Cellulose Synthesized by Acetobacter Xylinum in the Presence of Acetyl Glucomannan

Acetobacter xylinum was cultured in Hestrin-Schramm medium (control medium) and Hestrin-Schramm medium containing acetyl glucomannan (mannan medium). Loose bundles of the cellulose microfibrils are formed in the mannan medium in contrast to the normal ribbons being produced in the control medium. Rapid-freeze and substitution method followed by metal-shadowing revealed the droplet-like structures around the microfibril synthesized in the mannan medium. The cellulose synthesized in the mannan medium was stained heavily by the periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazide-silver proteinate (PATAg) method, while the cellulose synthesized in the control medium was not stained. X-ray diffractometry and FT-IR spectroscopy indicated that the addition of mannan induced a change in the crystal structure from the algal-bacterial type to the cotton-ramie type. Thus the presence of acetyl glucomannan in the medium prevents the assembly of cellulose microfibrils and changes the crystal structure of cellulose.     

Ligand Substitution Reaction of Bis(ethylenediamine)glycinatocobalt(III) Complex with Ethylenediamine Catalyzed by the Photo-excited Tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) Complex

Substitution reaction with ethylenediamine of coordinated glycinate ligand in bis(ethylenediamine)-glycinatocobalt(III) complex has been studied in the presence of photo-excited tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complex in alkaline aqueous solution (buffered around pH 12) containing 1.0M chloride ion at 25°C. VIS absorption and CD spectra were used for the racemate and the optically active isomers of the Co(III) complexes, respectively. The reaction was catalyzed by the excited Ru(II) complex to give tris(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) complex. Mechanism of the ligand-substitution reaction and role of the excited Ru(II) complex were discussed.     

POLARIZED TIME-RESOLVED FLUORESCENCE SPECTRA OF PHYCOBILISOMES ISOLATED FROM Tolypothrix tenuis EMBEDDED IN POLY(VINYL ALCOHOL) FILM

–Time-resolved fluorescence spectra in the ps time range were measured on phycobilisome (PBS) embedded in poly(vinyl alcohol) films. The cyanobacterium Tolypothrix tenuis was used as a source of PBS because the pigment composition and the structure of the PBS are well defined. Isotropic PBS in the unstretched film and PBS uniaxially oriented in the stretched film were investigated. Diameters of PBS hemidiscs were oriented parallel to the film-stretching direction. The time-resolved fluorescence spectra of the unstretched sample and of the two polarized components in the stretched samples showed several differences in the rise and decay. The delay time, estimated from the time span between the maximum laser pulse and maximal intensity of the phycocyanin and allophycocyanin fluorescence, was much longer than that reported in the aqueous media. This suggests occurrence of a higher thermal deactivation of PBS in polymer film than in aqueous media. The excitation energy transfer from excited phycocrythrin to allophycocyanin was more efficient in the unstretched than in the stretched samples, and it was greater in the parallel polarized component of the stretched sample than in the perpendicular component. The present results are in agreement with a previous suggestion which states that there are two independent pathways of excitation energy transfer in PBS and that there is more than one final emitter of fluorescence. The molecules taking part in various pathways of energy transfer differ in their orientation within PBS.     

Rapid method based on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography for purification of human myelin basic protein and its thrombic and endoproteinase Lys-C peptides.

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography was applied to isolate myelin basic protein from human brain, followed by separation of proteolytic peptides thereof on the same chromatographic system. Brain tissue was delipidated under conditions that keep copurifying proteases inactive. The crude brain protein fraction was applied directly to a C4 column. The homogeneous protein obtained in this way was digested with thrombin and endoproteinase Lys-C in order to produce short defined myelin basic protein peptides. The purified peptides were used to determine the antigen fine specificity of myelin basic protein recognizing T lymphocyte lines isolated from multiple sclerosis patients.     

Simultaneous application of two or more supported liquid-phase organometallic catalysts: heterogeneous multifunctional reaction systems

Using the form of supported liquid-phase catalysts, two or more homogeneous catalysts can simultaneously be used with retaining their own activities and taking the advantage of catalyst-product separation and catalyst recycling.     

Chiral ligand-controlled asymmetric conjugate addition of lithium amides to enoates

The external chiral ligand-controlled asymmetric conjugate addition reaction of lithium amides with alpha,beta-unsaturated esters provided beta-amino esters in high yields and high enantioselectivities.     

Preparation and gas separation properties of zeolite T membrane

Zeolite T membranes were synthesized on tubular porous mullite tubes by hydrothermal synthesis. The membranes selectively permeated carbon dioxide from CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 mixtures with high separation performances, which were due to combined effects of molecular sieving and competitive adsorption.     

Copper-catalyzed allylation of carbonyl derivatives using allyl(2-pyridyl)silanes

[reaction: see text] We have developed an efficient copper-catalyzed allylation of carbonyl derivatives using allyl(2-pyridyl)silanes, in which the strong directing effect of the 2-pyridyl group was observed. A useful synthesis and allylation of substituted allyl(2-pyridyl)silanes is also described.