Structure Elucidation of Triterpenoid Saponins Found in an Immunoadjuvant Preparation of Quillaja brasiliensis Using Mass Spectrometry and 1H and 13C NMR Spectroscopy

An immunoadjuvant preparation (named Fraction B) was obtained from the aqueous extract of Quillaja brasiliensis leaves, and further fractionated by consecutive separations with silica flash MPLC and reverse phase HPLC. Two compounds were isolated, and their structures elucidated using a combination of NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. One of these compounds is a previously undescribed triterpene saponin (Qb1), which is an isomer of QS-21, the unique adjuvant saponin employed in human vaccines. The other compound is a triterpene saponin previously isolated from Quillaja saponaria bark, known as S13. The structure of Qb1 consists of a quillaic acid residue substituted with a β-d-Galp-(1→2)-[β-d-Xylp-(1→3)]-β-d-GlcpA trisaccharide at C3, and a β-d-Xylp-(1→4)-α-l-Rhap-(1→2)-[α-l-Arap-(1→3)]-β-d-Fucp moiety at C28. The oligosaccharide at C28 was further substituted at O4 of the fucosyl residue with an acyl group capped with a β-d-Xylp residue.     

A proposal for a convertible stadium roof structure derived from Watt-I linkage

In this paper, a novel convertible stadium roof structure is introduced, which has been derived from a special geometric configuration of Watt-I linkage, a 1-DoF mechanism used in robot technologies as anthropomorphic fingers. The proposed structure can offer a wide range of different shape configurations according to the environmental conditions and spatial needs, thus offering several aesthetic and functional advantages over existing solutions. This paper serves as a feasibility investigation of this concept, mainly from geometric and structural point of view. To that affect, first kinematic analysis and geometric design of this linkage are introduced. Then, structural analyses of the proposed structure with realistic dimensions and loading conditions are performed in three different geometric configurations, in order to discuss strength and stiffness limitations. Finally, potential cover materials and actuators are briefly discussed.     

Polypeptide folding on a conformational‐space network: Dependence of network topology on the structural discretization procedure

Mapping the conformational space of a polypeptide onto a network of conformational states involves a number of subjective choices, mostly in relation to the definition of conformation and its discrete nature in a network framework. Here, we evaluate the robustness of the topology of conformational‐space networks derived from Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations with respect to the use of different discretization (clustering) methods, variation of their parameters, simulation length and analysis time‐step, and removing high‐frequency motions from the coordinate trajectories. In addition, we investigate the extent to which polypeptide dynamics can be reproduced on the resulting networks when assuming Markovian behavior. The analysis is based on eight 500 ns and eight 400 ns MD simulations in explicit water of two 10‐residue peptides. Three clustering algorithms were used, two of them based on the pair‐wise root‐mean‐square difference between structures and one on dihedral‐angle patterns. A short characteristic path length and a power‐law behavior of the probability distribution of the node degree are obtained irrespective of the clustering method or the value of any of the tested parameters. The average cliquishness is consistently one or two orders of magnitude larger than that of a random realization of a network of corresponding size and connectivity. The cliquishness as function of node degree and the kinetic properties of the networks are found to be most dependent on clustering method and/or parameters. Although Markovian simulations on the networks reproduce cluster populations accurately, their kinetic properties most often differ from those observed in the MD simulations. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of a New Cadmium(Ⅱ) Complex Bridged by Endo-norbornene-cis-5,6-dicarboxylic Acid

A polynuclear complex [Cd(endc)(H2O)]n·nH2O (endc = endo-norbomene-cis5,6-dicarboxylate anion) has been synthesized by the hydrothermal reaction of cadmium nitrate tetrahydrate with endo-norbomene-cis-5,6-dicarboxylic acid in 1:1 molar ratio,and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.It crystallizes in monoclinic,space group P21/c with a = 1.16471(7),b = 0.95334(7),c = 0.91109(9) nm,Z = 4,V= 1.01035(14)nm3,Dc.= 2.160 g/cm3,μ= 2.172 mm-1,F(000) = 648,R =0.0302 and wR = 0.0752.According to structural analysis,each Cd(Ⅱ) ion is coordinated to six O atoms from three endc anions and one water molecule,giving a distorted octahedral geometry.Two- dimensional layer arrangement of the title complex is constructed from the bridging nature of endc.It is worth notice that adjacent two-dimensional layers are joined together to form a three-dimensional supramolecular framework via intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions.     

