@unpublished{SednevLiaqatHoebartner2022, author = {Sednev, Maksim V. and Liaqat, Anam and H{\"o}bartner, Claudia}, title = {High-Throughput Activity Profiling of RNA-Cleaving DNA Catalysts by Deoxyribozyme Sequencing (DZ-seq)}, series = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.1c12489}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-258520}, year = {2022}, abstract = {RNA-cleaving deoxyribozymes have found broad application as useful tools for RNA biochemistry. However, tedious in vitro selection procedures combined with laborious characterization of individual candidate catalysts hinder the discovery of novel catalytic motifs. Here, we present a new high-throughput sequencing method, DZ-seq, which directly measures activity and localizes cleavage sites of thousands of deoxyribozymes. DZ-seq exploits A-tailing followed by reverse transcription with an oligo-dT primer to capture the cleavage status and sequences of both deoxyribozyme and RNA substrate. We validated DZ-seq by conventional analytical methods and demonstrated its utility by discovery of novel deoxyribozymes that allow for cleaving challenging RNA targets or the analysis of RNA modification states.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Smolan2022, author = {Smolan, Willi}, title = {Linear Multifunctional PEG-Alternatives for Bioconjugation and Hydrogel Formation}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-27873}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-278734}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The objective of this thesis was the synthesis and characterisation of two linear multifunctional PEG-alternatives for bioconjugation and hydrogel formation: i) Hydrophilic acrylate based copolymers containing peptide binding units and ii) hydrophilic polyether based copolymers containing different functional groups for a physical crosslinking. In section 3.1 the successful synthesis of water soluble and linear acrylate based polymers containing oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate with either linear thioester functional 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, thiolactone acrylamide, or vinyl azlactone via the living radical polymerisation technique Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) and via free-radical polymerisation is described. The obtained polymers were characterized via GPC, 1H NMR, IR and RAMAN spectroscopy. The RAFT end group was found to be difficult to remove from these short polymer chains and accordingly underwent the undesired side reaction aminolysis with the peptide during the conjugation studies. Besides that, polymers without RAFT end groups did not show any binding of the peptide at the thioester groups, which can be improved in future by using higher reactant concentrations and higher amount of binding units at the polymer. Polymers containing the highly reactive azlactone group showed a peptide binding of 19 \%, but unfortunately this function also underwent spontaneous hydrolysis before the peptide could even be bound. In all cases, oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate was used with a relatively high molecular weight (Mn = 480 Da) was used, which eventually was efficiently shielding the introduced binding units from the added peptide. In future, a shorter monomer with Mn = 300 Da or less or hydrophilic N,N'-dialkyl acrylamide based polymers with less steric hindrance could be used to improve this bioconjugation system. Additionally, the amount of monomers containing peptide binding units in the polymer can be increased and have an additional spacer to achieve higher loading efficiency. The water soluble, linear and short polyether based polymers, so called polyglycidols, were successfully synthesized and modified as described in section 3.2. The obtained polymers were characterized using GPC, 1H NMR, 31P{1H} NMR, IR, and RAMAN spectroscopy. The allyl groups which were present up to 20 \% were used for radical induced thiol-ene chemistry for the introduction of functional groups intended for the formation of the physically crosslinking hydrogels. For the positively charged polymers, first a chloride group had to be introduced for the subsequent nucleophilic substitution with the imidazolium compound. There, degrees of modifications were found in the range 40-97 \% due to the repulsion forces of the charges, decreased concentration of active chloride groups, and limiting solution concentrations of the polymer for this reaction. For the negatively charged polymers, first a protected phosphonamide moiety was introduced with a deprotection step afterwards showing 100 \% conversion for all reactions. Preliminary hydrogel tests did not show a formation of a three-dimensional network of the polymer chains which was attributed to the short backbone length of the used polymers, but the gained knowledge about the synthetic routes for the modification of the polymer was successfully transferred to longer linear polyglycidols. The same applies to the introduction of electron rich and electron poor compounds showing π-π stacking interactions by UV-vis spectroscopy. Finally, long linear polyglycidyl ethers were synthesised successfully up to molecular weights of Mn ~ 30 kDa in section 3.3, which was also proven by GPC, 1H NMR, IR and RAMAN spectroscopy. This applies to the homopolymerisation of ethoxyethyl glycidyl ether, allyl glycidyl ether and their copolymerisation with an amount of the allyl compound ~ 10 \%. Attempts for higher molecular weights up to 100 kDa showed an uncontrolled polymerisation behaviour and eventually can be improved in future by choosing a lower initiation temperature. Also, the allyl side groups were modified via radical induced thiol-ene chemistry to obtain positively charged functionalities via imidazolium moieties (85 \%) and negatively charged functionalities via phosphonamide moieties (100 \%) with quantitative degree of modifications. Hydrogel tests have still shown a remaining solution by using long linear polyglycidols carrying negative charges with long/short linear polyglycidols carrying positive charges. The addition of calcium chloride led to a precipitate of the polymer instead of a three-dimensional network formation representing a too high concentration of ions and therefore shielding water molecules with prevention from dissolving the polymer. These systems can be improved by tuning the polymers structure like longer polymer chains, longer spacer between polymer backbone and charge, and higher amount of functional groups. The objective of the thesis was partly reached containing detailed investigated synthetic routes for the design and characterisation of functional polymers which could be used in future with improvements for bioconjugation and hydrogel formation tests.}, subject = {Wasserl{\"o}sliche Polymere}, language = {en} } @article{FullWoelflickRadackietal.2022, author = {Full, Felix and W{\"o}lflick, Quentin and Radacki, Krzysztof and Braunschweig, Holger and Nowak-Kr{\´o}l, Agnieszka}, title = {Enhanced Optical Properties of Azaborole Helicenes by Lateral and Helical Extension}, series = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, volume = {28}, journal = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, number = {62}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202202280}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-293671}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The synthesis and characterization of laterally extended azabora[5]-, -[6]- and -[7]helicenes, assembled from N-heteroaromatic and dibenzo[g,p]chrysene building blocks is described. Formally, the π-conjugated systems of the pristine azaborole helicenes were enlarged with a phenanthrene unit leading to compounds with large Stokes shifts, significantly enhanced luminescence quantum yields (Φ) and dissymmetry factors (g\(_{lum}\)). The beneficial effect on optical properties was also observed for helical elongation. The combined contributions of lateral and helical extensions resulted in a compound showing green emission with Φ of 0.31 and |g\(_{lum}\)| of 2.2×10\(^{-3}\), highest within the series of π-extended azaborahelicenes and superior to emission intensity and chiroptical response of its non-extended congener. This study shows that helical and lateral extensions of π-conjugated systems are viable strategies to improve features of azaborole helicenes. In addition, single crystal X-ray analysis of configurationally stable [6]- and -[7]helicenes was used to provide insight into their packing arrangements.}, language = {en} } @article{WuDinkelbachKerneretal.2022, author = {Wu, Zhu and Dinkelbach, Fabian and Kerner, Florian and Friedrich, Alexandra and Ji, Lei and Stepanenko, Vladimir and W{\"u}rthner, Frank and Marian, Christel M. and Marder, Todd B.}, title = {Aggregation-Induced Dual Phosphorescence from (o-Bromophenyl)-Bis(2,6-Dimethylphenyl)Borane at Room Temperature}, series = {Chemistry—A European Journal}, volume = {28}, journal = {Chemistry—A European Journal}, number = {30}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202200525}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-318297}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Designing highly efficient purely organic phosphors at room temperature remains a challenge because of fast non-radiative processes and slow intersystem crossing (ISC) rates. The majority of them emit only single component phosphorescence. Herein, we have prepared 3 isomers (o, m, p-bromophenyl)-bis(2,6-dimethylphenyl)boranes. Among the 3 isomers (o-, m- and p-BrTAB) synthesized, the ortho-one is the only one which shows dual phosphorescence, with a short lifetime of 0.8 ms and a long lifetime of 234 ms in the crystalline state at room temperature. Based on theoretical calculations and crystal structure analysis of o-BrTAB, the short lifetime component is ascribed to the T\(^M_1\) state of the monomer which emits the higher energy phosphorescence. The long-lived, lower energy phosphorescence emission is attributed to the T\(^A_1\) state of an aggregate, with multiple intermolecular interactions existing in crystalline o-BrTAB inhibiting nonradiative decay and stabilizing the triplet states efficiently.}, language = {en} } @article{WuRoldaoRauchetal.2022, author = {Wu, Zhu and Roldao, Juan Carlos and Rauch, Florian and Friedrich, Alexandra and Ferger, Matthias and W{\"u}rthner, Frank and Gierschner, Johannes and Marder, Todd B.}, title = {Pure Boric Acid Does Not Show Room-Temperature Phosphorescence (RTP)}, series = {Angewandte Chemie}, volume = {61}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie}, number = {15}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202200599}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-318308}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Boric acid (BA) has been used as a transparent glass matrix for optical materials for over 100 years. However, recently, apparent room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) from BA (crystalline and powder states) was reported (Zheng et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 9500) when irradiated at 280 nm under ambient conditions. We suspected that RTP from their BA sample was induced by an unidentified impurity. Our experimental results show that pure BA synthesized from B(OMe)\(_{3}\) does not luminesce in the solid state when irradiated at 250-400 nm, while commercial BA indeed (faintly) luminesces. Our theoretical calculations show that neither individual BA molecules nor aggregates would absorb light at >175 nm, and we observe no absorption of solid pure BA experimentally at >200 nm. Therefore, it is not possible for pure BA to be excited at >250 nm even in the solid state. Thus, pure BA does not display RTP, whereas trace impurities can induce RTP.