Mechanism of actin polymerization by myosin subfragment-1 probed by dynamic light scattering

Monomeric actin (G-actin) polymerizes spontaneously into helical filaments in the presence of inorganic salts. The slowest, rate-limiting step of the polymerization process is formation of actin trimers, the smallest oligomers that serve as nuclei for fast filament growth (filament elongation) by monomer addition at the filament ends. In low ionic-strength solutions, actin can be polymerized by myosin subfragment-1 (S1). In early works it has been suggested that G-actin-S1 1:1 complexes (GS) assemble into filaments according to the nucleation-filament elongation scheme. Subsequent studies indicated that one S1 molecule can bind two actin monomers, and that oligomerization of the initial complexes is a fast reaction. This has led to suggest an alternative mechanism, with a ternary G(2)S complex and its oligomers being predominant intermediates of S1-induced assembly of G-actin into filaments. We used dynamic light scattering to analyze the initial steps of S1-induced polymerization of actin. Our results suggest formation of GS complexes and their oligomers in the presence of S1 equimolar to or in excess over actin. We confirm formation of G(2)S complexes as intermediates of S1-induced polymerization in the presence of actin in excess over S1.     

Fluorescence.detected X-band epr spectroscopy of the photosynthetic bacterial triplet state

The X-band FDMR spectrum of the bacterial triplet in reduced Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides at 5 K has been obtained. Pure S-T₀ mixing is sufficient and k_z <k_x,k_y necessary to explain the polarization pattern and intensity ratios. The kinetic fluorescence response is sigmoidal due to the second-order kinetics of antenna-reaction center energy transfer.     

The pure rotational spectrum of cyclobutane-d1 observed by microwave Fourier transform spectroscopy

Pure rotational transitions of both equatorial and axial conformers of cyclobutane-d₁ in their vibronic ground state have been observed between 12 and 40 GHz with a pulsed microwave Fourier transform (MWFT) spectrometer. Twenty-four transitions of the equatorial as well as 29 transitions of the axial conformer with J⩽40 have been measured. Their assignment has been confirmed by microwave-microwave double-resonance experiments. Rotational constants and the quartic centrifugal distortion constants have been determined for both conformers from the measured frequencies. The r₀ structure has been deduced from these rotational constants.     

The geometry and intermolecular binding of HCN…BrC1 probed by rotational spectroscopy

Ground-state rotational spectra of several isotopomers of a linear complex formed between HCN and BrCl were observed by pulsed-nozzle, F-T microwave spectroscopy and analysed to give the spectroscopic constants B₀, D_J, _χ(Br), _χ(Cl), and M_bb(Br). The order HCN…BrCl of the nuclei was established from the changes in the B₀ values on isotopic substitution. The small fractional electronic charge (δ ≈ 0.05) transferred from Br to Cl on complex formation and the intermolecular stretching force constant (k_σ ≈ 11 N m⁻¹) estimated from the spectroscopic constants indicates a weak interaction of HCN and BrCl, with little perturbation of the charge distribution of BrCl.     

Rapid probe of the nicotine spectra by high-resolution rotational spectroscopy

Nicotine has been investigated in the gas phase and two conformational forms were characterized through their rotational spectra. Two spectroscopic techniques have been used to obtain the spectra: a new design of broadband Fourier transform microwave (FTMW) spectroscopy with an in-phase/quadrature-phase-modulation passage-acquired-coherence technique (IMPACT) and narrowband FTMW spectroscopy with coaxially oriented beam-resonator arrangement (COBRA). The rotational, centrifugal distortion and hyperfine quadrupole coupling constants of two conformers of nicotine have been determined and found to be in N-methyl trans configurations with the pyridine and pyrrolidine rings perpendicular to one another. The quadrupole hyperfine structure originated by two (14)N nuclei has been completely resolved for both conformers and used for their unambiguous identification.     

Study of the rotational isomerism of 1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazoles by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy

Quantitative evaluations of the percentages of rotational isomers in 1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazoles were obtained. The population of the s-cis(N₍₂₎) form in 1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole is greater by a factor of two than in the s-trans form.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 365–368, March, 1991.     

Coupling of the overall molecular motion with the conformational transitions. II. The full rotational problem

The method proposed in the companion paper for analysing the coupling between overall and internal dynamics is applied to the study of the full rotational motion of a molecule with one internal degree of freedom. For systems characterized by a finite set of stable conformers determined by the minima of the intramolecular potential, a simplified time evolution operator of mixed type is derived, with the continuous diffusion equation and the generalized random walk operator representing the overall rotation and the internal dynamics, respectively. The dependence on the conformational state of the rotational diffusion tensor is one source of coupling between these two types of motion. Another source is represented by the recoil rotations acting on each subunit during a conformational transition. Both conformational-dependent rotational diffusion tensors and recoil rotations can be calculated from a model for the friction exerted by the solvent. Some applications of the theory are presented in relation to the butane molecule and the molecules having the structure of biphenyl, with particular emphasis on the calculation of the experimental observables in NMR and dielectric relaxation measurements.     

