Formation and stabilization model of the 42-mer Abeta radical: implications for the long-lasting oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease

Amyloid fibrils mainly consist of 40-mer and 42-mer peptides (Abeta40, Abeta42). Abeta42 is believed to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease because its aggregative ability and neurotoxicity are considerably greater than those of Abeta40. The neurotoxicity of Abeta peptides involving the generation of free radicals is closely related to the S-oxidized radical cation of Met-35. However, the cation's origin and mechanism of stabilization remain unclear. Recently, structural models of fibrillar Abeta42 and Abeta40 based on systematic proline replacement have been proposed by our group [Morimoto, A.; et al. J. Biol. Chem. 2004, 279, 52781] and Wetzel's group [Williams, A. D.; et al. J. Mol. Biol. 2004, 335, 833], respectively. A major difference between these models is that our model of Abeta42 has a C-terminal beta-sheet region. Our biophysical study on Abeta42 using electron spin resonance (ESR) suggests that the S-oxidized radical cation of Met-35 could be generated by the reduction of the tyrosyl radical at Tyr-10 through a turn structure at positions 22 and 23, and stabilized by a C-terminal carboxylate anion through an intramolecular beta-sheet at positions 35-37 and 40-42 to form a C-terminal core that would lead to aggregation. A time-course analysis of the generation of radicals using ESR suggests that stabilization of the radicals by aggregation might be a main reason for the long-lasting oxidative stress of Abeta42. In contrast, the S-oxidized radical cation of Abeta40 is too short-lived to induce potent neurotoxicity because no such stabilization of radicals occurs in Abeta40.     

Multifunctional coupling agents for living cationic polymerization. IV. Synthesis of end-functionalized multiarmed poly(vinyl ethers) with multifunctional silyl enol ethers

Telechelic ( 8 ) and end-functionalized four-arm star polymers ( 9 ) were synthesized through the coupling reactions of end-functionalized living poly(isobutyl vinyl ether) ( 5; DP _n ～ 10) with the bi-and tetrafunctional silyl enol ethers, H_4-nC? [CH₂OC₆H₄C(OSiMe₃) = CH₂]_n ( 3: n = 2; 4: n = 4). The precursor polymers 5 were prepared by living cationic polymerization with functionalized initiators, CH₃CH(Cl)OCH₂CH₂X(6), in conjunction with zinc chloride in methylene chloride at ?15°C. The initiators 6 were obtained by the addition of hydrogen chloride gas to vinyl ethers bearing pendant functional groups X , including acetoxy [? OC(O)CH₃], styryl (? OCH₂C₆H₄-p-CH = CH₂), and methacryloyl [? OC(O)C(CH₃) = CH₂]. The coupling reactions with 3 and 4 in methylene chloride at ?15°C for 24 h afforded the end-functionalized multiarmed polymers ( 8 and 9 ) in high yield (>91%), where those with styryl or methacryloyl groups are new multifunctional macromonomers. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Photo‐capacitance spectroscopy investigation of deep‐level defects in AlGaN/GaN hetero‐structures with different current collapses

We have investigated electronic deep levels in two AlGaN/GaN hetero‐structures with different current collapses grown at 1150 and 1100 °C by a photo‐capacitance spectroscopy technique, using Schottky barrier diodes. Three specific deep levels located at ～2.07, ～2.80, and ～3.23 eV below the conduction band were found to be significantly enhanced for severe current collapse, being in reasonable agreement with photoluminescence and capacitance–voltage characteristics. These levels probably originate in Ga vacancies and residual C impurities and are probably responsible for the current collapse phenomena of the AlGaN/GaN hetero‐structures. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

High‐resolution solid‐state NMR study of the domain structure and molecular motion in drawn films of a vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene copolymer with 73 mol % vinylidene fluoride

