Thermodynamic characterization of different actin isoforms

Summary The thermodynamic properties of the cardiac and skeletal a-actin isoforms were studied to characterize the molecular bases of the functional differences between them with the method of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The thermal properties of the actin filaments were described in the presence of calcium and magnesium ions as well. Based on the calculated free energy changes the α-cardiac actin filaments appeared to be more stable in its physiologically more relevant, magnesium saturated form. The magnesium saturated form of the α-cardiac actin filaments seemed to be more stable compared to the calcium saturated form of it. The enthalpy and entropy changes could differentiate between the α-cardiac and α-skeletal actin isoforms and between the calcium and magnesium saturated cardiac actin isoforms as well. Our results can demonstrate that the few differences between the amino acid sequences of the α-actin isoforms have an influence on the thermal properties and maybe on the function of these proteins as well.     

Effect of phalloidin on filaments polymerized from heart muscle ADP-actin monomers

The effect of phalloidin on filaments polymerized from ADP-actin monomers of the heart muscle was investigated with differential scanning calorimetry. Heart muscle contains α-skeletal and α-cardiac actin isoforms. In the absence of phalloidin the melting temperature was 55°C for the α-cardiac actin isoform and 58°C for the α-skeletal one when the filaments were generated from ADP-actin monomers. After the binding of phalloidin the melting temperature was isoform independent (85.5°C). We concluded that phalloidin stabilized the actin filaments of α-skeletal and α-cardiac actin isoforms to the same extent when they were polymerized from ADP-actin monomers.     

Non-isothermal decomposition kinetics of NiFe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanoparticles synthesized using egg white solution route

The thermal decomposition kinetics of nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) precursor prepared using egg white solution route in dynamical air atmosphere was studied by means of TG with different heating rates. The activation energy (E _α) values of one reaction process were estimated using the methods of Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS), which were found to be consistent. The dependent activation energies on extent of conversions of the decomposition reaction indicate “multi-step” processes. XRD, SEM and FTIR showed that the synthesized NiFe₂O₄ precursor after calcination at 773 K has a pure spinel phase, having particle sizes of ~54 ± 29 nm.     

Non-isothermal kinetics of the thermal decomposition of sodium oxalate Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>C<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The thermal transformation of Na₂C₂O₄ was studied in N₂ atmosphere using thermo gravimetric (TG) analysis and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Na₂C₂O₄ and its decomposed product were characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the X-ray diffraction technique (XRD). The non-isothermal kinetic of the decomposition was studied by the mean of Ozawa and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) methods. The activation energies (E _α) of Na₂C₂O₄ decomposition were found to be consistent. Decreasing E _α at increased decomposition temperature indicated the multi-step nature of the process. The possible conversion function estimated through the Liqing–Donghua method was ‘cylindrical symmetry (R₂ or F_1/2)’ of the phase boundary mechanism. Thermodynamic functions (ΔH*, ΔG* and ΔS*), calculated by the Activated complex theory and kinetic parameters, indicated that the decomposition step is a high energy pathway and revealed a very hard mechanism.     

Phenol‐urea‐formaldehyde cocondensed resol resins: Their synthesis,curing kinetics,and network properties

Several phenol‐urea‐formaldehyde (PUF) cocondensed resol resins were synthesized by different procedures. The curing kinetics and network properties of these PUF resins were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). A kinetic study indicated that the activation energy values of PUF resins are generally higher than those of phenol‐formaldehyde (PF) resins during curing processes, but the curing rates of PUF resins are faster than those of PF resins. The pH values of PUF systems have a significant influence on the rate constants, although they affect the activation energy very slightly. Moreover, the dependence of activation energy on the conversion showed that there are more individual reactions with different activation energies occurring during the curing processes in PUF resins than in PF resins. The decomposition of methylene ether bridges to form methylene bridges probably occurs at high temperature in PUF resins. DMTA data indicated that the network rigidity of PUF resins is slightly lower than that of PF resin. The gel point and T_{tan δ2} transition measured by DMTA were consistent with the kinetic results obtained from the DSC data, but they were also related to the physical and mechanical properties of the network, especially with regard to the T_{tan δ2} transition. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1929–1938, 2003     

Kinetic analysis of thermal decomposition of some Co-complexes of three unsymmetrical <Emphasis Type="Italic">vic</Emphasis>-dioximes ligands

The thermal decomposition of three new reagent cyclohexylamine-p-tolylglyoxime (L₁H₂), tertiarybutyl amine-p-tolylglyoxime (L₂H₂) and secondary butylamine-p-tolylglyoxime (L₃H₂ and their Co-complexes were studied by both isothermal and nonisothermal methods. As expected, the complex structure of Co-complexes, different steps with different activation energies were realized in decomposition process. Model-fitting and model-free kinetic approaches were applied to nonisothermal and isothermal data. The kinetic triplet (f(α), A and E) related to nonisothermal model-fitting method can not be meaningfully compared with values obtained from isothermal method. The complex nature of the multi-step process of the studied compounds was more easily revealed using a wider temperature range in nonisothermal isoconversional method.     

