Interactions of lecithin and pig apolipoproteins of high density lipoproteins at the surface monolayer of reconstituted very small particles

Cosonication of egg yolk lecithin and triolein with apolipoproteins isolated from pig high density lipoprotein (apoHDL) gave us reconstituted high density lipoprotein particles (r-HDLs) of 9 nm in average diameter. They were smaller than microemulsion particles (MEs) composed of the lipids (35 nm). The protein/egg yolk lecithin ratio in the fractionated r-HDLs was higher in the smaller particles. Binding of a hydrophobic probe, 2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonate (TNS), to MEs, r-HDLs and apoHDL were evaluated on the basis of Halfman and Nishida's method. The reconstitution of apoHDL into MEs led to a 68% reduction in the binding of TNS and a small increase in the alpha-helix content as compared with free apoHDL. The binding experiments also showed the condensation of lecithin molecules at the r-HDL surface. The amphipathic helixes of apoHDL are located in the surface monolayer of egg yolk lecithin surrounding the triolein core. The intercalation of the hydrophobic residues of apoHDL between egg yolk lecithin molecules brings about a pronounced curvature of the surface and a decrease in the particle diameter.     

Analysis of gardenia blue in foods by thin-layer chromatography

In the present study, a thin-layer chromatography (TLC) method for the analysis of gardenia blue was described. Gardenia blue is obtained from the fruits of Gardenia augusta Merrill or Gardenia jasminoides Ellis. Recently, gardenia blue has frequently been used in Japan as a natural coloring in various foods. However, the structural characterization of gardenia blue components has not been yet clarified and even chromatographic separation of the components has not been reported. Synthetic colors in foods are generally analyzed by TLC; so, we therefore investigated the analysis of gardenia blue in foods with TLC. We established two TLC conditions; reversed phase C-18 TLC using a solvent system of aqueous 0.2% TFA–acetonitrile–ethanol (1:2:3) and TLC on cellulose plate using a solvent system consisting of acetone–3-methyl-1-butanol–water (6:5:5). Both conditions yielded three well-delineated spots with good separation. We applied these separations to the analyses of gardenia blue in coloring matter preparations from different manufacturers and in foods on the market. After the gardenia blue was extracted from the samples with water, the extract was evaporated and the residue was dissolved in water–methanol (1:1). Aliquots of the dissolved solutions were then applied to TLC and their chromatographic behaviors were observed. Each preparation showed characteristic spot patterns depending on the manufacturers. The R_f values of the separated spots when extracted from foods are slightly different from the R_f values of the spots observed for standards, and we were thus able to identify the manufacturers using the spot pattern of gardenia blue. The present study is considered to be useful for the establishment of a method of analysis for gardenia blue in coloring preparations and foods.     

catena‐Poly[[chloro­dipyridine­manganese(II)]‐μ3‐6‐oxo‐1,6‐dihydro­pyridine‐2‐carboxyl­ato]

The title one‐dimensional chain polymer complex, [Mn(C₆H₄NO₃)Cl(C₆H₅N)₂]_n, was isolated from the reaction of MnCl₂ with 6‐oxo‐1,6‐dihydro­pyridine‐2‐carboxylic acid (HpicOH) in pyridine. The asymmetric unit contains one [Mn(HPicO)Cl(py)₂] moiety (py is pyridine), with the (HpicO)⁻ ligand acting in a tridentate manner via the two carboxyl­ate O atoms and the pyridone O atom. The operation of inversion centres generates eight‐ and 14‐membered rings and, in conjunction with an a‐axis translation, leads to an infinite chain extending along [100]. The Mn⋯Mn separations in this chain are 5.1069 (6) and 7.1869 (6) Å. The Mn^II atom has a distorted octahedral coordination, with trans‐axial pyridine ligands and with three O atoms and the Cl atom in the equatorial plane. The conformation of the 14‐membered ring is stabilized by pairs of inversion‐related N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.     

Multinuclear Cu-catalysts based on SPINOL-PHOS in asymmetric conjugate addition of organozinc reagents

Multinuclear Cu/Zn complex-catalyzed efficient asymmetric conjugate addition of organozinc reagents to acyclic and cyclic enones has been developed in the presence of a wide variety of regioisomeric chiral diols bearing phosphorus moieties as ligands. The regioisomeric SPINOL-PHOS ligands based on a SPINOL architecture showed an unexpected inversion of stereoselectivity.     

