Structures, functions and adaptations of the human LINE-1 ORF2 protein.

The LINE-1 (L1) retrotransposon is an ancient genetic parasite that has written around one-third of the human genome through a 'copy and paste' mechanism catalysed by its multifunctional enzyme, open reading frame 2 protein (ORF2p)1. ORF2p reverse transcriptase (RT) and endonuclease activities have been implicated in the pathophysiology of cancer2,3, autoimmunity4,5 and ageing6,7, making ORF2p a potential therapeutic target. However, a lack of structural and mechanistic knowledge has hampered efforts to rationally exploit it. We report structures of the human ORF2p 'core' (residues 238-1061, including the RT domain) by X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy in several conformational states. Our analyses identified two previously undescribed folded domains, extensive contacts to RNA templates and associated adaptations that contribute to unique aspects of the L1 replication cycle. Computed integrative structural models of full-length ORF2p show a dynamic closed-ring conformation that appears to open during retrotransposition. We characterize ORF2p RT inhibition and reveal its underlying structural basis. Imaging and biochemistry show that non-canonical cytosolic ORF2p RT activity can produce RNA:DNA hybrids, activating innate immune signalling through cGAS/STING and resulting in interferon production6-8. In contrast to retroviral RTs, L1 RT is efficiently primed by short RNAs and hairpins, which probably explains cytosolic priming. Other biochemical activities including processivity, DNA-directed polymerization, non-templated base addition and template switching together allow us to propose a revised L1 insertion model. Finally, our evolutionary analysis demonstrates structural conservation between ORF2p and other RNA- and DNA-dependent polymerases. We therefore provide key mechanistic insights into L1 polymerization and insertion, shed light on the evolutionary history of L1 and enable rational drug development targeting L1.

Human endogenous retrovirus-K (HERV-K) reverse transcriptase (RT) structure and biochemistry reveals remarkable similarities to HIV-1 RT and opportunities for HERV-K-specific inhibition.

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) comprise nearly 8% of the human genome and are derived from ancient integrations of retroviruses into the germline. The biology of HERVs is poorly defined, but there is accumulating evidence supporting pathological roles in diverse diseases, such as cancer, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative diseases. Functional proteins are produced by HERV-encoded genes, including reverse transcriptases (RTs), which could be a contributor to the pathology attributed to aberrant HERV-K expression. To facilitate the discovery and development of HERV-K RT potent and selective inhibitors, we expressed active HERV-K RT and determined the crystal structure of a ternary complex of this enzyme with a double-stranded DNA substrate. We demonstrate a range of RT inhibition with antiretroviral nucleotide analogs, while classic nonnucleoside analogs do not inhibit HERV-K RT. Detailed comparisons of HERV-K RT with other known RTs demonstrate similarities to diverse RT families and a striking similarity to the HIV-1 RT asymmetric heterodimer. Our analysis further reveals opportunities for selective HERV-K RT inhibition.

Understanding Yin-Yang Philosophic Concept Behind Tai Chi Practice.

Yin-yang theorizes that everything in the world is interoppositionally unified with 2 dynamic opposites (yin and yang), interrooted, interchangeable, and interconvertible. Tai chi (TC) movements and postures are essentially yin-yang concept-based. However, there is still a lack of understanding of yin-yang concepts and applications among people practicing TC. So, in this concept review, we aimed to provide basic understanding of the yin-yang concept and characteristics behind TC practice. Terms derived from the yin-yang concept in TC practice may include blood/qi (energy), stability/mobility, closing/opening moves, expiration/inspiration, solid/empty stance, and defensive/offensive hand movements and postures. These yin-yang attributes are interrestricted and dependent on maintaining a dynamic mind-body harmony. With the yin-yang application, TC can be considered a self-controlled balance perturbation exercise to challenge the stability-mobility (yin-yang) to a new level of harmony. As a health promotion holistic intervention, TC can facilitate the flow in blood/qi pathways or meridians to improve medical conditions. As an integrative mind-body exercise, TC can activate different body parts and brain regions to participate in and coordinate the combined physical and mental activities.

