Effect of Ce~(3+) on spectral characteristic of D1/D2/Cytb559 complex from spinach

In our early researches, lanthanum and cerium could enter plant and bind to porphyrin of chlorophyll to form Ln3+-chllorophyll. La and Ce greatly increase photosystem II (PSII) activity and PSII electron transport rate, and the fluorescence emission peaks of PSII are blue-shifted [1—4]. Do REEs coordinate with PSII reaction center complex in vivo? Moreover, do REEs coordinate with D1(30 kD)/D2(32 kD)/Cytb559 (~9 kD) reaction center complex of site of producing pri-mary reaction-p…     

Promotion of nano-anatase TiO2 on the spectral responses and photochemical activities of D1/D2/Cyt b559 complex of spinach

Previous researches approved that photocatalysis activity of nano-TiO₂ could obviously increase photosynthetic effects of spinach, but the mechanism of improving light energy transfer and conversion is still unclear. In the present we investigated effects of nano-anatase TiO₂ on the spectral responses and photochemical activities of D1/D2/Cyt b559 complex of spinach. Several effects of nano-anatase TiO₂ were observed: (1) UV–vis spectrum was blue shifted in both Soret and Q bands, and the absorption intensity was obviously increased; (2) resonance Raman spectrum showed four main peaks, which are ascribed to carotene, and the Raman peak intensity was as 6.98 times as that of the control; (3) the fluorescence emission peak was blue shifted and the intensity was decreased by 23.59%; (4) the DCPIP photoreduction activity showed 129.24% enhancement; (5) the oxygen-evolving rate of PS II was elevated by 51.89%. Taken together, the studies of the experiments showed that nano-anatase TiO₂ had bound to D1/D2/Cyt b559 complex, promoted the spectral responses, leading to the improvement of primary electron separation, electron transfer and light energy conversion of D1/D2/Cyt b559 complex.     

Specific hydrolysis of DNA by Ce<Superscript>4+</Superscript>-ODN hybrid

The cerium complex bound to the derivative of oligoDNA has been synthesized successfully that can hydrolyze DNA with sequence-specificity. The synthesized derivative of oligoDNA, 5′-EDTA-P-10 mers ODN, was demonstrated by HPLC. The fluorescence spectrum of Tb³⁺ was detected after its interaction with the hybrid of 10-mers ODN and 26-mers ODN and the results show that the artificial endo-enzyme can recognize and combine firmly with the substrate DNA. The electrophorogram shows that the cerium-oligoDNA hybrid can specifically hydrolyze its substrate DNA and the cleavage site of this hydrolysis reaction is also discussed. This artificial nuclease can be widely used in molecular biology and genetic engineering as one kind of endo-enzyme.     

Formation of complexes of Rubisco-Rubisco activase from La3+, Ce3+ treatment spinach

The complex of Rubisco and Rubisco activase from LaCl₃ ^™, CeCl₃ ^™ treated spinachin vivo is induced. SDS-PAGE result shows that the purified proteins from LaCl₃ ^™, CeCl₃ ^™ treated spinach have not only large and small subunits (55 kD, 14.4 kD) of Rubisco, but also two large subunits of 45 kD and 41 kD near the large subunits of Rubisco. Native-PAGE shows that the purified proteins from LaCl₃ ^™, CeCl₃ ^™ treated spinach have not only a band of Rubisco (560 kD), but also a band of about 1100 kD, about twice distant from Rubisco, which might be a complex of Rubisco and Rubisco activase. The purified enzyme activities from LaCl₃ ^™, CeCl₃ ^™ treated spinach are 1.8 and 2.8 times that of the control, the intensities of absorption and fluorescence are significantly higher than that of the purified Rubisco from the control, and the total sulfhydryl groups and available sulfhydryl groups are 36–39 ™SH per mol enzyme, 14–25 ™SH per mol enzyme more than those of the purified Rubisco from the control, respectively. The CD spectra show that the secondary structure of the purified enzyme from LaCl₃ ^™, CeCl₃ ^™ treated spinach is very different from the control. The enzyme activities from LaCl₃ ^™, CeCl₃ ^™ treated spinachin vivo are 1.5 and 1.9 times those of the control.     