The dynamics of rotational isomerism in crystals as studied by vibrational spectroscopy

Vibrational spectroscopy is uniquely capable of determining the structure and dynamics arising from the rotational degrees of freedom in molecular solids. Vibrational spectroscopy is sensitive to phenomena occurring on a time scale between the slow scale of magnetic, resonance methods and fast scale of diffraction methods; a time scale appropriate for both internal and overall rotation. Rotational motion of molecules in crystals provide examples of very simple reactions. Our understanding of the spectra of reacting molecules can thus be tested on these systems, and we conclude that Redfield equations can describe such spectra.A rich variety of motional effects are described: (1) The libration of the water of hydration in sodium perchlorate which illustrates a simple reacting system. (2) The libration of the adamantane molecule in both its ordered and disordered crystal phases which illustrates intermolecular interactions in organic crystals and the consequences of disorder. (3) The libration of the ammonium ion in crystals of ammonium salts which illustrated both change of orientational position by tunneling and the subtle orientating effects of isotopic substitution. (4) The internal rotation in n-alkane crystals which illustrates the ability to determine conformers and the relationship between the occurrence of disordered conformers and the occurrence of phase transitions.     

Experimental modeling of the temperature dependence of the transfer function of rotational motion sensors based on electrochemical transducers

The most important advantage of electrochemical transducers of motion parameters (ECT) is the high steepness of conversion of the mechanical signal to electric current. However, the working characteristics of ECT strongly depend on the temperature so that the use of ECT in precision measuring instruments requires the accurate compensation of temperature variations of its characteristics. A method of temperature measurements is developed aimed at modeling the temperature behavior of the ECT transfer function. A model of temperature behavior of ECT-based rotational motion transducers is elaborated. Results of tests which demonstrate good applicability of this model are shown.     

A quantitative study of alkyl radical reactions by kinetic spectroscopy. IV. The flash photolysis of azopropanes

The flash photolysis of azo?n?propane and of azoisopropane has been studied by kinetic spectroscopy. Transient absorption spectra in theregion of 220–260 nm have been assigned to the n-propyl and isopropyl radicals. For the n-propyl radical, ?_max = 744 ± 39 l/mol cm at 245 nm and the rate constants for the mutual reactions were measured to be k_c = (1.0 ± 0.1) × 10¹⁰ l/mol sec (combination) and k_d = (1.9 ± 0.2) × 10⁹ l/mol sec (disproportionation). For the isopropyl radical, ?_max = 1280 ± 110 l/mol cm at 238 nm, with k_c = (7.7 ± 1.6) × 10⁹ l/mol sec and k_d = (5.0 ± 1.2) × 10⁹ l/mol sec The rate constant for the dissociation of the vibrationally excited triplet state of the azopropanes into radicals was measured from the variation in the quantum yield of radicals with pressure. For azo-n-propane k = (6.6 ± 1.3) × 10⁷ sec^?1, and for azoisopropane k = (1.6 ± 0.4) × 10⁸ sec^?1. Collisional deactivation of the vibrationally excited singlet and triplet states was found to occur on every collision for n-pentane; but nitrogen and argon were inefficient with a rate constant of 1.1 × 10¹⁰ l/mol sec. Spectra observed in the region of 220–260 and 370–400 nm areattributed to the cis isomers of the parent trans-azopropanes. These are formed, as permanent products, in increasing amounts as the pressure is increased.     

A study of the 1s core region of atomic magnesium by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

The 1s core region of atomic magnesium has been measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy using AlKα (1486.6 eV) radiation in order to determine the energy and intensity of the main satellite corresponding to 3_s → 4_s excitation accompanying core ionization. It was found to lie at 11.56 eV higher bonding energy than the main 1s?1 peak, with a relative intensity of 17%. The accent ab initio Cl calculation of Kosugi and Kuroda gives a separation which is in good agreement with experiment but somewhat overestimates the relative intensity.     

Assessment of statistical uncertainty in the quantitative analysis of solid samples in motion using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Statistical uncertainty in the quantitative analysis of solid samples in motion by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been assessed. For this purpose, a LIBS demonstrator was designed and constructed in our laboratory. The LIBS system consisted of a laboratory-scale conveyor belt, a compact optical module and a Nd:YAG laser operating at 532 nm. The speed of the conveyor belt was variable and could be adjusted up to a maximum speed of 2 m s^− 1. Statistical uncertainty in the analytical measurements was estimated in terms of precision (reproducibility and repeatability) and accuracy. The results obtained by LIBS on shredded scrap samples under real conditions have demonstrated that the analytical precision and accuracy of LIBS is dependent on the sample geometry, position on the conveyor belt and surface cleanliness. Flat, relatively clean scrap samples exhibited acceptable reproducibility and repeatability; by contrast, samples with an irregular shape or a dirty surface exhibited a poor relative standard deviation.     

