Conformation-dependent change in antitumor activity of linear and branched (1----3)-beta-D-glucans on the basis of conformational elucidation by carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The antitumor activity of (1----3)-beta-D-glucans was tested in order to clarify its conformation-dependent response together with conformational elucidation by carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13C-NMR) spectroscopy. It was shown that the following three conformations, single chain, single helix and triple helix, are readily distinguished by the high-resolution solid-state 13C-NMR method. It turned out that preparations of linear (1----3)-beta-D-glucans of a triple helical conformation were ineffective in the inhibition of tumor growth. These linear (1----3)-beta-D-glucans were converted to an effective form in the inhibition of tumor growth when they were lyophilized from dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solutions as a result of a conformational change from the triple helical to the single chain forms. They were not effective, however, when assayed in DMSO solution. In contrast, it was found that a branched (1----3)-beta-D-glucan is effective not only in either saline solutions of the triple helical sample or the lyophilized sample from DMSO, but also in DMSO solution. The aforementioned drastic change in antitumor activity was interpreted in terms of resulting conformational changes as analyzed by the 13C-NMR method.     

Ein Beitrag zur ?nologie und ?kologie von Selen

Summary Little is known about selenium contents in alcoholic beverages, especially in wine, because no reliable determination method was available so far. A procedure for the detection of selenium in the pg- and low ng-range was developed, which uses the hydride-generation-condensation-AAS (HGC-AAS). Selenium contents in 103 German wines of the year vintages 1950 until 1985 were determined. In mean they range between 0.29 and 0.79 g/l Se and show a certain dependence from the geological soil formation and the wine species. Corresponding vineyard soils from Ingelheim (Rheinhessen, FRG) contain 0.18–0.44 mg/kg Se, mean 0.24 mg/kg Se, 10% of it is available for plants. The distribution of selenium in grape berries shows selenium-rich seeds and — with red wine species — selenium-rich skins. Higher selenium contents by contamination were observed near an industrial location. The behaviour of selenium in the vegetation cycle is pursued. The selenium depletion during fermentation may amount to 60%. All results are summarized in the so-called trace element vinogram. Selenium hence is a regular and natural constituent part of wine.

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Herrn Prof. Dr. R. Neeb zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet     

Phase Relations in the Ni–Mn–Ga Ternary System and Aging Effect on Shape Memory Properties of Ferromagnetic Ni<Subscript>2</Subscript>MnGa Sputtered Films

Summary. Isothermal sections of the Ni–Mn–Ga ternary phase diagram at 1073 and 1273 K were investigated over a wide range of alloy compositions. The range of the β-Ni₂MnGa phase, its equilibria with the γ-(Mn, Ni), α′-Ni₃Ga, and γ-Ni₃Ga₂ phases, and the liquidus and solidus lines were determined experimentally. The aging effect on the shape memory effect (SME) of Ni₂MnGa sputtered films was also investigated. The two-way SME of the constraint-aged films was confirmed by the temperature change.     

A density functional study on magnetic exchange interaction between Mn(II) ion and nitronyl nitroxide radical in <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-and <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-metal-radical complexes

The magneto-structural correlation between a Mn(ll) ion, coordinated in an octahedral environment, and two nitronyl nitroxide radical ligands in trans- and cis-metal-radical complexes is investigated by the broken symmetry (BS) approach within density functional theory (DFT). The dependences of coupling constants J on three structural parameters: (i) bond angle θ (Mn-O-N (nitroxide)); (ii) rotating angle ψ, defined by the nitronyl nitroxide radical plane rotating around the axial Mn-O (nitroxide); (iii) bond distance R (Mn-O (nitroxide)) are directly calculated. Our calculations showed that both trans- and cis-Mn(ll)-radical complexes behave a stronger antiferromagnetic interaction, consistent with experiments. In view of molecular orbital theory, the direct exchanges, including σ-type and π-type exchanges, are responsible for the magnetic exchange pathways. There is a preferable linear correlation between the calculated coupling constants J and the overlap integral squares S b between the local magnetic orbitals at the various rotating angle ψ at the fixed bond angle θ and bond distance R, in both trans- and cis-Mn(ll)-radical complexes.     

A simplified assay of furosemide in plasma and urine by high-pressure liquid chromatography.

