Structural and Dynamic Characterization of the Molecular Hub Early Region 1A (E1A) from Human Adenovirus

The small‐DNA human adenovirus encodes one of the most versatile molecular hubs, the E1A protein. This protein is essential for productive viral infection in human cells and a vast amount of biologically relevant data are available on its interactions with host proteins. Up to now, however, no high‐resolution structural and dynamic information on E1A is available despite its important biological role. Among the different spliced variants of E1A, two are expressed at high level in the early stage of infection. These are 243 and 289 residues isoforms. Herein, we present their NMR characterization, showing that they are both highly disordered, but also demonstrate a certain heterogeneous behavior in terms of structural and dynamic properties. Furthermore, we present the characterization of the isolated domain of the longer variant, known as CR3. This study opens the way to understanding at the molecular level how E1A functions.     

Unified theory of structures based on micropolar elasticity

Meccanica - This paper intends to establish a unified theory of structures based on the micropolar elasticity (ME). ME allows taking into consideration the microstructure of the material, through...     

Langmuir–Blodgett films of pyridinium-dicyanomethanide dyes mixtures with photobleachable absorption bands

We report on Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films characterization of 4-[5-dicyanomethanido)thien-2-y1]-N-(n-hexadecyl)pyridinium (C₁₆H₃₃-PDCNT), and 1-(N-(n-hexadecy]-4-pyridinio)-2-[5-(dicyanomethanido)thien-2-yl]ethene (C₁₆H₃₃-PDCNTE); LB films of the pure compounds and of the mixtures of the two compounds were prepared at 291 K: UV-vis investigation revealed the presence of photobleachable absorption bands, the ones at about 530 nm and 640 nm were due to charge transfer transitions of the monomer of C16H33-PDCNT and C₁₆H₃₃-PDCNTE, respectively; the sharp, photobleachable ones shifted to shorter wavelengths were due to H-aggregates of the two compounds. By changing the molar ratios of the two compounds in the mixtures and in other cases by annealing the LB films, the absorption maxima of the sharp, photobleachable bands due to H-aggregates could be tuned in the range 415–467 nm. These LB films are thus very promising in view of optical data storage applications.     

Evolution of two concentrated vortices in a two-dimensional bounded domain

We prove that two initially concentrated vortices with opposite vorticity of an incompressible ideal fluid moving in a two-dimensional bounded domain, remain concentrated during the time. The motion of their centers converges to the solution of the point vortex model with the corresponding initial conditions.     

Evidence of Native Metal–S2−–Metallothionein Complexes Confirmed by the Analysis of Cup1 Divalent‐Metal‐Ion Binding Properties

It has previously been shown that recombinant synthesis, under metal‐supplemented conditions, of diverse metallothioneins (MTs) results in the recovery of a subpopulation of S^2?‐containing complexes in addition to the S^2?‐devoid canonical metal–MT species. Further significance of this finding has remained veiled by the possibility of it being a mere consequence of synthesis in a heterologous bacterial system. Herein, we present definitive evidence that S^2? ligands are also constituents of native metal–MT complexes. Because, although practically universal, the highest S^2? content is incorporated by copper‐thioneins when coordinating divalent metal ions, we adapted the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cup1 protein, which is the most paradigmatic copper‐thionein, as an experimental model. Most significantly, native Cd–Cup1 complexes were purified and fully spectroscopically and spectrometrically characterized from the 301N mutant yeast strain, which allows Cup1 synthesis even in the absence of copper. These results undoubtedly revealed the presence of a Cd–S^2?–Cup1 species in native preparations, which were only recovered when carefully avoiding the use of ion‐exchange chromatography in the purification protocol. Furthermore, complete analysis of recombinant (Escherichia coli) Zn–Cup1, Cd–Cup1, and Cu–Cup1 and those complexes that result from Zn/Cd and Zn/Cu replacements in vitro and acidification/renaturalization processes yielded a comprehensive and comparative overview of the metal‐binding abilities of Cup1. Overall, we consider the main conclusions of this study to go beyond the mere study of the particular Cup1 MT, so that they should be considered to delineate a new point of view on the interaction between copper‐thioneins and divalent metal ions, still an unexplored aspect in MT research.     

Selective reduction of 3-keto group in steroidal ketoaldehydes

Convenient preparation of some steroidal 3-hydroxyaldehydes from corresponding 3-ketoaldehydes was achieved by protection of the aldehyde group with t-butylamine followed by in situ reduction of the keto group with Li (t-BuO)₃AlH. Final cleavage of hydroxyaldimine was accomplished by eluting the reduction mixture on basic alumina.