Heat-induced conformational transition of cytochrome c observed by temperature gradient gel electrophoresis at acidic pH

Temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) has been used to study the thermal unfolding of ferricytochrome c in low and high concentrations of acetic acid. It has been observed that the mobility of cytochrome c is a linear function of temperature when the system is characterized by a homogeneous population of conformation-state, single molecular species. Within the transition temperature range, the mobility clearly displays the characteristic sigmoidal shape describing the transitions of protein unfolding. The data obtained by TGGE were used to estimate the apparent thermodynamic parameters (enthalpy change deltaHvh and transition temperature Tm), associated with the transition of unfolding. The accuracy of the apparent thermodynamic parameters obtained by this method agrees within error limits with the values obtained by direct calorimetric measurements using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).     

1,5-bis(dicarboxymethylaminomethyl)-2,6- dihydroxynaphthalene as a selective spectrofluorimetric reagent for calcium

1,5-Bis(dicarboxymethylaminomethyl)-2,6-dihydroxynaphthalene (BDDN) forms fluorescent complexes with aluminium, barium, beryllium, calcium, magnesium and strontium. All the complexes have 2:1 metal :ligand ratios. Barium, calcium, magnesium and strontium exhibit maximal fluorescence at pH 11.7, with excitation and emission maxima at 385 and 445 nm respectively. Aluminium and beryllium show maximal fluorescence at pH 5.8 and 5.2 respectively, the excitation and emission maxima being at 370 and 405 nm. The formation of the calcium complex provides a highly sensitive and selective determination of calcium in the range 10/2-500 ng. The fluorescence measurement of calcium should be made within 5 min of mixing the solutions because of the instability of the reagent at the given pH. Potassium cyanide may be used as a masking agent and ter- or quadrivalent cations should be removed by preliminary extraction with 8-hydroxyquinoline in chloroform at pH 6.0. In such conditions, of 33 cations studied, only magnesium (>20 ng), strontium (>70 ng) and barium (>150 ng) caused interference in the determination of 300 ng of calcium. Among 16 anions examined, only EDTA interfered seriously.     

Preconcentration of platinum group metals on modified silicagel and their determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in airborne particulates

Modified silicagel (C18) was studied for separation and preconcentration of platinum group metals (Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir and Pt) as ion associates of their chlorocomplexes with cation of onium salt N(1-carbaethoxypentadecyl)-trimethyl ammonium bromide. Sample containing HCl and the onium salt was pumped through the column. After elution with ethanol the eluate was evaporated in the presence of HCl. Resulting aqueous solutions were analysed with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Recovery values of 1-20 mug Pt and Pd from 50 ml of synthetic pure solution were 100+/-3 and 100+/-1%, respectively, however, they diminished with increasing sample volume and in the presence of the real sample matrix or nitrate ions. Samples of engine soot (NIES No. 8), decomposed by low pressure oxygen high-frequency plasma, and airborne particulates from dust filters of meteorological stations, leached with HNO(3) and H(2)O(2), were analysed. A reasonable agreement was found between ICP-MS and ICP-AES results for airborne dust samples and the values comparable with those in literature were determined in NIES No. 8.     

Partitioning of <Emphasis Type="Italic">π</Emphasis> -electrons in rings of polycyclic conjugated hydrocarbons: Part 6. Comparison with other methods for estimating the local aromaticity of rings in polycyclic benzenoids

By adopting the convention that shared double bonds in polycyclic conjugated hydrocarbons contribute with one -electron and unshared ones with two -electrons, a partition of -electrons in each ring (-electron content, EC) can be obtained by averaging over all Kekulé structures, which are assumed to have equal weights. This affords a simple measure of local aromaticity that is comparable with other such local aromaticity indices in polycyclic benzenoids.     

