Design of a calcium-binding protein with desired structure in a cell adhesion molecule

Ca2+, "a signal of life and death", controls numerous cellular processes through interactions with proteins. An effective approach to understanding the role of Ca2+ is the design of a Ca2+-binding protein with predicted structural and functional properties. To design de novo Ca2+-binding sites in proteins is challenging due to the high coordination numbers and the incorporation of charged ligand residues, in addition to Ca2+-induced conformational change. Here, we demonstrate the successful design of a Ca2+-binding site in the non-Ca2+-binding cell adhesion protein CD2. This designed protein, Ca.CD2, exhibits selectivity for Ca2+ versus other di- and monovalent cations. In addition, La3+ (Kd 5.0 microM) and Tb3+ (Kd 6.6 microM) bind to the designed protein somewhat more tightly than does Ca2+ (Kd 1.4 mM). More interestingly, Ca.CD2 retains the native ability to associate with the natural target molecule. The solution structure reveals that Ca.CD2 binds Ca2+ at the intended site with the designed arrangement, which validates our general strategy for designing de novo Ca2+-binding proteins. The structural information also provides a close view of structural determinants that are necessary for a functional protein to accommodate the metal-binding site. This first success in designing Ca2+-binding proteins with desired structural and functional properties opens a new avenue in unveiling key determinants to Ca2+ binding, the mechanism of Ca2+ signaling, and Ca2+-dependent cell adhesion, while avoiding the complexities of the global conformational changes and cooperativity in natural Ca2+-binding proteins. It also represents a major achievement toward designing functional proteins controlled by Ca2+ binding.     

Synthesis, structure, and transformation of novel osmium azine and ylide complexes

Three novel triosmium complexes with unusual coordination characteristics are reported. Treatment of the hydridotriosmium cluster (mu-H)2Os3(CO)10 with CNNPPh3 in CH2Cl2 gave complexes (mu-H)Os3(CO)(10)(mu2-eta2-C(H)NNPPh3) (1) and (mu-H)Os3(CO)10(mu2-eta1-CHPPh3) (2). Complex 1 represents the first example of the existence of a coordinated phosphinazine ligand. An in-situ 1H NMR study showed that the reaction of (mu-H)2Os3(CO)10 with CNNPPh3 produced complex 1 as the initial product in 100% conversion. The latter is not stable in solution and slowly eliminates nitrogen to form an unusual ylide complex 2 in quantitative yield. The thermolysis of 2 in refluxing toluene afforded (mu-H)3Os3(CO)9(mu3-eta1-CCO2CH2Ph) (3) as a colorless compound. Complexes 1-3 were characterized by spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The interesting feature of structure 3 is the presence of a mu3-alkylidyne ligand where the symmetrically triply bridged CCO2CH2Ph fragment lies perpendicular to and above the triosmium triangle.     

Excellent field-emission properties of P-doped GaN nanowires

GaN nanowires with P doping were synthesized via a simple thermal evaporation process. The P-doped GaN nanowires have average diameters of approximately 100 nm and lengths up to tens of micrometers. Scanning electron microscope and high-resolution field-emission transmission electron microscope analyses revealed that P doping results in a rough surface morphology of GaN nanowires. Field-emission measurements showed that P doping effectively decreases the turn-on field of GaN nanowire to 5.1 V/mum, holding promise of application as an electron emitter. The rough surface is responsible for enhancement of the field-emission properties of GaN nanowires.     

Immobilization of Polymer-Stabilized Noble Metal Colloids and Their Catalytic Properties for Hydrogenation of Olefins

Polymer-stabilized noble metal colloids were efficiently immobilized on silica by the addition of organic acids under mild conditions. The function of organic acids in the immobilization was studied by infrared spectroscopy. Transmission electron micrographs indicate that the immobilized colloids have a controlled particle size and size distribution. They serve as catalysts in the hydrogenation of cyclohexene and cyclopentadiene, the results of which show that this new type of immobilized colloid has high selectivity and good stability.     

