The cell-penetrating peptide TAT(48-60) induces a non-lamellar phase in DMPC membranes.

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are short polycationic sequences that can translocate into cells without disintegrating the plasma membrane. CPPs are useful tools for delivering cargo, but their molecular mechanism of crossing the lipid bilayer remains unclear. Here we study the interaction of the HIV-derived CPP TAT (48-60) with model membranes by solid-state NMR spectroscopy and electron microscopy. The peptide induces a pronounced isotropic (31)P NMR signal in zwitterionic DMPC, but not in anionic DMPG bilayers. Octaarginine and to a lesser extent octalysine have the same effect, in contrast to other cationic amphiphilic membrane-active peptides. The observed non-lamellar lipid morphology is attributed to specific interactions of polycationic peptides with phosphocholine head groups, rather than to electrostatic interactions. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy indicates that TAT(48-60) induces the formation of rodlike, presumably inverted micelles in DMPC, which may represent intermediates during the translocation across eukaryotic membranes.     

Natural Occurrence of Enantiomeric and meso-Astaxanthin. 5. Ex wild salmon (Salmo salar and Oncorhynchus)

The configurational isomers of astaxanthin (3,3′-dihydroxy-β,β-carotene-4,4′-dione) from the flesh of salmon (Salmo salar and Oncorhynchus) caught at different places in Europe and Canada were isolated and analyzed as (?)-camphanic acid diesters by means of HPLC. The biological variation in the composition of the configurational isomers in seven fish was surprisingly similar: 78 to 85% of (3S, 3′S)-astaxanthin, 12 to 17% (3R, 3′R)-astaxanthin and 2 to 6% meso-astaxanthin.     

Metabolism of Carotenoids in Salmonids. Part 3. Metabolites of astaxanthin and canthaxanthin in the skin of atlantic salmon (salmo salar,L.)

Diets supplemented with astaxanthin and canthaxanthin, respectively, and a control diet without carotenoid additions, were fed to 1½-year-old Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, L.) for one year. The integuments were investigated as to their quantitative and qualitative carotenoid composition. Astaxanthin and canthaxanthin deposited in the skin amounted to 20 and 14% of the total carotenoids only. Seventy % must be considered as metabolites of astaxanthin and canthaxanthin and 10% as basic xanthophylls also present in the control groups. Astaxanthin apparently underwent the following metabolic pathway: astaxanthin→idoxanthin→adonixanthin→zeaxanthin→zeaxanthin 5,6-epoxides. Reduction of the 4′-carbonyl group was stereospecific leading to the (4′R)-idoxanthin. Canthaxanthin was obviously converted to β,β-carotene via 4′-hydroxyechinenone, echinenone, and 4-hydroxy-β,β-carotene.     

Solution-processed anodes from layer-structure materials for high-efficiency polymer light-emitting diodes

The development of low-cost, large-area electronic applications requires the deposition of active materials in simple and inexpensive techniques at room temperature, properties usually associated with polymer films. In this study, we demonstrate the integration of solution-processed inorganic films in light-emitting diodes. The layered transition metal dichalcogenide (LTMDC) films are deposited through Li intercalation and exfoliation in aqueous solution and partially oxidized in an oxygen plasma generator. The chemical composition and thickness of the LTMDC and corresponding transition metal oxide (TMO) films are investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The morphology and topography of the films are studied by atomic force microscopy. X-ray powder diffraction is used to determine the orientation of the LTMDC film. Finally, the LTMDC and their corresponding oxides are utilized as hole-injecting and electron-blocking materials in polymer light-emitting diodes with the general structure ITO/LTMDC/TMO/polyfluorene/Ca/Al. Efficient hole injection and electron blocking by the inorganic layers result in outstanding device performance and high efficiency.