Antagonistic blue- and red-light regulation of cab-gene expression during photosynthetic adaptation in Scenedesmus obliquus.

During adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus of the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus to various light qualities, the accumulation of chlorophylls and pigment-protein complexes (with specific consideration of chlorophyll a/b-binding (Cab) proteins) and cab-gene expression were determined. The fluence rate dependences for chlorophyll accumulation and cab-gene expression were very different. Very low fluence rates of violet (404 nm), blue (461 nm) and red (650 nm) light below the photosynthetic threshold, i.e. between 10(-3) and 10(-1) mumol m-2 s-1, inhibited all of these reactions in cells grown under heterotrophic conditions. At elevated fluence rates (above 1 mumol m-2 s-1), red light retained its negative regulation, whereas blue light stimulated pigment accumulation. Under autotrophic conditions the pattern was more complex, because chlorophyll accumulation was unaffected by light below the photosynthetic threshold. However, the expression of cab-genes was inhibited by red light but stimulated by blue light. Cells adapted to fluence rates, which ensured photosynthetic energy supply (above 1 mumol m-2 s-1), showed an increase in chlorophyll accumulation, blue light being more effective than red light. The results confirm and extend our previous discovery of two antagonistically acting photoreceptors in Scenedesmus which mediate and coordinate the complex functional and structural changes associated with photosynthetic adaptation. One of these receptor pigments is a blue-light receptor with positive action; the other is a violet-red-light receptor which can operate far below the photosynthetic threshold and exerts a negative regulation.     

Synthesis of Some Octahedral Nickel(II) Complexes of One Isomer of Isomeric Me8[14]anes: X-ray Structure of Diisothiocyanato(3,10-C-meso-3,5,7,7,10,12,14,14-octamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, LC)nickel(II), [NiLC(NCS)2]

One isomer, L_C of the isomeric Me₈[14]anes, L_A, L_B and L_C; on reaction with Ni(NCS)₂ produces a six coordinate octahedral diisothiocyanato complex, [NiL_C(NCS)₂]. This complex undergoes axial substitution reactions with the small ligands to yield corresponding monosubstituted derivatives having general formula [NiL_C(NCS)X] whereas X = Cl, Br, I, NO₂ or NO₃. The complexes have been characterized on the basis of analytical, spectroscopic, magnetic and conductance data. The structure of [NiL_C(NCS)₂] (triclinic, space group P?1, α = 8.0421(17) Å, β = 8.9085(18) Å, χ = 9.687(2) Å, α = 67.561(3) Å, β = 82,896(4) Å, ζ = 598.7(2) Å³, Z = 2, Dc = 1.352 mg/m³, μ(Mo Kα) = 1.003 mm^?1) was confirmed by X-ray crystallography.     

Configurational specificity of stacking interactions in DNA base pairs: A computational analysis

A theoretical study of stacking patterns of various hydrogen-bonded base pair complexes has been undertaken. Modified Rayleigh-Schrodinger perturbation theory for intermediate range interactions, has been employed to evaluate the stacking interactions using multicentered-multipole expansion method. Net atomic charge and corresponding dipole components located at each of the atomic centers have been computed by CNDO/2 method. An analysis of the intermolecular forces involved in the stable formation of the various base pair complexes, has been presented and the results have been discussed in the light of experimental as well as other theoretical observations. The possibility of relative preference of the left-handed configuration for alternating sequences has been quantitatively explored.     

Synthesis, characterization and interaction of a new chiral trinuclear complex [bis(aquodiaminotryptophanato) CuII–Sn2IV]chloride with calfthymus DNA