Synthesis and Characteristics of a New Fluorogenic Substrate for Horseradish Peroxidase

N,N′-Dicyanomethyl-o-phenylenediamine was synthesized with a 90% yield by a reaction ofo-phenylenediamine with chloroacetonitrile in triethylamine. Our experimental results showed that it was the effective fluorogenic substrate for horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and hemin. TheK_mfor the HRP system was 48 μM,and that for hemin was 1.3 μM.Properties of the substrate were evaluated from the detection limits of enzymes and H₂O₂. The linear ranges for the determination of HRP and hemin were 21–150 pMand 2–20 nM,respectively. The linear range for the determination of H₂O₂using HRP or hemin was 18–140 and 60–1000 nM,respectively. The structural elucidation of the fluorescent product using NMR and mass spectral techniques was proposed to be 1,2-dihydro-2-imido-imidazo[1,2-a] quinoxaline. Based on the product structure and earlier reports, the possible reaction mechanism of HRP and the substrate was also proposed, i.e., two steps for ring closures, one step of isomerization, and a final step of oxidative dehydrogenation.     

生物,环境样品和食品中铅的痕量分析

主要根据近七年来发表的有关论文，综述了我国生物、环境样品和食品中铅和痕量分析技术进展，内容包括分子光谱、原子光谱、电化学和其他分析方法，以及联用技术和前处理等方面，收集文献３９３篇。     

An electrodynamics-based model for ion diffusion in microbial polysaccharides

An electrodynamics-based model was formulated for simulation of ion diffusion in microbial polysaccharides. The fixed charges and electrostatic double layers that may associate with microbial polysaccharides and their effects on ion diffusion were explicitly built into the model. The model extends a common multicomponent ion diffusion formulation that is based on irreversible thermodynamics under a zero ionic charge flux condition, which is only applicable to the regions without fixed charges and electrostatic double layers. An efficient numerical procedure was presented to solve the differential equations in the model. The model well described key features of experimental observations of ion diffusion in negatively charged microbial polysaccharides including accelerated diffusive transport of cations, exclusion of anions, and increased rate of cation transport with increasing negative charge density. The simulated diffusive fluxes of cations and anions were consistent with a cation exchange diffusion concept in negatively charged polysaccharides at the interface of plant roots and soils; and the developed model allows to mathematically study such diffusion phenomena. An illustrative example was also provided to simulate dynamic behavior of ionic current during ion diffusion within a charged bacterial cell wall polysaccharide and the effects of the ionic current on the compression or expansion of the bacterial electrostatic double layer at the interface of the cell wall and bulk solution.     

Polymeric pH indicators immobilized PVA membranes for optical sensors of high basicity based on a kinetic process

Two kinds of polymeric pH indicators PPF (phenolphthalein-formaldehyde product) and CPF (o-cresolphthalein-formaldehyde product) immobilized cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) membranes (PPF-PVA and CPF-PVA) for optical intermittent determination of high basicity ([OH⁻] = 1-8 M) based on a kinetic process were developed. In our previous work, we had demonstrated that PPF-PVA and CPF-PVA could perform the determination of high pH values from pH 10.0 to 14.0. Here the discoloring kinetic behaviors of PPF-PVA and CPF-PVA were compared with those of free phenolphthalein, o-cresolphthalein and thymolphthalein. Experimental results and theoretical analysis indicated that the response behaviors of the optodes’ membranes in concentrated NaOH solutions were diffusion-independent and still complied with the pseudo-first-order kinetics. In addition, two data analysis methods for determination were presented. One was directly based on the reduced absorbance; the other was based on the discoloring kinetic constant. It was found that the latter could perform a rapid (60 s) and reliable (relative standard deviation: 2.6%) determination for high basicity. These kinds of optodes can be used repeatedly when they are immersed in low-pH solutions to regain the protonated form after each determination.