Quantum-Chemical Investigation of Keto-enol-enethiol Tautomerism in 3-oxo-3-R<Superscript>1</Superscript>-N-R<Superscript>2</Superscript>-propanethioamides

The keto-enol-enethiol tautomerism in 3-oxo-3-R¹-N-R²-propanethioamides under vacuum and in acetone was studied in terms of density functional theory. It was established that the equilibrium depends on the structure of the 3-oxo-3-R¹-N-R²-propanethioamides and on the nature of the solvent, but the most stable form is as a rule the keto form stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond. __________ Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Eksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 41, No. 5, pp. 272–277, September–October, 2005.     

Electrochemical properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-sulfonatothiacalyx[4]arene complexes with Fe<Superscript>3+</Superscript> and [Co(dipy)<Subscript>3</Subscript>]<Superscript>3+</Superscript> ions

The electrochemical properties of n-sulfonatothiacalyx[4]arene (H₄XNa₄) complexes with [Co(dipy)₃]³⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions were studied by means of cyclic voltammetry in aqueous solution at pH 2.5. The observed single-electron reduction of [Co(dipy)₃]³⁺ bound extraspherically to the upper rim and Fe³⁺ ion bound intraspherically to the lower rim of n-sulfonatothiacalyx[4]arene in binary [Co(dipy)₃]³⁺ · H₃X^5?, H₃X^5? · Fe³⁺, and ternary [Co(dipy)₃]³⁺ · H₃X^5? · Fe³⁺ heterometal complexes was more difficult than in the free state. The reversible single-electron transfer to the metal ion results in lower binding energy ([Co(dipy)₃]³⁺, ΔΔG ₀ = 3.9 kJ/mol) or in full fast dissociation of the complex (Fe³⁺). The ternary complex in the solution forms the aggregates, in which inner encapsulated Fe(III) and Co(III) ions are not reduced on the electrode. Their quantitative reduction takes place by the relay mechanism of intra- and intermolecular electron transfer through electrochemically generated [Co(dipy)₃]²⁺ outer ions.     

A new phosphor with flower-like structure and luminescent properties of Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>MgSi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>: Eu<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Dy<Superscript>3+</Superscript> long afterglow materials by sol–gel method

The flower-like phosphors of Sr₂MgSi₂O₇: Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ with high brightness and long afterglow were obtained by sol–gel method. X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) shows that single-phased Sr₂MgSi₂O₇ phosphor is prepared by sol–gel method under 1250 °C. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) indicates that the phosphor consists of nano-sized whiskers which are detected for the first time in Eu²⁺ and Dy³⁺ co-doped long-lasting phosphorescence silicates. Furthermore, the investigation on the mechanism indicates that the internal structure and gas, liquid and solid phase effect play important roles in the formation of flower-like Sr₂MgSi₂O₇: Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ nanostructure. Finally, the optical properties of flower-like Sr₂MgSi₂O₇ nanostructure have been characterized by photoluminescence (PL) spectra.     

Effects of La<Superscript>3+</Superscript> on inward K<Superscript>+</Superscript> channels at plasma membrane in guard cells

The effects of La³⁺ on inward K⁺ channels at plasma membrane in vicia guard cells are investigated using the whole-cell patch-clamp recording mode. It is shown that La³⁺ on both sides of plasma membrane blocks inward K⁺ currents in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that La³⁺ binding sites may exist on both sides of plasma membrane in guard cells in vicia. The dose response is fitted by the Michaelis-Menten relation characterized by an inhibitor constant K _i of 2.56±0.25 μmol · L⁻¹ (outside membrane) and (1.18±0.11)×10⁻¹⁵ mol · L⁻¹ (inside membrane). Intracellular La³⁺ has much stronger inhibitory effect on inward K⁺ currents than extracellular La³⁺ does, suggesting there may exist stronger binding sites inside membrane than outside membrane. Since ion channel activities of guard cells directly affect plant stomatal movement and water status, our results imply that rare earth elements might have potential practical values in regulating plant water status and strengthening plant drought endurance.     

