A common motif in G-protein-coupled seven transmembrane helix receptors

Summary G-protein-coupled receptors all share the seven transmembrane helix motif similar to bacteriorhodopsin. This similarity was exploited to build models for these receptors. From an analysis of a multi-sequence alignment of 225 G-protein-coupled receptors belonging to the rhodopsin-like superfamily, conclusions could be drawn about functional residues. Seven residues in the transmembrane regions are conserved throughout all aligned receptors. These residues cluster at the cytosolic side of the transmembrane helices and are for all rhodopsin-like G-protein-coupled receptors implied in signal transduction. An analysis of correlated mutations reveals a number of residues, both in the helices and in the cytosolic loops, that might be important in the signal transduction pathway in subfamilies of this receptor family.     

High performance liquid chromatographic separation of polar and non-polar chlorophyll pigments from algae using a wide pore polymeric octadecylsilica column

A method employing a wide pore polymeric reversed phase column has been developed for the separation of most of the chlorophylls and related compounds previously described as occurring in marine microalgae. The high selectivity toward molecular shape of this kind of stationary phase has enabled compounds of very similar structure, such as chlorophylls c₁, c₂ and Mg-divinylpheoporphyrin a₅ monomethyl ester, and chlorophyll a and the phytol-substituted chlorophyll c-like pigments, which commonly coelute on monomeric bonded phases, to be resolved in a single run. Some of these pigments, formerly thought to be a single compound, have, in fact, been demonstrated to be groups of two or more. The method has been successfully applied to both algal cultures and natural sea water samples. When visible light absorbance detection was used, the method proved suitable for separation of various carotenoids.     

EPMA of interfaces applied to the solid oxide fuel cell

Chemical interactions at the phase boundaries of materials applied for the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) have been studied by EPMA. The chemical reactivity at the interface of La_y-xSr_xMnO₃/ZrO₂-Y₂O₃ is dependent on the stoichiometry (y) and the Sr content (x) of the perovskite. Typical reaction products (zirconates) and a diffusion zone in the ZrO₂–Y₂O₃ have been observed. The extension of cation release (Mn) is related to the increasing chemical activity of Mn oxide in the perovskite by the Sr substitution for La. The wettability of the metal/oxide interface in the anode cermet (Ni/ZrO₂–Y₂O₃) has been found to be influenced by chemical reactions resulting from the applied reducing atmosphere with high carbon activity. The disintegration of ZrO₂–Y₂O₃ in contact with molten Ni or Ni-Ti and Ni-Cr alloys leads to the redeposition of Y₂O₃-enriched oxides and also to Zr-rich intermetallic compounds and eutectics.     

Observation of ionic thermocurrents in zirconia-based solid electrolytes

In ionic conductors, long range-migrating charges are a main cause of polarization processes. This has complicated, up to date, the study of ionic thermocurrents (ITC) in solid electrolytes. However, the method is appealing, as it probes directly charge-formation phenomena that are important both from a scientific point of view and for applications. This work reports on the observation of ITC in solid electrolytes. Under appropriate experimental conditions, the ITC response of a zirconia sample electroded with platinum is a reproducible one, thus opening the way to a new characterization method that may complement other well established methods, such as Impedance Spectroscopy and a number of electrochemical techniques. The general trends of the response, which is composed of two well resolved ITC peaks, is discussed. One of them, taking place at higher temperatures, conforms to the standard shape of a first order kinetics depolarization process. Paper presented at the 2nd Euroconference on Solid State Ionics, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, Sept. 10–16, 1995     

A PULSED LASER AND PULSE RADIOLYSIS STUDY OF AMPHIPHILIC CHLOROPHYLL DERIVATIVES WITH PDT ACTIVITY TOWARD MALIGNANT MELANOMA

Two amphiphilic derivatives of chlorophyll, which have high potential as photodynamic therapy sensitizers for malignant melanoma have been investigated by a combination of laser flash photolysis and pulse radiolysis. It is shown that direct excitation of monomeric forms of these molecules in both hydrophilic and hydrophobic environments produces significant yields of the corresponding triplet states, which have been characterized in terms of spectral and kinetic parameters. In both environments, scavenging of the triplets by oxygen produces singlet oxygen, O₂(^lΔ₈), with essentially unit efficiency as evidenced by time-resolved IR luminescence measurements.     

Synthesis of furaxanenitrolic acids

Previously unreported furoxanenitrolic acids have been synthesized.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1117–1119, August, 1993.     

Quality assurance for the analytical data of micro elements in food

The micro element content of food is an important quality index due to the action of these elements on human health. In this article, we discuss how to ensure the reliability of analytical data on micro elements in order to truly represent the condition of food. Sampling, treatment of the analytical sample, selection of the analytical method, standard solution, and certified reference material, blank test, calibration of the instrument and equipment, application of the quality control chart, assessment of the final analytical result, and quality assurance system are briefly described. Received: 5 July 2001 Accepted: 19 November 2001