Early reactions of light-induced protochlorophyllide and chlorophyllide transformations analyzed in vivo at room temperature with a diode array spectrofluorometer

The steps of protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) photoreduction and subsequent chlorophyllide (Chlide) transformations which occur in the seconds to minutes time-scale were studied using a diode array spectrofluorometer in dark-grown barley leaves. The intensity of the excitation light was varied between 3 and 2,500 micromol m(-2) s(-1) and a series of fluorescence spectra were recorded at room temperature in the seconds and minutes time scales. In certain experiments, 77-K emission spectra were measured with the same equipment. The high quality of the spectra allowed us to run spectral resolution studies which proved the occurrence, at room temperature, of multiple Pchlide and Chlide forms found previously in 77-K spectra. The comparison of the 77-K and room-temperature spectra showed that the fluorescence yields of the nonphotoactive 633-nm Pchlide form and of the Chlide product emitting at 678 nm were temperature independent. The fluorescence intensity of aggregated NADPH-pigment-POR complexes (photoactive 656-nm Pchlide and 693-nm Chlide forms) were strongly increased at 77 K, while that of the NADP(+)-Chlide-POR (684-686-nm Chlide form) was much less affected by temperature. Information was obtained also about the dynamics of the transformation of pigment forms in the light at different photon densities. At low light intensities, the phototransformation of the 642-644-nm Pchlide form was faster than that of the 654-656-nm form. The relative amplitudes of Gaussian components related to different Chlide forms found after exposure to a constant amount of photons strongly depended on the light intensity used. Strong quenching of all Chlide components occurred upon prolonged exposure to high intensity light. These effects are discussed by considering the interconversion processes between different forms of the pigment-protein complexes, their relative fluorescence yields and energy migration processes.     

High-yield solvothermal formation of magnetic CoPt alloy nanowires

One-dimensional (1D) magnetic nanomaterials have attracted much attention recently because of their applications in magnetic recording and spintronics. Nevertheless, it remains a challenge to prepare free-standing magnetic nanowires in high yield. This Communication reports the successful high-yield synthesis of an interesting 1D ferromagnetic CoPt alloy by direct decomposition of platinum acetylacetonate and cobalt carbonyl compound in ethylenediamine solvent through a solvothermal reaction. The CoPt alloy nanowires obtained have a tunable diameter of 10-50 nm and a length along the longitudinal axis of up to several microns, depending on crystallization temperature and reaction time. A unique formation mechanism involving coarsening and ripening under solvothermal conditions was discovered. This research opens new opportunities in synthesizing nanomaterials through low-temperature solvothermal processes.     

Socket with built-in valves for the interconnection of microfluidic chips to macro constituents

This paper reports a prototype for a standard connector between a microfluidic chip and the macro world. This prototype demonstrate a fully functioning socket for a microchip to access the outside world by means of fluids, data signals and energy supply. It supports up to 10 channels for the input and output of liquids or gases, as well as compressed air or vacuum lines for pneumatic power lines. The socket has built-in valves for each flow channel. It also contains 28 pins for the connection of electrical signals and power. Built-in valves make it possible to control the flow in each channel independently. A chip ( 11.0 x 11.0 x 0.9 mm) can be mounted into or dismounted from the socket with one touch. The fluidic connectors of the socket are designed to contact vertically on the top of chip. And the electrical connectors (the spring array) of that physically support the chip and contact lead pads at the bottom of chip. No adhesives or solders are used at any contact points. The pressure limit for the connection of working fluids was 0.2 MPa and the current limit for the electrical connections was 1 A. This socket supports both serial and parallel processing applications. It exhibits great potential for developing microfluidic systems efficiently.     

A mechanistically guided design leads to the synthesis of an efficient and practical new reagent for the highly enantioselective,catalytic dihydroxylation of olefins

[structure: see text] The catalytic asymmetric dihydroxylation of olefins has been accomplished with high enantioselectivities using a proline-based catalyst. The pre-transition-state assembly for styrene is shown.     

