Line Shape Analysis Research Articles

Dynamic protein-protein interactions of KCNQ1 and KCNE1 measured by EPR line shape analysis

KCNQ1, also known as Kv7.1, is a voltage gated potassium channel that associates with the KCNE protein family. Mutations in this protein has been found to cause a variety of diseases including Long QT syndrome, a type of cardiac arrhythmia where the QT interval observed on an electrocardiogram is longer than normal. This condition is often aggravated during strenuous exercise and can cause fainting spells or sudden death. KCNE1 is an ancillary protein that interacts with KCNQ1 in the membrane at varying molar ratios. This interaction allows for the flow of potassium ions to be modulated to facilitate repolarization of the heart. The interaction between these two proteins has been studied previously with cysteine crosslinking and electrophysiology. In this study, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy line shape analysis in tandem with site directed spin labeling (SDSL) was used to observe changes in side chain dynamics as KCNE1 interacts with KCNQ1. KCNE1 was labeled at different sites that were found to interact with KCNQ1 based on previous literature, along with sites outside of that range as a control. Once labeled KCNE1 was incorporated into vesicles, KCNQ1 (helices S1-S6) was titrated into the vesicles. The line shape differences observed upon addition of KCNQ1 are indicative of an interaction between the two proteins. This method provides a first look at the interactions between KCNE1 and KCNQ1 from a dynamics perspective using the full transmembrane portion of KCNQ1.

Aluminium complexes of phenoxy-azo ligands in the catalysis of rac-lactide polymerisation.

Fourteen new phenoxy-azo aluminium complexes comprising two series, namely, dimethyl{phenoxy-azo}aluminium complexes 1a-7a and monomethyl{phenoxy-azo}aluminium complexes 1b-7b, were successfully synthesised and characterised. The molecular structure of complex 4a, determined using X-ray diffraction analysis, displayed a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The 1H NMR spectrum of complex 5b revealed fluxional behaviour caused by isomeric transformation that occurs in the solution at room temperature. The activation parameters determined by lineshape analysis of variable-temperature 1H NMR spectra in toluene-d8 are as follows: ΔH‡ = 70.05 ± 1.19 kJ mol-1, ΔS‡ = 21.78 ± 3.58 J mol-1 K-1 and ΔG‡ (298 K) = 63.56 ± 0.11 kJ mol-1. All aluminium complexes are active initiators for the ring-opening polymerisation of rac-lactide, and the polymerisations proceeded in a controlled manner and were living. In comparison, the catalytic activity of the dimethyl{phenoxy-azo}aluminium complexes was insignificantly different from that of the corresponding monomethyl{phenoxy-azo}aluminium complexes. The steric factor of the ortho-phenoxy substituent was observed to exert a decelerating effect on the catalytic rate. Kinetic investigations revealed first-order dependency on both monomer and initiator concentrations. Comparative catalytic investigations conducted on phenoxy-azo aluminium and phenoxy-imine aluminium complexes revealed that the former complexes exhibited lower catalytic activity.

Direct Excitation Transfer in Plasmonic Metal-Chalcopyrite-Hybrids: Insights from Single Particle Line Shape Analysis.

Hybrid nanomaterials containing both noble metal and semiconductor building blocks provide an engineerable platform for realizing direct or indirect charge and energy transfer for enhanced plasmonic photoconversion and photocatalysis. In this work, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) nanocrystals (NCs) are combined into a AgNP@CuFeS2 hybrid structure comprising NCs embedded in a self-assembled lipid coating around the AgNP core. In AgNP@CuFeS2 hybrid structures, both metallic and semiconductor NCs support quasistatic resonances. To characterize the interactions between these resonances and their effect on potential charge and energy transfer, direct interfacial excitation transfer between the AgNP core and surrounding CuFeS2 NCs is probed through single particle line shape analysis and supporting electromagnetic simulations. These studies reveal that CuFeS2 NCs localized in the evanescent field of the central AgNP induce a broadening of the metal NP line shape that peaks when an energetic match between the AgNP and CuFeS2 NC resonances maximizes direct energy transfer. Dimers of AgNPs whose resonances exhibit poor energetic overlap with the CuFeS2 NC quasistatic resonance yield much weaker line shape broadening in a control experiment, corroborating the existence of resonant energy transfer in the AgNP@CuFeS2 hybrid. Resonant coupling between the metallic and semiconductor building blocks in the investigated hybrid architecture provides a mechanism for utilizing the large optical cross-section of the central AgNP to enhance the generation of reactive charge carriers in the surrounding semiconductor NCs for potential applications in photocatalysis.

