UK's only active fracking site near Blackpool records largest ever earth tremor as homeowners complain of windows shaking  iNews

'Surrey swarm' quakes 'not caused by oil extraction'  BBC News

UK Geothermal: boiling beneath the surface?  Power Technology

Largest tremor yet detected at Lancashire fracking site  ITV News

'Surrey swarm' earthquakes not caused by nearby oil extraction, study suggests  Science Daily

Devon braced for aftershocks following earthquake  Devon Live

Fracking: UK shale gas reserves 'significantly lower than previous estimates'  Energy Live News - Energy Made Easy

BGS Mineral Planning Factsheet updated  Agg-Net

Tuning in to a Glacial Symphony  Eos

Fracking firm Cuadrilla signs secret deal with geological agency to 'destroy confidential documents'  iNews

UK sees notable reduction in seismic noise caused by human activity – experts  Aberdeen Evening Express

Fossil believed to show squid-like creature attacking fish 200 million years ago  Aberdeen Evening Express

Gluconate 5-dehydrogenase (Ga5DH; EC 1.1.1.69) from Lentibacter algarum (LaGa5DH) was recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. The protein was crystallized and the crystal structure was solved at 2.1 Å resolution. The crystal belonged to the monoclinic system, with space group P1 and unit-cell parameters a = 55.42, b = 55.48, c = 79.16 Å, α = 100.51, β = 105.66, γ = 97.99°. The structure revealed LaGaDH to be a tetramer, with each subunit consisting of six α-helices and three antiparallel β-hairpins. LaGa5DH has high structural similarity to other Ga5DH proteins, demonstrating that this enzyme is highly conserved.

The bacterial type VI secretion system (T6SS) secretes many toxic effectors to gain advantage in interbacterial competition and for eukaryotic host infection. The cognate immunity proteins of these effectors protect bacteria from their own effectors. PldB is a T6SS trans-kingdom effector in Pseudomonas aeruginosa that can infect both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Three proteins, PA5086, PA5087 and PA5088, are employed to suppress the toxicity of PldB-family proteins. The structures of PA5087 and PA5088 have previously been reported, but the identification of further distinctions between these immunity proteins is needed. Here, the crystal structure of PA5086 is reported at 1.90 Å resolution. A structural comparison of the three PldB immunity proteins showed vast divergences in their electrostatic potential surfaces. This interesting phenomenon provides an explanation of the stockpiling mechanism of T6SS immunity proteins.

The transmembrane intracellular lectin ER–Golgi intermediate compartment protein 53 (ERGIC-53) and the soluble EF-hand multiple coagulation factor deficiency protein 2 (MCFD2) form a complex that functions as a cargo receptor, trafficking various glycoproteins between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus. It has been demonstrated that the carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD) of ERGIC-53 (ERGIC-53CRD) interacts with N-linked glycans on cargo glycoproteins, whereas MCFD2 recognizes polypeptide segments of cargo glycoproteins. Crystal structures of ERGIC-53CRD complexed with MCFD2 and mannosyl oligosaccharides have revealed protein–protein and protein–sugar binding modes. In contrast, the polypeptide-recognition mechanism of MCFD2 remains largely unknown. Here, a 1.60 Å resolution crystal structure of the ERGIC-53CRD–MCFD2 complex is reported, along with three other crystal forms. Comparison of these structures with those previously reported reveal that MCFD2, but not ERGIC-53–CRD, exhibits significant conformational plasticity that may be relevant to its accommodation of various polypeptide ligands.

The enzyme 4-hydroxy-tetrahydrodipicolinate synthase (DapA) is involved in the production of lysine and precursor molecules for peptidoglycan synthesis. In a multistep reaction, DapA converts pyruvate and l-aspartate-4-semialdehyde to 4-hydroxy-2,3,4,5-tetrahydrodipicolinic acid. In many organisms, lysine binds allosterically to DapA, causing negative feedback, thus making the enzyme an important regulatory component of the pathway. Here, the 2.1 Å resolution crystal structure of DapA from the thermoacidophilic methanotroph Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum SolV is reported. The enzyme crystallized as a contaminant of a protein preparation from native biomass. Genome analysis reveals that M. fumariolicum SolV utilizes the recently discovered aminotransferase pathway for lysine biosynthesis. Phylogenetic analyses of the genes involved in this pathway shed new light on the distribution of this pathway across the three domains of life.