Thermal characterization of UHMWPE stabilized with natural antioxidants

This work presents a study of the thermal degradation of ultra-high molecular mass polyethylene (UHMWPE) stabilized with natural (α-tocopherol and carvacrol) and synthetic antioxidants. Thermogravimetric analysis in dynamic mode was used to determine the apparent activation energies of different samples. The stabilization of UHMWPE with low concentrations (around 0.3%) of α-tocopherol is enough to obtain an efficient thermal performance of the polymer. Carvacrol is also a good stabilizer for UHMWPE, but at higher concentration than in the case of α-tocopherol. The comparison of apparent activation energy between samples with natural and synthetic antioxidants in similar concentration shows that α-tocopherol is a better stabilizer in terms of their thermal performance.     

Avrami exponent of crystallization in tellurite glasses

Nucleation process and crystal growth for three samples of the (20-x)Li₂O–80TeO₂–xWO₃ glass system were studied using X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. X-ray diffraction data confirmed the amorphous characteristic of the as-quenched samples and indicated the growth of crystalline phases formed due to the thermal treatment for annealed samples. These results reveal the presence of three distinct γ-TeO₂, α-TeO₂ and α-Li₂Te₂O₅ crystalline phases in the TL sample, and two distinct α-TeO₂ and γ-TeO₂ crystalline phases in the TLW5 and TLW10 samples. The activation energy and the Avrami exponent were determined from DSC measurements. The activation energy values X-ray diffraction data of the TLW10 glass sample suggest that γ-TeO₂ phase occur before the α-TeO₂. The results obtained for the Avrami exponent point to that the nucleation process is volumetric and that the crystal growth is two or three-dimensional.     

Cell Bound and Extracellular Glucose Oxidases from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus niger</Emphasis> BTL: Evidence for a Secondary Glycosylation Mechanism

Two glucose oxidase (GOX) isoforms where purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from the mycelium extract (GOX_I) and the extracellular medium (GOX_II) of Aspergillus niger BTL cultures. Both enzymes were found to be homodimers with nonreduced molecular masses of 148 and 159 kDa and pI values of 3.7 and 3.6 for GOX_I and GOX_II, respectively. The substrate specificity and the kinetic characteristics of the two GOX forms, as expressed through their apparent K _m values on glucose, as well as pH and T activity optima, were almost identical. The only structural difference between the two enzymes was in their degrees of glycosylation, which were determined equal to 14.1 and 20.8% (w/w) of their molecular masses for GOX_I and GOX_II, respectively. The above difference in the carbohydrate content between the two enzymes seems to influence their pH and thermal stabilities. GOX_II proved to be more stable than GOX_I at pH values 2.5, 3.0, 8.0, and 9.0. Half-lives of GOX_I at pH 3.0 and 8.0 were 8.9 and 17.5 h, respectively, whereas the corresponding values for GOX_II were 13.5 and 28.1 h. As far as the thermal stability is concerned, GOX_II was also more thermostable than GOX_I as judged by the deactivation constants determined at various temperatures. More specifically, the half-lives of GOX_I and GOX_II, at 45°C, were 12 and 49 h, respectively. These results suggest A. niger BTL probably possesses a secondary glycosylation mechanism that increases the stability of the excreted GOX.     

The enthalpies of combustion and formation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis>-α-glutamic and 6-aminohexanoic acids

Summary The energies of combustion of crystalline L-α-glutamic and 6-aminohexanoic acids were measured in a static bomb adiabatic calorimeter, in pure oxygen at 3040 kPa. Corrections were made for the heats due to the ignition of sample and for the nitric acid formation. The derived enthalpies of formation for L-α -glutamic and 6-aminohexanoic acids are Δ_fH_cr⁰= -1002.6±1.1 kJ mol^-1and Δ_fH_cr⁰= -641.6±1.2 kJ mol^-1, respectively. The data of enthalpy of formation are compared with literature values and with estimated values by means of group additivity, using parameters recommended by Domalski and Hearing.     

