Structural features of the L-argininamide-binding DNA aptamer studied with ESI-FTMS

The 24-mer DNA aptamer of Harada and Frankel ( Harada, K.; Frankel, A. D. EMBO J. 1995, 14, 5798-5811) that binds L-argininamide (L-Arm) was studied by electrospray ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry (ESI-FTMS). This DNA folds into a stem and loop such that the loop is able to engulf L-Arm. As controls, two derivatives of the same base composition, one with the same stem but a scrambled loop and the other with no ability to form a secondary structure, were studied. The two DNAs that could fold into stem-loop structures showed a more negatively charged distribution of ions than the linear control. This tendency was preserved in the presence of ligand; complexes expected to have more secondary structure had ions with more negative charges. Distinct species corresponding to no, one, and two bound L-Arm molecules were observed for each DNA. The fractional peak intensities were fit to a straightforward binding model and binding constants were obtained. Thus, ESI-FTMS can provide both qualitative and quantitative data regarding the structure of DNA and its interactions with noncovalent ligands.

Biochemical properties of C78SC96S rhFGF-2: A double point-mutated rhFGF-2 increases obviously its activity

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) is a multifunctional polypeptide that affects many cellular functions and phenomena. The wild-type recombinant human fibroblast growth factor rhFGF-2(W) and the mutant C78SC96S rhFGF-2(M) were expressed in Escherichia coli and their products were purified. The results by the means of fluorescence spectroscopy and CD spectrums, suggested that due to its decreased hydrophobicity rhFGF-2 is not deposited as an inclusion body. The mitogenic activity of the expressed rhFGF-2(M) on 3T3 fibroblasts was shown to be 10-fold more than the expressed rhFGF-2(W) of which the biological activity was a little less than that of the standard rhbFGF(W), indicating that the increased biological activity was due to the change of its secondary structure, dimerization and affinity binding to FGF receptor (FGFR).

Miscibility and crystallization behavior of PBT/epoxy blends

The miscibility and the isothermal crystallization kinetics for PBT/Epoxy blends have been studied by using differential scanning calorimetry, and several kinetic analyses have been used to describe the crystallization process. The Avrami exponents n were obtained for PBT/Epoxy blends. An addition of small amount of epoxy resin (3%) leads to an increase in the number of effective nuclei, thus resulting in an increase in crystallization rate and a stronger trend of instantaneous three-dimensional growth. For isothermal crystallization, crystallization parameter analysis showed that epoxy particles could act as effective nucleating agents, accelerating the crystallization of PBT component in the PBT/Epoxy blends. The Lauritzen-Hoffman equation for DSC isothermal crystallization data revealed that PBT/Epoxy 97/3 had lower nucleation constant K, than 100/0, 93/7, and 90/10 PBT/Epoxy blends. Analysis of the crystallization data of PBT/Epoxy blends showed that crystallization occurs in regime II. The fold surface free energy, sigma(e) = 101.7-58.0 x 10(-3) J/m(2), and work of chain folding, q = 5.79-3.30 kcal/mol, were determined. The equilibrium melting point depressions of PBT/Epoxy blends were observed and the Flory-Huggins interaction parameters were obtained.

超细Mo-Co-K催化剂的制备及其选区电子衍射表征

中国科学院山西煤炭化学研究所

Isothermal and nonisothermal melt-crystallization kinetics of syndiotactic polystyrene

Analyses of the isothermal and nonisothermal melt kinetics for syndiotactic polystyrene have been performed with differential scanning calorimetry, and several kinetic analyses have been used to describe the crystallization process. The regime II-->III transition, at a crystallization temperature of 239degrees, is found. The values of the nucleation parameter K-g for regimes II and III are estimated. The lateral-surface free energy, sigma = 3.24 erg cm(-2), the fold-surface free energy, sigma(e) = 52.3 +/- 4.2 erg cm(-2), and the average work of chain folding, q = 4.49 +/- 0.38 kcal/mol, are determined with the (040) plane assumed to be the growth plane. The observed crystallization characteristics of syndiotactic polystyrene are compared with those of isotactic polystyrene. The activation energies of isothermal and nonisothermal melt crystallization are determined to be DeltaE = -830.7 kJ/mol and DeltaE = -315.9 kJ/mol, respectively.

