Synthesis, spectroscopy, and X-ray structures of fac-(CO)3(dppe)MnSC(S)H, fac-(CO)3(dppe)ReSC(S)H, fac-(CO)3(dppp)ReSC(S)H, and fac-(CO)3(dppb)ReSC(S)H

The monodentate dithioformato complexes, fac-(CO)₃(dppe)MnSC(S)H (1), fac- (CO)₃(dppe)ReSC(S)H (2), fac-(CO)₃(dppp)ReSC(S)H (3), and fac-(CO)₃ (dppb)ReSC(S)H (4), where dppe is 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, dppp is 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane, and dppb is 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane, were synthesized from the treatment of the corresponding hydrides, fac-(CO)₃ (P-P)MSC(S)H with CS₂. Compounds 1–4 crystallize in the monoclinic crystal system: for 1, space group = P2₁/c, a = 15.3139(3) Å, b = 9.7297(4) Å, c = 19.0991(6) Å, = 105.928(1), V = 2736.5 ų, Z = 4; for 2, space group = P2₁/c, a = 15.6395(8) Å, b = 9.8182(5) Å, c = 19.4153(11) Å, = 106.741(1), V = 2854.9(3) ų, Z = 4; for 3, space group = P2₁/n, a = 11.3570(10) Å, b = 19.465(2) Å, c = 15.5702(14) Å, = 104.776(2), V = 3328.3(5) ų, Z = 4; and for 4, space group = C2/c, a = 32.078(2) Å, b = 10.4741(6) Å, c = 19.0608(9) Å, = 94.315(2), V = 6386.1(6) ų, Z = 8.     

One site fits both: A model for the ternary complex of folate + NADPH in R67 dihydrofolate reductase, a D2 symmetric enzyme

R67 dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is a novel enzyme that confers resistance to the antibiotic trimethoprim. The crystal structure of R67 DHFR displays a toroidal structure with a central active-site pore. This homotetrameric protein exhibits 222 symmetry, with only a few residues from each chain contributing to the active site, so related sites must be used to bind both substrate (dihydrofolate) and cofactor (NADPH) in the productive R67 DHFR?NADPH?dihydrofolate complex. Whereas the site of folate binding has been partially resolved crystallographically, an interesting question remains: how can the highly symmetrical active site also bind and orient NADPH for catalysis? To model this ternary complex, we employed DOCK and SLIDE, two methods for docking flexible ligands into proteins using quite different algorithms. The bound pteridine ring of folate (Fol I) from the crystal structure of R67 DHFR was used as the basis for docking the nicotinamide-ribose-P_i (NMN) moiety of NADPH. NMN was positioned by both DOCK and SLIDE on the opposite side of the pore from Fol I, where it interacts with Fol I at the pore's center. Numerous residues serve dual roles in binding. For example, Gln 67 from both the B and D subunits has several contacts with the pteridine ring, while the same residue from the A and C subunits has several contacts with the nicotinamide ring. The residues involved in dual roles are generally amphipathic, allowing them to make both hydrophobic and hydrophilic contacts with the ligands. The result is a `hot spot' binding surface allowing the same residues to co-optimize the binding of two ligands, and orient them for catalysis.     

Composition of stable set polyhedra

Barahona and Mahjoub found a defining system of the stable set polytope for a graph with a cut-set of cardinality 2. We extend this result to cut-sets composed of a complete graph minus an edge and use the new theorem to derive a class of facets.     

Sortin1-hypersensitive mutants link vacuolar-trafficking defects and flavonoid metabolism in Arabidopsis vegetative tissues

Sortin1 is a chemical genetic-hit molecule that causes specific mislocalization of plant and yeast-soluble and membrane vacuolar markers. To better understand its mode of action, we designed a Sortin1-hypersensitive screen and identified several Sortin1-hypersensitive and flavonoid-defective mutants. Mechanistically, Sortin1 mimics the effect of the glutathione inhibitor buthionine sulfoximine and alters the vacuolar accumulation of flavonoids, likely blocking their transport through vacuole-localized ABC transporters. Structure-activity relationship studies conducted in Arabidopsis revealed the structural requirements for Sortin1 bioactivity and demonstrated that overlapping Sortin1 substructures can be used to discriminate between vacuolar-flavonoid accumulations and vacuolar-biogenesis defects. We conclude that Sortin1 is a valuable probe for dissecting novel links among flavonoid transport, vacuolar integrity, and the trafficking of vacuolar targeted cargoes in Arabidopsis.     

Enzyme mediated incorporation of zirconium-89 or copper-64 into a fragment antibody for same day imaging of epidermal growth factor receptor

Identification of tumors which over-express Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is important in selecting patients for anti-EGFR therapies. Enzymatic bioconjugation was used to introduce positron-emitting radionuclides (⁸⁹Zr, ⁶⁴Cu) into an anti-EGFR antibody fragment for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging the same day as injection. A monovalent antibody fragment with high affinity for EGFR was engineered to include a sequence that is recognized by the transpeptidase sortase A. Two different metal chelators, one for ⁸⁹Zr^IV and one for ⁶⁴Cu^II, were modified with a N-terminal glycine to enable them to act as substrates in sortase A mediated bioconjugation to the antibody fragment. Both fragments provided high-quality PET images of EGFR positive tumors in a mouse model at 3 hours post-injection, a significant advantage when compared to radiolabeled full antibodies that require several days between injection of the tracer and imaging. The use of enzymatic bioconjugation gives reproducible homogeneous products with the metal complexes selectively installed on the C-terminus of the antibody potentially simplifying regulatory approval.

Enzymatic bioconjugation to introduce positron-emitting radionuclides (⁸⁹Zr, ⁶⁴Cu) into an anti-EGFR antibody fragment allows same day imaging with positron emission tomography.     

Studies of the quantum Hall to quantum Hall insulator transition in InSb-based 2DESs

The temperature dependence of ρ_xx is studied in the vicinity of the quantum Hall to quantum Hall insulator transition (ν=1→0) in InSb/InAlSb based 2DESs. ρ_xx displays a symmetric temperature dependence about the transition with on the QH side and on the insulating side. A plot of 1/T₀ for successive ν displays power-law divergence with 1/T₀∝|ν−ν_c|^−γ,² with γ=2.2±0.3. This critical behavior in addition to the behavior expected of the quantum transport regime confirms that the QH/QHI transition is indeed a good quantum phase transition.