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A nonperturbative electron transfer (ET) rate theory is constructed on the basis of reduced density matrix dynamics that can be evaluated readily for the Debye solvent model without further approximation. The new formalism provides a microscopic theory for the effects of solvent environment on the ET thermodynamics and a continued fraction Green's function formalism is also constructed which can be used together with the Dyson equation technique for efficient evaluation of nonperturbative reduced density matrix dynamics.

Abiotic processes involving the reactive ammonia-oxidation intermediates nitric oxide (NO) or hydroxylamine (NH2OH) for N2O production have been indicated recently. The latter process would require the availability of substantial amounts of free NH2OH for chemical reactions during ammonia (NH3) oxidation, but little is known about extracellular NH2OH formation by the different clades of ammonia-oxidizing microbes. Here we determined extracellular NH2OH concentrations in culture media of several ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA), as well as one complete ammonia oxidizer (comammox) enrichment (Ca. Nitrospira inopinata) during incubation under standard cultivation conditions. NH2OH was measurable in the incubation media of Nitrosomonas europaea, Nitrosospira multiformis, Nitrososphaera gargensis, and Ca. Nitrosotenuis uzonensis, but not in media of the other tested AOB and AOA. NH2OH was also formed by the comammox enrichment during NH3 oxidation. This enrichment exhibited the largest NH2OH:final product ratio (1.92%), followed by N. multiformis (0.56%) and N. gargensis (0.46%). The maximum proportions of … converted to N2O via extracellular NH2OH during incubation, estimated on the basis of NH2OH abiotic conversion rates, were 0.12%, 0.08%, and 0.14% for AOB, AOA, and Ca. Nitrospira inopinata, respectively, and were consistent with published …:N2O conversion ratios for AOB and AOA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel copper(II) trifluoromethanesulfonate-catalyzed, high-efficiency, and atom-economical synthesis of valuable organophosphorus compounds via cascade annulation of propargylic alcohols with diphenylphosphine oxide is described. This protocol, which has a good functional-group compatibility and insensitivity to an ambient atmosphere, provides a simple and direct pathway to the products, organophosphorus compounds, in good yields under mild conditions. The method could be efficiently scaled up to gram scale, thus highlighting a potential application of this methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unprecedented Lewis acid catalyzed, high-efficiency synthesis of valuable 2-(quinolin-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-ones via dehydrogenative coupling of propargylic alkynols with quinoline N-oxides is described. This protocol, which tolerates a broad range of functional groups, provides a straightforward pathway to the products 2-(quinolin-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one scaffolds in satisfactory yields. The conversion could be scaled up to gram scale efficiently, which underlines a latent application of this methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unprecedented Lewis acid catalyzed, protection-free, and high-efficiency synthesis of valuable 3,4-dihydro-2H-2,4-methanochromans via cycloaddition of propargylic alkynols with 2-vinylphenol is described. This cycloaddition protocol, which tolerates a wide variety of functional groups, provides practical, versatile, and atom-economical access to a new class of appealing bridged-ring products in satisfactory yields. Compared with the reported reaction conditions for bridged-ring skeletons synthesis, the present reaction conditions are neutral, mild, and without any additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biotransformation of some micropollutants has previously been observed to be positively associated with ammonia oxidation activities and the transcript abundance of the archaeal ammonia monooxygenase gene (amoA) in nitrifying activated sludge. Given the increasing interest in and potential importance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), we investigated the capabilities of an AOA pure culture, Nitrososphaera gargensis, to biotransform ten micropollutants belonging to three structurally similar groups (i.e., phenylureas, tertiary amides, and tertiary amines). N. gargensis was able to biotransform two of the tertiary amines, mianserin (MIA) and ranitidine (RAN), exhibiting similar compound specificity as two ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) strains that were tested for comparison. The same MIA and RAN biotransformation reactions were carried out by both the AOA and AOB strains. The major transformation product (TP) of MIA, a-oxo MIA was likely formed via a two-step oxidation reaction. The first hydroxylation step is typically catalyzed by monooxygenases. Three RAN TP candidates were identified