Polarity and Ferromagnetism in Two-Dimensional Hybrid Copper Perovskites with Chlorinated Aromatic Spacers

Two-dimensional (2D) organic-inorganic hybrid copper halide perovskites have drawn tremendous attention as promising multifunctional materials. Herein, by incorporating ortho-, meta-, and para-chlorine substitutions in the benzylamine structure, we first report the influence of positional isomerism on the crystal structures of chlorobenzylammonium copper(II) chloride perovskites A₂CuCl₄. 2D polar ferromagnets (3-ClbaH)₂CuCl₄ and (4-ClbaH)₂CuCl₄ (ClbaH⁺ = chlorobenzylammonium) are successfully obtained. They both adopt a polar monoclinic space group Cc at room temperature, displaying significant differences in crystal structures. In contrast, (2-ClbaH)₂CuCl₄ adopts a centrosymmetric space group P 2₁/ c at room temperature. This associated structural evolution successfully enhances the physical properties of the two polar compounds with high thermal stability, discernible second harmonic generation (SHG) signals, ferromagnetism, and narrow optical band gaps. These findings demonstrate that the introduction of chlorine atoms into the interlayer organic species is a powerful tool to tune crystal symmetries and physical properties, and this inspires further exploration of designing high-performance multifunctional copper-based materials.

Polar Ferromagnet Induced by Fluorine Positioning in Isomeric Layered Copper Halide Perovskites

We present the influence of positional isomerism on the crystal structure of fluorobenzylammonium copper(II) chloride perovskites A₂CuCl₄ by incorporating ortho-, meta-, and para-fluorine substitution in the benzylamine structure. Two-dimensional (2D) polar ferromagnet (3-FbaH)₂CuCl₄ (3-FbaH⁺ = 3-fluorobenzylammonium) is successfully obtained, which crystallizes in a polar orthorhombic space group Pca2₁ at room temperature. In contrast, both (2-FbaH)₂CuCl₄ (2-FbaH⁺ = 2-fluorobenzylammonium) and (4-FbaH)₂CuCl₄ (4-FbaH⁺ = 4-fluorobenzylammonium) crystallize in centrosymmetric space groups P2₁/c and Pnma at room temperature, respectively, displaying significant differences in crystal structures. These differences indicate that the position of the fluorine atom is a driver for the polar behavior in (3-FbaH)₂CuCl₄. Preliminary magnetic measurements confirm that these three perovskites possess dominant ferromagnetic interactions within the inorganic [CuCl₄]_∞ layers. Therefore, (3-FbaH)₂CuCl₄ is a polar ferromagnet, with potential as a type I multiferroic. This work is expected to promote further development of high-performance 2D copper(II) halide perovskite multiferroic materials.

Structural Features in Some Layered Hybrid Copper Chloride Perovskites: ACuCl4 or A2CuCl4

We present three new hybrid copper(II) chloride layered perovskites of generic composition ACuCl₄ or A₂CuCl₄, which exhibit three distinct structure types. (m-PdH₂)CuCl₄ (m-PdH₂²⁺ = protonated m-phenylenediamine) adopts a Dion-Jacobson (DJ)-like layered perovskite structure type and exhibits a very large axial thermal contraction effect upon heating, as revealed via variable-temperature synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction (SXRD). This can be attributed to the contraction of an interlayer block, via a slight repositioning of the m-PdH₂²⁺ moiety. (3-AbaH)₂CuCl₄ (3-AbaH⁺ = protonated 3-aminobenzoic acid) and (4-AbaH)₂CuCl₄ (4-AbaH⁺ = protonated 4-aminobenzoic acid) possess the same generic formula as Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) layered perovskites, A₂BX₄, but adopt different structures. (4-AbaH)₂CuCl₄ adopts a near-staggered structure type, whereas (3-AbaH)₂CuCl₄ adopts a near-eclipsed structure type, which resembles the DJ rather than the RP family. (3-AbaH)₂CuCl₄ also displays static disorder of the [CuCl₄]_∞ layers. The crystal structures of each are discussed in terms of the differing nature of the templating molecular species, and these are compared to related layered perovskites. Preliminary magnetic measurements are reported, suggesting dominant ferromagnetic interactions.

Channel catfish ovarian fluid differentially enhances blue catfish sperm performance

For externally fertilizing fishes, interactions between male and female gametes have been shown to have remarkable impacts on sperm performance. Ovarian fluid (OF) and its ability to alter the swimming behavior of fish sperm makes it a determining factor of fertility. With the expansion of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) ♀ × blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) ♂ hybrid aquaculture, it is essential to understand the impacts during fertilization and the magnitude such gametic interactions have on sperm performance and subsequent male fertility potential. This study was conducted to address the following: 1) activate blue catfish sperm with/without channel catfish OF to determine impacts on sperm performance and 2) assess if sperm behave differently when activated in the OF from individual females. Sperm (n = 4 males) were activated without OF (control) and with diluted OF from unique females (n = 6), creating 24 experimental crosses. Sperm motility (%), velocity (VCL), and longevity were analyzed using computer assisted sperm analyses software. With OF incorporated in the activation media, sperm velocity was significantly higher than the control at 10, 20, and 30 s post-activation. OF did not have an impact on motility for any females at 10 s and 20 s post-activation but became significantly higher than the control at 30 s. In all cases, OF treatments greatly increased longevity. Male × female interactions were highly significant, such that motility, velocity, and longevity were dependent on specific male-female pairs. This information shows that OF should be incorporated in aquatic media to simulate natural spawning conditions and accurately assess the fluid mechanics of sperm propulsion for each male. Additionally, there are mechanisms that drive gamete interactions that need to be explored further, which may improve selection of male-female pairs for in-vitro fertilization. On a broad scale, our results also help to shed light on the complexities of fertilization and fish reproduction overall, which may have implications for recruitment variability and recovery strategies of threatened and/or endangered freshwater species.