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Liaqat2022, author = {Liaqat, Anam}, title = {Artificial Evolution of Nucleic Acid Catalysts and their Use for Studying RNA}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-28311}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-283111}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {RNA molecules play diverse roles in biological systems. Post-transcriptional RNA modifications and dynamic structures enhance the functional diversity of RNA. A prerequisite for studying their biological significance is the availability of reliable methods for the detection of RNA modifications and structures. Several promising approaches have been developed in the last few decades; however, efficient, and versatile tools are still required to study the dynamic features of RNA. This thesis focuses on the development of nucleic acid catalysts as a tool to address the current needs in studying RNA. The major part of this thesis aimed at the development of deoxyribozymes as a tool for the detection of RNA modifications. Using in vitro selection from a random DNA library, we found deoxyribozymes that are sensitive to N 6 -isopentenyladenosine (i6A), a native tRNA modification and structural analogue of m6A. The in vitro evolution identified three classes of DNA enzymes: AA, AB08, and AC17 DNAzymes that showed distinct response to i6A modification and showed strong discrimination between structural analogues, i.e., m6A and i6A. In the continuation of the project, we attempted to develop RNA-cleaving deoxyribozymes that differentially respond to monomethylated cytidine isomers, 3-methylcytidine (m3C), N4 - methylcytidine (m4C), and 5-methylcytidine (m5C). Several deoxyribozymes were identified from in vitro selection, which are selective for a specific methylated cytidine isomer. The characterization of AL112, AM101, AN05, and AK104 catalysts confirmed the successful evolution of modification-specific and general deoxyribozymes that showed a broad substrate scope. In order to accelerate the DNAzymes discovery, a high throughput sequencing method (DZ-seq) was established that directly quantifies the RNA cleavage activity and cleavage site from deep sequencing data. The libraries contained information about cleavage status, cleavage site and sequence of deoxyribozymes and RNA substrate. The fraction cleaved (FC) data obtained from Dz-seq was validated for a subset of deoxyribozmes using conventional gel based kinetic assay and showed a good linear correlation (R2 = 0.91). Dz-seq possesses a great potential for the discovery of novel deoxyribozymes for the analysis of various RNA modifications in the future. The second objective of the current study was the development of structure-specific RNA labeling ribozymes. Here, we attempted to develop ribozymes that targets RNA of interest by structure-specific interaction rather than base-pairing and focused on a specific RNA G-quadruplex as the target. Two subsequent selection experiments led to the identification of the adenylyltransferase ribozymes AO10.2 and AR9. The partial characterization of these catalysts showed that A010.2 was unable to recognize intact BCL2 structure, but it turned out as the first reported trans-active ribozyme that efficiently labeled uridine in a defined substrate RNA hybridized to the ribozyme. The other ribozyme AR9 was shown to serve as a trans-active, self-labeling ribozyme that catalyzed adenylyl transferase reaction in the presence of the intact BCL2 sequence. Based on these preliminary findings, we envision that AR9 could potentially serve as a reporter RNA by self-labeling in the presence of an RNA G-quadruplex. However, both AO10.2 and AR9 still require more detailed characterization for their potential applications.}, language = {en} } @article{KarakStepanenkoAddicoatetal.2022, author = {Karak, Suvendu and Stepanenko, Vladimir and Addicoat, Matthew A. and Keßler, Philipp and Moser, Simon and Beuerle, Florian and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {A Covalent Organic Framework for Cooperative Water Oxidation}, series = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {144}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, number = {38}, issn = {0002-7863}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.2c07282}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-287591}, pages = {17661-17670}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The future of water-derived hydrogen as the "sustainable energy source" straightaway bets on the success of the sluggish oxygen-generating half-reaction. The endeavor to emulate the natural photosystem II for efficient water oxidation has been extended across the spectrum of organic and inorganic combinations. However, the achievement has so far been restricted to homogeneous catalysts rather than their pristine heterogeneous forms. The poor structural understanding and control over the mechanistic pathway often impede the overall development. Herein, we have synthesized a highly crystalline covalent organic framework (COF) for chemical and photochemical water oxidation. The interpenetrated structure assures the catalyst stability, as the catalyst's performance remains unaltered after several cycles. This COF exhibits the highest ever accomplished catalytic activity for such an organometallic crystalline solid-state material where the rate of oxygen evolution is as high as ∼26,000 μmol L\(^{-1}\) s\(^{-1}\) (second-order rate constant k ≈ 1650 μmol L s\(^{-1}\) g\(^{-2}\)). The catalyst also proves its exceptional activity (k ≈ 1600 μmol L s\(^{-1}\) g\(^{-2}\)) during light-driven water oxidation under very dilute conditions. The cooperative interaction between metal centers in the crystalline network offers 20-30-fold superior activity during chemical as well as photocatalytic water oxidation as compared to its amorphous polymeric counterpart.}, language = {en} } @article{BoldStolteShoyamaetal.2022, author = {Bold, Kevin and Stolte, Matthias and Shoyama, Kazutaka and Krause, Ana-Maria and Schmiedel, Alexander and Holzapfel, Marco and Lambert, Christoph and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {Macrocyclic Donor-Acceptor Dyads Composed of Oligothiophene Half-Cycles and Perylene Bisimides}, series = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, volume = {28}, journal = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, number = {30}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202200355}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-276435}, year = {2022}, abstract = {A series of donor-acceptor (D-A) macrocyclic dyads consisting of an electron-poor perylene bisimide (PBI) π-scaffold bridged with electron-rich α-oligothiophenes bearing four, five, six and seven thiophene units between the two phenyl-imide substituents has been synthesized and characterized by steady-state UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry as well as transient absorption spectroscopy. Tying the oligothiophene strands in a conformationally fixed macrocyclic arrangement leads to a more rigid π-scaffold with vibronic fine structure in the respective absorption spectra. Electrochemical analysis disclosed charged state properties in solution which are strongly dependent on the degree of rigidification within the individual macrocycle. Investigation of the excited state dynamics revealed an oligothiophene bridge size-dependent fast charge transfer process for the macrocyclic dyads upon PBI subunit excitation.}, language = {en} } @article{EderHollmannMandasarietal.2022, author = {Eder, Sascha and Hollmann, Claudia and Mandasari, Putri and Wittmann, Pia and Schumacher, Fabian and Kleuser, Burkhard and Fink, Julian and Seibel, J{\"u}rgen and Schneider-Schaulies, J{\"u}rgen and Stigloher, Christian and Beyersdorf, Niklas and Dembski, Sofia}, title = {Synthesis and characterization of ceramide-containing liposomes as membrane models for different T cell subpopulations}, series = {Journal of Functional Biomaterials}, volume = {13}, journal = {Journal of Functional Biomaterials}, number = {3}, issn = {2079-4983}, doi = {10.3390/jfb13030111}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-286130}, year = {2022}, abstract = {A fine balance of regulatory (T\(_{reg}\)) and conventional CD4\(^+\) T cells (T\(_{conv}\)) is required to prevent harmful immune responses, while at the same time ensuring the development of protective immunity against pathogens. As for many cellular processes, sphingolipid metabolism also crucially modulates the T\(_{reg}\)/T\(_{conv}\) balance. However, our understanding of how sphingolipid metabolism is involved in T cell biology is still evolving and a better characterization of the tools at hand is required to advance the field. Therefore, we established a reductionist liposomal membrane model system to imitate the plasma membrane of mouse T\(_{reg}\) and T\(_{conv}\) with regards to their ceramide content. We found that the capacity of membranes to incorporate externally added azide-functionalized ceramide positively correlated with the ceramide content of the liposomes. Moreover, we studied the impact of the different liposomal preparations on primary mouse splenocytes in vitro. The addition of liposomes to resting, but not activated, splenocytes maintained viability with liposomes containing high amounts of C\(_{16}\)-ceramide being most efficient. Our data thus suggest that differences in ceramide post-incorporation into T\(_{reg}\) and T\(_{conv}\) reflect differences in the ceramide content of cellular membranes.}, language = {en} } @article{WildervanckHechtNowakKrol2022, author = {Wildervanck, Martijn J. and Hecht, Reinhard and Nowak-Kr{\´o}l, Agnieszka}, title = {Synthesis and strong solvatochromism of push-pull thienylthiazole boron complexes}, series = {Molecules}, volume = {27}, journal = {Molecules}, number = {17}, issn = {1420-3049}, doi = {10.3390/molecules27175510}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-286186}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The solvatochromic behavior of two donor-π bridge-acceptor (D-π-A) compounds based on the 2-(3-boryl-2-thienyl)thiazole π-linker and indandione acceptor moiety are investigated. DFT/TD-DFT calculations were performed in combination with steady-state absorption and emission measurements, along with electrochemical studies, to elucidate the effect of two different strongly electron-donating hydrazonyl units on the solvatochromic and fluorescence behavior of these compounds. The Lippert-Mataga equation was used to estimate the change in dipole moments (Δµ) between ground and excited states based on the measured spectroscopic properties in solvents of varying polarity with the data being supported by theoretical studies. The two asymmetrical D-π-A molecules feature strong solvatochromic shifts in fluorescence of up to ~4300 cm\(^{-1}\) and a concomitant change of the emission color from yellow to red. These changes were accompanied by an increase in Stokes shift to reach values as large as ~5700-5800 cm\(^{-1}\). Quantum yields of ca. 0.75 could be observed for the N,N-dimethylhydrazonyl derivative in nonpolar solvents, which gradually decreased along with increasing solvent polarity, as opposed to the consistently reduced values obtained for the N,N-diphenylhydrazonyl derivative of up to ca. 0.20 in nonpolar solvents. These two push-pull molecules are contrasted with a structurally similar acceptor-π bridge-acceptor (A-π-A) compound.}, language = {en} } @article{SchnitzleinZhuShoyamaetal.2022, author = {Schnitzlein, Matthias and Zhu, Chongwei and Shoyama, Kazutaka and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {π-Extended Pleiadienes by [5+2] Annulation of 1-Boraphenalenes and ortho-Dihaloarenes}, series = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, volume = {28}, journal = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, number = {61}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202202053}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-293919}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Palladium-catalyzed [5+2] annulation of 1-boraphenalenes with ortho-dihaloarenes afforded negatively curved π-extended pleiadienes. Two benzo[1,2-i:4,5-i']dipleiadienes (BDPs) featuring a seven-six-seven-membered ring arrangement were synthesized and investigated. Their crystal structure revealed a unique packing arrangement and theoretical calculations were employed to shed light onto the dynamic behavior of the BDP moiety and its aromaticity. Further, a naphthalene-fused pleiadiene was stitched together by oxidative cyclodehydrogenation to yield an additional five-membered ring. This formal azulene moiety led to distinct changes in optical and redox properties and increased perturbation of the aromatic system.}, language = {en} } @article{SunAnhaltSarosietal.2022, author = {Sun, Meng-Jia and Anhalt, Olga and S{\´a}rosi, Menyh{\´a}rt B. and Stolte, Matthias and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {Activating Organic Phosphorescence via Heavy Metal-π Interaction Induced Intersystem Crossing}, series = {Advanced Materials}, volume = {34}, journal = {Advanced Materials}, number = {51}, doi = {10.1002/adma.202207331}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-312248}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Heavy-atom-containing clusters, nanocrystals, and other semiconductors can sensitize the triplet states of their surface-bonded chromophores, but the energy loss, such as nonradiative deactivation, often prevents the synergistic light emission in their solid-state coassemblies. Cocrystallization allows new combinations of molecules with complementary properties for achieving functionalities not available in single components. Here, the cocrystal formation that employs platinum(II) acetylacetonate (Pt(acac)\(_{2}\)) as a triplet sensitizer and electron-deficient 1,4,5,8-naphthalene diimides (NDIs) as organic phosphors is reported. The hybrid cocrystals exhibit room-temperature phosphorescence confined in the low-lying, long-lived triplet state of NDIs with photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (Φ\(_{PL}\)) exceeding 25\% and a phosphorescence lifetime (τ\(_{Ph}\)) of 156 µs. This remarkable PL property benefits from the noncovalent electronic and spin-orbital coupling between the constituents.