Determination of the in vivo redox potential by one-wavelength spectro-microscopy of roGFP.

For the quantitative analysis of molecular processes in living (plant) cells, such as the perception and processing of environmental and endogenous signals, new combinatorial approaches in optical and spectroscopic technologies are required and partly already became established in many fields of the life sciences. One hallmark of the in vivo analysis of cell biological processes is the use of visible fluorescent proteins to create fluorescent fusion proteins. Recent progress has been made in generating a redox-sensitive mutant of green fluorescent proteins (roGFP), which exhibits alterations in its spectral properties in response to changes in the redox state of the surrounding medium. An established method to probe the local redox potential using roGFP is based on a ratiometric protocol. This readout modality requires two excitation wavelengths, which makes the technique less suited for in vivo studies of e.g. dynamic samples. We clarify the origin of the redox sensitivity of roGFP by ab initio calculations, which reveal a changed protonation equilibrium of the chromophore in dependence on the redox potential. Based on this finding, we test and compare different spectroscopic readout modalities with single wavelength excitation to determine the local redox potential and apply these techniques to live cell analytics.

Probing the nanoscale phase separation and photophysics properties of low-bandgap polymer:fullerene blend film by near-field spectroscopic mapping.

The effect of the additive 1,8-octanedithiol (ODT) on the nanometer-scale morphology and local photophysical properties of low-bandgap polymer blends of poly[2,6-(4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b'] dithiophene)- alt-4,7(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)] (PCPDTBT) and [6,6]-phenyl C(61) -butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) is investigated. Phase separations of the PCPDTBT:PCBM blend film induced by ODT are visualized by the morphological changes from fibril-shaped features to spherical bumps, by the dramatically increased photoluminescence emission from PCPDTBT that was originally largely quenched, and by the fluctuations of spectral features at different locations of the sample surface. The correlations between the morphology and the local photophysical properties of the blend film with/without ODT at both the micrometer and nanometer scales are revealed by confocal and high-resolution near-field spectroscopic mapping techniques.

Optical imaging of excited-state tautomerization in single molecules.

Tautomerism process of single fluorescent molecules was studied by means of confocal microscopy in combination with azimuthally or radially polarized laser beams. During a tautomerism process the transition dipole moment (TDM) of a molecule changes its orientation which can be visualized by the fluorescence excitation image of the molecule. We present experimental and theoretical studies of two porphyrazine-type molecules and one type of porphyrin molecule: a symmetrically substituted metal-free phthalocyanine and porphyrin, and nonsymmetrically substituted porphyrazine. In the case of phthalocyanine the fluorescence excitation patterns show that the angle between the transition dipole moments of the two tautomeric forms is near 90°, in agreement with quantum chemical calculations. For porphyrazine we find that the orientation change of the TDM is less than 60° or larger than 120°, as theoretically predicted. Most of the porphyrin molecules show no photoinduced tautomerization, while for 7% of the total number of investigated molecules we observed excitation patterns of two different trans forms of the same single molecule. We demonstrate for the first time that a molecule, undergoing a tautomerism process stays in one tautomeric trans conformation during a time comparable with the acquisition time of one excitation pattern. This allowed us to visualize the existence of each of the two trans forms of one single porphyrin molecule, as well as the sudden switching between these tautomers.

Preparation and properties of trifluorothioacetic acid-S-(trifluoromethyl)ester, CF3C(O)SCF3.

Trifluorothioacetic acid-S-(trifluoromethyl)ester, CF3C(O)SCF3, was prepared by reacting CF3C(O)Cl and AgSCF3 at 50 degrees C. The compound was characterized by (13)C-, (19)F-NMR, UV, and vibrational spectroscopy as well as by gas electron diffraction (GED) and quantum chemical calculations (HF, MP2, and B3LYP methods 6-31G(d) and 6-311+G(2df) basis sets). GED and vibrational spectroscopy result in the presence of a single conformer with C1 symmetry and synperiplanar orientation of the S-CF3 bond relative to the CO bond. This result is in agreement with quantum chemical calculations which predict the anti conformer to be higher in energy by about 4 kcal/mol. An assignment of the IR (gas) and Raman (liquid) spectra is proposed, and the GED analysis results in the following skeletal geometric parameters (r(a) and angle(a) values with 3sigma uncertainties; these parameters are thermal averages and are not inconsistent with calculated equilibrium values): C=O = 1.202(6) A, C-C = 1.525(10) A, S-C(sp(2)) = 1.774(3) A, S-C(sp(3)) = 1.824 (3) A. O=C-C = 118.7(21) degrees, O=C-S = 127.1(15) degrees, C-S-C = 99.8 (13) degrees.

