The dimeric and tetrameric octarepeat fragments of prion protein behave differently to its monomeric unit

Potentiometric and spectroscopic data have shown that octarepeat dimer and tetramer are much more effective ligands for Cu(II) ions than simple octapeptide. Thus, the whole N-terminal segment of prion protein due to cooperative effects, could be more effective in binding of Cu(II) than simple peptides containing a His residue. The gain of the Cu(II) binding by longer octarepeat peptides derives from the involvement of up to four imidazoles in the coordination of the first Cu(II) ion. This type of binding increases the order of the peptide structure, which allows successive metal ions for easier coordination.     

Effect of Elicitation with Iron Chelate and Sodium Metasilicate on Phenolic Compounds in Legume Sprouts

Seven-day-old sprouts of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris L.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) were studied. The legume seeds and then sprouts were soaked each day for 30 min during 6 days with water (control) or mixture of Fe-EDTA and sodium silicate (Optysil), or sodium silicate (Na-Sil) alone. Germination and sprout growing was carried out at temperature 20 ± 2 °C in 16/8 h (day/night) conditions. Phenolic compounds (free, ester, and glycosides) content were determined by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS using a multiple reaction monitoring of selected ions. Flavonoids and phenolic acids were released from their esters after acid hydrolysis and from glycosides by alkaline hydrolysis. The presence and high content of (−)-epicatechin (EC) in fenugreek sprouts was demonstrated for the first time. Applied elicitors decreased the level of free EC in fenugreek and alfalfa sprouts but enhanced the content of its esters. Besides, elicitors decreased the content of quercetin glycosides in lentil and fenugreek sprouts but increased the content of quercetin and apigenin glycosides in alfalfa sprouts. The applied elicitors decreased the glycoside levels of most phenolic acids in lentil and p-hydroxybenzoic acid in fenugreek, while they increased the content of this acid in alfalfa. The mixture of iron chelate and sodium silicate had less effect on changes in flavonoid and phenolic acid content in legume sprouts than silicate alone. In general, the used elicitors increased the content of total phenolic compounds in fenugreek and alfalfa sprouts and decreased the content in lentil sprouts. Among the evaluated elicitors, Optysil seems to be worth recommending due to the presence of iron chelate, which can be used to enrich sprouts with this element.     

Modification of the Two-Point Scaling Theory for the Description of the Phase Transition in Solution. Analysis of Sodium Octanoate Aqueous Solutions

On the basis of conventional scaling theory, the two-point scaling theory was modified in order to describe the influence of composition on the partial molar heat capacity and volume during the micellization process. To verify the theory, isobaric heat capacities and densities of aqueous sodium octanoate solutions were measured over wide composition and temperature ranges and the modified approach was used to analyze the calculated partial molar heat capacities and volumes of the surfactant in water. The results obtained indicate that the micellization process is subject to the scaling laws. The results were compared with those for other systems. Peculiar behavior of the critical indices was observed and correlated with the structure of the micelles.     

H/D isotopic recognition in hydrogen bonded systems: H/D isotopic self-organization effects in the IR spectra of the hydrogen bond in 2-methylimidazole crystals

Polarized IR spectra of H12(3)45 2-methylimidazole and of its H1D2(3)45, D1H2(3)45 and D12(3)45 deuterium derivative crystals are reported and interpreted within the limits of the "strong-coupling" theory. The spectra interpretation facilitated the recognition of the H/D isotopic "self-organization" phenomenon, which depends on a non-random distribution of protons and deuterons in the lattices of isotopically diluted crystal samples. The H/D isotopic "self-organization" mechanism engaged all four hydrogen bonds from each unit cell. These effects basically resulted from the dynamical co-operative interactions involving adjacent hydrogen bonds in each hydrogen bond chain. A weaker exciton coupling involved the closely spaced hydrogen bonds; each belonging to a different chain of associated 2-methylimidazole molecules. The high intensity of the narrow band at ca. 1880cm(-1) was interpreted as the result of coupling between the γ(N-H?N) proton bending "out of plane" vibration overtone and the ν(N-H) proton stretching vibration.     

Effects of dynamical couplings in hydrogen bond systems in the polarized IR spectra of 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde crystals

This paper presents the investigation results of the polarized IR spectra of 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde crystals measured at 293 and 77 K. Analysis of the results concerned the linear dichroic, H/D isotopic and temperature effects observed in the spectra of the hydrogen and deuterium bond at the frequency ranges of the ν_O–H and the ν_O–D bands, respectively. The main spectral properties of the crystals were interpreted in terms of the “strong-coupling” theory on the basis of the hydrogen bond dimer model. The spectra revealed that the strongest vibrational exciton coupling involved the closely-spaced hydrogen bonds, each belonging to a different chain of associated molecules. The reason for two different crystalline systems, are characterized by almost identical ν_O–H and ν_O–D band shapes, is explained. It was proved that a random distribution of the protons and deuterons took place in the lattices of the isotopically diluted crystals.     

Complexes of N‐Thiophosphorylthiourea α‐NaphthylNHC(S)NHP(S)(OiPr)2 (HL) with Copper(I). Crystal Structures of HL and Cu(PPh3)2L

Reaction of the potassium salt of N‐thiophosphorylated thiourea α‐naphthylNHC(S)NHP(S)(OiPr)₂ ( HL ) with Cu(PPh₃)₃I in aqueous EtOH/CH₂Cl₂ leads to the mononuclear complex [Cu(PPh₃)₂L–S,S′]. By using copper(I) iodide instead ofCu(PPh₃)₃I, the polynuclear complex [Cu_n(L–S,S′)_n] was obtained. The structures of these compounds were investigated by elemental analysis, ¹H and ³¹P{¹H} NMR and IR spectroscopy. The crystal structures of HL and Cu(PPh₃)₂L were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.     

Synthesis and Tuberculostatic Activity of 1,3-Thiazacycloalkyl[3,2-b]-1,2,4-triazoles

The 4-hydroxyalkyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiones cyclization allowed us to work out the effective method of 1,3-thiazacycloalkyl[3,2-b]-1,2,4-triazoles synthesis. Some of the compounds that were obtained were tested for their tuberculostatic activity.     

Studies on Pyrazine Derivatives,XLII: Synthesis and Tuberculostatic Activity of 6-(1,4-Dioxa-8-azaspiro- [4, 5]-decano)- and 6-(1-Ethoxycarbonylpiperazino)- pyrazinocarboxylic Acid Derivatives

The 2-cyano-6-chloropyrazine's chlorine atom reactivity was substituted with amines 1,4-dioxo-8-azaspiro-[4, 5]-decane and 1-ethoxycarbonylpiperazine. The substrates thus obtained were used in the syntheses of the new derivatives, which were tested for their tuberculostatic activity. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of the most active ones ( 5b , 12a , 14b , 16b , 21b ) was 25 μ g/mL.     

Optical constants of organic insulators in the UV range extracted from reflection electron energy loss spectra

Reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS) spectra were measured for seven insulating organic compounds (DNA, Irganox 1010, Kapton, polyethylene [PE], poly(methyl methacrylate) [PMMA], polystyrene [PS] and polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]). Optical constants and energy band gaps were extracted from the measured REELS spectra after elimination of multiple electron scattering via a deconvolution and fitting the normalised single scattering energy loss spectra to Drude and Drude–Lindhard model dielectric functions, constrained by the Kramers–Kronig sum and f-sum rules. Satisfactory agreement is found for those optical constants for which literature data exists. For PTFE, the observed features in the optical data correspond to its electronic structure.