Structure of BaGd2（MoO4）4 Crystal

The title compound belongs to monoclinic,space group C2/c with a=5.2694(1),b=12.6659(4),c=19.4108(2) ,β=91.504(2)°,V=1295.06(5) 3,Z=4 and Dc=5.599 g/cm3. The structure of BaGd2(MoO4)4 contains a MoO4 tetrahedron,a distorted GdO8 polyhedron,and Ba2+ ions in a tenfold coordination. The GdO8 polyhedra are linked together through edge-sharing to give a two-dimensional Gd layer. The MoO4 tetrahedra connected to the Gd atoms are capped up and down the Gd layer through common oxygen apices,thus forming a new Gd-Mo layer. Finally,the Gd-Mo layers are held together through bridging BaO10 polyhedra to form a three-dimensional framework. Since the Ba-μ3-O bond has a large average distance of 2.888 ,this structural characteristic will result in a cleavage along the (001) plane.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of [{Cd(hmbdc)(H2O)3}·2H2O]n

A novel coordination polymer [{Cd(hmbdc)(H2O)3}·2H2O]n (hmbdc=5-hydroxy- isophthalic acid) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal belongs to monoclinic, space group P21/c, with a=9.599(3), b=18.699(5), c=7.557(2) (A), β= 108.198(4)°, V=1288.6(6) (A)3, Z=4, Mr=382.60, Dc=1.972 g/cm3, F(000)=760, μ=1.740, the final R=0.0555 and wR=0.0995 for 1732 observed reflections with Ⅰ ＞ 2σ(Ⅰ). The structural analysis shows that the intermolecular hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions result in a three-dimensional supramolecular framework.     

A Novel Hybrid Solid Constructed from Tetramolybdate and Copper Complexes with Mixed Ligands: [{(Cu·phen)2(tp)}{(Cu·phen·H2O)2(tp)}{Mo4O14}]

A novel copper molybdate with mixed ligands, [{(Cu·phen)2(tp)}{(Cu·phen·H2O)2(tp)}{Mo4O14}] (phen=1,10-phenanthroline, tp=terephthalate) 1, has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. The crystal belongs to monoclinic system, space group P21/c with a=13.1711(7), b=19.6132(10), c=13.6910(7) (A), β=117.6870(10)°, V=3131.8(3)(A)3, Z=2, C64H44Cu4Mo4N8O24, Mr=1946.99, Dc=2.065 g/cm3, F(000)=1920, μ(MoKα) (A) 2.198 mm-1, R=0.0810 and wR=0.2012 for 4233 observed reflections (Ⅰ ＞ 2σ(Ⅰ)). The structural analysis indicates that the title compound contains a discrete tetramolybdate cluster decorated with copper complex fragments and tp ligands bridging the clusters into a wave-like layer. The hydrogen bonding between adjacent layers further extends the compound into a 3-D framework.     

Modified Ceria-Zirconia Fluorite-Like Catalysts for the Combustion of Methane

For dispersed ceria-zirconia-based solid solutions prepared via the polymerized complex method and annealed at 700℃, effects of bulk doping by Ca, Mn, Co, Bi or Nb cations and surface modification by Mn and Pt on their structural features, surface/bulk oxygen reactivity and catalytic activity in methane combustion are considered. With up to 20 mol% doping, a structural type of homogeneous solid solutions of anion-deficient fluorite with disordered anion vacancies is formed. Doping by transition metal cations or Pt increases the mobility and reactivity of the surface/bulk oxygen. A broad variation in specific rates of methane combustion for the studied systems was observed, suggesting structural sensitivity of this reaction. In general, there is no universal relationship between the oxygen mobility, the reactivity and the catalytic activity in methane combustion, which is explained by the factor of specific methane activation on surface active sites. For the Pt-promoted samples, Pt efficiency in methane activation depends on the Pt-support interaction, and the most favorable ones being mixed Pt/MnOx and Pt/NbOx clusters on the surface of the supports that exhibit high lattice oxygen mobilities.     

碳纳米管原子力显微镜针尖在结构生物学研究中的应用

碳纳米管以其较小的半径、较高的纵横比和高的柔韧性成为原子力显微镜对结构生物学进行研究的理想针尖。新的制备方法获得了亚纳米级半径的碳纳米管针尖,运用它们得到了生物大分子及其复合物的生物结构,并获得了新的生物信息,这用传统的原子力显微镜针尖是无法实现的。     

Aqueous-phase ion solvation and the selectivity of anion exchange resins for monovalent ions

This research examines and quantifies the influence of ion solvation parameters on the affinity of monovalent anions for strong-base anion resins. A data set comprising resin selectivity coefficients and solvation parameters from the literature is statistically analyzed using correlation and multiple regression techniques. The affinity of monovalent anions for the resin phase correlated well to ionic radii. Solvation parameters such as the hydration number, and entropy, enthalpy and free energy of hydration are also strongly correlated to selectivity. Using the stepwise regression procedure on subsets of independent variables, the entropy of hydration, which characterizes the structure-influencing nature of ions in solution, is incorporated as the sole parameter in the predictive model for resin selectivity. The data are best correlated by the exponential form of the regression equation, and the physical meaning of the correlation is shown to be reasonable. A simple rule for categorizing ions as structure-makers and structure-breakers is proposed, and the results are consistent with conventional classifications.