Protection of the prodomain 1-helix correlates with latency in the transforming growth factor- family

The 33 members of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-) family are fundamentally important for organismal development and homeostasis. Family members are synthesized and secreted as pro-complexes of prodomains that are non-covalently bound to the growth factor (GF). The pro-complexes of some members are latent and require activation steps to release the GF for signaling. Why some members are latent while others are non-latent is incompletely understood, but crystal structures and hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) of four family members have begun to unravel how latency is regulated. Here, we extend this understanding by comparing pro-complex conformation in negative stain EM (nsEM) and HDX of ActA, BMP7, BMP9, BMP10, GDF8, TGF-1, and TGF-2. nsEM revealed that family members varied in either adopting cross-armed, open-armed, or V-armed configurations. Latency was achieved in both cross-armed and V-armed but not open-armed conformations. HDX revealed remarkably varying patterns of exchange between family members, consistent with large prodomain sequence divergence. We observed a strong correlation between latency and protection of the prodomain 1-helix from exchange, which in latent members coincided with greater buried surface area of the 1-helix and more hydrogen and cation-pi bonds from the prodomain fastener and GF to the 1-helix. Strong sequence conservation of the 1-helix and fastener only in latent members suggests that similar interactions are conserved and sufficient to confer latency. Moreover, most members exhibited rapid exchange in the unstructured association region at the prodomain N-terminus, highlighting their availability for interacting with factors that may regulate latency and extracellular storage.

A new proposal for the electronic structure of carbon monoxide

A new proposal for the electronic structure of carbon monoxide CO is presented. The approach involves the creation of an additional half-filled 2p orbital in the oxygen atom by the transfer of an electron from the filled 2p orbital to one of two half-filled hybridized <mml:math display="inline"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> <mml:mi>s</mml:mi> <mml:msub> <mml:mi>p</mml:mi> <mml:mi>z</mml:mi> </mml:msub> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> orbitals in the carbon atom. The result is a triple bond comprising one sigma bond and two pi bonds between C and O strengthened by an ionic bond contribution. The proposed structure accounts for many unusual features of the molecule CO including the observed direction of the dipole moment, which is considered anomalous based on the concept of electronegativity of the constituent atoms as well as the increased bond dissociation energy compared with isoelectronic nitrogen <mml:math display="inline"> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mi>N</mml:mi> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:msub> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> . It also provides a basis for the CO molecule being a stable ligand combining with transition metals using the lone electron pair in the filled <mml:math display="inline"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> <mml:mi>s</mml:mi> <mml:msub> <mml:mi>p</mml:mi> <mml:mi>z</mml:mi> </mml:msub> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> orbital of the carbon atom. The electron transfer mechanism is effectively applied to the isoelectronic compound boron monofluoride BF and predicts properties of the undetected isoelectronic molecule BeNe. Finally, the method proposes new electronic structures for the cyanide ion <mml:math display="inline"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>C</mml:mi> <mml:msup> <mml:mi>N</mml:mi> <mml:mo>−</mml:mo> </mml:msup> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> which resolves the long-standing puzzle of “charge reversal” on the molecule and the carbon monofluoride ion <mml:math display="inline"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>C</mml:mi> <mml:msup> <mml:mi>F</mml:mi> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:msup> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> .

Structural Analysis of Enhanced Performance Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs)

We present a detailed study on structure of Organic LEDs (OLEDs) that promise flexibility and enhanced performance. Ordinary LEDs fail when it comes to need of ultra-smart size, thin, flexible smart screens and high efficiency light sources. With electroluminescent layer made of organic compounds, OLEDs promise all such features. We did a comprehensive analysis to find what structural features distinguish OLEDs from semiconductor LEDs. We found that it is the special six layered structure with organic emissive layer and delocalized charges due to weak pi bonds that enable OLEDs to perform better. We dis-cuss a few limitations related to production and life of these LEDs and suggest possible solutions to overcome these challenges. A rigorous, in-depth analysis of this structure is imperative to further comprehend the working of this device in order to make future devices cheaper and more efficient

Deep resistivity “turnover” effect at oil generation “peak” in the Woodford Shale, Anadarko Basin, USA

The Devonian Woodford Shale in the Anadarko Basin is a highly organic, hydrocarbon source rock. Accurate values of vitrinite reflectance (Ro) present in the Woodford Shale penetrated by 52 control wells were measured directly. These vitrinite reflectance values, when plotted against borehole resistivity for the middle member of the Woodford Shale in the wells, display a rarely reported finding that deep resistivity readings decrease as Ro increases when Ro is greater than 0.90%. This phenomenon may be attributed to that aromatic and resin compounds containing conjugated pi bonds generated within source rocks are more electrically conductive than aliphatic compounds. And aromatic and resin fractions were generated more than aliphatic fraction when source rock maturity further increases beyond oil peak. The finding of the relationship between deep resistivity and Ro may re-investigate the previously found linear relationship between source rock formation and aid to unconventional play exploration.

Visible Light Promoted Functionalisation of Carbon-Carbon Sigma Bonds

<p>The use of visible light to activate transition metal catalysts towards redox processes has transformed the way organic molecules can be constructed. Promotion of an electron to an excited state enables the generation of organic radicals through electron transfer to or from the metal complex, with the resulting radicals primed for reactions such as addition to carbon–carbon pi bonds. Despite advances in photoredox catalysis which have led to the discovery of numerous such methods for bond construction, this mild approach to the generation of free radicals has not been applied to the functionalisation of carbon–carbon sigma<i></i>bonds. Here we report the first such use of photoredox catalysis to promote the addition of organic halides to the caged carbocycle [1.1.1]propellane; the products of this process are bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes (BCPs), motifs that are of high importance as bioisosteres in the pharmaceutical industry, and in materials applications. The methodology shows broad substrate scope and functional group tolerance, and is applicable to both <i>sp</i>²and <i>sp</i>³carbon–halogen bonds, while the use of substrates containing alkene acceptors enables the single-step construction of polycyclic bicyclopentane products through cyclisation cascades. Finally, the potential to accelerate drug discovery is demonstrated through examples of late-stage bicyclopentylation to access natural product- and drug-like molecules.</p>

Visible Light Promoted Functionalisation of Carbon-Carbon Sigma Bonds

<p>The use of visible light to activate transition metal catalysts towards redox processes has transformed the way organic molecules can be constructed. Promotion of an electron to an excited state enables the generation of organic radicals through electron transfer to or from the metal complex, with the resulting radicals primed for reactions such as addition to carbon–carbon pi bonds. Despite advances in photoredox catalysis which have led to the discovery of numerous such methods for bond construction, this mild approach to the generation of free radicals has not been applied to the functionalisation of carbon–carbon sigma<i></i>bonds. Here we report the first such use of photoredox catalysis to promote the addition of organic halides to the caged carbocycle [1.1.1]propellane; the products of this process are bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes (BCPs), motifs that are of high importance as bioisosteres in the pharmaceutical industry, and in materials applications. The methodology shows broad substrate scope and functional group tolerance, and is applicable to both <i>sp</i>²and <i>sp</i>³carbon–halogen bonds, while the use of substrates containing alkene acceptors enables the single-step construction of polycyclic bicyclopentane products through cyclisation cascades. Finally, the potential to accelerate drug discovery is demonstrated through examples of late-stage bicyclopentylation to access natural product- and drug-like molecules.</p>