Fluorescence line narrowed spectra of Zn and metal-free cytochrome c

Fluorescence line narrowing (FLN) spectroscopy was used to study the role of the polypeptide chain in influencing the spectrum of Zn-substituted cytochrome c (Zn cyt c) and metal-free cyt c (porphyrin cyt c). For both derivatives the spectra show characteristics of relaxed fluorescence from an inhomogeneously broadened sample. Zero phonon lines and phonon wings can be clearly distinguished, and vibrational frequencies of the ground and excited states were identified. The inhomogeneous distribution width for porphyrin cyt c is slightly wider than that of Zn cyt c and a second population of molecules was apparent in the porphyrin cyt c. The phonon coupling was greater for Zn cyt c than for porphyrin cyt c, which may be due to the extra coupling to the polypeptide chain by metal ligation.This work has been done in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree.     

Quantum confinement in layer-by-layer deposited colloidal HgTe nanocrystals determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry

We report spectroscopic ellipsometry studies in the energy range of 0.5-5 eV on samples of 1-10 bilayers of polymer and HgTe nanocrystals, which exhibit strong transitions at higher critical points in the dispersion relation. We show that the dispersion relation for nanocrystals can be modelled with the same concepts for critical points as used in semiconductor bulk optics. We find an energy shift of up to 0.4 eV of the critical points to higher energies compared to the HgTe bulk properties, caused by quantum confinement in the nanocrystals, which increases with decreasing nanocrystal size.     

The Method of Virtual Experts in Mathematical Diagnostics

Mathematical Diagnostics (MD) deals with identification problems arising in different practical areas. Some of these problems can be described by mathematical models where it is required to identify points belonging to two or more sets of points. Most of the existing tools provide some identification rule (a classifier) by means of which a given point is assigned (attributed) to one of the given sets. Each classifier can be viewed as a virtual expert. If there exist several classifiers (experts), the problem of evaluation of experts’ conclusions arises. In the paper for the case of supervised classification the method of virtual experts (the VE-method) is described. Based on this method, a generalized VE method is proposed where each of the classifiers can be chosen from a given family of classifiers. As a result, a new optimization problem with a discontinuous functional is stated. Examples illustrating the proposed approach are provided. The work of the second author was supported by the Russian Foundation for Fundamental Studies (RFFI) under Grant No 03-01-00668.     

Synthesis and peptide-binding properties of a luminescent pyrimidine zinc(II) complex

The synthesis and peptide-binding properties of a Zn(II)nitrilotriacetate complex substituted with pyrimidine hydrazine amides are reported. The metal complex provides millimolar binding affinity in aqueous buffer to peptides bearing N-terminal His. The pyrimidine heterocycles intermolecularly interact with the bound peptide and quench the emission of nearby Trp residues by energy transfer.     

Excluded volume driven counterion condensation inside nanotubes in a concave electrical double layer model

The physical properties of organic nanotubes attract increasing attention due to their potential benefit in technology, biology and medicine. We study the effect of ion size on the electrical properties of cylindrical nanotubes filled with electrolyte solution within a modified Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) approach. For comparison purposes, small hollow nanospheres filled with electrolyte solution are considered. The finite size of the particles in the inner electrolyte solution is described by the excluded volume effect within a lattice statistics approach. We found that an increased ion size reduces the number of counterions near the charged inner surface of the nanotube, leading to an enlarged electrostatic surface potential. The concentration of counterions close to the inner surface saturates for higher surface charge densities and larger ions. In the case of saturation, the closest counterion packing is achieved, all lattice sites near the surface are occupied and an actual counterion condensation is observed. By contrast, the counterion concentration at the axis of the nanotube steadily increases with increasing surface charge density. This growth is more pronounced for smaller nanotube radii and larger ions. At larger nanotube radii for small ion size counterion condensation may also be observed according to the Tsao criterion, i.e. the counterion concentration at the centre is independent of the number of counterions in the system. With decreasing radius the Tsao condensation effect is shifted towards physiologically unrealistic surface charge densities.     

Dialkyldithiocarbamate als Reagentien zur gas-chromatographischen Bestimmung von Metallen

Zusammenfassung Kleine Mengen Ni, Cu und Zn in wäßrigen Lösungen können nach Ausschütteln ihrer Dipropyldithiocarbamatochelate gas-chromatographisch bestimmt werden. Arbeitsbedingungen für den 0,01–1 ppm-Bereich werden angegeben. Die Reproduzierbarkeit der Bestimmung wird durch Zusatz eines inneren Standards verbessert.

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Dialkyldithiocarbamates as reagents for the gas-chromatographic determination of metalsII. Determination of zinc, copper and nickel as dipropyldithiocarbamato chelates after extraction from aqueous solution

Summary Small amounts of Ni, Cu and Zn in aqueous solutions can be determined by gas chromatography after extraction of their dipropyldithiocarbamatochelates. Working details for the 0.01–1 ppm range are reported. Reproducibility is markedly improved by addition of an inner standard.

