The cell-penetrating peptide TAT(48-60) induces a non-lamellar phase in DMPC membranes.

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are short polycationic sequences that can translocate into cells without disintegrating the plasma membrane. CPPs are useful tools for delivering cargo, but their molecular mechanism of crossing the lipid bilayer remains unclear. Here we study the interaction of the HIV-derived CPP TAT (48-60) with model membranes by solid-state NMR spectroscopy and electron microscopy. The peptide induces a pronounced isotropic (31)P NMR signal in zwitterionic DMPC, but not in anionic DMPG bilayers. Octaarginine and to a lesser extent octalysine have the same effect, in contrast to other cationic amphiphilic membrane-active peptides. The observed non-lamellar lipid morphology is attributed to specific interactions of polycationic peptides with phosphocholine head groups, rather than to electrostatic interactions. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy indicates that TAT(48-60) induces the formation of rodlike, presumably inverted micelles in DMPC, which may represent intermediates during the translocation across eukaryotic membranes.     

Zirconiumphthalocyanine: Darstellung und Eigenschaften chloridhaltiger Phthalocyanine des drei- und vierwertigen Zirconiums; Kristallstruktur von cis-Di(triphenylphosphin)iminium-tri(chloro)phthalocyaninato(2–)zirconat(IV)-di(dichlormethan)

Zirconiumphthalocyanines: Synthesis and Properties of Chloride Ligated Phthalocyanines of Ter- and Quadrivalent Zirconium; Crystal Structure of cis-Di(triphenylphosphine)iminium-tri(chloro)phthalocyaninato(2–)zirconate(IV)-di(dichloromethane) cis-Di(chloro)phthalocyaninato(2–)zirconium(IV) is obtained by the reaction of ZrCl₄ with phthalodinitrile in 1-chloronaphthaline at 230°C. It reacts with molten di(triphenylphosphine)iminiumchloride ((PNP)Cl) yielding cis-di(triphenylphosphine)iminium-tri(chloro)phthalocyaninato(2-)zirconate(IV), cis-(PNP)[ZrCl₃Pc^2?]. This crystallizes with two molecules of dichloromethane in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with the lattice constants a = 15.219(4) Å, b = 20.262(10) Å, c = 20.719(4) Å, b? = 93.46(2)°, Z = 4. The seven coordinated Zr atom is situated in a “square base-trigonal cap” polyhedron. The plane of the three chlorine atoms runs parallel to the plane of the four isoindole nitrogen atoms N_iso. The Zr–Cl distances range from 2.49 to 2.55 Å, the Zr? N_iso distances from 2.26 to 2.29 Å. Due to ion packing effects the Pc^2? ligand shows an asymmetrical convex distortion. The PNP cation adopts the bent conformation. The P? N? P angle is 139°, the P? N distance 1.58 Å. As confirmed by the cyclovoltammograms cis-(PNP)[ZrCl₃Pc^2?] is oxidized (anodically or chemically by Cl₂) to yield cis-tri(chloro)phthalocyaninato(1–)zirconium(IV) and reduced (cathodically or chemically by [BH₄]^?) yielding chlorophthalocyaninato(2–)zirconium(III) and cis-di(triphenylphosphine)iminium-di(chloro)phthalocyaninato(2–)zirconate(III). The optical spectra show the typical π–π*-transitions of the Pc^2? resp. Pc^? ligand not much affected by the different states of oxidation and coordination of zirconium. The same is true for the vibrational spectra of the Pc^2? resp. Pc^? ligand. In the f.i.r. spectra between 350 and 150 cm^?1 the asym. and sym. Zr? Cl stretching and Cl? Zr? Cl deformation vibration as well as the asym. Zr? N stretching vibration of the [ZrCl_xN₄] skeleton (x = 1–3) is assigned.     

Monocarbaborane anion chemistry. An interesting encapsulation of the Pd2I2(P(C6H(4)-4-Me)3)4]2+ cation by a pair of [PhCB9H4I(C6H4Me)4]- anions

Reaction of the [1-Ph-closo-1-CB9H(4)-6,7,8,9,10-I5]- anion with 4-MeC6H4MgBr in the presence of [PdCl2(PPh3)2] gives the [Pd2I2(P(C6H(4)-4-Me)3)4]2+ salt of the [1-Ph-closo-1-CB9H(4)-10-I-6,7,8,9-(C6H(4)-4-Me)4]- anion, which exhibits an unusual neutral supramolecular assembly in the solid state, in which the dipalladium dication is encapsulated by two four-armed 'tetrapus' anionic units; the anion also has potentialities for four-fold dendrimer construction.     

