PREPARATION OF PHOTOFUNCTIONAL POLYMER THIN FILMS BY LANGMUIR-BLODGETT TECHNIQUE

Polymer LB films containing photofuntional groups were prepared by the copolymerization of N-dodecylacrylamide (DDA), which has an excellent property to form a stable monolayer and LB multilayerswith photofunctional monomers. Tris(2, 2'-bipyridine) ruthenium complex, Ru(bpy)_3~(2+), one of the most well-known redox-active sensitizer, was incorporated into the DDA copolymer. The photogalvanic effect based onthe photoinduced electron transfer using the ruthenium complex in the polymer LB monolayer was discussed.     

Stabilization and translation of immobilized mRNA on latex beads for cell-free protein synthesis system

The stability of immobilized mRNA against ribonucleases was investigated in a cell-free protein synthesis system. The plasmid-encoding protein A with the 20-mer poly(A) tail under the control of T7 promoter was constructed, and the corresponding mRNA was synthesized by T7 RNA polymerase reaction. The resulting mRNA was immobilized on oligo(dT)-immobilized latex beads by hybridization utilizing the poly(A) tail of mRNA at the 3'-terminus. The mRNA was stabilized against three types of nucleases (3'-OH exonuclease, 5'-OH exonuclease, and endonuclease) by immobilization. Translation of immobilized mRNA with a continuous-flow cell-free protein-synthesizing system from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was ascertained. Reusability of the immobilized mRNA as genetic information was also examined.     

An “OFF–ON–OFF” fluorescence protein-labeling probe for real-time visualization of the degradation of short-lived proteins in cellular systems

The ability to monitor proteolytic pathways that remove unwanted and damaged proteins from cells is essential for understanding the multiple processes used to maintain cellular homeostasis. In this study, we have developed a new protein-labeling probe that employs an ‘OFF–ON–OFF’ fluorescence switch to enable real-time imaging of the expression (fluorescence ON) and degradation (fluorescence OFF) of PYP-tagged protein constructs in living cells. Fluorescence switching is modulated by intramolecular contact quenching interactions in the unbound probe (fluorescence OFF) being disrupted upon binding to the PYP-tag protein, which turns fluorescence ON. Quenching is then restored when the PYP-tag–probe complex undergoes proteolytic degradation, which results in fluorescence being turned OFF. Optimization of probe structures and PYP-tag mutants has enabled this fast reacting ‘OFF–ON–OFF’ probe to be used to fluorescently image the expression and degradation of short-lived proteins.

An “OFF–ON–OFF” fluorescence probe for real-time imaging of the expression (fluorescence ‘OFF’) and degradation (fluorescence ‘ON’) of short lived PYP-tag proteins in cellular systems.     

Shape memory behaviors of crosslinked copolymers containing stearyl acrylate

Shape memory polymers were prepared by copolymerizing stearyl acrylate and methyl acrylate. The principle of this shape memory effect is based on reversible order-disorder transition of crystalline aggregates of stearyl moieties. A specific feature of this type of shape memory copolymer is that the transition temperature at which the polymer abruptly becomes soft and deforms can be controlled by changing the monomer composition, which enables one to adjust the shape memory effect at a desired temperature. Mechanism and process of the shape memory behaviors were discussed.     

1H and 13C NMR assignments for two new angular furanocoumarin glycosides from Peucedanum praeruptorum

Two novel angular-type furanocoumarin glycosides, peucedanoside A (1) and peucedanoside B (2), along with a known compound apterin (3), were isolated from the roots of Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn. Their chemical structures were determined by MS, NMR spectroscopy and chemical analysis. Complete assignments of the 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic data were achieved by 1D and 2D NMR experiments including DEPT, HSQC, HMBC and ROESY.     

Fluorogenic probes for detecting deacylase and demethylase activity towards post-translationally-modified lysine residues

Reversible enzymatic post-translational modification of the ε-amino groups of lysine residues (e.g. N-acylation reactions) plays an important role in regulating the cellular activities of numerous proteins. This study describes how enzyme catalyzed N-deprotection of lysine residues of non-fluorescent peptide-coumarin probes can be used to generate N-deprotected peptides that undergo spontaneous O- to N-ester transfer reactions (uncatalyzed) to generate a highly fluorescent N-carbamoyl peptide. This enables detection of enzyme catalyzed N-deacetylation, N-demalonylation, N-desuccinylation and N-demethylation reactions activities towards the N-modified lysine residues of these probes using simple ‘turn on’ fluorescent assays.

We developed “turn-on” fluorescent probes that detect enzymatic lysine deacylation and demethylation critical for epigenetic and other cellular phenomena, using intramolecular O- to N-ester transfer reactions.     

One electron transfer mechanism in the enzymatic oxygenation of sulfoxide to sulfone promoted by a reconstituted system with purified cytochrome p-450

A kinetic study on enzymatic S-oxygenation of sulfoxides to sulfones was carried out by a reconstited system with purified cytochrome P-450. A linear correlation observed between log(Vmax)'s and the one-electron oxidation potentials of sulfoxides suggests that the oxygenation of sulfoxides proceeds via one electron transfer process to the active “oxenoid” intermediate of the enzyme.     

On a property specific to the tent map

Let a set {X_λ; λ  Λ} of subspaces of a topological space X be a cover of X. Mathematical conditions are proposed for each subspace X_λ to define a map g_Xλ:X_λ→X which has the following property specific to the tent map known in the baker’s transformation. Namely, for any infinite sequence ω₀, ω₁, ω₂, … of X_λ, λ  Λ, we can find an initial point x₀  ω₀ such that g_ω0(x₀)ω₁,g_ω1(g_ω0(x₀))ω₂,…. The conditions are successfully applied to a closed cover of a weak self-similar set.     

Interaction of poly(styrene sulfonate) with polycations carrying charges in the chain backbone

The interaction between sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) (NaSS) and side-chain charged polycation polymer (pendent type) or main-chain charged polycation polymer (integral type) has been studied. It was found that the polyion complex (the reaction product of these polyelectrolytes) of pendent–pendent type has an equimolar composition at any mixing ratio of two component polymers. However, a polyion complex of integral–pendent type can form a water-soluble complex with a ratio of [polycation]/[polyanion] = 1/3, in addition to a complex with a equimolar composition. The mechanism of formation of this specific complex is discussed.     

N-Phenethylhexadecanamide from the edible mushroom Laetiporus sulphureus

N-Phenethylhexadecanamide was isolated from the MeOH extract of the fruiting bodies of the mushroom Laetiporus sulphureus together with eburicoic acid. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.