Singular Sturm—Liouville problems with nonnegative and indefinite weights

This article is concerned with the oscillatory properties of the eigenfunctions of a class of singular Sturm—Liouville problems—(p y)+q y=w y on (a, b), where the weight functionw vanishes on a subinterval of positive measure, or where the weight functionw changes sign on (a, b).This work was supported by the Applied Mathematical Sciences Research Program (KC-04-02) of the Office of Energy Research of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract W-31-109-Eng-38.     

Basis set convergence studies of Hartree-Fock calculations of molecular properties within the resolution of the identity approximation

Within the resolution of the identity (RI) method, the convergence of the Hartree-Fock (HF) total molecular energy and the multipole moments in the course of the combined regular expansion of the molecular and auxiliary (RI) basis sets is studied. Dunning's cc-pVXZ series is used for both the molecular and the RI basis sets. The results show the calculated quantities converge to the HF limit when both the molecular and the RI basis sets are expanded from correlation-consistent polarized valence double zeta to correlation-consistent polarized valence sextuple zeta. Combinations of molecular/RI basis sets sufficient for convergence of the total energy and of the multipole moments at various accuracy levels have been determined. A measure of the RI basis set incompleteness is suggested and discussed. As it is significantly faster than the standard HF algorithm for small and midsize molecules, the RI-HF method, together with appropriate expanding series of both molecular and RI basis sets, provide an efficient tool to estimate and control the error of the Hartree-Fock calculations due to the finite basis set.     

Excited-state characters and dynamics of [W(CO)(5)(4-cyanopyridine)] and [W(CO)(5)(piperidine)] studied by picosecond time-resolved IR and resonance Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations: roles of W --> L and W --> CO MLCT and LF excited states revised

The characters, dynamics, and relaxation pathways of low-lying excited states of the complexes [W(CO)(5)L] [L = 4-cyanopyridine (pyCN) and piperidine (pip)] were investigated using theoretical and spectroscopic methods. DFT calculations revealed the delocalized character of chemically and spectroscopicaly relevant molecular orbitals and the presence of a low-lying manifold of CO pi-based unoccupied molecular orbitals. Traditional ligand-field arguments are not applicable. The lowest excited states of [W(CO)(5)(pyCN)] are W --> pyCN MLCT in character. They are closely followed in energy by W --> CO MLCT states. Excitation at 400 or 500 nm populates the (3)MLCT(pyCN) excited state, which was characterized by picosecond time-resolved IR and resonance Raman spectroscopy. Excited-state vibrations were assigned using DFT calculations. The (3)MLCT(pyCN) excited state is initially formed highly excited in low-frequency vibrations which cool with time constants between 1 and 20 ps, depending on the excitation wavelength, solvent, and particular high-frequency nu(CO) or nu(CN) mode. The lowest excited states of [W(CO)(5)(pip)] are W --> CO MLCT, as revealed by TD-DFT interpretation of a nanosecond time-resolved IR spectrum that was measured earlier in a low-temperature glass (Johnson, F. P. A.; George, M. W.; Morrison, S. L.; Turner, J. J. J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1995, 391-393). MLCT(CO) excitation involves transfer of electron density from the W atom and, to a lesser extent, the trans CO to the pi orbitals of the four cis CO ligands. Optical excitation into MLCT(CO) transition of either complex in fluid solution triggers femtosecond dissociation of a W-N bond, producing [W(CO)(5)(solvent)]. It is initially vibrationally excited both in nu(CO) and anharmonicaly coupled low-frequency modes. Vibrational cooling occurs with time constants of 16-22 ps while the intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution from the v = 1 nu(CO) modes is much slower, 160-220 ps. No LF excited states have been found for the complexes studied in a spectroscopically relevant range up to 6-7 eV. It follows that spectroscopy, photophysics, and photochemistry of [W(CO)(5)L] and related complexes are well described by an interplay of close-lying MLCT(L) and MLCT(CO) excited states. The high-lying LF states play only an indirect photochemical role by modifying potential energy curves of MLCT(CO) states, making them dissociative.     

Reaktion von Alkyl- und Arylchlorsilanen mit Phosph(III) en-imidamiden

The reaction of RSiCl₃ (R=CH₃, C₂H₅, C₆H₅) and R₂SiCl₂ (R=CH₃) with one mole of the phosphenimidous amides R₂N–P=NR [R=R=Si(CH₃)₃; R=Si(CH₃)₃, R=C(CH₃)₃] yieds a four membered PN₂Si-ring system under elimination of (CH₃)₃SiCl.     

