Hole Migration in Telomere-Based Oligonucleotide Anions and G-Quadruplexes

Vacuum ultraviolet photoionization of a gas-phase oligonucleotide anion leads to the formation of a valence hole. This hole migrates towards an energetically favorable site where it can weaken bonds and ultimately lead to bond cleavage. We have studied Vacuum UV photoionization of deprotonated oligonucleotides containing the human telomere sequence dTTAGGG and G-quadruplex structures consisting of four dTGGGGT single strands, stabilized by NH₄⁺ counter ions. The oligonucleotide and G-quadruplex anions were confined in a radiofrequency ion trap, interfaced with a synchrotron beamline and the photofragmentation was studied using time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Oligonucleotide 12-mers containing the 5'-TTAGGG sequence were found to predominantly break in the GGG region, whereas no selective bond cleavage region was observed for the reversed 5'-GGGATT sequence. For G-quadruplex structures, fragmentation was quenched and mostly non-dissociative single and double electron removal was observed.     

Stabilization of polystyrene by styrylquinoline containing methacrylates

Abstract

The thermostability of polysterene with/without new styrylquinoline containing methacrylic fragments has been described in the present work. Polystyrene and copolymers based on styrene and new methacrylic styrylquinoline containing monomers were synthesized by free radical thermoinitiated polymerization in the presence of 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (1?wt%) as initiator at inert atmosphere. The impact of 2-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethenyl]quinolin-8-yl 2-methylpropyl-2-enoate (М1), 2-(2-phenylethenyl)quinolin-8-yl 2-methylpropyl-2-enoate (М2), 2-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethenyl]quinolin-8-yl 2-methylpropyl-2-enoate (М3) on thermal stability of polystyrene was investigated. The thermostability of polystyrene and copolymers ST:M1, ST:M2, ST:M3 were studied by dynamic thermograviametric analysis. It was shown that destruction of polystyrene with corresponding units M1-M2 starts at 41–42°С higher, than reference polystyrene.     

Phase field modeling precipitation of β-phase and mechanical properties change in Zr–Nb alloys under neutron irradiation

ABSTRACT

We study microstructure transformation in Zr–Nb system under neutron irradiation and its mechanical properties change under mechanical loads in a form of shear deformation by using phase field methodology. The developed phase field approach takes into account defects dynamics based on reaction rate theory and elastic contribution to study mechanical properties change. A numerical modeling is provided in three stages: sample preparation, irradiation of the prepared sample and mechanical loading of the irradiated sample. A precipitation of β-Niobium particles of the size of several nanometers is discussed. Results of phase field modeling indicate that β-Niobium particles grow slowly during irradiation due to point defects rearrangement. Statistical analysis of dynamics of radiation-induced microstructure transformations is provided. Simulation results of shear deformation of pre-irradiated and post-irradiated alloys are discussed. Maps of local distribution of strain and stress and strain–stress curves are obtained. Results are verified with experimental data.     

The electronic structure and adsorption geometry of L-histidine on Cu(110)

The adsorption of L-histidine on clean and oxygen-covered Cu(110) surfaces has been studied by soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. The valence band spectra, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen 1 s XPS and N K edge absorption spectra were measured for submonolayer, monolayer, and multilayer films. The spectra provide a detailed picture of the electronic structure and adsorption geometry at each coverage. In the monolayer, the histidine molecules are randomly oriented, in contrast to the submonolayer regime, where the molecules are coordinated to the copper surface with the imidazole functional group nearly parallel to, and strongly interacting with, the surface. The pi*/sigma* intensity ratio in NEXAFS spectra at the nitrogen edge varies strongly with angle, showing the imidazole ring is oriented. Adsorption models are proposed.     

Structural, magnetic, high-frequency and high-field EPR investigation of double-stranded heterometallic [{Ni(en)2}2(micro-NCS)4Cd(NCS)2](n).nCH3CN polymer self-assembled from cadmium oxide, nickel thiocyanate and ethylenediamine