Design of pi-conjugated organic materials for one-dimensional energy transport in nanochannels.

Various end-substituted distyrylbenzenes have been synthesized to serve as guest molecules in inclusion compounds to promote efficient energy transport along one-dimensional channels. Their optical and photophysical properties have been characterized at both experimental and theoretical levels. All molecules display a large transition dipole moment between the ground state and lowest excited state and hence a short radiative lifetime (on the order of 1-2 ns). They also exhibit a large spectral overlap between the emission and absorption spectra, which enables efficient energy transport between molecules arranged in a head-to-tail configuration in nanochannels. Hopping rates on the order of 10(12) s(-1) are calculated at a full quantum-chemical level; this is much larger than the radiative lifetimes and opens the way for energy migration over large distances. Changes in the nature of the terminal substituents are found to modulate the optical properties weakly but to impact significantly the energy transfer rates.

Molecular Structures of Sulfur Cyanide Trifluoride, SF(3)CN, and Sulfinyl Cyanide Fluoride, FS(O)CN.

General valence force fields for SF(3)CN and FS(O)CN are derived from vibrational data taken from the literature and from theoretical calculations. Gas phase electron diffraction studies on both molecules yield the following geometric parameters (r(a) distances and angles with 3sigma uncertainties). SF(3)CN: r(S-F(e)) = 155.2(4) r(S-F(a)) = 165.7(3), r(S-C) = 173.6(8), r(C&tbd1;N) = 115.9(4) pm; angle(F(a)SF(e)) = 86.9(3), angle(F(a)SC) = 86.0(4) angle(F(e)SC) = 98.7(8), angle(F(a)SF(a)) = 169.0(6), angle(SCN) = 171(4) degrees. FS(O)CN: r(S-F) = 159.8(3), r(S=O) = 143.2(2), r(S-C) = 178.3(3), r(C&tbd1;N) = 115.0(3) pm; angle(FSO) = 104.9(4), angle(FSC) = 93.9(4), angle(CSO) = 105.3(5), angle(SCN) = 176(4) degrees. These experimental results are compared to ab initio values (HF/3-21G, HF/6-31G, and MP2/6-31G), and the bonding properties in these sulfur (IV) cyanides are discussed.

Small interacting peptides. Part I. Interaction of cyclohexapeptides with an unspecific SiOH surface: comparison of infrared investigations and force field calculations.

The interaction of cyclohexapeptides c(X(1)(1)K(2)X(2)(3)K(4)X(3)(5)K(6)) in water with hydrolysed silicon surfaces were studied by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR FTIR) spectroscopy and by force field calculations. The band sequences (1800-1500 cm(-1)) for dissolved and adsorbed cyclohexapeptides were recorded and compared with those obtained after flushing with distilled water in order to eliminate the background signal of the peptides in solution. Band analyses and principal component analyses were carried out for the characteristic peptide vibrations in order to evaluate the spectra. In addition, force field calculations were performed to study the binding energies to the surface and to illustrate the possible structures of the cyclohexapeptides. The positively charged lysine side chains of the cyclohexapeptides interact with the OH groups of the surface, as indicated by band shifts. This also was verified by the force field calculations. The bonding stability increases with the number of interacting sites (lysine side chains and other peptide residues) to the surface. These sites are determined by structure and polarity of the cyclohexapeptides.

Small interacting peptides. Part II: Interaction of cyclohexapeptides with immobilised model peptides. Comparison of infrared investigations, principal components analysis and force field calculations.

