The magnetic anisotropy of MnF2 AT 0 K

The contributions that dipolar, single-ion and exchange anisotropy make to the perpendicular susceptibility χ?, the field H′_c for which ω↓ (k = 0) vanishes, and other properties of antiferromagnetic MnF₂ at T = 0 K are considered, first, i n the ionic approximation. A comparison of the calculated dipolar and single-ion anisotropy with the measured χ?, H′_c and magnon dispersion would seemingly require then the inclusion of an unreasonably large anisotropic exchange field H_AE = -0.9 kOe. However, an estimate of the effects that overlap and covalency have on the anisotropy reveals that much of the discrepancy between the results obtained from the point-dipolar, ionic approximation and the measured quantities is a consequence of the spatial redictribution of the cation magnetization onto the ligands.     

RNA PROTEIN CROSSLINKS INTRODUCED INTO E. coli RIBOSOMES BY USE OF THE INTRINSIC PROBE 4-THIOURIDINE

Abstract— 70S Ribosome substituted by the uridine photoactivable analogue 4-thiouridine has been prepared by an in vivo method (substitution level 4.5%). The r-proteins crosslinked to 16S and 23S rRNA before and after 366-nm photoactivation were identified. Proteins S2-S7-S9/11-S18 are found linked to 16S RNA in dark-prepared 30S subunits. Illumination increases uniformly their binding by a factor of 2.5. Similarly, proteins L5-L15-L18-L23-L28-L32 are found crosslinked to 23S RNA in dark-prepared 50S subunits. Photoactivation increases their binding but in addition promotes the covalent linking of proteins L1-L3-L4.     

Phantom mutation hotspots in human mitochondrial DNA

Phantom mutations are systematic artifacts generated in the course of the sequencing process. Contra common belief these artificial mutations are nearly ubiquitous in sequencing results, albeit at frequencies that may vary dramatically. The amount of artifacts depends not only on the sort of automated sequencer and sequencing chemistry employed, but also on other lab-specific factors. An experimental study executed on four samples under various combinations of sequencing conditions revealed a number of phantom mutations occurring at the same sites of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) repeatedly. To confirm these and identify further hotspots for artifacts, > 5000 mtDNA electropherograms were screened for artificial patterns. Further, > 30 000 published hypervariable segment I sequences were compared at potential hotspots for phantom mutations, especially for variation at positions 16085 and 16197. Resequencing of several samples confirmed the artificial nature of these and other polymorphisms in the original publications. Single-strand sequencing, as typically executed in medical and anthropological studies, is thus highly vulnerable to this kind of artifacts. In particular, phantom mutation hotspots could easily lead to misidentification of somatic mutations and to misinterpretations in all kinds of clinical mtDNA studies.     

Simultaneous determination of food dyes by first derivative spectrophotometry with sorption onto polyurethane foam.

A simple spectrophotometric method is described for resolving binary mixtures of some food dyes: Amaranth, Brilliant Blue, Sunset Yellow and Tartrazine, using the first-derivative spectra with measurements at zero-crossing wavelengths. Analytical curves are linear up to 20 mg L(-1). Standard deviations of 1.30, 2.22, 1.93 and 0.81% were obtained for synthetic binary mixtures of 2 mg L(-1) of Amaranth, Brilliant Blue, Sunset Yellow and Tartrazine, respectively. Before the spectrophotometric measurements, the dyes were sorbed onto polyurethane foam and recovered in sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate solution. Therefore, matrix complexity was eliminated and simple spectra were obtained. The method was very satisfactorily used for determining the colorants in synthetic mixtures, with recoveries in the 96 - 101% range. Detection limit values were dependent on the colorant combination investigated. Commercial products containing binary combinations of these dyes in different ratios (from 1:1 to 1:8) were analyzed. The results were compared with those obtained by HPLC; very similar values were found by the two methods.     

Differentiation of isomeric flavone/isoflavone aglycones by MS2 ion trap mass spectrometry and a double neutral loss of CO

The fragmentation behaviour of seven pairs of isomeric flavone/isoflavone aglycones (solely hydroxylated and/or methoxylated) was studied using ion trap mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure ionisation (API, both electrospray and APCI) in the positive and negative ion modes. A major difference was found in the neutral loss of 56 u, which was a common feature of all isoflavones in API(+). It was identified as a double loss of CO by accurate mass tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) measurements using a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) instrument. Fragmentation of daidzein with (13)C-isotope labelling of the carbon C2 showed that this double loss occurred from the central ring of the molecule. A mechanism for this selective fragmentation is given. Further isoflavone-specific fragmentations were used to develop a guideline for the identification of isoflavone structures. A software-based neutral loss scan of 56 u in the API(+)-MS(2) mode was applied to extracts of leaves of Lupinus albus and to soy flour. The structure elucidation guideline allowed identification of hydroxy and/or methoxy isoflavones. Structures could be confirmed for those available as reference compounds.     