Two color up-conversion emissions of Er<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-doped Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanopowders prepared by non-aqueous sol-gel method

Er³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ nanopowders have been prepared by the non-aqueous sol-gel method using the aluminum isopropoxide as precursor, acetylacetone as a chelating agent, nitric acid as a catalyzer, and hydrated erbium nitrate as a dopant under isopropanol environment. The different phase structure, including three crystalline types of (Al, Er)₂O₃ phases, α, γ, θ, and an Er–Al–O stoichiometric compound phase, Al₁₀Er₆O₂₄, was observed for the 0.01–0.5 mol% Er³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ nanopowders at the sintering temperature of 1,000 °C. The green and red up-conversion emissions centered at about 523, 545 and 660 nm, corresponding respectively to the ²H_11/2, ⁴S_3/2→⁴I_15/2 and ⁴F_9/2→⁴I_15/2 transitions of Er³⁺, were detected by a 978 nm semiconductor laser diodes excitation. With increasing Er³⁺ doping concentration from 0.01 to 0.1 mol%, the intensity of the green and red emissions increased with a decrease of the intensity ratio of the green to red emission. When the Er³⁺ doping concentration rose to 5 mol%, the intensity of the green and red emissions decreased with an increase of their intensity ratio. The maximum intensity of both the green and red emissions with the minimum of intensity ratio was obtained, respectively, for the 0.1 mol% Er³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ nanopowders composed of a single α-(Al,Er)₂O₃ phase. The intensity ratio of the green emission at 523 and 545 nm increased monotonously for all Er³⁺ doping concentrations. The two-photon absorption up-conversion process was involved in the green and red up-conversion emissions of the Er³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ nanopowders.     

Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-fluorescence properties in nano-crystallized SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> glass-ceramics

Fluorescence and spectral hole burning properties of Eu³⁺ ions were studied in nanocrystals-precipitated SnO₂-SiO₂ glasses. The glasses were prepared to contain various amount of Eu₂O₃ using the sol-gel method, in which SnO₂ nanocrystals were precipitated by heating in air. In the glasses containing Eu₂O₃ less than 1%, the Eu³⁺ ions were preferentially doped in the SnO₂ nanocrystals and their fluorescence intensities were enhanced by the energy transfer due to the recombination of electrons and holes excited in SnO₂ crystals. The SnO₂ nanocrystals-precipitated glasses exhibited the persistent spectral holes with the depth of ∼25% of the total fluorescence intensities of the Eu³⁺ ions. With the increasing Eu₂O₃ concentration, the amount of SnO₂ nanocrystals decreased and the Sn⁴⁺ ions formed the random glass structure together with the silica network. This structure change induced the fluorescence intensities and the hole depth to decrease.     

Crystal-chemical analysis of the structures of minerals with [Hg<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Superscript>2+</Superscript> dumbbells

An analysis of the structures of minerals with [Hg₂]²⁺ dumbbells including poyarkovite [Hg₂]₃Cl₂O₂, shakhovite [Hg₂]₂Sb(OH)₃O₃, vasilyevite Hg₂₀O₆I₃Br₂Cl(CO₃), and kelyanite [Hg₂]₆[SbO₆]BrCl₂ was carried out. The determining factor in structure formation is the ordering of the centers of the cluster groups of mercury and large anions by systems of equidistant parallel planes with d _hkl ～ 2.5–4.5 Å. The different combinations of atoms and fragments in the structure are ordered by their own pseudotranslation lattices; this probably reflects the stages of crystallization. The crystal structures under study are examples of balance between the local interatomic interactions and the forces that create long-range order for different stoichiometries, masses, and sizes of components.     

LaCl3提高菠菜光系统Ⅱ活性的作用机制

The effect of LaCl3 on the K3Fe(CN)6 (FeCy) reduction rate and the oxygen-evolving rate of PSU particles of spinach, and the spectral characterization of the D1/D2/Cytb559 of a PSII reaction center complex consisting of three polypeptides from spinach were studied. The experimental results showed that LaCl3 could significantly accelerate the transformation from light energy to electric energy, the electron transport, water photolysis and oxygen evolution of PSII of spinach, which was related to the spectral characterization of the D1/D2/Cytb559 complex.Soret band and Q band of Chl-a of UV-vis spectrum of D1/D2/Cytb559 complex were blue shifted, and the fluorescence emission peak was blue shifted in LaCl3 treated spinach compared with that in the control. The EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy) revealed that La^3 was coordinated with 8 nitrogen or oxygen atoms in the first coordination shell with La-N or La-O bond length of 0.254 nm, and with 6 nitrogen or oxygen atoms in the second coordination shell with La-N or La-O bond length of 0.321 nm in the D1/D2/Cytb559 complex. The CD suggested that the secondary structure of D1/D2/Cytb559 complex have been litfie affected by the treatment of LaCl3.     

