Combined Dichroism Research Articles

Influence of Green Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Molecular Interaction and Comparative Binding of Azure Dye with Chymotrypsin: Novel Nano-Conjugate for Cancer Phototherapy.

Till date, different types of conventional drugs have been used to fight tumors. However, they have significant flaws, including their usage being constrained because of their low bioavailability, poor supply, and serious side effects. The modern combination therapy has been viewed as a potent strategy for treating serious illnesses, including cancer-type feared diseases. The nanoparticles are a promising choice for cancer therapeutic and diagnostic applications because of their fascinating optoelectronic and physicochemical features. Among the metallic nanoparticles, Zinc oxide nanoparticles possess interesting physicochemical and anti-cancer characteristics, such as ROS generation, high retention, enhanced permeability etc., making them attractive candidates for the treatment and diagnosis of cancer. Zinc oxide nanoparticles showed anti-cancer property via excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and by the destruction of mitochondrial membrane. Here, we have synthesized organic/inorganic hybrid nanosystem composed of chymotrypsin protein (Chymo) with AzureC (AzC) conjugated with Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs). The conjugation of AzureC with ZnONPs was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiment. The interaction of Chymo with AzC alone and AzC-ZnONPs was investigated, and it was observed that the interaction was enhanced in the presence of ZnONPs, which was concluded by the results obtained from different spectroscopic techniques such as UV-Visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism in combination with molecular docking. UV-Visible spectroscopic studies and the corresponding binding parameters showed that the binding of AzC-ZnONPs complex with Chymo is much higher than that of AzC alone. Moreover, the fluorescence measurement showed enhancement in static quenching during titration of Chymo with AzC-ZnONPs as compared to dye alone. In addition to this, circular dichroism results show that the dye and dye-NPs conjugate do not cause much structural change in α-Chymo. The molecular docking and thermodynamic studies showed the predominance of hydrogen bonding, Van der Waal force, and hydrophobic forces during the interactions. After correlation of all the data, interaction of Chymo with AzC-ZnONPs complex showed strong interaction as compared to dye alone. The moderate binding with chymo without any alteration in the structure makes it desirable for the distribution and pharmacokinetics. In addition, the in vitro cytotoxicity of the AzC-ZnONPs was demonstrated on A-549 adenocarcinoma cell line. Our findings from physiochemical investigations suggested that the chymotrypsin coated AzC conjugated ZnONPs could be used as the novel nanoconjugates for various cancer phototherapies.

Absolute configuration and host-guest binding of chiral porphyrin-cages by a combined chiroptical and theoretical approach

Porphyrin cage-compounds are used as biomimetic models and substrate-selective catalysts in supramolecular chemistry. In this work we present the resolution of planar-chiral porphyrin cages and the determination of their absolute configuration by vibrational circular dichroism in combination with density functional theory calculations. The chiral porphyrin-cages form complexes with achiral and chiral viologen-guests and upon binding one of the axial enantiomorphs of the guest is bound selectively, as is indicated by induced-electronic-dichroism-spectra in combination with calculations. This host-guest binding also leads to unusual enhanced vibrational circular dichroism, which is the result of a combination of phenomena, such as rigidification of the host and guest structures, charge transfer, and coupling of specific vibration modes of the host and guest. The results offer insights in how the porphyrin cage-compounds may be used to construct a future molecular Turing machine that can write chiral information onto polymer chains.

Anticancer activity of novel amino acid derivative of palladium complex with phendione ligand against of human colon cancer cell line.

The aim of this work is the identification of the structural effect of amino acid-Pd complex on DNA as an intracellular target which was studied using various spectroscopic techniques such as fluorescence, UV-visible and circular dichroism in combination with a molecular docking study. Hence, a novel water-soluble palladium complex, [Pd(phendione)(isopentylglycine)]NO3, has been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic method. The anticancer activity of complex was investigated against human colon cancer cell line of HCT116 after 24h of incubation using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. In addition, this complex was interacted with calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) via positive cooperative interaction. The fluorescence data indicate that Pd complex is intercalated in DNA. These results were confirmed by circular dichroism spectra. The molecular docking results indicate that docking may be an appropriate method for the prediction and confirmation of experimental results. Complementary molecular docking results may be useful for the determination of the binding mechanism of DNA in pharmaceutical and biophysical studies providing new insight into the novel pharmacology and new solutions in the formulation of advanced oral drug delivery systems. Docking and spectroscopic studies show that new water-soluble Pd complex has anticancer activity and it can bind to DNA via intercalation and groove binding.

