Molecular dynamics of a cytochrome c-cytochrome b5 electron transfer complex

Cytochrome c and cytochrome b5 form an electrostatically associated electron transfer complex. Computer models of this and related complexes that were generated by docking the x-ray structures of the individual proteins have provided insight into the specificity and mechanism of electron transfer reactions. Previous static modeling studies were extended by molecular dynamics simulations of a cytochrome c-cytochrome b5 intermolecular complex. The simulations indicate that electrostatic interactions at the molecular interface results in a flexible association complex that samples alternative interheme geometries and molecular conformations. Many of these transient geometries appear to be more favorable for electron transfer than those formed in the initial model complex. Of particular interest is a conformational change that occurred in phenylalanine 82 of cytochrome c that allowed the phenyl side chain to bridge the two cytochrome heme groups.     

A stable aminyl radical metal complex

Metal-stabilized phenoxyl radicals appear to be important intermediates in a variety of enzymatic oxidations. We report that transition metal coordination also supports an aminyl radical, resulting in a stable crystalline complex: [Rh(I)(trop2N.)(bipy)]+OTf- (where trop is 5-H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene-5-yl, bipy is 2,2'-bipyridyl, OTf- is trifluorosulfonate). It is accessible under mild conditions by one-electron oxidation of the amide complex [Rh(I)(trop2N)(bipy)], at a potential of -0.55 volt versus ferrocene/ferrocenium. Both electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and density functional theory support 57% localization of the unpaired spin at N. In reactions with H-atom donors, the Rh-coordinated aminyl behaves as a nucleophilic radical.     

Pi electron systems at high pressure

In the paper "Pi electron systems at high pressure" [Science 156, 1183 (1967)] a mechanism is suggested for the high-pressure reactions of perylene and azulene complexes with tetracyanoethylene (Figs. lOb and lOc) which is clearly impossible as drawn. What I had meant to suggest is the reaction shown below (with Fig. lOb as an example), which is at least conceivable, if not very probable from the chemical viewpoint. A similar modification would apply to Fig. lOc. As indicated in the paper, any serious study of the reaction requires the synthesis of enough product for more complete analysis, as well as a fairly detailed knowledge of the crystal geometry of the unreacted complex. See pdf for figure.     

Chemical and spectroscopic evidence for an FeV-oxo complex

Iron(V)-oxo species have been proposed as key reactive intermediates in the catalysis of oxygen-activating enzymes and synthetic catalysts. Here, we report the synthesis of [Fe(TAML)(O)]- in nearly quantitative yield, where TAML is a macrocyclic tetraamide ligand. Mass spectrometry, M?ssbauer, electron paramagnetic resonance, and x-ray absorption spectroscopies, as well as reactivity studies and density functional theory calculations show that this long-lived (hours at -60 degrees C) intermediate is a spin S = 1/2 iron(V)-oxo complex. Iron-TAML systems have proven to be efficient catalysts in the decomposition of numerous pollutants by hydrogen peroxide, and the species we characterized is a likely reactive intermediate in these reactions.     

Cassini measurements of cold plasma in the ionosphere of Titan

The Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) Langmuir probe (LP) sensor observed the cold plasma environment around Titan during the first two flybys. The data show that conditions in Saturn's magnetosphere affect the structure and dynamics deep in the ionosphere of Titan. The maximum measured ionospheric electron number density reached 3800 per cubic centimeter near closest approach, and a complex chemistry was indicated. The electron temperature profiles are consistent with electron heat conduction from the hotter Titan wake. The ionospheric escape flux was estimated to be 10(25) ions per second.     

N₂reduction and hydrogenation to ammonia by a molecular iron-potassium complex

The most common catalyst in the Haber-Bosch process for the hydrogenation of dinitrogen (N(2)) to ammonia (NH(3)) is an iron surface promoted with potassium cations (K(+)), but soluble iron complexes have neither reduced the N-N bond of N(2) to nitride (N(3-)) nor produced large amounts of NH(3) from N(2). We report a molecular iron complex that reacts with N(2) and a potassium reductant to give a complex with two nitrides, which are bound to iron and potassium cations. The product has a Fe(3)N(2) core, implying that three iron atoms cooperate to break the N-N triple bond through a six-electron reduction. The nitride complex reacts with acid and with H(2) to give substantial yields of N(2)-derived ammonia. These reactions, although not yet catalytic, give structural and spectroscopic insight into N(2) cleavage and N-H bond-forming reactions of iron.     

