Protein structure determination using long-distance constraints from double-quantum coherence ESR: study of T4 lysozyme

We report the use of a novel pulsed ESR technique for distance measurement, based on the detection of double quantum coherence (DQC), which yields high quality dipolar spectra, to significantly extend the range of measurable distances in proteins using nitroxide spin-labels. Eight T4 lysozyme (T4L) mutants, doubly labeled with methanethiosulfonate spin-label (MTSSL), have been studied using DQC-ESR at 9 and 17 GHz. The distances span the range from 20 A for the 65/76 mutant to 47 A for the 61/135 mutant. The high quality of the dipolar spectra also allows the determination of the distance distributions, the width of which can be used to set upper and lower bounds in future computational strategy. It is also demonstrated that the shape of these distributions can reveal the presence of multiple conformations of the spin-label, an issue of critical relevance to the structural interpretation of the distances. The distances and distributions found in this study are readily rationalized in terms of the known crystal structure, the characteristic conformers of the nitroxide side chains, and molecular modeling. This study sets the stage for the use of DQC-ESR for determining the tertiary structure of large proteins with just a small number of long-distance constraints.     

Control over calcium carbonate phase formation by dendrimer/surfactant templates

Poly(propylene imine) dendrimers that are modified with long alkyl chains self-assemble to form well-defined aggregates. The geometry and surface chemistry of the dendrimer assemblies can be varied through the addition of surfactants. These dendrimer/surfactant aggregates can be tuned to template the formation of the different phases of calcium carbonate. The use of octadecylamine results in the formation of polyhedral aggregates that become embedded within an amorphous calcium carbonate phase that persists in competition with the thermodynamic product, calcite. In combination with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, small spherical aggregates are formed that induce the formation of vaterite. The use of the negatively charged surfactant SDS results in growth retardation by the Ca(2+)-induced agglomeration of dendrimer/surfactant aggregates into giant spherical particles. Eventually these particles become overgrown by rhombohedral calcite.     

Organolithium-mediated diversification of peptide thiazoles

[Reaction: see text] We report a one-step, racemization-free method for the diversification of peptide thiazoles via direct lithiation of the thiazole ring. The method is compatible with N-Boc, N-trityl, carboxylic ester, and carboxamide protecting groups and has been used to directly functionalize the thiazole ring of cyclopeptide natural products.     

Adsorption-induced Depression of the Strength of Potassium Chloride Grains under the Action of Fatty Amines and Water

The surface activity of higher aliphatic amines and their salts at the interface between their solutions and air, oil, and KCl grains and their influence on the strength characteristics, moisture absorption, and caking of the grains were studied.     

Decarboxylation syntheses of transition metal organometallics,II.trans-carbonyl(polyhalogenophenyl)bis(triphenylphosphine)rhodium(I) compounds

Summary The rhodium(I) carboxylates,trans-RhO₂CR(CO)(PPh₃)₂ (R = C₆F₅, C₆Cl₅,p-HC₆F₄,m-HC₆F₄,o-HC₆F₄,p-McOC₆F₄, 4,5-H₂C₆F₃, 3,5-H₂C₆F₃, or 2,6-F₂C₆H₃, have been prepared by reaction of RhH(CO)(PPh₃)₃ with the appropriate polyhalogenobenzoic acids in ethanol and/or by reaction oftrans-RhCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂ with the appropriate thallous carboxylates in benzene. Decarboxylations with formation of polyhalogenoarylrhodium(I) compounds,trans-RhR(CO)(PPh₃)₂ (R = C₆F₅, C₆Cl₅,p-HC₆F₄,m-HC₆F₄,p-MeOC₆F₄, 4,5-H₂C₆F₃ or 3,5-H₂C₆F₃), have been achieved either by decomposition of the corresponding rhodium(I) carboxylates in pyridine or by reaction oftrans-RhCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂ and the thallous carboxylates in pyridine, but the derivatives R =o-HC₆F₄ or 2,6-F₂C₆H₃ could not be obtained by this method. The rate of decarboxylation decreased in the sequence R = C₆F₅ >p-MeOC₆F₄ >p-HC₆F₄ >m-HC₆F₄ > 4,5-H₂C₆F₃ > 3,5-H₂C₆F₃.Part 1, ref. 10.Preliminary communication, ref. 9.     

Strategies to enhance the enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated softwood with high residual lignin content

Pretreatment of Douglas-fir by steam explosion produces a substrate containing approx 43% lignin. Two strategies were investigated for reducing the effect of this residual lignin on enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose: mild alkali extraction and protein addition. Extraction with cold 1% NaOH reduced the lignin content by only approx 7%, but cellulose to glucose conversion was enhanced by about 30%. Before alkali extraction, addition of exogenous protein resulted in a significant improvement in cellulose hydrolysis, but this protein effect was substantially diminished after alkali treatment. Lignin appears to reduce cellulose hydrolysis by two distinct mechanisms: by forming a physical barrier that prevents enzyme access and by non-productively binding cellulolytic enzymes. Cold alkali appears to selectively remove a fraction of lignin from steam-exploded Douglas-fir with high affinity for protein. Corresponding data for mixed softwood pretreated by organosolv extraction indicates that the relative importance of the two mechanisms by which residual lignin affects hydrolysis is different according to the pre- and post-treatment method used.     

Preparation of (R)-11-hydroxyaporphine directly from (R)-10,11-dihydroxyaporphine ((R)-apomorphine)

A Regioselective synthesis of (R)-11-hydroxyaporphine 2 directly from (R)-10,11-dihydroxyaporphine ((R)-apomorphine, 1 ) is described for the first time. The isopropylidene ketal ring of 10,11-(isopropyl-idenyldioxy)aporphine 5 obtained by the isopropylidenation of apomorphine was regioselectively opened by ten equivalents of trimethylaluminum to give (R)-10-hydroxy-11-tert-butyloxyaporphine 6 . The free 10-hydioxyl position of 6 was triflated with N-pbenyltrifluoromethanesulfonimide and potassium carbonate under reflux to give (R)-10-[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyloxy]-11-tert-butyloxyaporphine 7 . The reduced product, 11-tert-butyloxyaporphine 8 was prepared from 7 by a palladium-catalyzed hydrogenolysis. The ether cleavage of (R)-11-tert-butyloxyaporphine with 48% hydrobromic acid afforded the desired (R)-11-hydroxyaporphine 2 in good yield.