Thermodynamic analysis of autonomous parallel beta-sheet formation in water

We report the first thermodynamic analysis of parallel beta-sheet formation in a model system that folds in aqueous solution. NMR chemical shifts were used to determine beta-sheet population, and van't Hoff anaysis provided thermodynamic parameters. Our approach relies upon the d-prolyl-1,1-dimethyl-1,2-diaminoethane unit to promote parallel beta-sheet formation between attached peptide strands. The development of a macrocyclic reference molecule to provide chemical shift data for the fully folded state was crucial to the quantitative anaylsis.     

An antiparallel alpha-helical coiled-coil model system for rapid assessment of side-chain recognition at the hydrophobic interface

Both parallel and antiparallel alpha-helical coiled-coil dimers are common among proteins; however, biophysical scrutiny has focused almost entirely on parallel dimers. We describe the development of a model system that enables efficient and systematic analysis of hydrophobic packing between antiparallel alpha-helices. Our findings reveal significant differences in packing preferences between parallel and antiparallel coiled-coils.     

Determination of lysine pK values using [5-13C]lysine: application to the lyase domain of DNA Pol beta

Determination of the protonation state of titratable protein residues is of critical importance for the interpretation of active site chemistry, as well as for understanding the role of electrostatic interactions in protein folding and stability. However, protein titration studies are limited by the fact that, at extreme pH values, increasing fractions of unfolded or partially unfolded structures may be present. This problem is particularly acute for lysine residues which have high pK values. In the present study, we point out that the use of the 13C resonance of lysine C-5 as a reporter for titration of the epsilon-amino group is preferable to the use of C-6 due to the 5-fold greater titration shift, so that reasonable results can be obtained using a two parameter fit of data obtained over a more limited pH range. A new synthetic procedure for [5-13C]lysine is described, and the pK value for Lys72 in the lyase domain of DNA polymerase beta has been determined using the [5-13C]lysine-labeled enzyme. The results agree well with recent studies of the Pol lambda lyase domain, demonstrating that the pK value for this residue is not optimized for Schiff base chemistry (Gao et al., Biochemistry 2006, 45, 1785-1794). We also have re-evaluated data for the pK of Lys73 in the TEM-1 beta-lactamase.     

Nanostructured oligo(p-phenylene vinylene)/silicate hybrid films: one-step fabrication and energy transfer studies

Novel hybrid materials containing silicate and charged oligo(p-phenylene vinylene) (OPV) amphiphiles were fabricated in one step by spin casting using evaporation-induced self assembly. The conjugated segments were substituted with trimethylammonium bromide groups at both termini, and tetraethyl orthosilicate served as the silicate precursor. X-ray diffraction scans of the hybrid films revealed Bragg diffraction peaks with d-spacings of 2.76 and 1.37 nm, indicating the presence of order in the hybrid structure. Optical properties of the hybrid films were characterized by UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectra, and molecular orientation was characterized by IR spectroscopy. A rhodamine B derivative containing a triethoxysilane group was covalently incorporated into the silicate network of the films during the sol-gel reaction. Relative to disordered polymer films with identical organic composition, the ordered hybrid films revealed significantly enhanced emission from rhodamine B and also fluorescence quenching from OPV segments. These results indicate that the ordered and nanostructured environment leads to highly efficient energy transfer among organic components in these hybrid films.     

A total synthesis of xestodecalactone a and proof of its absolute stereochemistry: interesting observations on dienophilic control with 1,3-disubstituted nonequivalent allenes

A concise total synthesis of xestodecalactone A, utilizing a Diels-Alder strategy is described. The focal Diels-Alder reaction relied on an "ynoate" dienophile to rapidly assemble the required resorcylinic acid scaffold. During this study, Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions involving 1,3-disubstituted nonequivalent allene dienophiles were studied, and some surprising results were encountered.     

La9RbIr4O24: a rubidium-containing oxide with a new structure type

Single crystals of La9RbIr4O24, grown from a molten rubidium hydroxide flux, crystallize in the space group I4/m with lattice parameters a = 7.7422(3) A and c = 17.7979(11) A. The oxide forms in a new complex structure type.     

