PVT properties of concentrated aqueous electrolytes: V. Densities and apparent molal volumes of the four major sea salts from dilute solution to saturation and from 0 to 100°C

The densities of the major sea salts (NaCl, Na₂SO₄, MgCl₂, and MgSO₄) have been measured from 25 to 95°C and to saturation. These results have been combined with literature data and fitted to equations of the form $$\Delta d = Am{\text{ }} + {\text{ }}Bm^{3/2} {\text{ }} + {\text{ }}Cm^2 {\text{ }} + {\text{ }}Dm^{5/2} $$ where Δd=d?d_o (d_o is the density of water) and A, B, and C, etc., are polynomial functions of temperature. The standard deviations of the fits were better than ±50×10^?6 g-cm^?3 for all the salts from 0 to 95°C and to saturation. The apparent molal volumes V_? of the salts have been fitted to the equations of Pitzer. The infinite dilution values of V_? were in good agreement with literature data, provided the results were not overfit. The large deviations of V_? for MgSO₄ from additivity as a function of concentration were attributed to the formation of MgSO₄ ion pairs.     

Structure of a de novo designed protein model of radical enzymes

The use of side chains as catalytic cofactors for protein mediated redox chemistry raises significant mechanistic issues as to how these amino acids are activated toward radical chemistry in a controlled manner. De novo protein design has been used to examine the structural basis for the creation and maintenance of a tryptophanyl radical in a three-helix bundle protein maquette. Here we report the detailed structural analysis of the protein by multidimensional NMR methods. An interesting feature of the structure is an apparent pi-cation interaction involving the sole tryptophan and a lysine side chain. Hybrid density functional calculations support the notion that this interaction raises the reduction potential of the W degrees /WH redox pair and helps explain the redox characteristics of the protein. This model protein system therefore provides a powerful model for exploring the structural basis for controlled radical chemistry in protein.     

Synthesis and antimalarial effects of N,N-dialkyl-6-(substituted phenyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazin-3-amines

The synthesis of a series of N,N-dialkyl-6-(substituted phenyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazin-3-amines (IV) by two routes is described. The first route (Scheme I) involved the oxidative cyclization of formazans (II) to 3-bromo-6-(substituted phenyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazines (III), followed by treatment with amines. The second (Scheme II) utilized the treatment of 3-(methylthio)-6-(substituted phenyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazines (VII) with amines to provide the desired products. The intermediate 3-(methylthio)-6-(substituted phenyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazines (VII) were obtained by thiobenzoylation of hydrazinecarbohydrazonothioic acid methyl ester with [[(substituted phenyl)thioxomethyl]thio]-acetic acids (V) to afford the 1,2-dihydro-3-(methylthio)-6-(substituted phenyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazines (VI). Oxidation with bromine in acetic acid provided the desired intermediates. The target 6-(substituted phenyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazin-3-amines (IV) displayed modest antimalarial activity.     

De novo design of a redox-active minimal rubredoxin mimic

Metal-binding sites in metalloproteins frequently occur at the interfaces of elements of secondary structure, which has enabled the retrostructural analysis of natural proteins and the de novo design of helical bundles that bind metal ion cofactors. However, the design of metalloproteins containing beta-structure is less well developed, despite the frequent occurrence of beta-conformations in natural metalloproteins. Here, we describe the design and construction of a beta-protein, RM1, that forms a stable, redox-active 4-Cys thiolate Fe(II/III) site analogous to the active site of rubredoxin. The protein folds into a beta-structure in the presence and absence of metal ions and binds Fe(II/III) to form a redox-active site that is stable to repeated cycles of oxidation and reduction, even in an aerobic environment.     

Novel siloxane polymers as polymer electrolytes for high energy density lithium batteries

A variety of disubstituted (double-comb) polysiloxane polymers have been prepared containing linear, branched, and cyclic oligoethyleneoxide units, –(OCH₂CH₂)_n–, in the side chains and as part of the siloxane backbone. Copolymers, using mixtures of linear ethylene oxide side chains, were also synthesized. These polymers were doped with LiN(SO₂CF₃)₂ (LiTFSI, 1) and conductivities of the polymer-salt complexes were determined as a function of temperature and doping level. The maximum conductivity of these polymers at 25 ° C was 2.99 ×10^–4, for a copolymer containing equimolar amounts of side chains with n = 5 and 6.     

One site fits both: A model for the ternary complex of folate + NADPH in R67 dihydrofolate reductase, a D2 symmetric enzyme

R67 dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is a novel enzyme that confers resistance to the antibiotic trimethoprim. The crystal structure of R67 DHFR displays a toroidal structure with a central active-site pore. This homotetrameric protein exhibits 222 symmetry, with only a few residues from each chain contributing to the active site, so related sites must be used to bind both substrate (dihydrofolate) and cofactor (NADPH) in the productive R67 DHFR?NADPH?dihydrofolate complex. Whereas the site of folate binding has been partially resolved crystallographically, an interesting question remains: how can the highly symmetrical active site also bind and orient NADPH for catalysis? To model this ternary complex, we employed DOCK and SLIDE, two methods for docking flexible ligands into proteins using quite different algorithms. The bound pteridine ring of folate (Fol I) from the crystal structure of R67 DHFR was used as the basis for docking the nicotinamide-ribose-P_i (NMN) moiety of NADPH. NMN was positioned by both DOCK and SLIDE on the opposite side of the pore from Fol I, where it interacts with Fol I at the pore's center. Numerous residues serve dual roles in binding. For example, Gln 67 from both the B and D subunits has several contacts with the pteridine ring, while the same residue from the A and C subunits has several contacts with the nicotinamide ring. The residues involved in dual roles are generally amphipathic, allowing them to make both hydrophobic and hydrophilic contacts with the ligands. The result is a `hot spot' binding surface allowing the same residues to co-optimize the binding of two ligands, and orient them for catalysis.     

