Multiple polypeptide forms observed in two-dimensional gels of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) polypeptides are generated during the separation procedure

We have examined two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) gel maps of polypeptides from the Gram-negative bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) and found the same widespread trains of spots as often reported in 2-DE gels of polypeptides of other Gram-negative bacteria. Some of the trains of polypeptides, both from the outer membrane and soluble protein fraction, were shown to be generated during the separation procedure of 2-DE, and not by covalent post-translational modifications. The trains were found to be regenerated when rerunning individual polypeptide spots. The polypeptides analysed giving this type of trains were all found to be classified as stable polypeptides according to the instability index of Guruprasad et al. (Protein Eng. 1990, 4, 155-161). The phenomenon most likely reflects conformational equilibria of polypeptides arising from the experimental conditions used, and is a clear drawback of the standard 2-DE procedure, making the gel picture unnecessarily complex to analyse.     

Pulsed field gradient NMR on polybutylcyanoacrylate nanocapsules

The applicability of pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to nanocapsule systems is demonstrated on dispersed poly-n-butylcyanoacrylate nanocapsules as a model system. Spectroscopic data are presented that allow for the structural characterization of the inner cavities, the observation of Brownian motion of the capsules and the detection of rapid molecular exchange through the capsule walls. An analytical formula is proposed that yields equilibrium populations and average residence times of a given tracer molecule, thus leading to crucial information regarding the permeability of the capsule walls. Based on these analytical methods, two varieties of nanocapsules are compared that derive from two different preparation procedures. It is found that thinner capsule walls obtained under acidic conditions of the organic phase during interfacial polymerization lead to correspondingly higher exchange rates of benzene as a tracer molecule.     

Smart nanocomposite polymer gels

The combination of polymers with nanomaterials displays novel and often enhanced properties compared to the traditional materials. They can open up possibilities for new technological applications. The magnetic polymer gel represents a new type of composites consisting of small magnetic particles, usually from the nanometer range to the micron range, dispersed in a highly elastic polymeric gel matrix. Combination of magnetic and elastic properties leads to a number of striking phenomena that are exhibited in response to impressed magnetic fields. Giant deformational effects, high elasticity, anisotropic properties, temporary reinforcement and quick response to magnetic field open new opportunities for using such materials for various applications.     

氰根桥联FeⅢ-CuⅡ一维配合物{[Fe(1-CH3im)(CN)4(μ-CN)Cu(cyclam)]·H2O}n的合成、结构及磁性研究

基于构筑单元K2[Fe(1-CH3im)(CN)5]和[Cu(cyclam)](ClO4)2,合成了一个氰根桥联FeⅢ-CuⅡ中性一维化合物{[Fe(1-CH3im)(CN)4(μ-CN)Cu(cyclam)]·H2O}n(1-CH3im=1-甲基咪唑;cyclam=1,4,8,11-四氮杂环十四烷)(1),并通过X-射线单晶分析表征其结构特征。结果表明:化合物(1)是由氰根桥联的杂金属组成的聚合物,其结构属于三斜晶系,P1空间群,a=0.832 56(17)nm,b=0.899 38(18)nm,c=0.998 3(2)nm,α=111.94(3)°,β=95.06(3)°,γ=116.90(3)°,V=0.587 7(2)nm3,Z=1,Dc=1.554 g·cm-3,μ=1.558 mm-1,F(000)=286,R1=0.051 9,wR2=0.135 3。磁性研究表明:配合物1中CuⅡ和低自旋的FeⅢ离子之间存在弱的铁磁耦合作用。     

Tricomponent azide, tetrazolate, and carboxylate cobridging magnetic systems: ferromagnetic coupling, metamagnetism, and single-chain magnetism

