Construction of a Triangle‐Shaped Trimer and a Tetrahedron Using an α‐Helix‐Inserted Circular Permutant of Cytochrome c555

Highly‐ordered protein structures have gained interest for future uses for biomaterials. Herein, we constructed a building block protein (BBP) by the circular permutation of the hyperthermostable Aquifex aeolicus cytochrome (cyt) c₅₅₅, and assembled BBP into a triangle‐shaped trimer and a tetrahedron. The angle of the intermolecular interactions of BBP was controlled by cleaving the domain‐swapping hinge loop of cyt c₅₅₅ and connecting the original N‐ and C‐terminal α‐helices with an α‐helical linker. We obtained BBP oligomers up to ≈40 mers, with a relatively large amount of trimers. According to the X‐ray crystallographic analysis of the BBP trimer, the N‐terminal region of one BBP molecule interacted intermolecularly with the C‐terminal region of another BBP molecule, resulting in a triangle‐shaped structure with an edge length of 68 Å. Additionally, four trimers assembled into a unique tetrahedron in the crystal. These results demonstrate that the circular permutation connecting the original N‐ and C‐terminal α‐helices with an α‐helical linker may be useful for constructing organized protein structures.     

Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI compared with CT during angiography in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose

To assess the value of gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the pre-therapeutic detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis with the combination of computed tomography (CT) arterial portography and CT hepatic arteriography (CTAP/CTHA).

Materials and Methods

A total of 54 consecutive patients with 87 nodular HCCs were retrospectively analyzed. All HCC nodules were confirmed pathologically. Three blinded readers independently reviewed 432 hepatic segments, including 78 segments with 87 HCCs. Each reader read two sets of images: Set 1, CTAP/CTHA; Set 2, gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI including a gradient dual-echo sequence and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). The ROC method was used to analyze the results. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and sensitivity according to tumor size were evaluated.

Results

For each reader, the area under the curve was significantly higher for Set 2 than for Set 1. The mean area under the curve was also significantly greater for Set 2 than for Set 1 (area under the curve, 0.98 vs. 0.93; P = .0009). The sensitivity was significantly higher for Set 2 than for Set 1 for all three readers (P = .012, .013 and .039, respectively). The difference in the specificity, positive predictive values and negative predictive values of the two modalities for each reader was not significant (P > .05).

Conclusion

Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI including a gradient dual-echo sequence and DWI is recommended for the pre-therapeutic evaluation of patients with HCC.     

Determination of carbon isotope ratios of methanol and acetaldehyde in air samples by gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry combined with headspace solid-phase microextraction

Isotopic signatures of atmospheric methanol and acetaldehyde have the potential to improve our ability to quantitatively assess their importance in atmospheric chemistry. However, isotopic measurements of atmospheric methanol and acetaldehyde and their individual source and sink processes have been limited. In this study, we examined gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry combined with headspace solid-phase microextraction to measure the carbon isotope ratios of methanol and acetaldehyde in air samples. The method enabled us to determine carbon isotope ratios with a precision (1 standard deviation) of±0.6 ‰ for 20 ml of air sample containing more than 3 ppm of methanol and±0.7 ‰ for 20 ml of air sample containing more than 2 ppm of acetaldehyde. Moreover, the applicability of this method to determine isotope ratios of methanol and acetaldehyde emitted from detached plant leaves was demonstrated.     

Synthesis and properties of the octaethylporphyrin-dihexylbithiophene-pyridine system (OEP-DHBTh-Py) connected with diacetylene linkage. Proton-mediated and heat-driven spectral changes

Orientational isomers of the octaethylporphyrin-dihexylbithiophene-pyridine system (OEP-DHBTh-Py) connected with the diacetylene linkage were synthesized. The spectral measurements were performed under neutral and acidic conditions, clearly proving that the orientation of DHBTh affects not only the electronic structures of OEP-DHBTh-Py but also their proton-mediated spectral changes.     

Modeling of life deterioration by ion bombardment of a dispenser cathode coated with an Ir/W film

We have developed the calculation method for ion bombardment traces. When an M type dispenser cathode is operated in a cathode ray tube (CRT), the surface coating film is subjected to ion bombardment due to ionized residual gas. With long-time use, the coating film is dissipated and a change to an S type occurs. This occurrence of an S type causes a deterioration of emission and focus characteristics. A method for calculating the life time dependency of the shape of ion bombardment traces using the degree of vacuum in the tube, the grid voltage, and the cathode current was studied. The calculated results and measured results were in close agreement. As a result, it was confirmed that modeling is possible using (1) an electron and ion beam trajectory calculation program, and (2) formulas for calculating the ionization cross-section and sputtering yield.     

