Visualizing the Submolecular Organization of αβ-Tubulin Subunits on the Microtubule Inner Surface Using Atomic Force Microscopy.

Microtubules (MTs) are dynamic cytoskeletal polymers essential for mediating fundamental cellular processes, including cell division, intracellular transport, and cell shape maintenance. Understanding the arrangement of tubulin heterodimers within MTs is key to their function. Using frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM) and simulations, we revealed the submolecular arrangement of α- and β-tubulin subunits on the inner MT surface.

Growth mechanisms and anisotropic softness-dependent conductivity of orientation-controllable metal-organic framework nanofilms.

Conductive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) manifest great potential in modern electrical devices due to their porous nature and the ability to conduct charges in a regular network. MOFs applied in electrical devices normally hybridize with other materials, especially a substrate. Therefore, the precise control of the interface between MOF and a substrate is particularly crucial.

Atomic force microscopic analysis of the light-harvesting complex 2 from purple photosynthetic bacterium Thermochromatium tepidum.

Structural information on the circular arrangements of repeating pigment-polypeptide subunits in antenna proteins of purple photosynthetic bacteria is a clue to a better understanding of molecular mechanisms for the ring-structure formation and efficient light harvesting of such antennas. Here, we have analyzed the ring structure of light-harvesting complex 2 (LH2) from the thermophilic purple bacterium Thermochromatium tepidum (tepidum-LH2) by atomic force microscopy. The circular arrangement of the tepidum-LH2 subunits was successfully visualized in a lipid bilayer.

Length-Controllable Gold-Coated Silver Nanowire Probes for High AFM-TERS Scattering Activity.

Tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) microscopy is an advanced technique for investigation at the nanoscale that provides topographic and chemical information simultaneously. The TERS probe plays a crucial role in the microscopic performance. In the recent past, the development of silver nanowire (AgNW) based TERS probes solved the main tip fabrication issues, such as low mechanical strength and reproducibility.

Determination of the critical chain length for macromolecular crystallization using structurally flexible polyketones.

Critical chain length that divides small molecule crystallization from macromolecular crystallization is an important index in macro-organic chemistry to predict chain-length dependent properties of oligomers and polymers. However, extensive research on crystallization behavior of individual oligomers has been inhibited by difficulties in their synthesis and crystallization. Here, we report on the determination of critical chain length of macromolecular crystallization for structurally flexible polyketones consisting of 3,3-dimethylpentane-2,4-dione.

State- and water repellency-controllable molecular glass of pillar[5]arenes with fluoroalkyl groups by guest vapors.

Molecular glasses are low-molecular-weight organic compounds that are stable in the amorphous state at room temperature. Herein, we report a state- and water repellency-controllable molecular glass by -alkane guest vapors. We observed that a macrocyclic host compound pillar[5]arene with the CF fluoroalkyl groups changes from the crystalline to the amorphous state (molecular glass) by heating above its melting point and then cooling to room temperature.

Local Cross-Coupling Activity of Azide-Hexa(ethylene glycol)-Terminated Self-Assembled Monolayers Investigated by Atomic Force Microscopy.

Azide-oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated self-assembled monolayers (N-OEG-SAMs) are promising interfacial structures for surface functionalization. Its many potential applications include chemical/bio-sensing and construction of surface models owing to its cross-coupling activity that originates from the azide group and oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) units for non-specific adsorption resistance. However, there are only a few studies and limited information, particularly on the molecular-scale structures and local cross-coupling activities of N-OEG-SAMs, which are vital to understanding its surface properties and interfacial molecular design.

Understanding the Polymerization of Diphenylacetylenes with Tantalum(V) Chloride and Cocatalysts: Production of Cyclic Poly(diphenylacetylene)s by Low-Valent Tantalum Species Generated in Situ.

A systematic investigation of the polymerization of representative diphenylacetylenes with TaCl and cocatalysts suggested that low-valent Ta species, which are formed by in situ reduction of TaCl by the cocatalysts, are involved in the polymerization and that the polymerization reaction proceeds by an insertion ring expansion mechanism via the formation of tantalacyclopentadiene intermediates, rather than the previously considered metathesis mechanism. This polymerization mechanism indicates the production of unprecedented -stereoregular cyclic poly(diphenylacetylene)s. Indeed, the possibilities of a cyclic structure and high -stereoregularity of the resulting polymers were reasonably supported by the results of their detailed atomic force microscopy (AFM) and NMR analyses, respectively.

In situ formation of photoactive B-ring reduced chlorophyll isomer in photosynthetic protein LH2.