The setup and operation of an industrial cryo-EM laboratory is described.

Sample preparation within single-particle cryo-electron microscopy can still be a significant bottleneck, with issues in reproducibility, ice quality and sample loss. New approaches have recently been reported that use spraying or pin printing instead of the traditional blotting approach. Here, experience in the use of different nozzle designs and spraying regimes is reported together with their influence on the resulting spray and grid quality.

A new scaling program is presented with new features to support multi-sweep workflows and analysis within the DIALS software package.

Structures of the immunodominant protein P46 from M. hyopneumoniae has been determined by X-ray crystallography and it is shown that P46 can bind a diversity of oligosaccharides, particularly xylose, which exhibits a very high affinity for this protein. Structures of a monoclonal antibody, both alone and in complex with P46, that was raised against M. hyopnemoniae cells and specifically recognizes P46 are also reported.

Death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) was found to form a complex with purpurin and the crystal structure of the complex was determined. Purpurin may be a good lead compound for for the discovery of inhibitors of DAPK1.

The bond-valence method was performed on 51 crystal data sets from nitrogenase proteins, indicating the presence of molybdenum(III) in FeMo cofactors and vanadium(III) with more reduced iron complements in FeV cofactors.

Comparison of the structures of ClpC1-Ecumicin and ClpC1-Rufomycin reveals unique interaction relevant to the mode of action.

From the perspective of a young(ish) structural biologist who currently specialises in macromolecular X-ray crystallography, are the best years of crystallography over? Some evidence and hopefully thought-provoking analysis is presented here on the subject.

In the title 1:1 co-crystal [systematic name: 6-chloro­pyridin-2-amine–penta­nedioic acid (1/1)], C5H5ClN2·C5H8O4, the pyridine ring is essentially planar, with a maximum deviation of 0.003 (1) Å. The base and acid mol­ecules are linked via N—H⋯O and O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds, while inversion-related acid mol­ecules are linked via pairs of O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. These inter­actions together with a C—H⋯O hydrogen bond connect the two components, forming (001) sheets.

6-Methyluracil, C5H6N2O2, exists in two crystalline phases: form (I), monoclinic, space group P21/c [Reck et al. (1988). Acta Cryst. A44, 417–421] and form (II), monoclinic, space group C2/c [Leonidov et al. (1993). Russ. J. Phys. Chem. 67, 2220–2223]. The structure of polymorph (II) has been redetermined providing a significant increase in the precision of the derived geometric parameters. In the crystal, mol­ecules form ribbons approximately running parallel to the c-axis direction through N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The radical differences observed between the crystal packing of the two polymorphs may be responsible in form (II) for an increase in the contribution of the polar canonical forms C—(O−)=N—H+ relative to the neutral canonical form C(=O)—N—H induced by hydrogen-bonding inter­actions.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound (systematic name: 3,3,8,8-tetra­methyl-1,4,6,9-tetra­oxa-λ4-bora­spiro­[4.4]nonane-2,7-dione tetra­hydrate), C8H12BO6·4H2O, consists of half a bis­(2-methyl­lactato)borate mol­ecule and two water mol­ecules of solvation. In the crystal, O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the components into a three-dimensional network.

While the crystal structure analysis of the title compound, C26H38O15, a synthetic derivative of sucrose, was originally reported 40 years ago [Drew et al. (1979). Carbohydr. Res. 71, 35–42], the present work has allowed for the determination of its absolute configuration through the application of resonant scattering techniques.

The title compound, [Ag2(C2H3O2)2(C19H20N2)2] (2), was readily synthesized by treatment of 3-benzyl-1-(2,4,6-tri­methyl­phen­yl)imidazolium chloride with silver acetate. The solution structure of the complex was analyzed by NMR spectroscopy, while the solid-state structure was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Compound 2 crystallizes in the triclinic space group Poverline{1}, with a silver-to-carbene bond length (Ag—CNHC) of 2.084 (3) Å. The mol­ecule resides on an inversion center, so that only half of the mol­ecule is crystallographically unique. The planes defined by the two imidazole rings are parallel to each other, but not coplanar [inter­planar distance is 0.662 (19) Å]. The dihedral angles between the imidazole ring and the benzyl and mesityl rings are 77.87 (12) and 72.86 (11)°, respectively. The crystal structure features π–π stacking inter­actions between the benzylic groups of inversion-related (−x + 1, −y + 1, −z + 1) mol­ecules and C—H⋯π inter­actions.

