Functional dynamics of ion channels: modulation of proton movement by conformational switches

Detailed comparative studies of proton relay in native and chemically modified gramicidin channels provide a unique opportunity to uncover the structural basis of biological proton transport. The function of ion channels hinges on their ability to provide surrogate solvation in narrow pore filters so as to overcome the dielectric barrier presented by biological membranes. In the potassium channel KcsA and in the cation channel gramicidin, permeant selectivity and mobility are determined by the proteinaceous matrix via hydrogen bonding, charge-dipole, and dipole-dipole interactions. In particular, main-chain carbonyl groups in these pore interiors play an essential role in the solvation of alkali ions and of protons. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations reveal how the translocation of H(+) is controlled by nanosecond conformational transitions exchanging distorted states of the peptidic backbone in the single-file region of a dioxolane-linked analogue of the gramicidin dimer. These results underline the functional role of channel dynamics and provide a mechanism for the modulation of proton currents by fluctuating dipoles.     

Alkaloids of the flora of Mongolia V. Turpelline — A new alkaloid fromAconitum turczaninowii

In the course of a further study of the alkaloids of the epigeal part of Aconitum turczaninowiia new alkaloid has been isolated, which has been named turpelline. A structure for turpelline has been proposed on the basis of a study of its IR, mass, PMR, ¹³ C NMR, and 2D COSY spectra.     

A l'aube de la micro-analyse

Résumé L'auteur rappelle un certain nombre de découvertes notamment des XVII^e et XVIII^e siècles ayant conduit à des tests microchimiques encore utilisés de nos jours. Les découvertes géniales d'Emich prennent ainsi, par contraste, plus de valeur; son euvre est véritablement celle d'un pionnier.

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Summary The author calls attention to a certain number of discoveries, notably of the 17th and 18th centuries, which have led to microchemical tests still in use today. The brilliant discoveries ofEmich therefore acquire more value by contrast. His work is really that of a pioneer.

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Zusammenfassung Eine Reihe von Entdeckungen, insbesondere des 17. und 18. Jahrhunderts, werden angeführt, die zu mikrochemischen Reaktionen geführt haben, die auch heute noch in Anwendung stehen. Die genialen EntdeckungenEmichs erwiesen sich als noch wertvoller; sein Werk ist in Wahrheit das eines Pioniers.

     

Analyse conformationnelle de derives carbonylés du furanne et du thiophène par utilisation de la position et de l'intensite des bandes infrarouges

The carbonyl bands of 2-formyl and 3-formyl-furans [¹⁸O] are determined and explained. The magnitude of the inductive and mesomeric effects in 2-acyl and 3-acyl-thiophenes and furans is discussed on the basis of a comparison of the frequencies and the intensities of the v(CO) and v(CC) bands. The conformational preference of some aroyl-furans and aroyl-formyl-furans and the rotation around the C(Ar)-C(O) bonds are related to these parameters.     

A fluorimetric study of pindolol and its complexes with cyclodextrins

Spectrofluorimetric characteristics of pindolol have been investigated with the aim of using this technique for analytical determinations. Other monosubstituted indole derivatives, 4-methoxy and 5-methoxyindole, have been also studied for comparative purposes. Corrected excitation and emission wavelengths in different solvents are reported and the effect of solvent on the Stokes shifts of these compounds has been analysed using the Lippert equation. In addition, the Stokes shift of pindolol has been determined in dioxan-water solvent mixtures and the presence of specific solvent effects is discussed. The fluorescence of pindolol is pH dependent, the quantum yields determined in water are lower than those in other solvents. With respect to the sensitivity, it has been found that the detection limits in aqueous solutions are improved in the presence of beta and methyl-beta-cyclodextrin. Finally, a fluorimetric analysis of the interaction between pindolol and different cyclodextrins has been carried out in order to determine the apparent stability constants of the complexes and the thermodynamic parameters associated to complexation.     

Matériaux composites à base de graves et de liants polymères—III. Caractéristiques et propriétés rhélogiques d'un nouveau liant à base de polyéthylène de récupération et de cires de polyéthylène

Recovered polyethylene is used with polyethylene waxes as a new binder for mineral granules. This binder is characterized and optimized mainly on a rheological basis. Its fluid index (I.F.), molecular distribution and crystallinity are especially studied. Its rheograms and tensile properties are compared with those of industrial polyethylene (I.F. = 250). The dimensional shrinkages of such binders during cooling from 190° to ambient temperature are measured.     

