Biomedical subjects

Zhenhua Sun

Publications and source records attributed to Zhenhua Sun.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Removal of a single minor-groove functional group eliminates A-tract curvature.

Much of the work in studying the phenomenon of A-tract curvature has involved the insertion of modified residues into the A-tract sequence and then cross-correlation of the structural differences with the resulting curvature effects. In the A-tract sequence d(A-T)5, removal of a single functional group (the O2-carbonyl of the central dT residue) by its replacement with hydrogen completely eliminates the curvature properties. This atom-specific change was accomplished by using the C-nucleoside dm32P in which the O2-carbonyl is replaced with -H but normal Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding is maintained. Similar derivatives with -F (dF62P) or -CH3 (dm62P) when present for the central dT residue also eliminate curvature. Finally, we have shown that the extent of curvature for sequences containing this carbonyl are sensitive to the [Mg2+], while those lacking the carbonyl show little to no Mg2+ dependence, strongly suggesting, we believe, a role for Na+/Mg2+ cooperative interactions in the minor groove to explain the curvature phenomenon.

Cations, Divalent↗

PubMed2006

Phosphate immobilization from aqueous solution by fly ashes in relation to their composition.

Phosphate sorption capacities of 15 Chinese fly ashes were determined and related to their composition. The data of P sorption were best fitted to Langmuir equation, and the calculated sorption maxima of phosphate (Qm) ranged from 5.51 to 42.55 mg/g. The Qm value showed a significantly positive correlation with total Ca content (r=0.9836**) and total Fe content (r=0.8049**), but negative correlation with total Si and total Al content. Correlation coefficients of CaO (r=0.9647**) and CaSO4 (r=0.9399**) were much greater than that of CaCO3 (r=0.6361*). Correlation coefficients of Qm with Fe2O3d and Al2O3d were much higher than those of total Fe and total Al contents, respectively. Fractionation of P sorbed by fly ash revealed that loosely bound P fraction and/or Ca+Mg-P fraction were the dominant form of immobilized phosphate. Ca content was strongly correlated with the Ca+Mg-P fraction instead of Mg content, whereas Fe content was highly correlated with Fe-Al-P fraction compared with Al content. The loosely bound P was correlated well with both Ca and Fe content. The greatest removal of phosphate occurred at alkaline conditions for high calcium fly ash, at neutral pH levels for medium calcium fly ash, while low calcium fly ash immobilized little phosphate at all pH values. This behavior was explained by the reaction of phosphate with Ca and Fe related components. It was concluded that P immobilization by fly ash was governed by Ca ingredient (especially CaO and CaSO4) and Fe ingredient (especially Fe2O3d).

Adsorption↗

PubMed2006

Syntheses of pyridine C-nucleosides as analogues of the natural nucleosides dC and dU.

The syntheses of four pyrimidine C-nucleosides are described. These derivatives are designed as mimics of dC and dU, and in that respect, each can form two hydrogen bonds with complementary dG or dA residues. The minor groove O2 carbonyl in each derivative is replaced by a fluorine or a methyl group. The key carbon-carbon bond connecting the heterocycle to the carbohydrate is formed using a Heck-type palladium-mediated coupling reaction.

Deoxycytidine↗

PubMed2002

Importance of minor groove functional groups for the stability of DNA duplexes.

Eight oligonucleotide duplexes have been prepared with four pairs of selected complementary pairs of native/analogue heterocyclic bases incorporated at a selected test site. The base pairs vary in the nature of their functionality in the minor groove. Each pair has a minor groove purine amino group present or absent, and correspondingly has a minor grove pyrimidine carbonyl present or absent. Loss of duplex stability is most notable when the minor groove pyrimidine carbonyl is absent although in other respects normal Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding is maintained in these sequences. These differences in stability are discussed in terms of possible variations in minor groove hydration.

Base Pairing↗