The role of chelating agent in the self-assembly of amphoteric surfactants

Hypothesis: Limited research has been conducted on the influence of chelating agents on the self-assembly process in surfactant solutions. The traditional approach assumes the chelating agent only interferes as a salting-out ion, therefore promoting surfactant separation. However, the opposite behavior has been observed for iminodipropionate based surfactants, in which the presence of chelating agents of the aminopolycarboxylate type increases solubility of nonionic ethoxylated surfactants in mixed micellar systems. Specific interaction between chelating agents-surfactants can be an important parameter in the self-assembly processes.Experiments: Physicochemical properties of solutions containing amphoteric surfactant and tetrasodium glutamatediacetate have been investigated. Macroscopic properties, such as viscosity and cloud point, were evaluated in the presence of a non-water-soluble alkyl ethoxylated surfactant. Interactions between amphoteric surfactant and chelating agent were monitored by NMR spectroscopy, including 13C chemical shift and lineshape analysis as well as 1H diffusometry.Findings: The study reveals that there is an interaction between the head group of the surfactant and the chelating agent forming oligomeric surfactant analogues with larger hydrophilic moieties, which results in smaller, more spherical micelles. The combined interactions provide possibilities for tuning the aggregation behavior of systems containing surfactants and chelating agents, and with that, the macroscopic properties of the system.

Visualization of spatial inhomogeneity in the superconducting gap using micro-ARPES

ABSTRACT Electronic inhomogeneity arises ubiquitously as a consequence of adjacent and/or competing multiple phases or orders in strongly correlated electron systems. Gap inhomogeneity in high- Tc cuprate superconductors has been widely observed using scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy. However, it has yet to be evaluated by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) due to the difficulty in achieving both high energy and spatial resolutions. Here, we employ high-resolution spatially-resolved ARPES with a micrometric beam (micro-ARPES) to reveal the spatial dependence of the antinodal electronic states in optimally-doped Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 + δ . Detailed spectral lineshape analysis was extended to the spatial mapping dataset, enabling the identification of the spatial inhomogeneity of the superconducting gap and single-particle scattering rate at the micro-scale. Moreover, these physical parameters and their correlations were statistically evaluated. Our results suggest that high-resolution spatially-resolved ARPES holds promise for facilitating a data-driven approach to unraveling complexity and uncovering key parameters for the formulation of various physical properties of materials.

Spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance based on current-induced impedance

Spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance (ST-FMR) has been widely used for measuring damping-like spin–orbit torques in magnetic bilayers. Typically, the ratio between the damping-like and field-like spin–orbit torques are extrapolated based on the ferromagnetic resonance line shapes. However, when the field-like spin–orbit torque is unknown, the line shape analysis may lead to errors in extrapolating the damping-like spin–orbit torque. Here, we propose a modified version of the ST-FMR that allows extrapolation of both damping-like and field-like torques independently. By introducing an alternating current to the sample, the RF impedance is modulated, allowing detection via the reflected microwave. We show that the extrapolated field-like and damping-like torques in Py/Pt samples are consistent with the technique measuring current-induced linewidth and resonance field change but have much better signal-to-noise ratio. Our proposed method paves a way for more accurate measurement of spin–orbit torques.

