Ab Initio Study of Conformational Properties of Heteroatom-Containing 1,2-Bisketene Analogues

Abstract

Minimum-energy and transition-state geometries of 4-oxobuta-1,3-diene-1-thione, buta-1,3-diene-1,4-dithione, 4-selenoxobuta-1,3-diene-1-thione, 4-selenoxobuta-1,3-diene-1-one, and buta-1,3-diene-1,4-diselenone were calculated using HF, B3LYP, and MP2 levels of theory and 6–31 + G* basis set by rotation around the related ?C?C? single bonds. In all of the above-mentioned molecules, the s-trans conformation was obtained as the most stable conformer with the 180° dihedral angle. In buta-1,3-diene-1,4-dithione, 4-selenoxobuta-1,3-diene-1-thione, and buta-1,3-diene-1,4-diselenone, the s-cis form of these compounds corresponded to the other energy-minimum geometry. Their skew geometries, with torsional angles approximately 100°, were a transition state for conformational interconversion between the two global minima forms. In 4-oxobuta-1,3-diene-1-thione and 4-selenoxobuta-1,3-diene-1-one, geometries with the C?C?C?C dihedral angles about 51 and 43° (respectively) were attributed to the second energy-minimum geometry. Transition-state structures from both molecules were found in the torsional angles at about 0 and 100°.

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GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT     

Adsorption properties of H2O2 trapped inside a boron phosphide nanotube

Abstract  

The behavior of H₂O₂ adsorbed inside a [4,4] armchair boron phosphide nanotube (BPNT) was studied by using density functional calculations. Geometry optimizations were carried out at the B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory using the Gaussian 03 suite of programs. We present the nature of the H₂O₂ interactions inside the nanotube. The interaction between the guest species (H₂O₂) and the nanotube and the dipole moments of the different geometries are discussed. The results show that the binding energies and the dipole moments of the nanotube depend on the orientation and location of the H₂O₂ inside the tube. Among the parallel orientation (AT) and perpendicular orientations (PTA and PTP), the PTA and PTP geometries of the H₂O₂ are unstable whereas the AT-state geometries show stabilization of the guest species inside the BPNT. For AT orientations, the value of the dihedral angle of the H₂O₂ trapped inside the BPNT in the most stable conformation displays a notable change with respect to free H₂O₂. Also, with change of tube type, more efficient binding could not be achieved, and only the orientation and location of the H₂O₂ inside the tube play an important role in determining the binding energy. The polarization of the BPNT in the presence of the guest species in the PT state is higher than that of the AT state. Adsorption of H₂O₂ in the AT state slightly reduces the energy gap of the pristine BPNTs and slightly increases their electrical conductance.     

Cloning and Expression of Che a 1, the Major Allergen of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chenopodium album</Emphasis> in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

Chenopodium album is a weedy annual plant in the genus Chenopodium. C. album pollen represents a predominant allergen source in Iran. The main C. album pollen allergens have been described as Che a 1, Che a 2, and Che a 3. The aim of this work was to clone the Che a 1 in Escherichia coli to establish a system for overproduction of the recombinant Che a 1 (rChe a 1). In order to clone this allergen, the pollens were subjected to RNA extraction. A full-length fragment encoding Che a 1 was prepared by polymerase chain reaction amplification of the first-strand cDNA synthesized from extracted RNA. Cloning was carried out by inserting the cDNA into the pET21b (+) vector, thereafter the construct was transformed into E. coli Top10 cells and expression of the protein was induced by IPTG. The rChe a 1 was purified using histidine tag in recombinant protein by means of Ni–NTA affinity chromatography. IgE immunoblotting, ELISA, and inhibition ELISA were done to evaluate IgE binding of the purified protein. In conclusion, the cDNA for the major allergen of the C. album pollen, Che a 1, was successfully cloned and rChe a 1 was purified. Inhibition assays demonstrated allergic subjects sera reacted with rChe a 1 similar to natural Che a 1 in crude extract of C. album pollen. This study is the first report of using the E. coli as a prokaryotic system for Che a 1 cloning and production of rChe a 1.     