Role and Perspective of Molecular Simulation-Based Investigation of RNA–Ligand Interaction: From Small Molecules and Peptides to Photoswitchable RNA Binding

Aberrant RNA–protein complexes are formed in a variety of diseases. Identifying the ligands that interfere with their formation is a valuable therapeutic strategy. Molecular simulation, validated against experimental data, has recently emerged as a powerful tool to predict both the pose and energetics of such ligands. Thus, the use of molecular simulation may provide insight into aberrant molecular interactions in diseases and, from a drug design perspective, may allow for the employment of less wet lab resources than traditional in vitro compound screening approaches. With regard to basic research questions, molecular simulation can support the understanding of the exact molecular interaction and binding mode. Here, we focus on examples targeting RNA–protein complexes in neurodegenerative diseases and viral infections. These examples illustrate that the strategy is rather general and could be applied to different pharmacologically relevant approaches. We close this study by outlining one of these approaches, namely the light-controllable association of small molecules with RNA, as an emerging approach in RNA-targeting therapy.     

Shock waves in molecular solids: ultrafast vibrational spectroscopy of the first nanosecond

A novel technique which uses a microfabricated shock target array assembly is described, where the passage of a shock front through a thin (0.5μm) polycrystalline layer and the subsequent unloading process is monitored in real time with ultrafast coherent Raman spectroscopy. Using a high repetition rate laser shock generation technique, high resolution, coherent Raman spectra are obtained in shocked anthracene and in a high explosive material, NTO, with time resolution of ∼ 50 ps. Spectroscopic measurements are presented which yield the shock pressure (up to 5 GPa), the shock velocity (∼ 4 km/s), the shock front risetime (t _r < 25 ps), and the temperature (∼ 400°C). A brief discussion is presented, how this new technique can be used to determine the Hugoniot, the equation of state, the entropy increase across the shock front, and monitor shock induced chemical reactions in real time. Received 28 October 1996 / Accepted 12 November 1996     

Expression of Hepatoma-derived growth factor family members in the adult central nervous system

Background  

Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) belongs to a polypeptide family containing five additional members called HDGF related proteins 1–4 (HRP-1 to -4) and Lens epithelial derived growth factor. Whereas some family members such as HDGF and HRP-2 are expressed in a wide range of tissues, the expression of others is very restricted. HRP-1 and -4 are only expressed in testis, HRP-3 only in the nervous system. Here we investigated the expression of HDGF, HRP-2 and HRP-3 in the central nervous system of adult mice on the cellular level by immunohistochemistry. In addition we performed Western blot analysis of various brain regions as well as neuronal and glial cell cultures.     

A role for cryptochromes in sleep regulation

Background  

The cryptochrome 1 and 2 genes (cry1 and cry2) are necessary for the generation of circadian rhythms, as mice lacking both of these genes (cry1,2 ^-/-) lack circadian rhythms. We studied sleep in cry1,2 ^-/- mice under baseline conditions as well as under conditions of constant darkness and enforced wakefulness to determine whether cryptochromes influence sleep regulatory processes.     

On the mechanism of separation of ethanol/water mixtures by pervaporation II. Experimental concentration profiles

Ethanol—water concentration profiles in cellulose acetate membranes were measured under steady-state pervaporation conditions. Knowledge of these profiles leads to a better understanding of the diffusion process during pervaporation. The concentration profiles were determined by a film-stack method, using three to six layers. It is shown that permeation of ethanol—water mixtures proceeds in a coupled way and that crossterm diffusion coefficients need to be considered. Furthermore, the occurrence of sorption resistances at the feed/membrane interface can be established from these experiments.     

Some observations on small-size electrodeless discharge lamps for strontium used for Zeeman scanning of absorption line profiles in flames

Microwave-excited electrodeless discharge lamps (EDL) for Sr were produced and a technique was developed for stabilizing the microwave power. Some characteristics of the EDL were investigated. The lamps were compared with a normal (= non-boosted) commercial hollow cathode lamp (HCL).Half-intensity widths of the Sr-line at 4607.33 Å were determined by interferometry for EDL and HCL sources under various operating conditions. Moreover, with both sources peak absorption measurements were carried out in a flame with Sr vapor; the results obtained by either technique were partially mutually consistent. Selected samples of EDL gave half-intensity widths of about 7–10 mÅ, independent of microwave power.The line width of the HCL increased from about 7 to 20 mÅ with increasing current up to 26 mÅ (= maximum rating). The radiance of the EDL's (at 50 W) was about the same as that of the HCL, when the latter was operated at 10 mA to give a comparable half-intensity width of 10 mÅ. At maximum microwave power the radiance of the EDL appeared to be 15–20 % of that of the HCL at maximum current, but the EDL line width remains only 7–10 mÅ, whereas that of the HCL line is about 20 mÅ and the HCL line is heavily self-reversed. EDL's with radiance values 10–100 × higher than that of the HCL at 25 mA were also produced; the high radiance value is obtained by increasing the Sr content in the EDL drastically. The profile of the EDL line has then a width of about 60 mÅ and the line is heavily self-reversed. Some tentative results on stability and life of the EDL's are reported.