Study of single cells by using capillary electrophoresis and native fluorescence detection

Capillary electrophoresis is known for its compatibility with biological materials and with small samples. It is an ideal tool for the study of single biological cells. Either whole cells or the material secreted from cells can be quantified. By continuously flowing a chemical stimulant over an immobilized cell inside the entrance of the capillary, one can even record the temporal progression of cellular secretion with sub-second resolution. The use of native fluorescence detection in such experiments provides a sensitive, rapid, non-intrusive and quantitative probe of important biomolecules such as catecholamines and proteins.     

Effect of shear on human insulin in zinc suspension

Human insulin in zinc suspension was used as a model protein to test the effect of shear on the settling rate of proteins, a possible inference for protein denaturation. The rate of settling was determined directly in a spectropho-tometer. Shear effects are important in retaining the activity of proteins and are present in bubble, foam, and droplet protein fractionation processes. A sim pletest, such as that conducted here, mayeven be useful for monitoring changes in protein structure caused by commercial shipping of the protein. The settling ratefor insulin was continously monitored in theoriginal bottle by spectrophotometric absorbance changes as a function of time. A settling curve was determined following each shear experiment, which included shaking the “worked” insulin solution in a vortex mixer for different lengths of time. It was determined, when comparing long shaking times with short ones, that the initial settling rate was less for the long-term shaking of the insulin samples and greater for the short-term shaking. The secondary effects of light and heat, along with shaking, a pparently did not produce differences from shaking alone.     

胰岛素分子主链构象的CNDO／2计算和比较

对蛋白质分子进行量子化学计算常采用如下方法:以肽基和残基侧链为基本计算单元,使对蛋白质分子的计算分解成各次单元的计算(图10)。计算时往往根据构象图选择代表点以减少工作量。例如,计算木瓜蛋白酶时,根据其构象图,212个肽基被分为10组,每组中选取1个代表点进行计算。用同样的方法处理残基侧链的计算。但该方法     

Functionalized Alkynylplatinum(II) Polypyridyl Complexes for Use as Sensitizers in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

A series of platinum(II) alkynyl‐based sensitizers has been synthesized and found to show light‐to‐electricity conversion properties. These dyes were developed as sensitizers for the application in nanocrystalline TiO₂ dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Their photophysical and electrochemical properties were studied. The excited‐state property was probed using nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, which showed the formation of a charge‐separated state that arises from the intramolecular photoinduced charge transfer from the platinum(II) alkynylbithienylbenzothiadiazole moiety (donor) to the polypyridyl ligand (acceptor). A lifetime of 3.4 μs was observed for the charge‐separated state. A dye‐sensitized solar cell based on one of the complexes showed a short‐circuit photocurrent of 7.12 mA cm^?2, an open circuit voltage of 780 mV, and a fill factor of 0.65, thus giving an overall power conversion efficiency of 3.6 %.     

Analysis of Enestroburin Residues in Wheat and Soil by Solid Phase Extraction and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

A method was developed for the determination of enestroburin residues in wheat grain, wheat straw, and soil by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and HPLC-UV. The analytes were extracted with acetonitrile, cleaned up by PestiCarb/NH₂ cartridges and determined by HPLC with UV detector. This method is characterized by recovery >88.0%, precision (RSD) <7.8% and sensitivity of 0.005 mg/kg, in agreement with directives for method validation in residue analysis. The proposed method was successfully employed for the determination of enestroburin residue levels and its dissipation rates in a field trial in Beijing, China. Dissipation study shows that the half life of enestroburin in wheat straw was 5.35–5.81 days and in soil was 6.13–6.75 days. When enestroburin was applied according to the recommended dose and doubled dose, the final residue in wheat grain was both lower than 0.2 mg/kg. A harvest interval should be more than 7 d, and a dosage of 100–200 g (a.i.)/ha was suggested and considered as safe to human beings and animals.     

Performance of columns packed with the new shell particles,Kinetex-C18

The performance of the new Kinetex-C₁₈ column was investigated. Packed with a new brand of porous shell particles, this column has an outstanding efficiency. Once corrected for the contribution of the instrument extra column volume, the minimum values of the reduced plate heights for a number of low molecular weight compounds (e.g., anthracene and naphtho[2,3-a]pyrene) were between 1.0 and 1.3, breaking the legendary record set 3 years ago by Halo-C₁₈ packed columns. The liquid-solid mass transfer of proteins (e.g., insulin and lyzozyme) is exceptionally fast on Kinetex-C₁₈ much faster than on the Halo-C₁₈ column. The different contributions of dispersion and mass transfer resistances to the column efficiency were determined and discussed. The possible reasons for this extremely high column efficiency are discussed.