Atomic level analysis of biomolecules by the scanning atom probe

Utilizing the unique features of the scanning atom probe (SAP) the binding states of the biomolecules, leucine and methionine, are investigated at atomic level. The molecules are mass analyzed by detecting a single atom and/or clustering atoms field evaporated from a specimen surface. Since the field evaporation is a static process, the evaporated clustering atoms are closely related with the binding between atoms forming the molecules. For example, many thiophene radicals are detected when polythiophene is mass analyzed by the SAP. In the present study the specimens are prepared by immersing a micro cotton ball of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) in the leucine or methionine solution. The mass spectra obtained by analyzing the cotton balls exhibit singly and doubly ionized carbon ions of SWCNT and the characteristic fragments of the molecules, CH₃, CHCH₃, C₄H₇, CHNH₂ and COOH for leucine and CH₃, SCH₃, C₂H₄, C₄H₇, CHNH₂ and COOH for methionine.     

Water‐ and Temperature‐Triggered Reversible Structural Transformation of Tetranuclear Cobalt(II) Cores Sandwiched by Polyoxometalates

Although stimuli‐responsive structural transformations of inorganic materials have attracted considerable attention because of their potential use as functional switchable materials, multinuclear metal cores frequently suffer from unexpected dissociation of metal cations and/or irreversible transformations into infinite structures. In this study, we describe the successful demonstration of the water‐ and temperature‐triggered reversible structural transformation between cubane‐ and planar‐type tetranuclear Co^II cores sandwiched by polyoxometalates. The arrangements and coordination geometries of the Co^II cations were interconverted by simple hydration and dehydration, resulting in the manipulation of the magnetic and optical properties of these compounds. Moreover, this system showed unique thermochromism through temperature‐dependent reversible structural interconversion.     

Quantitative structure-activity studies of octopaminergic agonists and antagonists against Locusta migratoria using similarity indexes

The quantitative structure-activity relationship of 39 octopamine (OA) agonists and 12 antagonists against the thoracic nerve cord of the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria L. was analyzed using atom based rigid fit method or flexible fitting offered by PowerFit 1.0 from MicroSimulation. For OA agonists, the more similar to reference compound NC (24) the structure of test compound, the higher the activity, whereas for OA antagonists it was not the case. Antagonists may not interact with the same part of the membrane with which the agonists interact. Taken the part of the membrane with which the agonist interacts as the true receptor, the antagonist may well interact with an area surrounding the receptor including the ionophore.     

Solitons and Fractal Kerr Response

Optical solitary waves that propagate in a Kerr medium exhibiting a power-law nonlocal response are studied analytically. The first-principles stability analysis based on quantum field theory shows that within the whole range of the exponent (the fractal dimension) the solitary wave can be stabilized.     

Fällung nichtionogener Tenside durch Polymersäuren. Zusatzeffekt anorganischer Salze und Säure

Zusammenfassung Zusatz von Säure oder anorganischen Salzen, insbesondere von mehrwertigen Kationen, bewirkt die Fällung nichtionogener Tenside vom Typus des Polyoxyäthylens aus Wasser in Gegenwart von Polymersäuren wie Polyakrylsäure und Polymethakrylsäure, und zwar der Wirkung nach zunehmend mit der Temperatur. Die nichtionogenen Tenside bilden wasserlösliche Komplexe mit diesen Polymersäuren, und die Kationen und H⁺ veranlassen Kontraktion der Komplexe und führensomit zu ihrer Fällung. Die Rolle der Gegenionen (Anionen) ist bei hohen Salzkonzentrationen nicht zu vernachlässigen. Der Komplex von Polymersäure und nichtionogenen Tensiden mit län geren Polyoxyäthylenketten ist auf die Fällung hin sichtlich ihrer Zusätze weniger von Einfluß.

