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At least 1,081 records · Page 60

Ground state rotational and kinetic temperatures of C 2 molecules in a laser-produced plasma

This study presents an experimental comparison between rotational and kinetic temperatures of molecular species in a laser-produced plasma, utilizing tunable laser absorption spectroscopy. We analyzed high-resolution and time-resolved absorption spectra of 31 rotational transitions within the Phillips A 1 II u –X 1 Σ g 3-0 band of the C 2 molecule, measured from a laser-produced graphite plasma in ~2 Torr argon, within the 771–781 nm spectral range. Spectral fitting provided quantitative state column densities of C 2 rotational energy levels in the ground electronic and vibrational states. Boltzmann analysis revealed thermalized rotational distributions showing rotational temperatures decreasing from 3000 to 600 K within 5–500 μs following the onset of the laser plasma. The measured kinetic and rotational temperatures of C 2 molecules are comparable, suggesting that collisional processes in the laser-produced plasma are sufficient to maintain thermal equilibrium between the C 2 molecules and the Ar background gas.

Absorption spectroscopy↗

Influence of silver nanoparticles on relaxation processes and efficiency of dipole – dipole energy transfer between dye molecules in polymethylmethacrylate films

The fluorescence and phosphorescence of dyes in thin polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) films in the presence of ablated silver nanoparticles has been investigated in a wide temperature range by methods of femtosecond and picosecond laser photoexcitation. The fluorescence and phosphorescence times, as well as spectral and kinetic characteristics of rhodamine 6G (R6G) molecules in PMMA films are measured in a temperature range of 80 – 330 K. The temperature quenching activation energy of the fluorescence of R6G molecules in the presence of ablated silver nanoparticles is found. The vibrational relaxation rate of R6G in PMMA films is estimated, the efficiency of the dipole – dipole electron energy transfer between R6G and brilliant green molecules (enhanced by plasmonic interaction with ablated silver nanoparticles) is analysed, and the constants of this energy transfer are determined. (nanophotonics)

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Discovery and structural characterization of a small molecule 14-3-3 protein-protein interaction inhibitor

The 14-3-3 family of phosphoserine/threonine-recognition proteins engage multiple nodes in signaling networks that control diverse physiological and pathophysiological functions and have emerged as promising therapeutic targets for such diseases as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Thus, small molecule modulators of 14-3-3 are much needed agents for chemical biology investigations and therapeutic development. To analyze 14-3-3 function and modulate its activity, we conducted a chemical screen and identified 4-[(2Z)-2-[4-formyl-6-methyl-5-oxo-3-(phosphonatooxymethyl)pyridin-2-ylidene]hydrazinyl]benzoate as a 14-3-3 inhibitor, which we termed FOBISIN (FOurteen-three-three BInding Small molecule INhibitor) 101. FOBISIN101 effectively blocked the binding of 14-3-3 with Raf-1 and proline-rich AKT substrate, 40 kD{sub a} and neutralized the ability of 14-3-3 to activate exoenzyme S ADP-ribosyltransferase. To provide a mechanistic basis for 14-3-3 inhibition, the crystal structure of 14-3-3{zeta} in complex with FOBISIN101 was solved. Unexpectedly, the double bond linking the pyridoxal-phosphate and benzoate moieties was reduced by X-rays to create a covalent linkage of the pyridoxal-phosphate moiety to lysine 120 in the binding groove of 14-3-3, leading to persistent 14-3-3 inactivation. We suggest that FOBISIN101-like molecules could be developed as an entirely unique class of 14-3-3 inhibitors, which may serve as radiation-triggered therapeutic agents for the treatment of 14-3-3-mediated diseases, such as cancer.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Structural and Functional Characterization of a Single-chain Peptide-MHC Molecule that Modulates both Naive and Activated CD8plus T Cells

