pH-induced destabilization of lipid bilayers by a peptide from the VP3 protein of the capsid of hepatitis A virus.

The membrane destabilizing and fusogenic properties of the synthetic peptide VP3(110-121), corresponding to an immunogenic sequence of the hepatitis A virus (HAV) VP3 capsid protein, were studied. By tryptophan fluorescence and acryalmide quenching it was demonstrated that the peptide binds liposomes of POPC-SM-DPPE (47 + 39 + 14) and POPC-SM-DPPE-DOTAP (40 + 33 + 12 + 15) and penetrates the membrane, at both neutral and acidic pH (POPC = 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylglycero-sn-3-phosphocholine; SM = sphingomyelin; DPPE = 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine; DOTAP = 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammoniumpropane). VP3(110-121) did not have membrane-destabilizing properties at neutral pH. Acid-induced destabilization of the vesicles was demonstrated by fluorescence techniques and dynamic light scattering. VP3(110-121) induced aggregation of POPC-SM-DPPE-DOTAP (40 + 33 + 12 + 15) vesicles, lipid mixing and leakage of vesicle contents, all consistent with fusion of vesicles. In POPC-SM-DPPE (47 + 39 + 14) vesicles, at acidic pH, VP3(110-121) induced membrane destabilization with leakage of contents but without aggregation of vesicles or lipid mixing. The peptide only showed fusogenic properties when bound to the vesicles at neutral pH before acidification to pH below 6.0, and no effect was seen if the peptide was added to vesicles already set at acidic pH. These results may have physiological significance in the mechanism of infection of host hepatic cells by HAV.     

1.5-Diaza-3.7-diphospha-cyclooctane

The alkyl (aryl)-bishydroxymethylphosphines react with primary amines to give the title compounds. With optically active amines optically active phosphines are formed.     

Titration von Sulfid mit einer sulfidionensensitiven Elektrode

Zusammenfassung Eine Methode zur potentiometrischen Titration von Sulfid mit Natriumplumbat(II)lösung an einer sulfidsensitiven Membranelektrode wird beschrieben. Sie eignet sich zur Bestimmung von 10^–4% Sulfid in Gegenwart von Cl^–, Br^–, J^–, SCN^–, SO₃ ^2–, S₂O₃ ^2–

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Titration of sulphide with a sulphide-ion sensitive electrode

A method is described for the titration of sulphide with sodium plumbate(II) solution using a sulphide-sensitive electrode. The method is suitable for the determination of 10^–4% of sulphide in the presence of Cl^–, Br^–, J^–, SCN^–, SO₃ ^2–, S₂O₃ ^2–.

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Wir danken Herrn Dr. K. Obst für wertvolle Hinweise und Diskussionen.     

Enzymatic desymmetrization of a meso polyol corresponding to the C(19)-C(27) segment of rifamycin S

The stereoselective acylation of meso polyol 2 by vinyl acetate (solvent and acyl donor) in the presence of porcine pancreas lipase gave the corresponding monoester 5 in good yield (76%) and high enantiomeric purity (ee > 98%). The enzymatic reaction was also highly regioselective for a primary alcohol end group, and the two unprotected secondary alcohols were not involved. Compound 5 corresponds to the C(19)-C(27) fragment of rifamycin S.     

LiBF4-Catalyzed three-component coupling of an aldehyde, acetic anhydride and allyltrimethylsilane/TMSCN

Lithium tetrafluoroborate is found to be an efficient catalyst for allylation and cyanation of aldehydes with allyltrimethylsilane and trimethylsilyl cyanide in the presence of acetic anhydride at room temperature to produce homoallylic acetates and α-cyano acetates in excellent yields. A solution of 10 mol % of LiBF₄ in acetonitrile provides a convenient reaction medium to carry out allylation and cyanation reactions under very mild and neutral conditions.     

Use of a carboxylate exchanger in the determination of copper in distilled water by neutron activation analysis

Copper in distilled water is collected on Zeokarb 226(NH ₄ ⁺ ) and irradiated with thermal neutrons. By comparison of the induced activity of 0.51 MeV photopeak of⁶⁴Cu with that of a standard, irradiated under comparable conditions, copper at ppb levels is easily determined.     

Determination de C,N, O,F et de quelques autres elements par activation au moyen des photons gamma

The (γ, n) activation curves for 17 elements were determined as a function of energy between 25 and 42 MeV. From these are deduced the detection sensitivities intrinsically possible for an average beam intensity of 100 μA. Our experimental results are compared with values calculated byG. J. Lutz. The activation curves relative to certain competitive nuclear reactions on N, O and Na, liable to interfere in the measurements of C, N and F, were also determined. It is shown that the relative importance of these competitive nuclear reactions decreases rapidly for energies below 30 MeV and becomes practically negligible at 25 MeV.      

Die Konstitution von Roridin D. Verrucarine und Roridine, 12. Mitteilung

The antibiotic roridin D (C₂₉H₃₈O₉), a companion of roridin A, yields on base catalysed hydrolysis verrucarol ( 3 ) and the hitherto unknown 2, 3-epoxy-2-anhydrororidinic acid ( 4 ) (C₁₄H₁₈O₇). Roridin D is a macrocyclic diester to which structure 1 is assigned. In roridin D an epoxy group replaces the hydroxyl group of roridin A.