Binding of single nucleotides to H+-ATP synthases observed by fluorescence resonance energy transfer

F(0)F(1)-ATP synthases couple proton translocation with the synthesis of ATP from ADP and phosphate. The enzyme has three catalytic nucleotide binding sites, one on each beta-subunit; three non-catalytic binding sites are located mainly on each alpha-subunit. In order to observe substrate binding to the enzyme, the H(+)-ATP synthase from Escherichia coli was labelled selectively with the fluorescence donor tetramethylrhodamine (TMR) at position T106C of the gamma-subunit. The labelled enzymes were incorporated into liposomes and catalysed proton-driven ATP synthesis. The substrate ATP-Alexa Fluor 647 was used as the fluorescence acceptor to perform intermolecular fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Single molecules are detected with a confocal set-up. When one ATP-Alexa Fluor 647 binds to the enzyme, FRET can be observed. Five stable states with different intermolecular FRET efficiencies were distinguished for enzyme-bound ATP-Alexa Fluor 647 indicating binding to different binding sites. Consecutive hydrolysis of excess ATP resulted in stepwise changes of the FRET efficiency. Thereby, gamma-subunit movement during catalysis was directly monitored with respect to the binding site with bound ATP-Alexa Fluor 647.     

Dicopper(I) oxalate complexes as molecular precursors for the deposition of copper compounds

The synthesis, characterization, and thermal decomposition behavior of dicopper(I) oxalato complexes L₄Cu₂(C₂O₄) (L = CNtBu (2a), CNCMe₂CH₂tBu (2b), CNC₆H₃Me₂-2,6 (2c)) is reported. 2c can be prepared in a straightforward manner by the reaction of stoichiometric amounts of Cu₂O and oxalic acid with four equivalents of CNC₆H₃Me₂-2,6, while those complexes with aliphatic isocyanides are better prepared from a copper(I) oxalato complex with alkine capping ligands (Me₃SiCCSiMe₃)₂Cu₂(C₂O₄) (1) via ligand exchange. Crystallographic and spectroscopic evidence for 2a-c confirms the anticipated dinuclear structure with the oxalate in a μ-1,2,3,4 bridging mode and an essentially σ-character of the terminal isocyanides. In solid form the complexes are stable at room temperature and can be handled in air for some time. Their decomposition was studied by thermal gravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectrometry, and the degradation pathway was shown to depend on the type of isocyanide capping ligand. Decomposition of 2a,b takes place between 150 and 200 °C to give CuCN in a clean process that involves isobutene elimination from the terminal ligands, with elimination of (CN)₂ and conversion to elemental copper at higher temperatures. Heating of 2c leads to CuO (and then to Cu₂O) via release of the intact isocyanide, CO₂, and CO in a well-behaved thermal process around 200-280 °C.     

Zur Berechnung des Polykondensationsgleichgewichtes der KieselsÄuren

Zusammenfassung Die in einer früheren Arbeit gemachte Annahme, da\ ein echtes thermodynamisches Gleichgewicht zwischen den einzelnen Kondensationsstufen der Kiesels?ure existiert, wird im Hinblick auf die theoretischen Konsequenzen für die insgesamt im Gleichgewicht in L?sung zu findende Kiesels?uremenge untersucht. Es wird für p_H < 12 eine Formel für die „Gesamtl?slichkeit der Kiesels?ure“ entwickelt, die unter plausiblen Annahmen gut mit bisher vorliegenden experimentellen Erfahrungen in übereinstimmung gebracht werden kann.     

Determination of total fluoride in HF/HNO3/H2SiF6 etch solutions by new potentiometric titration methods

In the photovoltaic industry the etching of silicon in HF/HNO₃ solutions is a decisive process for cleaning wafer surfaces or to produce certain surface morphologies like polishing or texturization. With regard to cost efficiency, a maximal utilisation of etch baths in combination with highest quality and accuracy is strived. To provide an etch bath control realised by a replenishment with concentrated acids the main constituents of these HF/HNO₃ etch solutions including the reaction product H₂SiF₆ have to be analysed. Two new methods for the determination of the total fluoride content in an acidic etch solution based on the precipitation titration with La(NO₃)₃ are presented within this paper. The first method bases on the proper choice of the reaction conditions, since free fluoride ions have to be liberated from HF and H₂SiF₆ at the same time to be detected by a fluoride ion-selective electrode (F-ISE). Therefore, the sample is adjusted to a pH of 8 for total cleavage of the SiF₆²⁻ anion and titrated in absence of buffers. In a second method, the titration with La(NO₃)₃ is followed by a change of the pH-value using a HF resistant glass-electrode. Both methods provide consistent values, whereas the analysis is fast and accurate, and thus, applicable for industrial process control.     

Relative Abundance of Alpha-Amylase/Trypsin Inhibitors in Selected Sorghum Cultivars

Sorghum is of growing interest and considered as a safe food for wheat related disorders. Besides the gluten, α-amylase/trypsin-inhibitors (ATIs) have been identified as probable candidates for these disorders. Several studies focused on wheat-ATIs although there is still a lack of data referring to the relative abundance of sorghum-ATIs. The objective of this work was therefore to contribute to the characterization of sorghum ATI profiles by targeted proteomics tools. Fifteen sorghum cultivars from different regions were investigated with raw proteins ranging from 7.9 to 17.0 g/100 g. Ammonium bicarbonate buffer in combination with urea was applied for protein extraction, with concentration from 0.588 ± 0.047 to 4.140 ± 0.066 mg/mL. Corresponding electrophoresis data showed different protein profiles. UniProtKB data base research reveals two sorghum ATIs, {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"P81367","term_id":"3913899","term_text":"P81367"}}P81367 and {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"P81368","term_id":"3913900","term_text":"P81368"}}P81368; both reviewed and a targeted LC–MS/MS method was developed to analyze these. Quantifier peptides ELAAVPSR ({"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"P81367","term_id":"3913899","term_text":"P81367"}}P81367) and TYMVR ({"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"P81368","term_id":"3913900","term_text":"P81368"}}P81368) were identified and retained as biomarkers for relative quantification. Different reducing and alkylating agents were assessed and combination of tris (2 carboxyethyl) phosphine/iodoacetamide gave the best response. Linearity was demonstrated for the quantifier peptides with standard recovery between 92.2 and 107.6%. Nine sorghum cultivars presented up to 60 times lower ATI contents as compared to wheat samples. This data suggests that sorghum can effectively be considered as a good alternative to wheat.     

Hyperfine structure of six low-lying fine structure levels of191Ir and193Ir and the191Δ s 193 hyperfine anomaly

The hyperfine interaction constantsA andB of six low-lying metastable fine structure states of the two iridium isotopes¹⁹¹Ir and¹⁹³Ir and the electronicg-factors of these levels have been measured using the atomic-beam magnetic-resonance method. From the values of the magnetic-dipole interaction constantsA, corrected for off-diagonal perturbations, we extracted the hyperfine anomaly of a pure 6s-electron state:¹⁹¹ Δ _s ¹⁹³ =0.64(7)%. Using nonrelativistic approximations for the effective radial parameters the nuclear electric-quadrupole moments were obtained:Q(¹⁹¹Ir) = 0.81(21)b,Q(¹⁹³Ir)=0.73(19)b