Natural chlorophylls have a D-ring reduced chlorin π-system; however, no naturally occurring photosynthetically active B-ring reduced chlorins have been reported. Here we report a B-ring reduced chlorin, 17,18-didehydro-bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) a, produced by in situ oxidation of B800 bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) a in a light-harvesting protein LH2 from a purple photosynthetic bacterium Phaeospirillum molischianum. The regioselective oxidation of the B-ring of B800 BChl a is rationalized by its molecular orientation in the protein matrix.

One-Step Synthesis of One-Dimensional Supramolecular Assemblies Composed of Helical Macromolecular Building Blocks.

Living systems achieve sophisticated functions using supramolecular protein assemblies, in which the protein building blocks possess a specific secondary structure and are noncovalently arranged in a preprogrammed manner. Herein, we demonstrate the one-step synthesis of one-dimensional macromolecular assemblies by simply mixing a glycine-based isocyanide with a nickel catalyst, in which helical constituent polymers are linked end-to-end through multiple hydrogen bonds. The applicable scope of this approach is not confined to a particular monomer bearing a specially designed pendant, but covers a wide range of glycine-based isocyanides with or without aromatic and other functional groups.

Enhanced Aggregation of Stimuli Responsive Surfactants by Esterolytic Reactions.

Thioester surfactants, [CHN(CH)(CH)SCOCH] Br (CmSAc, m = 4, 11, 12), yielded thiol surfactants via thiol-thioester exchange upon addition of dithiothreitol in aqueous solution. The thiolthioester exchange reaction was enhanced in a micellar system owing to the concentration effect. The enhanced aggregation upon deprotection of the thioacetate group was observed by dynamic light scattering measurements.

Selective oxidation of B800 bacteriochlorophyll a in photosynthetic light-harvesting protein LH2.

Engineering chlorophyll (Chl) pigments that are bound to photosynthetic light-harvesting proteins is one promising strategy to regulate spectral coverage for photon capture and to improve the photosynthetic efficiency of these proteins. Conversion from the bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) skeleton (7,8,17,18-tetrahydroporphyrin) to the Chl skeleton (17,18-dihydroporphyrin) produces the most drastic change of the spectral range of absorption by light-harvesting proteins. We demonstrated in situ selective oxidation of B800 BChl a in light-harvesting protein LH2 from a purple bacterium Rhodoblastus acidophilus by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone.

Development of Biofuel Cell Using a Complex of Highly Oriented Immobilized His-Tagged Enzyme and Carbon Nanotube Surface Through a Pyrene Derivative.

For increasing the output of biofuel cells, increasing the cooperation between enzyme reaction and electron transfer on the electrode surface is essential. Highly oriented immobilization of enzymes onto a carbon nanotube (CNT) with a large specific surface area and excellent conductivity would increase the potential for their application as biosensors and biofuel cells, by utilizing the electron transfer between the electrode-molecular layer. In this study, we prepared a CNT-enzyme complex with highly oriented immobilization of enzyme onto the CNT surface.

Solubilization of Genistein in Phospholipid Vesicles and Their Atioxidant Capacity.

Water-insoluble genistein was solubilized in aqueous medium by using phospholipid vesicles composed of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycerophosphocholine (DOPC) with 0-30% cholesterol. For each vesicle, the maximum solubilization amount of genistein was investigated by X-ray scattering measurement. In addition, the antioxidant capacity of the solubilized genistein was evaluated by the ABTS assay.

Aggregation Behavior and Thiol-Thioester Exchange for Cationic Surfactants with Propylthioacetate Side Chain.

A series of cationic surfactants containing the thioacetate group, [CHN(CH)(CH)SCOCH] Cl (C3SAc, n = 12, 14, 16), were prepared and their properties in aqueous solution were investigated by conductivity, fluorescence, and dynamic light scattering measurements. The critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) of C3SAc decreased to about half the value of the corresponding alkyltrimethylammonium chloride. Thioacetate was eliminated with the addition of dithiothreitol (DTT) as well as NaOH.

Selective Removal of B800 Bacteriochlorophyll a from Light-Harvesting Complex 2 of the Purple Photosynthetic Bacterium Phaeospirillum molischianum.

The selective removal of B800 bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) a from light-harvesting complex 2 (LH2) in purple photosynthetic bacteria is a clue about elucidation of the mechanism for the transfer of energy from these pigments to B850 BChl a and their roles in the LH2 protein structure. We demonstrated that the kinetics of the removal of B800 BChl a from two representative LH2 proteins derived from Phaeospirillum molischianum and Rhodoblastus acidophilus differed significantly, in contrast to the calculated binding enthalpy. These results may be interpreted as changes in the local structure near B800 BChl a with respect to the geometries of the original crystal structures upon removal of B800 BChl a.

