Activation profiles of opioid ligands in HEK cells expressing δ opioid receptors

Background  

The aim of the present study was to characterize the activation profiles of 15 opioid ligands in transfected human embryonic kidney cells expressing only δ opioid receptors. Activation profiles of most of these ligands at δ opioid receptors had not been previously characterized in vitro. Receptor activation was assessed by measuring the inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP production.     

Essential Oil of Arischrada korolkowii from the Chatkal Mountains of Uzbekistan

The herbal parts of Arischrada korolkowii (Regel et Schmalh.) Pobed. (Lamiaceae) growing in Uzbekistan were hydrodistillated to yield 1.1% of essential oil. The essential oil was analyzed by GC/MS. Eighty eight compounds were characterized representing 98% of the essential oil with 1,8-cineole (29.3%), camphor (9.8%), -caryophyllene (8.5%), bornyl acetate (7.7%), caryophyllene oxide (7.2%), and borneol (5.6%) as the main constituents.     

COMPOSITION OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF Haplophyllum myrtifolium

The chemical composition of the essential oil ofHaplophyllum myrtifoliumBoiss., endemic to Turkey, was examined by GC/MS. Ninety-seven compounds were characterized with linalool (12.8%), -caryophyllene (10.3 %), and methyleugenol (5.9 %) as the main constituents.     

Metal complexes of a homopolymer system containing diethanolamine side group: synthesis and dielectrical behaviors

In this work, 4-diethanolaminomethyl styrene (DEAMSt) monomer was prepared by modification of 4-chloromethyl styrene with diethanolamine. The homopolymerization of styrene modificated was carried out by free radical polymerization method at 60?°C in presence of 1,4-dioxane and AIBN. The metal complexes were prepared by reaction of the homopolymer used as ligand P(DEAMSt)L^l and Ni(II), Co(II) metal ions in presence of ethanol and dilute NaOH at 65?°C for 48?h in pH 6.

The structure of modificated monomer, homopolymer used as ligand and polymer-metal complexes were characterized by (FT-IR), ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, Raman spectroscopy tecniques, elemental analysis, SEM, XRD and magnetic measurements. Their geometric structures according to magnetic measurements of Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes were estimated that have a tetrahedral structure. P(DEAMSt)L^l polymer has a transition state between amorphous and crystalline, whereas metal complexes (Co(II) and Ni(II) are with a large crystal structure. The molecular weight of P(DEAMSt)L¹ homopolymer was determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The glass transition temperature (Tg) of homopolymer was measured by differantial scanning calorimeter (DSC). The thermal behaviors of both ligand and polymer-metal complexes were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and (DTA). The results obtained were compared with each other. Then, the dielectrical measurements (dielectric constant, dielectric loss and conductivity) of the ligand and polymer-metal complexes were investigated as a function of temperature and frequency. The activation energies (Ea) of the ligand and metal complexes were determined from the conductivity measurements.     

Essential Oil and Antimicrobial Evaluation of the Pistacia eurycarpa

The compositions of microdistilled and hydrodistilled essential oils of the mastix ofPistacia eurycarpaYalt. (Anacardiaceae) were compared. The essential oils were analyzed by GC/MS:- andbeta;-pinenes were found as the major constituents. The antimicrobial activity of the hydrodistilled oil was determined due to the ethnomedical uses of the oleo-gum resin on skin diseases.     

Fatty Acid Composition of Seed Oils of Twelve Salvia Species Growing in Turkey

Seed oils of 12 Salvia species collected from different regions in Turkey (S. Albimaculata Hedge & Hub.-Mor., S. Candidisima Vahl., S. Cedronella Boiss., S. Cryptantha Montbret & Aucher ex Bentham, S. Forskahlei L., S. Fruticosa Miller (Sin. S. Triloba L. Fil), S. Halophila Hedge, S. Hypargeia Fisch. & Mey., S. Sclarea L., S. Tomentosa Miller, S. Tchihatcheffii (Fisch. & Mey.) Boiss., S. Virgata Jacq.) were obtained by Soxhlet apparatus using hexane. The oil yields were found to be between 2.0% and 20.9%. Fatty acids in the oils were converted to methyl esters and determined by GC/MS in methyl ester form. The main fatty acid components of S. halophila, S. Hypargeia, and S. Sclarea are unsaturated oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids. In others except S. Candidissima, the dominant acids are oleic, linoleic and palmitic acids.     

Comparative Study of Biosorption of Heavy Metals Using Living Green Algae Scenedesmus quadricauda and Neochloris pseudoalveolaris: Equilibrium and Kinetics

The biosorption of several heavy metals such as cobalt(II), chromium(III), lead(II), cadmium(II), nickel(II), and manganese(II) from aqueous systems on living microalgae cultures, Scenedesmus quadricauda and Neochloris pseudoalveolaris were studied under laboratories conditions. The kinetic and statistical parameters were calculated by using the data obtained from batch cultivation and well fitted a pseudo-first-order rate equation. The initial metal concentrations in solution were about 5–40 mg · L^?1. According to the pseudo-second-order model, the biosorption capacities of Scenedesmus quadricauda for Co(II), Cr(III), Pb(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), and Mn(II) ions were found in the ranges of 2.14–52.48, 1.98–81.98, 8.05–4.26, 7.81–24.96, 2.17–55.71, and 3.54–75.20 mg g^?1, respectively. Kinetic studies revealed that the metal uptake capacity of each living green algae was rather fast. It was also observed that the biosorption kinetic rate decreased with increasing concentration for both microalgae. The application of diffusion-controlled models to the experimental results indicated that the contribution of intraparticle diffusion to the overall sorption kinetics was not very important. Results showed that Co(II), Cr(III), Pb(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), and Mn(II) ions could effectively be absorbed by using living microalga cultures from aqueous solutions.     

Surface-induced self-assembly of dipeptides onto nanotextured surfaces

There is an increasing interest for the utilization of biomolecules for fabricating novel nanostructures due to their ability for specific molecular recognition, biocompatibility, and ease of availability. Among these molecules, diphenylalanine (Phe-Phe) dipeptide is considered as one of the simplest molecules that can generate a family of self-assembly based nanostructures. The properties of the substrate surface, on which the self-assembly process of these peptides occurs, play a critical role. Herein, we demonstrated the influence of surface texture and functionality on the self-assembly of Phe-Phe dipeptides using smooth silicon surfaces, anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes, and poly(chloro-p-xylylene) (PPX) films having columnar and helical morphologies. We found that helical PPX films, AAO, and silicon surfaces induce similar self-assembly processes and the surface hydrophobicity has a direct influence for the final dipeptide structure whether being in an aggregated tubular form or creating a thin film that covers the substrate surface. Moreover, the dye staining data indicates that the surface charge properties and hence the mechanism of the self-assembly process are different for tubular structures as opposed to the peptidic film. We believe that our results may contribute to the control of surface-induced self-assembly of peptide molecules and this control can potentially allow the fabrication of novel peptide based materials with desired morphologies and unique functionalities for different technological applications.