Novel cobalt-free oxygen permeable membrane

A series of cobalt-free and low cost perovskite oxygen permeable membranes based on BaCe(x)Fe(1-x)O(3-delta)(BCF) oxides was successfully synthesized and the membrane showed both high oxygen permeability and high stability under reductive atmosphere, which will be most suitable for constructing a membrane reactor for selective oxidation of light hydrocarbons to syngas or high value corresponding oxygenates.     

Organoiodine complexes: Structural and functional variety

The present review summarizes the results of structural studies of organoiodine complexes. Particular emphasis is given to the role of intermolecular interactions such as halogen—halogen (I…I), hydrophobic, fy—fy stacking, and hydrogen bonds (C—H…I) in the formation of supramolecular iodine-containing architectures. The molecular formula, size, shape, and stability of the polyhalide ion and the way of its coordination by an outer-sphere cation or an organic macromolecule depend on the nature and symmetry of the cationic environment, the ability of a solvating solvent to form complexes with iodine, and the conditions of the synthesis. Efforts have been made to highlight a structural and functional variety of iodine-containing complexes and estimate the prospects of using them as organic conductors, magnetic materials, liquid electrolytes, and biologically active compounds.     

Ruthenium polypyridyl peptide conjugates: membrane permeable probes for cellular imaging

Two novel polyarginine labelled ruthenium polypyridyl dyes are reported, one conjugated to five, (Ru-Ahx-R5), and one to eight arginine residues, (Ru-Ahx-R8); both complexes exhibit long-lived, intense, and oxygen-sensitive luminescence; (Ru-R8) is passively, efficiently and very rapidly transported across the cell membrane into the cytoplasm without requirement for its permeablisation.     

Polystyrenes with structurally different oligosiloxanes as p-substituents for oxygen permeable membrane materials

Polystyrenes with structurally different oligosiloxanes as p-substituents were synthesized and the selective oxygen permeation through the polymer film was studied. It was found that the structure of the p-oligosiloxane substituents had great effects not only on the glass transition temperature of the polymer but also on the oxygen permeation behavior through the polymer film. Trimethylsiloxyl groups, especially, were shown to play an essential role in enhancing the permeability.     

Interlaboratory studies of highly permeable thin‐film composite polyamide nanofiltration membrane

The aim of this paper is to survey interlaboratory studies of performance data to produce highly permeable thin‐film composite (TFC) polyamide nanofiltration (NF) membrane in the form of flat sheet at bench scale. TFC polyamide NF membranes were fabricated via interfacial polymerization of 1,3‐phenylenediamine and trimesoyl chloride on porous polyethersulfone (PES) membrane. The NF membranes were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and cross‐flow filtration. The AFM and SEM analyses indicated that a rough and dense film was formed on the PES support membrane. The permeability and NaCl rejection of the NF membrane prepared at the presence of camphor sulfonic acid as pH regulator and triethylamine as accelerator in the aqueous solution were 21 l m^?2 h^?1 and 70%, respectively. In order to estimate the repeatability and reproducibility standard deviations, the development of an interlaboratory study was conducted by measurements of permeation flux and salt rejection of the synthesized membranes. Repeatability standard deviation of the permeation flux data for the membrane based on optimum formulation was 1.99, and reproducibility standard deviation was 3.55. Also based on this trend, repeatability standard deviation of the salt rejection data was 1.57, and reproducibility standard deviation was 4.11. The American Society for Testing and Materials standard E691‐05 was used for data validation of the repeatability and reproducibility standard deviations and consistency statistics. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural variety of CdS in films synthesized by vapor deposition polymerization

Poly(p-xylylene)—CdS (PPX—CdS) nanocomposite films with different thicknesses (～0.2, ～0.5, ～1, and ～1.5 μm) and concentrations of CdS from 5 to 90 vol.%, as well as single-component CdS and PPX films with various thicknesses were studied by X-ray diffraction. The films were synthesized on polished silicon or quartz substrates by low-temperature vapor deposition method. It was shown that CdS nanoparticles in PPX—CdS films, depending on their thickness and CdS content, can have an X-ray amorphous structure, a defect crystal structure (RCP structure), or a wurtzite-type crystal structure. Similar structures were observed for single-component CdS films of the corresponding thickness. The sizes of the coherent scattering regions of CdS were determined for some nanocomposite and single-component films. Poly(p-xylylene) in the studied nanocomposite films was characterized by an X-ray amorphous structure.

