EFFECTS OF BOUND MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES ON THE DECAY OF THE PHOTOTRANSFORMATION INTERMEDIATES I1,21700 FROM NATIVE Avena PHYTOCHROME*

Abstract–Thc kinetics of the microsecond phototransformation intermediates of 124 kDa Avena phytochrome (1700^1,2) were studied in the prcsence of bound monoclonal antibodies at various temperatures. A global analysis was applied to the decays at all wavelengths at each temperature in order to derive the rate constants and the decay-associated spectra of the three decay components. Monoclonal antibodies bound to specific epitopes altered the Arrhenius parameters of both 1700^1,2 decay components. The strongest influence on these parameters was observed with OAT 8 (epitope between residues 624 and 686), which decreased by more than 50% the activation parameters of both components. This decrease is interpreted to result from an increased flexibility induced by this antibody in the ground state or in the transition state of bonds changing during the decay of both 1700 transients. Thus, the OAT 8 cpitope appears to be functionally important during the decay of the 1700^1,2 intermediates. For the case of 1100¹ bound OAT 23 and OAT 25 (epitopes between residues 1 and 66) reduced even further the relatively small flexibility of these bonds in the red light-absorbing form of phytochrome (P1) without antibodies, as reflected by the high preex-ponential factors for its decay. This resulted also in higher activation energies for this decay in the presence of the antibodies. Thus, the amino-terminus should act as a rigid spacer of the chromophore cavity without affecting it during the microsecond transformation, because the Arrhenius parameters for these decays are similar to those for small phytochrome. The possible implications of the influence of the various antibodies on the bleaching remaining after the decay of 1700^1,2 are discussed.     

Aged titania nanoparticles: the simultaneous control of local and long-range properties

TiO(2) nanoparticles are obtained by combining a sol-gel preparative route with hydrothermal aging steps, performed in mild conditions, of varying time lengths. Both aged and un-aged samples are thermally treated at 300 and 600 degrees C, for the same length of time. The crystal structures, the phase composition, and crystallite sizes are analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction. Raman spectra of anatase nanocrystals with average sizes of 7-10 nm are reported and the correlation between the Raman band shape of the main feature at 144 cm(-1) and the crystallite size is discussed. Nitrogen physisorption by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method is adopted to evaluate the particles surface area and mesopore size and size distribution. The role played by the hydrothermal step in affecting the physicochemical properties of the powders is discussed also with respect to the H(2)O/TiO(2) interactions as apparent from Raman spectroscopy investigations of the O-H stretching range (3000-3800 cm(-1)).     

Stereochemical analysis of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and its main metabolites by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) is consumed as the racemate but some metabolic steps are enantioselective. In addition, chiral properties are preserved during MDMA biotransformation. A quantitative analytical methodology using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to determine enantioselective disposition in the body of MDMA and its main metabolites including 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine (HMMA), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyamphetamine (HMA) was developed. Plasma and urine samples were collected from a male volunteer. The analysis of MDMA, MDA, and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy metabolites by GC/MS required a two-step derivatization procedure. The first step consisted of derivatization of the amine with enantiomerically pure Mosher's reagent ((R)-MTPCl). Triethylamine was used as a base to neutralize hydrochloric acid formed during the reaction allowing quantitative derivatization, which resulted in a substantial improvement in the sensitivity of the method compared with other previously described techniques. Further treatment with ammonium hydroxide was required since both amine and hydroxyl groups underwent derivatization in the reaction. Ammonium hydroxide breaks bonds formed with hydroxyl groups without affecting amine derivatives. The second derivatization step using hexamethyldisilazane was needed for metabolites containing phenol residues. This derivatization method permitted the stereochemically specific study of MDMA and its main monohydroxylated metabolites by GC/MS. A detailed study of the chemical reactions involved in the derivatization steps was indispensable to develop a straightforward, sensitive, and reproducible method for the analysis of the parent drug compound and its metabolites.     

Extraktion von alkali- und erdalkalimetallionen mit (sym-dibenzo-14-krone-4-oxy)- und (sym-dibenzo-16-krone-5-oxy)-carbonsäuren

(Extraction of alkali on alkaline earth metal ions with (sym-dibenzo-14-crown-4-oxy)- and (sym-dibenzo-16-crown-5-oxy)-carboxylic acids.)The extraction of lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium and some other metal ions with dibenzo-4-crown-4-oxy- and dibenzo-16-crown-5-oxycarboxylic acids containing the groups -CH₂COOH, -(CH₂)₂COOH, -(CH₂)₃COOH, -CH(C₂H₅)COOH and -CH(C₄H₉)COOH was studied. The extraction increases as a function of the lipophilic character of the carboxylic acid group. Calcium, barium and strontium ions are better extracted than Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺; there are only small differences among the alkaline earth metal ions. Evaluated from the extraction data, the composition of the extracted species was 1:1 (metal/ligand) for Li⁺, and 1:2 for CaCa²⁺; Na⁺ and K⁺ favour the formation of 1:2 complexes with dibenzo-14-crown-4-derivatives bbut 1:1 complexes with dibenzo-16-crown-5-oxy-carboxylic acids. The dependence of the distribution ratio on pH does not provide unequivocal evidence for the composition of the extracted compounds.     