Fluorescence spectroscopy of fulvic acids’ interaction with surfactants

Fluorescence spectra of two fulvic acid (FA) samples, FA0 from underground water and FA1 from forest soil, were recorded in various surfactant solutions. Alkyltrimethylammonium ions with different alkyl chain lengths induced a decrease in the fluorescence intensity for both FAs at concentrations below the critical micelle concentration (cmc) and an enhancement above the cmc. The intensity minimum thus obtained at the cmc was deeper for surfactants with longer alkyl chains. This effect was attributable to the formation of insoluble FA–surfactant complexes below the cmc and to the solubilization of the complex into micelles above the cmc. Dodecylpyridinium chloride caused a monotonic decrease in the FA fluorescence even far above the cmc. This was attributable to the quenching of FA fluorescence by the positioning of the pyridinium head group near the FA fluorophore. Anionic and nonionic surfactants showed little to no effect on the FA fluorescence.     

A calorimetric study of the acid dissociation of the conjugate acids of poly(N-vinylimidazole) and polyallylamine

Thermodynamic parameters for acid dissociation of the conjugate acids of poly(N-vinylimidazole) and polyallylamine have been determined in the presence of sodium chloride and sodium nitrate. Even though the plots of ΔG ⁰ against the degree of dissociation, α, are highly dependent on the added salt concentration levels, the concentration effect has never been observed for the corresponding ΔH ⁰ versus α plots. The effect on the ΔG ⁰ versus α plots has been attributed to the entropy change of the counterions between a polyelectrolyte phase and a bulk solution phase. The α dependency of ΔH ⁰ is affected remarkably by the kinds of cationic polymers and counter-anions. Each ΔH ⁰ value at completely neutralized conditions is quite close to the corresponding ΔH ⁰ value of the monomer analog. The difference in the ΔH ⁰ values at fully charged conditions has been explained by the heats due to The ion-pair formation of chloride anion to the conjugate acids of poly(N-vinylimidazole) and polyallylamine has been supported by ³⁵Cl NMR measurement. It has also been suggested that chloride anions bind the basic polymer molecules even at fully neutralized conditions. Received: 2 June 1999/Accepted in revised form: 19 July 1999     

Temperature estimation in a ferromagnetic Fe-Ni nanowire involving a current-driven domain wall motion

We observed a magnetic domain wall (DW) motion induced by the spin-polarized pulsed current in a nanoscale Fe(19)Ni(81) wire using a magnetic force microscope. High current density, which is of the order of 10(11) A m(-2), was required for the DW motion. A simple method to estimate the temperature of the wire was developed by comparing the wire resistance measured during the DW motion with the temperature dependence of the wire resistance. Using this method, we found the temperature of the wire was proportional to the square of the current density and became just beneath at the threshold Curie temperature. Our experimental data qualitatively support this analytical model that the temperature is proportional to the resistivity, thickness, width of the wire and the square of the current density, and also inversely proportional to the thermal conductivity.     

The molecular basis of myeloid malignancies

Myeloid malignancies consist of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN). The latter two diseases have preleukemic features and frequently evolve to AML. As with solid tumors, multiple mutations are required for leukemogenesis. A decade ago, these gene alterations were subdivided into two categories: class I mutations stimulating cell growth or inhibiting apoptosis; and class II mutations that hamper differentiation of hematopoietic cells. In mouse models, class I mutations such as the Bcr-Abl fusion kinase induce MPN by themselves and some class II mutations such as Runx1 mutations induce MDS. Combinations of class I and class II mutations induce AML in a variety of mouse models. Thus, it was postulated that hematopoietic cells whose differentiation is blocked by class II mutations would autonomously proliferate with class I mutations leading to the development of leukemia. Recent progress in high-speed sequencing has enabled efficient identification of novel mutations in a variety of molecules including epigenetic factors, splicing factors, signaling molecules and proteins in the cohesin complex; most of these are not categorized as either class I or class II mutations. The functional consequences of these mutations are now being extensively investigated. In this article, we will review the molecular basis of hematological malignancies, focusing on mouse models and the interfaces between these models and clinical findings, and revisit the classical class I/II hypothesis.