     

Synthesis of poly(phenylacetylene)s containing trifluoromethyl groups for gas permeable membrane

Poly(phenylacetylene)s containing trifluoromethyl groups on their benzene rings were synthesized, and gas permeation behaviors of their films were examined. Permeability coefficients for O₂ and N₂, diffusion selectivity (D_o2/D_N2) and solubility selectivity (SO₂/SN₂) were estimated. The gas permeability of polymer films were found to be enhanced remarkably with introduction of trifluoromethyl groups into the polymers: poly[2,4,5-tris(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetylene], Po₂ = 7.8 × 10^?8 [cm³ (STP) cm cm^?2 s^?1 cm Hg^?1], Po₂/PN₂ = 2.1. The relationship between the polymer structures and their gas permeability was discussed.     

High selectivity of oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene in an oxygen permeable membrane reactor

An oxygen permeable membrane based on Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-delta is used to supply lattice oxide continuously for oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene with selectivity as high as 90% at 650 degrees C.     

Determining the topology of integral membrane peptides using EPR spectroscopy

This paper reports on the development of a new structural biology technique for determining the membrane topology of an integral membrane protein inserted into magnetically aligned phospholipid bilayers (bicelles) using EPR spectroscopy. The nitroxide spin probe, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-4-amino-4-carboxylic acid (TOAC), was attached to the pore-lining transmembrane domain (M2delta) of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and incorporated into a bicelle. The corresponding EPR spectra revealed hyperfine splittings that were highly dependent on the macroscopic orientation of the bicelles with respect to the static magnetic field. The helical tilt of the peptide can be easily calculated using the hyperfine splittings gleaned from the orientational dependent EPR spectra. A helical tilt of 14 degrees was calculated for the M2delta peptide with respect to the bilayer normal of the membrane, which agrees well with previous 15N solid-state NMR studies. The helical tilt of the peptide was verified by simulating the corresponding EPR spectra using the standardized MOMD approach. This new method is advantageous because: (1) bicelle samples are easy to prepare, (2) the helical tilt can be directly calculated from the orientational-dependent hyperfine splitting in the EPR spectra, and (3) EPR spectroscopy is approximately 1000-fold more sensitive than 15N solid-state NMR spectroscopy; thus, the helical tilt of an integral membrane peptide can be determined with only 100 microg of peptide. The helical tilt can be determined more accurately by placing TOAC spin labels at several positions with this technique.     

Low water/methanol permeable Nafion/CHP organic-inorganic composite membrane with high crystallinity

High methanol crossover is one of the main issues of the polyelectrolyte in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). In order to decrease methanol crossover, we introduced a new method that crystallinity control was performed with incorporating CHP (calcium hydroxyphosphate) into Nafion solution. As a result, crystallinity in the composite membranes increased with CHP content compared to cast Nafion accompanying the formation of new crystalline peaks in the original amorphous region of Nafion. On the other hand, water uptake content, methanol sorption/desorption permeability and methanol crossover in the composite membranes remarkably decreased. We conclude that an increase in crystallinity due to the strong interfacial adhesion between Nafion and CHP can suppress the methanol crossover.     