The impact of the natural sciences on archaeology

This article reviews some of the applications of physics to the solution of archaeological problems. The use of magnetic, resistivity and electromagnetic surveying techniques for the location of buried features is described. Various methods of age determination are outlined while the problems associated with radiocarbon dating of organic material and thermoluminescent dating of pottery are discussed in detail. The techniques, including petrological examination, chemical analysis and isotopic analysis, employed in the physical examination of archaeological artefacts are described. Examples of the application of these techniques in establishing the source of the raw materials used in pottery, metal and stone implements and in elucidating the techniques of manufacture of pottery and metal objects are also given.     

Cooperative alpha-helix formation of beta-lactoglobulin induced by sodium n-alkyl sulfates

It is generally assumed that folding intermediates contain partially formed native-like secondary structures. However, if we consider the fact that the conformational stability of the intermediate state is simpler than that of the native state, it would be expected that the secondary structures in a folding intermediate would not necessarily be similar to those of the native state. beta-Lactoglobulin is a predominantly beta-sheet protein, although it has a markedly high intrinsic preference for alpha-helical structure. The formation of non-native alpha-helical intermediate of beta-lactoglobulin was induced by n-alkyl sulfates including sodium octyl sulfate, SOS; sodium decyl sulfate, SDeS; sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS; and sodium tetradecyl sulfate, STS at special condition. The effect of n-alkyl sulfates on the structure of native beta-lactoglobulin at pH 2 was utilized to investigate the contribution of hydrophobic interactions to the stability of non-native alpha-helical intermediate. The addition of various concentrations of n-alkyl sulfates to the native state of beta-lactoglobulin (pH 2) appears to support the stabilized form of non-native alpha-helical intermediate at pH 2. The m values of the intermediate state of beta-lactoglobulin by SOS, SDeS, SDS and STS showed substantial variation. The enhancement of m values as the stability criterion of non-native alpha-helical intermediate state corresponded with increasing chain length of the cited n-alkyl sulfates. The present results suggest that the folding reaction of beta-lactoglobulin follows a non-hierarchical mechanism and hydrophobic interactions play important roles in stabilizing the non-native alpha-helical intermediate state.     

Phenolic compounds,essential oil composition,and antioxidant activity of Angelica purpurascens (Avé-Lall.) Gill

In this study, methanol extracts (MEs) and essential oil (EO) of Angelica purpurascens (Avé-Lall.) Gill obtained from different parts (root, stem, leaf, and seed) were evaluated in terms of antioxidant activity, total phenolics, compositions of phenolic compound, and essential oil with the methods of 2,2-azino-bis(3ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•⁺), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH•) radical scavenging activities, and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), the Folin–Ciocalteu, liquid chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry (LC−MS/MS), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC−MS), respectively. The root extract of A. purpurascens exhibited the highest ABTS•⁺, DPPH•, and FRAP activities (IC₅₀: 0.05 ± 0.0001 mg/mL, IC₅₀: 0.06 ± 0.002 mg/mL, 821.04 ± 15.96 µM TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity), respectively). Moreover, EO of A. purpurascens root displayed DPPH• scavenging activity (IC₅₀: 2.95 ± 0.084 mg/mL). The root extract had the highest total phenolic content (438.75 ± 16.39 GAE (gallic acid equivalent), µg/mL)). Twenty compounds were identified by LC−MS/MS. The most abundant phenolics were ferulic acid (244.39 ± 15.64 μg/g extract), benzoic acid (138.18 ± 8.84 μg/g extract), oleuropein (78.04 ± 4.99 μg/g extract), and rutin (31.21 ± 2.00 μg/g extract) in seed, stem, root, and leaf extracts, respectively. According to the GC−MS analysis, the major components were determined as α-bisabolol (22.93%), cubebol (14.39%), α-pinene (11.63%), and α-limonene (9.41%) among 29 compounds. Consequently, the MEs and EO of A. purpurascens can be used as a natural antioxidant source.     

Transition Metal Ion-binding Properties of a 14-Membered N2O2S2- Macrobicyclic Ligand

The selective liquid–liquid extraction of various transition metal cations from the aqueous phase to the organic phase was carried out using a 14-membered N₂O₂S₂-macrobicycle. Metal picrates such as Pb²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺,Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺ were used in this extraction studies. It was found that the ligand showed moderate selectivity towards Pb²⁺ only among the other metals. The extraction constant (log K _ex) was determined to be 13.8 for Pb²⁺ complex.