Determination of the thiol redox state of organisms: new oxidative stress indicators

This study describes a new methodology by which the concentrations of non-protein (NP) thiols glutathione (GSH), cysteine (CSH), N-acetylcysteine (AcCSH), and protein (P) thiols (PSH), as well as the contribution of these components to symmetric and mixed disulfides (NPSSR, NPSSC, NPSSCAc, PSSR, PSSC, PSSCAc, PSSP) can reliably be measured. The methodology consists of a strict sequence of methods which are applied to every sample. Free thiols at any given state of the procedure are measured by Ellmans assay, the CSH fraction is measured by its unique response in the ninhydrin assay, AcCSH is selectively measured with ninhydrin after enzymatic deacylation, proteins are separated from non-protein thiols/disulfides by precipitation with trichloroacetic or perchloric acid, disulfides are reduced into free thiols with borohydride, mixed disulfides between a protein and a non-protein component are measured by extracting the non-protein thiol from the protein pellet after borohydride treatment, and protein thiols/disulfides are measured after resolubilization of the protein pellet.When this method was applied to animal and fungal tissue, new molecular indicators of the thiol redox state of living cells were identified. The findings of the present study clearly show that the new parameters are very sensitive indicators of redox state, while at the same time the traditional parameters GSH and GSSG often remain constant even upon dramatic changes in the overall redox state of biological tissue. Therefore, unbiased assessment of the redox state also requires explicit measurement of its most sensitive thiol indicators.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at . A link in the frame on the left on that page takes you directly to the supplementary material.     

Exponentially fitted symplectic methods for the numerical integration of the Schrödinger equation

The computation of the energy eigenvalues of the one-dimensional time-independent Schrödinger equation is considered. Exponentially fitted and trigonometrically fitted symplectic integrators are obtained, by modification of the first and second order Yoshida symplectic methods. Numerical results are obtained for the one-dimensional harmonic oscillator and Morse potential.AMS subject classification: 65L15Funding by research project 71239 of Prefecture of Western Macedonia and the E.U. is gratefully acknowledged.     

Sixth algebraic order trigonometrically fitted predictor–corrector methods for the numerical solution of the radial Schrödinger equation

Our new trigonometrically fitted predictor–corrector (P–C) schemes presented here are based on the well known Adams–Bashforth–Moulton methods: the predictor is based on the fifth order Adams–Bashforth scheme and the corrector on the sixth order Adams–Moulton scheme. We tested the efficiency of our newly developed schemes against well known methods, with excellent results. The numerical experiments showed that at least one of our schemes is noticeably more efficient compared to other methods, some of which are specially designed for this type of problem. It is also worth mentioning that this is the first time that sixth algebraic order trigonometrically fitted Adams–Bashforth–Moulton P–C schemes are used to efficiently solve the radial Schrödinger equation.Active Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts     

Molecular conformation search by distance matrix perturbations

Three-dimensional molecular structure is fundamental in chemical function identification and computer-aided drug design. The enumeration of a small number of feasible conformations provides a rigorous way to determine the optimal or a few acceptable conformations. Our contribution concerns a heuristic enhancement of a method based on distance geometry, typically in relation with experiments of the NMR type. Distance geometry has been approached by different viewpoints; ours is expected to help in several subtasks arising in the process that determines 3D structure from distance information. More precisely, the input to our algorithm consists of a set of approximate distances of varying precision; some are specified by the covalent structure and others by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) experiments (or X-ray crystallography which, however, requires crystallization). The output is a valid tertiary structure in a specified neighborhood of the input. Our approach should help in detecting outliers of the NMR experiments, and handles inputs with partial information. Moreover, our technique is able to bound the number of degrees of freedom of the conformation manifold. We have used numerical linear algebra algorithms for reasons of speed, and because they are well-implemented, fully documented and widely available. Our main tools include, besides distance matrices, structure-preserving matrix perturbations for minimizing singular values. Our MATLAB (or SCILAB) implementation is described and illustrated.AMS subject Classification: 92E10 Molecular structure, 92C40 Biochemistry, molecular biology, 65F15 Eigenvalues, eigenvectors, 15A18 Eigenvalues, singular values, and eigenvectors     

