Expression and Characterization of Recombinant GH11 Xylanase from Thermotolerant Streptomyces sp. SWU10

Xylans are major hemicellulose components of plant cell wall which can be hydrolyzed by xylanolytic enzymes. Three forms of endo-β-1,4-xylanases (XynSW1, XynSW2A, and XynSW2B) produced by thermotolerant Streptomyces sp. SWU10 have been reported. In the present study, we described the expression and characterization of the fourth xylanase enzyme from this bacteria, termed XynSW3. The gene containing 726 bp was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant enzyme (rXynSW3) was purified from cell-free extract to homogeneity using Ni-affinity column chromatography. The apparent molecular mass of rXynSW3 was 48 kDa. Amino acid sequence analysis revealed that it belonged to a xylanase of glycoside hydrolase family 11. The optimum pH and temperature for enzyme activity were 5.5–6.5 and 50 °C, respectively. The enzyme was stable up to 40 °C and in wide pH ranges (pH 0.6–10.3). Xylan without arabinosyl side chain is the most preferable substrate for the enzyme. By using birch wood xylan as substrate, rXynSW3 produced several oligosaccharides in the initial stage of hydrolysis, and their levels increased with time, demonstrating that the enzyme is an endo-acting enzyme. The major products were xylobiose, triose, and tetraose. The rXynSW3 can be applied in several industries such as food, textile, and biofuel industries, and waste treatment.     

Anisotropic Poisson Effect and Deformation-Induced Fluorescence Change of Elastic 9,10-Dibromoanthracene Single Crystals

Elastic organic crystals have attracted considerable attention as next-generation flexible smart materials. However, the detailed information on both molecular packing change and macroscopic mechanical crystal deformations upon applied stress is still insufficient. Herein, we report that fluorescent single crystals of 9,10-dibromoanthracene are elastically bendable and stretchable, which allows a detailed investigation of the deformation behavior. We clearly observed a Poisson effect for the crystal, where the short axes (b and c-axes) of the crystal are contracted upon elongation along the long axis (a-axis). Moreover, we found that the Poisson's ratios along the b-axis and c-axis are largely different. Theoretical molecular simulation suggests that the tilting motion of the anthracene may be responsible for the large deformation along the c-axis. Spatially resolved photoluminescence (PL) measurement of the bent elastic crystals reveals that the PL spectra at the outer (elongated), central (neutral), and inner (contracted) sides are different from each other.     

Anisotropic Poisson Effect and Deformation‐Induced Fluorescence Change of Elastic 9,10‐Dibromoanthracene Single Crystals

Elastic organic crystals have attracted considerable attention as next‐generation flexible smart materials. However, the detailed information on both molecular packing change and macroscopic mechanical crystal deformations upon applied stress is still insufficient. Herein, we report that fluorescent single crystals of 9,10‐dibromoanthracene are elastically bendable and stretchable, which allows a detailed investigation of the deformation behavior. We clearly observed a Poisson effect for the crystal, where the short axes (b and c‐axes) of the crystal are contracted upon elongation along the long axis (a‐axis). Moreover, we found that the Poisson's ratios along the b‐axis and c‐axis are largely different. Theoretical molecular simulation suggests that the tilting motion of the anthracene may be responsible for the large deformation along the c‐axis. Spatially resolved photoluminescence (PL) measurement of the bent elastic crystals reveals that the PL spectra at the outer (elongated), central (neutral), and inner (contracted) sides are different from each other.     

Hydrogel Microchambers Integrated with Organic Electrodes for Efficient Electrical Stimulation of Human iPSC‐Derived Cardiomyocytes

A hydrogel‐based microchamber with organic electrodes for efficient electrical stimulations of human induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC‐CMs) is described. The microchamber is made from molecularly permeable, optically transparent, and electrically conductive polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel and highly capacitive carbon electrode modified with poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). Spheroids of hiPSC‐CMs are cultured in microchambers, and electrically stimulated by the electrode for maturation. The large interfacial capacitance of the electrodes enables several days of electrical stimulation without generation of cytotoxic bubbles even when the electrodes are placed near the spheroids. The spheroids can be cultivated in the closed microchambers because of the permeated nutrients through the hydrogel, thus the spheroids are stably addressable and the culture medium around the sealed microchambers can be simply exchanged. Synchronized beating of the spheroids can be optically analyzed in situ, which makes it possible to selectively collect electrically responsive cells for further use. As the hydrogel is electrically conductive, the amount of electrical charge needed for maturing the spheroids can be reduced by configuring electrodes on the top and the bottom of the microchamber. The bioreactor will be useful for efficient production of matured hiPSC‐CMs for regenerative medicine and drug screening.     

