Nonenzymatic Rubylation and Ubiquitination of Proteins for Structural and Functional Studies

Uncovering the mechanisms that allow conjugates of ubiquitin (Ub) and/or Ub‐like (UBL) proteins such as Rub1 to serve as distinct molecular signals requires the ability to make them with native connectivity and defined length and linkage composition. A novel, effective, and affordable strategy for controlled chemical assembly of fully natural UBL–Ub, Ub–UBL, and UBL–UBL conjugates from recombinant monomers is presented. Rubylation of Ub and Rub1 and ubiquitination of Rub1 was achieved without E2/E3 enzymes. New residue‐specific information was obtained on the interdomain contacts in naturally‐occurring K48‐linked Rub1–Ub and Ub–Rub1, and K29‐linked Rub1–Ub heterodimers, and their recognition by a K48‐linkage‐specific Ub receptor. The disassembly of these heterodimers by major deubiquitinating enzymes was examined and it was discovered that some deubiquitinases also possess derubylase activity. This unexpected result suggests possible crosstalk between Ub and Rub1/Nedd8 signaling pathways.     

Characterization of the tryptophan residues of human placental ribonuclease inhibitor and its complex with bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A by steady-state and time-resolved emission spectroscopy

Human placental ribonuclease inhibitor (hRI) containing six tryptophan (Trp) residues located at positions 19, 261, 263, 318, 375, and 438 and its complex with RNase A have been studied using steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence (298 K) as well as low-temperature phosphorescence (77 K). Two Trp residues in wild-type hRI and also in the protein-protein complex with RNase A are resolved optically. The accessible surface area values of Trp residues in the wild-type hRI and its complex and consideration of inter-Trp energy transfer in the wild-type hRI reveal that one of the Trp residues is Trp19, which is located in a hydrophobic buried region. The other Trp residue is tentatively assigned as Trp375 based on experimental results on wild-type hRI and its complex. This residue in the wild-type hRI is more or less solvent exposed. Both the Trp residues are perturbed slightly on complex formation. Trp19 moves slightly toward a more hydrophobic region, and the environment of Trp375 becomes less solvent exposed. The complex formation also results in a more heterogeneous environment for both the optically resolved Trp residues.     

Bis­[bis­(diethyl­enetri­amine)­zinc(II)] hexa­cyano­ferrate tetrahydrate

In the crystal structure of the title compound, [Zn(C₄H₁₃N₃)₂]₂[Fe(CN)₆]·4H₂O, the asymmetric unit is formed by a [Zn(dien)₂]²⁺ cation (dien = diethyl­enetri­amine, NH₂CH₂CH₂NHCH₂CH₂NH₂), water mol­ecules and half of the [Fe(CN)₆]^4? anion which is related by inversion symmetry through the Fe atom. The geometry around the Zn and Fe atoms is distorted octahedral and octahedral, respectively. Intramolecular O—H?O hydrogen bonds involving the water mol­ecules, and intermolecular O—H?N hydrogen bonds involving the water mol­ecules and the anions, result in an infinite chain. Intramolecular O—H?O and N—H?N, and intermolecular O—H?N, N—H?O and N—H?N hydrogen bonds form a three‐dimensional framework.     

4,5‐Di­azafluoren‐9‐one benzoyl­hydrazone monohydrate

The title compound, C₁₈H₁₂N₄O·H₂O, adopts the keto tautomeric form and the azomethine C=N double bond is in the E configuration. The dihedral angle between the planes of the di­aza­fluorene moiety and the phenyl ring is 11.3 (1)°. In the solid state, the mol­ecules form infinite chain‐like structures via O—H?N hydrogen bonds involving the water mol­ecules and di­aza­fluorene moieties.     

