Phosphatidylcholine Cation—Tyrosine π Complexes: Motifs for Membrane Binding by a Bacterial Phospholipase C

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) enzymes are a virulence factor in many Gram-positive organisms. The specific activity of the Bacillus thuringiensis PI-PLC is significantly increased by adding phosphatidylcholine (PC) to vesicles composed of the substrate phosphatidylinositol, in part because the inclusion of PC reduces the apparent K_d for the vesicle binding by as much as 1000-fold when comparing PC-rich vesicles to PI vesicles. This review summarizes (i) the experimental work that localized a site on BtPI-PLC where PC is bound as a PC choline cation—Tyr-π complex and (ii) the computational work (including all-atom molecular dynamics simulations) that refined the original complex and found a second persistent PC cation—Tyr-π complex. Both complexes are critical for vesicle binding. These results have led to a model for PC functioning as an allosteric effector of the enzyme by altering the protein dynamics and stabilizing an ‘open’ active site conformation.     

Virtual Screening of Artemisia annua Phytochemicals as Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Enzyme

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a human coronaviruses that emerged in China at Wuhan city, Hubei province during December 2019. Subsequently, SARS-CoV-2 has spread worldwide and caused millions of deaths around the globe. Several compounds and vaccines have been proposed to tackle this crisis. Novel recommended in silico approaches have been commonly used to screen for specific SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors of different types. Herein, the phytochemicals of Pakistani medicinal plants (especially Artemisia annua) were virtually screened to identify potential inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease enzyme. The X-ray crystal structure of the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 with an N3 inhibitor was obtained from the protein data bank while A. annua phytochemicals were retrieved from different drug databases. The docking technique was carried out to assess the binding efficacy of the retrieved phytochemicals; the docking results revealed that several phytochemicals have potential to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 main protease enzyme. Among the total docked compounds, the top-10 docked complexes were considered for further study and evaluated for their physiochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. The top-3 docked complexes with the best binding energies were as follows: the top-1 docked complex with a −7 kcal/mol binding energy score, the top-2 docked complex with a −6.9 kcal/mol binding energy score, and the top-3 docked complex with a −6.8 kcal/mol binding energy score. These complexes were subjected to a molecular dynamic simulation analysis for further validation to check the dynamic behavior of the selected top-complexes. During the whole simulation time, no major changes were observed in the docked complexes, which indicated complex stability. Additionally, the free binding energies for the selected docked complexes were also estimated via the MM-GB/PBSA approach, and the results revealed that the total delta energies of MMGBSA were −24.23 kcal/mol, −26.38 kcal/mol, and −25 kcal/mol for top-1, top-2, and top-3, respectively. MMPBSA calculated the delta total energy as −17.23 kcal/mol (top-1 complex), −24.75 kcal/mol (top-2 complex), and −24.86 kcal/mol (top-3 complex). This study explored in silico screened phytochemicals against the main protease of the SARS-CoV-2 virus; however, the findings require an experimentally based study to further validate the obtained results.     

Supramolecular Protein-Polyelectrolyte Assembly at Near Physiological Conditions—Water Proton NMR,ITC, and DLS Study

The in vivo potency of polyphosphazene immunoadjuvants is inherently linked to the ability of these ionic macromolecules to assemble with antigenic proteins in aqueous solutions and form physiologically stable supramolecular complexes. Therefore, in-depth knowledge of interactions in this biologically relevant system is a prerequisite for a better understanding of mechanism of immunoadjuvant activity. Present study explores a self-assembly of polyphosphazene immunoadjuvant—PCPP and a model antigen—lysozyme in a physiologically relevant environment—saline solution and neutral pH. Three analytical techniques were employed to characterize reaction thermodynamics, water-solute structural organization, and supramolecular dimensions: isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), water proton nuclear magnetic resonance (wNMR), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The formation of lysozyme–PCPP complexes at near physiological conditions was detected by all methods and the avidity was modulated by a physical state and dimensions of the assemblies. Thermodynamic analysis revealed the dissociation constant in micromolar range and the dominance of enthalpy factor in interactions, which is in line with previously suggested model of protein charge anisotropy and small persistence length of the polymer favoring the formation of high affinity complexes. The paper reports advantageous use of wNMR method for studying protein-polymer interactions, especially for low protein-load complexes.     

Paramagnetic Properties and Moderately RapidConformational Dynamics in the Cobalt(II) Calix[4]arene Complex by NMR

¹H NMR measurements are reported for the CD₂Cl₂/CDCl₃ solutions of the Co(II) calix[4]arenetetraphosphineoxide complex (I). Temperature dependences of the ¹H NMR spectra of I have been analyzed using the line shape analysis, taking into account the temperature variation of paramagnetic chemical shifts, within the frame of the dynamic NMR method. Conformational dynamics of the 2:1 Co(II) calix[4]arene complexes was conditioned by the pinched cone ↔pinched cone interconversion of I (with activation Gibbs energy ΔG^≠(298K) = 40 ± 3 kJ/mol. Due to substantial temperature dependence of paramagnetic shifts, complex I can be used as model compound for designing an NMR thermosensor reagent for local temperature monitoring.     