Preface to the special issue "Psychedelics and Neurochemistry".

Psychedelics are a relatively recent field of research that had not gained much support half a century ago, yet it developed into a much acknowledged, highly relevant field that extends to many people's lives. Psychedelics have demonstrated profound and durable therapeutic potential for the treatment of several psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, among others. In this special issue, basic science of psychedelics is reviewed with respect to fundamental cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms, all the way up to the human systems level with clinical reviews. We hope the articles, authored by leading scientists in their field, will help to understand better the role of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor in particular in healthy and diseased brain function.

Lysergic acid diethylamide induces increased signalling entropy in rats' prefrontal cortex.

Psychedelic drugs are gaining attention from the scientific community as potential new compounds for the treatment of psychiatric diseases such as mood and substance use disorders. The 5-HT2A receptor has been identified as the main molecular target, and early studies pointed to an effect on the expression of neuroplasticity genes. Analysing RNA-seq data from the prefrontal cortex of rats chronically treated with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), we describe the psychedelic-induced rewiring of gene co-expression networks, which become less centralised but more complex, with an overall increase in signalling entropy typical of highly plastic systems. Intriguingly, signalling entropy mirrors, at the molecular level, the increased brain entropy reported through neuroimaging studies in human, suggesting the underlying mechanisms of higher-order phenomena. Moreover, from the analysis of network topology, we identify potential transcriptional regulators and propose the involvement of different cell types in psychedelics' activity.

From psychiatry to neurology: Psychedelics as prospective therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders.

The studies of psychedelics, especially psychedelic tryptamines like psilocybin, are rapidly gaining interest in neuroscience research. Much of this interest stems from recent clinical studies demonstrating that they have a unique ability to improve the debilitating symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) long-term after only a single treatment. Indeed, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently designated two Phase III clinical trials studying the ability of psilocybin to treat forms of MDD with "Breakthrough Therapy" status. If successful, the use of psychedelics to treat psychiatric diseases like depression would be revolutionary. As more evidence appears in the scientific literature to support their use in psychiatry to treat MDD on and substance use disorders (SUD), recent studies with rodents revealed that their therapeutic effects might extend beyond treating MDD and SUD. For example, psychedelics may have efficacy in the treatment and prevention of brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease. Preclinical work has highlighted psychedelics' ability to induce neuroplasticity and synaptogenesis, and neural progenitor cell proliferation. Psychedelics may also act as immunomodulators by reducing levels of proinflammatory biomarkers, including IL-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Their exact molecular mechanisms, and induction of cellular interactions, especially between neural and glial cells, leading to therapeutic efficacy, remain to be determined. In this review, we discuss recent findings and information on how psychedelics may act therapeutically on cells within the central nervous system (CNS) during brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases.

The acyl chains of phosphoinositide PIP3 alter the structure and function of nuclear receptor steroidogenic factor-1.

Nuclear receptors are transcription factors that bind lipids, an event that induces a structural conformation of the receptor that favors interaction with transcriptional coactivators. The nuclear receptor steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1, NR5A1) binds the signaling phosphoinositides PI(4,5)P2 (PIP2) and PI(3,4,5)P3 (PIP3), and our previous crystal structures showed how the phosphoinositide headgroups regulate SF-1 function. However, what role the acyl chains play in regulating SF-1 structure remains unaddressed. Here, we used X-ray crystallography with in vitro binding and functional assays to examine how the acyl chains of PIP3 regulate human SF-1 ligand-binding domain structure and function. Altering acyl chain length and unsaturation regulates apparent binding of all tested phosphoinositides to SF-1. Mass spectrometry-based lipidomics data suggest C16 and C18 phospholipids preferentially associate with SF-1 expressed ectopically in bacteria. We then solved the 2.5 Å crystal structure of SF-1 bound to dioleoyl PIP3(18:1/18:1) to compare it with a matched structure of SF-1 bound to dipalmitoyl PIP3(16:0/16:0). The dioleoyl-bound structure was severely disordered in a specific SF-1 region associated with pathogenic human polymorphisms and within the coactivator-binding region critical for SF-1 function while inducing increased sensitivity to protease digestion in solution. Validating these structural observations, in vitro functional studies showed dioleoyl PIP3 induced 6-fold poorer affinity of a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha coactivator peptide for SF-1 compared with dipalmitoyl PIP3. Together, these data suggest the chemical nature of the phosphoinositide acyl chains controls the ordered state of specific, clinically important structural regions in SF-1, regulating SF-1 function in vitro.

