Type I Phosphatidylinositol-4-Phosphate 5-Kinases α and γ Play a Key Role in Targeting HIV-1 Pr55 to the Plasma Membrane.

HIV-1 assembly occurs principally at the plasma membrane (PM) of infected cells. Gag polyprotein precursors (Pr55) are targeted to the PM, and their binding is mediated by the interaction of myristoylated matrix domain and a PM-specific phosphoinositide, the phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P]. The major synthesis pathway of PI(4,5)P involves the activity of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase family type 1 composed of three isoforms (PIP5K1α, PIP5K1β, and PIP5K1γ).

Combining ATRP and FRP Gels: Soft Gluing of Polymeric Materials for the Fabrication of Stackable Gels.

Stackable gels comprised of layers of dissimilar polymers were synthesized by combining conventional free radical polymerization (FRP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using two approaches: (i) polymerization of a pre-gel solution containing a monomer and cross-linker introduced on top of a previously prepared gel, and (ii) simultaneous polymerization of two immiscible pre-gel solutions remaining in contact. All permutations of FRP and ATRP yielded single-piece, connected, amphiphilic gels regardless of the order of polymerization. Furthermore, multi-layer ATRP gels combining different polymers were synthesized with the FRP layer as a gluing agent.

Assembly, disassembly, and reassembly: conversion of homometallic coordination networks into mixed metal-organic frameworks.

A strategy for the conversion of homometallic coordination networks into mixed metal-organic frameworks (MM'MOFs) is proposed. Ni(II) complexes of dipyrrin (dpm) ligands bearing peripheral pyridyl or imidazolyl units have been shown to self-assemble into coordination polymers with the metal cation in an octahedral environment coordinated to two bis-pyrrolic chelates and two neutral monodentate coordinating units such as pyridyl or imidazolyl moieties. Taking advantage of the chelate effect, the two monodentate units may be replaced by a diimine ligand leading to the disassembly of the networks by the formation of discrete soluble complexes.

From sequential to one-pot synthesis of dipyrrin based grid-type mixed metal-organic frameworks.

Both sequential and one-pot strategies for the preparation of a series of grid-type mixed metal-organic frameworks (MM'MOFs) based on dipyrrin ligands appended with either a pyridyl or a phenyl-imidazolyl moiety have been investigated. For the stepwise approach, the differentiation between the two coordination sites (nature, charge, and denticity) was exploited for the synthesis of a family of five discrete Zn(II), Cu(II), and Pd(II) complexes. Acting as metallatectons, these construction building blocks lead to the formation of a series of MM'MOFs upon self-assembly with CdCl2.