Selective liquid adsorption and structural properties of montmorillonite and its hexadecylpyridinium derivatives

Summary An X-ray diffraction method was used to study the structures of montmorillonites, the surfaces of which were covered to a systematically increasing extent with hexadecylpyridinium (HDP) cations. It was found that, depending on the degree of cover of the surface, the HDP cations form a mono- or bimolecular layer in the interlayer space. A detailed investigation was made of the selective sorption of binary mixtures on montmorillonite and on HDP-montmorillonites with different surface coverages. The adsorption excess isotherms were determined, as were the adsorption capacities from analysis of the isotherms, and also the equivalent specific surface areas.It was established that from benzene-n-heptane mixtures the benzene is adsorbed only on the external surface of montmorillonite, while in the case of organocomplexes it causes moderate disaggregation.From benzene, alcohols with different numbers of carbon atoms are also preferentially adsorbed on the internal surfaces of montmorillonite; with the rise in the number of carbon atoms, the extent of interlamellar adsorption decreases. In the case of HDP-montmorillonites in methanol-benzene mixtures, the adsorption capacity exhibits a monotonous increase with the degree of organopbility in the range under consideration. In the event of optimum organophility the disaggregation of the organocomplex is complete, and the equivalent specific surface area is 764-778 m² · g^–1. The swelling of the organocomplex, which can be characterized by X-ray diffraction measurement, is in close correlation with the interlamellar liquid adsorption. The results show modification of the surface of montmorillonite with HDP cations fundamentally determines the nature and extent of the selective liquid adsorption.

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Zusammenfassung Die Struktur von mit Hexadecyl-pyridinium(HDP)-Kationen im systematisch gesteigerten Maße bedeckten Montmorilloniten wurde mit der Röntgendiffraktions-Methode untersucht. Es wurde festgestellt, daß die HDP-Kationen, von der Bedeckung der Oberfläche abhängend, im Schichtzwischenraum eine mono- bzw. bimolekulare Schicht bilden. Die selektive Sorption binärer Gemische wurde an Montmorilloniten und an HDP-Montmorilloniten verschiedener Bedeckung eingehend untersucht. Es wurden die Adsorptionsisothermen von Flüssigkeitsgemischen und aus deren Analyse die Adsorptionskapazitäten und die äquivalenten spezifischen Oberflächen bestimmt.Es wurde festgestellt, daß aus Benzol-n-Heptan-Gemischen das Benzol nur an der äußeren Montmorillonite-Oberfläche adsorbiert wird, während es bei Organokomplexen eine mäßige Desaggregation verursacht. Die Adsorption von Alkoholen verschiedener Kohlenstoffzahl aus Benzol erscheint auch an inneren Montmorillonit-Oberflächen bevorzugt; mit zunehmender Kohlenstoffzahl nimmt das Ausmaß der interlamellaren Adsorption ab. Bei HDP-Montmorilloniten zeigt die Adsorptionskapazität aus Methanol-Benzol-Gemischen mit zunehmender Organophilität im untersuchten Gebiet eine monotone Steigerung. Im Falle optimaler Organophilität ist die Desaggregation vollständig, die äquivalente spezifische Oberfläche beträgt 764-778 m²/g. Die durch Röntgenn-diffraktionsmessung charakterisierbare Quellung des Organokomplexes steht mit der interlamellaren Flüssig-keitsadsorption in engern Zusammenhang. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, daß Charakter und Ausmaß der selektiven Flüssigkeitsadsorption durch die Modifizierung der Montmorillonit-Oberfläche mit HDP-Kationen grundlegend verändert wird.

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With 14 figures and 4 tables     

Nachweis von Oxoverbindungen. IV

Zusammenfassung Enolisierende Oxoverbindungen, die eine - CH₂-CO- oder eine- CO-NH-NH-Gruppe enthalten, geben mit Diazoniumsalz eine Farbreaktion. Formaldehyd, Benzaldehyd, Nitrobenzaldehyde, Benzoin, Benzophenon usw. reagieren dabei nicht. 1,3-Diketone geben mit diazotiertem p-Nitroanilin zweierlei Färbungen, bei geringer Diazoniumsalzkonzentration eine rote, bei großem Überschuß eine blaue oder grüne Färbung. Die Reaktionsgeschwindigkeit ändert sich auch nach der Art des Diazoniumsalzes. Mit dieser Methode wurden selektive Nachweise für Oxoverbindungen ausgearbeitet. Acetonspuren können in Äthanol bzw. in Wasser oder in Methyläthylketon mit diazotiertem Anilin, 10^–3 % Acetessigsäureäthylester in Äthylacetat mit diazotiertem p-Phenetidin, 10^–5 % Acetylaceton in Aceton mit diazotiertem p-Nitroanilin, außerdem Acetaldehyd neben Formaldehyd, Acetylphenylhydrazin neben Acetanilid, mbzw. o- neben p-Nitroanilin nachgewiesen werden. Nach dem Absorptionsspektrum erwies sich das Reaktionsprodukt von Aceton mit diazotiertem p-Nitroanilin als eine Azoverbindung.

