The spontaneous release of a high-molecular-weight aggregate containing immunoglobulin G from the surface of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

The spontaneous release of tumor cell antigens from the cell surface into the circulation has been proposed as a mechanism whereby tumors may escape the immune response of the host. In this study we have found that Ehrlich ascites tumor cells after removal from the host (mouse) spontaneously release significant amounts of cell surface components during incubation for 1 h in cold isotonic buffer. Immunodiffusion studies revealed that immunoglobulin G (IgG) and a complement component (C3) are included in this spontaneously released material. These surface-bound humoral immune components are apparently released in the form of a high-molecular-weight aggregate (cell coat particle) as shown by ultracentrifugation and ultrafiltration experiments. Precipitation of IgG from the cell coat particle preparation with antibodies directed against mouse IgG followed by detergent gel electrophoresis of the immune precipitate revealed five major bands in addition to the heavy and light chains of IgG. These results suggest that host IgG is tightly bound to several other components at the cell surface, perhaps in the form of immune complexes. IgG is localized on the tumor cell surface in a highly heterogenous pattern with the appearance of patches and caps in some cells as shown by immunofluorescence analysis. The possibility that humoral immune components bind to the tumor cell surface and result in the shedding of high-molecular-weight aggregates of cell surface antigens into extracellular fluids is discussed.     

The effects of sample preparation methods on the variability of the electrospray ionization response for model drug compounds

A post-column infusion system was developed in order to analyze suppression of electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry response in the presence of endogenous plasma interferences. By enabling direct detection of these interfering components, this experimental system was used to analyze the ability of several common extraction procedures to remove endogenous plasma components that cause changes in the ESI response of model drug substances. Methyl-t-butyl ether (MTBE) liquid-liquid, Oasis and Empore solid-phase, and acetonitrile (ACN) protein precipitation sample preparation methods were tested using the post-column infusion system. In all cases, ACN protein precipitation samples showed the greatest amount of ESI response suppression while liquid-liquid extracts demonstrated the least. In addition, the three test compounds, phenacetin, caffeine, and a representative Merck compound, demonstrated that ESI response suppression is compound dependent. Suppression was greatest with caffeine, the most polar analyte, and the smallest for the Merck compound, the least polar analyte. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gamma-ray spectroscopy with relativistic exotic heavy-ions

Feasibility of gamma-ray spectroscopy at relativistic energies with exotic heavy-ions and new generation of germanium detectors (segmented Clover) is discussed. An experiment with such detector array and radioactive is discussed.     

Percolative transport in the vicinity of charge-order ferromagnetic transition in a hole-doped manganite

We report measurements of non-linear charge transport in epitaxial (La_1−x Pr _x )_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ thin films fabricated on (100) oriented SrTiO₃ single crystals by pulsed laser deposition. The end members of this series, namely Pr_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ and La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ are canonical charge-ordered (CO) and ferromagnetic manganites, respectively. The onset of the CO state in Pr_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ is manifested by a pronounced insulating behavior below ∼ 200 K. The CO state remains stable even when a large (∼ 2×10⁵ V/cm) electric field is applied across the thin film samples. However, on substitution of Pr with La, a crossover from the highly resistive CO state to a state of metallic character is observed at relatively low electric fields. The current-voltage characteristics of the samples at low temperatures show hysteretic and history dependent effects. The electric field driven charge transport in the system is modelled on the basis of an inhomogeneous medium consisting of ferromagnetic metallic clusters dispersed in a CO background.     

Modeling and simulations of interface properties with first‐principles electronic structure computations

We report extensive first‐principles electronic structure modeling and calculations for the SiC–SiO₂ interface, a solid–solid interface formed during oxidation of silicon carbide (SiC). The interface modeling provides atomic‐scale understanding about the nature of the interface defects as well as passivation effects due to the modification of the interface bonding. In particular, simulation results show that incorporation of hydrogen and fluorine decreases the defect density, thus enhancing the performance of SiC‐based electronic devices. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Coordination number of zinc ions in the phosphotriesterase active site by molecular dynamics and quantum mechanics

We have run several molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on zinc-containing phosphotriesterase (PTE) with two bound substrates, sarin and paraoxon, and with the substrate analog diethyl 4-methylbenzylphosphonate. A standard nonbonded model was employed to treat the zinc ions with the commonly used charge of +2. In all the trajectories, we observed a tightly bound water (TBW) molecule in the active site that was coordinated to the less buried zinc ion. The phosphoryl oxygen of the substrate/inhibitor was found to be coordinated to the same zinc ion so that, considering all ligands, the less buried zinc was hexa-coordinated. The hexa-coordination of this zinc ion was not seen in the deposited X-ray pdb files for PTE. Several additional MD simulations were then performed using different charges (+1, +1.5) on the zinc ions, along with ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, to evaluate the following possibilities: the crystal diffraction data were not correctly interpreted; the hexa-coordinated zinc ion in PTE is only present in solution and not in the crystal; and the hexa-coordinated zinc ion in PTE is an artifact of the force field used. A charge of +1.5 leads to a coordination number (CN) of 5 on both zinc ions, which is consistent with the results from ab initio and DFT calculations and with the latest high resolution X-ray crystal structure. The commonly used charge of +2 produces a CN of 6 on the less buried zinc. The CN on the more buried zinc ion is 5 when the substrate/inhibitor is present in the simulation, and increases to 6 when the substrate/inhibitor is removed prior to the simulation. The results of both of the MD and quantum mechanical calculations lead to the conclusion that the zinc ions in the PTE active site are both penta-coordinated, and that the MD simulations performed with the charge of +2 overestimate the CN of the zinc ions in the PTE active site. The overall protein structures in the simulations remain unaffected by the change in zinc charge from +2 to +1.5. The results also suggest that the charge +1.5 is the most appropriate for the molecular dynamics simulations on zinc-containing PTE when a nonbonded model is used and no global thermodynamic conclusion is sought. We also show that the standard nonbonded model is not able to properly treat the CN and energy at the same time. A preliminary, promising charge-transfer model is discussed with the use of the zinc charge of +1.5.     

Self-chemical ionization of diethylzinc

The self-chemical ionization of diethylzinc is examined by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry and semiempirical molecular orbital calculations. Electron impact of diethylzinc neutral produces the radical cation, C(4)H(15)Zn(+) (m/z x 122), which reacts further with the neutral (C(2)H(5))(2)Zn to give the following product ions: Zn(+) (m/z x 64), C(2)H(5)Zn(+) (m/z x 93), C(4)H(9)Zn(+) (m/z x 121), C(4)H(11)Zn(2)(+) (m/z x 187), and C(6)H(15)Zn(2)(+) (m/z x 215). To determine the structure and pathways for production of these ions, monoisotopic (12)C(4)H(15)(64)Zn(+), (64)Zn(+) and (12)C(2)H(5)(64)Zn(+) were individually isolated and reacted with the neutral background. We also performed semiempirical molecular orbital calculations (ZINDO/1). The molecular orbital calculations and experimental data are consistent in predicting that the ethyl group on the diethylzinc cation carries the positive charge. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.