FREQUENT SUBCLINICAL MACULAR CHANGES IN COMBINED BRAF/MEK INHIBITION WITH HIGH-DOSE HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE AS TREATMENT FOR ADVANCED METASTATIC BRAF MUTANT MELANOMA: Preliminary Results From a Phase I/II Clinical Treatment Trial.

PURPOSE: To assess the potential ocular toxicity of a combined BRAF inhibition (BRAFi) + MEK inhibition (MEKi) + hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) regime used to treat metastatic BRAF mutant melanoma. METHODS: Patients with stage IV metastatic melanoma and BRAF V600E mutations (n = 11, 31-68 years of age) were included. Treatment was with oral dabrafenib, 150 mg bid, trametinib, 2 mg/day, and HCQ, 400 mg to 600 mg bid. An ophthalmic examination, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, near-infrared and short-wavelength fundus autofluorescence, and static perimetry were performed at baseline, 1 month, and q/6 months after treatment. RESULTS: There were no clinically significant ocular events; there was no ocular inflammation. The only medication-related change was a separation of the photoreceptor outer segment tip from the apical retinal pigment epithelium that could be traced from the fovea to the perifoveal retina noted in 9/11 (82%) of the patients. There were no changes in retinal pigment epithelium melanization or lipofuscin content by near-infrared fundus autofluorescence and short-wavelength fundus autofluorescence, respectively. There were no inner retinal or outer nuclear layer changes. Visual acuities and sensitivities were unchanged. CONCLUSION: BRAFi (trametinib) + MEKi (dabrafenib) + HCQ causes very frequent, subclinical separation of the photoreceptor outer segment from the apical retinal pigment epithelium without inner retinal changes or signs of inflammation. The changes suggest interference with the maintenance of the outer retinal barrier and/or phagocytic/pump functions of the retinal pigment epithelium by effective MEK inhibition.

Untargeted Molecular Discovery in Primary Metabolism: Collision Cross Section as a Molecular Descriptor in Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry.

In this work, we established a collision cross section (CCS) library of primary metabolites based on analytical standards in the Mass Spectrometry Metabolite Library of Standards (MSMLS) using a commercially available ion mobility-mass spectrometer (IM-MS). From the 554 unique compounds in the MSMLS plate library, we obtained a total of 1246 CCS measurements over a wide range of biochemical classes and adduct types. Resulting data analysis demonstrated that the curated CCS library provides broad molecular coverage of metabolic pathways and highlights intrinsic mass-mobility relationships for specific metabolite superclasses. The separation and characterization of isomeric metabolites were assessed, and all molecular species contained within the plate library, including isomers, were critically evaluated to determine the analytical separation efficiency in both the mass ( m/ z) and mobility (CCS/ΔCCS) dimension required for untargeted metabolomic analyses. To further demonstrate the analytical utility of CCS as an additional molecular descriptor, a well-characterized biological sample of human plasma serum (NIST SRM 1950) was examined by LC-IM-MS and used to provide a detailed isomeric analysis of carbohydrate constituents by ion mobility.

Automated flow injection method for the high precision determination of drift tube ion mobility collision cross sections.

