The influence of oxygen on radiation-induced structural and functional changes in glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase

Proteins are major targets for oxidative damage due to their abundance in cells and high reactivity with free radicals. In the present study we examined the influence of oxygen on radiation-induced inactivation and structural changes of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). We chose these two enzymes because they occur at high concentrations and participate in the most important processes in organisms; furthermore, they show considerable similarity in their structure.Protein solutions were irradiated with X-rays in doses ranging from 0.1 to 0.7 kGy, in air and N₂O. The much higher radiation inactivation of GAPDH as compared to LDH is correlated with substantially greater structural changes in this protein, mainly involving the loss of free thiol groups (–SH). Of lesser importance in the differentiation of the radiosensitivity of the studied enzymes are tryptophan residues. Molecular oxygen, present during irradiation, increased to a significantly greater extent the inactivation and structural changes of GAPDH than that of LDH. The results suggest that the greater effect of oxygen on GAPDH is due to the higher efficiency of the superoxide radical, the higher amount of hydroperoxides generated, and the higher degree of unfolding of this protein.     

Three new constructions of mutually orthogonal latin squares

Let N(n) denote the maximum number of mutually orthogonal Latin squares of order n. It is shown that N(24)≥ 6, N(48) ≥ 7, N(55) ≥ 6. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Combin Designs 8: 218–220, 2000     

Determination of cobalt by adsorptive stripping voltammetry with double accumulation and stripping steps

A double accumulation and stripping steps were proposed to increase the sensitivity of Co(II) determination by catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV). Electrodes with large and small surface area were used for the first and second accumulation step, respectively. As the accumulation of Co(II) complex at the first electrode was finished, the electrode was placed at a short distance opposite the second one. Then the Co(II) complex desorbed from the first electrode was accumulated at the second electrode. Taking into account the small volume of space between the electrodes, the concentration of the Co(II) complex in solution between the electrodes was drastically higher than that in the bulk solution. The accumulation step at the second electrode was performed from the solution with higher concentration of Co(II) and therefore the detection limit was lowered. The calibration graph of Co(II) determination for accumulation time of 120 s at both electrodes was linear from 1.18 to 58.9 ng L^?1. The detection limit for Co(II) was equal to 0.47 ng L^?1 and it is so far the lowest detection limit obtained for Co(II) using mercury-free electrodes. The proposed method was applied to Co(II) determination in water certified reference material.     

Application of a partially mobile model of monolayer adsorption to multilayer phenomena

Two multilayer adsorption models are discussed, assuming partially mobile adsorption in the first layer, and theBET orKim-Oh (KO) mechanisms for formation of higher layers. The theoretical multilayer adsorption isotherms corresponding to these models have been calculated for differing degrees of mobility of the first layer.

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Anwendung eines partiell mobilen Modells der Adsorption der ersten Schicht bei Mehrschicht-Phenomenen

Zusammenfassung Zwei Mehrschicht-Modelle, bei der Annahme einer partiell mobilen Adsorption der Erst-Schicht, und desBET, bzw.Kim-Oh (KO) Mechanismus für die Ausbildung höherer Schichten, werden diskutiert. Die theoretischen Mehrschicht-Adsorptionsisothermen, die diesen Modellen entsprechen, werden für verschiedene Grade von Mobilität der ersten Schicht berechnet.

     

Sigma-complex formation and oxidative nucleophilic aromatic substitution in 4-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazoles

The feasibility of carrying out nucleophilic displacement of hydrogen from highly electron-deficient heteroaromatics has been addressed through a detailed investigation of the interaction of a series of nitrobenzofuroxans 3a-i and two related heterocycles 5 and 6, with the 2-nitropropenide anion. Although this series corresponds to a large modulation in the electrophilic properties of the six-membered ring, all reactions first lead to the quantitative formation of the sigma-adducts C-3a-i, C-5 and C-6 arising from covalent addition of the nucleophile to the C-7 carbon. With the exception of the 4-aza substituted member C-5, all the adducts have been isolated as pure and very stable alkali salts. Measurements of the oxidation potentials by cyclic voltammetry reveal that the ease of subsequent hydrogen substitution at carbon-7 strongly decreases with increasing electron deficient character of the six-membered ring. The measured E0 values are in the range 0.5-0.6 V (vs. SCE) for the 4-nitro-benzofuroxan and -benzofurazan adducts (C-3e, C-3i) but they go up to 1.20-1.33 V for the 4,6-dinitro- and 4-nitro-6-trifluoromethanesulfonylbenzofuroxan adducts (C-3a,d) in acetonitrile. Consistently with these E0 values, only very powerful oxidants such as the Ce4+/Ce3+ or the MnO4-/Mn2+ couples can successfully oxidize the adducts leading to the expected substitution products in moderate to good yields (35-72%). Interestingly, the rearomatization of the 4-nitro substituted benzofuroxan adducts proceeds with a partial Boulton-Katritzky rearrangement of the resulting products. Another noteworthy result is that the 4-nitrobenzofuroxan and 4-nitrobenzofurazan molecules suffer competitive addition of the (CH3)2C-NO2- anion to the 5- and 7- positions under some experimental conditions. This represents the first well-defined example of isomeric addition of a carbon nucleophile to these heterocycles.     

