ALBERT

Notes: We describe a method for determining chemical kinetic constants and diffusion coefficients by measuring the rates of decay of spontaneous concentration fluctuations. The equilibrium of the system is not disturbed during the measurement. We measure the number of molecules of a specified type in a defined open volume as a function of time and compute the time course of the deviations from the thermodynamic mean concentration. The method is based on the principle that the rates of decay of spontaneous microscopic fluctuations are determined by the same phenomenological rate coefficients as those of macroscopic departures from equilibrium which result from external perturbations. Hence, an analysis of fluctuations yields the same chemical rate constants and diffusion coefficients as are measured by conventional procedures. In practice the number of the specified molecules is measured by a property such as absorbance or fluorescence which is specific and sensitive to chemical change. The sample volume is defined by a light beam which traverses the cell. As the molecules appear in or disappear from the light beam, either due to diffusion or chemical reaction, their concentration fluctuations give rise to corresponding fluctuations of the intensity of absorbed or emitted light. This paper presents the theory needed to derive chemical rate constants and diffusion coefficients from these fluctuations in light intensity. The theory is applied to three examples of general interest: pure diffusion in the absence of chemical reaction; the binding of a small rapidly diffusing ligand to a larger slowly diffusing macromolecule; and a unimolecular isomerization. The method should be especially useful in studying highly cooperative systems, relatively noncooperative systems with intermediate states closely spaced in free energy, small systems, and systems not readily subject to perturbations of state.

Notes: The molecular conformations and dynamics of poly(L-prolyl), poly(hydroxyl-L-prolyl), poly(L-prolyl-glycyl), poly(hydroxyl-L-prolyl), and poly(glycyl-glycyl-L-prolyl-glycyl), in aqueous solution, have been studied using 13C pulse Fourier transform nmr spectroscopy. From a measurement of the intensities of major and minor resonances in the spectra of the copolypeptides, it was determined that 15-20% of the glycyl-prolyl and glycyl-hydroxyprolyl peptide bonds are cis. Effective rotational correlation times (τeff), obtained from measurements of spin-lattice relaxation times (T1) of individual backbone and side-chain carbons, demonstrated that backbone reorientation is approximately isotropic for the five polypeptides and is characterized by correlation times of ca. 0.3-0.6 nanoseconds as a result of rapid segmental motion. In a given polypeptide glycyl and pyrrolidine residues were found to have the same backbone correlation times, but backbone carbon τeff values did decrease as the glycyl content of the peptides increased. A semi-quantitative analysis of Cβ, Cγ, and Cδ correlation times suggests that rapid ring motion in both prolyl and hydroxyprolyl involves primarily Cγ and Cβ, with the prolyl ring being more mobile than the hydroxyprolyl ring.

Notes: No. Abstract.

Notes: A model for the flexibility of DNA is proposed that is based on discrete variations in the direction of propagation in going from one subunit to the next. Expansion of the local free energy in terms of the local bending gives a Gaussian distribution function. The assumption of the independence of local bends on neighbors lead to very simple formulae for the persistence length and the characteristic ratio. Emphasis, however, is placed on the application of the formulae for molecules of finite size where the persistence length and C∞ are not defined. The formulae are worked out for two models, which should serve as limits for the real physical situation.

Notes: If dispersion effects are not taken into account, the dimensions of particles in suspension estimated from spectrophotometric data (slope of the log OD versus log λ plot) are too low. By measuring dispersion curves for the medium and for the suspension, a consistent estimate of the size of latex particles of different diameter is obtained from the OD data.

Notes: The helix-coil transition of poly-N5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-L-glutamine in methanol-water solutions has been observed using 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. Two signals appear in the α-CH region in the course of the transition; this is in contrast with previous proton magnetic resonance experiments carried out on this polymer in the same solvent system.

Notes: X-ray diffraction and stereochemical analyses were used to study the hydrated structure of the helical amylose polymorph having a fiber repeat spacing of 8 Å. Intensity calculations using computer models confirmed six as the number of residues per turn and supported the space group P212121. Both diffraction intensity and stereochemical methods indicate the suitability of residue G3 from the potassium acetate complex of cyclohexaamylose as opposed to residues with longer O(4)-O(1) vectors. Comparison of the present results with those obtained for V amylose dehydrate indicated no major conformational differences between the two helix skeletons. A net helical rotation of approximately 30° accompanied the hydrate-dehydrate transition and the rotational position in the hydrate allowed packing that was less close. Hydration water molecules were not located; noncarbohydrate peaks on the electron density maps were primarily due to Fourier series termination errors.

Notes: We have measured the circular dichroism spectra and have obtained melting curves for samples of purified satellite DNA's from three species of crab, Cancer borealis, Gecarcinus lateralis, and Callinectes sapidus. Although all three satellite DNA's have the same density in neutral CsCl, their circular dichroism spectra and melting and reassociation characteristics are different, as are other properties of these DNA's. The circular dichroism spectra are analyzed to give estimates of nearest-neighbor frequencies. We estimate that about 90% of the Cancer borealis satellite DNA and over 80% of the Gecarcinus lateralis satellite DNA consist of d(AT)n:d(AT)n sequences, while the serially repeating unit of the Callinectes sapidus satellite DNA may not contain any extended d(AT)n:d(AT)n sequences. The results from the circular dichroism spectra for the Cancer borealis, Gecarcinus lateralis, and the Callinectes sapidus satellite DNA's are in agreement with base composition analyses, which give 2.4, 8, and 25% G+C, respectively, for these DNA's.

Notes: Samples of epichlorohydrin crosslinked potato starch were prepared by using a high ratio of starch to water and alkali concentration below the gelatinization level. This yielded crosslinked samples that were partially crystalline, and where the number of crosslinks could be varied between 1 and 20 crosslinks per 100 anhydroglucose units. The degree of swelling varied regularly with degree of crosslinking, and the molecular weight between crosslinks Mc as derived from swelling data in a good swelling agent compared favorably with Mc derived from chemical analysis.From the heat of gelatinization of the crosslinked starches, as observed in a differential scanning calorimeter, for gelatinization in glycerol, water, and dimethylsulfoxide, a model for the gel state of the crosslinked starch is proposed. It is concluded that the entropy of melting is the determining factor in establishing the temperature of gelatinization.

Notes: Circular dichroism studies of the interaction of β-cyclodextrin with a series of eight dinucleoside phosphates, and with 3′-AMP are reported. From results with ApU and ApA, it is shown that β-cyclodextrin binding is sensitive to dinucleoside stacking in approximately the same way as optical measures of stacking. Some qualitative uses of β-cyclodextrin binding are suggested, based on the fact that the change in the CD spectrum caused by cyclodextrin binding is unique to each of the dinucleosides studied. Hoffman and Bock have previously suggested the use of β-cyclodextrin as a probe of nucleic acid structure. Their work indicated that only binding to adenosine and inosine would have to be considered. The present paper shows that binding to other bases cannot be neglected, and will impose serious restrictions on the use of β-cyclodextrin as a structural probe.

Notes: Poly(1,N6-etheno-2-aza-adenylic acid) [poly(2-aza-εA)] was synthesized from 1,N6-etheno-2-aza-adenosine 5′-diphosphate (2-aza-εADP) and Escherichia coli polynucleotide phosphorylase. The values Km = 1.02 mM, V = 1.06 μmol hr-1 enzyme unit-1 were found for the polymerization reaction. In contrast to polyadenylic acid, this novel fluorescent polymer has a random structure in solution. The application of the 2-aza-εADP for localization of polynucleotide phosphorylase was also described.

Notes: A series of L-methionine oligomers [BOC-(Met)n-OMe] (n = 2-7) and the corresponding diastereomeric di- and tripeptides were synthesized using the mixed anhydride method. Oligomers prepared in this manner were optically pure and were obtained in reasonable yield. Preliminary optical examination of the peptides suggests that secondary structures may begin forming in the pentamer or hexamer in trifluoroethanol. BOC-(Met)4-OMe and BOC-(Met)5-OMe were also synthesized using an insoluble resin containing BOC-L-methionine as the nitrophenol active ester.

Notes: Conformational studies of a series of oligopeptides (from the tripeptide to the octadecapeptide) with the repeating sequence L-norvalyl-glycyl-L-proline and a polytripeptide with this sequence are reported. By means of chiroptical techniques, unordered conformations are found for all oligopeptides in water, trifluoroethanol, and ethylene glycol and for the water-insoluble polymer in trifluoroethanol. In ethylene glycol the polymer assumes a collagen-like structure. Infrared studies indicate that all the oligomers, in contrast to the polymer, are unordered in the solid state.

