On a question of N. Blackburn about finite 2-groups

We classify finite 2-groupsG possessing an involution which is contained in a unique subgroup of order 4 inG. This answers a question of N. Blackburn about finite 2-groups. We show that the extended Blackburn’s problem is reduced to the outstanding problem ofp-group theory to classify 2-groups with exactly three involutions.     

Biochemical properties of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase from fungal strain Aspergillus niger 26

The fungal strain Aspergillus niger produces two superoxide dismutases, Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD. The primary structure of the Cu/Zn-SOD has been determined by Edman degradation of peptide fragments derived from proteolytic digests. A single chain of the protein, consisting of 153 amino acid residues, reveals a very high degree of structural homology with the amino acid sequences of other Aspergillus Cu/Zn-SODs. The molecular mass of ANSOD, measured by MALDI-MS and ESI-MS, and calculated by its amino acid sequence, was determined to be 15821 Da. Only one Trp residue, at position 32, and one disulfide bridge were identified. However, neither a Tyr residue nor a carbohydrate chain occupying an N-linkage site (-Asn-Ile-Thr-) were found. Studies on the temperature and pH dependence of fluorescence, and on the temperature dependence of CD spectroscopic properties, confirmed that the enzyme is very stable, which can be explained by the stabilising effect of the disulfide bridge. The enzyme retains about 53% of its activity after incubation for a period of 30 min at 60 degrees C, and 15% at 85 degrees C.     

Diazirine‐functionalized Nanostructured Platform for Enzymes Photografting and Electrochemical Biosensing

A simple technique for the construction of a versatile diazirine‐functionalized nanostructured platform for enzymes photografting and electrochemical biosensing was proposed in this work. The feasibility of the approach was proved by photo crosslinking of an enzyme, tyrosinase, to diazirine‐activated aminated carbon nanotubes coated glassy carbon electrode. The analytical performances of the realized biosensor were evaluated employing catechol as analyte. Then the sensor based on the diazirine‐functionalized nanostructured platform with photografted tyrosinase was applied together with the high resolution technique Differential Alternative Pulses Voltammetry for dopamine determination in the linear concentration range of 5–25 μmol L^?1 in the presence of interfering agents as uric acid up to its 100‐fold excess.     

Positions of the Glycans in Molluscan Hemocyanin, Determined by Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Molluscan hemocyanins are glycoproteins with different quaternary and carbohydrate structures. It was suggested that the carbohydrate chains of some Hcs are involved in their antiviral and antitumor effect, as well in the organization of the quaternary structure of the molecules. Using a well-known complex for saccharide sensing, positions and access to the carbohydrate chains in the native hemocyanins from Rapana venosa (RvH) and Helix lucorum (HlH) and also their structural subunits (RvH1, RvH2 and β_cHlH) and functional units (FUs) were analysed by fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism. Almost no effect was observed in the fluorescence emission after titration of the complex with native RvH and HlH due to lack of free hydroxyl groups which are buried in the didecameric form of the molecules. Titration with the structural subunits β_cHlH and RvH2, increasing of the emission indicates the presence of free hydroxyl groups compared to the native molecules. Complex titration with the structural subunit βc-HlH of H. lucorum Hcs leads to a 2.5 fold increase in fluorescence intensity. However, the highest emission was measured after titration of the complex with FU βcHlH-g. The result was explained by the structural model of β_cHlH-g showing the putative position of the glycans on the surface of the molecule. The results of the fluorescent measurements are in good correlation with those of the circular dichroism data, applied to analyse the effect of titration on the secondary structure of the native molecules and functional units. The results also support our previously made suggestion that the N-linked oligosaccharide trees are involved in the quaternary organization of molluscan Hcs.     

Resolution of a Mononitrophenol Isomers Mixture by Differential Alternative Pulses Voltammetry

The high resolution second order voltammetric technique, Differential Alternative Pulse Voltammetry (DAPV), was applied for the simultaneous quantification of the mononitrophenol (NP) isomers. Complete resolution of the three isomers was achieved at concentration ratios as high as 1 : 5, employing the corresponding anodic and cathodic peaks appeared on the DAPV curve. The working glassy carbon electrode was modified by a nanocomposite of graphite nanopowder and Au nanoparticles to increase the sensitivity. The linear concentration range was found to be extended up to 125 μmol L^?1 for both the m‐NP and p‐NP isomers, while the o‐NP isomer presented calibration plot of two linear sections: up to 100 μmol L^?1 and up to 225 μmol L^?1. The LOD was found to be as low as 1.5 μmol L^?1, 2.5 μmol L^?1, and 0.5 μmol L^?1 for o‐NP, m‐NP, and p‐NP, respectively. The accuracy of the proposed method was evaluated by quantification of spiked tap waters samples. No interference was observed from a range of phenolic compounds such as phenol, 4‐aminophenol, 4‐chlorophenol, 2,4‐dinitrophenol, and resorcinol.     

Finite 2-groups with a nonabelian Frattini subgroup of order 16

According to a classical result of Burnside, if G is a finite 2-group, then the Frattini subgroup Φ(G) of G cannot be a nonabelian group of order 8. Here we study the next possible case, where G is a finite 2-group and Φ(G) is nonabelian of order 16. We show that in that case Φ(G) ≅ M × C₂, where M ≅ D₈ or M ≅ Q₈ and we shall classify all such groups G (Theorem A). Received: 16 February 2005; revised: 7 March 2005