Lipid vesicles in capillary electrophoretic techniques: characterization of structural properties and associated membrane-molecule interactions

This paper reviews the use of lipid vesicles as model membranes in capillary electrophoresis (CE). The history and utility of CE in the characterization of microparticles is summarized, focusing on the application of colloidal electromigration theories to lipid vesicles. For instance, CE experiments have been used to characterize the size, surface properties, enclosed volumes, and electrophoretic mobilities of lipid vesicles and of lipoprotein particles. Several techniques involving small molecules or macromolecules separated in the presence of lipid vesicles are discussed. Interactions between the analytes and the lipid vesicles - acting as a pseudostationary phase or coated stationary phase in electrokinetic chromatography (EKC) - can be used to obtain additional information on the characteristics of the vesicles and analytes, and to study the biophysical properties of membrane-molecule interactions in lipid vesicles and lipoproteins. Different methods of determining binding constants by EKC are reviewed, along with the relevant binding constant calculations and a discussion of the application and limitations of these techniques as they apply to lipid vesicle systems.     

Infrared and microwave spectra, molecular conformation and electric dipole moment of methyl thiolformate

The microwave spectrum (41-10 GHz) and the infrared spectrum (4000-50 cm⁻¹) of methyl thiolformate have been obtained and analyzed. The spectra are consistent with a single molecular conformation having a planar array of heavy atoms and with the alkyl group cis to the carbonyl group. The measured rotational constants are: A, 11042.22 MHz; B, 5118.27 MHz; C, 3562.03 MHz (κ = −0.5839). No internal rotation doublets were observed in the microwave spectrum for the ground vibrational state, which implies that the barrier hindering internal rotation of the methyl group is either much larger or much smaller than the corresponding value for methyl formate. If the former is true then a lower limit of 10.5 kJ mol⁻¹ may be placed on the barrier height.The dipole moment of methyl thiolformate was measured using the Stark effect to be 1.58 ± 0.05 Debyes (μ_A = 1.52 D; μ_B = 0.43 D) for the vapor, and for dilute solutions in benzene at 295 K the value of 1.6 ± 0.1 D was found from capacitance measurements.SCF computations using minimal basis sets of STO/3G atomic orbitals and extended basis sets of STO/4.31G atomic orbitals have been carried out for methyl thiolformate and methyl formate. Energy differences between rotational isomers and estimates of barrier heights are given together with the calculated dipole moments.     

Efficiency of volume phase reflection holograms recorded in an attenuating medium

The effect of attenuation when recording a volume phase hologram has been treated by a number of authors who neglect the effect of the varying average permittivity. It is shown here that such a variation, and the consequent violation of the Bragg conditions, leads to lower efficiency, the effect being more detrimental for greater attenuation and greater beam ratio. The mathematical solution is obtained with the aid of a generalisation of the coupled wave approach from which a set of numerical results is derived.     

THE NATURE OF ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT-INDUCED STRAND BREAKAGE IN DNA CONTAINING BROMOURACIL

Abstract— Single-strand breaks are produced in the phosphodiester backbone of ultraviolet-light-irradiated 5–bromodeoxyuridine-containing DNA (BU-DNA) after treatment with alkali. No radiation dependent breakage is observed in thymine-containing DNA (thy-DNA). The relative yields of breaks terminated by 5'-hydroxyl and 5'-phosphate groups was determined by measuring the rate of phosphorylation achieved with polynucleotide kinase in BU-DNA single strands before and after treatment with alkaline phosphatase. The ratio of 5'-phosphate to 5' hydroxyl groups ranged from 2.3 to 2.9 in different experiments. When cysteamine was present during irradiation no new end groups were produced.
In order to identify the nucleoside(s) at the 5'-termini, phosphate groups were removed with alkaline phosphatase and the 5'-hydroxyl groups were phosphorylated with polynucleotide kinase. Electrophoresis of enzymatic digests showed a single ³²P-labeled component migrating more rapidly than any of the four usual 5'-mononucleotides. Upon column chromatography this component resolved into a major peak coincident with 5'-dUMP and a lesser unidentified constituent. No 5'-dBUM³²P was observed among these nucleotides.     

