Stereoisomers of Mn(III) complexes of ethylenebis[(o-hydroxyphenyl)glycine]

We have prepared the Mn(III) complexes rac-Na[Mn(EHPG)]·3H₂O (1) and rac,meso-Na[Mn(EHPG)]·H₂O (2), where H₄EHPG is ethylenebis[(o-hydroxyphenyl)glycine], and determined their X-ray crystal structures. Complex 1 contains N(S,S)C(R,R) configurations at the N and C stereogenic centres, whilst in the unit cell of complex 2 there are two independent molecules, 2a (meso) and 2b (rac), with N(R,R)C(S,R) and N(R,R)C(S,S) configurations, respectively. Enantiomers of each complex are also present. The Mn(III) centres have Jahn-Teller-distorted octahedral geometry. The rac isomer has two long axial MnO(carboxylate) bonds (2.162-2.202 Å) and the equatorial plane contains two short MnN bonds (2.012-2.063 Å) trans to short MnO(phenolate) bonds (1.865-1.901 Å). The meso isomer has long axial MnN (2.194 Å) and MnO(carboxylate) (2.152 Å) bonds, and shorter equatorial MnN (2.005 Å) trans to MnO(phenolate) (1.901 Å) and MnO(carboxylate) (1.988 Å) trans to O(phenolate) (1.897 Å) bonds.     

Kinetics of acid-catalysed dissociation of lead(II) and copper(II) complexes of ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)tetraacetic acid (EGTA)

The acid-catalysed dissociation rate constants for PbEGTA²⁻ and CuEGTA²⁻ complexes (where EGTA is ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo) tetraacetic acid) were measured in acetic acid-acetate buffer medium (pH: 3.0–4.8) and perchloric acid solutions ([H⁺] = 0.05–0.15 M), respectively, at a constant ionic strength of 0.15 (NaClO₄). The rate laws shown by the lead(II) and copper(II) complexes are of the form, Rate = {k_d + k_H[H⁺]}[complex] and Rate = {k_d + k_H²[H⁺]²}[complex], respectively. Enthalpy and entropy of activation for acid-independent and acid-catalysed pathways for both the complexes were obtained by the temperature-dependence studies of resolved rate constants in the 16–45°C range. The rate of dissociation of PbEGTA²⁻ is not enhanced by increasing the concentration of acetate ion in the buffer, and the amount of total electrolyte in the reaction mixture has no pronounced effect on the dissociation rates of their the lead(II) or copper(II) complex. Attempts to study the kinetics of stepwise ligand unwrapping in the binuclear Cu₂EGTA complex were unsuccessful due to the extremely rapid dissociation of this complex to yield mononuclear CuEGTA²⁻.     

Innocuous character of [ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)]tetraacetic acid and EDTA as metal-ion buffers in studying Ca2+ binding by alpha-lactalbumin

The binding of EGTA and EDTA to alpha-lactalbumin, first demonstrated by Kronman and Bratcher (Kronman, M. J., and Bratcher, S. C. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 5707-5709) and afterwards regarded as a significant source of error in estimating the binding constant of Ca2+ to the protein, has been investigated by comparison of the thermal unfolding curves of the protein in the absence and presence of the chelators and also by measuring the NMR spectra of the protein, the chelators, and the protein-chelator mixtures. The unfolding curve in the presence of a large excess of each chelator has been found to be identical to that in the absence of chelator, indicating that there is essentially no interaction between the chelators and alpha-lactalbumin. The NMR results have also supported this conclusion, and the innocuous character of these chelators as metal-ion buffers in studying the Ca2+-binding properties of alpha-lactalbumin is demonstrated. In order to re-examine the binding constant for Ca2+ of alpha-lactalbumin without the aid of chelating metal-ion buffers, the thermal unfolding curve of the protein in the presence of 0.1 mM excess Ca2+ but without chelators has been compared with the unfolding curve in the absence of Ca2+ at a constant concentration of Na+ (0.010 or 0.10 M) at pH 7.0. The binding constant of alpha-lactalbumin can be calculated from the increment of melting temperature caused by the presence of Ca2+ and from the enthalpy and heat capacity changes in the unfolding. Because Ca2+ binding to the unfolded protein can be neglected under the conditions employed, the binding constant evaluated corresponds to the binding constant to protein that has native structure. The constant obtained is 3-5 X 10(9) M-1 after corrections for binding of Na+ to the protein and for ionic strength, and this shows excellent agreement with the corresponding value previously estimated (2.9 +/- 1.0 X 10(9) M-1), although the latter value was obtained in the presence of EDTA. The apparent Ca2+-binding constant that has been discussed in most previous studies, without taking account of the folding-unfolding equilibrium associated with the binding process, also depends on the concentration of monovalent cations such as Na+, and the present results lead to values of 1.5 X 10(8) and 8.7 X 10(6) M-1 at 0.01 and 0.1 M Na+, respectively.     

