FLUORESCENCE LIFETIME OF ACRIDINE ORANGE IN SODIUM DODECYL SULFATE PREMICELLAR SOLUTIONS

Abstract— The absorption and fluorescence spectra, and the fluorescence lifetime of acridine orange (AO) were measured in a wide range of the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration below and above the critical micelle concentration (cmc). The fluorescence consisted of two components with different lifetimes; short (<3 ns) and long (>3 ns). The short and long lifetime components are attributed to the AO monomer and dimer associated with detergent, respectively. The lifetime of the dimer increased with increasing the SDS concentration just below the cmc. It decreased suddenly to a constant value just above the cmc. The lifetime of the monomer showed only a slight increase in the concentration range of SDS employed.     

Method for optical resolution of racemic homochlorcyclizine and comparison of optical isomers in antihistamine activity and pharmacokinetics.

A method was developed for semi-preparative scale enantioseparation of racemic homochlorcyclizine (HCZ) by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on Chiralcel OD column. The best resolution was achieved using an eluent composed of n-hexane plus 0.2 M isopropylamine. By this method, about 5.0 mg of racemic HCZ could be resolved completely in one run. The optical purity of the enantiomers were both greater than 99.9%. The studies of antihistamine activity on guinea pig ileum demonstrated that l-HCZ is significantly more potent than d- and racemic HCZ. The pharmacokinetics of d- and l-HCZ after oral administration to rats also differed. The successful resolution of racemic HCZ permits comparison of the pharmacokinetics and antihistamine activity of the enantiomers.     

Cationic ring-opening transfer polymerization of spiro ortho esters initiated by carbon black

The ring-opening transfer polymerization of spiro ortho esters (SOE) initiated by carbon black was investigated. In the absence of carbon black, no polymerization occurred at all. In the presence of channel black containing carboxyl group, the ring-opening transfer polymerization of SOE was initiated at 50-70°C. to give polyether ester, namely alternating copolymer of epoxide and lactone. The rate of polymerization of 1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.4]nonane and 1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.5]decane was considerably small compared with that of 1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.6]undecane. The activation energy of the polymerization of 2-chloromethyl-1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.6]undecane was estimated to be 6.0 kcal/mol. The initiating activity of carbon black increased with an increase in carboxyl group content of carbon black. Furnace black that contained no carboxyl group was unable to initiate the polymerization. Furthermore, the carbon black lost the initiating ability of the polymerization upon the blocking of carboxyl group on the surface by the treatment with potassium hydroxide or diazomethane. Based on these results, it was concluded that carboxyl group on carbon black plays an important role in the initiation. During the polymerization, a part of the polymer formed was grafted onto carbon black: the grafting ratio was 10–30%. The mechanisms of initiation and grafting were discussed.     

Effect of lipid composition on phospholipase A2-catalyzed membrane leakage in immobilized liposomes: sensitization for polychlorinated biphenyls detection with antibody affinity column tandem with fluorescent liposome column

Phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2))-catalyzed membrane leakage can be detected by immobilized liposomes containing a self-quenching fluorescent dye, calcein, on an open column using off-line analysis with a fluorescent spectrophotometer. The calcein release was found to be affected by the pH value, incubation time, and liposome compositions. The fluorescent signal from the negatively charged liposomes hydrolyzed by PLA(2) was 5 times higher than that from neutral liposomes. We utilized this enzymatic reaction to amplify signal to detect polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). To achieve this goal, we conjugated an analogue of PCB, 3,4-dichloroaniline, to PLA(2). The competitive immunoreaction between the 3,4-dichloroaniline-PLA(2) conjugate and PCB samples on the anti-PCB antibody column caused the release of the bound PLA(2) conjugates in proportion to the PCB concentration. The released PLA(2) conjugates was then passed through the tandem fluorescent liposome column causing release of fluorescent dye from the liposomes. Therefore, the signal of immunocompetitive assay was amplified on the fluorescent liposome column. The tandem column system achieves a high sensitivity by detecting the PCB concentration as low as 0.5 ng/mL in less than 20 min. It has great potential in detecting other pollutants, and has been used for sensitive immunoassays.     

Carbon dioxide fixation by microalgae photosynthesis using actual flue gas discharged from a boiler

To mitigate CO₂ discharged from thermal power plants, studies on CO₂ fixation by the photosynthesis of microalgae using actual exhaust gas have been carried out. The results are as follows.