Nachweis isomerer Phenole und Nitroaniline,von Naphthylamin und Anilin

Zusammenfassung Die mit diazotiertem p-Nitranilin hergestellten Tetrazoverbindungen von Phenolderivaten geben mit Magnesium in alkalischem Mediumfarbige Komplexe. Die Farbe des Komplexes ist verschieden bei substituierten und nicht substituierten bzw. verschieden substituierten Phenolen. Damit kann man Phenol-, Kresol- und Chlorphenol-Isomere bzw. 2,4- und 2,6-Dichlorphenol unterscheiden.Beim Diazotieren von Nitranilin und Kuppeln mit Anilin entstehen. Indikatorsäuren; p-Nitranilin bildet die stärkste Indikatorsäure, m-Nitranilin die schwächste. Auf dieser Grundlage können alle drei Isomeren nebeneinander nachgewiesen werden. Außerdem bilden die aus p- und o-Nitranilin entstandenen Indikatoren mit Magnesium verschieden gefärbte Nitronsäurekomplexe, während m-Nitranilin, das zur Nitronsäuretautomerie nicht befähigt ist, keinen Komplex bildet.Naphthylamine geben mit diazotiertem p-Nitranilin in wäßrigem. Medium eine Indikatorbase, Anilin eine Indikatorsäure. In alkoholischem Medium führtgr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-Naphthylamin bei Kupplung von diazotiertem p-Nitranilin zu einem amphoteren Säure-Base-Indikator, aber-Naphthylamin und Anilin zu Indikatorsäuren. Damit kann man Naphthylamin und Anilin nebeneinander nachweisen. Kuppelt man Phenyldiazoniumchlorid mit Naphthylamin, so erhält man mitgr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-Naphthylamin eine starke Indikatorbase, mit- Naphthylamin eine schwache Indikatorbase. Auf der Basis dieser Indikatorwirkung kann mangr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-Naphthylamin neben- Naphthylamin nachweisen.

---

Summary The tetrazo compounds of phenol derivatives prepared with diazotizedp-nitraniline yield colored complexes with magnesium in alkaline surroundings. The color of the complexes differs with substituted and non-substituted or variously substituted phenols. It is possible in this way to differentiate phenol, cresol and chlorophenol isomers, and also 2,4- and 2,6-dichlorophenol.Indicator acids result from diazotized nitraniline coupled with aniline;p-nitraniline yields the strongest indicator acid,m-nitraniline the weakest. With this information as a basis, all three isomers can be detected in the presence of each other. In addition, the indicators produced fromp- ando-nitraniline give nitronic acid complexes with magnesium that differ in color, whilem-nitraniline, which is not capable of nitronic acid tautomerism, forms no complex.Naphthylamines gives an indicator base in aqueous medium with diazotizedp-nitraniline, whereas aniline yields an indicator acid. In alcoholic medium, 1-naphthylamine on coupling with diazotizedp-nitraniline produces an amphoteric acid-base indicator, but 2-naphthylamine and aniline yield indicator acids. Naphthylamine and aniline can be detected in this way in the presence of each other. If phenyldiazonium chloride is coupled with naphthylamine, a strong indicator base is obtained with 1-naphthylamine, a weak indicator base with 2-naphthylamine. This indicator action is the basis of the detection of 1-naphthylamine in the presence of 2-naphthylamine.

---

Résumé Les composés tétrazoïques des dérivés phénoliques qui se forment avec lap-nitraniline diazotée, donnent avec le magnésium, en milieu alcalin, des complexes colorés. La couleur du complexe diffère suivant que les phénols sont substitués, non substitués ou différemment substitués. On peut ainsi distinguer le phénol, les crésols et les chlorophénols isomères, ainsi que les dichloro-2,4 et -2,6 phénols.En diazotant la nitraniline et en copulant avec l'aniline, des acides indicateurs prennent naissance, lap-nitraniline donnant l'acide indicateur le plus fort, lam-nitraniline le plus faible. En s'appuyant sur ce fait, on peut rechercher les trois isomères en présence les uns des autres. En outre, les indicateurs qui prennent naissance à partir de lap- et de l'o-nitraniline forment avec le magnésium différents complexes colorés acinitrés, alors que lam-nitraniline, qui n'est pas susceptible d'une tautomérie de l'acide nitronique, ne donne pas de complexe.Les naphtylamines donnent avec lap-nitraniline diazotée, en milieu aqueux, une base indicateur et l'aniline, un acide indicateur. En milieu alcoolique, l'gr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-naphtylamine conduit par copulation de lap-nitraniline diazotée à un indicateur acide-base amphotère mais la-naphtylamine et l'aniline à des acides indicateurs. On peut ainsi rechercher la naphtylamine et l'aniline en présence l'une de l'autre. Si l'on copule le chlorure de phenyldiazonium avec la naphtylamine, on obtient avec la formegr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0"> une base indicateur forte et avec la forme une base indicateur faible. En se fondant sur cette action d'indicateur, on peut rechercher l'gr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-naphtylamine en présence de-naphtylamine.

