Vanadium-binding protein in a vanadium-rich ascidian Ascidia sydneiensissamea: CW and pulsed EPR studies

Some of the ascidians belonging to the suborder Phlebobranchia accumulate vanadium ion efficiently from seawater. Clarification of the mechanism of this surprisingly efficient metal-accumulation system is desirable. Two mutually similar vanadium-binding proteins (vanabin1 and vanabin2) have recently been isolated from a vanadium-rich ascidian Ascidia sydneiensis samea. In this study, the vanadium-binding properties of vanabin2 have been investigated by X-band CW EPR and pulsed EPR spectroscopy. CW EPR spectra of samples containing various ratios of VO2+ and vanabin2 invariably exhibited a usual mononuclear-type VO2+ EPR signal with the intensity dependent on the ratio [vanabin]/[V]. EPR titration has shown that vanabin2 can bind up to approximately 23.9 vanadium ions per one molecule, almost all of which ( approximately 84%) are in a mononuclear VO2+ state as estimated by EPR quantitation. Electron spin-echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectra of VO-vanabin2 exhibited reasonably intense peaks attributable to amine nitrogen. This is consistent with the fact that vanabin2 is a lysine-rich protein (14 lysines out of 91 amino acids). The present study reveals the uniqueness of vanabin2, which can bind a large number of metal ions in a mononuclear fashion in contrast to the situation for ferritin and metallothionein.     

Sterol composition of a cultured marine dinoflagellate,Heterocapsa circularisquama

The composition of sterols was determined in a cultured marine dinoflagellate Heterocapsa circularisquama. Ten kinds of the sterol in H. circularisquama were identified by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major sterol was a 4-methyl sterol, 4alpha,23,24-trimethyl-5alpha-cholest-22E-en-3beta-ol (dinosterol) which is the common sterol in many dinoflagellates.     

Dynamic capillary coatings with zwitterionic surfactants for capillary isoelectric focusing

The use of surfactants as additives was demonstrated for the first time in capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) to dynamically modify the surfaces of bare fused silica capillaries. These surfactants were zwitterionic sulfobetaines: dodecyldimethyl (3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide (C12N3SO3), hexadecyldimethyl (3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide (C16N3SO3) and coco (amidopropyl)hydroxyldimethylsulfobetaine (Rewoteric AM CAS U). They were added directly to the protein-ampholyte mixture, and remained in the capillary during isoelectric focusing and mobilization. The C16N3SO3 and CAS U coatings were shown effective in CEF. Separation of seven IEF protein standards was obtained, with significantly improved resolution compared to that from an uncoated silica capillary. The effect of these surfactants on the electroosmotic flow (EOF) in CIEF was determined. CAS U was effective in suppressing the EOF at neutral and alkaline pH conditions, C16N3SO3 was effective in suppressing EOF at acidic and neutral pH conditions. C12N3SO3 however had little effect on the EOF. The pH gradients formed inside these surfactant coated capillaries were recta-linear at pH 6 to 9 (R2 approximately equal to 0.99). Reproducibility of migration time and peak area was determined. For all three coatings, the migration time standard deviations were less than 1.6 min, and the relative standard deviations of area were below 10%. The protein recovery in the CAS U-modified capillary was quantitative or near-quantitative for five of the seven proteins studied.     

Azinoiminophosphorane mediated synthesis of 5H, 7H‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐c][1,3]benzoxazepin‐7‐ones and 6H,8H‐1,2,4‐triazolo‐[1,5‐c][1,3]oxazepin‐6‐ones

The aza‐Wittig reactions of benzophenone‐, acetophenone‐ and benzaldehyde l‐[(triphenylphosphoranyl‐idene)amino]ethylidenehydrazones (4) with phthalic anhydride, 2,3‐dimethylmaleic anhydride and 7‐oxabi‐cyclo[2,2,l]hept‐5‐ene‐2,3‐dicarboxylic anhydride ( 5a ) provide a new route to 5H,7H‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐c]‐[1,3]benzoxazepin‐7‐ones 8a‐c or 6H,8H‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐c][1,3]oxazepin‐6‐ones 8d‐h via the thermal reaction of the expected azinoimine lactones 6 .     

