Reduction and methyl transfer kinetics of the alpha subunit from acetyl coenzyme a synthase

Stopped-flow was used to evaluate the methylation and reduction kinetics of the isolated alpha subunit of acetyl-Coenzyme A synthase from Moorella thermoacetica. This catalytically active subunit contains a novel Ni-X-Fe4S4 cluster and a putative unidentified n = 2 redox site called D. The D-site must be reduced for a methyl group to transfer from a corrinoid-iron-sulfur protein, a key step in the catalytic synthesis of acetyl-CoA. The Fe4S4 component of this cluster is also redox active, raising the possibility that it is the D-site or a portion thereof. Results presented demonstrate that the D-site reduces far faster than the Fe4S4 component, effectively eliminating this possibility. Rather, this component may alter catalytically important properties of the Ni center. The D-site is reduced through a pathway that probably does not involve the Fe4S4 component of this active-site cluster.     

The synthesis of functionalized cis'-bicyclo ¦3.3.0¦octanes

A number of polyfunctionalized cis-bicycio ¦3.3.0¦octanes have been synthesized starting from the tricyclic key intermediate $\text{5}$ which was obtained by the intramolecular cyclopropanation reaction of the diazo keto ester $\text{4}$. Selected stereocontrolled transformations of $\text{5}$ using nucleophiles and electrophiles have been studied for the preparation of the title compounds.     

The addition of methyllithium to 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutan-1-one-3-thione. The generation and capture of a bishomoenolate anion.

Methyllithium added to 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutan-1-one-3-thione to produce lithium 3-methylthio-2,2,4,4-tetramethylbicyclo[1.1.0]but-1-oxide. This bishomoenolate was alkylated on carbon by methyl iodide, but retained the bicyclo[1.1.0]butane skeleton when silated with chlorotrimethylsilane. The ease of oxidation of a series of 1,3-diheteroatom substituted bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes was determined.     

Inactivation of nitroalkane oxidase upon mutation of the active site base and rescue with a deprotonated substrate

Mutation of Asp402 in nitroalkane oxidase to Asn or Ala inactivates the enzyme with neutral nitroethane as substrate, but the activity can be rescued with the nitroethane anion. The V/K values of the D402N and D402A enzymes with the nitroethane anion are independent of pH, whereas the V/K values of the wild-type and D402E enzymes are pH dependent with both the protonated and the deprotonated forms of nitroethane. Moreover, although the V/K value of the D402E enzyme with neutral nitroethane is 20-fold less than that of the wild-type enzyme, there is only a 2-fold difference in the V/K values with the nitroethane anion. These results are fully consistent with a primary role for Asp402 as the active site base in nitroalkane oxidase which abstracts the substrate alpha-proton.     

Synthesis and fluorescence ion-sensory properties of the first dehydropyridoannulene-type cyclophane with enforced exotopic metal ion binding sites

The new twistophane 4 has been synthesised, which comprises a conjugated dehydropyridoannulene-type macrocyclic scaffold with outwardly projecting nitrogen-donor sites for the purpose of metal ion coordination. The macrocyclíc structure of 4 was assigned by using spectroscopic methods, and shown to exist in a twisted and chiral ground state conformation by semi-empirical theoretical calculations. A detailed spectroscopic investigation into the metal ion binding properties of 4 and precursor 11 revealed that they functioned as selective complexants, affording a fluorescence quenching output response characteristic of Pd(II) and Hg(II) ions. Furthermore, 4 also signalled the presence of Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Ag(I) ions by the precipitation of coordination polymers, and exhibited reversible proton-triggered fluorescence quenching behaviour. Macrocycle 4 thus represents a unique type of molecular sensory platform, which may find a wealth of potential applications such as the detection of heavy-metal pollutants, as well as for the fabrication of proton-switchable materials and coordination polymers with novel electronic and magnetic properties.     

The key elements of traceability in chemical measurement: agreed or still under debate?