Near‐infrared spectroscopy for the quantitative determination of mass transfer and water absorption kinetics by a polymer solution

This article reports a new method to quantify the water absorption kinetics and the mass transfer in a polymer solution by using near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and partial least‐squares (PLS) models, while it is exposed to a humid atmosphere. Polymer solutions used in this study were made with highly polar solvents exhibiting both a high affinity for water and a low volatility such as dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, and N‐methylpyrrolidone. Poly(ethersulfone) and poly(etherimide) were chosen as polymer models as the method could provide useful information for coating process and membrane fabrication monitoring. Whereas gravimetric kinetics yield data on the overall mass transfer, including both water absorption and solvent evaporation, in situ analyses using NIR can quantify separately the solvent and nonsolvent concentration change in the polymer solution. Quantitative models were developed using PLS regression to predict the local water, polymer, and solvent weight fractions in the polymer solution. The method was proved to be suitable for the different studied systems and allowed to infer mass transfers until the onset of the phase separation process. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1960–1969, 2010     

Understanding the molecular basis for the inhibition of the Alzheimer's Abeta-peptide oligomerization by human serum albumin using saturation transfer difference and off-resonance relaxation NMR spectroscopy

Human serum albumin (HSA) inhibits the formation of amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) fibrils in human plasma. However, currently it is not known how HSA affects the formation of the highly toxic soluble diffusible oligomers that occur in the initial stages of Abeta fibrillization. We have therefore investigated by solution NMR the interaction of HSA with the Abeta(12-28) peptide, which has been previously shown to provide a reliable and stable model for the early prefibrillar oligomers as well as to contain key determinants for the recognition by albumin. For this purpose we propose a novel NMR approach based on the comparative analysis of Abeta in its inhibited and filtrated states monitored through both saturation transfer difference and recently developed nonselective off-resonance relaxation experiments. This combined NMR strategy reveals a mechanism for the oligomerization inhibitory function of HSA, according to which HSA targets preferentially the soluble oligomers of Abeta(12-28) rather than its monomeric state. Specifically, HSA caps the exposed hydrophobic patches located at the growing and/or transiently exposed sites of the Abeta oligomers, thereby blocking the addition of further monomers and the growth of the prefibrillar assemblies. The proposed model has implications not only for the pharmacological treatment of Alzheimer's disease specifically but also for the inhibition of oligomerization in amyloid-related diseases in general. In addition, the proposed NMR approach is expected to be useful for the investigation of the mechanism of action of other oligomerization inhibitors as well as of other amyloidogenic systems.     

NMR spectroscopy investigation of the cooperative nature of the internal rotational motions in acetophenone.

The proton NMR spectrum of the doubly enriched acetophenone-carbonyl,methyl-13C2 isotopomer dissolved in a liquid-crystalline solvent (LXNMR) was analyzed to yield a data set of 19 dipolar couplings. The presence of so many couplings, and in particular the dependence of some of them on the acetyl carbons enabled the investigation of the structure of the acetyl moiety and of possible cooperative motions about the aryl-carbonyl and carbonyl-methyl bonds. Methodological aspects, and approximations relating to the application of the vibrational correction procedure in the presence of large-amplitude torsional motions, are discussed. Results show that it is possible to discriminate between a continuous and a discrete conformer distribution about the angle phi(1) but not among a few proposed continuous shapes of U(iso)({phi}). In this study, the use of dipolar couplings with a non-negligible contribution from the indirect spin-spin coupling tensor J, (D(C8C9) in our case), for structural determination is extended from rigid to flexible molecules. The 1/2J(aniso)(C8C9) contribution was derived theoretically using the density functional theory linear response (DFT-LR) first-principles calculation of the J(C8C9) spin-spin coupling tensor.     

The dependence of the character of rotational motion of nitroxyl radicals on their molecular size

A method is proposed for analysing the ESR spectra of nitroxyl radicals in their “slow” rotation region which makes it possible to study the rotational motion of the radical as a function of their size.     

Fluorescence excitation spectroscopy for the measurement of epidermal proliferation.

Fluorescence excitation spectroscopy was used to assess cellular turnover in human skin by monitoring changes of endogenous fluorescence. Epidermal proliferation was induced with alpha-hydroxy acids. Commercially available glycolic acid creams (8 and 4% wt/wt concentration) and a vehicle cream (placebo) were applied in a randomized double blinded fashion on subjects' forearms, twice daily for 21 days. Excitation spectra were recorded (excitation 250-360 nm, emission 380 nm) at days 0, 1, 3, 7, 10, 11, 14, 17 and 21. The 295 nm excitation band (assigned to tryptophan moieties) was used in this study as a marker for cellular proliferation. To further reduce the day-to-day variability of the skin fluorescence the intensity of the 295 nm band was normalized to the 334 nm band (assigned to collagen crosslinks). The fluorescence emission intensity from placebo-treated skin remained practically unchanged over the period of the measurements while the fluorescence intensity measured from the glycolic acid-treated skin increased monotonically with treatment. The rate of increase of the excitation intensity with treatment was found to be dose dependent. The epidermal 295 nm band may be used as a quantitative marker to monitor the rate of proliferation of epidermal keratinocytes noninvasively.