Ultrafast solvation dynamics at internal sites of staphylococcal nuclease investigated by site-directed mutagenesis

Internal solvation of protein was studied by site-directed mutagenesis,with which an intrinsically fluorescent probe,tryptophan,is inserted into the desired position inside a protein molecule for ultrafast spectroscopic study.Here we review this unique method for protein dynamics research.We first introduce the frontiers of protein solvation,site-directed mutagenesis,protein stability and characteristics,and the spectroscopic methods.Then we present time-resolved spectroscopic dynamics of solvation dynamics inside cavities of active sites.The studies are carried out on a globular protein,staphylococcal nuclease.The solvation at sites inside the protein molecule’s cavities clearly reveals characteristics of the local environment.These solvation behaviors are directly correlated to enzyme activity.     

Measurement of micro weld joint position based on magneto-optical imaging

In a laser butt joint welding process,it is required that the laser beam focus should be controlled to follow the weld joint path accurately.Small focus wandering off the weld joint may result in insufficient penetration or unacceptable welds.Recognition of joint position offset,which describes the deviation between the laser beam focus and the weld joint,is important for adjusting the laser beam focus and obtaining high quality welds.A new method based on the magneto-optical(MO)imaging is applied to measure the micro weld joint whose gap is less than 0.2 mm.The weldments are excited by an external magnetic field,and an MO sensor based on principle of Faraday magneto effect is used to capture the weld joint images.A sequence of MO images which are tested under different magnetic field intensities and different weld joint widths are acquired.By analyzing the MO image characteristics and extracting the weld joint features,the influence of magnetic field intensity and weld joint width on the MO images and detection of weld joint position is observed and summarized.     

Effects of carbon contents on morphology and electrical properties of Li2MnSiO4/C prepared by a vacuum solid-state method

To improve the electrochemical performance of Li₂MnSiO₄ with low electric conductivity, the Li₂MnSiO₄/C composite are synthesized by a vacuum solid-state reaction of a mixture of SiO₂, LiCH₃COO, Mn(CH₃COO)₂ and designed mass of C₆H₁₂O₆ · H₂O as carbon sources. The crystalline structure and morphology of products are analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser scattering technology (LS) respectively. The tested results show that carbon doping decrease the crystallite sizes of products, but keep the aggregation of the particles and made the impurity increased instead. The results of constant current charge-discharge prove that the mixed carbon improve Li⁺ transmission performance and decrease inner polatization resistance of Li₂MnSiO₄ materials, but can not prevent the collapse of Li₂MnSiO₄ crystal structure. While the galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) results demonstrate that the primary reason for the improved electrochemical performance can be attributed to increased Li-ion diffusion coefficient $(D_{Li^ + } )$ as a result from carbon doping.     

1D Chain-Like Architecture in Anderson Heteropolymolybdate {[Eu(H2O)6]2(TeMo6O24)}·6H2O: Synthesis and Characterization

A new Anderson-based heteropolymolybdate {[Eu(H₂O)₆]₂(TeMo₆O₂₄)}·6H₂O (1) has been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, thermal stability analysis, XRD and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P-1, a = 9.4023(6) Å, b = 10.2530(7) Å, c = 10.6525(10) Å, α = 101.583(7)º, β = 108.024(7)º, γ = 107.150(6)º, V = 883.60(12) ų, Z = 1, R₁ = 0.0338, wR₂ = 0.0849. Compound 1 exhibits 1D chain-like structure formed by the alternative connection between Anderson type polyoxoanions [TeMo₆O₂₄]^6? and Eu³⁺ along a-axis. Compound 1 displays good fluorescent emission of the Eu³⁺ ion at room temperature.     

A Novel Heterometallic Cluster-Based Coordinational Polymer with 2-[Bis-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-Amino]-Ethanesulfonic Acid: Synthesis and Crystal Structure

A rare heterometallic cluster-based polymer [Cu₄(Hbhea)₄(μ ₂-OCH₃) K(CH₃OH))] _n ·(H₂O) _n (1) (H₃bhea = 2-[bis-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-ethanesulfonic acid), has been synthesized and structurally determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis. Crystallographic unit of 1 consists of four Cu(II), four Hbhea ligands, one methanol molecule, one methanol anion, one K ion and one crystal lattice water and formed anion cluster [Cu₄(Hbhea)₄(CH₃O)]^? which further constructed a 3-D polymer by linking the six-coordination K ions.     

miR-98 suppresses melanoma metastasis through a negative feedback loop with its target gene IL-6

Dysregulated microRNA (miRNA) expression has a critical role in tumor development and metastasis. However, the mechanism by which miRNAs control melanoma metastasis is unknown. Here, we report reduced miR-98 expression in melanoma tissues with increasing tumor stage as well as metastasis; its expression is also negatively associated with melanoma patient survival. Furthermore, we demonstrate that miR-98 inhibits melanoma cell migration in vitro as well as metastatic tumor size in vivo. We also found that IL-6 is a target gene of miR-98, and IL-6 represses miR-98 levels via the Stat3-NF-κB-lin28B pathway. In an in vivo melanoma model, we demonstrate that miR-98 reduces melanoma metastasis and increases survival in part by reducing IL-6 levels; it also decreases Stat3 and p65 phosphorylation as well as lin28B mRNA levels. These results suggest that miR-98 inhibits melanoma metastasis in part through a novel miR-98-IL-6-negative feedback loop.     

Clickable Periodic Mesoporous Organosilicas: Synthesis,Click Reactions,and Adsorption of Antibiotics

Pharmaceutical antibiotics are not easily removed from water by conventional water‐treatment technologies and have been recognized as new emerging pollutants. Herein, we report the synthesis of clickable azido periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) and their use as adsorbents for the adsorption of antibiotics. Ethane‐bridged PMOs, functionalized with azido groups at different densities, were synthesized by the co‐condensation of 1,2‐bis(trimethoxysilyl)ethane (BTME) and 3‐azidopropyltrimethoxysilane (AzPTMS), in the presence of nonionic‐surfactant triblock‐copolymer P123, in an acidic medium. Four different alkynes were conjugated to azide‐terminated PMOs by means of an efficient click reaction. The clicked PMOs showed improved adsorption capacity (241 μg g^?1) for antibiotics (ciprofloxacin hydrochloride) compared with azido‐functionalized PMOs because of the enhanced π–π stacking interactions. These results indicate that click reactions can introduce multifunctional groups onto PMOs, thus demonstrating the great potential of PMOs for environmental applications.     

The Photo‐Nazarov Reaction: Scope and Application

The reaction conditions and scope of the photo‐Nazarov reaction of aryl vinyl ketones were investigated. In contrast to the conventional acid‐catalyzed methods, this photolytic electrocyclization proceeds in the neutral or basic conditions. Irradiating substrates bearing various aromatic rings, acid‐sensitive groups, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptenyl, and unsaturated pyran with UV‐light (254 nm) smoothly yielded hexahydrofluorenones and related structures. This photo‐Nazarov reaction could also be applicable to the substrates carrying β‐alkyl groups on the enone, which gave corresponding polycyclic rings containing quaternary centers. These photo‐electrocyclized products may prove useful for synthesizing a variety of natural products and their derivatives. Further application of this mild photo‐Nazarov reaction in the synthesis of taiwaniaquinol B was achieved.