The field of ion mobility-based omics studies requires high-quality collision cross section (CCS) libraries to effectively utilize CCS as a molecular descriptor. Absolute CCS values with the highest precision are obtained on drift tube instruments by measuring the drift time of ions at multiple drift voltages, commonly referred to as a 'stepped field' experiment. However, generating large scale absolute CCS libraries from drift tube instruments is time consuming due to the current lack of high-throughput methods. This communication reports a fully automated stepped-field method to acquire absolute CCS on commercially available equipment. Using a drift tube ion mobility-mass spectrometer (DTIM-MS) coupled to a minimally modified liquid chromatography (LC) system, CCS values can be measured online with a carefully timed flow injection analysis (FIA) experiment. Results demonstrate that the FIA stepped-field method yields CCS values which are of high analytical precision (<0.4% relative standard deviation, RSD) and accuracy (≤0.4% difference) comparable to CCS values obtained using traditional direct-infusion stepped-field experiments. This high-throughput CCS method consumes very little sample volume (20 µL) and will expedite the generation of large-scale CCS libraries to support molecular identification within global untargeted studies.

Photoelectron spectroscopy and thermochemistry of o-, m-, and p-methylenephenoxide anions.

The anionic products following (H + H+) abstraction from o-, m-, and p-methylphenol (cresol) are investigated using flowing afterglow-selected ion flow tube (FA-SIFT) mass spectrometry and anion photoelectron spectroscopy (PES). The PES of the multiple anion isomers formed in this reaction are reported, including those for the most abundant isomers, o-, m- and p-methylenephenoxide distonic radical anions. The electron affinity (EA) of the ground triplet electronic state of neutral m-methylenephenoxyl diradical was measured to be 2.227 ± 0.008 eV. However, the ground singlet electronic states of o- and p-methylenephenoxyl were found to be significantly stabilized by their resonance forms as a substituted cyclohexadienone, resulting in measured EAs of 1.217 ± 0.012 and 1.096 ± 0.007 eV, respectively. Upon electron photodetachment, the resulting neutral molecules were shown to have Franck-Condon active ring distortion vibrational modes with measured frequencies of 570 ± 180 and 450 ± 80 cm-1 for the ortho and para isomers, respectively. Photodetachment to excited electronic states was also investigated for all isomers, where similar vibrational modes were found to be Franck-Condon active, and singlet-triplet splittings are reported. The thermochemistry of these molecules was investigated using FA-SIFT combined with the acid bracketing technique to yield values of 341.4 ± 4.3, 349.1 ± 3.0, and 341.4 ± 4.3 kcal mol-1 for the o-, m-, and p-methylenephenol radicals, respectively. Construction of a thermodynamic cycle allowed for an experimental determination of the bond dissociation energy of the O-H bond of m-methylenephenol radical to be 86 ± 4 kcal mol-1, while this bond is significantly weaker for the ortho and para isomers at 55 ± 5 and 52 ± 5 kcal mol-1, respectively. Additional EAs and vibrational frequencies are reported for several methylphenyloxyl diradical isomers, the negative ions of which are also formed by the reaction of cresol with O-.

Psychedelics as anti-inflammatory agents.

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT)2A receptor agonists have recently emerged as promising new treatment options for a variety of disorders. The recent success of these agonists, also known as psychedelics, like psilocybin for the treatment of anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and addiction, has ushered in a renaissance in the way these compounds are perceived in the medical community and populace at large. One emerging therapeutic area that holds significant promise is their use as anti-inflammatory agents. Activation of 5-HT2A receptors produces potent anti-inflammatory effects in animal models of human inflammatory disorders at sub-behavioural levels. This review discusses the role of the 5-HT2A receptor in the inflammatory response, as well as highlight studies using the 5-HT2A agonist (R)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine [(R)-DOI] to treat inflammation in cellular and animal models. It also examines potential mechanisms by which 5-HT2A agonists produce their therapeutic effects. Overall, psychedelics regulate inflammatory pathways via novel mechanisms, and may represent a new and exciting treatment strategy for several inflammatory disorders.

Experimental and Theoretical Studies of the Reactivity and Thermochemistry of Dicyanamide: N(CN)(2)(-).

