Depth-dependent acoustic features of diving sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in the Gulf of Mexico

Three-dimensional dive trajectories of three sperm whales in the Gulf of Mexico have been obtained by measuring the relative arrival times and bearings of the animals' acoustic multipath reflections, using two elements of a towed hydrophone array deployed at an unknown depth and orientation. Within the first 6-12 min of the start of a dive, the intervals between successive "clicks" of all three whales corresponded closely with the two-way travel time of an acoustic pulse traveling vertically between the animals' position and the ocean bottom. The click spectra contained multiple peaks, including a faint band of energy originally centered near 10 kHz. As the animals descended over 500 m in depth, the center frequency of this band shifted to nearly 15 kHz, but subsequently remained near this value during the rest of the dive. This frequency shift is consistent with that expected from energy scattering from an ensemble of incompressible small-scale air-filled resonators, with diameters on the order of 4 mm. One possible candidate for such an ensemble is proposed to reside in the collapsed frontal sac of the animal. A comparison of the received levels for the bottom and direct multipath arrivals indicates that the whales' acoustic directivity must range between 10-30 dB in the 5-20-kHz region.     

Investigating cellular metabolism of synthetic azidosugars with the Staudinger ligation

The structure of sialic acid on living cells can be modulated by metabolism of unnatural biosynthetic precursors. Here we investigate the conversion of a panel of azide-functionalized mannosamine and glucosamine derivatives into cell-surface sialosides. A key tool in this study is the Staudinger ligation, a highly selective reaction between modified triarylphosphines and azides that produces an amide-linked product. A preliminary study of the mechanism of this reaction, and refined conditions for its in vivo execution, are reported. The reaction provided a means to label the glycoconjugate-bound azidosugars with biochemical probes. Finally, we demonstrate that the cell-surface Staudinger ligation is compatible with hydrazone formation from metabolically introduced ketones. These two strategies provide a means to selectively modify cell-surface glycans with exogenous probes.     

An efficient synthesis of the new benzo[c]pyrido[2,3,4-kl]acridine skeleton

A series of molecules of therapeutic interest, possessing the new skeleton of 1H-benzo[c]pyrido[2,3,4-kl]acridine with acyl or aminoacyl and methoxy or aminoalkoxy substituents on the aromatic homocycles were synthesized by means of a Friedl?nder-type reaction. The requisite 5-aminodihydroquinoline-4-ones 1, whose preparation is described, were reacted with the appropriate alpha-tetralones 2 using an acidic catalyst (PPTS) under azeotropic conditions. Optimized reaction time and yield depend on temperature, which must not be below 90 degrees C.     

Organization in lipid membranes containing cholesterol

A fundamental attribute of raft formation in cell membranes is lateral separation of lipids into coexisting liquid phases. Using fluorescence microscopy, we observe spontaneous lateral separation in free-floating giant unilamellar vesicles. We record coexisting liquid domains over a range of composition and temperature significantly wider than previously reported. Furthermore, we establish correlations between miscibility in bilayers and in monolayers. For example, the same lipid mixtures that produce liquid domains in bilayer membranes produce two upper miscibility critical points in the phase diagrams of monolayers.     

Ice structuring proteins - a new name for antifreeze proteins

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) have been reported in the academic literature for many years, and are increasingly arousing interest in the technical and popular media, particularly because of their potential applications. However, the term "antifreeze" does not always accurately describe their natural function, or their application in frozen systems, where they do not prevent freezing, but control the size, shape and aggregation of ice crystals. We survey the properties and applications of AFPs and propose a more generally applicable name based on the fact that all AFPs bind to ice and consequently influence crystal growth and interactions: "Ice Structuring Proteins".     

Komplexkatalyse: XXV. 31P-NMR-spektroskopische charakterisierung der anti- und syn-struktur von C3-substituierten η3-allylbis(triarylphosphit)-nickel(II)-hexafluorophosphat-komplexen und der mechanismus der durch [C3H5Ni(P(OPh)3)2]PF6 katalysierten 1,4-trans-polymerisation des butadiens

The reaction of the η₃-allylbis(triarylphosphite)nickel(II) complexes with butadiene under chain propagation to give the polybutadienyl complex, [3-RC₃H₄Ni(P(OAr)₃)₂]PF₆, was monitored by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. In the case of the triphenylphosphite complex both the anti- and the syn-configuration could be identified by means of their different AB spectra. The anti-syn isomerization, the higher reactivity of the thermodynamically more stable syn-form, and the formation of the anti-structure as a result of each individual butadiene insertion step was also proved. From these observations an experimentally well-grounded mechanism of the trans regulation with the anti-syn isomerization as the rate-determining step could be derived for the first time.     

13C NMR spectra of 1,3,4-thiadiazole/thiadiazoline isomeric pairs

The ¹³C NMR spectra of four pairs of 1,3,4-thiadiazole/thiadiazoline isomers have been recorded using broad band and off-resonance proton decoupling techniques and in the coupled mode. Differences in the chemical shifts of the heterocyclic ring and the carbonyl carbons allow identification of the isomer present. Their IR and UV spectra are in agreement with literature reports for azole/azoline analogues.     

Following the solvent directly during ultrafast excited state proton transfer

Excited state intramolecular proton transfer in 1-chloroacetylaminoanthraquinone is investigated from the perspective of the solvent. Using a new two-dimensional nonlinear optical spectroscopy the solvent response is probed directly as the proton transfer takes place. The measurements indicate that solvent reorganization controls the proton transfer in acetonitrile by dynamically shifting the position of equilibrium in the excited state, even on subpicosecond time scales.