Peptide-MHC (pMHC) multimers, in addition to being tools for tracking and quantifying antigen-specific T cells, can mediate downstream signaling after T-cell receptor engagement. In the absence of costimulation, this can lead to anergy or apoptosis of cognate T cells, a property that could be exploited in the setting of autoimmune disease. Most studies with class I pMHC multimers used noncovalently linked peptides, which can allow unwanted CD8{sup +} T-cell activation as a result of peptide transfer to cellular MHC molecules. To circumvent this problem, and given the role of self-reactive CD8{sup +} T cells in the development of type 1 diabetes, we designed a single-chain pMHC complex (scK{sup d}.IGRP) by using the class I MHC molecule H-2K{sup d} and a covalently linked peptide derived from islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein (IGRP{sub 206-214}), a well established autoantigen in NOD mice. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the peptide is presented in the groove of the MHC molecule in canonical fashion, and it was also demonstrated that scK{sup d}.IGRP tetramers bound specifically to cognate CD8{sup +} T cells. Tetramer binding induced death of naive T cells and in vitro- and in vivo-differentiated cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and tetramer-treated cytotoxic T lymphocytes showed a diminished IFN-{gamma} response to antigen stimulation. Tetramer accessibility to disease-relevant T cells in vivo was also demonstrated. Our study suggests the potential of single-chain pMHC tetramers as possible therapeutic agents in autoimmune disease. Their ability to affect the fate of naive and activated CD8{sup +} T cells makes them a potential intervention strategy in early and late stages of disease.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Interaction of TAPBPR, a tapasin homolog, with MHC-I molecules promotes peptide editing

Peptide loading of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules is central to antigen presentation, self-tolerance, and CD8 + T-cell activation. TAP binding protein, related (TAPBPR), a widely expressed tapasin homolog, is not part of the classical MHC-I peptide-loading complex (PLC). Using recombinant MHC-I molecules, we show that TAPBPR binds HLA-A*02:01 and several other MHC-I molecules that are either peptide-free or loaded with low-affinity peptides. Fluorescence polarization experiments establish that TAPBPR augments peptide binding by MHC-I. The TAPBPR/MHC-I interaction is reversed by specific peptides, related to their affinity. Mutational and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies confirm the structural similarities of TAPBPR with tapasin. These results support a role of TAPBPR in stabilizing peptide-receptive conformation(s) of MHC-I, permitting peptide editing.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

A high-affinity human PD-1/PD-L2 complex informs avenues for small-molecule immune checkpoint drug discovery

Immune checkpoint blockade of programmed death-1 (PD-1) by monoclonal antibody drugs has delivered breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer. Nonetheless, small-molecule PD-1 inhibitors could lead to increases in treatment efficacy, safety, and global access. While the ligand-binding surface of apo-PD-1 is relatively flat, it harbors a striking pocket in the murine PD-1/PD-L2 structure. An analogous pocket in human PD-1 may serve as a small-molecule drug target, but the structure of the human complex is unknown. Because the CC' and FG loops in murine PD-1 adopt new conformations upon binding PD-L2, we hypothesized that mutations in these two loops could be coupled to pocket formation and alter PD-1’s affinity for PD-L2. Here, we conducted deep mutational scanning in these loops and used yeast surface display to select for enhanced PD-L2 binding. A PD-1 variant with three substitutions binds PD-L2 with an affinity two orders of magnitude higher than that of the wild-type protein, permitting crystallization of the complex. We determined the X-ray crystal structures of the human triple-mutant PD-1/PD-L2 complex and the apo triple-mutant PD-1 variant at 2.0 Å and 1.2 Å resolution, respectively. Binding of PD-L2 is accompanied by formation of a prominent pocket in human PD-1, as well as substantial conformational changes in the CC' and FG loops. The structure of the apo triple-mutant PD-1 shows that the CC' loop adopts the ligand-bound conformation, providing support for allostery between the loop and pocket. This human PD-1/PD-L2 structure provide critical insights for the design and discovery of small-molecule PD-1 inhibitors.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Genomic discovery of an evolutionarily programmed modality for small-molecule targeting of an intractable protein surface