Single-crystal X-ray structure and properties of K-10[Ni-4(H2O)(2)(AsW9O34)(2)]center dot 4H(2)O

The rational synthesis and the structural and magnetic characterization of a nickel cluster are presented. The compound comprises a rhomblike Ni4O16 group encapsulated between two-heptadentate tungstoarsenate ligands [AsW9O34](9-). The crystal structure of K-10[Ni-4(H2O)(2)(AsW9O34)(2)](.)4H(2)O was solved in monoclinic, P2(1)/n symmetry, with a = 12.258(3) Angstrom, b = 21.232(4) Angstrom, c = 15.837(3) Angstrom, beta = 92.05(3)degrees, V = 4119.1(14) Angstrom(3), Z = 2, and R = 0.0862. The crystal structure of the Ni(II) derivative was compared with that of the Cu(II), Zn(II), Co(II) and Mn(II) derivatives. The Ni4O14(H2O)(2) unit in the compound shows no Jahn-Teller distortion. On the other hand, the Ni(II) derivative shows ferromagnetic exchange interactions within the Ni4O16 group (J = 7.8 cm(-1), J' = 13.7 cm(-1)) and an S = 4 ground state, the highest spin state reported in a heteropoly complex. Its redox electrochemistry has been studied in acid buffer solutions using cyclic voltammetry. It exhibited two steps of one-electron redox waves attributed to redox processes of the tungsten-oxo framework. The new catalyst showed an electrocatalytic effect on the reduction of NO2-.

Enzymatic and kinetic properties of selenium-containing catalytic antibody with cGPX activity

Three selenium-containing catalytic antibodies mHB4, mHB5 and mHB7 which acted as mimics of cytosolic glutathione peroxidase(cGPX), were prepared by chemically introducing selenium into monoclonal antibodies HB4, HB5 and HB7. HB4. HB5 and HB7 were raised against a GSH derivative GSH-S-DNP dibenzyl ester, The cGPX activity of mHB4, mHB5, mHB7 were 170, 1 867, 32 U/mu mol, respectively. The cGPX activity of mHB5 was 0, 32 fold of natural rabbit liver cGPX and 1. 51 fold of m4A4. About two atoms of selenium existed in each of mHB5 molecule determined by inductively-coupled plasma/mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS), The optimal activity of mHB5 was at between pH 8. 4 and 8, 8, The reaction catalyzed by mHB5 involved a Ping-Pong mechanism. At pH 7. 0 and 37 degreesC, the apparent second-order rate constants for reaction of mHB5 with H2O2 and t-ROOH were as followed: k(+1) (H2O2) = 9. 71 x 10(6) L/(mol min), k(+1)(t-ROOH) = 5. 99 x 10(5) L/(mol.min). Rate accelerations (k(cat)/K-m/k(uncat)) 9. 8 x 10(6) and 3.7 x 10(5) fold those of the uncatalytic reaction were observed.

The mild hydrothermal synthesis of complex fluorides of AZnF(3) (A = Na, K)

The complex fluorides of AZnF(3) (A = Na, K), which are isostructural with perovskite phases were obtained by the method of hydrothermal synthesis at 160-220 degrees C. Compared with traditional high-temperature solid-state method, the products were pure and contained lower amount of oxygen.

TG-DTA properties of new nonlinear optical materials: K(2)Ln(NO3)(5)center dot 2H(2)O (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm)

Single crystals of K(2)Ln(NO3)(5). 2H(2)O (KLnN) (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) were grown from aqueous solution. The thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis curves of KLnN demonstrate that the processes of dehydration, melting, irreversible phase transformation and decomposition of NO3- take place in sequence in the heating processes (except KCN). There are three stages in the decomposition of NO3- in KLnN (Ln = La, Nd, Sm) while two in KLnN (Ln = Ce, Pr). K(2)Ln(NO3)(5) is formed at about 225 degrees C by the reaction of KNO3 and Ln(NO3)(3). nH(2)O (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.