Gels of hydrophobically modified ethyl(hydroxyethyl) cellulose cross-linked by amylose: effects of hydrophobe architecture

Previous work has shown that amylose (AM) can cross-link hydrophobically modified polymers by inclusion complexation, whereby thermoreversible cold-setting gels are formed. Here we investigate the complexation of AM with different samples of hydrophobically modified ethyl(hydroxyethyl) cellulose (HMEHEC), distinguished by differences in the architecture of the hydrophobes (the hydrophobic side chains). All hydrophobes, except one, were based on linear alkyl chains, but with varying chain lengths (C12-C14). In addition, some samples contained short hydrophilic "spacers", consisting of 2-5 ethylene oxide units, between the alkyl chains and the EHEC backbone. Gels of varying strength were obtained for the different AM/HMEHEC samples. The alkyl chain length seemed to be the major factor affecting the gel strength, with longer alkyl chains giving stronger gels. For similar alkyl chain lengths, stronger gels were obtained when a spacer was present. Addition of AM caused a small increase of the cloud points of HMEHECs with C14 hydrophobes in water. Time-dependent effects and effects of the sample preparation procedure were also investigated. The reversibility of the gelation with respect to shear was confirmed. A gel destroyed by added surfactant was shown to reform on removal of the surfactant by dialysis.     

Evidence for a two-step mechanism in electronically selective single-walled carbon nanotube reactions

Covalent and noncovalent chemistries that are selective to single-walled carbon nanotubes of a particular electronic type have become increasingly important for electronic structure separation and on-chip modification of nanoelectronic devices. By monitoring transient Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) during a reaction with 4-chlorobenzene diazonium in aqueous solution, evidence for a characteristic two-step mechanism with two distinct time constants is uncovered. A long-lived intermediate selectively and noncovalently binds and partially dopes the nanotube surface (tau = 2.4 min). A slower, covalent reaction is tracked using the time-dependent increase in the disorder mode in Raman (tau = 73 min). The transient Raman and PL data are well described using a series of two first-order reactions. The covalent bonding step can be deactivated by changing the structure of the surfactant adsorbed phase, further supporting the mechanism.     

Preparation and self-assembly of chiral porphyrin diads on the gold electrodes of quartz crystal microbalances: a novel potential approach to the development of enantioselective chemical sensors

Porphyrin diad 1 was synthesized by reaction of the acyl chloride of porphyrin 2 and trans-1,2-dithiane-4,5-diol. The Co complex of this diad was studied as a potential enantioselective receptor for chiral recognition in solution and in the solid state. In solution both enantiomers of limonene induce significant changes in the visible and circular dichroism (CD) spectra of [Co2(1)], while a different behavior is observed in the case of the enantiomeric pair of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane. A different efficiency of [Co2(1)] chiral recognition is obtained for these compounds, with a remarkable degree of enantiodiscrimination observed in the case of limonene. Self-assembled monolayers of [Co2(1)] were deposited onto the gold electrodes of quartz crystal microbalances to be used as sensing materials of nanogravimetric sensors operating in the gas phase. The enantiodiscrimination properties of these sensors towards the enantiomeric pairs of chiral analytes have been studied. While in the case of analytes bearing donor ligand atoms we did not observe a remarkable enantioselectivity, a significant degree of chiral discrimination was observed in the case of limonene; this result is particularly encouraging for the potential development of enantioselective chemical sensors for use in an array configuration.     

Synthesis and evaluation of stereopure α-trifluoromethyl-malic hydroxamates as inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases

The total synthesis of trifluoromethyl (Tfm) analogs of known nanomolar matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) inhibitors has been performed. The synthetic protocol is based on a moderately stereoselective aldol reaction of trifluoropyruvate with an N-acyl-oxazolidin-2-thione for the construction of the core α-Tfm-malic unit. Both the diastereomeric forms of the target α-Tfm-malic hydroxamates showed micromolar inhibitory potency toward MMP-2 and 9, with a substantial drop with respect to the parent unfluorinated compounds.     

Glass capillary columns for separation of free organic acids

Glass capillary columns have been prepared without acidic additive in the stationary phase, from which free organic acids elute as sharp and symmetrical peaks. The required surface in the borosilicate glass capillary was generated by a combination of leaching with aqueous HCl and deposition of colloidal silica particles; it can be coated with stationary phases have a broad range of polarity. Aqueous samples containing free organic acids can also be analyzed in such columns in an isothermal mode.     

Modification of HPTLC-plates by in situ chemical bonding with non-polar and polar organosilanes

A method has been developed for the preparation of modified silica plates for high performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). Some typical organosilanes were thus allowed to react in situ with the silica of Merck HPTLC-plates. This method was found to be highly reproducible, simple and cheap. Non-polar plates were prepared and compared with commercial plates from Merck, Whatman and Macherey-Nagel. Modification with cyanodecyltrichlorosilane resulted in plates that showed good coverage, efficiency and low residual silica activity. Silica modified with a multifunctional silane has different properties in different organic solvents. It will appear to be non-polar in a polar solvent and vice versa. New advantageous separation systems are thus made feasible by the presence of cyano groups on the plate. The utility of modified thin-layer plates is demonstrated by the separation of some homologues of p-hydroxybenzoic acid esters and of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.     