     

Nachweis von Oxoverbindungen. IV

Zusammenfassung Enolisierende Oxoverbindungen, die eine - CH₂-CO- oder eine- CO-NH-NH-Gruppe enthalten, geben mit Diazoniumsalz eine Farbreaktion. Formaldehyd, Benzaldehyd, Nitrobenzaldehyde, Benzoin, Benzophenon usw. reagieren dabei nicht. 1,3-Diketone geben mit diazotiertem p-Nitroanilin zweierlei Färbungen, bei geringer Diazoniumsalzkonzentration eine rote, bei großem Überschuß eine blaue oder grüne Färbung. Die Reaktionsgeschwindigkeit ändert sich auch nach der Art des Diazoniumsalzes. Mit dieser Methode wurden selektive Nachweise für Oxoverbindungen ausgearbeitet. Acetonspuren können in Äthanol bzw. in Wasser oder in Methyläthylketon mit diazotiertem Anilin, 10^–3 % Acetessigsäureäthylester in Äthylacetat mit diazotiertem p-Phenetidin, 10^–5 % Acetylaceton in Aceton mit diazotiertem p-Nitroanilin, außerdem Acetaldehyd neben Formaldehyd, Acetylphenylhydrazin neben Acetanilid, mbzw. o- neben p-Nitroanilin nachgewiesen werden. Nach dem Absorptionsspektrum erwies sich das Reaktionsprodukt von Aceton mit diazotiertem p-Nitroanilin als eine Azoverbindung.

---

Detection of Oxocompounds. IV

Summary Enolizing oxo-compounds, that contain a -CH₂-CO- or a -CO-NH-NH-group, yield a color reaction with diazonium salt. Formaldehyde, benzaldehyde, nitrobenzaldehyde, benzoin, benzophenone etc. however do not show this reaction. 1,3-diketones yield two kinds of color reactions with diazotizedp-nitraniline; a slight diazonium salt concentration yields a red coloration, while a large excess gives a blue or green coloration. Selective detections for oxo-compounds were developed with this method. Traces of acetone may be detected in ethanol or water or in methylethyl ketone by means of diazotized aniline, 10^–3% of acetoacetic ester can be detected in ethyl acetate by means of diazotizedp-phenetidine, 10^–5% acetylacetone in aldehyde, acetylphenylhydrazine in the presence of acetanilide,m- oro- in the presence ofp-nitraniline. Judging from the absorption spectrum, the reaction product from acetone and diazotizedp-nitraniline is an azo compound.

     

Nachweis von Peroxiden,Hydroperoxiden und Persäuren

Zusammenfassung Die Indikatorbase 4-Methoxyphenylazo-gr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-naphthylamin wird von p-Nitrobenzoylperoxid in neutralem oder saurem Medium ohne, von p-Nitrobenzopersäure unter Erwärmen oxydiert, gar nicht aber von p-Nitroäthylbenzol-gr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-hydroperoxid. Auf der Grundlage dieses Verhaltens können die drei Verbindungen unterschieden und p-Nitrobenzoylperoxid nachgewiesen werden. Die Indikatorsäure 4-Nitrophenylazo-2-amino-5-nitrobenzol wird von p-Nitroäthylbenzol-gr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-hydroperoxid oxydiert, nicht aber von p-Nitrobenzoylperoxid und p-Nitrobenzopersäure. Mit dieser Farbreaktion kann p-Nitroäthylbenzol-gr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-hydroperoxid nachgewiesen werden. p-Nitrobenzopersäure kann neben p-Nitroäthylbenzolhydroperoxid mit einer Farbreaktion von p- + m-Phenylendiamin nachgewiesen werden. Auch p-Nitrobenzoylperoxid gibt die Reaktion, aber p-Nitroäthylbenzol-gr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-hydroperoxid setzt sich nicht um.

---

Detection of peroxides, hydroperoxides, and peracids

Summary The indicator base 4-methoxyphenylazo-gr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-naphthylamine is oxidized in neutral medium without warming byp-nitrobenzoyl peroxide, and byp-nitrobenzoperacid with warming, but it is not oxidized at all byp-nitroethylbenzene-gr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-hydroperoxide. The three compounds may be differentiated on the basis of these behaviors and furthermore it is thus possible to detect and identifyp-nitrobenzoyl peroxide. The indicator acid 4-nitrophenylazo-2-amino-5-nitrobenzene is oxidized byp-nitroethylbenzene-gr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-hydroperoxide but not byp-nitrobenzoyl peroxide andp-nitrobenzoperacid.p-Nitroethylbenzene-gr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-hydroperoxide may be detected through this color reaction.p-Nitrobenzoperacid can be detected in the presence ofp-nitroethylbenzene-gr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-hydroperoxide by a color reaction withp + m-phenylenediamine but no reaction is given byp-nitroethylbenzene-gr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-hydroperoxide.

     

A numerical basis for the accurate representation of the continuum spectrum of atomic Hamiltonians

We present a method for the accurate calculation of the complete spectrum of the Schrödinger equation in terms of B-splines polynomial basis. The method is capable to represent numerically the bound and continuum spectrum of complex atomic systems. The theoretical method is discussed, and an application to hydrogenic Hamiltonian is given.AMS subject classification: 65705, 34L40     

A family of multiderivative methods for the numerical solution of the Schrödinger equation

A family of multiderivative methods with minimal phase-lag are introduced in this paper, for the numerical solution of the Schrödinger equation. The methods are called multiderivative since uses derivatives of order two, four or six. Numerical application of the new obtained methods to the Schrödinger equation shows their efficiency compared with other similar well known methods of the literature.Active Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts