Visible-Light-Switchable Tellurium-Based Chalcogen Bonding: Photocontrolled Anion Binding and Anion Abstraction Catalysis

Exploring new noncovalent bonding motifs with reversibly tunable binding affinity is of fundamental importance in manipulating the properties and functions of supramolecular self-assembly systems and materials. Herein, for the first time, we demonstrate a unique visible-light-switchable telluro-triazole/triazolium-based chalcogen bonding (ChB) system in which the Te moieties are connected by azobenzene cores. The binding strengths between these azo-derived ChB receptors and the halide anions (Cl⁻, Br⁻) could be reversibly regulated upon irradiation by visible light of different wavelengths. The cis-bidentate ChB receptors exhibit enhanced halide anion binding ability compared to the trans-monodentate receptors. In particular, the telluro-triazolium-based ChB receptor can achieve both high and significantly photoswitchable binding affinities for halide anions, which enable it to serve as an efficient photocontrolled organocatalyst for ChB-assisted halide abstraction in a Friedel–Crafts alkylation benchmark reaction.     

BINDING OF IONIC SURFACTANTS ON OPPOSITELY CHARGED POLYELECTROLYTES OBSERVED BY FLUORESCENCE METHODS

Our recent studies concerning the binding of ionic surfactants on oppositely charged polyelectrolytes observedwith fluorescence techniques are reviewed. The cationic surfactants cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB),dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC), and nonionic surfactant octaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C_(12)E_8) wereallowed to bind on anionic poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) (PAMPS) and its pyrene and/or naphthalenelabeled copolymers. The relative excimer emission intensity I_E/I_M of a cationic probe l-pyrenemethylamine hydrochloride(PyMeA·HCl) and the non-radiative energy transfer (NRET) I_(Py)/I_(Np) of naphthalene to pyrene for labeled polyelectrolyteswere chosen to monitor the binding process and the conformation change of surfactant-bound polyelectrolytes. The 1:1aggregation of polyelectrolyte-CTAB with respect to the charge was found as long as the CTAB concentration was slightlyhigher than its critical aggregation concentration (CAC). The intermolecular NRET indicated that the CTAB-boundpolyelectrolytes aggregated together through the hydrophobic interaction between the CTAB tails. However, neither 1:1polyelectrolyte-DTAC aggregation nor intermolecular aggregation of DTAC-bound polyelectrolyte was observed owing to itsweaker hydrophobicity of 12 carbon atoms in the tail, which is shorter than that of CTAB. As known from the fluorescenceresults, nonionic surfactant C_(12)E_8 did not bind on the anionic polyelectrolytes, but the presence of PAMPS promoted themicelle formation for C_(12)E_8 at the CAC slightly below its critical micelle concentration (CMC). The solid complex of dansyllabeled AMPS copolymer-surfactant exhibited a decrease in local polarity with increasing charge density of thepolyelectrolyte or with alkane tail length of the surfactant. SAXS suggested a lamella structure for the AMPS copolymer-surfactant solid complexes with a long period of 3.87 nm for CTAB and 3.04 nm for DTAC, respectively.     

Immunoassays using capillary electrophoresis laser induced fluorescence detection for DNA adducts

