Probing hydrogen bonding in a DNA triple helix using protium-deuterium fractionation factors

In this communication we report protium-deuterium fractionation factors for the intramolecular triple helix formed by the DNA oligonucleotide 5'-d(AGAGAGAACCCCTTCTCTCTTTTTCTCTCTT)-3'. The fractionation factors of individual Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen hydrogen bonds in the structure are measured by NMR spectroscopy. The results show that, in contrast to proteins, the fractionation factors are all equal or lower than unity. On the average, the values of the fractionation factors are centered between 0.6 and 0.8, and no significant differences are observed between Hoogsteen and Watson-Crick hydrogen bonds. Deviations from the average are observed for the 5'-end region of the molecule where a base triad is absent and the structure is strained by the intramolecular folding of the DNA strand.     

Evaluation of cellulase preparations for hydrolysis of hardwood substrates

Seven cellulase preparations from Penicillium and Trichoderma spp. were evaluated for their ability to hydrolyze the cellulose fraction of hardwoods (yellow poplar and red maple) pretreated by organosolv extraction, as well as model cellulosic substrates such as filter paper. There was no significant correlation among hydrolytic performance on pretreated hardwood, based on glucose release, and filter paper activity. However, performance on pretreated hardwood showed significant correlations to the levels of endogenous β-glucosidase and xylanase activities in the cellulase preparation. Accordingly, differences in performance were reduced or eliminated following supplementation with a crude β-glucosidase preparation containing both activities. These results complement a previous investigation using softwoods pretreated by either organosolv extraction or steam explosion. Cellulase preparations that performed best on hardwood also showed superior performance on the softwood substrates.     

Core-shell nanostructures from single poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) macromolecules: stabilization and visualization

Formation of core-shell poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) single-molecule nanostructures due to interaction of PVCL with metal ions was studied using transmission electron microscopy, 13C NMR, and light scattering. This study demonstrates that addition of CoCl2 to PVCL in its globular conformation yields unimolecular core-shell polymer particles with the core decorated with Co(II) ions. The crucial condition for formation of well-defined unimolecular nanostructures is the presence of stable globular aggregates in aqueous solution. Moreover, the metal ions should have a sufficiently high coordination number (higher than 2) to provide a cross-linking and stabilization of the core.     

Optimierung einer Kalium-Valinomycin-Diskelektrode

Zusammenfassung Es wird über die Optimierung einer Kalium-Valinomycin-Diskelektrode durch den kombinierten Zusatz verschiedener Weichmacher berichtet. Die Inkorporation dreier Weichmacher (Diphenyläther, Dinonylphthalat, Trisäthylhexylphosphat) in die PVC-Membran führt zu einer Elektrode, die wesentliche Funktionskriterien für eine Anwendung in der klinischen Analytik erfüllt.

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Optimization of a potassium-valinomycin disc electrode

Summary Optimization of a potassium valinomycin disc electrode by adding a combination of several plasticisers is reported. Incorporation of three plasticisers (diphenyl ether, dinonyl phthalate, trisethylhexyl phosphate) into the PVC membrane results in an electrode, which has all qualities for application in clinical analysis.

Wir danken dem Fonds der Chemischen Industrie und der Firma Fresenius Apparatebau KG, Bad Homburg v.d.H., für die Unterstützung dieser Arbeit.     

Geometry changes of a Cu(I) phenanthroline complex on photoexcitation in a confining medium by time-resolved X-ray diffraction

Using a stroboscopic technique, in which the molecule is repeatedly excited and the structural change is probed more than 5000 times per second immediately after excitation, we performed a 16 K time-resolved single-crystal study of the microsecond lifetime triplet state of the Cu(I)phenanthroline derivative[Cu(I)(dmp)(dppe)][PF6] (dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane). The geometry changes on excitation differ for the two symmetry-independent molecules, but are in the same direction as calculated for an isolated reference molecule, although the flattening distortion in the crystal is significantly smaller, implying that the reorganization energy is greatly affected by the confining medium.     

Functional analogues of the dioxygen reduction site in cytochrome oxidase: mechanistic aspects and possible effects of Cu(B)

Catalytic reduction of O(2) and H(2)O(2) by new synthetic analogues of the heme/Cu site in cytochrome c and ubiquinol oxidases has been studied in aqueous buffers. Among the synthetic porphyrins yet reported, those employed in this study most faithfully mimic the immediate coordination environment of the Fe/Cu core. Under physiologically relevant conditions, these biomimetic catalysts reproduce key aspects of the O(2) and H(2)O(2) chemistry of the enzyme. When deposited on an electrode surface, they catalyze the selective reduction of O(2) to H(2)O at potentials comparable to the midpoint potential of cytochrome c. The pH dependence of the half-wave potentials and other data are consistent with O-O bond activation at these centers proceeding via a slow generation of a formally ferric-hydroperoxo intermediate, followed by its rapid reduction to the level of water. This kinetics is analogous to that proposed for the O-O reduction step at the heme/Cu site. It minimizes the steady-state concentration of the catalytic intermediate whose decomposition would release free H(2)O(2). The maximum catalytic rate constants of O(2) reduction by the ferrous catalyst and of H(2)O(2) reduction by both ferric and ferrous catalysts are comparable to those reported for cytochrome oxidase. The oxidized catalyst also displays catalase activity. Comparison of the catalytic properties of the biomimetic complexes in the FeCu and Cu-free forms indicates that, in the regime of rapid electron flux, Cu does not significantly affect the turnover frequency or the stability of the catalysts, but it suppresses superoxide-releasing autoxidation of an O(2)-catalyst adduct. The distal Cu also accelerates O(2) binding and minimizes O-O bond homolysis in the reduction of H(2)O(2).     