Structure Effect of Some New Anticancer Pt(II) Complexes of Amino Acid Derivatives with Small Branched or Linear Hydrocarbon Chains on Their DNA Interaction

The aim of this study was to investigate the structure effect and identify the modes of binding of amino acid-Pt complexes to DNA molecule for cancer treatment. Hence, three novel water soluble platinum complexes, [Pt(phen)(R-gly)]NO3 (where phen is 1,10-phenanthroline, R-gly is methyl, amyl, and isopentyl-glycine), have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods, conductivity measurements, and chemical analysis. The anticancer activities of synthesized complexes were investigated against human breast cancer cell line of MDA-MB 231. The 50% cytotoxic concentration values were determined to be 42.5, 58, and 70 μm for methyl-, amyl-, and isopentyl-gly complexes, respectively. These complexes were interacted with calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) via positive cooperative interaction. The modes of binding of the complexes to DNA were investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism in combination with a molecular docking study. The result indicates that complexes with small or branched hydrocarbon chains can intercalate with DNA. This is while amyl complexes with linear chains interacted additionally via groove binding. The results of the negative value of Gibbs energy for binding of isopentyl-platinum to DNA and those of the molecular docking were coherent. Furthermore, the docking results demonstrated that hydrophobic interaction plays an important role in the complex-DNA interaction.

Quantification of thermal fluctuations in stripe domain patterns

In ultrathin ferromagnetic films with perpendicular anisotropy a spin-reorientation transition from out-of-plane to in-plane orientation of the magnetization vector may occur. The competition of exchange and dipole interaction leads to the formation of stripe domain patterns in the vicinity of the spin reorientation transition. Here we investigate fluctuations of domain patterns in ultrathin epitaxial Ni/Fe films grown on Cu(001) using the technique of threshold photoemission magnetic circular dichroism in combination with photoemission electron microscopy allowing real-time observation of the domain pattern dynamics. The key finding of our experiments is that fluctuations can easily be quantified by calculating thermodynamic susceptibilities from a series of time resolved images. We analyze the strength of fluctuations with respect to temperature and externally applied out-of-plane magnetic fields.

Diastereoselective synthesis of β-lactams via Kinugasa reaction of acyclic chiral nitrones

An approach to β-lactams via a Kinugasa reaction between chiral copper acetylides and chiral acyclic nitrones bearing either 1,3-dioxane or 1,3-dioxolane moieties is reported. The stereochemical preferences observed in these reactions are discussed. The reaction provides access to a variety of interesting β-lactam structures. Electronic circular dichroism in combination with NMR spectroscopy was shown to be a useful and effective method for the reliable determination of the absolute configuration of all components of a complex mixtures of azetidinones. The effectiveness of the chiral analysis of complex mixtures was demonstrated for HPLC coupled on-line with electronic circular dichroism detection as well.

Influence of the β‐Sheet Content on the Mechanical Properties of Aggregates during Amyloid Fibrillization

AbstractAmyloid fibrils associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, consist of insoluble aggregates of α‐synuclein and Aβ‐42 proteins with a high β‐sheet content. The aggregation of both proteins occurs by misfolding of the monomers and proceeds through the formation of intermediate oligomeric and protofibrillar species to give the final fibrillar cross‐β‐sheet structure. The morphological and mechanical properties of oligomers, protofibrils, and fibrils formed during the fibrillization process were investigated by thioflavin T fluorescence and circular dichroism in combination with AFM peak force quantitative nanomechanical technique. The results reveal an increase in the Young’s modulus during the transformation from oligomers to mature fibrils, thus inferring that the difference in their mechanical properties is due to an internal structural change from a random coil to a structure with increased β‐sheet content.

Influence of the β-sheet content on the mechanical properties of aggregates during amyloid fibrillization.

