Oxidation-Induced Structural Alterations and Its Effect on Chaperone Function of Rat Lens α-Crystallin

An ascorbate-FeCl₃-EDTA-H₂O₂ system was used to oxidize rat lens α-crystallins. Under this oxidative insult, the chaperone activity of α-crystallin toward γ-crystallin was shown to decrease significantly, which is quite different from the result reported by Wang and Spector. (Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1995 , 36, 311-321.) Fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism were employed to characterize the structural changes of oxidized α-crystallin. It was found that fluorescence intensity of l-anilinonaphthalene-8-sul-phonate (ANS) bound to oxidized α-crystallin increased comparing to that bound to normal α-crystallin, suggesting oxidation causes the exposure of more hydrophobic regions. Further, α-crystallin's fluorescence intensity in response to tryptophan residues showed a pseudo first order decline. Amino acid analysis of normal versus oxidized α-crystallin confirmed actual decline in tryptophan levels, showing about 80% of tryptophan being modified after 10-hour oxidation. Circular dichroism showed both changes in the secondary and tertiary structures of oxidized α-crystallin, characterized by a large loss of aromatic-type amino acid interactions and a large loss of β-sheet structure. In conclusion, modified tryptophan, secondary and tertiary structural changes of α-crystallin correlate best with the reduction of chaperone function, the curves all showing a linear slope for 10 hours, then plateauing. These results indicate that the decrease of α-crystallin chaperone activity is attributed to the structural changes.     

THE MOLECULAR CHAPERONE FUNCTION OF α-CRYSTALLIN IS IMPAIRED BY UV PHOTOLYSIS

Buffer solutions of the lens protein γ-crystallin and the enzymes aldolase and liver alcohol dehydrogenase became turbid and formed solid precipitate upon exposure to an elevated temperature of 63°C or to UV radiation at 308 nm. When α-crystallin was added to the protein solutions in stoichiometric amounts, heat or UV irradiation did not cause turbidity, or turbidity developed much less rapidly than in the absence of α-crystallin. Hence, normal α-crystallin functioned as a molecular chaperone, providing protection against both UV and heat-induced protein aggregation. When α-crystallin was preirradiated with UV at 308 nm, its ability to function as a chaperone vis-a-vis both UV and heat-induced aggregation was significantly impaired, but only at relatively high UV doses. A major effect of preirradiation of α-crystallin was to cause interpeptide crosslinking among the αA₂ and αB₂ subunits of the α-crystallin macromolecule. In our experiments α-crystallin was exposed to UV doses, which resulted in 0, 50 and 90% crosslinking as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. α-Crystallin samples that were 50% and 90% crosslinked gave chaperone protection, which was increasingly impaired relative to unirradiated α-crystallin. The results are consistent with the notion that UV irradiation of α-crystallin results in loss of chaperone binding sites.     

Effect of the UV Modification of α-Crystallin on Its Ability to Suppress Nonspecific Aggregation

Recent studies have shown that structural modifications of α-crystallin during lens aging decrease it's effectiveness as a molecular chaperone. Some of these posttranslational modifications have been linked to UV radiation, and this study was undertaken to investigate the effect of UV irradiation on the ability of α-crystallin to suppress nonspecific aggregation. The effect of 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) was also investigated as a model for its glucoside (3-HKG), a main lens chromophore that has been linked to photochemical changes in the human lens. Alpha- and γ-crystallin solutions (1 mg/mL, 1:0.125 wt/wt) were photolyzed (transmission above 295 nm) for various time intervals. Thermal denaturation of γ-crystallin with or without α-crystallin was carried out at 70°C and increases in light scattering were measured at 360 nm. We found that (1) irradiation of γ-crystallin increased its susceptibility to heat-induced scattering. The addition of α-crystallin protects it against thermal denaturation, although its ability to do so decreases the longer γ-crystallin is irradiated and (2) irradiation of α-crystallin decreases its ability to suppress nonspecific aggregation and the presence of 3-HK during irradiation decreases it further. Our results indicate that posttranslational modifications of α-crystallin due to UV irradiation affect the sites and mechanisms by which it interacts with γ-crystallin. The kinetics of γ-crystallin unfolding during thermal denaturation were also analyzed. We found that a simple two state model applies for nonirradiated γ-crystallin. This model does not hold when γ-crystallin is irradiated in the presence or absence of α-crystallin. In these cases, two step or multistep mechanisms are more likely.     

