Structural basis for recognition of bacterial cell wall teichoic acid by pseudo-symmetric SH3b-like repeats of a viral peptidoglycan hydrolase

Endolysins are bacteriophage-encoded peptidoglycan hydrolases targeting the cell wall of host bacteria via their cell wall-binding domains (CBDs). The molecular basis for selective recognition of surface carbohydrate ligands by CBDs remains elusive. Here, we describe, in atomic detail, the interaction between the Listeria phage endolysin domain CBD500 and its cell wall teichoic acid (WTA) ligands. We show that 3′O-acetylated GlcNAc residues integrated into the WTA polymer chain are the key epitope recognized by a CBD binding cavity located at the interface of tandem copies of beta-barrel, pseudo-symmetric SH3b-like repeats. This cavity consists of multiple aromatic residues making extensive interactions with two GlcNAc acetyl groups via hydrogen bonds and van der Waals contacts, while permitting the docking of the diastereomorphic ligands. Our multidisciplinary approach tackled an extremely challenging protein–glycopolymer complex and delineated a previously unknown recognition mechanism by which a phage endolysin specifically recognizes and targets WTA, suggesting an adaptable model for regulation of endolysin specificity.

Combining genetic, biochemical and computational approaches, we elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying the recognition of Listeria wall teichoic acid by bacteriophage-encoded SH3b repeats.     

The Influence of Water Vapor on the Electrochemical Shift of an Ionic Liquid Measured by Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

Ionic liquids (ILs) are considered to be one of the steppingstones to fabricate next generation electrochemical devices given their unique physical and chemical properties. The addition of water to ILs significantly impact electrochemical related properties including viscosity, density, conductivity, and electrochemical window. Herein we utilize ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS) to examine the impact of water on values of the electrochemical shift (S), which is determined by measuring changes in binding energy shifts as a function of an external bias. APXPS spectra of C 1s, O 1s and N 1s regions are examined for the IL 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, [C₄mim][OAc], at the IL/gas interface as a function of both water vapor pressure and external bias. Results reveal that in the absence of water vapor there is an IL ohmic drop between the working electrode and quasi reference electrode, giving rise to chemical specific S values of less than one. Upon introducing water vapor, S values approach one as a function of increasing water vapor pressure, indicating a decrease in the IL ohmic drop as the IL/water mixture becomes more conductive and the potential drop is driven by the electric double layer at the electrode/IL interface.     

Analysis of Non-innocence of Phosphaquinodimethane Ligands when Charge and Aromaticity Come into Play

Several phosphaquinodimethanes and their M(CO)₅ complexes (M=Cr, Mo, W) and model derivatives have been theoretically investigated regarding the quest of non-innocence. Computed structural and electronic properties of the P-Me/NH₂ substituted phosphaquinodimethanes and tungsten complexes revealed an interesting non-innocent ligand behaviour for the radical anion complexes with distonic ion character and a strong rearomatization of the middle phenyl ring. The latter was further probed taking also geometric aromaticity (HOMA) and quinoid distortion parameters (HOMQc) into account, as well as NICS(1). Furthermore, the effect of the P-substitution was investigated for real (or plausible) complexes and their free ligands focusing on the resulting aromaticity at the middle phenyl ring and vertical one-electron redox processes. The best picture of ligand engagement in redox changes was provided by representing NICS(1) values versus HOMA and the new geometric distortion parameter HOMQc8.     

Facile hydrometalation of alkynes by nido-1,2-(CpRuH)(2)B(3)H(7) yielding novel Ru-B edge-bridging alkylidenes. Stepwise conversion of HCtbd1;CC(O)OMe into nido-1,2-(CpRuH)(2)-3-HOB-4-MeC-5-MeOC-BH(3), Cp = eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)

The reaction of the alkyne HCCC(O)OMe with 7 sep 1,2-(Cp*RuH)2B3H7 leads to hydroboration plus hydroruthenation to produce nido-1,3-mu-Me{C(O)OMe}C-1,2-(Cp*Ru)2B3H7, a compound with an exocluster ruthenium-boron mu-alkylidene that exists in two isomeric forms. Both isomers undergo rearrangement with intramolecular chelation of the carbonyl oxygen at a boron site, thereby opening the cluster and generating arachno-2,3,-mu(C)-5-eta1(O)-Me{C(O)OMe}C-1,2-(Cp*Ru)2B3H7. Further heating leads to deoxygenation of the carbonyl fragment by a boron center concurrent with insertion of the carbon atom into the metallaborane cage to give nido-1,2-(Cp*RuH)2-3-HOB-4-MeC-5-MeOC-BH3.     