Amyloid fibrils associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, consist of insoluble aggregates of α-synuclein and Aβ-42 proteins with a high β-sheet content. The aggregation of both proteins occurs by misfolding of the monomers and proceeds through the formation of intermediate oligomeric and protofibrillar species to give the final fibrillar cross-β-sheet structure. The morphological and mechanical properties of oligomers, protofibrils, and fibrils formed during the fibrillization process were investigated by thioflavin T fluorescence and circular dichroism in combination with AFM peak force quantitative nanomechanical technique. The results reveal an increase in the Young's modulus during the transformation from oligomers to mature fibrils, thus inferring that the difference in their mechanical properties is due to an internal structural change from a random coil to a structure with increased β-sheet content.

Spin reorientation and large magnetic anisotropy of metastable bcc Co islands on Au(001)

We studied magnetism and morphology of metastable bcc Co nanostructures on Au(001) by x-ray magnetic circular dichroism in combination with scanning tunneling microscopy and photoelectron emission microscopy. While room-temperature deposition of Co onto Au(001) leads to the formation of bcc Co thin films with pure in-plane magnetization, postannealing of these thin films at 500 K drastically changes the morphology to bcc Co islands embedded in Au. In accordance with this morphological change, we find that an out-of-plane magnetization emerges additionally and the coexistence of in-plane and out-of-plane remanent magnetizations is observed for the islands. The nanostructure-size dependence of magnetic moments suggests that the magnetization easy axis of the island changes from the in-plane to the out-of-plane direction with decreasing nanostructure size. Such a spin reorientation transition is likely due to the increased fractional population of rim atoms generating the out-of-plane magnetization in the smaller islands. The observed out-of-plane remanent magnetization of the smaller islands indicates their large magnetic anisotropy.

Electric control of magnetism at the Fe/BaTiO3 interface

Interfacial magnetoelectric coupling is a viable path to achieve electrical writing of magnetic information in spintronic devices. For the prototypical Fe/BaTiO3 system, only tiny changes of the interfacial Fe magnetic moment upon reversal of the BaTiO3 dielectric polarization have been predicted so far. Here, by using X-ray magnetic circular dichroism in combination with high resolution electron microscopy and first principles calculations, we report on an undisclosed physical mechanism for interfacial magnetoelectric coupling in the Fe/BaTiO3 system. At this interface, an ultrathin oxidized iron layer exists, whose magnetization can be electrically and reversibly switched on-off at room-temperature by reversing the BaTiO3 polarization. The suppression / recovery of interfacial ferromagnetism results from the asymmetric effect that ionic displacements in BaTiO3 produces on the exchange coupling constants in the interfacial oxidized Fe layer. The observed giant magnetoelectric response holds potential for optimizing interfacial magnetoelectric coupling in view of efficient, low-power spintronic devices.

Revealing the Binding Structure of the Protein Corona on Gold Nanorods Using Synchrotron Radiation-Based Techniques: Understanding the Reduced Damage in Cell Membranes

Regarding the importance of the biological effects of nanomaterials, there is still limited knowledge about the binding structure and stability of the protein corona on nanomaterials and the subsequent impacts. Here we designed a hard serum albumin protein corona (BSA) on CTAB-coated gold nanorods (AuNRs) and captured the structure of protein adsorption using synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption spectroscopy, microbeam X-ray fluorescent spectroscopy, and circular dichroism in combination with molecular dynamics simulations. The protein adsorption is attributed to at least 12 Au-S bonds and the stable corona reduced the cytotoxicity of CTAB/AuNRs. These combined strategies using physical, chemical, and biological approaches will improve our understanding of the protective effects of protein coronas against the toxicity of nanomaterials. These findings have shed light on a new strategy for studying interactions between proteins and nanomaterials, and this information will help further guide the rational design of nanomaterials for safe and effective biomedical applications.

Dipolar-energy-activated magnetic domain pattern transformation driven by thermal fluctuations

Two-dimensional ferromagnetic layers can serve as a playground for the study of basic physical properties of various pattern forming systems by virtue of their tuneable magnetic properties. Here we use threshold photoemission magnetic circular dichroism in combination with photoemission electron microscopy to investigate ultra-thin ferromagnetic Fe/Ni/Cu(001) films in the stripe domain phase near the spin reorientation transition as a function of film thickness, temperature and effective anisotropy. Here we report a metastable domain state with domain width larger than the thermodynamically stable one as a result of a rapid reduction of the anisotropy. The transformation into the equilibrium state takes place via the propagation of a transition front, which originates from defined steps in the film thickness.

