Oxidative coupling of peptides to a virus capsid containing unnatural amino acids

This Communication describes the chemo- and site-selective coupling of cell type-specific targeting peptides to a virus capsid containing aminophenylalanine residues.     

State-selective binding peptides for heterotrimeric G-protein subunits: novel tools for investigating G-protein signaling dynamics

Heterotrimeric G-proteins, comprising Galpha, Gbeta, and Ggamma subunits, are molecular switches that regulate numerous signaling pathways involved in cellular physiology. This characteristic is achieved by the adoption of two principal states: an inactive state in which GDP-bound Galpha is complexed with the Gbetagamma dimer, and an active state in which GTP-bound Galpha is freed of its Gbetagamma binding partner. Structural studies have illustrated the basis for the distinct conformations of these states which are regulated by alterations in three precise 'switch regions' of the Galpha subunit. Discrete differences in conformation between GDP- and GTP-bound Galpha underlie its nucleotide-dependent protein-protein interactions (e.g., with Gbetagamma/receptor and effectors, respectively) that are critical for maintaining their proper nucleotide cycling and signaling properties. Recently, several screening approaches have been used to identify peptide sequences capable of interacting with Galpha (and free Gbetagamma) in nucleotide-dependent fashions. These peptides have demonstrated applications in direct modulation of the nucleotide cycle, assessing the structural basis for aspects of Galpha and Gbetagamma signaling, and serving as biosensor tools in assays for Galpha activation including high throughput drug screening. In this review, we highlight some of the methods used for such discoveries and discuss the insights that can be gleaned from application of these identified peptides.     

New chelating stilbazonium-like dyes from Michler's ketone

A series of "push-pull" salts substituted with an electron-donating bis(N,N-dimethyl)aniline unit and different electron-withdrawing methyl or chelating pyridinium units have been designed and synthesized from Michler's ketone. The spectroscopic and electronic properties were investigated and compared to their DAST homologues. The studies revealed that a lower HOMO-LUMO gap is obtained in all cases, showing the ability of our donor to increase the "push-pull" effect. Two chromophores with a terpyridine as acceptor end group have also been prepared.     

Synthesis,characterization and antifungal testing of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-(thio)ones containing boronic acids and boronate esters

The addition of formylphenylboronic acid derivatives to thiourea and ethyl acetoacetate proceeds in the presence of an additional Lewis acid catalyst to give the corresponding 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-(thio)ones (Biginelli products) in moderate yield. Compounds were tested for antifungal activity against pure cultures of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae but, unfortunately, none showed any appreciable activity.      

Dilational viscoelasticity and relaxation properties of interfacial electrostatic complexes between oppositely charged hydrophobic and hydrophilic polyelectrolytes

Strongly adsorbing hydrophobic cationic polyelectrolyte, Eudragit RS, containing approximately 2.5 mol% of pendent hydrophilic trimethylammonium (TMA) groups irreversibly adsorbs from its methylene chloride (MCl) solution at the MCl/water interface and forms solid-like adsorption layers (ALs). Submitted to periodic dilational deformations with the standard radial frequency omega(0)=0.63 rad/s, these ALs exhibit relatively high dilational storage modulus E' approximately 20 mN/m and practically zero loss modulus E' at the bulk concentration C(Eud)=4 x 10(-3)g/L. The frequency scanning of these ALs in the diapason omega=0.01-0.63rad/s and the approximation of the experimental dependences E'(omega) and E'(omega) by two relaxation times rheological model makes it possible to estimate the crossing frequency of these ALs determined from the condition E'(omega(c))=E'(omega(c)) as omega(c) approximately 5 x 10(-4)rad/s. Upon dissolving the hydrophilic anionic polyelectrolyte, chitosan sulfate (ChS), in the water phase (C(ChS)=3 x 10(-2)g/L) the electrostatic interpolyelectrolyte complexes form at the MCl/water interface. The elasticity moduli E' and E' of these mixed AL did not undergo remarkable variations, but the crossing frequency is sharply increased by approximately 10 times becoming equal to omega(c) congruent with 3 x 10(-3)rad/s. The increase of omega(c) certifies for the liquefaction of mixed Eudragit RS/ChS adsorption layers. A remarkable decrease of the storage modulus down to E'=8 mN/m and simultaneous increase of the crossing frequency up to omega(c) congruent with 10(-2)rad/s occurs upon increasing the concentrations of both components, Eudragit RS and ChS, up to 0.1g/L. The liquefaction effect in the mixed ALs of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes was explained on the basis of the proposed relaxation mechanism. The effect of the liquefaction of adsorption layers of strongly adsorbing hydrophobic polyelectrolytes by formation of interpolyelectrolyte complexes with hydrophilic polyelectrolytes must be taken into account in the production of nano-capsules and nano-fibers.     

