Bilirubin as an antioxidant: kinetic studies of the reaction of bilirubin with peroxyl radicals in solution, micelles, and lipid bilayers

Bilirubin (BR) showed very weak antioxidant activity in a nonpolar medium of styrene or cumene in chlorobenzene. In contrast, BR exhibited strong antioxidant activity in polar media such as aqueous lipid bilayers or SDS micelles/methyl linoleate (pH 7.4), where the rate with peroxyl radicals, k(inh) = 5.0 x 10(4) M(-)(1) s(-)(1), was comparable to that with vitamin E analogues, Trolox, or PMHC. An electron-transfer mechanism accounts for the effect of the medium on the antioxidant properties of BR.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of the chain-breaking antioxidant activity of ascorbic acid derivatives in non-aqueous media

Ascorbic acid (vit. C) is a cofactor whose reactivity toward peroxyl and other radical species has a key-role in its biological function. At physiological pH it is dissociated to the corresponding anion. Derivatives of ascorbic acid, like ascorbyl palmitate, are widely employed in food or in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. While the aqueous chemistry of ascorbate has long been investigated, in non-aqueous media it is largely unexplored. In this work oxygen-uptake kinetics, EPR and computational methods were combined to study the reaction of peroxyl radicals with two lipid-soluble derivatives: ascorbyl palmitate and 5,6-isopropylidene-l-ascorbic acid in non-aqueous solvents. In acetonitrile at 303 K the undissociated AscH(2) form of the two derivatives trapped peroxyl radicals with k(inh) of (8.4 ± 1.0) × 10(4) M(-1) s(-1), with stoichiometric factor of ca. 1 and isotope effect k(H)/k(D) = 3.0 ± 0.6, while in the presence of bases the anionic AscH(-) form had k(inh) of (5.0 ± 3.3) × 10(7) M(-1) s(-1). Reactivity was also enhanced in the presence of acetic acid and the mechanism is discussed. The difference in reactivity between the AscH(2)/AscH(-) forms was paralleled by a difference in O-H bond dissociation enthalpy, which was determined by EPR equilibrations as 81.0 ± 0.4 and 72.2 ± 0.4 kcal mol(-1) respectively for AscH(2) and AscH(-) in tert-butanol at 298 K. Gas-phase calculations for the neutral/anionic forms were in good agreement yielding 80.1/69.0 kcal mol(-1) using B3LYP/6-31+g(d,p) and 79.0/67.8 kcal mol(-1) at CBS-QB3 level. EPR spectra of ascorbyl palmitate in tBuOH consisted of a doublet with HSC = 0.45 G centred at g = 2.0050 for the neutral radical AscH˙ and a doublet of triplets with HSCs of 1.85 G, 0.18 G and 0.16 G centred at g = 2.0054 for Asc˙(-) radical anion.     

Puroindoline-a, a lipid binding protein from common wheat, spontaneously forms prolate protein micelles in solution

The self-assembly in solution of puroindoline-a (Pin-a), an amphiphilic lipid binding protein from common wheat, was investigated by small angle neutron scattering, dynamic light scattering and size exclusion chromatography. Pin-a was found to form monodisperse prolate ellipsoidal micelles with a major axial radius of 112 ± 4.5 ? and minor axial radius of 40.4 ± 0.18 ?. These protein micelles were formed by the spontaneous self-assembly of 38 Pin-a molecules in solution and were stable over a wide pH range (3.5-11) and at elevated temperatures (20-65 °C). Pin-a micelles could be disrupted upon addition of the non-ionic surfactant dodecyl-β-maltoside, suggesting that the protein self-assembly is driven by hydrophobic forces, consisting of intermolecular interactions between Trp residues located within a well-defined Trp-rich domain of Pin-a.     

Kinetic studies on the oxidation of uranium(IV) in nitric acid solution

The kinetics of oxidation of U(IV) in nitric acid solution by nitrous acid and air oxygen have been studied. The effects of concentrations of U(IV), nitric acid, hydrogen ion and nitrous acid in aqueous solution or oxygen in gas on the oxidation rate have been examined. The oxidation rate increases with increasing temperature and the activation energies are 47 kJ mol^–1 for nitrous acid and 91 kJ mol^–1 for oxygen. The mechanisms for both oxidation reactions are discussed.     