Comparsion of the Effects of Succinate and NADH on Postmortem Metmyoglobin Redcutase Activity and Beef Colour Stability

In two experiments, the effects of succinate and NADH（reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide） on metmyoglobin reductase activity and electron transport chain-linked metmyoglobin reduction were investigated and compared. In experiment 1, metmyoglobin（MetMb）, substrate and inhibitors were incubated with mitochondria. Comparsion of the effects of succinate and NADH on MetMb reduction was investigated. The MetMb percentage in sample treated with 8 mol L-1 succinate decreased by about 69% after 3 h incubation, and the effect was inhibited by the addition of 10 mol L-1 electron transfer chain complex II inhibitor malonic acid; the MetMb percentage in samples treated with 2 mol L-1 NADH decreased by 56% and the effect was inhibited by the addition of 0.02 mol L-1 electron transport chain complex I inhibitor rotenone. These results indicated that electron transport chain played an important role in MetMb reduction. Both complex II and complex I take part in the MetMb reduction in mitochondria through different pathways. NADH-MetMb reduction system was less stable than succinateMetMb system. In experiment 2, the beef longissimus dorsi muscle was blended with different concentrations of succinate or NADH. Enhancing patties with higher concentration of succinate or NADH improved colour stability in vacuum packaged samples（P〈0.05）. These results verified that mitochondria electron transport chain is related to the MetMb reduction in meat system.     

Evidence for nuclear emissions during acoustic cavitation

In cavitation experiments with deuterated acetone, tritium decay activity above background levels was detected. In addition, evidence for neutron emission near 2.5 million electron volts was also observed, as would be expected for deuterium-deuterium fusion. Control experiments with normal acetone did not result in tritium activity or neutron emissions. Hydrodynamic shock code simulations supported the observed data and indicated highly compressed, hot (10(6) to 10(7) kelvin) bubble implosion conditions, as required for nuclear fusion reactions.     

Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of an iron(V) nitride

Despite being implicated as important intermediates, iron(V) compounds have proven very challenging to isolate and characterize. Here, we report the preparation of the iron(V) nitrido complex, [PhB((t)BuIm)(3)Fe(V)≡N]BAr(F24) (PhB((t)BuIm)(3)(-) = phenyltris(3-tert-butylimidazol-2-ylidene)borato, BAr(F24) = B(3,5-(CF(3))(2)C(6)H(3))(4)(-)), by one electron oxidation of the iron(IV) nitrido precursor. Single-crystal x-ray diffraction of the iron(V) complex reveals a four-coordinate metal ion with a terminal nitrido ligand. M??bauer and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic characterization, supported by electronic structure calculations, provide evidence for a d(3) iron(V) metal center in a low spin (S = 1/2) electron configuration. Low-temperature reaction of the iron(V) nitrido complex with water under reducing conditions leads to high yields of ammonia with concomitant formation of an iron(II) species.     

竞争反应与配离子稳定性

讨论竞争反应平衡常数,并用其判断配离子在能与中心离子或配位体发生反应的溶液中的稳定性.     

Quantum Hall effect in polar oxide heterostructures

We observed Shubnikov-de Haas oscillation and the quantum Hall effect in a high-mobility two-dimensional electron gas in polar ZnO/Mg(x)Zn(1-x)O heterostructures grown by laser molecular beam epitaxy. The electron density could be controlled in a range of 0.7 x 10(12) to 3.7 x 10(12) per square centimeter by tuning the magnesium content in the barriers and the growth polarity. From the temperature dependence of the oscillation amplitude, the effective mass of the two-dimensional electrons was derived as 0.32 +/- 0.03 times the free electron mass. Demonstration of the quantum Hall effect in an oxide heterostructure presents the possibility of combining quantum Hall physics with the versatile functionality of metal oxides in complex heterostructures.     

Architecture of succinate dehydrogenase and reactive oxygen species generation

The structure of Escherichia coli succinate dehydrogenase (SQR), analogous to the mitochondrial respiratory complex II, has been determined, revealing the electron transport pathway from the electron donor, succinate, to the terminal electron acceptor, ubiquinone. It was found that the SQR redox centers are arranged in a manner that aids the prevention of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation at the flavin adenine dinucleotide. This is likely to be the main reason SQR is expressed during aerobic respiration rather than the related enzyme fumarate reductase, which produces high levels of ROS. Furthermore, symptoms of genetic disorders associated with mitochondrial SQR mutations may be a result of ROS formation resulting from impaired electron transport in the enzyme.     

