Flotation of calcareous Mussorie phosphate ore

Separation of Mussorie rock phosphate (P2O5 = 20%) from Uttar Pradesh, India, containing pyrite, calcite and other carbonaceous impurities by flotation has been successfully attempted to upgrade the phosphate values. Based on Hallimond cell flotation results of single and synthetic mineral mixtures of calcite and apatite using oleic acid and potassium phosphate, conditions were obtained for the separation of calcite from apatite which is considered to be the most difficult step in the beneficiation of calcareous phosphates. Further studies using 250 g of the mineral (−60 +150 and −150 mesh fractions, deslimed) in laboratory size Fagergren subaeration machine employed a stagewise flotation viz. carbonaceous materials using terpineol, pyrite using potassium-ethyl xanthate and calcite using oleic acid respectively. Separation was, however, found to be unsatisfactory in the absence of a depressant. Among starch, hydrofluosilicic acid and dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, which were tried as depressants for apatite in the final flotation stage, dipotassium hydrogen phosphate proved to be superior to others. However, the tests with the above fractions did not yield the required grade. This was possibly due to insufficient liberation of the phosphate mineral from the ore body and different experimental conditions due to scale up operations. Experiments conducted using −200 mesh deslimed fractions has yielded an acceptable grade of 27.6% P2O5 with a recovery of about 60%. The results have been explained in terms of the specific adsorption characteristics of phosphate ions on apatite and the liberation size of the mineral.

Sequence dependence and role of 5'-phosphate in the B to Z transition

Spectroscopic studies on pd(CG)3 and pd(GC)3 have been carried out to elucidate the sequence dependence and effect of free 5'-phosphate on the B to Z transition. Unlike d(CG)3, pd(CG)3 fails to undergo salt-induced B to Z transition at ambient temperature. Model building studies have been carried out to determine the inhibitory role of the 5'-phosphate group, but have been unsuccessful.

Pyrolysis and combustion of alpha-cellulose: effect of dihydrazinium phosphate (N2H5)2HPO4

A strip of Whatman filter paper (α-cellulose) dipped in an aqueous solution of dihydrazinium phosphate, (N2H5)2HPO4(DHP), and dried, carbonized without flame when ignited. The observed flame retardancy of DHP on α-cellulose has been studied using TG, DTA and mass spectrometry. Dihydrazinium phosphate appears to catalyze the dehydration of α-cellulose, minimizing the depolymerization which produces flammable tars, with the formation of water and char. Flame retardancy of DHP is compared with that of diammonium phosphate and phosphoric acid.

Novel role of the nitrite transporter NirC in Salmonella pathogenesis: SPI2-dependent suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in activated macrophages

Activation of macrophages by interferon gamma (IFN- ) and the subsequent production of nitric oxide (NO) are critical for the host defence against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection. We report here the inhibition of IFN- -induced NO production in RAW264.7 macrophages infected with wild-type Salmonella. This phenomenon was shown to be dependent on the nirC gene, which encodes a potential nitrite transporter. We observed a higher NO output from IFN- -treated macrophages infected with a nirC mutant of Salmonella. The nirC mutant also showed significantly decreased intracellular proliferation in a NO-dependent manner in activated RAW264.7 macrophages and in liver, spleen and secondary lymph nodes of mice, which was restored by complementing the gene in trans. Under acidified nitrite stress, a twofold more pronounced NO-mediated repression of SPI2 was observed in the nirC knockout strain compared to the wild-type. This enhanced SPI2 repression in the nirC knockout led to a higher level of STAT-1 phosphorylation and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression than seen with the wild-type strain. In iNOS knockout mice, the organ load of the nirC knockout strain was similar to that of the wild-type strain, indicating that the mutant is exclusively sensitive to the host nitrosative stress. Taken together, these results reveal that intracellular Salmonella evade killing in activated macrophages by downregulating IFN- -induced NO production, and they highlight the critical role of nirC as a virulence gene.