Bayesian analysis of 1D [formula omitted]H-NMR spectra

Extracting spin system parameters from 1D high resolution 1H-NMR spectra can be an intricate task requiring sophisticate methods. With a few exceptions methods to perform such a total line shape analysis commonly rely on local optimization techniques which for increasing complexity of the underlying spin system tend to reveal local solutions. In this work we propose a full Bayesian modeling approach based on a quantum mechanical model of the spin system. The Bayesian formalism provides a global optimization strategy which allows to efficiently include prior knowledge about the spin system or to incorporate additional constraints concerning the parameters of interest. The proposed algorithm has been tested on synthetic and real 1D 1H-NMR data for various spin systems with increasing complexity. The results show that the Bayesian algorithm provides accurate estimates even for complex spectra with many overlapping regions, and that it can cope with symmetry induced local minima. By providing an unbiased estimate of the model evidence the proposed algorithm furthermore offers a way to discriminate between different spin system candidates.

Quantification of alloy atomic composition sites in 2D ternary MoS2(1-x)Se2x and their role in persistent photoconductivity, enhanced photoresponse and photo-electrocatalysis

Engineering transition metal dichalcogenides-based semiconducting two-dimensional (2D) layered materials for photo(electro)chemical (PEC) hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by water splitting is an enduring challenge. Here, alloy-assisted photoconductivity and photoresponse from CVD-grown MoS2(1-x)Se2x (MSSE) 2D ternary atomic layered alloy-based photodetector device is presented for the realization of PEC HER. The explicit role of ‘S–Se’ and ‘Se2’ atomic alloy sites including chalcogen-induced vacancy defects on the photoconductivity/photoresponse and PEC HER performance of MSSE 2D alloy is investigated. Alloy formation, atomic site-by-site ‘Se’ composition and atomic structure are characterized using Raman/Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, high-angle annular dark field (HAADF)- scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) extensively and supported with Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) mapping. Further, the local density and concentration of S–Se, Se2 atomic sites and defects were quantitatively estimated using HAADF-STEM image analysis in correlation with AES and it is found between the range of ∼15–20 % in MSSE alloy. A 10-fold high photoresponsivity in the case of MSSE concerning as-grown MS having fast photocurrent growth time and the prolonged decay time originates from the ‘Se’ and this alloy assisted states to enhance the PEC performance of MSSE alloy. The enhanced PEC HER activity of MSSE alloy was identified in terms of overpotential and current density. In addition, increased density of states as a function of ‘Se’ alloying, shifts in a p-band centre and lowers ΔGH* according to density functional theory calculations, which makes MSSE alloy an efficient HER activity. Further, the PEC stability and presence of the ‘S–Se’ and ‘Se2’ alloying and their role towards HER have been correlated by the spectral line shape analysis of PL and Raman spectra from post-PEC HER catalysts. These experimental and theoretical findings establish the role of chalcogen, and transition metal-based 2D alloy, leading to the design of new PECs of engineered 2D atomic layer interfaces.

In-situ evidence for the existence of surface films in electrochemical machining of copper in nitrate electrolytes

This contribution analyzes the electrochemical etching of copper in a sodium nitrate electrolyte using in-situ Raman spectroscopy. Experiments were conducted in a specially designed process chamber at voltages below, at, and above the limiting current plateau. Below the plateau, a Raman peak at 1050 cm–1 is detected, which is attributed to the symmetrical nitrate ion. However, the line shape changes at and above the plateau. Detailed line shape analysis indicates the presence of a copper nitrate surface film by ex-situ comparison with copper nitrate solutions. In addition, the conductivity and pH of copper nitrate solutions were determined. A 5 M copper nitrate solution exhibits a low conductivity of 55 mS cm–1 and a pH close to 0. A significant influence, especially of the low pH, on the surface structure and therefore on the etching mechanism is assumed.

