Small Ubiquitin-Like Modifier Protein 3 Enhances the Solubilization of Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 in <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis>

Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) fusion technology is widely used in the production of heterologous proteins from prokaryotic system to aid in protein solubilization and refolding. Due to an extensive clinical application of human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (hBMP2) in bone augmentation, total RNA was isolated from human gingival tissue and mature gene was amplified through RT-PCR, cloned (pET21a), sequence analyzed, and submitted to GenBank (Accession no. KF250425). To obtain soluble expression, SUMO3 was tagged at the N-terminus of hBMP2 gene (pET21a/SUMO3-hBMP2), transferred in BL21 codon+, and ~?40% soluble expression was obtained on induction with IPTG. The dimerized hBMP2 was confirmed with Western blot, native PAGE analysis, and purified by fast protein liquid chromatography with 0.5 M NaCl elution. The cleavage of SUMO3 tag from hBMP2 converted it to an insoluble form. Computational 3D structural analysis of the SUMO3-hBMP2 was performed and optimized by molecular dynamic simulation. Protein-protein interaction of SUMO3-hBMP2 with BMP2 receptor was carried out using HADDOCK and inferred stable interaction. The alkaline phosphatase assay of SUMO3-hBMP2 on C2C12 cells showed maximum 200-ng/ml dose-dependent activity. We conclude that SUMO3-tagged hBMP2 is more suited for generation of soluble form of the protein and addition of SUMO3 tag does not affect the functional activity of hBMP2.     

Copolymerization of Carbonyl Sulfide and Propylene Oxide via a Heterogeneous Prussian Blue Analogue Catalyst with High Productivity and Selectivity

This study demonstrates the superiority of a stable and well-defined heterogeneous cobalt hexacyanocobaltate (Co₃[Co(CN)₆]₂), a typical cobalt Prussian Blue Analogue (CoCo-PBA) that catalyzes the copolymerization of carbonyl sulfide (COS) and propylene oxide (PO) to produce poly(propylene monothiocarbonate)s (PPMTC). The number-average molecular weights of the PPMTC were 66.4 to 139.4 kg/mol, with a polydispersity of 2.0–3.9. The catalyst productivity reached 1040 g polymer/g catalyst (12.0 h). The oxygen-sulfur exchange reaction (O/S ER), which would generate random thiocarbonate and carbonate units, was effectively suppressed, and thus the selectivity of the monothiocarbonate over carbonate linkages was up to >99%. It was shown that no cyclic thiocarbonate byproduct was produced during the heterogeneous catalysis of COS/PO copolymerization using CoCo-PBA as the catalyst. The content of monothiocarbonate and ether units in the copolymer chain could be regulated by tuning the feeding amount of COS.     

2D MXenes Nanosheets for Advanced Energy Conversion and Storage Devices: Recent Advances and Future Prospects

Since the initial MXenes were discovered in 2011, several MXene compositions constructed using combinations of various transition metals have been developed. MXenes are ideal candidates for different applications in energy conversion and storage, because of their unique and interesting characteristics, which included good electrical conductivity, hydrophilicity, and simplicity of large-scale synthesis. Herein, we study the current developments in two-dimensional (2D) MXene nanosheets for energy storage and conversion technologies. First, we discuss the introduction to energy storage and conversion devices. Later, we emphasized on 2D MXenes and some specific properties of MXenes. Subsequently, research advances in MXene-based electrode materials for energy storage such as supercapacitors and rechargeable batteries is summarized. We provide the relevant energy storage processes, common challenges, and potential approaches to an acceptable solution for 2D MXene-based energy storage. In addition, recent advances for MXenes used in energy conversion devices like solar cells, fuel cells and catalysis is also summarized. Finally, the future prospective of growing MXene-based energy conversion and storage are highlighted.     

Control of light in a quantized four level graphene atomic system via self and cross-Kerr nonlinearity

We investigate self and cross-Kerr nonlinearity in a four level quantized graphene atomic medium. The absorption, dispersion, transmission and subluminal/superluminal behaviors of a probe light field are studied. An amplification of the probe light field is observed in the absorption spectrum. The normal and anomalous slope of dispersion is also investigated at the positive/negative absorption region. It is shown that Kerr nonlinearity invert and enhance the subluminal/superluminal behaviors of the pulse and self-Kerr effect is found to be more subluminal/superluminal as compared to cross-Kerr effect. The results show significant applications in information storage, self and cross phase modulation and lasing without inversion.     

