A specific enzyme electrode for urea

A truly specific, simple enzyme electrode is described for the assay of urea in blood serum. The sensor used is the newly developed air-gap electrode of R??i?ka and Hansen, and has advantages of speed of response and specificity over earlier enzyme electrodes for urea. Potassium, sodium and ammonium ions and other organic and inorganic species present in blood do not interfere. Linear curves are obtained from 2 · 10^-2M to 1 · 10^-4M urea with slopes close to Nernstian (about 0.90 pH/decade). Urea in blood was assayed with an accuracy of 2.2% and a precision of 2.0% with immobilized urease; only 3–5 min is required per assay. The electrode was used for a month and almost 500 assays with excellent results. Since the sensor never touches the sample solution, problems caused by blood components which block membrane pores are avoided.     

Flexibility of Na,K-ATPase secondary structure upon drug-protein interaction

The enzyme Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase is an integral membrane protein which transports sodium and potassium cations against an electrochemical gradient. The transport of Na⁺ and K⁺ ions is connected to an oscillation of the enzyme between the two conformational states, the E₁ (Na⁺) and the E₂ (K⁺) conformations. The enzymatic activity of ATPase is largley affected by different ligands complexation. This review reports the effects of several drugs such as AZT (anti-AIDS), cis-Pt (antitumor), aspirin (anti-inflammatory) and vitamin C (antioxidant) on the stability and secondary structure of Na,K-ATPase in vitro. Drug-enzyme binding is mainly through H-bonding to the polypeptide C=O and C-N groups with two binding constants K_1(AZT) = 5.30 × 10⁵ M^?1 and K_2(AZT) = 9.80 × 10³ M^?1 for AZT and one binding constant for K_cis-Pt = 1.93 × 10⁴ M^?1, K_aspirin = 6.45 × 10³ M^?1 and K_ascorbate = 1.04 × 10⁴ M^?1 for cis-Pt, aspirin and ascorbic acid. The enzyme secondary structure was altered from that of α-helix 19.8% (free protein) to almost 22–26% and the β-sheet from 25.6% to 18–22%, upon drug complexation with the order of induced stability AZT > cis-Pt > ascorbate > aspirin.     

Arginine Determination with Ion-Selective Membrane Electrodes

Abstract

A new method for the determination of the amino acid arginine utilizes a dual enzyme catalyzed reaction monitored with an ammonium ion selective membrane electrode of the antibiotic type. The technique gives a linear correlation between arginine concentration and electrode response over the 3 × 10^?3 M to 3 × 10^?5 M range and a useful, but non-linear, response over a wider range. Major interferences are urea, K⁺, and NH₄ ⁺, but Na⁺ does not interfere in the physiological concentration range.     

L'extraction des lanthanides et des actinides par les oxydes d'alkylphosphine : L'extraction del'acide nitrique par quelques dioxydes de diphosphine

The distribution of nitric acid between an aqueous phase of constant or variable ionic strength and a benzene solution of diphosphine dioxide can be explained by the following reactions H⁺_a+ NO_3^-a+ DiPO₀ ? D1PO·HNO₃₀ H⁺_a+ NO_3^-a+ DiPO·HNO₃₀ ? DiPO·2 HNO₃₀ At constant ionic strength, the stability constants K₁″ were determined for the complexes 1,1-DiPO·HNO₃ (98 ± 01 (M)^-1), 1,4-DiPO·HNO₃(44±3 (M)_-1) and 1,5-DiPO·HNO₃ (51 ± 1 (M)^-1). The constants K₁₁″ for the complexes 1,1-DiPO·2 HNO₃ and 1,5-DiPO.2 HNO₃ are respectively 035±001 (M)^-1 and 62 ±0.05 (M)^-1 at 25°. With an aqueous phase of variable ionic strength, values of K₁'=54±7 (M)^-2 for 1,5-D1PO.HNO₃ and K_II'=65 ± 04 (M)^-2 for 1,5-DiPO·2 HN0₃ were obtained     

Synergistic extraction of some univalent cations into nitrobenzene by using cesium dicarbollylcobaltate and dibenzo-30-crown-10

