Efficient synthesis of tetradecafluoro-4-phenylheptan-4-ol by a Cannizzaro-type reaction and application of the alcohol as a bulky Martin ligand variant for a new anti-apicophilic phosphorane.

Alcohols 8 bearing two identical perfluoroalkyl groups were prepared by the reaction of the corresponding perfluoroalkyl phenyl ketones 7 with 0.5 equivalents of t-BuOK via Cannizzaro-type disproportionation. Utilizing the new bulky bidentate ligand with two n-C(3)F(7) groups generated from 8c, anti-apicophilic phosphorane 5a and its stable isomer 6a were synthesized. The crystal structures of 5a and 6a were slightly affected by the steric repulsion of heptafluoropropyl groups. Kinetic studies on the isomerization of 5a to 6a showed that the new ligand was effective for decreasing the isomerization rate compared with its C(2)F(5) analog 3a to about half.

Linker region of a halobacterial transducer protein interacts directly with its sensor retinal protein.

pHtrII, a pharaonis halobacterial transducer protein, possesses two transmembrane helices and forms a signaling complex with pharaonis phoborhodopsin (ppR, also called pharaonis sensory rhodopsin II, NpSRII) within the halobacterial membrane. This complex transmits a light signal to the sensory system located in the cytoplasm. It has been suggested that the linker region connecting the transmembrane region and the methylation region of pHtrII is important for binding to ppR and subsequent photosignal transduction. In this study, we present evidence to suggest that the linker region itself interacts directly with ppR in addition to the interaction in the membrane region. An in vitro pull-down assay revealed that the linker region bound to ppR, and its dissociation constant (K(D)) was estimated to be approximately 10 microM using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Solution NMR analyses showed that ppR interacted with the linker region of pHtrII (pHtrII(G83)(-)(Q149)) and resulted in the broadening of many peaks, indicating structural changes within this region. These results suggest that the pHtrII linker region interacts directly with ppR. There was no demonstrable interaction between the C-terminal region of ppR (ppR(Gly224)(-)(His247)) and either the linker region (pHtrII(G83)(-)(Q149)) or the transmembrane region (pHtrII(M1)(-)(E114)) of pHtrII. On the basis of the NMR, CD, and photochemical data, we discuss the structural changes and role of the linker region of pHtrII in relation to photosignal transduction.