Aggregation and pH Responsive Behavior of Thioester Surfactants and Formation of Disulfide Linkages in Aqueous Solutions.

pH responsive surfactants, [CHN(CH)(CH)SCOCH]Br (CnSAc, n = 4, 11, 12), were prepared, and their properties in aqueous solution were examined. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) and critical vesicle concentration (cvc) were determined based on changes in conductivity, as well as by fluorescence measurements, and light scattering methods. A significant increase in the light scattering intensities of the CnSAc (n=11, 12) systems suggested that the growth of aggregates was accompanied by considerable counterion binding with increasing surfactant concentration.

Aggregation Behavior of Disulfide Linked Gemini Surfactants Compared to that of Double Tailed Surfactants.

Disulfide linked gemini surfactant having a long spacer chain, [CHN(CH)(CH)SS(CH)N(CH)CH]2Br (2C11SS), was prepared by the hydrolysis and oxidation process of thioester group for [CHN(CH)(CH)SCOCH]Br. The critical vesicle concentrations of double tailed surfactants such as dialkyldimethylammonium bromide were observed by the conductivity and light scattering methods. The disulfide bonds of gemini surfactant, [CHN(CH)CHCHSSCHCHN(CH)CH]2Br (2CSS), were rapidly cleaved by the addition of water-soluble dithiothreitol.

Self-assembled monolayers of sulfonate-terminated alkanethiols investigated by frequency modulation atomic force microscopy in liquid.

A molecular-scale understanding of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of sulfonate-terminated alkanethiols is crucial for interfacial studies of functionalized SAMs and their various applications. However, such an understanding has been difficult to achieve because of the lack of direct information on these molecular-scale structures in real space. In this study, we investigated the structures of sulfonate SAMs of sodium 11-mercapto-1-undecanesulfonate (MUS) by frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM) in liquid.

Reversible Changes in the Structural Features of Photosynthetic Light-Harvesting Complex 2 by Removal and Reconstitution of B800 Bacteriochlorophyll a Pigments.

Light-harvesting complex 2 (LH2) is an integral membrane protein in purple photosynthetic bacteria. This protein possesses two types of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) a, termed B800 and B850, which exhibit lowest-energy absorption bands (Q bands) around 800 and 850 nm. These BChl a pigments in the LH2 protein play crucial roles not only in photosynthetic functions but also in folding and maintaining its protein structure.

Efficiency improvement in the cantilever photothermal excitation method using a photothermal conversion layer.

Photothermal excitation is a cantilever excitation method that enables stable and accurate operation for dynamic-mode AFM measurements. However, the low excitation efficiency of the method has often limited its application in practical studies. In this study, we propose a method for improving the photothermal excitation efficiency by coating cantilever backside surface near its fixed end with colloidal graphite as a photothermal conversion (PTC) layer.

Semi-in situ atomic force microscopy imaging of intracellular neurofilaments under physiological conditions through the 'sandwich' method.

Neurofilaments are intermediate filament proteins specific for neurons and characterized by formation of biochemically stable, obligate heteropolymers in vivo While purified or reassembled neurofilaments have been subjected to morphological analyses by electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, there has been a need for direct imaging of cytoplasmic genuine intermediate filaments with minimal risk of artefactualization. In this study, we applied the modified 'cells on glass sandwich' method to exteriorize intracellular neurofilaments, reducing the risk of causing artefacts through sample preparation. SW13vim(-) cells were double transduced with neurofilament medium polypeptide (NF-M) and alpha-internexin (α-inx).

Flattened-Top Domical Water Drops Formed through Self-Organization of Hydrophobin Membranes: A Structural and Mechanistic Study Using Atomic Force Microscopy.

The Trichoderma reesei hydrophobin, HFBI, is a unique structural protein. This protein forms membranes by self-organization at air/water or water/solid interfaces. When HFBI forms a membrane at an air/water interface, the top of the water droplet is flattened.

Note: High-speed Z tip scanner with screw cantilever holding mechanism for atomic-resolution atomic force microscopy in liquid.

High-speed atomic force microscopy has attracted much attention due to its unique capability of visualizing nanoscale dynamic processes at a solid/liquid interface. However, its usability and resolution have yet to be improved. As one of the solutions for this issue, here we present a design of a high-speed Z-tip scanner with screw holding mechanism.