Notes: Uncharged poly(Nε-methyl-L-lysine) (PMLL) and its isomer, poly(Nδ-ethyl-L-ornithine) (PELO), in alkaline solution (pH ca. 12) undergo a helix-to-β transition upon mild heating at 50°C or higher in a manner similar to that of poly(L-lysine) (PLL). The rate of conversion follows the order: PMLL 〈 PELO 〈 PLL. The helix can be regenerated upon cooling near zero degrees, for instance, after more than 12 hr at 2°C. At concentrations less than 0.02% the β form is intramolecular, but at higher concentrations both intra- and intermolecular β forms are generated. Poly(Nδ-methyl-L-ornithine) (PMLO), an isomer of PLL, behaves like poly(L-ornithine); uncharged PMLO in alkaline solution is partially helical and becomes disordered at elevated temperatures.

Notes: In order to study the effect of side-chain length on the conformation of polypeptides, conformational changes of various ionic polypeptides with various lengths of side chain, poly-Nε-glutaryl-L-lysine (PGL), poly-Nδ-glutaryl-L-ornithine (PGO), poly-Nε-succinyl-L-lysine (PSL), and poly-Nδ-succinyl-L-ornithine (PGO), were investigated by ORD, potentiometric titration, and dilatometric measurements in aqueous solution. The results of optical rotation and potentiometric titration measurements indicate strongly that the α-helix stability increases in the sequence PSO 〈 PSL ∼ PGO 〈 PGL, which corresponds to increased side-chain length. The volume change associated with the helix-coil transition also increased in the above sequence. This series of polymers seems to be more hydrophobic compared with poly-L-glutamic acid or poly-L-lysine, as suggested from the values of enthalpy and entropy changes for coil-helix transitions.

Notes: The conformational changes of poly-Nε-glutaryl-L-lysine (PGL) and poly-Nε-succinyl-L-lysine (PSL) in various salt solutions were studied by use of ORD and potentiometric titration measurements. The addition of alkali metal salts to the fully ionized PGL or PSL solution caused helix formation. The helical content of the polymers increases in the following sequences: at salt concentration 0-2 M, CsCl 〈 KCl 〈 LiCl 〈 NaCl; and at 2-3 M, LiCl 〈 CsCl 〈 KCl ∼ NaCl. The preferential binding of the solvent components with various alkali metal salts of PGL or PSL was measured in LiCl, NaCl, and KCl solutions by means of equilibrium dialysis and differential refractometry. It was found that with increasing salt concentration, the polymers were preferentially hydrated in NaCl and KCl soultions; however the salt was preferentially bound to the polymers in LiCl solution. Such preferential binding was suggested to be closely related to conformational change. The addition of CaCl2 to polymer solutions led to the stabilization of the helical structure of PGL or PSL.

Notes: Refractive indices of bovine serum albumin solutions in saline and in 2-chloro ethanol are measured for the spectral region 1770-10000 Å by a reflectance method. A procedure for the determination of a dispersion formula for binary mixtures is developed and applied. The electronic polarizability of bovine serum albumin is determined and is found to be almost independent of the solvent and concentration. Hence it follows that the electronic polarizability of bovine serum albumin is almost independent of the molecular environment.

Notes: The dielectric absorption of poly-DL-phenylalanine and poly-γ-benzyl-L-aspartate (PLAB) was measured in very dilute solutions to determine the type of molecular association and to locate the helix-coil transition. Both polypeptides were present as associated helices in chloroform. The mode of aggregation, which was determined by measuring the dipole moment and the critical frequency, did not depend on the polarity of the side chain but rather on that of the solvent.In both polymers, the dissociation of the aggregates in chloroform was observed on addition of small amounts of dichloroacetic acid; further addition of the acid lead to the helix-coil transition.No second region of dielectric absorption that might be related to the kinetics of the transition was found during the helix-coil transition of PBLA.

Notes: Molecular conformation of some polysaccharides in aqueous solution in evidenced by changes in the optical rotation and in the elution pattern of gel filtration. The changes in the specific rotation against that in water are expressed as a molar conformational value [K]D21: -495° for colominic acid in 1.0 N NaOH solution, and -180° for hyaluronate (HA), +85° for corneal keratin sulfate, and +234° for amylose in 8 M urea solution. The gel filtration of amylose and HA dissolved in 8 M urea solution shows elution patterns distinctly different from those dissolved in water. The phenomena are attributable to a molecular conformational transition of polysaccharide molecules in aqueous solution.

Notes: A previously described procedure for simultaneous optimization of bond lengths and angles was used to test different models for mannan I. Potential hydrogen bonds and the glycosidic angle were included in the optimization. A conformational model with bifurcated intramolecular hydrogen bonds of the type observed in the methyl cellobioside methanol complex showed the best agreement with available exprerimental data. The coordinates of this model were provided by computer calculations. The available X-ray data, however, were not sufficient for selecting this model; rather, ir data were necessary to furnish the needed information. The different conformational models tested all showed an almost constant virtual bond length O(1)-O(4) of the β-pyranose residue. This was in contrast to the previously obtained results for the α-pyranose residues.

Notes: The longitudinal proton magnetic relaxation times T1 were measured for ferri (met)-and carbonmonoxy-bovine haemoglobin and equine myoglobin in 0.1 M KH2PO4 aqueous solutions near pH 6 at 5°C and 35°C from 1.5- to 60-MHz Larmor frequencies. It is concluded that the correlation time τC for the dipole-dipole interaction of electron and nuclear spins is in fact the electron (ferric) spin relaxation time τS being close to 1.5 × 10-10 sec for both metHb and metMb at 5°C. At 35°C the paramagnetic relaxation rates are not determined solely by the relaxation of protons exchanging from the haem pocket with bulk solvent. Hence, τC at 35°C cannot be calculated from the dispersion data obtained at this temperature. The relevance of this for the determination of interspin distances r is discussed.

Notes: The orientation of naphthalene rings in the side chain of poly-γ-1-naphthylmethyl-L-glutamate (PNLG) in mixed solvents of dichoroethane (DCE) and hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) has been studied together with its conformation by infrared, circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectra. The CD pattern of PNLG varies with the solvent composition while it maintains the α-helical conformation. The fluorescence spectra of PNLG in solution show excimer emission of the naphthalene chromophores. The ratio of intensity of the excimer emission to that of the normal fluorescence decreases as the HFIP component in the solvent increases. It is suggested that the naphthalene rings in the side chain of α-helical PNLG are more rigidly orientated in the solvents of higher HFIP ratio.

Notes: The near ultraviolet chiroptical properties of L-cystine conformational isomers are examined on a static, “one-electron” model in which the disulfide moiety is the chromophoric group and the atoms of the L-alanyl fragments are treated as perturbers. The zeroth order chromophoric wave functions are calculated on a semiempirical molecular orbital model in which excited states are constructed in the virtual orbital-configuration interaction approximation. The perturbing environment is represented by point charges located at the atomic centers of the L-alanyl fragments. Chromophore-perturber interactions are expressed as charge-multipole moments with only the charge-dipole and charged-quadrupole terms being retained in the calculations. Vicinal contributions to the rotatory strengths of the five lowest energy disulfide transitions are computed for 30 conformational isomers of the L-cystine dizwitterion. The results provide support for the view that vicinal or peripheral effects can account entirely for the observed near ultraviolet (λ 〉 230 nm) chiroptical properties of L-cystine and its derivatives and that these properties are diagnostic of conformational features external to the disulfide moiety.

Notes: The circular dichroic spectrum of poly(Tyr,TyrBr) in trimethylphosphate from 180 to 320 nm is found to be a linear function of composition from 25 to 68% TyrBr, and the spectra of the Tyr and TyrBr components are resolved. For Tyr the resolved spectrum is in agreement with available CD spectra of poly(Tyr). These results are interpreted to mean that the side-chain conformations of Tyr and TyrBr are not affected by the other component, and that for Tyr the conformation is the same as in poly(Tyr). It is also concluded that poly(Tyr,TyrBr) is helical with the same helix sense as poly(Tyr). The restrictions on the side-chain conformations are discussed, and it is suggested that the Tyr and TyrBr side chains are all in the same χ1 region.

Notes: The circular dichroism of double-helical nucleic acids was calculated as a function of geometry using the theory of Tinoco and Johnson. This theory does not include contributions of near ultraviolet transitions that are not π → π* in nature. The calculated circular dichroism shows a strong dependence on the distance of base pairs from the helix axis and the tilt of the base pair. Smaller dependences are predicted for the propeller-like twist of a base pair and for variation of the angular increment per base pair. Moderately good agreement between calculated and many experimentally observed spectra could be generated.

Notes: The maximum at 220 nm in the circular dichroism spectrum of native collagen solution changed to a negative value after heat denaturation or collagenase hydrolysis. The enzyme induced rate of CD change at 220 nm was shown to be first order in collagen concentration. The specific rate constant k is actually a combined rate constant kfast and kslow in which the ratio kf/ks is 4.1. The initial rates were linear with respect to enzyme concentration, and the Km was found to be 5.5 × 10-7 M. The rate of ultraviolet hyperchromicity at 220 nm on collagen hydrolysis was determined. The kfast was the same as that obtained by CD. The kf/ks ratio was 4.6. Both methods may be readily used to assay for collagenase activity.

