A surface plasmon resonance biosensor for detecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells with self-assembled chitosan-alginate multilayers

A self-assembled multilayer (SAMu) including the alginate layer was prepared for detecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells in a solution and its potential was evaluated with a BIAcore system. After layer-by-layer formation, the refractive units (RU) values monitored with the biosensor increased by the interaction between the layers. The responses by the binding of P. aeruginosa cells to the alginate-immobilized SAMu were visualized immediately upon injection of the cell suspension. The RU values after injection of the cells were measured with approximately 1152, 656 and 173 for 1 × 10⁹, 1 × 10⁸ and 1 × 10⁷ CFU/ml. This result suggests that the alginate-immobilized SAMu will have useful application for detecting P. aeruginosa cells in a biosensor analysis.     

A novel two-dimensional zinc(II) complex of a di-N-carboxymethylated tetraaza macrocycle linked by hydrogen-bonds

The complex [ZnL]·10H₂O (L = 2,13-bis(2-carboxymethyl)-3,14-dimethyl-2,6,13,17-tetraazatricyclo[14,4,0^1.18,0^7.12]docosane) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/c with a = 10.159(1), b = 10.066(3), c = 17.268(2) Å, = 102.92(1)°, V = 1721.0(5) ų, and Z = 2. The crystal structure reveals an axially elongated octahedral geometry with bonds from the zinc(II) ion to the secondary and tertiary amines of the macrocycle and two oxygen atoms of the pendant carboxymethyl groups. The molecules of the zinc(II) complex are connected into a two-dimensional chain via hydrogen bonds.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Phenolato-Bridged Dinuclear Copper(II) Complex with (2-Hydroxybenzyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine

Abstract  

The tridentate Schiff base phenol-containing ligand (2-hydroxybenzyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (Hbpa) reacts with copper(II) perchlorate to give the phenolato-bridged dinuclear complex [Cu(bpa)(H₂O)]₂·2ClO₄ (1). Each copper(II) ion exhibits a distorted square-pyramidal environment, being coordinated by two nitrogen atoms and two phenolato oxygen atoms of the two deprotonated bpa ligands, and one oxygen atom of the water molecule. It crystallizes in the triclinic system P-1 with a = 7.8790(6), b = 8.9345(7), c = 12.0207(9) ?, α = 69.158(1), β = 85.307(1), γ = 76.629(1)°, V = 769.39(10) ?³, Z = 1. Cyclic voltammetry of 1 gives two oxidation and two reduced processes.     

Thermal conductivity of VLS-grown rough Si nanowires with various surface roughnesses and diameters

In this paper, we synthesize VLS-grown rough Si nanowires using Mn as a catalyst with various surface roughnesses and diameters and measured their thermal conductivities. We grew the nanowires by a combination vapor-liquid-solid and vapor-solid mechanism for longitudinal and radial growth, respectively. The surface roughness was controlled from smooth up to about 37 nm by the radial growth. Our measurements showed that the thermal conductivity of rough surface Si nanowires is significantly lower than that of smooth surface nanowires and decreased with increasing surface roughness even though the diameter of the smooth nanowire was lower than that of the rough nanowires. Considering both nanowires were grown via the same growth mechanism, these outcomes clearly demonstrate that the rough surface induces phonon scattering and reduces thermal conductivity with this nanoscale-hole-free nanowires. Control of roughness induced phonon scattering in Si nanowires holds promise for novel thermoelectric devices with high figures of merit.     

Microscopic study of hydroxyapatite dissolution as affected by fluoride ions

Fluoride ions play a critical role in preventing tooth decay. We investigated the microscopic effects of fluoride ions on hydroxyapatite (100) surface dissolution using in situ atomic force microscopy. In the presence of 10 mM NaF, individual surface step retraction velocities decreased by about a factor of 5 as compared to NaF-free conditions. Importantly, elongated hexagonal etch pits, which are characteristic of (100) surface dissolution, were no longer observed when NaF was present. The alteration of pit shape is more distinct at a higher NaF concentration (50 mM) where triangular etch pits evolved during dissolution. Furthermore, in a fluoride concentration typical for tap water (10 μM), we observed roughening of individual step lines, resulting in the formation of scalloped morphologies. Morphological changes to individual steps across a wide range of fluoride concentrations suggest that the cariostatic capabilities of fluoride ions originate from their strong interactions with molecular steps.     