Fe2 and Fe4 clusters encapsulated in vacant polyoxotungstates: hydrothermal synthesis, magnetic and electrochemical properties, and DFT calculations

While the reaction of [PW(11)O(39)](7-) with first row transition-metal ions M(n+) under usual bench conditions only leads to monosubstituted {PW(11)O(39)M(H(2)O)} anions, we have shown that the use of this precursor under hydrothermal conditions allows the isolation of a family of novel polynuclear discrete magnetic polyoxometalates (POMs). The hybrid asymmetric [Fe(II)(bpy)(3)][PW(11)O(39)Fe(2) (III)(OH)(bpy)(2)]12 H(2)O (bpy=bipyridine) complex (1) contains the dinuclear {Fe(micro-O(W))(micro-OH)Fe} core in which one iron atom is coordinated to a monovacant POM, while the other is coordinated to two bipyridine ligands. Magnetic measurements indicate that the Fe(III) centers in complex 1 are weakly antiferromagnetically coupled (J=-11.2 cm(-1), H=-JS(1)S(2)) compared to other {Fe(micro-O)(micro-OH)Fe} systems. This is due to the long distances between the iron center embedded in the POM and the oxygen atom of the POM bridging the two magnetic centers, but also, as shown by DFT calculations, to the important mixing of bridging oxygen orbitals with orbitals of the POM tungsten atoms. The complexes [Hdmbpy](2)[Fe(II)(dmbpy)(3)](2)[(PW(11)O(39))(2)Fe(4) (III)O(2)(dmbpy)(4)]14 H(2)O (2) (dmbpy=5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine) and H(2)[Fe(II)(dmbpy)(3)](2)[(PW(11)O(39))(2)Fe(4) (III)O(2)(dmbpy)(4)]10 H(2)O (3) represent the first butterfly-like POM complexes. In these species, a tetranuclear Fe(III) complex is sandwiched between two lacunary polyoxotungstates that are pentacoordinated to two Fe(III) cations, the remaining paramagnetic centers each being coordinated to two dmbpy ligands. The best fit of the chi(M)T=f(T) curve leads to J(wb)=-59.6 cm(-1) and J(bb)=-10.2 cm(-1) (H=-J(wb)(S(1)S(2)+S(1)S(2*)+S(1*)S(2)+S(1*)S(2*))-J(bb)(S(2)S(2*))). While the J(bb) value is within the range of related exchange parameters previously reported for non-POM butterfly systems, the J(wb) constant is significantly lower. As for complex 1, this can be justified considering Fe(w)--O distances. Finally, in the absence of a coordinating ligand, the dimeric complex [N(CH(3))(4)](10)[(PW(11)O(39)Fe(III))(2)O]12 H(2)O (4) has been isolated. In this complex, the two single oxo-bridged Fe(III) centers are very strongly antiferromagnetically coupled (J=-211.7 cm(-1), H=-JS(1)S(2)). The electrochemical behavior of compound 1 both in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and in the solid state is also presented, while the electrochemical properties of complex 2, which is insoluble in common solvents, have been studied in the solid state.     

One-dimensional inorganic arrangement in the bismuth oxalate hydroxide Bi(C2O4)OH

Single crystals of Bi(C₂O₄)OH were obtained by the slow diffusion of Bi³⁺ cations through silica gel impregnated with oxalic acid. The structure was solved in the Pnma space group with a=6.0853(2) Å, b=11.4479(3) Å, c=5.9722(2) Å, leading to R=0.0188 and wR=0.0190 from 513 unique reflections. The bismuth coordination polyhedron is a BiO₆E pentagonal bipyramid with the lone pair E sitting at an axial vertex. The opposite axial vertex is occupied by a hydroxyl oxygen atom, which is also an equatorial corner of a neighboring BiO₆E bipyramid. The sharing of the hydroxyl oxygen atoms build zig-zag chains running down the [100] direction. These chains are aligned in a sheet parallel to the (010) plane and are further connected through oxalate ions to form a three-dimensional arrangement. On heating, Bi(C₂O₄)OH decomposes to the meta-stable quadratic β-Bi₂O₃ phase.     

Interrupted Nazarov cyclization on silica gel

Exposure of a mixture of propargyl vinyl ketone and a nucleophilic primary or secondary amine to activated dry silica gel in the absence of solvent leads to a cascade of reactions that results in the formation of an aminocyclopentenone. The reaction with triethylamine leads to a cross-conjugated cyclopentadienone.     

Periodicity in collision-induced and remote-bond activation of alkali metal ions attached to polyether ionophores

The collision-induced dissociation of lasalocid and monensin A bound to alkali metal cations has been investigated using electrospray MS/MS. The binding affinity for the metal cations, as measured with collision-induced dissociation, was found to depend on their ionic radius, decreasing with increasing radius. Monensin A was observed to have a greater binding affinity for alkali metal cations than lasalocid acid.