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Articles 1 - 11 of 11

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Interplay Of Hydrogen Bonds And N→Π* Interactions In Proteins, Gail J. Bartlett, Robert W. Newberry, Brett Vanveller, Ronald T. Raines, Derek N. Woolfson Nov 2013

Interplay Of Hydrogen Bonds And N→Π* Interactions In Proteins, Gail J. Bartlett, Robert W. Newberry, Brett Vanveller, Ronald T. Raines, Derek N. Woolfson

Brett VanVeller

Protein structures are stabilized by multiple weak interactions, including the hydrophobic effect, hydrogen bonds, electrostatic effects, and van der Waals interactions. Among these interactions, the hydrogen bond is distinct in having its origins in electron delocalization. Recently, another type of electron delocalization, the n→π* interaction between carbonyl groups, has been shown to play a role in stabilizing protein structure. Here we examine the interplay between hydrogen bonding and n→π* interactions. To address this issue, we used data available from high-resolution protein crystal structures to interrogate asparagine side-chain oxygen atoms that are both acceptors of a hydrogen bond and donors of …


Detection Of Boronic Acids Through Excited-State Intramolecular Proton-Transfer Fluorescence, Matthew R. Aronoff, Brett Vanveller, Ronald T. Raines Oct 2013

Detection Of Boronic Acids Through Excited-State Intramolecular Proton-Transfer Fluorescence, Matthew R. Aronoff, Brett Vanveller, Ronald T. Raines

Brett VanVeller

Boronic acids are versatile reagents for the chemical synthesis of organic molecules. They and other boron-containing compounds can be detected readily by the interruption of the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) of 10-hydroxybenzo[h]quinolone. This method is highly sensitive and selective, and useful for monitoring synthetic reactions and detecting boron-containing compounds on a solid support.


A Divalent Protecting Group For Benzoxaboroles, Brett Vanveller, Matthew R. Aronoff, Ronald T. Raines Sep 2013

A Divalent Protecting Group For Benzoxaboroles, Brett Vanveller, Matthew R. Aronoff, Ronald T. Raines

Brett VanVeller

1-Dimethylamino-8-methylaminonaphthalene is put forth as a protecting group for benzoxaboroles. The ensuing complex is fluorescent, charge-neutral, highly stable under basic conditions, stable to anhydrous acid, and readily cleavable in aqueous acid to return the free benzoxaborole.


N→Π* Interactions Of Amides And Thioamides: Implications For Protein Stability, Robert W. Newberry, Brett Vanveller, Ilia A. Guzei, Ronald T. Raines May 2013

N→Π* Interactions Of Amides And Thioamides: Implications For Protein Stability, Robert W. Newberry, Brett Vanveller, Ilia A. Guzei, Ronald T. Raines

Brett VanVeller

Carbonyl–carbonyl interactions between adjacent backbone amides have been implicated in the conformational stability of proteins. By combining experimental and computational approaches, we show that relevant amidic carbonyl groups associate through an n→π* donor–acceptor interaction with an energy of at least 0.27 kcal/mol. The n→π* interaction between two thioamides is 3-fold stronger than between two oxoamides due to increased overlap and reduced energy difference between the donor and acceptor orbitals. This result suggests that backbone thioamide incorporation could stabilize protein structures. Finally, we demonstrate that intimate carbonyl interactions are described more completely as donor–acceptor orbital interactions rather than dipole–dipole interactions.


Polycyclic Aromatic Triptycenes: Oxygen Substitution Cyclization Strategies, Brett Vanveller, Derek J. Schipper, Timothy M. Swager Apr 2012

Polycyclic Aromatic Triptycenes: Oxygen Substitution Cyclization Strategies, Brett Vanveller, Derek J. Schipper, Timothy M. Swager

Brett VanVeller

The cyclization and planarization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with concomitant oxygen substitution was achieved through acid catalyzed transetherification and oxygen-radical reactions. The triptycene scaffold enforces proximity of the alcohol and arene reacting partners and confers significant rigidity to the resulting π-system, expanding the tool set of iptycenes for materials applications.