From extraction experiments and γ-activity measurements, the exchange extraction constants corresponding to the general equilibrium M⁺(aq) + 1·Cs⁺(nb) ? 1·M⁺(nb) + Cs⁺(aq) taking place in the two-phase water–nitrobenzene system (M⁺ = Li⁺, Na⁺, H⁺, NH₄ ⁺, Ag⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Tl⁺; 1 = dibenzo-30-crown-10; aq = aqueous phase, nb = nitrobenzene phase) were determined. Furthermore, the stability constants of the 1·M⁺ complexes in water-saturated nitrobenzene were calculated; they were found to increase in the series of Cs⁺ < H⁺, Ag⁺ < NH₄ ⁺ < Na⁺ < Rb⁺ < Li⁺ < K⁺, Tl⁺.     

Cationic polymerization of N-vinyl carbazole by trityl salts—I.: Reactivity of propagating species

The cationic polymerization of N-vinyl carbazole, initiated by Ph₃C⁺ AsF₆^? and Ph₃C⁺ PF₆^? in methylene dichloride at 20 and 0°, has been studied in some detail. Reactions were very fast and rates of monomer consumption were measured using an adiabatic calorimetric technique. Initiation was relatively “slow” but complete, and termination was deduced to be insignificant during kinetic lifetimes. Values for k_p were found to vary with the initial initiator concentration; this dependence is discussed in terms of current theories regarding equilibria between ion pairs and free ions in non-aqueous solvents. k_p⁺ values estimated from two methods of extrapolation are 9.5 · 10⁵ M^?1 sec^?1 at 20° and 4.8 · 10⁵ M^?1 sec^?1 at 0°. Finally, it has been found that ion pairs are much less reactive than free ions in this system.     

Formation of M+ ions and electronic excitation under fast-atom bombardment conditions by using a liquid matrix

Japan The mechanism for the formation of molecular ions M^+· under fast-atom bombardment (FAB) conditions with a liquid matrix is discussed on the basis of the mass spectra of pyrene, coronene, and fullerene C₆₀ obtained by using electron impact, gas-phase fast-atom bombardment, and gas-phase fast-molecule bombardment techniques. The obtained results suggest that formation of the M^+· ions under FAB conditions is not due to direct collisions between analytes M and fast atoms A, but is due to collision interactions between M and recoiling matrix molecules B or matrix ions. It has been confirmed, furthermore, that the FAB conditions with a liquid matrix are sufficient in energy for formation of singly charged ions M^+· and insufficient for the formation of multiply charged ions M ^z+ (z=2, 3) of pyrene, coronene, and C₆₀.     

Formation and Dissociation of Phosphorylated Peptide Radical Cations

In this study, we generated phosphoserine- and phosphothreonine-containing peptide radical cations through low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the ternary metal?Cligand phosphorylated peptide complexes [Cu^II(terpy) _p M]^·2+ and [Co^III(salen) _p M]^·+ [ _p M: phosphorylated angiotensin III derivative; terpy: 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine; salen: N,N '-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminato)]. Subsequent CID of the phosphorylated peptide radical cations ( _p M^·+) revealed fascinating gas-phase radical chemistry, yielding (1) charge-directed b- and y-type product ions, (2) radical-driven product ions through cleavages of peptide backbones and side chains, and (3) different degrees of formation of [M ?C H₃PO₄]^·+ species through phosphate ester bond cleavage. The CID spectra of the _p M^·+ species and their non-phosphorylated analogues featured fragment ions of similar sequence, suggesting that the phosphoryl group did not play a significant role in the fragmentation of the peptide backbone or side chain. The extent of neutral H₃PO₄ loss was influenced by the peptide sequence and the initial sites of the charge and radical. A preliminary density functional theory study, at the B3LYP 6-311++G(d,p) level of theory, of the neutral loss of H₃PO₄ from a prototypical model??N-acetylphosphorylserine methylamide??revealed several factors governing the elimination of neutral phosphoryl groups through charge- and radical-induced mechanisms.     