The vast majority of intracellular protein targets are refractory toward small-molecule therapeutic engagement, and additional therapeutic modalities are needed to overcome this deficiency. Here, the identification and characterization of a natural product, WDB002, reveals a therapeutic modality that dramatically expands the currently accepted limits of druggability. WDB002, in complex with the FK506-binding protein (FKBP12), potently and selectively binds the human centrosomal protein 250 (CEP250), resulting in disruption of CEP250 function in cells. The recognition mode is unprecedented in that the targeted domain of CEP250 is a coiled coil and is topologically featureless, embodying both a structural motif and surface topology previously considered on the extreme limits of “undruggability” for an intracellular target. Structural studies reveal extensive protein–WDB002 and protein–protein contacts, with the latter being distinct from those seen in FKBP12 ternary complexes formed by FK506 and rapamycin. Outward-facing structural changes in a bound small molecule can thus reprogram FKBP12 to engage diverse, otherwise “undruggable” targets. The flat-targeting modality demonstrated here has the potential to expand the druggable target range of small-molecule therapeutics. As CEP250 was recently found to be an interaction partner with the Nsp13 protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 disease, it is possible that WDB002 or an analog may exert useful antiviral activity through its ability to form high-affinity ternary complexes containing CEP250 and FKBP12.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Structure-guided approach to modulate small molecule binding to a promiscuous ligand-activated protein

Ligand-binding promiscuity in detoxification systems protects the body from toxicological harm but is a roadblock to drug development due to the difficulty in optimizing small molecules to both retain target potency and avoid metabolic events. Immense effort is invested in evaluating metabolism of molecules to develop safer, more effective treatments, but engineering specificity into or out of promiscuous proteins and their ligands is a challenging task. To better understand the promiscuous nature of detoxification networks, we have used X-ray crystallography to characterize a structural feature of pregnane X receptor (PXR), a nuclear receptor that is activated by diverse molecules (with different structures and sizes) to up-regulate transcription of drug metabolism genes. We found that large ligands expand PXR’s ligand-binding pocket, and the ligand-induced expansion occurs through a specific unfavorable compound-protein clash that likely contributes to reduced binding affinity. Removing the clash by compound modification resulted in more favorable binding modes with significantly enhanced binding affinity. We then engineered the unfavorable ligand-protein clash into a potent, small PXR ligand, resulting in marked reduction in PXR binding and activation. Structural analysis showed that PXR is remodeled, and the modified ligands reposition in the binding pocket to avoid clashes, but the conformational changes result in less favorable binding modes. Thus, ligand-induced binding pocket expansion increases ligand-binding potential of PXR but is an unfavorable event; therefore, drug candidates can be engineered to expand PXR’s ligand-binding pocket and reduce their safety liability due to PXR binding.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

SET7/9 Catalytic Mutants Reveal the Role of Active Site Water Molecules in Lysine Multiple Methylation

SET domain lysine methyltransferases (KMTs) methylate specific lysine residues in histone and non-histone substrates. These enzymes also display product specificity by catalyzing distinct degrees of methylation of the lysine {epsilon}-amino group. To elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying this specificity, we have characterized the Y245A and Y305F mutants of the human KMT SET7/9 (also known as KMT7) that alter its product specificity from a monomethyltransferase to a di- and a trimethyltransferase, respectively. Crystal structures of these mutants in complex with peptides bearing unmodified, mono-, di-, and trimethylated lysines illustrate the roles of active site water molecules in aligning the lysine {epsilon}-amino group for methyl transfer with S-adenosylmethionine. Displacement or dissociation of these solvent molecules enlarges the diameter of the active site, accommodating the increasing size of the methylated {epsilon}-amino group during successive methyl transfer reactions. Together, these results furnish new insights into the roles of active site water molecules in modulating lysine multiple methylation by SET domain KMTs and provide the first molecular snapshots of the mono-, di-, and trimethyl transfer reactions catalyzed by these enzymes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Water molecules mediate zinc mobility in the bacterial zinc diffusion channel ZIPB

