Transport of monooleoylglycerol mediated by bile salt micelles across porous membranes

In order to study how the bile salts and lipids behave in the vicinity of microvillus, the transport properties of a sodium salt of deoxycholic acid (NaDC) and its mixture with monooleoylglycerol (MO) through artificial membranes were investigated in 0.15 M NaCl saline solution at 37°C.The hydrodynamic radius of MO-solubilized micelles was estimated to be approximately 17–20 Å from the transport study. The thermodynamically stable MO-NaDC mixed micelles formed above critical micelle concentration in the higher region of mole fraction of NaDC in the mixture (X _NaDC>ca. 0.6), can behave as a single species in transport process and freely pass through the porous membranes of both pore sizes, 0.01 m and 0.1 m.The permeabilities of MO-NaDC mixed micelles are large compared with those of pure NaDC micelles. MO molecules solubilized may probably enhance the interaction between MO and NaDC molecules by better contacting with the respective hydrophobic groups in a mixed micelle (the flexible structure of MO molecule enables it), and in this situation, the smaller micelles compared with those of pure NaDC must be more favorable.     

Time-resolved fluorometric analysis of carbohydrates labeled with amino-aromatic compounds by reductive amination

We examined the formation of complexes between terbium ion (Tb3+) and carbohydrates labeled with aminobenzene compounds. Of the examined compounds, carbohydrates labeled with 4-aminosalicylic acid showed intense fluorescence with Tb3+ in the presence of cetylpyridinium chloride at pH 6.0. Calibration curves for maltose derivative showed good linearity between 5 pmol and at least 600 pmol, with good reproducibility. We applied the proposed technique to binding studies between manno-oligosaccharides and Concanavalin A.     

Direct evidence for an intrinsic square vortex lattice in the overdoped high- T(c) superconductor La(1.83)Sr(0.17)CuO(4+delta)

We report here the first direct observations of a well ordered vortex lattice in the bulk of a La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4+delta) single crystal (slightly overdoped, x = 0.17). Our small angle neutron scattering investigation of the mixed phase reveals a crossover from triangular to square coordination with increasing magnetic field. The existence of an intrinsic square vortex lattice has never been observed in high-temperature superconductors and is indicative of the coupling of the vortex lattice to a source of anisotropy, such as those provided by a d-wave order parameter or the presence of stripes.     

A new gluco indole alkaloid, 3, 4-dehydro-5-carboxystrictosidine, from Peruvian Uña de Gato (Uncaria tomentosa)

A new gluco indole alkaloid, 3,4-dehydro-5-carboxystrictosidine, was obtained from Peruvian U?a de Gato (Cat's Claw, original plant: Uncaria tomentosa) together with two known gluco indole alkaloids. This compound was the first example of isolation of a gluco monoterpenoid indole alkaloid having a 3,4-dihydro-beta-carboline ring system from nature. A characteristic feature of the compound was the quick replacement of the methylene hydrogens on C-14 with deuterium that was observed when it was dissolved in CD3OD. We demonstrated a similar proton-deuterium exchange on a model compound, 1-methyl-3,4-dihydro-gamma-carboline, in CD3OD solution.     

The synthesis of bicyclo[6.2.0]decapentaene

The parent bicyclo[6.2.0]decapentaene is synthesized for the first time by thermal ring opening of its valence isomer. Thermal dimerization of the compound is also described.