Dynamics of Multisection Semiconductor Lasers

We consider a mathematical model (the so-called traveling-wave system) which describes longitudinal dynamical effects in semiconductor lasers. This model consists of a linear hyperbolic system of PDEs, which is nonlinearly coupled with a slow subsystem of ODEs. We prove that a corresponding initial-boundary value problem is well posed and that it generates a smooth infinite-dimensional dynamical system. Exploiting the particular slow-fast structure, we derive conditions under which there exists a low-dimensional attracting invariant manifold. The flow on this invariant manifold is described by a system of ODEs. Mode approximations of that system are studied by means of bifurcation theory and numerical tools.     

Fluorimetric determination of acidity constants of naphthoic and anthroic acids

A fluorimetric method of determining the acidity constants (pK_a values) of some naphthoic and anthroic acids is presented, based on the changes in fluorescence of solutions of these acids in water on changing the pH. The method is useful in the absence as well as in the presence of excited-state proton transfer. In the latter case, when the excited-state protonation occurs in the same pH region as the ground-state dissociation, resolution of the two processes can be accomplished by addition of a suitable quencher such as iodide. The method permits the accurate determination of the pK_a value of fluorescent compounds, even when they are poorly soluble in water, because of the high sensitivity of the spectrofluorimetry.     

Synthèse des (R)- et (S)-O-isopropylidène-1,2-glycérols. Détermination de la pureté optique

Synthesis of the (R)- and (S)-Glycerol Acetonides. Determination of the Optical Purity The optical purity of (R)-glycerol acetonide ( 1 ) and (S)-glycerol acetonide ( 1 ′) has been determined with great accuracy by gas chromatography after derivatization. The optical purity of (S)-glycerol actonide prepared from D -mannitol was > 99.4% while for (R)-glycerol acetonide obtained from L -serine it was 95%.     

Physikalische und spektroskopische daten von trifluormethylselenol und derivaten

The characterization of the compounds CF₃SeX (X = H, Cl, Br, CN, CF₃, SeCF₃) is completed by the report of melting points, boiling points, enthalpies of vaporization and entropies of vaporization. Ultraviolet and mass spectra are presented and discussed. An improved synthesis for CF₃SeH is reported.     

Chemoenzymatic approach to enantiopure streptogramin B variants: characterization of stereoselective pristinamycin I cyclase from Streptomyces pristinaespiralis

Streptogramin B antibiotics are cyclic peptide natural products produced by Streptomyces species.In combination with the synergistic group A component, they are "last line of defense" antimicrobial agents against multiresistant cocci. The racemization sensitivity of the phenylglycine (Phg(7)) ester is a complex challenge in total chemical synthesis of streptogramin B molecules. To provide fast and easy access to novel streptogramin antibiotics, we introduce a novel chemoenzymatic strategy in which diversity is generated by standard solid phase protocols and stereoselectivity by subsequent enzymatic cyclization. For this approach, we cloned, overproduced, and biochemically characterized the recombinant thioesterase domain SnbDE TE of the pristinamycin I nonribosomal peptide synthetase from Streptomyces pristinaespiralis. SnbDE TE catalyzes regioselective ring closure of linear peptide thioester analogues of pristinamycin I as well as stereoselective cyclization out of complex in situ racemizing substrate mixtures, enabling synthesis of Streptogramin B variants via a dynamic kinetic resolution assay. A remarkable substrate tolerance was detected for the enzymatic cyclization including all the seven positions of the peptide backbone. Interestingly, SnbDE TE was observed to be the first cyclase from a macrolactone forming NRPS which is additionally able to catalyze macrolactamization of peptide thioester substrates. An N-methylated peptide bond between positions 4 and 5 is mandatory for a high substrate turnover. The presented strategy is potent to screen for analogues with improved activity and guides our understanding of structure--activity relationships in the important class of streptogramin antibiotics.     

Synthesis and derivatization of daptomycin: a chemoenzymatic route to acidic lipopeptide antibiotics

Daptomycin is a branched cyclic nonribosomally assembled acidic lipopeptide, which is the first clinically approved antibiotic of this class. Here we show that the recombinant cyclization domain of the Streptomyces coelicolor calcium-dependent antibiotic (CDA) nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) is a versatile tool for the chemoenzymatic generation of daptomycin derivatives. Linear CDA undecapeptide thioesters with single exchanges at six daptomycin-specific residues were successfully cyclized by CDA cyclase. Simultaneous incorporation of all six of these residues into the peptide backbone and elongation of the N-terminus of CDA by two residues yielded a daptomycin derivative that lacked only the beta-methyl group of l-3-methylglutamate. Bioactivity studies with several substrate analogues revealed a significant role of nonproteinogenic constituents for antibacterial potency. In accordance with acidic lipopeptides, the bioactivity of the chemoenzymatic assembled daptomycin analogue is dependent on the concentration of calcium ions. Single deletions of the four acidic residues in the peptide backbone suggest that only two aspartic acid residues are essential for antimicrobial potency. These two residues are strictly conserved among other nonribosomal acidic lipopeptides and the EF-motif of ribosomally assembled calmodulin. Based on these findings CDA cyclase is a versatile catalyst that can be used to generate novel daptomycin derivatives that are otherwise difficult to obtain by chemical modification of the parental tridecapeptide to improve further its therapeutic activity.