The escape process of carbon monoxide from myoglobin to solution at physiological temperature

The carbon monoxide (CO) docking sites involved in the ligand escape process from the iron atom in hem of myoglobin (Mb) to solution at physiological temperature were studied on the basis of the effect of xenon (Xe) on the ligand escape rate by the transient grating (TG) technique. The TG method provides a direct measurement of the changes in molecular volume. The apparent CO escaping rate and the volume contraction increase with increasing Xe pressure. The pressure dependence of the rate is consistent with that of the Xe population at the Xe(1) site. This result clearly shows that CO is trapped at the Xe(1) site before escaping to solvent in a Xe-free solution at room temperature. It is shown that only CO but not the trapped Xe is released by the photoexcitation of the Xe-trapped MbCO. A dissociation scheme is proposed to explain the enhancement of the escaping rate by the presence of Xe(1). There are two branches for the CO escaping pathway. The dominant part of the dissociated CO escapes to the solvent through the Xe(1) trapping site under the Xe-free condition, and there are at least three intermediate states along this pathway. When a Xe atom blocks the Xe(1) site, the CO escapes through another route.     

Quantum molecular dynamic simulations of warm dense carbon monoxide

Using quantum molecular dynamic simulations, we have studied the thermophysical properties of warm dense carbon monoxide under extreme conditions. The principal Hugoniot pressure up to 286 GPa, which is derived from the equation of state, is calculated and compared with available experimental and theoretical data. The chemical decomposition of carbon monoxide has been predicted at 8 GPa by means of pair correlation function and the charge density distribution. Based on Kubo-Greenwood formula, the dc electrical conductivity and the optical reflectivity are determined, and the nonmetal-metal transition for shock compressed carbon monoxide is observed around 40 GPa.     

Rapid diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning and quantitative determination of CO-Hb in blood]

A quick diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning is a very difficult clinical problem. This paper describes a photometric method which permits a reliable diagnosis in a time of 7 to 10 minutes. Only 0.3 ml whole blood are necessary for the total procedure. Carboxyhemoglobin changes in absorption maximum slightly after reduction, whereas Oxyhemoglobin shows a significant change in extinction. Measurement of the hemolysate at the same wave length before and after alkaline reduction results in large differences in the extinctions (very large for Oxyhemoglobin and very small for Carboxyhemoglobin). Calibration curves are prepared by calibrating rest-extinction defined as: (formula: see text) to percent Carboxyhemoglobin. This curve can also be produced in mathematical way (as control e.g.). In practice there are the following steps: blood collecting (from fingerpad), hematolysis, first photometric measurement, reduction, second measurement, then reading the result from the calibration curve. The method can be automated (as demonstrated with the "Gilford System") providing the same results as with the manual method. All steps of quality control are given in full detail; as is the preparation of the hemolysates with various percentages of Carboxyhemoglobin.     

A quantitative study of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide evolution during thermal degradation of flame retarded epoxy resins

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) combined with infrared analysis of the evolved gases analysis (EGA) has been used to study the thermal degradation behaviour of epoxy resin both in air and nitrogen. The mass loss as a function of temperature has been correlated with the evolution of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), and oxygen consumption as measured using an oxygen analyser. An analytical technique has been developed to quantitatively measure the carbon monoxide and dioxide gases evolved. The effect of a range of flame retardants containing phosphorus, nitrogen and halogen elements on CO and CO₂ evolution during thermal degradation of flame retarded epoxy resins has also been observed.     

Effective simulations of gas diffusion through kinetically accessible tunnels in multisubunit proteins: O2 pathways and escape routes in T-state deoxyhemoglobin