Lipid-protein interactions in the membrane: studies with model peptides

We have used fluorescence quenching of tryptophan-containing trans-membrane peptides by bromine-containing phospholipids to study the specificity of peptide-lipid interactions. We have synthesized peptides Ac-K2GLm WLnK2A-amide where m = 7 and n = 9 (L16) and m = 10 and n = 12 (L22). Binding constants of L22 for dioleoylphosphatidylserine [di(C18 : 1)PS] or dioleoylphosphatidic acid [di(C18 : 1)PA] relative to dieoleoylphosphatidylcholine [di(C18 : 1)PC] were close to 1. However, for L16, whilst the bulk of the di(C18 : 1)PA molecules bound with a binding constant relative to di(C18 : 1)PC close to 1, a small number of di(C18 : 1)PA molecules bound much more strongly. Assuming just one high affinity binding site on L16 for anionic lipid, the affinity of the site for di(C18 : 1)PS was calculated to be ca. 8 times that for di (C18 : 1)PC. The relative binding constant was little affected by ionic strength and close contact between the anionic headgroup of di(C18 : 1)PS and a lysine residue on the peptide was suggested. The relative binding constant for di(C18 : 1)PS at this high affinity site was less than for di(C18 : 1)PA. Cholesterol interacts with L22 with an affinity about 0.7 of that of di(C18 : 1)PC. The structure of the peptide itself is important. The peptide Ac-KKGYL6WL8YKKA-amide (Y2L14) incorporated into bilayers of dinervonylphosphatidylcholine [di(C24 : 1)PC] whereas L16 did not incorporate into this lipid. It is suggested that thinning of a lipid bilayer around a peptide to give optimal hydrophobic matching is less energetically unfavourable when a Tyr residue is located in the lipid/water interfacial region.     

Interference of permeable anions in potassium-sensitive membrane electrodes based on valinomycin and dimethyldibenzo-30-crown-10

Responses of potassium-sensitive electrodes with valinomycin and dimethyldibenzo-30-crown-10 in the poly(vinyl chloride) membrane plasticized with dipentyl phthalate in solutions containing lipophilic anions, i.e., perchlorate and picrate have been measured. Using a general theoretical treatment, the role of possible ion pair formation in the membrane phase in the e.m.f./activity dependences is discussed. The electrode with a crown-compound is characterized by a broader region of cation response with an almost Nernstian slope. The possibility of extending the analytically useful range of these electrodes has been verified by using the membrane phase containing C₁₂—C₁₄ phthalates.     

Structural genomics on membrane proteins: mini review

Structural genomics, structure-based analysis of gene products, has so far mainly concentrated on soluble proteins because of their less demanding requirements for overexpression, purification and crystallisation compared to membrane proteins. This so-called "low-hanging fruit" approach has generated more than 25,000 structures deposited in databases. In contrast, the substantially more complex membrane proteins, in relation to all steps from overexpression to high-resolution structure determination, represent less than 1% of available crystal structures. This is in sharp contrast to the importance of this type of proteins, particularly G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), as today 60-70% of the current drug targets are based on membrane proteins. The key to improved success with membrane protein structural elucidation is technology development. The most efficient approach constitutes parallel studies on a large number of targets and evaluation of various systems for expression. Next, high throughput format solubilisation and refolding screening methods for a wide range of detergents and additives in numerous concentrations should be established. Today, several networks dealing with structural genomics approaches of membrane proteins have been initiated, among them the Membrane Protein Network (MePNet) programme that deals with the pharmaceutically important mammalian GPCRs. In MePNet, three overexpression systems have been employed for the evaluation of 101 GPCRs, which has generated large quantities of numerous recombinant GPCRs, compatible for structural biology applications.     

Numerical study of the equilibrium properties of suspended particles surrounded by a permeable membrane with adsorbed charges

The network simulation method is used to calculate the electrostatic potential distribution for suspended spherical particles made of a charged core surrounded by a permeable membrane with adsorbed charges. The structure of the equilibrium diffuse double layers on both sides of the membrane-electrolyte solution interface is analyzed considering an anion adsorption process described by a Langmuir-type isotherm. It is shown that the thickness of the double layer in the membrane strongly depends on the adsorption constant, while it is almost independent of this constant in the electrolyte solution. The evolution of the electric potential on the core as a function of the electrolyte concentration is also analyzed.     

Structural analysis of a membrane glycoprotein: glycophorin A

Glycophorin A is the major sialoglycoprotein of the human erythrocyte membrane. Structural studies indicate that this molecule is made up of 3 domains composed of 2 hydrophilic segments which are separated by a region of 22 nonpolar amino acids. The N-terminal half of the molecule contains all the carbohydrate associated with this protein. Glycophorin A forms high-molecular-weight complexes which can be dissociated only under certain conditions. The site of subunit interaction is located within the hydrophobic segment, which serves both to mediate protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions within the bilayer membrane. Glycophorin A spans the membrane presumably as a dimeric complex with the carboxyterminal ends extending into the cytoplasm of the red cell. The transmembrane nature of the polypeptide chains finds strong support from the use of specific antibody-ferritin conjugates applied to thin sections of fixed and frozen intact cells. Preliminary information on the analysis of human red cell variants which may lack some or all of the sialoglycopeptides are consistent with the presence in normal cells of a second sialoglycoprotein, provisionally labeled glycophorin B.     

