Simple test system for single molecule recognition force microscopy

We have established an easy-to-use test system for detecting receptor-ligand interactions on the single molecule level using atomic force microscopy (AFM). For this, avidin-biotin, probably the best characterized receptor-ligand pair, was chosen. AFM sensors were prepared containing tethered biotin molecules at sufficiently low surface concentrations appropriate for single molecule studies. A biotin tether, consisting of a 6 nm poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain and a functional succinimide group at the other end, was newly synthesized and covalently coupled to amine-functionalized AFM tips. In particular, PEG₈₀₀ diamine was glutarylated, the mono-adduct NH₂-PEG-COOH was isolated by ion exchange chromatography and reacted with biotin succinimidylester to give biotin-PEG-COOH which was then activated as N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester to give the biotin-PEG-NHS conjugate which was coupled to the aminofunctionalized AFM tip. The motional freedom provided by PEG allows for free rotation of the biotin molecule on the AFM sensor and for specific binding to avidin which had been adsorbed to mica surfaces via electrostatic interactions. Specific avidin-biotin recognition events were discriminated from nonspecific tip-mica adhesion by their typical unbinding force (∼40 pN at 1.4 nN/s loading rate), unbinding length (<13 nm), the characteristic nonlinear force-distance relation of the PEG linker, and by specific block with excess of free d-biotin. The convenience of the test system allowed to evaluate, and compare, different methods and conditions of tip aminofunctionalization with respect to specific binding and nonspecific adhesion. It is concluded that this system is well suited as calibration or start-up kit for single molecule recognition force microscopy.     

极性和非极性溶剂在聚乙烯中的无限稀释扩散系数的测定

 气相法研究小分子溶剂与高分子聚合物材料之间的相互作用是一个快速、准确、方便的方法 ,可以测量多种小分子溶剂在聚合物中的溶解、扩散参数。通过气相法测定了 5种小分子溶剂 (正己烷、正庚烷、正癸烷、乙醇和水 )在固定液聚乙烯中的保留时间和半峰宽 ,运用vanDeemter模型进行数据处理 ,得到上述 5种小分子在聚乙烯中的无限稀释扩散系数 ,获得了十分有意义的结果。     

有机小分子催化的不对称羟醛缩合反应

总结了近年来用于不对称催化羟醛缩合反应的各种有机小分子催化剂, 简要阐述了每种类型的催化剂的催化机理以及它们的优缺点, 同时对有机小分子催化反应的发展进行了展望.     

Viscoelastic properties of single poly(ethylene glycol) molecules.

The viscoelastic properties of single poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) molecules were measured by analysis of thermally and magnetically driven oscillations of an atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever/molecule system. The molecular and monomer stiffness and friction of the PEG polymer were derived using a simple harmonic oscillator (SHO) model. Excellent agreement between the values of these two parameters obtained by the two approaches indicates the validity of the SHO model under the experimental regimes and the excellent reproducibility of the techniques. A sharp minimum in the monomeric friction is seen at around 180 pN applied force which we propose is due to a force induced change in the shape of the energy landscape describing the conformational transition of PEG from a helical to a planar state, which in turn affects the timescale of the transition and therefore modifies the measured internal friction. A knowledge of the viscoelastic response of PEG monomers is particularly important since PEG is widely used as a linker molecule for tethering groups of interest to the AFM tip in force spectroscopy experiments, and we show here that care must be exercised because of the force-dependent viscoelastic properties of these linkers.     

