Separation of some triazine herbicides and their solvolytic products by capillary zone electrophoresis

The separation of triazine herbicides and their solvolytic products by capillary zone electrophoresis in mixed water-ethanol background electrolytes is described, allowing the analysis of picomole amounts of a triazine mixture in less than 15 min.     

Copper(II)–manganese(II) complexes of 3,3′-(1,3-propanediyldiimine)bis-(3-methyl-2-butanone)dioxime with superoxide dismutase-like activity

Novel mononuclear [Cu(HPnAO)H₂O]ClO₄ (2), homodinuclear [Cu(PnAO)Cu(phen)(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ (3), homotrinuclear [Cu₃(PnAO)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ (4) and heterodinuclear [Cu(PnAO)Mn(phen)₂(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂ (5) complexes have been prepared from 3,3-(1,3-propanediyldiimine)bis-(3-methyl-2-butanone)dioxime (H₂PnAO) and characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic moments, i.r., u.v.–vis., and by mass spectral studies. The geometry of the metal chelates is discussed with the help of magnetic and spectroscopic measurements. I.r. spectra show that the ligand acts in a tetradentate manner and coordinates through the (C=N) and (N—H) groups. The elemental analyses, stoichiometry and the spectroscopic data of the complexes indicate that the copper(II) ions are coordinated by the ligand dianion. The heterodinuclear complex (5) displays in vitro ability to scavenge superoxide radicals produced by the xanthine–xanthine oxidase (XXO) system, using nitroblue tetrazolium as an indicator. The complex also supports aerobic growth of Escherichia coli (sodA ^– sodB ^–) in vivo in minimal media, indicating that complex (5) is a speculative potent SOD-mimic.     

Contributions to the basic problems of complexometry--XXIII: determination of thorium, scandium and some lanthanides in the presence of each other

A new method is described for the determination of thorium, scandium, and the sum of light lanthanides, in the presence of each other. The method is based on the titration of thorium plus scandium with DCTA (1,2-diaminocyclohexanetetra-acetic acid) at pH 2.5-3.5, with Xylenol Orange as indicator. After addition of TTHA (triethylenetetraminehexa-acetic acid) the thorium-DCTA complex is converted into the thorium-TTHA complex according to the equation Th-DCTA + TTHA = TH-TTHA + DCTA. Simultaneously, free lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium and neodymium react with TTHA. The excess of TTHA and the liberated DCTA are then determined by titrations with zinc and with lanthanum solutions according to the equations DCTA + TTHA + 3Zn = Zn-DCTA + Zn(2)-TTHA and DCTA + TTHA + 2La = La-DCTA + La-TTHA. From the results, the amounts of thorium and scandium, and the sum of the lanthanide concentrations, can easily be calculated. Further possibilities, e.g., determination of heavier lanthanides, are briefly discussed.     

Adsorption and kinetic studies of cationic and anionic dyes on pyrophyllite from aqueous solutions

The adsorption of cationic Methylene Blue (MB) and anionic Procion Crimson H-EXL (PC) dyes from aqueous medium on pyrophyllite was studied. Changes in the electrokinetics of pyrophyllite as a function of pH were investigated in the absence and presence of multivalent cations. The results show that pyrophyllite in water exhibits a negative surface charge within the range pH 2-12. Pyrophyllite is found to be a novel adsorbent for versatile removal of cationic and anionic dyes. The negative hydrophilic surface sites of pyrophyllite are responsible for the adsorption of cationic MB molecules. The adsorption of anionic PC dye is possible after a charge reversal by the addition of trivalent cation of Al. Nearly 2 min of contact time are found to be sufficient for the adsorption of both dyes to reach equilibrium. The experimental data follow a Langmuir isotherm with adsorption capacities of 70.42 and 71.43 mg dye per gram of pyrophyllite for MB and PC, respectively. For the adsorption of both MB and PC dyes, the pseudo-second-order chemical reaction kinetics provides the best correlation of the experimental data.     

Mass spectrometric analysis of recombinant adenylate cyclase toxin from Bordetella pertussis strain 18323/pHSP9