Structural studies of model peptides containing beta-, gamma- and delta-amino acids

The crystal structures of five model peptides Piv-Pro-Gly-NHMe (1), Piv-Pro-betaGly-NHMe (2), Piv-Pro-betaGly-OMe (3), Piv-Pro-deltaAva-OMe (4) and Boc-Pro-gammaAbu-OH (5) are described (Piv: pivaloyl; NHMe: N-methylamide; betaGly: beta-glycine; OMe: O-methyl ester; deltaAva: delta-aminovaleric acid; gammaAbu: gamma-aminobutyric acid). A comparison of the structures of peptides 1 and 2 illustrates the dramatic consequences upon backbone homologation in short sequences. 1 adopts a type II beta-turn conformation in the solid state, while in 2, the molecule adopts an open conformation with the beta-residue being fully extended. Piv-Pro-betaGly-OMe (3), which differs from 2 by replacement of the C-terminal NH group by an O-atom, adopts an almost identical molecular conformation and packing arrangement in the solid state. In peptide 4, the observed conformation resembles that determined for 2 and 3, with the deltaAva residue being fully extended. In peptide 5, the molecule undergoes a chain reversal, revealing a beta-turn mimetic structure stabilized by a C-H...O hydrogen bond.     

Structural variety of zinc and copper complexes based on a 2,3-disubstituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazoline ligand

The ring-chain tautomerism of 2-(3-tosyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazolin-2-yl)quinolin-8-ol (H(2)L(ring)) has been exploited to produce mononuclear complexes or, alternatively, dinuclear complexes, as desired, by varying the stoichiometry of the ligand. Cu(2+) and Zn(2+) stabilise the ring tautomeric form of the ligand in their mononuclear complexes M(HL(ring))(2). The structural characterisation of Zn(HL(ring))(2)·2MeOH·0.5H(2)O shows O,N-donor behaviour of the ring tautomer. The 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazoline undergoes a ring-opening reaction upon formation of phenoxo-bridged dinuclear complexes M(2)(L(chain))(2) in which the chain tautomer is acting as O,N,N,N-donor. The crystal structure of Cu(2)(L(amide))(L(quinazoline))(MeOH)·2MeOH evidenced the sensitivity of H(2)L(ring) to the copper-mediated aerobic oxidation, which results in two derivatives of the ligand, a quinazoline and an amide. The quinazoline ligand is acting as monoanionic and mononucleating through its O,N,N binding site, while the amide ligand behaves as a trianionic and binucleating through its O,N,N,N and O,O binding sites in Cu(2)(L(amide))(L(quinazoline))(MeOH)·2MeOH.     

Comparison between the behavior of different hydrophobic peptides allowing membrane anchoring of proteins

Membrane binding of proteins such as short chain dehydrogenase reductases or tail-anchored proteins relies on their N- and/or C-terminal hydrophobic transmembrane segment. In this review, we propose guidelines to characterize such hydrophobic peptide segments using spectroscopic and biophysical measurements. The secondary structure content of the C-terminal peptides of retinol dehydrogenase 8, RGS9-1 anchor protein, lecithin retinol acyl transferase, and of the N-terminal peptide of retinol dehydrogenase 11 has been deduced by prediction tools from their primary sequence as well as by using infrared or circular dichroism analyses. Depending on the solvent and the solubilization method, significant structural differences were observed, often involving α-helices. The helical structure of these peptides was found to be consistent with their presumed membrane binding. Langmuir monolayers have been used as membrane models to study lipid–peptide interactions. The values of maximum insertion pressure obtained for all peptides using a monolayer of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-ethanolamine (DOPE) are larger than the estimated lateral pressure of membranes, thus suggesting that they bind membranes. Polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy has been used to determine the structure and orientation of these peptides in the absence and in the presence of a DOPE monolayer. This lipid induced an increase or a decrease in the organization of the peptide secondary structure. Further measurements are necessary using other lipids to better understand the membrane interactions of these peptides.