PCCP Blog

PCCP ‘HOT’ paper – investigating HIV

Using a combination of Circular Dichroism and Molecular Dynamics simulations, this paper investigates the folding of a very short fragment of a HIV peptide in different pH conditions. This fragment of the peptide (Membrane Proximal Region, MPR) is believed to be relevant to its biological function and this study aims to mimic conditions experienced during viral fusion.

This research brings us another step closer to understanding how HIV interacts with the body and hopes to help in the fight to combat the HIV virus.

Autonomous folding in the membrane proximal HIV peptide gp41_659–671: pH tuneability at micelle interfaces
Craig R. Gregor, Eleonora Cerasoli, Paul R. Tulip, Maxim G. Ryadnov, Glenn J. Martyna and Jason Crain
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01502D

HOT Communication – read it ‘hot’ of the press

This PCCP article highlights the role of the Hg^II—Hg^II metallophilic attraction between the consecutive metal-mediated mismatched base pairs of nucleic acids.

Considering the richness of the metallophilic-attraction-driven structures in the solid
state, the authors forsee this as an important role in the future design of
metal-containing nucleic acids and molecular wires.

On the role of mercury in the non-covalent stabilisation of consecutive U–Hg^II–U metal-mediated nucleic acid base pairs: metallophilic attraction enters the world of nucleic acids
Ladislav Benda, Michal Straka, Yoshiyuki Tanaka and Vladimír Sychrovský
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011,DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01534B

HOT PCCP Perspective article:

Theory of gold on ceria
Changjun Zhang, Angelos Michaelides and Stephen J. Jenkins
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01123A

Stephen Jenkins and co-workers discuss the considerable insight which has been obtained into these systems, particularly with regard to Au adsorbates and Au cluster reactivity, and also discuss the need for improved electronic structure methods to enable more rigorous and robust studies in the future.

PCCP ‘HOT’ article – read it today hot of the press!

Michel Orrit and colleagues propose to use single 20 nm diameter gold nanoparticles as a calibration standard for simultaneous detection of fluorescence and absorption (by means of photothermal detection).

Making gold nanoparticles fluorescent for simultaneous absorption and fluorescence detection on the single particle level
Alexander Gaiduk, Paul V. Ruijgrok, Mustafa Yorulmaz and Michel Orrit
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01389G

Look out for the PCCP themed issue in January 2011 on Single-Molecule Optical Studies of Soft and Complex Matter, Guest Edited by Michel Orrit, – sign-up to our free contents e-alerts to receive this direct to your inbox

HOT Perspective review article – read it now

David LeBard and Dmitry Matyushov show that standard considerations based on rules of Gibbs thermodynamics are not sufficient, and the dynamics of the protein and the protein–water interface need to be involved. The protein–water tandem allows both the formation of a ferroelectric mesophase in the hydration shell and an efficient control of the energetics by manipulating the relaxation times.

Protein–water electrostatics and principles of bioenergetics
David N. LeBard and Dmitry V. Matyushov
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2010, DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01004A

HOT Communication article – estimating dipolar couplings

In this Communication by Malcolm Levitt and colleagues, dipolar couplings between selected pairs of nuclei in a solid are estimated by off-magic-angle sample spinning.

Read it now:

Selective internuclear coupling estimation in the solid-state NMR of multiple-spin systems
Pierre Thureau, Andrea C. Sauerwein, Maria Concistrè and Malcolm H. Levitt
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2010,
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01262A

‘HOT’ PCCP Perspective article – read it today:

In this feature article neutron reflectivity, infrared spectroscopy and scanning probe microscopies are employed to study structure and electric field driven transformations of lipid bilayers supported at a gold electrode surface.

Building biomimetic membrane at a gold electrode surface
Jacek Lipkowski
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2010, DOI: 10.1039/C0CP00658K