An improved electrode for the assay of urea in blood

An improved urea enzyme electrode is applied for the determination of urea in blood samples. The electrode is based on the enzymatic hydrolysis of urea, and potentiometric detection of the ammonium ion produced. A silicone rubber-based nonactin ammonium ion-selective electrode serves as the sensor. The selectivity coefficients of this electrode were 6.5 for NH₄⁺/K⁺; 750 for NH₄⁺/Na⁺, and much higher for other cations. The reaction layer of the electrode was made of urease enzyme chemically immobilized on polyacrylic gel. The prepared gel was stable at 4° for over four months. The electrodes retained their activity for over one month. A three-electrode system, which allowed dilution to a constant interference level, was applied to avoid interfering effects in blood samples. Analyses of blood sera showed good agreement with a standard spectrophotometric method. Routine clinical assays of blood urea are feasible.     

Mass Spectra of New Heterocycles. XVII. Main Fragmentation Routes of Molecular Ions of 4-Alkoxy-5-amino-3-methylthiophene-2-carbonitriles under Electron and Chemical Ionization

For the first time decomposition was investigated of 4-alkoxy-5-amino-3-methylthiophene-2-carbonitriles under the conditions of electronic (70 eV) and chemical (reagent gas methane) ionization. At the electronic ionization the compounds under study [except for 4-(1-ethoxyethoxy) and 4-(ferrocenylmethoxy) derivatives] form stable molecular ions that decompose mainly by the cleavage of an alkyl radical from the alkoxy-substituent. Further fragmentation of the arising ion [M–Alk]⁺ depends on the substituent nature in the amino group. In the mass spectrum of 4-(ferrocenylmethoxy)-substituted thiophene peaks of the ion [FcCH₂]⁺ and its fragmentation products prevail. In the mass spectra of chemical ionization predominant peaks belong to ions M^+·, [M + H]⁺ and [M + C₂H₅]⁺, and fragment ions are absent.     

On the complexation of some univalent cations with beauvericin in nitrobenzene saturated with water

From extraction experiments and γ-activity measurements, the exchange extraction constants corresponding to the general equilibrium M⁺(aq)?+?1·Cs⁺(nb) ? 1·M⁺(nb)?+?Cs⁺(aq) taking place in the two-phase water–nitrobenzene system (M⁺?=?Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, H₃O⁺, NH₄ ⁺, Tl⁺; 1?=?beauvericin; aq?=?aqueous phase, nb?=?nitrobenzene phase) were determined. Moreover, the stability constants of the 1·M⁺ complexes in water-saturated nitrobenzene were calculated; they were found to increase in the series of Rb^+?<?Na⁺, H₃O^+?<?Tl^+?<?NH ₄ ^+? <?K^+?<?Li⁺.     

838 — An electrochemical study of energy-dependent potassium accumulation in E. coli: Part XI. The Trk system in anaerobically and aerobically grown cells

The interaction of H⁺-ATPase complex ECF₁·F₀ and the Trk system of K₊ accumulation was studied in E.coli grown quasi-anaerobically in peptone media with glucose (anaerobia) and aerobically in salt medium with succinate (aerobia). In anaerobia the Trk system takes part in H⁺-K⁺ exchange, displaying k_m = 3.7 mM, ν_max =1.6 mM g⁻¹ min⁻¹ and in aerobia in the Trk system has K_m = 3.4 mM, ν_max = 0.45 mM g⁻¹ min⁻¹. The K⁺ accumulation is blocked by DCC in anaerobia and by cyanide together with DCC in aerobia, whereas protonophores and arsenate block the K⁺ uptake in bacteria grown under either condition. Valinomycin decreases the K⁺ accumulation in anaerobia and increases (or has no effect) that in aerobia. ECF₁·F₀ is sensitive and the Trk system is insensitive to variation of the external osmotic pressure in both cases. The ratio H⁺ : K⁺ is stable and equal to 2:1 in anaerobia and is changed from 0.5 to 5.0 in aerobia in response to variation of pH, K⁺ activity and temperature, Q₁₀ is about 2.8 both for ECF₁·F₀ and for the Trk system in anaerobia, but 2.4 and near 1.0 respectively in aerobia. The distribution of K⁺ in anaerobia is 2500 (potassium equilibrium potential of − 210 mV) which is much more than the measured U_m of −145 mV. The distribution of K₊ in aerobia is 720, which is in good conformity with the measured membrane potential of −175 mV. The structural association of ECF₁·F₀ and the Trk system, forming a H⁺-K⁺ pump, has been assumed previously to take place in anaerobically grown E.coli; these systems operate separately in aerobic cells. According to Bakker and Helmer et al. the Trk system transports K⁺ along the electrical field, its function being regulated by ATP.     