Dexamethasone delivery to posterior segment of the eye

Due to anatomic barriers and lacrimal drainage it is difficult to obtain therapeutic drug concentrations in the posterior part of the eye after topical drug administrations. Lipophilic cyclodextrins, such as randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin (RMβCD), are known to act both as solubilizers of water-insoluble drugs in aqueous solutions and as penetration enhancers that reduce the barrier function of lipophilic membranes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of RMβCD on dexamethasone delivery from aqueous eye drop solution into rabbit eyes. Dexamethasone (0.5 and 1.5% w/v) drops (50 μl) were administered to the left eye of rabbits (n = 6) and the drug levels measured in different eye tissues 2 h after administration. In aqueous humor dexamethasone levels were 1,190 ± 110 and 1,670 ± 630 ng/g (mean ± SD) after administration of the 0.5 and 1.5% dexamethasone eye drops, respectively. In the retina the levels were 33 ± 7 and 66 ± 49 ng/g, and in optic nerve 41 ± 12 and 130 ± 50 ng/g, respectively. In a previous study the dexamethasone concentration in aqueous humor after topical administration of 1.3% (w/v) dexamethasone eye drops in aqueous 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) solution was determined to be 320 ± 230 ng/g and 66 ± 20 ng/g after administration of Maxidex^® eye drops. Both the hydrophilic HPβCD and the lipophilic RMβCD enhance topical dexamethasone delivery into the eye, but of the two, the lipophilic RMβCD results in higher dexamethasone concentrations.     

From a point-like to an arbitrarily shaped sample: A survey of equations for electron paramagnetic resonance signal intensity calculations

A set of original, analytical equations useful for theoretical calculation of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal intensity are presented for the multitude of sample shapes, which range from point-like, line-like, planar, rectangular, cubical, circular, cylindrical, spherical to an irregularly shaped sample. The samples can be situated at any available position within the prescribed part of the microwave cavity (a central cylinder of diameter 11 mm and length 23.5 mm, in either a Bruker single TE₁₀₂ or double TE₁₀₄ rectangular cavity, with the modulation coils situated in the left and right side cavity walls, which is connected to a X-band, field-modulated CW Bruker EPR spectrometer). The theoretical computations of EPR signal intensity can be used in the computer simulations in which: (i) the EPR signal intensity profiles are constructed; (ii) the optimal sample positions in the cavity to give a maximum value of signal intensity are found; (iii) the errors associated with sample positioning within the cavity when compared to a second sample of a different size, shape or position are studied.     

Metal chelate exchange in the organic phase-II Extraction and exchange constants of dithizonates and diethyldithiocarbamates

Dithizonates and diethyldithiocarbamates of Ag, Tl(I), Cu(II), Zn, Cd, Hg(II), Pb, Fe(II), Co(II), Ni, Pd(II), In(III), As(III), Sb(III), Bi, Se(IV) and Te(IV) have been prepared and their reactions in carbon tetrachloride have been studied spectrophotometrically. From the exchange constants determined, the extraction constants of metal diethyldithiocarbamates have been calculated. Where formation of mixed chelates has been observed, corresponding exchange constants have been determined. Finally, the influence of organic solvents (CCl(4), CHCl(3), C(6)H(6) and C(6)H(5)Cl) on the exchange reaction of zinc diethyldithiocarbamate with dithizone has been investigated.     

Atomic absorption spectrometric determination of selenium with carbon furnace atomization

A Varian Techtron model 63 carbon rod atomizer is used for the atomic absorption spectrometric determination of nanogram quantities of selenium. The pronounced interferences from the matrices in biological digests can be obviated by isolating selenium from sample matrices by precipitation with ascorbic acid. The precision of the determination is improved by incorporating 5000 μg Ni ml^?1 in the analytical solutions. Selenium at μg g^?1 and sub-μg g^?1 levels in a variety of biological samples can be determined. The detection limit is 25 ng Se g^?1.     

Analysis of R. P. Smith's and D. C. Parris-R. B. Mclellan's carbon diffusivity data

A phenomenological model is proposed to account for the variation of carbon diffusivityD(N₁) with composition in austenite. This model is based on Parris-McLellan's statement that the increase ofD(N₁) with carbon concentrationN ₁ is due to the increase in chemical driving force. The gradient of the carbon activity in Wagner's and in Zupp-Stevenson's interpretation is presumed to be the intrinsic driving force. The predictions of the model are compared with carbonD(N₁) values both with [1] and without [5] a chemical concentration gradient. TheD(0) values and the carbon-carbon interaction coefficients ₁ are calculated by the use of the least squares method from the experimental data. The application of Zupp-Stevenson's definition of the activity coefficient ₁ results in a better fit of the theory to the experimental data.