Investigation of charge carriers in poly(3,4-butylenedioxythiophene) (PBuDOT) by means of ESR spectroelectrochemistry

In situ ESR spectroelectrochemical studies of poly(3,4-butylenedioxythiophene) (PBuDOT) have been performed, in order to investigate more closely the species responsible for the conductivity of this polymer in the doped state. In the process of electrochemical doping of the polymer, ESR spectra at progressively changed potentials were recorded. Then the subsequent dedoping process was studied accordingly. The results reveal that PBuDOTs ESR spectroscopic properties are markedly different form its close relative, poly(3,4-etylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). Firstly, the potential dependence of the spin concentration displays a clear peak-shaped transient with a gradual decrease at higher oxidation potentials. Similar behaviour is seen for the B_pp widths of the ESR signal, indicating that the type of interactions between paramagnetic centres is potential sensitive. The course of the reduction process of the polymer is more or less the reverse of the oxidation one, with only a slight hysteresis of the spin concentration and a barely discernible one of B_pp widths being observed. In PBuDOT, as in PEDOT, distinct narrow ESR lines revealing a noteworthy spin concentration in the reduced state of the polymer have also been observed. The presence of these residual spins in the dedoped polymer may indicate that the dedoping process of this polymer is indeed a slow one. The presence of trace amounts of impurities or oxygen may hinder the dedoping process, especially for thicker films.Contribution to the 3rd Baltic Conference on Electrochemistry, Gdansk-Sobieszewo, Poland, 23–26 April 2003Dedicated to the memory of Harry B. Mark, Jr. (28 February 1934–3 March 2003)     

Determination of uranium by adsorptive stripping voltammetry at a lead film electrode

An adsorptive stripping voltammetric procedure for the determination of U(VI) at an in situ plated lead film electrode is described. The U(VI) complex with cupferron was accumulated from an acetate buffer solution of pH 4.2 at the potential −0.65 V. The measurements were carried out from undeaerated solutions. The calibration graph for an accumulation time of 180 s was linear from 5 × 10⁻¹⁰ to 2 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹. The detection limit was 2 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹, the relative standard deviation for 2 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ U(VI) was 4.3%. The proposed procedure was validated in the course of U(VI) determination in water certified reference materials.     

Consequence of assuming gamma-type distribution for characterizing structural heterogeneity of microporous solids

Extensive model studies were carried out for the gamma-type distribution, which was used to characterize structural heterogeneity of microporous solids. This distribution lead to a simple equation, which gave a good representation of many adsorption isotherms measured on microporous activated carbons. Assuming physically realistic values of the adsorption parameters, the gamma-type distribution curves were calculated together with curves of the adsorption isotherm, micropore distribution, adsorption potential distribution, enthalpy and entropy of adsorption.

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Die Konsequenz der Annahme einer Gamma-Typ-Verteilung bei der Charakterisierung der strukturellen Heterogenität von mikroporösen Feststoffen

Zusammenfassung Es wurden für die Gamma-Typ-Verteilung, die zur Charakterisierung der strukturellen Heterogenität von mikroporösen Feststoffen genutzt wurde, ausgedchnte Modellrechnungen durchgeführt. Diese Verteilung führte zu einer einfachen Gleichung, die eine gute Darstellung vieler Adsorptionsisothermen an mikroporös-aktiviertem Kohlenstoff erlaubt. Unter der Annahme von physikalisch realistischen Werten für die Adsorptionsparameter wurden die Gamma-Typ-Verteilungskurven zusammen mit Kurven für die Adsorptionsisothermen, der Mikroporenverteilung, der Adsorptionspotentialverteilung und der Enthalphie und Entropie der Adsorption berechnet.

     

Polarographic studies of catalytic reduction of hydrogen in Cr(VI)−As(III) and Cr(III)—As(III) systems

In the presence of traces of Cr(VI) or Cr(III) ions in ammonia or borate buffers containing the As(III) ions a catalytic hydrogen wave arises in the dc polarogram. It was established that the complex Cr(H₂AsO₃)_n^+3?n is formed in the solution, and that its reduced form adsorbed at DME is of catalytic activity. The wave can be employed for the determination of low concentrations (2×10^?8×10^?7M) of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) ions.