Activity of artificial mutant variants of human growth hormone deficient in a disulfide bond between Cys53 and Cys165

In order to understand the role of Cys53 and Cys165 of human growth hormone (hGH) in receptor-binding and biological activity, artificial mutant variants of hGH were prepared in Escherichia coli by in vitro mutagenesis. Variants of hGH were constructed by replacement of Cys165 with Ala ([Ala165]hGH) or Ser ([Ser165]hGH), by replacement of Cys53 with Ala ([Ala53]hGH), by replacement of Cys53 and Cys165 with Ala ([Ala53, Ala165]hGH), or by replacement of Cys53 with Ala and Cys165 with Ser ([Ala53,Ser165]hGH). All of the variants constructed as well as reduced hGH exhibited less biological activity than that of intact hGH, and the decreases in biological activity were almost equal, as measured by a sensitive biological assay for growth hormone: adipose conversion assay using 3T3-F442A cells. These variants also showed less receptor-binding activity than that of intact hGH. These results suggest that it is possible neither the residue Cys53 nor Cys165 is directly involved in the receptor binding, and that the disulfide bridge between Cys53 and Cys165 in hGH may not always be crucial for the biological activity, though necessary to express full hGH activity.     

The reaction of trialkylvinylborates with aldehydes as applied to syntheses of 1,3-alkanediols, 1-chloro-3-heptanol and a cyclopropane derivative

Treatment of R'CHO with Li[R₃BCHCH₂] gives an adduct which is believed to be R₂BCHR-CH₂-CH(OLi)R' (2) or its borate form (3). Oxidation of the adducts with alkaline hydrogen peroxide gives ca. 1:1 mixture of diastereomeric 1,3-alkanediols in good yields. On the other hand, the reaction of BrMg[R₃BCHCH₂] with R'CHO affords less satisfactory results. Successive treatment of 2 (R = n-Bu, R' = H) with PCl₅ and alkaline H₂O₂ gives HOCHBu-CH₂-CH₂Cl (6). Treatment of Et₂BCHEt-CH₂-CHCl-Ph with NaOH aq produces l-ethyl-2-phenylcyclopropane 7.     

Synthesis of optically active forms of seudenol,the pheromone of douglas fir beetle

(R)-(+)-Seudenol (3-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-ol) and its antipode were synthesized from optically active forms of 3-iodocyclohex-2-en-1-ol by treatment with Me₂CuLi. Their absolute configurations were determined by converting (+)-3-iodocyclohex-2-en-1-ol to the known (R)-(+)-cyclohex-2-en-1-ol.     

Capacitance-conductance detector for high-pressure liquid chromatography. Application to alkaloids and fatty acids

Summary A new type of detector for high-pressure liquid chromatography has been designed. This detector is equipped with a RC resonance circuit, and is similar to the capacitance detector previously reported. It is operated as a capacitance detector with nonpolar eluents; while with polar solvents, it behaves as a conductance detector. Electrolytes such as salts, acids and bases are sensitively detected. The detector was successfully used for the detection of fatty acids and alkaloids.

---

Zusammenfassung Ein neuartiger Detektor für die Hochdruck-Flüssigchromatographie wurde entwickelt. Dieser ist mit einem Resonanzstromkreis ausgestattet und ähnelt dem kürzlich beschriebenen Kapazitanz-Detektor. Als solcher funktioniert er mit nichtpolaren Eluenten, während er sich mit polaren Lösungsmitteln wie ein Leitfähigkeitsdetektor verhält. Salze, Säuren und Basen werden empfindlich nachgewiesen. Das Gerät wurde zum Nachweis von Fettsäuren und Alkaloiden verwendet.

     

Preparation and properties of molybdenum and tungsten dinitrogen complexes : `XVI. Electrochemical properties of tungsten and molybdenum diazoalkane complexes

Diazoalkane complexes of type [MF(NNCRR′)(dpe)₂][BF₄] (M = Mo or W; dpe = Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂), which are easily derived from bis(dinitrogen) complexes [M(N₂)₂(dpe)₂], undergo consecutive one- and two-electron oxidations and reductions under voltammetric conditions at a platinum electrode. The ESR spectra of the species generated by the controlled potential electrolysis show that primary oxidation occurred on the metal atom (M = Mo) and reduction on the two nitrogen atoms in the diazoalkane ligands (M = Mo or W).     

Determination of minor and trace elements in silicate rocks by inductively-coupled plasma emission spectrometry

Samples (0.5 g) are decomposed with mixed acids in a sealed teflon vessel. After suitable treatment, barium, cobalt, chromium, copper, lithium, nickel, scandium. strontium, vanadium and zirconium are determined sequentially. The method is satisfactory for a variety of standard silicate materials.     

Reactions of palldium(II) compounds with carbon monoxide in alcohol/amine systems : a new route to palladium(O) carbonyl and carboalkoxy-palladium(II) complexes

Palladium(O) carbonyl complexes, Pd(CO)(PPh₃)₃ Pd₃(CO)₃(PPh₃)₃ and Pd₃(CO)₃(PPh₃)₄, can conveniently be prepared by the reaction of (PPh₃)₂PdCl₂ with carbon monoxide at room temperature in methanol/amine systems involving primary and secondary amines such as diethylamine and cyclohexylamine. These carbonyl complexes are interconvertible under suitable conditions. On the other hand, use of tertiary amine such as triethylamine and tri-n-butylamine in place of the above amines give selectively a carbomethoxy complex (PPh₃)₂PdCl(COOCH₃).