在十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)溶液中水杨酸酯水解反应动力学 研究

应用UV-vis法,在不同温度条件下,对水杨酸酯(丁酯、苯酯)在CTAB溶液中的水解反应进行跟踪,测定了不同浓度的表面活性剂存在下的反应速率常数,得出CTAB对其反应是禁阻作用。通过温度对其反应速率影响,计算它们的反应活化能。并用^1HNMR方法,确定了反应物在CTAB胶束中的增溶位置,对禁阻的机理进行了探讨。     

Remarks on the geometry of micelles, bilayers and cell membranes

Starting from simple geometric properties of parallel surfaces, it is suggested that bilayers, and also monolayers, present two spontaneous principal curvatures gamma and gamma , so that a narrow disc of freely deformable bilayer might adopt either a 'saddle' shape, or a 'hat' shape, or a cylindrical shape. Besides the usually considered spontaneous splay c0 = gamma + gamma , there is also a spontaneous gaussian curvature g0= gammagamma , with noticeable effects in strongly curved bilayers. An excess of area of the median hydrophobic level with respect to the mean area occupied by the two hydrophilic layers creates a saddle shape, whereas a deficit leads to a hat shape, the equality corresponding to a cylindrical shape. The usual two layers theory of the spontaneous curvature seems to be improved by considering the role of a median layer. We have tried to illustrate this new point of view by many examples. Due to their asymmetry, monolayers and cell membranes give rise to micelles and vesicles of comparable geometries, but of very different sizes. At the considered scales, a term of order higher than quadratic, such as kt(cc- gammagamma )2, seems to be necessary in the expression of the elastic energy.     

Deuterium-labelled N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones (AHLs)--inter-kingdom signalling molecules--synthesis, structural studies, and interactions with model lipid membranes

N-Acyl-l-homoserine lactones (AHLs) are synthesized by Gram-negative bacteria. These quorum-sensing molecules play an important role in the context of bacterial infection and biofilm formation. They also allow communication between microorganisms and eukaryotic cells (inter-kingdom signalling). However, very little is known about the entire mechanism of those interactions. Precise structural studies are required to analyse the different AHL isomers as only one form is biologically most active. Theoretical studies combined with experimental infrared and Raman spectroscopic data are therefore undertaken to characterise the obtained compounds. To mimic interactions between AHL and cell membranes, we studied the insertion of AHL in supported lipid bilayers, using vibrational sum-frequency-generation spectroscopy. Deuterium-labelled AHLs were thus synthesized. Starting from readily available deuterated fatty acids, a two-step procedure towards deuterated N-acyl-l-homoserine lactones with varying chain lengths is described. This included the acylation of Meldrum’s acid followed by amidation. Additionally, the detailed analytical evaluation of the products is presented herein.     

Self-assembled,wormlike-cylinder network of polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) micelles in solution

We report the formation of a highly entangled and interconnected, self-assembled, wormlike-cylinder network of polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) in N, N-dimethylformamide/water. In this system, N,N-dimethylformamide was a common solvent and water was a selective solvent for the poly(ethylene oxide) blocks. The degrees of polymerization of the polystyrene and poly(ethylene oxide) blocks were 962 and 227, respectively. The network was formed at copolymer concentrations higher than 0.4 wt % and consisted of self-assembled, wormlike cylinders that were interconnected by Y-shaped, T-shaped, and multiple junctions. The network morphology was visualized with transmission electron microscopy. Capillary viscometry measurements revealed an order-of-magnitude increase in the inherent viscosity of the colloidal system upon the formation of the network. A similar effort to obtain a wormlike-cylinder network in an N,N-dimethylformamide/acetonitrile system, in which acetonitrile was a selective solvent for the poly(ethylene oxide) blocks, was unsuccessful even at high copolymer concentrations; instead, the wormlike cylinders showed a tendency to align. The viscosity measurements also did not show a substantial increase in the inherent viscosity. Thus, the solvent played a critical role in determining the formation of the self-assembled, wormlike-cylinder network. This formation of the network resulted from an interplay between the end-capping energy, bending energy (curvature), and configurational entropy of the self-assembled, wormlike-cylinder micelles that minimized the free energy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3605–3611, 2006     

Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) dinuclear metal complexes with an aza-phenolic ligand: crystal structures,magnetic properties,and solution studies

