Gating processes in Na-channel of biological membrane from the standpoint of superionic phase transition

The method of condensed matter physics is applied to reason out the problem of Na transport through a biological membrane. A similiarity of gating process in Na ion channel to the superionic phase transition is discussed. A possible microscopic mechanism is suggested.     

麻黄中伪麻黄碱在小鼠组织中的分布研究

为了解麻黄(Herba ephedrae,简称HE)中伪麻黄碱(Pseudoephedrine,简称PE)在小鼠脑、肺、心、肝、肾的分布变化,探讨HE的归经,用GC-MS/SIM法,分析了用药后30、60、120 min PE在小鼠脏器分布量。结果表明,PE于不同时间点在小鼠脏器的分布由多到少的顺序是:30 min时,肺脏(肾脏、肝脏、脑),心脏;60 min时,肾脏,心脏(肝脏),脑,肺脏;120 min时,脑,肾脏,心脏,肝脏(肺脏)。本试验从PE在小鼠体内脏器的分布量初步反映了HE的归经趋势。     

Suppression of red cell diffusional water permeability by lipophilic solutes

The inhibitory effect of a series of neutral lipophilic solutes (methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol, n-butanol, iso-amylalcohol, n-hexanol, diethylether, nitrobenzene, and pyridine) on the diffusional water permeability (Pd, tot) of bovine erythrocyte membrane at 25 degrees C was studied in comparison to that of p-chloromercuri benzoate (pCMB). Permeability data were obtained by measuring the transmembrane diffusional water exchange time tau(exch) using an 1H-T2 NMR technique. Maximal inhibition by approximately 50% of Pd, tot was produced by 2 mM pCMB which completely blocked the membrane water channels in 20 min, hence suggesting the channel-to-lipid diffusional water permeability ratio of about 1:1. Furthermore, the maximal inhibitory effect of pCMB in combination with the lipophilic solutes was lower than that of pCMB alone. As pCMB does not interfere with the lipid bilayer, and provided that it blocks the water channels in solute presence as well, this confirms that the solutes induce an increase in the lipid-mediated background water permeability contribution (Pd, lipid) by the formation of aqueous leaks in the membrane hydrophobic barrier. However, faster but less efficient in permeability inhibition than pCMB (either alone or combined with solutes) were the lipophilic solutes alone. Taken together, the results indicate that the lipophilic solutes suppress the membrane total permeability Pd, tot by two opposing effects: a reduction of its channel-mediated part (Pd, channel) to the extent exceeding that of a simultaneous Pd, lipid increase. The inhibitory potency of the solutes tested appears to be correlated with their solubility in the membrane medium.     

安培检测芯片毛细管电泳及其初步应用

An end-channel amperometric detector with a guide tube for working electrode was designed and integrated on a home-made glass microchip. The guide tube was directly patterned and fabricated at the end of the detection reservoir, which made the fixation and alignment of working electrode relatively easy. The fabrication was carried out in a two-step etching process. A 30 μm carbon fiber microdisk electrode and Pt cathode were also integrated onto the amperometric detector. The baseline separation of dopamine (DA), catechol (CA) and epinephrine (EP) was achieved within 80 s. Relative standard deviations of not more than 5.2% were obtained for both peak currents and migration times of DA and CA (n=5). Using standard adding method, DA in tLrine and plasma samples was detected. The recoveries were in the range of 83%—103%.     

Characterization of the non-stoichiometric and isomorphic hydration and solvation in FK041 clathrate

FK041 crystallizes as a non-stoichiometric hydrate or as solvated hydrates which were characterized as isomorphic clathrates by powder X-ray diffractometry. Moisture and organic solvent vapor sorption studies, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis revealed that FK041 monohydrate forms a physically stable host crystal, which has lattice channels for guest water and/or organic solvent molecules. The hydration state varies non-stoichiometrically between dihydrate and tetrahydrate depending on the relative humidity and the mol content of the co-existing organic solvent, that is 2-propanol, ethanol, or acetone. These organic solvents are thought to replace a part of originally present water with a mol ratio of 1:3. 2-Propanol exhibited the most stable solvation, indicating that the size and shape of 2-propanol are the most preferable to the lattice channels.     

