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Abstract: The dynamic behaviour analysis of porcine OBP, free of ligand, and complexed with 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine and 2,6-dimethyl-7-octen-2-ol has been performed by means of molecular dynamics simulations. The simulations reveal that the OBP cavity, while being hydrophobic, is likely to produce hydrophilic interactions with some of the internal residues. A large evolution of the OBP cavity volume has been observed, ranging between 400 and 800Å3 independently of the ligand buried into the cavity. The hydrophobic cavity is shielded from the solvent, but openings have been observed, triggered by shifts of residues considered to constitute the door of the cavity, especially tyrosine 82. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: DFT investigations of the acid-catalysed oxidation of linear and cyclic epoxides by DMSO revealed that a first step of nucleophilic ring-opening is followed by two different reaction pathways: on one hand α-hydroxycarbonyl derivatives are formed, via oxidative ring-opening, and on the other hand two aldehyde moieties are obtained, via oxidative cleavage. Calculations with the polarized continuum method (PCM) taking into account the DMSO solvation effect did not significantly change the energy barriers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]