[N,N‐Bis(2‐hydroxy­ethyl)­di­thio­car­bamato‐S]­bis­(tri­phenyl­phosphine‐P)­copper(I) tri­phenyl­phosphine solvate

In the title compound, [Cu(C₅H₁₀NO₂S₂)(C₁₈H₁₅P)₂]·C₁₈H₁₅P, the Cu atom is in a distorted tetrahedral coordination, with two tri­phenyl­phosphine P atoms and two S atoms from an N,N‐bis(2‐hydroxy­ethyl)­di­thio­carbamate ligand occupying the vertices. The crystal structure is characterized by alternate layers of complex and tri­phenyl­phosphine mol­ecules.     

A kinetic and mechanistic study on the silver (I)-catalyzed oxidation of l-alanine by cerium (IV) in sulfuric acid medium

The kinetics and mechanism of Ag(I)-catalyzed oxidation of l-alanine by cerium (IV) in sulfuric acid media have been investigated by titrimetric technique of redox in the temperature range of 298–313 K. It is found that the reaction is of first order with respect to Ce(IV) and l-alanine, and it is of a positive fractional order with respect to Ag(I). It is found that the pseudo first order ([l-alanine] ? [Ce(IV)] ? [Ag(I)]) rate constant k′ increases with the increase of[H⁺]. The major oxidation product of alanine has been identified as acetaldehyde by an ¹H NMR and IR spectroscopy. Under the experimental conditions, the kinetically active species has been found to be Ce⁴⁺. Under nitrogen atmosphere, the reaction system can initiate the polymerization of acrylonitrile, indicating generation of free radicals. On the basis of the experimental results, a suitable mechanism has been proposed. The rate constants of the rate-determining step together with the activation parameters were evaluated.     

Nanomaterial-based functional scaffolds for amperometric sensing of bioanalytes

Functional nanomaterials have emerged as promising candidates in the development of an amperometric sensing platform for the detection and quantification of bioanalytes. The remarkable characteristics of nanomaterials based on metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, and graphene ensure enhanced performance of the sensors in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, detection limit, response time, and multiplexing capability. The electrocatalytic properties of these functional materials can be combined with the biocatalytic activity of redox enzymes to develop integrated biosensing platforms. Highly sensitive and stable miniaturized amperometric sensors have been developed by integrating the nanomaterials and biocatalyst with the transducers. This review provides an update on recent progress in the development of amperometric sensors/biosensors using functional nanomaterials for the sensing of clinically important metabolites such as glucose, cholesterol, lactate, and glutamate, immunosensing of cancer biomarkers, and genosensing.     

Novel thermooxidatively stable poly(ether-imide-benzoxazole) and poly(ester-imide-benzoxazole)

4-Hydroxy-5-nitrophthalimides were produced via nucleophilic aromatic substitution (NAS) of 4,5-dichloro phthalimide substituents by potassium nitrite. The use of a N-phenyl-phthalimide having a protected 4′-hydroxyl group allows concurrent deprotection and nitro reduction to amine to give the 4-hydroxy-5-amino-N-(4′-hydroxyphenyl) phthalimide. This key intermediate is the precursor to a poly (ether-imide-benzoxazole), and is the condensable monomer for a poly (ester-imide-benzoxazole). Benzoxazole monomer formation via condensation with p-fluorobenzoyl chloride afforded 2-(4′-fluorophenyl)-5,6,-N-[4′(-hydroxyphenyl) imide]-benzoxazole, which was polymerized under NAS conditions to produce a poly(ether-imide-benzoxazole) having an endothermic transition at 454°C with weight retention of 90% at 500°C in both air and nitrogen. Solution polycondensation of the 4-hydroxy-5-amino-N-(4′-hydroxyphenyl) phthalimide monomer with isophthaloyl chloride afforded a poly(ester-amide-imide) which was isolated and thermally cyclodehydrated in the solid state under vacuum to give a poly(ester-imide-benzoxazole) having 95% weight retention at 500°C in both air and nitrogen, with no detectable DSC transitions up to 500°C. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.