Prediction of a phase transition to a hydrogen bond ordered form of ice VI

Ice VI is a hydrogen bond disordered crystal over its known region of stability. In this work, we predict that ice VI will transform into a hydrogen bond ordered phase near 108 K, and have identified the likely low-temperature phase as ferroelectric (space group Cc) with an antiferroelectric structure (space group P2(1)2(1)2(1)) close by in energy. Electronic density functional theory calculations provide input to our calculations, which are extended to cells large enough for statistical simulations by using graph invariants. A significant decrease in the configurational entropy is predicted as hydrogen bonds exhibit partial order above the transition, provided that the hydrogen bonds can equilibrate on an experimental time scale. Conversely, partial disorder is predicted at temperatures below the transition. Although some evidence for ordering of ice VI has been observed in experiments, a low-temperature proton ordered phase has not been identified experimentally.     

Hydrogen-bond topology and the ice VII/VIII and ice Ih/XI proton-ordering phase transitions

The existence of an ice Ih/XI proton-ordering transition to a low-temperature ferroelectric phase has sparked considerable debate in the literature. Electronic density functional theory calculations, extended using graph invariants, confirm that a transition to a low-temperature ferroelectric phase should occur. The predicted transition at 98 K is in qualitative agreement with the observed transition at 72 K, and the low-temperature phase is the ferroelectric phase determined in diffraction experiments. The theoretical methods used to predict the phase transition are validated by comparing their prediction to the well-characterized ice VII/VIII proton-ordering transition.     

Pulsed EPR spectrometer with injection-locked UCSB free-electron laser

We describe the first free-electron laser (FEL)-based pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) system designed to study spin dynamics and structure changes of proteins in aqueous solution with nano-second of time resolution. This novel approach opens up the possibility for high-power sub-THz and THz pulsed EPR spectroscopy.     

Preparation and biological evaluation of radiogallium labeled glucagon for SPECT imaging

In this work, recently prepared ⁶⁷Ga-labeled glucagon (⁶⁷Ga-DTPA-GCG) for imaging studies (radiochemical purity >94%; HPLC, S.A. 296–370 GBq/mM) was used in biological studies. The wild-type rat biodistribution results, 2 h post injection, demonstrated high tissue:muscle ratios for target tissues (liver, kidney, heart, spleen, fat intestine stomach and pancreas), 234, 18.45, 7.12, 1.75, 128.7, 4.9, 6.3 and 1.11, respectively. The tracer binding capacity using freshly prepared rat brain homogenate demonstrated significant specific binding of the tracer to neuronal GCG receptors (⁶⁷Ga-DTPA-GCG/⁶⁷Ga:3 and ⁶⁷Ga-DTPA-GCG/⁶⁷GaDTPA:2.2 at 90 min). SPECT images also demonstrated target specific binding of the tracer at 4 h. The data suggests the tracer is accumulated in GCGR rich tissues 2–4 h post injection, suggesting potentials of the tracer for future imaging studies in glocagonoma models.     

How Does Photoreceptor UVR8 Perceive a UV‐B Signal?

UVR8 is the only known plant photoreceptor that mediates light responses to UV‐B (280–315 nm) of the solar spectrum. UVR8 perceives a UV‐B signal via light‐induced dimer dissociation, which triggers a wide range of cellular responses involved in photomorphogenesis and photoprotection. Two recent crystal structures of Arabidopsis thaliana UVR8 (AtUVR8) have revealed unusual clustering of UV‐B‐absorbing Trp pigments at the dimer interface and provided a structural framework for further mechanistic investigation. This review summarizes recent advances in spectroscopic, computational and crystallographic studies on UVR8 that are directed toward full understanding of UV‐B perception at the molecular level.