Transition metal oxide clusters with character of oxygen-centered radical: a DFT study

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are applied to study the structure and bonding properties of groups 3–7 transition metal oxide clusters M _x=1–3O _y ^q and Sc _x=4–6O _y ^q with 2y ? nx + q = 1, in which n is the number of metal valence electrons and q is the charge number. These clusters include MO₂, M ₂O₃ ⁺, M ₂O₄ ^?, and M ₃O₅ (M = Sc, Y, La); MO₂ ⁺, MO₃ ^?, M ₂O₄ ⁺, M ₂O₅ ^?, M ₃O₆ ⁺, and M ₃O₇ ^? (M = Ti, Zr, Hf), and so on. The obtained lowest energy structures of most of these clusters are with character of oxygen-centered radical (O^·). That is, the clusters contain oxygen atom(s) with the unpaired electron being localized on the 2p orbital(s). Chromium and manganese oxide clusters (except CrO₄ ^?) do not contain O^· with the adopted DFT methods. The binding energies of the radical oxygen with the clusters are also calculated. The DFT results are supported by available experimental investigations and predict that a lot of other transition metal oxide clusters including those with mixed-metals (such as TiVO₅ and CrVO₆) may have high oxidative reactivity that has not been experimentally identified. The chemical structures of radical oxygen over V₂O₅/SiO₂ and MoO₃/SiO₂ catalysts are suggested and the balance between high reactivity and low concentration of the radical oxygen in condensed phase catalysis is discussed.     

Synthesis and biological properties of p-azidophenylalanine13-β-melanotropin,a potent photoaffinity label for MSH receptors

p-Azidophenylalanine¹³-α-melantropin ([Pap¹³]-α-MSH) was synthesized in homogeneous solution by the fragment condensation method, and its biological activity was determined in three different assay systems. The pigment-dispersing activity relative to α-MSH was 65%, measured with melanophores of Rana pipiens or of Xenopus laevis tadpoles. The tyrosinase-stimulating activity was 50%, determined with cultured mouse melanoma cells. UV. irradiation of solutions containing ≤10^?4_M[Pap¹³]-α-MSH at 338 nm (intensity: 10^?3 W · cm^?2) led to complete photolysis of the photolabel within <20 min. Under these conditions [Pap¹³]-α-MSH was covalently inserted into MSH-receptors which produced a longlasting pigment dispersion in Xenopus melanphores (see [3]). The extent of this prolonged stimulation depended on the hormone concentration used during photolysis. 1.8·10^?9_M [Pap¹³]-α-MSH which produced a full initial response failed to prolong the effect, whereas 1.2·10^?8_M hormone caused irreversible stimulation. It appears that only about 10% of the initially occupied receptors were covalently labelled because the log dose response curve was shifted to ～ 10x higher concentration after a 200 min wash period: EC₅₀ immediately after photolysis was 6 · 10^?10_M; after 200 min EC₅₀ increased to ～8·10^?9_M.     

Control of the Harmful Alga Microcystis aeruginosa and Absorption of Nitrogen and Phosphorus by Candida utilis

This study is aimed at controlling eutrophication through converting the nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus into microbial protein and simultaneously inhibiting the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa by Candida utilis. C. utilis and M. aeruginosa (initial cell density was 2.25?×?10⁷ and 4.15?×?10⁷ cells·mL^?1) were cultured together in the absence or presence of a carbon source (glucose) during a 10-day experiment. In the absence of carbon source, the measured removal efficiencies of NH₄ ⁺–N and PO₄ ^3?–P were 41.39?±?2.19 % and 82.93?±?3.95 %, respectively, at the second day, with the removal efficiency of 67.82?±?2.29 % for M. aeruginosa at the fourth day. In contrast, the removal efficiencies of NH₄ ⁺–N and PO₄ ^3?–P were increased to 87.45?±?4.25 % and 83.73?±?3.55 %, respectively, while the removal efficiency of M. aeruginosa decreased to 37.89?±?8.41 % in the presence of the carbon source (C/N?=?2:1). These results showed that the growth of M. aeruginosa was inhibited by C. utilis. Our finding sheds light on a novel potential approach for yeast to consume nutrients and control harmful algal during bloom events.     

