Interaction with glycine increases stability of a mutagenic tautomer of uracil. A density functional theory study

The most stable structures for the gas-phase complexes of minor tautomers of uracil (U) with glycine (G) were characterized at the density functional B3LYP/6-31++G level of theory. These are cyclic structures stabilized by two hydrogen bonds. The relative stability of isolated tautomers of uracil was rationalized by using thermodynamic and structural arguments. The stabilization energies for complexes between the tautomers of U and G result from interplay between the stabilizing two-body interaction energies and destabilizing one-body terms. The latter are related to the energies of (i) tautomerization of the unperturbed moieties and (ii) distortions of the resulting rare tautomers in the complex. The two-body term describes the interaction energy between distorted tautomers. The two-body interaction energy term correlates with perturbations of length of the proton-donor bonds as well as with deprotonation enthalpies and proton affinities of the appropriate monomer sites. It was demonstrated that the relative instability of rare tautomers of uracil is diminished due to their interactions with glycine. In particular, the instability of the third most stable tautomer (U(III)) is decreased from 11.9 kcal/mol for non-interacting uracil to 6.7 kcal/mol for uracil in a complex with the zwitterionic tautomer of glycine. A decrease of instability by 5.2 kcal/mol could result in an increase of concentration of U(III) by almost 5 orders of magnitude. This is the tautomer with proton donor and acceptor sites matching guanine rather than adenine. Moreover, kinetic characteristics obtained for the glycine-assisted conversion of the most stable tautomer of uracil (U(I)) to U(III) indicate that the U(I)<-->U(III) thermodynamic equilibrium could be easily attained at room temperature. The resulting concentration of this tautomer falls in a mutationally significant range.     

Development of a headspace solid-phase microextraction procedure for the determination of free volatile fatty acids in waste waters

An analytical procedure based on headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to GC-flame ionization detection/Negative Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry has been developed for the determination of free volatile fatty acids (C2-C7) in waste water samples. Five different coatings have been evaluated and polydimethylsiloxane-Carboxen was the only fiber that allows a successful extraction of the shortest chain fatty acids (acetic and propionic). Several parameters such as extraction time and temperature, desorption conditions, agitation speed and sample volume have been optimized using the polydimethylsiloxane-Carboxen fiber. The linear dynamic range was over two-four orders of magnitude, depending on the acid. Procedural detection limits were in the low to medium microg/l levels and the RSDs were between 5.6% and 13.3%. To evaluate the applicability of the developed SPME procedure on real samples, fermented urban wastewaters were analysed.     

Thermal properties,phase transitions,vibrational and reorientational dynamics of [Mn(NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>6</Subscript>](NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

[Mn(NH₃)₆](NO₃)₂ crystallizes in the cubic, fluorite (C1) type crystal lattice structure (Fm \( \overline{3} \) m) with a = 11.0056 Å and Z = 4. Two phase transitions of the first-order type were detected. The first registered on DSC curves as a large anomaly at T _C1 ^h  = 207.8 K and T _C1 ^c  = 207.2 K, and the second registered as a smaller anomaly at T _C2 ^h  = 184.4 K and T _C2 ^c  = 160.8 K (where the upper indexes h and c denote heating and cooling of the sample, respectively). The temperature dependence of the full width at half maximum of the band associated with the δ_s(HNH)F_1u mode suggests that the NH₃ ligands in the high temperature and intermediate phase reorientate quickly with correlation times in the order of several picoseconds and with activation energy of 9.9 kJ mol^?1. In the phase transition at T _C2 ^c probably only a some of the NH₃ ligands stop their reorientation, while the remainders continue to reorientate quickly with activation energy of 7.7 kJ mol^?1. Thermal decomposition of the investigated compound starts at 305 K and continues up to 525 K in four main stages (I–IV). In stage I, ²/₆ of all NH₃ ligands were seceded. Stages II and III are connected with an abruption of the next ²/₆ and ¹/₆ of total NH₃, respectively, and [Mn(NH₃)](NO₃)₂ is formed. The last molecule of NH₃ per formula unit is freed at stage IV together with the simultaneous thermal decomposition of the resulting Mn(NO₃)₂ leading to the formation of gaseous products (O₂, H₂O, N₂ and nitrogen oxides) and solid MnO₂.     

