Delayed luminescence analysis (DLA) of purine and pyrimidine ribose and deoxyribose nucleotide triphosphates in picomole quantities

A discovery is reported of a new system that enables one to quantitate the amounts of separated nucleotide triphosphates in picomole quantities. This system of delayed luminescence analysis (DLA) is sensitive to both purine and pyrimidine ribose and deoxyribose nucleotide triphosphates. A crude luciferin-luciferase (substrate-enzyme) preparation from firefly lanterns, in the presence of nucleotide triphosphate, is utilized to generate light that is detected by a liquid scintillation counter with the coincidence of the photomultiplier tubes turned off. Light is produced in a delayed fashion, the maximum emission being dependent on the type of nucleotide. Purine nucleotides (GTP, ITP, dATP, dGTP) give maximal light emission at approximately 2 mins; with the pyrimidine nucleotides the time required for maximal light emission was 5 min for UTP, dUTP, and TTP, 10 min for CTP, and 12 min for dCTP. A linear relationship on a log-log plot of light emission vs. concentration of nucleotide is demonstrated with ITP, dATP, UTP, and CTP.     

Optical properties of quasi-zero-dimensional magneto-excitons

We discuss the evolution of optical properties of semiconductor quantum wells, as the quasi-two-dimensional electronic states are further confined into quasi-zero dimensions by a perpendicular magnetic field. We show that confinement in all three directions strongly modifies both linear and nonlinear optical response. In particular, quasi-zero-dimensionality makes an ensemble of magneto-excitons a unique many-body system, distinct from higher-dimensional excitons and the one-component Coulomb system in the fractional quantum Hall regime or Wigner crystal.     

Control of dispersion in capillary electrochromatography coupled to UV and mass spectrometric detection

Capillary electrochromatography (CEC), along with other miniaturised chromatography techniques, such as capillary LC, offers the most benefit when efficiently coupled to mass spectrometric (MS) detectors. In conventional one-piece CEC columns, dispersion in the open connecting tube between the packed column and MS source reduces chromatographic performance to unacceptable levels. This paper examines the effect on dispersion of various column-tube arrangements and offers suggestions as to the most practical way of connecting CEC-UV-MS. Comparisons of theoretical and measured values for these different arrangements are shown.     

Ultrastructure and composition of cell wall appositions in the roots of Asplenium (Polypodiales)

Cell wall appositions (CWAs), formed by the deposition of extra wall material at the contact site with microbial organisms, are an integral part of the response of plants to microbial challenge. Detailed histological studies of CWAs in fern roots do not exist. Using light and electron microscopy we examined the (ultra)structure of CWAs in the outer layers of roots of Asplenium species. All cell walls studded with CWAs were impregnated with yellow-brown pigments. CWAs had different shapes, ranging from warts to elongated branched structures, as observed with scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Ultrastructural study further showed that infecting fungi grow intramurally and that they are immobilized by CWAs when attempting to penetrate intracellularly. Immunolabelling experiments using monoclonal antibodies indicated pectic homogalacturonan, xyloglucan, mannan and cellulose in the CWAs, but tests for lignins and callose were negative. We conclude that these appositions are defense-related structures made of a non-lignified polysaccharide matrix on which phenolic compounds are deposited in order to create a barrier protecting the root against infections.     

Homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of diethyland biphenyl-acetylene and isomerization ofCis-Stilbene in the presence of [(C5H5)2Ru3(CO)3(μ-CO)(μ3-CO)(C2Ph2)]

The title complex (1) is a good hydrogenation catalyst tar diphenylacetylene in homogeneous conditions; it comparison with the activity of other ruthenium clusters is made. Apparently cluster catalysis occurs, but fragmentation to binuclear metallacyclic products containing two alkyne molecules was also observed: these 40 not been previously described and have been characterized by elemental analyses and mass spectrometry. Complex1 contains all alkyne bound parallel to one metal-metal edge. The results obtained support the hypothesis that transition metal clusters with alkynes bound in this fashion could ad as catalysts precursors or as intermediates in the homogeneous hydrogenation of alkynes; this behavior would be an example of structure-reactivity relationship in homogeneous catalysis. An erratum to this article is available at .     

An efficient inexpensive multisleeve liquid scintillation counting system

This paper reports a method that conserves greatly on the cost of counting radioactive samples for liquid scintillation counting. It accomplishes this by using several glass sleeves that are much more inexpensive than conventional counting and/or minivials, and because volumes of counting fluid are reduced the cost of the counting fluid is also markedly reduced. The usual vial system (A) uses 15 ml of counting fluid with 37% efficiency for tritum; the minivial uses .75 ml with 37% efficiency while 0.15 and 30 μl volumes gave approximately 21% efficiency. Another feature of this system is the capacity to reuse the outer sleeve(s) and dispose of the smaller counting vessel. This means that less counting fluid and glass will have to be disposed of in the environment.     

The use of an immobilized enzyme nylon tube reactor incorporating a four enzyme system for creatinine analysis

A single immobilized enzyme nylon tube reactor was produced incorporating a four enzyme system for the analysis of creatinine. The enzyme activity ratios in the coupling solution used to prepare the reactor were found to be of extreme importance in governing the activity of the latter. The reactor was incorporated into a continuous flow analysis system used to assay creatinine in urine samples and the results were correlated with a manual technique employing the same enzyme system in solution. The precision, correlation, high specificity, simplicity, and speed of the analysis were concluded to be factors in favor of the method's suitability for urine creatinine determinations.