Regulated ion diffusion across biological membranes is vital for cell function. In a nanoscale ion channel, the active role of discrete water molecules in modulating hydrodynamic behaviors of individual ions is poorly understood because of the technical challenge of tracking water molecules through the channel. Here we report the results of a hydroxyl radical footprinting analysis of the zinc-selective channel ZIPB from the Gram-negative bacterium, Bordetella bronchiseptica Irradiating ZIPB by microsecond X-ray pulses activated water molecules to form covalent hydroxyl radical adducts at nearby residues, which were identified by bottom-up proteomics to detect residues that interact either with zinc or water in response to zinc binding. We found a series of residues exhibiting reciprocal changes in water accessibility attributed to alternating zinc and water binding. Mapping these residues to the previously reported crystal structure of ZIPB, we identified a water-reactive pathway that superimposed on a zinc translocation pathway consisting of two binuclear metal centers and an interim zinc-binding site. The cotranslocation of zinc and water suggested that pore-lining residues undergo a mode switch between zinc coordination and water binding to confer zinc mobility. The unprecedented details of water-mediated zinc transport identified here highlight an essential role of solvated waters in driving zinc coordination dynamics and transmembrane crossing.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

FORMATION OF CARBONIC ACID (H{sub 2}CO{sub 3}) BY SURFACE REACTIONS OF NON-ENERGETIC OH RADICALS WITH CO MOLECULES AT LOW TEMPERATURES

We present the experimental results of carbonic acid (H{sub 2}CO{sub 3}) formation through surface reactions of CO molecules with non-energetic hydroxyl (OH) radicals at 10-40 K. The formation of H{sub 2}CO{sub 3} was clearly identified both in the IR spectra and in the thermally programmed desorption mass spectra. The H{sub 2}CO{sub 3} yield was rather high, amounting to approximately 40%-70% relative to that of CO{sub 2} formed by the reaction of CO with OH. The structure of H{sub 2}CO{sub 3} formed by reactions of CO with OH may differ from that formed by energetic processes such as UV irradiation, ion irradiation, and electron irradiation of H{sub 2}O/CO{sub 2} binary ices. In this paper, we envisage some of the possible roles H{sub 2}CO{sub 3} may have in the interstellar medium, such as enriching grain mantles of new molecules via acid-base reactions with basic species and contributing to the formation of the unidentified band at 6.8 {mu}m; we suggest possible reasons for its non-detection yet and discuss the restoration of carbonic acid molecules in the gas phase.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

MILLIMETER AND SUBMILLIMETER REST FREQUENCIES FOR NaCN (X-tilde{sup 1}A'): A REMARKABLY ABUNDANT CIRCUMSTELLAR MOLECULE

The pure rotational spectrum of NaCN has been recorded in the millimeter/submillimeter region using direct absorption techniques, the first experimental study of this molecule at frequencies above 40 GHz. The species was produced in the gas phase in an AC discharge by the reaction of sodium vapor with cyanogen. Twelve rotational transitions of NaCN have been measured in the range of 180-530 GHz, extending the previous microwave data to millimeter/submillimeter frequencies. Multiple K{sub a} asymmetry components were recorded in each rotational transition up to K{sub a} = 5 or 6, a total of 131 individual lines. These data have been analyzed with a standard asymmetric top Hamiltonian, combined with prior microwave measurements. Higher-order centrifugal distortion terms were clearly needed to model the millimeter-wave transitions of this floppy molecule. From this revised set of spectroscopic constants, accurate frequency predictions can now be made up to 600 GHz for NaCN for the lower-value K{sub a} components (K{sub a} {<=} 4). Based on the new laboratory data and past spectral surveys, a revised abundance for NaCN in IRC+10216 has been estimated. For a 5'' source, the fractional abundance for this molecule was found to be f (NaCN/H{sub 2}) {approx} 1 x 10{sup -8}, comparable to that of c-C{sub 3}H{sub 2}. These new frequency measurements should aid in line identification in surveys in the 0.8 mm band and at shorter wavelengths.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A CROSSED MOLECULAR BEAM, LOW-TEMPERATURE KINETICS, AND THEORETICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE REACTION OF THE CYANO RADICAL (CN) WITH 1,3-BUTADIENE (C{sub 4}H{sub 6}). A ROUTE TO COMPLEX NITROGEN-BEARING MOLECULES IN LOW-TEMPERATURE EXTRATERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS

