A Triazatruxene‐Based Glycocluster as a Fluorescent Sensor for Concanavalin A

A new triazatruxene‐based fluorescent glycocluster has been designed, synthesized, and fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Furthermore, its specific and selective binding properties with concanavalin A (Con A) have been investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and turbidity assay. The obtained results showed that the multivalent mannose‐modified triazatruxene exhibited specific binding with Con A, but no binding to peanut agglutinin (PNA) lectin or bovine serum albumin (BSA), corresponding to a two‐orders‐of‐magnitude higher affinity than that of monovalent mannose ligands. Most interestingly, a fluorescence enhancement of the triazatruxene‐based glycocluster was observed upon binding with Con A because of hydrophobic interactions involving sites close to the triazatruxene moiety. Furthermore, the inhibitory ability of the triazatruxene‐based glycocluster against ORN178‐ induced haemagglutination has been investigated by haemagglutination inhibition assay. The results indicated selective binding with ORN178.     

Blood Proteins Strongly Reduce the Mobility of Artificial Self‐Propelled Micromotors

Autonomous self‐propelled catalytic microjets are envisaged as an important technology in biomedical applications, including drug delivery, micro/nanosurgery, and active dynamic bioassays. The direct in vivo application of these microjets, specifically in blood, is however impeded by insufficient knowledge on the in vivo viability of the technique. This study highlights the effect of blood proteins on the viability of the microjets. The presence of blood proteins, including serum albumin and γ‐globulins at physiological concentrations, has been found to dramatically reduce the viability of the microjets. The reduction of viability has been measured in terms of a lower number of active microjets and a decrease in the velocity of propulsion. It is clear from this study that in order for microjets to function in biomedical applications, different modes of propulsion besides platinum‐catalyzed oxygen bubble ejection must be employed. These findings have serious implications for the biomedical applications of catalytic microjets.     

Exploring the Reactivity of Multicomponent Photocatalysts: Insight into the Complex Valence Band of BiOBr

The band structure of multicomponent semiconductor photocatalysts, as well as their reactivity distinction under different wavelengths of light, is still unclear. BiOBr, which is a typical multicomponent semiconductor, may have two possible valence‐band structures, that is, two discrete valence bands constructed respectively from O 2p and Br 4p orbitals, or one valence band derived from the hybridization of these orbitals. In this work, aqueous photocatalytic hydroxylation is applied as the probe reaction to investigate the nature and reactions of photogenerated holes in BiOBr. Three organic compounds (microcystin‐LR, aniline, and benzoic acid) with different oxidation potentials were selected as substrates. Isotope labeling (H₂¹⁸O as the solvent) was used to determine the source of the O atom in the hydroxyl group of the products, which distinguishes the contribution of different hydroxylation pathways. Furthermore, a spin‐trapping ESR method was used to quantify the reactive oxygen species (^.OH and ^.OOH) formed in the reaction system. The different isotope abundances of the hydroxyl O atom of the products formed, as well as the reverse trend of the ^.OH/^.OOH ratio with the oxidative resistance of the substrate under UV and visible irradiation, reveal that BiOBr has two separate valence bands, which have different oxidation ability and respond to UV and visible light, respectively. This study shows that the band structure of semiconductor photocatalysts can be reliably analyzed with an isotope labeling method.     

A Silyliumylidene Cation Stabilized by an Amidinate Ligand and 4‐Dimethylaminopyridine

The synthesis and reactivity of a silyliumylidene cation stabilized by an amidinate ligand and 4‐dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) are described. The reaction of the amidinate silicon(I) dimer [ L Si:]₂ ( 1 ; L =PhC(NtBu)₂) with one equivalent of N‐trimethylsilyl‐4‐dimethylaminopyridinium triflate [4‐NMe₂C₅H₄NSiMe₃]OTf and two equivalents of DMAP in THF afforded [ L Si(DMAP)]OTf ( 2 ). The ambiphilic character of 2 is demonstrated from its reactivity. Treatment of 2 with 1 in THF afforded the disilylenylsilylium triflate [ L′ ₂( L )Si]OTf ( 3 ; L′ = L Si:) with the displacement of DMAP. The reaction of 2 with [K{HB(iBu)₃}] and elemental sulfur in THF afforded the silylsilylene [ L SiSi(H){(NtBu)₂C(H)Ph}] ( 4 ) and the base‐stabilized silanethionium triflate [ L Si(S)DMAP]OTf ( 5 ), respectively. Compounds 2 , 3 , and 5 have been characterized by X‐ray crystallography.     

Potent Antimalarial 1,2,4‐Trioxanes through Perhydrolysis of Epoxides

Perhydrolysis of a sterically congested multifunctional epoxide was achieved in ethereal H₂O₂ with the aid of a recently developed Mo catalyst. The resulting hydroperoxide cyclized to give a 1,2,4‐trioxane, which could be readily elaborated into qinghaosu and a range of novel analogues. Some of the compounds with two such trioxane moieties showed in vitro antimalarial activity comparable to or even better than that of artesunate or chloroquine.     