Design of a calcium-binding protein with desired structure in a cell adhesion molecule

Ca2+, "a signal of life and death", controls numerous cellular processes through interactions with proteins. An effective approach to understanding the role of Ca2+ is the design of a Ca2+-binding protein with predicted structural and functional properties. To design de novo Ca2+-binding sites in proteins is challenging due to the high coordination numbers and the incorporation of charged ligand residues, in addition to Ca2+-induced conformational change. Here, we demonstrate the successful design of a Ca2+-binding site in the non-Ca2+-binding cell adhesion protein CD2. This designed protein, Ca.CD2, exhibits selectivity for Ca2+ versus other di- and monovalent cations. In addition, La3+ (Kd 5.0 microM) and Tb3+ (Kd 6.6 microM) bind to the designed protein somewhat more tightly than does Ca2+ (Kd 1.4 mM). More interestingly, Ca.CD2 retains the native ability to associate with the natural target molecule. The solution structure reveals that Ca.CD2 binds Ca2+ at the intended site with the designed arrangement, which validates our general strategy for designing de novo Ca2+-binding proteins. The structural information also provides a close view of structural determinants that are necessary for a functional protein to accommodate the metal-binding site. This first success in designing Ca2+-binding proteins with desired structural and functional properties opens a new avenue in unveiling key determinants to Ca2+ binding, the mechanism of Ca2+ signaling, and Ca2+-dependent cell adhesion, while avoiding the complexities of the global conformational changes and cooperativity in natural Ca2+-binding proteins. It also represents a major achievement toward designing functional proteins controlled by Ca2+ binding.     

Stereoselective hydroxylation of an achiral cyclopentanecarboxylic acid derivative using engineered P450s BM-3

Substrate engineered, achiral carboxylic acid derivative was biohydroxylated with various mutants of cytochrome P450 BM-3 to give two out of the four possible diastereoisomers in high de and ee. The BM-3 mutants exhibit up to 9200 total turnovers for hydroxylation of the engineered substrate, which without the protecting group is not transformed by this enzyme.     

Structural Investigation of Guest-to-Host and Ligand-Ligand Interactions in Werner Clathrates of [Ni(4-Etpy)4(NCS)2]⋅ nG Type (G = Naphthalene Derivatives). The Crystal Structure of [Ni(4-Etpy)4(NCS)2]⋅1-Methylnaphthalene

The stoichiometry and spectral properties of [Ni(4-Etpy)4(NCS)2]nG clathrates have been studied where n = 2 for G = 1-BrN (N = naphthalene), n = 1 or 2 for G = 1-MeN, and n = 0.5 for 2-MeN and 2-BrN. The complexes under study show electronic absorption spectra typical of an octahedral environment of the Ni(II) central atom. The differences found in IR spectra for the (CN) and (Ni–-NNCS) vibrations are discussed. The crystal structure of [Ni(4-Etpy)4(NCS)2]1-MeN was determined by X-ray diffraction and refined to R = 0.0586. Discrete non-centrosymmetric [Ni(4-Etpy)4(NCS)2] molecules form layers of a host structure and the space between the layers is occupied by 1-MeN. The relationship between interatomic distances in the host complex of similar clathrates are discussed.     

Biocompatible hydrogels based on chitosan,cellulose/starch,PVA and PEDOT:PSS with high flexibility and high mechanical strength

Fabricating mechanically strong hydrogels that can withstand the conditions in internal tissues is a challenging task. We have designed hydrogels based on multicomponent systems by combining chitosan, starch/cellulose, PVA, and PEDOT:PSS via one-pot synthesis. The starch-based hydrogels were homogeneous, while the cellulose-based hydrogels showed the presence of cellulose micro- and nanofibers. The cellulose-based hydrogels demonstrated a swelling ratio between 121 and 156%, while the starch-based hydrogels showed higher values, from 234 to 280%. Tensile tests indicated that the presence of starch in the hydrogels provided high flexibility (strain at break?>?300%), while combination with cellulose led to the formation of stiffer hydrogels (elastic moduli 3.9–6.6 MPa). The ultimate tensile strength for both types of hydrogels was similar (2.8–3.9 MPa). The adhesion and growth of human osteoblast-like SAOS-2 cells was higher on hydrogels with cellulose than on hydrogels with starch, and was higher on hydrogels with PEDOT:PSS than on hydrogels without this polymer. The metabolic activity of cells cultivated for 3 days in the hydrogel infusions indicated that no acutely toxic compounds were released. This is promising for further possible applications of these hydrogels in tissue engineering or in wound dressings.

Graphical abstract

     

Immunological detection of glycoproteins on blots based on labeling with digoxigenin

In the following, we describe the application of the DIG/antiDIG system for the (structural) analysis of glycoproteins on blots. Special emphasis is being placed on the variety of the different DIG applications in order to obtain structural information concerning the glycoprotein carbohydrate chains. Prominent among them is the use of lectins with well-known specificities for carbohydrate structures. This article first appeared in: Hounsell, E. F., ed. (1993),Methods in Molecular Biollogy, vol. 14: Glycoprotein Analysis in Biomedicine, Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ.