Coherent single pion production by antineutrino charged current interactions and test of PCAC

The cross section for coherent production of a single π^? meson in charged current antineutrino interactions on neon nuclei has been measured in BEBC to be (175±25) 10^?40 cm²/neon nucleus, averaged over the energy spectrum of the antineutrino wide band beam at the CERN SPS; this corresponds to (0.9±0.1) % of the total charged current \(\bar v_\mu \) cross section. The distributions of kinematical variables are in agreement with theoretical predictions based on the PCAC hypothesis and the meson dominance model; in particular, theQ ² dependence is well described by a propagator containing a massm=(1.35±0.18) GeV. The absolute value of the cross section is also in agreement with the model. This analysis thus provides a test of the PCAC hypothesis in the antineutrino energy range 5–150 GeV.     

Pincer-porphyrin hybrids

[reaction: see text] Starting from tetrakis(3,5-bis(bromomethyl)phenyl)porphyrin, pincer-porphyrin hybrid molecules (tetrakis(ECE-pincer)porphyrin; E = N, P, S) based on a tetraphenylporphyrin skeleton have been prepared in high yields. These multi-ligand site compounds could be selectively metalated at their peripheries, which was shown by X-ray crystallography.     

Phase separation of p53 precedes aggregation and is affected by oncogenic mutations and ligands

Mutant p53 tends to form aggregates with amyloid properties, especially amyloid oligomers inside the nucleus, which are believed to cause oncogenic gain-of-function (GoF). The mechanism of the formation of the aggregates in the nucleus remains uncertain. The present study demonstrated that the DNA-binding domain of p53 (p53C) underwent phase separation (PS) on the pathway to aggregation under various conditions. p53C phase separated in the presence of the crowding agent polyethylene glycol (PEG). Similarly, mutant p53C (M237I and R249S) underwent PS; however, the process evolved to a solid-like phase transition faster than that in the case of wild-type p53C. The data obtained by microscopy of live cells indicated that transfection of mutant full-length p53 into the cells tended to result in PS and phase transition (PT) in the nuclear compartments, which are likely the cause of the GoF effects. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments revealed liquid characteristics of the condensates in the nucleus. Mutant p53 tended to undergo gel- and solid-like phase transitions in the nucleus and in nuclear bodies demonstrated by slow and incomplete recovery of fluorescence after photobleaching. Polyanions, such as heparin and RNA, were able to modulate PS and PT in vitro. Heparin apparently stabilized the condensates in a gel-like state, and RNA apparently induced a solid-like state of the protein even in the absence of PEG. Conditions that destabilize p53C into a molten globule conformation also produced liquid droplets in the absence of crowding. The disordered transactivation domain (TAD) modulated both phase separation and amyloid aggregation. In summary, our data provide mechanistic insight into the formation of p53 condensates and conditions that may result in the formation of aggregated structures, such as mutant amyloid oligomers, in cancer. The pathway of mutant p53 from liquid droplets to gel-like and solid-like (amyloid) species may be a suitable target for anticancer therapy.

Mutant p53 tends to form aggregates with amyloid properties, especially amyloid oligomers inside the nucleus, which are believed to cause oncogenic gain-of-function (GoF).     

pH dependent self-assembly of dimetallic lanthanide complexes

pH dependent self-association has been observed in a series of DO3A-derived lanthanide complexes bearing a carboxylate group that can act as a bridging ligand at high pH, switching on the luminescence from the lanthanide.     

One‐Dimensional,Cofacial Porphyrin Polymers Formed by Self‐Assembly of meso‐Tetrakis(ERE Donor) Zinc(II) Porphyrins

A series of meso‐tetrakis‐(ERE donor) zinc(II) porphyrins n Zn (ERE donor=4‐R‐3,5‐bis[(E)‐methyl]phenyl; 1 Zn: E=NMe₂, R=Br; 2 Zn: E=NMe₂, R=H; 3 Zn: E=OMe, R=Br; 4 Zn: E=OMe, R=H) have been synthesized in excellent yields. As a result of the combination of a Lewis acidic site and eight Lewis basic sites within one molecule, monomeric molecules of n Zn self‐assemble to form one‐dimensional porphyrin polymers [ n Zn]_∞ in the solid state, as confirmed for 1 Zn and 3 Zn by X‐ray crystallography. The coordination environment around the zinc(II) ions in these polymers is octahedral. They are ligated by four equatorial nitrogen atoms of the porphyrin and two apical E atoms (E=N, O) provided by the EBrE donor groups of adjacent n Zn molecules. Complexes 2 Zn and 4 Zn did not form single crystals, but solid‐state UV/Vis analysis points to the formation of similar structures. Solution UV/Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy indicated that interactions between 1 Zn and 2 Zn monomers in the polymers are stronger than between 3 Zn and 4 Zn monomers. Interestingly, they also revealed that the presence of a neighboring bromine atom in the EBrE donor groups has a considerable influence on the coordination properties of the benzylic N or O atoms. The zinc(II) ions of the porphyrins most likely adopt only hexacoordination in the solid state, owing to the unique predisposition of Lewis acidic and basic sites in the n Zn molecules. Several parameters of the aggregates, for example, the interplanar separation between porphyrins and the zinc–zinc distances, change as a function of the coordinating E groups. The high degree of modularity in their synthesis makes these zinc(II) porphyrins an interesting new entry in noncovalent multiporphyrin assemblies.     

Lithium bromide in acetonitrile: Thermodynamics,theory, and simulation

A variety of methods has been used for the study of lithium bromide solutions in acetonitrile yielding by their combination reliable information on different levels of approximation. Osmotic coefficients based on precise vapor pressure measurements are reproduced by CM (chemical model) and HNC (hypernetted chain) calculations and by BD (brownian dynamics) simulations. The results of neutron scattering experiments are treated with the help of HNC and BD methods. Hartree-Fock calculations on isolated LiBr pairs and solvated lithium ions yield reliable particle distances and reveal the geometry of the lithium solvation sphere.     

FLUORESCENCE SPECTRAL CHANGES OF HEMATOPORPHYRIN DERIVATIVE UPON BINDING TO LIPID VESICLES, Staphylococcus aureus AND Escherichia coli CELLS

Abstract— The binding of hematoporphyrin derivated (Hpd) to lipid vesicles and bacterial membranes was determined by fluorescence spectroscopy. The fluorescence measurements of Hpd in aqueous solutions showed two bands at 613 and 677 nm. In lipid environments of lecithin vesicles the fluorescence spectrum was shifted to 631 and 692 nm, respectively. Hpd was rapidly bound to the cell membrane of Staphylococcus aureus while much less binding occurred in the presence of Escherichia coli. At the same time, spheroplasts of both bacteria were shown to bind Hpd to a similar extent. These results are well correlated with the photoinactivation of the gram positive bacteria with Hpd while the gram negative cells were shown to be resistant. The pH dependence of both Hpd binding to S. aureus as well as the photodynamic inhibitory effect of the same bacteria are similar. It is concluded that the segregation of Hpd to the cell membrane is a prerequisite for its photodynamic effect.