Laser photoinitiated nitrosylation of 3-electron reduced Nm europaea hydroxylamine oxidoreductase: kinetic and thermodynamic properties of the nitrosylated enzyme

Hydroxylamine-cytochrome c554 oxidoreductase (HAO) catalyzes the 4-e(-) oxidation of NH(2)OH to NO(2)(-) by cytochrome c554. The electrons are transferred from NH(2)OH to a 5-coordinate heme known as P(460), the active site of HAO. From P(460), c-type hemes transport the electrons through the enzyme to a remote solvent-exposed c-heme, where cyt c554 reduction occurs. When 3-60 microM NO* are photogenerated by laser flash photolysis of N,N'-bis-(carboxymethyl)-N,N'-dinitroso-1,4-phenylenediamine, in a solution containing approximately 1 microM HAO prereduced by 3 e(-)/subunit, the HAO c-heme pool is subsequently oxidized by up to 1 e(-)/HAO subunit. The reaction rate for HAO oxidation shows first-order dependence on [HAO], and zero-order dependence on [NO*] (k(obs) = 1250 +/- 150 s(-)(1)). However, the total HAO oxidized shows hyperbolic dependence on [NO*]. We suggest that NO* first binds reversibly to P(460) giving a {Fe(NO)}(6) moiety. Intramolecular electron transfer (IET) from the c-heme pool then reduces P(460) to {Fe(NO)}.(7) The overall binding constant (K) for formation of {Fe(NO)}(7) from free NO* and 3-e(-) reduced HAO was measured at (7.7 +/- 0.6) x10(4) M(-1). This value is larger than that for typical ferriheme proteins ( approximately 10(4) M(-1)), but much smaller than that for the corresponding ferroheme proteins ( approximately 10(11) M(-1)). The final product generated by nitrosylating 3-e(-) reduced HAO is believed to be the same species obtained by adding NH(2)OH to the fully oxidized enzyme. The experiments described herein suggest that when NH(2)OH and HAO first react, only two of the NH(2)OH electrons end up in the c-heme pool. The other two remain at P(460) as part of an {Fe(NO)}(7) moiety. These results are discussed in relation to earlier studies that investigated the effect of putting fully oxidized and fully reduced HAO under 1 atm of NO*.     

Langmuir monolayers of the zwitterionic surfactant hexadecyl 1-N-L-tryptophan glycerol ether

We report the formation of Langmuir monolayers of pure zwitterionic hexadecyl 1-N-L-tryptophan glycerol ether (C(16)-TGE) surfactant and mixed monolayers of cationic-zwitterionic surfactant obtained modifying the pH of the subphase. The pressure-area and surface potential-area isotherms and fluorescence microscopy measurements have been used to characterize the surface phase transitions in the monolayers. These transitions appeared at larger areas as the pH decreased from 6.0 to 2.0 and almost disappeared as the pH decreased further. The analysis of the surface potential and the infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy data suggests that the phase transition is associated with a change of orientation of both the hydrocarbon chain and the aromatic group of the surfactant with respect to the air-water surface. The surface rheology of the monolayers was studied by quasielastic light scattering and by the oscillatory barrier technique. The results indicate that there is at least one relaxation process in the monolayer.     

Reactions of lignin in chlorine dioxide bleaching of kraft pulps

The reactions between chlorine dioxide and the residual lignin in oxygen-bleached softwood kraft pulps have been studied. In a first series, isolated lignin samples have been subjected to chlorine dioxide oxidation at different pH values and subsequently analysed by oxidative degradation and elemental analysis. Different analytical techniques have also been employed to follow the gradual chemical changes in lignins isolated from kraft pulps after each of the bleaching stages in the OD(EOP)DD sequence. The results demonstrate that, in order to minimize chlorination of the lignin, the first chlorine dioxide stage should be carried out at a pH around or above three. At this pH level, a high degree of lignin oxidation is also achieved. A certain (mono)-chlorination of the lignin in the first D stage cannot be avoided, but this chlorine is to a large extent removed in the later bleaching stages. The efficient and non-selective oxidation of the various phenolic lignin end groups by chlorine dioxide is clearly illustrated by the analytical data. Moreover,¹³C NMR reveals that reduced lignin structures formed during the kraft cook survive the oxidative bleaching stages to a large extent.     

