Electron transfer reaction in a single protein molecule observed by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy

To observe an electron transfer (ET) process in a single protein molecule, we constructed a model system, Alexa-HCytb5, in which cytochrome b5 (Cytb5) is modified with a fluorescent probe, Alexa Fluor 647 dye. In this model system, intramolecular transfer of an electron from the Alexa dye to heme in Cytb5 is supposed to oxidize the probe and quench its fluorescence, and the ET reaction at the single-molecule level can be monitored as the intermittent change in the fluorescence intensity. Alexa-HCytb5 was fixed on the glass surface, and illumination of laser light by the total internal reflection resulted in blinking of the fluorescence from the single Alexa-HCytb5 molecule in the time scale of several hundred milliseconds. Each Alexa-HCytb5 molecule is characterized by its own rate constant of the blinking, corresponding to the ET rate constant at the single-molecule level, and its variation ranges between 1 and 10 s(-1). The current system thus enables us to visualize the ET reaction in the single protein molecule, and the protein ET reaction was found to be explained by the distribution of the rate constants. On the basis of the Marcus theory, we suggest that the origin of this rate distribution is the distance change associated with the structural fluctuation in the protein molecule.     

Synthesis of chiral nonracemic 1-(2-pyridinyl)ethylamines: stereospecific introduction of amino function onto the 2-pyridinylmethyl carbon center

Stereospecific substitutions of optically pure 1-(pyridinyl)ethyl methanesulfonates with various amines are described. The reaction of (R)- or (S)-1-(2-pyridinyl)ethyl methanesulfonate with primary amines, including amino acid esters, gives N-substituted (S)- or (R)-1-(2-pyridinyl)ethylamines (4) with inversion of the configuration. Secondary cyclic amines are also reacted with (R)-2 to give the corresponding substituted amines (5) in excellent yields. Optically pure and meso triamine ligands having two pyridine rings, (S,S)-4f and meso-4f, (S,S)-9e, (S,R)-9e, and (S,S)-9f, have been prepared in stereochemically pure form by this method. Not only the substitution reaction of optically active 2 but also that of 1-(4-pyridinyl)ethyl and 1-(3-pyridinyl)ethyl methanesulfonates 11 and 14 take place stereospecifcally with inversion of the chiral center.     

Consecutive thin-layer chromatographic separation of Au(III), Pt(IV), Pd(II) and large amounts of associated base metals

Summary The TLC system composed of ECTEOLA-cellulose and 2.5 mol/l HCl–2.5 mol/l NaCl–0.6% (w/v) H₂O₂ solution allows consecutive separations of Au(III), Pt(IV), Pd(II) and a number of associated base metals such as Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II) Ni(II), Cu(II), Mg, Ca, Ba, Al, Bi(III), Pb(II), Zn(II) and Ag(I) coexisting in an extremely wide range of amounts and ratios, to be conducted completely in a single run. The effectiveness of the present system is verified by applying it to various synthesized samples containing the three noble metals and one of the base metals, Pt-metal powder and two kinds of Au-alloys.     

Catalytic asymmetric hydroxymethylation of silicon enolates using an aqueous solution of formaldehyde with a chiral scandium complex

Catalytic asymmetric hydroxymethylation of silicon enolates has been achieved. In this reaction, an aqueous solution of formaldehyde can be used to realize an easy and safe procedure, and high enantioselectivities have been obtained. This is the first example of catalytic asymmetric reactions in aqueous media with a chiral scandium complex.     

Liquid and poly (vinyl chloride) matrix membrane electrodes for the selective determination of cocaine in illicit powders

The construction of liquid membrane and PVC matrix-type cocainium ion selective electrodes and their use for direct potentiometry and potentiometric titration of cocaine are described. The ion-pair complexes of cocaine cation with reineckate and tetraphenylborate anions are either dissolved in nitrobenzene solvent or dispersed in a PVC matrix, with DOP or DBS plasticizer, and used as the ion-exchange membranes. The electrochemical response characteristics of electrodes incorporating these types of membranes are evaluated with regard to the effect of pH, foreign basic compounds, temperature and gamma-radiation. The electrodes display a stable fast Nernstian response for 10(-2)-10(-5)M cocainium cation over the pH range 3-7, the lower limit of detection being 1 mug/ml. Determination of as low as 20 mug/ml cocaine hydrochloride shows an average recovery of 98% and a mean standard deviation of +/-0.6%. The electrodes exhibit useful analytical characteristics for determining cocaine in some illicit powders. The results agree fairly well with those obtained by gas-liquid chromatography.     