Three polymorphs of 3‐(3‐phenyl‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐yl)‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one formed from different solvents

The polymorphic study of 3‐(3‐phenyl‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐yl)‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one, C₁₇H₁₁N₃O₂, was performed due to its potential biological activity and revealed three polymorphic modifications in the triclinic space group P, the monoclinic space group P2₁ and the orthorhombic space group Pbca. These polymorphs have a one‐column layered type of crystal organization. The strongest interactions between the molecules of the studied structures is stacking between π‐systems, while N—H…N and C—H…O hydrogen bonds link stacked columns forming layers as a secondary basic structural motif. C—H…π hydrogen bonds were observed between neighbouring layers and their role is the least significant in the formation of the crystal structure. Packing differences between the polymorphic modifications are minor and can be identified only using an analysis based on a comparison of the pairwise interaction energies.     

Hydrous ferric oxide: evaluation of Cd-HFO surface complexation models combining Cd(K) EXAFS data,potentiometric titration results,and surface site structures identified from mineralogical knowledge

The surface properties of ferrihydrite were studied by combining wet chemical data, Cd(K) EXAFS data, and a surface structure and protonation model of the ferrihydrite surface. Acid-base titration experiments and Cd(II)-ferrihydrite sorption experiments were performed within 3<-log[H(+)]<10.5 and 0.5<[Cd(t)]<12 mM in 0.3 M NaClO(4) at 25 degrees C, where [Cd(t)] refers to total Cd concentration. Measurements at -5.5triple bond Fe-OH(-1/2),logk((int))=-8.29, assuming the existence of a unique intrinsic microscopic constant, logk((int)), and consequently the existence of a single significant type of acid-base reactive functional groups. The surface structure model indicates that these groups are terminal water groups. The Cd(II) data were modeled assuming the existence of a single reactive site. The model fits the data set at low Cd(II) concentration and up to 50% surface coverage. At high coverage more Cd(II) ions than predicted are adsorbed, which is indicative of the existence of a second type of site of lower affinity. This agrees with the surface structure and protonation model developed, which indicates comparable concentrations of high- and low-affinity sites. The model further shows that for each class of low- and high-affinity sites there exists a variety of corresponding Cd surface complex structure, depending on the model crystal faces on which the complexes develop. Generally, high-affinity surface structures have surface coordinations of 3 and 4, as compared to 1 and 2 for low-affinity surface structures.     

Reactions of Allyl Alcohols of the Pinane Series and of Their Epoxides in the Presence of Montmorillonite Clay

The reactivity of allyl alcohols of the pinane series and of their epoxides in the presence of montmorillonite clay in intra‐ and intermolecular reactions was studied. Mutual transformations of (+)‐trans‐pinocarveol ((+)‐ 2 ) and (?)‐myrtenol ((?)‐ 3a ) were major reactions of these compounds on askanite–bentonite clay (Schemes 1 and 2). However, the two reactions gave different isomerization products, indicating that the reactivity of the starting alcohol (+)‐ 2 or (?)‐ 3a was different from that of the same compound (+)‐ 2 or (?)‐ 3 formed in the course of the reactions. (?)‐cis‐ and (+)‐trans‐Verbenol ((?)‐ 16 and (+)‐ 12 , resp.), as well as (?)‐cis‐verbenol epoxide ((?)‐ 20 ) reacted with both aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes on askanite–bentonite clay giving various heterocyclic compounds (Schemes 4, 5 and 7); the reaction path depended on the structure of both the terpenoid and the aldehyde.     

Visualization and characterization of electroactive defects in the native oxide film on aluminium

Spatial!y localized electrochemical activity at Al/Al2O3 electrodes has been investigated using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) in order to establish the relationship between localized corrosion of Al (and Al alloys) with the defect structure of the native Al2O3 film. Local electron transfer at microscopic defects (2 to 50 microm radius) was visualized in acetonitrile solutions using the nitrobenzene/nitrobenzene radical anion (Eo approximately -1.6 V vs. Ag/Ag+) and tetracyanoquinodimethane/tetracyanoquinodimethane radical anion couples (Eo approximately -0.3 V) as redox mediators for imaging. SECM investigations revealed no significant differences in electrochemical activity at Al/AI203 electrodes in the two mediator solutions, indicating that electrical conduction at the defect sites is weakly dependent on interfacial potential and the electric field across the Al2O3 film. The density of electroactive defects observed by SECM varied by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude between electrodes prepared from the same source of Al (either 99.450% and 99.9995%) suggesting that electrical conduction in the native oxide is very sensitive to surface preparation. Defect densities as low as approximately 3 sites cm(-2) were readily measured by SECM.