Analytical assays based on detecting conformational changes of single molecules.

One common strategy for the detection of biomolecules is labeling either the target itself or an antibody that binds to it. Herein, a different approach, based on detecting the conformational change of a probe molecule induced by binding of the target is discussed. That is, what is being detected is not the presence of the target or the probe, but the conformational change of the probe. Recently, a single-molecule sensor has been developed that exploits this mechanism to detect hybridization of a single DNA oligomer to a DNA probe, as well as specific binding of a single protein to a DNA probe. Biomolecular recognition often involves large conformational changes of the molecules involved, and therefore this strategy may be applicable to other assays.     

The absence of nitrone form in re-determined crystal structure of 2-hydroxyimino-3-methyl-4-nitro-2,5-dihydrothiophene 1,1-dioxide

Crystal and molecular structures of 2-hydroxyimino-3-methyl-4-nitro-2,5-dihydrothiophene-1,1-dioxide C₅H₆N₂O₅S (I) have been re-determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The structure of I (space group P2₁2₁2₁, a = 6.124(1) Å, b = 9.205(2) Å, c = 14.884(3) Å, Z = 4) was solved by the direct method and refined anisotropically in the full-matrix approximation to R = 0.064 using all 1756 measured independent reflections (automated diffractometer CAD-4, λCuK_α, anomalous scattering taken into account). This study proves that the compound I contains a disordered group H-O-N=C, but not the isomeric nitrone group O←N(H)=C, as it has been concluded by the workers who pioneered single crystal X-ray diffraction study of I and erroneously took the second low-occupied oxygen position of the disordered hydroxyimine group for H at N atom.     

Detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry: validation of a one-well assay and quantitative pooling studies

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are currently being mapped and databased at a remarkable pace, providing a viable means for understanding disease susceptibility, differential drug response and human evolution. Consequently, there is an increasing demand for SNP genotyping technologies that are simple, rapid, cost effective and readily amenable to automation for high-throughput analyses. In this study, we improved the Survivor Assay, a SNP detection method based on electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), with several developments. One improvement is the development of a one-well assay, requiring no off-line purification of the polymerase chain reaction product, achieved by simple addition of reagent solution into a single well. Another is the on-line separation of magnesium and dideoxynucleotides using an in-house made monolithic metal chelating column, eliminating any off-line sample preparation prior to mass spectrometric analysis. Here the Survivor Assay is extended from a proof-of-principle concept to a validated method by genotyping six SNPs from five different regions of human genomic DNA in 55 individual samples with 100% accuracy. This improved Survivor Assay eliminates the tedious and time-consuming steps of sample preparation, minimizes sample handing and offers a high-throughput analysis of SNPs by ESI-MS. The current combined preparation and analysis time is 2 min per sample. The simplicity of this method has potential for full automation and parallel chromatography and, thus, reduced analysis time. In addition, we have adapted the Survivor Assay for quantitative SNP analysis in pooled DNA samples. The capabilities and sensitivity of this approach were evaluated. We demonstrate that an allele occurring at a frequency of 2% can consistently be quantitated.     

Crystal and molecular structure of a 1:1 complex of a chiral α-d-glucosido-benzo-18-crown-6 and potassium thiocyanate

C₂₈H₃₆O₁₀. KSCN is monoclinic, space groupP2₁ withZ=2,a=10.390(3),b=8.959(7),c=16.377(7) Å, =92.49(5)°. FinalR=0.053 for 1437 reflections measured at room temperature. The K^– ion lies on the least-squares plane formed by the six oxygen atoms in the macrocyclic ring. The SCN^– ion was found on the same face of the macrocycle as the chiral glucopyranoside moiety.Methyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-2,3-O-(1,2-bis(ethoxyethoxy)benzenediyl)--d-glucopyranoside.     

MoS2纳米管包覆单壁碳纳米管束的制备

MoS₂ nanotube coated SWNT (Single wall carbon nanotube) bundles have been successfully prepared by adsorbing (NH₄)₂MoS₄ onto SWNT bundles and subsequent heat treatment under H₂ at 900 ℃ in a tube furnace. The morphologies, structure and composition of the as-prepared sample were investigated by XRD, SEM, HRTEM coupled with EDS. The formation mechanism has also been preliminarily discussed.     