Laser shadowgraph and schlieren studies of gravity-related flow during solidification

Shadowgraph and schlieren techniques were used to observe gravity-related flow arising during solidification. The purpose of these studies was to elucidate the results of previous low gravity solidification experiments. Shadowgraph and schlieren techniques were selected as most suitable for operation in the anticipated experimental environment. A laser shadowgraph/schlieren system was built and flown on KC-135 low gravity simulation flights. A solution of ammonium chloride and water was cooled during the experiment, causing solidification. Growth plumes in the solution were observed and photographed using shadowgraph and schlieren techniques. Results are presented and related to previous work.     

The electronic properties of glasses in the Cux(As0.4Se0.6)100−x system with x between 5 and 30

Data are presented on the dc conductivity, thermopower and optical absorption of glasses in the CuAs₂Se₃ system. The electronic properties of the alloys differ markedly from those of As₂Se₃, but variations in composition do not introduce significant changes in properties, until the atomic percent of copper is greater than 25. The results are interpreted in terms of small polaron transport.     

Surface enhanced Raman scattering of water on an Ag electrode

Surface enhanced Raman scattering of adsorbates on an Ag electrode in various electrolytes (e.g., 0.1–1.0 M KF, KCl, KBr, KI, K₃PO₄, and NaN₃) has been investigated in an effort to elucidate the mechanism of the enhancement of water compared to that for other adsorbates. (It is well known, for example, that pyridine exhibits large enhancement in 0.1 M KCl while SERS from water is not detectable unless the salt concentration is raised to almost 1 M.) Use of an optical multichannel analyzer allowed rapid recording of Raman spectra, and SERS intensities of adsorbates could therefore be monitored simultaneously during a continuous oxidation-reduction cycle. Potential dependencies of SERS intensities when the electrode potential is cycled in a non-faradiac potential range immediately following oxidation and reduction indicate that adatoms are partially responsible for the Raman enhancement. Furthermore, the anions in the electrolyte play an important role in stabilizing these “active sites.” For this reason, the degree of enhancement is influenced by the solubility of the Ag compound formed during oxidation and the specific adsorption of the anions to the Ag surface. Preferential alignment of H₂O molecules with their oxygen ends facing the surface at positive potentials, the tendency of anions in the electrolyte to disrupt hydrogen bonding with the water network, and the weak hydrogen bonding of H₂O with the anions give rise to a SERS lineshape from adsorbed H₂O molecules which is narrower than, and thus distinguishable from, the Raman line of bulk water. Thus, the degree to which the particular anions in the electrolyte disrupt hydrogen bonding among water molecules and reform hydrogen bonding between the anions and H₂O molecules influences the SERS lineshape and the apparent enhancement of the H₂ Raman emission.     

Metal-metal charge transfer and solvatochromism in cyanomanganese carbonyl complexes of ruthenium and osmium

The complexes [(H3N)5Ru(II)(mu-NC)Mn(I)Lx]2+, prepared from [Ru(OH2)(NH3)5]2+ and [Mn(CN)L(x)] {L(x) = trans-(CO)2{P(OPh)3}(dppm); cis-(CO)2(PR3)(dppm), R = OEt or OPh; (PR3)(NO)(eta-C5H4Me), R = Ph or OPh}, undergo two sequential one-electron oxidations, the first at the ruthenium centre to give [(H3N)5Ru(III)(mu-NC)Mn(I)Lx]3+; the osmium(III) analogues [(H3N)5Os(III)(mu-NC)Mn(I)Lx]3+ were prepared directly from [Os(NH3)5(O3SCF3)]2+ and [Mn(CN)Lx]. Cyclic voltammetry and electronic spectroscopy show that the strong solvatochromism of the trications depends on the hydrogen-bond accepting properties of the solvent. Extensive hydrogen bonding is also observed in the crystal structures of [(H3N)5Ru(III)(mu-NC)Mn(I)(PPh3)(NO)(eta-C5H4Me)][PF6]3.2Me2CO.1.5Et2O, [(H3N)5Ru(III)(mu-NC)Mn(I)(CO)(dppm)2-trans][PF6]3.5Me2CO and [(H3N)5Ru(III)(mu-NC)Mn(I)(CO)2{P(OEt)3}(dppm)-trans][PF6]3.4Me2CO, between the amine groups (the H-bond donors) at the Ru(III) site and the oxygen atoms of solvent molecules or the fluorine atoms of the [PF6]- counterions (the H-bond acceptors).