The interaction of cyclic peptides with surface-bound model peptides was investigated by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, principal components analysis and force field calculations. Information about the interacting functional COOH, COO-, and NH3+ groups and the peptide backbone was gained through a set of cyclohexapeptides (seven of the type c(X1KX2KX3K) (K = L-lysine) and one of the type c(X1KX2KX3k) (k = D-lysine), which are interacting with L-arginine- or tripeptide-coated Si-ATR crystals. All measurements were performed in aqueous solutions. Spectra evaluation in the range 1800-1500 cm(-1) was done by band and principal components analysis (PCA). Only adsorbed molecules were present in these spectra. The coatings were investigated by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy too in order to characterise their functional groups. Based on this knowledge, the spectra of the interacting partners could be evaluated in relation to cyclohexapeptides and coatings. As a result, it was possible to identify the distinct differences in the bonding behaviour of the various peptides.

Antidiabetic Bis-Maltolato-OxoVanadium(IV): conversion of inactive trans- to bioactive cis-BMOV for possible binding to target PTP-1B.

The postulated transition of Bis-Maltolato-OxoVanadium(IV) (BMOV) from its inactive trans- into its cis-aquo-BMOV isomeric form in solution was simulated by means of computational molecular modeling. The rotational barrier was calculated with DFT - B3LYP under a stepwise optimization protocol with STO-3G, 3-21G, 3-21G*, and 6-31G ab initio basis sets. Our computed results are consistent with reports on the putative molecular mechanism of BMOV triggering the insulin-like cellular response (insulin mimetic) as a potent inhibitor of the protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP-1B). Initially, trans-BMOV is present in its solid dosage form but in aqueous solution, and during oral administration, it is readily converted into a mixture of "open-type" and "closed-type" complexes of cis-aquo-BMOV under equilibrium conditions. However, in the same measure as the "closed-type" complex binds to the cytosolic PTP-1B, it disappears from solution, and the equilibrium shifts towards the "closed-type" species. In full accordance, the computed binding mode of cis-BMOV is energetically favored over sterically hindered trans-BMOV. In view of our earlier report on prodrug hypothesis of vanadium organic compounds the present results suggest that cis-BMOV is the bioactive species.

Interpretation of the mechanism of acetylcholinesterase inhibition ability by organophosphorus compounds through a new conformational descriptor. an experimental and theoretical study.

Organophosphorus pesticides are the most common classes involved in poisonings related to pesticides. We used inhibitory ability on enzymatic activity of acetylcholinesterase activity and molecular mechanics or ab initio methods of molecular modelling to perform a theoretical approach of the enzyme interaction mechanism of these compounds. Kinetic values for strong and weak inhibitors were measured in a high amplitude range for affinity (K(a)) and phosphorylation constants (K(p)). To quantitatively describe the conformational behaviour of these molecules, conformational descriptors of free molecules were developed. Quantitative structure activity relationships (QSARs) were constructed with inhibition kinetic values and their molecular descriptors. The conformational descriptors show a high degree of correlation with the kinetic behaviour of these molecules. A positive correlation between the conformational freedom of the studied molecules with K(a) is observed. This study allows us to reinterpret the organophosphorus cholinesterase inhibition mechanism and consequently the 'thiono' and 'thiolo effect' based on a global 'chalcogen effect'.

Prototropic rearrangements in cycloheptatrienyl PCP pincer iridium complexes.

When the cycloheptatriene iridium(iii) pincer complex (PCP)Ir(CO)(H)(Cl) (3) (PCP = 2,7-(CH(2)P(t)Bu(2))(2)C(7)H(5)) is treated with the bases NaH, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) and lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide (LiTMP) under various conditions different products are obtained. At elevated temperatures and with DBU or LiTMP as a base the trans dihydride (PCP')Ir(CO)(H)(2) (PCP' = 2-(CHP(t)Bu(2))-7-(CH(2)P(t)Bu(2))C(7)H(4)) (5) is formed where the pi-system extends into one of the phosphine bridges. This compound loses H(2) to give the square-planar iridium(I) carbonyl complex (PCP'IrCO). The dihydride 5 can also rearrange to the new isomeric iridium(I) carbonyl 6 (PCP''IrCO, PCP'' = 2,7-(CH(2)P(t)Bu(2))(2)C(7)H(5)). Thus the two hydrides have moved into the ligand backbone creating a methylene group in the 3-position of the cycloheptatriene ring. Alternatively, 6 is formed by a rearrangement from 6a which differs from 6 by having the methylene group in the 4-position of the cycloheptatriene ring. The iridium(I) carbonyl 6a in turn is made from 3 by treatment with DBU at room temperature. Interestingly, when compound is heated to reflux in THF the hydrogen bound at the metal carbon is shifted to a carbon atom in the cycloheptatriene ring generating a ring methylene group (3a). From this complex HCl is eliminated upon chromatography forming 6 as the final product. Quantum chemical calculations at various levels of theory illustrate the relative energetic stabilities of all iridium complexes.

