Tryptophan synthase: a multienzyme complex with an intramolecular tunnel

Tryptophan synthase is a classic enzyme that channels a metabolic intermediate, indole. The crystal structure of the tryptophan synthase alpha2beta2 complex from Salmonella typhimurium revealed for the first time the architecture of a multienzyme complex and the presence of an intramolecular tunnel. This remarkable hydrophobic tunnel provides a likely passageway for indole from the active site of the alpha subunit, where it is produced, to the active site of the beta subunit, where it reacts with L-serine to form L-tryptophan in a pyridoxal phosphate-dependent reaction. Rapid kinetic studies of the wild type enzyme and of channel-impaired mutant enzymes provide strong evidence for the proposed channeling mechanism. Structures of a series of enzyme-substrate intermediates at the alpha and beta active sites are elucidating enzyme mechanisms and dynamics. These structural results are providing a fascinating picture of loops opening and closing, of domain movements, and of conformational changes in the indole tunnel. Solution studies provide further evidence for ligand-induced conformational changes that send signals between the alpha and beta subunits. The combined results show that the switching of the enzyme between open and closed conformations couples the catalytic reactions at the alpha and beta active sites and prevents the escape of indole.     

Potential DNA bis-intercalating agents: Synthesis and antitumor activity of novel,conformationally restricted bis(9-aminoacridines)

A series of bis(9-aminoacridines) bridged by conformationally restricted tethers was synthesized and evaluated against L1210 in vitro. Several of these compounds were found to be highly active in this test system, with ID₅₀ values below 10^?7 M. CPK molecular models suggest that this antitumor activity can be correlated to the ability of these bis(9-aminoacridines) to form bis-intercalative complexes with DNA.     

The cyclization of N,N′-bis[2-(dialkoxy)ethyl]-p-xylene-α,α′-diamine dihydrochloride to pyrido[3,4-g]isoquinoline and 3,8-phenanthroline

The ring closure of N,N′-bis[2-(dialkoxy)ethyl]-p-xylene-α,α′-diamine dihydrochloride in fuming sulfuric acid has been investigated and the cyclization products have been identified as the linear pyrido[3,4-g]isoquinoline as well as the previously reported angular 3,8-phenanthroline.     

Separation of aldicarb,aldicarb sulfoxide,and aldicarb sulfone on unmodified silica with reverse-phase eluents

Summary Aldicarb, aldicarb sulfoxide, and aldicarb sulfone were chromatographed on an octyl-silica bonded-phase column and on an unmodified silica column using acetonitrile/water mobile phases. The elution order of the analytes from the silica column was different from that using the octyl-silica bonded phase and allowed confirmation of residues of aldicarb sulfoxide in citrus nectar. Isocratic elution of the unmodified silica column allowed rapid sample throughput.     

On resonant reflection by a plane grating

The resonant minimum of the transmission coefficient (maximum of the reflection coefficient) of an infinite, periodic, plane grating for normal incidence of a plane wave is determined analytically.     

The effects of substrate oxidation on the adsorption and decomposition of HCOOH on Mo(100)

The adsorption and decomposition of HCOOH on the clean and two distinct oxygen-modified Mo(100) surfaces were studied by high resolution electron energy loss and temperature programmed reaction spectroscopies. A surface formate species with an irreversible temperature dependent orientation was seen on the three substrates. Formate stability varied with the oxygen content of the surface. Surface passivation was found to correlate directly with substrate oxidation.     

Attenuation of ultrasound in milks and creams

Measurements of the attenuation of 1.5 to 7 MHz ultrasound in milks and creams, aqueous solutions of milk proteins and milk fat demonstrated that the attenuation due to the fat component was proportional to the fat concentration (at low volume fractions, less than 4%) and was caused by two effects: losses arising from its particulate nature and intrinsic attenuation (mass attenuation coefficient 1.1 cm² g⁻¹ at 7 MHz in pure milk fat). Comparison with theoretical equations showed that absorption by thermal conduction dominated the particulate losses and increased with decreasing fat globule size, over the range 1.5 to 7 MHz. This was confirmed by examining milks homogenized to different degrees. The losses in the non-fat components were mainly due to the protein components which also probably dominated the shape of the attenuation titration curves for skimmed milk, producing peaks in attenuation in the range pH 4–4.5 and about pH 11.3.     

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering of slow light in a hollow planar periodically corrugated waveguide

Enhancement of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) by molecular nitrogen in a hollow planar periodically corrugated waveguide is experimentally detected. The measured dependence of CARS efficiency on the thickness of the waveguide layer indicates that CARS enhancement under these conditions is at least partially due to the decrease in the group velocity of pump pulses around the photonic band gap.