Assessment of corrosion resistance of surface-coated galvanized steel by analysis of the AC impedance spectra measured on the salt-spray-tested specimen

In the present work, corrosion resistance of surface-coated galvanized steel was quantitatively determined by an analysis of the alternating current (AC) impedance spectra measured on the salt-spray-tested specimen. To evaluate the corrosion resistance of the surface-coated galvanized steel, AC impedance spectroscopy was performed on the salt-spray-tested specimen previously exposed to salt-sprayed corrosive environment. From the analysis of the impedance spectra, the area fraction transient of white rust θ ₂(t) was theoretically derived from the equivalent circuit equation by using two fitting parameters. The values of the two fitting parameters were determined by fitting the empirical transient equations to the area fraction of the resin coating layer and to the total resistance obtained from the impedance spectra measured, respectively. From the analyses of θ ₂(t) for four kinds of surface-coated galvanized steels with various resin coating layers, it is indicated that as the values of the two fitting parameters decrease in the order of CP, GI, OD and OM (commercial trade names) specimens, the corrosion resistance increases in that order as well. Furthermore, from the quantitative comparison of the two fitting parameters with the polarization resistance of the upper resin coating layer R _p determined from the potentiodynamic polarization curve, it is suggested that the two fitting parameters decrease in value as well with increasing R _p.     

Second Dissociation Constant of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te and the Absorption Spectra of HTe<Superscript>–</Superscript>, Te<Superscript>2–</Superscript> and Te<Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>2–</Superscript> in Aqueous Solution

We have measured the second acid dissociation constant, K _2a , at several ionic strengths for hydrogen telluride (H₂Te) using the Charge Transfer to Solvent (CTTS) uv spectra of its anions HTe⁻ and Te²⁻. Since it is produced in our solutions, we have also determined the spectra of Te₂ ²⁻ both in the uv and in the visible regions. At 25 ^∘C, K _2a = (1.28 ± 0.02) × 10⁻¹² by extrapolation to zero ionic strength. Its value at an ionic strength equal to 0.5 mol.dm^-3 was estimated to be (8.7 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹². The solution thermodynamics of these species are also discussed and comparisons are made to related acids.     

Determination of manganese and zinc in powdered chocolate samples by slurry sampling using sequential multi-element flame atomic absorption spectrometry

In the present work, a slurry sampling flame atomic absorption spectrometric method to determine directly manganese and zinc in powdered chocolate samples is proposed. The optimization step was performed using univariate methodology involving the following factors: nature and concentration of the acid solution, sonication time, and particle size. The established conditions led to the use of a sample mass of 150 mg, 2.0 mol L^− 1 nitric acid solution, sonication time of 15 min, and a slurry volume of 50 mL. This method allows the determination of manganese and zinc with detection limit of 52 and 61 ng g^− 1, respectively, and a precision expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.6% and 3.2% (both, n = 10) for contents of manganese and zinc of 52.4 and 100.0 μg g^− 1, respectively. The proposed method was applied for determination of manganese and zinc in five powdered chocolate samples. In these, the manganese content varied from 42.8 to 52.7 and from 88.6 to 102.4 μg g^− 1 of zinc. The analytical results were compared with the results obtained by analysis of these samples after digestion using open vessel and acid bomb digestion procedures and determination using FS-FAAS. The statistical comparison by t-test (95% confidence level) showed no significant difference between these results.     

Multilayer sol-gel membranes for optical sensing applications: single layer pH and dual layer CO(2) and NH(3) sensors

Organo-silica sol-gel membranes have been prepared and demonstrated in a single layer format for pH measurement and multiple-layer format for both carbon dioxide and ammonia. The sensors are simple and versatile since the same chemistry and membranes are used for each sensor. The sensors use hydroxypyrenetrisulfonic acid (HPTS) as the indicator immobilized in a base-catalyzed sol-gel containing poly(dimethyl)siloxane, aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS). This indicator gel is over coated with a hydrophobic sol-gel to reduce cross reactivity to pH when either CO(2) or NH(3) are examined. The gels are very stable and the sensors retain response up to a 12-month period. Sensors can be stored in buffer or dry without loss of function and have response times to that are comparable to literature values.     

