Crystallization of Arthrobacter sp. strain 1C N-(1-D-carboxyethyl)-L-norvaline dehydrogenase and its complex with NAD+

The novel NAD+-linked opine dehydrogenase from a soil isolate Arthrobacter sp. strain 1C belongs to an enzyme superfamily whose members exhibit quite diverse substrate specificites. Crystals of this opine dehydrogenase, obtained in the presence or absence of co-factor and substrates, have been shown to diffract to beyond 1.8 ? resolution. X-ray precession photographs have established that the crystals belong to space group P21212, with cell parameters a = 104.9, b = 80.0, c = 45.5 ? and a single subunit in the asymmetric unit. The elucidation of the three-dimensional structure of this enzyme will provide a structural framework for this novel class of dehydrogenases to enable a comparison to be made with other enzyme families and also as the basis for mutagenesis experiments directed towards the production of natural and synthetic opine-type compounds containing two chiral centres.     

The ion gating effect: using a change in flexibility to allow label free electrochemical detection of DNA hybridisation

A label free electrochemical method of detecting DNA hybridisation is presented based on the change in flexibility between a single strand of DNA and a duplex causing an ion-gating effect where hybridisation opens up the electrode to access of ions.     

Thermal expansion of lT-TaS2 and 2H-NbSe2

The thermal expansion of the a and c axes of lT-TaS₂ and of the a axis of 2H-NbSe₂ have been measured between 4 K and 360 K. Discontinuities in the lattice parameters of TaS₂ were observed at the known charge density wave phase transitions near 200 K and 352 K, and a new transition was found near 283 K. These results are used to estimate the entropy changes occurring at the phase transitions. At the charge density wave onset temperature in NbSe₂ we find an upper limit to any discontinuity in the a axis of 2 × 10^-7 and to any discontinuity in the expansion coefficient of 3 × 10^-7 K^-1.     

Intercalation of Toluidines into α-Zirconium Hydrogenphosphate

Intercalates of o-, m-, and p-toluidine into α-Zr(HPO₄)₂ · H₂O were prepared and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and infrared spectroscopy. As follows from IR, toludine molecules are protonated in the interlayer space. Toluidine molecules are arranged in a bimolecular way in the intercalates containing more than 1.5 toluidine molecules per Zr atom. On the other hand, a monolayer of the toluidine molecules is supposed in the intercalates with less than one toluidine molecule per Zr atom.     

The free energy of a reaction coordinate at multiple constraints: a concise formulation

The free energy as a function of the reaction coordinate (rc) is the key quantity for the computation of equilibrium and kinetic quantities. When it is considered as the potential of mean force, the problem is the calculation of the mean force for given values of the rc. We reinvestigate the PMCF (potential of mean constraint force) method which applies a constraint to the rc to compute the mean force as the mean negative constraint force and a metric tensor correction. The latter allows for the constraint imposed to the rc and possible artefacts due to multiple constraints of other variables which for practical reasons are often used in numerical simulations. Two main results are obtained that are of theoretical and practical interest. First, the correction term is given a very concise and simple shape which facilitates its interpretation and evaluation. Secondly, a theorem describes various rcs and possible combinations with constraints that can be used without introducing any correction to the constraint force. The results facilitate the computation of free energy by molecular dynamics simulations.     

Immersion digital in-line holographic microscopy

Digital in-line holographic microscopy is a promising new tool for high resolution imaging. We demonstrate, by using latex beads, that a considerable increase in numerical aperture, and, therefore, resolution can be achieved if the space between a source and a CCD camera chip is filled with a high refractive index medium. The high refractive index medium implies a shorter effective wavelength so that submicrometer resolution can be obtained with laser light in the visible range.     

Comment on "Reconstruction algorithm for high-numerical-aperture holograms with diffraction-limited resolution"

We comment on a recent Letter by Zhang et al. [Opt. Lett. 31, 1633 (2006)] in which the authors proposed a reconstruction algorithm for high-numerical-aperture (NA) holograms. Such an algorithm has been available for in-line holography for more than a decade. The authors' "achievement" of high NA for digital in-line holography, NA=0.17, is below what was reported already several years ago (NA=0.30) and is considerably lower than what is routinely achieved now. We present reconstructions of holograms acquired with NAs above 0.4 in which we show maximal achievable resolution.     

Temperature dependence of sound velocities in TTF-TCNQ

Measurements of a and b axis sound velocities in TTF-TCNQ single crystals are presented from 0–300K. The Young's modulus is larger in the a than in the b direction. The temperature dependence of the velocity is compared with heat capacity and thermal expansion data. A 1.5% increase in the velocity below 52K is attributed to the freezing out of the conduction electrons.