Using the density functional theory and generalized gradient approximation for exchange and correlation potential, we have performed an extensive search to obtain the ground state geometries of both neutral and anionic Au(16) cluster by considering over 200 low lying isomers. For the neutral Au(16) cluster we found a new T(d) compact structure to be the lowest energy configuration, which is nea...

Monomeric alpha-synuclein (alphaSN), which has no persistent structure in aqueous solution, is known to bind to anionic lipids with a resulting increase in alpha-helix structure. Here we show that at physiological pH and ionic strength, alphaSN incubated with different anionic lipid vesicles undergoes a marked increase in alpha-helical content at a temperature dictated either by the temperature...

The regulated movement of glucose across mammalian cell membranes is mediated by facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs) embedded in lipid bilayers. Despite the known importance of phospholipids in regulating protein structure and activity, the lipid-induced effects on the GLUTs remain poorly understood. We systematically examined the effects of physiologically relevant phospholipids on gluco...

The nitrogen K-edge spectra of aqueous proline and diglycine solutions have been measured by total electron yield near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy at neutral and high pH. All observed spectral features have been assigned by comparison to the recently reported spectrum of aqueous glycine and calculated spectra of isolated amino acids and hydrated amino acid cluster...

The G-quadruplex, a four-stranded DNA structure with stacked guanine tetrads (G-quartets), has recently been attracting attention because of its critical roles in vitro and in vivo. In particular, the G-quadruplex functions as ligands for metal ions and aptamers for various molecules. Interestingly, the G-quadruplex can show peroxidase-like activity with an anionic porphyrin, iron (III) protopo...

1. The bactericidal action of a number of anionic and cationic synthetic detergents on four Gram-positive and three Gram-negative bacteria has been investigated. 2. Cationic detergents, as a group, were found to exhibit marked bactericidal effects on Gram-positive microorganisms and somewhat less pronounced action on Gram-negative organisms. 3. The anionic detergents were germicidal only agains...

Alkaline/surfactant/polymer (ASP) flooding has been extensively applied to enhancing oil recovery. As an oil displacement agent, pe1troleum sulfonate (PS) is widely used in ASP pilot experiments. It is very important to find a petroleum sulfonate with a high interfacial activity and low adsorption loss. Anionic surfactant petroleum sulfonate is synthesized in a single-tube film sulfonation reac...

Channel-forming colicins are bacterial toxins that spontaneously insert into the inner cell membrane of sensitive bacteria to form voltage-gated ion channels. It has been shown that the channel current and the conformational flexibility of colicin E1 channel domain depend on the membrane surface potential, which is regulated by the anionic lipid content and the ion concentration. To better unde...

Nisin is a cationic polycyclic bacteriocin secreted by some lactic acid bacteria. Nisin has previously been shown to permeabilize liposomes. The interaction of nisin was analyzed with liposomes prepared of the zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine (PC) and the anionic phosphatidylglycerol (PG). Nisin induces the release of 6-carboxyfluorescein and other small anionic fluorescent dyes from PC liposom...

The reaction of gallium (III) nitrate octahydrate with the proton transfer compound (pydaH2)2+ (pydc)2– ( where  pyda  is 2,6-pyridinediamine and pydcH2 is 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid) leads to the formation of (C5H8N3) [Ga(C7H3NO4)2] · 4H2O · CH3OH. The crystal system of the anionic complex is triclinic with space group Pī and two molecules per unit cell. The unit cell parameters are a=10.23...