Use of an Octapeptide–Guanidiniocarbonylpyrrole Conjugate for the Formation of a Supramolecular β‐Helix that Self‐Assembles into pH‐Responsive Fibers

Peptides that adopt β‐helix structures are predominantly found in transmembrane protein domains or in the lipid bilayer of vesicles. Constructing a β‐helix structure in pure water has been considered difficult without the addition of membrane mimics. Herein, we report such an example; peptide 1 self‐assembles into a supramolecular β‐helix in pure water based on charge interactions between the individual peptides. Peptide 1 further showed intriguing transitions from small particles to helical fibers in a time‐dependent process. The fibers can be switched to vesicles by changing the pH value.     

Acetylcholinesterase: mechanisms of covalent inhibition of wild-type and H447I mutant determined by computational analyses

The reaction mechanisms of two inhibitors TFK+ and TFK0 binding to both the wild-type and H447I mutant mouse acetylcholinesterase (mAChE) have been investigated by using a combined ab initio quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) approach and classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In the wild-type mAChE, the binding reactions of TFK+ and TFK0 are both spontaneous processes, which proceed through the nucleophilic addition of the Ser203-Ogamma to the carbonyl-C of TFK+ or TFK0, accompanied with a simultaneous proton transfer from Ser203 to His447. No barrier is found along the reaction paths, consistent with the experimental reaction rates approaching the diffusion-controlled limit. By contrast, TFK+ binding to the H447I mutant may proceed with a different reaction mechanism. A water molecule takes over the role of His447 and participates in the bond breaking and forming as a "charge relayer". Unlike in the wild-type mAChE case, Glu334, a conserved residue from the catalytic triad, acts as a catalytic base in the reaction. The calculated energy barrier for this reaction is about 8 kcal/mol. These predictions await experimental verification. In the case of the neutral ligand TFK0, however, multiple MD simulations on the TFK0/H447I complex reveal that none of the water molecules can be retained in the active site as a "catalytic" water. Furthermore, our alchemical free energy calculation also suggests that the binding of TFK0 to H447I is much weaker than that of TFK+. Taken together, our computational studies confirm that TFK0 is almost inactive in the H447I mutant and also provide detailed mechanistic insights into the experimental observations.     

Symmetry selection in artificial DNA base pairs

We report the results of density functional theory (DFT) studies on the formation of the complex H1--Cu2+-H1- consisting of two deprotonated hydroxypyridone ligands (H1-) and a Cu2+ ion. We compare the total energies of three possible structures with different symmetries and show that the structure with plane reflection symmetry has the lowest energy. The electronic structure of the periodic extended DNA-like double helix consisting of stacked H1--Cu2+-H1- units is then calculated within the density functional method, and the double helix is found to be an insulating ferromagnet.     

Preparation of an ion-selective electrode by chemical treatment of copper wire for the measurement of copper(II) and iodide by batch and flow-injection potentiometry

The preparation of an ion-selective electrode by chemical treatment of copper wire and its application for the measurements of copper (II) and iodide ions is described. The proposed reaction mechanism at the sensing surface, which explains the response of the electrode to Cu²⁺ and iodide ions, is discussed. The prepared electrode was suitable for direct potentiometric measurements of iodide and copper (II) in batch experiments down to concentrations of 1 × 10^–5 mol L^–1. A tubular electrode, prepared in the same way, may be used as a potentiometric sensor in a flow-injection analysis for Cu (II) and/or iodide determinations.     

Stress and pressure fields around two wellbores in a poroelastic medium

The problem of two circular wellbores of different size in a poroelastic medium is considered in the present work. The constitutive behaviour of the poroelastic medium is assumed to comply with the classical Biot model for isotropic porous materials infiltrated by compressible fluid. The wellbores are assumed infinitely long and the fluid flow is taken stationary, thus making it possible to perform a plane strain analysis. Owing to the geometrical layout of the system, bipolar cylindrical coordinates have been adopted. Three different sets of BCs on the pressure field and on the fluid flux have been considered, founding the corresponding forms of the pressure field. Based on Helmholtz representation, a displacement potential has been introduced, and the corresponding stress field in the poroelastic medium has been assessed. However, such a solution does not satisfy the BCs at the edges of the wells. Then, an auxiliary stress function, which allows accomplishing the BCs, is introduced, leading to the complete solution of the problem. The cases of two coaxial wellbores (eccentric annulus), a single hole bored in a poroelastic half plane and two intersecting holes have been considered also. The proposed approach allows evaluating the pore pressure and the stress and strain fields in the system varying the amplitude of the wells and the physical parameters of the porous material. In particular, the evaluation of the peak values of the stress components around the circular boreholes plays a key role in a variety of engineering contexts, with particular reference to the stability analysis of wellbores and tunnels and failure of vascular vessels in biological tissues.     

Microwave-assisted organocatalytic multicomponent Knoevenagel/hetero Diels-Alder reaction for the synthesis of 2,3-dihydropyran[2,3-c]pyrazoles

A rapid protocol for the multicomponent microwave-assisted organocatalytic domino Knoevenagel/hetero Diels-Alder reaction (DKHDA) has been developed for the synthesis of 2,3-dihydropyran[2,3-c]pyrazoles. The reported procedure could be used for the fast generation of novel substituted 2,3-dihydropyran[2,3-c]pyrazoles with potential anti-tuberculosis activity.     

Surface properties of inclusion complexes between alpha-cyclodextrin and poly(ethylene oxide)

The surface properties of the supramolecular inclusion complex (IC) obtained from the threading of alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) onto poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) free in solution are studied. The complexes were characterized by IR, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. The variation of the interfacial tension, gamma(int), with inclusion complex (IC) concentration and temperature were determined. The results were compared with those found for PEO under the same conditions. alpha-CD does not present surface activity. To quantify the adsorption process of IC and PEO in aqueous medium, the Gibbs equation was used. The driving force for adsorption of IC at the air/aqueous interface seems to arise from an enthalpic contribution. The wettability of the alpha-CD, PEO, and IC films with two liquids was determined by static contact angle measurements. The hydrophobicity degree was estimated. IC is more hydrophobic than PEO and alpha-CD.     

2-(5-Bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol as a reagent for the spectrophotometric determination of La(III), Y(III), and Ce(III)

The complexes of the reagent 5-Br-PADAP with the metal ions La(III), Ce(III), and Y(III) have been studied.The composition and stability of these complexes have been determined. A sensitive spectrophotometric procedure for the determination of the metal ions La(III), Ce(III), and Y(III) has been proposed. The limitations of this procedure and the effect of other ions have been studied.