Effects of arsenic on the organic component of the alga Dunaliella salina

The unicellular marine alga, Dunaliella salina 19/30 was grown in seawater containing an inorganic arsenic concentration (Na₂HAsO₄) up to 2000 mg dm^?3. The cells survived even at 5000 mg dm^?3. The arsenic concentration of the cells increased with an increase of the surrounding arsenic concentration. Arsenic in D. salina was also greatly affected by addition of phosphorus. The arsenic-tolerance behavior of D. salina seemed to suggest that the algae have a function to prevent accumulation of inorganic arsenic by increasing the β-carotene, fatty-acid (C_18:1, C_18:3) and water-extractable carbohydrate content in the cells. Arsenic accumulation also rose steadily with an increase in the nitrogen concentration in the medium.     

Photoreactive fluorinated polyimide protected by tetrahydropyranyl (THP) group based on chemical amplification: Acid generation in polyimide film and lithographic properties

The photochemistry of photoacid generator (PAG), diphenyliodonium 9,10-dimethoxyanthracene-2-sulfonate (DIAS) and diphenyliodonium 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate (DIANS) was investigated in both alkalinesoluble polyimide (6FDA-AHHFP) and novolak films. The quantum yields of photodissociation of DIAS and DIANS in both 6FDA-AHHFP and novolak films. The quantum yields of photodissociation of DIAS and DIANS in both 6FDA-AHHFP and novolak films were determined as 0.11, 0.21, 0.12 and 0.26, respectively. On the other hand, the quantum yields for acid generation from DIAS and DIANS in both of these films were 0.07, 0.18, 0.09 and 0.22, respectively, in the presence of an acid indicator. These results indicate that the values of the quantum yields of photodissociation and photoacid formation for DIAS and DIANS in 6FDA-AHHFP film are lower than those in novolak film. In order to elucidate the lowering of the quantum yields in 6FDA-AHHFP film, fluorescence quenchings of sodium 9,10-dimethoxy-anthracene-2-sulfonate and ammonium 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate by a model compound of polyimide was carried out in acetonitrile. The fluorescences of these two salts were efficiently quenched by the model compound with the diffusion-controlled rate constant in acetonitrile, suggesting that a strong electron-accepting capability of the imide carbonyl group may hinder the electron transfer process within PAG molecules in 6FDA-AHHFP film. Although a polyimide (6F-THP) protected by tetrahydropyranyl group is insoluble in aqueous base, 6F-THP film containing PAG became soluble in a 2:1 mixture of 2.0 wt% tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) and methanol by exposure to 365 nm light and successive post-exposure baking (PEB) at 120°C for 10 min. The sensitivity and contrast of 6F-THP with DIANS after the PEB conditions mentioned above were 110 mJ/cm² and 3.7, respectively. A high-resolution pattern with a good profile was transferred into the 3 μm thickness of the 6F-THP film.     

Environmental factors relating to arsenic accumulation by Dunaliella sp

The accumulation of arsenic by Dunaliella sp. was examined by using a solution containing arsenic only as a first approach to the study of arsenic recovery by aqueous systems. The accumulation of arsenic by Dunaliella sp. was rapid, with equilibrium established in 8 h with respect to arsenic partioning between dissolved and particulate phase. The optimum accumulation was at pH 8.2, NaCl 20 g dm^?3, illumination 5000–10000 lux and temperature 22°C. Increased phosphate concentration significantly decreased the uptake of arsenic in the culture. These results suggested that accumulation of arsenic by Dunaliella sp. depended upon biological activity.     

Studies on the biological activity of tocotrienols

Tocotrienols were evaluated for activity against transplantable murine tumors inoculated i.p. into mouse, and the activities of two tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherols were compared. When the compounds were injected i.p., alpha- and gamma-tocotrienols were effective against sarcoma 180, Ehrlich carcinoma, and IMC carcinoma, and gamma-tocotrienol showed a slight life-prolonging effect in mice with Meth A fibrosarcoma, but the tocotrienols had no antitumor activity against P388 leukemia at doses of 5-40 mg/kg/d. On the other hand alpha-tocopherol had only a slight effect against sarcoma 180 and IMC carcinoma. The antitumor activity of gamma-tocotrienol was higher than that of alpha-tocotrienol. Tocotrienols showed growth inhibition of human and mouse tumor cells when the cells were exposed to these agents for 72 h in vitro, whereas tocopherol did not show any marked cytotoxic activity. Alpha- and gamma-tocotrienols had inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation of murine microsomes by adriamycin.     

