PHOTOREVERSION VON VIER GRUPPEN UV-INDUZIERTER MUTATIONEN ZUR GIFTRESISTENZ IM NICHTPHOTOREAKTIVIERBAREN E. COLI

Abstract— In the non-photoreaclivable bacterial strain E. coli B/phr^-/MC2 the photoreversion of four groups of u.v.-induced mutations were investigated. They lead to resistance to Chloramphenicol (2 mg/l; "C"), Penicillin (13 or 16 mg/l; "P13" and "P16") or Streptomycin (3 mg/l; "S"). The u.v.-dose curve is concave for the C-mutations (two to three hits), about linear for P13 and S, and they reach peaks and decrease at high u.v.-doses. Though no photoreactivation of killing (PR) is present there is photoreversion of all four types of mutations (PRM). At u.v.-doses below the peaks in average about 43 per cent mutations are photoreversible. At high u.v.-doses the curves with light-post treatment (L) cross the darkcurves (D). In the photoreactivable strain B/r (by the spontaneous mutation MC2 to Mitomycin-resistance strain B/phr^- was made about as u.v.-resistant as B/r is) the photoreversion of the mutation groups C, P13 and P16 (S was not investigated here) was much higher, in average about 77 per cent at low doses. It is assumed that the difference in PRM of about 34 per cent between both strains is due to a PRM-mechanism present in B/r but not in B/phr^-/MC2; this mechanism may be the photoreactivating enzyme that opens thymine-dimers. The PRM in B/phr-/MC2 must then be due to a second mechanism which is probably not the dimer opening enzyme. It may be the same mechanism as in the case of mutations of phage kappa which are induced by u.v. and reversed partially by light, both extra cellularly. The premutations giving this second type of PRM may perhaps be cytosine-hydrate in the DNA. Tn average about 23 per cent mutations of B/r are photostable. Since this ratio decreases with low u.v.-doses in the C-mutations and increases in P13 and in P16 probably two types of photostable premutations seem to exist.     

Electrochemical flow-through detector for the determination of cystine and related compounds

An electrochemical double cell for the detection of cystine in aqueous liquid streams is described. A column electrode of amalgamated silver powder is used to reduce cystine quantitatively to cysteine, which is detected amperometrically at a mercury electrode. The double cell is applied to the detection of cystine, cysteine and penicillamine in high-pressure liquid chromatography and to the selective determination of cystine and cysteine by flow-injection analysis.     

Kinetics of solid-state synthesis and properties of lead-containing niobate pyrochlores

The main features of the synthesis of (Pb_1-x Sr_x)₂Nb₂O₇ and (Pb_1-x Ba_x)₂Nb₂O₇ pyrochlore solid solutions were determined using isothermal thermogravimetry in tandem with formal-kinetic analysis. The stability and electron-transport properties of the triple niobates were studied, which allowed us to test them as electrode-active materials for membranes in ion-selective electrodes (ISEs).     

Assessment of drinking water radioactivity content by liquid scintillation counting: set up of high sensitivity and emergency procedures

In our institute, different procedures have been developed to measure the radioactivity content of drinking water both in normal and in emergency situations, such as those arising from accidental and terrorist events. A single radiometric technique, namely low level liquid scintillation counting (LSC), has been used. In emergency situations a gross activity screening is carried out without any sample treatment by a single and quick liquid scintillation counting. Alpha and beta activities can be measured in more than one hundred samples per day with sensitivities of a few Bq/L. Higher sensitivity gross alpha and beta, uranium and radium measurements can be performed on water samples after specific sample treatments. The sequential method proposed is designed in such a way that the same water sample can be used in all the stages, with slight modifications. This sequential procedure was applied in a survey of the Lombardia district. At first tap waters of the 13 largest towns were examined, then a more detailed monitoring was carried out in the surroundings of Milano and Lodi towns. The high sensitivity method for the determination of uranium isotopes was used to check the presence of depleted uranium in Lake Garda. Reduced equipment requirements and relative readiness of radiochemical procedures make LSC an attractive technique which can also be applied by laboratories lacking specific radiochemistry facilities and experience.     

