Novel NMR Assignment Strategy Reveals Structural Heterogeneity in Solution of the nsP3 HVD Domain of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus

In recent years, intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and disordered domains have attracted great attention. Many of them contain linear motifs that mediate interactions with other factors during formation of multicomponent protein complexes. NMR spectrometry is a valuable tool for characterizing this type of interactions on both amino acid (aa) and atomic levels. Alphaviruses encode a nonstructural protein nsP3, which drives viral replication complex assembly. nsP3 proteins contain over 200-aa-long hypervariable domains (HVDs), which exhibits no homology between different alphavirus species, are predicted to be intrinsically disordered and appear to be critical for alphavirus adaptation to different cells. Previously, we have shown that nsP3 HVD of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is completely disordered with low tendency to form secondary structures in free form. In this new study, we used novel NMR approaches to assign the spectra for the nsP3 HVD of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV). The HVDs of CHIKV and VEEV have no homology but are both involved in replication complex assembly and function. We have found that VEEV nsP3 HVD is also mostly disordered but contains a short stable α-helix in its C-terminal fragment, which mediates interaction with the members of cellular Fragile X syndrome protein family. Our NMR data also suggest that VEEV HVD has several regions with tendency to form secondary structures.     

From Specific γ-CD/[Nb6Cl12(H2O)6]2+ Recognition to Biological Activity Tuning

Specific molecular recognition of γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) by the cationic hexanuclear niobium [Nb₆Cl₁₂(H₂O)₆]²⁺ cluster complex in aqueous solutions results in a 1:1 supramolecular assembly {[Nb₆Cl₁₂(H₂O)₆]@γ-CD}²⁺. NMR spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and ESI-MS were used to study the interaction between the inorganic cluster and the organic macrocycle. Such molecular association affects the biological activity of [Nb₆Cl₁₂(H₂O)₆]²⁺, decreasing its cytotoxicity despite enhanced cellular uptake. The 1:1 stoichiometry is maintained in solution over a large window of the reagents’ ratio, but crystallization by slow evaporation produces a 1:2 host–guest complex [Nb₆Cl₁₂(H₂O)₆@(γ-CD)₂]Cl₂ ⋅ 20 H₂O featuring the cluster encapsulated between two molecules of γ-CD. The 1:2 complex was characterized by XRD, elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Quantum chemical calculations were performed to model host–guest interaction.     

SiO2-based nanocontainers of a novel type: If the template micelles are functional,why remove them

A new method is proposed for creating containers based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles for diverse amphiphilic compounds. The method is based on the use of the micelles of required functional compound (i.e., the compound that is subsequently loaded into the containers) as a template when synthesizing nanoparticles. The prospects and advantages of this approach are exemplified by the synthesis of SiO₂ particles using the micelles of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (which can be used as an inhibitor of hydrogen sulfide corrosion) as a template.     

Optical,structural, and photocatalytic properties of the nanosized titanium dioxide films deposited in magnetron discharge plasma

The conditions of the optimum and controlled deposition of titanium dioxide nanolayers in the cylindrical gas discharge plasma of a magnetron having a unique design are found and described. The examination of the grown films by Raman spectroscopy is used to determine the conditions of deposition of the amorphous and polycrystalline phases of titanium dioxide. The films deposited on a cold substrate are amorphous, and the films deposited on a heated substrate consist of polycrystalline anatase. The evolution of the spectral lines of argon, oxygen, and titanium and the discharge voltage drop are studied as a function of the magnitude and the direction of changing the discharge current. The results obtained are shown to be applied for contactless optical monitoring. The refractive index of the films n is shown to have a nonlinear dependence on the layer thickness, and the layers that have a high photocatalytic activity and can be used to remove inorganic pollutants from the environment are shown to be grown.     

New Sulfur and Phosphorus Containing Metal Complexes on the Basis of Trithiophosphites. Synthesis and Properties

Abstract

New sulfur- and phosphorus containing metal complexes have been obtained by means of reactions of trialkyl- and triaryltrithiophosphites with transition metal halides. Their reactions with proton containing and carbonyl compounds have been studied.     

Interactions in the system Mn(NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>-HCONH<Subscript>2</Subscript>-H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

Solubilities and solid phases in the system Mn(NO₃)₂-HCONH₂-H₂O were studied by an isothermal method at 25°C. The congruently saturating compound Mn(NO₃)₂ · 2HCONH₂ · 2H₂O was isolated; the concentration conditions for its crystallization in the system were determined. The solid phases of the system were characterized by physicochemical methods (X-ray powder diffraction, differential thermal analysis, IR spectroscopy, and crystal-optical analysis).     

Oxidation of secondary terpene alcohols by chlorine dioxide

Secondary terpene alcohols cis- and trans-verbenol, neo-iso-verbanol, borneol, iso-borneol, and menthol were oxidized by chlorine dioxide into the corresponding ketones. It was shown that the nature of the solvent and catalyst and the structure of the starting compound, including the stereochemistry of the hydroxyl, influenced the oxidation process. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 585–587, November–December, 2008.     

On properties of infimal topology of a map space

We study properties of the infimal topology τ_inf which is the infimum of the family of all topologies of uniform convergence defined on the set C(X, Y) of continuous maps into a metrizable space Y. One of the main results of the research consists in obtaining necessary and sufficient condition for the topology τ_inf to have the Fréchet–Urysohn property. We also establish necessary and sufficient conditions for coincidence of the topology τinf and a topology of uniform convergence τ_μ (“attaining” the infimum). We prove that for this coincidence it is sufficient for the topology τ_inf to satisfy the first axiom of countability.