Archive for July, 2015

Chemical compartmentalisation by membranes: from biological mechanism to biomimetic applications

This PCCP themed issue is devoted to research into understanding, mimicking and harnessing the compartmentalisation of biology using in vitro model systems. ‘Chemical compartmentalisation by membranes: from biological mechanism to biomimetic applications‘ explores the methods physical scientists have developed to reconstitute in vitro models of biologically functional interfaces and compartments, whether they may be membranes composed of natural lipids, or biomimetic self-assembled membranes constructed from block copolymers or polyelectrolytes.

The Guest Editors for this themed collection are Barbara Ciani (University of Sheffield, UK) and Paul Beales (University of Leeds, UK) and their Editorial can be views for free until the 31st August 2015, along with this selection of articles:

Credit: Barbara Ciani and Paul Beales

Bioinspired nanoreactors for the biomineralisation of metallic-based nanoparticles for nanomedicine, Jennifer Bain and Sarah S Staniland, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.,2015,17, 15508-15521, DOI: 10.1039/C5CP00375J

Protein synthesis in artificial cells: using compartmentalisation for spatial organisation in vesicle bioreactors, Yuval Elani, Robert V. Law and Oscar Ces, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.,2015,17, 15534-15537, DOI: 10.1039/C5CP05933F (Open Access)

Mechanical and molecular basis for the symmetrical division of the fission yeast nuclear envelope, Stefania Castagnetti, Bojan Božič and Saša Svetina, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.,2015,17, 15629-15636, DOI: 10.1039/C5CP01243K

Native silica nanoparticles are powerful membrane disruptors, Hend I. Alkhammash, Nan Li, Rémy Berthier and  Maurits R. R. de Planque, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.,2015,17, 15547-15560, DOI: 10.1039/C5CP05882H

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A single hydrogen bond affects photophysics of chromophores

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) is a luminescent protein with a central chromophore and is used in biological imaging. By modifying the chromophore itself or the protein environment, the photophysical properties can be fine-tuned, yet until recently this has not been well understood. However, Lars Andersen (Aarhus University) and his group have developed a laser-action spectroscopy technique to enable the chromophore to be studied in a vacuum. This has revealed that a single hydrogen bond initiated a 0.5eV shift in the absorption spectrum of the GFP chromophore and highlights the importance of understanding the biophysics of  chromophores and how this can help in the development of new colour chromophores.

Interested to know more?

Read the full article in Chemistry World by Michaela Muehlberg.

Or, take a look at the original communication which is free to access until 6th August 2015:

How far can a single hydrogen bond tune the spectral properties of the GFP chromophore, H. Y. Kiefer et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015, DOI: 10.1039/C5CP02764K

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