}, language = {en} } @article{BoldStolteShoyamaetal.2022, author = {Bold, Kevin and Stolte, Matthias and Shoyama, Kazutaka and Holzapfel, Marco and Schmiedel, Alexander and Lambert, Christoph and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {Macrocyclic donor-acceptor dyads composed of a perylene bisimide dye surrounded by oligothiophene bridges}, series = {Angewandte Chemie Internationale Edition}, volume = {61}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie Internationale Edition}, number = {1}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202113598}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-256569}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Two macrocyclic architectures comprising oligothiophene strands that connect the imide positions of a perylene bisimide (PBI) dye have been synthesized via a platinum-mediated cross-coupling strategy. The crystal structure of the double bridged PBI reveals all syn-arranged thiophene units that completely enclose the planar PBI chromophore via a 12-membered macrocycle. The target structures were characterized by steady-state UV/Vis absorption, fluorescence and transient absorption spectroscopy, as well as cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry. Both donor-acceptor dyads show ultrafast F{\"o}rster Resonance Energy Transfer and photoinduced electron transfer, thereby leading to extremely low fluorescence quantum yields even in the lowest polarity cyclohexane solvent.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Gruene2022, author = {Gr{\"u}ne, Marvin}, title = {Solid-state NMR Spectroscopic, X-Ray Diffraction and Quantum Chemical Investigations of the Crystalline Cancer Drug Paclitaxel and Paclitaxel incorporated into Polymer Micelles}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-23719}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-237199}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Paclitaxel (PTX) is one of the leading drugs against breast and ovarian cancer. Due to its low solubility, treatment of the patients with this drug requires a very well-suited combination with a soluble pharmaceutical excipient to increase the bioavailability and reduce the strong side ef-fects. One efficient way to achieve this in the future could be the incorporation of PTX into pol-ymeric micelles composed of poly(2-oxazoline) based triblock copolymers (POL) which ena-bles PTX loadings of up to 50 wt.\%. However, structural information at an atomic level and thus the knowledge of interaction sites within these promising but complex PTX-POL formula-tions were not yet available. Such results could support the future development of improved excipients for PTX and suitable excipients for other pharmaceutical drugs. Therefore, a solid-state MAS NMR investigation of these amorphous formulations with different POL-PTX com-positions was performed in this thesis as this gives insights of the local structure at an atomic level in its solid state. NMR in solution showed very broad 13C signals of PTX for this system due to the reduced mobility of the incorporated drug which exclude this as an analytical meth-od. In a first study, crystalline PTX was structurally characterized by solid-state NMR as no com-plete 13C spectrum assignment and no 1H NMR data existed for the solid state. In addition, the asymmetric unit of the PTX crystal structure consists of two molecules (Z'=2) that can only be investigated in its solid state. As crystalline PTX in total has about 100 different 13C and 1H chemical shifts with very small differences due to Z'=2, and furthermore, its unit cell consisting of more than 900 atoms, accompanying GIPAW (CASTEP) calculations were required for NMR signal assignments. These calculations were performed using the first three available purely hydrous and anhydrous PTX structures, which were determined by XRD and published by Vel-la-Zarb et al. in 2013. Within this thesis, is was discovered that two investigated batches of commercially available PTX from the same supplier both contained an identical and so far un-known PTX phase that was elucidated by PXRD as well as solid-state NMR data. One of the two batches consists of an additional phase that was shown to be very similar to a known hy-drated phase published in 2013.[1] By heating the batch with the mixture of the two phases un-der vacuum, it is transformed completely to the new dry phase occurring in both PTX batches. Since the drying conditions to obtain anhydrous PTX in-situ on the PXRD setup described by Vella-Zarb et. al.[1] were much softer than ours, we identify our dry phase as a relaxed version of their published anhydrate structure. The PXRD data of the new anhydrate phase was trans-ferred into a new structural model, which currently undergoes geometry optimization. Based on solid-state NMR data at MAS spinning frequencies up to 100 kHz, a 13C and a partial 1H signal assignment for the new anhydrous structure were achieved. These results provided sufficient structural information for further investigations of the micellar POL-PTX system. In a second study, the applicability and benefit of two-dimensional solid-state 14N-1H HMQC MAS NMR spectra for the characterization of amorphous POL-PTX formulations was investi-gated. The mentioned technique has never been applied to a system of similar complexity be-fore and was chosen because around 84\% of the small-molecule drugs contain at least one nitrogen atom. In addition, the number of nitrogen atoms in both POL and PTX is much smaller than the number of carbons or hydrogens, which significantly reduces the spectral complexity. 14N has a natural abundance of 99.6\% but leads to quadrupolar broadening due to its nuclear spin quantum number I = 1. While this is usually undesirable due to broadening in the resulting 1D 14N NMR spectra, this effect is explicitly used in the 2D 14N-1H HMQC MAS experiment. The indirect 14N measurement can avoid the broadening while maintaining the advantage of the high natural abundance and making use of the much more dispersed signals due to the additional quadrupolar shifts as compared to 15N. This measurement method could be successfully applied to the complex amorphous POL-PTX mixtures. With increasing PTX loading of the formulations, additional peaks arise as spatial proximities of the amide nitrogens of POL to NH or OH groups of PTX. In addition, the 14N quadrupolar shift of these amide nitrogens decreases with increasing PTX content indicating a more symmetric nitrogen environment. The latter can be explained by a transformation of the trigonal planar coordination of the tertiary amide nitrogen atoms in pure POL towards a more tetrahedral environment upon PTX loading induced by the formation of hydrogen bonds with NH/OH groups of PTX. In the third and last project, the results of the two abovementioned studies were used and ex-tended by solid state 13C and two-dimensional 1H-13C as well as 1H-1H MAS NMR data with the aim to derive a structural model of the POL-PTX formulations at an atomic level. The knowledge of the NMR signal assignments for crystalline PTX was transferred to amorphous PTX (present in the micelles of the formulations). The 13C solid-state NMR signals were evalu-ated concerning changes in chemical shifts and full widths of half maximum (FWHM) for the different PTX loadings. In this way, the required information about possible interaction sites at an atomic level becomes available. Due to the complexity of these systems, such proximities often cannot be assigned to special atoms, but more to groups of atoms, as the individual de-velopments of line widths and line shifts are mutually dependent. An advantageous aspect for this analysis was that pure POL already forms unloaded micelles. The evaluation of the data showed that the terminal phenyl groups of PTX seem to be most involved in the interaction by the establishment of the micelle for lowest drug loading and that they are likely to react to the change in the amount of PTX molecules as well. For the incorporation of PTX in the micelles, the following model could be obtained: For lowest drug loading, PTX is mainly located in the inner part of the micelles. Upon further increasing of the loading, it progressively extends to-ward the micellar shell. This could be well shown by the increasing interactions of the hydro-phobic butyl chain of POL and PTX, proceeding in the direction of the polymer backbone with rising drug load. Furthermore, due to the size of PTX and the hydrodynamic radius of the mi-celles, even at the lowest loading, the PTX molecules partially reach the core-shell interface of the micelle. Upon increasing the drug loading, the surface coverage with PTX clusters increas-es based on the obtained model approach. The latter result is supported by DLS and SANS data of this system. The abovementioned results of the 14N-1H HMQC MAS investigation of the POL-PTX formulations support the outlined model. As an outlook, the currently running geometry optimization and subsequently scheduled calcu-lation of the chemical shieldings of the newly obtained anhydrous PTX crystal structure can further improve the solid-state NMR characterization through determination of further spatial proximities among protons using the existing 2D 1H(DQ)-1H(SQ) solid-state MAS NMR spec-trum at 100 kHz rotor spinning frequency. The 2D 14N-1H HMQC MAS NMR experiments were shown to have great potential as a technique for the analysis of other disordered and amor-phous drug delivery systems as well. The results of this thesis should be subsequently applied to other micellar systems with varying pharmaceutical excipients or active ingredients with the goal of systematically achieving higher drug loadings (e.g., for the investigated PTX, the similar drug docetaxel or even different natural products). Additionally, it is planned to transfer the knowledge to another complex polymer system containing poly(amino acids) which offers hy-drogen bonding donor sites for additional intermolecular interactions. Currently, the POL-PTX system is investigated by further SANS studies that may provide another puzzle piece to the model as complementary measurement method in the future. In addition, the use of MD simu-lations might be considered in the future. This would allow a computerized linking of the differ-ent pieces of information with the aim to determine the most likely model.}, subject = {Wirkstoff-Tr{\"a}ger-System}, language = {en} } @article{KoleKošćakAmaretal.2022, author = {Kole, Goutam Kumar and Košćak, Marta and Amar, Anissa and Majhen, Dragomira and Božinović, Ksenija and Brkljaca, Zlatko and Ferger, Matthias and Michail, Evripidis and Lorenzen, Sabine and Friedrich, Alexandra and Krummenacher, Ivo and Moos, Michael and Braunschweig, Holger and Boucekkine, Abdou and Lambert, Christoph and Halet, Jean-Fran{\c{c}}ois and Piantanida, Ivo and M{\"u}ller-Buschbaum, Klaus and Marder, Todd B.}, title = {Methyl Viologens of Bis-(4'-Pyridylethynyl)Arenes - Structures, Photophysical and Electrochemical Studies, and their Potential Application in Biology}, series = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, volume = {28}, journal = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, number = {40}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202200753}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-287126}, year = {2022}, abstract = {A series of bis-(4'-pyridylethynyl)arenes (arene=benzene, tetrafluorobenzene, and anthracene) were synthesized and their bis-N-methylpyridinium compounds were investigated as a class of π-extended methyl viologens. Their structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, and their photophysical and electrochemical properties (cyclic voltammetry), as well as their interactions with DNA/RNA were investigated. The dications showed bathochromic shifts in emission compared to the neutral compounds. The neutral compounds showed very small Stokes shifts, which are a little larger for the dications. All of the compounds showed very short fluorescence lifetimes (<4 ns). The neutral compound with an anthracene core has a quantum yield of almost unity. With stronger acceptors, the analogous bis-N-methylpyridinium compound showed a larger two-photon absorption cross-section than its neutral precursor. All of the dicationic compounds interact with DNA/RNA; while the compounds with benzene and tetrafluorobenzene cores bind in the grooves, the one with an anthracene core intercalates as a consequence of its large, condensed aromatic linker moiety, and it aggregates within the polynucleotide when in excess over DNA/RNA. Moreover, all cationic compounds showed highly specific CD spectra upon binding to ds-DNA/RNA, attributed to the rare case of forcing the planar, achiral molecule into a chiral rotamer, and negligible toxicity toward human cell lines at ≤10 μM concentrations. The anthracene-analogue exhibited intracellular accumulation within lysosomes, preventing its interaction with cellular DNA/RNA. However, cytotoxicity was evident at 1 μM concentration upon exposure to light, due to singlet oxygen generation within cells. These multi-faceted features, in combination with its two-photon absorption properties, suggest it to be a promising lead compound for development of novel light-activated theranostic agents.