Enantiomeric resolution of 2-aryl propionic esters with hyperthermophilic and mesophilic esterases: contrasting thermodynamic mechanisms

The enantiomeric resolution of 2-aryl propionic esters by hyperthermophilic and mesophilic esterases was found to be governed by contrasting thermodynamic mechanisms. Entropic contributions predominated for mesophilic esterases from Candida rugosa and Rhizomucor miehei, while enthalpic forces controlled this resolution by the esterase from the extremely thermoacidophilic archaeon, Sulfolobus solfataricus P1. This disparity in thermodynamic mechanism can be attributed to the differences in conformational flexibility of mesophilic and thermophilic enzymes as they relate to the temperature range (4-70 degrees C) examined.     

Protofilaments, filaments, ribbons, and fibrils from peptidomimetic self-assembly: implications for amyloid fibril formation and materials science

Deciphering the mechanism(s) of β-sheet mediated self-assembly is essential for understanding amyloid fibril formation and for the fabrication of polypeptide materials. Herein, we report a simple peptidomimetic that self-assembles into polymorphic β-sheet quaternary structures including protofilaments, filaments, fibrils, and ribbons that are reminiscent of the highly ordered structures displayed by the amyloidogenic peptides Aβ, calcitonin, and amylin. The distribution of quaternary structures can be controlled by and in some cases specified by manipulating the pH, buffer composition, and the ionic strength. The ability to control β-sheet-mediated assembly takes advantage of quaternary structure dependent pK(a) perturbations. Biophysical methods including analytical ultracentrifugation studies as well as far-UV circular dichroism and FT-IR spectroscopy demonstrate that linked secondary and quaternary structural changes mediate peptidomimetic self-assembly. Electron and atomic force microscopy reveal that peptidomimetic assembly involves numerous quaternary structural intermediates that appear to self-assemble in a convergent fashion affording quaternary structures of increasing complexity. The ability to control the assembly pathway(s) and the final quaternary structure(s) afforded should prove to be particularly useful in deciphering the quaternary structural requirements for amyloid fibril formation and for the construction of noncovalent macromolecular structures.     

Synthesis of porritoxin

A total synthesis following the sequence in Scheme 1 confirms that porritoxin possesses revised structure 3, not the originally assigned 1. A key reaction was the use of iron pentacarbonyl to formylate an aryllithium when DMF and methyl formate proved insufficiently reactive.     

On the direct observation of the gas-dynamics of laser-pulse sputtering of polymers

We bring together a wide range of ideas relating to the gas-dynamic effects that are now recognized to play a leading role in laser-pulse sputtering. The ideas are grouped according to three basic models. (a) In the effusion model one deals with particles which are released from a target surface, form a Knudsen layer (KL), and then enter an unsteady adiabatic expansion (UAE). When the release terminates at time t=_r there is an abrupt change at the surface from positive to zero flow velocity, which means that particles moving towards the surface are reflected. The flow breaks up into three regions and analytical solutions exist for all aspects of this flow. (b) In the recondensation model the comportment of the target is initially like that of the effusion model but when the release terminates at t=_r the change at the surface is from positive to negative flow velocity, meaning that particles which move towards the surface recondense. Only numerical solutions presently exist (due to Sibold and Urbassek) but they are sufficient to show that the flow breaks up into two (not three) regions. (c) The outflow model could be described as the escape of gas from a finite reservoir, a well-known problem since it describes some aspects of guns. In its application to laser sputtering it is assumed that bond-breakage occurs rapidly over a characteristic depth and the resulting gas-like particles then flow out in a UAE; there is no formal KL.For part II, in which explicit photographs of laser-sputtered particles are analyzed, see [1]     

Superdeformed bands in195Tl

Two superdeformed (SD) bands have been found and assigned to¹⁹⁵Tl on the basis of excitation function and cross bombardment results. The two bands are almost identical in transition energies to those observed in¹⁹³Tl. They are signature partners with a splitting, presumably due to the proton i_13/2 (=5/2) orbital, characteristic of all known SD bands in the thallium isotopes. Their alignments relative to the¹⁹³Tl bands were found to be zero.On leave from Comision National de Energia Atomica 1429 Buenos Aires, Argentina.     

