Thin-Layer Chromatography with an Isolated Support and Forced Flow of the Mobile Phase

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC -     

Isotachophoretic analysis of the dihydrofolate reductase reaction in the presence of methotrexate and ascorbic acid

The antifolate methotrexate (MTX) is widely used in cancer chemotherapy. In this study, we show that MTX (MTX-Glu1) and MTX-polyglutamates (MTX-Glu2-5) strongly inhibited the growth of the leukemic cell line MOLT-4. This effect, however, was mitigated by ascorbic acid. We investigated whether ascorbic acid is able to reduce dihydrofolic acid (DHF) to tetrahydrofolic acid (THF) directly or by circumventing the MTX inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). The inhibition of this NADPH-dependent reduction of DHF by MTX-Glun in the absence or presence of ascorbate, was determined by analytical isotachophoresis. Using 0.01 M HCl/histidine, pH 6.0, as a leading electrolyte (L) and 0.005 M 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES)/histidine, pH 6.0, as a terminating electrolyte (T), MTX-Glun derivatives including MTX-Glu1 could be easily separated, whereas the quantitative estimation of THF was not possible. A quantitative characterization of the DHFR reaction by measuring NADPH, NADP+ and ascorbate was achieved with another system (L: 0.01 M HCI/beta-alanine, pH 3.73; T: 0.01 M caproic acid, pH 3.27). Nanomolar concentrations of MTX-Glu1-5 inhibited consumption of NADPH and production of NADP+. Ascorbic acid was not able to reduce DHF, neither directly nor after inhibition of DHFR by MTX. However, ascorbic acid seemed to diminish the oxidation of THF and this may account for its capacity to reduce the inhibitory effect of MTX on MOLT-4 cells.     

Identification of irradiated foods by monitoring radiolytically produced hydrocarbons

Many countries allow the treatment of foods with low doses of ionizing radiation to reduce microbial and insect infestations, inhibit maturation, and extend shelf life. Therefore, a reliable method is needed to identify irradiated foods and to determine their compliance with respect to allowable absorbed radiation dose. Several approaches for the identification of irradiated foods have been developed such as measurement of radiolytic products, chemiluminescence, and thermoluminescence, and the use of electron spin resonance spectroscopy to measure free radicals trapped in bone. A method for the determination of radiolytically produced hydrocarbons was developed in our laboratory to evaluate the utility of monitoring these compounds as indicators of food irradiation. The method involves the extraction of the radiolytic hydrocarbons from foods and their quantitation by gas chromatography. Concentrations of the radiolytically produced hydrocarbons increased linearly with radiation doses ranging from 0 to 6 kGy. The limit of detection appears to be approximately 1 kGy. The method was found to be useful for the identification of gamma-irradiated foods such as shrimp, frog legs, pork, beef, and poultry. Results of the method evaluation studies of these food matrices as well as factors affecting hydrocarbon production and determination will be presented.     

Theoretical methods in thermodynamics of condensed phases

Theoretical possibilities of determining energetic and thermodynamic characteristics of chemical entities in gaseous and condensed (solid and liquid) phases are briefly reviewed. The considerations include quantum chemistry methods which enable evaluation of energetic quantities and statistical thermodynamics dependencies necessary for determining other thermodynamic characteristics. The possible applications of these methods are also discussed in brief.     

Photodegradation of a 1,3,4-thiadiazole-urea herbicide. Isolation,characterization, X-ray crystal structure and synthesis of photoproducts

The photodegradation of 1,3-dimethyl-1-(2-(3-fluorobenzylthio)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-5-yl)urea as a thin film and in solution is described. The two photoproducts from thin-film photolysis were characterized by spectral and synthetic methods. The X-ray crystal structure of one of the photoproducts is also reported. The rearrangements were shown to involve an S-to-N benzyl migration, followed by a sulfur-oxygen substitution.     

Can colloidal particles flocculate at two energy minima simultaneously in a quiescent medium?

