Structural characterization of crystalline ternary inclusion compounds at the air-water interface

Crystalline ternary inclusion monolayers consisting of a two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded host network of guanidinium (G) ions and organosulfonate (S) amphiphiles, and biphenylalkane guests, can be generated at the air-water interface through synergistic structural enforcement by hydrogen bonding and host-guest packing. Surface pressure-area isotherms of the 4'-hexadecylbiphenyl-4-sulfonate (C16BPS) amphiphile in the presence of G, with or without guest, are characterized by lift-off molecular areas expected for the GS sheet based on single-crystal X-ray structures of homologous bulk crystals. Intercalation of biphenylalkane guests (4-C(n)()H(2)(n)()(+1)-C(6)H(4)-C(6)H(5), n = 1, 4, 6, 10, 16; denoted CnBP) between organosulfonate hydrophobes, which define pocketlike cavities in the GS monolayer host, afford ternary inclusion monolayers with a 1:1 host-guest stoichiometry. These inclusion monolayers are less compressible than the guest-free host, consistent with dense packing of the biphenylalkane moieties of the host and the biphenylalkane guests. The inclusion monolayers are distinguished from the amorphous guest-free host and from selected guanidinium-free mixed monolayers by structural characterization with grazing-angle incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD). The GIXD data for the ternary (G)C16BPS:C16BP and (G)C16BPS:C6BP inclusion monolayers obtained upon compression are consistent with a rectangular unit cell. The dimensions of these unit cells and refinement of the GIXD data suggest a "rotated shifted ribbon" GS hydrogen-bonding motif similar to that observed in some bulk GS crystals, including (G)(ethylbiphenylsulfonate). GIXD reveals that (G)C16BPS:C16BP and (G)C16BPS:C6BP are more crystalline than the corresponding guanidinium-free mixed monolayers. The (G)C16BPS:C6BP inclusion monolayer is stable upon compression, even though the alkyl-alkyl host-guest interactions are reduced due to the shorter hexyl substituents of the guest, demonstrating an important reinforcing role for the hydrogen-bonded GS sheet. The structure of a C16BPS:tetracosane (C24) mixed monolayer is independent of G; the unit cell symmetry and dimensions suggest a structure governed by alkyl-alkane interactions that prohibit formation of a GS network. These results illustrate that the existence of ternary inclusion monolayers with an intact GS network requires guest molecules that are structurally homologous with the hydrophobes of the host, in this case biphenylalkanes. The observation of these inclusion compounds suggests an approach for introducing functional nonamphiphilic molecules to an air-water interface through inclusion in a well-defined host.     

Multifunctional nanoparticles as simulants for a gravimetric immunoassay

Immunoassays are important tools for the rapid detection and identification of pathogens, both clinically and in the research laboratory. An immunoassay with the potential for the detection of influenza was developed and tested using hemagglutinin (HA), a commonly studied glycoprotein found on the surface of influenza virions. Gold nanoparticles were synthesized, which present multiple peptide epitopes, including the HA epitope, in order to increase the gravimetric response achieved with the use of a QCM immunosensor for influenza. Specifically, epitopes associated with HA and FLAG peptides were affixed to gold nanoparticles by a six-mer PEG spacer between the epitope and the terminal cysteine. The PEG spacer was shown to enhance the probability for interaction with antibodies by increasing the distance the epitope extends from the gold surface. These nanoparticles were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight, and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. Anti-FLAG and anti-HA antibodies were adhered to the surface of a QCM, and the response of each antibody upon exposure to HA, FLAG, and dual functionalized nanoparticles was compared with binding of Au–tiopronin nanoparticles and H5 HA proteins from influenza virus (H5N1). Results demonstrate that the immunoassay was capable of differentiating between nanoparticles presenting orthogonal epitopes in real-time with minimal nonspecific binding. The detection of H5 HA protein demonstrates the logical extension of using these nanoparticle mimics as a safe positive control in the detection of influenza, making this a vital step in improving influenza detection methodology.     

