A novel technique for detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms by analyzing consumed allele-specific primers

We present a simple and rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technique, termed consumed allele-specific primer analysis (CASPA), as a new strategy for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. The method involves the use of labeled allele-specific primers, differing in length, with several noncomplementary nucleotides added in the 5'-terminal region. After PCR amplification, the amounts of the remaining primers not incorporated into the PCR products are determined. Thus, nucleotide substitutions are identified by measuring the consumption of primers. In this study, the CASPA method was successfully applied to ABO genotyping. In the present method, the allele-specific primer only anneals with the target polymorphic site on the DNA, so it is not necessary to analyze the PCR products. Therefore, this method is only little affected by modification of the PCR products. The CASPA method is expected to be a useful tool for typing of SNPs.     

Three-way-output response system by electric potential: UV-vis, CD, and fluorescence spectral changes upon electrolysis of the chiral ester of tetracyanoanthraquinodimethane

The newly prepared tetracyanoanthraquinodimethane (TCNAQ) derivatives 1a,b with a chiral auxiliary are good electron acceptors and exhibit weak circular dichroism (CD) based on the absorption of TCNAQ. The twin-type electron acceptor 1c with two TCNAQ units shows larger ellipticity by exciton coupling. UV-vis, CD, and fluorescence spectra were changed drastically upon electrochemical reduction of 1c, which demonstrates the unprecedented three-way-output response system.     

Thermodynamic Insight into the Origin of a Calix[n]arene-[60]fullerene Interaction and its Application to a Porphyrin-[60]fullerene Energy Transfer System

The calixarene-fullerene interaction,which causes only a slight change in the absorptionspectra, has been substantiated by calorimetricmeasurements: the H° values arecomparable with those obtained from the associationconstants estimated by a spectroscopic method. Furthermore, we determined the association constantbetween homooxacalix[3]arene and [60]fullerenederivatives with a porphyrin moiety by fluorescencespectra.     

Polymerization of vinyl acetate in fatty acids and properties of poly (vinyl alcohols) derived from the poly (vinyl acetates)

Polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) in various fatty acids (carbon numbers 4–18) was carried out. Chain transfer constants to the acids were determined to be 20–35×10^–4, from which the constant to a methylene group was obtained to be 0.73×10^–4. Viscometry in aqueous solution of derived poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) showed the usual behavior in terms of Huggins constant obtained by the Schulz–Blaschkes equation for PVAs derived from fatty acid systems lower than hexadecanoic acid. PVA derived from octadecanoic acid system showed abnormality, indicating association of alkyl groups. Contact angles on surfaces of PVAs cast from aqueous solutions were measured. While those of PVA derived from lower acid systems were 62°, those of PVAs derived from higher aids were higher and increased to 92° with increase in carbon number to octadecanoic acid. Alkyl groups in the PVAs were estimated to appear on the surfaces. Surface tension of aqueous solution of the PVA derived from octadecanoic acid showed high surface activity, and depended on pH of the solution, indicating the presence and cleavage of lactone ring at the combined portion between PVA and the acid.     

On the bromine variations in mouse lymphoma

Bromine and chlorine concentrations in some tissues (liver, spleen, thymus) of healthy mice (normal group) and lymphomatous mice (lymphoma group) were determined by neutron activation analysis. There were significant differences in the Br concentrations of the tissues between the normal and lymphomatous group, while the Cl concentrations were found relatively constant in all the tissues. As a result, the Br/Cl ratios in the tissues of the lymphomatous group were significantly higher than those of the normal group. It was difficult to conclude that Br was absorbed into the bodies of lymphomatous mice more easily than was Cl. It is suggested that Br excretion from the body is suppressed.     

Alternating copolymers consisting of arylalkyl methacrylates. I. Fluorescence properties of poly(arylalkyl methacrylate-alt-styrene) in organic solution

Alternating and random copolymers of 9-phenanthrylmethyl methacrylate or 2-(9-carbazolyl)ethyl methacrylate with styrene were synthesized and their fluorescence properties were examined. There was no noticeable difference in the spectral features of the alternating and random copolymers in tetrahydrofuran (THF), demonstrating that this type of polymers have no quenching sites in the polymer chains. The fluorescence quenching studies indicated that the alternating copolymers permitted singlet-state energy migration as efficiently as the corresponding random copolymers but less efficiently than the random copolymers with higher chromophore contents. These results strongly suggest that to be chromophores close to each other is most important for facilitation of an intramolecular energy migration. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Solubility of α-amino acids in water under high pressure: glycine, -alanine, -valine, -leucine, and -isoleucine

The solubility of glycine, -alanine, -valine, -leucine, and -isoleucine in water was measured at 298.15 K and pressures up to 400 MPa. The standard deviation of the logarithm of the solubility is 0.001–0.003, equal to or better than the accuracy of atmospheric pressure measurement in the literature (0.001–0.05). A variety of solubility phenomena were observed. The solubility of glycine decreased with increasing pressure, whereas that of -alanine increased. The -valine and -isoleucine have a solubility maximum at around 100 MPa, and -leucine seems to exhibit a solid-phase phase transition at around 200 MPa. Pressure coefficient of the solubilities at 0.10 MPa is compared with that thermodynamically estimated in reference to aqueous density measurements of glycine and -alanine at 298.15 K and 0.10 MPa, supporting a reliability of our high-pressure measurements.