Three novel coordination polymers with azide and a bifunctional zwitterionic ligand bearing carboxylate and tetrazolate as bridging groups, [M(L)(N(3))]·xH(2)O [L=1-(carboxylatomethyl)-4-(5-tetrazolato)pyridinium, M=Cu (1, x=2), Ni (2, x=1), and Co (3, x=1)], have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography and magnetic measurements. The compounds consist of two-dimensional coordination layers in which uniform anionic chains with the unprecedented tricomponent (μ-azide)(μ-tetrazolate)(μ-carboxylate) bridges are cross-linked by cationic 1-methylenepyridinium spacers. The tricomponent bridges induce ferromagnetic interactions in all the compounds. Furthermore, this isostructural series of ferromagnetic-chain-based compounds has allowed us to observe distinct bulk properties that are dependent upon the natures of the different spin carriers: with the isotropic Cu(II) ion, 1 exhibits a paramagnetic phase of the ferromagnetic chains without long-range magnetic order above 2 K; with the weakly anisotropic Ni(II) ions, 2 displays antiferromagnetic ordering and field-induced metamagnetism without slow dynamic relaxation; and with Co(II), which has strong magnetic anisotropy due to first-order spin-orbital coupling, 3 exhibits magnetic hysteresis and slow magnetization dynamics typical of single-chain magnets.     

Magnetic control of electrocatalytic and bioelectrocatalytic processes

Bioelectronics is a rapidly progressing interdisciplinary research field that has important implications for the development of biosensors, biofuel cells, biomaterial-based computers, and bioelectronic devices. Magneto-controlled molecular electronics and bioelectronics are new topics that examine the effect of an external magnetic field on electrocatalytic and bioelectrocatalytic processes of functionalized magnetic particles associated with electrodes. In this article we describe the progress in the developments of magneto-switchable electrocatalytic and bioelectrocatalytic transformations, and the effects of the rotation of the magnetic particles on the electrocatalytic and bioelectrocatalytic processes are discussed. Finally, the implications of the results on the development of biosensors, amplified immunosensors, and DNA sensors are described.     

On-line identification of tropane alkaloids from Erythroxylum vacciniifolium by liquid chromatography-UV detection-multiple mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry

The bark of catuaba (Erythroxylum vacciniifolium Martius, Erythroxylaceae), a tree native to the northern part of Brazil, was investigated for its alkaloid content. With the aim of obtaining preliminary structure information on-line, the alkaloid extract was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array UV detection, to mass spectrometry and to nuclear magnetic resonance. Interpretation of on-line spectroscopic data obtained from this extract led to structural elucidation of six new alkaloids and partial identification of 18 potentially original alkaloids bearing the same tropane skeleton esterified in positions 3 and 6 by 1-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2-carboxylic acid and/or 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid.     

Characterization of antithrombin III from human plasma by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and capillary electrophoretic methods

The isoforms distribution of the glycoprotein antithrombin III (ATIII) derived from human plasma was investigated by means of isoelectric focusing (IEF) in polyacrylamide gels with immobilized pH gradients (IPG) and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) as well as capillary electrophoretic methods. It turned out that the presence of high concentrations of chaotropics (urea, thiourea) and zwitterionic detergents (3-[(3-cholamidepropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS)) was decisive for attaining good resolution of the protein isoforms. Resolution by IPG-IEF was obtained with excellent reproducibility and pI differences down to 0.01 pH units could be distinguished. ATIII-alpha and ATIII-beta-fractions preseparated by heparin affinity chromatography showed an analogous but shifted spot pattern consisting each of one major and three minor isoforms. The main isoforms of ATIII-alpha and ATIII-beta exhibit pI values of 5.18 and 5.32, respectively, both values determined in the presence of high concentrations of urea. The pI difference of 0.14 pH units correspond to the effect of two sialic acids absent in ATIII-beta. The formation and occurrence of ATIII dimers and trimers turned out to be dependent on the sample preparation. The results obtained by 2-DE were compared with those of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and capillary IEF (CIEF). Quantitative analysis regarding the CZE separated isoforms of plasma derived ATIII yielded a content of about 70% ATIII-alpha main isoform and about 6.6% of ATIII-beta. The pI values of ATIII determined by CIEF with internal calibration were in fair agreement with the pI values of the main isoforms achieved with 2-DE.     

About the calculation of exchange coupling constants in polynuclear transition metal complexes

The application of theoretical methods based on the density functional theory with hybrid functionals provides good estimates of the exchange coupling constants for polynuclear transition metal complexes. The accuracy is similar to that previously obtained for dinuclear compounds. We present test calculations on simple model systems based on H. He and CH(2). He units to compare with Hartree-Fock and multiconfigurational results. Calculations for complete, nonmodeled polynuclear transition metal complexes yield coupling constants in very good agreement with available experimental data.