Kinetics of proton transfer in a green fluorescent protein: A laser-induced pH jump study

The sub-millisecond protonation dynamics of the chromophore in S65T mutant form of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) was tracked after a rapid pH jump following laser-induced proton release from the caged photolabile compoundo-nitrobenzaldehyde. Following a jump in pH from 8 to 5 (which is achieved within 2 μs), the fluorescence of S65T GFP decreased as a single exponential with a time constant of ∼90 μs. This decay is interpreted as the conversion of the deprotonated fluorescent GFP chromophore to a protonated non-fluorescent species. The protonation kinetics showed dependence on the bulk viscosity of the solvent, and therefore implicates bulk solvent-controlled protein dynamics in the protonation process. The protonation is proposed to be a sequential process involving two steps: (a) proton transfer from solvent to the chromophore, and (b) internal structural rearrangements to stabilize a protonated chromophore. The possible implications of these observations to protein dynamics in general is discussed     

Studies on the exchange of gramicidin in liposomes

The exchange of gramicidin between liposomes made of two different kinds of phospholipids has been studied using a fluorescent probe (pyranine). The experimentally observed rate of exchange is compared with that of nigericin, which is a simple carrier. Possible reasons for the difference in the rate of exchange are discussed and probable mechanisms suggested. It is proposed that gramicidin exchanges between vesicles by a contact mechanism.     

Ion chromatography–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry determination of arsenic species in marine samples

Arsenic speciation analysis in marine samples was performed using ion chromatography (IC) with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) detection. The separation of eight arsenic species, viz. arsenite, monomethyl arsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, arsenate, arsenobetaine, tetramethylarsine oxide, arsenocholine and tetramethylarsonium ion was achieved on a Dionex AS4A (weaker anion exchange column) by using a nitric acid pH gradient eluent (pH 3.3 to 1.3). The entire separation was accomplished in 12 min. The detection limits for the eight arsenic species by IC–ICP‐MS were in the range 0.03–1.6 µ g l^?1, based on 3σ of the blank response (n = 6). The repeatability and day‐to‐day reproducibility were calculated to be less than 10% (residual standard deviation) for all eight species. The method was validated by analyzing a certified reference material (DORM‐2, dogfish muscle) and then successfully applied to several marine samples, e.g. oyster, fish muscle, shrimp and marine algae. The low power microwave digestion was employed for the extraction of arsenic from seafood products. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solvent and Structural Effects on the Photoreduction of Cobalt(III)-Aryl Amine Complexes in Water–Organic Solvent Media*

Photoreduction of [Co(En)₂Cl(RC₆H₄NH₂)]²⁺ ions (where R = p-OMe, p-OEt, p-Me, m-Me, H, p-F, and m-OMe) in varying compositions of water–methanol and water–1,4-dioxane mixtures containing 15–40% (vol.) of organic co-solvent is carried out. Ultraviolet excitation of the above complexes in air-equilibrated solutions causes bleaching of its intense LMCT excited states with concurrent production of Co²⁺ion. As seen from the quantum yield data, _Co(II) increases smoothly with increasing content of organic co-solvent in the binary mixtures. The observed values indicate that the metal center is reduced by both ligands and solvent. The quantum yield _Co(II) is considerably affected by the substituent R of the amine, RC₆H₄NH₂ ligand. The effects of solvent and substituted ligands on the _Co(II) are estimated quantitatively using linear regression and multiple correlation methods. The former analysis was carried out using Grunwald–Winstein (Y) Gutmann donor number (DN ^N) and Krygowski–Fawcett E ^N _T (solvent empirical parameters). In addition, Kamlet–Taft's , , and * solvatochromic parameters were also used to study the effect of solute–solvent interaction. The effect of substitution on the aromatic amine ligand affects the quantum yield values, which was established using Hammett's substituent constant . Extensive tabulations of percentage contributions of these parameters, calculated using methods reported earlier, provide suitable values which are presumed to explain the quantitative effects of solvent and structural changes in the aromatic ligand on photoreduction of the cobalt(III) complexes.     