Notes: The crystal and molecular structure of the complex of amylose with dimethyl sulfoxide has been studied by a combination of stereochemical analysis, potential energy, and X-ray diffraction methods. The complex crystallizes in a pseudotetragonal unit cell with a = b = 19.17 Å and c (fiber axis) = 24.39 Å, with two antiparallel chains per unit cell and space group P212121. The amylose chain is a left-handed 61(1.355) helix with three turns per crystallographic repeat. The O(6) rotational position is approximately gt. Dimethyl sulfoxide is located inside the helix with one DMSO molecule for every three glucose residues. An additional four DMSO molecules and eight water molecules each are located in the large interstices between chains, and it is the interaction of these molecules with the helix that results in the pseudotetragonal chain packing. The interstitial DMSO is the source of the previously reported additional layer lines, which are not consistent with the 8.13-Å amylose repeat distance. The final R factor for the layers with amylose contribution to the structure factors was 0.29, while the overall R factor was 0.35. The stereochemical packing analysis provided suitable phasing models for the subsequent X-ray refinement.

Notes: Dielectric dispersion of DNA was studied in the frequency range 100 Hz-100 kHz at four different temperatures (6-30°C). The dielectric increment ε0-ε∞ increased with the rise of temperature. The relaxation time, on the other hand, decreased. Both the increase in dielectric increment and the decrease in relaxation time could not be explained on the basis of the counterion polarization theory. Dipole moment was estimated from Kirkwood theory. It was found to decrease systematically with temperature. Even at 0°C there was a dipole moment of 104D.

Notes: The dependence of Förster long-range resonance energy transfer efficiency on the orientational freedom of donor D and acceptor A molecules attached to a macromolecular substrate is examined. The usefulness of polarized emission measurements in determining the mutual orientation as well as the degree of orientational freedom of D and A and thereby deriving maximum and minimum values for the D-A separation from the transfer efficieny is demonstrated.

Notes: Five human hemoglobins whose genetic relationship to one another involves one set of alleles, hemoglobins CC, SC, SS, AS, and AA, were studied in the deoxygenated form within a McBain gravimetric sorption system at 28°C. Water was used as the adsorbate at relative vapor pressures ranging from 0.11 to 0.39. The results of this study are reported and compared with a similar study on the ferric form of these same five hemoglobins. For both forms of hemoglobin studied, a slight increase was measured in the number of polar sites accessible to H2O vapor for those genotypes in which the substituent in the sixth position from the N terminus of the two β chains had a positively charged side chain, i.e., hemoglobin C. Those samples containing hemoglobin S (less soluble in the deoxy form) show an increased BET monolayer coverage in the deoxy as compared to the ferric form. For each genotype, the deoxygenated form had more polar sites accessible to H2O vapor than its ferric form. This finding is in agreement with an increase in the size of the central cavity as shown by crystallographic analysis.

Notes: Thermal denaturation of direct-mixed and reconstituted polylysine-DNA complexes in 2.5 × 10-4 M EDTA, pH 8.0 and various concentrations of NaCl has been studied. For both complexes, increasing ionic strength of the solution raises Tm, the melting temperature of free base pairs. The linear dependence of Tm on log Na+ indicates that the concept of electrostatic shielding on phosphate lattice of an infinitely long pure DNA by Na+ can be applied to short free DNA segments in a nucleoprotein. For a direct-mixed polylysine-DNA complex, the melting temperature of bound base pairs Tm′ remains constant at various ionic strengths. On the other hand, the Tm′ in a reconstituted polylysine-DNA complex is shifted to lower temperature at higher ionic strength. This phenomenon occurs for reconstituted complex with long polylysine of one thousand residues or short polylysine of one hundred residues. It is shown that such a decrease of Tm′ is not due to a reduction of coupling melting between free and bound regions in a complex when the ionic strength is raised. It is also not due to intermolecular or intramolecular change from a reconstituted to a direct-mixed complex. It is suggested that this phenomenon is due to structural change on polylysine-bound regions by ionic strength. It is suggested further that Na+ may replace water molecules and bind polylysine-bound regions in a reconstituted complex. Such a dehydration effect destabilizes these regions and lowers Tm′. This explanation is supported by circular dichroism (CD) results.

Notes: Theoretical values are reported for the specific conductivity, charge carrier mobilities, and delocalized free paths in β-polyglycine using the parallel-chain pleated sheet conformation and the all-valence electron energy band structure obtained previously. The mobilities are found to be much larger along the polypeptide backbones than in the direction of the hydrogen bonds. This indicates a mechanism of conduction in which the former path is favored for electronic delocalization. The preexponential factor of the specific conductivity obtained theoretically agrees well with experimental results.

Notes: The circular dichroism of a series of L-methionine oligopeptides [BOC-(Met)n-OMe] was examined in trifluoroethanol and hexafluoroacetone sesquihydrate. The results indicate that the trimer through the hexamer exists predominantly in disordered conformations in these solvents. An abrupt change in the CD pattern at the heptamer in trifluoroethanol suggests that L-methionine oligopeptides begin forming helices at this chain length.

Notes: The spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) of water adsorbed on collagen fibers was determined at six frequencies and temperatures varying from 25° to -80°C. Care was taken to eliminate the contributions to the signal of protons other than those in the adsorbed water. Quantitative calculations were made on T1 and the results were compared with the experimental data. It is suggested that a maximum of about 0.50-0.55 g water per g collagen forms a hydration layer, which cannot be frozen down to -90°C and exhibits a distribution of motional correlation times. For collagen samples containing a larger quantity of adsorbed water, the additional water molecules behave like ordinary isotropic water, having a single correlation time and a freezing temperature of about -10°C.

Notes: Laser Raman spectra of the trinucleoside diphoshate ApApA and dinucleoside phosphates ApU, UpA, GpC, CpG, and GpU are reported and discussed. Assignments of conformationally sensitive frequencies are-facilitated by comparison with spectra reported here of poly(rA), poly(rC), and poly(rU) in deuterium oxide solutions. The significant spectral differences between ApU and UpA, and between GpC and CpG, reveal that the sequence isomers have nonidentical conformations in aqueous solution. In UpA at low temperature the bases are stacked and the backbone conformation is similar to that found in ordered polynucleotide structures and RNA. In ApU no base stacking can be detected and the backbone conformation differs from that found in UpA, both in the orientation of phosphodiester linkages and in the internal conformation of ribose. At the conditions employed neither ApU nor UpA exhibits base pairing in aqueous solutions. In both GpC and CpG the bases are stacked and the phosphodiester conformations are similar to those encountered for UpA and RNA. However, major differences between spectra of GpC and CpG indicate that the geometries of stacking and ribosyl conformations are different. In GpC the Raman data favor the formation of hydrogen bonded dimers containing GC pairs. Protonation of C in GpC is sufficient to eliminate the ordered conformation detected by Raman spectroscopy. Despite the ordered backbone conformation evident in GpU, this dinucleoside apparently contains neither stacked nor hydrogen bonded bases at the conditions employed here. The Raman data also confirm the stacking interactions in ApApA, poly(rA), and poly(rC) but suggest that the backbone conformation in poly(rC) differs qualitatively from that found in most ordered polynucleotide structures and is thermally more stable. The present results demonstrate the sensitivity of the Raman technique to sequence-related structural differences in oligonucleotides and provide additional spectra-structure correlations for future conformational studies of RNA by laser Raman spectroscopy.

Notes: The 300-MHz proton nmr spectra (between 11 and 14 ppm) of a series of double-stranded deoxy oligonucleotides of known sequence have been recorded in H2O solution. These resonances have been assigned to the G—N1H and T—N3H protons of specific base pairs from an evaluation of the temperature dependence of the ring NH linewidths and from the selective ring NH chemical shift changes on actinomycin-D binding. The deoxy oligonucleotides exist predominantly in the DNA-B conformation as evaluated from antibiotic binding studies. Ring-current calculations have been utilized to evaluate the up-field shifts of the G—N1H and T—N3H protons in Watson-Crick base pairs due to the ring currents from the pyrimidine and purine rings of nearest neighbor base pairs in regular DNA-B- and RNA-A-type helices. The perturbations on these up-field ring-current contributions that arise from twisting and tilting a base pair adjacent to the ring NH under study have been evaluated and found to change the calculated chemical shift by ±0.6 ppm for twist and tilt distortions of 〈30°C in a single adjacent base pair. A knowledge of the experimentally assigned ring NH chemical shifts of specific base pairs in known sequences of double-stranded deoxy oligonucleotides coupled with the ring-current tables for the DNA-B helical structure permit the assignment of 13.6 ± 0.1 ppm and 14.6 ± 0.2 ppm for the G—N1H proton of an isolated GC base pair and the T—N3H proton of an isolated AT base pair, respectively.