Human DNA is exposed to a variety of endogenous and environmental agents that may induce a wide range of damage. The critical role of DNA damage in cancer development makes it essential to develop highly sensitive and specific assays for DNA lesions. We describe here ultrasensitive assays for DNA damage, which incorporate immuno-affinity with capillary electrophoresis (CE) separation and laser induced fluorescence (LIF) detection. Both competitive and non-competitive assays using CE/LIF were developed for the determination of DNA adducts of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE). A fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide containing a single BPDE adduct was synthesized and used as a fluorescent probe for competitive assay. Binding between this synthetic oligonucleotide and a monoclonal antibody (MAb) showed both 1:1 and 1:2 complexes between the MAb and the oligonucleotide. The 1:1 and 1:2 complexes were separated by CE and detected with LIF, revealing binding stoichiometry information consistent with the bidentate nature of the immunoglobulin G antibody. For non-competitive assay, a fluorescently labeled secondary antibody fragment F(ab′)₂ was used as an affinity probe to recognize a primary antibody that was specific for the BPDE-DNA adducts. The ternary complex of BPDE-DNA adducts with the bound antibodies was separated from the unbound antibodies using CE and detected with LIF for quantitation of the DNA adducts. The assay was used for the determination of trace levels of BPDE-DNA adducts in human cells. Analysis of cellular DNA from A549 human lung carcinoma cells that were incubated with low doses of BPDE (32 nM–1 μM) showed a clear dose–response relationship. BPDE is a potent environmental carcinogen, and the ultrasensitive assays for BPDE-DNA adducts are potentially useful for monitoring human exposure to this carcinogen and for studying cellular repair of DNA damage.     

A Chiral Emissive Conjugated Corral for High-Affinity and Highly Enantioselective Recognition in Water

Accurately distinguishing between enantiomeric molecules is a fundamental challenge in the field of chemistry. However, there is still significant room for improvement in both the enantiomeric selectivity (K_R(S)/K_S(R)) and binding strength of most reported macrocyclic chiral receptors to meet the demands of practical application scenarios. Herein, we synthesized a water-soluble conjugated tubular host—namely, corral[4]BINOL—using a chiral 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) derivative as the repeating unit. The conjugated chiral backbone endows corral[4]BINOL with good fluorescent emission (QY=34 % ) and circularly polarized luminescence (|g_lum| up to 1.4×10⁻³) in water. Notably, corral[4]BINOL exhibits high recognition affinity up to 8.6×10¹⁰ M⁻¹ towards achiral guests in water, and manifested excellent enantioselectivity up to 18.7 towards chiral substrates, both of which represent the highest values observed among chiral macrocycles in aqueous solution. The ultrastrong binding strength, outstanding enantioselectivity, and facile accessibility, together with the superior fluorescent and chiroptical properties, endow corral[4]BINOL with great potential for a wide range of applications.     

Evaluation of Calcium - Arsenazo III Stoichiometry in the Presence and Absence of Egta at Various pH

Abstract

The calcium titration experiments were performed with 9 uM and 100 uM concentrations of Arsenazo III (Az) at various pH°s in the presence as well as in the absence of ethylene glycol-bis-(2-amino ethylether)-N,N°-tetra-acetic acid (EGTA). Analysis of results indicated that in the presence of EGTA in 9 uM Az solutions the Ca-Az stoichiometry changes from 1:1 to two Ca binding with one Az (2:1) upon increase in pH from 6.55 to 7.26. In the same systems but without EGTA the binding stoichiometry remains 1:1 throughout the pH range 6.55 to 7.32. In case of 100 uM Az III, however, EGTA has no effect on Ca-Az stoichiometry and it is 1:1 in the above pH range. An estimate of dissociation constants (K_D) in EGTA containing systems showed a simultaneous decrease in K_D by three orders of magnitude with a change in stoichiometry from 1:1 to 2:1 in the case of 9 uM Az III. At 100 uM dye concentration, with no change in 1:1 binding stoichiometry, K_D also remained constant throughout the pH range studied. We suggest that at lower dye concentration a competition between Ca-Az and Ca-EGTA binding causes this change in stoichiometry. The discrepancy among the previous reports about Ca-Az stoichiometry appeared to be due to change in pH in the presence of EGTA.     