}, language = {en} } @article{GeigerKerstingSchlegeletal.2022, author = {Geiger, Nina and Kersting, Louise and Schlegel, Jan and Stelz, Linda and F{\"a}hr, Sofie and Diesendorf, Viktoria and Roll, Valeria and Sostmann, Marie and K{\"o}nig, Eva-Maria and Reinhard, Sebastian and Brenner, Daniela and Schneider-Schaulies, Sibylle and Sauer, Markus and Seibel, J{\"u}rgen and Bodem, Jochen}, title = {The acid ceramidase is a SARS-CoV-2 host factor}, series = {Cells}, volume = {11}, journal = {Cells}, number = {16}, issn = {2073-4409}, doi = {10.3390/cells11162532}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-286105}, year = {2022}, abstract = {SARS-CoV-2 variants such as the delta or omicron variants, with higher transmission rates, accelerated the global COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, novel therapeutic strategies need to be deployed. The inhibition of acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), interfering with viral entry by fluoxetine was reported. Here, we described the acid ceramidase as an additional target of fluoxetine. To discover these effects, we synthesized an ASM-independent fluoxetine derivative, AKS466. High-resolution SARS-CoV-2-RNA FISH and RTqPCR analyses demonstrate that AKS466 down-regulates viral gene expression. It is shown that SARS-CoV-2 deacidifies the lysosomal pH using the ORF3 protein. However, treatment with AKS488 or fluoxetine lowers the lysosomal pH. Our biochemical results show that AKS466 localizes to the endo-lysosomal replication compartments of infected cells, and demonstrate the enrichment of the viral genomic, minus-stranded RNA and mRNAs there. Both fluoxetine and AKS466 inhibit the acid ceramidase activity, cause endo-lysosomal ceramide elevation, and interfere with viral replication. Furthermore, Ceranib-2, a specific acid ceramidase inhibitor, reduces SARS-CoV-2 replication and, most importantly, the exogenous supplementation of C6-ceramide interferes with viral replication. These results support the hypotheses that the acid ceramidase is a SARS-CoV-2 host factor.}, language = {en} } @article{RushdiAbdelRahmanAttiaetal.2022, author = {Rushdi, Mohammed I. and Abdel-Rahman, Iman A. M. and Attia, Eman Zekry and Saber, Hani and Saber, Abdullah A. and Bringmann, Gerhard and Abdelmohsen, Usama Ramadan}, title = {The biodiversity of the genus Dictyota: phytochemical and pharmacological natural products prospectives}, series = {Molecules}, volume = {27}, journal = {Molecules}, number = {3}, issn = {1420-3049}, doi = {10.3390/molecules27030672}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-302428}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Although a broad variety of classes of bioactive compounds have already been isolated from seaweeds of the genus Dictyota, most different species are still chemically and biologically unexplored. Dictyota species are well-known brown seaweeds belonging to the Dictyotaceae (Phaeophyta). The phytochemical composition within the genus Dictyota has recently received considerable interest, and a vast array of components, including diterpenes, sesquiterepenes, sterols, amino acids, as well as saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, have been characterized. The contribution of these valued metabolites to the biological potential, which includes anti-proliferative, anti-microbial, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperpigmentation activities, of the genus Dictyota has also been explored. Therefore, this is the most comprehensive review, focusing on the published literature relevant to the chemically and pharmacologically diverse biopharmaceuticals isolated from different species of the genus Dictyota during the period from 1976 to now.}, language = {en} } @article{DietzschBialasBandorfetal.2022, author = {Dietzsch, Julia and Bialas, David and Bandorf, Johannes and W{\"u}rthner, Frank and H{\"o}bartner, Claudia}, title = {Tuning Exciton Coupling of Merocyanine Nucleoside Dimers by RNA, DNA and GNA Double Helix Conformations}, series = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202116783}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-254565}, pages = {e202116783}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Exciton coupling between two or more chromophores in a specific environment is a key mechanism associated with color tuning and modulation of absorption energies. This concept is well exemplified by natural photosynthetic proteins, and can also be achieved in synthetic nucleic acid nanostructures. Here we report the coupling of barbituric acid merocyanine (BAM) nucleoside analogues and show that exciton coupling can be tuned by the double helix conformation. BAM is a nucleobase mimic that was incorporated in the phosphodiester backbone of RNA, DNA and GNA oligonucleotides. Duplexes with different backbone constitutions and geometries afforded different mutual dye arrangements, leading to distinct optical signatures due to competing modes of chromophore organization via electrostatic, dipolar, - stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions. The realized supramolecular motifs include hydrogenbonded BAM-adenine base pairs and antiparallel as well as rotationally stacked BAM dimer aggregates with distinct absorption, CD and fluorescence properties.}, language = {en} } @article{FergerRogerKoesteretal.2022, author = {Ferger, Matthias and Roger, Chantal and K{\"o}ster, Eva and Rauch, Florian and Lorenzen, Sabine and Krummenacher, Ivo and Friedrich, Alexandra and Košćak, Marta and Nestić, Davor and Braunschweig, Holger and Lambert, Christoph and Piantanida, Ivo and Marder, Todd B.}, title = {Electron-Rich EDOT Linkers in Tetracationic bis-Triarylborane Chromophores: Influence on Water Stability, Biomacromolecule Sensing, and Photoinduced Cytotoxicity}, series = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, volume = {28}, journal = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, number = {48}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202201130}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-287241}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Three novel tetracationic bis-triarylboranes with 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) linkers, and their neutral precursors, showed significant red-shifted absorption and emission compared to their thiophene-containing analogues, with one of the EDOT-derivatives emitting in the NIR region. Only the EDOT-linked trixylylborane tetracation was stable in aqueous solution, indicating that direct attachment of a thiophene or even 3-methylthiophene to the boron atom is insufficient to provide hydrolytic stability in aqueous solution. Further comparative analysis of the EDOT-linked trixylylborane tetracation and its bis-thiophene analogue revealed efficient photo-induced singlet oxygen production, with the consequent biological implications. Thus, both analogues bind strongly to ds-DNA and BSA, very efficiently enter living human cells, accumulate in several different cytoplasmic organelles with no toxic effect but, under intense visible light irradiation, they exhibit almost instantaneous and very strong cytotoxic effects, presumably attributed to singlet oxygen production. Thus, both compounds are intriguing theranostic agents, whose intracellular and probably intra-tissue location can be monitored by strong fluorescence, allowing switching on of the strong bioactivity by well-focused visible light.}, language = {en} } @article{SchnitzleinMuetzelShoyamaetal.2022, author = {Schnitzlein, Matthias and M{\"u}tzel, Carina and Shoyama, Kazutaka and Farrell, Jeffrey M. and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {PAHs Containing both Heptagon and Pentagon: Corannulene Extension by [5+2] Annulation}, series = {European Journal of Organic Chemistry}, volume = {2022}, journal = {European Journal of Organic Chemistry}, number = {5}, doi = {10.1002/ejoc.202101273}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-262627}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Utilizing Pd-catalyzed [5+2] annulation a series of heptagon-extended corannulenes could be synthesized from a borinic acid precursor furnished by C-H borylation strategy. Single-crystal X-ray analysis revealed the presence of two conformational enantiomers crystallizing in a racemic mixture. Through their embedded five- and seven-membered rings these polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exhibit both negative and positive curvature and UV/Vis/NIR absorption spectroscopy as well as cyclic voltammetry experiments provided insights into the influence of larger flanking aromatic systems and electron-donating substituents encompassing the heptagonal ring. Through [5+2] annulation of acenaphthylene an azulene-containing PAH with intriguing optoelectronical properties including a very small bandgap and absorption over the whole visible spectrum could be obtained. Theoretical calculations were employed to elucidate the long-wavelength absorption and aromaticity.}, language = {en} } @article{NeitzBessiKachleretal.2022, author = {Neitz, Hermann and Bessi, Irene and Kachler, Valentin and Michel, Manuela and H{\"o}bartner, Claudia}, title = {Tailored tolane-perfluorotolane assembly as supramolecular base pair replacement in DNA}, series = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, volume = {62}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, number = {1}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202214456}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-312575}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Arene-fluoroarene interactions offer outstanding possibilities for engineering of supramolecular systems, including nucleic acids. Here, we implement the tolane-perfluorotolane interaction as base pair replacement in DNA. Tolane (THH) and perfluorotolane (TFF) moieties were connected to acyclic backbone units, comprising glycol nucleic acid (GNA) or butyl nucleic acid (BuNA) building blocks, that were incorporated via phosphoramidite chemistry at opposite positions in a DNA duplex. Thermodynamic analyses by UV thermal melting revealed a compelling stabilization by THH/TFF heteropairs only when connected to the BuNA backbone, but not with the shorter GNA linker. Detailed NMR studies confirmed the preference of the BuNA backbone for enhanced polar π-stacking. This work defines how orthogonal supramolecular interactions can be tailored by small constitutional changes in the DNA backbone, and it inspires future studies of arene-fluoroarene-programmed assembly of DNA.}, language = {en} } @article{SchlossarekStepanenkoBeuerleetal.2022, author = {Schlossarek, Tim and Stepanenko, Vladimir and Beuerle, Florian and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {Self-assembled Ru(bda) Coordination Oligomers as Efficient Catalysts for Visible Light-Driven Water Oxidation in Pure Water}, series = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, volume = {61}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, number = {52}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202211445}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-312184}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Water-soluble multinuclear complexes based on ruthenium 2,2′-bipyridine-6,6′-dicarboxylate (bda) and ditopic bipyridine linker units are investigated in three-component visible light-driven water oxidation catalysis. Systematic studies revealed a strong enhancement of the catalytic efficiency in the absence of organic co-solvents and with increasing oligomer length. In-depth kinetic and morphological investigations suggest that the enhanced performance is induced by the self-assembly of linear Ru(bda) oligomers into aggregated superstructures. The obtained turnover frequencies (up to 14.9 s\(^{-1}\)) and turnover numbers (more than 1000) per ruthenium center are the highest reported so far for Ru(bda)-based photocatalytic water oxidation systems.}, language = {en} } @article{KimSchembriBialasetal.2022, author = {Kim, Jin Hong and Schembri, Tim and Bialas, David and Stolte, Matthias and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {Slip-Stacked J-Aggregate Materials for Organic Solar Cells and Photodetectors}, series = {Advanced Materials}, volume = {34}, journal = {Advanced Materials}, number = {22}, doi = {10.1002/adma.202104678}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-276537}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Dye-dye interactions affect the optical and electronic properties in organic semiconductor films of light harvesting and detecting optoelectronic applications. This review elaborates how to tailor these properties of organic semiconductors for organic solar cells (OSCs) and organic photodiodes (OPDs). While these devices rely on similar materials, the demands for their optical properties are rather different, the former requiring a broad absorption spectrum spanning from the UV over visible up to the near-infrared region and the latter an ultra-narrow absorption spectrum at a specific, targeted wavelength. In order to design organic semiconductors satisfying these demands, fundamental insights on the relationship of optical properties are provided depending on molecular packing arrangement and the resultant electronic coupling thereof. Based on recent advancements in the theoretical understanding of intermolecular interactions between slip-stacked dyes, distinguishing classical J-aggregates with predominant long-range Coulomb coupling from charge transfer (CT)-mediated or -coupled J-aggregates, whose red-shifts are primarily governed by short-range orbital interactions, is suggested. Within this framework, the relationship between aggregate structure and functional properties of representative classes of dye aggregates is analyzed for the most advanced OSCs and wavelength-selective OPDs, providing important insights into the rational design of thin-film optoelectronic materials.