Kinetics of proton transfer in a green fluorescent protein: A laser-induced pH jump study

The sub-millisecond protonation dynamics of the chromophore in S65T mutant form of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) was tracked after a rapid pH jump following laser-induced proton release from the caged photolabile compoundo-nitrobenzaldehyde. Following a jump in pH from 8 to 5 (which is achieved within 2 μs), the fluorescence of S65T GFP decreased as a single exponential with a time constant of ∼90 μs. This decay is interpreted as the conversion of the deprotonated fluorescent GFP chromophore to a protonated non-fluorescent species. The protonation kinetics showed dependence on the bulk viscosity of the solvent, and therefore implicates bulk solvent-controlled protein dynamics in the protonation process. The protonation is proposed to be a sequential process involving two steps: (a) proton transfer from solvent to the chromophore, and (b) internal structural rearrangements to stabilize a protonated chromophore. The possible implications of these observations to protein dynamics in general is discussed     

Cr^4＋：YAG,Cr^4＋：Mg2SiO4近红外荧光辐射温度特性研究

测量了Ｃｒ＾４＋，ＹＡＧ、Ｃｒ＾４＋，Ｍｇ２ＳｉＯ４晶体在室温和液氮温度下的荧光光谱，吸收光谱和激发态寿命，讨论了温度变化时，两种晶体中Ｃｒ＾４＋近红外辐射积分强度变化与激光发态寿命变化的关系，得出结论：在７７Ｋ￣３００Ｋ范围内，Ｃｒ＾４＋的＾３Ｔ２能级荧光辐射截面本身受温度影响不大，Ｃｒ＾４＋辐射荧光的变化，主要是由无辐射弛豫速率随温度变化而引起的。     

Two new asterosaponins from the starfish Asterias rubens: application of a cryogenic NMR probe head

We report two new asterosaponins from the Baltic starfish Asterias rubens along with their ¹H and ¹³C NMR data. The compounds were isolated after on‐flow liquid chromatography–NMR–mass spectrometry screening indicated that they had not been identified before. The one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR experiments used to elucidate the structures were recorded using a 5 mm cryogenic probe head. The advantages of cryogenic probes for this kind of examination in comparison with conventional probe heads are discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Homogeneous immunoassays

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology -     

Structure, reactivity, and application of some triketone derivatives

The major tautomer of several triketone derivatives in organic and aqueous solutions has been determined. Their solvent- and base-sensitive properties have been applied in the design of a polarity-sensitive fluorescent probe and an acidichromic colorant, respectively. The regioselective acetylation and methylation of 2-acyldimedone, 3-acyl-4-hydroxycoumarin, and 2-acyl-1,3-indandione have also been investigated. The results indicated that acetylation and methylation of the first two occurred specifically at endocyclic enolic oxygens, whereas for the latter they occurred at exocyclic enolic oxygen.     

荧光波长对共焦显微镜成像特性的影响

导出了共焦显微镜中不同荧光波长情况下的荧光功率传输函数、三维脉冲响应函数（3D－PSF）和三维光学传递函数（3D－OTF）。结果表明，不同的荧光波长对共焦显微镜的空间截止频率、分辨率、光学传递函数存在明显的影响。当激发波长与荧光波长的比值下降到一定程度时，可以看到明显的失锥现象。     

Illuminating Molecular Processes in Living Cells

Lately, scientists have explored approaches to developing fluorescent and/or bioluminescent indicators to pinpoint cellular processes in single living cells. These analytical methods have become a key technology for visualizing and detecting what was otherwise unseen in live cells. The target signaling included second messengers, protein phosphorylations, protein–protein interactions, and protein localizations.     

三嗪类光学探针与标记分析

评述了以三聚氰氯作桥联剂或骨架而合成的三嗪类衍生物、特别是其光学标记探针的研究进展及分析应用。     

Intramolecular dimers: a new design strategy for fluorescence-quenched probes

Fluorogenic probes dual-labeled with reporter and quencher dyes use a change in fluorescence to monitor biochemical events (e.g., substrate binding or enzyme digestion). Such events change the reporter-quencher distance, which affects fluorescence. Recently, it is has been shown that static quenching through intramolecular dimers is an important mechanism that can sometimes be more efficient than F?rster resonance energy transfer (FRET).     

Concerning the Thermal Diastereomerization of the Green Fluorescent Protein Chromophore

Summary. Two model compounds for the green fluorescent protein chromophore were prepared. One of them incorporates the natural 4-hydroxybenzylidene group of the natural tyrosin derived chromophore, the other one bears a methyl group instead of the hydroxy group. Whereas the photochemically prepared (E)-diastereomer of the first compound very effectively reverted thermally (room temperature) to the thermodynamically stable (Z)-diastereomer, the (E)-diastereomer of the second derivative proved to be stable even at elevated temperatures for more than a day. This finding can be rationalized by constructing the appropriate resonance structures showing that only in the first case an effective delocalization enables partial single bond character of the benzylidene double bond. From the standpoint of chemical etiology, only Nature’s choice of the tyrosin derived chromophore of the green fluorescent protein provides an efficient radiationless thermal relaxation channel for the unwanted photo-diastereomerization product formed after excitation besides the dominating fluorescence channel of its chromophore.