Directed formation of micro- and nanoscale patterns of functional light-harvesting LH2 complexes

The precision placement of the desired protein components on a suitable substrate is an essential prelude to any hybrid "biochip" device, but a second and equally important condition must also be met: the retention of full biological activity. Here we demonstrate the selective binding of an optically active membrane protein, the light-harvesting LH2 complex from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, to patterned self-assembled monolayers at the micron scale and the fabrication of nanometer-scale patterns of these molecules using near-field photolithographic methods. In contrast to plasma proteins, which are reversibly adsorbed on many surfaces, the LH2 complex is readily patterned simply by spatial control of surface polarity. Near-field photolithography has yielded rows of light-harvesting complexes only 98 nm wide. Retention of the native optical properties of patterned LH2 molecules was demonstrated using in situ fluorescence emission spectroscopy.     

Unusual reactivity of ortho-carbonylphenylboronic acids with diethanolamine

The reaction of carbonyl-substituted phenylboronic acids with diethanolamine has been investigated. For compounds containing carbonyl groups at the meta or para positions the reaction occurs exclusively at the boronic acid. Different reactivities were observed for ortho-substituted acetyl- and formylphenylboronic acids where the reaction occurred at both the boronic acid and at the carbonyl group. X-ray studies revealed the presence of a polycyclic structure with tetravalent boron and nitrogen atoms.     

Applying Mechanochemistry for Bottom‐Up Synthesis and Host–Guest Surface Modification of Semiconducting Nanocrystals: A Case of Water‐Soluble β‐Cyclodextrin‐Coated Zinc Oxide

Mechanochemistry has recently emerged as an environmentally friendly solventless synthesis method enabling a variety of transformations including those impracticable in solution. However, its application in the synthesis of well‐defined nanomaterials remains very limited. Here, we report a new bottom‐up mechanochemical strategy to rapid mild‐conditions synthesis of organic ligand‐coated ZnO nanocrystals (NCs) and their further host–guest modification with β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) leading to water‐soluble amide‐β‐CD‐coated ZnO NCs. The transformations can be achieved by either one‐pot sequential or one‐step three‐component process. The developed bottom‐up methodology is based on employing oxo‐zinc benzamidate, [Zn₄(μ₄‐O)(NHOCPh)₆], as a predesigned molecular precursor undergoing mild solid‐state transformation to ZnO NCs in the presence of water in a rapid, clean and sustainable process.     

Azulene‐Based Macrocyclic Receptors for Recognition and Sensing of Phosphate Anions

Herein we report the synthesis and detailed studies of the anion‐binding properties of two 20‐membered macrocyclic tetramide receptors: one symmetrical, containing two identical azulene‐based bisamide units, the other a hybrid, containing a dipicolinic bisamide unit and an azulene‐based bisamide unit. Analysis of the crystal structures of the macrocyclic receptors revealed their preference for adopting similar well‐preorganized bent‐sheet conformations, both as free receptors and in their complexes with anions. Studies of the optical properties of both receptors revealed abilities to selectively sense phosphate anions (H₂PO₄^?, HP₂O₇^3?), allowing for naked‐eye detection of the presence of these guests in DMSO. Binding studies in solution confirmed that the receptors bind strongly to a series of anions even in highly demanding media, such as mixtures of DMSO with water or with methanol. Comparison of the anion affinity of linear analogues with that of the macrocyclic receptors evidenced the importance of macrocyclic topology. Quantitative analysis revealed that the macrocyclic receptors are selective for H₂PO₄^? over other anions. The affinity to H₂PO₄^? seen for the symmetrical receptor, containing two azulene‐based subunits, is much higher than for the hybrid macrocycle containing both the azulene‐based and pyridine‐derived subunits. This highlights that the azulene‐based building block serves efficiently as both a binding site and a structure‐preorganizing motif.     

Templated crystal nucleation: mixed crystals of very different copper(II) N,N',N'-trimethyltriazacyclononane complexes

Templation of a daughter phase by a parent crystal results from an equilibrating mixture of two very different copper(ii) N,N',N'-trimethyltriazacyclononane complexes.