Fiber-Optic Sensor with a Sandwich Binding Technique for Fluoroimmunoassay

Abstract

We report the development of a fiber-optic sensor based on the principle of the sandwich binding technique for the fluoroimmunoassay. Anti-mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody was immobilized on the membrane mounted to the edge of the fiber. The sensor was exposed to the solution containing mouse IgG and then allophycocyanin conjugated anti-mouse IgG antibody was added. The helium-neon (He-Ne) laser provides excitation of the sandwich binding antigen-antibody complex. This results in fluorescence emission at the membrane. Increase in the fluorescence intensity from sensing tip was proportional to the amount of mouse IgG in the sample. A linear relationship was obtained between the fluorescence intensity increase and the mouse IgG concentration in the range 0.3 - 9.0 μg/ml.     

基于分子动力学和自由能计算研究小分子对HIF-VHL相互作用的抑制机理

蛋白-蛋白相互作用涉及多种生理过程. 其中HIF-VHL作为局部缺血性心脏病的重要靶标得到了学术界和工业界的广泛关注. 本文使用分子动力学模拟和结合自由能计算研究pro-like的小分子抑制剂对VHL-HIF的抑制机理. Pro-like抑制剂能够与HIF竞争性地结合在VHL蛋白上,从而破坏VHL-HIF相互作用. 基于抑制机理给出了pro-like抑制剂的优化策略.     

Partial widths for the decays η:(1295) →γγ and η:(1440) →γγ

We discuss γγ partial widths of pseudoscalar/isoscalar mesons η:(M) in the mass region M∼ 1000–1500 MeV. The transition amplitudes η:(1295) →γγ and η:(1440) →γγ are studied within an assumption that the decaying mesons are the members of the first radial excitation nonet 2¹ S ₀qˉq. The calculations show that partial widths being of the order of 0.1 keV are dominantly due to the nˉn meson component while the contribution of the sˉs component is small. Received: 24 September 1999     

Adsorption of formaldehyde on the Fe site of clean and M (Ca, Sr and Ba) doped LaFeO3 (0 1 0) surface

The adsorption of formaldehyde (H₂CO) on the Fe site of clean and M²⁺ (Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺) doped LaFeO₃ (0 1 0) surface have been investigated using the density functional theory (DFT) method. Calculation results show that the oxygen atom of the H₂CO molecule prefers to be adsorbed on the Fe site of the clean LaFeO₃ (0 1 0) surface. The adsorption of H₂CO could change the electronic properties of the LaFeO₃, indicating that the LaFeO₃ could be used as gas sensing material to detect the H₂CO gas. The analysis results of the DOS suggest that the bonding mechanism between the H₂CO molecule and the Fe site is mainly from the interaction between the Fe 3d and H₂CO 2p orbital. Comparing with the binding energy and the net charge-transfer, we find that the M²⁺ (Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺) doping cannot improve the sensitivity of the LaFeO₃ to the H₂CO gas.     

四溴联苯醚(BDE47)与溶菌酶的相互作用研究

在模拟人体生理条件下,采用分子模拟结合三维荧光、圆二色谱、荧光光谱、时间分辨荧光等光谱方法,研究了四溴联苯醚（BDE47）与溶菌酶的相互作用机制。结果表明：BDE47能有效地猝灭溶菌酶的内源性荧光,猝灭机制为静态猝灭。分子对接显示,BDE47与溶菌酶分子中的TRP62,TRP63,ARG61,ASN59,ALA107和ILE98等氨基酸残基具有相互作用,且BDE47分子中的醚键O原子与TRP63形成了氢键,氢键距离为2.2 Å。三维荧光的实验结果表明,BDE47的加入导致了溶菌酶的荧光强度降低,峰位置发生略微红移,BDE47与溶菌酶之间的结合作用改变了溶菌酶的微环境。圆二色谱分析则进一步证明,BDE47的存在引起了溶菌酶的构象发生改变,导致α-螺旋结构的含量减少。根据Föster非辐射能量转移理论计算得出,供体（溶菌酶）与受体（BDE47）的结合距离r为3.31 nm,满足非辐射能量的条件。分析四个温度下的热力学参数发现,BDE47与溶菌酶之间的结合是一个自发放热的过程,主要驱动力为氢键和范德华力,与分子对接、结合自由能分析结论一致。