Changes in Gel Structure and Chemical Interactions of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Surimi Gels: Effect of Setting Process and Different Starch Addition

The modifications of histological properties and chemical forces on heated surimi gels with starch addition (0–12 g/100 g surimi) were investigated. Two types of heating processes (direct heating and two-step heating) were carried out on surimi gels in order to reveal the effect of setting on mixed matrices. The results of transverse relaxation time showed less immobile water and free water converted into bound water in a matrix subjected to the setting process. Scanning electron microscope and light microscopy images revealed inefficient starch-swelling in two-step heated gels. Chemical interactions and forces in direct cooking gels were more vulnerable to starch addition, resulting in significant decreases in hydrophobic interaction and sulfhydryl content (p < 0.05). With the increment of starch, the disulfide stretching vibrations of the gauche–gauche–gauche conformation were reduced in both gel matrices. The structural variations of different components collectively resulted in changes in texture profile analysis and water holding capacity. Overall, the results demonstrated that starch addition had a great and positive effect on the weak gel matrix by direct heating.

N'-(Pyridin-3-ylmethylene)benzenesulfonohydrazide: Crystal structure, DFT, Hirshfeld surface and in silico anticancer studies

A new Schiff base, N'-(pyridin-3-ylmethylene)benzenesulfonohydrazide, was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, Mass, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray determination. The asymmetric molecule crystallized in the monoclinic crystal system and P2(1)/c space group. Crystal data for C12H11N3O2S: a = 9.7547(4) Å, b = 9.8108(4) Å, c = 13.1130(5) Å, β = 109.038(2)°, V = 1186.29(8) Å3, Z = 4, μ(MoKα) = 0.270 mm-1, Dcalc = 1.463 g/cm3, 13338 reflections measured (5.296° ≤ 2Θ ≤ 55.484°), 2790 unique (Rint = 0.0494, Rsigma = 0.0400) which were used in all calculations. The final R1 was 0.0345 (I > 2σ(I)) and wR2 was 0.0914 (all data). In the crystal structure of the compound C12H11N3O2S, molecules are linked in a continuous chain by intermolecular of N∙∙∙HN=N hydrogen bonds. The pyridine moiety is planar, while the benzenesulfonohydrazide group adopts a gauche conformation about C-S-N angle (105.54°). The Hirshfeld surface analysis and fingerprint plots were used to establish the presence, nature, and percentage contribution of the different intermolecular interactions, including N-H∙∙∙N, C-H∙∙∙O, C-H∙∙∙C, and π∙∙∙π interactions, with the C-H contacts having the most significant contribution. The pairwise interaction energies were calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory, and interaction energy profiles showed that the electrostatic forces had the most significant contribution to the total interaction energies of the different molecular pairs in the crystal. In-silico technique was used to examine the compound as a possible anticancer agent. The molecule demonstrated zero violation of the criteria of Lipinski’s rule of five with a polar surface area of 116.03 Å2. The molecule displayed favorable binding interactions with ten selected validated anticancer protein targets ranging from -9.58 to -11.95 kcal/mol and -2.73 to -5.73 kcal/mol on scoring and rescoring, respectively, with London dG and Affinity dG scoring functions. Two proteins; farnesyl transferase and signaling protein, preferred interactions with the Schiff-base over their co-crystallized inhibitors according to London dG scoring. Analysis of binding poses indicated that the Schiff-base made contact with amino acid residues of the two proteins through the N-H, sulphonyl oxygen, and phenyl groups, and this could be exploited in chemical and structural modification towards activity optimization.

Ribitol in Solution Is an Equilibrium of Asymmetric Conformations

Ribitol (C5H12O5), an acyclic sugar alcohol, is present on mammalian α-dystroglycan as a component of O-mannose glycan. In this study, we examine the conformation and dynamics of ribitol by database analysis, experiments, and computational methods. Database analysis reveals that the anti-conformation (180°) is populated at the C3–C4 dihedral angle, while the gauche conformation (±60°) is seen at the C2–C3 dihedral angle. Such conformational asymmetry was born out in a solid-state 13C-NMR spectrum of crystalline ribitol, where C1 and C5 signals are unequal. On the other hand, solution 13C-NMR has identical chemical shifts for C1 and C5. NMR 3J coupling constants and OH exchange rates suggest that ribitol is an equilibrium of conformations, under the influence of hydrogen bonds and/or steric hinderance. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations allowed us to discuss such a chemically symmetric molecule, pinpointing the presence of asymmetric conformations evidenced by the presence of correlations between C2–C3 and C3–C4 dihedral angles. These findings provide a basis for understanding the dynamic structure of ribitol and the function of ribitol-binding enzymes.

In Silico Studies on Sennidines—Natural Dianthrones from Senna

The rapid development of technology allows for more accurate research of biological systems with the use of in silico methods. One of the tools is the quantum-chemical method used for determining the structure, properties and interactions of molecules of great pharmacological importance. The accuracy of theoretical models is increasing and can be a real help in biology, chemistry and pharmacy. The aim of the study is to determine the spatial structure and intramolecular interactions of sennidines—natural pharmaceutical substances present in Senna species. Calculations carried out in the gas-phase and in the solvent model, compared with the available experimental data indicate the possibility of sennidines to form conformers. QTAIM and NCI analysis suggests the presence of many intramolecular interactions in the sennidin structure. Taking into account the lowest energy optimized structure, it can be predicted that the sennidin in the gauche conformation will be present in the plant material. The single C-C bond connecting the anthrone moieties is elongated and its reduced Bond Dissociation Energy (BDE) could be the cause of an easy breakdown of the sennidin molecule into monoanthrones. This work contains data on theoretical, vibrational and electron excitation spectra, which can be used in the analysis of experimental samples.

