Delineation of RAID1, the RACK1 interaction domain located within the unique N-terminal region of the cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase, PDE4D5

Background  

The cyclic AMP specific phosphodiesterase, PDE4D5 interacts with the β-propeller protein RACK1 to form a signaling scaffold complex in cells. Two-hybrid analysis of truncation and mutant constructs of the unique N-terminal region of the cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase, PDE4D5 were used to define a domain conferring interaction with the signaling scaffold protein, RACK1.     

Ferrocene incorporating host-guest dyads with electrochemically controlled three-pole hydrogen bonding properties

We describe the electrochemically controlled hydrogen bonding interactions between the isobutyl flavin/2,6-diferrocenylamidopyridine (2·5) and 9,10-phenanthrenequinone/1-ferrocenyl-3-hexylurea (4·6) dyads. Cyclic and square wave voltammetry studies have shown that the binding efficiencies between these moieties can be electrochemically actuated in non-polar (CH₂Cl₂ for 2·5) or polar (DMF for 4·6) organic solvents between three distinct states.     

Five-coordinate Fe(III)NO and Fe(II)CO porphyrinates: where are the electrons and why does it matter?

Recent years have seen dramatic growth in our understanding of the biological roles of nitric oxide (NO). Yet, the fundamental underpinnings of its reactivities with transition metal centers in proteins and enzymes, the stabilities of their structures, and the relationships between structure and reactivity remains, to a significant extent, elusive. This is especially true for the so-called ferric heme nitrosyls ([FeNO](6) in the Enemark-Feltham scheme). The Fe-CO and C-O bond strengths in the isoelectronic ferrous carbonyl complexes are widely recognized to be inversely correlated and sensitive to structural, environmental, and electronic factors. On the other hand, the Fe-NO and N-O bonds in [FeNO](6) heme complexes exhibit seemingly inconsistent behavior in response to varying structure and environment. This report contains resonance Raman and density functional theory results that suggest a new model for FeNO bonding in five-coordinate [FeNO](6) complexes. On the basis of resonance Raman and FTIR data, a direct correlation between the nu(Fe)(-)(NO) and nu(N)(-)(O) frequencies of [Fe(OEP)NO](ClO(4)) and [Fe(OEP)NO](ClO(4)).CHCl(3) (two crystal forms of the same complex) has been established. Density functional theory calculations show that the relationship between Fe-NO and N-O bond strengths is responsive to FeNO electron density in three molecular orbitals. The highest energy orbital of the three is sigma-antibonding with respect to the entire FeNO unit. The other two comprise a lower-energy, degenerate, or nearly degenerate pair that is pi-bonding with respect to Fe-NO and pi-antibonding with respect to N-O. The relative sensitivities of the electron density distributions in these orbitals are shown to be consistent with all published indicators of Fe-N-O bond strengths and angles, including the examples reported here.     

Hydrogen bonding in redox-modulated molecular recognition. An experimental and theoretical investigation

Two receptors, a diaminotriazine derivative (DAT) and diamidopyridine (DAP), are complementary to the electroactive naphthalimide (N) through three-point hydrogen bonding. The association constants of the two receptors were evaluated for both the fully oxidized and the radical anion forms of N. In the oxidized state, the two receptors displayed identical binding constants. Diamidopyridine, however, lowers the reduction potential of naphthalimide to a far greater extent than does diaminotriazine, indicating a greater affinity for diamidopyridine by naphthalimide in the radical anion form. This behavior was mirrored by EPR experiments that showed small deviations from the hyperfine coupling pattern of N(red) in the presence of DAT, with greater effects seen for the N(red).DAP complex. Computational simulations using the UB3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)//UHF/6-31G(d) hybrid gave theoretical hyperfine constants in good quantitative agreement with the experimental results. Using this correlation, we determined that electrostatics and hydrogen bond polarizability play key roles in controlling redox-modulated molecular recognition.     

Determination of the rare earth elements in natural waters by isotope-dilution mass spectrometry

A method is described for the determination of ten rare earth elements (La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Er, Yb, Lu) in natural waters by isotope-dilution mass spectrometry. A 1-l sample is used for sea water, and proportionately less for other natural waters. The rare earth elements are extracted by co-precipitation with hydrated iron (III) oxide and purified on a single cation-exchange column, with hydrochloric and nitric acids as eluents. Final measurements are from a triple Re/ Ta filament in the mass spectrometer, run automatically under computer control. Relative standard deviations are better than 4% for the analysis of standard solutions, with accuracy in the same range. The analytical blank is low ( <0.03 pmol, 4 pg, for Nd) producing a sample/blank concentration ratio greater than 100 for all ten rare earth elements when determined in a 1-l seawater sample. Concentration depth profiles are given for an ocean water and normalised abundance patterns for three natural waters.     

Backbone modified small bite-angle diphosphines: Synthesis and molecular structures of [M(CO)4{X2PC(RR)PX2}] (M = Mo, W; X = Ph, Cy; R = H, Me, Et, Pr, allyl, R = Me, allyl)

A range of new small bite-angle diphosphine complexes, [M(CO)₄{X₂PC(R¹R²)PX₂}] (M = Mo, W; X = Ph, Cy; R¹ = H, Me, Et, Pr, allyl, R² = Me, allyl), have been prepared via elaboration of the methylene backbones in [M(CO)₄(X₂PCH₂PX₂)] as a result of successive deprotonation and alkyl halide addition. When X = Ph it proved possible to replace both methylene protons but for X = Cy only one substitution proved possible. This is likely due to the electron-releasing nature of the cyclohexyl groups but may also be due to steric constraints. Attempts to prepare the bis(allyl) substituted complex [Mo(CO)₄{Ph₂PC(allyl)₂PPh₂}] were only moderately successful. The crystal structures of nine of these complexes are presented.     

Evidence of Shear Rate Dependence on Restructuring and Breakup of Latex Aggregates

Small-angle static light scattering has been used to probe the evolution of aggregate size and structure in the shear-induced aggregation of latex particles. The size of aggregates obtained from the particle-sizing instrument (Coulter LS230) was compared with the size of those obtained with another approach utilizing the Guinier equation on the scattering data. Comparison of the two methods for studying the effects of mixing on the evolution of the aggregate size with time revealed similar trends. The aggregate structures were quantified in terms of their fractal dimensions on the grounds of the validity of Rayleigh-Gans-Debye scattering theory for the fractal aggregates. Analysis of the scattering patterns of aggregates verified that restructuring of the aggregates occurred as the aggregates were exposed to certain shear environments, resulting in a scale-dependent structure that could not be quantified by a fractal dimension. The effect of restructuring on aggregate size was particularly noticeable when the aggregates were exposed to average shear rates of 40 to 80 s(-1), whereas no significant restructuring occurred at lower shear rates. At 100 s(-1), the fragmentation of aggregates appeared to be more significant than aggregate compac-tion. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.