Specific interaction of jacalin with phycocyanin, a fluorescent phycobiliprotein

Recent research has shown that, like porphyrins, phycocyanin (PC) too can produce singlet oxygen upon excitation with the appropriate radiation and hence could be useful in photodynamic therapy (PDT) for cancer. Unlike porphyrins, PC has the advantage of being a non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, soluble protein. However, the challenge would be to target the fluorescent phycobiliprotein to malignant cells. We report here that the tumor-specific lectin, jacalin, binds PC specifically in a carbohydrate-independent manner and with affinities better than that for porphyrins. Hence the lectin could prove to be a useful carrier for targeted delivery of PC. The interaction involves both ionic and hydrophobic interactions and more than one contact site.     

On πd elastic scattering using aligned deuteron targets

A theoretical study is made of the advantages to be gained in polarizing a deuteron target by applying an external electric quadrupole field with non-zero asymmetry parameter for carrying outd(π, π)d experiments, in order to determine empirically the helicity amplitudes A, B, C, D characterizing the scattering, without any phase ambiguities.     

Synthesis and characterization of LaB6 thin films on tungsten, rhenium, silicon and other substrates and their investigations as?field emitters

The paper deals with the comparative study of nanocrystalline Lanthanum hexaboride (LaB₆) thin films grown on various substrates by Pulsed laser deposition and Arc plasma method. Field emission studies were carried out on LaB₆ films deposited on various substrates show metallic behavior of the emitters. The high value of field enhancement factors, indicating that the electron emission from LaB₆ nanoscale protrusions deposited on emitter surface. The post field emission surface morphology of the emitters showed no significant erosion of the films during continuous operation. The observed behavior indicates that it is linked with the growth of LaB₆ films on substrate crystal structure. The LaB₆ nanocrystallites/nanowires films were synthesized using arc plasma method shows good emission current stability. The LaB₆ micro/nanocrystallites were also obtained by picosecond laser irradiation which gives high enhancement β factor, and good emission current stability along with high current density. The results reveal that nanocrystalline LaB₆ films, exhibit high resistance to ion bombardment and excellent structural stability and are more promising emitters for practical applications in field emission based new generation devices.     

P.M.R. relaxation time studies in some binary liquid systems

Proton magnetic resonance relaxation time measurements have been carried out in mixtures of water with formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid and n-butyric acid. On account of molecular association, the results reveal strong deviation of these mixtures from the ideal behaviour. The molecular association effect is discussed in some detail. The molecular association ratios determined from the present studies are in excellent agreement with those obtained by the ultrasonic absorption technique. It is further shown that N.M.R. relaxation time studies reveal more information about molecular interactions in liquids than the ultrasonic absorption studies.     

Hydrogen‐bonded thermotropic liquid‐crystalline polyester–amides from bis(hydroxy alkamido)aranes: Synthesis and properties

Hydrogen‐bonded aromatic–aliphatic polyester–amides (PEAs) were prepared by solution/melt polycondensation of aromatic–aliphatic amidodiols 1,4‐bis(4‐hydroxybutyramide)benzene (BHBB), 1,4‐bis(5‐hydroxy pentamide)benzene, 1,4‐bis(6‐hydroxyhexamide)benzene, 1,4‐bis(4‐hydroxybutyramidexylene), 1,4‐bis(5‐hydroxypentamidexylene, 1,4‐bis(4‐hydroxybutyramide)benzene, and 1,4‐bis(6‐hydroxyhexamidexylene) with terephthaloyl chloride/dimethyl terephthalate. Aromatic–aliphatic amido diols were prepared by the aminolysis of γ‐butyrolactone, δ‐valerolactone, and ?‐caprolactone with aromatic diamines such as paraphenylene diamine and paraxylene diamine. The monomers and polymers were characterized by chemical analysis (hydroxyl value and elemental analysis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR. The thermal‐ and phase‐transition behaviors of the polymers were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry in combination with hot‐stage optical microscopy. Crystallinity of polymers was examined with wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction. The polymers exhibited liquid crystallinity with layered structures formed by self‐organization of the hetero intermolecular hydrogen‐bonded networks indicating smectic phases except for PEAs prepared from BHBB. The hydrogen atom of the phenyl‐substituent group forces the neighboring carbonyl groups out of plane of the rings preventing formation of layered structures in the case of BHBB. The PEAs retained intermolecular hydrogen bonding even in the mesomorphic state, and variations in the hydrogen‐bonded lamellae/micelles might be responsible for the variations from one smectic to another texture. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 335–346, 2003     

Monitoring of cephalosporin C during bioconversion

A simple method based on Schiff’s base formation betweenp-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde and cephalosporin C is developed for estimation of cephalosporin C. The calibration curve was linear up to 500 μg of cephalosporin C. The application of the method in monitoring bioconversion of cephalosporin C to glutaryl-7-amino cephalosporanic acid is described.     

Ortho-tellurated derivatives of some arylamines and imines

A range of novel bi-, tri- and multidentate organotellurium ligands containing Te and N donor atoms and their derivatives have been synthesised. The synthetic strategy involves telluration of orthochelating, monoanionic substrates derived from the following arylamines: N,N-dimethylbenzylamine, (S)-(-)-N,Ndimethyl-1-phenethylamine, N,N-dimethylnaphthylamine, (N,N-di-methylaminomethy l) ferrocene, tricarbony1(N, N-dimethylbenzenemethanamine) chromium and 2-(3-thienyl)-pyridine. In addition novel chiral hybrid Schiff base ligands have been prepared by the condensation reaction of bis(o-formylphenyl) telluride ando-butyltellurobenzaldehyde with (R)-(+)-l-phenethylamine and (1R, 2S)-(-)-norephedrine.