Notes: The template directed synthesis of poly[d(A-T)] from the nucleoside triphosphates in the presence of DNA polymerase I is carried out continuously in a stirred flow reactor for the first time. The initial objective is to test the kinetic stability of the established steady states at various flow rates. Graphical analysis predicts instable steady states for certain high flow rates. As a consequence of instabilities multiple steady states and steady-state hysteresis may occur. Steady-state hysteresis has now been found experimentally. For a different enzyme fraction of low exonuclease activity we found the steady-state absorbance at 260 nm to be almost invariant with flow rate at high enzyme concentrations even if the flow rate was increased by a large factor. We call this phenomenon kinetic buffering. Relaxation of a large flow perturbation approaches the steady state in a sigmoidal fashion. Concentration oscillations at 260 nm occurred in one experiment using an enzyme fraction of low exonuclease activity after perturbing the steady state by monomer (dATP). Advantages of the stirred flow reactor method over serial transfer are discussed.

Notes: The far-ultraviolet circular dichroic spectrum of the 39-residue peptide hormone porcine corticotropin and the biologically active fragment corticotropin 1-24 is negative from 250 nm to 195 nm in water, but in 6M guanidinium chloride a positive band appears at about 225 nm. The temperature and guanidinium chloride dependence of this spectral transition indicates the absence of any stable ordered secondary structure in corticotropin and the spectrum is seen to be in only partial agreement with results using the model peptide chromophore, Ala-Ala-Ala. Using oligopeptides containing aromatic amino acid residues sandwiched between glycyl residues, it is shown that the shape and intensity of the corticotropin 225 nm positive band which appears in 6M guanidinium chloride is in agreement with the far-ultraviolet transitions of the aromatic chromophores in the hormone. Curve resolution of the near-ultraviolet circular dichroic spectrum of corticotropin and comparison of the rotational strengths of the phenylalanyl and tyrosyl bands reveals no evidence for increased rotational freedom in 6M guanidinium hydrochloride. Spectral changes are observed, however, in the transitions arising from the single tryptophan. This study suggests that corticotropin in aqueous solution may serve as a better model for the circular dichroic spectrum of the aperiodic regions in globular proteins than either synthetic homopolypeptides or reference proteins for which spectral and X-ray diffraction data are available.

Notes: An all-order classical coupled oscillator theory in which monomer band shapes are explicity taken into account is applied to the calculations of polynucleotide circular dichroism. Calculations are shown for ApA and oligoadenylic acid of varying chain lengths, in both RNA and B-DNA geometry, and the advantages of this theory are assessed. By introducing an effective dielectric constant, good agreement with measured spectra is obtained. Variations in monomer parameters are tested in an attempt to eliminate remaining discrepancies between calculated and measured spectra.

Notes: The Raman Spectra of bovine serum albumin have been obtained in the solute state, in alkaline and acidic solutions, and in the gel. The reversible denaturations of bovine serum albumin solutions by heat, acid's, and alkali were studied and a new mechanism for heat denaturation has been proposed based on a continuous unfolding of the α-helices.

Notes: New techniques in laser Raman spectroscopy are used to obtain spectra of aqueous solutions of lysozylme for frequency shifts as small as 5 cm-1. In addition, Raman measurements are made on two crystalline forms of hen egg white lysozyme. The spectra obtained from the solution and from the crystal are found to be similar for frequencies above 100 cm-1. However, a low-frequency band at 25 cm-1 observed in crystalline lysozyme is not found in the solution, indicating that this band cannot be attributed to an internal molecular vibration.

Notes: The adsorption of protein films on polystyrene latex spheres was studied by optical mixing spectroscopy. With this technique, we show that both the hydrodynamic thickness of protein films and their optical density can be measured. Thus, we found that films of the glycoproteins isolated from the human erythrocyte membrane were four times as thick as films of either human serum albumin or bovine serum albumin for about the same surface coverage. This result suggests an end-on orientation for the adsorbed glycoprotein molecules, which is consistent with the model proposed by others for the orientation of these molecules at the surface of the red blood cell itself.

Notes: Solvent binding to bovine serum albumin in 2-chloroethanol-water mixed solvents of different composition, measured previously by Inoue and Timasheff (Biopolymers (1972) 11, 737-43) is applied to a hydrodynamic study of the solvated protein.From sedimentation and diffusion data, the apparent molecular weight of the solvated protein particle can be calculated, provided an average partial specific volume, computed from the composition of the particle, is introduced in Svedberg's equation. The unsolvated molecular weight of the protein can than be calculated by subtraction of the bound solvent. Further data on the hydrodynamic particle (f/fmin and axial ratio of the equivalent ellipsoid) are readily calculated from these experiments, and reinforce the supposition that 2-chloroethanol is a strong helix-inducing solvent.

Notes: We have carried out a detailed study of ligand binding of ferrihemoglobins under various conditions. Our results show that n varies with time and that this variation is paralleled by changes in the spectrum of methemoglobin. This suggests some form of structural perturbation. The time-dependent value of n is discussed in terms of the observed spectral changes accompanying prolonged equilibration.

Notes: The nmr titration curves of chemical shifts versus pH were observed for the protons of various histidine-containing di- and tripeptides. With these results, the macroscopic pKa values and the chemical shifts intrinsic to each ionic species were determined by a computer curve-fitting based on a simple acid dissociation sequence. The pKa value of the imidazole ring in N-acetyl-L-histidine methylamide was assumed to represent the intrinsic (or unperturbed) pKa of the imidazole rings of histidine having peptide linkages at both the CO and NH sides. The pKa values of the imidazole rings observed for most di- and tripeptides were reasonably reproduced by simple calculations using the intrinsic value and the perturbations due to the CO2- and NH3+ groups located at various positions. Some other factors affecting the pKa value of the imidazole ring are also discussed.

Notes: The hyperchromic and hypochromic changes in the intensity of the amide-I and amide-III lines of polypeptides and certain ring vibrations of the bases of polynucleotides are shown to be related to similar changes in the lower energy uv absorption bands. The selection rules strictly limit the pairs of excited electronic states that can contribute to the elements of the polarizability matrix. An energy-dependent term in this equation weights the contribution of the pairs of electronic transitions in favor of those involving the lower energy transitions. For both polypeptides and polynucleotides, there is a large hypochromic inensity change in the first π → π* exciton band upon the coil-to-helix transition. Through the selection rules, certain conformationally sensitive Raman lines are shown to derive their intensity predominantly from this band and hence also display hypochromism. Again, through an application of the selection rules, certain Raman lines can be demonstrated to depend predominantly for their intensity upon the n → π* transition, and consequently have the opposite hyperchromic intensity change upon the same conformational transition.

Notes: Transient electric birefringence experiments have been performed on well-characterized highly monodisperse samples of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Experiments and calculations are presented that show that the sensitivity and accuracy of the traditional transient electric birefringence technique can be enhanced by several orders of magnitude through the use of a low-powered laser and crystal polarizing optics, signal averaging, and digital data processing. Measurements of the field-free decay of the birefringence yield for the rotational diffusion coefficient, DR = 318 ± 3 sec-1. The length of the rodlike virion, calculated from the Broersma equation with this value of DR and a rod diameter of 15 nm, is 292.5 ± 1.0 nm. Measurements of the growth of the birefringence when an electric field is applied across the sample yield μ2/kT(α∥ - α⊥) = 0.47 ± 0.07, where μ is the permanent dipole moment (assumed parallel to the symmetry axis of the virus) and α∥ - α⊥ is the electrical polarizability anistropy of the virus. Using the value of α∥ - α⊥ measured by O'Konski et al., we then obtain μ = 2.5 × 10-14 esu cm.

Notes: The high-resolution nmr spectrum of baker's yeast tRNACUALeu, a recently sequenced non-denaturable tRNA, has been compared with the spectra of the native and denatured conformers of the closely related species tRNAUUGLeu. Because of the presence of many common base pairs in the different tRNA's, it is possible to assign most of the low-field resonances to specific secondary-structure base pairs. A comparison of the observed positions of the various resonances with those predicted by a semiempirical ring-current shift theory shows a root-mean-square deviation of 0.14, 0.11, and 0.12 ppm for tRNAUUGLeu (native), and tRNAUUGLeu (denatured), respectively. These results support the ring-current shift theory currently used to interpret the low-field nmr spectra of the tRNA molecules. Differences between the predicted and observed positions of some resonances provide new evidence for higher order effects such as shifts from second nearest neighbors, anomalous shifts exerted by G·U base pairs, and tertiary-structure effects. A model that was previously proposed for the denatured conformer of tRNAUUGLeu is also supported.

