Melamine–Barbiturate Supramolecular Assembly as a pH‐Dependent Organic Radical Trap Material

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (70) ◽  
pp. 16603-16610
Author(s):  
Vladimir V. Shilovskikh ◽  
Alexandra A. Timralieva ◽  
Pavel V. Nesterov ◽  
Alexander S. Novikov ◽  
Petr A. Sitnikov ◽  
...  
Author(s):  
U. Aebi ◽  
R. Millonig ◽  
H. Salvo

To date, most 3-D reconstructions of undecorated actin filaments have been obtained from actin filament paracrystal data (for refs, see 1,2). However, due to the fact that (a) the paracrystals may be several filament layers thick, and (b) adjacent filaments may sustantially interdigitate, these reconstructions may be subject to significant artifacts. None of these reconstructions has permitted unambiguous tracing or orientation of the actin subunits within the filament. Furthermore, measured values for the maximal filament diameter both determined by EM and by X-ray diffraction analysis, vary between 6 and 10 nm. Obviously, the apparent diameter of the actin filament revealed in the EM will critically depend on specimen preparation, since it is a rather flexible supramolecular assembly which can easily be bent or distorted. To resolve some of these ambiguities, we have explored specimen preparation conditions which may preserve single filaments sufficiently straight and helically ordered to be suitable for single filament 3-D reconstructions, possibly revealing molecular detail.


2004 ◽  
Vol 114 ◽  
pp. 533-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.-J. Lee ◽  
H.-B. Cui ◽  
H. Fujiwara ◽  
H. Kobayashi ◽  
E. Fujiwara ◽  
...  

1969 ◽  
Vol 21 (03) ◽  
pp. 573-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Fantl

SummaryTreatment of human and dog oxalated plasma with 0.2 to 1.0 × 10−1 M 2.3-dithiopropanol (BAL) or dithiothreitol (DTT) at 2–4° C for 30 min results in the reduction of the vitamin-K dependent clotting factors II, VII, IX and X to the respective-SH derivatives. The reaction is pH dependent. Under aerobic conditions the delayed one stage prothrombin time can be partly reversed. Under anaerobic conditions a gradual prolongation of the one stage prothrombin time occurs without reversal.In very diluted plasma treated with the dithiols, prothrombin can be converted into thrombin if serum as source of active factors VII and X is added. In contrast SH factors VII, IX and X are inactive in the specific tests. Reoxidation to active factors II, VII, IX and X takes place during adsorption and elution of the SH derivatives. The experiments have indicated that not only factor II but also factors VII, IX and X have active-S-S-centres.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Colliard ◽  
Gregory Morrosin ◽  
Hans-Conrad zur Loye ◽  
May Nyman

Superatoms are nanometer-sized molecules or particles that can form ordered lattices, mimicking their atomic counterparts. Hierarchical assembly of superatoms gives rise to emergent properties in superlattices of quantum-dots, p-block clusters, and fullerenes. Here, we introduce a family of uranium-oxysulfate cluster anions whose hierarchical assembly in water is controlled by two parameters; acidity and the countercation. In acid, larger Ln<sup>III</sup> (Ln=La-Ho) link hexamer (U<sub>6</sub>) oxoclusters into body-centered cubic frameworks, while smaller Ln<sup>III</sup> (Ln=Er-Lu &Y) promote linking of fourteen U<sub>6</sub>-clusters into hollow superclusters (U<sub>84</sub> superatoms). U<sub>84</sub> assembles into superlattices including cubic-closest packed, body-centered cubic, and interpenetrating networks, bridged by interstitial countercations, and U<sub>6</sub>-clusters. Divalent transition metals (TM=Mn<sup>II </sup>and Zn<sup>II</sup>), with no added acid, charge-balance and promote the fusion of 10 U<sub>6</sub> and 10 U-monomers into a wheel–shaped cluster (U<sub>70</sub>). Dissolution of U<sub>70</sub> in organic media reveals (by small-angle Xray scattering) that differing supramolecular assemblies are accessed, controlled by TM-linking of U<sub>70</sub>-clusters. <br>


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madushani Dharmarwardana ◽  
André F. Martins ◽  
Zhuo Chen ◽  
Philip M. Palacios ◽  
Chance M. Nowak ◽  
...  

Superoxide overproduction is known to occur in multiple disease states requiring critical care yet non-invasive detection of superoxide in deep tissue remains a challenge. Herein, we report a metal-free magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) active contrast agent prepared by “click conjugating” paramagnetic organic radical contrast agents (ORCAs) to the surface of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). While ORCAs are known to be reduced <i>in vivo</i> to an MRI/EPR silent state, their oxidation is facilitated specifically by reactive oxygen species—in particular superoxide—and are largely unaffected by peroxides and molecular oxygen. Unfortunately, single molecule ORCAs typically offer weak MRI contrast. In contrast, our data confirm that the macromolecular ORCA-TMV conjugates show marked enhancement for <i>T<sub>1</sub></i> contrast at low field (<3.0 T), and <i>T<sub>2</sub></i> contrast at high field (9.4 T). Additionally, we demonstrated that the unique topology of TMV allows for “quenchless fluorescent” bimodal probe for concurrent fluorescence and MRI/EPR imaging, which was made possible by exploiting the unique inner and outer surface of the TMV nanoparticle. <a>Finally, we show TMV-ORCAs do not respond to normal cellular respiration, minimizing the likelihood for background, yet still respond to enzymatically produced superoxide in complicated biological fluids like serum.</a>


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Roitberg ◽  
Pancham Lal Gupta

<div>Human Glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase (GAR Tfase), a regulatory enzyme in the de novo purine biosynthesis pathway, has been established as an anti-cancer target. GAR Tfase catalyzes the formyl transfer reaction from the folate cofactor to the GAR ligand. In the present work, we study E. coli GAR Tfase, which has high sequence similarity with the human GAR Tfase with most functional residues conserved. E. coli GAR Tfase exhibits structural changes and the binding of ligands that varies with pH which leads to change the rate of the formyl transfer reaction in a pH-dependent manner. Thus, the inclusion of pH becomes essential for the study of its catalytic mechanism. Experimentally, the pH-dependence of the kinetic parameter kcat is measured to evaluate the pH-range of enzymatic activity. However, insufficient information about residues governing the pH-effects on the catalytic activity leads to ambiguous assignments of the general acid and base catalysts and consequently its catalytic mechanism. In the present work, we use pH-replica exchange molecular dynamics (pH-REMD) simulations to study the effects of pH on E. coli GAR Tfase enzyme. We identify the titratable residues governing the pH-dependent conformational changes in the system. Furthermore, we filter out the protonation states which are essential in maintaining the structural integrity, keeping the ligands bound and assisting the catalysis. We reproduce the experimental pH-activity curve by computing the population of key protonation states. Moreover, we provide a detailed description of residues governing the acidic and basic limbs of the pH-activity curve.</div>


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamilton Lee ◽  
Jenica Lumata ◽  
Michael A. Luzuriaga ◽  
Candace Benjamin ◽  
Olivia Brohlin ◽  
...  

<div><div><div><p>Many contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging are based on gadolinium, however side effects limit their use in some patients. Organic radical contrast agents (ORCAs) are potential alternatives, but are reduced rapidly in physiological conditions and have low relaxivities as single molecule contrast agents. Herein, we use a supramolecular strategy where cucurbit[8]uril binds with nanomolar affinities to ORCAs and protects them against biological reductants to create a stable radical in vivo. We further over came the weak contrast by conjugating this complex on the surface of a self-assembled biomacromolecule derived from the tobacco mosaic virus.</p></div></div></div>


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