Experimental And Molecular Dynamics Investigation Into The Amphiphilic Nature Of Sulforhodamine B, Baris E. Polat, Shangchao Lin, Jonathan D. Mendenhall, Brett Vanveller, Robert Langer, Daniel Blankschtein Jan 2011

Experimental And Molecular Dynamics Investigation Into The Amphiphilic Nature Of Sulforhodamine B, Baris E. Polat, Shangchao Lin, Jonathan D. Mendenhall, Brett Vanveller, Robert Langer, Daniel Blankschtein

Brett VanVeller

Sulforhodamine B (SRB), a common fluorescent dye, is often considered to be a purely hydrophilic molecule, having no impact on bulk or interfacial properties of aqueous solutions. This assumption is due to the high water solubility of SRB relative to most fluorescent probes. However, in the present study, we demonstrate that SRB is in fact an amphiphile, with the ability to adsorb at an air/water interface and to incorporate into sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles. In fact, SRB reduces the surface tension of water by up to 23 mN/m, and the addition of SRB to an aqueous SDS solution induces …


The Synthesis Of Azaperylene-9,10-Dicarboximides, Brett Vanveller, Kojl Miki, Timorthy M. Swager Jan 2010

The Synthesis Of Azaperylene-9,10-Dicarboximides, Brett Vanveller, Kojl Miki, Timorthy M. Swager

Brett VanVeller

The efficient synthesis of a hydrophilic monomer bearing a three-dimensional noncompliant array of hydroxyl groups is described that prevents water-driven excimer features of hydrophobic poly(p-phenylene ethynylene) backbones. Sensitivity of the polymer to 3-nitrotyrosine is also discussesd.


A Buried Spruce Forest Provides Evidence At The Stand And Landscape Scale For The Effects Of Environment On Vegetation At The Pleistocene/Holocene Boundary, Douglas D. Stokke Feb 2000

A Buried Spruce Forest Provides Evidence At The Stand And Landscape Scale For The Effects Of Environment On Vegetation At The Pleistocene/Holocene Boundary, Douglas D. Stokke

Douglas D. Stokke

Due to a unique set of circumstances, we were able to excavate an entire spruce (Picea) forest in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, USA, which was buried in the early Holocene (9928 ± 133 uncalibrated 14C years bp). Trees ranged from < 5 cm to > 50 cm in diameter, and dominants were approximately 9 m tall. The stand was multi-aged, with a maximum tree age of 145 years. Well-preserved stem cross-sections (n = 140) were recovered and the entire stand was mapped. Stand reconstruction combined with pollen and sediment analysis revealed a pure spruce forest in the sandy lowlands surrounded by hills dominated by pine, oak …


Variation In Cell Dimensions And Fibril Angle For Two Fertilized Even-Aged Loblolly Pine Plantations, Douglas D. Stokke, Todd F. Shupe, Elvin T. Choong, Mark D. Gibson Jan 1996

Variation In Cell Dimensions And Fibril Angle For Two Fertilized Even-Aged Loblolly Pine Plantations, Douglas D. Stokke, Todd F. Shupe, Elvin T. Choong, Mark D. Gibson

Douglas D. Stokke

Increment core samples were obtained from randomly selected, nine-year-old lohlolly pine (Pinus faeda L.) in two even-aged plantations in Louisiana in order to determine the variation in cell dimensions and fibril angle of the sites. The Homer site is representative of the growing conditions in north Louisiana, and the Bogalusa site is typical of the conditions in southeastern Louisiana. Both sites were subjected to similar site preparation and weed control and were fertilized in the juvenile period. The anatomical properties that were measured include: fiber length, cell-wall thickness, and microfibril angle (MFA). Observations were made in order to compare corewood …


Variation In Lightness Of White Oak Dimension Stock, Douglas D. Stokke, Anton D. Pugel, John E. Phelps Oct 1995

Variation In Lightness Of White Oak Dimension Stock, Douglas D. Stokke, Anton D. Pugel, John E. Phelps

Douglas D. Stokke

The objectives of this research were to generate a set of sample parameters for the lightness of planed white oak dimension stock, to investigate the effect of grain angle on lightness values, and to determine the level of sampling needed to color match white oak dimension stock on the basis of lightness or darkness as quantified by the parameter L* (psychometric lightness). This information is important when used to determine the feasibility of low-cost portable instruments for evaluating color in an edge-glued hardwood panel production setting. Color measurements were obtained with a portable spectrophotometer interfaced with a notebook computer. The …


Micro And Macromorphology Of Recycled Fiber And Wood, Douglas D. Stokke Jan 1992

Micro And Macromorphology Of Recycled Fiber And Wood, Douglas D. Stokke

Douglas D. Stokke

Wood is a major industrial raw material, with U.S. consumption approaching that of aluminum, plastics, cement, and steel combined. Partially as a result of the magnitude of wood and wood products in use, these products constitute a substantial portion of the solid waste stream. In order to reduce the amount of wood and wood fiber disposed in landfills, efforts to recycle these materials into useful products such as structural composites are needed. The success of such conversion depends in part on knowledge of the morphological characteristics of various sources of secondary wood and wood fibers, and the influence of wood …