Crystallization kinetics and thermal stability of an amorphous Fe<Subscript>77</Subscript>C<Subscript>5</Subscript>B<Subscript>4</Subscript>Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>GaP<Subscript>9</Subscript>Si<Subscript>2</Subscript> bulk metallic glass

The thermal stability, kinetics and glass forming ability of an Fe₇₇C₅B₄Al₂GaP₉Si₂ bulk amorphous alloy have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The activation energy, frequency factor and rate constant corresponding to the multiple crystallization steps were determined by the Kissinger method. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies revealed that the crystallization starts with the primary precipitation of α-Fe from the amorphous matrix. The kinetics of nucleation of the α-Fe nanoparticles was investigated by two different methods, i.e. isothermal annealing and continuous heating after partial annealing.     

Kinetic study of decomposition for Co(II)- and Ni(II)-1,10-phenanthroline complexes intercalated in γ-zirconium phosphate

The thermal behaviour of the complexes formed in situ between the aromatic diamine 1,10-phenanthroline and the Co(II) and Ni(II) ions intercalated between the layers of γ-zirconium phosphate was studied by simultaneous TG/DSC techniques. The obtained materials show similar thermal behaviour: after a multi-step dehydration process they showed an oxidative decomposition in only one step. The kinetic study of the decomposition process was performed using both the model-free methods of Ozawa-Flynn-Wall and Kissinger. The former method provides a negligible dependence of activation energy on the degree of reaction α for both materials. Activation energies derived by the Kissinger method show a good agreement with the mean values derived by the Ozawa-Flynn-Wall method. The Arrhenius rate constants determined using also the pre-exponential factor values demonstrate that their thermal stability can be considered comparable, within the experimental uncertainty. Finally, a reliable method was applied to determine the model function from the best fit between the numerical dependence of the integral function g(α) vs. α and several theoretical model dependencies reported in literature for the most commonly used models. A Mampel first-order reaction model was selected to describe the thermal decomposition in both the materials studied.     

A kinetic analysis of thermal decomposition of polyaniline/ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> composite

Synthesis, characterization and thermal analysis of polyaniline (PANI)/ZrO₂ composite and PANI was reported in our early work. In this present, the kinetic analysis of decomposition process for these two materials was performed under non-isothermal conditions. The activation energies were calculated through Friedman and Ozawa-Flynn-Wall methods, and the possible kinetic model functions have been estimated through the multiple linear regression method. The results show that the kinetic models for the decomposition process of PANI/ZrO₂ composite and PANI are all D₃, and the corresponding function is ƒ(α)=1.5(1−α)^2/3[1−(1-α)^1/3]−1. The correlated kinetic parameters are E _a=112.7±9.2 kJ mol⁻¹, lnA=13.9 and E _a=81.8±5.6 kJ mol⁻¹, lnA=8.8 for PANI/ZrO₂ composite and PANI, respectively.     

Avoiding gas-phase calculations in theoretical p<Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis><Subscript>a</Subscript> predictions

CBS-QB3, two simplified and less computationally demanding versions of CBS-QB3, DFT-B3LYP, and HF quantum chemistry methods have been used in conjunction with the CPCM continuum solvent model to calculate the free energies of proton exchange reactions in water solution following an isodesmic reaction approach. According to our results, the precision of the predicted pK _a values when compared to experiment is equivalent to that of the thermodynamic cycles that combine gas-phase and solution-phase calculations. However, in the aqueous isodesmic reaction schema, the accuracy of the results is less sensitive to the presence of explicit water molecules and to the global charges of the involved species since the free energies of solvation are not required. In addition, this procedure makes easier the prediction of pK _a values for molecules that undergo large conformational changes in solvation process and makes possible the pK _a prediction of unstable species in gas-phase such as some zwitterionic tautomers. The successive pK _a values of few amino acids corresponding to the ionization of the α-carboxylic acid and α-amine groups, which is one of the problematic cases for thermodynamic cycles, were successfully calculated by employing the aqueous isodesmic reaction yielding mean absolute deviations of 0.22 and 0.19 pK _a units for the first and second ionization processes, respectively.     

Thermal analysis of less common lignocellulose fibers

The thermal behavior of four unusual lignocellulose fibers — namely Caroa, Curaua, Piassava and Sponge gourd — is described. Caroa and Curaua fibers showed a more homogeneous thermal degradation, with a single peak dominating in the DTG curve. Piassava and Sponge gourd showed two separated peaks, revealing the more pronounced amounts of hemicellulose present at these fibers. All four fibers are, however, thermally stable up to temperatures of around 200°C. The activation energies for the thermal degradation of the fibers were similar, except for the Caroa fiber. The lower activation energy associated to this fiber was attributed to its higher hemicellulose to cellulose ratio.     

