Studies on the origin of the near-infrared (800–900 nm) absorption of cytochrome c oxidase

Data are presented which were collected in the course of the past ten years and bear on the correlation of absorbance at 800 nm and the EPR signal at g = 2 (‘copper signal’) of cytochrome c oxidase in various states of oxidation and ligation. Both EPR and optical reflectance spectra were obtained at low temperature (?170 to ?190°C). For some sets of samples spectra were recorded in the range 500–1100 nm. A particular effort was made to study this correlation with what are called ‘mixed valence’ states (Greenwood, C., Wilson, M.T. and Brunori, M. (1974) Biochem. J. 137, 205–215), when cytochrome a and the EPR-detectable copper are thought to be oxidized and the other components reduced and vice versa. These data show no evidence that the copper component of cytochrome oxidase which has so far not been detected by EPR makes a contribution to the absorption between 800 and 900 nm exceeding 10–15% of the total, which is close to or within the error of the respective measurements. For the various states of the oxidase examined in this work the 700–800 nm region did not appear to be more useful than the 800–900 nm region for determining the state of the EPR-undetectable copper in a reliable way. These conclusions are in agreement with results presented previously from other laboratories concerning the relationship of optical (approx. 800 nm) and EPR spectroscopic (g = 2) data obtained with the enzyme.     

Dynamics of energy substrates in the haemolymph of Locusta migratoria during flight

In the two-fuel system for flight of the migratory locust, the haemolymph carbohydrate concentration falls during flight periods of up to 1 hr, the decrease being greater in case the pre-flight carbohydrate level is higher. The increase in the lipid concentration from the onset of flight is virtually independent of the initial lipid concentration. Flight intensity affects these changes in substrate concentrations: the carbohydrate level decreases more rapidly if flight speed is higher, whereas the increase in lipid concentration is delayed at higher flight speeds. Respiratory carbon dioxide production is elevated rapidly during flight and reaches over eight times the resting level. From the rate of ¹⁴CO₂ production after labelling of the haemolymph diglyceride pool it is concluded that diglycerides contribute to providing the energy for flight from the earliest stage of flying activity; diglyceride oxidation increases until maximum utilization is attained after some 45 min of flight. The decline in haemolymph carbohydrate concentration due to flying activity results in a decrease of haemolymph osmolarity. Free amino acids, particularly taurine, increase markedly in the haemolymph during flight; yet their concentration only partially counterbalances the fall in haemolymph osmolarity.     

A new amine,stizolamine, from Stizolobium hassjoo

A new pyrazine derivative, stizolamine (1-methyl-3-guanidino-6-hydroxymethylpyrazin-2-one), has been isolated from seeds of Stizolobium hassjoo. This amine, which has a blue fluorescence, gives guanidine, N-methyl-alanine, oxalic acid, alanine and glycine on treatment with 6 N HCl. The permanganate oxidation product of stizolamine is 4-amino-6-methylcarbamoyl-1,3,5-triazine-2-carboxylic acid.     

Isoperoxidases from tobacco tissue cultures

Two anodic isoperoxidases (A₁ and A₂) from tobacco tissue culture W-38 and two cathodic isoperoxidases (C₃ and C₄) from tobacco suspension culture WR-132 have been separated and characterized. Molecular weights for each of the isoperoxidases have been determined by two different methods. Only C₄ contained a carbohydrate component. The substrate specificity and the pH optima for the four enzymes with each of five substrates were determined.     

Optimization of Insecticidal Triterpene Derivatives by Biomimetic Oxidations with Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodosobenzene Catalyzed by MnIII and FeIII Porphyrin Complexes

Semisynthetic functionalized triterpenes (4α,14‐dimethyl‐5α,8α‐8,9‐epoxycholestan‐3β‐yl acetate; 4α,14‐dimethyl‐5α‐cholest‐8‐ene‐3,7,11‐trione; 4α,14‐dimethyl‐5α‐cholesta‐7,9(11)‐dien‐3‐one and 4α,14‐dimethyl‐5α‐cholest‐8‐en‐3β‐yl acetate), previously prepared from 31‐norlanostenol, a natural insecticide isolated from the latex of Euphorbia officinarum, have been subjected to oxidation with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and iodosobenzene (PhIO) catalyzed by porphyrin complexes (cytochrome P‐450 models) in order to obtain optimized derivatives with high regioselectivity. The main transformations were epoxidation of the double bonds and hydroxylations of non‐activated C–H groups and the reaction products were 25‐hydroxy‐4α,14‐dimethyl‐5α‐cholesta‐7,9(11)‐dien‐3β‐yl acetate (59 %), 25‐hydroxy‐4α,14‐dimethyl‐5α‐cholest‐8‐ene‐3,7,11‐trione (60 %), 4α,14‐dimethyl‐5α,7β‐7,8‐epoxycholest‐9(11)‐en‐3‐one (22 %), 8‐hydroxy‐4α,14‐dimethyl‐5α‐cholest‐9(11)‐ene‐3,7‐dione (16 %), 12α‐hydroxy‐4α,14‐dimethyl‐5α,7β‐7,8‐epoxycholest‐9(11)‐en‐3‐one (16 %), and 4α,14‐dimethyl‐5α,8α‐8,9‐epoxycholestan‐3β‐yl acetate (26 %), respectively. We also investigated the insect (Myzus persicae, Rhopalosiphum padi and Spodoptera littoralis) antifeedant and postingestive effects of these terpenoid derivatives. None of the compounds tested had significant antifeedant effects, however, all were more effective postingestive toxicants on S. littoralis larvae than the natural compound 31‐norlanostenol, with 4α,14‐dimethyl‐5α,8α‐8,9‐epoxycholestan‐3β‐yl acetate being the most active. The study of their structure–activity relationships points out at the importance of C3 and C7 substituents.     

