Dynamics and thermodynamics of water around EcoRI bound to a minimally mutated DNA chain

Water plays an important role in protein-DNA interactions. Here, we examine using molecular dynamics simulations the differences in the dynamic and thermodynamic properties of water in the interfacial and intercalating regions of EcoRI bound to the cognate and to a minimally mutated noncognate DNA chain. The results show that the noncognate complex is not only more hydrated than the cognate complex, but the interfacial waters in the noncognate complex exhibit a faster dynamics, which in turn reduces the hydrogen-bond lifetimes. Thus, the higher hydration, faster reorientation dynamics and faster hydrogen-bond-relaxation times of water, taken together, indicate that, even with a minimal mutation of the DNA sequence, the interfacial regions of the noncognate complex are more poised to allowing the protein to diffuse away than to promoting the formation of a stable complex. Alternatively, the results imply that the slowed water dynamics in the interfacial regions when the protein chances upon a cognate sequence allow the formation of a stable specific protein-DNA complex leading to catalytic action.     

Study on the ferromagnetism in Co and N doped ZnO thin films

Present investigation reports the structural, optical and magnetic properties of co-doping of Co and N ions in ZnO samples, prepared by two distinct methods. In the first method, samples are synthesized by Sol–gel technique in which the Co and N are co-doped simultaneously during the growth process itself. In the second case, N ions are implanted in the Co doped ZnO thin films grown by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD). Structural studies showed that the nitrogen implantation on Co doped ZnO samples developed compressive stress in the films. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the doping of Co and N in ZnO matrix. In the Resonant Raman scattering multiple LO phonons up to fifth order are observed in the (Co, N) co-doped ZnO. Photoluminescence spectra showed that there is reduction in the bandgap due to the presence of Co in the lattice and also the presence of Zn vacancies in the films. All samples showed ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature. The magnetic moment observed in the implanted films is found to be varied with the different dosages of the implanted N ions. First principle calculations have been carried out to study the possible magnetic interaction in the co-doped system. Present study shows that the ferromagnetic interaction is due to the hybridization between N 2p and Co 3d states in the (Co, N) co-doped ZnO and is very sensitive to the geometrical configurations of dopants and the vacancy in the ZnO host lattice.     

Anomalous behavior of evaporative H/He from194Hg compound nuclei

From measured cross sections for evaporative¹H and⁴He, we have unfolded the separate effects of excitation energy (E) and spin (J) on the decay of194Hg. The analysis depends only on Bohr's independence hypothesis and on certain general features of the transmission coefficients for fusion. Evaporation-like emission of¹H and⁴He increases rapidly with energy but decreases rather mildly with initial spin. Significant emission occurs even for very high spins where the calculated fission barrier is essentially zero. The equilibrium model for fission-evaporation competition is brought into question forE*?98 MeV and J?65 ?.     

A new route to the synthesis of 3-methylenecoumarins-via Lewis acid catalyzed rearrangement of methyl α-aryloxymethylacrylates

Methyl-α-aryloxymethylacrylates 1a–c have been found to rearrange to furnish the methylenecoumarins 2a–c when refluxed in methylene chloride in the presence of anhydrous AlCl₃.     

Quantitative assay of maprotiline in biological fluids by gas-liquid chromatography.

A specific and sensitive gas-liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the assay of maprotiline in biological fluids. Maprotiline is isolated from the biological sample by base-specific extraction followed by conversion into the heptafluorobutyramide. The derivative is determined quantitatively by gas-liquid chromatography with an electron capture detector, nortriptyline being used as the internal standard. Amounts below 10 ng per biological sample can be measured.     

Anticooperative C—C—H···O···H—O hydrogen bonding in 5β-Hydroxy-5α-ethynyl-10β-methyl-Δ1(9)-octalin-2-one

In the x-ray crystal structure of the alkynol 5-hydroxy-5-ethynyl-10-methyl-¹⁽⁹⁾-octalin-2-one [C₁₃H₁₆O₂, Pbca, a = 10.244(7), b = 12.734(2), c = 17.125(2) Å, Z = 8], the hydroxyl and ethynyl groups are involved in a hydrogen bond arrangement C—C—H···O···H—O, which is supposed to be anticooperative, i.e., weaker than the sum of two isolated hydrogen bonds.