A TG/DTA/MS study of the oxidation of nickel sulphide

The oxidative behaviour of synthetic millerite (Ni_0.994S) has been studied by TG and DTA in a dynamic oxygen atmosphere (0.2 l min^–1) over the temperature range 20–1000° (heating rate 10° min^–1). EGA was carried out by a coupled mass spectrometer. The reaction products at various intermediate temperatures were characterized by X-ray powder diffractometry. A reaction sequence has been deduced, in which in the temperature range 550–700° complete oxidation of Ni_0.994S had occurred with the formation of NiSO₄, Ni₃S₂, NiO and possibly-Ni₇S₆. Between 700–800°, NiSO₄ continued to be formed, whilst Ni₃S₂ and-Ni₇S₆ were oxidised. Above 800°, NiSO₄ decomposed to NiO, the latter being the only species evident above 800°.

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Zusammenfassung Das oxidative Verhalten von synthetischem Millerit (Ni_0.994S) wurde mittels TG und DTA in einer dynamischen Sauerstoffatmosphäre (0.2 l min^–1) im Temperaturbereich von 20 bis 1000° (Aufheizgeschwindigkeit 10° min^–1) untersucht. EGA wurde mit einem gekoppelten Massenspektrometer durchgeführt. Die Reaktionsprodukte bei verschiedenen Zwischentemperaturen wurden mittels Röntgen-Pulver-Diffraktometrie charakterisiert. Eine Reaktionssequenz wurde abgeleitet, nach welcher im Temperaturbereich von 550 bis 700° die vollständige Oxidierung von Ni_0.994S unter Bildung von NiSO₄, Ni₃S₂, NiO und wahrscheinlich-Ni₇S₆ vor sich geht. Zwischen 700 und 800° wird NiSO₄ auch weiterhin gebildet, während Ni₇S₂ und-Ni₇S₆ oxidiert wurden. Oberhalb von 800° wurde NiSO₄ zu NiO zersetzt, das einzig nachweisbare Produkt oberhalb von 800°.

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Résumé On a étudié l'oxydation de la millérite synthétique (Ni_0.994S) par TG et ATD en atmosphère dynamique d'oxygène (0,2 1· min^–1) et dans l'intervalle de températures allant de 20 à 1000° (vitesse de chauffage 10°· min^–1). L'analyse des gaz émis s'est effectuée avec un spectromètre de masse couplé. Les produits de réaction ont été caractérisés à diverses températures intermédiaires par diffractométrie de poudre aux rayons X. On a déduit une séquence de réactions, selon laquelle, dans l'intervalle compris entre 550 et 700°, l'oxydation complète de Ni_0.994S a lieu avec formation de NiSO₄, Ni₃S₂, NiO et probablement-Ni₇S₆. Entre 700 et 800°, la formation de NiSO₄ se poursuit tandis que Ni₃S₂ et-Ni₇S₆ sont oxydés. Au-dessus de 800°, NiSO₄ se décompose en NiO qui constitue l'unique composé qui puisse être décelé au-dessus de 800°.

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(Ni_0.994S) (0,2 . ^–1) 20–1000° 10° ^–1. - . . 550–700° Ni_0.994S NiSO₄, Ni₃S₂, NiO -Ni₇S₆. 700–800° , Ni₃S₂ -Ni₇S₆ . 800° NiO, 800°.

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We wish to thank Dr. T. Kennedy for useful discussions and Messrs. B. Sturman, I. Twaddle, K. Oliver and W. Thomas for technical assistance.     

Potent and selective structure-based dibenzofuran inhibitors of transthyretin amyloidogenesis: kinetic stabilization of the native state

Transthyretin (TTR) amyloidogenesis requires rate-limiting tetramer dissociation and partial monomer denaturation to produce a misassembly competent species. This process has been followed by turbidity to identify transthyretin amyloidogenesis inhibitors including dibenzofuran-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (1). An X-ray cocrystal structure of TTR.1(2) reveals that it only utilizes the outer portion of the two thyroxine binding pockets to bind to and inhibit TTR amyloidogenesis. Herein, structure-based design was employed to append aryl substituents at C1 of the dibenzofuran ring to complement the unused inner portion of the thyroxine binding pockets. Twenty-eight amyloidogenesis inhibitors of increased potency and dramatically increased plasma TTR binding selectivity resulted. These function by imposing kinetic stabilization on the native tetrameric structure of TTR, creating a barrier that is insurmountable under physiological conditions. Since kinetic stabilization of the TTR native state by interallelic trans suppression is known to ameliorate disease, there is reason to be optimistic that the dibenzofuran-based inhibitors will do the same. Preventing the onset of amyloidogenesis is the most conservative strategy to intervene clinically, as it remains unclear which of the TTR misassembly intermediates results in toxicity. The exceptional binding selectivity enables these inhibitors to occupy the thyroxine binding site(s) in a complex biological fluid such as blood plasma, required for inhibition of amyloidogenesis in humans. It is now established that the dibenzofuran-based amyloidogenesis inhibitors have high selectivity, affinity, and efficacy and are thus excellent candidates for further pharmacologic evaluation.     

