Stochastic detection of motor protein-RNA complexes by single-channel current recording.

A label- and immobilization-free approach to detecting the reversible formation of complexes between nucleic acids and proteins at the single-molecule level is described. The voltage-driven translocation of individual oligoribonucleotides through a nanoscale protein pore is observed by single-channel current recordings. The oligoribonucleotide 5'-C25A(25)-3' gives rise to current blockades with an average duration of approximately 0.5 ms. In the presence of the RNA-binding ATPase P4, a viral packaging motor from bacteriophage phi8, longer events of tens to hundreds of milliseconds are observed. Upon addition of ATP the long events disappear, indicating the dissociation of the P4RNA complex. The frequency of events also depends on the concentration of P4 and the length of the oligoribonucleotide, thereby confirming the specificity of the P4RNA events. This study shows that single-channel current recordings can be used to monitor RNA-protein complex formation, thus opening up a new means to examine the motor activity of RNA- or DNA-processing enzymes.     

Characterization of molybdenum carbide nanoparticles formed on Au(111) using reactive-layer assisted deposition

Temperature programmed desorption (TPD), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) have been used to characterize molybdenum carbide nanoparticles prepared on a Au(111) substrate. The MoC(x) nanoparticles were formed by Mo metal deposition onto a reactive multilayer of ethylene, which was physisorbed on a Au(111) substrate at low temperatures (<100 K). The resulting clusters have an average diameter of approximately 1.5 nm and aggregate in the fcc troughs located on either side of the elbows of the reconstructed Au(111) surface. Core level XPS shows that the electronic environment of the Mo and C atoms in the nanoparticles is similar to that found in Mo(2)C(0001) single crystals and carburized Mo metal surfaces. Peak intensities in XPS and AES spectra were used to estimate an average Mo/C atomic ratio of 1.2 +/- 0.3 for nanoparticles annealed above 600 K.     

The nonsymmetric pressure tensor in polyatomic fluids

Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics calculations are used to show that polyatomic fluids can support antisymmetric stress. In a homogeneous system where the time dependence of vorticity is a step function, it is shown that the rate at which intrinsic angular velocity approaches its steady-state value ( = 1/2 × u) is determined by the magnitude of the antisymmetric part of the pressure tensor.     

Micro- and nano-mechanical characterization of polyamide 11 and its composites containing cellulose nanofibers

Nanocomposites from polyamide 11 and dried cellulose nanofibers (CNs), 16–30 nm in thickness and 50–400 nm in length, were prepared via direct melt mixing and their micro- and nano-mechanical properties were studied. (PF) QNM (Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping) method was used to map nanomechanical properties at the surface of polyamide 11 and nanocomposites. This new AFM method emphasized both the increased modulus in nanocomposites as compared to the matrix and the microstructure on different levels in polyamide 11 and its nanocomposites. PF QNM showed that their crystalline structure consists of bundles of lamellar stacks, 200–350 nm in width and 20–40 nm wide lamellar stacks. Moreover, PF QNM study emphasized higher structural order in nanocomposites with 3 and 5 wt.% CNs and lower in the nanocomposite with 8 wt.% CNs as compared to the reference. These observations were verified and are consistent with both crystallinity values determined by DSC and micro-mechanical test results. The oriented bundles of lamellar stacks, observed by PF QNM, could be considered as the main blocks determining high mechanical properties for the studied nanomaterials.     

Synthesis of 2-amino-5,5-dialkyl-4-arylmethylidene-2-oxazolines from 2-alkyl-4-arylbut-3-yn-2-ols and guanidine

Reaction between 2-alkyl-4-arylbut-3-yn-2-ols and guanidine in refluxing pyridine affords 2-amino-5,5-dialkyl-4-arylmethylidene-2-oxazolines.     

The unique structure of [(C4H9)4N]3[Pb(NO3)5]—one step forward in understanding transport properties in tetra-n-butylammonium-based solid electrolytes

Structural Chemistry - The crystal and molecular structure of tris(tetrabutylammonium) pentanitratoplumbate(II) was determined and characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction and...     

Constructions of Binary Codes Based on Bipartite Graphs

In this paper, we construct some families of binary linear and nonlinear codes by using various bipartite graphs. Furthermore, we also determine some conditions for the constructed binary linear code to be a maximum distance separable code.     

Concurrent Covalent and Supramolecular Polymerization

Covalent and supramolecular polymerizations, both of which offer their own unique advantages, have emerged as popular strategies for making artificial materials. Herein, we describe a concurrent covalent and supramolecular polymerization strategy—namely, one which utilizes 1) a bis‐azide‐functionalized diazaperopyrenium dication that undergoes polymeriation covalently with a bis‐alkyne‐functionalized biphenyl derivative in one dimension as a result of a rapid and efficient β‐cyclodextrin(CD)‐accelerated, cucurbit[6]uril(CB)‐templated azide–alkyne cycloaddition, while 2) the aromatic core of the dication is able to dimerize in a criss‐cross fashion by dint of π–π interactions, enabling simultaneous supramolecular assembly, resulting in an extended polymer network in an orthogonal dimension.     

Expedient Strategy for the Synthesis of 5-Acylethynylpyrrole-2-carbaldehydes

5-Acylethynylpyrrole-2-carbaldehydes have been synthesized from the protected pyrrole-2-carbaldehydes by their transition-metal-free topochemical mechanoactivated ethynylation with acylbromoacetylenes in a solid Al₂O₃ medium (room temperature, 6 h, 41–54% yields).