Dicyanamide [N(CN)2(-)] is a common anionic component of ionic liquids, several of which have shown hypergolic reactivity upon mixing with white-fuming nitric acid. In this study, we explore the thermochemistry of dicyanamide and its reactivity with nitric acid and other molecules to gain insight into the initial stages of the hypergolic phenomenon. We have developed and utilized an electrospray ion source for our selected ion flow tube (SIFT) to generate the dicyanamide anion. We have explored the general reactivity of this ion with several neutral molecules and atoms. Dicyanamide does not show reactivity with O2, H2SO4, H2O2, DBr, HCl, NH3, N2O, SO2, COS, CO2, CH3OH, H2O, CH4, N2, CF4, or SF6 (k < 1 × 10(-12) cm(3)/s); moreover, dicyanamide does not react with N atom, O atom, or electronically excited molecular oxygen (k < 5 × 10(-12) cm(3)/s), and our previous studies showed no reactivity with H atom. However, at 0.45 Torr helium, we observe the adduct of dicyanamide with nitric acid with an effective bimolecular rate constant of 2.7 × 10(-10) cm(3)/s. Intrinsically, dicyanamide is a very stable anion in the gas phase, as illustrated by its lack of reactivity, high electron-binding energy, and low proton affinity. The lack of reactivity of dicyanamide with H2SO4 gives an upper limit for the gas-phase deprotonation enthalpy of the parent compound (HNCNCN; <310 ± 3 kcal/mol). This limit is in agreement with theoretical calculations at the MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory, finding that ΔH298 K(HNCNCN) = 308.5 kcal/mol. Dicyanamide has two different proton acceptor sites. Experimental and computational results indicate that it is lower in energy to protonate the terminal nitrile nitrogen than the central nitrogen. Although proton transfer to dicyanamide was not observed for any of the acidic molecules investigated here, the calculations on dicyanamide with one to three nitric acid molecules reveal that higher-order solvation can favor exothermic proton transfer. Furthermore, the formation of 1,5-dinitrobiuret, proposed to be the key intermediate during the hypergolic ignition of dicyanamide ionic liquids with nitric acid, is investigated by calculation of the reaction coordinate. Our results suggest that solvation dynamics of dicyanamide with nitric acid play an important role in hypergolic ignition and the interactions at the droplet/condensed-phase surface between the two hypergolic liquids are very important. Moreover, dicyanamide exists in the atmosphere of Saturn's moon, Titan; the intrinsic stability of dicyanamide strongly suggests that it may exist in molecular clouds of the interstellar medium, especially in regions where other stable carbon-nitrogen anions have been detected.

Serotonin 5-HT2 receptor activation prevents allergic asthma in a mouse model.

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lung characterized by airways hyper-responsiveness (AHR), inflammation, and mucus hyperproduction. Current mainstream therapies include bronchodilators that relieve bronchoconstriction and inhaled glucocorticoids to reduce inflammation. The small molecule hormone and neurotransmitter serotonin has long been known to be involved in inflammatory processes; however, its precise role in asthma is unknown. We have previously established that activation of serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)(2A) receptors has potent anti-inflammatory activity in primary cultures of vascular tissues and in the whole animal in vasculature and gut tissues. The 5-HT(2A) receptor agonist, (R)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine [(R)-DOI] is especially potent. In this work, we have examined the effect of (R)-DOI in an established mouse model of allergic asthma. In the ovalbumin mouse model of allergic inflammation, we demonstrate that inhalation of (R)-DOI prevents the development of many key features of allergic asthma, including AHR, mucus hyperproduction, airways inflammation, and pulmonary eosinophil recruitment. Our results highlight a likely role of the 5-HT2 receptors in allergic airways disease and suggest that 5-HT2 receptor agonists may represent an effective and novel small molecule-based therapy for asthma.