Notes: The molecular theory of the previous paper in this series is extended to determine the effect of divalent metal ions on helix stability relative to coil at fixed ionic strength and nucleotide phosphate concentration. Specification of the state of condensed counterions, as well as their concentration, is essential for the solution of this problem, and it is assumed that they translate freely within a thin cylindrical shell close to the polynucleotide. As a function of divalent counterion concentration mB2+ the relative stability of the helix is highly nonlinear. Although the overall trend is that the helix stability increases with addition of divalent metal ion, there is a narrow concentration range for which it decreases slightly. The behavior of the relative stability as a function of mB2+ is determined by the translational degrees of freedom of the counterions, both univalent and divalent, both condensed and uncondensed. Detailed comparison of the theory with data is not given here, but it is pointed out that the calculated values of the relative stability are consistent with the order of magnitude of the observed effect Mg2+ on the melting temperature.

Notes: X-ray diffraction studies have been made on the polytripeptide poly(L-prolyl-L-α-phenylglycyl-L-proline). Its structure has been found to be helical, with a poly(L-proline) II conformation, packed in an orthorhombic lattice, space group P21212, with a = 14.3 Å, b = 13.5 Å, and c = 9.4 Å.

Notes: The stability constant of the complex of tRNA with 50S subunits of ribosomes was compared in ordinary and heavy water. A considerable effect (about fourfold) was observed, showing the importance of hydrogen bonds in this interaction. In addition, the isotope effect of complementary polynucleotide interaction was measured for two examples. In the case of the binary complex of heptainosinic acid oligomers with poly(C) in the presence of 10-3 M MgCl2, the transfer from ordinary to heavy water gave an increase of the stability constant of about 5%. But in the case of a ternary complex of hexaadenylic acid with poly(U) under the same conditions, the stability constant in D2O increased threefold. The isotope effect depends strongly on magnesium ion concentration and is possibly due to some specific mechanism of magnesium ion complexing involving water molecules.

Notes: Monte-Carlo calculations of geometric and thermodynamic characteristics of the α-helix and the β-structure of polypeptides have been carried out. To describe a hydrogen bond both the Lippincott-Schroeder and Morse potentials were used. The internal rotation angles ϕ and ψ in the α-helix have been shown to fluctuate in the range of ±7°. The distribution functions on angles ϕ and ψ and on hydrogen bond lengths and angles in the α-helix have been computed and compared with those in myoglobin and lysozyme. Thermodynamic characteristics of the α-helix calculated in different approximations with the two forms of the hydrogen bond potentials have also been compared. The data obtained are close to the experimental values for polypeptides in neutral solution.Some geometric and thermodynamic characteristics of the regular parallel and antiparallel and irregular antiparallel β-structure have been found. In the β-structure the internal rotation angles vary within the interval ±15-20°. An increase in the cross and longitudinal dimensions of the β-structure only slightly influence both the geometric and thermodynamic characteristics.

Notes: The preparation of the co-oligopeptides of the series H-Gly-Phe-(Gly)n-Trp-Gly-OH (n = 0, 1, 2) and of other free peptides of glycine, L-tryptophan, and L-phenylalanine is reported. The syntheses have been carried out by conventional methods, using N-hydroxysuccinimide esters for the coupling steps. The ultraviolet absorption properties of the free peptides have been investigated in water. No hypo- or hyperchromicity was found for the aromatic chromophores, with the exception of H-Gly-Phe-Trp-OH, which shows a small but significant hypochromicity. The contribution of the peptide bond to the molar absorptivity in the far ultraviolet has been separated from that of the side chain plus the —COO- group by plotting the measured molar absorptivity ∊ of the farthest accessible uv maximum as a function of the number of peptide bonds (nA). The peptide bond contribution proved to be independent of nA in the range nA = 1-5, thus ruling out the onset of helical conformations in the longer chain peptides.

Notes: The properties of the electron distribution in amides, peptides, and carboxylic acids, obtained from ab-initio molecular orbital calculations using both minimal and extended basis sets have been studied. These properties are discussed in terms of some of the common assumptions made in empirical conformational calculations of biomolecules. In particular, population analyses of 15 compounds in these families were carried out with both the minimal and extended basis sets, and compared with results of CNDO/2 calculations. It is suggested that population analysis is a useful tool for recognizing patterns of charge distributions, and investigating the transferability of parameters of different functional groups. However, its use for providing partial charges for conformational analysis is a questionable procedure.A more detailed analysis of the charge distribution was carried out by calculating the spatial electron distribution in the four compounds, N-methylacetamide, acetic acid, diketopiperazine, and N-acetyl-N′-methylalanine. Both total electron-density maps and differencedensity maps are presented. The properties of the overall shape of the molecule and the atoms in the molecule, are discussed in terms of the former along with three-dimensional shape plots of the total density. The distortion accompanying molecular formation, resulting in such features as the lone pair orbital and “bonding deensities” is discussed in terms of the difference maps. Semiquantitative estimates of the bonding and orbital densities resulting from the integration of the densities are also presented. Finally, one of the novel features of the study is the presentation of three-dimensional surfaces of constant difference densities from which the shapes of the orbitals and bonding densities emerge.

Notes: The lack of the positive band at around 226 nm in the CD spectra of poly(prolyl-azetidine-2-carbonyl-proline) in trifluoroethanol and of poly(azetidine-2-carbonyl-prolyl-azetidine-2-carboxylic) acid in F3EtOH and water, the hyperchromism of the absorption maximum at about 202 nm, and the extremely small intensity of the Cβ-Pro, Cγ-Pro, and Cβ-Aze signals for the cis peptide bonds in the 13C nmr spectrum of poly(Pro-Aze-Pro) in F3EtOH indicate that both polyproline analogs exist as disordered chains in this solvent, the trans peptide group being maintained. The disordering of the chains is attributed to an increase in the accessible range of ψ due to the reduced dimensions of the square ring of L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid residue relative to the pyrrolidine ring of proline and to strong interactions of the haloalcohol with the peptide groups of the chains.

Notes: Two methods for the characterization of protein molecular weights from their diffusion coefficients are discussed. These measurements can be made quickly and reliably at low concentrations using quasielastic light-scattering techniques. First, an empirical calibration of the diffusion coefficient at infinite dilution of denatured random coils against molecular weight is reported. The second method combines the measurement of D0 with the intrinsic viscosity [η]. This D0-[η] relationship proves to be very insensitive to polymers structure or solvent type. The data indicate that the ratio of the hydrodynamic radius measured by viscosity to the hydrodynamic radius measured by diffusion is about 15% smaller than that predicted by theoretical models. The nature of the molecular-weight average obtained for polydisperse systems is defined for a Schulz distribution. These hydrodynamic methods have also been used to demonstrate the presence of chain branching in the glycoprotein ovomucoid. In addition, a method is proposed by which the effective segment length and an excluded volume parameter for random coils may be evaluated for diffusion measurements.

Notes: The influence of one DNA region on the stability of an adjoining region (telestability) was examined. Melting curves of three block DNA's, d(C15A15)·d(T15G15), d(C20A15)·d(T15G20), and d(C20A10)·d(T10G20) were analyzed in terms of the nearest neighbor Ising model. Comparisons of predicted and experimental curves were made in 0.01 M and 0.1 M sodium ion solutions. The nearest neighbor formalism was also employed to analyze block DNA transition in the presence of actinomycin, a G·C specific molecule. The results show that nearest neighbor base-pair interaction cannot predict the melting curves of the block DNA's. Adjustments in theoretical parameters to account for phosphate repulsion assuming a B conformation throughout the DNA's do not alter this conclusion. Changes in the theoretical parameters, which provide good overall agreement, are consistent with a substantial stabilization of the A·T region nearest the G·C block. The melting temperature T A·T for the average A·T pari in d(C20A10)·d(T10G20), with 10 A·T pairs, appears to be 4°C greater than TA·T for d(C15A15)·d(T15G15) and d(C20A15)·d(T15G20), both with 15 A·T pairs. Actinomycin bound to the G·C end effectively stabilizes the A·T end by 9°C. These results indicate a long-range contribution to the interactions governing DNA stability. A possible mechanism for these interactions will be discussed.

Notes: Dielectric relaxation studies in the frequency range 100 Hz to 2 MHz of poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) in dioxane have been carried out over a range of concentration 10-4-10-2g/g. The structure of aggregates is analyzed in terms of dipole moment and relaxation time. A critical concentration (≃ 10-3 g/g for the studied molecular weights) has been determined below which the aggregates are found to have linear head to tail type structure. Above the critical concentration a different structure of aggregates is apparent which could not be fully analyzed by these measurements alone. Possible forms of aggregation above the critical concentration are discussed. Formation of long range order which would lead to nematic liquid crystalline phase at higher concentrations has been discussed as one of the possible explanations for the observed behavior above the critical concentration.Maximum length of linear head to tail type aggregates for poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) in dioxane as determined from these results correspond to an α-helix of molecular weight 210,000. A slight difference in the purity of dioxane has been shown to have an influence on the reproducibility of the state of aggregation as well as on the rate of disaggregation on dilution.