Biophysical Analysis of Binding of WW Domains of the YAP2 Transcriptional Regulator to PPXY Motifs within WBP1 and WBP2 Adaptors

The YAP2 transcriptional regulator mediates a plethora of cellular functions, including the newly discovered Hippo tumor suppressor pathway, by virtue of its ability to recognize WBP1 and WBP2 signaling adaptors among a wide variety of other ligands. Herein, using isothermal titration calorimery and circular dichroism in combination with molecular modeling and molecular dynamics, we provide evidence that the WW1 and WW2 domains of YAP2 recognize various PPXY motifs within WBP1 and WBP2 in a highly promiscuous and subtle manner. Thus, although both WW domains strictly require the integrity of the consensus PPXY sequence, nonconsensus residues within and flanking this motif are not critical for high-affinity binding, implying that they most likely play a role in stabilizing the polyproline type II helical conformation of the PPXY ligands. Of particular interest is the observation that both WW domains bind to a PPXYXG motif with highest affinity, implicating a preference for a nonbulky and flexible glycine one residue to the C-terminal side of the consensus tyrosine. Importantly, a large set of residues within both WW domains and the PPXY motifs appear to undergo rapid fluctuations on a nanosecond time scale, suggesting that WW-ligand interactions are highly dynamic and that such conformational entropy may be an integral part of the reversible and temporal nature of cellular signaling cascades. Collectively, our study sheds light on the molecular determinants of a key WW-ligand interaction pertinent to cellular functions in health and disease.

Magnetostatic coupling of 90° domain walls in Fe19Ni81/Cu/Co trilayers

The magnetic interlayer coupling of Fe19Ni81/Cu/Co trilayered microstructures has been studied by means of x-ray magnetic circular dichroism in combination with photoelectron emission microscopy (XMCD-PEEM). We find that a parallel coupling between magnetic domains coexists with a non-parallel coupling between magnetic domain walls (DWs) of each ferromagnetic layer. We attribute the non-parallel coupling of the two magnetic layers to local magnetic stray fields arising at DWs in the magnetically harder Co layer. In the magnetically softer FeNi layer, non-ordinary DWs, such as 270° and 90° DWs with overshoot of the magnetization either inwards or outwards relative to the turning direction of the Co magnetization, are identified. Micromagnetic simulations reveal that in the absence of magnetic anisotropy, both types of overshooting DWs are energetically equivalent. However, if a uniaxial in-plane anisotropy is present, the relative orientation of the DWs with respect to the anisotropy axis determines which of these DWs is energetically favorable.

Stereostructure Reassignment and Absolute Configuration of Isoepitaondiol, a Meroditerpenoid from Stypopodium flabelliforme

Careful examination of the published NMR data for isoepitaondiol, a meroditerpenoid from Stypopodium flabelliforme, suggests that its published structure 1 must be revised. On the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR studies, we now propose that structure 2, with a trans-anti-trans-anti-cis arrangement fits isoepitaondiol diacetate. The relative configuration of 2 was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, while the absolute configuration was evidenced by vibrational circular dichroism in combination with DFT B3LYP/DGDZVP calculations.

Novofumigatonin, a New Orthoester Meroterpenoid from Aspergillus novofumigatus

Novofumigatonin (1), a new metabolite, has been isolated from Aspergillus novofumigatus. The structure and relative stereochemistry were determined from HR ESI MS, one- and two-dimensional NMR, and single-crystal X-ray analysis. The absolute configuration was assigned using vibrational circular dichroism in combination with density functional calculations.

Conformational dynamics of Cu(i) complexes of tripodal ligands: steric control of molecular motion

The dynamics of molecular conformational changes for Cu(I) complexes of two tripodal ligands were studied. Variable-temperature NMR and circular dichroism in combination with two-dimensional NMR experiments were employed to determine the structural and energetic details of a dynamic process in which one of three arms dissociates from coordination to Cu(I). Dissociation was triggered by addition of a strongly coordinating anion (SCN−). One-electron oxidation to the Cu(II) complex returned coordination of all three ligand arms. The observed phenomena were dependent upon steric crowding; addition of a single methyl group to one arm resulted in marked differences in behavior. The CuSCN and CuPF6 complexes of tris(2-quinolylmethyl)amine (TQA) and the CuPF6 complex of 1-(quinolin-2-yl)-N,N-bis(quinolin-2-ylmethyl)ethanamine (MeTQA) did not give any evidence for differences in coordination over the temperature range 0–35 °C, while CuI(MeTQA)NCS demonstrated marked differences in NMR but not CD spectra over this temperature range. In the latter complex, two diastereotopic arms displace each other with a transition energy of 14.0 kcal mol−1. The structure of the arm-dissociated complex contains a higher degree of stereochemical complexity than the tetradentate complexes.

