A Set of Activity‐Based Probes to Visualize Human (Immuno)proteasome Activities

Proteasomes are therapeutic targets for various cancers and autoimmune diseases. Constitutively expressed proteasomes have three active sites, β1c, β2c, and β5c. Lymphoid tissues also express the immunoproteasome subunits β1i, β2i, and β5i. Rapid and simultaneous measurement of the activity of these catalytic subunits would assist in the discovery of new inhibitors, improve analysis of proteasome inhibitors in clinical trials, and simplify analysis of subunit expression. In this work, we present a cocktail of activity‐based probes that enables simultaneous gel‐based detection of all six catalytic human proteasome subunits. We used this cocktail to develop specific inhibitors for β1c, β2c, β5c, and β2i, to compare the active‐site specificity of clinical proteasome inhibitors, and to demonstrate that many hematologic malignancies predominantly express immunoproteasomes. Furthermore, we show that selective and complete inhibition of β5i and β1i is cytotoxic to primary cells from acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) patients.     

Transition metal coordination compounds of a chelating imidazole-thioether ligand. The X-ray crystal structure of (1,6-bis(4(5)-imidazolyl)-2,5-dithiahexane)bis(nitrato)copper(II)

Transition metal coordination compounds with the novel N₂S₂-donor ligand 1,6-bis(4(5)-imidazolyl)-2,5-dithiahexane (abbreviated bhdhx) with general formulae M(bhdhx)(NO₃)₂(M = Co, Ni, Cu) and M(bhdhx)(H₂O)₂(BF₄)₂ (M = Cu, Zn) have been isolated. In all compounds the ligand is tetradentate with both thioether sulphurs and imidazole nitrogens coordinating. In all compounds the metal ions are six-coordinated in a distorted octahedral geometry with either nitrates or water molecules as the fifth and sixth ligands. This is confirmed by the ligand field spectra, which agree with a distorted octahedral coordination. The distortion from octahedral, indicated by the ligand field spectrum of the cobalt nitrate compound is such that the S atoms of the ligands must be at a very large distance from the metal ion. A single crystal of Cu(bhdhx)(NO₃)₂ was used in a structure determination: orthorhombic space group Pbcn, a = 14.351(5), b = 8.554(3), c = 13.057(4) Å, Z = 4, and T = 293 K. The structure was solved by heavy atom techniques and refined by least-squares methods to a residual R value of 0.033 for 847 significant reflections. The copper ion is at a special position on a two-fold axis, which causes a two-fold symmetry in the ligand. The coordination geometry of the copper atom is distorted octahedral with the two nitrates and the two thioether sulphurs in a cis position, and the imidazole nitrogens trans. The copper to nitrogen distances are 1.933(4) Å, the copper to sulphur distances are 2.495(1) Å, and the copper to oxygen distances are 2.280(3) Å.     

A numerical study of solitary waves in a non-linear Bragg reflector

A two-dimensional time domain finite difference beam propagation method, based on the slowly varying envelope approximation is presented. Expressions to correct this approximation and to include third-order non-linear effects are given. The method is applied on solitary waves in a non-linear Bragg reflector, assuming realistic materials parameters.     

Weighted Banzhaf values

The family of weighted Banzhaf values for cooperativen-person TU-games is studied. First we introduce the weighted Banzhaf value for an exogenously given vector of positive weights of the players. Then we give an axiomatic characterization of the class of all possible weighted Banzhaf values.