}, language = {en} } @incollection{LiaqatSednevHoebartner2022, author = {Liaqat, Anam and Sednev, Maksim V. and H{\"o}bartner, Claudia}, title = {In Vitro Selection of Deoxyribozymes for the Detection of RNA Modifications}, series = {Ribosome Biogenesis: Methods and Protocols}, booktitle = {Ribosome Biogenesis: Methods and Protocols}, publisher = {Humana Press}, isbn = {978-1-0716-2501-9}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-2501-9_10}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-279208}, publisher = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, pages = {167-179}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Deoxyribozymes are artificially evolved DNA molecules with catalytic abilities. RNA-cleaving deoxyribozymes have been recognized as an efficient tool for detection of modifications in target RNAs and provide an alternative to traditional and modern methods for detection of ribose or nucleobase methylation. However, there are only few examples of DNA enzymes that specifically reveal the presence of a certain type of modification, including N6-methyladenosine, and the knowledge about how DNA enzymes recognize modified RNAs is still extremely limited. Therefore, DNA enzymes cannot be easily engineered for the analysis of desired RNA modifications, but are instead identified by in vitro selection from random DNA libraries using synthetic modified RNA substrates. This protocol describes a general in vitro selection stagtegy to evolve new RNA-cleaving DNA enzymes that can efficiently differentiate modified RNA substrates from their unmodified counterpart.}, language = {en} } @article{FengZhouQiuetal.2022, author = {Feng, Yi and Zhou, Jiadong and Qiu, Honglin and Schnitzlein, Matthias and Hu, Jingtao and Liu, Linlin and W{\"u}rthner, Frank and Xie, Zengqi}, title = {Boron-Locked Starazine - A Soluble and Fluorescent Analogue of Starphene}, series = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, volume = {28}, journal = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, number = {29}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202200770}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-276423}, year = {2022}, abstract = {A starlike heterocyclic molecule containing an electron-deficient nonaaza-core structure and three peripheral isoquinolines locked by three tetracoordinate borons, namely isoquinoline-nona-starazine (QNSA), is synthesized by using readily available reactants through a rather straightforward approach. This new heteroatom-rich QNSA possesses a quasi-planar π-backbone structure, and bears phenyl substituents on borons which protrude on both sides of the π-backbones endowing it with good solubility in common organic solvents. Contrasting to its starphene analogue, QNSA shows intense fluorescence with a quantum yield (PLQY) of up to 62 \% in dilute solution.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Selby2022, author = {Selby, Joshua}, title = {Design and Chiroptical Properties of Chirally Substituted Indolenine Squaraine Mono-, Oligo-, and Polymers}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-28206}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-282067}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {A series of monomeric chirally substituted indolenine squaraine monomers were successfully synthesized and utilized for the construction of various oligo- and polymers, in order to study their chiroptical properties in terms of exciton chirality. The quaternary carbon atom at the 3-position of the indolenine subunit, as well as the alkyl side chain attached to the indolenine nitrogen were selected as the most suitable site for chiral functionalization. For the C(3)-chiral derivatives, two synthetic routes depending on the desired substitution at the stereogenic center were established. The chiral side chains were prepared via Evans asymmetric alkylation where the resulting branching point at the 2 position constituted the chiral center. While the chiral substitution only had minor effects on the linear optical properties and geometric structure of the chromophore, all compounds exhibited a distinct and measurable CD signal that correlated with the distance of the chiral center to the central chromophore. Polymers bearing chiral side chains exhibited a solvent- and temperature-dependent helix-coil equilibrium, which was influenced by the type of side chain used. CD spectroscopy revealed the helical conformation to possess a preferred twist sense, and temperature-dependent measurements showed the degree of homohelicity to be nearly complete in certain cases. Furthermore, a CPL signal was able to be obtained for the helical conformer of one polymer. Various (co)oligo- and polymers comprising the C(3)-chiral monomers only displayed a solvent-independent J-type absorption behavior and thus did not form helical conformations in solution. CD spectroscopy revealed a solvent-dependent adoption of quasi-enantiomeric conformers, which was elucidated by quantum chemical TDDFT calculations.}, subject = {Squaraine}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Merz2022, author = {Merz, Viktor}, title = {Funktionalisierung und Untersuchung von Nanodiamanten f{\"u}r biomedizinische und sensorische Anwendungen}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-24588}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-245888}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Nanodiamant (ND) ist ein vielseitiges und vielversprechendes Material f{\"u}r Bio-Anwendungen. Trotz vieler Bem{\"u}hungen bleibt die Agglomeration von Nanodiamant und die unspezifische Adsorption von Proteinen an der ND-Oberfl{\"a}che bei Kontakt mit Biofl{\"u}ssigkeiten ein großes Hindernis f{\"u}r biomedizinische Anwendungen. Eine Auswahl verzweigter und linearer Molek{\"u}le mit {\"u}berlegener F{\"a}higkeit zur kolloidalen Stabilisierung von Nanopartikeln in Salz- und Zellmedienumgebung, f{\"u}r bis zu 30 Tage, wurde an die ND-Oberfl{\"a}che angebracht. Das Baukastensystem mit Azid als Außengruppen bietet eine große Vielfalt an Bindungen mit vielen Molek{\"u}len, wie z. B. Medikamenten, Farbstoffen oder Targeting-Molek{\"u}len. Das Anh{\"a}ngen von z. B. Zwitterionen an die Kette sch{\"u}tzt die ND-Oberfl{\"a}che vor der Bildung einer Proteinkorona, wenn die Partikel mit proteinhaltigen Biofl{\"u}ssigkeiten in Kontakt kommen. Die Ergebnisse der thermogravimetrischen Analyse der Beladung der ND-Oberfl{\"a}che zeigen eine signifikante Verhinderung der Proteinadsorption von bis zu 98 \% im Vergleich zu NDs ohne zwitterionische Kopfgruppen und eine lange kolloidale Stabilit{\"a}t, wenn Tetraethylenglykol (TEG) an die Oberfl{\"a}che gebunden wird. Die Vielseitigkeit des modularen Systems, um nicht nur zwitterionische Ketten, sondern auch klickbare funktionelle Molek{\"u}le an fluoreszierende Nanodiamanten (fNDs) zu binden, zeigt das Potenzial des Systems am Nanodiamanten. Unter Verwendung von Defektstrukturen, wie Stickstoff-Vakanz-Zentren (NV), k{\"o}nnen Diamantpartikel aufgrund ihres weitgehend ungiftigen Verhaltens als fluoreszierende Nanodiamanten (fNDs) f{\"u}r photostabile Markierung, Bioimaging und nanoskalige Sensorik in lebenden Zellen und Organismen verwendet werden. Um die fND-Oberfl{\"a}che zu funktionalisieren, wurde eine neuartige Mahltechnik mit Diazoniumsalzen etabliert, um ein Pfropfen auf wenig reaktive HPHT-fNDs durchzuf{\"u}hren, was zu einer hohen Oberfl{\"a}chenbeladung und einem hohen negativen Zetapotenzial f{\"u}hrt. Die Kombination der Vorteile von TEG und zwitterionhaltigen Gruppen mit der F{\"a}higkeit zum Targeting von Antik{\"o}rpern auf fND best{\"a}tigt zum ersten Mal die verbesserte kolloidale Stabilit{\"a}t in Experimenten mit lebenden Zellen. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus deuten die Ergebnisse auf eine verbesserte Corona-Abstoßung im Vergleich zu fND ohne zwitterionhaltige Kopfgruppen hin. Infolgedessen wurden die Zirkulationszeiten von 4 (fND ohne Zwitterionenkette, aber mit Antik{\"o}rper) auf 17 (mit Antik{\"o}rper und Zwitterionenketten) Stunden vergr{\"o}ßert. In nicht-biomedizinischen Anwendungen kann das modulare System als Sonde f{\"u}r Schwermetalle durch die Anbindung von Farbstoffen verwendet werden. Die Detektion von Metallen in verschiedenen Umgebungen mit hoher Selektivit{\"a}t und Spezifit{\"a}t ist eine der Voraussetzungen f{\"u}r den Kampf gegen die Umweltverschmutzung mit diesen Elementen. Pyrene sind gut geeignet und weit bekannt f{\"u}r die Fluoreszenzsensorik in verschiedenen Medien. Das angewandte Sensorprinzip beruht typischerweise auf der Bildung von intra- und intermolekularen Excimeren, was jedoch den Empfindlichkeitsbereich aufgrund der Maskierung von z.B. Quenching-Effekten durch die Excimer-Emission einschr{\"a}nkt. Diese Studie zeigt einen hochselektiven, strukturstabilen chemischen Sensor, der auf der monomeren Fluoreszenz von Pyrenanteilen mit Triazolgruppen basiert. Dieser Sensor kann Cu2+, Pb2+ und Hg2+ in organischen L{\"o}sungsmitteln {\"u}ber einen weiten Konzentrationsbereich quantitativ nachweisen, auch in Gegenwart von ubiquit{\"a}ren Ionen wie Na+, K+, Ca2+ und Mg2+. Die stark emittierende Fluoreszenz des Sensors mit einer langen Lebensdauer von 165 ns wird durch eine 1:1-Komplexbildung bei Zugabe von Metallionen in Acetonitril gel{\"o}scht. Bei Zugabe eines zehnfachen {\"U}berschusses des Metallions zum Sensor bilden sich Agglomerate mit einem Durchmesser von etwa 3 nm. Aufgrund der komplexen Wechselwirkungen im System werden konventionelle lineare Korrelationen nicht f{\"u}r alle Konzentrationen beobachtet. Daher wird ein kritischer Vergleich zwischen der konventionellen Job-Plot-Interpretation, der Methode von Benesi-Hildebrand und einem nicht-linearen Fit vorgestellt. Das vorgestellte System erm{\"o}glicht die spezifische und robuste Erfassung von medizinisch und {\"o}kologisch relevanten Ionen im gesundheitsrelevanten nM-Bereich und k{\"o}nnte z. B. zur {\"U}berwachung der entsprechenden Ionen in Abfallstr{\"o}men eingesetzt werden. Doch h{\"a}ufig landen diese Abfallstr{\"o}me in empfindlichen Aquakulturen, wo eine solche Sensortechnik nur funktioniert, wenn die Sonde wasserl{\"o}slich ist, um die Ausbreitung und Bildung von Umweltsch{\"a}den durch Schwermetalle zu {\"u}berwachen. Viele Chemosensoren arbeiten nur in bestimmten L{\"o}sungsmitteln und unter hochreinen Bedingungen quantitativ. In dieser Arbeit wird eine Methode zur Stabilisierung von wasserunl{\"o}slichen Chemosensoren auf Nanodiamanten in salzhaltigem Wasser unter Beibehaltung der Sensoreffektivit{\"a}t und -spezifit{\"a}t sowie der kolloidalen Stabilit{\"a}t vorgestellt. Zus{\"a}tzlich wird die Sensorf{\"a}higkeit in organischen L{\"o}sungsmitteln beibehalten. Diese Studie gibt Einblick in die Absorptionsf{\"a}higkeit von Pyren-Derivaten an der Nanodiamant-Oberfl{\"a}che und einen Weg, diese reversibel zu desorbieren. Außerdem beweist das System, dass in Anwesenheit von 95 \% Sauerstoffatmosph{\"a}re bei der Fluoreszenzmessung die Ergebnisse nicht von denen in Argonatmosph{\"a}re abweichen. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus st{\"o}rt das Vorhandensein g{\"a}ngiger Ionen im Wasser die kolloidale Stabilit{\"a}t der NDs nicht und hat auch keinen Einfluss auf die Sensorfunktionalit{\"a}t und ist somit ein vielversprechender Kandidat f{\"u}r Messungen ohne aufw{\"a}ndige Pr{\"a}parationsschritte.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Mahl2023, author = {Mahl, Magnus}, title = {Polycyclic Aromatic Dicarboximides as NIR Chromophores, Solid-State Emitters and Supramolecular Host Platforms}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-23462}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-234623}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2023}, abstract = {The present thesis introduce different synthetic strategies towards a variety of polycyclic aromatic dicarboximides (PADIs) with highly interesting and diverse properties. This included tetrachlorinated, tetraaryloxy- and tetraaryl-substituted dicarboximides, fused acceptor‒donor(‒acceptor) structures as well as sterically shielded rylene and nanographene dicarboximides. The properties and thus the disclosure of structure‒property relationships of the resulting dyes were investigated in detail among others with UV‒vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and single crystal X-ray analysis. For instance, some of the fused and substituted PADIs offer strong absorption of visible and near infrared (NIR) light, NIR emission and low-lying LUMO levels. On the contrary, intriguing optical features in the solid-state characterize the rylene dicarboximides with their bulky N-substituents, while the devised sterically enwrapped nanographene host offered remarkable complexation capabilities in solution.