Virus Particles Monitored by Fluorescence Spectroscopy: A Potential Detection Assay for Macromolecular Assembly¶

Native fluorescence spectroscopy was used for in situ investigations of two lipid‐containing bacteriophages from the cystovirus family as well as their Pseudomonad host cells. Both the viruses φ6 and φ12 and their bacterial host proteins contain the amino acid tryptophan (trp), which is the predominant fluorophore in UV. Within proteins, trp's structural environment differs, and the differences are reflected in their spectroscopic signatures. It was observed that the peak of the trp emission from both viruses was at 330 nm, a significantly shorter wavelength than trp in either the Pseudomonad host cells or the amino acid's chemical form. This allowed us to monitor the viral attachment process and subsequent lytic release of progeny virus particles by measurement of the trp emission spectra during the infection process. This work demonstrates that fluorescence may offer a novel tool to detect viruses and monitor viral infection of cells and may be part of a biodefense application.     

Microstructure evolution during severe plastic deformation

Radiotracer diffusion studies of severely deformed, ultra-fine grained materials have revealed the presence of ultra-fast transport paths, which include “non-equilibrium” grain boundaries and free volume. Under some experimental conditions, percolating porosity is produced even in pure copper. Micro-cracks may form in metals, if the local maximum shear stress exceeds the shear yield stress. However, their growth and propagation is postponed till late in the deformation process owing to the ductility of metals, the hydrostatic component of the stress system and/or dynamic recovery/recrystallization. In other words, crack growth and propagation is present only when the scope for further deformation is highly restricted. Using this approach, the load required for equal channel angular pressing, the change in the slope of the Hall–Petch plot with decreasing grain size and the theoretical limit for the smallest grain size attainable in a metal in a severe plastic deformation process are predicted and validated by experimental results. Experimentally successful prevention of percolated crack formation by the superposition of a hydrostatic pressure is also accounted for using this model.     

Structure and reactivity of peroxide monomers

The reactivity of both the peroxide (2-tert-butylperoxy-2-methyl-5-hexene-3-yne) and hydroperoxide (2-hydroperoxy-2-methyl-5-hexene-3-yne) monomers in the radical copolymerization was compared. Using the Alfrey-Price Q and e scheme, Hammett correlations, and MNDO quantum-chemical model it was shown that both peroxy- and hydroperoxyisopropylic substituents pronounce a similar positive effect of hyperconjugation. Despite that these monomers showed different reactivity due to the ability of the hydroperoxide monomer to form complexes with protonoacceptors. IR spectroscopy was employed for the evaluation of energies of hydrogen bonds and equilibrium constants. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis of 4-polyfluoroalkyl-1,3-dithiolanes via [3+2] cycloaddition of thiocarbonyl ylide to polyfluoroalkanethioamides

Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds - New 4-polyfluoroalkyl-1,3-dithiolanes were synthesized by reaction of polyfluoroalkanethioamides with thiocarbonyl ylide that was generated in situ by...     

Homogenization in the Theory of Viscoplasticity

We study the homogenization of the quasistatic initial boundary value problem with internal variables which models the deformation behavior of viscoplastic bodies with a periodic microstructure. This problem is represented through a system of linear partial differential equations coupled with a nonlinear system of differential equations or inclusions. Recently it was shown by Alber [2] that the formally derived homogenized initial boundary value problem has a solution. From this solution we construct an asymptotic solution for the original problem and prove that the difference of the exact solution and the asymptotic solution tends to zero if the lengthscale of the microstructure goes to zero. The work is based on monotonicity properties of the differential equations or inclusions. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

An artificial beta-sheet that dimerizes through parallel beta-sheet interactions

This Article introduces a simple chemical model of a beta-sheet (artificial beta-sheet) that dimerizes by parallel beta-sheet formation in chloroform solution. The artificial beta-sheet consists of two N-terminally linked peptide strands that are linked with succinic or fumaric acid and blocked along one edge with a hydrogen-bonding template composed of 5-aminoanisic acid hydrazide. The template is connected to one of the peptide strands by a turn unit composed of (S)-2-aminoadipic acid (Aaa). 1H NMR spectroscopic studies show that these artificial beta-sheets fold in CDCl3 solution to form well-defined beta-sheet structures that dimerize through parallel beta-sheet interactions. Most notably, all of these compounds show a rich network of NOEs associated with folding and dimerization. The compounds also exhibit chemical shifts and coupling constants consistent with the formation of folded dimeric beta-sheet structures. The aminoadipic acid unit shows patterns of NOEs and coupling constants consistent with a well-defined turn conformation. The present system represents a significant step toward modeling the type of parallel beta-sheet interactions that occur in protein aggregation.     

Electrodeposition of Ni–Fe alloy from a choline chloride-containing ionic liquid

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - The electrochemical deposition of a nickel–iron alloy from a plating solution based on a deep eutectic solvent (a eutectic mixture of ethylene glycol...     

Bioactive constituents of Iris hybrida (Iridaceae): Processing effect

Iris genus plants are a valuable source of bioactive compounds, which are an important component for pharmaceutical development. The present article shows the potential for mineral nutrition with application of magnesium sulfate, iron chelates and potassium oxide affecting the phenolic compound contents in Iris hybrida ‘Tsikavynka’, I. hybrida ‘Tambo’ and I. hybridа ‘Widecombe Fire’. The effect of mineral processing was specific to plant organs and varied in the component composition. The Iris rhizomes had an increased total phenolic compound content after treatment (up to 10% of the total isoflavonoid content, up to 8% of phenolic acids, up to 5% of γ-pyrones and up to 13% of flavonoids), determined using UV–vis spectroscopy. A positive effect of nutrition on the biosynthesis and content of individual isoflavonoids (tectoridin, nigricin d -glucoside, genistin, iristectorigenin B, nigricin, irigenin and irisolidone) and xanthone mangiferin in Iris rhizomes by HPLC was established. In addition, an increase in the chlorogenic acid amount in Iris leaves was noted. The results demonstrate the sensitivity of Iris phenylpropanoid metabolism to mineral nutrition and can be used to predict medical plant cultivation with increased content of bioactive constituents.