The diffusion of small gases to special binding sites within polypeptide matrices pivotally defines the biochemical specificity and reactivity of proteins. We investigate here explicit O(2) diffusion in adult human hemoglobin (HbA) as a case study employing the recently developed temperature-controlled locally enhanced sampling (TLES) method and vary the parameters to greatly increase the simulation efficiency. The method is carefully validated against standard molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and available experimental structural and kinetic data on ligand diffusion in T-state deoxyHbA. The methodology provides a viable alternative approach to traditional MD simulations and/or potential of mean force calculations for: (i) characterizing kinetically accessible diffusion tunnels and escape routes for light ligands in porous proteins; (ii) very large systems when realistic simulations require the inclusion of multiple subunits of a protein; and (iii) proteins that access short-lived conformations relative to the simulation time. In the case of T-state deoxyHbA, we find distinct ligand diffusion tunnels consistent with the experimentally observed disparate Xe cavities in the α- and β-subunits. We identify two distal barriers including the distal histidine (E7) that control access to the heme. The multiple escape routes uncovered by our simulations call for a review of the current popular hypothesis on ligand escape from hemoglobin. Larger deviations from the crystal structure during simulated diffusion in isolated α- and β-subunits highlight the dampening effects of subunit interactions and the importance of including all subunits of multisubunit proteins to map realistic kinetically accessible diffusion tunnels and escape routes.     

Small para-hydrogen clusters doped with carbon monoxide: quantum Monte Carlo simulations and observed infrared spectra

The structures and rotational dynamics of clusters of a single carbon monoxide molecule solvated in para-hydrogen, (paraH(2))(N)-CO, have been simulated for sizes up to N=17 using the reptation Monte Carlo technique. The calculations indicate the presence of two series of R(0) rotational transitions with J=1<--0 for cold clusters, similar to those predicted and observed in the case of He(N)-CO. Infrared spectra of these clusters have been observed in the region of the C-O stretch ( approximately 2143 cm(-1)) in a pulsed supersonic jet expansion using a tunable diode laser probe. With the help of the calculations, the observed R(0) rotational transitions have been assigned up to N=9 for the b-type series and N=14 for the a-type series. Theory and experiment agree rather well, except that theory tends to overestimate the b-type energies. The (paraH(2))(12)-CO cluster is calculated to be particularly stable and (relatively) rigid, corresponding to completion of the first solvation shell, and it is observed to have the strongest a-type transition.     

Iron pentacarbonyl determination in carbon monoxide

Iron pentacarbonyl, Fe(CO)₅, was previously employed to calibrate the sealed inductively coupled plasma (SICP) for Fe in a 50% chlorine discharge. The same technique is used to determine Fe as Fe(CO)₅, one of the most important metallic compound impurities present, in carbon monoxide cylinders. Iron concentrations in various CO cylinders were determined directly by SICP in 30% (v/v) CO. Operating parameters including incident power and maximum tolerable CO and Cl₂ concentrations in the discharge were optimized. The detection limit for Fe(CO)₅ in CO was 0.18 μl l⁻¹ (172 ng absolute). Statistically similar results were obtained when Fe(CO)₅ content was determined by FTIR and SICP-AES. Two- and sevenfold increases in Fe(CO)₅ concentrations were observed over a 1-year period in two different carbon steel cylinders containing CO.     

Synthesis and properties of copolymers of ethylene/carbon monoxide with styrene/carbon monoxide

The terpolymerization of ethylene, styrene, and carbon monoxide was accomplished by two different palladium‐based catalysts: a phosphine‐based ligand system and a nitrogen‐based ligand system. The range of possible compositions and the composition dependence of the properties of the resulting polymers were determined. These polymers were essentially carbon monoxide versions of the ethylene styrene interpolymers recently presented by Dow. A comparison between the two families of polymers is attempted. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 752–757, 2000     

The mercury-sensitized oxidation of carbon monoxide

The mercury-photosensitized oxidation of CO was studied at 275°C over a wide range of [O₂]/[CO] ratios in the absence and presence of the oxygen atom scavenger 2-trifluoromethylpropene (TMP) and at 25°C at low [O₂]/[CO] ratios in the presence of TMP. By following the quantum yield of CO₂ production, Φ {CO₂}, as a function of the [O₂]/[CO] ratio, the reactions of vibrationally excited CO (v υ 9) and electronically excited O₂, probably in the c¹Σ^?_u state, were studied. At low [O₂]/[CO] ratios the predominant reactions are of vibrationally excited CO (v υ 9). Relative rate constants for chemical reaction versus deactivation of CO (v υ 9) were obtained. At higher [O₂]/[CO] ratios, the principal reactions are of electronically excited O₂. Relative rate constants for chemical reactions and deactivation of this electronically excited O₂ with CO, O₂, and TMP were obtained. From the effect of total pressure on Φ {CO₂}, it is proposed that an intermediate CO₃ is formed in the reaction of electronically excited O₂ with CO.