Purification and characterization of recombinant pyrrolidone carboxyl peptidase of Bacillus subtilis.

Bacillus subtilis pyrrolidone carboxyl peptidase (Pcp) overexpressed in Escherichia coli was purified to homogeneity in less than 12 h using ammonium sulphate precipitation and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The enzyme, which removes amino-terminal L-pyroglutamic acid from peptides, appears to be a tetramer of 25,200 molecular mass subunits. The protein cross-reacted with polyclonal antibodies raised against Pcp from Streptococcus pyogenes. The overexpressed enzyme exhibits an absolute substrate specificity towards N-terminal pyroglutamyl residues with a Michaelis constant of 1.04 mM for L-pyroglutamyl-beta-naphthylamide. The enzyme could be used for the removal of pyroglutamyl residues that block amino termini of proteins and peptides before performing Edman sequential degradation.     

Target-templated de novo design of macrocyclic d-/l-peptides: discovery of drug-like inhibitors of PD-1

Peptides are a rapidly growing class of therapeutics with various advantages over traditional small molecules, especially for targeting difficult protein–protein interactions. However, current structure-based methods are largely limited to natural peptides and are not suitable for designing bioactive cyclic topologies that go beyond natural l-amino acids. Here, we report a generalizable framework that exploits the computational power of Rosetta, in terms of large-scale backbone sampling, side-chain composition and energy scoring, to design heterochiral cyclic peptides that bind to a protein surface of interest. To showcase the applicability of our approach, we developed two new inhibitors (PD-i3 and PD-i6) of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), a key immune checkpoint in oncology. A comprehensive biophysical evaluation was performed to assess their binding to PD-1 as well as their blocking effect on the endogenous PD-1/PD-L1 interaction. Finally, NMR elucidation of their in-solution structures confirmed our de novo design approach.

In silico design of heterochiral cyclic peptides that bind to a specific surface patch on the target protein (PD-1, in this case) and disrupt protein–protein interactions.     

Synthesis of Carboxylated Monodisperse Latexes and Their Self-Organization in Thin Films

The capability of carboxylated latexes of poly(methyl methacrylate) and copolymers of styrene with glycidyl methacrylate or methacrylic acid for self-organization in thin films was studied in relation to the compositions of the dispersion medium and polymer and to the latex particle size.__________Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Khimii, Vol. 78, No. 1, 2005, pp. 161–167.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Men’shikova, Shabsel’s, Evseeva, Shevchenko, Bilibin.     

Langmuir monolayers of the zwitterionic surfactant hexadecyl 1-N-L-tryptophan glycerol ether

We report the formation of Langmuir monolayers of pure zwitterionic hexadecyl 1-N-L-tryptophan glycerol ether (C(16)-TGE) surfactant and mixed monolayers of cationic-zwitterionic surfactant obtained modifying the pH of the subphase. The pressure-area and surface potential-area isotherms and fluorescence microscopy measurements have been used to characterize the surface phase transitions in the monolayers. These transitions appeared at larger areas as the pH decreased from 6.0 to 2.0 and almost disappeared as the pH decreased further. The analysis of the surface potential and the infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy data suggests that the phase transition is associated with a change of orientation of both the hydrocarbon chain and the aromatic group of the surfactant with respect to the air-water surface. The surface rheology of the monolayers was studied by quasielastic light scattering and by the oscillatory barrier technique. The results indicate that there is at least one relaxation process in the monolayer.     

Interaction of antimicrobial arginine-based cationic surfactants with liposomes and lipid monolayers

The present work examines the relationship between the antimicrobial activity of novel arginine-based cationic surfactants and the physicochemical process involved in the perturbation of the cell membrane. To this end, the interaction of these surfactants with two biomembrane models, namely, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) multilamellar lipid vesicles (MLVs) and monolayers of DPPC, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] sodium salt (DPPG), and Escherichia coli total lipid extract, was investigated. For the sake of comparison, this study included two commercial antimicrobial agents, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and chlorhexidine dihydrochloride. Changes in the thermotropic phase transition parameters of DPPC MLVs in the presence of the compounds were studied by differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The results show that variations in both the transition temperature (Tm) and the transition width at half-height of the heat absorption peak (deltaT1/2) were consistent with the antimicrobial activity of the compounds. Penetration kinetics and compression isotherm studies performed with DPPC, DPPG, and E. coli total lipid extract monolayers indicated that both steric hindrance effects and electrostatic forces explained the antimicrobial agent-lipid interaction. Overall, in DPPC monolayers single-chain surfactants had the highest penetration capacity, whereas gemini surfactants were the most active in DPPG systems. The compression isotherms showed an expansion of the monolayers compared with that of pure lipids, indicating an insertion of the compounds into the lipid molecules. Owing to their cationic character, they are incorporated better into the negatively charged DPPG than into zwitterionic DPPC lipid monolayers.     

Mutual Solubilities of Water and Alkanes

Summary.  The evaluation of mutual solubility data for systems water with n-alkanes, isoalkanes, and cycloalkanes along the three phase line is reported and a formula for the prediction of solubility of alkanes in water is developed. Then a cubic equation of state with an added term, which accounts for hydrogen bonding is used for correlation of liquid–liquid equilibrium data and for prediction of solubility of water in hydrocarbons using alkane in water solubility data. Comparison of the predicted and experimental solubilities is performed using all accessible experimental data. With this approach it is possible to predict the solubilities of water in alkanes with good accuracy over the temperature range up to about 20 K below critical temperature. Solubility of alkanes in water can also be calculated using experimental data for solubility of water in alkanes but results of these calculations are more sensitive to experimental errors of the data. Corresponding author: E-mail: macz@ichf.edu.pl Received August 5, 2002; accepted (revised) September 13, 2002 Published online March 13, 2003 RID="a" ID="a" Dedicated to Prof. Dr. H. Gamsj?ger on the occasion of his 70^th birthday anniversary     

Study of the thermal decompositions of some transition metal perchlorates

The thermal decompositions of nickel(II), copper(II), cobalt(II) and manganese(II) perchlorates were studied by thermal analysis and kinetic measurements. Anhydrous perchlorates could not be prepared by heating and outgassing the samples in vacuum; oxides were obtained as the main solid decomposition products. In the case of cobalt and manganese perchlorates, oxidation of the metal ions was observed during the decomposition. In most cases the decompositions of the perchlorates followed the Avrami-Erofeyev kinetics. A correlation was found between the stabilities of the perchlorates and the effective field strengths of the cations.