A facile synthesis and structure determination from 13c-nmr spectroscopy of a novel heterocycle 1,1′-ethylenebis[2,3,8,8a-tetrahydro-5,8a-dimethyl-1H-imidazo[2,1-c][1,4]thiazine], a case of transannular stabilization

The condensation of 4-thiaheptane-2,6-dione with triethylenetetramine does not produce the macrocycle 1-thia-3,14-dimethyl-4,7,10-13-tetrazacyclopentadeca-3,13-diene; instead two molecules of the dione condense with one of the amine to give the title compound.     

Synthesis and antimalarial effects of 2-(3,4-dichloroanilino)-7-[[[(dialkylamino)alkyl]amino]]-5-methyl-s-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines

3,4-Dichlorophenylisothioeyanate ( 10 ) was allowed to react with 2-methy1-2-thiopseudourea to give methyl 4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)(dithioaltophanimidate ( 11 ) (41%), which upon treatment with hydrazine afforded 3-amino-5-(3,4-dichloroanilino)-s-triazole ( 12 ) (54-91%). Ring-closure with ethyl acetoacetale in acetic acid afforded 2-(3,4-dichloroanilino)-5-methyl-s-triazolo[ 1,5-α ]-pyrimidin-7-ol ( 13 ) (81%). Chlorination with phosphorus oxychloride gave 7-chloro-2-(3,4-dichloroanilino)-5-methyl-s-triazolo[1,5-α ]pyrimidine ( 14 ) (98%), which was condensed with various amines to yield the desired 2-(3,4-diehloroanilino)-7-¶[(dialkylamino)alkyl]arnino¶-5-methyl-s-triazolo[ 1,5-α]pyrimidines ( 6 a-d). The structures of the s-triazolo[ 1,5-α ]pyrimidines were based on nmr spectroscopy and ring stability considerations. Several of the amino-s-triazolo[ 1,5-α ]pyrimidines possessed antimalarial activity against P. berghei in mice.     

The solid state structure of arene-mercury(II) complexes from magic-angle spinning carbon-13 NMR and the solution carbon-13 NMR of some complexes of mercury(II) with arenes having bulky aliphatic substituents

The cross-polarization magic angle spinning ¹³C NMR spectra of Hg(SbF₆)₂ - 2 Arene (Arene = C₆HMe₅, 1,2,4,5-C₆H₂Me₄, 1,2,3,4-C₆H₂Me₄, or C₆H₆) have been measured. The spectra of the complexes of C₆HMe₅ and 1,2,4,5-C₆H₂Me₄ are consistent with static η¹-bonding of the mercury to the arene at an unsubstituted carbon atom, while the spectra of the 1,2,3,4-C₆H₂Me₄ and C₆H₆ complexes show the arene to have time-averaged C_s or C₂, and C₆ symmetry respectively, at the temperature of measurement (300 K).The reduced temperature ¹³C NMR spectra of Hg(Arene)_n²⁺ (n = 1 or 2; Arene = 1,3,5-C₆H₃R₃ (R = Me, i-Pr, or t-Bu)) in SO₂ solution are also reported and affirm that in these intramolecularly mobile species the mercury bonds in an η¹-manner, with unsubstituted aryl carbon atoms being the strongly preferred point of mercury attachment. This site preference is further demonstrated by the solution ¹³C NMR spectra of Hg(Arene)_n²⁺ (Arene = 1,2,3,4-C₆H₂-Me₄, n = 1 or 2; Arene = 1,4-C₆H₄R₂, R = Me or t-Bu, n = 1). The spectra of the 1,4-C₆H₄R₂ complexes and Hg(p-C₆H₄-t-BuMe)²⁺ provide clear evidence for steric influence of the binding site.Like Hg(C₆Me₆)₂²⁺, but unlike most of the complexes of substituted benzenes which have been studied, Hg(1,3,5-C₆H₃-i-Pr₃)₂²⁺ exchanges only slowly with excess free ligand.     

Conformation of Tax-response elements in the human T-cell leukemia virus type I promoter

Background: HTLV I Tax is believed to activate viral gene expression by binding bZIP proteins (such as CRIB) and increasing their affinities for proviral THE target sites. Each 21 by THE target site contains an imperfect copy of the intrinsically bent CRE target site (the TRE core) surrounded by highly conserved flanking sequences. These flanking sequences are essential for maximal increases in DNA affinity and transactivation, but they are not, apparently, contacted by protein. Here we employ non-denaturing gel electrophoresis to evaluate TRE conformation in the presence and absence of bZIP proteins, and to explore the role of DNA conformation in viral transactivation.Results: Our results show that the TRE-1 flanking sequences modulate the structure and modestly increase the affinity of a CREB bZIP peptide for the TRE-1 core recognition sequence. These flanking sequences are also essential for a maximal increase in stability of the CREB-DNA complex in the presence of Tax.Conclusions: The CRE-like TRE core and the TRE flanking sequences are both essential for formation of stable CRIB-TRE-1 and Tax-CREB-TRE-1 complexes. These two DNA segments may have co-evolved into a unique structure capable of recognizing Tax and a bZIP protein.