Atomically Dispersed Mo Supported on Metallic Co9S8 Nanoflakes as an Advanced Noble‐Metal‐Free Bifunctional Water Splitting Catalyst Working in Universal pH Conditions

Water splitting requires development of cost‐effective multifunctional materials that can catalyze both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) efficiently. Currently, the OER relies on the noble‐metal catalysts; since with other catalysts, its operation environment is greatly limited in alkaline conditions. Herein, an advanced water oxidation catalyst based on metallic Co₉S₈ decorated with single‐atomic Mo (0.99 wt%) is synthesized (Mo‐Co₉S₈@C). It exhibits pronounced water oxidization activity in acid, alkali, and neutral media by showing positive onset potentials of 200, 90, and 290 mV, respectively, which manifests the best Co₉S₈‐based single‐atom Mo catalyst till now. Moreover, it also demonstrates excellent HER performance over a wide pH range. Consequently, the catalyst even outperforms noble metal Pt/IrO₂‐based catalysts for overall water splitting (only requiring 1.68 V in acid, and 1.56 V in alkaline). Impressively, it works under a current density of 10 mA cm^?2 with no obvious decay during a 24 h (0.5 m H₂SO₄) and 72 h (1.0 m KOH) durability experiment. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations reveal that the synergistic effects of atomically dispersed Mo with Co‐containing substrates can efficiently alter the binding energies of adsorbed intermediate species and decrease the overpotentials of the water splitting.     

大气硝酸盐氧同位素异常及应用进展

近年来人为活动导致的大气硝酸盐不断增加,危害人体健康和生态环境。厘清大气硝酸盐的来源及形成机理至关重要。多氧稳定同位素技术是一种强有力的示踪手段,能够有效指示大气硝酸盐生成的氧化路径,在气溶胶、水体、土壤、森林、古气候研究中得到了广泛应用。本文总结了大气硝酸盐氧同位素异常(Δ17O)的测定方法(热裂解法、反硝化细菌法、化学法),探讨了Δ17O的产生原因,并围绕硝酸盐的形成过程阐明硝酸盐Δ17O的示踪机制,综述了Δ17O在大气化学反应机制研究中的应用。在此基础上,本文提出目前Δ17O研究的不足并对未来需要开展的研究进行了展望。     

嗜热丁烷氧化古菌Candidatus Syntrophoarchaeum烷基转移酶MtaA催化丁基辅酶M的分子机制研究

【背景】嗜热古菌Candidatus Syntrophoarchaeum可以与硫酸盐还原细菌共生,通过逆转产甲烷途径进行正丁烷的氧化,但在该过程中负责催化丁基辅酶M氧化的酶尚未确定。【目的】利用分子动力学模拟证明Ca.Syntrophoarchaeum中mta A基因编码的蛋白可以特异性催化丁基辅酶M中丁基的转移,并非转移甲基。【方法】使用Methanosarcina mazei辅酶M甲基转移酶Mta A的晶体结构(PDB ID:4ay8)作为模板,对Mta A_1 (Gen Bank登录号OFV65993.1)和Mta A_2 (Gen Bank登录号OFV65678.1)进行同源建模。使用分子对接得到两者分别结合CH_3-Co M和C_4H_9-Co M时的结构,并用AMBER18进行分子动力学模拟。【结果】当Mta A_1和Mta A_2分别结合C_4H_9-Co M时,表现出与4ay8晶体结构类似的TIM-Barrel折叠三维结构,但在活性中心形状、Zn~(2+)与底物距离以及活性位点附近氨基酸配位方式等方面存在差异,这可能是导致Ca.Syntrophoarchaeum中mta A基因编码的蛋白催化丁基辅酶M氧化的原因。其中Mta A_2与4ay8结构更相似,活性中心氨基酸配位更完整,暗示其更可能具备催化活性。然而当Mta A_1和Mta A_2分别结合CH_3-Co M时,整体结构不合实际,活性中心Zn~(2+)与底物距离过远,表明底物几乎不可能与酶结合。【结论】Ca.Syntrophoarchaeum中的Mta A_1和Mta A_2很可能是特异性的丁基转移酶,而非催化甲基的转移,其中Mta A_2具备活性的可能性更高。