Engineering a Chemical Switch into the Light‐driven Proton Pump Proteorhodopsin by Cysteine Mutagenesis and Thiol Modification

For applications in synthetic biology, for example, the bottom‐up assembly of biomolecular nanofactories, modules of specific and controllable functionalities are essential. Of fundamental importance in such systems are energizing modules, which are able to establish an electrochemical gradient across a vesicular membrane as an energy source for powering other modules. Light‐driven proton pumps like proteorhodopsin (PR) are excellent candidates for efficient energy conversion. We have extended the versatility of PR by implementing an on/off switch based on reversible chemical modification of a site‐specifically introduced cysteine residue. The position of this cysteine residue in PR was identified by structure‐based cysteine mutagenesis combined with a proton‐pumping assay using E. coli cells overexpressing PR and PR proteoliposomes. The identified PR mutant represents the first light‐driven proton pump that can be chemically switched on/off depending on the requirements of the molecular system.     

Renewability is not Enough: Recent Advances in the Sustainable Synthesis of Biomass‐Derived Monomers and Polymers

Taking advantage of the structural diversity of different biomass resources, recent efforts were directed towards the synthesis of renewable monomers and polymers, either for the substitution of petroleum‐based resources or for the design of novel polymers. Not only the use of biomass, but also the development of sustainable chemical approaches is a crucial aspect for the production of sustainable materials. This review discusses the recent examples of chemical modifications and polymerizations of abundant biomass resources with a clear focus on the sustainability of the described processes. Topics such as synthetic methodology, catalysis, and development of new solvent systems or greener alternative reagents are addressed. The chemistry of vegetable oil derivatives, terpenes, lignin, carbohydrates, and sugar‐based platform chemicals was selected to highlight the trends in the active field of a sustainable use of renewable resources.     

Monitoring ssDNA Binding to the DnaB Helicase from Helicobacter pylori by Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopy

DnaB helicases are bacterial, ATP‐driven enzymes that unwind double‐stranded DNA during DNA replication. Herein, we study the sequential binding of the “non‐hydrolysable” ATP analogue AMP‐PNP and of single‐stranded (ss) DNA to the dodecameric DnaB helicase from Helicobacter pylori using solid‐state NMR. Phosphorus cross‐polarization experiments monitor the binding of AMP‐PNP and DNA to the helicase. ¹³C chemical‐shift perturbations (CSPs) are used to detect conformational changes in the protein upon binding. The helicase switches upon AMP‐PNP addition into a conformation apt for ssDNA binding, and AMP‐PNP is hydrolyzed and released upon binding of ssDNA. Our study sheds light on the conformational changes which are triggered by the interaction with AMP‐PNP and are needed for ssDNA binding of H. pylori DnaB in vitro. They also demonstrate the level of detail solid‐state NMR can provide for the characterization of protein–DNA interactions and the interplay with ATP or its analogues.     

Electron-sponge behavior and electronic structures in cobalt-centered pentagonal prismatic Co11Te7(CO)10 and Co11Te5(CO)15 cluster anions

The novel cluster anion [Co(11)Te(5)(CO)15]- ([3]-) has been isolated and structurally characterized as part of the salt [Cp*(2)Nb(CO)2][3] (Cp* = C(5)Me(5)). The cobalt-centered Co10 pentagonal prism is surrounded by a shell of two mu5-Te, three mu4-Te ligands, and 15 CO groups in terminal, symmetrical, and sigma-semibridging bonding modes. The hybrid carbonyl-telluride character of the ligand shell is reflected in the solid state by a one-dimensional assembly of polyhedral prisms along a backbone of [Cp*(2)Nb(CO)2]+ cations. Electrochemical studies reveal the presence of four redox couples of [3]n (n = -1 to -5). The electronic structures of various metal-centered and empty pentagonal-prismatic (PP) M10 clusters (M = Co, Ni) are calculated and compared to those of pentagonal-antiprismatic (PA) M10 structures. Closed-shells of 152 and 156 metal valence electrons, respectively, are found to determine the electronic structures and chemical properties of these geometries. From these considerations, magnetic properties have been predicted. They have been verified for the [Co(11)Te(7)(CO)10]- cluster anion, which exhibits a singlet-triplet gap of 0.318 kcal/mol.     