6,6-Spiroimine analogs of (-)-gymnodimine A: synthesis and biological evaluation on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Simple models of the spiroimine core of (-)-gymnodimine A have been synthesized in racemic and optically active forms. The quaternary carbon of the racemic spiroimines was created by Michael addition of a β-ketoester to acrolein, whereas the asymmetric allylic alkylation of the same β-ketoester was used to access the spiroimines in an enantioselective fashion. Both racemic and enantio-enriched mixtures were tested for their biological activities on Xenopus oocytes either expressing (human α4β2) or having incorporated (Torpedoα1(2)βγδ) nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). These spiroimine analogs of (-)-gymnodimine A inhibited acetylcholine-evoked nicotinic currents, but were less active than the phycotoxin. Our results reveal that the 6,6-spiroimine moiety is important for the blockade of nAChRs and support the hypothesis that it is one of the pharmacophores of this group of toxins.     

Molecular surface electrostatic potentials of anticonvulsant drugs

The computed molecular surface electrostatic potentials of a group of anticonvulsants of various chemical types were investigated with the objective of identifying common features that may be related to their activities. The calculations were carried out with the density functional B3P86/6-31G* procedure, using HF/STO-3G*-optimized geometries. Analysis of several statistically based properties of the surface potentials indicates that the negative regions are of primary importance and that an optimum intermediate level of local polarity, or internal charge separation, is required. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 70: 1137–1143, 1998     

Performance comparison using the GUESS mixture to evaluate counter-current chromatography instruments

Comparing the performance of different counter-current chromatography (CCC) J-type centrifuges has and will always be difficult. This is due to the number of variables such as speed of rotation, swung radius, β-value, column bore, column length that can be chosen during the design of an instrument. This situation is further complicated by the implication that some of these variables are intrinsically linked, such that if one is changed another or others can also change. The chromatographer has no influence on these hardware parameters once the instrument designer has chosen them. However, the chromatographer wants a CCC column that retains the most liquid stationary phase in order to achieve the best separation of the components in a mixture. What matters most is column performance in terms of: sample loading per injection, speed of separation, purity of target and yield of target. The instrument that has the best performance in all these areas is called a “high-performance” CCC system. This paper demonstrates to the modern chromatographer that a “high-performance” CCC instrument has shorter, lower volume columns that are rotated faster to provide quicker separations, even with the same sample loading.     

Far-Red Dibenzo[a,j]Perylene-8,16-Dione Dyes as Fluorescent Enzyme Substrates and Tags for Biomolecules

The synthesis of fluorescent 2,10-derivatives of the title chromophore are described. The substituents contain amino-reactive N-hydroxysuccinimde ester and thiol-reactive iodoacetamide groups for attachment to biomolecules. A phosphate derivative was also prepared as an enzyme substrate.     

SO42-/Zr-ZSM-5 超强酸催化剂的制备和表征

以硅溶胶和氧氯化锆为硅源和锆源，采用水热合成的方法制得具有ZSM-5结构的Zr-Si分子筛；用0.5mol/L的硫酸处理该分子筛，并在550℃焙烧，制得具有ZSM-5结构的SO4^2-/ZrO2-SiO2分子筛型的固体超强酸。采用XRD、SEM、TG、IR、NH3-PHD和指示剂法对其结构和酸性进行表征。结果表明，该SO4^2-/ZrO2-SiO2具有ZSM-5结构和超强酸性，其酸强度大于-13.75，且具有良好的热稳定性。     

Mass spectrometric interrogation of thioester-bound intermediates in the initial stages of epothilone biosynthesis

Direct detection of thioester intermediate mixtures bound to EpoC, a 195 kDa polyketide synthase, has been achieved using limited proteolysis and Fourier-transform mass spectrometry (FTMS). Incubation with various N-acetylcysteamine thioester (S-NAC) substrate mimics produced mass shifts on the EpoC ACP domain consistent with their condensation with an enzyme-bound carbanion produced by the decarboxylation of methylmalonyl-S-EpoC. Reconstitution of EpoA-ACP, EpoB, and EpoC gave a +165.0 Da mass shift consistent with the formation of the methylthiazolyl-methacrylyl product by incorporation of acetyl-CoA, cysteine, and methylmalonyl-CoA. Thioester-templated reaction intermediates and products are typically characterized by quantifying radioactive substrates, either enzyme bound or chemically hydrolyzed. In contrast, the MS-based methodology described here provides semiquantifiable ratios of free enzyme, intermediate, and product occupancy and reveals that certain substrates result in a >50% formation of nonproductive intermediates.