Element-specific magnetic moment profile in BCC Fe/Co superlattices

BCC Fe/Co superlattices with individual layer thicknesses in the range of 2–9 monolayers have been investigated by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism in combination with SQUID magnetometry in order to study the magnetic moment distribution in the superlattices. The magnetic moment for Co was found to remain constant, within 0.1μB/atom, at 1.6μB/atom for all the superlattices. The Fe atoms at the interface have an enhanced moment of about 3.0μB/atom. In addition, a complex dependence of the size of the moments on the thickness of the Fe layer was found and attributed to interface roughness effects. Element-specific hysteresis curves were also recorded. These measurements show that the magnetic moments of Fe and Co were, as expected, coupled during reversal of the magnetic moment direction.

Time-Resolved Linear Dichroism and Linear Birefringence of Bacteriorhodopsin at Alkaline pH: Identification of Two N Substates with Different Orientations of the Transition Dipole Moment

Transient linear dichroism and linear birefringence changes in the photocycle of bacteriorhodopsin at alkaline pH were measured with magnetically oriented purple membrane samples using the method of isotropic excitation (Borucki, B.; Otto, H.; Heyn, M. P. J. Phys. Chem. B 1999, 103, 6371−6383). At pH 10.4, the accumulation of the O intermediate is negligible, and N is the only intermediate that is relevant in the M decay and the recovery of the bR ground state. We introduced a new analytical approach that is model-independent and makes use of the transient linear dichroism in combination with isotropic absorbance changes. SVD analysis reveals that only one species (spectral component), namely, the N intermediate, is involved in the M decay at pH 10.4. The spectrum of this intermediate and its average anisotropy are determined from an eigenvalue equation. The transient linear dichroism data suggest a transition between two substates of the N intermediate with different anisotropies (i.e., with different orientations of the electronic transition dipole moment). Assuming that the polar angle of the transition dipole moment with respect to the membrane normal is 70° in the bR ground state, we get 66.3° (upper limit) for the first and 67.9° (lower limit) for the second N substate. The reorientation of the chromophore in the N1 → N2 transition is probably associated with the movement of the protonated Schiff base away from Asp96, suggesting that it serves as a reprotonation switch for Asp96 by stabilizing the protonation state of the Schiff base. In contrast to measurements at neutral pH, the linear birefringence changes at alkaline pH contain a wavelength-independent component that is not due to the transient absorption changes and whose time dependence is correlated with the kinetics of the N intermediate. This result is attributed to an electro-optical effect caused by the large electric field generated by the transient negative charge on Asp96 in the N intermediate. Alternatively this change in Δn may be due to the major conformational change in the cytoplasmic region of the membrane during N.

The orientation dynamics of rigid rod suspensions under extensional flow

The orientation dynamics of a lyotropic colloidal suspension of sepiolite clay under extensional flow have been explored by combined dichroism and small angle light scattering measurements. Extensional flow was applied using a four-roll mill to a thin film of sepiolite suspension (rigid rods 1 μm long and 0.010 μm in diameter). Analysis of transient extensional flow reversals revealed important characteristics of the orientation dynamics of these suspensions: (i) the existence of a critical volume fraction separating isotropic behavior, where no orientation persists after stretching, from nematic behavior, where permanent orientations persist during the relaxation phase; and (ii) in the nematic domain, a critical strain rate separates two flow regimes corresponding to a stable, so-called strong flow regime above the critical strain rate and an unstable, so-called weak flow regime below it. These experimental observations agree with the theoretical predictions of the model proposed by Marrucci and Maffettone (1989, 1990) who have examined the two-dimensional form of the simple molecular model of Hess (1976) and Doi (1981). What is new in the present case is that the colloidal suspension is a three-dimensional system, whereas previous experimental validations of the model concerned only two-dimensional rodlike polymers systems [Maffettone et al. (1996)] [Maruyama et al. (1998a, 1998b)].