A remark on stable subharmonic solutions of time-periodic reaction-diffusion equations

This paper is concerned with a time-periodic reaction-diffusion equation. It is known that typical trajectories approach periodic solutions with possibly longer period than that of the equation. Such solutions are called subharmonic solutions. In this paper, for any domain Ω, time-period τ>0 and integer n?2, we construct an example of a time-periodic reaction-diffusion equation on Ω with a minimal period τ which possesses a stable solution of minimal period nτ.     

The minimal energy conformations of o-benzosemiquinone anion radicals in the solvents containing the alkali metals and the alkali earth metals

The minimal energy conformations of o-benzosemiquinone anion radicals in the solvents containing the alkali metals and the alkali earth metals were calculated by using the INDO method and the molecular geometry adjusting method. Our previous calculations of o-benzosemiquinone anion radical in the lithium ion solution showed that the total energy of the minimal energy conformation in the case of the assignment |A₃| > |A₄| were lower by approximately 320 kcal/mol than that in the case of the assignment |A₃| > |A₄|. Therefore, the calculations of the minimal energy conformations of o-benzosemiquinone anion radicals in the metal ion solutions were carried out in the cases of the assignment |A₃| > |A₄|. The conformations in both assignments A₃ < A₄ < 0 and (A₃ < 0 < A₄ and |A₃| > |A₄|) were calculated. Although the metal ions were not explicitly contained in the molecular geometries, the minimal energy conformations are considered to be close to the real minimal energy conformations of o-benzosemiquinone anion radicals in the metal ion solutions. The C? O bond lengths has a good positive rank correlation with the stabilities of o-benzosemiquinone radicals in the divalent metal ion solutions and the bond angles ∠C₃C₄H₄ had a good negative rank correlation with those stabilities.     

The first A2B2-heterometal ferrimagnetic chain. Structures and magnetic properties of polymeric [Gd2Cu2]n and the corresponding monomer

One-dimensional polymeric complexes consisting of alternating dicopper(II) and digadolinium(III) units exhibited ferrimagnetic behavior which was ascribable to antiferromagnetic coupling across the oximate N-O bridges between the high-spin homodinuclear units.     

Control of chemical reaction involving dissolved oxygen using magnetic field gradient

This study investigated the control of dissolved oxygen concentration using magnetic forces from gradient magnetic fields near a Nd–Fe–B permanent magnet. Maximum values of magnetic flux density and the product of the magnetic flux density and its gradient were 0.63 T and 44 T²/m, respectively. The magnet was placed under a Petri dish filled with 15 ml of 10% ammonia water. The Petri dish had a copper sheet in the center. Absorbance of tetraamminecopper(II) complex produced by the reaction in oxygen was measured using a spectrophotometer to observe oxygen concentration. Results showed that the magnetic field quantitatively enhanced tetraamminecopper(II) complex production. Moreover, remarkable enhancement of the copper complex production occurred in the magnetic field at less than 2 mm depth. The calculated magnetic force increase near the magnet surface supports this result. These results show that greater enhancement of the reaction rate occurs when the stronger magnetic force acts on oxygen molecules.     

Studies directed toward the synthesis of protein-bound GPI anchor

Mannobioside-linked phosphoethanolamine 10, a prototype model of the GPI anchor, was synthesized via glycosidation of the monosaccharide donor and acceptor, and subsequent phosphorylation. In order to test the reactivity of the amino group involved in 10 against the activated amino acid esters, 10 was reacted with N-protected amino acid pentafluorophenyl esters in the presence of HOBt. The reactions gave the aminoacylated products in moderate yields. When Fmoc-Ser-OPfp 12 and Fmoc-Cys(SBu^t)-OPfp 14 were reacted with 10, byproducts 19, 20 and 21 derived from N- and O-acylation were produced. In contrast, reactions of 10 and N-protected amino acid thioesters were promoted with AgNO₃, HOSu, and DIEA to afford the coupling products without the undesired O-acylation. Peptidylation of 10 with the synthesized oligopeptide thioesters 24 and 27 was also successful under the segment coupling conditions of the peptide thioester method as well as those of the native chemical ligation.     

Molecular recognition and fluorescence sensing of monophosphorylated peptides in aqueous solution by bis(zinc(II)-dipicolylamine)-based artificial receptors

The phosphorylation of proteins represents a ubiquitous mechanism for the cellular signal control of many different processes, and thus selective recognition and sensing of phosphorylated peptides and proteins in aqueous solution should be regarded as important targets in the research field of molecular recognition. We now describe the design of fluorescent chemosensors bearing two zinc ions coordinated to distinct dipicolylamine (Dpa) sites. Fluorescence titration experiments show the selective and strong binding toward phosphate derivatives in aqueous solution. On the basis of (1)H NMR and (31)P NMR studies, and the single-crystal X-ray structural analysis, it is clear that two Zn(Dpa) units of the binuclear receptors cooperatively act to bind a phosphate site of these derivatives. Good agreement of the binding affinity estimated by isothermal titration calorimetry with fluorescence titration measurements revealed that these two receptors can fluorometrically sense several phosphorylated peptides that have consensus sequences modified with natural kinases. These chemosensors display the following significant features: (i) clear distinction between phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated peptides, (ii) sequence-dependent recognition, and (iii) strong binding to a negatively charged phosphorylated peptide, all of which can be mainly ascribed to coordination chemistry and electrostatic interactions between the receptors and the corresponding peptides. Detailed titration experiments clarified that the phosphate anion-assisted coordination of the second Zn(II) to the binuclear receptors is crucial for the fluorescence intensification upon binding to the phosphorylated derivatives. In addition, it is demonstrated that the binuclear receptors can be useful for the convenient fluorescent detection of a natural phosphatase (PTP1B) catalyzed dephosphorylation.