Affinity Chromatography of Mushroom Tyrosinase

Abstract

The purification by column chromatography of a phenol-oxidizing enzyme, mushroom tyrosinase, was investigated using solid phase adsorbents designed to have specific affinity for the enzyme. Sepharose 4B, aminophenyl-bearing porous glass, and p-aminobenzylcellulose were chemically modified to introduce phenolic, catecholic, or benzoic groups on the polymer surface. The resulting preparations were tested for their effectiveness in separating tyrosinase from an impure protein mixture. The phenolic and benzoic polymers displayed no specific affinity for tyrosinase. Aminophenyl glass, with or without an attached phenolic group, adsorbed appreciable quantities of protein nonspecif-ically, thus complicating studies of its tyrosinase affinity properties. Dopamine, a dihydroxyphenyl derivative, was bound to Sepharose and was found to be effective in retaining tyrosinase at pH 5.5; elution of the enzyme by washing at pH 8.8 resulted in its purification by a factor of 10 to 14. Enzymatic oxidation of the adsorbent limited the number of purification cycles which could be carried out on a single column.     

Synthesis of Tetrahydrobenzazepinesulfonamides and Their Rearrangement to Diarylsulfones

A new class of diarylsulfones, in which tetrahydrobenzazepine comprises one of the aromatic moieties, has been synthesized via the acid‐catalyzed rearrangement of several substituted benzazepinesulfonamides. The rearrangement is normally ortho but in at least one case a para isomer is also formed. Sulfones of this type have been shown to possess potent anti‐HIV activity.     

Toward Fluorescence‐Based High‐Throughput Screening for Enantiomeric Excess in Amines and Amino Acid Derivatives

A highly accurate and reliable screening method for enantiomeric excess of amine derivatives in the presence of water is reported. The fluorescence‐based screening system has been realized by self‐assembly of chiral diol‐type dyes (BINOL, VANOL and VAPOL), 2‐formylphenylboronic acid, and chiral amines forming iminoboronate esters. The structure and chirality of the amine analytes determine the stability of the diastereomeric iminoboronate esters, which in turn display differential fluorescence. The fluorescence signal reflects the enantiomeric purity of the chiral amines and was utilized in high‐throughput arrays. The arrays were able to recognize enantiomeric excess of amines, amino esters, and amino alcohols. In addition to qualitative analysis, quantitative experiments were successfully performed. Studies of the role of additives such as water or citrate were carried out to gain insight into the stability of the iminoboronate esters. It is shown that the above additives destabilize less stable esters while the stable esters remain unchanged. Thus, the presence of water and citrate leads to increased difference between the diastereomeric iminoboronates and contributes to the enantiodiscrimination of the chiral amines.     

Isolation and Crystallographic Characterization of Two,Nonisolated Pentagon Endohedral Fullerenes: Ho3N@C2(22010)-C78 and Tb3N@C2(22010)-C78

Purified samples of Ho₃N@C₂(22010)-C₇₈ and Tb₃N@C₂(22010)-C₇₈ have been isolated by two distinct processes from the rich array of fullerenes and endohedral fullerenes present in carbon soot from graphite rods doped with Ho₂O₃ or Tb₄O₇. Crystallographic analysis of the endohedral fullerenes as cocrystals with Ni(OEP) (in which OEP is the dianion of octaethylporphyrin) shows that both molecules contain the chiral C₂(22010)-C₇₈ cage. This cage does not obey the isolated pentagon rule (IPR) but has two sites where two pentagons share a common C−C bond. These pentalene units bind two of the metal ions, whereas the third metal resides near a hexagon of the cage. Inside the cages, the Ho₃N or Tb₃N unit is planar. Ho₃N@C₂(22010)-C₇₈ and Tb₃N@C₂(22010)-C₇₈ use the same cage previously found for Gd₃N@C₂(22010)-C₇₈ rather than the IPR-obeying cage found in Sc₃N@D_3h-C₇₈.     

Politically correct,but physically confusing

Switching and memory phenomena in semiconducting glasses, thin films and the variable threshold metal-oxide-nitride-semiconductor MNOS transistor are discussed in light of the available data. Potcntial device applications of these phenomena are analysed, and it is concluded that the variable-threshold transistor appears to be the most commercially attractive and versatile of these devices.