Analysis of deprenyl metabolites in some body compartments of rats using GC-MSD

Summary Deprenyl metabolites were analyzed in various organs of rats after chronic oral treatment. The investigation was carried out by gas chromatography combined with MSD after derivatization of the metabolites. When (−)-deprenyl (selegiline) was administered to rats higher ratios of methamphetamine to amphetamine were found in the kidney, and the heart at 1 and 5 h after treatment, than after (+)-deprenyl administration. Both deprenyl and its demethylated metabolite were also detected; however, their level was generally lower than that of either methamphetamine or amphetamine. Coadministration of verapamil with selegiline did not essentially alter the major metabolic pathway of deprenyl metabolism.     

Polymerization in liquid crystals—IV: The polymerization of cholesteryl-vinyl-succinate

The solid-, cholesteric- and liquid-state polymerizations of cholesteryl-vinyl-succinate (CVS) are studied. Only one of the three polymorphic modifications of CVS oligomerizes in the solid state into oligomers of degree $\text{P}\text{= 2}\text{to}\text{6}$ in a homogeneous topochemical reaction. The rate of polymerization in the cholesteric state is lower than that in the liquid state at the same temperature. Kinetic constants were measured at 85° using benzoyl peroxide as initiator and the Banfield radical, giving E_overall = 15.4, 36.4 kcal/mole^?1; $\text{f = 0.52, 0.19; k}{}_{\mathrm{p}}\text{/k}{}_{\mathrm{t}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 0.0167, 0.0192}$, (1/mole sec)^{$\text{1}\text{2}$}, ($\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{p}}\text{?}\text{1}\text{2}\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{t}}\text{) = 0.40, 21.4}$ kcal mole^?1. The values refer to the liquid- and the cholesteric-state reactions, respectively. The average degree of polymerization is low in both cases ($\text{P}\text{= 20}\text{and}\text{22}$). It was concluded that the molecular weights are controlled by chain transfer and that the initiation reaction is mostly dependent on the phase where the reaction takes place.     

Network modules help the identification of key transport routes,signaling pathways in cellular and other networks

Complex systems are successfully reduced to interacting elements via the network concept. Transport plays a key role in the survival of networks – for example the specialized signaling cascades of cellular networks filter noise and efficiently adapt the network structure to new stimuli. However, our general understanding of transport mechanisms and signaling pathways in complex systems is yet limited. Here we summarize the key network structures involved in transport, list the solutions available to overloaded systems for relaxing their load and outline a possible method for the computational determination of signaling pathways. We highlight that in addition to hubs, bridges and the network skeleton, the overlapping modular structure is also essential in network transport. Path‐lenghts in the module‐space of the yeast protein‐protein interaction network indicated that module‐based paths may cross fewer modular boundaries than shortest paths. Moreover, by locating network elements in the space of overlapping network modules and evaluating their distance in this ‘module space’, it may be possible to approximate signaling pathways computationally, which, in turn could serve the identification of signaling pathways of complex systems. Our model may be applicable in a wide range of fields including traffic control or drug design.     

Disordered proteins and network disorder in network descriptions of protein structure, dynamics and function: hypotheses and a comprehensive review

During the last decade, network approaches became a powerful tool to describe protein structure and dynamics. Here we review the links between disordered proteins and the associated networks, and describe the consequences of local, mesoscopic and global network disorder on changes in protein structure and dynamics. We introduce a new classification of protein networks into 'cumulus-type', i.e., those similar to puffy (white) clouds, and 'stratus-type', i.e., those similar to flat, dense (dark) low-lying clouds, and relate these network types to protein disorder dynamics and to differences in energy transmission processes. In the first class, there is limited overlap between the modules, which implies higher rigidity of the individual units; there the conformational changes can be described by an 'energy transfer' mechanism. In the second class, the topology presents a compact structure with significant overlap between the modules; there the conformational changes can be described by 'multi-trajectories'; that is, multiple highly populated pathways. We further propose that disordered protein regions evolved to help other protein segments reach 'rarely visited' but functionally-related states. We also show the role of disorder in 'spatial games' of amino acids; highlight the effects of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) on cellular networks and list some possible studies linking protein disorder and protein structure networks.     

Comparative Lipophilicity of Morphine Derivatives

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - Lipophilicity is an important physicochemical characteristic of compounds having potential use in the treatment of humans and...