Notes: Racemization in the synthesis of peptide intermediates and their polymers was investigated, using L-amino acid oxidase. The formation of N-hydroxysuccinimide esters from N-protected peptide acids yielded optically pure products in contrast to p-nitrophenyl and pentachlorophenyl active esters. The racemization in the polymerization step was found to be base sensitive. Partially racemized polymer can result from optically homogeneous monomer. Thus, the optical integrity of active monomer species carries no guarantee for that of the polymer.

Notes: Conformations containing all trans peptide bonds have previously been proposed for N-methylleucine gramicidin-S and (di-N-methylleucine) gramicidin-S based on an evaluation of proton nuclear magnetic resonance parameters in a series of solvents. These gramicidin-S derivatives exhibit full biological activity despite the fact that the proposed solution conformations differ in backbone topology and relative orientation of the Phe and Orn side chains compared to gramicidin-S. The present authors discuss conformations for N-methylleucine gramicidin-S and (di-N-methylleucine) gramicidin-S which incorporate cis peptide bonds at L-Orn-L-N-MeLeu, where the gramicidin-S backbone is essentially retained, and the relative orientation of the Pro, Orn, Val, and Phe side chains correspond to those observed for gramicidin-S. A novel hydrogen-bond arrangement involving one carbonyl group interacting with two peptide protons (1 ←4 and 1 ←5 types) is proposed to stabilize the backbone conformation in the gramicidin-S derivatives. A recent report on the cyclic heptapeptide antibiotic, Ilamycin B1, shows the presence of cis peptide bonds at N-CH3 amino acids, as well as the novel hydrogen-bond arrangement presented above.

Notes: The morphology of fibrin strongly depends on solvent medium, as shown by clotting experiments carried out in the presence of different salts. The clots were characterized by electron microscopy and spectrophotometric methods; the kinetics of gelation were determined.In the presence of electrolytes which strongly delay clotting, the strands are thin and few branching points are observed; opposite morphological changes are induced by salts which act as accelerating agents. On the basis of this correlation, and of previous data on the structure of fibrin, a kinetic model of the self-assembly process is outlined. It accounts well for the observed solvent effects on the morphology of the network.An important result emerging from our experiments is that the fibers undergo branching prior to gelation. Branching points arise from the defective growth of the fibers; a simple explanation of the occurrence of branching may be obtained by our self-assembly model.

Notes: The equilibrium between the cis and trans forms of X-Pro peptide bonds can readily be measured in the 13C nmr spectra. In the present paper we investigate how observation of this equilibrium could be used as an nmr probe for conformational studies of flexible polypeptide chains. The experiments include studies by 13C nmr of a series of linear oligopeptides containing different X-L-Pro peptide bonds, with X = Gly, L-Ala, L-Leu, L-Phe, D-Ala, D-Leu, and D-Phe. Overall the study confirms that X-Pro peptide bonds can generally be useful as 13C nmr probes reporting the formation of nonrandom conformation in flexible polypeptide chains. It was found that the cis-trans equilibrium of X-Pro is greatly affected by the side chain of X and the configuration of the α-carbon atom of X. On the basis of these observations some general rules are suggested for a practical applications of the X-Pro nmr probes in conformational studies of polypeptide chains.

Notes: Random copolymers of L-glutamic acid and ortho-nitrobenzyl-L-glutamate were synthesized with different percentages of nitrobenzyl-L-glutamate, from 3 to 22%. These copolymers were studied by circular dichroism (CD) and potentiometric titrations in aqueous solutions in order to determine the variation of the stability of the secondary structure when the concentration of nitrobenzylglutamate varies in the copolymer. We observed that the stability increases with the concentration of glutamate. Such a stabilization could be due to either side-chain interactions or interactions between the aromatic side chain with the backbone. An intermolecular aggregation was observed when the percentage of nitrobenzylglutamate was sufficently important, but such an aggregation may be avoided if a dioxane/water mixture is used as a solvent.

Notes: The kinetics of γ-benzyl-L-glutamate NCA's polymerizations in dioxane as solvent are discussed. The partial orders respective to [A], the NCA concentration and [I0], the initial initiator concentration are given; the rate constants are deduced and a mechanism is proposed to justify a rate of polymerization Vp = k[A][I0]2.The dependence of the rate constants on the conformation of the growing chains is demonstrated; the acceleration is attributed to the ordered structures favorable to hydrogen bonding. The kinetics of aging have also been examined and discussed; it is shown that they cannot modify the kinetics of polymerization.The DPn were obtained on the same samples before and after debenzylation; it is proved that at any concentration, DPn ≃ [A0]/[I0].The molecular-weight distributions were obtained by chromatography and a polydispersity lower than 1.3 was deduced for each sample. The trimodal distribution, appearing as soon as [A0]/[I0] is larger than 3, is attributed to the existence of the three structures σ, β, and α. The weight fraction of each of the structures was correlated to the kinetics of polymerization.

Notes: The crystal structure of native cellulose (Valonia) has been analyzed by electron diffraction. Possible models for the structure were refined by rigid-body least squares methods, which incorporated parameters defining the preferred orientation of the fibrils around their long axes in the cell wall lamellae. The structure was found to consist of an array of chains having the same sense (i.e., parallel), with packing parameters similar to those recently determined by X-ray diffraction. The eight-chain unit cell could be approximated adequately by a two-chain monoclinic unit cell with dimensions a = 8.18 Å, b = 7.84 Å, c = 10.38 Å (fiber axis), and γ = 97.04°; the space group is P21.

Notes: The coil-to-helix transition temperatures of hydrogen bearing and deuterated poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) in 1,3-dichlorotetrafluoroacetone/H2O and/D2O mixtures, respectively, have been determined. Together with previously obtained data for the conformational transition of this polypeptide in normal and deuterated dichloroacetic acid, these results have been used in an analysis of the effect of deuterium substitution on the intrinsic stability of the α-helical form of poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate). The findings, consistent for both solvent systems, showed that the deuterated polypeptide is some 5% more stable than the normal protonated poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate), while the polypeptide-active solvent interaction enthalpy is also slightly increased by deuterium substitution in the respective molecules. A consideration of available data for poly(β-benzyl-L-aspartate) reveals an anomaly with respect to the present analysis.

Notes: Transient electric birefringence measurements on poly(L-lysine hydrobromide) in methanol-water mixtures have been carried out at various solvent compositions in the vicinity of the helix-coil transition region (from 87 to 98 vol % methanol). Anomalous birefringence transients were observed between 90 and 95 vol % methanol above a threshold field strength. A distinct difference between the responses to weak and strong electric fields was noticed over a narrow range of the solvent composition. The effects of polymer concentration and temperature on the field-strength dependence of the birefringence were studied at a solvent composition of 90 vol % methanol where the anomalous transients appeared most clearly. The double logarithmic plots of the steady-state specific birefringence versus the square of field strength for different concentrations and temperatures could be superimposed by shifting them horizontally along the abscissa. The threshold field strength which was determined from the shift factor decreased with decreasing concentration. The results provide further evidence that strong electric fields can cause a helix-coil transition in this system under favorable conditions.

Notes: Derivatives of tetrapeptide sequences considered likely to form β-turns were investigated by the study of their proton magnetic resonances in methanol and in water. Differential broadening of N - H resonances by an added nitroxyl was used to indicate the presence of the sequestered N - H proton expected in β-turn conformations. Transfer of magnetic saturation from solvent water protons to N - H protons was also examined. The evidence is consistent with significant contributions by β-turn-like backbones to the conformational averages in methanol of the sequences Gly-L-Pro-D-Val-Gly, D(or L)-Val-L-Pro-Gly-Gly, and Gly-L-Pro-L-Asn-Gly, but not the sequence Gly-D-Ala-L-Val-Gly. It is suggested that a Type I turn, Likely in Gly-L-Pro-L-Asn-Gly derivatives, is characterized by sequestered N - H protons of both the third and fourth residues. For all of the peptide derivatives, save possibly Ac-L-Val-L-Pro-Gly-Gly-NHNH2, contributions from folded structures in water are not detectable by line-broadening experiments. However, the transfer of saturation experiments may be interpreted as indicating some degree of chain folding in water.

Notes: In this paper we use probabilistic arguments to derive and discuss the spatial distribution of molecules which are undergoing electrophoresis or centrifugation while at the same time they are switching back and forth between two configurational states. An exact solution is obtained for arbitrary values of the diffusion coefficients of the two isomerizing states. The traditional analytic method of solving this problem, namely, by use of “master equations,” is not completely satisfactory because one can find only the Fourier transform of the solution rather than the solution itself. Our treatment yields the answer one would get if it were feasible to perform the inversion of the Fourier transform.

Notes: A series of sequential oligopeptides having simple nonpolar side chains, Nps-(L-Ala-L-Leu-Gly)n- OEt has been prepared by a stepwise fragment-condensation method using Nps-L-alanyl-L-leucylglycine N-hydroxysuccinimide ester, which was prepared by the Nps-N-carboxy α-amino-acid-anhydride method. The success of the synthesis of the peptide having a high-molecular weight, such as octadecapeptide, results from the highest solubility of the tripeptide unit, L-alanyl-L-leucylglycine. The sequential polypeptide having the same tripeptide sequence was also prepared by polycondensation of the tripeptide N-hydroxy-succinimide ester.

