Mechanistic studies of the isomerization of peroxynitrite to nitrate catalyzed by distal histidine metmyoglobin mutants

Hemoproteins are known to react with the strong nitrating and oxidizing agent peroxynitrite according to different mechanisms. In this article, we show that the iron(iii) forms of the sperm whale myoglobin (sw Mb) mutants H64A, H64D, H64L, F43W/H64L, and H64Y/H93G catalyze the isomerization of peroxynitrite to nitrate. The two most efficient catalysts are H64A (k(cat) = (5.8 +/- 0.1) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1), at pH 7.5 and 20 degrees C) and H64D metMb (k(cat) = (4.8 +/- 0.1) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1), at pH 7.5 and 20 degrees C). The pH dependence of the values of k(cat) shows that HOONO is the species which reacts with the heme. In the presence of physiologically relevant concentrations of CO(2) (1.2 mM), the decay of peroxynitrite is accelerated by these metMb mutants via the concurring reaction of HOONO with their iron(iii) centers. Studies in the presence of free added tyrosine show that the metMb mutants prevent peroxynitrite-mediated nitration. The efficiency of the different sw metMb mutants correlates with the value of k(cat). Finally, we show that sw WT-metMb is nitrated to a larger extent than horse heart metMb, a result that suggests that the additional Tyr151 is a site of preferential nitration. Again, the extent of nitration of the tyrosine residues of the metMb mutants correlates with the values of k(cat).     

High output power operation of 1.3-μm strained MQW lasers with low threshold currents at high temperature

We have investigated the temperature dependencies of the slope efficiency and the threshold current for strained multiquantum well (MQW) lasers as a parameter of the well number. Smaller well numbers mean larger temperature dependencies of the slope efficiency and the threshold current, while larger well numbers mean larger internal loss and broadening of the photoluminescence linewidth of the MQW structure. Furthermore, the change in the slope efficiency with temperature change is related to the change in internal loss. In this work, the 1.3-m strained MQW laser with a compressive strain of 1.0% and 7 wells shows the highest output power of 6.8 mW for an injection current of 50 mA and the lowest threshold current of 5.5 mA at 85°C, and the lowest variation in output power of 2.0 dB from 25–85°C at injection current of 50 mA.     

Thermodynamic study of niobium oxides with ONb ratios from 2.47 to 2.50 using a high-temperature galvanic cell

The partial molar free energy, enthalpy, and entropy of oxygen in niobium oxides with $\text{O}\text{Nb}$ ratios from 2.47 to 2.50 were measured with a galvanic cell in the temperature range from 1084 to 1325 K. The partial molar enthalpies of oxygen of the Nb₂O_5?x and V phases were observed to be nearly independent of composition, indicating the presence of only weak interactions between defects. The value of the slope for the plots of log x in Nb₂O_5?x against log P_O2 was observed to be $\text{?1}\text{5.2}$ which is interpreted in terms of a defect structure involving both singly ionized and doubly ionized oxygen vacancies. The previously proposed phase diagram in the vicinity of Nb₂O_5?x was confirmed by the present emf measurements.     

Immobilization of ultra-thin layer of monoclonal antibody on glass surface

When preparing an affinity column and a biosensor, it is desirable to immobilize a unimolecular layer of pure protein on a matrix. In this work, we tried to immobilize a monoclonal antibody on a surface of a glass test-tube as a model, to confirm the stability of this ultra-thin layer by an enzyme immunoassay, and to estimate the thickness of the layer on a slide glass by Fourier transform infrared reflection spectrometry. A new test-tube was washed and dried. The tube was filled with 5% 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The 3-aminopropylsilylated surface was treated with glutaraldehyde and 5.6.10(-2) mg/ml solution of a normal mouse monoclonal antibody. The Schiff base between glutaraldehyde and the antibody was further reduced with 7.9.10(-3)% NaBH4. The tube was washed with 0.05% Tween 20 to block non-specific binding. The antibody immobilized on the surface was measured by an enzyme immunoassay based on a reaction of anti-mouse immunoglobulin G labelled with alkaline phosphatase, with which p-nitrophenol was produced from p-nitrophenylphosphate as a substrate. Meanwhile, various amounts of the antibody were immobilized on slide glasses in the same manner. The antibody on each surface was measured by Fourier transform infrared reflection spectrometry. The antibody immobilized under the final conditions was detectable by the enzyme immunoassay, and stable at 4 degrees C for ten days. The antibody on the slide glass was a unimolecular layer, as judged from the Fourier transform infrared spectra referred to -CONH- band semiquantitatively. Thus, we found the optimal conditions for immobilizing an ultra-thin layer of the monoclonal antibody on the glass surface.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A regio- and stereoselective alpha-methylation of gamma,delta-epoxy-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters with a Me2Zn-CuCN reagent

A highly regio- and stereoselective alpha-methylation reaction of gamma,delta-epoxy-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters was achieved by using a Me2Zn-CuCN reagent.     

Bifunctional organocatalysts for enantioselective aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction

The efficient and novel bifunctional organocatalyst for the enantioselective aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman (aza-MBH) reaction has been established with (S)-3-(N-isopropyl-N-3-pyridinylaminomethyl)BINOL for the first time. The reaction proved to be deeply influenced by the position of the Lewis base attached to BINOL. The acid-base-mediated functionalities for the activation of the substrate and the fixing of conformation of the organocatalyst are harmoniously performed to promote the reaction with high enantiocontrol.     

Separation and purification of uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferases by chromatofocusing on a high-performance liquid chromatograph

A rapid method for the separation and purification of uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferases (GT) was developed with the use of chromatofocusing on a high-performance liquid chromatograph. GT isoenzymes solubilized from hepatic microsomes of Wistar rats were separated on a Mono P column, a pre-packed column for chromatofocusing. Using 4-nitrophenol, testosterone and androsterone as substrates, four fractions with different GT activities were separated in a pH gradient from 9.5 to 7.0. Two isoenzymes, testosterone GT and androsterone GT were purified to apparent homogeneity. They were eluted at pH 8.9 and 8.0 and had subunit molecular weight values of 50000 and 52000, respectively. Approximately 10 mg of solubilized microsomal proteins was applied and the elution was completed within 2 h. Addition of N-nitrodiethylamine, an in vitro activator of GT activity, enhanced the GT activity toward 4-nitrophenol in the three fractions. This chromatographic analysis confirmed the absence of androsterone GT isoenzyme in LA Wistar rats, a mutant strain in terms of androsterone glucuronidation.