Rapid and reliable species identification of wild mushrooms by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)

Mushrooms are a favourite natural food in many countries. However, some wild species cause food poisoning, sometimes lethal, due to misidentification caused by confusing fruiting bodies similar to those of edible species. The morphological inspection of mycelia, spores and fruiting bodies have been traditionally used for the identification of mushrooms. More recently, DNA sequencing analysis has been successfully applied to mushrooms and to many other species. This study focuses on a simpler and more rapid methodology for the identification of wild mushrooms via protein profiling based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). A preliminary study using 6 commercially available cultivated mushrooms suggested that a more reproducible spectrum was obtained from a portion of the cap than from the stem of a fruiting body by the extraction of proteins with a formic acid-acetonitrile mixture (1 + 1). We used 157 wild mushroom-fruiting bodies collected in the centre of Hokkaido from June to November 2014. Sequencing analysis of a portion of the ribosomal RNA gene provided 134 identifications of mushrooms by genus or species, however 23 samples containing 10 unknown species that had lower concordance rate of the nucleotide sequences in a BLAST search (less than 97%) and 13 samples that had unidentifiable poor or mixed sequencing signals remained unknown. MALDI-TOF MS analysis yielded a reproducible spectrum (frequency of matching score ≥ 2.0 was ≥6 spectra from 12 spectra measurements) for 114 of 157 samples. Profiling scores that matched each other within the database gave correct species identification (with scores of ≥2.0) for 110 samples (96%). An in-house prepared database was constructed from 106 independent species, except for overlapping identifications. We used 48 wild mushrooms that were collected in autumn 2015 to validate the in-house database. As a result, 21 mushrooms were identified at the species level with scores ≥2.0 and 5 mushrooms at the genus level with scores ≥1.7, although the signals of 2 mushrooms were insufficient for analysis. The remaining 20 samples were recognized as “unreliable identification” with scores <1.7. Subsequent DNA analysis confirmed that the correct species or genus identifications were achieved by MALDI-TOF MS for the 26 former samples, whereas the 18 mushrooms with poorly matched scores were species that were not included in the database. Thus, the proposed MALDI-TOF MS coupled with our database could be a powerful tool for the rapid and reliable identification of mushrooms; however, continuous updating of the database is necessary to enrich it with more abundant species.     

Nitrogen‐Rich Manganese Oxynitrides with Enhanced Catalytic Activity in the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

The catalytic activity of manganese oxynitrides in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was investigated in alkaline solutions to clarify the effect of the incorporated nitrogen atoms on the ORR activity. These oxynitrides, with rock‐salt‐like structures with different nitrogen contents, were synthesized by reacting MnO, Mn₂O₃, or MnO₂ with molten NaNH₂ at 240–280 °C. The anion contents and the Mn valence states were determined by combustion analysis, powder X‐ray diffraction, and X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure analysis. An increase in the nitrogen content of rock‐salt‐based manganese oxynitrides increases the valence of the manganese ions and reinforces the catalytic activity for the ORR in 1 m KOH solution. Nearly single‐electron occupancy of the antibonding e_g states and highly covalent Mn?N bonding thus enhance the ORR activity of nitrogen‐rich manganese oxynitrides.     

Preparation and properties of a novel solution of hydrogen bromide (HBr) in 1,4-dioxane: An alternative reagent to HBr gas without protic solvents

A solution of hydrogen bromide (HBr) in 1,4-dioxane was prepared and investigated for its ability to brominate alcohols, and hydrobrominate alkenes. This study revealed that the brominating ability of this HBr/1,4-dioxane solution is equal or superior to that of hydrobromic acid or HBr in acetic acid. The solution of HBr in 1,4-dioxane is robust, exhibiting no decomposition of the solvent, and retaining 97% of its original concentration, when kept at ?25 °C for 30 days. This solution is a liquid alternative to HBr gas without protic solvents.     

Convenient use of ortho-formylphenyl thioglycoside for regioselective conjugation with glycosyl acceptors towards regioselective 1,2-cis-glycosylation

A facile methodology is proposed for regioselective conjugation between glycosyl donors and acceptors towards the development of regioselective 1,2-cis-glycosylation method. ortho-Formylphenyl 1-thio-β-d-galactopyranoside was regioselectively tethered to methyl α-d-glucopyranoside under acidic condition to furnish an 4,6-O-arylidene acetal-linked conjugate. This conjugate can be readily converted to an ether-linked 4-O- or 6-O-derivative by regioselective cleavage of the acetal ring. In the glycosylation reaction, the ether-linked 4-OH conjugate was found to show excellent 1,2-cis selectivity via an intramolecular 1,9-transfer.     

Straightforward Synthesis,Electrochemical Properties,and Gel Formation of Thiacalix[n]thiophenes

A facile synthetic approach toward thiacalix[n]thiophene homologues (n=4–6) is presented herein. Pd‐catalyzed coupling of 2,5‐dibromothiophene derivatives with stannyl sulfide gave various thiacalix[n]thiophenes in good yields. The optical and electrochemical properties of the produced cavitands were investigated. Furthermore, gelation was observed in some solvents.