}, subject = {Organische Chemie}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Noll2023, author = {Noll, Niklas}, title = {Second Coordination Sphere Engineering in Macrocyclic Ruthenium Water Oxidation Catalysts}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-30533}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-305332}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2023}, abstract = {About 2.4 billion years ago, nature has fundamentally revolutionized life on earth by inventing the multi-subunit protein complex photosystem II, the only molecular machine in nature that catalyzes the thermodynamically demanding photosynthetic splitting of water into oxygen and reducing equivalents. Nature chose a distorted Mn4CaO5 cluster as catalyst, better known as oxygen-evolving complex (OEC), thus recognizing the need for transition metals to achieve high-performance catalysts. The curiosity has always driven mankind to mimic nature's achievements, but the performance of natural enzymes such as the oxygen-evolving complex in photosystem II remain commonly unmatched. An important role in fine-tuning and regulating the activity of natural enzymes is attributed to the surrounding protein domain, which facilitates substrate preorganization within well-defined nanoenvironments. In light of growing energy demands and the depletion of fossil fuels, the unparalleled efficiency of natural photosynthesis inspires chemists to artificially mimic its natural counterpart to generate hydrogen as a 'solar fuel' through the light-driven splitting of water. As a result, significant efforts have been devoted in recent decades to develop molecular water oxidation catalysts based on earth-abundant transition metals and the discovery of the Ru(bda) (bda: 2,2' bipyridine-6,6'-dicarboxylate) catalyst family enabled activities comparable to the natural OEC. Similar to the natural archetypes, the design of homogeneous catalysts that interplay judiciously with the second coordination sphere of the outer ligand framework proved to be a promising concept for catalyst design. In this present thesis, novel supramolecular design approaches for enzyme like activation of substrate water molecules for the challenging oxidative water splitting reaction were established via tailor-made engineering of the secondary ligand environment of macrocyclic Ru(bda) catalysts.}, subject = {Katalyse}, language = {en} } @unpublished{NeitzBessiKuperetal.2023, author = {Neitz, Hermann and Bessi, Irene and Kuper, Jochen and Kisker, Caroline and H{\"o}bartner, Claudia}, title = {Programmable DNA interstrand crosslinking by alkene-alkyne [2+2] photocycloaddition}, series = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, edition = {submitted version}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.3c01611}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-311822}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Covalent crosslinking of DNA strands provides a useful tool for medical, biochemical and DNA nanotechnology applications. Here we present a light-induced interstrand DNA crosslinking reaction using the modified nucleoside 5-phenylethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (\(^{Phe}\)dU). The crosslinking ability of \(^{Phe}\)dU was programmed by base pairing and by metal ion interaction at the Watson-Crick base pairing site. Rotation to intrahelical positions was favored by hydrophobic stacking and enabled an unexpected photochemical alkene-alkyne [2+2] cycloaddition within the DNA duplex, resulting in efficient formation of a \(^{Phe}\)dU-dimer after short irradiation times of a few seconds. A \(^{Phe}\)dU dimer-containing DNA was shown to efficiently bind a helicase complex, but the covalent crosslink completely prevented DNA unwinding, suggesting possible applications in biochemistry or structural biology.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Seitz2023, author = {Seitz, Florian}, title = {Synthesis, enzymatic recognition and antiviral properties of modified purine nucleosides}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-31323}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-313238}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Beyond the four canonical nucleosides as primary building blocks of RNA, posttranscriptional modifications give rise to the epitranscriptome as a second layer of genetic information. In eukaryotic mRNA, the most abundant posttranscriptional modification is N6-methyladenosine (m6A), which is involved in the regulation of cellular processes. Throughout this thesis, the concept of atomic mutagenesis was employed to gain novel mechanistic insights into the substrate recognition by human m6A reader proteins as well as in the oxidative m6A demethylation by human demethylase enzymes. Non-natural m6A atomic mutants featuring distinct steric and electronic properties were synthesized and incorporated into RNA oligonucleotides. Fluorescence anisotropy measurements using these modified oligonucleotides revealed the impact of the atomic mutagenesis on the molecular recognition by the human m6A readers YTHDF2, YTHDC1 and YTHDC2 and allowed to draw conclusions about structural prerequisites for substrate recognition. Furthermore, substrate recognition and demethylation mechanism of the human m6A demethylase enzymes FTO and ALKBH5 were analyzed by HPLC-MS and PAGE-based assays using the modified oligonucleotides synthesized in this work. Modified nucleosides not only expand the genetic alphabet, but are also extensively researched as drug candidates. In this thesis, the antiviral mechanism of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug remdesivir was investigated, which causes delayed stalling of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Novel remdesivir phosphoramidite building blocks were synthesized and used to construct defined RNA-RdRp complexes for subsequent studies by cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). It was found that the 1'-cyano substituent causes Rem to act as a steric barrier of RdRp translocation. Since this translocation barrier can eventually be overcome by the polymerase, novel derivatives of Rem with potentially improved antiviral properties were designed.}, subject = {Nucleins{\"a}uren}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Stiller2023, author = {Stiller, Carina}, title = {Synthesis and applications of modified nucleosides and RNA nucleotides}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-31135}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-311350}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2023}, abstract = {As central components of life, DNA and RNA encode the genetic information. However, RNA performs several functions that exceed the competences stated in the 'central dogma of life'. RNAs undergo extensive post-transcriptional processing like chemical modifications. Among all classes of RNA, tRNAs are the most extensively modified. Their modifications are chemically diverse and vary from simple methylations (e.g. m3C, m6A) to more complex residues, like isopentenyl group (e.g. i6A, hypermodifications: e.g. ms2i6A) or even amino acids (e.g. t6A). Depending on their location within the overall structure, modifications can have an impact on tRNA stability and structure, as well as affinity for the ribosome and translation efficiency and fidelity. Given the importance of tRNA modifications new tools are needed for their detection and to study their recognition by proteins and enzymatic transformations. The chemical synthesis of these naturally occurring tRNA modifications as phosphoramidite building blocks is a prerequisite to incorporate the desired modification via solid-phase synthesis into oligonucleotides. With the help of the m3C, (ms2)i6A, and t6A oligonucleotides, the importance and impact of tRNA modifications was investigated in this thesis. To this end, the role of METTL8 as the methyltransferase responsible for the installation of the methyl group at C32 for mt-tRNAThr and mt-tRNASer(UCN) was resolved. Thereby, the respective adenosine modification on position 37 is essential for the effectiveness of the enzyme. Besides, by means of NMR analysis, CD spectroscopy, thermal denaturation experiments, and native page separation, the impact of m3C32 on the structure of the tRNA ASLs was shown. The modification appeared to fine-tune the tRNA structure to optimize mitochondrial translation. To investigate the regulation of the dynamic modification pathway of m3C, demethylation assays were performed with the modified tRNA-ASLs and the (α-KG)- and Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenase ALKBH1 and ALKHB3. A demethylation activity of ALKBH3 on the mt-tRNAs was observed, even though it has so far only been described as a cytoplasmic enzyme. Whether this is physiologically relevant and ALKBH3 present a mitochondrial localization needs further validation. In addition, ALKBH1 was confirmed to not be able to demethylate m3C on mt-tRNAs, but indications for a deprenylation and exonuclease activity were found. Furthermore, the aforementioned naturally occurring modifications were utilized to find analytical tools that can determine the modification levels by DNAzymes, which cleave RNA in the presence of a specific modification. Selective DNA enzymes for i6A, as well as the three cytidine isomers m3C, m4C, and m5C have been identified and characterized. Besides the naturally occurring tRNA modifications, the investigation on artificially modified nucleosides is also part of this thesis. Nucleosides with specific properties for desired applications can be created by modifying the scaffold of native nucleosides. During the pandemic, the potential of antiviral nucleoside analogues was highlighted for the treatment of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. For examinations of the potential drug-candidate Molnupiravir, the N4-hydroxycytidine phosphoramidite building block was synthesized and incorporated into several RNA oligonucleotides. A two-step model for the NHC-induced mutagenesis of SARS-CoV-2 was proposed based on RNA elongation, thermal denaturation, and cryo-EM experiments using the modified RNA strands with the recombinant SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Two tautomeric forms of NHC enable base pairing with guanosine in the amino and with adenosine in the imino form, leading to error catastrophe after the incorporation into viral RNA. These findings were further corroborated by thermal melting curve analysis and NMR spectroscopy of the NHC-containing Dickerson Drew sequence. In conclusion, the anti-amino form in the NHC-G base pair was assigned by NMR analysis using a 15N-labeld NHC building block incorporated into the Dickerson Drew sequence. This thesis also addressed the synthesis of a 7-deazaguanosine crosslinker with a masked aldehyde as a diol linker for investigations of DNA-protein interactions. The diol functional group can be unmasked to release the reactive aldehyde, which can specifically form a covalent bond with amino acids Lys or Arg within the protein complex condensin. The incorporation of the synthesized phosphoramidite and triphosphate building blocks were shown and the functionality of the PCR product containing the crosslinker was demonstrated by oxidation and the formation of a covalent bond with a fluorescein label. The development of assays that detect changes in this methylation pattern of m6A could provide new insights into important biological processes. In the last project of this thesis, the influence of RNA methylation states on the structural properties of RNA was analyzed and a fluorescent nucleoside analog (8-vinyladenosine) as molecular tools for such assays was developed. Initial experiments with the fluorescent nucleoside analog N6-methyl-8-vinyladenosine (m6v8A) were performed and revealed a strong fluorescence enhancement of the free m6v8A nucleoside by the installation of the vinyl moiety at position 8. Overall, this thesis contributes to various research topics regarding the application of naturally occurring and artificial nucleoside analogues. Starting with the chemical synthesis of RNA and DNA modifications, this thesis has unveiled several open questions regarding the dynamic (de-)methylation pathway of m3C and the mechanism of action of molnupiravir through in-depth analysis and provided the basis for further investigations of the protein complex condensin, and a new fluorescent nucleoside analog m6v8A.