Brett VanVeller

n→π* interactions of amides and thioamides: implications for protein stability.

Carbonyl–carbonyl interactions between adjacent backbone amides have been implicated in the conformational stability of proteins. By combining experimental and computational approaches, we show that relevant amidic carbonyl groups associate through an n→π* donor–acceptor interaction with an energy of at least 0.27 kcal/mol. The n→π* interaction between two thioamides is 3-fold stronger than between two oxoamides due to increased overlap and reduced energy difference between the donor and acceptor orbitals. This result suggests that backbone thioamide incorporation could stabilize protein structures. Finally, we demonstrate that intimate carbonyl interactions are described more completely as donor–acceptor orbital interactions rather than dipole–dipole interactions.

Interplay of Hydrogen Bonds and n→π* Interactions in Proteins

Protein structures are stabilized by multiple weak interactions, including the hydrophobic effect, hydrogen bonds, electrostatic effects, and van der Waals interactions. Among these interactions, the hydrogen bond is distinct in having its origins in electron delocalization. Recently, another type of electron delocalization, the n→π* interaction between carbonyl groups, has been shown to play a role in stabilizing protein structure. Here we examine the interplay between hydrogen bonding and n→π* interactions. To address this issue, we used data available from high-resolution protein crystal structures to interrogate asparagine side-chain oxygen atoms that are both acceptors of a hydrogen bond and donors of an n→π* interaction. Then we employed natural bond orbital analysis to determine the relative energetic contributions of the hydrogen bonds and n→π* interactions in these systems. We found that an n→π* interaction is worth ~5-25% of a hydrogen bond and that stronger hydrogen bonds tend to attenuate or obscure n→π* interactions. Conversely, weaker hydrogen bonds correlate with stronger n→π* interactions and demixing of the orbitals occupied by the oxygen lone pairs. Thus, these two interactions conspire to stabilize local backbone-side-chain contacts, which argues for the inclusion of n→π* interactions in the inventory of non-covalent forces that contribute to protein stability and thus in force fields for biomolecular modeling.

Triptycene diols: a strategy for synthesizing planar π systems through catalytic conversion of a poly(p-phenylene ethynylene) into a poly(p-phenylene vinylene).

The performance of conjugated electronic polymers is highly dependent on conformation and the limits it places on electronic delocalization. Coplanarity of adjacent segments is generally desired to create the highest π-orbital overlap, resulting in less energetic disorder along the backbone. Simply stated, enforced planarity of the π-system leads to greater exciton and charge transport (along the π-way).[1] Greater chain coplanarity can be achieved by simply polymerizing fused polycyclic planar, π-extended monomers. Alternatively, post-polymerization annulation and rigidification, often taking advantage of reactive side chains,[2] has proven an effective strategy—particularly for phenylene-based ladder polymers.[2a]

Polycyclic Aromatic Triptycenes: Oxygen Substitution Cyclization Strategies

The cyclization and planarization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with concomitant oxygen substitution was achieved through acid catalyzed transetherification and oxygen-radical reactions. The triptycene scaffold enforces proximity of the alcohol and arene reacting partners and confers significant rigidity to the resulting π-system, expanding the tool set of iptycenes for materials applications.

Thiols and selenols as electron-relay catalysts for disulfide-bond reduction.

Pass them on! Dithiobutylamine immobilized on a resin is a useful reagent for the reduction of disulfide bonds. Its ability to reduce a disulfide bond in a protein is enhanced greatly if used along with a soluble strained cyclic disulfide or mixed diselenide that relays electrons from the resin to the protein. This electron-relay catalysis system provides distinct advantages over the use of excess soluble reducing agent alone.

Detection of Boronic Acids through Excited-State Intramolecular Proton-Transfer Fluorescence

Boronic acids are versatile reagents for the chemical synthesis of organic molecules. They and other boron-containing compounds can be detected readily by the interruption of the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) of 10-hydroxybenzo[h]quinolone. This method is highly sensitive and selective, and useful for monitoring synthetic reactions and detecting boron-containing compounds on a solid support.

Rigid Hydrophilic Structures for Improved Properties of Conjugated Polymers and Nitrotyrosine Sensing in Water

The efficient synthesis of a hydrophilic monomer bearing a three-dimensional noncompliant array of hydroxyl groups is described that prevents water-driven excimer features of hydrophobic poly(p-phenylene ethynylene) backbones. Sensitivity of the polymer to 3-nitrotyrosine is also discussed.

Target selection by natural and redesigned PUF proteins

Significance Pumilio/fem-3 mRNA binding factor (PUF) proteins have become a leading scaffold in designing proteins to bind and control RNAs at will. We analyze the effects of that reengineering across the transcriptome in vivo for the first time to our knowledge. We show that yeast Puf2p, a noncanonical PUF protein, binds more than 1,000 mRNA targets. Puf2p binds multiple UAAU elements, unlike canonical PUF proteins. We design a modified Puf2p to bind UAAG rather than UAAU, which allows us to align the protein with the binding site. In vivo, the redesigned protein binds UAAG sites. Its altered specificity redistributes the protein away from 3′UTRs, such that the protein tracks with its sites, binds throughout the mRNA and represses a novel RNA network. Pumilio/fem-3 mRNA binding factor (PUF) proteins bind RNA with sequence specificity and modularity, and have become exemplary scaffolds in the reengineering of new RNA specificities. Here, we report the in vivo RNA binding sites of wild-type (WT) and reengineered forms of the PUF protein Saccharomyces cerevisiae Puf2p across the transcriptome. Puf2p defines an ancient protein family present throughout fungi, with divergent and distinctive PUF RNA binding domains, RNA-recognition motifs (RRMs), and prion regions. We identify sites in RNA bound to Puf2p in vivo by using two forms of UV cross-linking followed by immunopurification. The protein specifically binds more than 1,000 mRNAs, which contain multiple iterations of UAAU-binding elements. Regions outside the PUF domain, including the RRM, enhance discrimination among targets. Compensatory mutants reveal that one Puf2p molecule binds one UAAU sequence, and align the protein with the RNA site. Based on this architecture, we redesign Puf2p to bind UAAG and identify the targets of this reengineered PUF in vivo. The mutant protein finds its target site in 1,800 RNAs and yields a novel RNA network with a dramatic redistribution of binding elements. The mutant protein exhibits even greater RNA specificity than wild type. The redesigned protein decreases the abundance of RNAs in its redesigned network. These results suggest that reengineering using the PUF scaffold redirects and can even enhance specificity in vivo.

A divalent protecting group for benzoxaboroles

1-Dimethylamino-8-methylaminonaphthalene is put forth as a protecting group for benzoxaboroles. The ensuing complex is fluorescent, charge-neutral, highly stable under basic conditions, stable to anhydrous acid, and readily cleavable in aqueous acid to return the free benzoxaborole.

A Small Push–Pull Fluorophore for Turn-on Fluorescence

A new class of push-pull dyes is reported based on the structures of benzoxa- and benzothiadiazole heterocycles. This new class of dyes displays red-shifted wavelengths of emission and greater sensitivity to polarity and hydrogen bonding solvents relative to previously known derivatives.