Effects of structural transformations in magnetic emulsions

Structural transformations and relevant changes in the magnetic and optical properties of magnetosensitive emulsions based on magnetic fluids are experimentally studied. Peculiarities of the changes in the magnetic susceptibility of emulsions associated with the deformation of their microdroplets and the effect of phase inversion (the transformation of dispersions of magnetic droplets in nonmagnetic media into dispersions of nonmagnetic droplets in magnetic fluids) are established. Optical effects occurring in magnetic emulsions under the combined action of a shear flow and a magnetic field are studied. It is concluded that optically active composition media may be developed on the basis of magnetic fluids.     

ULTRAVIOLET AND N-FORMYL-KYNURENINE-SENSITIZED PHOTOINACTIVATION OF BOVINE CARBONIC ANHYDRASE: AN INTERNAL PHOTODYNAMIC EFFECT

Abstract —Direct photoinactivation by UV light of bovine carbonic anhydrase, as well as its photosensitization by N -formyl-kynurenine, a tryptophan photooxidation product, have been investigated. In the presence of oxygen both methods lead to similar results: the enzyme loses its activity, the tryptophanyl, histidyl and, to a lesser extent, tyrosyl residues being destroyed. In nitrogen-saturated solutions, a dramatic drop is observed in the photoinacitivation yield under the direct action of ultraviolet light, whereas histidyl residues remain intact. Evidence indicates an internal photodynamic action of N -formyl-kynurenine in the protein core produced by the UV photooxidation of tryptophanyl residues. Photoinactivation of oxygenated enzyme solutions by external and internal photodynamic action correlates with histidyl residue destruction via singlet oxygen. The possible importance of the photodynamic ability of N -formyl-kynurenine in the photochemistry of proteins, DNA, and cells is discussed.     

The reaction of iodine monochloride and monobromide with tetraorganotins

The reactions of iodine monochloride and iodine monobromide with a tetraalkyltin (butyl) and a tetraaryltin (phenyl) have been studied with a view to establishing their utility as routes to organotin chlorides and bromides respectively. Rapid high yield syntheses of the triorganotin bromides, diorganotin dichlorides and trialkyltin chloride were achieved. Some further suggestions are made on the mechanism of interhalogen fission of tincarbon bonds.     

STRUCTURE OF DYE AGGREGATES AND THE MECHANISM(S) OF PHOTOSENSITIZATION OF AgBr*,†

Abstract— This paper reports the present conclusions of an extended investigation on photo-sensitization of silver bromide. A general molecular packing structure for dye aggregates on the AgBr (111) surface is proposed. This structure, along with the observed spectral absorption displacements of small aggregates, is used to elucidate the phenomena of antisensitization and supersensitization. Supersensitization is seen as a partitioning of large dye aggregates into small aggregates by a deliberately added second component or by gaps between the aggregates. This partitioning isolates antisensitizing dye in a small fraction of the aggregates and minimizes its effect. The smallest aggregates are least likely to contain an antisensitizer, and show the highest quantum efficiency for photoconductivity and photographic action. Photoconductivity measurements establish that supersensitization occurs before the electron appears in the AgBr phase.
The question of direct electron injection vs. energy transfer as mechanisms for AgBr photosensitization is examined in terms of radiationless transfer to surface Ag₂S on AgBr. The absorption of surface Ag₂S is shown to be adequate for acceptance of Förster transfer from the dye, and surface Ag₂S is known to be photographically active. However, this mechanism is inefficient, and inadequate to account for observed high efficiency infrared sensitization. Direct electron injection is seen as the more probable mechanism for efficient dye sensitization of AgBr.     

Spectrophotometric determination of ruthenium after extraction of perruthenate with benzyltributylammonium chloride

A simple and convenient extractive spectrophotometric method for the determination of ruthenium has been developed. It is based on the oxidation of the different ruthenium (II, III or IV) species to perruthenate with potassium periodate at pH 7.8. The perruthenate is then extracted with benzyltributylammonium chloride in chloroform followed by direct spectrophotometric measurements at 342 and 380 nm. The optimum concentration range was found to be 0.1–5 mg l^–1, the standard deviation ±2.1%. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of ruthenium in organoruthenium compounds.