Antibacterial and antioxidant properties of mixed linkage beta-oligosaccharides from extracted β-glucan hydrolysed by Penicillium occitanis EGL lichenase

The aim of this study was first to ascertain the chemical composition and the physicochemical properties of cereal extracted β-glucan from barley flour. Secondly, to assess the antioxidant properties and the antibacterial properties of extracted β-glucan hydrolysates. The proximate composition, FT-IR and scanning electron microscopy of extracted β-Glucan were studied. Hydrolysates from extracted β-glucan, obtained by lichenase EG_L from Penicillium occitanis, were a mixed linkage beta-oligosaccharides (MLBO) of trisaccharides and tetrasaccharides. MLBO showed a DPPH radical scavenger with IC50 about 1.8 ± 0.01 mg/mL whereas the IC50 of extracted β-glucan was about 5 ± 0.01 mg/mL. MLBO showed a high antioxidative capacity (175 μmol/mL α-tocopherol equivalents) at 5 mg/mL. The antimicrobial activity was confirmed against all tested bacteria especially at 20 mg/mL of MLBO while no inhibition was observed for all the strains used after the addition of either EG_L or extracted β-glucan.     

Chaperone Function of Rat Lens α-Crystallin

A solution of γ-crystallin became turbid upon beating at 65 °C for 30 minutes; however, addition of α-crystallin suppressed this thermal aggregation. It was found the effective chaperone function could be achieved with the molar ratio of α/γ greater than 1/20. In terms of crystallin subunit, five molecular α-crystallin subunits could afford chaperone for one molecular γ-crystallin. The gel filtration profile of the sample solution, containing α- and γ-crystallins and preincubation at 65 °C for 30 minutes, showed complex formation between α- and γ-crystallins, indicating α-crystallin was bound to thermally denatured γ-crystallin. A 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid (ANS) fluorescence study showed that α-crystallin has more hydrophobic regions exposed after thermal incubation. In the presence of urea, both the α-crystallin chaperone activity and the ANS fluorescence intensity decreased. Accordingly, hydrophobic regions of α-crystallin play an indispensible role in its chaperone activity.     

Comparative study of dielectric,mechanical, and nuclear magnetic relaxations of linear polyethylene. I. Broad-line NMR investigation of the fine structure of the α and γ loss bands observed by dielectric and mechanical measurements

Detailed investigation of the linewidth, second moment, and mobile fraction by straightline decomposition of NMR spectra of linear polyethylene from ca. ?160 to ca. 100°C reveals five molecular processes denoted γ₁, γ₂, β, α′, and α. Relaxation maps show that the γ₁, γ₂, and β processes correspond to the dielectric and mechanical relaxations given the same names, while the α and α′ processes correspond respectively to the mechanical α₂ process due to molecular motion in the interior of crystals and to the dielectric α process. Close relations are found between the mass fractions of protons for the γ₁ and β processes and also between those for the γ₂ and α′ processes. From the effects of diluent on these processes and the annealing-time dependence of mass fractions of protons, the γ₁, and β processes are attributed to two modes of molecular motion in an interlamellar amorphous region, while the γ₂ and α′ processes are attributed to motions in the lamellar surface layers. The surface-layer thickness obtained by applying the two-phase model for the data on mobile fraction agrees quite well with that reported in the literature. The Bergmann–Nawotki three-component analysis of NMR spectra and symmetric-line decomposition for determining mobile fraction are shown to be unsuitable for studying the fine structure of the α and γ loss bands.     

Electron-impact induced rearrangements in isomeric pyridine aldoximes

The mass spectra of α-, β- and γ-pyridine aldoximes and the respective O-methyl ethers were studied. The mass spectral behaviour of α-pyridine aldoxime is characterized by the elimination of NO, while the molecular ion of the γ-isomer expels H₂ CN. In the case of the β-isomer the formation of the m/e 67 ion (C₄H₅N) in a concerted process is the main feature. In the α-pyridine aldoxime methyl ether, in sharp contrast to the hydroxy analog, the M-30 peak was found to be due to the elimination of CH₂O, the expulsion of NO being absent. The mechanism of the fragmentation reactions is discussed, the conclusion drawn being based on the high resolution measurements as well as on the spectra of the respective deuterioanalogs and on the metastable transitions.     