Time-dependent fluctuations in infrared vsCH2 frequencies in acyl chain membranes of Acholeplasma laidlawii cells

We measured FT-IR spectra of intact Acholeplasma laidlawii cells grown at 37 °C on palmitic acid (C16:0) or on binary palmitic acid-d31/oleic acid (C16:0-d31/C18:1(9)) at an initial mole ratio of 2:3, which have been previously reported to produce significant fluctuations in CH₂ symmetric stretching (ν_sCH₂) and CD₂ asymmetric stretching (ν_aCD₂) frequencies (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1279 (1996) 49). Time courses for acyl chain ν_sCH₂ and ν_aCD₂ frequencies determined from fourth derivative spectra are presented. Fluctuations were detected with the C16:0 enriched cells at temperatures above 40 °C as well as with the cells enriched in 2:3 C16:0-d₃₁/C18:1(9). These observations at temperatures above 40 °C for the C16:0 enriched cells were not in agreement with the conclusion in the previous work by Moore et al. Our results have suggested that the 2850 cm⁻¹ ν_sCH₂ band comprises two components arising from trans and gauche conformations, and that the fluctuations in ν_sCH₂ frequency are caused by random temporal changes in the relative intensities of these two components.     

Dioxo-molybdenum(VI) and mono-oxo-molybdenum(IV) complexes supported by new aliphatic dithiolene ligands: new models with weakened Mo=O bond characters for the arsenite oxidase active site

The cis-dioxo-molybdenum(VI) complexes, [MoO2(L(H))2]2- (1b), [MoO2(L(S))(2)]2- (2b), and [MoO2(L(O))2]2- (3b) (L(H) = cyclohexene-1,2-dithiolate, L(S) = 2,3-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-4,5-dithiolate, and L(O) = 2,3-dihydro-2H-pyran-4,5-dithiolate), with new aliphatic dithiolene ligands were prepared and investigated by infrared (IR) and UV-vis spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. The mono-oxo-molybdenum(IV) complexes, [MoO(L(H))2]2- (1a), [MoO(L(S))2]2- (2a), and [MoO(L(O))2]2- (3a), were further characterized by X-ray crystal structural determinations. The IR and resonance Raman spectroscopic studies suggested that these cis-dioxo molybdenum(VI) complexes (1b-3b) had weaker Mo=O bonds than the common Mo(VI)O2 complexes. Complexes 1b-3b also exhibited strong absorption bands in the visible regions assigned as charge-transfer bands from the dithiolene ligands to the cis-MoO2 cores. Because the oxygen atoms of the cis-Mo(VI)O2 cores are relatively nucleophilic, these complexes were unstable in protic solvents and protonation might occur to produce Mo(VI)O(OH), as observed with the oxidized state of arsenite oxidase.     

STUDIES ON HUMAN LENS: I. ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF FLUORESCENT PIGMENTS

Abstract
Fluorescence spectra of normal mature human lenses have been measured and at least eight species with distinct emission characteristics identified. To determine the specific photochemical and photophysical processes responsible for the origin and development of these fluorophores, emission behavior of the products generated by successive irradiation of young human lenses (3–6 y old) as well as of L-tryptophan solution have been systematically monitored. Fluorescent products that resulted from this irradiation were comparable to many of the fluorophores detected in aged lenses, indicating that light plays a major role in the development of these pigments. In addition to photogenerated species, there are other compounds in human lenses, presumably advanced glycosylated end products, with marked fluorescence properties.
Several oxidation products of tryptophan including N -formylkynurenine or its derivatives, β-carboline or its derivatives, and anthranilic acid have been identified in the mature human lens. The development of several photoproducts also was attributed to endogenous ascorbate-mediated Maillard reaction products, which undergo photoconversion by the visible light. Although some of these chromophores could act as photosensitaizers, the sensitizing efficiency of many are low. Conversely, the near-UV filtering capability of these colored compounds conceivably could protect the vitreous and retina from development of any photochemical lesion.     

Development of a novel potentiometric titration method for determination of polypropylene degradation

In this study, a novel potentiometric titration of hydroperoxide in degraded polypropylene (PP) is proposed. This titration is quite sensitive compared with the conventional ones such as UV and manual titrations, and its detection limit was about 2 meq/kg. The sensitivity was equal to that of molecular weight measurement by GPC for the degraded PP and, in addition, the volatilization behavior of the hydroperoxide could be detected. This titration was found to be very effective for the determination of PP degradation.     

Quantitative estimation of NH3 partial pressure in H2 desorbed from the Li-N-H system by Raman spectroscopy

The partial pressure of NH3 gas estimated by Raman spectroscopy indicates that approximately 0.1% NH3 inevitably contaminates the H2 desorbed from a hydrogen storage material composed of LiH and LiNH2 at any temperature up to 400 degrees C in a closed system.