Partial molar volume of proteins studied by the three-dimensional reference interaction site model theory

The three-dimensional reference interaction site model (3D-RISM) theory is applied to the analysis of hydration effects on the partial molar volume of proteins. For the native structure of some proteins, the partial molar volume is decomposed into geometric and hydration contributions using the 3D-RISM theory combined with the geometric volume calculation. The hydration contributions are correlated with the surface properties of the protein. The thermal volume, which is the volume of voids around the protein induced by the thermal fluctuation of water molecules, is directly proportional to the accessible surface area of the protein. The interaction volume, which is the contribution of electrostatic interactions between the protein and water molecules, is apparently governed by the charged atomic groups on the protein surface. The polar atomic groups do not make any contribution to the interaction volume. The volume differences between low- and high-pressure structures of lysozyme are also analyzed by the present method.     

Carrier generation process on photoconductive polymer films as studied by magnetic field effects on the charge-transfer fluorescence and photocurrent

We have studied the magnetic field effects (MFEs) on the charge-transfer fluorescence and transient photocurrent of a 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene-doped poly(N-vinylcarbazole) film, which reflect the recombination and escape yields of the carriers, respectively. The recombination yield dependence of the external magnetic field (B) clearly shows two types of the MFEs, growth with increasing B due to the hyperfine mechanism (HFM) and a negative dip due to the level-crossing mechanism (LCM). On the other hand, the escape yield indicates complementary MFEs with a sharp decrease in yield with increasing B and then a positive dip. Simultaneous observation of the HFM- and LCM-MFEs proves the stepwise hole-hopping mechanism rather the long-range hole-jumping one. The quantitative analysis of the recombination and escape MFEs is performed using the stochastic Liouville equations (SLE) for a one-dimensional lattice model in which the stepwise hole hops take place between the nearest neighbor carbazole units with spin conservation. The SLE analysis provides the recombination and hole transfer rate constants of 7.0 x 10(7) and 4.5 x 10(8) s(-1), respectively. The boundary site number for the ion pairs in the one-dimensional model is estimated by the best fit to the experimental results. The interionic distance of the boundary ion pair in the one-dimensional model including eight sites agrees with the thermalization distance in the Onsager model. Hence, it is concluded that the elementary processes in the Onsager model applied to molecular amorphous solids are the stepwise hole hops rather than a long-range hole jump.     

Synthesis of dehydroxy-trans-resorcylide by intramolecular alkylation of the protected cyanohydrin using a butadiene telomer as a building block

Dehydrroxy-trans-resorcylide ($\text{15}$) was synthesized by efficient intramolecular alkylation of the protected cyanohydrin. The butadiene telomer obtained by the palladium catalyzed reaction of butadiene with acetic acid was used as a suitable block of the carbocycle.     

Furanodictine A and B: amino sugar analogues produced by cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum showing neuronal differentiation activity

We investigated the constituents of Dictyostelium discoideum to clarify the diversity of secondary metabolites of Dictyostelium cellular slime molds and to explore biologically active substances that could be useful in the development of novel drugs. From a methanol extract of the multicellular fruit body of D. discoideum, we isolated two novel amino sugar analogues, furanodictine A (1) and B (2). They are the first 3,6-anhydrosugars to be isolated from natural sources. Their relative structures were elucidated by spectral means, and the absolute configurations were confirmed by asymmetric syntheses of 1 and 2. These furanodictines potently induce neuronal differentiation of rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells.     

Laser-induced fluorescence microscopic system using an optical parametric oscillator for tunable detection in microchip analysis

A laser-induced fluorescence microscopic system based on optical parametric oscillation has been constructed as a tunable detector for microchip analysis. The detection limit of sulforhodamine B (Ex. 520 nm, Em. 570 nm) was 0.2 mol, which was approximately eight orders of magnitude better than with a conventional fluorophotometer. The system was applied to the determination of fluorescence-labeled DNA (Ex. 494 nm, Em. 519 nm) in a microchannel and the detection limit reached a single molecule. These results showed the feasibility of this system as a highly sensitive and tunable fluorescence detector for microchip analysis.     

