Micelle density regulated by a reversible switch of protein secondary structure

Protein secondary structures may exhibit reversible transitions that occur in an abrupt and controllable manner. In this report, we demonstrate that such transitions may be utilized in the design of a "smart" protein micellar system, in which a stimulus-induced change in protein structure triggers a rapid change in micelle compacticity and size. Specifically, recombinant DNA methods were used to prepare a protein triblock copolymer containing a central hydrophilic block and two hydrophobic end blocks derived from elastin-mimetic peptide sequences. Below the copolymer inverse transition temperature (T(t)), dilute solutions of this amphiphilic protein formed monodispersed micelles in a narrow range of R(H) of approximately 100 nm. When the the temperature was raised above T(t), an abrupt increase in micelle internal density was observed with a concomitant reduction in micelle size. This reversible change in micelle compacticity was triggered by helix-to-sheet protein folding transition. Significantly, these protein polymer-based micelles, which are rapidly responsive to environmental stimuli, establish a new mechanism for the design of controlled drug delivery vehicles.     

Synthesis, reactivities, and magnetostructural properties of FeIII, FeIII-O-FeIII, and ZnIIFeIII-O-FeIIIZnII complexes of a tetraiminodiphenolate macrocycle

The mononuclear iron(III) complexes [Fe(LH2)(H2O)Cl](ClO4)2.2H2O (1) and [Fe(LH2)(H2O)2](ClO4)3.H2O (2) have been prepared by reacting [Pb(LH(2))](ClO4)2 with FeCl3.6H2O and Fe(ClO(4))(3).6H(2)O, respectively. Complex 2 upon treatment with 1 equiv of alkali produces the oxo-bridged dimer [{Fe(LH2)(H2O)}2(mu-O)](ClO4)4.2H2O (3). In these compounds, LH2 refers to the tetraiminodiphenol macrocycle in the zwitterionic form whose two uncoordinated imine nitrogens are protonated and hydrogen-bonded to the metal-bound phenolate oxygens. The aqua ligands of complexes 1-3 get exchanged in acetonitrile. Reaction equilibria involving binding and exchange of the terminal ligands (Cl-/H2O/CH3CN) in these complexes have been studied spectrophotometrically. The equilibrium constant for the aquation reaction (K(aq)) [1]2+ + H2O <==> [2]3+ + Cl- in acetonitrile is 8.65(5) M, and the binding constant (K(Cl)-) for the reaction [1]2+ + Cl- [1Cl]+ + CH3CN is 4.75(5) M. The pK(D) value for the dimerization reaction 2[2]3+ + 2OH- <==> [3]4+ + 3H(2)O in 1:1 acetonitrile-water is 9.38(10). Complexes 1-3 upon reaction with Zn(ClO4)(2).6H(2)O and sodium acetate (OAc), pivalate (OPiv), or bis(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP) produce the heterobimetallic complexes [{FeLZn(mu-X)}2(mu-O)](ClO4)2, where X = OAc (4), OPiv (5), and BNPP (6). The pseudo-first-order rate constant (k(obs)) for the formation of 4 at 25 degrees C from either 1 or 3 with an excess of Zn(OAc)2.2H2O in 1:1 acetonitrile-water at pH 6.6 is found to be the same with k(obs) = 1.6(2) x 10(-4) s(-1). The X-ray crystal structures of 3, 4, and 6 have been determined, although the structure determination of 3 was severely affected because of heavy disordering. In 3, the Fe-O-Fe angle is 168.6(6) degrees, while it is exactly 180.0 degrees in 4 and 6. Cyclic and square-wave voltammetric (CV and SWV) measurements have been carried out for complexes 1-4 in acetonitrile. The variation of the solvent composition (acetonitrile-water) has a profound effect on the E(1/2) and DeltaE(p) values. The binding of an additional chloride ion to an iron(III) center in 1-3 is accompanied by a remarkable shift of E(1/2) to more negative values. The observation of quasi-reversible CV for complexes containing a Fe(III)-O-Fe(III) unit (3 and 4) indicates that in the electrochemical time scale unusual Fe(III)-O-Fe(II) is produced. The 1H NMR spectra of complexes 3-6 exhibit hyperfine-shifted signals in the range 0-90 ppm with similar features. The metal-hydrogen distances obtained from T(1) measurements are in good agreement with the crystallographic data. Variable-temperature (2-300 K) magnetic susceptibility measurements carried out for 3 and 4 indicate strong antiferromagnetic exchange interaction (H = -2JS1.S2) between the high-spin iron(III) centers in the Fe-O-Fe unit with J = -114 cm(-1) (3) and -107 cm(-1) (4).     

Limiting ionic conductivity and solvation dynamics in formamide

A self-consistent microscopic theory has been used to calculate the limiting ionic conductivity of unipositive rigid ions in formamide at different temperatures. The calculated results are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data. The above theory can also predict successfully the experimentally observed temperature dependence of total ionic conductivity of a given uniunivalent electrolyte in formamide. The effects of dynamic polar solvent response on ionic conductivity have been investigated by studying the time dependent progress of solvation of a polarity probe dissolved in formamide. The intermolecular vibration (libration) band that is often detected in the range of 100-200 cm(-1) in formamide is found to play an important role in determining both the conductivity and the ultrafast polar solvent response in formamide. The time dependent decay of polar solvation energy in formamide has been studied at three different temperatures, namely, at 283.15, 298.15, and 328.15 K. While the predicted decay at 298.15 K is in good agreement with the available experimental data, the calculated results at the other two temperatures should be tested against experiments.     