VT‐NMR Analysis of Rotation‐Inversion of N‐(4‐hydroxybutyl)‐N‐(2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl) tert‐butyl Carbamate: Utilizing the −CH2CF3 Appendage as a Reporter on E/Z‐Isomerization

AbstractThe rotational barrier about the CN carbamate bond of N‐(4‐hydroxybutyl)‐N‐(2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl) tert‐butyl carbamate 1 was determined by variable temperature (VT) 13C and 19F NMR spectroscopy. The −CH2CF3 appendage reports on rotational isomerism and allows for the observation of separate signals for the E‐ and Z‐ensembles at low temperature. The activation barrier for E/Z‐isomerization was quantified using Eyring‐Polanyi theory which requires the measurements of the maximum difference in Larmor frequency Δνmax and the convergence temperature Tc. Both Δνmax and Tc were interpolated by analyzing sigmoidal functions fitted to data describing signal separation and the quality of the superposition of the E‐ and Z‐signals, respectively. Methods for generating the quality‐of‐fit parameters for Lorentzian line shape analysis are discussed. Our best experimental value for the rotational barrier ΔGc≠(1)=15.65±0.13 kcal/mol is compared to results of a higher level ab initio study of the model N‐ethyl‐N‐(2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl) methyl carbamate.

Determining effects of doping lithium nickel oxide with tungsten using Compton scattering

X-ray Compton scattering experiments along with parallel first-principles computations were carried out on LiNiO2 to understand the effects of W doping on this cathode material for Li-ion batteries. By employing high-energy x rays exceeding 100 keV, an insight is gained into the fate of the W valence electrons, which are adduced to undergo transfer to empty O 2p energy bands within the active oxide matrix of the cathode. The substitution of W for Ni is shown to increase the electronic conductivity and to enhance the total magnetization per Ni atom. Our study demonstrates that an analysis of line shapes of Compton scattered x rays in combination with theoretical modeling can provide a precise method for an atomic level understanding of the nature of the doping process.

Toward More Selective Antibiotic Inhibitors: A Structural View of the Complexed Binding Pocket of E. coli Peptide Deformylase.

Peptide deformylase (PDF) is involved in bacterial protein maturation processes. Originating from the interest in a new antibiotic, tremendous effort was put into the refinement of PDF inhibitors (PDFIs) and their selectivity. We obtained a full NMR backbone assignment the emergent additional protein backbone resonances of ecPDF 1-147 in complex with 2-(5-bromo-1H-indol-3-yl)-N-hydroxyacetamide (2), a potential new structural scaffold for more selective PDFIs. We also determined the complex crystal structures of E. coli PDF (ecPDF fl) and 2. Our structure suggests an alternative ligand conformation within the protein, a possible starting point for further selectivity optimization. The orientation of the second ligand conformation in the crystal structure points toward a small region of the S1' pocket, which differs between bacterial PDFs and human PDF. Moreover, we analyzed the binding mode of 2 via NMR TITAN line shape analysis, revealing an induced fit mechanism.

Hot luminescence of two-dimensional electron hole systems in modulation-doped silicon

Modulation doping of silicon has great potential for miniaturization, surface passivation, and third generation photovoltaics (PV). At a modulation-doped silicon surface, we observe the formation of a 2D hole layer at the silicon surface at low temperatures by means of photoluminescence (PL) measurements. A line shape analysis of band–band and hot luminescence reveals the hole density (which is equal to the modulation-doped acceptor density). A high excitation intensity leads to a Fermi edge singularity of the band–band and hot PL emission. While the 2D layer can be characterized by the observed luminescence, the spectral region of twice the bandgap is fully dominated by emission from this surface layer, impeding the measurement of bulk hot luminescence, e.g., from Auger electrons or from nonthermalized carriers in a hot carrier PV device.

Differences in Photophysical Properties and Photochemistry of Ru(II)-Terpyridine Complexes of CH3CN and Pyridine.