Synthesis of bhimamycin B based on oxidative rearrangement of 4-acetylnaphtho[1,2-b]furan-5-ol to naphtho[2,3-c]furan-4,9-dione

The first total synthesis of bhimamycin B, a novel member of naphtho[2,3-c]furan quinone antibiotics, was achieved by oxidative skeletal rearrangement of 4-acetylnaphtho[1,2-b]furan-5-ol.     

Replica multichannel polymer chips with a network of sacrificial channels sealed by adhesive printing method

Replica microchips for capillary array electrophoresis containing 10 separation channels (50 microm width, 50 microm depth and 100 microm pitch) and a network of sacrificial channels (100 microm width and 50 microm depth) were successfully fabricated on a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) substrate by injection molding. The strategy involved development of moving mask deep X-ray lithography to fabricate an array of channels with inclined channel sidewalls. A slight inclination of channel sidewalls, which can not be fabricated by conventional deep X-ray lithography, is highly required to ensure the release of replicated polymer chips from a mold. Moreover, the sealing of molded PMMA multichannel chips with a PMMA cover film was achieved by a novel bonding technique involving adhesive printing and a network of sacrificial channels. An adhesive printing process enables us to precisely control the thickness of an adhesive layer, and a network of sacrificial channels makes it possible to remove air bubbles and an excess adhesive, which are crucial to achieving perfect sealing of replica PMMA chips with well-defined channel and injection structures. A CCD camera equipped with an image intensifier was used to simultaneously monitor electrophoretic separations in ten micro-channels with laser-induced fluorescence detection. High-speed and high-throughput separations of a 100 bp DNA ladder and phi X174 Hae III DNA restriction fragments have been demonstrated using a 10-channel PMMA chip. The current work establishes the feasibility of mass production of PMMA multichannel chips at a cost-effective basis.     

Analysis of blood plasma proteins in patients with Alzheimer's disease by two-dimensional electrophoresis, sequence homology and immunodetection

Blood plasma proteins of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD; senile dementia) and non-AD-type dementia were resolved by two-dimensional electrophoresis and identified by migration position in the electrophoresis pattern, sequence homology, and immunodetection by using antibodies. For the control experiments, blood plasma proteins of a healthy young individual and non-dementia patients were examined in a manner similar to that of the plasma samples of AD patients. In the plasma sample of the healthy young individual, more than 350 spots of silver-stained proteins were observed and among these spots, 73 spots were identified. Blood plasma proteins of the AD and non-AD-type dementia patients were compared with those of the control and non-dementia patients. In the blood plasma samples of five AD patients, three patients had apolipoprotein E4, and another patient showed apolipoprotein L and complement factor H. For the AD-related proteins apolipoprotein E, tau-1, and presenilin 2, proteins were examined by immunostaining with antibodies, in both AD and non-AD patients. Among the three samples of non-AD-type dementia patients, one was distinguishable by amyloid A proteins, and the other by haptoglobin isoforms.     

Synthesis of Glc1Man9‐Glycoprotein Probes by a Misfolding/Enzymatic Glucosylation/Misfolding Sequence

Glycoproteins in non‐native conformations are often toxic to cells and may cause diseases, thus the quality control (QC) system eliminates these unwanted species. Lectin chaperone calreticulin and glucosidase II, both of which recognize the Glc₁Man₉ oligosaccharide on glycoproteins, are important components of the glycoprotein QC system. Reported herein is the preparation of Glc₁Man₉‐glycoproteins in both native and non‐native conformations by using the following sequence: misfolding of chemically synthesized Man₉‐glycoprotein, enzymatic glucosylation, and another misfolding step. By using synthetic glycoprotein probes, calreticulin was found to bind preferentially to a hydrophobic non‐native glycoprotein whereas glucosidase II activity was not affected by glycoprotein conformation. The results demonstrate the ability of chemical synthesis to deliver homogeneous glycoproteins in several non‐native conformations for probing the glycoprotein QC system.