Rhodopsin exhibits a preference for solvation by polyunsaturated docosohexaenoic acid

An all-atom molecular dynamics simulation of rhodopsin in a membrane environment has been carried out with lipid composition similar to that of the retinal membrane. The initial conformation of the protein was taken from the X-ray crystallographic structure (1F88), while those of the lipids came from a previous molecular dynamics simulation. During the course of the 12.5 ns simulation, the initially randomly placed lipids adopt an anisotropic solvation structure around the protein. The lipids, having one saturated stearic acid chain and one polyunsaturated docosohexaenoic acid chain with a zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine headgroup, arrange themselves to maximize contact between the polyunsaturated chain and the protein surface. This organization is driven by energetically favorable interactions between the transmembrance helices and the docosohexaenoyl chains that are largely of the van der Waals type. These observations are consistent with various experimental studies on rhodopsin and other G-protein coupled receptors and with the picture of extreme flexibility in polyunsaturated fatty acid chains that has arisen from recent NMR and computational work.     

Photobioreactor culture of photosynthetic soybean cells

Photosynthetic suspension cultures of higher plants offer an alternative approach to biomass production, potentially yielding cellulosic material and protein on a continuous year-round basis. A bench-top hybrid photobioreactor was developed to study photomixotrophic and photoautotrophic growth of Glycine max as a model system. Maximum biomass doubling times for photomixotrophic and photoautotrophic growth were 1.87 and 3.92 d, respectively. The presence of exogenous sugars resulted in photomixotrophic growth, reduced chlorophyll levels, and a reduction in photosynthetically-evolved oxygen. Depletion of carbohydrates from the medium coincided with the beginning of stationary phase and an increase in oxygen evolution by the cells. A second growth phase, prolonging cell viability, could be initiated by increasing the carbon dioxide from 2 to 5%, just before the onset of stationary phase. Biomass from bioreactor cultured cells proved resistant to enzymatic attack without pretreatment. Composition of the biomass was 7.8% lignin, 20.7% α-cellulose, 23% hemicellulose, 5.5% starch, 14.5% protein and 6.5% nucleic acids.     

Selective adhesion of endothelial cells to artificial membranes with a synthetic RGD-lipopeptide

A constrained cyclic ArgGly-Asp-D-Phe-Lys, abbreviated as cyclo(-RGDfK-), lipopeptide has been synthesized and incorporated into artificial membranes such as giant vesicles with DOPC and solid-supported lipid bilayers. The selective adhesion and spreading of endothelial cells of the human umbilical cord on solids functionalized by membranes with this RGD-lipopeptide have been observed. Furthermore, we have demonstrated strong selective adhesion of giant vesicles to endothelial cells through local adhesion domains by combined application of hydrodynamic flow field and reflection interference contrast microscopy (RICM). The adhesion can be inhibited by competition with a water-soluble RGD peptide. We suggest that this strategy could improve the efficiency of liposomes targeting used as vectors or as drug carriers to cells.     

Bestimmung des Oxydationszustandes in Vanadiumkomplexen mit Hilfe von V—K-Röntgenabsorptionsspektren

Determination of the Oxydation State in Vanadium Complexes using V—K-Absorption Spectra The compounds resulting from the reaction of oxovanadium(IV) sulfate with 8-quinolinols in air were characterized by magnetic moments and V—K-absorption spectra. 8-quinolinol and its Mannich derivates (“CMAB-oxine”, “CMAP-oxine”) form vanadium(V) complexes. The oxovanadium(IV) compound of 7-methyl-8-quinolinol initially formed is not very stable in solution and tends to oxydation. Only the oxovanadium(IV) complex of 2-methyl-8-quinolinol has a good stability corresponding to that of β-diketone compounds.     

Thermal analysis study of the dynamic decomposition of polymers during rapid heating; limiting temperatures of thermolysis

A new technique is presented for study of the thermal behaviour of materials. Experimental and theoretical bases are established for the limiting temperatures of thermal decomposition of different polymers.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird ein neues Verfahren zur Untersuchung des thermischen Verhaltens von Stoffen. vorgestellt. Es wurden experimentelle und theoretische Grundlagen zur Bestimmung von thermischen Zersetzungstemperaturen verschiedener Polymere erstellt.

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Mass spectral study of 2-aryl-4-arylhydrazono-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-benzo-1,2,3-triazoles

The mass spectra upon electron impact at 70 eV of the title compounds are examined. The fragmentation pattern of the tetrahydro-benzotriazoles with unsymmetrically substituted the aryl groups in 2-position and in hydrazone group cannot support the aspect for a mononuclear heterocyclic rearrangement.     

Successive substitution titration of calcium and magnesium with EGTA using thallium oxide electrode for indication

Summary It is demonstrated that magnesium can be titrated with EGTA in the presence of CaEDTA complex. On the basis of this substitution reaction, calcium and magnesium are successively titrated with EGTA, if an appropriate amount of CaEDTA is added after having reached the end point for calcium. Both end points are indicated amperometrically using a thallium oxide anode. The method has been tested for analysis of tap and mineral water. Larger amounts of manganese(II) render the calcium result too high. Moreover, the indication of both end points is affected by the electrode position of an inactive MnO₂-layer onto the Tl₂O₃-layer. Reducing agents destroy the Tl₂O₃-layer. These interferences can be overcome by addition of an appropriate amount of manganate(VII) to the sample.

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Sukzessive Substitutionstitration von Calcium und Magnesium mit ÄGTA, indiziert mit der Thalliumoxidelektrode

Zusammenfassung Magnesium kann mit ÄGTA in Gegenwart des CaÄDTA-Komplexes titriert werden. Auf der Grundlage dieser Substitutionstitration können Calcium und Magnesium nacheinander mit ÄGTA titriert werden, wenn nach dem Endpunkt für Calcium eine ausreichende Menge CaÄDTA zugesetzt wird. Beide Endpunkte werden amperometrisch mit Hilfe einer Thalliumoxidelektrode angezeigt. Die Methode wurde an Leitungswasser und Mineralwasser geprüft. Größere Mengen Mangan(II) bewirken zu hohe Calciumwerte. Darüber hinaus wird die Indikation beider Endpunkte dadurch beeinträchtigt, daß sich eine inaktive MnO₂-Schicht auf der Tl₂O₃-Schicht elektrolytisch abscheidet. Reduzierende Stoffe zerstören die Tl₂O₃-Schicht. Diese Störungen können durch Zugabe von Permanganat vermieden werden.

     

Liquid-phase oxidation of tert-butyldimethylsilane

Kinetics and mechanism of liquid-phase oxidation of tert-butyldimethylsilane t-BuMe₂SiH with molecular oxygen in the temperature range 297–350K were studied. Reaction orders in silane, initiator, and oxygen were evaluated. The major product of the oxidation of t-BuMe₂SiH is tert-butyldimethylsilyl hydroperoxide t-BuMe₂SiOOH. It was shown for the first time that the major reaction product is a silyl hydroperoxide. A kinetic scheme of the oxidation of t-BuMe₂SiH is offered and discussed.Translated from Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, Vol. 74, No. 10, 2004, pp. 1625–1630.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Lutsik-Maksim, Timokhin, Zaborovskii, Pristanskii, Turovskii, Chatgilialoglu.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.