High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Determination of the Metabolites of the Potato Glycoalkaloids, α-Chaconine and α-Solanine,in Potato Tubers and Potato Products

Abstract

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed to separate and quantify the metabolites, γ-chaconine, β₁-and β₂-chaconine, γ-solanine and β₂-solanine, of the potato gly-coalkaloids α-chaconine and α-solanine in potatoes and potato products. A carbohydrate analysis column and a solvent system of tetrahydrofuran-water-acetonitrile (55:8:37) were employed for the separation. Flow rate was 1.1 ml/min and the compounds were monitored at 215 nm. β₂-chaconine (0.63 mg to 29.75 mg/100 g dried weight) was present in all samples whereas the other glycosides of α-chaconine were only detectable in the animal feed products. It appears that some of the animal feeds may contain trace amounts of γ-solanine and an unknown which maybe β₁-solanine. Limit of detection for all glycosides was 0.05 μg/μl. Elution time for all the lower glycosides of α-chaconine was 8 min versus 16 min for the α-solanine group. These metabolic compounds were confirmed using thin-layer chromatography.     

Peptide models XVI. The identification of selected HCO—L—SER—NH2 conformers via a systematic grid search using ab initio potential energy surfaces

Multidimensional conformational analysis (MDCA) predicted the existence of nine stable backbone conformations (α_L, α_D, β_L, γ_L, γ_D, δ_L, δ_D, ϵ_L, and ϵ_D) on the 2D-Ramachandran map, E = E(ϕ, ψ), for a single amino acid diamide (HCONH-CHR-CONH₂). The potential energy hypersurfaces (E = E[ϕ, ψ, χ₁, χ₂]) of For-L-Ser-NH₂ associated with the α_L-, bgr;_L-, γ_L-, δ_L-, and ϵ_L-type stable backbone orientations are investigated in this article. An appropriate number of side-chain rotamers is associated with each of the backbone conformers. In the case of serine, where R = −CH₂OH, the two sidechain torsional angles (χ₁, χ₂) should lead to 3 * 3 = 9 different sidechain orientations according to MDCA. For certain backbone structures, some of the sidechain conformations were nonexistent. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermal decomposition of managanese oxyhydroxide

Temperature-programmed thermal decomposition of γ- and α-manganese oxyhydroxide has been studied between 20 and 670°C under vacuum and under a low pressure (10 Torr) of oxygen. Solid products at various temperatures have been analyzed by X-ray diffractometry. Under vacuum γ-MnOOH decomposed below 400°C to a mixture of Mn₅O₈, α-Mn₃O₄, and water according to the reaction scheme: 8MnOOH → Mn₅O₈ + Mn₃O₄ + 4H₂O. Above this temperature Mn₅O₈ was converted to α-Mn₃O₄ as a result of oxygen removal. The vacuum dehydration at 250°C of oxyhydroxide rich in α-MnOOH led to the formation of a new modification of Mn₂O₃ isostructural with corundum (α-Al₂O₃). In oxygen both oxyhydroxides decomposed to β-MnO₂. γ-MnOOH transformed directly to β-MnO₂ while α-MnOOH appeared to transform via corundum-phase Mn₂O₃ as an intermediate.     

Effect of alkaline earth metal dopants on the thermal decomposition of the CaCO3-SiO2 system: Part II. Formation of dicalcium silicate

Mixtures of calcium oxide (taken as carbonate) and silica in 2:1 molar ratio containing varying amounts of MgO, SrCO₃ and BaCO₃ as dopants were subjected to thermal treatment up to 1450°C. The exothermic peaks at 1200°C and above (beyond the decomposition temperature of calcium carbonate) have been examined to elucidate the phases formed. The exothermic peak at 1210°C without dopant was found to conform to the β-dicalcium silicate phase with a significant amount of free lime and cristobalite along with small amounts of the γ-C₂S phase. MgO at 0.1–1% leads to the formation of β- and γ-dicalcium silicate phases at 1420–1430°C, while 5% MgO results in the formation of the β-C₂ S phase at 1360°C. SrCO₃, in the concentration range studied, leads to the stabilization of β-C₂S, but does not lower its temperature of formation. BaCO₃ at 0.1–1% assists in the formation of the β-dicalcium silicate phase, but 5% BaO forms a mixture of β- and α'_H-C₂S phases at a lower temperature.     

Alpha-Acylation and -allylation of β,β,β-trifluoropropionic esters via the ketene silyl acetals

α-Acylation of the ketene silyl acetal of methyl β,β,β-trifluoropropionate and α-allylation via the ester enolate Claisen rearrangement of the 2-alkenyl trifluoropropionates are described which provide the corresponding α-CF₃ β-ketoesters and α-CF₃ γ,δ-unsaturated acids, respectively.     

