Using fluorescence resonance energy transfer to measure distances along individual DNA molecules: corrections due to nonideal transfer

Single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer has been extensively used to measure distance changes and kinetics in various biomolecular systems. However, due to complications involving multiple de-excitation pathways of the dyes, the absolute inter-dye distance information has seldom been recovered. To circumvent this we directly probe the relative variations in the quantum yield of individual fluorophores. B-DNA was used as a scaffold to position the donor (Cy3 or TMR) at precise distances from the acceptor (Cy5) within the Forster radius. We found that the variation in the Cy3 quantum yield is approximately 5 times larger than that of TMR. By taking into account the molecule-to-molecule variability in the acceptor/donor quantum yield ratio, the apparent fluorescence resonance energy transfer efficiencies were scaled to yield the theoretical values. We obtained very good agreement with a physical model that predicts distances along B-DNA.     

Enhancement of dielectric and electro-optical parameters of a newly prepared ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture by dispersing nano-sized copper oxide

ABSTRACT

Here, we present the effect of copper (II) oxide nanoparticles (nCuO) on dielectric and electro-optical parameters of a newly prepared ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) mixture, namely W302. The FLC mixture, comprising of pyrimidine compounds, was characterised through dielectric spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarising optical microscopy (POM) and other electro-optical methods. The material parameters such as spontaneous polarisation, rotational viscosity, response time and tilt angle of W302 were found to be 14 nC/cm², 240 mPa.s, 150 µs and 28^?, respectively. The phase transition temperatures of W302 were observed through DSC and further confirmed by the dependence of dielectric loss factor in homogeneously aligned FLC sample with temperature. We also demonstrate the observance of a low-frequency dielectric relaxation mode due to the unwinding of the helix, called as partially unwound helical mode (p-UHM) along with Goldstone mode. The behaviour of p-UHM has been systematically studied with temperature and applied bias field. Further, dispersion of nCuO into host W302 has shown a significant increase in dielectric permittivity. Also, the p-UHM relaxation peak in the dielectric regime has disappeared with the incorporation of nCuO. These studies would be useful to fabricate better electro-optical devices for display, switching and beam steering applications. The formulation and characterization of a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) mixture W302 composed of pyrimidine compounds is presented. Then, we observed the effect of copper (II) oxide nanoparticles (nCuO) on dielectric and electro-optical parameters of a newly prepared and characterized FLC mixture.     

Molecular signal suppression by in situ microextraction in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The detailed characterization of complex mixtures by NMR is often hampered by the presence of signals from uninformative compounds, the resonances of which overlap with those of the molecules of interest. We provide here a proof of principle for an approach to NMR signal suppression in complex samples using Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPS). Addition of a few milligrams of polymer to a solution traps the target molecule in typical micromolar to millimolar concentration, thus achieving in situ signal suppression, without altering any other spectral features. This method minimized any manipulation or perturbation of the spectrum and was applied to a complex mixture of known compounds and to a plant extract, in both cases spiked with a compound (bisphenol A), which was subsequently removed by selective binding to a complementary MIP. What is described in this report is comparable with microextraction and may in due course be applied to a large number of analytical challenges. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,Spectroscopic Analysis,and In-Vitro Antimicrobial Evaluation of some Tetrahydrobenzo[a]Xanthene-11-Thiones

Abstract

A series of 12-aryl-8,9,10,12-tetrahydrobenzo[a]xanthene-11-thiones were synthesized by the reaction of substituted 12-aryl-8,9,10,12-tetrahydrobenzo[a]xanthene-11-ones with Lawesson's Reagent in toluene under standard reaction conditions. All synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, NMR (¹H and ¹³C), and mass spectra. Moreover, 2D-NMR (HOMOCOSY, HSQC, and HMBC) studies were also performed for compound 10b. The synthesized compounds were also screened for their antibacterial activities.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfer, and Silicon and the Related Elements for the following free supplemental files: Additional figures.]     

Highly facile and stereoselective intramolecular [2 +2]photocycloadditions of bis(alkenoyl)ketenedithioacetals

The conformational change induced by the introduction of a ketenedithioacetal moiety at C-4 of 1,7-substituted-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-diones results in favorable spatial relationships between the alkenoyl groups to effect efficient intramolecular cycloadditions: irradiation of bis(alkenoyl)ketenedithioacetals in solution leads to facile and stereospecific intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloadditions resulting in the formation of substituted bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-2,4-diones, the observed conformational rigidity of which is attributed to the push-pull character of the ketenedithioacetal group.     

Crystal structure and spectroscopy of a hydrogen-bridged one-dimensional Cu(II) complex containing both octahedral and square pyramidal geometries in the same unit cell

Single crystals of the helical hydrogen-bridged one-dimensional Cu(II) complex, [Cu(stpy)₂(CH₃COO)₂(H₂O)₂] (1) [Cu(stpy)₂(CH₃COO)₂(H₂O)] (2), are prepared and characterized by elemental and thermal analyses, IR, electronic and X-ray crystal structure determination. The crystals are monoclinic, of space group C2/c, with unit cell parameters a = 31.842(7) Å, b = 5.9829(10) Å, c = 30.970(14) Å, = 111.78(3)°, Z = 4. The asymmetric unit contains two different types of Cu(II) polyhedra, namely, octahedron and square pyramid within the same unit cell. 1 has elongated octahedral geometry with two nitrogen atoms from stpy and two oxygen atoms from synmonodentate acetate ligands, transcoordinated to Cu(II) in the basal plane. The oxygen atoms of the two water molecules occupy the axial positions. 2 has Cu(II) coordination polyhedra similar to 1, except that only one of the apical positions is occupied by a water molecule. The structure consists of two independent linear chains, one involving octahedral (1) and the other involving square-pyramidal (2) polyhedra, held by hydrogen bridges. The Cu–Cu intra- and interchain separations in both 1 and 2 are 5.983 and 8.214 Å. The unit cell packing shows weak -stacking between adjacent coordinated stpy ligands in the chain, resulting in ladder-type structure. Further, the extended packing reveals helical arrangement of Cu(II) polyhedra in the lattice.     

Scattering of energetic particles by anisotropic magnetohydrodynamic turbulence with a goldreich-sridhar power spectrum

Scattering rates for a Goldreich-Sridhar (GS) spectrum of anisotropic, incompressible, magnetohydrodynamic turbulence are calculated in the quasilinear approximation. Because the small-scale fluctuations are constrained to have wave vectors nearly perpendicular to the background magnetic field, scattering is too weak to provide either the mean-free paths commonly used in Galactic cosmic-ray propagation models or the mean-free paths required for acceleration of cosmic rays at quasiparallel shocks. Where strong pitch-angle scattering occurs, it is due to fluctuations not described by the GS spectrum, such as fluctuations generated by streaming cosmic rays.     

A quick and regioselective access of spirooxindole-oxazoline by reaction of isatin and isocyanoacetate “on water”

A greener, rapid and regioselective “on water” synthesis of spirooxindole-oxazoline by the reaction of isatin and isocyanoacetate at room temperature is described. The developed protocol has the advantage of being atom-economical, eco-friendly, and benign reaction conditions. Broader substrate scope, experimentally simple procedures, and easy purification of products with high yield further make this method attractive. The synthesized compounds have been fully characterized with spectral analysis.