A mild and practical method for the regioselective synthesis of N-acylated 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-ones. New acyl transfer reagents

The treatment of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-ones with n-BuLi at −78 °C, followed by quenching with various electrophiles furnished N3-substituted derivatives, regioselectively. Further, N1,N3-diacyl derivatives were found to transfer N1-acyl groups to nucleophilic sites.     

Theoretical study of reaction channels for the weakly bound complex systems created with HF,CO2, and various amines

This investigation conducted reaction channels of weakly bound complexes CO₂…HF, CO₂…HF…NH₃, CO₂…HF…NH₂CH₃, CO₂…HF…NH(CH₃)₂, and CO₂…HF…N(CH₃)₃ systems, using the Gaussian 98 package at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(3df,2pd) level. The syn‐fluoroformic acid or syn‐fluoroformic acid plus NH₃ or amine conformers are more stable than the related anti‐fluoroformic acid or anti‐fluoroformic acid plus NH₃ or amine conformers. However, the above‐mentioned weakly bound complexes are more stable than both the related syn‐ and anti‐type fluoroformic acid or acid plus NH₃ or amine conformers and their related decomposed into CO₂ + HF or CO₂ + NHR₃F (R?H, CH₃) combined molecular systems. Five reaction channels of the weakly bound complexes exist. Each channel includes weakly bound complexes and their related above‐mentioned systems. Moreover, each reaction channel contains two transition states. The transition state between the weakly bound complex and anti‐fluoroformic acid type structure (T₁₃) is significantly higher than that of internal rotation (T₂₃) between syn‐ and anti‐FCO₂H (or FCO₂H…NR₃) structures. However, the above‐mentioned T₁₃ can significantly decrease its energy by adding the third molecule NH₃ or NR₃ (R?H or CH₃). The more CH₃ that is substituted in NR₃ of the reaction channel, the lower the activation energy of the transition state in the system is affected. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Thermal conductivity of the urea-hexadecane inclusion compound

The thermal conductivity and the heat capacity per unit volumec _p have been measured for the urea-hexadecane inclusion compound using the transient hot-wire method. Measurements were made under isobaric conditions at a pressure of 0.1 GPa and in the temperature range of 100–300 K. There was evidence for a phase transition at a temperature of about 160 K, in reasonable agreement with previous work. For the high-temperature phase was independent of temperature within ±1%. The low-temperature phase showed a weak temperature dependence, with (d In/d InT) _p = –0.13. It was inferred that interaction between acoustic phonons and low-frequency vibrational excitations of the guest molecules made a major contribution to the thermal resistivity. For the quantityc _p a weak maximum was observed in the region of the phase transition temperature.Dedicated to Dr D. W. Davidson in honor of his great contributions to the sciences of inclusion phenomena.     

Separation of carbon nanotubes by frit inlet asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation

Flow field-flow fractionation (flow FFF), a separation technique for particles and macromolecules, has been used to separate carbon nanotubes (CNT). The carbon nanotube ropes that were purified from a raw carbon nanotube mixture by acidic reflux followed by cross-flow filtration using a hollow fiber module were cut into shorter lengths by sonication under a concentrated acid mixture. The cut carbon nanotubes were separated by using a modified flow FFF channel system, frit inlet asymmetrical flow FFF (FI AFIFFF) channel, which was useful in the continuous flow operation during injection and separation. Carbon nanotubes, before and after the cutting process, were clearly distinguished by their retention profiles. The narrow volume fractions of CNT collected during flow FFF runs were confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Experimentally, it was found that retention of carbon nanotubes in flow FFF was dependent on the use of surfactant for CNT dispersion and for the carrier solution in flow FFF. In this work, the use of flow FFF for the size differentiation of carbon nanotubes in the process of preparation or purification was demonstrated.