September 26, 2018

Good Morning,

Scientists have created a more efficient and more effective method for manipulating the three dimensional structure of molecules. Just think of how this could be utilized?

Learn about this and more interesting stories from the scientific community in today's issue.

Until Next Time,
Erin

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*-- Chemists find better way to manipulate 3D structure of molecules --*

Scientists have developed a more efficient and effective way to manipulate the 3D structure of molecules, a breakthrough that could improve the process of discovering and designing new drugs.

The breakthrough builds on the work of chemist Akira Suzuki, who won a Nobel prize for his development of palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions. Suzuki and his research partners showed carbon atoms could be bonded using palladium catalysts.

The work aided the drug discovery and synthesis process, but the method only allowed scientists to manipulate molecules in 2D.

Most medical compounds involve chiral molecules, molecules that can exist in two forms -- as two mirror images, like a right hand and left hand. Often, the mirror image of a medically beneficial chiral molecule can have adverse effects.

"Controlling the orientation of atoms in the 3D structure of molecules is critical in the drug discovery process," Mark Biscoe, researcher at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, said in a news release.

Biscoe and his colleagues at GC/CUNY worked with scientists at the University of Utah to develop models to predict how phosphine additives would influence palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions. Using the model's predictions, scientists developed methods to precisely orient 2D molecules within 3D structures.

"By understanding how different phosphine ligands influence the final geometry of cross-coupling products, we were able to develop reliable methods for selectively retaining or inverting the geometry of a molecule," said researcher Shibin Zhao, a GC/CUNY doctoral student. "This means we're now able to control the final geometry of a molecule more efficiently."

Instead of producing a large library of 2D molecules, scientists will now be able to generate 3D molecules using palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions. The breakthrough -- described this week in the journal Science -- will help scientists more accurately predict the potential medical benefits of different molecules and more efficiently design new drugs.
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*-- Japan successfully lands rovers on asteroid Ryugu --

Japan confirmed it successfully landed two small rovers released from its Hayabusa 2 probe on the surface of an asteroid.

Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, shared photos taken by its MINERVA-II1A and MINERVA-II1B from the surface of the asteroid Ryugu on Saturday.

"We confirmed that both aircraft landed on the surface of the asteroid ryugu. Both rovers are in good condition, they are sending photographs and various data taken," JAXA said.

With the successful landing the MINERVA rovers became the first ever mobile robots to conduct observations on an asteroid.

The rovers maneuver by hopping and will send back data about the asteroid using cameras and instruments, including temperature and optical sensors.

"The good news made me so happy," Hayabusa2 project spokesperson Takashi Kubota said. "The image taken by MINERVA-II-1 during a hop allowed me to relax as a dream of many years came true. I felt awed by what we had achieved in Japan."

JAXA said operations of the MINERVA-II will continue in the future, as it plans to acquire more data and proceed with the analysis.

The Hayabusa2 is also scheduled to deploy a bigger lander called MASCOT in October, following the successful landing.

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