Crystal structure of a macrocyclic tetraamine isocyanato zinc(II) complex

The complex, [Zn(L)(NCO)]Cl · 3H₂O (1) (L = 3,14-dimethyl-2,6,13,17-tetraazatricyclo[14,4,0^1.18,0^7.12]docosane), has been synthesized and structurally characterized. 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/n with a = 10.530(3), b = 9.315(2), c = 27.188(3) Å, = 92.58(1)°, V = 2664.1(9)ų, and Z = 4. The zinc atom is in a distorted squarepyramidal environment with the four nitrogen atoms of the macrocycle and one nitrogen atom of the isocyanate ligand.     

Structure and properties of cobalt(II) complex with a tetraaza macrocycle containing 2-pyridylmethyl pendant arms

The complex [Co(L)]Cl₂·10H²O (1) (L = 2,13,-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-3,14-dimethyl-2,6,13,17-tetraazatricyclo[14,4,0^1.18,0^7.12]docosane) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Compound 1 crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P-1 with a = 9.731(2) Å, b = 9.789(2) Å, c = 11.998(1) Å, = 66.66(1)°, = 76.95(1)°, = 87.99(2)°, V = 1020.4(3) ų, and Z = 1. The crystal structure of 1 shows that the complex is centrosymmetric and the cobalt(II) ion has a slightly distorted octahedral geometry with four nitrogen atoms of the macrocycle and two nitrogen atoms of the pendent arms at the axial positions. Cyclic voltammetry for 1 undergoes reversible one-electron oxidation to the Co(III) and irreversible one-electron reduction to the Co(I).     

Synthesis and crystal structure of macrocyclic nickel(II) complex bridged by chromate

A novel compound catena-(-CrO₄-O,O)[Ni(L¹)Ni(L²)] 3H₂O (1) (L¹ = 3,5,10,12-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane and L² = 2,5,9,12-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) has been synthesized for the first time and structurally characterized. 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P with a = 9.623(1), b = 10.084(1), c = 12.723 (3) Å, = 66.74(2), = 75.20(1), = 72.02(1)°, V = 1066.2(3) ų, and Z = 2. The coordination environment around the Ni(II) ions is an axially elongated octahedron with the secondary amines of the isomeric ligands and two oxygen atoms of [CrO₄]^2–.     

Self-assembly of metal(II) tetraaza macrocyclic complexes with cyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid-1-carboxylate ligand linked by hydrogen bond

The reaction of [M(L)]Cl₂ · 2H₂O (M = Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺, L = 3,14-dimethyl-2,6,13,17-tetraazatricyclo[14,4,0^1.18,0^7.12]docosane) with 1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylic acid (H₂-cbdc) generates 1D and 2D hydrogen-bonded infinite chains [Ni(L)(H-cbdc⁻)₂] (1) and [Cu(L)(H-cbdc⁻)₂] (2). (H-cbdc⁻ = cyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid-1-carboxylate). These complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography, spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The crystal structure of 1 shows a distorted octahedral coordination geometry around the nickel(II) ion, with four secondary amines and two oxygen atoms of the H-cbdc⁻ ligand at the trans position. In 2, the coordination environment around the central copper(II) ion shows a Jahn–Teller distorted octahedron with four Cu–N bonds and two long Cu–O distances. The cyclic voltammogram of the complexes undergoes two one-electron waves corresponding to M^II/M^III and M^II/M^I processes. The electronic spectra and electrochemical behavior of the complexes are significantly affected by the nature of the axial H-cbdc⁻ ligand.     

The Self-Association of the KRAS4b Protein is Altered by Lipid-Bilayer Composition and Electrostatics

KRAS is a peripheral membrane protein that regulates multiple signaling pathways, and is mutated in ≈30 % of cancers. Transient self-association of KRAS is essential for activation of the downstream effector RAF and oncogenicity. The presence of anionic phosphatidylserine (PS) lipids in the membrane was shown to promote KRAS self-assembly, however, the structural mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we employed nanodisc bilayers of defined lipid compositions, and probed the impact of PS concentration on KRAS self-association. Paramagnetic NMR experiments demonstrated the existence of two transient dimer conformations involving alternate electrostatic contacts between R135 and either D153 or E168 on the “α4/5-α4/5” interface, and revealed that lipid composition and salt modulate their dynamic equilibrium. These dimer interfaces were validated by charge-reversal mutants. This plasticity demonstrates how the dynamic KRAS dimerization interface responds to the environment, and likely extends to the assembly of other signaling complexes on the membrane.