Synthesis and structure of dawson polyoxometalate-based, multifunctional, inorganic-organic hybrid compounds: organogermyl complexes with one terminal functional group and organosilyl analogues with two terminal functional groups

Four novel multifunctional polyoxometalate (POM)-based inorganic-organic hybrid compounds, [α(2)-P(2)W(17)O(61){(RGe)}](7-) (Ge-1, R(1) = HOOC(CH(2))(2(-)) and Ge-2, R(2) = H(2)C═CHCH(2(-))) and [α(2)-P(2)W(17)O(61){(RSi)(2)O}](6-) (Si-1, R(1) and Si-2, R(2)), were prepared by incorporating organic chains having terminal functional groups (carboxylic acid and allyl groups) into monolacunary site of Dawson polyoxoanion [α(2)-P(2)W(17)O(61)](10-). In these POMs, new modification of the terminal functional groups was attained by introducing organogermyl and organosilyl groups. Dimethylammonium salts of the organogermyl complexes, (Me(2)NH(2))(7)[α(2)-P(2)W(17)O(61)(R(1)Ge)]·H(2)O MeN-Ge-1 and (Me(2)NH(2))(7)[α(2)-P(2)W(17)O(61)(R(2)Ge)]·4H(2)O MeN-Ge-2, were obtained as analytically pure crystals, in 22.8% and 55.3% yields, respectively, by stoichiometric reactions of [α(2)-P(2)W(17)O(61)](10-) with separately prepared Cl(3)GeC(2)H(4)COOH in water, and H(2)C═CHCH(2)GeCl(3) in a solvent mixture of water/acetonitrile. Synthesis and X-ray structure analysis of the Dawson POM-based organogermyl complexes were first successful. Dimethylammonium salts of the corresponding organosilyl complexes, (Me(2)NH(2))(6)[α(2)-P(2)W(17)O(61){(R(1)Si)(2)O}]·4H(2)O MeN-Si-1 and (Me(2)NH(2))(6)[α(2)-P(2)W(17)O(61){(R(2)Si)(2)O}]·6H(2)O MeN-Si-2, were also obtained as analytically pure crystalline crystals, in 17.1% and 63.5% yields, respectively, by stoichiometric reactions of [α(2)-P(2)W(17)O(61)](10-) with NaOOC(CH(2))(2)Si(OH)(2)(ONa) and H(2)C═CHCH(2)Si(OEt)(3). These complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses (TG/DTA), FTIR, solid-state ((31)P) and solution ((31)P, (1)H, and (13)C) NMR, and X-ray crystallography.     

A versatile scaffold for facile synthesis of fluorescent cyano-substituted stilbenes

Here we report the facile derivatization of a cyano-substituted stilbene into higher π-extended analogues. The cyano-substituted stilbene, which serves as a synthetic scaffold, has a bromo group and a formyl group on its 4- and 4′-position of the phenylene rings and thus readily undergoes selective transformation into other functional groups using various simple organic reactions. The resultant π-conjugated molecules that contain a cyano-substituted stilbene skeleton exhibit fluorescence in solution and in the solid state.     

Oxidation of sulfides with hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by synthetic flavin adducts with dendritic bis(acylamino)pyridines

The catalytic activities of the cationic synthetic flavin adduct 1 with various dendritic and non-dendritic 2,6-bis(acylamino)pyridines 2 were examined for the oxidation of organic sulfides with H₂O₂. The adduct of 5-ethyllumiflavinium perchlorate 1a with 2b–d bearing poly(benzyl ether) dendron units acts as an efficient organocatalyst for the oxidative transformation of sulfides to the corresponding sulfoxides under mild conditions.     

Electrochemical tuning of the optoelectronic properties of a fluorene-based conjugated polymer

The electrochemical reduction of a fluorene-based conjugated polymer, poly(9-fluorenone-alt-9,9-dioctylfluorene), was investigated for the first time. The carbonyl group in the fluorenone unit was selectively and quantitatively converted to the methylene group, as determined by (1)H NMR, IR, and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The optical and electrochemical properties of the polymers were studied by UV-vis, photoluminescence (PL), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements and were found to be tunable by varying the reduction level.     

Diastereoselective protonation on a radical anion in the photoallylation and photoreduction of 1,1-dicyano-2-methyl-3-phenyl-1-butene by allyltrimethylsilane

Diastereoselectivity in the photoallylation and photoreduction of 1,1-dicyano-2-methyl-3-phenyl-1-butene by allyltrimethylsilane in the presence of phenanthrene was dependent on the structures and stoichiometry of the added carboxylic acids. Diastereoselectivity increased up to 72% by the addition of equimolar amount of l-lactic acid based on the alkene.