The adenylate cyclase toxin-hemolysin (ACT) is a key virulence factor of the whooping cough agent Bordetella pertussis (Bp). The major cytotoxic activity of this 1706-residue protein consists of its capacity to invade a variety of eukaryotic cells directly across their cytoplasmic membrane and to deliver into cells a catalytic adenylate cyclase domain. This causes impairment of immune effector cells and apoptosis of lung macrophages by uncontrolled conversion of ATP to cAMP. The adenylate cyclase toxin-hemolysin acquires biological activity upon post-translational amide-linked palmitoylation of the epsilon-amino group of lysine 983 (K983) by the accessory fatty acyltransferase, CyaC. However, an additional conserved acylation site can be identified in ACT at lysine 860 (K860) and this residue is palmitoylated when recombinant ACT is produced in Escherichia coli (r-Ec-ACT). In this paper we report the double acylation of r-Bp-ACT secreted by a recombinant Bp strain 18323/pHSP9. This strain overproduces ACT from an oligocopy plasmid carrying the entire cya locus of Bordetella pertussis 18323. Palmitoylation of both conserved lysines (K860 and K983) of r-Bp-ACT expressed by this Bp strain was found. In addition, an error in the deduced protein sequence was identified, with Leu being the real residue at position 1001 and not the Val residue given in the published gene sequence. We also discuss these results in comparison with those from recombinant ACT expressed in E. coli strain K12 XL1-Blue. The analytical approach for characterization of the fatty acylation of ACT from strain 18323/pHSP9 consisted of multiple proteolytic digestion procedures (trypsin, Asp-N), microcapillary liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.     

Determination of available phenolic compounds in soils by liquid chromatography with solid-phase extraction

A fast, selective, and sensitive liquid chromatographic (LC) method was developed for determination of derivatives of benzoic and cinnamic acids (gallic, protocatechuic, 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzoic, 4-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, caffeic, syringic, 4-coumaric, ferulic, sinapic, benzoic, 2-coumaric, cinnamic acids, and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and vanillin) in soil samples. The method for sample pretreatment is based on temperature-controlled extraction with water (pH 5.6) for 60 min. Extracts were preconcentrated and purified by solid-phase extraction on OASIS HLB sorbent, with subsequent separation and quantification of individual substances by LC with UV diode-array detection. Limits of detection (3 signal-to-noise LODs) better than 65 ng/g (dry weight) and recoveries from 88 to 99% were found for each compound at absorbance 280 nm. The method was used for determination of bioavailable phenolic compounds in different soil samples.     

Reversible aggregation of polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer micelles in acidic aqueous Solutions

Micelles of polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-PVP-PEO) were studied in acidic aqueous solutions by static and dynamic light scattering, alkalimetric titration, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, and after deposition on a mica surface by atomic force microscopy. The PS-PVP-PEO micelles prepared by dialysis in ternary 1,4-dioxane-methanol-acidic water mixtures have a very low association number and show a strong tendency to form aggregates. The aggregation, which is promoted at low pH, seems to be fully reversible. Possible mechanisms of the aggregation are discussed. Atomic force microscopy scans of PS-PVP-PEO micelles deposited on a mica surface reveal the formation of micellar aggregates and support the general concept of aggregation upon changes in conditions and deterioration of the stability of small micelles.     

Polarographic determination of methyl methacrylate

The permanganate oxidation of methyl methacrylate in weakly acidic solution yields methyl pyruvate. Hydroxylamine hydrochloride is used for destroying the excess of permanganate. At the same time it is consumed for oximation of the pyruvate, and the resulting oxime is determined polarographically. The reaction scheme of permanganate oxidation of methyl methacrylate is suggested and optimum working conditions are found both for permanganate oxidation and for polarographic determination. The method is used for the determination of vapours of methyl methacrylate in the air, for industrial hygiene purposes.     

Separation and investigation of structure-mobility relationships of insect oostatic peptides by capillary zone electrophoresis

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) has been applied to qualitative analysis, separation, and physicochemical characterization of synthetic insect oostatic peptides (IOPs) and their derivatives and fragments. Series of homologous IOPs were separated in three acidic background electrolytes (BGEs; pH 2.25, 2.30, 2.40) and an alkaline BGE (pH 8.1). Best separation was achieved in acid BGE composed of 100 mM H3PO4, 50 mM Tris, pH 2.25. The effective electrophoretic mobilities, mu(ep), of all IOPs in four BGEs were determined and several semiempirical models correlating effective mobility with charge-to-size ratio (mu(ep) versus q/Mr k) were tested to describe the migration behavior of IOP in CZE. None of models was found to be unambiguously applicable for the whole set of 20 IOPs differing in size (dipeptide - decapeptide) and charge (-2 to +0.77 elementary charges). However, a high coefficient of correlation, 0.9993, was found for the subset of homologous series of IOPs with decreasing number of proline residues at C-terminus, H-Tyr-Asp-Pro-Ala-Prox-OH, x = 6 - 0, for the dependence of mu(ep) on q/Mr k with k = 0.5 for IOPs as anions in alkaline BGE and with k = 2/3 for IOPs as cations in optimized acidic Tris-phosphate BGE. From these dependences the probable structure of IOPs in solution could be predicted.