Mercuric chloride and iodide mediated cyclization of tethered alkynedithioacetals as a general route to five- and six-membered rings: tuning of regioselectivity by alkyne substitution

[reaction: see text] Mercuric chloride mediated cyclization of tethered alkynedithioacetals has been established as a general route to five- and six-membered carbocycles and heterocycles. Substitution at the alkyne terminus leads to preferential formation of five-membered rings, whereas unsubstituted alkynedithioacetals give six-membered rings as the major products. Mercuric iodide interrupts the reaction at the intermediate dithioacetal stage.     

VECTOR BUNDLES ON CURVES ADMITTING A CONNECTION

Let k be any infinite perfect field. Let E be a vector bundleover a smooth projective curve defined over k. We prove thatE admits a connection if the degree of every indecomposablecomponent of E is zero. This has been proved (when k = ) inM. F. Atiyah [2] and A. Weil [7].     

Synthesis,crystal structures and luminescent properties of phenylmercury(II) complexes with thiohydrazone ligands having weak Hg····π and Hg····Hg interactions

The Reaction of phenylmercury(II) acetate with salicylaldehyde morpholine N-thiohydrazone (H₂smth) and 2-hydroxyacetophenone morpholine N-thiohydrazone (H₂apmth) in dry ethanol under gentle refluxing condition form light yellow complexes [PhHg(Hsmth)] (1) and [PhHg(Hapmth)] (2) involving formation of Hg-S bond from the thiol form of the ligands after deprotonation of the SH proton. The structures of the complexes as determined by X-ray crystallography shows that the complex (1) has a distorted T-shaped geometry while the complex (2) adopts familiar linear coordination geometry. Complex (2) has two independent molecules comprising the asymmetric unit. Both the complexes form two-dimensional supramolecular assemblies due to a combination of weak intermolecular Hg····π and Hg····Hg interactions. The Hg····π and Hg····Hg distances are 3.937 and 4.0216(10) Å, respectively, possibly indicating weak mercuriophilic interactions. The luminescent properties of the complexes in solution and in the solid state at room temperature are also described.     

Laser-assisted cleaning: Dominant role of surface

Pulsed laser-assisted removal of particulates from substrates has decided advantages over the conventional methods of cleaning. Experiments conducted with loose contamination on metal and transparent dielectric surfaces proved conclusively the dominant role played by the absorption of the incident radiation by the surface towards the generation of the cleaning force as against the absorption in the particulates alone. Further, the presence of transparent/semi-transparent particulates on a metal surface was found to result in an increased absorption of the incident radiation by the substrate. This effect, identified as field-enhanced surface absorption was found to increase with reduction in the average particulate size.     

Influence of quantum confinement on the photoemission from superlattices of optoelectronic materials

We study the photoemission from quantum wire and quantum dot superlattices with graded interfaces of optoelectronic materials on the basis of newly formulated electron dispersion relations in the presence of external photo-excitation. Besides, the influence of a magnetic field on the photoemission from the aforementioned superlattices together with quantum well superlattices in the presence of a quantizing magnetic field has also been studied in this context. It has been observed taking into account HgTe/Hg_1−xCd_xTe and In_xGa_1−xAs/InP that the photoemission from these nanostructures increases with increasing photon energy in quantized steps and exhibits oscillatory dependences with the increase in carrier concentration. Besides, the photoemission decreases with increasing light intensity and wavelength, together with the fact that said emission decreases with increasing thickness exhibiting oscillatory spikes. The strong dependences of the photoemission on the light intensity reflects the direct signature of light waves on the carrier energy spectra. The content of this paper finds six applications in the fields of low dimensional systems in general.     

Instability and dynamics of thin viscoelastic liquid films

The instability, rupture, and subsequent growth of holes in a thin Jeffreys-type viscoelastic film under the influence of long-range van der Waals force are investigated using both linear stability analysis and nonlinear numerical solutions. The linear stability analysis of full governing equations valid for arbitrary wave numbers shows that although fluid rheology does not influence the dominant length scale of the instability, it significantly affects the growth rate. It is shown that neglect of inertia and solvent dynamics results in a nonphysical singularity in the growth rate beyond a critical value of relaxation time. We further carry out numerical simulations of a set of long-wave, nonlinear differential equations (also derived in Rauscher et al., Eur. Phys. J. E 17, 373 (2005)) governing the evolution of the free surface. The nonlinear simulations, in their domain of validity, confirm the results of the linear analysis. Interestingly, results from nonlinear simulations further show that both for Newtonian and viscoelastic liquids, the shape and the dewetting dynamics of a hole are identical when examined in terms of a rescaled time which depends on rheological parameters. Thus, viscoelasticity of Jeffreys type merely accelerates the growth rate, without however affecting the important morphological characteristics.     

Perturbation of Super-Sech Solitons in Dispersion-Managed Optical Fibers

The dynamics of super-sech solitons in dispersion-managed optical fibers is obtained in this paper. The dynamical system of soliton parameters is obtained for such pulses for dispersion-managed fibers, in presence of various perturbation terms. The perturbation terms studied are Hamiltonian, as well as non-Hamiltonian along with non-local types.