Regulation of interprotein electron transfer by residue 82 of yeast cytochrome c

Yeast iso-1-cytochrome c (Cc) mutants have been constructed with Phe, Tyr, Gly, Ser, Leu, and Ile at position 82, each with Thr substituted for Cys at position 102. Their long-range electron transfer with zinc-substituted cytochrome c peroxidase (ZnCcP) has been studied by two kinetic techniques. The charge-separated complex, [(ZnCcP)+,FeIICc] converts to [ZnCcP,FeIIICc] by a single, intracomplex electron transfer step that is not governed by "gating" through possible rapid dissociation of the complex or isomerization (for example, heme-ligand) by FeIICc subsequent to its formation from FeIIICc. In every variant with an aliphatic residue at position 82 of Cc, the rate of this electron transfer process is approximately 10(4) slower at approximately 0 degrees C than for the two variants with aromatic residues.     

Linked reactivity at mineral-water interfaces through bulk crystal conduction

The semiconducting properties of a wide range of minerals are often ignored in the study of their interfacial geochemical behavior. We show that surface-specific charge density accumulation reactions combined with bulk charge carrier diffusivity create conditions under which interfacial electron transfer reactions at one surface couple with those at another via current flow through the crystal bulk. Specifically, we observed that a chemically induced surface potential gradient across hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) crystals is sufficiently high and the bulk electrical resistivity sufficiently low that dissolution of edge surfaces is linked to simultaneous growth of the crystallographically distinct (001) basal plane. The apparent importance of bulk crystal conduction is likely to be generalizable to a host of naturally abundant semiconducting minerals playing varied key roles in soils, sediments, and the atmosphere.     

Electrochemistry and electrogenerated chemiluminescence from silicon nanocrystal quantum dots

Reversible electrochemical injection of discrete numbers of electrons into sterically stabilized silicon nanocrystals (NCs) (approximately 2 to 4 nanometers in diameter) was observed by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) in N,N'-dimethylformamide and acetonitrile. The electrochemical gap between the onset of electron injection and hole injection-related to the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals-grew with decreasing nanocrystal size, and the DPV peak potentials above the onset for electron injection roughly correspond to expected Coulomb blockade or quantized double-layer charging energies. Electron transfer reactions between positively and negatively charged nanocrystals (or between charged nanocrystals and molecular redox-active coreactants) occurred that led to electron and hole annihilation, producing visible light. The electrogenerated chemiluminescence spectra exhibited a peak maximum at 640 nanometers, a significant red shift from the photoluminescence maximum (420 nanometers) of the same silicon NC solution. These results demonstrate that the chemical stability of silicon NCs could enable their use as redox-active macromolecular species with the combined optical and charging properties of semiconductor quantum dots.     

The "spliceosome": yeast pre-messenger RNA associates with a 40S complex in a splicing-dependent reaction

The in vitro splicing reactions of pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) in a yeast extract were analyzed by glycerol gradient centrifugation. Labeled pre-mRNA appears in a 40S peak only if the pre-mRNA undergoes the first of the two partial splicing reactions. RNA analysis after extraction of glycerol gradient fractions shows that lariat-form intermediates, molecules that occur only in mRNA splicing, are found almost exclusively in this 40S complex. Another reaction intermediate, cut 5' exon RNA, can also be found concentrated in this complex. The complex is stable even in 400 mM KCl, although at this salt concentration, it sediments at 35S and is clearly distinguishable from 40S ribosomal subunits. This complex, termed a "spliceosome," is thought to contain components necessary for mRNA splicing; its existence can explain how separated exons on pre-mRNA are brought into contact.     

