Incorporation of Na(+),K(+)-ATP-ase into the thiolipid biomimetic assemblies via the fusion of proteoliposomes

The black lipid membranes (BLMs) are artificial membrane systems that have been widely used in the study of different biological processes. In this paper the planar bilayer lipid membranes have been used to study the behavior of thiolipid molecules-dipalmitoyl-phosphatidyl-ethanolamine-mercaptopropionamide (DPPE-MPA) and cholesteryl 3-mercaptopropionate (Chs-MPA)-as compared to classical BLM made of natural lipids. We present our experiments on black thiolipid bilayer (BTM) formation from a thiolipid solution and basic results of pump currents generated by sodium-potassium pump-Na(+),K(+)-ATP-ase-introduced to such bilayer systems via proteoliposome adsorption with subsequent fusion. Our results imply that no substantial difference exists between BLMs formed from classical lipids and those made from thiolipids used in this study. The same thiolipid molecules were subsequently used for the formation of covalently bound, tethered bilayer lipid membranes (t-BLMs) on polycrystalline gold electrodes. Similarly, as in the case of BLMs, we took advantage of proteoliposome adsorption/fusion to obtain a t-BLM system with reconstituted enzyme. The vesicle fusion on hydrophobic or hydrophilic substrates is one of the main ways to obtain a bilayer system with incorporated biological species. In this paper we present also our preliminary results of electrochemical experiments using rapid solution exchange technique on such t-BLMs systems and their comparison with painted solid supported membranes (SSMs) and BLMs. We have also followed the process of vesicles fusion onto thiolipid monolayer by means of in situ atomic force microscopy in tapping mode (TM-AFM). On the basis of these experiments, we conclude that DPPE-MPA and Chs-MPA molecules used in our experiments preserve lipid properties, allowing for at least partial reconstitution of Na(+),K(+)-ATP-ase into such t-BLMs. On the other hand, the relatively compact organization on polycrystalline gold and the hydrophobic nature of the first monolayer of tethered thiolipids slows down the proteoliposome fusion onto such monolayers and consequently hinders the protein insertion. However, this effect can be overcome by mechanical stimulus that facilitates proteoliposome delamination onto the self-assembled monolayer.     

New type of thermoplastic multiblock elastomers––poly(ester-block-amide)s––based on oligoamide 12 and oligoester prepared from dimerized fatty acid

Multiblock poly(ester-block-amide)s (PEA) elastomers comprising hard blocks of oligoamide and oligoester soft segments were prepared and their structure-property relations were analysed. The polycondensation reaction of oligoesters (prepared from 1,4-butanediol and dimerized fatty acid) with oligolaurolactam (PA12) gave copolymer series with variable blocks content (the soft segments content was varied from 24 to 60 wt.%). PEAs are the phase system composed of crystallised sequences of oligoamide (hard segment phase) as well as oligoesters (soft segment phase). Mixing between the hard and soft phases was studied by thermal and mechanical measurements (DSC, DMTA). These results have indicated on a multiphase structure of investigated materials. The relationship between the observed thermal and tensile properties and the soft/hard segments content indicated on an increase of the phase separation with soft segments content.     

Fluorescence probes based on 9‐acridyl derivatives of aromatic amines for monitoring free‐radical polymerization

The series of 9‐acridyl derivatives of aromatic amines have been investigated as fluorescent probes for monitoring the progress of free‐radical polymerization. This study on the changes in the fluorescence intensity and spectroscopic shift of specific compounds was carried out during thermally initiated polymerization of methyl methacrylate and photoinitiated polymerization of 2‐ethyl‐2‐(hydroxymethyl)‐1,3‐propanediol triacrylate‐1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidonone mixture. The purpose of this investigation was to find a relationship between the changes in the shape and intensity of fluorescent probes and the degree of monomer conversion into a polymer. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3481–3488, 2002     

Reactions of Chlorosulfanyl Derivatives of Cyclobutanones with Different Nucleophiles

The reactions of 3‐chloro‐3‐(chlorosulfanyl)‐2,2,4,4‐tetramethylcyclobutan‐1‐one ( 2 ) with N, O, S, and P nucleophiles occur by substitution of Cl at the S‐atom. Whereas, in the cases of secondary amines, alkanols, phenols, thiols, thiophenols, and di‐ and trialkyl phosphates, the initially formed substitution products were obtained, the corresponding products with allyl and propargyl alcohols undergo a [2,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement to give allyl and allenyl sulfoxides, respectively. Analogous substitution reactions were observed when 3‐chloro‐3‐(chlorodisulfanyl)‐2,2,4,4‐tetramethylcyclobutan‐1‐one ( 3 ) was treated with N, O, and S nucleophiles. The reaction of 3 with Et₃P led to an unexpected product via cleavage of the S? S bond (cf. Scheme 13). In the reactions of 2 with primary amines and H₂O, the substitution products react further via elimination of HCl to yield the corresponding thiocarbonyl S‐imides and the thiocarbonyl S‐oxide, respectively. Whereas the latter could be isolated, the former were not stable but could be intercepted by MeOH (Scheme 4) or adamantanethione (Scheme 5). The structures of some of the substitution products were established by X‐ray crystallography.     