A concept for bifocal contact‐ or intraocular lenses: liquid single crystal hydrogels (“LSCH”)

The synthesis of liquid single crystal hydrogels (“LSCH”) in suitable molds offers an innovative concept to realize bifocal contact‐ or intraocular‐lenses. LSCH combine the properties required for applications as bifocal ophthalmic lenses: the soft and water‐containing hydrogel enables oxygen permeation and exhibits high birefringence due to the liquid crystalline phase structure built up by rigid rod‐like amphiphiles. Via a photo‐initiated crosslinking reaction of aqueous solutions of monomeric lyotropic liquid crystalline amphiphiles in the macroscopically ordered liquid crystalline state, we obtain optically uniaxially ordered and transparent LSCH. The orientation process and the phase structure of the anisotropic hydrogel is analyzed by deuterium NMR‐spectroscopy. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and properties of organosoluble poly(amide imide imide)s based on tetraimide dicarboxylic acid condensed from 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride, 4,4′‐oxydianiline,and trimellitic anhydride and various aromatic diamines

A novel tetraimide dicarboxylic acid was synthesized with the ring‐opening addition of 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride, 4,4′‐oxydianiline, and trimellitic anhydride in a 1/2/2 molar ratio in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone followed by azeotropic condensation to tetraimide dicarboxylic acid. A series of poly(amide imide imide)s (PAIIs) with inherent viscosities of 0.8–1.1 dL/g were prepared from tetraimide dicarboxylic acid with various aromatic diamines by direct polycondensation. Most of the PAIIs were readily soluble in a variety of amide polar solvents and even in less polar m‐cresol and pyridine. Solvent‐cast films had tensile strengths ranging from 99 to 106 MPa, elongations at break ranging from 8 to 13%, and initial moduli ranging from 2.0 to 2.3 GPa. The glass‐transition temperatures of these PAIIs were recorded at 244–276 °C. They had 10% weight losses at temperatures above 520 °C in air or nitrogen atmospheres. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1092–1102, 2002     

Synthesis and properties of novel polyurethanes containing 3,4‐dioxybenzylidenecyanoacetate group as a nonlinear optical chromophore

Methyl 3,4‐di‐(2′‐hydroxyethoxy)benzylidenecyanoacetate ( 3 ) was prepared by hydrolysis of methyl 3,4‐di‐(2′‐vinyloxyethoxy)benzylidenecyanoacetate ( 2 ). Diol 3 was condensed with 2,4‐toluenediisocyanate, 3,3′‐dimethoxy‐4,4′‐biphenylenediisocyanate, and 1,6‐hexamethylenediisocyanate to yield polyurethanes 4 – 6 containing the nonlinear optical chromophore 3,4‐dioxybenzylidenecyanoacetate. The resulting polyurethanes 4 – 6 were soluble in common organic solvents such as acetone and dimethylformamide. Polymers 4 – 6 indicated thermal stability up to 300 °C in thermogravimetric thermograms with glass‐transition temperature values obtained from differential scanning calorimetric thermograms in the range of 78–102 °C. The second‐harmonic generation coefficients (d₃₃) of the poled polymer films were around 6.9 × 10^?9 esu. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1742–1748, 2002     

Iron‐catalyzed living radical polymerization of acrylates: Iodide‐based initiating systems and block and random copolymerizations

A half‐metallocene iron iodide complex [Fe(Cp)I(CO)₂] induced living radical polymerization of methyl acrylate (MA) in conjunction with an iodide initiator [(CH₃)₂C(CO₂Et)I, 1 ] and Al(Oi‐Pr)₃ to give polymers of controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (MWDs) (M_w/M_n < 1.2). With the use of chloride and bromide initiators, the MWDs were broader, whereas the molecular weights were similarly controlled. Other acrylates such as n‐butyl acrylate (nBA) and tert‐butyl acrylate (tBA) can be polymerized with 1 /Fe(Cp)I(CO)₂ in the presence of Ti(Oi‐Pr)₄ and Al(Oi‐Pr)₃, respectively, to give living polymers. The 1 /Fe(Cp)I(CO)₂ initiating system is applicable for the synthesis of block and random copolymers of acrylates (MA, nBA, and tBA) and styrene of controlled molecular weights and narrow MWDs (M_w/M_n = 1.2–1.3). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2033–2043, 2002     

Use of α‐diketones as visible photoinitiators for the photocrosslinking of waterborne latex paints

The efficiency of several α‐diketones as visible light photoinitiators for the crosslinking of waterborne latex dispersions in the presence of acrylic monomers was evaluated. Among the eight α‐diketones studied, camphorquinone allows the fastest curing speed, and the curing of the acrylic waterborne coating is not affected by the presence of oxygen. The properties of the sunlight‐cured volatile organic compound (VOC)‐free pigmented paints prepared from the waterborne latex are as good or better than the equivalent conventional paint containing VOCs. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3171–3181, 2002