改进型单晶炉提拉系统偏心平衡研究

随着光伏行业的快速发展, 对硅单晶的品质和长晶装备的稳定性的要求也不断提高。直拉法是生产硅单晶的主要方法,通过提高单晶炉副室的高度以扩大单晶硅的生产规模。由于副室高度的大幅增加,且单晶炉提拉头质心相对于旋转轴心有一定距离,对单晶炉整体稳定性有较大影响,从而降低了单晶硅的生产质量。针对此问题,对单晶炉建立可靠的力学分析模型,采用数值仿真方法,对单晶炉整体进行动力学响应分析,计算得到副室高度增加后的单晶炉工作时中钨丝绳下端晶棒的运动规律以及最大摆动幅度,为改进设计提供依据。数值仿真分析表明提高单晶炉副室高度后,提拉头较大的质心偏心是单晶炉提拉系统发生摆动的主要原因。在此基础上提出在提拉头上添加质心调节装置,通过控制系统调节可保证提拉头质心位置在旋转轴线上以降低提拉系统的摆动。     

聚合物二元体系动态力学性能的估算

动态热机械分析是多相聚合物体系的一个重要研究手段.分析动态力学性能可以研究共混高聚物的相容性、复合材料的界面特性以及高分子运动机理等.本文综述了聚合物二元体系,即填充、纤维增强、共混体系动态力学性能的估算方法.在填充体系中,分别概述有无界面作用两种情况,当存在界面作用时,界面作用越强,模量越大,阻尼越小.对纤维增强体系,讨论了玻璃纤维有无取向的情况下模量和阻尼的估算.特别对于聚合物二元共混体系,分"海-岛"结构和双连续相两种情况,分别讨论了模量与阻尼的估算.     

连体构架避雷针风振计算的简化方法

为简化构架避雷针风振时域计算从而有效降低计算耗时,以单跨和三跨构架避雷针结构为例,根据构架体系的结构特性和风振特点,提出一种简化计算方法,即对每个塔架单独建模并考虑结构刚度和质量系统的一致性和横梁荷载的等效加载,从而对每个塔架单独进行动力计算,并对这种简化方法的合理性进行了验证。研究发现,构架避雷针的频率较小,风振效应较为显著,但在各方向均以一阶振型为绝对主力;构架避雷针的塔架在平面外的荷载耦联效应极小,平面内也仅表现有位移均值的耦联效应:这两个结构特性也为风振简化计算提供了便利。对每个塔架的简化模型,通过在塔架与原横梁连接处设置弹簧和附加质量来实现对原结构一阶振型的等效,并通过影响线法将横梁分布风荷载等效为塔架的集中荷载。由此简化方法所得的结构风振静动力响应结果均与原始结构有良好一致性,并且计算效率得以显著提升。     

R32/PAG润滑油体系的黏度和质扩散系数实验研究

本文采用光散射法对R32/PAG润滑油混合体系的动力黏度和质扩散系数进行了实验研究,温度范围从293.15～353.15 K,压力范围从0.09～1.26 MPa,共计获得16个数据点。R32/PAG体系的表面波散射特性属于过阻尼区,当温度一定时,R32/PAG混合物的黏度随着R32所占比例的升高而减小。本文黏度、质扩散系数实验数据与所获得模型的平均绝对偏差分别为1.17%、0.15%,可用于R32/PAG制冷系统的优化设计。     

反馈调节的局部正则化鲁棒光流估计

提出了一种引入反馈调节机制的新局部鲁棒光流场计算思想.该思想结合局部法和全局法的特点,首先划分整场为有公共边界的子块,定义距离来判断每个点的子块归属,然后在每个子块内进行光流约束和平滑约束正则化的优化计算.将光流约束中的光强残差作为控制参量,衡量光流准确度的峰值信噪比作为输出,经反馈处理,调节控制参量使光流估计准确度趋向最优.实验结果表明,这种新的结合反馈调节机制局部光流场计算法能使光流准确度获得提升.     

动力荷载对围压卸载下岩石动态变形模量的影响

利用SHPB岩石动静组合加载实验系统,研究在不同轴压水平下围压以1 MPa/s速率卸载至预加值50%时矽卡岩受频繁冲击作用的动态变形模量变化规律。实验结果表明：高轴压促使岩石内部微裂纹萌发与扩展,降低了岩石抵抗外部冲击的能力。围压的侧向约束阻碍岩石内部裂纹的横向扩展,但在围压卸载时会加剧岩石内部的损伤,这是由于高轴压下,围压卸载导致岩石内部应力重新分布。轴压与围压卸载共同影响着冲击作用下的岩石动态变形模量,通过岩样在冲击荷载下的能量耗散分析岩石动态变形模量的变化规律,有助于了解深部岩体开挖的破坏机制。