The new chiral trinuclear complex, [bis(aquodiaminotryptophanato)Cu^II–Sn₂^IV] chloride (1) was synthesized by employing a well-designed three-step pathway under anhydrous conditions. Interaction of the complex (1) with calf-thymus DNA was studied by spectrophotometry, cyclic voltammetry and viscosity measurements. The kinetic studies of calf-thymus DNA binding were carried out at 260 nm (λ_max of calf-thymus DNA) under pseudo-first order conditions. The rate constants, k_obs, were evaluated by the linear least squares regression method. The absorption spectra of the complex with calf-thymus DNA shows ‘hyperchromism’ which is attributed to the electrostatic interaction with calf-thymus DNA. The electrochemical behavior of complex (1) was studied in DMSO/H₂O (5:5) solution and showed a quasireversible Cu^II/Cu^I redox couple. The voltammetric studies of the complex in the absence and in the presence of DNA exhibit a shift in the formal potential E ⁰ and ratio of cathodic to anodic peak currents i_pa/i_pc indicating strong binding of the complex to calf-thymus DNA. The viscosity of DNA decreases with increasing concentration of the complex, suggesting that complex (1)binds to calf-thymus DNA by electrostatic association.     

Capture and release of proteins on the nanoscale by stimuli-responsive elastin-like polypeptide "switches"

This article describes the fabrication and characterization of stimulus-responsive elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) nanostructures grafted onto omega-substituted thiolates that were patterned onto gold surfaces by dip-pen nanolithography (DPN). In response to external stimuli such as changes in temperature or ionic strength, ELPs undergo a switchable and reversible, hydrophilic-hydrophobic phase transition at a lower critical solution temperature (LCST). We exploited this phase transition behavior to reversibly immobilize a thioredoxin-ELP (Trx-ELP) fusion protein onto the ELP nanopattern above the LCST. Subsequent binding of an anti-thioredoxin monoclonal antibody (anti-Trx) to the surface-captured thioredoxin showed the presentation of the immobilized protein in a sterically accessible orientation in the nanoarray. We also showed that the resulting Trx-ELP/anti-Trx complex formed above the LCST could be reversibly dissociated below the LCST. These results demonstrate the intriguing potential of ELP nanostructures as generic, reversible, biomolecular switches for on-chip capture and release of a small number (order 100-200) of protein molecules in integrated, nanoscale bioanalytical devices. We also investigated the molecular mechanism underlying this switch by measuring the height changes that accompany the binding and desorption steps and by adhesion force spectroscopy using atomic force microscopy.     

Controlling both ground- and excited-state thermal barriers to Bergman cyclization with alkyne termini substitution

The cross-coupling reaction of 2,3-dibromo-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin with corresponding organostannanes in the presence of a Pd0 catalyst in THF at reflux temperature yields free base 2,3-dialkynylporphyrins 1a,c-e. The subsequent deprotection of trimethylsilyl group of 1a with TBAF in THF under aqueous conditions produces the 2,3-diethynyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrins 1b in 87% yield. Compounds 1a-d undergo zinc insertion upon treatment with Zn(OAc)2.2H2O in CHCl3/MeOH to give zinc(II) 2,3-dialkynyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrins (2a-d) in 70-92% yields. Thermal Bergman cyclization of 1a-e and 2a-d was studied in chlorobenzene and approximately 35-fold 1,4-cyclohexadiene at 120-210 degrees C. Compounds 1b and 2b with R = H react at lower temperature (120 degrees C) and produce cyclized products 3b and 4b in higher yields (65-70%) than their propyl, isopropyl, and phenyl analogues, with R = Ph being the most stable. Continuing in this trend, the -TMS derivatives 1a and 2a exhibit no reactivity even after heating at 190 degrees C in chlorobenzene/CHD for 24 h. Photolysis (at lambda >/= 395 nm) of 1b and 2b at 10 degrees C leads the formation of isolable picenoporphyrin products in 15 and 35% yields, respectively, in 72 h, whereas these compounds are stable in solution under same reaction conditions at 25 degrees C in the dark. Unlike thermolysis at 125 degrees C, which did not yield Bergman cyclized product for R = Ph, photolysis generated very small amounts of picenoporphyrin products (3c: 5%; 4c: 8% based on 1H NMR) as well as a mixture of reduced porphyrin products that were not separable. Thus, trends in the barrier to Bergman cyclization in the excited state exhibit the same trend as those observed in the ground state as a function of R-group. Finally, photolysis of 2b at 10 degrees C with lambda >/= 515 or 590 nm in benzene/iPrOH (4:1, 72 h) produces 4b in 15 and 6% isolated yields, indicating that conjugation of the enediyne unit into the porphyrin electronic transitions leads to sufficient distortion to generate photoproduct even with long wavelength excitation.     