The effect of electrostatic repulsion forces on the gravity-induced flocculation of non-Brownian particles in a quiescent medium is analyzed, and the phenomenon that colloidal particles can simultaneously flocculate at both the primary minimum and the secondary minimum of the total interaction curve of DLVO theory is proved. A narrow strip region describing this "combined" flocculation behavior exists on the stability diagram, and the concept of a limiting trajectory can be applied to explain this interesting result.     

Substitution of phosphine in the complex [RhCl(cyclooctadiene)(phosphine)] by 1-hexene

Summary The substitution of phosphine in the [RhCl(COD)(phosphine)] complex (1), where phosphine is PPh₃ or 1/2 BPS-2 [bis(diphenylphosphinoethyl)tetramethyldisiloxane] and COD is cycloocta-1,5-diene, by 1-hexene is a two-step reversible reaction. All individual rate constants and equilibrium constants were determined spectrophotometrically and associative mechanism occurring via the formation of five-coordinated [RhCl(COD)(phosphine)(1-hexene)] (2) was inferred. The rate-determining step changes from the first- to the second-one as the concentration of 1-hexene increases. An excess of phosphine shifts the equilibrium towards complex (2).     

Structure—activity relationships for <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> oxime reactivation of chlorpyrifos-inhibited acetylcholinesterase

Organophosphorus pesticides parathion, chlorpyrifos, and malathion inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) via phosphorylation of its active site. AChE reactivators and anticholinergics are compounds used as antidotes in the case of intoxication by these AChE inhibitors. In this work, chlorpyrifos, a representative member of this pesticide family, was used to inhibit the AChE activity of rat brain. The effect of twenty-one structurally different AChE reactivators was tested in vitro and subsequently, the relationship between their chemical structure and biological activity was outlined.     

Preparation and properties of yttrium complexes with alkanodicarboxylic acids

Malonate, succinate and glutarate of yttrium were obtained by dissolving Y(OH)₃ in a solution of the corresponding acid and crystallization, whereas adipate, pimelate, suberate, azelate and sebacate in the reaction of YCl₃ with the ammonium salt of the acid. Yttrium alkanodicarboxylates were prepared as crystalline solids with general formula Y₂O₃.nH₂O, wheren=3, 4, 6, 7. On the basis of IR spectra the way of coordination COO^– - Y³⁺ was established. Yttrium malonate, succinate, glutarate, azelate and sebacate heated lose crystallization water and next anhydrous complexes are transformed to Y₂O₃, whereas yttrium adipate, pimelate and suberate on heating lose some water molecules and, the mono- or dihydrates formed are decomposed to Y₂O₃. The properties of the studied complexes change discretely according to odd or even number of carbon atoms in the chain.

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Zusammenfassung Durch Auflösen von Y(OH)₃ in einer Lösung der entsprechenden Säure und anschliessendem Kristallisieren wurden Yttriummalonat,-succinat und -glutarat dargestellt, das Yttriumadipat, -pimelat-, -suberat und -azelainat und sebacate hingegen in der Reaktion von YCl₃ mit dem Ammoniumsalz der Säure. In Form kristalliner Feststoffe wurden Yttriumalkanodicarboxylate der allgemeinen Formel Y₂L₃,nH₂O mitn=3, 4, 6 bzw. 7 hergestellt. Ausgehend von den IR-Spektren konnte die Art der Koordinierung als COO^– y³⁺ festgestellt werden. Beim Erhitzen geben Ytrriummalonat, -succinat, -glutarat, azelainat und -sebazat ihr Kristallwasser ab, aus den anhydratierten Komplexen bildet sich anschliessend Y₂O₃, während Yttriumadipet, pimelat und -suberat einige Wassermoleküle verlieren und die monooder dihydratierten Formen sich dann zu Y₂O₃ zersetzen. Die Eigenschaften der untersuchten Komplexe variieren eindeutig in Abhängigkeit davon, ob sich in der Kette eine gerade oder ungerade Anzahl von Kohlenstoffatomen befindet.