Anion-sealed single-molecule capsules

A new approach to anion recognition utilizing electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions has been demonstrated by placement of the whole ion-pair in a molecular capsule.     

A new strategy for the synthesis of pendant benzodiazacoronands and their use as components of chromatographic stationary phases

The synthesis of a novel class of functionalized benzophanes in which a (2′-hydroxy)ethoxy pendant arm is attached to the phenyl ring is reported. The reported approach, utilizes simple starting materials, and skillful organization of the synthetic steps allows for simultaneous transforms of the macrocyclic ring and the pendant arm. Binding studies of these systems with Pd²⁺ and Cd²⁺ cations is described. A chromatographic stationary phase containing the benzodiazacoronand moiety was also synthesized, and found to interact specifically with isomeric nitrobenzene derivatives.     

Isotachophoretic determination of carboxylic acids in biodegradation samples

In the current study a method of isotachophoretic separation of selected carboxylic acids was developed. The method was used for the determination of carboxylated oligo(ethylene glycol)s and their degradation products in biodegradation tests of PEG 250 DA [a mixture of dicarboxylated oligo(ethylene glycol)s]. Two tests were performed in the studies: the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) screening test and the river water die-away test. Both the biodegradation tests proved relatively fast biodegradation of the studied compounds. In the OECD screening test the biodegradation was faster than in the river water die-away test which can be ascribed to a higher concentration of bacteria in the biodegradation liquor. The minimal sample pretreatment and relatively low cost of analysis by the isotachophoretic method used here make it a good alternative to existing methods of carboxylic acids analysis.     

Photochemical reactions of W(CO)6 with hydrosilanes: synthesis, spectroscopic characteristic, and crystal structure of W(CO)3(η-PhSiHPh2)

Photolysis of W(CO)₆ in the presence of Ph₃SiH in n-heptane leads to the formation of the first tricarbonyl(η⁶-triphenylhydrosilane)tungsten complex W(CO)₃(η⁶-PhSiHPh₂) (1) in good yield (ca. 70%). The molecular structure of the new tungsten-silane compound was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies and characterized by IR, UV-Vis, ¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, and ²⁹Si{¹H} NMR spectroscopy.     

Mass spectrometric behaviour of carboxylated polyethylene glycols and carboxylated octylphenol ethoxylates

Mass spectrometric behaviour of mono- and di-carboxylated polyethylene glycols (PEGCs and CPEGCs) and carboxylated octylphenol ethoxylates (OPECs) are discussed. The tendency for ionisation (deprotonation, protonation and cationisation by alkali metal cations) of carboxylated PEGs was compared with that of non-carboxylated correspondents by using both secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and electrospray ionisation (ESI). The fragmentation of the PEGCs and CPEGCs is discussed and also compared with their neutral correspondents, PEGs. The B/E mass spectra were recorded, using secondary ion mass spectrometry as a method for generation, for deprotonated and protonated molecules and molecules cationised by alkali metal cations. The fragmentation behaviour of PEGs is found to be different from that of CPEGCs, The presence of carboxylic groups may be confirmed not only by the determination of molecular weights of the ethoxylates studied, but also on the basis of the fragment ions formed. The metastable decomposition of the [OPEC-H](-) ions proceed through the cleavage of the bond between the octylphenol moiety and the ethoxylene chain leading to the octylphenoxy anions. It permits determination of the mass of the hydrophobic moiety of the studied carboxylated alkylphenol ethoxylate. ESI mass spectra recorded in the negative ion mode were found to be more suitable for the determination of the average molecular weight of carboxylated ethoxylates than SI mass spectra.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of Chromium(III)-oxalates-2-hydroxynicotinate and Chromium(III)-oxalates-3-hydroxypicolinate Aquation in HClO4 Solutions

New chromium(III) complexes, [Cr(C₂O₄)₂(2-hnic)]²⁻ and [Cr(C₂O₄)₂(3-hpic)]²⁻ (where 2-hnic = O,O′-bonded 2-hydroxynicotinic acid and 3-hpic = N,O-bonded 3-hydroxypicolinic acid), were obtained and characterized in solution. The acid-catalyzed aquation of the both complexes leads to liberation of the appropriate pyridinecarboxylic acid and formation of cis-[Cr(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)₂]⁻. Kinetics of these reactions were studied spectrophotometrically in the 0.1–1.0 M HClO₄ range, at I = 1.0 M. In the case of [Cr(C₂O₄)₂(2-hnic)]²⁻, a slow chelate-ring opening at the Cr–O (phenolate) bond is followed by a fast Cr–O (carboxylate) bond breaking. The rate law: k_obs = k_HQ_H[H⁺] was established, where k_H is the acid-catalyzed rate constant and Q_H is the protonation constant of the coordinated phenolate oxygen atom. In the case of [Cr(C₂O₄)₂(3-hpic)]²⁻, the reversible chelate-ring opening at Cr–N bond is followed by the rate determining step – the one-end bonded ligand liberation. The rate law for the first step was determined: k_obs = k₁+k₋₁/Q₁[H⁺], where k₁ and k₋₁ are the rate constants of the chelate-ring opening and closure and Q₁ is the protonation constant of the pyridine nitrogen atom. The aquation mechanisms are proposed and the effect of ligand coordination mode on complex reactivity is discussed.