Observation of baker’s yeast strains used in biotransformation by atomic force microscopy

Different strains of baker’s yeast(Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were imaged with an atomic force microscope (AFM). The images of uncoated and nonfixed samples were reproducible with high-constrast and nanometer-resolution. Molecules from the polysaccharide surface of the cell wall were pictured and the distance of atoms was measured. The preparation of samples was easy, suggesting that AFM is a useful tool in this type of analyses.     

微型硅谐振式力传感器的振动分析

介绍了谐振式力传感器的工作原理，并从理论上和实验上对中科院合肥智能所研制的第一代微型硅谐振梁（３×０．４×０．０４５ｍｍ＾３）式测力传感器进行了全面的振动分析，所得结构为其进一步优化设计提供了科学根据，文中使用的实验分析方法，为其它微小物体的动态和识别提供了一条有效途径。     

On the finite-size scalling equation for the spherical model

The mean spherical model with an arbitrary interaction potential, the Fourier transform of which has a long-wavelength exponent , 0<2, is considered under periodic boundary conditions and fully finite geometry ind dimensions, when <d<2. A new form of the finite-size scaling equation for the spherical field in the critical region is derived, which relates the temperature shift to Madelung-type lattice constants. The method of derivation makes use of the Poisson summation formula and a Laplace transformation of the momentumspace correlation function.On leave of absence from Institute of Mechanics and Biomechanics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria.     

Vibrational assignment, <Emphasis Type="Italic">ab initio</Emphasis> calculation and normal coordinate analysis of 2,2′-biquinoline

The vibrational wavenumbers and the fundamental modes of 2,2′-biquinoline were obtained by density functional theory (DFT) with the B3LYP functional using the 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The calculated wavenumbers were scaled by a single factor of 0.965 to correct them for vibrational anharmonicity, but the force constants were overestimated. Normal coordinate analysis of the molecule was also carried out by using the force field of the quinoline molecule and the force field parameters of quinoline are shown to be transferable to 2,2′-biquinoline. The potential energy distribution associated with the normal modes is also given. The theoretical wavenumbers are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Characterization of Ultrathin Films of Cellulose Esters

The adsorption of cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) and cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) from solutions prepared in acetone onto silicon wafers led to ultrathin films, which were characterized by ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurements. The polysaccharides films were characterized in the air just after their formation and after annealing at temperatures higher than their glass transition temperature or melt temperature. The films thickness close to 2 nm and surface roughness did not vary significantly upon annealing. AFM images revealed the presence of small clumps dispersed on a homogeneous layer, which covered completely the Si wafers. Such topographic details were also observed after annealing. However, upon annealing the films surfaces changed from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, evidencing molecular re-orientation at the solid–air interface. The adhesion of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lipase onto the cellulose esters films was quantified in order to evaluate the possibility of applying such films as selective support for biomolecules.     

Surface forces in foam films from ABA block copolymer: a dynamic method study

The thinning of foam films from aqueous solutions of an ABA triblock copolymer of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide (average molecular weight 14,000 g/mol) is studied experimentally. The dependence of the surface forces on film thickness is obtained by the dynamic method of Scheludko and Exerowa.The total surface force measured in foam films (radius 60–70 m) from 10^–5 M (0.014 wt%) polymer solution with 0.1 M NaCl is positive at thicknesses from about 800 down to 460 . The electrostatic repulsion is negligible while the contribution of van der Waals attraction is small (within 15%). Therefore a positive surface force component predominates. Most probably it arises from steric interactions between the hydrophilic polyethylene oxide tails of the polymer. The dynamic method appears to be a suitable technique for exploring the stabilization of foam films from ABA copolymers.     

Equilibrium studies of Mn(II), Mg(II), Ca(II), Sr(II) and Ba(II) withp-fluoro-,p-chloro-,p-bromo-,p-methyl-benzoylacetones and 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3-pentanedione

The rawpH-data, obtained from the potentiometric titrations of the titled ligands with NaOH in 75% (v/v) dioxane-water mixture performed at 20, 30 and 40°C at constant ionic strength (=0.1M-NaClO₄), have been adequately corrected for dilution, and solvent effects in order to evaluate thermodynamic dissociation constants. Variance of the latter as a function of temperature has also been accounted for. The differing magnitudes of thermodynamic dissociation constants of the titled ligands have been explained on the basis of the non coplanar orientation of the phenyl ring in the ligands and a comparison has been made with those of unsubstituted benzoylacetone, dibenzoylmethane and acetylacetone.Following similar technique, thermodynamic stepwise and overall formation constants of the titled metal-ligand systems have been obtained and the results correlated with ligand basicity inverse metal crystal radii and second potentials of metals. Decrease in the free enthalpy (–G) of complexation reaction has also been evaluated.

