Chemical structure of cow kappa-casein: study of the soluble tryptic peptides

The sequences of 13 tryptic peptides of cow ?_A-casein (accounting for about one half of the amino acid residues present in the protein) were established. The rennin sensitive linkage could be located in a large fragment (36 residues). ?-casein consists of a hydrophilic part (?-caseino-glycopeptide) and of a hydrophobic moiety (para-?-casein); in this latter, however, several quite hydrophilic sequences were characterized. Another feature of the ?-casein structure is the frequent duplication or triplication of certain amino acids (Pro-Pro; Phe-Phe; Gln-Gln-Gln-Asn-Glu-Glu-Glu; Pro-Pro-Lys-Lys-Asn-Gln-; etc. …).     

Excess molar enthalpy of binary mixtures of hexane+ethyl benzene, <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-xylene, <Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis>-xylene and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-xylene at 298.15 K

Summary This paper reports excess molar enthalpies of the binary systems hexane+ethyl benzene, hexane+o-xylene, hexane+m-xylene and hexane+p-xylene at 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure, over the whole composition range. The data was measured directly using a Calvet microcalorimeter. The excess magnitude was correlated to a Redlich-Kister type equation for each mixture. Also, we will discuss the results for the four mixtures studied here and by comparison with the same binary systems but containing propyl propanoate as first component. Finally, we will correlate our results with the Nitta-Chao and the three UNIFAC theoretical approximations.     

Calculation of molecular geometries by SCF perturbation theory

An SCF perturbation method for investigating the effects of an arbitrary change in nuclear configuration on the electronic structure of a molecule is reported. Illustrative calculations for CO₂ and CH₃OH are presented. It is found that, when taken to second order, the error in the calculated change in energy which results from a change in nuclear configuration is typically in the range of 0.1 to 7%.     

PFGSE-NMR study of the self-diffusion of sucrose fatty acid monoesters in water

The micellization of pure monosubstituted sucrose fatty acid esters in water, namely sucrose octanoate, sucrose decanoate, sucrose laurate, sucrose dodec-5-cis-enoate, sucrose myristate, and sucrose palmitate, has been investigated by means of two NMR methods, pulsed field gradient spin-echo NMR (PFGSE-NMR), giving access to the self-diffusion coefficients of free molecules and micelles in solution, and the ERETIC method (electronic reference to access in vivo concentrations) for the measurement of concentrations by external calibration of a synthetic NMR signal. The early micellar regions and, when possible, the premicellar regions were investigated. By this method, we obtained the hydrodynamic radii of micelles, displaying a linear progression in relation to the chain length and an accurate determination of critical micellar concentration (CMC) for each sucrose ester. The effect of the regiochemistry of fatty chain grafting has been investigated, showing special behavior for 1'-O-sucrose palmitate.     

Substitution effects enhancing the lasing ability of organic compounds

Simple calculations can help to predict which derivatives in a series of organic compounds are potential lasing material. In conjugated systems, a necessary condition for lasing is that there is not less than a specific minimum energy difference between a first excited allowed and a second excited forbidden transition. This order of transition and energy spacing can be obtained by judicious substitutions even in molecules that do not meet these conditions. Lasing action in the near UV has been observed in five new compounds.     

Peak distortion in the column liquid chromatographic determination of omeprazole dissolved in borax buffer.

Injection of a sample containing omeprazole dissolved in borax buffer (pH 9.2) into a reversed-phase liquid chromatographic system consisting of a mixture of acetonitrile and phosphate buffer (pH 7.6) as the mobile phase and a C18 surface-modified silica as the solid phase resulted under special conditions in split peaks of omeprazole. The degree of peak split and the retention time of omeprazole varied with the concentration of borax in the sample solution and the ionic strength of the mobile phase buffer as well as with the column used. Borax is eluted from the column in a broad zone starting from the void volume of the column. The retention is probably due to the presence of polyborate ions. The size of the zone varies with the concentration of borax in the sample injected. In the borax zone the pH is increased compared with the pH of the mobile phase, and when omeprazole (a weak acid) is co-eluting in the borax zone its retention is affected. In the front part and in the back part of the borax zone, pH gradients are formed, and these gradients can induce the peak splitting. When the dissolving medium is changed to a phosphate buffer or an ammonium buffer at pH 9 no peak distortion of omeprazole is observed.     

Functional dynamics of ion channels: modulation of proton movement by conformational switches

Detailed comparative studies of proton relay in native and chemically modified gramicidin channels provide a unique opportunity to uncover the structural basis of biological proton transport. The function of ion channels hinges on their ability to provide surrogate solvation in narrow pore filters so as to overcome the dielectric barrier presented by biological membranes. In the potassium channel KcsA and in the cation channel gramicidin, permeant selectivity and mobility are determined by the proteinaceous matrix via hydrogen bonding, charge-dipole, and dipole-dipole interactions. In particular, main-chain carbonyl groups in these pore interiors play an essential role in the solvation of alkali ions and of protons. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations reveal how the translocation of H(+) is controlled by nanosecond conformational transitions exchanging distorted states of the peptidic backbone in the single-file region of a dioxolane-linked analogue of the gramicidin dimer. These results underline the functional role of channel dynamics and provide a mechanism for the modulation of proton currents by fluctuating dipoles.     

Alkaloids of the flora of Mongolia V. Turpelline — A new alkaloid fromAconitum turczaninowii

In the course of a further study of the alkaloids of the epigeal part of Aconitum turczaninowiia new alkaloid has been isolated, which has been named turpelline. A structure for turpelline has been proposed on the basis of a study of its IR, mass, PMR, ¹³ C NMR, and 2D COSY spectra.     

A l'aube de la micro-analyse

Résumé L'auteur rappelle un certain nombre de découvertes notamment des XVII^e et XVIII^e siècles ayant conduit à des tests microchimiques encore utilisés de nos jours. Les découvertes géniales d'Emich prennent ainsi, par contraste, plus de valeur; son euvre est véritablement celle d'un pionnier.

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Summary The author calls attention to a certain number of discoveries, notably of the 17th and 18th centuries, which have led to microchemical tests still in use today. The brilliant discoveries ofEmich therefore acquire more value by contrast. His work is really that of a pioneer.

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Zusammenfassung Eine Reihe von Entdeckungen, insbesondere des 17. und 18. Jahrhunderts, werden angeführt, die zu mikrochemischen Reaktionen geführt haben, die auch heute noch in Anwendung stehen. Die genialen EntdeckungenEmichs erwiesen sich als noch wertvoller; sein Werk ist in Wahrheit das eines Pioniers.