Notes: The thermal transitions of single-stranded polynucleotides are noncooperative. In contrast, Cu(II) cooperatively disorders the single-stranded helical structures of poly(A) and poly(C), as demonstrated by ORD and UV spectral changes as a function of the Cu2+ activity, and by a dramatic chain-length dependence of the spectral changes. Equilibrium dialysis binding studies indicate that the cooperative disordering is paralleled by a somewhat less cooperative binding process.The difference between the thermal- and Cu(II)-induced transition is explained by the following mechanism. (1) Cu(II) initially binds in a noncooperative fashion to phosphate. (2) The Cu(II) so bound forms a second bond to a nonadjacent base site on the same polymer strand or another strand. These intramolecular and intermolecular crosslinks to the bases are responsible for the disordering. (3) The initial crosslinks formed provide nuclei for the cooperative formation of additional crosslinks, producing cooperative spectral changes paralleled by cooperative binding.A comparison of the spectral and binding transitions indicates that there is appreciable noncooperative binding of copper to phosphate, which produces no spectral changes in the presence of added electrolyte. This comparison also indicates that each copper crosslink disorders several bases. The formation of intermolecular crosslinks is demonstrated by a polymer concentration dependence of the disordering. The formation of intramolecular crosslinks can be deduced from the fact that the “cooperative unit” required to explain the differences between the hexamer, which does not readily form intramolecular crosslinks, and the polymer is considerably larger than the cooperative unit determined from the polymer results.The poly(A) disordering transition is less symmetrical than that of poly(C), particularly at low polymer concentrations. These results, together with other phenomena, are explained by a greater flexibility of poly(A), which favors the formation of small intramolecular loops.

Notes: Potential energy calculations were employed to examine the effect of ribose 2′-O-methylation on the conformation of GpC. Minimum energy conformations and allowed conformational regions were calculated for 2′MeGpC and Gp2′MeC. The two lowest energy conformations of 2′MeGpC and Gp2′MeC are similar to those of GpC itself. The helical RNA conformation (sugar pucker-C(3′)-endo, ω′ and ω,g-g-, bases-anti) is the global minimum, and a helix-reversing conformation with ω′, ω in the vicinity of 20°, 80° is next in energy. However, subtle differences between the three molecules are noted. When the substitution is on the 5′ ribose (Gp2′MeC), the energy of the helical conformation is less than that of GpC, due to favorable interactions of the added methyl group. When the substitution is at the 3′ ribose (2′MeGpC) these stabilizing interactions are outweighed by steric restrictions, and the helical conformation is of higher energy than for GpC. Furthermore, the statistical weight of the 2′MeGpC g- g- helical region is substantially less than the corresponding weight for Gp2′MeC. In addition, 2′MeGpC′s methoxy group is conformationally restricted to a narrow range centered at 76°. This group has a broadly allowed region between 50 and 175° in Gp2′MeC. These differences occur because the appended methyl group in 2′MeGpC is located in the interior of the helix cylinder, as it would be in polynucleotide, while it hangs unimpeded in Gp2′MeC. These findings suggest that 2′-O-methylation has both stabilizing and destabilizing influences on the helical conformation of RNA. For 2′MeGpC the destabilizing steric hindrance imposed by the nature of the guanine base dominates.

Notes: The molecular conformations of the linear oligopeptides H-(L-Ala)n-L-Pro-OH, with n = 1,2 and 3, have been investigated. 13C nmr observation of the equilibrium between the cis and trans forms of the Ala-Pro peptide bond indicated the occurrence of nonrandom conformations in solutions of these flexible peptides. The formation of the nonrandom species containing the cis form of the Ala-Pro bond was found to depend on the deprotonation of the carboxylic acid group of proline, the solvent, and the ionic strength in aqueous solution. The influence of intramolecular hydrogen bonding on the relative conformational energies of the species containing the cis and trans Ala-Pro peptide bond was studied by comparison of the peptides H-(Ala)n-Pro-OH with analogous molecules where hydrogen bond formation was excluded by the covalent structure. In earlier work a hydrogen bond between the protonated terminal carboxylic acid group and the carbonyl oxygen of the penultimate amino acid residue had been suggested to stabilize conformations including trans proline. For the systems described here this hypothesis can be ruled out, since the cis:trans ratio is identical for molecules with methyl ester protected and free protonated terminal carboxylic acid groups of proline. Direct evidence for hydrogen bond formation between the deprotonated terminal carboxylic acid group and the amide proton of the penultimate amino acid residue in the molecular species containing cis proline was obtained from 1H nmr studies. However, the cis:trans ratio of the Ala-Pro bond was not affected by N-methylation of the penultimate amino acid residue, which prevents formation of this hydrogen bond. Overall the experimental observations lead to the conclusion that the relative energies of the peptide conformations including cis or trans proline are mainly determined by intramolecular electrostatic interactions, whereas in the molecules considered, intramolecular hydrogen bonding is a consequence of specific peptide backbone conformations rather than a cause for the occurrence of energetically favored species. Independent support for this conclusion was obtained from model consideration which indicated that electrostatic interactions between the terminal carboxylic acid group and the carbonyl oxygen of the penultimate amino acid residue could indeed account for the observed relative conformational energies of the species containing cis and trans proline, respectively.

Notes: A method is described for predicting and solving crystal structures of linear homopolysaccharides. The method is based on the refinement of the structure with respect to either stereochemical constraints or x-ray diffraction intensities. In the refinement process, all conformational and packing features of the molecule, such as bond lengths, bond angles, conformational angles, nonbonded contacts, hydrogen bonds, etc., can be allowed to vary until the structure reaches both a conformation and crystalline packing that are in minimum disagreement with the stereochemical restraints and the diffraction data. In this fashion, both packing and conformational features of the structure can be simultaneously refined, and not separately as has been the custom in the past. The refinement procedure is based on a method of constrained optimization which possesses improved characteristics of reaching a solution and avoiding false minima, in comparison with least squares methods. The procedure is, in addition, capable of easily finding molecules of solvent of crystallization. The method was applied to further refining the previously solved crystal structure of V-amylose. The results indicated that contrary to the previously found six-fold molecular symmetry in the P212121 space group, the V-amylose molecule exhibits only two-fold symmetry with the asymmetric unit consisting of three glucose residues in one-half turn of the helix. The three residues are nonequivalent principally due to unequal rotational positions of the hydroxymethyl groups. The crystal structure of V-amylose predicted from stereochemical refinement was identical in all details with that obtained from refining against X-ray data. The excellent agreement with the diffraction data was indicated by the crystallographic disagreement index R = 0.25.

Notes: In order to obtain information about the conformational features of a 2′-O-methylated polyribonucleotide at the nearest neighbor level, a detailed nuclear magnetic resonance study of AmpA was undertaken. AmpA was isolated from alkali hydrolysates of yeast RNA, and proton spectra were recorded at 100 MHz in the Fourier transform mode in D2O solutions, 0.01 M, pH 5.4 and 1.5 at 25°C. 31P spectra were recorded at 40.48 MHz. Complete, accurate sets of nmr parameters derived for each nucleotidyl unit by simulation iteration methods.The nmr data were translated into conformational parameters for all the bonds using procedures developed in earlier studies from these laboratories. It is shown that AmpA exists in aqueous solution with a flexible molecular framework, which shows preferences for certain orientations. The ribose rings exist as a 2E ⇄ 3E equilibrium with the  - pA ribose showing a bias for the 3E pucker. The C(4′) - C(5′) bonds of both nucleotidyl units show significant preference (75-80%) to exist in gg conformation. The dominant conformer (80%) about C(5′) - O(5′) of the 5′-nucleotidyl unit is g′g′. Even though an unambiguous determination of the orientation of the 3′-phosphate group cannot be made, tentative evidence shows that it preferentially occupies g+ domains [O(3′) - P trans to C(3′) - C(2′)] in which the H(3′)  - C(3′) - O(3′) - P(3′) dihedral angle is about 31°. There is reasonable evidence that the 2′-O-methyl preferentially occupies the domain in which the O(2′) - CH3 bond is trans to C(2′) - C(1′).Lowering of pH to 1.5, which results in protonation of both the adenine moieties, causes destacking of AmpA. Such destacking is accompanied by small, but real, perturbations in the conformations about most of the bonds in the backbone.A detailed comparison of the solution conformations of ApA and AmpA clearly shows that 2′-O-methylation strongly influences the conformational preference about the C(3′) - O(3′) bond of the 3′-nucleotidyl unit, in addition to inducing small changes in the overall ribophosphate backbone conformational equilibria. The effect of 2′-O-methylation is such that the C(3′) - O(3′) is forced to occupy preferentially the g+ domain rather than the normally preferred g- domain [O(3′) - P trans to C(3′) - C(4′)] in ApA. The data on ApA and AmpA further reveal that the extent of stacking interaction is less in AmpA compared to ApA.It is suggested that stacked species of AmpA exist as right-handed stacks where the magnitude of ω and ω′ about O(5′) - P and P - O(3′) is about 290°. The reason for the lesser degree of stacking in AmpA compared to ApA is intramolecular interaction between 2′-O-methyl and the flexible O(3′) - P - O(5′) bridge, the interaction causing some perturbation in the magnitudes of ω/ω′, causing destacking. The destacking will lead to an increase in χCN by a few degrees, causing an increase in 2E populations; the latter in turn will shift the 3′ phosphate group from g- to g+ domains. In short, a coupled series of conformational events is envisioned at the onset of destacking, made feasible by the interaction between the 2′-O-methyl group and the swivel O(3′) - P - O(5′) bridge.