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Untersuchung der Gleichgewichte von Mn(II), Mg(II), Ca(II), Sr(II) und Ba(II) mit p-Fluor-, p.-Chlor-, p-Brom-, p-Methyl-benzoylaceton und 1-(4-Fluorphenyl)-1,3-pentanedion

Zusammenfassung Aus der potenitometrischen Titration der Titelverbindungen mit NaOH in 75 (v/v) Dioxan—Wasser bei, 20, 30 und 40°C bei konstanter Ionenstärke (=0,1M-NaClO₄) wurden die thermodynamischen Dissoziationskonstanten ermittelt. Verdünnungs-, Lösungsmittel-und Temperatureffekte wurden berücksichtigt. Die unterschiedlichen Dissoziationskonstanten werden mit der Nichtplanarität des Phenylrings in den Liganden erklärt. Außerdem wurden die Komplexbildungskonstanten bestimmt; sie sind in die Diskussion miteinbezogen.

     

Study on the stability of noradrenaline and on the determination of its acidity constants

Noradrenaline is a catecholamine which has been largely recognised to play a very important role in biological systems. In view of the neurotransmitter's alleged importance, this work aimed at showing the influence of time on its spectral behaviour using different analytical methods and determining its acidity constants through spectrophotometric titration and by the so-called point-by-point analysis, where the samples are freshly prepared for each pH value investigated at the instant required. Because the catecholamines are light-sensitive and likely to react with the oxygen in the surrounding air, both methods used preclude its incidence onto the samples being analysed under the presence of a nitrogen atmosphere maintained over the solutions. The constants obtained through point-by-point analysis were log beta1 = 30.71+/-0.16, log beta2 = 22.00+/-0.15 and log beta3 = 11.69+/-0.16.     

Dynamic imaging of single DNA-protein interactions using atomic force microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging of static DNA-protein complexes, in air and in liquid, can be used to directly obtain quantitative and qualitative information on the structure of different complexes. For example, DNA length, the location of preferential binding sites for proteins and bending of DNA as a result of the complexation can all be measured. Recording consecutive AFM images of DNA and protein molecules under conditions that they are still able to move and interact, or dynamic AFM imaging, however, can reveal information on the dynamic aspects of the interactions between these molecules. Here, an overview is given of the technical challenges that need to be considered for successful dynamic AFM imaging studies of individual DNA-protein interactions. Necessary technical improvements to the AFM set-up and the development of new sample preparation methods are described in this paper.     

Free energy perturbation approach to the critical assessment of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors

The discovery of selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors represents a major achievement of the efforts over the past few decades to develop therapeutic treatments for inflammation. To gain insights into designing new COX-2-selective inhibitors, we address the energetic and structural basis for the selective inhibition of COX isozymes by means of a combined computational protocol involving docking experiment, force field design for the heme prothetic group, and free energy perturbation (FEP) simulation. We consider both COX-2- and COX-1-selective inhibitors taking the V523I mutant of COX-2 to be a relevant structural model for COX-1 as confirmed by a variety of experimental and theoretical evidences. For all COX-2-selective inhibitors under consideration, we find that free energies of binding become less favorable as the receptor changes from COX-2 to COX-1, due to the weakening and/or loss of hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interactions that stabilize the inhibitors in the COX-2 active site. On the other hand, COX-1-selective oxicam inhibitors gain extra stabilization energy with the change of residue 523 from valine to isoleucine because of the formations of new hydrogen bonds in the enzyme-inhibitor complexes. The utility of the combined computational approach, as a valuable tool for in silico screening of COX-2-selective inhibitors, is further exemplified by identifying the physicochemical origins of the enantiospecific selective inhibition of COX-2 by -substituted indomethacin ethanolamide inhibitors.