Direct targeting of human plasma for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and analysis of plasma proteins by time of flight-mass spectrometry

A method to analyze human plasma proteins without fractionation, directly applying a plasma-matrix mixture on the target plate of a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF-MS), has been described. Peaks of ionized plasma proteins could not be detected applying a mixture of an undiluted plasma sample and a matrix solution, but they appeared when the plasma was diluted before mixing with the matrix. Tenfold diluted plasma provided well-resolved protein peaks in the m/z range from 4000 to 30,000. The addition of a simple post-crystallization washing procedure performed on the target plate further improved the quality of mass spectra. We numbered 58 peaks in the range of 4-160 kDa and 32 out of which were assigned to the plasma protein species which have been reported. Especially high sensitivity and resolution were obtained in the region < 30 kDa, where multiple isoforms of apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein A-II, apolipoprotein C-I, apolipoprotein C-II, apolipoprotein C-III, and transthyretin could be assigned. Various post-translational modifications are involved in the isoforms, e.g., proteolytic cleavage, glycosylation and chemical modifications. This method will become complementary with the present electrophoretic techniques, especially for the analysis of low-molecular-mass proteins.     

Comproportionation reaction and hindered rotation of coordinated pyridine rings in an acetate-bridged tetraplatinum(II) cluster with pyridine-based ligands in the cluster plane

A series of pyridine-substituted derivatives of octaacetatotetraplatinum(II), [Pt4(CH3COO)8-n(L)2n]n+ (L= 4-dimethylaminopyridine (dmap), pyridine (py), 4-cyanopyridine (cpy); n = 1-4) were prepared, and the tetra- and octasubstituted forms (n = 2 and 4) were isolated. 1HNMR spectra showed that this type of cluster undergoes a comproportionation reaction. Reactions between clusters in which n = 0 and 2, n = 0 and 4, and n = 2 and 4 afforded Pt4 clusters with n = 1, 2, and 3, respectively, as a main product in acetonitrile. The dmap-substituted clusters, trans-[Pt4(CH3COO)6(dmap)4](ClO4)2 x 3CH3NO2 (3a(ClO4)2 x 3CH3NO2) and [Pt4(CH3COO)4(dmap)8](ClO4)4 x 4 H2O (5a(ClO4)4-4H2O), have been structurally characterized. Both 3a and 5a have a square-planar cluster core comprised of four PtII ions, and all eight out-of-plane coordination sites are occupied by acetate ligands in a bridging mode. In 5a, all of the in-plane sites are occupied by dmap ligands. In 3a, four dmap ligands occupy the coordination sites at the two mutually opposite edges of the square planar cluster skeleton, giving a trans tetrasubstituted form of [Pt4(CH3COO)8-] (1). In octasubstituted 5a, adjacent dmap ligands are so closely arranged that the Pt-N distances (2.20(3), 2.30(3) A) are longer than those in tetrasubstituted 3a (2.13(1), 2.15(1) A) and related Pt4 clusters. Furthermore, rotation of the dmap ligand about the Pt-N bond in 5a was restricted, and the rate constant of the rotation was 4.5s(-1) at 20 degrees C from dynamic NMR study. Cluster [Pt4(CH3COO)5(dmap)6]3+ (4a) also exhibited similar hindered rotation with the rate constants of 2.0s(-1), 12s(-1) and approximately 10(4)s(-1) at 20 degrees C depending on the coordination sites of the dmap ligands in 4a.     

Multipoint recognition of catecholamines by hydrindacene-based receptors accompanied by the complexation-induced conformational switching

The molecular recognition of catecholamines by hydrindacene-based receptors 1 and 2, as well as the durene-based receptor 3, and the guest-induced conformational changes are reported. These receptors selectively bind adrenaline and dopamine salts through the guests' ammonium group and 3-hydroxyl group on the aromatic ring. In the case of adrenaline, an additional hydrogen bond with a benzylic hydroxyl group is formed. In 2 % CD3CN/CDCl3, the association constants are of the order of 10(4) M(-1), which is much larger than with guests without the 3-hydroxyl groups (10(3) M(-1)). The two amide groups of receptor 1 can rotate freely around the C(aromatic)--C(amide) bond, whereas the tert-amide in 2 changes between two stable conformations at a slow enough rate to allow detection by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. In the absence of a guest molecule, the syn-conformer is less stable than the anti-conformer. On complex formation with adrenaline, the syn-conformer becomes dominant due to an intramolecular dipole-reversal effect in addition to multipoint hydrogen bonding.     

Synthesis of (−)-terrecyclic acid A. Absolute configuration of terrecyclic acid A and quadrone

(?)-Terrecyclic acid A ($\text{15}$) was synthesized from (+)-fenchone ($\text{1}$). The absolute configuration of terrecyclic acid A and quadrone was established.