A series of 22 Ru(II) complexes of the type [Ru(tpy)(L)(L')]n+, where tpy is the tridentate ligand 2,2';6,2″-terpyridine, L represents bidentate ligands with varying electron-donating ability, and L' is acetonitrile (1a-11a) or pyridine (1b-11b), were investigated. The dissociation of acetonitrile occurs from the 3MLCT state in 1a-11a, such that it does not require the population of a 3LF state. Electrochemistry and spectroscopic data demonstrate that the ground states of these series do not differ significantly. Franck-Condon line-shape analysis of the 77 K emission data shows no significant differences between the emitting 3MLCT states in both series. Arrhenius analysis of the temperature dependence of 3MLCT lifetimes shows that the energy barrier (Ea) to thermally populating a 3LF state from a lower energy 3MLCT state is significantly higher in the pyridine than in the CH3CN series, consistent with the photostability of complexes 1b-11b, which do not undergo pyridine photodissociation under our experimental conditions. Importantly, these results demonstrate that ligand photodissociation of pyridine in 1b-11b does not take place directly from the 3MLCT state, as is the case for 1a-11a. These findings have potential impact on the rational design of complexes for a number of applications, including photochemotherapy, dye-sensitized solar cells, and photocatalysis.

Persistence of Methionine Side Chain Mobility at Low Temperatures in a Nine-Residue Low Complexity Peptide, as Probed by 2 H Solid-State NMR.

Methionine side chains are flexible entities which play important roles in defining hydrophobic interfaces. We utilize deuterium static solid-state NMR to assess rotameric inter-conversions and other dynamic modes of the methionine in the context of a nine-residue random-coil peptide (RC9) with the low-complexity sequence GGKGMGFGL. The measurements in the temperature range of 313 to 161 K demonstrate that the rotameric interconversions in the hydrated solid powder state persist to temperatures below 200 K. Removal of solvation significantly reduces the rate of the rotameric motions. We employed 2 H NMR line shape analysis, longitudinal and rotation frame relaxation, and chemical exchange saturation transfer methods and found that the combination of multiple techniques creates a significantly more refined model in comparison with a single technique. Further, we compare the most essential features of the dynamics in RC9 to two different methionine-containing systems, characterized previously. Namely, the M35 of hydrated amyloid-β1-40 in the three-fold symmetric polymorph as well as Fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (FMOC)-methionine amino acid with the bulky hydrophobic group. The comparison suggests that the driving force for the enhanced methionine side chain mobility in RC9 is the thermodynamic factor stemming from distributions of rotameric populations, rather than the increase in the rate constant.

Photoreflectance spectroscopy of BiOCl epitaxial thin films

We have observed a new optical transition in the photoreflectance spectra of indirect-gap BiOCl thin films, which were grown on SrTiO3 substrates. The position of this transition is close in energy to its bulk critical point (CP) energy. Moreover, these are significantly lower than a higher-lying direct-type CP from an energetic point of view. The spectral line shape analysis for our observed signal suggests the presence of an excitonic effect of this compound. We determined its dependence of the optical anomaly on temperature ranging from 80 K to RT. We adopted the Varshni model for this analysis. At last, we compared photonic properties of BiOCl with those of an element and binary semiconductors.

Probing the Dissociation Pathway of a Kinetically Labile Transthyretin Mutant.

Aggregation of transthyretin (TTR) is associated with devastating amyloid diseases. Amyloidosis begins with the dissociation of the native homotetramer (a dimer of dimers) to form a monomeric intermediate that assembles into pathogenic aggregates. This process is accelerated in vitro at low pH, but the process by which TTR dissociates and reassembles at neutral pH remains poorly characterized due to the low population of intermediates. Here, we use 19F-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and a highly sensitive trifluoromethyl probe to determine the relative populations of the species formed by the dissociation of a destabilized variant, A25T. The A25T mutation perturbs both the strong dimer and weak dimer-dimer interfaces. A tetramer ⇌ dimer ⇌ monomer (TDM) equilibrium model is proposed to account for concentration- and temperature-dependent population changes. Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters and activation energetics for dissociation of the native A25T tetramer, as well as a destabilized alternative tetramer (T*) with a mispacked F87 side chain, were extracted by van't Hoff and 19F-NMR line shape analysis, saturation transfer, and transition state theory. Chemical shifts for the dimer and T* species are degenerate for 19F and methyl probes close to the strong dimer interface, implicating interfacial perturbation as a common structural feature of these destabilized species. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations further suggest more frequent F87 ring flipping on the nanosecond time scale in the A25T dimer than in the native A25T tetramer. Our integrated approach offers quantitative insights into the energy landscape of the dissociation pathway of TTR at neutral pH.

