Substrate specificity and affinity of a protein modulated by bound water molecules

Water molecules influence molecular interactions in all biological systems, yet it is extremely difficult to understand their effects in precise atomic detail. Here we present evidence, based on highly refined atomic structures of the complexes of the L-arabinose-binding protein with L-arabinose, D-fucose and D-galactose, that bound water molecules, coupled with localized conformational changes, can govern substrate specificity and affinity. The atoms common to the three sugars are identically positioned in the binding site and the same nine strong hydrogen bonds are formed in all three complexes. Two hydrogen-bonded water molecules in the site contribute further to tight binding of L-arabinose but create an unfavourable interaction with the methyl group of D-fucose. Equally tight binding of D-galactose is attained by the replacement of one of the hydrogen-bonded water molecules by its--CH2OH group, coordinated with localized structural changes which include a shift and redirection of the hydrogen-bonding interactions of the other water molecule. These observations illustrate how ordered water molecules can contribute directly to the properties of proteins by influencing their interaction with ligands.     

Novel stereospecificity of the L-arabinose-binding protein

Tertiary structure refinement at 1.7 A resolution of the liganded form of L-arabinose-binding protein from Escherichia coli has revealed a novel binding site geometry which accommodates both alpha- and beta-anomers of L-arabinose. This detailed structure analysis provides new understanding of protein-sugar interaction, the process by which the binding protein minimizes the difference in the stability of the two bound sugar anomers, and the roles of periplasmic binding proteins in active transport.     

聚丙烯腈空间立构在预氧化进程中的作用

采用尿素模板聚合法制备出不同等规度的聚丙烯腈大分子,并利用差示扫描量热(DSC)、热台红外(FT-IR)和核磁共振(13C-NMR)等表征方法分析了不同等规度的PAN大分子在预氧化进程中的作用。结果表明,在惰性气氛下,低等规度的PAN大分子容易发生环化反应;在空气气氛下,高等规度的PAN大分子有利于发生氧化反应,且氧的存在,可促进环化反应的进行。     

A metal complex that binds alpha-amino acids with high and predictable stereospecificity.

Molecular recognition is the key step in a wide range of controlled separation and chemical transformation processes, with enzymes performing this task with an unsurpassed degree of selectivity. Enzymes contain only 20 simple amino acids, yet it remains difficult to rationalize or even predict these stereospecific recognition events. Nonetheless, the rational design of receptors able to recognize amino acids stereospecifically is attracting considerable interest because therapeutic drugs, that may be developed from chiral amino acid intermediates, are increasingly required in enantiomerically pure form. Early work has stimulated the development of efficient receptors based on small molecules, but binding of amino acids with high and predictable stereospecificity remains difficult to achieve. Directed molecular evolution, on the other hand, does select for RNA sequences or antibodies that bind amino acids with high specificity, but typically without providing insights into the molecular recognition mechanisms involved. Here we show that a rationally designed metal complex formed from a trivalent cobalt ion and a tetradentate ligand binds natural amino acids, including the simple yet challenging amino acid alanine, with high and predictable regio- and stereospecificity. We expect that our approach will allow the binding as well as separation and stereospecific catalytic formation of its target amino acids.     

原子级平整硅基底的制备

采用RCA方法与Piranha溶液处理相结合，对单晶硅表面超声腐蚀处理，接触角、原了力显微镜（AFM）表征结果显示获得了平整高羟基密度的氧化物表面，采用水相烷化，将3－氨基丙基－三甲氧基硅烷（APS）组 装在湿化学法处理的单晶硅表面上，AFM和X－射线光电子能谱（XPS）研究表明得到了平整均匀的氨基自组装膜。     

Neurospora NADP-glutamate dehydrogenases and its expression in E. coli and transgenic plants

Genes of NADP-glutamate dehydrogenase (NADP-GDH) were cloned from Neurospora intermedia (Ni), N. crassa (Nc), and N. sitophila (Ns). The sequences showed a high degree of homology at the cDNA and protein level. The three GDH genes were cloned into pET30a and expressed in E. coli. The activity assay of purified GDH showed that the Ni-GDH had a higher activity and affinity to ammonia than Ns-GDH, and Nc-GDH. The K_m value of Ni-GDH ranges from 0.3 to 0.45 mmol/L. Ni-gdh gene was transformed to Nicotiana bethamiana plants. The transformed plants grew much better in low nitrogen media than the only ROKII vector transformed control.