Novel perturbation expansion for the Langevin equation

We discuss the randomly driven systemdx/dt= -W(x) +f(t), wheref(t) is a Gaussian random function or stirring force withf(t)f(t)=2(t–t), andW(x) is of the formgx ¹⁺². The parameter is a measure of the nonlinearity of the equation. We show how to obtain the correlation functionsx(t)f(t)···x(t( n)) _f as a power series in. We obtain three terms in the expansion and show how to use Padé approximants to analytically continue the answer in the variable. By using scaling relations, we show how to get a uniform approximation to the equal-time correlation functions valid for allg and.     

Experimental and Computational Study on the Anti-Markovnikov Hydrofunctionalization of Olefins Using Glycine-Extended AQ-Auxiliaries

Two similar tridentate directing groups derived from glycine and 8-aminoquinoline were shown to enable the palladium-catalyzed anti-Markovnikov hydrofunctionalization of 4-pentenylamine with drastically different efficiencies. A computational investigation into the origin of the reactivity difference between these isomeric, carbonyl-transposed auxiliaries suggests that protonation state, thus charge of the substrate-metal complex prior to nucleopalladation is key. These investigations have culminated in a directing group design that can undergo Pd-catalyzed hydrofunctionalization under relatively mild conditions, as low as room temperature.     

Über Konstruktionsprinzipe für die Konstruktion von Helligkeitsgleichen an besonderen Flächenarten

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 10 Textfiguren.     

The combi-CLEA approach: enzymatic cascade synthesis of enantiomerically pure (S)-mandelic acid

Enantiomerically pure (S)-mandelic acid was synthesised from benzaldehyde by sequential hydrocyanation and hydrolysis in a bienzymatic cascade at starting concentrations up to 0.25 M. A cross-linked enzyme aggregate (CLEA) composed of the (S)-selective oxynitrilase from Manihot esculenta and the non-selective nitrilase from Pseudomonas fluorescens EBC 191 was employed as the biocatalyst. The nitrilase produces approx. equal amounts of (S)-mandelic acid and (S)-mandelic amide from (S)-mandelonitrile under standard conditions, but we surprisingly found that high (up to 0.5 M) concentrations of HCN induced a marked drift towards amide production. By including the amidase from Rhodococcus erythopolis in the CLEA we obtained (S)-mandelic acid as the sole product in 90% yield and >99% enantiomeric purity.     

Cationic Quaternary Polyelectrolytes—A Literature Review

This paper is a literature survey of quaternary ammonium, sulfonium, and phosphonium polymers.     

Nucleophilic Addition of Nitrogen to Aryl Cations: Mimicking Titan Chemistry

The reactivity of aryl cations toward molecular nitrogen is studied systematically in an ion trap mass spectrometer at 10² Pascal of nitrogen, the pressure of the Titan main haze layer. Nucleophilic addition of dinitrogen occurs and the nature of aryl group has a significant influence on the reactivity, through inductive effects and by changing the ground state spin multiplicity. The products of nitrogen activation, aryldiazonium ions, react with typical nitriles, aromatic amines, and alkynes (compounds that are relevant as possible Titan atmosphere constituents) to form covalently bonded heterocyclic products. Theoretical calculations at the level [DFT(B3LYP)/6-311++G(d,p)] indicate that the N₂ addition reaction is exothermic for the singlet aryl cations but endothermic for their triplet spin isomers. The –OH and –NH₂ substituted aryl ions are calculated to have triplet ground states, which is consistent with their decreased nitrogen addition reactivity. The energy needed for the generation of the aryl cations from their protonated precursors (ca. 340 kJ/mol starting with protonated aniline) is far less than that required to directly activate the nitrogen triple bond (the lowest energy excited state of N₂ lies ca. 600 kJ/mol above the ground state). The formation of aza-aromatics via arene ionization and subsequent reactions provide a conceivable route to the genesis of nitrogen-containing organic molecules in the interstellar medium and Titan haze layers.

The stereochemistry of glycolipids. A key for understanding membrane functions?

A Commentary on the paper ”Studies on liquid‐crystalline glycosides" by Volkmar Vill, Thomas Böcker, Joachim Thiem and Fred Fischer. First published in Liquid Crystals, 6, 349‐356 (1989).     

Hexicon 2: Automated Processing of Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry Data with Improved Deuteration Distribution Estimation

Hydrogen–deuterium exchange (HDX) experiments analyzed by mass spectrometry (MS) provide information about the dynamics and the solvent accessibility of protein backbone amide hydrogen atoms. Continuous improvement of MS instrumentation has contributed to the increasing popularity of this method; however, comprehensive automated data analysis is only beginning to mature. We present Hexicon 2, an automated pipeline for data analysis and visualization based on the previously published program Hexicon (Lou et al. 2010). Hexicon 2 employs the sensitive NITPICK peak detection algorithm of its predecessor in a divide-and-conquer strategy and adds new features, such as chromatogram alignment and improved peptide sequence assignment. The unique feature of deuteration distribution estimation was retained in Hexicon 2 and improved using an iterative deconvolution algorithm that is robust even to noisy data. In addition, Hexicon 2 provides a data browser that facilitates quality control and provides convenient access to common data visualization tasks. Analysis of a benchmark dataset demonstrates superior performance of Hexicon 2 compared with its predecessor in terms of deuteration centroid recovery and deuteration distribution estimation. Hexicon 2 greatly reduces data analysis time compared with manual analysis, whereas the increased number of peptides provides redundant coverage of the entire protein sequence. Hexicon 2 is a standalone application available free of charge under http://hx2.mpimf-heidelberg.mpg.de.

Initiation of Protein Synthesis with Non-Canonical Amino Acids In Vivo

By transplanting identity elements into E. coli tRNA^fMet, we have engineered an orthogonal initiator tRNA (itRNA^Ty2) that is a substrate for Methanocaldococcus jannaschii TyrRS. We demonstrate that itRNA^Ty2 can initiate translation in vivo with aromatic non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) bearing diverse sidechains. Although the initial system suffered from low yields, deleting redundant copies of tRNA^fMet from the genome afforded an E. coli strain in which the efficiency of non-canonical initiation equals elongation. With this improved system we produced a protein containing two distinct ncAAs at the first and second positions, an initial step towards producing completely unnatural polypeptides in vivo. This work provides a valuable tool to synthetic biology and demonstrates remarkable versatility of the E. coli translational machinery for initiation with ncAAs in vivo.