Photocatalytic TiO2 Coatings: Effect of Substrate and Template

Transparent TiO₂ films with a high photodegradation activity towards an azo dye in aqueous solution were prepared by sol–gel processing. Films on soda–lime glass supports protected with a thin silica barrier layer exhibited better crystallization and monodisperse nanoparticles, higher absorption of light below 370 nm, and higher photocatalytic activity than those films deposited on bare glass supports proving the detrimental effect of interdiffused sodium ions on the development of the anatase nanostructure. The effect of substrate was more pronounced in thinner films (300 nm) than in thicker ones (1200 nm), which were achieved by adding a template (i.e. Pluronic F127) to the sol.     

α,ω-Diisocyanatocarbodiimides, -Polycarbodiimides,and Their Derivatives

Research in the field of low-molecular weight, oligomeric and polymeric α,ω-diisocyanatocarbodiimides and -polycarbodiimides has been fruitful, not only in connection with these compounds themselves, but also—as so often happens in chemistry—with quite different problems. Novel synthetic methods, discoveries concerning the properties of low-molecular weight carbodiimides and phosphane imide derivatives, as well as results on the fragmentation reactions of four-membered heterocyclic compounds containing oxygen, phosphorus, and nitrogen, and a better understanding of the diisocyanate polyaddition process are among the many by-products of this research. The “high- and low-temperature formation” of polycarbodiimides and the homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis of this process are described, and the fundamental importance of four-membered ring fragmentation mechanisms resulting in the formation of phosphane imide derivatives is outlined. Interesting building blocks for the diisocyanate polyaddition and polycondensation processes can be synthesized by many derivatization reactions of oligomeric and high-molecular weight polycarbodiimides and polyuretonimines. The in situ production of polycarbodiimides via matrix reactions in flexible polyurethane foams leads to a cellular arrangement of the material due to the pronounced symmetrical growth processes. Combination-foams with increased carbonation tendencies are formed in this way. Attention is drawn to several industrial applications of α,ω-diisocyanatopolycarbodiimides, of high-molecular weight cross-linked polyuretonimines, and of polycarbodiimide foams.     

Profiling fatty acids in vegetable oils by reactive pyrolysis-gas chromatography with dimethyl carbonate and titanium silicate

A novel methodology in on-line pyrolysis-gas chromatography (Py-GC) for the fast analysis of fatty acids in vegetable oils with minimal sample treatment and the use of non-toxic reagents is described. Pyrolysis at 500 degrees C for 10 s of sub-microgram quantity of vegetable oil dissolved in dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and in the presence of nanopowder titanium silicon oxide resulted in the production of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) as unique products. Pyrolysis performed by means of a resistively heated filament pyrolyser interfaced to a GC-MS apparatus enabled the direct analysis of evolved FAMEs. The DMC/Py-GC-MS analysis was tested on soybean, coconut, linseed, walnut and olive oil and the results compared to the classical BF(3)-methanol as reference methodology. The DMC method exhibited a lower precision and was biased towards lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in comparison to the BF(3)-methanol method, but was more advantageous in terms of reduced sample treatment, waste generation and risk factors of employed chemicals.     

The analysis of C4–C11 hydrocarbons in naphtha and reformate with a new apolar fused silica column

This paper deals with the separation of alkanes, naphthenes, and aromatic compounds in naphtha and reformate, on a newly developed apolar high resolution GC column. The selectivity of this apolar phase has been compared with those of squalane, DB-1, and SE-30. A total of 95 hydrocarbons were reliably identified, mostly by GC-MS. Repeated measurements of Kováts retention indices are presented as evidence for the reproducible manufacture of fused silica columns coated with this phase.     

1,3-Cycloaddition von alkinen an hetero-1,3-diene 1-aminopyrrole aus 1,2-diazabuta-1,3-dienen und 1-diethylaminopropin

1-Aminopyrroles (4) are obtained by reaction of 1,2-diazabuta-1,3-dienes (1) and ynamines (2). This reaction represents one of the very rare examples of 1,3-cycloaddition processes of alkynes and hetero-1,3-dienes.     

Convenient and High-Yielding Preparations of Mono(5-carboxy-2-ethylpentyl) Phthalate and its Ring-Deuterated Isomer – The “Third” Major Metabolite of Bis(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate

Summary. The synthesis of an oxidative major metabolite of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is described. The target molecule and its ring-deuterated isomer were obtained via acylation of the appropriate -hydroxy benzyl ester or the corresponding carboxylate with phthalic anhydride or phthalic anhydride-d₄. All transformation steps proceed with high yields.