The basicity behavior and ligational properties of the ligand 2-((bis(aminoethyl)amino)methyl)phenol (L) toward Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) ions were studied by means of potentiometric measurements in aqueous solution (298.1 +/- 0.1 K, l = 0.15 mol dm-3). The anionic L-H- species can be obtained in strong alkaline solution; this species behaves as tetraprotic base (log K1 = 11.06, log K2 = 9.85, log K3 = 8.46, log K4 = 2.38). L forms mono- and dinuclear complexes in aqueous solution with all the transition metal ions examined; the dinuclear species show a [M2(L-H)2]2+ stoichiometry in which the ligand/metal ratio is 2:2. The studies revealed that two mononuclear [ML-H]+ species self-assemble, giving the dinuclear complexes, which can be easily isolated from the aqueous solution due to their low solubility. This behavior is ascribed to the fact that L does not fulfill the coordination requirement of the ion in the mononuclear species and to the capacity of the phenolic oxygen, as phenolate, to bridge two metal ions. All three dinuclear species were characterized by determining their crystal structures, which showed similar coordination patterns, where all the single metal ions are substantially coordinated by three amine functions and two oxygen atoms of the phenolate moieties. The two metals in the dinuclear complexes are at short distance interacting together as shown by magnetic measurements performed with Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes, which revealed an antiferromagnetic coupling between the two metal ions. The [Cu2(L-H)2]2+ cation shows a phase transition occurring by the temperature between 100 and 90 K; the characterization of the compounds existing at different temperatures was investigated using X-ray single-crystal diffraction, EPR, and magnetic measurements.     

Photodimerisation of glycothymidines in solution and in micelles

Glycothymidines were designed and synthesized as a new class of functional glycomimetics in which a photochemical [2+2] cycloaddition of the thymine moiety induces structural changes of carbohydrate presentation. To test if photodimerisation of these glycothymidines is feasible within an array of molecules, the photochemical reaction was investigated using NMR and NMR diffusion experiments in solution as well as in the supramolecular context of detergent micelles that mimic cellular membranes.     

Synthesis, characterization, antioxidant activity, and DNA-binding studies of 1-cyclohexyl-3-tosylurea and its Nd(III), Eu(III) complexes

A new ligand, 1-cyclohexyl-3-tosylurea (H(2)L), was prepared by condensation ethyl N-(3-tossulfonyl) carbamate and cyclohexanamine. Its two lanthanide(III) complexes, Ln(H(2)L)(3) . 3NO(3) [Ln=Nd (1), and Eu (2)], have been synthesized and characterized on the base of element analyses, ESI-MS, molar conductivities, IR spectra and thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA). In addition, the DNA-binding properties of the ligand and its complexes have been investigated by electronic absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroic (CD) spectroscopy and viscosity measurements. The experiment results suggest that the ligand and its two complexes bind to DNA via a groove binding mode, and the binding affinity of the complex 2 is higher than that of the complex 1 and the ligand. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity (superoxide and hydroxyl radical) of the ligand and its metal complexes was determined by using spectrophotometer methods in vitro. These complexes were found to possess potent antioxidant activity and be better than standard antioxidants like vitamin C and mannitol. In particular, complex 2 displayed excellent activity on the superoxide and hydroxyl radical.     

Inclusion-mediated lipid organization in supported membranes on a patterned substrate

We theoretically investigate the effects of inclusions on the domain formation in mixed lipid bilayers supported on a geometrically patterned substrate. It is found that the inclusions may distribute quite differently with varying volume fraction and size of inclusions. The distribution of inclusions will effectively change the spontaneous curvature of the inclusion-rich lipid domains, and consequently can sort the lipid domains in the supported bilayers. By varying the volume fraction and size of inclusions, we obtain a rich variety of laterally organized lipid bilayers and reveal some interesting transitions between these structures. The present model provides a possible strategy to control the domain formation in the supported membranes, and may yield some theoretical insight into the design of biosensors by the reorganization of lipids and inclusions.     

Structure and mobility of lipid membranes on a thermoplastic substrate

Supported lipid membranes constitute one of the most important model systems for cell membranes. The properties of lipid membranes supported by the hydrophobic solid polymer cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) were investigated. Lipid layers consisting of varying amounts of 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP, cationic) and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC, neutral) prepared by vesicle fusion and solvent exchange were compared. All lipid mixtures coated the COC surface homogeneously forming a fluid membrane as verified by fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). The exact structure of the supported membranes was determined by synchrotron reflectivity experiments using a microfluidic chamber. The X-ray data are in agreement with a compressed (head-to-head distance = 29 angstroms) and less densely packed bilayer.     