Miniaturized monolithic disks for immunoadsorption of cardiac biomarkers from serum

Immunoadsorbers based on 2.0 × 6.0 mm i.d., epoxy-bearing, methacrylate-based monolithic disks were developed in order to target myoglobin and N-terminal pro-natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), two biomarkers involved in cardiovascular disease. In both cases, antibodies were successfully coupled to the polymeric disk material. The developed immunoadsorbers permitted the selective isolation of myoglobin and NT-proBNP from human serum. Myoglobin was successfully isolated and detected from serum samples at concentrations down to 250 fmol μL⁻¹. However, the affinity of the antibodies was not sufficient for the analysis of low-concentration clinical samples. Frontal analysis of anti-NT-proBNP disks revealed the ability of the immunoadsorber to bind up to 250 pmol NT-proBNP, which is more than sufficient for the analysis of clinical samples. Anti-NT-proBNP disks showed good stability over more than 18 months and excellent batch-to-batch reproducibility. Moreover, anti-NT-proBNP disks permitted the isolation of NT-proBNP at concentrations down to 750 amol μL⁻¹ in serum, corresponding to concentrations of strongly diseased patients. Using reversed-phase trapping columns, the detection of NT-proBNP eluted from immunoadsorbers by mass spectrometry was achieved for concentrations down to 7.8 fmol μL⁻¹.     

Preparation of 5‐methyl‐2‐sulfanyl‐7h‐1,3,4‐thiadiazolo[3,2‐a]‐pyrimidin‐7‐ones

7H‐1,3,4‐Thiadiazolo[3,2‐a]pyrimidin‐7‐ones can be prepared by the acylation of 5‐amino‐1,3,4‐thiadiazoles with diketene and subsequent ring closure (dehydration). Whereas arylthio substituents (SC₆H₅) can be introduced in 2‐position by the replacement of Br, alkylthio groups (SC₂H₅) have to be already presentin the starting 5‐amino‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole. The ambident nucleophile 2‐thiazolidinethione reacts in the Br substitution reaction on the N atom.     

Reverse micelles dissolved in supercritical xenon: an NMR spectroscopic study

Reverse micelles currently gain increasing interest in chemical technology. They also become important in biomolecular NMR due to their ability to host biomolecules such as proteins. In the present paper, a procedure for the preparation of high-pressure NMR samples containing reverse micelles dissolved in supercritical xenon is presented. These reverse micelles are formed by sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT). For the first time, NMR spectroscopy could be applied to reverse micelles in supercritical xenon. The AOT/H(2)O/Xe system was studied as a function of experimental parameters such as xenon pressure, water content, and salt concentration. Optimum conditions for reverse micelle formation in supercritical xenon could be determined. It is, furthermore, demonstrated that biomolecules such as amino acids and proteins can be incorporated into the reverse micelles dissolved in supercritical xenon.     

Diffusion of spheres in crowded suspensions of rods

Translational tracer diffusion of spherical macromolecules in crowded suspensions of rodlike colloids is investigated. Experiments are done using several kinds of spherical tracers in fd-virus suspensions. A wide range of size ratios L/2a of the length L of the rods and the diameter 2a of the tracer sphere is covered by combining several experimental methods: fluorescence correlation spectroscopy for small tracer spheres, dynamic light scattering for intermediate sized spheres, and video microscopy for large spheres. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy is shown to measure long-time diffusion only for relatively small tracer spheres. Scaling of diffusion coefficients with a/xi, predicted for static networks, is not found for our dynamical network of rods (with xi the mesh size of the network). Self-diffusion of tracer spheres in the dynamical network of freely suspended rods is thus fundamentally different as compared to cross-linked networks. A theory is developed for the rod-concentration dependence of the translational diffusion coefficient at low rod concentrations for freely suspended rods. The proposed theory is based on a variational solution of the appropriate Smoluchowski equation without hydrodynamic interactions. The theory can, in principle, be further developed to describe diffusion through dynamical networks at higher rod concentrations with the inclusion of hydrodynamic interactions. Quantitative agreement with the experiments is found for large tracer spheres, and qualitative agreement for smaller spheres. This is probably due to the increasing importance of hydrodynamic interactions as compared to direct interactions as the size of the tracer sphere decreases.     

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of alkylphenols in cod (Gadus morhua) tissues as pentafluorobenzoate derivatives

A highly selective and sensitive method for the determination of 30 meta- and para-substituted alkylphenols from phenol (C0) to nonylphenol (C9) in biota is described. Dichloromethane extracts of spiked cod liver and muscle samples are cleaned up by gel permeation chromatography, derivatised with pentafluorobenzoyl chloride and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with negative-ion chemical ionisation. Quantification is done with isotope dilution of five internal standards of different chain length. The detection limits were in the low microg/kg levels. There were encountered problems with background levels of 4-nonylphenol. 4-Nonylphenol isomers were found in a number of plastic and rubber products used in the laboratory.