Diastereoselective reduction of β-keto carbonyl compounds by cultured plant cells

The diastereoselective reduction of β-keto carbonyl compounds such as 2-benzamidomethyl-3-oxobutanoates and 2-methyl-2-(2-propenyl)cyclopentan-1,3-dione by cultured cells of higher plants was investigated. The reduction of the 2-benzamidomethyl-3-oxobutanoates by Parthenocissus tricuspidata diastereoselectively produced the (2R,3S)-2-benzamidomethyl-3-hydroxybutanoates, whereas the reduction by Gossypium hirsutum gave the (2S,3S)-2-benzamidomethyl-3-hydroxybutanoates. The (2R,3S)/(2S,3S) predominance in the reduction with Nicotiana tabacum, Glycine max, and Catharanthus roseus was reversed by the change in the structure of the alkoxyl group in the substrate. On the other hand, the reduction of 2-methyl-2-(2-propenyl)cyclopentan-1,3-dione by P. tricuspidata produced (2R,3S)-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(2-propenyl)cyclopentan-1-one, whereas the reaction by N. tabacum, G. max, C. roseus, and G. hirsutum gave (2S,3S)-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(2-propenyl)cyclopentan-1-one.     

Effects of Moderately Low Temperature (20°C) on Phytochrome Responses During Preirradiation: Anthocyanin Synthesis in Sorghum bicolor at High- and Low-Pfr/Ptot Ratios

Abstract— Effects on phytochrome-mediated anthocyanin synthesis of moderately low temperature (MLT) given during the preirradiation culture period were studied with seedlings of broom sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor Moench, cvs. Acme Broomcorn and Sekishokuzairai-Fukuyama). Seedlings were grown in the dark at 20°C (MLT) and 24°C (control). The MLT treatment strikingly enhanced the action induced by a red light (R) pulse above ca 200 μmol m⁻² and suppressed the action induced by an R pulse below ca 30 μmol m⁻² and by a far-red light (FR) pulse alone. We refer to these MLT-affected distinct responses as "high-Pfr/Ptot response" and "low-Pfr/Ptot response," as they have features different from the high-irradiance and very-low-fluence responses, respectively. The destruction rate of spectroscopically detectable phytochrome (phyA) and the time course of escape of anthocyanin synthesis from FR reversibility did not match, and hence the possibility of phyA being involved in high-Pfr/Ptot response was rejected, although it might be involved in low-Pfr/Ptot response. Possible mechanisms for the two distinct phytochrome responses are discussed.     

Characterization of {(q + 1) + 2, 1;t,q}-min · hypers and {2(q + 1) + 2, 2; 2,q}-min · hypers in a Finite projective geometry

In this paper, we shall characterize all {(q + 1) + 2, 1;t, q}-min · hypers and all {2(q + 1) + 2, 2; 2,q}-min · hypers for any integert 2 and any prime powerq 3. In the next paper [8], we shall characterize all {2(q + 1) + 2, 2;t, q}-min · hypers for any integert 3 and any prime powerq 5 using the results in this paper.     

Substituent effect on the IR and PMR spectra of diphenylamines

PMR chemical shifts of various m- and p-substituted diphenylamines were correlated with σ-constants. However, the NH stretching frequencies of these amines were not linear with the σ- constants, and the irregularity in the ν_NHvs σ plot was interpreted by taking into accounts the following factors: the changes in hybridization of the imino N atoms, the normal electronic effect of the substituent and the steric effect on the planarity of the amine molecules. Results on the CN stretching absorptions were also presented.     

Stereoselective reduction of 2-butenolides to chiral butanolides by reductases from cultured cells of Glycine max

The stereoselective reduction of 2-butenolides by two reductases, p51 and p83, from cultured plant cells of Glycine max was investigated. The reduction of 2-methyl-2-butenolide by p51 reductase produced (R)-2-methylbutanolide, whereas the reduction by p83 reductase gave (S)-2-methylbutanolide. Both reductases reduced 3-methyl-2-butenolide to (R)-3-methylbutanolide. The reduction of 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenolide by p51 reductase gave (2R,3R)-2,3-dimethylbutanolide, whereas the reduction by p83 reductase produced (2S,3R)-2,3-dimethylbutanolide. The reduction of 4-alkyl-2-butenolides with these reductases was accompanied by resolution of chiral centers affording (R)-4-alkylbutanolides.