376 - Relaxation studies on cell membranes and lipid bilayers in the high electric field range

Charge pulse experiments were performed on cells of the giant alga Valonia utricularis and on lipid bilayer membranes. For low electric fields (in the order of 100 mV) the resulting membrane voltage U_m is a linear function of the injected charge. For high voltages U_m (in the order of one volt) the relation between injected charge Q and resulting voltage U_m is no longer seen for both systems and a state of high conductance is observed without mechanical damage of the membranes. Because of the high conductance the membranes cannot be charged to voltages higher than a critical one, which is denoted as breakdown voltage U_t.The breakdown voltage U_c was found to be a function of the charging time needed to obtain breakdown. In the experiments with cells of Valonia utricularis, where presumably the breakdown occurs in both tonoplast and plasmalemma membrane, the breakdown voltage varies at 18 °C between 2.4 V (charging time 800 ns) and 750 mV (charging time 500 μs). A similar pulse length dependence was also found for lipid bilayer membranes. Between 300 ns and 5 μs at 25 °C and between 100 ns and 2 μs at 40 °C, U_c showed a strong dependence on charging time of the membrane and decreased from 1.2 V to 0.5 V (25 °C) and from 1 to 0.4 V (40 °C). For other charging times below and above these ranges the breakdown voltage seemed to be constant. The results indicate that the breakdown phenomenon occurs in less than 10 ns. The pulse length dependence of the breakdown voltage found for both cell membrane and lipid bilayer is consistent with the electro-mechanical model proposed earlier. However, it seems possible that at short charging times (where the breakdown voltage reaches a plateau) other processes (involving the Born energy) become possible.     

Polystyrene-block-polyglycidol micelles cross-linked with titanium tetraisopropoxide. laser light and small-angle X-ray scattering studies on their formation in solution

Hybrid micelles from polystyrene-block-polyglycidol (PS-b-PG) copolymers with chemically cross-linked cores by titanium tetraisopropoxide (Ti(OC(3)H(7))(4)) were prepared in toluene solution. Additionally, micellization of PS-b-PG copolymers with different mass fractions of polyglycidol (x(PG)), was studied by static and dynamic light scattering as well as small-angle X-ray scattering. It was observed that copolymers with x(PG) smaller than 0.5 self-assembled in toluene into spherical core-shell micelles with hydrodynamic radii R(h) between 12 and 23 nm. On the other hand, copolymers with larger PG content formed particles with R(h) = 50-70 nm and aggregation numbers of several thousands. The presence of these aggregates in solution was attributed to the nonequilibrated form of block copolymers upon dissolving, most probably due to hydrogen bonding. In the following, spherical PS-b-PG micelles were loaded in toluene with hydrochloric acid and titanium tetraisopropoxide. Confined hydrolysis of Ti(OC(3)H(7))(4) induced by HCl in the micellar core was confirmed by small-angle X-ray scattering experiments. The subsequent condensation of the precursor with hydroxyl groups of polyglycidol chains led to covalently stabilized hybrid organic-inorganic particles. The presence of cross-linked PS-b-PG micelles was proven in two ways. First, micelles with "frozen" core showed stable hydrodynamic size in time upon dilution below critical micellization concentration while non-cross-linked PS-b-PG micelles underwent disintegration under the same conditions within several hours. Second, light scattering experiments revealed the presence of stable, swollen particles in N,N-dimethylformamide, which is a good solvent for both blocks.     

Kinetic studies on the stripping of thorium (IV) and uranium (IV) from tributylphosphate-kerosene with dilute nitric acid solution

The cold solution of a pyrophosphate kit was prepared and dispensed into 2-ml fractions which were stored at −20°C for one week. The solution was prepared by using two protection methods. The first was nitrogen purging to exclude air and the second one the addition of the well known antioxydant ascorbic acid. The aim was to determine the stability of^99mTc(Sn)-PyP obtained by labeling these fractions prepared under the given experimental conditions. The content of^99mTc-pertechnetate in the unprotected samples raises with time. Nitrogen purging provides some protection but already after a few days the content of pertechnetate exceeds 5%. The addition of ascorbic acid gave good results. The content of pertechnetate was 1–2% after seven days in the presence of 50 μg of acid per ml of the cold kit.     

Fluorescence properties of a potential antitumoral benzothieno[3,2-b]pyrrole in solution and lipid membranes

Fluorescence properties of the antitumoral methyl 3-(benzo[b]thien-2-yl)-benzothieno[3,2-b]pyrrole-2-carboxylate (BTP) were studied in solution and in lipid bilayers of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) and egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (Egg-PC). BTP presents good fluorescence quantum yields in all solvents studied (0.20 ≤ Φ_F ≤ 0.32) and a bathochromic shift in polar solvents. The results indicate an ICT character of the excited state, with an estimated dipole moment of μ_e = 7.38 D.Fluorescence (steady-state) anisotropy measurements of BTP incorporated in lipid membranes of DPPC, DOPE and Egg-PC indicate that this compound is deeply located in the lipid bilayer, feeling the difference between the rigid gel phase and fluid phases.BTP inhibits the growth of three human tumour cell lines, MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), SF-268 (glioma) and NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer), being significantly more potent against the NCI-H460 tumour cells.