Synthesis and luminescence properties of a blue-emitting Sr(3.5) Y(6.5) O(2) (PO(4) )(1.5) (SiO(4) )(4.5) :Eu(2+) phosphor

A novel blue‐emitting Sr_3.5Y_6.5O₂(PO₄)_1.5(SiO₄)_4.5:Eu²⁺ phosphor was synthesized via a solid‐state reaction. Powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrated that the Sr_3.5Y_6.5O₂(PO₄)_1.5(SiO₄)_4.5 host had a hexagonal crystal structure in the space group P6₃/m and unit cell parameters a = 9.418 Å, c = 6.900 Å. The as‐prepared phosphor showed a blue emission and all the main emission peaks were located at around 466 nm for different excitation wavelengths of 297, 333 and 391 nm. The temperature dependence of the photoluminescence property was investigated in the range 20–250 °C, and the emission intensity decreased to 71% of the initial value at room temperature on increasing the temperature to 150 °C. According to the classical theory of fluorescent thermal quenching, the activation energy (ΔE) for the thermal quenching luminescence of the as‐prepared Sr_3.45Y_6.5O₂(PO₄)_1.5(SiO₄)_4.5:0.05Eu²⁺ phosphor was determined to be 0.20 eV. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Collagen-like triple helix formation of synthetic (Pro-Pro-Gly)10 analogues: (4(S)-hydroxyprolyl-4(R)-hydroxyprolyl-Gly)10, (4(R)-hydroxyprolyl-4(R)-hydroxyprolyl-Gly)10 and (4(S)-fluoroprolyl-4(R)-fluoroprolyl-Gly)10.

For the rational design of a stable collagen triple helix according to the conventional rule that the pyrrolidine puckerings of Pro, 4-hydroxyproline (Hyp) and 4-fluoroproline (fPro) should be down at the X-position and up at the Y-position in the X-Y-Gly repeated sequence for enhancing the triple helix propensities of collagen model peptides, a series of peptides were prepared in which X- and Y-positions were altogether occupied by Hyp(R), Hyp(S), fPro(R) or fPro(S). Contrary to our presumption that inducing the X-Y residues to adopt a down-up conformation would result in an increase in the thermal stability of peptides, the triple helices of (Hyp(S)-Hyp(R)-Gly)(10) and (fPro(S)-fPro(R)-Gly)(10) were less stable than those of (Pro-Hyp(R)-Gly)(10) and (Pro-fPro(R)-Gly)(10), respectively. As reported by B?chinger's and Zagari's groups, (Hyp(R)-Hyp(R)-Gly)(10) which could have an up-up conformation unfavorable for the triple helix, formed a triple helix that has a high thermal stability close to that of (Pro-Hyp(R)-Gly)(10). These results clearly show that the empirical rule based on the conformational preference of pyrrolidine ring at each of X and Y residues should not be regarded as still valid, at least for predicting the stability of collagen models in which both X and Y residues have electronegative groups at the 4-position.     

