A microcalorimetric study of the action of mercuric chloride on the metabolism of mitochondria isolated from Cyprinus carpio liver tissue

After the occurrence of 'Minamata disease' in 1950, mercury aroused much more attention, and lots of studies concerned have been made. The purpose of the present paper is to study the effect of mercuric chloride on the mitochondria suspension isolated from the liver tissue of Cyprinus carpio from the direct viewpoint of energy by using the microcalorimetric method. The metabolic thermogenic curves of the mitochondria suspension at 25°C were obtained, and the mitochondria metabolic thermokinetic equations were established, from which we obtained the thermodynamic and thermokinetic parameters: thermogenic rate constant (k), heat output (Q), average heat power (P_av), etc. Experimental results indicated that low concentration of mercuric chloride (5 nmol Hg²⁺/(mg protein)) stimulates the thermogenesis of mitochondria, suggesting a strong effect of uncoupling action, while high concentration of mercuric chloride (20 nmol Hg²⁺/(mg protein)) inhibits the metabolism of mitochondria completely, suggesting a fatal effect on the phosphorylation system. The effect of Hg²⁺ on mitochondria is concentration-depended, from which the probable reaction mechanism of Hg²⁺ to the mitochondria was proposed. So the microcalorimetric method can be used in the toxicology research.     

Formation of SnO2 Nanoparticles on External Surface of NaY Zeolite

Tin dioxide nanoparticles of 5 nm in size were prepared on NaY zeolite external surface by impregnation of SnCl2 solution and subsequent calcination at 623 K. A SnO2-NaY based chemical sensor for detecting H2 was demonstrated.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Magnetic Properties of New Dinuclear Copper(II) Complexes with N,N′‐Disubstituted Dithiooxamides derived from α‐Amino Acids

Four new dinuclear copper(II) complexes have been synthesized and have the general formula [Cu₂(L)(H₂O)₂], where L = GLYDTO [N,N′‐bis(carboxymethyl)dithiooxamide], ALADTO [N,N′‐bis(carboxyethyl)dithiooxamide], VALDTO [N,N′‐bis(1‐carboxy‐2‐methylpropyl)dithiooxamide] and LEUDTO [N,N′‐bis(1‐carboxy‐3‐methylbutyl)dithiooxamide]. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis as well as by IR, electronic and EPR spectroscopy. These techniques provided evidence for the presence of the CuNO₂S chromophore. Magnetic susceptibility measurements on all the complexes in the range 4–300 K show the existence of a dominant antiferromagnetic interaction with ?J values greater than 300 cm^?1. Thermal decomposition behaviour of the complexes was studied by thermogravimetry.     

Potential energy surfaces for HenNe+ ions: ab initio and diatomics-in-molecule results

The potential energy surface of He2Ne+ has been reinvestigated using a combination of ab initio and diatomics-in-molecule (DIM) calculations. In contrast to the reports of two recent studies the ion is found to have an asymmetric linear He-Ne-He structure, with no barrier to formation from the separated atoms on the ground-state surface. The He-Ne+ bond lengths at the potential minimum are 1.51 and 1.81 A, and the total bonding energy is 0.717 eV. Comparing the He2Ne+ energy to that of HeNe+, the bonding energy for the second helium atom is 0.06 eV, about 10% of that of the first He atom. The saddle point between the two equivalent minima is a symmetric structure, 0.0074 eV above the potential minimum. A symmetric geometry becomes the overall potential minimum if the 2s hole on the Ne is excluded from the reference states of a multireference configuration interaction calculation. A DIM potential was created for the HenNe+ family of ions. The DIM potential is consistent with the asymmetric He2Ne+ ion serving as a core; it predicts a slightly more asymmetric geometry than the ab initio results. Additional helium atoms form five-membered rings around the bonds of the core ion to fill the first shell and then add to the ends of the cluster. The asymmetric core ion and the highly compact structure help to account for the lack of apparent shell structure in the mass spectrometry of HenNe+ clusters. Finally, we recommend that the value De=0.63+/-0.04 eV be adopted for the ground state of HeNe+.     

An Improved HPLC Post-Column Methodology for the Identification of Free Radical Scavenging Phytochemicals in Complex Mixtures

The importance of natural antioxidants principally relates to their health-promoting properties. The discovery of new sources of established compounds or more potent compounds is a costly exercise and any technique capable of aiding this procedure would be highly significant. An approach combining chromatographic separation, component analysis and post-column identification of free radical scavenging has been reported. However, its effectiveness is dependent upon various factors and the number of samples analyzed without operator intervention is restricted. A more applicable technique using a 10% to 100% methanol with 2% acetic acid mobile phase and a citric acid-sodium citrate buffered methanolic 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical reagent is presented, whereby free radical scavengers can be detected within crude extracts of variable polarity without special considerations. As an illustration, acetone, 70% (aq.) methanol and acetonitrile-soluble extracts were prepared from sage (Salvia officinalis L.) for extraction of polar and non-polar radical scavengers and analyzed. Radical scavenging components were identified as carnosic, caffeic and rosmarinic acids and luteolin-7-O-glycoside. Others radical scavengers were tentatively identified as benzoic and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, flavonoids and diterpenoids. Through the application of this technique, carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid were identified as the principal free radical scavengers.     

