Surface thermodynamic properties of monolayers versus reconstitution of a membrane protein in solid-supported bilayers

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to study the influence of a membrane protein, lactose permease of Escherichia coli (LacY), on the surface spreading behavior and the features of self-assembled phospholipids bilayers on mica. The miscibility of phospholipids used, 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), was investigated by surface pressure area isotherm measurements at the air-water interface. A composition with an equimolar proportion of POPC and DMPC was used to form the liposomes. Surface layers formed with DMPC:POPC (0.5:0.5, mol/mol) or LacY reconstituted in proteoliposomes with the same phospholipid composition were imaged by using AFM. When lactose permease was reconstituted in DMPC:POPC (0.5:0.5, mol/mol), self-assembled structures that remained firmly adsorbed onto the mica surface were observed. These sheets had an irregular shape and their upper layer was more corrugated than that obtained for the phospholipid matrix.     

The Initial Stage of the Development of Planar Chromatograms

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - The aim of the work discussed in this paper was to re-investigate the initial stage of the retention process in TLC, namely the...     

Is the cell retention by MF membrane absolutely safe—a hypothetical model for cell deformation in a membrane pore

The process of a cell penetration through a pore of a microfiltration (MF) membrane is analyzed theoretically. The computational model is based on assumption of the idealized pore and cell geometry. Cell deformation during passage through the pore is possible by way of releasing the intracellular matter into the environment. Calculated results suggest that the penetration of a cell to the other side of the membrane via a pore of a significantly smaller diameter can be completed in the time period in order of minutes. The simulations presented should be regarded as the preliminary approach to the quantitative analysis of cell penetration to the other side of an MF membrane by squeezing mechanism.     

Stability of Mefenamic Acid in the Inclusion Complex with β-Cyclodextrin in the Solid Phase

The inclusion complex of mefenamic acid with -cyclodextrin was obtained by the method of coprecipitation from diethyl ether. The product was identified by the thermogravimetric and X-ray methods. The complex stability constants were determined by the potentiometric method. The effect of -CD on the solubility and stability of mefenamic acid was analysed.     

Chromatographic determination of solubility of low soluble substances the physico-chemical basis

The physico-chemical basis for a direct chromatographic determination of solubility of low soluble substances by means of adsorption and partition TLC is discussed. This method is a practical consequence of the chromatographic binary solutions model, a new semi-empirical approach based on phenomenological thermodynamics.

---

Chromatographische Bestimmung der Löslichkeit von schwerlöslichen Substanzen. Die physikalisch-chemische Basis (Kurze Mitteilung)

Zusammenfassung Die physikalisch-chemische Basis einer direkten chromatographischen Bestimmung der Löslichkeit von schwerlöslichen Substanzen mit Hilfe der Adsorptions- und Verteilungsdünnschichtchromatographie wird diskutiert. Die Möglichkeit einer solchen Bestimmung ist die praktische Konsequenz des chromatographischen Modells der binären Lösungen, einer neuen semiempirischen, auf der phänomenologischen Thermodynamik begründeten Methode.

     

Synthesis of ribonucleosides of 4(5)-cyano-5(4)-methylimidazole and related 4-substituted-5-methylimidazole ribosides

4-Cyano-1-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-5-methylimidazole ( 4 ) and its corresponding 5-cyano-4-methyl substituted isomer ( 5 ) have been obtained by ribosylation of 4(5)-cyano-5(4)-methylimidazole ( 3 ) via the mercuric cyanide method or by ribosylation of the trimethylsilyl derivative of 3 . Treatment of 4 with methanolic ammonia, ammonium chloride in liquid ammonia and potassium hydrosulfide provided 4-cyano-1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-5-methylimidazole ( 6 ), 1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-5-methylimidazole-4-carboxamide ( 2 ) and 1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-5-methylimidazole-4-thiocarboxamide ( 11 ) respectively. Reaction of 6 with hydroxylamine afforded the corresponding 4-carboxamidoxime substituted nucleoside ( 13 ) which on catalytic reduction in the presence of ammonium chloride, was transformed into 1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-5-methylimidazole-4-carboxamidine ( 14 ) as hydrochloride salt.     