Evidence of Organic Polymeric Behavior in the Glass Transition of Metal-Organic Frameworks.

The origin of the glass transition is still an open debate, especially for the new class of glasses, formed from metal-organic compounds. High-temperature in situ 2H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) experiments are performed on deuterated samples of ZIF-62 (Zn(C3H4N2)2-x(C7H6N2)x, with x=0.25 and x=0.05), the prototypical metal-organic framework glass former. Using lineshape analysis, frequencies and angular amplitudes of oscillations of the imidazolate ring during heating up to the melt progressively increasing from ≈10 to 150MHz, and from ≈5° to 25° are found. This behavior is compositionally dependent and points to the origin of the glass transition lying in organic linker movement, in a similar vein to that witnessed in some organics and contrary to the purely inorganic-based view of Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) glasses taken to date. This experimental approach shows the potential to elucidate the melting and/or decomposition process for a wide range of MOFs.

Line Shape Analysis of 19F NMR-Monitored Chemical Denaturation of a Fold-Switching Protein RfaH Reveals Its Slow Folding Dynamics.

The recent discovery of metamorphic proteins, which can switch between multiple conformations under native conditions, has challenged the well-established one sequence-one structure paradigm of protein folding. This is exemplified in the C-terminal domain of the multidomain transcription factor RfaH, which converts from an α-helical coiled-coil conformation in its autoinhibited state to a β-barrel conformation upon activation. Here, we use multisite line shape analysis of 19F NMR-monitored equilibrium chemical denaturation measurements of two 19F-labeled variants of full-length RfaH, to show that it folds/unfolds slowly on the NMR time scale, in an apparent all-or-none fashion at physiological pH and room temperature in the 3.3-4.8 M urea concentration range. The significant thermodynamic stability and slow unfolding rate (kinetic stability) are likely responsible for maintaining the closed autoinhibited state of RfaH, preventing spurious interactions with RNA polymerase (RNAP) when not functional. Our results provide a quantitative understanding of the folding-function relationship in the model fold-switching protein RfaH.

Dynamic and Assembly Characteristics of Deep-Cavity Basket Acting as a Host for Inclusion Complexation of Mitoxantrone in Biotic and Abiotic Systems.

We describe the preparation, dynamic, assembly characteristics of vase-shaped basket 13- along with its ability to form an inclusion complex with anticancer drug mitoxantrone in abiotic and biotic systems. This novel cavitand has a deep nonpolar pocket consisting of three naphthalimide sides fused to a bicyclic platform at the bottom while carrying polar glycines at the top. The results of 1 H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), 1 H NMR Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST), Calorimetry, Hybrid Replica Exchange Molecular Dynamics (REMD), and Microcrystal Electron Diffraction (MicroED) measurements are in line with 1 forming dimer [12 ]6- , to be in equilibrium with monomers 1(R) 3- (relaxed) and 1(S) 3- (squeezed). Through simultaneous line-shape analysis of 1 H NMR data, kinetic and thermodynamic parameters characterizing these equilibria were quantified. Basket 1(R) 3- includes anticancer drug mitoxantrone (MTO2+ ) in its pocket to give stable binary complex [MTO⊂1]- (Kd =2.1 μM) that can be precipitated in vitro with UV light or pH as stimuli. Both in vitro and in vivo studies showed that the basket is nontoxic, while at a higher proportion with respect to MTO it reduced its cytotoxicity in vitro. With well-characterized internal dynamics and dimerization, the ability to include mitoxantrone, and biocompatibility, the stage is set to develop sequestering agents from deep-cavity baskets.