Insight into the C-terminal SH3 domain mediated binding of Drosophila Drk to Sos and Dos.

Drk, a Drosophila homologue of human GRB2, interacts with Sevenless (Sev) receptor via its SH2 domain, while the N- and C-terminal SH3 domains (Drk-NSH3 and Drk-CSH3, respectively) are responsible for the interaction with proline-rich motifs (PRMs) of Son of sevenless (Sos) or Daughter of Sevenless (Dos). Drk-NSH3 on its own has a conformational equilibrium between folded and unfolded states, and the folded state is stabilised by the association with a Sos-derived proline-rich peptide with PxxPxR motif. In contrast, Drk-CSH3 is supposed to bind PxxxRxxKP motifs in Dos. Aiming at clarifying the structural and functional differences between the two SH3 domains, we performed NMR studies of Drk-CSH3. The resulting solution structure and the 15N-relaxation data showed that Drk-CSH3 consists of a stable domain. Large chemical shift perturbation was commonly found around the RT loop and the hydrophobic patch, while there were also changes that occur characteristically for Sos- or Dos-derived peptides. Sos-derived two peptides with PxxPxR motif showed stronger affinity to Drk-CSH3, indicating that the Sos PRMs can bind both N- and C-SH3 domains. Dos-derived two peptides could also bind Drk-CSH3, but with much weaker affinity, suggesting a possibility that any cooperative binding of Dos-PRMs may strengthen the Drk-Dos interaction. The NMR studies as well as the docking simulations provide valuable insights into the biological and biophysical functions of two SH3 domains in Drk.

Complete Genome Sequences of Four Bacteria Isolated from the Gut of a Spiny Ant (Polyrhachis lamellidens).

We isolated and sequenced the complete genomes of four bacteria from the gut contents of a spiny ant (Polyrhachis lamellidens) sampled from a primeval beech forest in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. The isolates belong to the genera Tsukamurella, Enterococcus, Lysinibacillus, and Streptomyces and provide insights into the functional roles of microbiomes of ants.

Synthesis of Trispirocyclotriphosphazenes with Oxaphosphorine Rings and Their Crystal and Molecular Structures.

Novel trispirocyclotriphosphazenes with oxaphosphorine rings (DOP-PZs) were successfully synthesized by an Appel reaction with phosphoramide, which was prepared from ammonia and 10-chloro-9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide derived from 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide, generally abbreviated as DOPO. The resulting DOP-PZs were characterized by 1H, 13C{1H}, and 31P{1H} nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and time-of-flight mass spectrometry and shown to consist of cis-trans isomers. Moreover, the crystal and molecular structures of the DOP-PZs were determined by X-ray diffraction; cis- and trans-DOP-PZs (C36H24N3O3P3, M = 639.49 g/mol) were refined to final R1 values of 0.0260 and 0.0463, respectively, with the SHELXL refinement package using least-squares minimization. The crystal of cis-DOP-PZ is trigonal in space group R3c and the following cell constants: a = 19.5984(5) Å, c = 13.2754(4) Å, V = 4415.9(3) Å3, Z = 6, and Flack parameter = 0.038(8). In contrast, trans-DOP-PZ is monoclinic in space group P21/c and the following cell constants: a = 9.98647(18) Å, b = 24.1737(4) Å, c = 12.8472(2) Å, ß = 112.649(8)°, V = 2862.26(18) Å3, and Z = 4. The molecular structures of these DOP-PZs were compared with those of other trispirocyclotriphosphazenes. In addition, the DOP-PZs showed high thermal stability up to 400 °C, with dielectric constants of 2.76-2.77 and dissipation factors of 0.0017-0.0031 at 10 GHz.

Aminohydroxyacetone synthons: versatile intermediates for the organocatalytic asymmetric aldol reaction.

A practical method for the synthesis of 1,3-aminohydroxyacetone synthons was developed, and their utility in the organocatalytic asymmetric aldol reaction was demonstrated in a short synthesis of aza-sugars.