Talking about "traceability" means talking about a "property of the result of a measurement", about "the value of a standard", about "stated references" and about an "unbroken chain of comparisons". It describes by which comparison, and to which other value, the result of a measurement has been obtained, i.e. is "traceable to". It is about the underlying structure of the measurement process of the result of a measurement and therefore about the authority of the result. Since values carried by (certified) reference materials have also been obtained by measurement, the definition of traceability equally applies. Traceability in the context of reference materials is also about the authority of the values carried by the (certified) reference materials and is, therefore, of key importance for the authority of the reference materials themselves. Hence, values of results of measurements constitute part of the traceability chain and their uncertainties are an intrinsic accompanying phenomenon. Uncertainties need a traceability chain against which they can be evaluated, and a traceability chain is an a priori requirement for evaluating the uncertainty budget of a measurement result. An attempt has been made to exemplify "traceability" chains in some types of chemical measurement and to identify the degree of international agreement on the key elements of "traceability". It is concluded that there is less than universal agreement on this issue. The debate should continue in order to arrive at the international understanding and agreement needed, as "traceability" is now being incorporated in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (ILAC) and in other "guiding" or regulatory documents. It is also the reason why the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) has taken up the study of the concept in its core programme on Metrology in Chemistry, and why it sponsored the Workshop in Bratislava.     

Zur Analyse des Flu?spats

Zusammenfassung Die Analyse hochprozentigen Flußspats wird in ihrer derzeitigen Ausführungsform beschrieben. Nach Beseitigung carbonatischer Begleiter durch eine Behandlung mit verd. Essigsäure wird die Kieselsäure entweder mit Flußsäure verflüchtigt und aus dem Gewichtsverlust bestimmt oder in einer gesonderten, mit Soda aufgeschlossenen Probe als Tetrapyridiniumdodecamolybdatosilicat gefällt und als SiO₂ + 12 MoO₃ ausgewogen. Der Bariumsulfatgehalt wird nach Verflüchtigung der Kieselsäure durch Abrauchen des verbleibenden Rückstandes mit Schwefelsäure und anschließendes Kochen mit verd. Salzsäure/Schwefelsäure in der üblichen Art ermittelt. Im Filtrat der Bariumsulfatfällung wird Calcium nach Abtrennung oder Maskierung der dreiwertigen Begleiter als Oxalat gefällt und zum Oxid verglüht oder direkt durch eine photometrische Titration mit ÄDTA bestimmt. Der kleine Sulfidschwefelgehalt in Flußspat wird durch Säure als Schwefelwasserstoff ausgetrieben, als Cadmiumsulfid gebunden und anschließend jodometrisch bestimmt.Für Kieselsäure, Bariumsulfat und Calciumfluorid ergibt die Fehlerrechnung Standardabweichungen von ^s SiO₂=0.04%; sBaSO₄=±0,04%; sCaF₂=±0,09%.

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Summary The present form of the analysis of high-percentage fluorspar is described. After removal of accompanying carbonates by treatment with dilute acetic acid, the silica is either volatilized with hydrofluoric acid and determined from the loss of weight or precipitated in a separate sample, decomposed with sodium carbonate, as tetrapyridinium dodecamolybdatosilicate and weighed as SiO₂ + 12 MoO₃. After volatilization of silica the remaining residue is fumed with sulphuric acid, boiled with a dilute hydrochloric/sulphuric acid mixture and the barium sulphate determined gravimetrically. In the filtrate of the barium sulphate precipitation the trivalent elements are either separated or masked. Then calcium is precipitated as oxalate and weighed after conversion to the oxide or directly determined by photometric titration with EDTA. After conversion to hydrogensulphide, the small sulphide-sulphur content in fluorspar is bound as cadmium sulphide and determined iodometrically.The error calculation results in the following standard deviations for silica, barium sulphate, and calcium fluoride: ^s SiO₂=0.04%; sBaSO₄=±0,04%; sCaF₂=±0,09%.