Solution viscosity behavior of complexes of poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) with lightly sulfonated polystyrene or its zinc salt

The rheological behavior of solutions containing blends of poly(γ-benzyl-L -glutamate) (PBLG) and either the free acid or the zinc salt of lightly sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) was studied as a function of blend composition, polymer concentration, degree of sulfonation of the SPS, and the polypeptide molecular weight. The zinc salt of SPS formed a transition metal complex with the amine-end groups of the PBLG, and this resulted in an enhancement of the solution viscosity relative to a weighted average of the viscosities of the individual polymer solutions. The ZnSPS/PBLG solutions showed no anomalous time or shear dependencies. In contrast, solutions containing PBLG and the sulfonic acid derivative of SPS also had enhanced viscosities, but in addition, they exhibited time-dependent viscosities (thixotropic behavior) and shear thickening (dilatant behavior). This was attributed to a nonequilibrium structure of the interpolymer complex due to a competition between acid-amine and acid-ester interactions. Although the acid-amine interaction is enthalpically favored, when sufficient sulfonic acid groups were available, interactions between the sulfonic acid and the glutamate ester side groups of PBLG developed and this interaction promotes a helix-to-coil transition of the PBLG. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Sûto's method applied to a problem of Färe and Mitchell

Summary A real solution of the functional equation(x + (y – x)) = f(x) + g(y) + h(x)k(y) on a set ² is a 6-tuple (f, g, h, k, , ) of real valued functions such that the equation is identically fulfilled on. Except for cases known before—e.g. when is linear—we present all real solutions in an arbitrary region where the functions have derivatives of second order.     

Direct determination of trace metajls in solid samples by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomizers: Part 3. Application of an Autosampler to the Determination of Silver,Bismuth, Cadmium and Zinc in Steels

A modification of the Varian-Techtron autosampler ASD-53 to accept solid samples and to operate under non-isothermal as well as isothermal conditions is described. The performance of the autosampler is illustrated for the determination of silver, bismuth, cadmium and zinc in high- and low-alloy steels with the CRA 90 graphite cup and isothermal atomization. Good agreement with certified or reported values was obtained, with relative standard deviations of 3.8–30%. Peak height and peak area evaluations were compared; the use of peak area values gives considerably better precision for silver, bismuth and cadmium. The non-specific absorption caused by the matrix was measured in the region 200–350 nm. For the resonance lines used, the background level was found to be 0.00–0.03 units (absorbance X seconds) depending on element and the age of the cup.     

Comparisons of styrene ionomers prepared by sulfonating polystyrene and copolymerizing styrene with styrene sulfonate

As part of a continuing study of ion-containing polymers, a comparison has been made on styrene-based sulfonate ionomers obtained by two different processes. Copolymers of styrene with sodium styrene sulfonate (SSS) have been compared with corresponding polymers obtained by the sulfonation/neutralization of preformed polystyrene (S–PS). The former system covered a range of sulfonate level from 1 to 30 mol %, while the latter ranged from about 1 to 7 mol %. The characterization of these materials has been conducted using solubility behavior, dilute solution viscometry, thermal mechanical analysis, density measurements, and water adsorption studies. At low (ca. 1%) levels the solubility behavior of the SSS copolymers and the sulfonated polystyrenes were similar. However, at higher sulfonate levels the solubility behavior in different solvents and the dilute solution viscometry were significantly different for the two systems. Similarly, thermal analysis studies (DSC) showed that the glass transition of the sulfonated polystyrene increased linearly with sulfonate level, while the T_g for the SSS copolymer increased modestly, up to about 7 mol % sulfonate content, and then remained constant. Significant differences in the softening behavior and water absorption characteristics were also observed for these two classes of ionomers. Although molecular weights and molecular weight distributions are not now available for these ionomers, the differences in their behavior does not appear to be due simply to differences in molecular weight. It is postulated that the differences in the copolymer and the S–PS ionomers may originate with differences in sulfonate distribution. It is suggested that the SSS monomer units are incorporated as blocks in the copolymer as opposed to a more random distribution in the S–PS ionomer. Indirect evidence in support of his argument is found, for example, in the case of the copolymer in the solubility behavior, the relative independence of T_g on sulfonate concentration and the apparent existence of a second, high temperature transition tentatively attributable to an ion-rich phase. Additional studies are required to confirm this hypothesis.     

Glutathionylation of beta-actin via a cysteinyl sulfenic acid intermediary

Background  

Cysteinyl residues in actin are glutathionylated, ie. form a mixed disulfide with glutathione, even in the absence of exogenous oxidative stress. Glutathionylation inhibits actin polymerization and reversible actin glutathionylation is a redox dependent mechanism for regulation of the cytoskeleton structure. The molecular mechanism that mediates actin glutathionylation in vivo is unclear.     

Hydrolysis of chemically distinct sites of human serum albumin by polyoxometalate: A hybrid QM/MM (ONIOM) study

In this study, mechanisms of hydrolysis of all four chemically diverse cleavage sites of human serum albumin (HSA) by [Zr(OH)(PW₁₁O₃₉)]⁴⁻ (ZrK) have been investigated using the hybrid two-layer QM/MM (ONIOM) method. These reactions have been proposed to occur through the following two mechanisms: internal attack (IA) and water assisted (WA). In both mechanisms, the cleavage of the peptide bond in the Cys392-Glu393 site of HSA is predicted to occur in the rate-limiting step of the mechanism. With the barrier of 27.5 kcal/mol for the hydrolysis of this site, the IA mechanism is found to be energetically more favorable than the WA mechanism (barrier = 31.6 kcal/mol). The energetics for the IA mechanism are in line with the experimentally measured values for the cleavage of a wide range of dipeptides. These calculations also suggest an energetic preference (Cys392-Glu393, Ala257-Asp258, Lys313-Asp314, and Arg114-Leu115) for the hydrolysis of all four sites of HSA. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.