On the relationship between the structures of CuII complexes and their chemical transformations

The thermal decomposition of the complexes M ₂ ^I Cu(SO₄)₂ · 6 H₂O and M₂Ni(SO₄)₂ · · 6 H₂O (M^I=NH₄, K, Rb, Tl) containing the complex cation M^II(H₂O)₆ ²+ (M^Il = =Cu, Ni) was studied. The values of the experimental activation energyE obtained for the dehydration reactions of both complex cations were found to be influenced in different ways by the outer-sphere cations present. It was therefore concluded that the activation energy of the decomposition of Cu(H₂O)₆ ²⁺ depends on the degree of tetragonal distortion of this cation, which increases with the ionic radius of cation M^I. TheΔH values of the studied reactions depend less on the structures of the coordination polyhedra.     

Electron-impact studies—LI: Hydrogen randomization in the stilbene molecular ion

Hydrozen randomization precedes the formation of M^+· ? H· and M^+· ? CH₃· species from the stilbene molecular ion at 15 eV. The carbon atom involved in the M^+· ? CH₃· elimination originates randomly from the whole molecule. The [M ? 15] ion (m/e 165) in the spectra of stilbene and 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene is produced from a common ion.     

Primary processes in the thiacyanine dimer-photosensitized reduction of p-nitroacetophenone in water by

Primary processes in the reduction of p-nitroacetophenone (p-NAP) by ascorbic acid (AA) in water photosensitized by thiacyanine dimers M ₂ ^2? have been considered. For M ₂ ^2? , the quantum yields of fluorescence and intersystem crossing to the triplet state (M ₂ ^2? )_T increases in comparison to the monomers M^?. The dimers (M ₂ ^2? )_T enter into the reactions of both one-electron photoreduction by ascorbic acid to give AA^+· and M ₂ ^3? and one-electron photooxidation by p-nitroacetophenone to give p-NAP^?· and the dimeric radical anion M ₂ ^? which dissociates to M^? and M^· within 25–30 μs. The primary oxidative or reductive photosensitization in the ternary systems containing (M ₂ ^2? )_T, p-NAP, and AA affords p-NAP^?· and AA^+·.     

Mass-spectrometric study of the formation of silver nanoclusters in polyether media: 2. Fast atom bombardment and modeling

Within the problem of the synthesis of silver nanoclusters and nanoparticles in polyether media, systems containing silver nitrate AgNO₃ and low-molecular-weight polyethers, poly(ethylene glycol) PEG-400 or oxyethylated glycerol OEG-5, were studied by fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry. The formation of stable clusters of polyether oligomers (M _m ) with silver cations M _m · Ag⁺ was shown, in agreement with the previous data of laser desorption/ionization. Quantum-chemical DFT calculations have shown that the M _m · Ag⁺ clusters are stabilized by wrapping of the polyether chain around the silver cation with the cation coordinating ether oxygen atoms. Silver nanoclusters were not found in the FAB mass spectra of liquid systems, but Ag _n ⁺ clusters were detected for silver nanoparticles separated from the reaction medium. No products of chemical transformations of PEG-400 or OEG-5 were observed by FAB. A plausible mechanism of the reduction of silver cations involving nitrate anions is discussed.     

Field desorption mass spectra of [M(CO)3(η-arene)]X (MMn,Re; XBF4, PF6) salts

Field desorption mass spectra are reported for a range of [M(CO)₃(η-arene)]X (MMn or Re, XBF₄ or PF₆) salts. In most cases the spectra are simple, being dominated by molecular, [M]^+·, [M + 1]⁺, and [MCO]⁺ ions for the cationic part of their structure. However, with the π-chloroarene complexes [Mn(CO)₃(η-ClC₆H₅)]PF₆ and [Mn(CO)₃(η-1-Cl, 4-MeC₆H₄)]PF₆, facile loss of the chloro substituent and further fragmentation leads to unusually complex spectra, which include strong peaks arising from recombination of fragment species. Cluster ions are also noted in several cases, allowing identification of the anion.