Microsatellite structures in the context of human evolution

Six microsatellite - or short tandem repeat (STR) - systems with uniform repetitive sequences (HumTH01, HumCD4, HumFES/FPS, HumF13B, HumTPO, HumLPL) and three compound repeat systems (HumVWA, HumFIBRA, D21S11) were used, including data from the literature, to determine genetic distances among eight populations worldwide. The TH01- and VWA homologous loci in nonhuman primates (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, rhesus monkeys, ring-tailed lemurs) were compared and found to be shorter than in humans. Microsatellites of lower complexity were most efficient for the separation of major ethnic groups. The loci of higher complexity showed a leveling of the diversity differences among populations, which could be attributed to higher mutation rates.     

Platinum metallodrug-protein binding studies by capillary electrophoresis-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry: characterization of interactions between Pt(II) complexes and human serum albumin

Characterizing how platinum metallocomplexes bind to human serum albumin (HSA) is essential in evaluating anticancer drug candidates. Using cisplatin as a reference complex, the application of capillary electrophoresis (CE) to reliably assess drug/HSA interactions was validated. Since this complex is small compared to the size of the protein, the binding response could only be recognized when applying CE coupled to a (platinum) metal-specific mode of detection, namely inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This coupling allowed for confirmation of a specific affinity of cisplatin and novel Pt complexes to HSA, measurement of the kinetics of binding reactions, and determination of the number of drug molecules attached to the protein. As the cisplatin/HSA molar ratio increased, the reaction rate became faster with a maximum on the kinetic curve appearing at about 50 h of incubation at 20 times excess of cisplatin. The reaction was characterized as a pseudo-first order reaction with the rate constant k = 0.003 min(-1) at 37 degrees C. When incubated with a 20-fold excess of cisplatin, HSA bound up to 10 mol of Pt per mol of the protein. This is indicative for a strong metal-protein coordination occurring at several HSA sites other than the only protein cysteine residue. Structural analogs of cisplatin, bearing aminoalcohol ligands, showed comparable protein binding reactivity and stoichiometry but a common equilibrium was not reached even after one week of incubation. Also apparent was a two-step mechanism of the binding reaction. Results demonstrated the suitability of CE-ICP-MS as a rapid assay for high-throughput studying of drug/HSA interactions.     

Adsorption, diffusion and desorption of chlorine on and from rutile TiO2{110}: a theoretical investigation.

The adsorption, diffusion and desorption of chlorine on and from stoichiometric, reduced and partially reduced (defective) rutile TiO2{110} are investigated using ab initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Theoretical results are compared with experimental investigations, and microkinetic simulations based on DFT values are then used to verify the diffusion mechanisms assumed in the experimental investigations.     

The "invisible" 13C NMR chemical shift of the central carbon atom in [(Ph3PAu)6C]2+: a theoretical investigation

The experimental 13C NMR chemical shift of the central carbon atom in the octahedral [(Ph3PAu)6C]2+ cluster was investigated on the basis of relativistic density functional calculations. In order to arrive at independent model conclusions regarding the value of the chemical shift, a systematic study of the dependence of the cluster structure on the phosphine ligands, the chosen density functionals, and the basis set size was conducted. The best structures obtained were then used in the NMR calculations. Because of the cage-like cluster structure a pronounced deshielding of the central carbon nucleus could have been expected. However, upon comparison with the 13C NMR properties of the related complex [C{Au[P(C6H5)2(p-C6H4NMe2)]}6]2+, Schmidbaur et al. have assigned a signal at delta=135.2 ppm to the interstitial carbon atom. Our calculations confirm this value in the region of the aromatic carbon atoms of the triphenylphosphine ligands. The close-lying signals of the 108 phenyl carbon atoms can explain the difficulties of assigning them experimentally.     

Molecular approaches to solar energy conversion with coordination compounds anchored to semiconductor surfaces

Strategies toward the realization of molecular control of interfacial charge transfer at nanocrystalline semiconductor interfaces are described. Light excitation of coordination compounds, based on (dpi)6 transition metals, anchored to wide band-gap semiconductors, such as TiO2, can initiate electron-transfer processes that ultimately reduce the semiconductor. Such photoinduced charge-separation processes are a key step for solar energy conversion. The thermodynamics and kinetic rate constants for three different interfacial charge separation mechanisms are discussed. Tuning the energetic position of the semiconductor conduction band relative to the molecular sensitizer has provided new insights into interfacial charge transfer. Supramolecular compounds that efficiently absorb light, promote interfacial electron transfer, and feature additional functions such as intramolecular electron transfer when bound to semiconductor surfaces have also been studied. New approaches for enhancing charge-separation lifetimes for solar energy conversion are presented.     

The application of INAA to the geochemical analysis of single diamonds

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) has been applied to the analysis of 62 small (0.01–0.5 carat), single, inclusion-bearing and inclusion-free diamonds from South Africa, Brazil and Colorado. Up to 40 elements were detected at the ppb and ppt levels in individual diamonds of the eclogitic (basaltic affinity) and the peridotitic (ultramafic) paragenesis. The data obtained in this study can be used to distinguish between diamonds from the eclogitic and peridotitic parageneses and provides geochemical information on the environment in which diamonds crystallize. Further, the technique may prove to be useful in fingerprinting diamonds of different provenance areas.