The synthesis and crystal structure of the title PtII complex, [Pt(C23H16N)Cl(CH3CN)], based on the C,N-chelating 2,4,6-tri­phenyl­pyridine as the primary ligand, is described. The central PtII atom is in a distorted square-planar coordination environment. In the crystal, mol­ecules are arranged via a metallophilic inter­action between platinum atoms with a Pt⋯Pt contact of 7.052 (2) Å. In addition, a π–π inter­action occurs.

In the title compound, C34H35NO4, the dihedral angle between the pyridine ring and attached benzene ring is 79.17 (8)°. The meth­oxy­eth­oxy–eth­oxy side chain is disordered over two orientations in a 0.732 (7):0.268 (7) ratio. In the crystal, very weak C—H⋯N and C—H⋯O inter­actions link the mol­ecules.

The title complex, [Os3(C2H4N)H(CO)10] or [Os3(CO)10(μ-H)(μ-HN=C—CH3-1κN:2κC)], was synthesized in 41.6% yield by reactions between Os3(CO)11(CH3CN) and 2,4,6-tri­methyl­hexa­hydro-1,3,5-triazine. The central osmium triangle has two OsI atoms bridged by a hydride ligand and a μ-HN= C—CH3-1κN:2κC triazine fragment. Three CO ligands complete the coordination sphere around each OsI atom, while the remaining Os0 atom has four CO ligands. Each Os atom exhibits a pseudo-octa­hedral coordination environment, discounting the bridging Os—Os bond.

Single crystals of rubidium tetra­fluorido­bromate(III), RbBrF4, were grown by melting and recrystallizing RbBrF4 from its melt. This is the first determination of the crystal structure of RbBrF4 using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. We confirmed that the structure contains square-planar [BrF4]− anions and rubidium cations that are coordinated by F atoms in a square-anti­prismatic manner. The compound crystallizes in the KBrF4 structure type. Atomic coordinates and bond lengths and angles were determined with higher precision than in a previous report based on powder X-ray diffraction data [Ivlev et al. (2015). Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 641, 2593–2598].

Caesium tetra­fluorido­bromate(III), CsBrF4, was crystallized in form of small blocks by melting and recrystallization. The crystal structure of CsBrF4 was redetermined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. In comparison with a previous study based on powder X-ray diffraction data [Ivlev et al. (2013). Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 639, 2846–2850], bond lengths and angles were determined with higher precision, and all atoms were refined with anisotropic displacement parameters. It was confirmed that the structure of CsBrF4 contains two square-planar [BrF4]− anions each with point group symmetry mmm, and a caesium cation (site symmetry mm2) that is coordinated by twelve fluorine atoms, forming an anti­cubocta­hedron. CsBrF4 is isotypic with CsAuF4.

In the title compound, C19H16O, the pyran ring is in a half-chair conformation. The essentially planar naphthalene ring system (r.m.s. deviation = 0.020 Å) forms a dihedral angle of 14.37 (5)° with the fused benzene ring. In the crystal, pairs of mol­ecules are connected into inversion dimers by weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds to generate R22(6) loops.

The title hepta­nuclear alkoxido(oxido)vanadium(V) oxide cluster complex, [V7(C10H19O)O17(C18H24N2)3]·CH3CN, was obtained by the reaction of [V8O20(C18H24N2)4] with 4-tert-butyl­cyclo­hexa­nol (mixture of cis and trans) in a mixed CHCl3/CH3CN solvent. The complex has a V7O18N6 core with approximately Cs symmetry, which is composed of two VO4 tetra­hedra, two VO6 octa­hedra and three VO4N2 octa­hedra. In the crystal, these complexes are linked together by weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bi­pyridine ligand and the V7O18N6 core, forming a one-dimensional network along the c-axis direction. Besides the complex, the asymmetric unit contains one CH3CN solvent mol­ecule. The contribution of other disordered solvent mol­ecules to the scattering was removed using the SQUEEZE option in PLATON [Spek (2015). Acta Cryst. C71, 9–18]. The unknown solvent mol­ecules are not considered in the chemical formula and other crystal data.

