EFFECT OF PHOTOCROSSLINKING ON ESCHERICHIA COLI tRNA STRUCTURE

Abstract— The effect of photocrosslinking s ⁴ U ₈ with C ₁₃ on the structure of E. coli tRNA has been examined by high resolution NMR. Photocrosslinking affects both the structure and the enzymatic acylation of tRNA. The NMR measurements demonstrate that except for the s ⁴ U ₈.A₁₄ base pair, there is no evidence that photocrosslinking perturbs any of the common tertiary structure interactions. However, this modification does perturb several resonances which are assigned to the secondary structure base pairs of the hU stem and the terminal base pair of the acceptor stem. The variable effect of photocrosslinking on the extent and rate of enzymatic acylation of different tRNA is attributed to different recognition sites for tRNA by the cognate synthetases.     

Simplified Liquid-Phase Preparation of Four Decadeoxyribonucleotides and their Preliminary Spectroscopic Characterization

Four self-complementary decadeoxyribonucleotides, dApTpApTpApTpApTpApT, dApTpApTpCpGpApTpApT, dApTpApTpGpCpApTpApT and dApApApApApTpTpTpTpT, were chemically synthesized by the phosphotriester procedure. Efforts were concentrated on keeping the procedure as simple as possible, concomitant with obtaining high-purity products at each step of the process. The decamers were elaborated from the 3'-end, starting with a 3'?O-benzoylated monomer according to the scheme: monomer + monomer → dimer + dimer → tetramer + dimmer → hexamer + tetramer → decamer. Purity of intermediates and of the fully blocked decamers were monitored by chromatography and by 300-MHz ¹H? N M R. spectroscopy. The deblocked decadeoxyribonucleotides were characterized by their UV., CD., and ¹H? NMR. spectra.     

Electrochemical deposition of germanium sulfide from room-temperature ionic liquids and subsequent Ag doping in an aqueous solution

A facile room-temperature electrochemical deposition process for germanium sulfide (GeS(x)) has been developed with the use of an ionic liquid as an electrolyte. The electrodeposition mechanism follows the induced codeposition of Ge and S precursors in ionic liquids generating GeS(x) films. The electrodeposited GeS(x) films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). An aqueous-based Ag doping method was used to dope electrochemically grown GeS(x) films with controlled doping compared to the conventional process, which can be used in next-generation solid-state memory devices.     

Polymers and Copolymers of Unsaturated Tetrahydropyranyl Esters

The preparation and deesterification of a number of polymers and copolymers of unsaturated tetrahydropyranyl esters has been studied. The conditions required to remove the tetrahydropyranyl group from these esters are extremely mild. Hence it is possible to use dihydropyran as a protecting group in the preparation of polymers containing other groups susceptible to normal hydrolysis conditions. The reactivity ratios for the tetrahydropyranyl methacrylate/styrene and tetrahydropyranyl acrylate/styrene copolymerization systems have also been determined.     

Search for differences in oscillation parameters for atmospheric neutrinos and antineutrinos at Super-Kamiokande

We present a search for differences in the oscillations of antineutrinos and neutrinos in the Super-Kamiokande-I, -II, and -III atmospheric neutrino sample. Under a two-flavor disappearance model with separate mixing parameters between neutrinos and antineutrinos, we find no evidence for a difference in oscillation parameters. Best-fit antineutrino mixing is found to be at (Δm2,sin2 2θ)=(2.0×10(-3) eV2, 1.0) and is consistent with the overall Super-K measurement.     

The free energy of a reaction coordinate at multiple constraints: a concise formulation

The free energy as a function of the reaction coordinate (rc) is the key quantity for the computation of equilibrium and kinetic quantities. When it is considered as the potential of mean force, the problem is the calculation of the mean force for given values of the rc. We reinvestigate the PMCF (potential of mean constraint force) method which applies a constraint to the rc to compute the mean force as the mean negative constraint force and a metric tensor correction. The latter allows for the constraint imposed to the rc and possible artefacts due to multiple constraints of other variables which for practical reasons are often used in numerical simulations. Two main results are obtained that are of theoretical and practical interest. First, the correction term is given a very concise and simple shape which facilitates its interpretation and evaluation. Secondly, a theorem describes various rcs and possible combinations with constraints that can be used without introducing any correction to the constraint force. The results facilitate the computation of free energy by molecular dynamics simulations.     

Pharmacokinetics of gadoversetamide injection, a gadolinium-based contrast agent, in pediatric patients

Objective

The pharmacokinetics of gadoversetamide were examined in pediatric patients scheduled to undergo contrast-enhanced MRI of the central nervous system.

Materials and Methods

One hundred patients received an intravenous injection of gadoversetamide at a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg for a contrast-enhanced MRI procedure. A subpopulation of 30 patients were enrolled to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of gadoversetamide in patients 2–11 and 12–18 years of age. Serial blood and urine samples were collected before and after the administration of gadoversetamide.

Results

The terminal half-life, initial concentration and area under the curve assessments for gadoversetamide showed no significant (P>.05) differences between the age groups or the sexes. Although no sex-related differences occurred in the volume of distribution or clearance, significant (P<.05) age-related differences were found, but once corrected for body mass or surface area the differences were no longer significant.

Conclusions

The pharmacokinetic behavior of gadoversetamide was not significantly altered by differences in age or sex in pediatric patients from 2 to 18 years of age. Although significant differences in volumes of distribution, and clearance occurred between the age groups, these differences appeared to depend on body size rather than on age in pediatric patients between 2 and 18 years of age.