Method and algorithm of obtaining the molecular intrinsic characteristic contours (MICCs) of organic molecules

The molecular intrinsic characteristic contour (MICC) is defined as the set of all the classical turning points of electron movement in a molecule. Studies on the MICCs of some medium organic molecules, such as dimethylether, acetone, and some homologues of alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes, as well as the electron density distributions on the MICCs, are shown for the first time. Results show that the MICC is an intrinsic approach to shape and size of a molecule. Unlike the van der Waals hard-sphere model, the MICC is a smooth contour, and it has a clear physical meaning. Detailed investigations on the cross-sections of MICCs have provided a kind of important information about atomic size changing in the process of forming molecules. Studies on electron density distribution on the MICC not only provide a new insight into molecular shape, but also show that the electron density distribution on the boundary surface relates closely with molecular properties and reactivities. For the homologues of alkanes, Rout(H), Dmin, and Dmax (the minimum and maximum of electron density on the MICC), all have very good linear relationships with minus of the molecular ionization potential. This work may serve as a basis for exploring a new reactivity indicator of chemical reactions and for studying molecular shape properties of large organic and biological molecules.     

Stochastic detection of motor protein-RNA complexes by single-channel current recording.

A label- and immobilization-free approach to detecting the reversible formation of complexes between nucleic acids and proteins at the single-molecule level is described. The voltage-driven translocation of individual oligoribonucleotides through a nanoscale protein pore is observed by single-channel current recordings. The oligoribonucleotide 5'-C25A(25)-3' gives rise to current blockades with an average duration of approximately 0.5 ms. In the presence of the RNA-binding ATPase P4, a viral packaging motor from bacteriophage phi8, longer events of tens to hundreds of milliseconds are observed. Upon addition of ATP the long events disappear, indicating the dissociation of the P4RNA complex. The frequency of events also depends on the concentration of P4 and the length of the oligoribonucleotide, thereby confirming the specificity of the P4RNA events. This study shows that single-channel current recordings can be used to monitor RNA-protein complex formation, thus opening up a new means to examine the motor activity of RNA- or DNA-processing enzymes.     

Theory on the molecular characteristic contour (II)--Molecular intrinsic characteristic contours of several typical organic molecules

The molecular intrinsic characteristic contour (MICC) is defined based on the classical turning point of electron movement in a molecule. Three typical organic molecules, I.e. Methane, methanol and formic acid, were employed as examples for detailed introduction of our method. Investigations on the cross-sections of MICC provide important information about atomic size changing in the process of forming molecules. The electron density distributions on the MICCs of these molecules were calculated and shown for the first time. Results showed that the electron density distribution on the MICC correlates closely with molecular chemical properties, and it provides a new insight into molecular boundary.     

Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Bioactivities of 1-（4-Chlorophenyl）-3- [ 5-（pyrid-4-yl）- 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl] urea

The title compound 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[5-(pyrid-4-yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]urea (C14H10ClN5OS, Mr = 331.79) has been synthesized by the reaction of 2-amino-5-(pyrid-4-yl)- 1,3,4-thiadiazole with 4-chlorobenzoyl azide, and its crystal structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal belongs to triclinic system, space group P with a = 5.8550(8), b = 7.5668(10), c = 16.416(2) , α = 78.364(2), β = 81.204(2), γ = 84.749(2)°, V = 702.58(16) 3, Z = 2, Dc = 1.568 g/cm3, μ = 0.429 mm-1, F(000) = 340, the final R = 0.0442 and wR = 0.1092 for 2001 observed reflections (I > 2σ(I)). X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the title molecule is nearly planar. In the crystal structure, the molecules are linked by strong intermolecular N-H…N hydrogen bonds together with weak nonclassical intermolecular (C-H…Y, Y = N, O and Cl) hydrogen bonds and stacked through π-π interactions. The preliminary bioassay shows that the title compound exhibits good fungicidal activities against Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis cinerea and Dothiorella gregaria.     

Finite element investigation of the ground states of the helium trimers 4He3 and 4He2–3He

A three‐dimensional finite element method is applied to the ground states of the symmetric and asymmetric atomic helium trimers ⁴He₃ and ⁴He₂–³He. Three different He–He interaction potentials of hard‐core nature were studied. Two extrapolation procedures based on the convergence properties of the finite element method are investigated. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007