Multinuclear NMR studies of five-membered-ring amine chelated aryllithium reagents 2-lithio-N,N-dimethylbenzylamine (1), the diethylamine and diisopropylamino analogues (2, 3), and the o-methoxy analogue (4), isotopically enriched in (6)Li and (15)N, have provided a detailed picture of the solution structures in ethereal solvents (usually in mixtures of THF and dimethyl ether, ether, and 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran). The effect of cosolvents such as TMEDA, PMDTA, and HMPA has also been determined. All compounds are strongly chelated, and the chelation is not disrupted by these cosolvents. Reagents 1, 2, and 3 are dimeric in solvents containing a large fraction of THF. Below -120 degrees C, three chelation isomers of the dimers are detectable by NMR spectroscopy: one (A) with both nitrogens coordinated to one lithium of the dimer, and two (B and C) in which each lithium bears one chelating group. Dynamic NMR studies have provided rates and activation energies for the interconversion of the 1-A, 1-B, and 1-C isomers. They interconvert either by simple ring rotation, which interconverts B and C, or by amine decoordination (probably associative, DeltaG(++)(-93) = 8.5 kcal/mol), which can interconvert all of the isomers. The dimers of 1 are thermodynamically more stable than those of model systems such as phenyllithium, o-tolyllithium, or 2-isoamylphenyllithium (5, DeltaDeltaG > or = 3.3 kcal/mol). They are not detectably deaggregated by TMEDA or PMDTA, although HMPA causes partial deaggregation. The dimers are also more robust kinetically with rates of interaggregate exchange, measured by DNMR line shape analysis of the C-Li signal, orders of magnitude smaller than those of models (DeltaDeltaG(++) > or = 4.4 kcal/mol). Similarly, the mixed dimer of 1 and phenyllithium, 13, is kinetically more stable than the phenyllithium dimer by >2.2 kcal/mol. X-ray crystal structures of the TMEDA solvate of 1-A and the THF solvate of 3-B showed them to be dimeric and chelated in the solid state as well. Compound 4, which has a methoxy group ortho to the C-Li group, differs from the others in being only partially dimeric in THF, presumably for steric reasons. This compound is fully deaggregated by 1 equiv of HMPA. Excess HMPA leads to the formation of ca. 15% of a triple ion (4-T) in which both nitrogens appear to be chelated to the central lithium.

The red cell membrane is stabilized by a spectrin/actin-based cortical cytoskeleton connected to the phospholipid-bilayer via multiple protein bridges. By virtue of its interaction with ankyrin and adducin, the anion transporter, band 3 (AE1), contributes prominently to these bridges. In a previous study, we demonstrated that an exposed loop comprising residues 175–185 of the cytoplasmic domain of band 3 (cdB3) constitutes a critical docking site for ankyrin on band 3. In this paper, we demonstrate that an adjacent loop, comprising residues 63–73 of cdB3, is also essential for ankyrin binding. Data in support of this hypothesis include: 1) deletion or mutation of residues within the latter loop abrogates ankyrin binding without affecting cdB3 structure or its other functions, 2) association of cdB3 with ankyrin is inhibited by competition with the loop peptide, and 3) resealing of the loop peptide into erythrocyte ghosts alters membrane morphology and stability. To characterize cdB3-ankyrin interaction further, we identified their interfacial contact sites using molecular docking software and the crystal structures of D3D4-ankyrin and cdB3. The best fit for the interaction reveals multiple salt bridges and hydrophobic contacts between the two proteins. The most important ion pair interactions are: i) cdB3 K69 to ankyrin E645, ii) cdB3 E72 to ankyrin K611, and iii) cdB3 D183 to ankyrin N601 and Q634. Mutation of the above four residues on ankyrin yielded an ankyrin with native CD spectrum, but little or no affinity for cdB3. These data define the docking interface between cdB3 and ankyrin in greater detail.

It has been commonly recognized that residual dipolar coupling data provide a measure of quality for protein structures. To quantify this observation, a database of 100 single-domain proteins has been compiled where each protein was represented by two independently solved structures. Backbone 1H-15N dipolar couplings were simulated for the target structures and then fitted to the model structures. The fits were characterized by an R-factor which was corrected for the effects of non-uniform distribution of dipolar vectors on a unit sphere. The analyses show that favorable R values virtually guarantee high accuracy of the model structure (where accuracy is defined as the backbone coordinate rms deviation). On the other hand, unfavorable R values do not necessarily suggest low accuracy. Based on the simulated data, a simple empirical formula is proposed to estimate the accuracy of protein structures. The method is illustrated with a number of examples, including PDZ2 domain of human phosphatase hPTP1E.

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A gradual shift in detection of L monocytogenes contamination in ready-to-eat meals, frozen foods, and ready-to-eat salads has occurred. Another emerging culprit is pasteurized dairy products. Revision of listeriosis avoidance guidelines by a consensus-seeking, multidisciplinary task force, is needed.