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Detection of Oxocompounds. IV

Summary Enolizing oxo-compounds, that contain a -CH₂-CO- or a -CO-NH-NH-group, yield a color reaction with diazonium salt. Formaldehyde, benzaldehyde, nitrobenzaldehyde, benzoin, benzophenone etc. however do not show this reaction. 1,3-diketones yield two kinds of color reactions with diazotizedp-nitraniline; a slight diazonium salt concentration yields a red coloration, while a large excess gives a blue or green coloration. Selective detections for oxo-compounds were developed with this method. Traces of acetone may be detected in ethanol or water or in methylethyl ketone by means of diazotized aniline, 10^–3% of acetoacetic ester can be detected in ethyl acetate by means of diazotizedp-phenetidine, 10^–5% acetylacetone in aldehyde, acetylphenylhydrazine in the presence of acetanilide,m- oro- in the presence ofp-nitraniline. Judging from the absorption spectrum, the reaction product from acetone and diazotizedp-nitraniline is an azo compound.

     

Extraction of the (C4H9)4N+Co(II)SCN− ion-pair in chloroform and in isoamyl alcohol: Spectrophotometric determination of cobalt

When excesses of ammonium thiocyanate and tetrabutylammonium chloride are added to a cobalt(II) solution, a water-insoluble ion-pair is formed; this compound is soluble in chloroform, isoamyl alcohol, and other solvents. The variables which affect the extractions by these two solvents are studied in order to obtain the optimal conditions and two alternative extraction procedures are proposed. Thus, the separation of cobalt as a previous step for its spectrophotometric determination is studied.     

Nachweis von Peroxiden,Hydroperoxiden und Persäuren

Zusammenfassung Die Indikatorbase 4-Methoxyphenylazo--naphthylamin wird von p-Nitrobenzoylperoxid in neutralem oder saurem Medium ohne, von p-Nitrobenzopersäure unter Erwärmen oxydiert, gar nicht aber von p-Nitroäthylbenzol--hydroperoxid. Auf der Grundlage dieses Verhaltens können die drei Verbindungen unterschieden und p-Nitrobenzoylperoxid nachgewiesen werden. Die Indikatorsäure 4-Nitrophenylazo-2-amino-5-nitrobenzol wird von p-Nitroäthylbenzol--hydroperoxid oxydiert, nicht aber von p-Nitrobenzoylperoxid und p-Nitrobenzopersäure. Mit dieser Farbreaktion kann p-Nitroäthylbenzol--hydroperoxid nachgewiesen werden. p-Nitrobenzopersäure kann neben p-Nitroäthylbenzolhydroperoxid mit einer Farbreaktion von p- + m-Phenylendiamin nachgewiesen werden. Auch p-Nitrobenzoylperoxid gibt die Reaktion, aber p-Nitroäthylbenzol--hydroperoxid setzt sich nicht um.

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Detection of peroxides, hydroperoxides, and peracids

Summary The indicator base 4-methoxyphenylazo--naphthylamine is oxidized in neutral medium without warming byp-nitrobenzoyl peroxide, and byp-nitrobenzoperacid with warming, but it is not oxidized at all byp-nitroethylbenzene--hydroperoxide. The three compounds may be differentiated on the basis of these behaviors and furthermore it is thus possible to detect and identifyp-nitrobenzoyl peroxide. The indicator acid 4-nitrophenylazo-2-amino-5-nitrobenzene is oxidized byp-nitroethylbenzene--hydroperoxide but not byp-nitrobenzoyl peroxide andp-nitrobenzoperacid.p-Nitroethylbenzene--hydroperoxide may be detected through this color reaction.p-Nitrobenzoperacid can be detected in the presence ofp-nitroethylbenzene--hydroperoxide by a color reaction withp + m-phenylenediamine but no reaction is given byp-nitroethylbenzene--hydroperoxide.