Identification of a novel high affinity copper binding site in the APP(145-155) fragment of amyloid precursor protein

The copper(II) binding features of the APP(145-155) and APP(145-157) fragments of the amyloid precursor protein, Ac-Glu-Thr-His-Leu-His-Trp-His-Thr-Val-Ala-Lys-NH2 and Ac-Glu-Thr-His-Leu-His-Trp-His-Thr-Val-Ala-Lys-Glu-Thr-NH2 were studied by NMR spectroscopy and NMR findings were supported by UV-vis, CD and EPR spectra. Potentiometric measurements were performed only for the more soluble Ac-Glu-Thr-His-Leu-His-Trp-His-Thr-Val-Ala-Lys-Glu-Thr-NH2 peptide fragment. The following was shown: (i) the imidazole rings of all the three His residues are involved in metal coordination; (ii) metal binding induces ionisation of Leu-148 and His-149 amide nitrogens that complete the donor set to copper(II) in the species dominant at neutral pH; (iii) the unusual coordination scheme of the His-Xxx-His-Xxx-His consensus sequence justifies the high specificity for Cu(II) when compared to SOD-like or albumin-like peptides or even in amyloid Abeta fragments. The present findings may represent the key for interpreting the observed requirement of His residues conservation for the redox cycling between Cu(II) and Cu(I) by soluble APP.     

On-line identification of secondary metabolites in freshwater microalgae and cyanobacteria by combined liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection-mass spectrometric techniques

The analysis and identification of a wide range of secondary metabolites biosynthesized by different algal taxa and cyanobacteria has been performed through a selective and sensitive methodology, mainly based on reversed-phase HPLC coupled both to UV photodiode array detection and to atmospheric pressure mass spectrometric techniques (HPLC-DAD-APIMS). Results are reported here with special attention to the analyses carried out both on the natural phytoplankton (mixed populations) of Lake Tovel (Northern Italy, Brenta Dolomites) and on enclosure-produced biomass of the dinoflagellate Glenodinium sanguineum Marchesoni (1941). This analytical procedure might represent a powerful tool for the fast screening of the taxonomic composition (broad groups, e.g. divisions) of natural mixed populations of phytoplankton, by providing a reliable distribution of accessory pigments extracted from microalgae, such as carotenoids and chlorophyll derivatives. Furthermore, we showed that in the same chromatographic analysis other classes of natural products, such as galactolipids, alkaloids, sterols and mycosporine-like amino acids, can be detected by using combined optical and mass spectrometric techniques. These metabolites represent distinctive biochemical signatures, sometimes even at the species level.     

Rogiolol Acetate: A Novel β-Chamigrene-Type Sesquiterpene Isolated from a Marine Sponge

The marine sponge Spongia zimocca SCHMIDT , 1862, collected in front of the torrent II Rogiolo, south of Livorno, contains the sesquiterpene rogiolol acetate (= (+)-(2R,3S,6R,8R,9R)-2,8-dibromo-9-chloro-1,1,9-trimethyl-5-methylidenespiro[5.5]undec-3-yl acetate; (+)- 3a ), which represents the first chamigrane isolated from a sponge. Although compounds of this class are common in red seaweeds of the genus Laurencia, and our sponge actually contains 9-bromochamigrene and a variety of other metabolites of nearby growing Laurencia sp., (+)- 3a is unique to our sponge.     

LC Analysis of Oxytetracycline and Chlortetracycline: Application for In Vitro Bio-Equivalence Study of Veterinary Medicines

A liquid chromatographic method has been applied for the analysis of two antibiotics widely used in the veterinary field, oxytetracycline dihydrate and chlortetracycline hydrochloride in premixes for medicated feeding stuffs for veterinary use. In particular, the validated method was employed to study the releasing profile of each drug from two formulations, a commercially available and a new formulation, having different excipient composition. The dissolution profiles obtained from the chromatographic analysis allowed to verify the in vitro bio-equivalence of the commercial and the new formulations for oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline.     

Evidence of VLS growth in CdTe film preparation by NH4Cl closed-tube CVD

By thermodynamical calculations of the vapour phase composition expected to occur in the closed — tube CVD of CdTe films on CdTe substrates, it is shown that a VLS growth mechanism should be active in the growth process when use is made of the thermal decomposition of NH₄Cl for producing the proper amount of HCl as a transport agent. Responsible of this VLS mechanism is the liquid tellurium, which is always present when the NH₄Cl concentration reaches values sufficiently high for the epitaxial deposition of CdTe films.     

Anomalies in the surface impedance penetration depth in ferromagnetic superconductors

We have investigated the surface impedance penetration depth, Λ, of ErRh₄B₄ and Er_0.5Ho_0.5Rh₄B₄ both experimentally and theoretically. For ErRh₄B₄, owing to the critical spin fluctuations just above T_s ( > T_c2), the critical temperature at which surface ferromagnetism appears, Λ^?1 decreases smoothly as T decreases toward T_s. For Er_0.5Ho_0.5Rh₄B₄, the decrease in Λ^?1 owing to spin fluctuations for T ? T_c2 is very small, and Λ^?1 decreases abruptly at T_c2. Theoretical values of Λ^?1 are in good agreement with the data.