Polychloroprene rubbers used for adhesives: a small angle X-ray scattering preliminary investigation under stretching

Summary Three types of polychloroprene rubbers (Du Pont de Nemours Co. Neoprenes AD, WHV and W) used for adhesives and having different crystallization rates have been investigated.The mechanical properties of the Neoprenes samples were determined and the films were examined under stretching by SAXS for a preliminary investigation on their different superreticular order.

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Zusammenfassung Drei Typen von Polychloropren-Kautschuk mit verschiedener Kristallisationsgeschwindigkeit (Neoprene AD, WHV und W von Du Pont de Nemours), die als Klebemittel dienen, wurden als gedehnte Filme mechanisch und röntgenographisch (SAXS) untersucht. Sie zeigen Unterschiede in der Überstruktur.

     

EFFECT OF BASE SEQUENCE ON THE ULTRAVIOLET IRRADIATION PRODUCTS OF DOUBLE-STRANDED POLYNUCLEOTIDES CONTAINING BROMOURACIL AND ADENINE

Abstract —The effects of ultraviolet irradiation of double-stranded synthetic polynucleotides containing BrU and A have been investigated. Homopolymer pairs and alternating copolymers composed of either ribo- or deoxyribo-nucleotides were prepared and were irradiated with either 313 nm or ˜ 285 nm light. Strand separation and a modest amount of strand breakage followed irradiation of the homopolymer pairs. Changes in the ultraviolet absorption spectra of the polymers during irradiation reflected the sum of hyperchromic increases caused by progressive strand separation and loss of absorbance caused by photoproduct formation. Extensive debromination occurred. An RNase digest of irradiated poly(rA)–poly¹⁴C(rBrU), analysed by column chromatography, showed components similar to those found previously upon irradiation of single-stranded poly(rBrU). Little photoproduct was released by RNase digestion as mononucleotides. The major photoproduct was in the dinucleotide fraction, and may be 5,5'-diuracil. Base sequence had a profound effect on the sensitivity of the polynucleotides. Irradiation of alternating copolymers with doses of light comparable to those that produced major photochemical changes in the homopolymer pairs brought about little if any change in the copolymers of alternating base sequence.     

Target-templated de novo design of macrocyclic d-/l-peptides: discovery of drug-like inhibitors of PD-1

Peptides are a rapidly growing class of therapeutics with various advantages over traditional small molecules, especially for targeting difficult protein–protein interactions. However, current structure-based methods are largely limited to natural peptides and are not suitable for designing bioactive cyclic topologies that go beyond natural l-amino acids. Here, we report a generalizable framework that exploits the computational power of Rosetta, in terms of large-scale backbone sampling, side-chain composition and energy scoring, to design heterochiral cyclic peptides that bind to a protein surface of interest. To showcase the applicability of our approach, we developed two new inhibitors (PD-i3 and PD-i6) of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), a key immune checkpoint in oncology. A comprehensive biophysical evaluation was performed to assess their binding to PD-1 as well as their blocking effect on the endogenous PD-1/PD-L1 interaction. Finally, NMR elucidation of their in-solution structures confirmed our de novo design approach.

In silico design of heterochiral cyclic peptides that bind to a specific surface patch on the target protein (PD-1, in this case) and disrupt protein–protein interactions.     

Spectroscopic and computational studies on the adenosylcobalamin-dependent methylmalonyl-CoA mutase: evaluation of enzymatic contributions to Co-C bond activation in the Co3+ ground state

Methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MMCM) is an enzyme that utilizes the adenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl) cofactor to catalyze the rearrangement of methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA. Despite many years of dedicated research, the mechanism by which MMCM and related AdoCbl-dependent enzymes accelerate the rate for homolytic cleavage of the cofactor's Co-C bond by approximately 12 orders of magnitude while avoiding potentially harmful side reactions remains one of the greatest subjects of debate among B(12) researchers. In this study, we have employed electronic absorption (Abs) and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopic techniques to probe cofactor/enzyme active site interactions in the Co(3+)Cbl "ground" state for MMCM reconstituted with both the native cofactor AdoCbl and its derivative methylcobalamin (MeCbl). In both cases, Abs and MCD spectra of the free and enzyme-bound cofactor are very similar, indicating that replacement of the intramolecular base 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole (DMB) by a histidine residue from the enzyme active site has insignificant effects on the cofactor's electronic properties. Likewise, spectral perturbations associated with substrate (analogue) binding to holo-MMCM are minor, arguing against substrate-induced enzymatic Co-C bond activation. As compared to the AdoCbl data, however, Abs and MCD spectral changes for the sterically less constrained MeCbl cofactor upon binding to MMCM and treatment of holoenzyme with substrate (analogues) are much more substantial. Analysis of these changes within the framework of time-dependent density functional theory calculations provides uniquely detailed insight into the structural distortions imposed on the cofactor as the enzyme progresses through the reaction cycle. Together, our results indicate that, although the enzyme may serve to activate the cofactor in its Co(3+)Cbl ground state to a small degree, the dominant contribution to the enzymatic Co-C bond activation presumably comes through stabilization of the Co(2+)Cbl/Ado. post-homolysis products.