Cyanato-Kupfer(II)-Komplexe mit organischen Liganden. XV. Verschiedene Koordinationen und Kristallformen der Cyanato-Kupfer(II)-Komplexe mit Urotropin

Cyanato-Copper(II) Complexes with Organic Ligands. XV. Various Coordinations and Crystal Forms of Cyanato-Copper(II) Complexes with Urotropine Four forms of the compound Cu(NCO)₂(urt) · 2 H₂O (α, β, γ, δ) and two forms of the compound Cu(NCO)₂(urt) (α, β) (urt = urotropine) were prepared and studied by X-ray powder technique, as well as by other physical methods. The obtained results indicate that in all the compounds Cu(II) atoms are bridged by bidentate urotropine molecules and bonded always with two nitrogen atoms of NCO groups. The γ- and δ-ihydrate show a pseudotetrahedral configuration, other compounds are five- or sixcoordinate owing to bridging function of NCO groups. Water in the dihydrates is hydrogen bonded in the crystal structure. The crystal structures of α- and β- like γ-and δ-ihydrates are very similar; the last two may be regarded as distortion isomers.     

Gamma-cyclodextrin on enhancement of water solubility and store stability of nystatin

The water solubility of nystatin was found enhanced by forming inclusion complex with gamma-cyclodextrin (γ-CD). Further discovery of a pleased surprise showed that the phase solubility curves of nystatin in β- and γ-CD aqueous solution were A_L type, while B_S type for α-CD, indicating 1:1 inclusion complexes were formed between β-CD, γ-CD and nystatin, but no inclusion complexes for α-CD, in addition, CDs with much larger ring would be more suitable for forming inclusion complexes with macrolide antibiotics. The aqueous solubility of nystatin in γ-CD solution was investigated increased with γ-CD concentration increasing. At the concentration of 24 g/100 ml for γ-CD aqueous solution, which is near to the saturated solution, water solubility of nystatin was found to be 104 μg/ml, which was 103 folds over original nystatin. Inclusion constants for γ-CD–nystatin complexes were 0.539 l/mmol, which is larger than that of β-CD–nystatin complex (0.375 l/mmol). The inclusion complex of γ-CD with nystatin was prepared and detected by infrared spectrum, results showing that the ester linkage and diene were included in the cavity of CDs, while conjugate arachidonic, carboxyl and amino group were left outside of CDs. Storing experiment showed that forming of the inclusion complexes greatly enhanced the stability of nystatin against light and oxygen.     

Synthese von diastereo- und enantio-selektiv deuterierten β,ε-, β,β-, β,γ- und γ,γ-Carotinen

Synthesis of Diastereo- and Enantioselectively Deuterated β,ε-, β,β-, β,γ- and γ,γ-Carotenes We describe the synthesis of (1′R, 6′S)-[16′, 16′, 16′-²H₃]-β, εcarotene, (1R, 1′R)-[16, 16, 16, 16′, 16′, 16′-²H₆]-β, β-carotene, (1′R, 6′S)-[16′, 16′, 16′-²H₃]-γ, γ-carotene and (1R, 1′R, 6S, 6′S)-[16, 16, 16, 16′, 16′, 16′-²H₆]-γ, γ-carotene by a multistep degradation of (4R, 5S, 10S)-[18, 18, 18-²H₃]-didehydroabietane to optically active deuterated β-, ε- and γ-C₁₁-endgroups and subsequent building up according to schemes \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm C}_{11} \to {\rm C}_{14}^{C_{\mathop {26}\limits_ \to }} \to {\rm C}_{40} $\end{document} and C₁₁ → C₁₄; C₁₄+C₁₂+C₁₄→C₄₀. NMR.- and chiroptical data allow the identification of the geminal methyl groups in all these compounds. The optical activity of all-(E)-[²H₆]-β,β-carotene, which is solely due to the isotopically different substituent not directly attached to the chiral centres, is demonstrated by a significant CD.-effect at low temperature. Therefore, if an enzymatic cyclization of [17, 17, 17, 17′, 17′, 17′-²H₆]lycopine can be achieved, the steric course of the cyclization step would be derivable from NMR.- and CD.-spectra with very small samples of the isolated cyclic carotenes. A general scheme for the possible course of the cyclization steps is presented.     

Direct palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylations of alcohols with enamines: Synthesis of homoallyl ketones

An efficient, direct nucleophilic allylic substitution of α-, β- and γ-substituted alcohols with enamines, using the Pd(OAc)_2/PPh₃ catalyst system and ZnBr₂ as a promoter in CH₂Cl₂ at reflux, is reported. The reaction course was dependent on the steric hindrance at the α- or γ-positions with respect to the functionalized α-carbon, selectively affording in moderate to good yields, α- or γ-homoallyl ketones, the so-called “linear” and “branched” products, respectively.     

