Alterations to the broad-spectrum formin inhibitor SMIFH2 modulate potency but not specificity.

SMIFH2 is a small molecule inhibitor of the formin family of cytoskeletal regulators that was originally identified in a screen for suppression of actin polymerization induced by the mouse formin Diaphanous 1 (mDia1). Despite widespread use of this compound, it is unknown whether SMIFH2 inhibits all human formins. Additionally, the nature of protein/inhibitor interactions remains elusive.

A site-differentiated [4Fe-4S] cluster controls electron transfer reactivity of [FeFe]-hydrogenase I.

One of the many functions of reduction-oxidation (redox) cofactors is to mediate electron transfer in biological enzymes catalyzing redox-based chemical transformation reactions. There are numerous examples of enzymes that utilize redox cofactors to form electron transfer relays to connect catalytic sites to external electron donors and acceptors. The compositions of relays are diverse and tune transfer thermodynamics and kinetics towards the chemical reactivity of the enzyme.

Au/TiO-Catalyzed Benzyl Alcohol Oxidation on Morphologically Precise Anatase Nanoparticles.

Au nanoparticles (NP) on TiO have been shown to be effective catalysts for selective oxidation reactions by using molecular oxygen. In this work, we have studied the influence of support morphology on the catalytic activity of Au/TiO catalysts. Two TiO anatase supports, a nanoplatelet-shaped material with predominantly the {001} facet exposed and a truncated bipyramidal-shaped nanoparticle with predominantly the {101} facet exposed, were prepared by using a nonaqueous solvothermal method and characterized by using DRIFTS, XPS, and TEM.

Precursor reaction kinetics control compositional grading and size of CdSe S nanocrystal heterostructures.

We report a method to control the composition and microstructure of CdSe S nanocrystals by the simultaneous injection of sulfide and selenide precursors into a solution of cadmium oleate and oleic acid at 240 °C. Pairs of substituted thio- and selenoureas were selected from a library of compounds with conversion reaction reactivity exponents ( ) spanning 1.3 × 10 s to 2.