Steric vs Electronic Effects: A New Look into Stability of Diastereomers, Conformers and Constitutional Isomers

<div>A quantum chemical investigation of the stability of compounds with identical formulas was carried out on 23 classes of halogenated compounds made of H, F, Cl, Br, I, C, N, P, O and S atoms. The prevalence of formula in which its Z configuration, gauche conformation and meta isomer are the most stable forms is calculated and discussed. The prevalence data shows that in compounds made of carbon backbones, the electronic effect is weaker than the steric effect. The electronic factor is more important as the backbone atoms are replaced with atoms on the right and upper part of the periodic table.</div>

Steric vs Electronic Effects: A New Look into Stability of Diastereomers, Conformers and Constitutional Isomers

<div>A quantum chemical investigation of the stability of compounds with identical formulas was carried out on 23 classes of halogenated compounds made of H, F, Cl, Br, I, C, N, P, O and S atoms. The prevalence of formula in which its Z configuration, gauche conformation and meta isomer are the most stable forms is calculated and discussed. The prevalence data shows that in compounds made of carbon backbones, the electronic effect is weaker than the steric effect. The electronic factor is more important as the backbone atoms are replaced with atoms on the right and upper part of the periodic table.</div>

New Insights into the Structure of Glycols and Derivatives: A Comparative X-Ray Diffraction, Raman and Molecular Dynamics Study of Ethane-1,2-Diol, 2-Methoxyethan-1-ol and 1,2-Dimethoxy Ethane

In this study, we report a detailed experimental and theoretical investigation of three glycol derivatives, namely ethane-1,2-diol, 2-methoxyethan-1-ol and 1,2-dimethoxy ethane. For the first time, the X-ray spectra of the latter two liquids was measured at room temperature, and they were compared with the newly measured spectrum of ethane-1,2-diol. The experimental diffraction patterns were interpreted very satisfactorily with molecular dynamics calculations, and suggest that in liquid ethane-1,2-diol most molecules are found in gauche conformation, with intramolecular hydrogen bonds between the two hydroxyl groups. Intramolecular H-bonds are established in the mono-alkylated diol, but the interaction is weaker. The EDXD study also evidences strong intermolecular hydrogen-bond interactions, with short O···O correlations in both systems, while longer methyl-methyl interactions are found in 1,2-dimethoxy ethane. X-ray studies are complemented by micro Raman investigations at room temperature and at 80 °C, that confirm the conformational analysis predicted by X-ray experiments and simulations.

New Insights Into the Structure of Hydroxylated and Alkylated Glycols: A Comparative X-ray Diffraction, Raman and Molecular Dynamics Study of Ethane-1,2-Diol, 2-Methoxyethan-1-ol and 1,2-Dimethoxy Ethane

In this study, we report a detailed experimental and theoretical investigation of three glycols, namely ethane-1,2-diol, 2-methoxyethan-1-ol and 1,2-dimethoxy ethane. For the first time, the X-Ray spectra of the latter two liquids was measured at room temperature, and they were compared with the newly measured spectrum of ethane-1,2-diol. The experimental diffraction patterns were interpreted very satisfactorily with molecular dynamics calculations, and suggest that in liquid ethane-1,2-diol most molecules are found in gauche conformation, with intramolecular hydrogen bond between the two hydroxyl groups. Intramolecular H-bonds are established in the mono-alkylated diol, but the interaction is weaker. The EDXD study also evidences strong intermolecular hydrogen-bond interactions, with short O&middot;&middot;&middot;O correlations in both systems, while longer methyl-methyl interactions are found in 1,2-dimethoxy ethane. X-Ray studies are complemented by micro Raman investigations at room temperature and at 80&deg;C, that confirm the conformational analysis predicted by X-Ray experiments and simulations.

Adsorption of Lippia multiflora essential oil on two surfactant-modified clays: qualitative approach

This paper deals with the adsorption of an essential oil (EO) on a kaolinite-rich clay and a smectite-rich clay. The two clays were modified with a quaternary alkyl ammonium surfactant to create a lipophilic environment for better adsorption of the EO. The preparation of the clay/EO hybrids avoided the use of a slurry and organic solvent. The selected EO was that of Lippia multiflora. This EO has insecticidal properties. The surfactant was trioctyl methylammonium (TOMA). The modified clays were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The smectite-rich clay displayed greater adsorption of the L. multiflora EO compared to the kaolinite-rich clay. The interlayer space of the kaolinite-rich clay was not affected by the adsorption of the TOMA and/or EO molecules, which suggests that the adsorption in this clay took place on the external surface. By contrast, a significant increase in the interlayer space of the smectite-rich clay was observed, suggesting that the adsorption process of TOMA and/or EO took place on both the external and internal surfaces. The IR analysis showed that the surfactant loading in the interlayer space of the smectite-rich clay introduces a gauche conformation in the alkyl chains. A formulation mixing this local smectite-rich clay and the L. multiflora EO has potential for the manufacture of new biopesticides.