Inductive Charge Dispersal in Quinuclidinium Ions. Polar Effects,Part 13

Inductive charge dispersal to the α- β- and γ-positions of the solvated quinuclidinium ion has been examined by comparing the pK_a and the derived inductivities ρ_I of several 2- 3- and 4-substituted quinuclidinium perchlorates 4, 5 , and 6 , respectively. The same inductivity is observed at the practically equidistant β- and γ-positions. It, therefore, appears that polar substituent effects are transmitted directly through the molecule. As expected, inductivity is considerably higher at the α-positions where through-bond and direct induction coincide. The fact that the pK_a of all three series of salts correlate linearly with each other points to the common nature of these inductive electron displacements.     

Comparison and correlation of in vitro, in vivo and in silico evaluations of alpha, beta and gamma cyclodextrin complexes of curcumin

In the present study investigated the effect of curcumin (CUR) alpha (α), beta (β) and gamma (γ) cyclodextrin (CD) complexes on its solubility and bioavailability. CUR the active principle of turmeric is a natural antioxidant agent with potent anti-inflammatory activity along with chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive properties. Poor solubility and poor oral bioavailability are the main reasons which preclude CUR use in therapy. Extent of complexation was β-CD complex (82 %) > γ-CD (71 %) > α-CD (65 %). Pulverization method resulted in significant enhancement of CUR (0.002 mg/ml) solubility with CUR α-CD complex (0.364 mg/ml) > CUR β-CD complex (0.186 mg/ml) > CUR γ-CD complex (0.068 mg/ml). Gibbs-free energy and in silico molecular docking studies favour formation of α-CD complex > β-CD complex > γ-CD complex. With reference to CUR, relative bioavailability of CUR α-CD, CUR β-CD and CUR γ-CD complexes were 460, 365 and 99 % respectively. CUR–CD complexes exhibited increased bioavailability with an increase in t_½, tmax, Cmax, AUC, Ka, and MRT; and a decrease in Ke, clearance and Vd values. AUC increase was CUR α-CD complex > CUR β-CD complex > CUR γ-CD complex. Significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed between CUR α-CD complex and CUR γ-CD complex by one-way ANOVA and Dunnett’s post hoc test for multiple comparison analysis. Correlation observed between in vitro, in vivo and in silico methods indicates potential of in silico and in vitro methods in CD selection.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic investigation of adducts of diorgano tin(IV) dichloride

Adducts of bis-p-biphenyl tin(IV) dichloride of types (p-C₆H₅-C₆H₄)₂SnCl₂·2L and (p-C₆H₅-C₆H₄)₂SnCl₂·L₁ (where 2L = pyridine, piperidine, α-, β- or γ-picolines, isoquinoline or morpholine and L₁ = 2,2′-bipyridine or 1,10 phenanthroline) have been prepared by the reaction of bis-p-biphenyl tin(IV) dichloride with the corresponding ligand in 1:2 and 1:1 molar ratios in acetone. IR, ¹H NMR and Mössbauer studies indicate that the biphenyl group occupies in the trans position, except in morpholine, where it is in the cis position.     

Biodegradation of α-, β-, and γ-Hexachlorocyclohexane by Arthrobacter fluorescens and Arthrobacter giacomelloi

The organochlorine pesticide γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH, lindane) and its non-insecticidal isomers α-, β-, and δ- continue to pose serious environmental and health concerns, although their use has been restricted or completely banned for decades. The present study reports the first results on the ability of two Arthrobacter strains, not directly isolated from a HCH-polluted site, to grow in a mineral salt medium containing α-, β-, or γ-HCH (100 mg?l^?1) as sole source of carbon. Growth of cultures and HCHs degradation by Arthrobacter fluorescens and Arthrobacter giacomelloi were investigated after 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 days of incubation by enumerating colony forming units and GC with ECD detection, respectively. Both bacteria are able to metabolize the HCHs: A. giacomelloi is the most effective one, as after 72 h of incubation it produces 88 % degradation of α-, 60 % of β-, and 56 % of γ-HCH. The formation of possible persistent compounds was studied by GC/MS and by HPLC analysis. Pentachlorocyclohexenes and tetrachlorocyclohexenes have been detected as metabolites, which are almost completely eliminated after 72 h of incubation, while no phenolic compounds were found.