A novel heterometallic 1D coordination polymer [{Ni(en)2}2(micro-NCS)4Cd(NCS)2](n) x nCH3CN (en = ethylenediamine) has been prepared using the self-assembly process in a one-pot reaction of cadmium oxide, nickel and ammonium thiocyanates with an acetonitrile solution of ethylenediamine. The complex consists of an uncommon cis-Cd(SCN)4(NCS)2(4-) fragment and a rare combination of cis-Ni(en)2(2+) and trans-Ni(en)2(2+) building blocks linked by micro(1,3)-NCS bridges into a double-stranded zigzag chain structure. Each chain is comprised of [Ni2Cd2(micro-NCS-N,S)4)] macrocycles with chair-like and rectangular-like shapes arrayed alternately. The shortest intrachain CdCd separations are 9.535(1) and 10.868(2) A, while the nearest NiNi distances are 5.418(1) and 6.612(2) A. A network of weak N-HS hydrogen bonds, involving the terminal NCS ligands and NH2-groups of en, links the infinite chains and results in the formation of an extended supramolecular three-dimensional framework. Variable-temperature (1.8-300 K) magnetic susceptibilities show a slight change of the micro(B) value at low temperature, indicative of weak antiferromagnetic interactions (J = 1.55 cm-1) between magnetic canters. High-field, high-frequency (100-400 GHz) EPR spectra were simulated using S = 1 ground state for separate Ni2+ ions with the spin Hamiltonian parameters g = 2.165, D = 0.45 cm-1 and E = 0.03 cm(-1). According to DFT calculations, the D and E parameters are -0.35 cm(-1) and 0.049 cm-1 for the cis arrangement of Ni2+ and 0.58 cm(-1) and 0.012 cm(-1) for trans.     

Nitrone cycloadditions to 1,2-diphenylcyclopropenes and subsequent transformations of the isoxazolidine cycloadducts

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of C-aryl,N-aryl (or N-methyl) nitrones with a number of 1,2-diphenylcyclopropenes substituted at the C(3) position occurs with the formation of expected "normal" cycloadducts (with N-methylnitrones) and products of their subsequent transformations. Among them are corresponding alpha-acetophenyl aziridines and tetra (or penta) -arylpyrroles. Aziridines and the normal cycloadducts can be also thermally converted to such arylpyrroles with moderate to good yields. Substitution at the C(3( position of cyclopropenes by an electron acceptor group decreases the reactivity of cyclopropenes.     

Effect of wastes formed in processing of vegetable raw materials on the corrosion of steel in corrosive media

Effect of liquid and dry extracts of rice, buckwheat, and sunflower husks on the corrosion of St.3 steel in water-salt and acid media was studied by gravimetric and potentiodynamic methods. The action of the extracts on the surface morphology of St.3 steel samples was examined by electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis.     

Unimolecular elimination of HF and HCl from chemically activated CF3CFClCH2Cl

The unimolecular reactions of CF3CFClCH2Cl molecules formed with 87 kcal mol(-1) of vibrational energy by recombination of CF3CFCl and CH2Cl radicals at room temperature have been characterized by the chemical activation technique. The 2,3-ClH and 2,3-FH elimination reactions, which have rate constants of (2.5 +/- 0.8) x 10(4) and (0.38 +/- 0.11) x 10(4) s(-1), respectively, are the major reactions. The 2,3-FCl interchange reaction was not observed. The trans (or E)-isomers of CF3CFCHCl and CF3CClCHCl are favored over the cis (or Z)-isomers. Density functional theory at the B3PW91/6-31G(d',p') level was used to evaluate thermochemistry and structures of the molecule and transition states. This information was used to calculate statistical rate constants. Matching the calculated to the experimental rate constants for the trans-isomers gave threshold energies of 62 and 63 kcal mol(-1) for HCl and HF elimination, respectively. The threshold energy for FCl interchange must be 3-4 kcal mol(-1) higher than for HF elimination. The results for CF3CFClCH2Cl are compared to those from CF3CFClCH3; the remarkable reduction in rate constants for HCl and HF elimination upon substitution of one Cl atom for one H atom is a consequence of both a lower E and higher threshold energies for CF3CFClCH2Cl.     

Analytical expressions for partial wave two-body Coulomb transition matrices at ground-state energy

Leaning upon the Fock method of the stereographic projection of the three-dimensional momentum space onto the four-dimensional unit sphere the possibility of the analytical solving of the Lippmann–Schwinger integral equation for the partial wave two-body Coulomb transition matrix at the ground bound state energy has been studied. In this case new expressions for the partial p$p$-, d$d$- and f$f$-wave two-body Coulomb transition matrices have been obtained in the simple analytical form. The developed approach can also be extended to determine analytically the partial wave Coulomb transition matrices at the energies of excited bound states.     

Novel solvable many-body problems

Novel classes of dynamical systems are introduced, including many-body problems characterized by nonlinear equations of motion of Newtonian type (“acceleration equals forces”) which determine the motion of points in the complex plane. These models are solvable, namely their con?guration at any time can be obtained from the initial data by algebraic operations, amounting to the determination of the zeros of a known time-dependent polynomial in the independent variable z. Some of these models are multiply periodic, isochronous or asymptotically isochronous; others display scattering phenomena.