The crystal structure of pirfenidone, C12H11NO [alternative name: 5-methyl-1-phenyl­pyridin-2(1H)-one], an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) approved in Europe and Japan for the treatment of Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is reported here for the first time. It was crystallized from toluene by the temperature gradient technique, and crystallizes in the chiral monoclinic space group P21. The phenyl and pyridone rings are inclined to each other by 50.30 (11)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by C–H⋯O hydrogen bonds involving the same acceptor atom, forming undulating layers lying parallel to the ab plane.

The title Schiff base compound, C13H9ClN4O5·0.5CH3CN, crystallizes as an aceto­nitrile hemisolvate; the solvent mol­ecule being located on a twofold rotation axis. The mol­ecule is nearly planar, with a dihedral angle between the two benzene rings of 3.7 (2)°. The configuration about the C=N bond is E, and there is an intra­molecular N—H⋯Onitro hydrogen bond present forming an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by O—H⋯O and N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming layers lying parallel to (10overline{1}). The layers are linked by C—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds, forming a supra­molecular framework. Within the framework there are offset π–π stacking inter­actions [inter­centroid distance = 3.833 (2) Å] present involving inversion-related mol­ecules. The DFT study shows that the HOMO and LUMO are localized in the plane extending from the phenol ring to the 2,4-di­nitro­benzene ring, and the HOMO–LUMO gap is found to be 0.13061 a.u.

This work presents the synthesis and structural characterization of [4-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)phen­oxy]phthalo­nitrile, a phthalo­nitrile derivative carrying a benzimidazole moiety. The compound crystallizes as its dimethyl sulfoxide monosolvate, C21H12N4O·(CH3)2SO. The dihedral angle between the two fused rings in the heterocyclic ring system is 2.11 (1)°, while the phenyl ring attached to the imidazole moiety is inclined by 20.7 (1)° to the latter. In the crystal structure, adjacent mol­ecules are connected by pairs of weak inter­molecular C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds into inversion dimers. N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds with R21(7) graph-set motifs are also formed between the organic mol­ecule and the disordered dimethyl sulfoxide solvent [occupancy ratio of 0.623 (5):0.377 (5) for the two sites of the sulfur atom]. Hirshfeld surface analysis and fingerprint plots were used to investigate the inter­molecular inter­actions in the crystalline state.

The mol­ecule of the title Schiff base compound, C14H13N3O3·H2O, displays a trans configuration with respect to the C=N bond. The dihedral angle between the benzene and pyridine rings is 29.63 (7)°. The crystal structure features inter­molecular N—H⋯O, C—H⋯O, O—H⋯O and O—H⋯N hydrogen-bonding inter­actions, leading to the formation of a supramolecular framework. A Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H⋯H (37.0%), O⋯H/H⋯O (23.7%)), C⋯H/H⋯C (17.6%) and N⋯H/H⋯N (11.9%) inter­actions. The title compound has also been characterized by frontier mol­ecular orbital analysis.

In the title bis­chalcone, C17H12Br2O, the olefinic double bonds are almost coplanar with their attached 4-bromo­phenyl rings [torsion angles = −10.2 (4) and −6.2 (4)°], while the carbonyl double bond is in an s-trans conformation with with respect to one of the C=C bonds and an s-cis conformation with respect to the other [C=C—C=O = 160.7 (3) and −15.2 (4)°, respectively]. The dihedral angle between the 4-bromo­phenyl rings is 51.56 (2)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked into a zigzag chain propagating along [001] by weak C—H⋯π inter­actions. The conformations of related bis­chalcones are surveyed and a Hirshfeld surface analysis is used to investigate and qu­antify the inter­molecular contacts.