from nontarget analysis. Their tentative structures and possible biotransformation pathways were proposed. The biotransformation of MIA and RAN only occurred when ammonia oxidation was active, suggesting cometabolic transformations. Consistently, a comparative proteomic analysis revealed no significant differential expression of any protein-encoding gene in N. gargensis grown on ammonium with MIA or RAN compared with standard cultivation on ammonium only. Taken together, this study provides first important insights regarding the roles played by AOA in micropollutant biotransformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unprecedented Lewis acid catalyzed [4 + 3] cycloaddition reaction is described that provides a straightforward route to polycyclic products containing an imine-based indole azepine scaffold, starting from readily available internal tertiary alkynols and azides. This cycloaddition protocol provides efficient and atom-economical access to a new class of fascinating imine-containing products in satisfactory yields, which has shown good application in the construction of seven-membered N-heterocycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a highly selective method for the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated amides and alkenyl nitriles from readily available propargylic alcohols. The reaction proceeded smoothly under the neutral conditions with hydroxylamine hydrochloride (NH2OH·HCl) as the nitrogen source. The development of these new strategies has significantly extended the application of hydroxylamine hydrochloride to the chemistry of propargylic alcohols. Moreover, both secondary and tertiary alcohols have been highly regioselectively transformed to the desired products with good functional group compatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In heme deficiency, protein synthesis is inhibited by the activation of the heme-regulated eIF2α kinase (HRI) through its multiple autophosphorylation. Autophosphorylation sites in HRI were identified in order to investigate their functions. We found that there were eight major tryptic phosphopeptides of HRI activated in heine deficiency. In this report we focused on the role of autophosphorylation at Thr483 and Thr485 in the activation loop of HRI. Disruption of the autophosphorylation of Thr485, but not Thr483, resulted in a lower autokinase activity and locked Thr485Ala HRI in a hypophosphorylated state. Most importantly, autophosphorylation of Thr485, but not Thr483, was essential for attaining eIF2α kinase activity of HRI. In addition, autophosphorylation of Thr485 was necessary for arsenite-induced activation of the eIF2α kinase activity of HRI, while autophosphorylation at Thr483 was not required for activation by arsenite. The function of Thr490, another conserved Thr residue in the activation loop of HRI, was also investigated. Mutations of Thr490 to either Ala or Asp resulted in reduced autokinase activity and loss of eIF2α kinase activity in heme deficiency or upon arsenite treatment. Since Thr490 was not identified as an autophosphorylated site, it is likely that Thr490 itself might be critical for the catalytic activity of HRI. Importantly, Thr485 was very poorly phosphorylated in Thr490 mutant HRI. Collectively, our results demonstrate that autophosphorylation of Thr485 is essential for the hyperphosphorylation and activation of HRI and is required for the acquisition of the eIF2α kinase activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Networks of engineered waterways are critical in meeting the growing water demands in megacities. To capture and treat rainwater in an energy-efficient manner, approaches can be developed for such networks that use ecological services from microbial communities. Traditionally, engineered waterways were regarded as homogeneous systems with little responsiveness of ecological communities and ensuing processes. This study provides ecogenomics-derived key information to explain the complexity of urban aquatic ecosystems in well-managed watersheds with densely interspersed land-use patterns. Overall, sedimentary microbial communities had higher richness and evenness compared to the suspended communities in water phase. On the basis of PERMANOVA analysis, variation in structure and functions of microbial communities over space within same land-use type was not significant. In contrast, this difference was significant between different land-use types, which had similar chemical profiles. Of the 36 environmental parameters from spatial analysis, only three metals, namely potassium, copper and aluminum significantly explained between 7% and 11% of the variation in taxa and functions, based on distance-based linear models (DistLM). The ecogenomics approach adopted here allows the identification of key drivers of microbial communities and their functions at watershed-scale. These findings can be used to enhance microbial services, which are critical to develop ecologically friendly waterways in rapidly urbanizing environments.