Electrically actuated, pressure-driven microfluidic pumps

In order to make the lab-on-a-chip concept a reality, it is desirable to have an integrated component capable of pumping fluids through microchannels. We have developed novel, electrically actuated micropumps and have integrated them with microfluidic systems. These devices utilize the build-up of electrolysis gases to achieve pressure-driven pumping, only require small voltages (approximately 10 V), and have approximate dimensions of 5 cm x 3 cm x 2 cm. Furthermore, these micropumps are composed of relatively inexpensive materials, and the reversible sealability of their poly(dimethylsiloxane) body to different microfluidic arrays enables repeated uses of the same pump. Under an applied potential of 10 V, three different micropumps had average flow rates of 8-13 microL min(-1) for water being pumped through five different 2 cm-long, 5500 microm(2) cross-sectional-area channels in poly(methyl methacrylate), in approximate agreement with predicted pump rates. We have also evaluated pump operation at the lower applied potential of 8 V and observed an average flow rate of 6.1 microL min(-1) for a pump-channel system. The current micropump design is capable of sustaining pumping pressures in the range of 300 kPa. The various advantages of these micropumps make them well suited for use in lab-on-a-chip analysis techniques.     

Spectroscopic approaches to the study of the interaction of aluminum with humic substances

Aluminum ion (Al³⁺) in the ‘free’ (aquo) state is becoming increasingly prevalent in environmental waters, especially fresh waters, as a consequence of acid rain and other environmental processes. As Al³⁺ ion is known to affect markedly a wide range of biological systems, and since the presence of Al³⁺ in humans has been linked to a number of human diseases, it is important to understand the speciation of Al³⁺ ion in natural waters. Since some of the most important complexation agents for Al³⁺ in both fresh and sea waters are members of the complex humic substances group, it is important to understand the manner in which Al³⁺ interacts with this class of molecules, especially since binding of Al³⁺ to these molecules can effectively increase the bioavailability of this toxic metal ion to biological systems. The objective of this review is to present the current state of our understanding of aqueous aluminum complexation with the most acidic members (and therefore the most likely candidates for serving as Al³⁺ complexing agents) of the humic substances group, the fulvic acids. Much of the current knowledge has been revealed by comprehensive fluorescence titration analyses. Some additional information has come from other experimental approaches, including infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and a variety of electrochemical approaches. In this review, we also report on the results of our recent fluorescence and IR spectroscopy survey of the interaction of metals from of all three Nieboer and Richardson categories of environmental metals (Class A, Class B and Intermediate Class) with the fulvic acid sub-group of the humic substances. This has proven helpful in understanding some of the unique spectral behaviors of the Al³⁺-fulvic acid complex vis-a-vis fulvic acid complexes with many other metal ions. The results of our fluorescence and IR experiments with the model compounds, such as salicylic and phthalic acids, have allowed confirmation of the important roles played by both salicylic acid-like sites and phthalic acid-like sites in the unique complexation of Al³⁺ to humic substances, and help to explain some of the observed spectroscopic changes associated with Al³⁺ ion complexation to humic material. From the current work, it seems clear that major sources of the deviation in spectral properties between Al³⁺ and many other metal ions (across all three Nieboer and Richardson categories) are the unusually high value of its charge density and relatively low propensity for involvement in covalent bonding interactions (i.e. a very high ionic index combined with a relatively low covalent index in the Nieboer and Richardson classification of environmental metals), as well as affinity for certain functional groups.     

Highly diastereoselective desymmetrizations of cyclo(Pro,Pro): an enantioselective strategy toward phakellstatin and phakellin

[reaction: see text] Monoenolates of C(2)-symmetric, proline-derived piperazine-2,5-diones were generated and trapped with a variety of electrophiles to produce, in a highly diastereoselective fashion, functionalized diketopiperazines (DKPs). These reactions provide the basis for an asymmetric, desymmetrization strategy toward the marine alkaloids phakellstatin and phakellin. The relative stereochemistry of the functionalized DKPs was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis and/or NOE experiments. Bis-functionalization of the DKPs was also found to proceed with high levels of diastereoselectivity.