Picoline as ligand with antimony trichloride and triiodide adducts

Solid adducts SbX₃·L-pic (X=Cl, I and L=α-, β- and γ-picolines) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, IR spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The infrared spectroscopy and the magnetic resonance for ¹H and ¹³C nuclei of these compounds suggest that the ligands coordinate through nitrogen atom. Kinetic studies were accomplished by means of thermogravimetric data, through isothermal and non-isothermal techniques. The best adjusting models for adducts thermal decomposition were R¹ for isothermal and R₁ and R₂ for the non-isothermal methods. The energy of activation values obtained by isothermal method indicate the following orders of thermal stability for adducts: i) SbCl₃·α-pic>SbCl₃·β-pic>SbCl₃·γ-pic and ii) SbI₃·β-pic>SbI₃·γ-pic>SbI₃·α-pic. The activation energy values obtained by non-isothermal were higher than those from isothermal methods, showing the order of stability:iii) SbCl₃·α-pic<SbCl₃·β-pic<SbCl₃·γ-pic and iv) SbI₃·β-pic>SbI₃·α-pic=SbI_3··γ-pic. These obtained data through R₁ model presented the kinetic compensation effect for trichloride adducts, which could be associated to both isothermal and non-isothermal processes. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Actual activation energy of electrode process under mixed kinetics conditions

In the case of a single-electron reaction with account for slow diffusion of reagents, equations for actual (experimentally determined) activation energies of two types were derived and analyzed: real energy A f, i.e., the energy measured at a constant electrode polarization value η = const) and formal energy (Ω_f, i.e., the value measured at a constant value of potential vs. an ambiguously chosen reference electrode E = const). It is found that under the conditions of a sufficiently significant deviation from equilibrium, the actual activation energy A _f is the weighted arithmetic mean of the diffusion activation energy and the sum of A ₀ + αFη (where A ₀ is the real activation energy of the discharge stage at polarization of η = 0); herewith, the weighting coefficients are the corresponding values of the current of the discharge stage and the limiting diffusion current. A similar relationship is also obtained for Ω_f. It is found that the A _f, η- and Ω_f, E-curves can in a number of cases feature regions with the negative A _f and Ω_f values in the mixed kinetics range.     

Mechanism and structural aspects of thermal Curtius rearrangement. Quantum chemical study

The electronic and geometric structures of formyl, acetyl, and benzoyl azides were studied and fragments of the potential surfaces for the thermal Curtius rearrangement of these azides into the corresponding isocyanates were calculated by density functional theory at the PBE/TZ2P level. Acyl azides adopt two stable, conformations syn and anti, with respect to the C-N bond. The syn conformers are more stable than their anti analogs. The activation energies of the syn-anti isomerization in the series under study are 9.4, 7.0, and 9.2 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively, and the activation energies of the reverse reaction are 8.5, 6.1, and 2.5 kcal mol⁻¹. The rearrangement of syn-acyl azides is a one-step process, in which elimination of N₂ occurs synchronously with the rearrangement of atoms and bonds to form isocyanates. The activation energies of the rearrangements of syn-HC(O)N₃, syn-MeC(O)N₃, and syn-PhC(O)N₃ are 28.0, 32.9, and 34.5 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively. The rearrangement of the anti conformers of the above-mentioned azides involves the formation of singlet acylnitrene. The activation energies of the latter process are 34.6, 32.9, and 32.3 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively. The activation energies of the rearrangement of acylnitrenes into isocyanates are 20.9, 18.9, and 13.6 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively. The energy characteristics of the process and the structural data for the starting compounds, final products, and transition states provide evidence that the thermal Curtius rearrangement occurs predominantly by a concerted mechanism. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2200–2209, October, 2005.     

Kinetics of non-isothermal crystallization of some glass-ceramics based on basalt

The crystallization kinetics of some glass-ceramics obtained from Romanian (Şanoviţa) basalt has been studied in non-isothermal conditions using DTA technique. The activation energies of the crystallization processes were calculated using the isoconversional methods Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose and Ozawa-Flynn-Wall. The results obtained show a dependence of the activation energy (E _α) on the crystallized fraction (α) that proves the complex mechanism of the glass-ceramics crystallization process. It has been proved that the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami model cannot be applied for the studied glass-ceramics crystallization process. The effect of 2% TiO₂ as nucleating agent upon the crystallization kinetics and upon the microstructure of the studied glass-ceramics was analyzed.