Abstract Plant RNases T2 are involved in several physiological and developmental processes, including inorganic phosphate starvation, senescence, wounding, defense against pathogens, and the self-incompatibility system. Solanaceae RNases form three main clades, one composed exclusively of S-RNases and two that include S-like RNases. We identified several positively selected amino acids located in highly flexible regions of these molecules, mainly close to the B1 and B2 substrate-binding sites in S-like RNases and the hypervariable regions of S-RNases. These differences between S- and S-like RNases in the flexibility of amino acids in substrate-binding regions are essential to understand the RNA-binding process. For example, in the S-like RNase NT, two positively selected amino acid residues (Tyr156 and Asn134) are located at the most flexible sites on the molecular surface. RNase NT is induced in response to tobacco mosaic virus infection; these sites may thus be regions of interaction with pathogen proteins or viral RNA. Differential selective pressures acting on plant ribonucleases have increased amino acid variability and, consequently, structural differences within and among S-like RNases and S-RNases that seem to be essential for these proteins play different functions.

Uma série de cristais líquidos derivados de ésteres arilaldoximas foi sintetizada e caracterizada via espectroscopia de ¹H, 13C RMN, ATR/IV-FT e análise elementar. A estabilidade química e fotofísica desses compostos foram dependentes dos ciclos de aquecimento e resfriamento, com a decomposição sendo induzida pelo calor. As mudanças nas propriedades durante os ciclos de aquecimento foram acompanhadas através dos respectivos espectros de infravermelho. Todas as amostras se decompõem termicamente, gerando as respectivas nitrilas e ácidos carboxílicos como evidenciado pelos espectros de infravermelho e de ¹H NMR. As propriedades mesomórficas foram avaliadas apenas no primeiro ciclo de aquecimento, devido à decomposição térmica observada após a primeira transição para o estado isotrópico. Espectros de absorção em solventes orgânicos apresentam três bandas entre 230 e 340 nm, e uma banda de emissão, larga e sem estrutura, em 430 nm. Cálculos teóricos ab initio foram realizados para a obtenção de informações estruturais dos ésteres arilaldoximas.

We report the synthesis of a series of liquid-crystalline materials based on arylaldoxime esters and the characterization of these materials by ¹H, 13C NMR, ATR/FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The chemical stability and liquid-crystalline as well as photophysical properties of the compounds are described being dependent on the heating/cooling cycles. The changes in chemical stability and the liquid crystals properties of arylaldoxime esters were observed during these thermal cycles by IR analysis. All samples underwent a thermal degradation yielding the corresponding nitriles and carboxylic acid as evidenced by IR and ¹H NMR spectra. Due to the decomposition process, information about the mesomorphic behaviour is lost. The UV-Vis absorption spectra in solution display three absorption bands between 230 and 340 nm. The fluorescence spectra exhibit a broad and structureless emission band located at 430 nm. Ab initio calculations were performed to obtain information on the molecular structure and properties of the title compounds.