Formation of S-[2-carboxy-1-(1H-imidazol-4-yl) ethyl]glutathione, a new metabolite of L-histidine, from cis-urocanic acid and glutathione by the action of glutathione S-transferase

Exposure of the skin to sunlight results in an increase of the content of epidermal trans-urocanic acid, a key metabolite of L-histidine, and also in occurrence of the isomerization of trans-urocanic acid to the cis isomer. S-[2-Carboxy-1-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethyl]glutathione (GS(CIE)), an adduct of urocanic acid and glutathione, is a presumed origin of a urinary compound S-[2-carboxy-1-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethyl]-L-cysteine (Cys(CIE)). The formation of GS(CIE) is stimulated by exposing the skin to sunlight irradiation. In this study we investigated an enzymatic formation of GS(CIE) from glutathione and cis-urocanic acid by incubation with rat liver extract that contained glutathione S-transferase (GST) at high activity. The formation of GS(CIE) was suppressed significantly when a liver extract depleted of GST activity was used. Enzymatic degradation of GS(CIE) with gamma -glutamyl transpeptidase resulted in the formation of N-[S-[2-carboxy-1-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethyl]-L-cysteinyl]glycine, a metabolic intermediate between the glutathione adduct and Cys(CIE). A hydrolyzed product of GS(CIE) by HCl was identical with the urinary Cys(CIE). Compounds were analyzed by high-voltage paper electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. From these results, we suggest that GS(CIE) formed from cis-urocanic acid and glutathione is an origin of the urinary compound Cys(CIE) and that the formation reaction is catalyzed mostly by the action of GST.     

Anti-Reflective Coatings for CRTs by Sol-Gel Process

Anti-reflective and electromagnetic shielding double-layered coatings were developed for cathode ray tubes (CRTs) by wet chemical process. An outer SiO₂ layer is formed over a porous inner tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) particle layer. ITO particles used in the inner layer lower the sheet resistance below 10³ohm/sq. and an electromagnetic shielding property is attained. To improve the abrasion wear resistance of the film, the structure of the film and hydrolysis-polymerization condition of tetraethoxy-silane (TEOS) are estimated. An outer SiO₂ layer component penetrates into the inner layer and adheres to the glass surface. As the extent of hydrolysis of TEOS proceeds and the molecular weight of hydrolyzed TEOS becomes small, the abrasion wear resistance of the film enhances. The relation between the curing condition of the film and surface resistance of the film is investigated. The surface resistance of the film lowers by curing the film in reductive atmosphere. The transmittance of the film in the near-infrared region shows that the lowering of surface resistance of the film is caused by the increase of carrier concentration of ITO particles. The double layered coatings are successfully applied to the panel glass for CRTs on an industrial-scale.     

Crystalline Transformation of Chitosan from Hydrated to Anhydrous Polymorph Via Chitosan Monocarboxylic Acid Salts

ABSTRACT

Spontaneous removal of monocarboxylic (formic, acetic, propionic or butyric) acids accompanying dehydration of the corresponding chitosan salts was observed from X-ray fiber diffraction diagrams obtained during the storage of these salts for a given period of time. The first three salts were prepared by immersing a tendon chitosan (a hydrated crystal) in an aqueous solution of respective monocarboxylic acid and 2-propanol. The salts showed similar fiber patterns not only to one another but also to the “Eight-fold” polymorph of the original chitosan, indicating that they are Type II salts, hydrated crystals, where the backbone chitosan molecule takes up an eight-fold helical conformation. The temperature required for the salt formation depended on the hydrophobicity of the acid, e.g., the chitosan formic acid salt could be prepared at room temperature, whereas, formation of the propionic acid salt was carried out at 4 °C. All the acids spontaneously evaporated accompanied by dehydration during storage of the salts, resulting in formation of anhydrous crystalline chitosan. Removal of the monocarboxylic acids was accelerated by increasing the hydrophobicity of the acid: at 100% relative humidity approximately 3 months for the formic, 1 month for the acetic and 3 weeks for the propionic acid salts. In the case of butyric acid the anhydrous polymorph of chitosan was obtained immediately after the reaction, suggesting that the water removing action of this acid was too fast to detect a Type II salt by the present X-ray method. The anhydrous crystals of chitosan were irreversibly prepared by annealing a hydrated crystal in water at a high temperature, such as 240 °C, leading to a little loss of orientation and to thermal decomposition of the sample specimen to some extent. But it was found that, through Type II salts of monocarboxylic acids, the hydrated crystals of chitosan can be dehydrated even at room temperature without any loss of orientation and decomposition of the chitosan specimen.     

Synthesis and characterization of postsulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) diblock copolymers for proton exchange membranes

Sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) diblock copolymers were studied through the postsulfonation process. Two kinds of hydrophobic oligomers with a molecular weight of 20 kDa were prepared in advance as block sequences and then coupled together to obtain diblock copolymers. One oligomer was synthesized from bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl) sulfone (BHPS) and 4,4′‐difluorodiphenyl sulfone (DFDPS), which was thought to be incapable of postsulfonation. The other oligomer was synthesized from hydroquinone (HQ) and 4,4′‐dichlorodiphenyl sulfone (DCDPS), which successfully proceeded to a hydrophilic sequence as a result of sulfonation onto the HQ moiety after the coupling reaction. Consequently, a diblock copolymer with high molecular weight was obtained; although its intrinsic viscosity was too low to form a tough membrane because of its high rigidity and high crystallinity. Therefore, the use of decafluorobiphenyl (10F) as a termination reagent was investigated with the aim of achieving higher coupling reactivity and a kinky property. As a result, a sulfonated diblock copolymer was successfully obtained with sufficient molecular weight and intrinsic viscosity to form the membrane, as well as with adequate thermal properties. It was observed that proton conductivity, water uptake, and the water diffusion coefficient increased with higher ion exchange capacity. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 700–712, 2009     

Development of neutron spin phase contrast imaging

We present an imaging technique utilizing a neutron spin interferometer. Neutron spin phase contrast is achieved in spatial resolved measurements of the phase difference between two superposed neutron spin states introduced by passing through a magnetic sample. Since the phase difference of spin states parallel and anti-parallel to the magnetic field is proportional to the magnetic field integral, it is possible to record images of the internal magnetic field distribution of the sample. Taking advantage of high transmission probabilities, neutron spin phase contrast provides non-destructive images of internal magnetic structures.