RNA-binding ability of FUS regulates neurodegeneration, cytoplasmic mislocalization and incorporation into stress granules associated with FUS carrying ALS-linked mutations.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an uncommon neurodegenerative disease caused by degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons. Several genes, including SOD1, TDP-43, FUS, Ubiquilin 2, C9orf72 and Profilin 1, have been linked with the sporadic and familiar forms of ALS. FUS is a DNA/RNA-binding protein (RBP) that forms cytoplasmic inclusions in ALS and frontotemporal lobular degeneration (FTLD) patients' brains and spinal cords. However, it is unknown whether the RNA-binding ability of FUS is required for causing ALS pathogenesis. Here, we exploited a Drosophila model of ALS and neuronal cell lines to elucidate the role of the RNA-binding ability of FUS in regulating FUS-mediated toxicity, cytoplasmic mislocalization and incorporation into stress granules (SGs). To determine the role of the RNA-binding ability of FUS in ALS, we mutated FUS RNA-binding sites (F305L, F341L, F359L, F368L) and generated RNA-binding-incompetent FUS mutants with and without ALS-causing mutations (R518K or R521C). We found that mutating the aforementioned four phenylalanine (F) amino acids to leucines (L) (4F-L) eliminates FUS RNA binding. We observed that these RNA-binding mutations block neurodegenerative phenotypes seen in the fly brains, eyes and motor neurons compared with the expression of RNA-binding-competent FUS carrying ALS-causing mutations. Interestingly, RNA-binding-deficient FUS strongly localized to the nucleus of Drosophila motor neurons and mammalian neuronal cells, whereas FUS carrying ALS-linked mutations was distributed to the nucleus and cytoplasm. Importantly, we determined that incorporation of mutant FUS into the SG compartment is dependent on the RNA-binding ability of FUS. In summary, we demonstrate that the RNA-binding ability of FUS is essential for the neurodegenerative phenotype in vivo of mutant FUS (either through direct contact with RNA or through interactions with other RBPs).

The primary open-angle african american glaucoma genetics study: baseline demographics.

PURPOSE: To describe the baseline characteristics of the Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) study cohort, the largest African American population with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) recruited at a single institution (University of Pennsylvania [UPenn], Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute) to date. DESIGN: Population-based, cross-sectional, case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2520 African American subjects aged 35 years or more who were recruited from the greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. METHODS: Each subject underwent a detailed interview and eye examination. The interview assessed demographic, behavioral, medical, and ocular risk factors. Current ZIP codes surrounding UPenn were recorded and US census data were queried to infer socioeconomic status. The eye examination included measurement of visual acuity (VA) and intraocular pressure, and a detailed anterior and posterior segment examination, including gonioscopy, dilated fundus and optic disc examination, visual fields, stereo disc photography, optical coherence tomography, and measurement of central corneal thickness. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The baseline characteristics of gender, age, and glaucoma diagnosis were collected. Body mass index (BMI), hypertension, diabetes, alcohol and tobacco use, ocular conditions (including blindness, cataract, nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration), and use of ocular medication and surgery were examined. Median population density, income, education level, and other socioeconomic measures were determined for the study cohort. RESULTS: Of the 2520 African Americans recruited to the POAAGG study to date, 2067 (82.0%), including 807 controls and 1260 POAG cases, met all inclusion criteria and completed the detailed clinical ocular examination. Cases were more likely to have a lower BMI (P < 0.01) and report a history of blindness (VA of ≤20/200; P < 0.001), whereas controls were more likely to have diabetes (P < 0.001), have nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (P = 0.02), and be female (P < 0.001). Study participants were drawn largely from predominantly African American neighborhoods of low income, high unemployment, and lower education surrounding UPenn. CONCLUSIONS: The POAAGG study has currently recruited more than 2000 African Americans eligible for a POAG genetics study. Blindness and low BMI were significantly associated with POAG. This population was predominantly recruited from neighborhoods whose population income exists at or near the federal poverty level.

Gas-phase acidities of nitrated azoles as determined by the extended kinetic method and computations.