The heterogeneous higher order structure and molecular motion in a single crystalline film of a vinylidene fluoride (VDF) and trifluoroethylene (TrFE) copolymer with 73 mol % VDF was investigated with the ¹H–¹³C cross‐polarization/magic‐angle spinning NMR technique. A transient oscillation was observed in plots of the ¹³C peak intensity versus the contact time for the CH₂, CHF, and CF₂ groups. On the basis of the extended cross‐relaxation theory of spin diffusion, we determined that the oscillation behavior was caused by the TrFE‐rich segments in the chain and that the crystal consisted of VDF‐rich and TrFE‐rich domains. The former had TrFE‐rich segments in VDF and TrFE fractions of 0.24 and 0.27, respectively, and the latter had VDF‐rich segments in a VDF fraction of 0.49. The spin–lattice relaxation time T_1ρH in the rotating frame for each group was minimal in the three temperature regions of β, α_b, and α_c (↑) on heating and in the two temperature regions of α_1D and α_c (↓) on cooling. The α_c (↑) and α_c (↓) processes depended on the first‐order ferroelectric phase‐transition regions on heating and cooling, respectively. The motional modes for the other processes were confirmed by the T_1ρH minimum behavior of the VDF and TrFE groups in the TrFE‐rich domain and the VDF‐rich segments in the VDF‐rich domain. The β and α_b processes were attributed to the flip–flop motion of the TrFE‐rich segments and the competitive motion of the TrFE‐ and VDF‐rich segments in the ferroelectric phase, respectively. The α_1D process was due to the one‐dimensional diffusion motion of the conformational defects along the chain in the paraelectric phase, accompanied by the trans and gauche transformation of the VDF conformers of ttg⁺tg^? and g⁺tg^?tt. The effect of the competitive motion of the TrFE‐rich segment on the thermal stability of the VDF‐rich segment in the chain near the Curie temperature was examined. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1026–1037, 2002     

Optical characteristics of one-dimensional photonic crystals composed of high-aspect-ratio Si walls fabricated on V-grooved wafer

We demonstrate optical properties of one-dimensional photonic crystals (PC), which are fabricated using high-aspect-ratio etching on a V-grooved silicon wafer. The measured transmission spectrum has an obvious band gap; the suppression is over 30 dB. The quite small insertion loss of 1.9 dB is achieved by induced coupled plasma (ICP) cryogenic etching and direct coupling to the optical fiber aligned in the V-groove. We also successfully observed peaks originating from a localized cavity mode. Such a microcavity enables control of the light, which qualifies photonic crystal as a fundamental structure of optical functional devices. These results lead to achievement of integrated Si-based photonic circuits.     

Stereoselective synthesis of vinylgermanes and their facile transformation into vinyl halides

Whereas iododegermylation of (Z)-1-triethylgermyl-1-dodecene gives (Z)-1-iodo-1-dodecene, bromodegermylation proves to give (E)-1-bromo-1-dodecene. Two general procedures for the preparation of vinylgermanes are also described.     

Hydroquinone oxidation catalyzed by pyridine–Cu(II) complexes attached to polyorganosiloxane. II. Elucidation of factors related to catalytic activity

The oxidation of hydroquinone catalyzed by pyridine-Cu(II) complexes attached to polyorganosiloxane was investigated in the mixed solvent of methanol/water (vol. ratio 2/1). The catalytic oxidation followed Michaelis-Menten-like kinetics. The large k₂ term related to a turnover number indicated that the present polymeric catalysts have a remarkable effect on the activation process. The methylene number between the side-chain acid amido and pyridyl groups of the polymeric ligand was shown to be closely related to the appearance of hydrophobic effects in both the substrate-binding and the activation processes as deduced from the Michaelis constant and the thermodynamic and activation parameters. The binding parameters for 4-methoxyphenol with pyridyl-functionalized polyorganosiloxanes supported that the flexible backbone is also effective in the oxidation of hydroquinone. The Cu(II) complexes with pyridyl-functionalized polyorganosiloxane would have the structures distorted from square planar formation, which would promote the reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I), as concluded from ESR spectroscopy and electrochemical measurement. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ferro-electric ceramics versus polymer piezoelectric materials

A wide variety of transducer shapes and applications exists in the field of diagnostic ultrasound. As a basic material ferro-electric ceramics are used almost exclusively, but polymer piezoelectric material seems a new alternative. By comparing in a qualitative way the most relevant parameters of these materials, a state of the art judgement may be made about their applicability in diagnostic ultrasound.