A few comments on the internal rotations in DNA

Comments are given on the internal rotation angles in DNA molecules, their variations, and their oscillatory motions.     

The Preparation of (8‐Hydroxyquinolinato)Bis(2‐Phenylpyridyl)Iridium Complexes and Their Photophysical Properties

Four derivatives of the titled compounds, (8‐hydroxyquinoline)bis(2‐phenylpyridyl)iridium ( IrQ(ppy)₂ ), were prepared. Two of them were confirmed by single crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses, in which solvent molecules were found to be incorporated in the crystal lattices. Their emission spectra display separated dual bands in de‐aerated solutions at about 515 and 645 nm upon excitation. These green and red emissions are attributed to the triplet metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (³MLCT) and triplet ligand centered (³LC) transitions in Ir(ppy)₂ and IrQ, respectively. It is suggested that such a multiple emission is feasible by nearly orthogonal orientation between the ppy and quinoline ligands in the mixed‐ligand Ir‐compounds which prohibits energy transfer between the two different ligands. The electroluminescence (EL) of these compounds was examined by the fabrication of light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). Unlike the spectra in solutions, their EL spectra displayed only the red emission band. Devices displaying white light can be obtained by mixing the red emission of IrQ(ppy)₂ with a compatible blue emitter (NPB) in separated layers.     

Preparation and electrochemical and optical properties of unsymmetrically substituted phthalocyanines with one or two trithiole rings and related symmetric derivatives

4,5-Bis(benzylthio)-3,6-diethylphthalonitrile (1) was mixed with 4 -t-butylphthalonitrile and then treated with lithium alkoxide in n-hexanol to produce the corresponding unsymmetrically substituted phthalocyanines (2) and (3) with two or four benzylthio groups, respectively. Treatment of phthalocyanine (2) with nickel(II) acetate yielded the corresponding metal complex 2-Ni. Two benzyl groups of 2 and 2-Ni were removed with lithium/THF/ammonia at -78 degrees C under argon, and the dithiolate anions generated were then reacted with elemental sulfur to give monotrithiolophthalocyanines (5) and (5-Ni). A similar treatment of 3 produced bistrithiolophthalocyanine (6). Tetrakistrithiolophthalocyanine (7-Ni) was prepared by complexation of phthalocyanine (4) with nickel(II) acetate, followed by a Birch reduction of the resulting nickel(II) complex (4-Ni), and then sulfurization and cyclization of the octathiolate anions that were generated. The structures of the phthalocyanines were determined by (1)H NMR and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The optical and electrochemical properties of the phthalocyanines were examined by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Treatment of 5, 5-Ni, 6, 7, and 7-Ni with trifluoroacetic acid in chloroform generated positively charged species, which were characterized by UV-vis and/or NMR spectroscopy.     

Scanning electro-optic microscope based on surface plasmon resonance

An optical scanning probe microscope, based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in the attenuated total reflection geometry, is shown to successfully image the polarization structures in self-assembled monolayers of hemicyanine adsorbed on a gold surface. Application of an ac field to the tip gives rise to the linear electro-optic effect in the monolayer just below the tip and the local change in the refractive index of the monolayer was detected via the ac component of the reflected light intensity, in which SPR-based detection intensifies the ac component. Polarization structures in a monolayer can be clearly imaged by this technique.     

A method for an approximate determination of a polymer-rich-domain concentration in phase-separated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) aqueous solution by means of confocal Raman microspectroscopy combined with optical tweezers

The paper demonstrates that a confocal Raman microspectroscope combined with optical tweezers is a promising technique to estimate polymer concentration in polymer-rich domain in phase-separated-aqueous polymer solution. The sample polymer is poly-(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) that is well-known as a representative thermo-responsive polymer. Optical tweezers can selectively trap the polymer-rich domain at the focal point in non-contact and non-intrusive modes. Such situation allows us to determine polymer concentration in the domain, which has been unclear due to a lack of appropriate analytical technique. It is applicable for a variety of other thermo-responsive polymers.     

Carbon-sulfur bond cleavage reactions of dibenzothiophene derivatives mediated by iron and ruthenium carbonyls

A thermal reaction of 6-(4'-dibenzothienyl)-2,2'-bipyridine (bpyDBT) with [Ru(3)(CO)(12)] produced a sulfur-bridged triruthenium complex via double carbon-sulfur bond cleavage and CO insertion, while a diiron(I,I) complex containing a thiametallacycle was obtained by a photochemical reaction of bpyDBT with [Fe(CO)(5)].     

A graph theoretical approach to the effect of mutation on the flexibility of the DNA binding domain of p53 protein

Tumor suppressor protein p53 becomes inactive due to mutation on its DNA binding core domain leading to misbehavior of this protein and preventing its interaction with DNA. In the present study, changes of the protein conformation by five hot spot mutations of T-p53C were assessed preventing the mutants wild-type (WT) behavior. While studies of this nature were undertaken both experimentally and theoretically, the focus is fundamentally on the effects of the mutation on the dynamics of the protein. Hence, the basic concept underlying this study is the change in flexibility or rigidity of the protein. It was found that stable variant T-p53C (PDB-ID: 1uol) that is structurally and functionally very close to wild-type p53 is the most rigid structure and each single carcinogenic mutation on it makes the structure more flexible. We hypothesize that these changes of the molecule’s flexibility disrupt the network of hydrogen bonds associated with the interaction of WT not only at interaction but in the internal structures of the mutants as well, which prevents them from interacting in the WT fashion loosing the anti-cancer properties of WT.