Kinetics and Statistical Distributions of Single-Molecule Conformational Dynamics

We developed a coarse-grained yet microscopic detailed model to study the statistical fluctuations of single-molecule protein conformational dynamics of adenylate kinase. We explored the underlying conformational energy landscape and found that the system has two basins of attractions, open and closed conformations connected by two separate pathways. The kinetics is found to be nonexponential, consistent with single-molecule conformational dynamics experiments. Furthermore, we found that the statistical distribution of the kinetic times for the conformational transition has a long power law tail, reflecting the exponential density of state of the underlying landscape. We also studied the joint distribution of the two pathways and found memory effects.

Downhill kinetics of biomolecular interface binding: Globally connected scenario

We study the kinetics of the biomolecular binding process at the interface using energy landscape theory. The global kinetic connectivity case is considered for a downhill funneled energy landscape. By solving the kinetic master equation, the kinetic time for binding is obtained and shown to have a U-shape curve-dependence on the temperature. The kinetic minimum of the binding time monotonically decreases when the ratio of the underlying energy gap between native state and average non-native states versus the roughness or the fluctuations of the landscape increases. At intermediate temperatures,fluctuations measured by the higher moments of the binding time lead to non-Poissonian, non-exponential kinetics. At both high and very low temperatures, the kinetics is nearly Poissonian and exponential.

The complex kinetics of protein folding in wide temperature ranges

The complex protein folding kinetics in wide temperature ranges is studied through diffusive dynamics on the underlying energy landscape. The well-known kinetic chevron rollover behavior is recovered from the mean first passage time, with the U-shape dependence on temperature. The fastest folding temperature T-0 is found to be smaller than the folding transition temperature T-f. We found that the fluctuations of the kinetics through the distribution of first passage time show rather universal behavior, from high-temperature exponential Poissonian kinetics to the relatively low-temperature highly nonexponential kinetics. The transition temperature is at T-k and T-0, T-k, T-f. In certain low-temperature regimes, a power law behavior at long time emerges. At very low temperatures ( lower than trapping transition temperature T< T-0/(4&SIM;6)), the kinetics is an exponential Poissonian process again.

Probing the kinetics of single molecule protein folding

We propose an approach to integrate the theory, simulations, and experiments in protein-folding kinetics. This is realized by measuring the mean and high-order moments of the first-passage time and its associated distribution. The full kinetics is revealed in the current theoretical framework through these measurements. In the experiments, information about the statistical properties of first-passage times can be obtained from the kinetic folding trajectories of single molecule experiments ( for example, fluorescence). Theoretical/simulation and experimental approaches can be directly related. We study in particular the temperature-varying kinetics to probe the underlying structure of the folding energy landscape. At high temperatures, exponential kinetics is observed; there are multiple parallel kinetic paths leading to the native state. At intermediate temperatures, nonexponential kinetics appears, revealing the nature of the distribution of local traps on the landscape and, as a result, discrete kinetic paths emerge. At very low temperatures, exponential kinetics is again observed; the dynamics on the underlying landscape is dominated by a single barrier.

Charge carrier mobility and electroluminescence in a green-emitting alternating block copolymer with a methoxy Bi-substituted chromophore

We determine the mobility of positive and negative charge carriers in a soluble green-emitting alternating block copolymer with, a methoxy bi-subsbituted conjugated segment. The negative charge carrier mobility of 6 x 10(-11) cm(2)/V.s is directly determined using space-charge-limited current analytical expressions. Positive charge carrier transport is also space-charge-limited, with a mobility of I x 10(-8) cm(2)/V.s. The electron trap distribution is exponential, with a characteristic energy of similar to 0.12 eV. A hole trap with energy similar to 0.4 eV was observed. This copolymer is used as emissive material in organic light-emitting diodes that present brightness of similar to 900 cd/m(2) at 12.5 V.

Charge transport in a blue-emitting alternating block copolymer with a small spacer to conjugated segment length ratio

We analyze current versus voltage data obtained using single carrier injection in several metal/polymer/metal sandwich structures. The polymer used in each case is a soluble blue-emitting alternating block copolymer. Our experimental results demonstrate that the electron transport is space-charge limited by the high density of traps having an exponential energy distribution (temperature dependent characteristic energy) in the copolymer. The electron mobility of 8x10(-10) cm(2)/V s is directly determined using space-charge-limited current analytical expressions. Hole transport is also space-charge limited, with a mobility of 2x10(-6) cm(2)/V s. A hole trap with energy 0.17 eV is observed. We compare these results with those obtained for related block copolymers with different spacer and conjugated segment lengths and discuss the influence of spacer length and conjugated segment length on the charge transport properties. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)04501-1].

Four-level decay model of P-6(7/2) excited state of Eu2+ ion in KMgF3

A four-level model of P-6(7/2) excited state of Eu2+ ion in KMgF3: Eu2+ has been proposed. The decay profiles of the P-6(7/2) excited sstate of Eu2+ are two exponential and the physical implication of each term in the fit equation responsible for the model is interpreted. The data obtained spectroscopically are in good agreement with the fit results.