Die Untersuchungen wurden in dankenswerter Weise durch Mittel der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft und des Verbands der chemischen Industrie unterstützt.     

Impedance study of Ni–Co electro-deposition on Fe powder particles in fluidised bed systems

The electrochemical impedance method was applied during the electrochemical deposition of a binary Ni–Co coating on iron powder in a fluidised bed electrode system. The influence of the suspension density on the charge transfer in the course of the electro-deposition process was studied. At a potential of −900 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl/3 M KCl), when the binary Ni–Co layer was formed, the impedance data were characterised by two semicircles with the semicircle at high frequencies being larger in magnitude. A contribution of the diffusion process to the overall current was observed. The optimal suspension density for the charge transfer in the bed was 10×10⁻³–15×10⁻³ (i.e., 4–6 g of iron powder in 50 ml of electrolyte). The most probable mechanism of the charge transfer for the studied concentrations of powder particles is the convective mechanism. The iron particles dispersed in the electrolyte were considered to act as either a depolariser or an additional working electrode depending on the applied electrode potential and on the suspension density.     

Activation of gold on titania: adsorption and reaction of SO(2) on Au/TiO(2)(110)

Synchrotron-based high-resolution photoemission and first-principles density-functional slab calculations were used to study the interaction of gold with titania and the chemistry of SO(2) on Au/TiO(2)(110) surfaces. The deposition of Au nanoparticles on TiO(2)(110) produces a system with an extraordinary ability to adsorb and dissociate SO(2). In this respect, Au/TiO(2) is much more chemically active than metallic gold or stoichiometric titania. On Au(111) and rough polycrystalline surfaces of gold, SO(2) bonds weakly and desorbs intact at temperatures below 200 K. For the adsorption of SO(2) on TiO(2)(110) at 300 K, SO(4) is the only product (SO(2) + O(oxide) --> SO(4,ads)). In contrast, Au/TiO(2)(110) surfaces (theta;(Au) < or = 0.5 ML) fully dissociate the SO(2) molecule under identical reaction conditions. Interactions with titania electronically perturb gold, making it more chemically active. Furthermore, our experimental and theoretical results show quite clearly that not only gold is perturbed when gold and titania interact. The adsorbed gold, on its part, enhances the reactivity of titania by facilitating the migration of O vacancies from the bulk to the surface of the oxide. In general, the complex coupling of these phenomena must be taken into consideration when trying to explain the unusual chemical and catalytic activity of Au/TiO(2). In many situations, the oxide support can be much more than a simple spectator.     

Heterogeneous molecular distribution in supported multicomponent lipid bilayers

Membrane domains contribute important structural and functional attributes to biological membranes. We describe the heterogeneous nanoscale distribution of lipid molecules within microscale membrane domains in multicomponent lipid bilayers composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC), and cholesterol (chol). The lipids were labeled with the fluorescent lipid analogues Bodipy-PC and DiI-C20:0 to identify the distribution of individual membrane components. We used a near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) at room temperature to identify the nanoscale structures in the membrane. Simultaneous multicolor NSOM imaging at the emission maxima of the fluorescent analogues revealed a patchy distribution of Bodipy-PC and DiI-C20:0 indicative of phase separations in the bilayer. In a cholesterol-free system (DPPC/DLPC = 1:1), NSOM images proved that the two phosphatidylcholine molecules can coexist in domains at the micrometer level but form nanoscopic patches within the domains; DPPC occurs at the edge of the domains, whereas DLPC is present throughout the domains. In the presence of cholesterol (DPPC/DLPC = 7:3, chol = 18.9%), the two lipid molecules were more miscible but incomplete phase separations also occurred. The average domain sizes were 140-200 nm, well below the resolution capabilities of diffraction-limited light microscopy techniques; the domains were unresolvable by confocal microscopy. Our high-resolution NSOM studies of membrane domain behavior provide a better understanding of complex membrane phase phenomena in multicomponent biological membranes.     

Electroactivity of Nonconjugated Proteins and Peptides. Towards Electroanalysis of All Proteins

Present proteomics and biomedicine require sensitive analytical methods for all proteins. Recent progress in electrochemical analysis of peptides and proteins based on their intrinsic electroactivity is reviewed. Tyrosine and/or tryptophan‐containing proteins are oxidizable at carbon electrodes. At mercury electrodes all peptides and proteins (about 13 peptides and >25 proteins were tested) produce chronopotentiometric peak H at nanomolar concentrations. This peak is sensitive to changes in protein structure. Microliter sample volumes are sufficient for the analysis. Electrochemical methods can be used in studies of nucleic acid‐protein interactions and can be applied in biomedicine. Examples of such applications in neurogenerative diseases and cancer are presented.