Effect of non-significant proportional bias in the final measurement uncertainty

The trueness of an analytical method can be assessed by calculating the proportional bias of the method in terms of apparent recovery. If the apparent recovery does not differ significantly from one, the analytical method has not a significant bias. If this is the case, the bias is neglected and the uncertainty associated with this bias is included in the uncertainty budget of results. However, when assessing trueness there is always a probability of incorrectly concluding that the proportional bias is not significant. Therefore, the uncertainty of results may be underestimated. In this paper, we study how non-significant bias affects the uncertainty of analytical results. Moreover, we study how to avoid the underestimation of uncertainty by including the non-significant bias calculated in the uncertainty budget. To answer these questions, we have used the Monte-Carlo method to simulate the process of estimating the apparent recovery of a biased analytical method and, subsequently, the future results this method provides. The results of the simulation show that non-significant bias may underestimate the uncertainty of analytical results when bias contributes in more than 20% to the overall uncertainty. Uncertainty is specially underestimated when bias contributes in more than 50% to the overall uncertainty.     

Exposure risk assessment of uranium intake of the milk products from the region of Pernambuco,Brazil

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Haloperidol (HP) is a dopamine blocking agent. HP was radiolabeled with 125I using direct electrophilic substitution. Different HP formulations...     

Pt(hkl) surface charge and reactivity

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Thermochemistry and gas-phase ion energetics of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzophenone (oxybenzone)

We have investigated the thermochemistry and ion energetics of the oxybenzone (2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzophenone, C14H12O3, 1H) molecule. The following parameters have been determined for this species: gas-phase enthalpy for the of neutral molecule at 298.15K, (Delta(f)H0(m)(g) = -303.5 +/- 5.1 kJ x mol-1), the intrinsic (gas-phase) acidity (GA(1H) = 1402.1 +/- 8.4 kJ x mol-1), enthalpy of formation for the oxybenzone anion (Delta(f)H0(m)(1-,g) = -402.3 +/- 9.8 kJ x mol-1). We also have obtained the enthalpy of formation of, 4-hydroxy-4'-methoxybenzophenone (Delta(f)H0(m)(g) = -275.4 +/- 10 kJ x mol-1) and 3-methoxyphenol anion (Delta(f)H0(m)(C7H7O2-,g) = -317.7 +/- 8.7 kJ x mol-1). A reliable experimental estimation of enthalpy related to intramolecular hydrogen bonding in oxybenzone has also been obtained (30.1 +/- 6.3 kJ x mol-1) and compared with our theoretical calculations at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level of theory, by means of an isodesmic reaction scheme. In addition, heat capacities, temperature, and enthalpy of fusion have been determined for this molecule by differential scanning calorimetry.     

Pressurized liquid extracts from Spirulina platensis microalga. Determination of their antioxidant activity and preliminary analysis by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

In this work, different extracts from the microalga Spirulina platensis are obtained using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and four different solvents (hexane, light petroleum, ethanol and water). Different extraction temperatures (115 and 170 degrees C) were tested using extraction times ranging from 9 to 15 min. The antioxidant activity of the different extracts is determined by means of an in vitro assay using a free radical method. Moreover, a new and fast method is developed using micellar electrokinetic chromatography with diode array detection (MEKC-DAD) to provide a preliminary analysis on the composition of the extracts. This combined application (i.e., in vitro assays plus MEKC-DAD) allowed the fast characterization of the extracts based on their antioxidant activity and the UV-vis spectra of the different compounds found in the extracts. To our knowledge, this work shows for the first time the great possibilities of the combined use of PLE-in vitro assay-MEKC-DAD to investigate natural sources of antioxidants.     

Size and diffusion effects on the oxidation of formic acid and ethanol on platinum nanoparticles

Formic acid and ethanol oxidations on spherical platinum nanoparticles dispersed on carbon with different loadings have been studied. The increasing loading of the catalyst leads to a lower diffusion flux of reactants in the internal parts of the catalyst layer, resulting in a lower apparent activity. In some cases, as in ethanol oxidation, it may also affect the diffusion of the products. As a practical consequence, the structure of the supporting layer and the catalyst loading should be optimized so that the maximum catalyst utilization is obtained. Finally, these diffusion effects may mask some important catalytic activity increase of the nanoparticles. In the case of formic acid, a significant increase in the activity is obtained for very small nanoparticles.