Study on the PSL mechanism in BaFCl:Eu<Superscript>2+</Superscript> phosphors

In this paper, the ESR and photoluminescence (PL) of BaFCl and BaFCl:Eu²⁺ radiated or un-radiated by X-ray were observed. The single electron in the color center could be produced in BaFCl without Eu²⁺. A series of traps of different energy level in BaFCl lattice were formed, and some shallow traps of them could be bleached by Vis-light, and the other deep traps could not. The bleaching effects on ESR and photostimulated luminescence (PSL) were investigated. An F-H-Eu²⁺ complex (F color center, H color center and Eu²⁺ complex) in the lattice of BaFCl:Eu²⁺ was suggested when the phosphor was X-ray irradiated. The Eu²⁺ located in the complex has only contribution to the ESR signal, but has no contribution to PL spectrum. The excitation of both F-center and located Eu²⁺ could decompose the complex to induce bleaching. The 440 nm light could excite the F-centers and the 220 nm and 270 nm could excite the located Eu²⁺, and the excitation disturbed the F-H-Eu²⁺ complex and caused a decrease of the PSL.     

Local structure and photoluminescent characteristics of Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript> in ZnO–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> glasses

The photoluminescence properties of xZnO–(100−x)SiO₂ (x = 0, 5, 10, 20) containing 1% Eu₂O₃ prepared by a sol–gel method were systematically investigated. The results indicated that the relative proportion of f–f transitions to charge transfer (CT) absorption decreased with the increase of ZnO concentration. The intensity of ⁵D₀–⁷F_J transitions of Eu³⁺ ions was enhanced with the increase of ZnO content due to local structure changes and decreased quantities of Eu³⁺ ions clusters. The results of fluorescence line narrow (FLN) spectra indicated that Eu³⁺ ions occupied one site in SiO₂ glass and two sites in ZnO–SiO₂ glasses. The second-order crystal field parameters were calculated. B₂₀ and B₂₂ for site 1 increased with excitation energy, while ones hardly changed for site 2.     

Preparation and Characterization of GdTaO<Subscript>4</Subscript>:Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript> Sol-Gel Luminescence Thin Films

High quality GdTaO₄:Eu³⁺ luminescence films have been successfully prepared through a modified sol-gel process. The films were prepared using inorganic materials as raw materials, and the thermal decomposition and UV assisted technique were introduced to improve the quality of the film and reduce the period for forming the thick film. Results of structural studies by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the surface was smooth and the structure was monoclinic with the average grain size of about 55 nm. The emission and excitation spectra of the film were investigated. Related to the transition ⁵ D₀ →⁷ F₁ and ⁵ D₀→⁷ F₂ of Eu³⁺ ions, the main luminescence peaks were observed at 591 and 611 nm respectively, and the luminescence peak at 345 nm was detected simultaneously related to the TaO₄³⁻ emission. Transmission spectrum and decay curve of the luminescence are also presented in this paper.     

Ionic mobility in ammonium-rubidium heptafluorozirconate (NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2.4</Subscript>Rb<Subscript>0.6</Subscript>ZrF<Subscript>7</Subscript> by (<Superscript>1</Superscript>H, <Superscript>19</Superscript>F) NMR data

NMR (¹⁹F, ¹H) methods are used to study ionic mobility in heptafluorozirconate (NH₄)_2.4Rb_0.6ZrF₇ in a range of temperatures from 150 K to 430 K. Types of ionic movements are determined, and their activation energy is evaluated. As a result of a phase transition a modification forms in which diffusion in the ammonium sublattice and isotropic reorientations of ZrF ₇ ^3? complex anions are observed. According to preliminary data, due to diffusion of ammonium ions the compound has relatively high ionic conductivity (σ ≈ 8.3 × 10^?5 S/cm at 423 K).     