METABOLISM OF tRNAs IN GROWING CELLS OF Escherichia coli ILLUMINATED WITH NEAR-ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT

Abstract— The tRNA metabolism which accompanies illumination of growing E. coli cells has been examined in conditions that led to growth delay. (i) The in vivo formation of the 8–13 link was followed by a fluorimetric procedure and revealed pseudo-first order kinetics very close to those obtained in vim under the same illumination conditions. The yield of 8–13 link appears to be quantitative (± 10%). Comparison of these kinetics with the radiochromatographic data of Blanchetot et al . (1984) suggests the transient formation during illumination of a new RNase-T,-resistant dinucleotide in tRNA distinct from the 8–13 link. (ii) Evidence is provided that under illumination some tRNA molecules lack one or more bases in a specific position in the sequence, thus yielding discrete fragments after aniline treatment. (iii) During the growth lag, uracil incorporation into nucleic acids occurs at an apparent rate between 4–8% of that normally observed during exponential growth. Evidence is provided however that the pyrimidine ribonucleoside triphosphate pools are strongly perturbed after illumination. Comparison of exogenous [³H]uracil incorporation into two strains proficient or deficient in uracil biosynthesis suggests a derepression of the endogenous path after light treatment. In addition, the UTP-to-CTP conversion is inhibited. In spite of preferential incorporation of exogenously labelled uracil in tRNA after illumination, a possible pyrimidine base turnover cannot be proved. These data are compatible with tRNA repair (Blanchetot et al ., 1984) involving a few tRNA species.     

Human BCL-2 Expression Delays Ultraviolet-Induced Apoptosis in Marsupial Cells

We have introduced the human bcl-2 gene under the control of the human metallothionein MTII_A promoter into the rat kangaroo PtK2 cell line. Two independent clones were obtained in which the levels of Bcl-2 protein expression can be controlled by the addition of metals in the culture medium. These cell lines were employed to investigate the effects of this protein in UV-induced apoptosis. Overexpression of Bcl-2 in PtK2 cells resulted in a delay in the appearance of apoptosis markers, such as chromatin condensation and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. However, colony survival after UV was not affected, suggesting that Bcl-2 did not impose a definitive block for cell death. The elimination of cyclobutane py-rimidine dimers through photoreactivation 24 h after irradiation in cells overexpressing Bcl-2 did not affect apoptosis. This indicates that irreversible events in the signaling pathway of apoptosis occur in the period between irradiation and photoreactivation even in the presence of high levels of Bcl-2 in the cell. Therefore, although the human Bcl-2 protein can delay the onset of UV-induced apoptosis in these marsupial cells, early events triggered by the pyrimidine dimers, upstream from the Bcl-2 action, lead the cell to a state committed to die.     

Analysis of low molecular weight aldehydes in air samples by capillary electrophoresis after derivatization with 4-hydrazinobenzoic acid

This work reports the analysis of selected aldehydes in air samples using capillary electrophoresis (CE). The method is based on the reaction of aldehydes with 4-hydrazinobenzoic acid (HBA) to give the corresponding hydrazones with maximum absorbance at 290 nm. Under optimized CE conditions, the HBA derivatives of four carbonyls (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, and acrolein) were completely separated from one another, in less than 6 min, using a pH 9.3 tetraborate buffer at 0.040 mol L(-1) concentration as background electrolyte. A few method validation parameters were determined revealing good migration time repeatability (< 1.5% CV) and area repeatability (< 2% CV), excellent linearity (50-300 microg/L, r > 0.996) and adequate sensitivity for environmental applications. The limits of detection with respect to each single aldehyde were in the range of 2.7-8.8 ng L(-1). The methodology was applied to the determination of aldehydes indoors. Samples were collected in HBA impregnated octadecylsilica cartridges, at different times during the day. The most abundant carbonyls in the samples were acetaldehyde followed by formaldehyde, with estimated peak concentrations of 4.3 and 2.9 ppbv, respectively.     

Superparamagnetic poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles surface modified with folic acid presenting cell uptake mediated by endocytosis

The encapsulation of superparamagnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) with modified surfaces can improve targeted delivery and induce cell death by hyperthermia. The goals of this study were to synthesize and characterize surface modified superparamagnetic poly(methyl methacrylate) with folic acid (FA) prepared by miniemulsion polymerization (MNPsPMMA-FA) and to evaluate their in vitro cytotoxicity and cellular uptake in non-tumor cells, murine fibroblast (L929) cells and tumor cells that overexpressed folate receptor (FR) β, and chronic myeloid leukemia cells in blast crisis (K562). Lastly, hemolysis assays were performed on human red blood cells. MNPsPMMA-FA presented an average mean diameter of 135 nm and a saturation magnetization (Ms) value of 37 emu/g of iron oxide, as well as superparamagnetic behavior. The MNPsPMMA-FA did not present cytotoxicity in L929 and K562 cells. Cellular uptake assays showed a higher uptake of MNPsPMMA-FA than MNPsPMMA in K562 cells when incubated at 37 °C. On the other hand, MNPsPMMA-FA showed a low uptake when endocytosis mechanisms were blocked at low temperature (4 °C), suggesting that the MNPsPMMA-FA uptake was mediated by endocytosis. High concentrations of MNPsPMMA-FA showed hemocompatibility when incubated for 24 h in human red blood cells. Therefore, our results suggest that these carrier systems can be an excellent alternative in targeted drug delivery via FR.