THE FLUORESCENCE DECAY OF REDUCED NICOTINAMIDES IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION AFTER EXCITATION WITH A UV-MODE LOCKED Ar ION LASER

Abstract— The fluorescence decay kinetics of the reduced nicotinamides NMNH, NADH and NADPH in aqueous solution were investigated using an Ar ion laser, mode locked in the UV, as source of excitation and single photon counting electronics in the detection system allowing for a time resolution in the picosecond range. Analysis of the experimental fluorescence decay showed that the dinucleotides did not follow a single exponential decay law. Good fitting was accomplished with a sum of two exponentials. The mononucleotide fluorescence decay was a single exponential for at least 95% of its amplitude.
The heterogeneity in lifetimes of the fluorescence of the dinucleotides was interpreted in terms of an exciplex mechanism.     

A mathematical evaluation of dose-dependent PpIX fluorescence kinetics in vivo

The in vivo pharmacokinetics of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) after administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) cannot be described accurately by mathematical models using first-order rate processes. We have replaced first-order reaction rates by dose-dependent (Michaelis-Menten [MM]) reaction rates in a mathematical compartment model. Different combinations of first-order and dose-dependent reaction rates were evaluated to see which one would improve the goodness-of-fit to experimentally determined in vivo PpIX fluorescence kinetics as a function of concentration. The mathematical models that were evaluated are all based on a three-compartment model for drug distribution, conversion to PpIX and subsequent conversion to heme. Implementation of dose-dependent reaction rates improved the goodness-of-fit and enabled interpolation to other drug doses. For most data sets the time constant for delivery to the target cells turned out to be dose dependent. For all data sets the use of MM rates for the conversion of ALA to PpIX yielded better fits. The clearance of PpIX turned out to be a first-order process for all doses and types of administration. Fluorescence curves measured on a specific tissue type but obtained in different studies with different measurement techniques could be described with a single set of parameters.     

Untersuchungen über Enzymaktivitäten der Leberzelle bei Vitamin-E-Mangel

The enzymatic elongation of acyl-CoA esters by malonyl-CoA, respectively de novo synthesis of fatty acids from malonyl-CoA by liver microsomes and non particulate fraction of α-tocopherol deficient rats is diminished versus controls. However, liver microsomes of vitamin E deficient rats synthesize more eicosatetraenic acid from γ-linolenic acid and more γ-linolenic acid from linolic acid than do those of tocopherol supplemented animals. It has often been shown that the liver phosphatides of tocopherol deficient rats contain more arachidonic acid than those of controls, a fact which can be explained now by increased activity of the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of arachidonic acid. Certain polyenic fatty acids are more rapidly synthesized in the absence of naturally occuring antioxidants. Some enzymes of the respiratory chain have also been examined. No vitamin E deficiency effect has been found on enzymes such as gluconate-6-P-dehydrogenase, isocitrate-dehydrogenase, malate-dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase contained in the non particulate fraction. Sonicated mitochondria of tocopherol deficient rats show a greater activity towards cytochrome, oxydase and β-hydroxy-acetyl-CoA-dehydrogenase than controls, possibly due to ultrastractural alteration of this particle.     

Die Schmelzdiagramme der Systeme CsN3/Zn(N3)2 und KN3/Zn(N3)2

The phase diagrams of the systems CsN₃/Zn(N₃)₂ and KN₃/Zn(N₃)₂ have been obtained employing the microscopic technique ofL. Kofler andA. Kofler. Within the system CsN₃/Zn(N₃)₂ three eutectics at 148°C, 142°C, and 210°C were found. Besides Cs₂Zn(N₃)₄, melting incongruently in the interval 153°C to 170°C, there exist two further compounds of the most probable composition Cs₃Zn₂(N₃)₇ and CsZn₂(N₃)₅, melting congruently at 170°C and 210°C, resp. In the system KN₃/Zn(N₃)₂ there exist two eutectics at 203°C and 172°C and two compounds, one of them, i.e. K₂Zn(N₃)₄, melting congruently at 206°C, the other one, with composition KZn₃(N₃)₇ or KZn₄(N₃)₉, melting incongruently at 210°C.

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Mit 8 Abbildungen

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Herrn Professor Dr.Heribert Grubitsch zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

The Chemistry of Dichloromethylenammonium Salts (“Phosgenimonium Salts”)

Dichloromethylenammonium salts, particularly dichloromethylenedimethylammonium chloride, occupy a unique place as stable but reactive building blocks for synthesis. They contain three mobile chlorine atoms activated by an amino group on the same carbon atom. These salts can be regarded as chlorinated Vilsmeier or Mannich reagents and are thus at a higher oxidation level. As in the Mannich or Vilsmeier reaction, the carbon condenses here as an electrophile with formation of C? C or C? hetero atom bonds in a variety that is still far from being exhausted.     

Facile chemoselective synthesis of dehydroalanine-containing peptides

Useful methodology is described for the synthesis of dehydroalanine residues (II) within peptides. The unnatural amino acid (Se)-phenylselenocysteine (I) can be incorporated into growing peptide chains via standard peptide synthesis procedures. Subsequent oxidative elimination affords a dehydroalanine at the desired position. The oxidation conditions are mild and tolerate functionalities commonly found in peptides, including variously protected cysteine residues. To illustrate its utility, cyclic lanthionines have been synthesized by this method.     

A ten-residue fragment of an antibody (mini-antibody) directed against lysozyme as ligand in immunoaffinity chromatography

The interaction between an antibody molecule and a protein antigen is an example of "natural" protein modelling. Amino acids of the antigen-binding site consisting of three hypervariable segments (L1, L2, L3) of the light (L) and three (H1, H2, H3) of the heavy (H) chain of an antibody molecule interact with amino acids present in an epitope of a protein. A ten-residue peptide was synthesized with an amino acid sequence analogous to the hypervariable L3 segment of a monoclonal antibody directed against lysozyme. The peptide was immobilized on CH-Sepharose 4B and the affinity adsorbent was used to purify lysozyme added to a detergent extract of insect cells infected with a recombinant baculovirus. This methodology may also be applicable to other antigen-antibody combinations, in immunoaffinity chromatography for selective purification of a protein or in an immunosensor for detection of a protein.     

Synthesis of non-k-region ortho-quinones of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from cyclic ketones

Non-K-region $\text{o}$-quinones of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are prepared in four steps from cyclic ketones via dehydrogenation of tetrahydrodiols with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone.     

Time-dependent pump-probe spectra of NeBr2

Time- and frequency-resolved pump-probe measurements on NeBr2 have been performed to better characterize its fragmentation dynamics on the B electronic state for vibrational levels in the energy region of the transition from direct vibrational predissociation to intramolecular vibrational relaxation dynamics. Above nu'=20 of the Br2 stretching mode, it was observed that the dependence of lifetime on the vibrational quantum number deviates from the energy-gap law by leveling off in the range of 10 psE transitions of the complex. These transitions are shifted 20 cm(-1) to lower energy from the free Br2 resonances, indicating an E state Ne-Br2 bond energy of 82 cm(-1). Measurements of NeBr2 vibrational predissociation via the delta nu=-2 channel were also performed for nu'=27, 28, and 29. The closing of the delta nu=-1 channel leads to an increase in the lifetimes of these vibrational levels. A new Nd:yttrium aluminum garnet pumped dual optical parametric oscillator/optical parametric amplifier system is described that allows us to conveniently record time-delayed pump-probe spectra with 2-cm(-1) spectral resolution and 15-ps time resolution.