Quantitative <Superscript>2</Superscript>H NMR spectroscopy

The selectivity of deuterium distribution between the nonequivalent positions in 3-carene (1), 4-α-acetyl-2-carene (2), and 4-(1-hydroxyethyl)-2-carene (3) has been measured by ²H-{¹H} NMR spectroscopy at the natural abundance of deuterium. These “H/D-isotope portraits” were shown to be typical of terpenes and terpenoids produced in plants via the biosynthetic DXP pathway. The mechanism of acylation of 1 was studied by the density functional theory method (PBE functional, TZ2p basis set). The six-membered ring in compound 1 is planar. However, the endo attack of electrophiles on this ring is more favorable both kinetically and thermodynamically. It was shown both experimentally and theoretically that the elimination of a hydrogen atom in the second reaction step proceeds stereoselectively at the C(2) atom from the anti position with respect to the three-membered ring and occurs with pronounced nucleophilic assistance from the carbonyl group. For Part 2, see Ref. 1. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1657–1664, August, 2008.     

Functionalization of one or two methyl groups in the [Cp*<Subscript>2</Subscript>RuBr]<Superscript>+</Superscript>Br<Superscript>−</Superscript> complex in the reaction with bromine

The reaction of [Cp*₂RuBr]⁺Br⁻ with bromine in CH₂Cl₂ (CD₂Cl₂) in an inert atmosphere at room temperature produces the complexes [Cp*Ru(Br)C₅Me₄CH₂Br]⁺Br₃ ⁻ (syn conformer), [Cp*Ru(Br)C₅Me₃(CH₂Br)₂]⁺ (syn and anti conformers), and [Ru(Br)(C₅Me₄CH₂Br)₂]⁺ (syn conformer). All complexes were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy; the former complex, by elemental analysis. These complexes were also prepared by the reaction of [Cp*RuC₅Me₄CH₂]⁺BF₄ ⁻ with bromine in CH₂Cl₂. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2712–2718, December, 2005.     

Quantum chemical analysis of possible fragmentation of [M + H]<Superscript>+</Superscript> and [M + Na]<Superscript>+</Superscript> complexes of monosubstituted methane,cyclohexane, and benzene derivatives in mass spectrometric studies

The formation and fragmentation energies of the proton and sodium cation complexes with monosubstituted methane, cyclohexane, and benzene derivatives in which carbon atoms are bonded to substituents (NH₂, OH, F, Cl, Br, ONO₂, NO₂, COOH, CN, and Ph) were calculated by the B3LYP/6-31G(d) method. For [M + Na]⁺ complexes, the formation energies are much lower (and differ from one another to a much lesser extent), while the dissociation energies are much higher, than the corresponding energies of the [M + H]⁺ complexes. Na⁺ cation shows a lower selectivity toward localization at functional groups in molecules compared to H⁺. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 246–249, February, 2008.     

NMR Spectra of Cyclic Nitrones. 7. The Influence of Substituents and a Hydrogen Bond on <Superscript>14</Superscript>N and <Superscript>17</Superscript>O Chemical Shifts in Derivatives of 3-Imidoazoline 3-Oxide

Derivatives of 3-imidazoline 3-oxide have been studied by ¹⁴N and ¹⁷O NMR methods. Regularities of the influence of substituents and of a hydrogen bond on chemical shifts have been made apparent. The range of changes of the chemical shifts of the nitrogen and oxygen nuclei of the nitrone group has been determined. Both in the ¹⁷O and in the ¹⁴N NMR spectra the signals of the amino derivatives are the highest field signals for the nitrone group, and the lowest field signals are the signals of the cyano derivatives in the series of derivatives investigated. Depending on the substituent (from amino to cyano group) the ¹⁷O chemical shifts varied over a range ∼155 ppm, but the interval of change of the ¹⁴N chemical shifts for the same substituents was ∼110 ppm. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 9, pp. 1336–1341. September, 2005.