Heteropolynuclear Sodium(I) Lead(II) Complex: Crystal and Molecular Structure of a Novel 3‐D Polymer, [(en)Pb(μ3‐ONO)2Na(μ3‐ONO)2Na(μ‐O2ClO2)Na]n

A novel 3D polymeric heteropolynuclear sodium(I) lead(II) complex containing different ligands, [NaPb(ClO₄)(en)(NO₂)₂] was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and IR, and ¹H‐, ¹³C‐, and ²⁰⁷Pb‐NMR spectroscopy. The single‐crystal X‐ray data of [NaPb(ClO₄)(en)(NO₂)₂]_n established that the complex is a three‐dimensional polymer, [(en)Pb(μ₃‐ONO)₂Na(μ₃‐ONO)₂Na(μ‐O₂ClO₂)Na]_n. The Pb and Na atoms have four‐ and eight‐coordinate geometry, respectively. The lone pair of electrons at the Pb^II atom is ‘stereochemically active’.     

Cure reaction and phase behavior of liquid crystalline epoxides-anhydride systems

A series of novel liquid crystalline epoxides with lateral substituents were cured with anhydrides and the cure kinetics was investigated by non-isothermal DSC technique. The results showed that the lengths of lateral substituents have great effect on the value of Ea. The curing reaction became less active, when the liquid crystalline epoxides have long lateral substituents and were controlled by diffusion at the late stage of cure. A nematic structure was observed by POM and XRD.     

Reconstruction of the water-oxidizing complex in manganese-depleted Photosystem II using synthetic manganese complexes

The efficiency of a trinuclear and two binuclear manganese complexes in reconstituting electron transport and O(2) evolution activity in Mn-depleted Photosystem II preparations is analyzed. The trinuclear Mn-complex is more efficient than two binuclear Mn-complexes in restoring oxygen evolution, but it is less effective as an electron donor than binuclear Mn-complexes. It is inferred from our results that recovery of electron transport and O(2) evolution with polynuclear Mn-complexes is affected with different factors. Moreover, the trinuclear Mn-complex is extremely sensitive to the addition of CaCl(2). It is suggested that there is an interaction between Ca(2+) and carboxyl within the trinuclear Mn-complex during photoactivation and this interaction benefits the ligation of Mn atom to the apo-WOC and form an active WOC. Binuclear Mn(III)Mn(III) complex shows slightly higher efficiency than binuclear Mn(III)Mn(IV) complex in restoration of O(2) evolution activity. The efficiency of three Mn-complexes in the reconstitution of WOC is in an order: trinuclear Mn(3)(III)>binuclear Mn(III)Mn(III)>binuclear Mn(III)Mn(IV).     

Interaction between sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate and the adriamycin semiquinone free radical: A possible mechanism for antagonizing adriamycin-induced cardiotoxity

Adriamycin (ADR) is a powerful and widely used antitumor drug, but its dose dependent cardiotoxicity limits its application. This side effect is believed to be caused by the adriamycin semiquinone free radical (ASFR). The primary focus of this work is to test effects of sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) on ASFR and adriamycin–induced lipid peroxidation. It was found that ADR, whether in the system of heart homogenate, heart mitochondria or heart submitochondria, with NADH as the substrate or in xanthine/xanthine oxidase under anaerobic conditions, all produced ASFR rapidly. STS was shown to effectively scavenge ASFR in all these systems and postpone the appearance of ASFR. The delayed time was proportional to the amount of STS. Under aerobic conditions, ASFR could be oxidized to generate oxygen free radicals. STS could not scavenge these oxygen free radicals, but it could effectively scavenge lipid free radicals generated from membrane lipid peroxidation of heart mitochondria. STS could significantly reduce mitochondrial swelling and lipid peroxidation induced by ADR. Animal experiments show that treatment of STS could inhibit endogenous lipid peroxidation caused by ADR. Here, a protective mechanism of STS is suggested that STS can rapidly and univalently oxidize ASFR, causing the cycle of adriamycin between its quinone form and semiquinone form and inhibiting the accumulation of ASFR. Under aerobic condition, STS can protect heart mitochondria by scavenging lipid free radicals generated from adriamycin-induced mitochondrial lipid peroxidation. This investigation shows that STS may be a physiological drug to antagonize the cardiotoxicity of ADR.     

Di­chloro­bis(1‐propyl­imidazolidine‐2‐thione‐κS)­cobalt(II)

The crystal structure of the title compound, [CoCl₂(C₆H₁₂N₂S)₂], consists of monomer units of a Co^II atom coordinated to two 1‐propyl­imidazolidine‐2‐thione ligands and to two chloride ions. The heterocyclic thione ligand is monodentate and coordinated to the metal through the thione S atom. The environment around the Co^II atom is a slightly distorted tetrahedron. The Co—S bond lengths are 2.341 (2) and 2.330 (2) Å, and the Co—Cl bond lengths are 2.234 (2) and 2.238 (2) Å. The most important point of distortion is the S—Co—S bond angle of only 97.83 (8)°. Intramolecular classical hydrogen bonds are found between the chloride ions and the N—H groups. Additionally, intra‐ and intermolecular non‐classical hydrogen bonds are found.