A boxmodel development to study the relationships between the photo-oxidants and the particles formation in the troposphere

The model BAGS (Boxmodel for Aerosol and Gasphase Simulations) has been developed. It is composed of two major modules: the first one describes the system of the chemical reactions in the gaseous phase, the second one calculates the aerosol chemical composition and the dimensional distribution of the particles. The boxmodel has been developed with the introduction of new chemical and physical processes, not previously included, in particular the formation of Secondary Organic Aerosol. The other implemented processes are a module for the dynamic of the particle population, nucleation, coagulation and dry deposition. The last phase of the work has been a check of the BAGS capabilities by a series of tests, that have permitted to compare it with other models (MAPS and MADM). The tests in particular have concerned the aerosol water content prediction, the photochemistry, the condensation of the inorganic compounds and the formation of Secondary Organic Aerosol.     

Implications of active site constraints on varied DNA polymerase selectivity

DNA polymerase selectivity often varies significantly depending on the DNA polymerase. The origin of this varying error propensity is elusive. It is assumed that DNA polymerases form nucleotide binding pockets that differ in properties such as shape and tightness. We tested this prediction and studied HIV-1 RT by employment of size-augmented nucleotides and site-directed mutagenesis of the enzyme. New valuable insights into the mechanism of DNA polymerase fidelity were obtained. The presented study provides experimental evidence that variations of steric constraints within the nucleotide binding pocket of at least two DNA polymerases cause variations in nucleotide incorporation selectivity. Thus, our results support the concept of active site tightness as a causative in differential fidelity among DNA polymerases.     

某些多氮杂大环的合成与应用

多氮杂大环与许多金属离子能形成稳定的络合物。由于氮原子是三价的,因而多氮杂大环比冠醚具有更有利的结构;如果再导入羧基、膦酸基以及其他的亲水基团,则可得到一系列能形成水溶性金属络合物的配体。其中某些金属(如铜、钇等)的络合物在人体生理条件下表现出很好的稳定性,结合单原抗体技术的应用,这炎络合物在医疗、诊断方面有实用性。本文简单介绍某些代表性络合物的制备方法、物理性能和可能的应用。     

The rate of reduction of selenium(VI) to selenium(IV) in hydrochloric acid

The reduction of selenium(VI) to selenium(IV) in 4, 5 and 6M hydrochloric acid was studied at temperatures between 50 and 95 degrees . The reaction rate was determined by measurement of the selenium(IV) formed, by continuous-flow hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometry. The most notable feature of the reaction is the strong increase in rate with increasing hydrogen-ion concentration and temperature. The rate increases initially with chloride concentration at constant acidity (mixtures of hydrochloric and perchloric acid) but levels off to an almost constant value at high chloride concentrations.     

Reduction of Secondary Carboxamides to Imines

This article reports in detail on the discovery that zirconium(IV) salts of secondary amides and lactams are transformed by Cp(2)ZrHCl to N-substituted imines in one step. The method represents the first controlled reduction of amides and lactams to the corresponding imines, a transformation that is otherwise very difficult to achieve because imines are reduced more rapidly than carboxamides by most metal hydride reagents. No products of reductive cleavage of the carboxamides are observed. Efforts to replace 2 mol equiv of Cp(2)ZrHCl with simpler, less costly alternatives led to the finding that a diisobutylaluminum enolate can be substituted for the initial zirconium enolate. Such aluminum amides are smoothly reduced to the corresponding imine using Cp(2)ZrHCl in good yield. Moreover, aluminum amides are also reduced to imines using either low-valent titanium species or triethylsilane. In these alternative procedures, use of Cp(2)ZrHCl is eliminated altogether in the title transformation.     

Absolute stereochemistry of amphidinolide C

[structure in text] The absolute configurations at 12 chiral centers in amphidinolide C (1), a potent cytotoxic 25-membered macrolide isolated from a marine dinoflagellate Amphidinium sp., were determined to be 3S, 4R, 6R, 7R, 8R, 12R, 13S, 16S, 20R, 23R, 24R, and 29S by combination of NMR analyses, degradation experiments, and synthesis of the C-1-C-7 segment.