Influence of different transition metals in phthalocyanines on their interaction energies with volatile organic compounds: an experimental and computational study.

Experimental partition coefficients were determined for a series of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (acetonitrile, n-butylamine, n-octane tetrachloroethene, and toluene) for the interaction with 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octakis(octyloxy)-phthalocyaninato complexes, PcM(OR)(8), with varying central metal atoms [M=H(2) (metal-free), Ni, Pd, Cu, Zn]. Large partition coefficients for toluene were observed in the case of the nickel and palladium phthalocyanines, whereas for the corresponding zinc-containing compound, interaction with n-butylamine resulted in a high value for the partition coefficient. Interaction energies for model coordination complexes were obtained at the ab initio LMP2/ LACVP* level of theory. The interaction of various small volatiles with the various PcM(OR)(8) compounds was studied using the PM3 semiempirical Hamiltonian. Large values for interaction energies correspond to particularly strong partition coefficients, suggesting that coordination of the volatiles to the central metal dominates over the often discussed pi-system stacking at the PcM(OR)(8)'s.

Variable solid state aggregations in a series of (isocyanide)gold(I) halides with the novel trimethylamine-isocyanoborane adduct.

This paper provides evidence that the degree of aurophilic character and resulting solid state arrangement observed in (isocyanide)gold(I) halides is in part dependent on the nature of halide substituent. In particular, we report here the synthesis of a series of novel (isocyanide)gold(I) halides involving trimethylamine-isocyanoborane, an unusual 'zwitterionic' isocyanide that is comparable to the more familiar methyl isocyanide, but potentially more strongly Lewis basic. The reaction of chloro(dimethyl sulfide)gold(I) and the isocyanoborane species, (RNC)(R =(H3C)3NB(H)2), gives the novel crystalline adduct [(RNC)AuCl] (1). Treatment of 1 in an organic phase with aqueous KBr effected substitution of the chloride to give the bromide analogue [(RNC)AuBr] (2). The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by X-ray crystallography to be isostructural, consisting of a zigzag topology of chains of monomers, where adjacent gold(I) centres interact aurophilically. However, similar reaction of 1 with KI solution affords the unusual and unexpected compound, [(RNC)2Au][AuI2] (3). This iodide 3, is a linear chain polymer of alternating anion, cation units that is formed via ligand redistribution. The complexes 1-3 all fluoresce in the presence of UV light; the fluorescence of 3 being most prevalent at room temperature. The free trimethylamine-isocyanoborane ligand, the dimeric structures of compounds 1,2 and the thermodynamic stabilities of the dimers in the gas phase were studied by density functional and ab initio calculations at various levels of theory. The theoretical results are compared to the corresponding experimental data.

Raman spectroscopic study of the conformational changes of thyroxine induced by interactions with phospholipid.

Comparison of the Raman spectra of thyroxine ( L-3,3',5,5'-tetraiodothyronine) in the pure state and in a 1:5 mixture with phosphatidylcholine reveals spectral differences that reflect structural changes of thyroxine induced by interactions with the phospholipid. These structural changes could be localized in specific parts of the thyroxine molecule on the basis of a vibrational analysis that was carried out by density functional calculations with the B3LYP hybrid functional applying the SDD effective core potential basis set. The calculated (and subsequently scaled) frequencies reveal a good agreement with the experimental data, which together with calculated IR and Raman intensities allow a plausible assignment of most of the IR and Raman bands. Thus, it is found that modes localized in the aromatic beta-ring and in the ether group as well as the C-I stretching modes of ring alpha are affected upon lipid interactions, indicating that thyroxine interacts with the phosphatidylcholine bilayer via penetration of the hydrophobic part of the molecule.