A hybrid fluoride layered perovskite, (enH2)MnF4

The title compound is the first example of a layered fluoroperovskite containing an interlayer organic cation. Preliminary magnetic characterisation is reported, and structural relationships to related layered perovskites are discussed.

Perovzalates: a family of perovskite-related oxalates

The compounds ALi₃M(C₂O₄)₃ (A = K, Rb, Cs; M = Fe, Co, Ni) adopt a perovskite-like structure with cations as large as Cs⁺ in the perovskite A-site.

Identification and characterization of a novel A-kinase-anchoring protein (AKAP120) from rabbit gastric parietal cells

The type-II cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A-Kinase) partitions primarily into the particulate fraction in gastric parietal cells. Localization of this kinase to particular subcellular domains is mediated through the binding of the regulatory subunit (RII) dimer to A-Kinase-anchoring proteins (AKAPs). Using a [32P]RII overlay assay, we have screened a rabbit gastric parietal cell cDNA library and have isolated a single RII-binding protein clone. Sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame coding for 1022 amino acids (AKAP120). Recombinant fragments of the full-length clone were prepared and the RII-binding region mapped to an area between amino acids 489 and 549. This area contained a putative alpha-helical RII-binding region between amino acids 503 and 516. Incubation of [32P]RII with a synthetic peptide of AKAP120-(489-522) completely inhibited the binding of [32P]RII to the recombinant AKAP120 fragments that demonstrated RII binding. In vitro RII-binding affinity studies indicated a high-affinity interaction between AKAP120 and RII with a Kapp between 50 and 120 nM for the three recombinant fragments that bound [32P]RII. RNase-protection analysis revealed that AKAP120 is a widely distributed protein, with the highest levels of mRNA observed in gastric fundus. The presence of this novel high-affinity AKAP in gastric parietal cells suggests that it may regulate RII subcellular sequestration in this cell type.

Ezrin is a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase anchoring protein

cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) anchoring proteins (AKAPs) are responsible for the subcellular sequestration of the type II A-kinase. Previously, we identified a 78 kDa AKAP which was enriched in gastric parietal cells. We have now purified the 78 kDa AKAP to homogeneity from gastric fundic mucosal supernates using type II A-kinase regulatory subunit (RII) affinity chromatography. The purified 78 kDa AKAP was recognized by monoclonal antibodies against ezrin, the canalicular actin-associated protein. Recombinant ezrin produced in either Sf9 cells or bacteria also bound RII. Recombinant radixin and moesin, ezrin-related proteins, also bound RII in blot overlay. Analysis of recombinant truncations of ezrin mapped the RII binding site to a region between amino acids 373 and 439. This region contained a 14-amino-acid amphipathic alpha-helical putative RII binding region. A synthetic peptide containing the amphipathic helical region (ezrin409-438) blocked RII binding to ezrin, but a peptide with a leucine to proline substitution at amino acid 421 failed to inhibit RII binding. In mouse fundic mucosa, RII immunoreactivity redistributed from a predominantly cytosolic location in resting parietal cells, to a canalicular pattern in mucosa from animals stimulated with gastrin. These results demonstrate that ezrin is a major AKAP in gastric parietal cells and may function to tether type II A-kinase to a region near the secretory canaliculus.

Distribution of A-kinase anchoring proteins in parietal cells

Recent investigations have suggested that subcellular compartmentalization of second messenger responsive enzyme systems may be responsible for specific patterns of cellular activation. The type II cAMP-dependent kinase (A-kinase) is localized to particular subcellular domains through the binding of the regulatory subunit (RII) dimer to A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs). Using a [32P]RII overlay assay, we have investigated the presence of AKAPs throughout the gastrointestinal tract, with specific emphasis focused on the gastric parietal cell. All gastrointestinal tissues contained at least one detectable AKAP (60 kDa), with five AKAPs (50-140 kDa) in fundic and antral mucosa. Isolated gastric glands contained four AKAPs. Two AKAPs (50 and 78 kDa) were detected in purified parietal cells, with the 78 kDa AKAP (AKAP78) specific to parietal cell enriched populations. RII-binding to all of these AKAPs was abolished by preincubation of [32P]RII with a synthetic peptide representing the RII-binding region of the AKAP, HT-31. AKAP78 was distributed throughout all membrane fractions of subfractionated parietal cells, with the largest amount of RII-binding detected in the light membrane fraction. Identification of A-kinase regulatory subunits by photoaffinity labeling with 8-azido-[32P]cAMP demonstrated that RII segregated into the same parietal cell subfractions as AKAP78. A majority (approximately 60%) of AKAP78 was detected in the Triton X-100-insoluble fraction, suggesting that this protein resides in a cytoskeletal domain. AKAP78 may be involved in localizing the type II A-kinase to specific intracellular locations in the parietal cell.