ELASTIC BEHAVIOR OF PROTEIN-LIKE SINGLE CHAIN

The conformational properties and elastic behaviors of protein-like single chains in the process of tensile elongation were investigated by means of Monte Carlo method. The sequences of protein-like single chains contain two types of residues: hydrophobic (H) and hydrophilic (P). The average conformations and thermodynamics statistical properties of protein-like single chains with various elongation ratio λ were calculated. It was found that the mean-square end-to-end distance r increases with elongation ratio,λ. The tensor eigenvalues ratio of : decreases with elongation ratio λ for short (HP)x protein-like polymers, however, the ratio of : increases with elongation ratioλ,especially for long (H)x sequence. Average energy per bond increases with elongation ratioλ, especially for(H)x protein-like single chains. Helmholtz free energy per bond also increases with elongation ratioλ. Elastic force (f), energy contribution to force (fU) and entropy contribution to force (fs) for different protein-like single chains were also calculated.These investigations may provide some insights into elastic behaviors of proteins.     

Über die Kristallstrukturen von CH3PF2H+AsF6− und CH3PF2H+SbF6− und eine einfache Darstellung von CH3PF2

On the Crystal Structures of CH₃PF₂H⁺AsF₆^? and CH₃PF₂H⁺SbF₆^? and a simple Method for Preparation of CH₃PF₂ A simple method for preparation of CH₃PF₂ from CH₃PCl₂ is reported. The phosphonium salts CH₃PF₂H⁺MF₆^? are obtained by the reaction of CH₃PCl₂ with superacidic systems HF/MF₅ (M = As, Sb). CH₃PF₂H⁺SbF₆^? crystallizes in the space group P1 with a = 548.4(4) pm, b = 695.5(8) pm, c = 960.2(9) pm, α = 94.68(5)°, β = 97.19(6)°, γ = 94.41(6)° and Z = 2. CH₃PF₂H⁺SbF₆^? crystallizes in P1 with a = 554.3(3), b = 724.2(4), c = 970.4(5), α = 94.73(4)°, β = 96.14(5)°, γ = 95.30(4)°.     

氢在钯单晶表面的解离与在体相的扩散

氢分子在金属表面的解离吸附与氢原子在金属体相的扩散是个典型的表面过程.前者在甲烷化及合成氨等基础化工反应中起着关键作用;后者常常导致金属材料的脆化与断裂,但过渡金属及其合金是安全和优良的储氢材料.因此,研究氢分子在金属表面的解离吸附与氢原子在金属体相的扩散,是多相催化与金属物理广泛感兴趣的课题,具有重要的理论和应用价值.本文采用分子动力学方法初步探讨了二者之间的关联.分子催化动力学为从微观层次上研究上述课题提供了一种理论方法.本文采用经过我们改进的半经验LEPS方法,计算了氢分子在Pd(100)和(110)晶面的解离和氢原子在钯表面与体相扩散的相互作用位能面,并根据计算结果探讨了其微观机理.     

Effect of chemical potential on the computer simulation of hydrogen storage in single walled carbon nanotubes

Hydrogen is a kind of clean, sustainable and renewable energy carrier. Of the problems to be solved for the utilization of hydrogen energy, how to store and transport hydrogen has been given high priority on the research agenda. Recently, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were reported to be very promising candidates for hydrogen uptake[1], which may have possibility to satisfy the benchmark set by the US Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen Plan for fuel cell powered vehicles: a gravimetric density …     

A twin optically-pumped far-infrared CH3OH laser for plasma diagnostics

A twin optically-pumped far-infrared CH₃OH laser has been constructed for use in plasma diagnostics. The antisymmetric doublet due to the Raman-type resonant two-photon transition is reproducibly observed at 118.8 m. With the 118.8-m line, it is obtained from the frequency separation of the anti-symmetric doublet that CH₃OH absorption line center is 16±1 MHz higher than the pump 9.7-m P(36) CO₂ laser line center. It is shown that the Raman-type resonant two-photon transition is useful in order to get several-MHz phase modulation for the far-infrared laser interferometer. Some preliminary performances of this twin laser for the modulated interferometer are described.This work was carried out under the collaborating research program at the Institute of Plasma Physics, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464, Japan.