2-DE and MALDI-TOF-MS for a comparative analysis of proteins expressed in different cellular models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the selective loss of motor neurons from the spinal cord and brain. About 10% of ALS cases are familial (FALS), and in 20% of these cases the disease has been linked to mutations in the Cu,Zn-SOD1 gene. Although the molecular mechanisms causing these forms of ALS are still unclear, evidence has been provided that motor neurons injuries associated with mutant superoxide dismutase (SOD1)-related FALS result from a toxic gain-in-fuction of the mutated enzyme. To understand better the role of these mutations in the pathophysiology of FALS we have compared the pattern of proteins expressed in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line with those of cell lines transfected with plasmids expressing the wild-type human SOD1 and the H46R and G93A mutants. 2-DE coupled to MALDI-TOF-MS were the proteomic tools used for identification of differentially expressed proteins. These included cytoskeletal proteins, proteins that regulate energetic metabolism and intracellular redox conditions, and the ubiquitin proteasome system. The proteomic approach allowed to expand the knowledge on the pattern of proteins, with altered expression, which we should focus on, for a better understanding of the possible mechanism involved in mutated-SOD1 toxicity. The cellular models considered in this work have also evidenced biochemical characteristics common to other SOD1-mutated cellular lines connected to the pathogenesis of ALS.     

Liquid chromatography/multi-stage mass spectrometry of bisphenol A and its halogenated derivatives

We report a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method for analyzing bisphenol A (BPA) and its halogenated derivatives. Since only tetrachlorobisphenol A and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) are commercially available, mono-, di- and trichlorobisphenol A were synthesized and purified in order to be used as analytical standards. This family of compounds was studied using electrospray ionization and an ion trap mass analyzer in order to characterize the new compounds and to propose fragmentation pathways. Multi-stage mass spectrometry was used to confirm the genealogical relationship between the ions. Some product ions were traced from MS/MS to MS(4) and the labelled compounds BPA-d(16) and TBBPA-(13)C(12) were used to assign some product ion structures. In general, the deprotonated molecule [M--H](-) loses a methyl and/or a halogen group during both MS/MS and MS(3), while the neutral loss of CO was also observed in MS(3) spectra. We selected the most intense and characteristic MS/MS transitions for LC/MS/MS analysis. LC separation was performed in a reversed-phase column; methanol/water (no additives) was used as the mobile phase in gradient elution mode; and BPA-d(16) was chosen as the internal standard. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) was used to pre-concentrate and to clean up water samples. The SPE LC/MS/MS method allows BPA and its halogenated derivatives to be detected at a few parts-per-billion (ppb) in surface water.     

Enhancing the Photocatalytic Activity of Sr4Al14O25: Eu2+, Dy3+ Persistent Phosphors by Codoping with Bi3+ Ions

The photocatalytic activity of Bismuth‐codoped Sr₄Al₁₄O₂₅: Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ persistent phosphors is studied by monitoring the degradation of the blue methylene dye UV light irradiation. Powder phosphors are obtained by a combustion synthesis method and a postannealing process in reductive atmosphere. The XRD patterns show a single orthorhombic phase Sr₄Al₁₄O₂₅: Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺, Bi³⁺ phosphors even at high Bismuth dopant concentrations of 12 mol%, suggesting that Bi ions are well incorporated into the host lattice. SEM micrographs show irregular micrograins with sizes in the range of 0.5–20 μm. The samples present an intense greenish‐blue fluorescence and persistent emissions at 495 nm, attributed to the 5d–4f allowed transitions of Eu²⁺. The fluorescence decreases as Bi concentration increases; that suggest bismuth‐induced traps formation that in turn quench the luminescence. The photocatalytic evaluation of the powders was studied under both 365 nm UV and solar irradiations. Sample with 12 mol% of Bi presented the best MB degradation activity; 310 min of solar irradiation allow 100% MB degradation, whereas only 62.49% MB degradation is achieved under UV irradiation. Our results suggest that codoping the persistent phosphors with Bi³⁺ can be an alternative to enhance their photocatalytic activity.     

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Higher‐Order Cycloadditions of In Situ Generated Amino Isobenzofulvenes

The [8+2] cycloaddition of indene‐2‐carbaldehydes and nitro olefins is described to provide benzonorbornene scaffolds in a highly peri‐, diastereo‐, and enantioselective fashion in the presence of a C₂‐symmetric aminocatalyst. This reaction, which proceeds through a transient semi‐aromatic amino isobenzofulvene, represents the first example of catalytic formation and transformation of these species. Quantum chemical calculations suggest a kinetically controlled stepwise mechanism where the stereochemistry is determined in the first bond‐forming event. Beyond the useful [8+2] cycloadducts, [10+4] cycloadducts have been identified in silico as potential off‐pathway intermediates.