Role of tfdC(I)D(I)E(I)F(I) and tfdD(II)C(II)E(II)F(II) gene modules in catabolism of 3-chlorobenzoate by Ralstonia eutropha JMP134(pJP4)

The enzymes chlorocatechol-1,2-dioxygenase, chloromuconate cycloisomerase, dienelactone hydrolase, and maleylacetate reductase allow Ralstonia eutropha JMP134(pJP4) to degrade chlorocatechols formed during growth in 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate or 3-chlorobenzoate (3-CB). There are two gene modules located in plasmid pJP4, tfdC(I)D(I)E(I)F(I) (module I) and tfdD(II)C(II)E(II)F(II) (module II), putatively encoding these enzymes. To assess the role of both tfd modules in the degradation of chloroaromatics, each module was cloned into the medium-copy-number plasmid vector pBBR1MCS-2 under the control of the tfdR regulatory gene. These constructs were introduced into R. eutropha JMP222 (a JMP134 derivative lacking pJP4) and Pseudomonas putida KT2442, two strains able to transform 3-CB into chlorocatechols. Specific activities in cell extracts of chlorocatechol-1,2-dioxygenase (tfdC), chloromuconate cycloisomerase (tfdD), and dienelactone hydrolase (tfdE) were 2 to 50 times higher for microorganisms containing module I compared to those containing module II. In contrast, a significantly (50-fold) higher activity of maleylacetate reductase (tfdF) was observed in cell extracts of microorganisms containing module II compared to module I. The R. eutropha JMP222 derivative containing tfdR-tfdC(I)D(I)E(I)F(I) grew four times faster in liquid cultures with 3-CB as a sole carbon and energy source than in cultures containing tfdR-tfdD(II)C(II)E(II)F(II). In the case of P. putida KT2442, only the derivative containing module I was able to grow in liquid cultures of 3-CB. These results indicate that efficient degradation of 3-CB by R. eutropha JMP134(pJP4) requires the two tfd modules such that TfdCDE is likely supplied primarily by module I, while TfdF is likely supplied by module II.     

Induction of in vitro flowering in Dendrobium Madame Thong-In (Orchidaceae) seedlings is associated with increase in endogenous N(6)-(Delta (2)-isopentenyl)-adenine (iP) and N (6)-(Delta (2)-isopentenyl)-adenosine (iPA) levels

We analysed the endogenous cytokinin levels of Dendrobium Madame Thong-In seedlings grown in vitro during vegetative and flowering-inductive periods. HPLC was used to fractionate the extracts and radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used for assay of zeatin (Z), dihydrozeatin (DZ), N(6)-(Delta(2)-isopentenyl)-adenine (iP) and their derivatives. Coconut water used in experiments was found to contain high level (>136 pmol ml(-1)) of zeatin riboside (ZR). Protocorms and seedlings cultured in medium with coconut water were found to contain 0.5-3.9 pmol g(-1) FW of the cytokinins analysed. Seedlings (1.0-1.5 cm) cultured in flowering-inductive liquid medium containing 6-benzyladenine (BA, 4.4 muM) and coconut water (CW, 15%) contained up to 200 and 133 pmol g(-1) FW of iP and iPA, respectively. These levels were significantly higher than all other cytokinins analysed in seedlings of the same stage and were about 80- to 150-folds higher than seedlings cultured in non-inductive medium. During the transitional (vegetative to reproductive) stage, the endogenous levels of iP (178 pmol g(-1) FW) and iPA (63 pmol g(-1) FW) were also significantly higher than cytokinins in the zeatine (Z) and dihydrozeatin (DZ) families in the same seedlings. Seedlings that grew on inductive medium but remained vegetative contained lower levels of iPA. The importance of the profiles of iP and its derivatives in induction of in vitro flowering of D. Madame Thong-In is discussed.     

Biology of Bactrocera (Zeugodacus) tau (Walker) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The biology of the fruit fly Bactrocera tau, an important horticultural pest, was studied under laboratory conditions at 25°C and 60–70% relative humidity on Cucurbita maxima. The duration of mating averaged 408.03 ± 235.93 min. After mating, the female fly had a preoviposition period of 11.7 ± 4.49 days. The oviposition rate was 9.9 ± 8.50 eggs and fecundity was 464.6 ± 67.98 eggs/female. Eggs were elliptical, smooth and shiny white, turning darker as hatching approached, and measured 1.30 ± 0.07 mm × 0.24 ± 0.04 mm. The chorion has polygonal microsculpturing and is species-specific with polygonal walls. The egg period lasts for 1.3 ± 0.41 days. The duration of the larval period is 1.2 ± 0.42, 1.7 ± 0.48 and 4.0 ± 0.94 days for first, second and third instars, respectively. Pupation occurs in the sand or soil and pupal periods are 7.0 ± 0.47 days. The life cycle from egg to adult was completed in 14.2 ± 1.69 days; the longevity of mated females and males was 130.33 ± 14.18 and 104.66 ± 31.21 days, respectively. At least two to three generations were observed from June 2008 to June 2009.     