Ion cyclotron resonance spectroscopy. Cyclotron double resonance provides a new technique for the study of ion-molecule reaction mechanisms

Ion cyclotron resonance spectroscopy yields information on many aspects of ion-molecule chemistry. The method is ideally suited for experiments involving ion energies below several electron volts, and hence provides a valuable complement to other techniques (27). eyclotron double resonance is uniquely suitable for establishing relationships between reactant ions and their product ions in complex ion-molecule reaction sequences. The double-resonance experiments with isotopic species yield information on reaction mechanisms and the nature of intermediate species. Ion-molecule reactions which occur at low energies are quite sensitive to the nature of functional groups and the details of molecular structure (28). Reactions of ions or neutral molecules with specific reagents in the cyclotron spectrometer can thus be used to characterize unknown species. Once the systematic ion-molecule chemistry of useful reagents has been worked out, it should be possible to proceed in a manner directly analogous to classical chemical methods. Suppose, for example, that reagents A(+), B(+), C(+), and D(+) each have characteristic reactions with different functional groups. Then these reagents can all be mixed with an unknown neutral species, X, and each of the reactions, X + A(+) --> ?, X + B(+) --> ?, . . . . can be examined. In contrast to solution chemistry, all the reagents can be added simultaneously to the unknown, since each of the specific reactions can be examined by cyclotron double resonance. The reactions which occur, the species synthesized , and the products of degradation then characterize X. The same methodology can be applied to characterize an unknown ionic epecies X(+), through use of neutral reagents A, B, C, and D. For example, proton transfer reactions to neuteal species have been applied in studying ions of mass 45 produced from various sources (29). The order of the proton affinities of the neutral reagent molecules are as follows: NH(3) isobutylene propene. Ions of mass 45 can be produced by the protonation of ethylene oxide (see structure III), the protonation of acetaldehyde (see structure IV), and the fragmentation of dimethyl ether (see structure V). Those ions might be expected to have, respectively, the three structures: Proton transfer from the mass-45 ions from sources III and IV to NH(3) and to isobutylene occurs readily, but not proton transfer to propene. For the ion from source V, proton transfer to NH3 occurs, but not proton transfer to isobutylene or propene. Thus the proton transfer reactions to various neutral reagents demonstrate that the mass-45 ions from the various sources are different. This example is only a rudimentary version of an approach to the characterization of unusual ionic species; niore sophisticated applications can follow when the systematic chemistry of more reagents is available. This approach should be ideal for comparing nonclassical carbonium ions produced by different routes. Some very interesting ionic species are produced by rearrangements in the fragmentation of molecules, following electron impact. Such molecular rearrangements frequently result in the fragmentation of an ion radical to another ion radical with the elimination of a small neutral species (30). It should be possible to run these reactions in reverse to check the postulated mechanisms. An interesting result of the systematic study of proton transfer to various functional groups is the finding that the proton affinity of various amines and pyridine is extremely high (31). Species such as VI and VII: might be expected to be very stable; they are in fact so stable that they are unreactive with respect to subsequent chemistry at the charge center. Thus, if there are other functional groups on the ion, the important reactions should occur at these functional groups. It should be possible to design species for which the presence of the charge has little influence on the reactivity of a neutral functional group. In this case the charge functions simply as an inert label which makes the study of neutral-neutral reactions accessible by cyclotron resonance: Various routes for development of the basic technique also appear to be very promising. Echo phenomena following sequences of pulsed excitation have been observed in electron cyclotron resonance (32). Analogous transient phenomena should also occur in ion cvclotron resonances (33). Pulsed-cyclotron-resonance techniques of course have intriguing analogies to nuclear-magnetic-resonance spin-echo experiments (34) and may be the technique of choice for making accurate measurements of ion-molecule-reaction cross sections as a function of energy for low ion energies. Finally, many ion-molecule reactions yield products in excited electronic states (35). For example, the reaction N(2)- + CO --> N(2) + CO- (46) has been studied by beam techniques (36). A straightforward procedure is to observe optical emission from the cyclotron spectrometer by placing a window at the end of the cyclotron cell (37). The emission can be analyzed with a crude set of optical filters, or with a high-speed spectrograph. Optical emission from the cyclotron cell can of course originate from many sources. The radiation from a specific excited product ion can be selected by a radio-frequency-optical double-resonance experiment. If, in the generai reaction A+ + B --> *C+ + D, (47) ion A+ is irradiated at its cyclotron resonance frequency, the number density of optical emitters *C+ is changed. If the irradiating frequency is modulated, then the number of optical emitters will be modulated, so that the intensity of emission from *C+ will also be modulated. When the optical emission from *C+ is analyzed in a spectrograph with a photoelectric cell, the output of the photoelectric cell can be detected with a phase sensitive detector referenced to the modulation frequency. This highly specific modulation-detection scheme should discriminate against other sources of light in the cyclotron cell.