Calculating intensities using effective Hamiltonians in terms of Coriolis-adapted normal modes

The calculation of rovibrational transition energies and intensities is often hampered by the fact that vibrational states are strongly coupled by Coriolis terms. Because it invalidates the use of perturbation theory for the purpose of decoupling these states, the coupling makes it difficult to analyze spectra and to extract information from them. One either ignores the problem and hopes that the effect of the coupling is minimal or one is forced to diagonalize effective rovibrational matrices (rather than diagonalizing effective rotational matrices). In this paper we apply a procedure, based on a quantum mechanical canonical transformation for deriving decoupled effective rotational Hamiltonians. In previous papers we have used this technique to compute energy levels. In this paper we show that it can also be applied to determine intensities. The ideas are applied to the ethylene molecule.     

Self-assembled coordination cage as a reaction vessel: triplet sensitized [2+2] photodimerization of acenaphthylene, and [4+4] photodimerization of 9-anthraldehyde

Inner cavity of Pd-nanocage has been used as a reaction vessel for performing triplet sensitized [2+2] photodimerization of acenaphthylene using water soluble xanthene dyes (Eosin Y and Rose Bengal) as sensitizers, and [4+4] photodimerization of 9-anthraldehyde. Although the [4+4] photodimerization of 9-anthraldehyde gave similar results to solution reaction, the xanthene dye sensitized [2+2] triplet state photodimerization of acenaphthylene encapsulated within Pd-nanocage yielded the syn dimer in quantitative yield. The results obtained from the triplet state [2+2] photodimerization of acenaphthylene within Pd-nanocage is remarkable given the fact that the photodimerization reaction when performed in methanol in the presence of Eosin Y and Rose Bengal gave the syn and anti dimers in the ratio 0.5 and 0.6, respectively. Preaggregation of molecules encapsulated inside Pd-nanocage in a syn fashion seems to be the governing factor for such a behavior.     

Optimization of inoculum to substrate ratio for enhanced methane yield from leather fleshings in a batch study

One of the most significant issues of the last few decades has been tracing for renewable energy sources. Animal fleshing (ANFL) is the most common proteinaceous solid waste accured during the production of leather and it must be disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. This paper is attempts to assess the biogas production from solid waste originating from the chrome based tannery. Anaerobic digestion of these wastes will be a viable option for waste stabilization and energy production in the form of biogas to be utilized in the industry. The bio-methane potential of the wastes were examined by mixing these wastes with various sources of inoculum and different inoculum to substrate (I/S) ratio considered. The batch experiments were carried out in 2.5 l glass reactors with a various source of inoculumviz., Cow Dung (CD), Elephant Dung (ED) and Bio-Digested Slurry (BDS) with varied inoculum to substrate (LFs) ratios for a retention time of 50 days with replications. The results obtained from the experiments showed that BDS:LF (25:75) had the highest gas production of 14505 ml (651.85 ml CH₄g^?1 VS) followed by CD:LF (50:50) produced 12072.5 ml (789.36 ml CH₄g^?1 VS) and ED:LF (75:25) produced 11252.5 ml (1492.08 ml CH₄g^?1 VS)with a methane content of 63.77, 61.92 and 62.72%, respectively.     

Palladium-catalyzed substitution reactions of 4-allylimidazole derivatives

In the context of synthetic studies toward the oroidin family of pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids, we required an efficient method for conducting substitution reactions of allylic alcohols derived from urocanic acid. While in some cases this could be accomplished quite readily by classical nucleophilic substitution, it was complicated by allylic transposition in others. Application of Pd-catalyzed π-allyl chemistry provided a convenient solution, giving substitution without allylic transposition. Herein we describe the scope of this reaction in imidazole-containing substrates, and the elaboration of one adduct into a homologated histidine derivative, and into a cyclic homohistidine derivative.     

Synthesis,characterization and electrochemical studies of ruthenium(III) heterocyclic Schiff bases

A series of hexacoordinated Ru^III–PPh₃ complexes of general formula [RuCl(PPh₃)L] (L = tetradentate Schiff bases derived from the condensation of 2-furaldehyde or thiophene-2-carboxyaldehyde with alkyl and aryl diamines have been synthesized. The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, spectroscopic and cyclic voltammetric studies. All of the complexes were paramagnetic. Coordination of the Schiff base appears to occur through the two nitrogen and two heterocyclic oxygen/sulphur atoms.