Determination of electron mobility in a blue-emitting alternating block copolymer by space-charge-limited current measurements

In this communication we analyse current versus voltage data obtained using one carrier injection at metal/polymer/metal structures, The used polymer is a soluble blue-emitting alternating block copolymer, Our experimental results demonstrate that the electron current is limited by a large amount of traps with exponential energy distribution in the copolymer. The electron ;mobility of 5.1 x 10(-10) cm(2)/V s is directly determined by space-charge-limited current measurements. The electron mobility is at least three orders of magnitude smaller than that for holes in the copolymer. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Luminescence properties of Sm2+ in barium octaborates (BaB8O13 : Sm2+)

The luminescence of Sm2+ in BaB8O13 are studied as a function of temperature. At 10 K, several crystallographic sites for Sm2+ ions with inversion symmetry are possible and D-5(0) --> F-7(1) transition show predominant intensities, whereas above 50 K two crystallographic sites without inversion symmetry are clearly observed for Sm2+ in BaB8O13 and the D-5(0) --> F-7(0) transition show strongest intensity. The vibronic transitions and the non-radiative transitions of Sm2+ are studied and a coupled-phonon energy about 50 cm(-1) is obtained. The thermal effects on the line shift, emission intensities, half-width and lifetime of the D-5(0) --> F-7(0) transition are also studied. The decay curves at different temperatures are all in single exponential and are temperature-independent with lifetime around 3.5 ms. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Calculation of chemical bond parameters in La1-xCaxCrO3 (0.0 <= x <= 0.3)

The chemical bond parameters, that is, bond covalency, bond susceptibility, and macroscopic linear susceptibility of La1-xCaxCrO3 (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) has been calculated using a semiempirical method. This method is the generalization of the dielectric description theory proposed by Phillips, Van Vechten, Levine, and Tanaka (PVLT). In the calculation of bond valence, two schemes were adopted. One is the bond valence sums (BVS) scheme, and the other is the equal-valence scheme. Both schemes suggest that for the title compounds bond covalency and bond susceptibility are mainly influenced by bond valence and are insensitive to the Ca doping level or structural change. Larger bond valences usually result in higher bond covalency and bond susceptibility. The macroscopic linear susceptibility increases (only slightly for BVS scheme) with the increasing Ca doping level. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Influence of bond valence on bond covalency in calcium doped lanthanum chromite

The influence of bond valence on bond covalency in La1-xCaxCrO3(x =0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) has been studied by using semiempirical method. This method is the extension of the dielectric description theory proposed by Phillips, Van Vechten, levine and Tanaka (PVLT). In the calculation of bond valence, two schemes were adopted. The first is the equal-valence scheme, and the second is Bond Valence Sums (BVS) scheme. Both schemes suggest that for the title compound bond covalency be mainly influenced by bond valence, and insensitive to the Ca doping level. Generally speaking, larger bond valences usually result in higher bond covalencies.

Evaluation of bond covalency and bond valence in Sr-doped perovskite-type compounds

Formulas for decomposing of complex crystals to a sum of binary crystals are described and applied to the study of bond covalency in La1-xSrxFeO3 (0.0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.9) and Ca1-xSrxMnO3 (0.0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.5). The bond valence is treated by bond-valence sums scheme. The results indicate that, for both compounds, with the increasing doping level, the bond covalency and bond valence show the same trend, namely, larger bond covalency corresponds to higher bond valence. For La1-xSrxFeO3, with the increase of doping level, the bond covalency of La-O, Ca-O decreases in the orthorhombic (0.0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.2) and rhombohedral (0.4 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.7) systems, then increases slightly for the cubic (0.8 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.9) system, but that of Fe-O increases for all crystal systems. A sharp decrease in bond covalency was observed where the crystal changes from orthorhombic to rhombohedral, while a smooth trend was seen for the rhombohedral-to-cubic transition. On the other hand, for orthorhombic Ca1-xSrxMnO3, the bond covalency of Ca-O, Sr-O, and Mn-O (4-coordinate site) decreases with the increasing doping level, that of Mn-O (2-coordinate site) increases.

The aggregation state of polyimide

The aggregation slate of polyimide in solution and in the solid state were studied using the NMR and fluorescence techniques. The experiment results show that the decay of spin-spin relaxation of polyimides with concentration can be described as a single exponential, biexponential, triexponential, biexponential profile. Meanwhile, the intensities of fluorencence spectra increase rapidly with the concentration, and some peaks have a red-shift. Based upon these experiment results, it can be concluded that polyimide in solution is very flexible, and there are several critical concentrations at which polyimide has distinctly different aggregation states. The existence of intermolecular charge transfer interaction between polyimide chains has been proved, and the interaction has a profound effect on the glass transition temperature, T-g, and the dynamic mechanical modulus of polyimide. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.

STUDY ON THE COMPLEXATION OF ACENAPHTHENE AND FLUORANTHENE WITH CYCLODEXTRINS BY MEANS OF TIME-RESOLVED FLUORESCENCE TECHNIQUE

The complexation of acenaphthene and fluoranthene with beta-cyclodextrin (CD) in aqueous solutions in the presence and absence of ethanol was investigated by means of the time-resolved fluorescence technique. The appearance of a longer lifetime component and the increase of its fraction relative to that of the shorter lifetime component with increasing CD concentration demonstrate the formation of inclusion complex between the guest molecule and CD. The formation constants for complexation were derived from the pre-exponential factor A(i) of fluorescence decay curves. The presence of ethanol in the reaction systems enhanced the inclusion to a large extent.

Developing Porphyra/salmon integrated aquaculture for bioremediation and diversification of the aquaculture industry

FUNCTIONAL-FORM GROUPS; RED ALGAE; ATLANTIC SALMON; NEW-HAMPSHIRE; NITROGEN; PHOSPHORUS; RHODOPHYTA; TEMPERATURE; NUTRIENTS; KJELLMAN