Preparation of core-shell polymer colloid particles by encapsulation

 By means of heterocoagulation anionic poly-[styrene] particles were coated with smaller electrosterically stabilised cationic particles of poly-[butyl methacrylate]. On heating the heterocoagulated units 45 °C above the glass transition temperature of poly-[butyl methacrylate], as predicted theoretically, the latter polymer spread over the surface of the poly-[styrene] particle to give a composite particle with a core-shell structure. It was found that the extent of packing of the small particles on the larger core particle was a critical feature of the coating process. Received: 12 September 1996 Accepted: 18 September 1996     

Binding of D- and L-captopril inhibitors to metallo-beta-lactamase studied by polarizable molecular mechanics and quantum mechanics

The bacterial Zn2+ metallo-beta-lactamase from B. fragilis is a zinc-enzyme with two potential metal ion binding sites. It cleaves the lactam ring of antibiotics, thus contributing to the acquired resistance of bacteria against antibiotics. The present study bears on the binuclear form of the enzyme. We compare several possible binding modes of captopril, a mercaptocarboxamide inhibitor of several zinc-metalloenzymes. Two diastereoisomers of captopril were considered, with either a D- or an L-proline residue. We have used the polarizable molecular mechanics procedure SIBFA (Sum of Interactions Between Fragments ab initio computed). Two beta-lactamase models were considered, encompassing 104 and 188 residues, respectively. The energy balances included the inter and intramolecular interaction energies as well as the contribution from solvation computed using a continuum reaction field procedure. The thiolate ion of the inhibitor is binding to both metal ions, expelling the bridging solvent molecule from the uncomplexed enzyme. Different competing binding modes of captopril were considered, either where the inhibitor binds in a monodentate mode to the zinc cations only with its thiolate ion, or in bidentate modes involving additional zinc binding by its carboxylate or ketone carbonyl groups. The additional coordination by the inhibitor's carboxylate or carbonyl group always occurs at the zinc ion, which is bound by a histidine, a cysteine, and an aspartate side chain. For both diastereomers, the energy balances favor monodentate binding of captopril via S-. The preference over bidentate binding is small. The interaction energies were recomputed in model sites restricted to captopril, the Zn2+ cations, and their coordinating end side chains from beta-lactamase (98 atoms). The interaction energies and their ranking among competing arrangements were consistent with those computed by ab initio HF and DFT procedures.     

Approaches to understanding the searching behavior of CrossFire users

Due to the high costs of purchasing, supporting and training users of desktop chemical information systems, it is important to understand users' behavior in order that deficiencies in their search efficiency and effectiveness can be identified and addressed. CrossFire generates comprehensive log files that can be examined to determine the nature of search activity. At GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) a Log File Parser, CrossParse, has been developed in Visual Basic that enables analysis by individual user name, groups of users or the whole user population. Log files can be analyzed for occasions when specific structural features are built, specific types of search are done and how the results are manipulated. CrossParse produces output that can be saved and analyzed within Microsoft Excel. It also allows determination of numbers of active concurrent users on the CrossFire system. CrossParse has been used at GSK (ex-SmithKline Beecham sites) to examine the search behavior of medicinal and synthetic chemists. Additionally, it has been used by MIMAS (Manchester Information and Associated Services) to compare the search behavior of trained and untrained users in the higher education community and to identify any areas where improvements to training can be made. Use of CrossParse in both organizations has allowed identification of areas where users may have difficulties using CrossFire. This will provide valuable feedback to MDL Inc., the authors of the CrossFire application, and guide them in enhancing CrossFire.     