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Summary Addition of acid or inorganic salts, particularly of polyvalent cations, causes precipitation of nonionic surfactants of the polyoxyethylene type from water in the presence of polymeric acids, such as polyacrylic and polymethacrylic acids. The precipitation takes place more remarkably at higher temperature. The non-ionics form water-soluble complexes with these polymeric acids, and the cations and H+ give rise to contraction of the complexes, thus leading them to precipitation. The counterions (anions) also play some part in the precipitation reaction at high salt concentrations. The complex of polymeric acid and nonionics with longer polyoxyethylene chains is less affected by these additives on precipitation.

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Mit 9 Abbildungen     

ac ionic conductivity of hollandite type compounds from 100 Hz to 37.0 GHz

The frequency- and temperature-dependences of a.c. ionic conductivity of one-dimensional super-ionic conductors K-priderites with a hollandite type structures were investigated from 100 Hz to 37.0 GHz. Four kinds of K-priderite, K_1.6Mg_0.8Ti_7.2O₁₆, (K_1.3, Li_0.1) Mg_0.7Ti_7.3O₁₆, K_1.6Al_1.6Ti_6.4O₁₆ and (K_1.3, Li_0.2) Al_1.5Ti_6.5O₁₆, were studied. An equivalent circuit to combine the data of the complex conductivity at low and high frequencies was proposed. The data of complex conductivity at low frequencies can be analyzed in terms of the moving box model proposed by Beyeler et al. The transport of K⁺ ions at low frequencies is characterized by the cooperative motion of the K⁺ ions with various mobilities and is accompanied with the polarization of the K⁺ ions in the channels. The ion transport across intrinsic barriers at or above microwave frequencies is characterized by the frequency-independent ionic conductivity and is interpreted by the configurational model proposed by Beyeler et al. The height of intrinsic barriers is related to the lattice constants of a crystal.     

PTX phase equilibrium study of new solid solution systems,Cd1−xMxS (M = Mg,Ca, Sr)

Pressure, temperature, and composition phase equilibrium diagrams of new solid solution systems of the Cd_1?xM_xS (M = Mg, Ca, Sr) type were investigated using the quenching method. The stable region for the rock-salt-type phase is widely extended toward the high-temperature/low-pressure region by substituting 10–20 mole% of Cd with Ca or Sr. Temperature and composition phase diagrams for each solid solution system were obtained at 2 GPa. The rock-salt-type phase stability is discussed in view of these phase relations.     

Parallel vs. anti-parallel orientation in a curdlan/oligo(dA) complex as estimated by a FRET technique

We already found that beta-1,3-glucan polysaccharides form polymeric complexes with certain polynucleotides, but the parallel vs. anti-parallel orientation in those complexes had remained unsolved. In this paper, this controversial problem has been discussed for curdlan/oligo(dA) complexes utilizing two different energy transfer techniques. The first system consists of a combination of fluorescein-labeled curdlan and 3'-(or 5'-)tetramethyl-rhodamine (TAMRA)-labeled oligo(dA). The second system utilizes gold nanoparticles: that is, two curdlan chains were linked by a disulfide bond and after complexation with oligo(dA), the complex was immobilized on gold nanoparticles. In this system, TAMRA was attached to the 3'(or 5') end of oligo(dA) and the gold particle acted as a fluorescence quencher (energy acceptor). These experiments have led us to conclude that in the curdlan/oligo(dA) complex, parallel orientation is more favourable than anti-parallel orientation. These findings have enabled us to envision a clearer image for the complexation mode between beta-1,3-glucan polysaccharides and polynucleotides.     

Single-molecule fluorescence imaging of the remote TiO2 photocatalytic oxidation

The remote TiO2 photocatalytic oxidation reaction of single dyes has been investigated by the single-molecule fluorescent imaging technique. The present results suggest that the active oxygen species (Ox) is most probably the .OH radical, which is generated from the photodecomposition of H2O2 by UV light. The analyses of the number, intensity, and spectrum of individual fluorescence spots at the single-molecule level also indicate that unoxidized and oxidized dyes exist during the bleaching processes of single dyes.