Notes: The binding isotherms of sodium decyl sulfate to poly(L-ornithine), poly(D,L-ornithine), and poly(L-lysine) at neutral pH were determined potentiometrically. The nature of a highly cooperative binding in all three cases suggests a micelle-like clustering of the surfactant ions onto the polypeptide side groups. The hydrophobic interaction between the nonpolar groups overshadows the coulombic interaction between the charged groups. The titration curves can be interpreted well by the Zimm-Bragg theory. The average cluster size of bound surfactant ions is sufficiently large to promote the β-structure of (L-Lys)n even at a very low binding ratio of surfactant to polypeptide residue, whereas the onset of the helical structure for (L-Orn)n begins after about 7 surfactant ions are bound to two turns of the helix. The CD results are consistent with this explanation.

Notes: The synthesis of a cross-linked polypentapeptide (an insoluble product) by means of a cross-linking reaction between a lysine-containing (1%) polypentapeptide and a glutamic acid-containing (2%) polypentapeptide is described, following description of the synthesis and polymerization of the corresponding pentapeptide p-nitrophenyl esters. The pentapeptide p-nitrophenylesters - H-Val1-Pro2-Gly3-Val4-Gly5-ONp, H-Val1-Pro2-Gly3-Lys4(ε-Z)-Gly5-ONp, and H-Val1-Pro2-Gly3-Glu4-Gly5-ONp - prior to polymerizing and the polypentapeptides prior to cross-linking were analyzed by proton and carbon-13 magnetic resonance. The cross-linking reaction was achieved in the coacervate state by intermolecular primary amide bond formation. The coupling reagent was a water-soluble carbodiimide (1-cyclohexyl-3-(2-N-methylmorpholinoethyl)-carbodiimide-p-toluenesulfonate).

Notes: It is concluded on the basis of comparison of polyelectrolyte theory with published data that the mean phosphate spacing b along the contour axis of an unfolded polynucleotide single strand is in the range 3-4 Å (polyelectrolyte parameter ξ ≈ 2), regardless of temperature, base composition, or extent of stacking. This result is consistent with the low-angle X-ray scattering measurements of Gulik, Inoue, and Luzzati on poly(C). No conclusion may be drawn from this value of b concerning the structure of the chain skeleton or the spatial arrangement of the bases other than that the chain is far from an all-trans local conformation (for which b would be about 6-7 Å, the length of a nucleotide unit). The structural implications, or lack thereof, are discussed in detail in the following paper.

Notes: The technique of intensity correlation light-scattering spectroscopy has been used to accurately determine the extent of physical swelling of lysozyme, ribonuclease, and chymotrypsinogen produced by thermal denaturation. The change in hydrodynamic radius is deduced from direct measurements of the diffusion coefficient, carried out in the temperature range 20° to 70°C at various values of pH in the range 1.0 to 3.0 at ionic strengths of from 0.01 M to 0.2 M. An average radius increase of 18% is observed for lysozyme and ribonuclease, with an estimate of 26% for chymotrypsinogen. Analysis of the pH dependence of the transition temperature leads to the conclusion that the lysozyme charge increases by approximately +2e during unfolding. We have applied this value of the charge increase along with the 18% average radius increase to estimate the electrostatic contribution to the free-energy change for denaturation of lysozyme. The results are consistent with the experimental observation that the transition temperature is nearly independent of ionic strength.

Notes: The normal vibration frequencies of poly(L-alanine) and poly(L-alanylglycine) in the antiparallel chain-pleated sheet structure have been calculated, using the force field for polyglycine I from the previous paper (Biopolymers 15, 2439-2464) plus additional force constants for the methyl group. The agreement with observed ir and Raman bands is very good. This substantiates the excellent transferability of the force field, since polyglycine I was shown to have a rippled-sheet structure. The amide I and amide II mode splittings are very well accounted for by transition dipole coupling, showing that subtle structural differences are sensitively manifested through this mechanism.

Notes: Conformational energy calculations were performed on monosaccharide and oligosaccharide inhibitors and substrates of lysozyme to examine the preferred conformations of these molecules. A grid-search method was used to locate all of the low-energy conformational regions for N-acetyl-β-D-glycosamine (NAG), and energy minimization was then carried out in each of these regions. Three stable positions for the N-acetyl group have ben located, in two of which the plane of the amide unit is normal to the mean plane of the pyranosyl ring. Nine local energy minima were located for the  - CH2OH group. The positions of the two vicinal cis  - OH groups are determined predominantly by interactions with either the  - CH2OH or the N-acetyl group. The most stable conformations of β-N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM) were determined from the study of the low-energy conformations of NAG. In the two stable orientations for the D-lactic acid side chain, the O - C - C′ plane (C′ being the carbon atom of the terminal carboxyl group) was found to be normal to the mean plane of the pyranosyl ring. The low-energy positions for the COOH group of NAM are determined mainly by interactions with neighboring groups.The conformational preferences of the α-anomers of NAG and NAM were also explored. The calculated conformation of the N-acetyl group for α-NAG was quite close to that determined by X-ray analysis. Two of the three lowest energy conformations of α-NAM are similar to the corresponding conformations of the β-anomer. A third low-energy structure, which has a hydrogen bond from the NH of the N-acetyl group to the C=O of the lactic acid group, corresponds very closely to the X-ray structure of this molecule.The preferred conformations of the disaccharides NAG-NAG, NAM-NAG and NAG-NAM were also investigated. Two preferred orientations of the reducing pyranosyl ring relative to the nonreducing ring were found for all of these disaccharides, both of which are close to the extended conformation. In one of these conformations, a hydrogen bond can form between the OH group attached to C3 of the reducing sugar and the ring oxygen of the preceding residue. Each conformation can be stabilized further by a hydrogen bond between the CH2OH (donor) of residue i + 1 and the C=O of residue i (acceptor). The interactions that determine conformations for all oligosaccharides containing both NAG and NAM are shown to be exclusively intraresidue and nearest neighbor interactions, so that it is possible to predict all stable conformations of oligosaccharides containing NAG and NAM in any sequence.

Notes: A model for the electrostatic properties of hydrated collagen fibrils, based on the concept of a “penetrable” protein, has been evaluated through studies of collagen fibrils that had been chemically modified to change their electrostatic properties,. A value of 0.28 ± 0.07 ml/g was found for the intrafibrillar space sterically inaccessible to a molecule that had an equivalent spherical radius of 4.5 Å.The net intrinsic charge on reconstituted collagen is +14 mol/mol under physiological conditions, but decreases, at constant pH, with ionic strength. A value of 7.1 for the pK of the histidine and α-amino groups in reconstituted collagen was obtained through the application of the electrostatic model to this effect.The values obtained for calcium binding parameters for collagen fibrils, under solution conditions in which the nonspecific electrostatic properties of collagen fibrils were eliminated (3-5 M tetramethyl ammonium chloride), were in agreement with values obtained in 0.16 M NaCl solutions calculated through the use of the electrostatic theory. These are 0.73 ± 0.23 and 56.2 ± 12.3 sites per molecule with intrinsic association constants of 1101 ± 386 and 21.4 ± 5.2 M-1, respectively.The model also predicts that an average 4-mV potential difference exists between the reconstituted collagen fibrils and physiological solutions, and that collagen fibrils under such conditions have piezoelectriclike properties.The pattern of interaction of ions with collagen fibrils is such that an allosteric mechanism for the catalytic step in the mineralization of collagen is a possibility.

Notes: Raman spectra of native and solubilized feather keratin have been obtained, and the amide I and amide III regions have been analyzed by band resolution techniques. The amide I region of the native form indicates that at least 64% of the protein has an antiparallel chain pleated sheet structure, the remainder being unordered. For the solubilized keratin all of the protein is in an unordered state. The amide III region is not as easily analyzed into component contributions. Normal vibration analyses on N-acetyl-L-alanine-N-methylamide support the conclusion that the amide III region is not as satisfactory as the amide I region in characterizing unordered structures. Even in the latter case caution must be used, since the observed amide I band is an average over the conformational distribution in the particular unordered system.