Glycine rich segments adopt polyproline II helices: Implications for biomolecular condensate formation.

Many intrinsically disordered proteins contain Gly-rich regions which are generally assumed to be disordered. Such regions often form biomolecular condensates which play essential roles in organizing cellular processes. However, the bases of their formation and stability are still not completely understood. Based on NMR studies of the Gly-rich H. harveyi "snow flea" antifreeze protein, we recently proposed that Gly-rich sequences, such as the third "RGG" region of Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) protein, may adopt polyproline II helices whose association might stabilize condensates. Here, this hypothesis is tested with a polypeptide corresponding to the third RGG region of FUS. NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations suggest that significant populations of polyproline II helix are present. These findings are corroborated in a model peptide Ac-RGGYGGRGGWGGRGGY-NH2, where a peak characteristic of polyproline II helix is observed using CD spectroscopy. Its intensity suggests a polyproline II population of 40%. This result is supported by data from FTIR and NMR spectroscopies. In the latter, NOE correlations are observed between the Tyr and Arg, and Arg and Trp side chain hydrogens, confirming that side chains spaced three residues apart are close in space. Taken together, the data are consistent with a polyproline II helix, which is bent to optimize interactions between guanidinium and aromatic moieties, in equilibrium with a statistical coil ensemble. These results lend credence to the hypothesis that Gly-rich segments of disordered proteins may form polyproline II helices which help stabilize biomolecular condensates.

Chiral amplification of disodium cromoglycate chromonics induced by a codeine derivative.

Chromonic liquid crystals (CLC) are lyotropic phases formed by discotic mesogens in water. Simple chiral dopants such as amino acids have been reported to turn chromonic liquid crystals into their cholesteric counterparts. Here we report a chirality amplification effect in the nematic phase of a 9 wt% disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) upon doping with a water-soluble codeine derivative. The transition on cooling the isotropic to the nematic phase showed the presence of homochiral spindle-shaped droplets (tactoids). NMR DOSY experiments on a triple gradient probe revealed a small degree of diffusion anisotropy for the alkaloid embedded in the liquid crystal structure. These results in combination with XRD, CD and POM experiments agree with a supramolecular aggregation model based on simple columnar stacks.

Understanding the ion jelly conductivity mechanism.

The properties of the light flexible device, ion jelly, which combines gelatin with an ionic liquid (IL) were recently reported being promising to develop safe and highly conductive electrolytes. This article aims for the understanding of the ion jelly conductive mechanism using dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) in the frequency range 10(-1)-10(6) Hz; the study was complemented with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG NMR) spectroscopy. The room temperature ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimmidazolium dicyanamide (BMIMDCA) used as received (1.9% w/w water content) and with 6.6% (w/w) of water content and two ion jellies with two different ratios BMIMDCA/gelatin/water % (w/w), IJ1 (41.1/46.7/12.2) and IJ3 (67.8/25.6/6.6), have been characterized. A glass transition was detected by DSC for all materials allowing for classifying them as glass formers. For the ionic liquid, it was observed that the glass transition temperature decreases with the increase of water content. While in subsequent calorimetric runs crystallization was observed for BMIMDCA with negligible water content, no crystallization was detected for any of the ion jelly materials upon themal cycling. To the dielectric spectra of all tested materials, both dipolar relaxation and conductivity contribute; at the lowest frequencies, electrode and interfacial polarization highly dominate. Conductivity, which manifests much more intensity relative to dipolar reorientations, strongly evidences subdiffusive ion dynamics at high frequencies. From dielectric measures, transport properties as mobility and diffusion coefficients were extracted. Data treatment was carried out in order to deconvolute the average diffusion coefficients estimated from dielectric data in its individual contributions of cations (D(+)) and anions (D(-)). The D(+) values thus obtained for IJ3, the ion jelly with the highest IL/gelatin ratio, cover a large temperature range up to room temperature and revealed excellent agreement with direct measurements from PFG NMR, obeying to the same VFT equation. For BMIMDCA(6.6%water), which has the same water amount as IJ3, the diffusion coefficients were only estimated from DRS measurements over a limited temperature range; however, a single VFT equation describes both DRS and PFG NMR data. Moreover, it was found that the diffusion coefficients and mobility are similar for the ionic liquid and IJ3, which points to a role of both water and gelatin weakening the contact ion pair, facilitating the translational motion of ions and promoting its dissociation; nevertheless, it is conceivable the existence of a critical composition of gelatin that leads to those properties. The VFT temperature dependence observed for the conductivity was found to be determined by a similar dependence of the mobility. Both conductivity and segmental motion revealed to be correlated as inferred by the relatively low values of the decoupling indexes. The obtained results show that ion jelly could be in fact a very promising material to design novel electrolytes for different electrochemical devices, having a performance close to the IL but presenting an additional stability regarding electrical measurements and resistance against crystallization relative to the bulk ionic liquid.

Asymmetric intramolecular aldol reactions of substituted 1,7-dicarbonylic compounds. A mechanistic study.

