thermal expansion of the clusters leads to very small changes in polarizability. On the other hand, the presence of permanent dipoles in the clusters could account for the experimental observations if the rotational temperature of the clusters were sufficiently low. The potential importance of the cluster dipole moments implies that reliable ground-state structures and experimental temperatures are needed to find quantitative agreement between calculated and observed polarizabilities.     

Single-photon spectroscopy of singlet sulfur atoms and the autoionization lifetime measurements of the superexcited singlet states

Single-photon excitation spectra from the lowest singlet (1)D(2) level of sulfur atoms were recorded with a tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation source generated by frequency tripling in noble gases. The photolysis of CS(2) at 193 nm was used to produce the singlet S((1)D(2)) sulfur atoms that were then excited to neutral superexcited states with the tunable VUV radiation. These superexcited states undergo autoionization into the first ionization continuum state of S(+)((4)S(3/2) (o))+e(-), which is not directly accessible from the S((1)D(2)) state via an allowed transition. The excitation spectra were recorded by monitoring the S(+) signal in a velocity imaging apparatus while scanning the VUV excitation wavelength. Three new lines were observed in the spectra which have not been previously reported. The full widths at half maximum (FWHM) of each of the observed transitions were determined by fitting the profiles of each absorption resonances with the Fano formula. Autoionization lifetimes tau of these singlet superexcited states were obtained from FWHM using the Uncertainty Principle. Abnormal autoionization lifetimes were found for the 3s(2)3p(3)((2)D(o))nd((1)D(2)) and the 3s(2)3p(3)((2)D(o))ns((1)D(2)) Rydberg series, in which tau(5d) and tau(7s) are shorter than tau(4d) and tau(6s), respectively. This is contrary to the well-known scaling law of tau(n*) proportional, variantn(*3), which should be followed within a series unless there exist perturbations from other series or new channels open up to which some members of the series can decay. Possible perturbations from the nearby triplet series are suspected for causing the broadening of the 5d and 7s levels.     

Modification of a thermoplastic elastomer gel through the addition of an endblock‐selective homopolymer

Addition of a midblock‐selective oil to an ABA triblock copolymer with a rubbery B‐midblock and thermoplastic A‐endblocks yields a thermoplastic elastomer gel (TPEG) if the oil constitutes the majority blend constituent and a physically crosslinked network, responsible for solid‐like mechanical properties, is retained. These blends typically exhibit a micellar morphology in which the micellar cores are composed of the oil‐incompatible A‐endblocks. Since the micelles serve as crosslink sites, the properties of TPEGs depend on (i) the intrinsic characteristics of the solid‐state endblocks, and (ii) the degree to which the micelles interact through bridged and looped midblocks. In this work, a poly[styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐styrene] triblock copolymer and an aliphatic oil are used to prepare TPEGs into which poly(2,6‐dimethylphenylene oxide) (PPO), a styrene‐compatible homopolymer, is added. The morphologies and bulk properties of these ternary systems are examined by electron microscopy, viscometry, and dynamic rheology. A slight increase in the PPO content in these TPEGs promotes increases in micelle size, confirming that the PPO primarily resides within the micelles, and disordering temperature, signified by an abrupt change in rheological properties. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 1863–1872, 1999     

5-甲基-[(2E,6E)-3,7,11-三甲基-9-氧代十二碳二烯]苯醌和氢醌的首次全合成

以2-甲基对苯二酚和香叶基溴为起始原料, 经过酚羟基保护, 溴代, Li₂CuCl₄催化的芳基溴与Grignard试剂的偶联以及Julia偶联等一系列反应, 完成了裸鳃亚动物的代谢产物, 5-甲基-[(2E,6E)-3,7,11-三甲基-9-氧代十二碳二烯]苯醌(1)和氢醌(2)的首次全合成, 将1用NaBH₄还原, 得到(±)-3, (±)-3也是此类天然产物之一.     

Invariant curves for birational surface maps

We classify invariant curves for birational surface maps that are expanding on cohomology. When the expansion is exponential, the arithmetic genus of an invariant curve is at most one. This implies severe constraints on both the type and number of irreducible components of the curve. In the case of an invariant curve with genus equal to one, we show that there is an associated invariant meromorphic two-form.

     

Synthesis of 1-aminoimidazolidin-4-one and 1-aminoimidazolidin-2-one based compounds: an interesting divergence in methodology

An examination of the methods required for the amination of 2- and 4-imidazolidinones is described.     

Synthesis of fluorinated cyclic s-trans vinylogous acid and amide ester derivatives

A two-step procedure for the preparation of ethyl 4-amino-2-oxo-6-(trifluoromethyl)cyclohex-3-ene-1-carboxylate (enaminone) and methyl 4-hydroxy-2-oxo-6-(trifluoromethyl)cyclohex-3-ene-1-carboxylate (vinylogous acid) has been accomplished, using reactive Michael acceptors under basic condition. In addition, acyclic trifluoromethylated ester derivatives were isolated as competing by-products. The above compounds represent novel synthetically useful trifluoromethyl building blocks.