Quantum effects in ab-initio calculations of rate constants for chemical reactions occuring in the condensed phase

An overview of recent advances in the development of methods designed to calculate rate constants for chemical reactions obeying mass action kinetic equations in condensed phases is presented. A general framework addressing mixed quantum-classical systems is elaborated that enables quantum features such as tunneling effects, zero-point vibrations, dynamic quantum coherence, and non-adiabatic effects to be calculated. An efficient Monte Carlo sampling method for performing ab-initio calculations of rate constants and isotope effects in chemical processes in condensed phases is outlined, and the connection of isotope effects to reaction mechanism is explored     

Investigation of cross-resistance to a range of photosensitizers, hyperthermia and UV light in two radiation-induced fibrosarcoma cell strains resistant to photodynamic therapy in vitro

Two distinct photodynamic therapy-resistant variants of the murine radiation-induced fibrosarcoma (RIF) cell line have been isolated. One strain displayed relative resistance over the parental RIF-1 strain to treatment with the porphyrin-based compound, polyhaematoporphyrin (PHP), whereas the other strain displayed relative resistance over the RIF-1 strain to treatment using the cationic zinc (II) pyridinium-substituted phthalocyanine (PPC). The PHP-resistant strain did not display cross-resistance to PPC-mediated treatment, and vice versa. In both PDT-resistant strains, the increased resistance could not be attributed to altered cellular growth rate, antioxidant capacity or intracellular sensitizer localization. The PHP-resistant strain displayed resistance to treatment with both short (1 h) and extended (16 h) sensitizer incubation periods, which may indicate that in this strain, the resistance has arisen through an alteration in a membrane component. Conversely, the PPC-resistant strain only displayed increased resistance over the parental cells to treatment involving the short drug incubation, which is likely to reflect the existence of a threshold effect caused by the alteration of an individual cellular target. Each resistant strain has been compared to the parental strain in terms of cellular sensitivity to treatment with a range of other photosensitizers, hyperthermia, UV light and the anticancer agent cis-diamminedichloroplatinum. The PHP-resistant strain exhibited crossresistance to photosensitization treatment using exogenously added protoporphyrin IX, and also to treatment with the anionic phthalocyanine sensitizers, zinc (II) tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine and zinc (II) tetraglycine-substituted phthalocyanine. The PPC-resistant strain did not display cross-resistance to any of the treatment strategies employed in this investigation. The results of this investigation indicate that there are at least two distinct mechanisms of PDT resistance in RIF cells, and that the mechanism of PHP resistance may, to some extent depend, upon the physical nature of the sensitizer molecule.     

Crystal structure and mechanistic implications of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase--the ethylene-forming enzyme

The final step in the biosynthesis of the plant signaling molecule ethylene is catalyzed by 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACCO). ACCO requires bicarbonate as an activator and catalyzes the oxidation of ACC to give ethylene, CO2, and HCN. We report crystal structures of ACCO in apo-form (2.1 A resolution) and complexed with Fe(II) (2.55 A) or Co(II) (2.4 A). The active site contains a single Fe(II) ligated by three residues (His177, Asp179, and His234), and it is relatively open compared to those of the 2-oxoglutarate oxygenases. The side chains of Arg175 and Arg244, proposed to be involved in binding bicarbonate, project away from the active site, but conformational changes may allow either or both to enter the active site. The structures will form a basis for future mechanistic and inhibition studies.     

The OH-stretching and OOH-bending overtone spectrum of HOONO

We have simulated the HOONO vibrational overtone spectrum with use of a local mode Hamiltonian that includes the OH-stretching, OOH-bending, and NOOH-torsional modes and coupling between all three modes. The local mode parameters and the dipole moment function are calculated with coupled-cluster ab initio theory and an augmented Dunning-type triple-zeta basis set. We investigate the accuracy of the local mode parameters obtained from two different potential-energy fitting routines, as well as the sensitivity of these parameters to the basis set employed. We compare our simulated spectra to previously published action spectra in the first and second OH-stretching overtone regions. In addition we have recorded the spectrum in the OH-stretch and OOH-bend combination region around 7700 cm-1 and we also compare to this. Our simulated spectrum is in qualitative agreement with experiment in the first and second OH-stretching overtone and in the stretch-bend regions.