All-atom molecular dynamic simulations and relative NMR spectra study of weak C-H...O contacts in amide-water systems

Amide-water mixtures are studied by all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and the relative temperature-dependent NMR experiment. The weak C-H...O contacts are found in the amide-water systems theoretically and experimentally. The statistical results of the average numbers of hydrogen bonds indicate that the methyl groups in amide molecules represent different capabilities in forming the weak C-H...O contacts. The statistics also imply that the C-H...O contacts are more obvious in the amide-rich region than those in the water-rich region. The temperature-dependent NMR spectra are also adopted to investigate the weak C-H...O contacts in the amide-water systems. The relative chemical shifts of the methyl groups are in good agreement with the MD simulations.     

A new C21-steroidal glycoside from Cynanchum stauntonii

A new C21-steroidal glycoside with two known compounds were isolated from the root of Cynanchum Stauntonii.Based on thespectral analysis,including MS,1H NMR,13C NMR,DEPT,1H-1H COSY,13C-1H COSY,HMQC and HMBC,their chemicalstructures were determinated as glaucogenin-C 3-O-a-L-cymaropyranosyl-(1→4)-b-D-digitoxopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-canaropyranoside(1),stigmasterol(2)and ursolic acid(3).     

Alkylation of benzene with 1-hexene in acidic ionic liquid systems: Et3NHCl-FeCl3and Et3NHCl-AlCl3ionic liquids

Summary The alkylation of benzene with 1-hexene has been investigated in different triethylamine hydrochloride-ferric chloride (Et₃NHCl-FeCl₃) and triethylamine hydrochloride-aluminium chloride (Et₃NHCl-AlCl₃) ionic liquids. Both high catalyst activity and monoalkylation selectivity were observed for these two type of ionic liquids. Systems prepared by modification with HCl in Et₃NHCl-FeCl₃ionic liquids prove to be very suitable solvents and catalysts for the reaction. When employing Et₃NHCl-AlCl₃ionic liquids as catalysts, the reaction takes place in biphasic mode with facile catalyst separation and catalyst recycling.     

Two-dimensional protein database of human pancreas

We report here the two-dimensional protein database of human pancreas. The proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Totally, 302 proteins were identified, of which about 27% were enzymes with a broad range of catalytic activities. Several of these are specifically expressed in pancreas, such as pancreatic amylase, pancreatic stone protein, pancreatitis-associated protein, pancreatic lipase, pancreatic elastase, etc. Structural and cytoskeletal proteins are also strongly represented on the gels. Thus, the pancreatic proteome reflects the organ's function. This work paves the way for further studies on pancreatic protein expression in health and disease, such as diabetes and pancreatic cancer.