Monomeric and Dimeric Erbium(III) Complexes: Crystal Structure and Photoluminescence Studies

Abstract  

The crystal structure and photoluminescence (PL) studies of the monomeric and dimeric Er(III) complexes with two different chelating ligands (anthracene-9-carboxylic acid, 9-ACA; pentaethylene glycol, EO5; and picric acid, HPic) are reviewed. The Er(III) metal ion was coordinated to the attached ligands in eight- and nine-coordination number. The dimeric [Er₂(9-AC)₆(DMF)₂(H₂O)₂] complex shows the presence of deprotonated 9-AC anions with the negatively charged oxygen atoms bridged two Er(III) ions leads to a great coordinative flexibility via three possibilities of coordination modes, i.e. monodentate, chelation bidentate, chelating–bridging tridentate, where 9-AC = anthracene-9-carboxylate anion. The monomeric [Er(Pic)₂(EO5)](Pic) complex displays the important flexible structure of the acyclic EO5 ligand and the role of Pic anions act as bidentate and monodentate chelations. The PL spectra of both Er(III) complexes show a broad band with the center peak position being dependent on the attached aromatic ligands. The heavier lanthanide complexes show the difference in structures, coordination geometry environment, and luminescence properties compared to the lighter lanthanide complexes. The energy transfer process in the complexes could be optimized with maximize the overlap between the emission spectrum of donor atom and absorption spectrum of acceptor atom.     

A ternary complex of aqua(18‐crown‐6)bis(o‐nitrophenolato)barium(II), the triaqua(18‐crown‐6)(o‐nitrophenolato)barium(II) cation and the o‐nitrophenolate anion

In the title compound [systematic name: tri­aqua(1,4,7,10,13,16‐hexaoxa­cyclo­octa­decane‐κ⁶O)(2‐nitro­phenolato‐κO)­barium(II)–aqua(1,4,7,10,13,16‐hexaoxa­cyclo­octa­decane‐κ⁶O)‐ bis(2‐nitro­phenolato‐κ²O,O′)­barium(II)–2‐nitro­phenolate (1/1/1)], [Ba(C₁₂H₂₄O₆)(C₆H₄NO₃)(H₂O)₃][Ba(C₁₂H₂₄O₆)(C₆H₄NO₃)₂(H₂O)](C₆H₄NO₃), the two Ba^II atoms encapsulated by the 18‐crown‐6 rings have different coordinations. Although both Ba^II atoms are coordinated to the six O atoms of the crowns, in the neutral moiety, the Ba^II atom is coordinated to one terminal O atom from a water mol­ecule, two phenolate O atoms and two nitro‐group O atoms, while in the cationic moiety, the Ba^II atom is coordinated to three terminal O atoms from water mol­ecules and one phenolate O atom. Both the crowns are eclipsed and translated along the b direction. In the asymmetric unit, the three components are interconnected by four O—H?O interactions. The packing is stabilized by two intermolecular C—H?O interactions and by one O—H?O interaction.     

Syn‐ and anticlinal isomers of 2a′‐acetoxy‐1,7′‐diacetyl‐7′,7a′‐dihydro‐2‐oxospiro[1H‐indole‐3(2H),2′(2a′H)‐oxeto[3,2‐b]indole]

In the syn‐ and anticlinal isomers of the title compound, C₂₂H₁₈N₂O₆, the indole moiety is not completely planar, with the pyrrolidine ring being distorted very slightly towards a conformation intermediate between half‐chair and envelope. The molecular and packing structures in the crystals of these isomers are stabilized by C—H?O interactions.     

Adsorption Behavior and Dynamic Interactions of Anionic Acid Blue 25 on Agricultural Waste

In this study, adsorption characteristics of a negatively charged dye, Acid Blue 25 (AB25), on pomelo pith (PP) was studied by varying the adsorption parameters, with the aim of evaluating the adsorption mechanism and establishing the role of hydrogen bonding interactions of AB25 on agricultural wastes. The kinetics, intraparticle diffusion, mechanism, and thermodynamics of the AB25 adsorption were systematically evaluated and analyzed by pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, the Weber–Morris intraparticle and Boyd mass transfer models, the Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich, and Temkin isotherm models, and the Van’t Hoff equation. It was found that AB25 adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics, governed by a two-step pore-volume intraparticle diffusion of external mass transfer of AB25 onto the PP surface. The adsorption process occurred spontaneously. The adsorption mechanism could be explained by the Langmuir isotherm model, and the maximum adsorption capacity was estimated to be 26.9 mg g⁻¹, which is comparable to many reported adsorbents derived from agricultural wastes. Changes in the vibrational spectra of the adsorbent before and after dye adsorption suggested that AB25 molecules are bound to the PP surface via electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions. The results demonstrated that the use of pomelo pith, similar to other agricultural wastes, would provide a basis to design a simple energy-saving, sustainable, and cost-effective approach to remove negatively charged synthetic dyes from wastewater.     

1,4‐Methano‐11a‐methyl‐4,4a,11,11a‐tetrahydro‐1H‐benzo­[b]­fluoren‐11‐one

The title compound, C₁₉H₁₆O, crystallizes with two mol­ecules of opposite chirality in the asymmetric unit. In both mol­ecules, the naphthalene and cyclo­pentanone moieties are individually planar. The two cyclo­pentane rings adopt envelope conformations, while the cyclo­hexane ring adopts a boat conformation.