The noise reduction of the acoustic paths between two rooms interconnected by a ventilation duct

This paper describes measurements made on a system of two rooms separated by a wall but connected by a ventilation duct. Using statistical energy analysis the noise reduction of each path through the system was determined from the measured data. It was found that the most important path through the system is from the source room, into the duct cavity, along the duct and then out into the receiving room.Experiments on air flow showed that for practical purposes air flow has no effect on the system considered here.     

Elimination of 13Calpha splitting in protein NMR spectra by deconvolution with maximum entropy reconstruction

Homonuclear 13C-13C couplings can significantly reduce the sensitivity and resolution of multidimensional NMR experiments. The most important of these couplings is the 13Calpha-13Cbeta coupling, and several different methods have been developed to eliminate its effect from spectra used for backbone assignment, including short or constant-time evolution periods, selectively labeled amino acids, and multiple-band decoupling sequences. In this communication we show that postacquisition deconvolution of the spectra with a maximum entropy algorithm can be superior to experimental decoupling. The method is very robust, does not introduce shifts of the resonance positions, and simplifies the measurement of the most important NMR experiments for protein backbone assignment.     

Expedient solid-phase synthesis of fluorogenic protease substrates using the 7-amino-4-carbamoylmethylcoumarin (ACC) fluorophore

A highly efficient solid-phase synthesis method for the preparation of fluorogenic protease substrates based upon the bifunctional leaving group 7-amino-4-carbamoylmethylcoumarin (ACC) is reported. Methods for the large-scale preparation of the novel fluorogenic leaving-group ACC are provided (Scheme 1). Detailed procedures are also provided for loading a diverse set of amino acids to support-bound ACC in good yields and with minimal racemization. Finally, procedures are included for the preparative synthesis of optimized ACC substrates for HIV-1 protease and plasmin.     

Microcin J25 has a threaded sidechain-to-backbone ring structure and not a head-to-tail cyclized backbone

Microcin J25 is a 21 amino acid bacterial peptide that has potent antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, resulting from its interaction with RNA polymerase. The peptide was previously proposed to have a head-to-tail cyclized peptide backbone and a tight globular structure (Blond, A., Péduzzi, J., Goulard, C., Chiuchiolo, M. J., Barthélémy, M., Prigent, Y., Salomón, R. A., Farías, R. N., Moreno, F. & Rebuffat, S. Eur. J. Biochem. 1999, 259, 747-755). It exhibits remarkable thermal stability for a peptide of its size lacking disulfide bonds and in part this was previously proposed to derive from its macrocyclic structure. We show here that in fact the peptide does not have a head-to-tail cyclic structure but rather a side chain to backbone cyclization between Glu8 and the N-terminus. This creates an embedded ring that is threaded by the C-terminal tail of the molecule, forming a noose-like feature. The three-dimensional structure deduced from NMR data suggests that slippage of the noose is prevented by two aromatic residues flanking the embedded ring. Unthreading does not occur even when the molecule is enzymatically digested with thermolysin. The new structural interpretation fully accounts for previously reported NMR and biophysical data and is consistent with the remarkable stability of this potent antimicrobial peptide.     

The Chemistry and Biology of Theta Defensins

Cyclic peptides are found in a diverse range of organisms and are characterized by their stability and role in defense. Why is only one class of cyclic peptides found in mammals? Possibly we have not looked hard enough for them, or the technologies needed to identify them are not fully developed. We also do not yet understand their intriguing biosynthesis from two separate gene products. Addressing these challenges will require the application of chemical tools and insights from other classes of cyclic peptides. Herein, we highlight recent developments in the characterization of theta defensins and describe the important role that chemistry has played in delineating their modes of action. Furthermore, we emphasize the potential of theta defensins as antimicrobial agents and scaffolds for peptide drug design.     

Understanding the structure/activity relationships of the iron regulatory peptide hepcidin

The peptide hormone hepcidin is a key homeostatic regulator of iron metabolism and involved in pathological regulation of iron in response to infection, inflammation, hypoxia, and anemia. It acts by binding to the iron exporter ferroportin, causing it to be internalized and degraded; however, little is known about the structure/activity relationships of the interaction of hepcidin with ferroportin. We show that there are key residues in the N-terminal region of hepcidin that influence its interaction with ferroportin, and we explore the structure/function relationships at these positions. A series of hepcidin mutants in which disulfide bonds were replaced with diselenide bonds showed no change in activity compared to native hepcidin. These results identify important constraints for the development of hepcidin congeners for the treatment of hereditary iron overload.     

Henry Parr Hamilton (1794–1880) and analytical geometry at Cambridge

Scots-born Henry Parr Hamilton played a significant role in the revival of mathematical teaching in Cambridge. Following the promotion of the differential calculus by Herschel, Babbage and Peacock, he wrote influential texts on analytical geometry and on conic sections. This work is examined, and his biography is outlined. Later, he abandoned mathematics for religious affairs in the Church of England, becoming dean of Salisbury Cathedral.     

George Sinclair’s neglected Treatises: some influences and reactions

The works of the Scottish natural philosopher George Sinclair (c.1630–1696) received far more criticism than praise, as described by (Craik, A D D, ‘The hydrostatical work of George Sinclair (c. 1630–1696): their neglect and criticism’, Notes & Records of the Royal Society, 72/3 (2018), 239–273), which focused mainly on Sinclair’s insightful account of hydrostatics. Here, we mention those few who influenced his work, and those who later commented upon it. His flawed account of the motion of pendulums, and the criticisms of it by James Gregory, are particularly examined.     

Models for the binding of amiodarone to the thyroid hormone receptor

Summary The antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone has recently been characterized as the first known thyroid hormone antagonist. Its mode of interaction with the thyroid hormone receptor is therefore of interest. A computational analysis of the conformational flexibility of amiodarone using molecular mechanics and the semiempirical molecular orbital method AM1 has been performed. The molecular mechanics studies show that the low-energy conformations of the benzoylbenzofuran portion of amiodarone can be grouped into 4 distinct classes, while the diethylaminoethoxy side chain is extremely flexible. Conformers representative of the 4 low-energy classes were fitted to an extended thyroid hormone receptor model. Four independent modes in which amiodarone could bind to the thyroid hormone receptor site were evaluated.