Matrix isolation infrared studies of complexes formed between substituted phenols and trimethylamine

Infrared spectroscopy and matrix isolation technique have been used to study the 1 : 1 complexes formed between 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (TCP), pentachlorophenol (PCP) or 2-chloro-4,6-dinitrophenol (CNP) and trimethylamine (TMA) isolated in solid argon. The results were analyzed in relation to the type of complex formed. Depending on the proton-donor ability of the phenol three different types of hydrogen bonded complexes have been identified in argon matrices. The weakest phenol in the series, TCP (pK_a = 6.72), forms a strong molecular hydrogen bonded complex with TMA as indicated by the broad ν(OHN) absorption with a maximum at 2490 cm⁻¹ and a band at 811 cm⁻¹ due to the ν_s(C₃N) mode of the perturbed amine. The strongest phenol, CNP (pK_a = 2.01), interacts with TMA in an argon matrix to form ionic complex with the proton transferred to the base molecule. This is evidenced by the presence of the ν(NH⁺---O⁻) absorption between 3000−1800 cm⁻¹, by the ν_as(C₃N⁺) and ν_s(C₃N⁺) absorptions due to the protonated amine and by numerous product bands due to the relatively strongly perturbed modes of the phenol ring. The interaction between TMA and a phenol of intermediate strength, PCP (pK_a = 4.74), in solid argon probably leads to the formation of two types of hydrogen bonded complexes: an ionic complex with the proton transferred to the amine molecule and a pseudosymmetric one with the proton more or less equally shared between the phenol and amine molecules. In this case the protonic absorption consists of two broad features situated in the 3000–1600 cm⁻¹ and 950–400 cm⁻¹ regions due to the ν(NH⁺O⁻) and ν(OHN) modes, respectively.     

Escherichia coli single-stranded DNA-binding protein,a molecular tool for improved sequence quality in pyrosequencing

Pyrosequencing is a four-enzyme bioluminometric DNA sequencing technique based on a DNA sequencing by synthesis principle. Currently, the technique is limited to analysis of short DNA sequences exemplified by single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis. In order to expand the field for pyrosequencing, the read length needs to be improved and efforts have been made to purify reaction components as well as add single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) to the pyrosequencing reaction. In this study, we have performed a systematic effort to analyze the effects of SSB by comparing the pyrosequencing result of 103 independent complementary DNA (cDNA) clones. More detailed information about the cause of low quality sequences on templates with different characteristics was achieved by thorough analysis of the pyrograms. Also, real-time biosensor analysis was performed on individual cDNA clones for investigation of primer annealing and SSB binding on these templates. Results from these studies indicate that templates with high performance in pyrosequencing without SSB possess efficient primer annealing and low SSB affinity. Alternative strategies to improve the performance in pyrosequencing by increasing the primer-annealing efficiency have also been evaluated.     

Electropolymerization of Pd(II) complexes containing phosphinoterthiophene ligands

A series of Pd complexes of 3'-diphenylphosphino-2,2':5'2' '-terthiophene (1a, dppterth) in which the metal is coordinated in three different modes have been prepared and electropolymerized, resulting in the formation of conductive thin films. In [Pd2(mu-Cl2)(dppterth-P,C3)2] (3a) the metal is P,C-coordinated, in [PdCl2(dppterth-P)2] (4a) the coordination is monodentate via the phosphine, and in [Pd(dppterth-P,C3)(dppterth-P,S1)][PF6] (5a) both P,C- and P,S-coordination modes are found. In 5a, the coordinated thiophene is hemilabile and may be displaced by reaction with more strongly coordinating ligands such as isocyanides. To probe the effect of blocking the alpha-position of the terthienyl moiety with methyl groups, 3'-diphenylphosphino-5-methyl-2,2':5'2' '-terthiophene (1b, Me-dppterth) and 3'-diphenylphosphino-5,5' '-dimethyl-2,2':5'2' '-terthiophene (1c, Me2-dppterth) were prepared, and the corresponding series of Pd complexes was synthesized. One of these complexes, [Pd(Me2-dppterth-P,C3)(Me2-dppterth-P,S1)][PF6] (5c), has been crystallographically characterized. The electropolymerized films prepared from 5a react with isonitriles, and shifts in the absorption spectra of the electropolymerized materials are observed upon reaction. A Pd complex has also been prepared from 5-diphenylphosphino-2,2':5'2' '-terthiophene (2, 5dppterth), and this complex has been electropolymerized. All the electropolymerized thin films have been characterized using EDX analysis, which demonstrates good correspondence with the elemental analysis of the respective monomers, and the maximum conductivities of the films are near 10(-4) S x cm(-1). Comparing the electropolymerization behavior of the complexes, along with their electrochemical and spectroscopic data, allows conclusions to be drawn regarding the involvement of pi-delocalization and the metal group in the conductivity of the materials.