A simplified high-pressure liquid chromatograhic method for determination of furosemide in plasma and urine has been developed using a fluorometric detector directly coupled to the column effluent. The method includes an ether extraction from acidified biologic samples. The mobile phase used for chromatography on a reversed-phase column (C15 hydrocarbon permanently bonded to silica particles) is sufficiently acidic to induce fluorescence of furosemide. The methylester of furosemide is employed as an internal standard. The sensitivity is 0.1 and 0.25 microgram per ml plasma and urine, respectively. The applicability to pharmacokinetic studies of furosemide is shown.     

Classifying wine according to geographical origin via quadrupole-based ICP–mass spectrometry measurements of boron isotope ratios

The potential of quadrupole-based ICP–MS as a tool for B-isotopic analysis of wines and its usefulness in provenance determinations were assessed. A precision of 0.1–0.25% RSD (corresponding to a relative standard deviation of the mean of three replicate measurements of 0.06–0.12%) was sufficient to establish small differences in the B isotope ratios in wines from different geographical origins. Each sample measurement was bracketed by measurements of a standard and mass bias drift correction made by interpolation. Sample preparation was kept to a minimum to avoid possible fractionation. Dilution of the wine samples by a factor of 100 with 0.65% HNO₃ was found to reduce matrix-induced mass discrimination substantially. Wines from three wine-producing regions, Stellenbosch, Robertson, and Swartland, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, and wines from specific regions in France (Bergerac) and Italy (Valpolicella) were analyzed by ICP–QMS for their B-isotopic compositions. It was concluded that the ¹¹B/¹⁰B ratios can be used to characterize wines from different geographical origins. Average ¹¹B/¹⁰B ratios in red wines from South Africa (Stellenbosch), France (Bergerac), and Italy (Valpolicella) were found to differ by between 0.5 and 1.5%.     

Carnitine in Pregnancy

Summary. By the 12^th week of gestation, mean whole blood and plasma carnitine levels are already significantly (p<0.01) lower than those of controls, with a further significant (p<0.01) decrease up to parturition. Diminished carnitine levels may cause a downregulation of carnitine palmitoyltransferase1 (CPT1), both the liver isoform (CPT1A) and muscle isoform (CPT1B), carnitine palmitoyltransferase2 (CPT2), and carnitine acetyltransferase (CRAT) in white blood cells of pregnant women, as determined by real time PCR using the LightCyclerSYBR Green technology.L-Carnitine-L-tartrate supplementation of 2 g/d resulted in an up to 10-fold increase of the relative mRNA abundances of CPT1B, CPT2, and OCTN2 and a 5-fold increase of CPT1A, and CRAT.There is a relationship between the relative mRNA levels of CPT1A and CPT1B and the FFA plasma levels. The substitution of 2 g L-carnitine-L-tartrate/d resulted in significant (p<0.001) lower FFA levels compared to untreated controls and the groups substituted with 0.5 and 1 g L-carnitine/d although plasma carnitine levels were not significantly increased. The most substantial effect was the reduced portion of acylcarnitines on total carnitine in those women receiving 2 g L-carnitine-L-tartrate.Carnitine substitution resulted in an enhanced excretion of both, free carnitine and acylcarnitines, whereas acetylcarnitine accounts for 50–65% of total acylcarnitines.The results of the present study provide evidence that L-carnitine supplementation in pregnancy in sufficient doses avoids a striking increase of plasma FFAs, which are thought to be the main cause of insulin resistance and consequently gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).     

Preliminary study on dual fluorescence behavior of porphyrin

It is well known that porphyrin derivatives play a key role in the primary process of photo-synthesis[1], in which porphyrins directly absorb the sunlight or indirectly acquire excitation en-ergy from light-harvesting antenna system to reach their excited state, and then donate electrons to quinone acceptors to yield a series of charge-separated species. In general, only first singlet ex-cited state of porphyrins is involved in energy transfer process[2]. However, highly excited state (S2 stat…     

Comparative inhibition by substrate analogues 3-methoxy- and 3-hydroxydesaminokynurenine and an improved 3 step purification of recombinant human kynureninase.

Background  

Kynureninase is a key enzyme on the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism. One of the end products of the pathway is the neurotoxin quinolinic acid which appears to be responsible for neuronal cell death in a number of important neurological diseases. This makes kynureninase a possible therapeutic target for diseases such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and AIDS related dementia, and the development of potent inhibitors an important research aim.