The diastereo- and enantioselectivity obtained experimentally by List on the proline-catalyzed intramolecular aldol reaction of substituted 1,7-dicarbonylic compounds was accurately predicted using density functional theory methods at the B3LYP/6-31++G** level. A polarizable continuum model was used to describe solvent effects. The theoretical data agree in good extension with List's experimental results, both in enantioselectivity and diastereoselectivity, and allow for the confirmation of our previous rationalization of the main factors contributing to the reaction selectivity. While the enantioselectivity results from an important electrostatic contact between the forming alkoxyde group and the proline moiety, the calculated diasteroselectivity results from several steric contacts that can be established between the different substituents and from their relative orientation in respect to the ring conformation. However, for dialdehydes that can originate two diastereomeric enamine intermediates, the proline attack and the immonium formation steps can also be of major importance in the rationalization of the final reaction selectivity, as is the case in two of the six studied systems. The obtained data allows for a full rationalization of the known experimental systems as well as for the extrapolation to new ones with variable substitution at the carbonylic chain.

Development of PMMA membranes functionalized with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrins for controlled drug delivery using a supercritical CO(2)-assisted technology.

Cyclodextrin-containing polymers have proved themselves to be useful for controlled release. Herein we describe the preparation of membranes of poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) containing hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrins (HP-beta-CDs) using a supercritical CO(2)-assisted phase inversion method, for potential application as drug delivery devices. Results are reported on the membrane preparation, physical properties, and drug elution profile of a model drug. The polymeric membranes were obtained with HP-beta-CD contents ranging from 0 to 33.4 wt%, by changing the composition of the casting solution, and were further impregnated with ibuprofen using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) in batch mode. The influence of the membrane functionalization in the controlled release of ibuprofen was studied by performing in vitro experiments in buffer solution pH at 7.4. The release of the anti-inflammatory drug could be tuned by varying the cyclodextrin content on the membranes.

Influence of feeding strategies of mixed microbial cultures on the chemical composition and microstructure of copolyesters P(3HB-co-3HV) analyzed by NMR and statistical analysis.

NMR spectroscopy was applied for quantitative and qualitative characterization of the chemical composition and microstructure of a series of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydoxyvalerate) copolymers, P(3HB-co-3HV), synthesized by mixed microbial cultures at several different feeding strategies. The monomer sequence distribution of the bacterially synthesized P(3HB-co-3HV) was defined by analysis of their high-resolution 1D (13)C NMR and 2D (1)H/(13)C HSQC and (1)H/(13)C HMBC NMR spectra. The results were verified by employment of statistical methods and suggest a block copolymer microstructure of the P(3HB-co-3HV) copolymers studied. Definitive distinction between block copolymers or a mixture of random copolymers could not be achieved. NMR spectral analysis indicates that the chemical composition and microstructure of the copolymers can be tuned by choosing a correct feeding strategy.

High-pressure NMR characterization of triacetyl-beta-cyclodextrin in supercritical carbon dioxide.

Cyclodextrins are used in many drug formulations since their cavities provide microenvironments where drug molecules can enter and form inclusion complexes for controlled drug delivery. Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) is an alternative to organic solvents and a very attractive medium for the preparation of these inclusion complexes. The potential ability of triacetyl-beta-cyclodextrin (TA-beta-CD) to form inclusion complexes in addition to its high miscibility in liquid and scCO(2) could offer a chance for an economical and environmental friendly chemical processing. In this work, high-pressure NMR studies were performed in order to obtain information on the molecular structure and dynamics of TA-beta-CD in scCO(2) at 313.15 K and 20 MPa and its ability to form inclusion complexes under these conditions was studied. The influence of scCO(2) on a number of NMR spectral parameters, such as chemical shifts, spin-spin coupling constants, nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) and spin-lattice relaxation (T(1)) has been studied. We unequivocally show for the first time structural changes of TA-beta-CD in scCO(2), like acetyl chain orientation and overall shape distortions that can affect its inclusion capability in this medium. The possibility of cavity self-closure is discussed and the results of two inclusion studies that support cavity self-closure, with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril, and the nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drug, flufenamic acid, are presented.

Imide--amide rearangement of cylic phosphorimidates: a mechanistic study.

Studies aimed at the development of new synthetic pathways for the preparation of chiral cyclic oxaza and diaza phosphoramides suitable for use in asymmetric chemistry led us to the investigation of the imide -amide rearrangement of cyclic phosphorimidates. As a result of this work new types of oligomeric organophosphorus compounds, formed by a novel 1,4-addition type ring opening polymerisation, were identified. These compounds are the stable intermediates of the imide-amide rearrangement, which upon heating yield the previously reported rearranged product. A detailed study of the mechanism of the Lewis acid catalysed imide-amide rearrangement and stereochemical control of the final products is reported. As a result, the full mechanism was elucidated and evidence of retention of configuration at the rearranged carbon atom is presented. Substituent effects were rationalised based on molecular modelling calculations.