Making use of the extended kinetic method and the alternative method for data analysis, we have experimentally determined ΔH°acid (kcal/mol) for six mononitrated azole species (2-nitropyrrole = 337.0, 3-nitropyrrole = 335.8, 3-nitropyrazole = 330.5, 4-nitropyrazole = 329.5, 2-nitroimidazole = 327.4, and 4-nitroimidazole = 325.0). We report an absolute uncertainty of ±2.2 kcal/mol that arises from the uncertainties of the reference acids; the relative values are known within 0.4 kcal/mol. Combining these experimental ΔH°acid values with ΔS°acid values calculated at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory, we report ΔG°acid (kcal/mol) for the nitroazoles (2-nitropyrrole = 329.4, 3-nitropyrrole = 328.4, 3-nitropyrazole = 323.1, 4-nitropyrazole = 322.0, 2-nitroimidazole = 319.7, and 4-nitroimidazole = 317.6); the absolute uncertainties are ±2.4 kcal/mol. In addition to the experimental studies, we have computationally investigated the gas-phase acidities and electron affinities of the azoles in this work, as well as higher-order aza- and dinitro-substituted azoles. We discuss trends in the stabilities of the deprotonated azoles based on aza substitution and nitro group placement. 4-Nitroimidazole has already found use as the anionic component in ionic liquids, and we propose that the additional nitrated azolate ions are potential candidates for the anionic component of ionic liquids.

A triple arg motif mediates α(2B)-adrenergic receptor interaction with Sec24C/D and export.

Recent studies have demonstrated that cargo exit from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) may be directed by ER export motifs recognized by components of the coat protein II (COPII) vesicles. However, little is known about ER export motifs and vesicle targeting of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. Here, we have demonstrated that a triple Arg (3R) motif in the third intracellular loop functions as a novel ER export signal for α(2B)-adrenergic receptor (α(2B)-AR). The 3R motif mediates α(2B)-AR interaction with Sec24C/D and modulates ER exit, cell surface transport and function of α(2B)-AR. Furthermore, export function of the 3R motif is independent of its position within α(2B)-AR and can be conferred to CD8 glycoprotein. These data provide the first evidence implicating that export of GPCRs is controlled by code-directed interactions with selective components of the COPII transport machinery.

Dehalogenation of arenes via SN2 reactions at bromine: competition with nucleophilic aromatic substitution.

The gas-phase reactions of carbon- and nitrogen-centered nucleophiles with polyfluorobromobenzenes were examined in a selected-ion flow tube (SIFT) and modeled computationally at the MP2/6-31+G(d,p)//MP2/6-31+G(d) level. In the gas-phase experiments, rate constants and branching ratios were determined. The carbon nucleophiles produce expected nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) and proton transfer products along with unexpected products that result from SN2 reactions at the bromine center (polyfluorophenide leaving group). With nitrogen nucleophiles, the SN2 at bromine channel is suppressed. In the SNAr channels, the "element effect" is observed, and fluoride loss competes with bromide loss. The computational modeling indicates that all the substitution barriers are well below the entrance channel and that entropy and dynamics effects control the product distributions.

The α-effect in gas-phase SN2 reactions of microsolvated anions: methanol as a solvent.

The α-effect, an enhanced reactivity of nucleophiles with a lone-pair adjacent to the reaction center, has been studied in solution for several decades. The gas-phase α-effect has recently been documented in studies of SN2 reactions as well as in competing reactions for both bare and microhydrated anions. In the present work we extend our studies of the significance of microsolvation on the α-effect, employing methanol as the solvent, in the expectation that the greater stability of the methanol cluster relative to the water cluster will lower the reactivity and thereby allow studies over a wider efficiency range. We compare the gas-phase reactivity of the microsolvated α-nucleophile HOO(-)(CH3OH) to that of microsolvated normal alkoxy nucleophiles, RO(-)(CH3OH) in reactions with CH3Cl and CH3Br. The results reveal enhanced reactivity of HOO(-)(CH3OH) toward both methyl halides relative to the normal nucleophiles, and clearly demonstrate the presence of an α-effect for the microsolvated α-nucleophile. The highly exothermic reactions with methyl bromide result in a smaller Brønsted ßnuc value than observed for methyl chloride, and the α-effect in turn influences the reactions with methyl chloride more than with methyl bromide. Computational investigations reveal that reactions with methyl bromide proceed through earlier transition states with less advanced bond formation compared to the related reactions of methyl chloride. In addition, solvent interactions for HOO(-) are quite different from those with the normal nucleophiles at the transition state, indicating that differential solvation may well contribute to the α-effect. The greater thermodynamic and kinetic stability of the anion-methanol clusters relative to the anion-water clusters accounts well for the differences in the influence of solvation with the two protic polar solvents.