We present a joint crossed molecular beam and kinetics investigation combined with electronic structure and statistical calculations on the reaction of the ground-state cyano radical, CN(X {sup 2}{Sigma}{sup +}), with the 1,3-butadiene molecule, H{sub 2}CCHCHCH{sub 2}(X {sup 1} A{sub g}), and its partially deuterated counterparts, H{sub 2}CCDCDCH{sub 2}(X {sup 1} A{sub g}) and D{sub 2}CCHCHCD{sub 2}(X {sup 1} A{sub g}). The crossed beam studies indicate that the reaction proceeds via a long-lived C{sub 5}H{sub 6}N complex, yielding C{sub 5}H{sub 5}N isomer(s) plus atomic hydrogen under single collision conditions as the nascent product(s). Experiments with the partially deuterated 1,3-butadienes indicate that the atomic hydrogen loss originates from one of the terminal carbon atoms of 1,3-butadiene. A combination of the experimental data with electronic structure calculations suggests that the thermodynamically less favorable 1-cyano-1,3-butadiene isomer represents the dominant reaction product; possible minor contributions of less than a few percent from the aromatic pyridine molecule might be feasible. Low-temperature kinetics studies demonstrate that the overall reaction is very fast from room temperature down to 23 K with rate coefficients close to the gas kinetic limit. This finding, combined with theoretical calculations, indicates that the reaction proceeds on an entrance barrier-less potential energy surface (PES). This combined experimental and theoretical approach represents an important step toward a systematic understanding of the formation of complex, nitrogen-bearing molecules-here on the C{sub 5}H{sub 6}N PES-in low-temperature extraterrestrial environments. These results are compared to the reaction dynamics of D1-ethynyl radicals (C{sub 2}D; X {sup 2}{Sigma}{sup +}) with 1,3-butadiene accessing the isoelectronic C{sub 6}H{sub 7} surface as tackled earlier in our laboratories.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

From synchrotrons for XFELs: the soft x-ray near-edge spectrum of the ESCA molecule

A predictive understanding of soft x-ray near-edge absorption spectra of small molecules is an enduring theoretical challenge and of current interest for x-ray probes of molecular dynamics. We report the experimental absorption spectrum for the electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) molecule (ethyl trifluoroacetate) near the carbon 1s absorption edge between 285-300 eV. Furthermore, the ESCA molecule with four chemically distinct carbon sites has previously served as a theoretical benchmark for photoelectron spectra and now for photoabsorption spectra. We report a simple edge-specific approach for systematically expanding standard basis sets to properly describe diffuse Rydberg orbitals and the importance of triple excitations in equation-of-motion coupled-cluster calculations of the energy interval between valence and Rydberg excitations.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Benchmark of correlation matrix renormalization method in molecule calculations

In this paper, we report benchmark calculations of the correlation matrix renormalization (CMR) approach for 23 molecules in the well-established G2 molecule set. This subset represents molecules with spin-singlet ground state in a variety of chemical bonding and coordination environments. The QUAsi-atomic minimal basis-set orbitals (QUAMBOs) are used as local orbitals in both CMR and full configuration interaction (FCI) calculations for comparison. The results obtained from the calculations are also compared with available experimental data. It is shown that the CMR method produces binding and dissociation energy curves in good agreement with the QUAMBO-FCI calculations as well as experimental results. Finally, the CMR benchmark calculations yield a standard deviation of 0.09 Å for the equilibrium bond length and 0.018 Hartree/atom for the formation energy, with a gain of great computational efficiency which scales like Hartree–Fock method.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DETECTION OF FeCN (X {sup 4}{Delta}{sub i} ) IN IRC+10216: A NEW INTERSTELLAR MOLECULE