Approximate upper bounds to the momentum expectation value ratios 〈p 2〉/〈p −1〉 and 〈p〉/〈p −1〉 in atoms

Within an isoelectronic series of atoms, reasonably tight upper bounds on the ratios of the momentum expectation values ;p ²/;p ^–1 and p/p ^–1 respectively have been derived for the first time by using the Dresher's inequality.     

Investigations of the solvent polarity effect on the photophysical properties of coumarin-7 dye

Photophysical investigations of coumarin-7 (C7) dye in different solvents using absorption, steady-state fluorescence and time-resolved fluorescence measurements reveal the behavioral changes of the dye in nonpolar and other solvents. In moderate to higher polarity solvents, the experimental parameters such as fluorescence quantum yield (Phif), fluorescence lifetime (tauf), radiative rate constant (k(f)), nonradiative rate constant (k(nr)) and Stokes' shift (Deltav) follow almost linear correlations with the Lippert-Mataga solvent polarity parameter Deltaf but show unusual deviations in nonpolar solvents. From the observed results, it is inferred that the dye exists in a planar intramolecular charge transfer structure in moderate to higher polarity solvents, but in nonpolar solvents, the dye exists in a nonplanar structure with its 7-NEt2 group adopting a pyramidal type of configuration. Unlike some of the other coumarin dyes, namely coumarin-120 (C120) (4-CH3-7-NH2-1,2-benzopyrone) and coumarin-151 (C151) 4-CF3-7-NH2-1,2-benzopyrone), which also show similar structural changes in nonpolar and other solvents, the C7 dye does not show any activation-controlled deexcitation process in nonpolar solvents. This is attributed to the very slow flip-flop motion of the 7-NEt2 group of the C7 dye in comparison with the very fast flip-flop motion of the 7-NH2 group in the C120 and C151 dyes. Qualitative potential energy diagrams are presented to rationalize the observed results of C7 dye and to compare these with those of the other dyes such as C120 and C151. A support for the observed results and interpretation has also been obtained from quantum chemical calculations on the structures of the C7 dye.     

Synthesis, spectral characterization and biological studies of some organotin(IV) complexes of L-proline, trans-hydroxy-L-proline and L-glutamine

New organotin(IV) complexes of the general formula R3Sn(L) (where R=Me, n-Bu and HL=L-proline; R=Me, Ph and HL=trans-hydroxy-L-proline and L-glutamine) and R2Sn(L)2 (where R=n-Bu, Ph and HL=L-proline; R=Ph, HL=trans-hydroxy-L-proline) have been synthesized by the reaction of RnSnCl(4-n) (where n=2 or 3) with sodium salt of the amino acid (HL). n-Bu2Sn(Pro)2 was synthesized by the reaction of n-Bu2SnO with L-proline under azeotropic removal of water. The bonding and coordination behavior in these complexes have been discussed on the basis of IR and 119Sn M?ssbauer spectroscopic studies in the solid-state. Their coordination behavior in solution has been discussed with the help of multinuclear (1H, 13C and 119Sn) NMR spectral studies. The 119Sn M?ssbauer and IR studies indicate that L-proline and trans-hydroxy-L-proline show similar coordination behavior towards organotin(IV) compounds. Pentacoordinate trigonal-bipyramidal and hexacoordinate octahedral structures, respectively, have been proposed for the tri- and diorganotin(IV) complexes of L-proline and trans-hydroxy-L-proline, in which the carboxylate group acts as bidentate group. L-glutamine shows different coordination behavior towards organotin(IV) compounds, it acts as monoanionic bidentate ligand coordinating through carboxylate and amino group. The triorganotin(IV) complexes of L-glutamine have been proposed to have trigonal-bipyramidal environment around tin. The newly synthesized complexes have been tested for their antiinflammatory and cardiovascular activities. Their LD50 values are >1000 mg kg-1.