Observation of an unprecedented Cu Bis-His site: crystal structure of the H129V mutant of nitrite reductase

Copper nitrite reductases contain both an electron-transfer type 1 Cu site and a catalytic type 2 Cu site. We have mutated one of the type 2 copper ligating histidines to observe the effect on catalytic turnover. This mutation has created a unique site where Cu is ligated by 2 His Nepsilon2 atoms alone.     

Charge transfer states in GeO2-doped silicate fiber-optic waveguides and their role in second-harmonic generation

The concentration dependence of the broad-band luminescence arising in GeO₂-doped silicate fiber-optic waveguides is measured and interpreted. The spectra obtained show that electronic excitations of a new type that are absent in pure silicate glass — charge transfer excitons — arise in the doped system. Under the action of light an electron can be transferred both from a Ge center into the host and between Ge centers. Self-organization of these excitations in the field of a light wave (orientational ordering of their dipole moments) results in the appearance of a macroscopic electric field that destroys the initial centrosymmetry of the system and allows second-harmonic generation. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 68, No. 10, 737–740 (25 November 1998)     

Light driven self-drilling in glasses

It is shown that ArF laser beam may act as effective driller producing in fuzed quartz micron radius channel up to 1 cm long while diameter of light spot is few millimeters. Drill formation is accompanied by compaction effect in the drill walls therefore material is not thrown out the channel.     

Influence of liquid layers on energy absorption during particle impact

The influence of the thickness of a covering liquid layer and its viscosity as well as the impact velocity on energy loss during the normal impact on a flat steel wall of spherical granules with a liquid layer was studied. Free-fall experiments were performed to obtain the restitution coefficient of elastic–plastic Al2O3 granules by impact on the liquid layer, using aqueous solutions of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose with different concentrations for variation of viscosity (1–300 mPa s). In the presence of a...     

Higher-Order Relations for Derivatives of Nonlinear Diffusion Semigroups

We show that a special choice of the Cameron–Martin direction in the characterization of the Wiener measure via the formula of integration by parts leads to a set of natural representations for derivatives of nonlinear diffusion semigroups. In particular, we obtain a final solution of the non-Lipschitz singularities in the Malliavin calculus.     

Dynamic Modes of One Seismic-Damping Mechanism with Frictional Bonds

The possible states of a system of interacting solids with rolling friction and unilateral sliding friction bonds are analyzed. The system can be used for seismic isolation of buildings. The structures (modes) of motion are established. The basic analytical relations are derived, which are needed to construct a dynamic model of variable structure     

X-ray diffraction study of the complexes of SAICAR synthase with adenosinetriphosphate

The three-dimensional structures of two enzyme-substrate complexes of SAICAR synthase from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae with adenosinetriphosphate (ATP) prepared under different conditions were studied by X-ray diffraction analysis and then refined. An enzyme molecule was shown to contain two binding sites of ATP. One of these sites is located in the central cavity of the enzyme molecule and apparently binds the ATP molecule directly involved in the enzymatic reaction. In the complexes, the phosphate groups of ATP occupying this site adopt different conformations depending on the Mg²⁺ concentration. The functional role of the second binding site located at a distance of approximately 15 Å from the first site away from the central enzyme cavity has not been understood as yet. It might be that the second site perform the regulatory role in enzyme functioning.     

X-ray diffraction study of the complex of the enzyme SAICAR synthase with substrate analogues

The three-dimensional structure of the complex of the enzyme SAICAR synthase with analogues of natural substrates, namely, phosphoribosylaminoimidazolecarboxamide (AICAR) and succinic acid, was determined and refined by methods of protein crystallography. Two AICAR-binding sites were revealed in the protein molecule. One of these sites is located in the active center of the enzyme in the vicinity of the ATP-binding site, which has been found in the complex of SAICAR synthase with ATP that had been studied earlier. The second AICAR-binding site is located at the periphery of the protein molecule and coincides with the additional ATP-binding site present in the complexes studied earlier. The binding site of succinic acid was revealed in the active center of the enzyme in the vicinity of the AICAR molecule. The electron density distribution for the AICAR molecule in the active center is indicative of the possible lability of the atomic group of the adenine base.     

X-ray diffraction study of the complex of the enzyme SAICAR synthase with the reaction product

The three-dimensional structure of the complex of the enzyme SAICAR synthase with the product of the enzymatic reaction, SAICAR, was solved and refined by methods of protein crystallography. The SAICAR-binding site in the active site of the enzyme was found. The amino-acid residues providing the binding of the reaction product with the protein were revealed. These residues were compared with those involved in the substrate binding in the complex with AICAR and succinic acid studied earlier.