The helix-coil transitions of poly (dA)-poly (dT) and poly (dA-dT)-poly (dA-dT)

Helix–coil transition curves are calculated for poly (dA) poly(dT) and poly (dA-dT) poly (dA-dT) using the integral equation approach of Goel and Montroll.⁵ The transitions are described by the loop entropy model with the exponent of the loop entropy factor, k, remaining an arbitrary constant. The theoretical calculations are compared with experimental transition curves of the two polymers. Results indicate that the stacking energies for these two polymers differ by about 1 kcal/mole of base pairs. Also, a fit between theory and experiment was not possible for k > 1.70.     

Spectroscopic investigations of Er(3+) :CdO-Bi(2) O(3) -B(2) O(3) glasses

This article reports on the optical properties of Er³⁺ ions doped CdO–Bi₂O₃–B₂O₃ (CdBiB) glasses. The materials were characterized by optical absorption and emission spectra. By using Judd–Ofelt theory, the intensity parameters Ω_λ (λ = 2, 4, 6) and also oscillatory strengths were calculated from the absorption spectra. The results were used to compute the radiative properties of Er³⁺:CdBiB glasses. The concentration quenching and energy transfer from Yb³⁺–Er³⁺ were explained. The stimulated emission cross‐section, full width at half maximum (FWHM) and FWHM × values are also calculated for all the Er³⁺:CdBiB glasses. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cationic (tripyrrinato)palladium(II) complexes

The formation of cationic palladium(II)complexes [TrpyPd^II]⁺X⁻ by salt metathesis of the respective trifluoroacetates with different salts of weakly coordinating anions X⁻ was investigated. With non-hydrolizable counterions, cationic mono- and dinuclear complexes are observed depending on the nature of the anion X⁻ and the solvent. The mononuclear cations, which are only formed with X = BAr^F, most probably carry a weakly bound molecule of dichloromethane at the fourth coordination site of Pd^II. When treated with diazoalkanes, only these are sufficiently reactive to form carbene complexes. Four- and five coordinate Lewis base adducts [TrpyPd^IIL]⁺ with L = CH₃NC, tBuNH₂, PMe₃, PEt₃ and PiPr₃ and [TrpyPd^IIL₂]⁺ with L = PMe₃ were prepared from the mononuclear cations [TrpyPd^II]⁺BAr^F−. From structural studies it becomes apparent, that the formation of stable five coordinate Pd^II species is restricted to medium size ligands and depends on the delicate balance between the steric influence of L and the strain, which is induced on the TrpyPd^II unit.     

Fragile site (16) (q22)

Summary The rare autosomal fragile site, fra (16)(q22), is the most common of all rare autosomal fragile sites and has a heterozygote frequency of about 5%. Evidence for it was found following the segregation expected from a simple codominant trait with complete penetrance; this is in contrast to a variety of other rare autosomal fragile sites. Based on the analysis of 12 families in which fra (16)(q22) is segregating, we found that, whereas complete penetrance could be confirmed, the transmitting parent was significantly more likely to be of the female sex. On the other hand, there was no evidence for preferential transmission to offspring of either sex.     

fra(1) (p11), fra(1) (q22) and r(1) (p11q22) in a retarded girl.

A mentally retarded girl with a 46,XX/47, XX+r(1) (p11q22q22p11)/47, XX+r(1) (p11q22) fra(1) (p31) fra(1) (p11) fra(1) (q22) karyotype who inherited the fragile sites from the normal mother was studied. The conicidence of fra(1) (p11) and fra(1) (q22) with the ring chromosome breakpoints strongly suggests a cause-effect relationship. This finding agrees with other reported associations between fragile sites and structural chromosome abnormalities and constitutes the fourth reported of a de novo structurally abnormal chromosome as a consequence of presumed in vivo fragile sites instability. Although risk figures for chromosome anomalies and cancer associated with fragile sites are lacking, carriers of fra (1) (p11) may have a higher risk for abnormalities of chromosome 1 in somatic and gonadal cells than the general population.