}, subject = {Nucleins{\"a}uren}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Mahlmeister2023, author = {Mahlmeister, Bernhard}, title = {Twisted Rylene Bisimides for Organic Solar Cells and Strong Chiroptical Response in the Near Infrared}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-34610}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-346106}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2023}, abstract = {The chirality of the interlocked bay-arylated perylene motif is investigated upon its material prospect and the enhancement of its chiroptical response to the NIR spectral region. A considerable molecular library of inherently chiral perylene bisimides (PBIs) was utilized as acceptors in organic solar cells to provide decent device performances and insights into the structure-property relationship of PBI materials within a polymer blend. For the first time in the family of core-twisted PBIs, the effects of enantiopurity on the device performance was thoroughly investigated. The extraordinary structural sensitivity of CD spectroscopy served as crucial analytical tool to bridge the highly challenging gap between molecular properties and device analytics by proving the excitonic chirality of a helical PBI dimer. The chirality of this perylene motif could be further enhanced on a molecular level by both the expansion and the enhanced twisting of the π-scaffold to achieve a desirable strong chiroptical NIR response introducing a new family of twisted QBI-based nanoribbons. These achievements could be substantially further developed by expanding this molecular concept to a supramolecular level. The geometrically demanding supramolecular arrangement necessary for the efficient excitonic coupling was carefully encoded into the molecular design. Accordingly, the QBIs could form the first J-type aggregate constituting a fourfold-stranded superhelix of a rylene bisimide with strong excitonic chirality. Therefore, this thesis has highlighted the mutual corroboration of experimental and theoretical data from the molecular to the supramolecular level. It has demonstrated that for rylene bisimide dyes, the excitonic contribution to the overall chiroptical response can be designed and rationalized. This can help to pave the way for new organic functional materials to be used for chiral sensing or chiral organic light-emitting devices.}, subject = {Molek{\"u}l}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Bauer2023, author = {Bauer, Christian}, title = {Towards ecological and efficient electrochemical energy storage in supercapacitors and sodium ion batteries using onion-like carbon}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-31795}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-317956}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2023}, abstract = {In this thesis, the usage of onion-like carbon (OLC) for energy storage applications was researched regarding sustainability, performance and processability. This work targets to increase the scientific understanding regarding the role of OLC in electrodes and to facilitate a large-scale production, which is the foundation for commercial application. Research was devoted to increase the knowledge in the particular field, to yield synergistic approaches and a shared value regarding sustainability and performance.}, subject = {Elektrochemie}, language = {en} } @unpublished{NeitzHoebartner2023, author = {Neitz, Hermann and H{\"o}bartner, Claudia}, title = {A tolane-modified 5-ethynyluridine as a universal and fluorogenic photochemical DNA crosslinker}, series = {Chemical Communications}, journal = {Chemical Communications}, edition = {submitted version}, doi = {10.1039/D3CC03796G}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-328255}, year = {2023}, abstract = {We report the fluorescent nucleoside ToldU and its application as a photoresponsive crosslinker in three different DNA architectures with enhanced fluorescence emission of the crosslinked products. The fluorogenic ToldU crosslinking reaction enables the assembly of DNA polymers in a hybridization chain reaction for the concentration-dependent detectio of a specific DNA sequence.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{DietzschJayachandranMuelleretal.2023, author = {Dietzsch, Julia and Jayachandran, Ajay and Mueller, Stefan and H{\"o}bartner, Claudia and Brixner, Tobias}, title = {Excitonic coupling of RNA-templated merocyanine dimer studied by higher-order transient absorption spectroscopy}, series = {Chemical Communications}, journal = {Chemical Communications}, edition = {submitted version}, doi = {10.1039/D3CC02024J}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-327772}, year = {2023}, abstract = {We report the synthesis and spectroscopic analysis of RNA containing the barbituric acid merocyanine rBAM2 as a nucleobase surrogate. Incorporation into RNA strands by solid-phase synthesis leads to fluorescence enhancement compared to the free chromophore. In addition, linear absorption studies show the formation of an excitonically coupled H-type dimer in the hybridized duplex. Ultrafast third- and fifth-order transient absorption spectroscopy of this non-fluorescent dimer suggests immediate (sub-200 fs) exciton transfer and annihilation due to the proximity of the rBAM2 units.}, language = {en} } @article{ScheitlOkudaAdelmannetal.2023, author = {Scheitl, Carolin P. M. and Okuda, Takumi and Adelmann, Juliane and H{\"o}bartner, Claudia}, title = {Ribozyme-catalyzed late-stage functionalization and fluorogenic labeling of RNA}, series = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, volume = {62}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202305463}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-327543}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Site-specific introduction of biorthogonal handles into RNAs is in high demand for decorating RNAs with fluorophores, affinity labels or other modifications. Aldehydes represent attractive functional groups for post-synthetic bioconjugation reactions. Here, we report a ribozyme-based method for the synthesis of aldehyde-functionalized RNA by directly converting a purine nucleobase. Using the methyltransferase ribozyme MTR1 as an alkyltransferase, the reaction is initiated by site-specific N1 benzylation of purine, followed by nucleophilic ring opening and spontaneous hydrolysis under mild conditions to yield a 5-amino-4-formylimidazole residue in good yields. The modified nucleotide is accessible to aldehyde-reactive probes, as demonstrated by the conjugation of biotin or fluorescent dyes to short synthetic RNAs and tRNA transcripts. Upon fluorogenic condensation with a 2,3,3-trimethylindole, a novel hemicyanine chromophore was generated directly on the RNA. This work expands the MTR1 ribozyme's area of application from a methyltransferase to a tool for site-specific late-stage functionalization of RNA.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Menekşe2023, author = {Menek{\c{s}}e, Kaan}, title = {Fabrication of Organic Solar Cells, Screening of Non-Fullerene Acceptors and the Investigation of their Intermolecular Interactions}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-29112}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-291124}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2023}, abstract = {In this thesis, intermolecular acceptor-acceptor interactions in organic solar cells based on new non-fullerene acceptors are addressed. For this purpose, first the reproducibility of organic electronic devices was tested on a new facility for their fabrication. This was followed by the screening for new acceptor materials. Based on this, three molecular systems were investigated with regard to their acceptor-acceptor interactions and their influence on solar cell efficiency.}, subject = {Organische Solarzelle}, language = {en} } @unpublished{SaalSwainSchmiedeletal.2023, author = {Saal, Fridolin and Swain, Asim and Schmiedel, Alexander and Holzapfel, Marco and Lambert, Christoph and Ravat, Prince}, title = {Push-Pull [7]Helicene Diimide: Excited-State Charge Transfer and Solvatochromic Circularly Polarised Luminescence}, edition = {submitted version}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-345207}, year = {2023}, abstract = {In this communication we describe a helically chiral push-pull molecule named 9,10-dimethoxy-[7]helicene diimide, displaying fluorescence (FL) and circularly polarised luminescence (CPL) over nearly the entire visible spectrum dependent on solvent polarity. The synthesised molecule exhibits an unusual solvent polarity dependence of FL quantum yield and nonradiative rate constant, as well as remarkable gabs and glum values along with high configurational stability.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Scheitl2023, author = {Scheitl, Carolin P. M.}, title = {In vitro selected ribozymes for RNA methylation and labeling}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-33004}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-330049}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2023}, abstract = {The focus of this work was the development and application of highly efficient RNA catalysts for the site-specific modification of RNA with special focus on methylation. In the course of this thesis, the first methyltransferase ribozyme (MTR1), which uses m6G as the methyl group donor was developed and further characterized. The RNA product was identified as the natural modification m1A. X-Ray crystallography was used to solve the 3D structure of the ribozyme, which directly suggested a plausible reaction meachnism. The MTR1 ribozyme was also successfully repurposed for a nucleobase transformation reaction of a purine nucleoside. This resulted in a formyl-imidazole moiety directly on the intact RNA, which was directly used for further bioconjugation reactions. Finally, additional selections and reselections led to the identification of highly active alkyltransferase ribozymes that can be used for the labeling of various RNA targets}, subject = {Methylierung}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{SanchezNaya2023, author = {S{\´a}nchez Naya, Roberto}, title = {Synthesis and Characterization of Dye-Containing Covalent Organic Frameworks}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-28899}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-288996}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2023}, abstract = {The present thesis adress the synthesis and characterization of novel COFs that contain dye molecules as integral components of the organic backbone. These chromophore-containing frameworks open new research lines in the field and call for the exploration of applications such as catalysis, sensing, or in optoelectronic devices. Initially, the fabrication of organic-inorganic composites by the growth of DPP TAPP COF around functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles is reported. By varying the ratio between inorganic nanoparticles and organic COFs, optoelectronic properties of the materials are adjusted. The document also reports the synthesis of a novel boron dipyrromethene-containing (BODIPY) COF. Synthesis, full characterization and the scope of potential applications with a focus on environmental remediation are discussed in detail. Last, a novel diketopyrrolopyrrole-containing (DPP) DPP-Py-COF based on the combination of DDP and pyrene building blocks is presented. The very low bandgap of these materials and initial investigations on the photosensitizing properties are discussed.}, subject = {Organische Chemie}, language = {en} } @article{WehShoyamaWuerthner2023, author = {Weh, Manuel and Shoyama, Kazutaka and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {Preferential molecular recognition of heterochiral guests within a cyclophane receptor}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {14}, journal = {Nature Communications}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-023-35851-3}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-357750}, year = {2023}, abstract = {The discrimination of enantiomers by natural receptors is a well-established phenomenon. In contrast the number of synthetic receptors with the capability for enantioselective molecular recognition of chiral substrates is scarce and for chiral cyclophanes indicative for a preferential binding of homochiral guests. Here we introduce a cyclophane composed of two homochiral core-twisted perylene bisimide (PBI) units connected by p-xylylene spacers and demonstrate its preference for the complexation of [5]helicene of opposite helicity compared to the PBI units of the host. The pronounced enantio-differentiation of this molecular receptor for heterochiral guests can be utilized for the enrichment of the P-PBI-M-helicene-P-PBI epimeric bimolecular complex. Our experimental results are supported by DFT calculations, which reveal that the sterically demanding bay substituents attached to the PBI chromophores disturb the helical shape match of the perylene core and homochiral substrates and thereby enforce the formation of syndiotactic host-guest complex structures. Hence, the most efficient substrate binding is observed for those aromatic guests, e. g. perylene, [4]helicene, phenanthrene and biphenyl, that can easily adapt in non-planar axially chiral conformations due to their inherent conformational flexibility. In all cases the induced chirality for the guest is opposed to those of the embedding PBI units, leading to heterochiral host-guest structures.