Elastic deformations in hexagonal phases studied by small-angle X-ray diffraction and simulations

In this study we present experimental and theoretical results which concern the deviations from circularity of the pivotal plane in the inverse hexagonal phases (H(II)) of phospholipid self-assemblies. Due to packing constraints, the cross-section of the polar/apolar interface deviates from a circle, which we studied in minute detail by analysing small-angle X-ray diffraction data of dioleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) and stearoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (SOPE), respectively. On this structural basis, Monte Carlo (MC) simulated annealing variations of the free energy were carried out, both on the formation of the H(II)-phase and on the particular shape of the cross-section in the H(II)-phase. The equilibrium of the H(II)-phase pivotal plane contour and the corresponding values of the mean intrinsic curvature, H(m), and the hydrocarbon chain stiffness, τ, were determined from MC calculations. The results of these calculations were tested by solving the corresponding system of non-linear differential equations derived using variational calculus. Here our main aim is to predict the range of possible values of H(m) and τ. Comparing the measured structural data with predictions from MC calculations including lipid anisotropy, and accounting for the elastic deformations of the pivotal plane allowed us to determine a relationship between the bending deformation and stretching of hydrocarbon chains.     

Reprogramming Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetases for “Clickable” Amino Acids

Nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) are multifunctional enzymes that produce a wide array of bioactive peptides. Here we show that a single tryptophan‐to‐serine mutation in phenylalanine‐specific NRPS adenylation domains enables the efficient activation of non‐natural aromatic amino acids functionalized with azide and alkyne groups. The resulting 10⁵‐fold switch in substrate specificity was achieved without appreciable loss of catalytic efficiency. Moreover, the effective communication of the modified A domains with downstream modules in dipeptide synthetases permitted incorporation of O‐propargyl‐L ‐tyrosine into diketopiperazines both in vitro and in vivo, even in the presence of competing phenylalanine. Because azides and alkynes readily undergo bioorthogonal click reactions, reprogramming NRPSs to accept non‐natural amino acids that contain these groups provides a potentially powerful means of isolating, labeling, and modifying biologically active peptides.     

Jahn‐Teller‐Ordnung in Mangan(III)‐fluoridsulfaten. II. Phasenübergang und Verzwillingung bei K2[MnF3(SO4)] und 1D Magnetismus in Verbindungen A2[MnF3(SO4)] (A = K,NH4, Rb,Cs)

Jahn‐Teller Ordering in Manganese(III) Fluoride Sulfates. II. Phase Transition and Twinning of K₂[MnF₃(SO₄)] and 1D Magnetism in Compounds A₂[MnF₃(SO₄)] (A = K, NH₄, Rb, Cs) According to single‐crystal X‐ray investigations, K₂[MnF₃(SO₄)] crystallizes at low temperature, like the isostructural Rb, NH₄, and Cs analogues in space group P2₁/c, Z = 4, e.g. at 100 K with a = 7.197, b = 10.704, c = 8.427Å, β = 91.84°. Below about 300 K, the crystals are found to be [001] axis twins. Using a new integration method for area detector records, nearly complete intensity data could be gained allowing for structure refinements of similar quality as for untwinned crystals (e.g. at 100 K: wR₂ = 0.050, R = 0.020 for all reflections). With rising temperature, the monoclinic angle approaches continuously 90°. For an ordering parameter Δβ = β?90° a 2^nd‐order phase transition is observed with an exponent λ = 0.17. At the transition temperature of 280 K resulting from the fit, the monoclinic structure changes – with delay – to orthorhombic with the minimum super‐group Pnca, a = 7.243, b = 10.763, c = 8.457Å, R = 0.024, as found in an early structure determination at room temperature by Edwards 1971. In the chain‐like [MnF₃(SO₄)]^2? anions, manganese(III) is octahedrally coordinated by two trans‐terminal and two trans‐bridging fluorine ligands as well as by the O atoms of two trans‐bridging sulfate ligands. At low temperature, the octahedral elongation by the Jahn‐Teller effect alternates between a F–Mn–F and an O–Mn–O axis (antiferrodistortive ordering). All bridges are asymmetric. From about 320 K on they become symmetric. Due to 2D dynamical Jahn‐Teller effect all octahedra appear compressed. All compounds A₂[MnF₃(SO₄)] show 1D antiferromagnetism. The antiferrodistortive Jahn‐Teller order at low temperatures and the small bridge angles explain the much lower magnetic exchange energies and their inverse relation to the bridge angles as compared with other fluoromanganate(III) chain compounds with the usual ferrodistortive ordering.     

Seasonal- and age-dependent changes of the structure and chemical composition of the spherites in the midgut gland of the harvestmen Gyas annulatus (Opiliones)

Spherites—round laminated membrane bound structures—are located in the cytoplasm of all cell types of the midgut gland in the harvestmen Gyas annulatus. The spherites consist of an organic matrix composed of glycoproteins and proteoglycans whose sugar portion are carboxylated glycosaminoglycans. Different elements are embedded in this matrix, and their presence varies during the life cycle. All spherites in juveniles are composed of alternating concentrically arranged electron dense and electron lucent layers of organic matrix material before overwintering (December). At that time, spherites contain calcium, phosphorus and silicon. Calcium and phosphorus are located in their electron dense layers, and silicon spotwise, mainly peripheral. Material seems to be lost during overwintering of Gyas as electron lucent ‘empty’ layers appear in spherites in March. The ‘lost’ material could be used as energy supply and/or to provide molecules for synthesis processes during non-nourishing overwintering. Spherites do not contain calcium and phosphorus in July and October. These elements seem to have important biological relevance in the formation and hardening of the cuticle during the moultings in spring. In contrast to calcium and phosphorus, silicon is still stored in spherites in July and October but in decreasing concentration, therefore it could be involved in metabolic processes in adult Gyas. In the period from July to the end of their adult life in late autumn, an increasing number of spherites disintegrate and their remnant organic matrix material progressively aggregates with other cellular waste material in one or more huge vacuoles of glandular cells.     

Contact with a Corner for Nonlinearly Elastic Rods

In elastic contact problems it is usually required that the contact force has to be directed normally to the contact surface in the absence of friction. For an obstacle with nonsmooth surface this gives infinitely many normal directions at an edge or at a corner. For the case where a nonlinearly elastic rod under terminal loads is hanging over a needle, it is shown that the balance equations supplemented with such a normality condition have a continuum of solutions. Moreover, an additional contact condition is derived from a corresponding variational problem by means of special inner variations that preserve the shape of the rod. This way one is finally lead to a unique solution at least locally.