A new interstellar molecule, FeCN (X {sup 4}{Delta}{sub i} ), has been detected in the envelope of the carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch star, IRC+10216. This work is the first definitive detection of an iron-bearing molecule in the interstellar medium and is based on newly measured rest frequencies. Eight successive rotational transitions of this linear free radical in the lowest spin ladder, {Omega} = 7/2, were observed at 2 and 3 mm using the Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO) 12 m telescope. Three transitions appear as single, unblended features at the 1-2 mK level and exhibit characteristic IRC+10216 line profiles; one had previously been observed with the IRAM 30 m telescope. Two other transitions are partially blended, but exhibit distinct emission at the FeCN frequencies. The remaining transitions are either completely contaminated, or are too high in energy. Comparison of the ARO and IRAM data suggests a source size for FeCN of {approx}30'' in IRC+10216, indicating an outer shell distribution, as expected for a free radical. The column density derived for FeCN is N{sub tot} = 8.6 x 10{sup 11} cm{sup -2} with a rotational temperature of T{sub rot} = 21 K. The fractional abundance of this molecule is [FeCN]/[H{sub 2}] {approx} 2-7 x 10{sup -10}-comparable to that of MgCN and KCN in IRC+10216. FeCN is likely formed by gas-phase reactions of Fe{sup +} or neutral iron; the latter has a significant gas-phase abundance in the outer shell. The detection of FeCN is further evidence that metal cyanides/isocyanides dominate the chemistry of refractory elements in IRC+10216.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Quorum-sensing molecules increase ethanol yield from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT One strategy to increase the yield of desired fermentation products is to redirect substrate carbon from biomass synthesis. Nongenetic approaches to alter metabolism may have advantages of general applicability and simple control. The goal of this study was to identify and evaluate chemicals for their ability to inhibit the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae while allowing ethanol production with higher yields. Eight potential growth-inhibitory chemicals were screened for their ability to reduce cell growth in 24-well plates. Effective chemicals were then evaluated in cultivations to identify those that simultaneously reduced biomass yield and increased ethanol yield. The yeast quorum-sensing molecules 2-phenylethanol, tryptophol and tyrosol were found to increase the ethanol yield of S. cerevisiae JAY 270. These molecules were tested with seven other yeast strains and ethanol yields of up to 15% higher were observed. The effects of 2-phenylethanol and tryptophol were also studied in bioreactor fermentations. These findings demonstrate for the first time that the ethanol yield can be improved by adding yeast quorum-sensing molecules to reduce the cell growth of S. cerevisiae, suggesting a strategy to improve the yield of ethanol and other yeast fermentation products by manipulating native biological control systems.

Huang, Xing-Feng (ORCID:0000000251165177)↗

Mechanistic studies of small molecule ligands selective to RNA single G bulges

Abstract Small-molecule RNA binders have emerged as an important pharmacological modality. A profound understanding of the ligand selectivity, binding mode, and influential factors governing ligand engagement with RNA targets is the foundation for rational ligand design. Here, we report a novel class of coumarin derivatives exhibiting selective binding affinity towards single G RNA bulges. Harnessing the computational power of all-atom Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics simulations, we unveiled a rare minor groove binding mode of the ligand with a key interaction between the coumarin moiety and the G bulge. This predicted binding mode is consistent with results obtained from structure-activity relationship studies and transverse relaxation measurements by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We further generated 444 molecular descriptors from 69 coumarin derivatives and identified key contributors to the binding events, such as charge state and planarity, by lasso (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) regression. Our work deepened the understanding of RNA-small molecule interactions and integrated a new framework for the rational design of selective small-molecule RNA binders.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology↗