Structural and Dynamic Basis of Human Cytochrome P450 7B1: A Survey of Substrate Selectivity and Major Active Site Access Channels

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 7B1 is a steroid cytochrome P450 7α‐hydroxylase that has been linked directly with bile salt synthesis and hereditary spastic paraplegia type 5 (SPG5). The enzyme provides the primary metabolic route for neurosteroids dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), cholesterol derivatives 25‐hydroxycholesterol (25‐HOChol), and other steroids such as 5α‐androstane‐3β,17β‐diol (anediol), and 5α‐androstene‐3β,17β‐diol (enediol). A series of investigations including homology modeling, molecular dynamics (MD), and automatic docking, combined with the results of previous experimental site‐directed mutagenesis studies and access channels analysis, have identified the structural features relevant to the substrate selectivity of CYP7B1. The results clearly identify the dominant access channels and critical residues responsible for ligand binding. Both binding free energy analysis and total interaction energy analysis are consistent with the experimental conclusion that 25‐HOChol is the best substrate. According to 20 ns MD simulations, the Phe cluster residues that lie above the active site, particularly Phe489, are proposed to merge the active site with the adjacent channel to the surface and accommodate substrate binding in a reasonable orientation. The investigation of CYP7B1–substrate binding modes provides detailed insights into the poorly understood structural features of human CYP7B1 at the atomic level, and will be valuable information for drug development and protein engineering.     

富锂正极材料Li[Li0.2Mn0.4Fe0.4]O2的表面包覆改性

用共沉淀法合成了富锂正极材料Li[Li0.2Mn0.4Fe0.4]O2,并对其表面进行Al2O3包覆。采用XRD、SEM和电化学测试等方法对样品进行表征。结果表明,与Li[Li0.2Mn0.4Fe0.4]O2相比,包覆改性后的Li[Li0.2Mn0.4Fe0.4]O2具有较好的电化学性能,其初始放电容量未明显降低,而循环寿命大大提高,4.0%Al2O3包覆处理的富锂正极材料经50次充放电循环后,容量衰减量在9%左右。     

一种新型黄色荧光类水滑石材料的制备及表征

用适量的Zn(Ⅱ)取代镁铝水滑石中的Mg(Ⅱ),同时将一定量的2-对联苯基-8-羟基喹啉分散到类水滑石层间的亲油性阴离子中,使其与层板表面上的Zn(Ⅱ)配位,用一步法合成、组装得到一类新型黄色荧光类水滑石复合物(Zn-(HQ-4-biPh)-HTlc)。采用荧光光谱、红外光谱、X射线衍射、扫描电子显微镜和热分析等对其进行了表征。研究结果表明,Zn-(HQ-4-biPh)-HTlc在蓝光(481 nm)激发下可发出黄色荧光(554 nm),与其相应的含锌配合物(Zn[2-(p-biph)-8-Q-O]2)相比,不仅可节省配体用量,而且具有更高的发光强度和更好的热稳定性,有望在白光LED等光电领域得到应用。     

QM/MM自由能模拟3-吲哚乙酸甲基转移(IAMT):催化机理和底物特异性(英文)

3-吲哚乙酸甲基转移(IAMT)催化甲基化植物激素3-吲哚乙酸(IAA)的端位自由羧酸,被认为在叶片发育过程中起到了至关重要的作用.然而,目前对于酶催化机理的详尽过程尚未被研究。在这里本文对拟南芥的甲基转移过程(AtIAMT1)进行结合量子力学和分子力学(QM/MM)的自由能模拟,并确定了其催化机制及IAMTs的底物特异性根源.研究表明,从S腺苷L甲硫氨酸(AdoMet)到3-吲哚乙酸盐(IAA)的甲基转移自由能垒要比从AdoMet到水杨酸盐的自由能垒低很多,这与之前的实验发现以及酶的底物特异性完全一致.这表明,与水杨酸相比,IAA相对高效性的甲基化是由于一部分过渡态构型的稳定性可能通过底物结合反映在反应物里,本文研究支持了之前关于计算模拟可对SABATH系列中酶的底物特异性根源进行深入理解的设想,并且可用来帮助生成可控的并具其他底物特异性的酶的实验研究.     

钒钼协同作用下杂多酸催化阻聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯

利用一锅法制备了Dawson型钨磷酸和钼钒磷酸,并用红外光谱和X-射线衍射表征了其结构.采用沸腾法研究了合成的杂多酸对甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA)的催化阻聚性能,考察了杂多酸结构、杂多酸用量和反应温度等因素对MMA本体聚合反应的影响.结果表明:钒钼元素在杂多酸催化阻聚MMA的反应中具有明显的协同作用,而且,杂多酸对MMA的催化阻聚作用随钒原子数的增加而增强,杂多酸的用量和反应温度对MMA自聚反应的速率影响较大.在过氧化苯甲酰(BPO)为0.04 g,MMA为10 mL,H9P2Mo15V3O62质量为MMA的0.06%,反应温度为101.2℃或H9P2Mo15V3O62质量为MMA的0.03%,反应温度为89.4℃时,MMA自聚反应被抑制.与传统和常用酚阻聚剂相比,Dawson型钼钒磷酸具有阻聚效果好、后处理简单、无腐蚀和污染问题等优点,能够作为MMA的阻聚剂使用.