Advances in Artificial Cell Membrane Systems as a Platform for Reconstituting Ion Channels

An artificial cell membrane that is composed of bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) with transmembrane proteins incorporated within them represents a well‐defined system for the analysis of membrane proteins, especially ion channel proteins that are major targets for drug design. Because the BLM system has a high compatibility with recently developed cell‐free expression systems, it has attracted attention as a next‐generation drug screening system. However, three issues associated with BLM systems, i. e., their instability, the need for non‐volatile organic solvents and a low efficiency of ion channel incorporation, have limited their use as a drug screening platform. In this personal account, we discuss our recent approaches to address these issues based on microfabrication. We also discuss the potential for using the BLM system combined with cell‐free expression systems as a drug screening system for future personalized medicine.     

Errata: A coset-type construction for the deformed Virasoro algebra,Lett. Math. Phys. 43(2) (1998), 173–185.

Letters in Mathematical Physics -     

Preparation and characterization of thin films of monomeric and polymeric octacyanophthalocyanines

Thin films were prepared on substrates, cleavage surface of KCl single crystal, and metallic copper, by reaction of 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene with the substrate at various temperatures. The films were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and UV/VIS spectroscopies. The films were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The films produced on copper at temperatures between 300 and 400°C consisted of copper octacyanophthalocyanine and its polymer with ladder structure. The ratio of polymer to monomer increased with elevating the reaction temperature. The films were composed of ribbon-like crystals. The film produced on copper above 450°C was composed of an amorphous and continuous layer of polymeric copper phthalocyanine. The film produced on KCl at temperatures between 250 and 350°C consisted of potassium octacyanophthalocyanine and its polymer with ladder structure. The film produced on KCl above 450°C was polymeric potassium phthalocyanine. Those films contained more metal content than that required stoichiometrical.     

A q-analog of the sixth Painlevé equation

A q-difference analog of the sixth Painlevé equation is presented. It arises as the condition for preserving the connection matrix of linear q-difference equations, in close analogy with the monodromy-preserving deformation of linear differential equations. The continuous limit and special solutions in terms of q-hypergeometric functions are also discussed.     

Monodromy perserving deformation of linear ordinary differential equations with rational coefficients. II

We continue our investigation on the newly introduced concept of the τ function [1], associated with monodromy preserving deformations of a linear differential equation $\text{dY}\text{dx}\text{= A(x)Y}$. In this paper a series of τ functions parametrized by integers are introduced. Their ratios to the original τ function are then shown to be explicit rational expressions in terms of the coefficients of A(x). We point out, and follow where possible, a close analogy between the theory of τ functions and that of classical theta functions.     

A regioselective ω-epoxidation of polyisoprenoids by the sodium bromide promoted electrochemical oxidation

A regioselective ω-epoxidation of polyisoprenoids has been realized by the sodium bromide promoted electrochemical oxidation in a mixed solvent (MeCN-THF-H₂O).