Binding interaction between (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) of green tea and pepsin

Analysis of the binding interaction of (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and pepsin is important for understanding the inhibition of digestive enzymes by tea polyphenols. We studied the binding of EGCG to pepsin using fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, and protein-ligand docking. We found that EGCG could inhibit pepsin activity. According to thermodynamic parameters, a negative ΔG indicated that the interaction between EGCG and pepsin was spontaneous, and the electrostatic force accompanied by hydrophobic binding forces may play major role in the binding. Data from multi-spectroscopy and docking studies suggest that EGCG could bind pepsin with a change in the native conformation of pepsin. Our results provide further understanding of the nature of the binding interactions between catechins and digestive enzymes

New study of the isotensor pi-pi interaction

With t-channel rho, f2(1270) exchange and the pi pi -> rho rho -> pi pi box diagram contribution, we reproduce the pi pi isotensor S-wave and D-wave scattering phase shifts and inelasticities up to 2.2 GeV quite well in a K-matrix formalism. The t-channel rho exchange provides repulsive negative phase shifts while the t-channel f2(1270) gives an attractive force to increase the phase shifts for pi pi scattering above 1 GeV, and the coupled-channel box diagram causes the inelasticities. The implication to the isoscalar pi pi S-wave interaction is discussed.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figure

A Study in Depth of f0(1370)

Claims have been made that f0(1370) does not exist. The five primary sets of data requiring its existence are refitted. Major dispersive effects due to the opening of the 4pi threshold are included for the first time; the sigma -> 4pi amplitude plays a strong role. Crystal Barrel data on pbar-p -> 3pizero at rest require f0(1370) signals of at least 32 and 33 standard deviations in 1S0 and 3P1 annihilation respectively. Furthermore, they agree within 5 MeV for mass and width. Data on pbar-p -> eta-eta-pizero agree and require at least a 19 standard deviation contribution. This alone is sufficient to demonstrate the existence of f0(1370). BES II data for J/Psi -> phi-pi-pi contain a visible f0(1370) signal > 8 standard devations. In all cases, a resonant phase variation is required. The possibility of a second pole in the sigma amplitude due to the opening of the 4pi channel is excluded. Cern-Munich data for pi-pi elastic scattering are fitted well with the inclusion of some mixing between sigma, f0(1370) and f0(1500). The pi-pi widths for f2(1565), rho3(1690), rho3(1990) and f4(2040) are determined.Comment: 25 pages, 22 figures. Typos corrected in Eqs 2 and 7. Introduction rewritten. Conclusions unchange

Body-centered-cubic Ni and its magnetic properties

The body-centered-cubic (bec) phase of Ni, which does not exist in nature, has been achieved as a thin film on GaAs(001) at 170 K via molecular beam epitaxy. The bec Ni is ferromagnetic with a Curie temperature of 456 K and possesses a magnetic moment of 0.52 \uc2\ub1 0.08 \uce\ubcB/atom. The cubic magneto-crystalline anisotropy of bec Ni is determined to be +4.0 \uc3\u97 105 ergs \uc2\ub7 cm-3, as opposed to -5.7 \uc3\u97 10 4 ergs \uc2\ub7 cm-3 for the naturally occurring face-centered-cubic (fcc) Ni. This sharp contrast in the magnetic anisotropy is attributed to the different electronic band structures between bec Ni and fcc Ni, which are determined using angle-resolved photoemission with synchrotron radiation