Evaluation of enzymatic and magnetic properties of γ-glutamyl-[1-C]glycine and its deuteration toward longer retention of the hyperpolarized state.

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is an emerging cutting-edge method of acquiring metabolic and physiological information . We recently developed γ-glutamyl-[1-C]glycine (γ-Glu-[1-C]Gly) as a DNP nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) molecular probe to detect γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity . However, the detailed enzymatic and magnetic properties of this probe remain unknown.

Key aurophilic motif for robust quantum-tunneling-based characterization of a nucleoside analogue marker.

A quantum sequencer offers a scalable electrical platform for single-molecule analysis of genomic events. A thymidine (dT) analog exhibiting uniquely high single-molecule conductance is a key element in capturing DNA synthesis dynamics by serving as a decodable marker for enzymatic labeling of nascent strands. However, the current design strategies of dT analogs that focus on their molecular orbital energy levels require bulky chemical modifications to extend the π-conjugation, which hinders polymerase recognition.

Structural exploration of rhodium catalysts and their kinetic studies for efficient parahydrogen-induced polarization by side arm hydrogenation.

Parahydrogen-induced polarization (PHIP) is a rapid and cost-effective hyperpolarization technique using transition metal-catalysed hydrogenation with parahydrogen. We examined rhodium catalysts and their kinetic studies, rarely considered in the research of current PHIP. It emerged that rhodium complexes with electron-donating bisphosphine ligands, with a dicyclohexylphosphino group, appear to be more effective than conventional rhodium catalysts.

Oligonucleotide-Based Mimetics of Hepatocyte Growth Factor.

Oligonucleotide-based hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mimetics are described. A DNA aptamer to Met, a cognate receptor for HGF, was shown to induce Met activation when used in dimer form. The most potent aptamer dimer, ss-0, which was composed solely of 100-mer single-stranded DNA, exhibited nanomolar potency.