---

Zusammenfassung Die thermische Zersetzung von Nickel(II), Kupfer(II)-, Kobalt(II)- und Mangan(II)-perchloraten wurde mittels Thermoanalyse und kinetischer Messungen untersucht. Durch Erhitzen und Entgasen der Proben im Vakuum konnten keine wasserfreien Perchlorate hergestellt werden; Oxide wurden als feste Hauptzersetzungsprodukte erhalten. Im Falle der Perchlorate von Kobalt und Mangan wurde die Oxidation der Metallionen während der Zersetzung beobachtet. In den meisten Fällen verlief die Zersetzung der Perchlorate nach der Kinetik von Avrami-Erofeyev. Eine Korrelation wurde zwischen den Stabilitäten der Perchlorate und der tatsächlichen Feldstärke der Kationen gefunden.

---

Résumé La décomposition thermique des perchloartes de nickel(II), de cuivre(II), cobalt(II) et de manganèse(II) a été étudiée par analyse thermique et mesures cinétiques. Les perchlorates anhydres n'ont pas pu être préparés par chauffage et traitement sous vide de échantillons; les oxydes ont été obtenus comme produits solides principaux de décomposition. Dans le cas des perchlorates de cobalt et de manganèse, l'oxydation des ions métalliques a été observée pendant la décomposition. Dans la plupart des cas, la décomposition des perchlorates a suivi la cinétique d'Avrami-Erofeyev. Une corrélation a été trouvée entre la stabilité des perchlorates et les intensités effectives des champs des cations.

---

, , . ; . , . . .

     

Glycoprotein synthesis as a function of epithelial cell arrangement: biosynthesis and release of glycoproteins by human breast and prostate cells in organ culture.

We demonstrate that a technique is available to investigate glycoprotein synthesis in organ cultures of human breast and prostate surgical specimens where the 3-dimensional epithelial cell arrangement remains intact. Malignant breast and prostate epithelium maintained their capacity to synthesize glycoproteins for at least 3 days as followed by the incorporation of [3H]glucosamine into macromolecules. Over 70% of incorporation was by malignant cells as judged by autoradiography. Labeled glycoproteins were released into glandular lumina and consequently into the culture fluid. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed predominantly one group of macrmolecules released with an apparent molecular weight of 48,000 +/- 6,000 daltons. This glycoprotein was found in all of the breast specimens studied, which included 1 medullary, 1 infiltrating lobular, and 8 infiltrating duct carcinomas. The pattern was independent of the availability of estrogen receptors. A similar glycoprotein was also observed in the culture media from a Grade I and a Grade II well-differentiated infiltrating prostate carcinoma. Incorporation was below the level of detection in 4 of 6 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia. A more complex pattern of labeled glycoproteins was found in the media of a Grade II and a Grade III poorly-differentiated prostate carcinoma. The established human mammary carcinoma cell line MCF-7 synthesized and released a similar 48,000 molecular weight glycoprotein but additional components with larger molecular weights were also released. An intriguing interpretation that 3-dimensional tissue integrity restricts some glycoprotein synthesis is discussed. Cells grown in 2-dimensional monolayers could escape from such a topographic restriction and express additional families of glycoproteins.     

The mechanism of thermal decomposition of Co(NO3)2 · 2H2O

The mechanism of thermal decomposition of Co(NO₃)₂ · 2H₂O was found to involve stages in which Co(NO₃)₃ and Co₂O₃ · H₂O are formed both of which decompose to Co₃O₄. During the process, the total cobalt enters the +3 oxidation state, which is consistent with the results reported by Mehandjiev [2].

---

Zusammenfassung Es wurde gefunden, daß der Zersetzungsmechanismus von Co(NO₃)₂ · 2H₂O Schritte umfaßt, bei denen Co(NO₃)₃ sowie Co₂O₃ · H₂O gebildet werden, beides weiterzerfallend zu Co₃O₄. Während des Vorganges erreicht das Gesamtkobalt die Oxidationsstufe +3, was mit Ergebnissen von Mehandjiev übereinstimmt [2].

---

, , CO₃O₄. , .

     

Simultaneous determination of yohimbine and boldine by first-derivative synchronous spectrofluorimetry

A method for the simultaneous determination of yohimbine and boldine in mixtures by first-derivative synchronous spectrofluorimetry has been developed. The method is based on their native fluorescence in 0.1N sulphuric acid medium. The constant wavelength difference chosen to optimize the determination was =_em -_em=82 nm. Yohimbine was measured at _ex//_em= 285/367 nm, and boldine at _ex/_em=272/354 nm. The range of application is 10–500 g/l for yohimbine and 1–50 g/l for boldine. The method was applied to the determination of yohimbine and boldine in synthetic mixtures and pharmaceuticals, with errors generally 2%. Relative standard deviations were about 2%.Dedicated to Professor Fermin Capitán on his 72th birthday