Chemistry surrounding monomeric copper(I) methyl, phenyl, anilido, ethoxide, and phenoxide complexes supported by N-heterocyclic carbene ligands: reactivity consistent with both early and late transition metal systems

Monomeric copper(I) alkyl complexes that possess the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands IPr, SIPr, and IMes [IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene, SIPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene, IMes = 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene] react with amines or alcohols to release alkane and form the corresponding monomeric copper(I) amido, alkoxide, or aryloxide complexes. Thermal decomposition reactions of (NHC)Cu(I) methyl complexes at temperatures between 100 and 130 degrees C produce methane, ethane, and ethylene. The reactions of (NHC)Cu(NHPh) complexes with bromoethane reveal increasing nucleophilic reactivity at the anilido ligand in the order (SIPr)Cu(NHPh) < (IPr)Cu(NHPh) < (IMes)Cu(NHPh) < (dtbpe)Cu(NHPh) [dtbpe = 1,2-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)ethane]. DFT calculations suggest that the HOMO for the series of Cu anilido complexes is localized primarily on the amido nitrogen with some ppi(anilido)-dpi(Cu) pi-character. [(IPr)Cu(mu-H)]2 and (IPr)Cu(Ph) react with aniline to quantitatively produce (IPr)Cu(NHPh)/dihydrogen and (IPr)Cu(NHPh)/benzene, respectively. Analysis of the DFT calculations reveals that the conversion of [(IPr)Cu(mu-H)]2 and aniline to (IPr)Cu(NHPh) and dihydrogen is favorable with DeltaH approximately -7 kcal/mol and DeltaG approximately -9 kcal/mol.     

Diligating tripodal amido-phosphine ligands: the effect of a proximal antipodal early transition metal on phosphine donor ability in a building block for heterometallic complexes

The ligand precursors P(CH2NH-3,5-(CF3)2C6H3)3 (1a), P(CH2NHPh)3 (1b), and P(CH2NH-3,5-Me2C6H3)3 (1c), react with the reagents Ti(NMe2)4 and tBuN=Ta(NEt2)3 to generate metal complexes of the type P(CH2NAr(R))3TiNMe2 (2a-c) and P(CH2NAr(R))3Ta=NtBu (3a-c) (where Ar(R) = 3,5-(CF3)2C6H3, Ph, and 3,5-Me2C6H3). Due to ring strain, the phosphine lone pair cannot chelate and is available to bind a second metal, and this feature can be utilized to synthesize heterometallic polynuclear complexes. The 31P chemical shifts observed upon complexation of the early transition metals to the amido donors are large and in the opposite direction expected for the increased C-P-C bond angles in these complexes; these unusual shifts are due to P-Ti and P-Ta distances that are significantly shorter than the sum of van der Waals radii. The reaction of 2c with Ni(CO)4 produces at first the bimetallic complex (CO)3Ni[P(CH2N-3,5-Me2C6H3)3TiNMe2] (4c), which gradually converts to the trimetallic complex (CO)2Ni[P(CH2N-3,5-Me2C6H3)3TiNMe2]2 (5c). The effect of the complexation of Ti and Ta fragments on the donor ability of the phosphine ligand was determined by the preparation of the bis-phosphine complexes trans-L(2)Rh(CO)Cl, (where L = 1a-c, 2a-c, and 3a-c) prepared by the reaction of the appropriate phosphine with [Rh(CO)2(mu-Cl)]2, and a measurement of the resultant CO stretching frequencies. Surprisingly, the complexes with the larger C-P-C angles are significantly poorer donors. Density functional theory calculations were performed to determine what factors affect the donor ability of the phosphine and if through-space interactions might play an important role in the observed electronic properties.     

Preparation and evaluation of unimolecular pentavalent and hexavalent antigenic constructs targeting prostate and breast cancer: a synthetic route to anticancer vaccine candidates

Several novel, fully synthetic, carbohydrate-based antitumor vaccines have been assembled. Each construct consists of multiple cancer-related antigens displayed on a single polypeptide backbone. Recent advances in synthetic methodology have allowed for the incorporation of a complex oligosaccharide terminating in a sialic acid residue (i.e., GM2) as one of the carbohydrate antigens. Details of the vaccine synthesis as well as the results of preliminary immunological investigations are described herein.