}, language = {en} } @article{BrennerGeigerSchlegeletal.2023, author = {Brenner, Daniela and Geiger, Nina and Schlegel, Jan and Diesendorf, Viktoria and Kersting, Louise and Fink, Julian and Stelz, Linda and Schneider-Schaulies, Sibylle and Sauer, Markus and Bodem, Jochen and Seibel, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Azido-ceramides, a tool to analyse SARS-CoV-2 replication and inhibition — SARS-CoV-2 is inhibited by ceramides}, series = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences}, volume = {24}, journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences}, number = {8}, issn = {1422-0067}, doi = {10.3390/ijms24087281}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-313581}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Recently, we have shown that C6-ceramides efficiently suppress viral replication by trapping the virus in lysosomes. Here, we use antiviral assays to evaluate a synthetic ceramide derivative α-NH2-ω-N3-C6-ceramide (AKS461) and to confirm the biological activity of C6-ceramides inhibiting SARS-CoV-2. Click-labeling with a fluorophore demonstrated that AKS461 accumulates in lysosomes. Previously, it has been shown that suppression of SARS-CoV-2 replication can be cell-type specific. Thus, AKS461 inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in Huh-7, Vero, and Calu-3 cells up to 2.5 orders of magnitude. The results were confirmed by CoronaFISH, indicating that AKS461 acts comparable to the unmodified C6-ceramide. Thus, AKS461 serves as a tool to study ceramide-associated cellular and viral pathways, such as SARS-CoV-2 infections, and it helped to identify lysosomes as the central organelle of C6-ceramides to inhibit viral replication.}, language = {en} } @article{MenekseMahlAlbertetal.2023, author = {Menekse, Kaan and Mahl, Magnus and Albert, Julius and Niyas, M. A. and Shoyama, Kazutaka and Stolte, Matthias and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {Supramolecularly Engineered Bulk-Heterojunction Solar Cells with Self-Assembled Non-Fullerene Nanographene Tetraimide Acceptors}, series = {Solar RRL}, volume = {7}, journal = {Solar RRL}, number = {2}, doi = {10.1002/solr.202200895}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-312099}, year = {2023}, abstract = {A series of novel imide-functionalized C\(_{64}\) nanographenes is investigated as acceptor components in organic solar cells (OSCs) in combination with donor polymer PM6. These electron-poor molecules either prevail as a monomer or self-assemble into dimers in the OSC active layer depending on the chosen imide substituents. This allows for the controlled stacking of electron-poor and electron-rich π-scaffolds to establish a novel class of non-fullerene acceptor materials to tailor the bulk-heterojunction morphology of the OSCs. The best performance is observed for derivatives that are able to self-assemble into dimers, reaching power conversion efficiencies of up to 7.1\%.}, language = {en} } @article{OkudaLenzSeitzetal.2023, author = {Okuda, Takumi and Lenz, Ann-Kathrin and Seitz, Florian and Vogel, J{\"o}rg and H{\"o}bartner, Claudia}, title = {A SAM analogue-utilizing ribozyme for site-specific RNA alkylation in living cells}, series = {Nature Chemistry}, journal = {Nature Chemistry}, doi = {10.1038/s41557-023-01320-z}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-328762}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Post-transcriptional RNA modification methods are in high demand for site-specific RNA labelling and analysis of RNA functions. In vitro-selected ribozymes are attractive tools for RNA research and have the potential to overcome some of the limitations of chemoenzymatic approaches with repurposed methyltransferases. Here we report an alkyltransferase ribozyme that uses a synthetic, stabilized S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) analogue and catalyses the transfer of a propargyl group to a specific adenosine in the target RNA. Almost quantitative conversion was achieved within 1 h under a wide range of reaction conditions in vitro, including physiological magnesium ion concentrations. A genetically encoded version of the SAM analogue-utilizing ribozyme (SAMURI) was expressed in HEK293T cells, and intracellular propargylation of the target adenosine was confirmed by specific fluorescent labelling. SAMURI is a general tool for the site-specific installation of the smallest tag for azide-alkyne click chemistry, which can be further functionalized with fluorophores, affinity tags or other functional probes.}, language = {en} } @article{BruennertSeupelGoyaletal.2023, author = {Br{\"u}nnert, Daniela and Seupel, Raina and Goyal, Pankaj and Bach, Matthias and Schraud, Heike and Kirner, Stefanie and K{\"o}ster, Eva and Feineis, Doris and Bargou, Ralf C. and Schlosser, Andreas and Bringmann, Gerhard and Chatterjee, Manik}, title = {Ancistrocladinium A induces apoptosis in proteasome inhibitor-resistant multiple myeloma cells: a promising therapeutic agent candidate}, series = {Pharmaceuticals}, volume = {16}, journal = {Pharmaceuticals}, number = {8}, issn = {1424-8247}, doi = {10.3390/ph16081181}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-362887}, year = {2023}, abstract = {The N,C-coupled naphthylisoquinoline alkaloid ancistrocladinium A belongs to a novel class of natural products with potent antiprotozoal activity. Its effects on tumor cells, however, have not yet been explored. We demonstrate the antitumor activity of ancistrocladinium A in multiple myeloma (MM), a yet incurable blood cancer that represents a model disease for adaptation to proteotoxic stress. Viability assays showed a potent apoptosis-inducing effect of ancistrocladinium A in MM cell lines, including those with proteasome inhibitor (PI) resistance, and in primary MM cells, but not in non-malignant blood cells. Concomitant treatment with the PI carfilzomib or the histone deacetylase inhibitor panobinostat strongly enhanced the ancistrocladinium A-induced apoptosis. Mass spectrometry with biotinylated ancistrocladinium A revealed significant enrichment of RNA-splicing-associated proteins. Affected RNA-splicing-associated pathways included genes involved in proteotoxic stress response, such as PSMB5-associated genes and the heat shock proteins HSP90 and HSP70. Furthermore, we found strong induction of ATF4 and the ATM/H2AX pathway, both of which are critically involved in the integrated cellular response following proteotoxic and oxidative stress. Taken together, our data indicate that ancistrocladinium A targets cellular stress regulation in MM and improves the therapeutic response to PIs or overcomes PI resistance, and thus may represent a promising potential therapeutic agent.}, language = {en} } @article{NollGrossShoyamaetal.2023, author = {Noll, Niklas and Groß, Tobias and Shoyama, Kazutaka and Beuerle, Florian and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {Folding-Induced Promotion of Proton-Coupled Electron Transfers via Proximal Base for Light-Driven Water Oxidation}, series = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, volume = {62}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, number = {7}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202217745}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-312020}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Proton-coupled electron-transfer (PCET) processes play a key role in biocatalytic energy conversion and storage, for example, photosynthesis or nitrogen fixation. Here, we report a series of bipyridine-containing di- to tetranuclear Ru(bda) macrocycles 2 C-4 C (bda: 2,2′-bipyridine-6,6′-dicarboxylate) to promote O-O bond formation. In photocatalytic water oxidation under neutral conditions, all complexes 2 C-4 C prevail in a folded conformation that support the water nucleophilic attack (WNA) pathway with remarkable turnover frequencies of up to 15.5 s\(^{-1}\) per Ru unit respectively. Single-crystal X-ray analysis revealed an increased tendency for intramolecular π-π stacking and preorganization of the proximal bases close to the active centers for the larger macrocycles. H/D kinetic isotope effect studies and electrochemical data demonstrate the key role of the proximal bipyridines as proton acceptors in lowering the activation barrier for the crucial nucleophilic attack of H\(_{2}\)O in the WNA mechanism.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{FerschMalyRueheetal.2023, author = {Fersch, Daniel and Mal{\´y}, Pavel and R{\"u}he, Jessica and Lisinetskii, Victor and Hensen, Matthias and W{\"u}rthner, Frank and Brixner, Tobias}, title = {Single-Molecule Ultrafast Fluorescence-Detected Pump-Probe Microscopy}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-31348}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-313485}, year = {2023}, abstract = {We introduce fluorescence-detected pump-probe microscopy by combining a wavelength-tunable ultrafast laser with a confocal scanning fluorescence microscope, enabling access to the femtosecond time scale on the micrometer spatial scale. In addition, we obtain spectral information from Fourier transformation over excitation pulse-pair time delays. We demonstrate this new approach on a model system of a terrylene bisimide (TBI) dye embedded in a PMMA matrix and acquire the linear excitation spectrum as well as time-dependent pump-probe spectra simultaneously. We then push the technique towards single TBI molecules and analyze the statistical distribution of their excitation spectra. Furthermore, we demonstrate the ultrafast transient evolution of several individual molecules, highlighting their different behavior in contrast to the ensemble due to their individual local environment. By correlating the linear and nonlinear spectra, we assess the effect of the molecular environment on the excited-state energy.}, subject = {Fluoreszenz}, language = {en} } @article{BrustNaglerShoyamaetal.2023, author = {Brust, Felix and Nagler, Oliver and Shoyama, Kazutaka and Stolte, Matthias and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Based on Silandiol-Bay-Bridged Perylene Bisimides}, series = {Advanced Optical Materials}, volume = {11}, journal = {Advanced Optical Materials}, number = {5}, doi = {10.1002/adom.202202676}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-312599}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Perylene bisimides (PBIs) are among the best fluorophores but have to be enwrapped for optoelectronic applications by large and heavy substituents to prevent their ππ-stacking, which is known to accelerate non-radiative decay processes in the solid state. Here, light-weight di-tert-butylsilyl groups are introduced to bridge 1,12-dihydroxy and 1,6,7,12-tetrahydroxy PBIs to afford sublimable dyes for vacuum-processed optoelectronic devices. For both new compounds, this substitution provides a twisted and shielded perylene π-core whose, via OSiObridges, rigid structure affords well-resolved absorption and emission spectra with strong fluorescence in solution, as well as in the solid state. The usefulness of these dyes for vacuum-processed optoelectronic devices is demonstrated in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) that show monomer-like emission spectra and high maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) values of up to 3.1\% for the doubly silicon-bridged PBI.}, language = {en} } @article{GryszelSchlossarekWuerthneretal.2023, author = {Gryszel, Maciej and Schlossarek, Tim and W{\"u}rthner, Frank and Natali, Mirco and Głowacki, Eric Daniel}, title = {Water-soluble cationic perylene diimide dyes as stable photocatalysts for H\(_2\)O\(_2\) evolution}, series = {ChemPhotoChem}, volume = {7}, journal = {ChemPhotoChem}, number = {9}, issn = {2367-0932}, doi = {10.1002/cptc.202300070}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-370250}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Photocatalytic generation of hydrogen peroxide, H\(_2\)O\(_2\), has gained increasing attention in recent years, with applications ranging from solar energy conversion to biophysical research. While semiconducting solid-state materials are normally regarded as the workhorse for photogeneration of H\(_2\)O\(_2\), an intriguing alternative for on-demand H\(_2\)O\(_2\) is the use of photocatalytic organic dyes. Herein we report the use of water-soluble dyes based on perylene diimide molecules which behave as true molecular catalysts for the light-induced conversion of dissolved oxygen to hydrogen peroxide. In particular, we address how to obtain visible-light photocatalysts which are stable with respect to aggregation and photochemical degradation. We report on the factors affecting efficiency and stability, including variable electron donors, oxygen partial pressure, pH, and molecular catalyst structure. The result is a perylene diimide derivative with unprecedented peroxide evolution performance using a broad range of organic donor molecules and operating in a wide pH range.}, language = {en} }