The title mol­ecule, C11H8F3NO3, adopts a cis configuration across the –C=C– double bond in the side chain and the dihedral angle between the phenyl ring and side chain is 47.35 (1)°. The –COOH group adopts a syn conformation (O=C—O—H = 0°), unlike the anti conformation observed in related maleamic acids. In the crystal, inversion dimers linked by pairs of O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds are connected via N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and C—H⋯O inter­actions into (100) sheets, which are cross-linked by another C—H⋯O inter­action to result in a three-dimensional network. The Hirshfeld surface fingerprint plots show that the highest contribution to surface contacts arises from O⋯H/H⋯O contacts (26.5%) followed by H⋯F/F⋯H (23.4%) and H⋯H (17.3%).

The title compound, C15H15NO2, is a Schiff base that exists in the keto–enamine tautomeric form and adopts a Z configuration. The mol­ecule is almost planar, with the two phenyl rings twisted relative to each other by 9.60 (18)°. There is an intra­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bond present forming an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, pairs of O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link adjacent mol­ecules into inversion dimers with an R22(18) ring motif. The dimers are linked by very weak π–π inter­actions, forming layers parallel to (overline{2}01). Hirshfeld surface analysis, two-dimensional fingerprint plots and the mol­ecular electrostatic potential surfaces were used to analyse the inter­molecular inter­actions, indicating that the most important contributions for the crystal packing are from H⋯H (55.2%), C⋯H/H⋯C (22.3%) and O⋯H/H⋯O (13.6%) inter­actions.

The title compounds, C24H22O6 (I) and C24H22O6 (II), each crystallize with half a mol­ecule in the asymmetric unit. The whole mol­ecule of compound (I) is generated by twofold rotation symmetry, the twofold axis bis­ecting the central benzene ring. The whole mol­ecule of compound (II) is generated by inversion symmetry, the central benzene ring being located on an inversion center. In (I), the outer benzene rings are inclined to each other by 59.96 (10)° and by 36.74 (9)° to the central benzene ring. The corresponding dihedral angles in (II) are 0.0 and 89.87 (12)°. In the crystal of (I), mol­ecules are linked by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and C—H⋯π inter­actions, forming ribbons propagating along the [10overline{1}] direction. In the crystal of (II), mol­ecules are linked by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a supra­molecular framework. The Hirshfeld surface analyses indicate that for both compounds the H⋯H contacts are the most significant, followed by O⋯H/H⋯O and C⋯H/H⋯C contacts.

The title compound, C14H12N2O4, is a Schiff base that exists in the keto–enamine tautomeric form and adopts a Z configuration. The mol­ecule is almost planar, the rings making a dihedral angle of 4.99 (7)°. The mol­ecular structure is stabilized by an intra­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bond forming an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, inversion-related mol­ecules are linked by pairs of O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming dimers with an R22(18) ring motif. The dimers are linked by pairs of C—H⋯O contacts with an R22(10) ring motif, forming ribbons extended along the [2overline{1}0] direction. Hirshfeld surface analysis, two-dimensional fingerprint plots and the mol­ecular electrostatic potential surfaces were used to analyse the inter­molecular inter­actions present in the crystal, indicating that the most important contributions for the crystal packing are from H⋯H (33.9%), O⋯H/H⋯O (29.8%) and C⋯H/H⋯C (17.3%) inter­actions.

The title compound, C15H13BrO2S, comprises three different substituents bound to a central (and chiral) methine-C atom, i.e. (4-bromo­phen­yl)sulfanyl, benzaldehyde and meth­oxy residues: crystal symmetry generates a racemic mixture. A twist in the mol­ecule is evident about the methine-C—C(carbon­yl) bond as evidenced by the O—C—C—O torsion angle of −20.8 (7)°. The dihedral angle between the bromo­benzene and phenyl rings is 43.2 (2)°, with the former disposed to lie over the oxygen atoms. The most prominent feature of the packing is the formation of helical supra­molecular chains as a result of methyl- and methine-C—H⋯O(carbon­yl) inter­actions. The chains assemble into a three-dimensional architecture without directional inter­actions between them. The nature of the weak points of contacts has been probed by a combination of Hirshfeld surface analysis, non-covalent inter­action plots and inter­action energy calculations. These point to the importance of weaker H⋯H and C—H⋯C inter­actions in the consolidation of the structure.