Unexpected electron transfer in cryptochrome identified by time-resolved EPR spectroscopy

Subtle differences in the local sequence and conformation of amino acids can result in diversity and specificity in electron transfer (ET) in proteins, despite structural conservation of the redox partners. For individual ET steps, distance is not necessarily the decisive parameter; orientation and solvent accessibility of the ET partners, and thus the stabilization of the charge-separated states, contribute substantially.     

Synthesis of axinohydantoins

A short synthesis of the hydantoin-containing marine sponge metabolites axinohydantoins is described. A key feature of the synthesis is a putative biomimetic, intramolecular cyclization of alpha-functionalized imidazolone 5, which affords the tricyclic pyrroloazepinone framework comprising 6. In addition, the conversion of imidazolones to alpha,beta-unsaturated hydantoins is outlined and represents a new approach to these heterocyclic systems.     

Synthesis of conjugated oligomers having aromatic and enediyne units alternately in the backbone that show intense fluorescence emission

[structure: see text] Synthesis and fluorescence properties of pi-conjugated compounds having alternately an aromatic ring such as benzene, pyridine, and thiophene and an enediyne unit in the backbone are described.     

Nanosize-induced drastic drop in equilibrium hydrogen pressure for hydride formation and structural stabilization in pd-rh solid-solution alloys

We have synthesized and characterized homogeneous solid-solution alloy nanoparticles of Pd and Rh, which are immiscible with each other in the equilibrium bulk state at around room temperature. The Pd-Rh alloy nanoparticles can absorb hydrogen at ambient pressure and the hydrogen pressure of Pd-Rh alloys for hydrogen storage is dramatically decreased by more than 4 orders of magnitude from the corresponding pressure in the metastable bulk state. The solid-solution state is still maintained in the nanoparticles even after hydrogen absorption/desorption, in contrast to the metastable bulks which are separated into Pd and Rh during the process.     

Synthesis of 8-Methoxycarbonyloctylβ-Glycosides of Tri-and Tetrasaccharides Related to Schizophyllan and Neoglycoproteins Therefrom

Abstract

The 8-methoxycarbonyloctyl β-glycosides of the trisaccharides O-β-d-Glcp-(1 → 6)- O-β-d-Glcp-(1 → 3)-d-Glcp and O-β-d-Glcp-(1 → 3)-O-[β-d -Glcp-(1 → 6)]-d-Glcp and of the tetrasaccharide O-β-d-Glcp-(1 → 3)-O-[β-d-Glcp-(1 → 6)]-O-β-d-Glcp-(1 → 3)-d-Glcp, corresponding to the fragments of schizophyllan, have been synthesized by using mono- to tetrasaccharide 1-thioglycosides as glycosyl donors, each bearing a participating benzoyl group in the 2-position, and N-iodosuccinimide and silver triflate as promoter. Saponification of the tri- and tetrasaccharide β-glycosides, followed by attachment to bovine serum albumin of the resulting sugar derivatives having a carboxyl group at the aglycon terminal, provided neoglycoproteins for immunological studies of the polysaccharide.     

Synthetic Studies on Sialoglycoconjugates 70: Synthesis of Sialyl and Sulfo Lewis × Analogs Containing a Ceramide or 2-(Tetradecyl)hexadecyl Residue

Abstract

Four sialyl and sulfo Le^x analogs containing glucose in place of N-acetylglucosamine, and a ceramide or 2-(tetradecyl)hexadecyl residue, have been synthesized. Condensation of O-(methyl 5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-d-glycero-α-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylonate)-(2→3)-O-(4-O-acetyl-2,6-diO-benzoyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-O-[(2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-α-L-fucopyranosyl)-(1→3)]-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-α-d-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (1) with (2S,3R,4E)-2-azido-3-O-benzoyl-4-octadecene-1,3, diol (2) or 2-(tetradecyl)-hexadecyl-1-ol (3) gave the corresponding β-glycosides 4 and 7. Compound 4 was converted into the ganglioside 6 via selective reduction of the azido group, coupling with octadecanoic acid, O-deacylation, and saponification of the methyl ester group. Hydrolysis of the O-acyl groups in 7 followed by saponification of the methyl ester, gave sialyl Le^x ganglioside analog 8 containing a branched fatty alkyl residue. On the other hand, glycosylation of O-(4-O-acetyl-2,6-di-O-benzoyl-3-O-levulinyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-[O-(2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-α-L-fucopyranosyl)-(1→3)]-2,6-di-O-benzoyl-α-d-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (13), prepared from 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl O-(2,6-di-O-benzoyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-O-[(2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-α-L-fucopyranosyl)-(1→3)]-2,6-di-O-benzoyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (9) via selective 3-O-levulinylation, acetylation, removal of the 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl group, with 2 or 3, gave the desired β-glycosides 14 and 19. Selective reduction of the axido group in 14 followed by coupling with octadecanoic acid gave the ceramide derivative 16. Removal of the levulinyl group in 16 and 19, treatment with sulfur trioxide pyridine complex and subsequent hydrolysis of the protecting groups yielded the corresponding sulfo Le^x analogs 18 and 21.     

Preparation of poly(1,4-phenylene)s by electro-oxidative polymerization

The effect of substituents on the electropolymerization of benzene derivatives and the redox properrties of the corresponding polymers were determined using Brown's substituent constants (σ⁺). Electron-donating groups lower the oxidation potential by which increase in the current efficiency was observed. However, stabilization of the produced cation radicals by the electron-donating groups resulted in a decrease in the polymerization efficiency. The appropriate values of σ⁺ for the efficient polymerization ranged near ?1.5.     

Structural confirmation of oligosaccharides newly isolated from sugar beet molasses

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Sugar beet molasses is a viscous by-product of the processing of sugar beets into sugar. The molasses is known to contain sucrose and raffinose, a typical trisaccharide, with a well-established structure. Although sugar beet molasses contains various other oligosaccharides as well, the structures of those oligosaccharides have not been examined in detail. The purpose of this study was isolation and structural confirmation of these other oligosaccharides found in sugar beet molasses. RESULTS: Four oligosaccharides were newly isolated from sugar beet molasses using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and carbon-Celite column chromatography. Structural confirmation of the saccharides was provided by methylation analysis, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionaization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. CONCLUSION: The following oligosaccharides were identified in sugar beet molasses: beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1- > 6)-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-(2 <-> 1)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (named beta-planteose), alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1- > 1)-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-(2 <-> 1)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (named1-planteose), alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1- > 6)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 <-> 2)-beta-D-fructofuranoside (theanderose), and beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1- > 3)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 <-> 2)-beta-D-fructofuranoside (laminaribiofructose). 1-planteose and laminaribiofructose were isolated from natural sources for the first time.