Novel Host Compounds, 1,1′-Binaphthyl-2,2′-Dihydroxy-5,5′- and 6,6′-Dicarboxylic Acid, which Trap Guest Molecules Tightly in their Inclusion Crystals

The host compounds 1,1’-binaphthyl-2,2′-dihydroxy-5,5′-dicarboxylic acid (1) and 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-dihydroxy-6,6′-dicarboxylic acid (2) have been synthesized, and their inclusion properties have been studied. Inclusion complexes formed by 1 and 2 with volatile guests such as acetone and methanol release the guests only at much higher temperatures than their boiling points. The crystal structures of the inclusion complexes have been determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction data and show different host lattices.     

Quantitative analysis of hyaluronic acid by high-performance liquid chromatography of streptomyces hyaluronidase digests

The separation and quantitative analysis of streptomyces hyaluronidase ( HAase ) degradation products of hyaluronic acid (HA) by high-performance liquid chromatography are described. The substituted 4,5-unsaturated tetrasaccharide and hexasaccharide which result from the digestion of HA are quickly separated on a silica gel (Zorbax SIL) column. The assay of HA is linear between 5 and 250 micrograms of HA. This procedure is suitable for some weakly acidic glycosaminoglycan contaminants having similar properties to those of HA.     

Characterization of an avidin-bonded column for direct injection in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

An automatic method for the determination of metabolites of Ropivacaine in urine was set up. It utilizes supported liquid membrane extraction for sample clean-up and enrichment, followed by ion-pair chromatography determination using UV detection. The extraction was very selective with no observed interfering compounds from the urine matrix, permitting simple isocratic chromatographic analysis. The detection limits for spiked urine samples were 2–18 nM for the different compounds. The repeatability was 1–3% (RSD) with an internal standard that was also extracted, and about twice without this standard. A throughput of 3.3 samples per hour was achieved and the liquid membrane was stable for more than a week.     

Targeting of mitomycin C to the liver by the use of asialofetuin as a carrier.

Desialylated fetuin (asialofetuin) was adopted as a carrier for introducing drugs in parenchymal liver cells. Mitomycin C, as a model guest-compound, was covalently attached to asialofetuin through a spacer of the succinyl group. The asialofetuin-mitomycin C conjugate contained 4.4 w/w% of mitomycin C and liberated it gradually at physiological conditions (t1/2 = 37 h). The survival time of the conjugate in rat blood circulation was significantly smaller than that of the non-desialylated fetuin conjugate; the elimination half-life was 7.3 min after intravenous injection. At 30 min after injection of the conjugate in rats, 40% of the dose was present in the liver. Parenchymal cells in the liver selectively took up the conjugate, which was highly distributed to the lysosomal fraction in the cell. The greater uptake of the conjugate by hepatocytes reflected the increased excretion in the bile; totally 10.4% of the dose was recovered.     

INAA determination of holmium in submilligram samples of cosmochemical and geochemical interest and the second-order activation interference

Second-order neutron activation becomes a serious interference in NAA determinations of REE in submilligram samples of meteoritic and terrestrial materials when neutron fluences reach levels of 10²⁰ n·cm^–2 or more. The Dy-interference to Ho determination and the Eu-interference to Gd determination are quite, large. We discuss the importance of second-order activation interferences in REE determinations, and present an experimental method to correct the Dy-interference to Ho determination by INAA. Ho concentrations in splits of less than 0.2 mg of BCR-1 and SP can be accurately determined by INAA with a neutron fluence of 2·10²⁰ n·cm^–2 in spite of large Dy interferences of up to 200%. It is necessary for NAA determinations of REE with high neutron fluences that each REE standard be separated from its neighboring REE, in order to correct the second-order activation interferences experimentally.     

Synthesis and characterization of flavylium salts having three types color depending on recrystallization conditions

Three types of flavylium salts (FVs, yellow, green and red) have been synthesized and the colors depended on recrystallization conditions. The existence of these color states was confirmed by diffuse reflectance spectra. The spectra were almost the same as the absorption spectra in ethanol solution. The molecular state of FVs in crystals will be the same as that in solutions. The crystal colors of the FVs are controlled by the recrystallization conditions.     

Voltammetric investigation of avidin-biotin complex formation using an electroactive bisbiotinyl compound

Formation of avidin-biotin complex was investigated using bisbiotinyl thionine (BBT) by means of voltammetric techniques. Thionine is an electroactive compound and has two amino groups that are necessary for the reaction with a biotinylation reagent. The biotinylation of thionine produces a new reagent with two biotin moieties at each end of thionine. Three BBTs of different lengths of the spacer that connects the biotin moiety to the thionine moiety were prepared. The avidin-biotin binding assay was achieved by measuring the electrode response of the thionine moiety in BBT. The binding affinity and the conformation of complex, which depended on the length of spacer, are discussed. BBT in which the spacer is shortest (BBT-S, distance between carbonyl group of the two biotin moieties: 11 Å) binds with only one avidin molecule. BBT with medium length of spacer (BBT-M, 28.8 Å) forms the complex with two avidin molecules. BBT with the longest spacer (BBT-L, 46.6 Å) allows binding with two avidin molecules as well as intramolecular binding within one avidin molecule. The affinity constants of BBT-S, BBT-M and BBT-L for avidin were estimated to be 7.0 × 10¹² M⁻¹, 3.2 × 10¹² M⁻¹ and 4.0 × 10¹² M⁻¹, respectively.     

Purification of a marine bacterial glucose dehydrogenase fromCytophaga marinoflava and its application for measurement of 1,5-anhydro-d-glucitol

A novel glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) from a marine bacteriumCytophaga marinoflava IFO 14170 was isolated from its membrane fraction. This GDH catalyzes the oxidation of a hydroxy group of glucose, but does not react in its C-l position. This enzyme is composed of a single peptide with a mol wt of 67,000. The GDH can react under high salinity. The optimum pH is around 8.0, showing a typical property of marine bacterial enzymes. Using this novel enzyme, an enzymatic determination of 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol (1,5AG) utilizing 2,6-dichrolophenolindophenol (DCIP) and phenazine methosulfate (PMS) as electron mediators was caried out. A good linear correlation was observed from 0.5 mM to 4 mM of 1,5AG.     

Rapid fermentation of beer using an immobilized yeast multistage bioreactor

The characteristics of yeast sulfite metabolism in a multistage bioreactor system for beer fermentation were investigated. No sulfite was produced in the continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR). However, large amounts were produced in the packed-bed reactor (PBR). Production of sulfite in the PBR seems to be inevitable when it is operated continuously. In order to control the sulfite level in the young beer, the yeast needs to be reactivated into the growth phase. One possible strategy to achieve this is to aerate and periodically remove yeast clogged in the reactor once every 6–7 months before the sulfite level exceeds a given concentration (e.g., 20 mg/L). It was confirmed that sulfite production is closely related to the growth condition of the yeast and is therefore important to consider in the control strategy for sulfite when using the immobilized yeast reactor for beer production.