Mechanistic studies on the action of ammonium phosphate on polymer fire retardancy

The mechanism of fire retardant action of mono- and diammonium phosphates on polystyrene has been investigated. Ignition delay and mass burning rate studies reveal that the phosphates bring down both parameters considerably though to different extents. This has been adequately explained on the basis of the existing combustion models and physicochemical behavior of the material. Similar to their action on cellulosic materials, phosphates bring about fire retardancy in polystyrene via char formation. This is suggested to occur through a series of processes consisting of initial peroxide formation, decomposition to alcohols and aldehydes, formation of alkyl-phosphate esters, dehydration and subsequent char formation. Infrared and mass spectral studies support this mechanism.

Structure of disodium guanosine 5'-phosphate heptahydrate

Abstract is not available.

Toxicity in Cuscuta reflexa Sucrose Content Decreases In Shoot Tips Upon Trehalose Feeding Trehalose

Trehalose, an {alpha},{alpha}-diglucoside, induced a rapid blackening and death of shoot tips of Cuscuta reflexa (dodder) cultured in vitro. The onset of toxic symptom was delayed if any of the several sugars which support the in vitro growth of Cuscuta was supplied with trehalose. The rate of trehalose uptake or its accumulation in the tissue was not affected by sugar cofeeding. The levels of total and reducing sugars declined appreciably in the trehalose-fed shoot tip explants compared to control tissue cultured in absence of a carbon source. This was not due to an increased rate of respiration of the trehalose-treated tissue. In shoot tips cultured in presence of both trehalose and sucrose, the decline in total and reducing sugars was curtailed. There was a marked fall in the level of sucrose; and invertase activity was higher in trehalose-fed shoot tips. The incorporation of label from [14C]glucose into sucrose in the shoot tip explant was reduced as early as 12 h of trehalose feeding. The results suggest that increased utilization of sucrose as well as an inhibition of its synthesis contribute to the drastic fall in the sucrose content upon trehalose feeding

Molecular and crystal structure of deoxyguanosine 5'-phosphate

RECENT crystallographic studies of the dinucleosides ApU (ref. 1) and GpC (ref. 2) have given experimental proof for the base pairing arrangement proposed by Watson and Crick for the DNA double helix3. Another striking feature of this structure relates to the torsional angle about the C5'-C4' bond in the phosphate−sugar backbone chain. In the Crick and Watson model4, this conformation is gauche−trans (GT). Crystal structures of 5'-nucleotides, dinucleosides and dinucleotides so far studied, however, have shown only the gauche−gauche (GG) conformation about this bond. The GG conformer is also the only one found in the refined models of the proposed structure of the double helical nucleic acids and polynucleotides5−7. The only nucleotide with a GT conformation is 6-azauridine-5'-phosphate8 which is not a normal monomer unit of nucleic acids. It is also reported that 5'-dGMP assumes preferentially GT conformation in solution9.

The structure of the monobarium salt of glucose 6-phosphate heptahydrate

C6H11o9P2-.Ba2+.7H2o, M, = 521.5, is monoclinic, space group P21, a = 11.881 (4), b = 8.616 (5), c = 8.350 (4) A,B = 102.95 (3)0, Z = 2, U = 833.0 A 3, d m = 2.09, d c = 2.08 Mg m -3, F(000) = 516. Mo Ka (u = 0.034 mm -1) intensity data. R is 0.068 for 1603 reflections. Of the two endocyclic C-O bonds in the glucose ring, C(5)-O(5) [1.463 (23)] is longer than C(1)-O(5) [1.395 (23)A]. The pyranose sugar ring takes a 4C1 chair conformation. The Cremer-Pople puckering parameters are, 0 = 6.69 o, Q = 0.619 A and 0 = 263.7o. The conformation about the exocyclic C(5)-C(6) bond is gauche-gauche, in contrast to gauche-trans observed in the structure of glucose 1-phosphate. The phosphate ester bond, P-O(6), is 1.61 (1)A. It is similar in length to the 'high-energy' P~O bond in phosphoenolpyruvate. The Ba 2÷ ion is surrounded by nine O atoms within a distance of 2.95 A, of which seven are from water molecules. There is an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the sugar hydroxyl 0(4) and phosphate oxygen O(12).

Molecular and crystal structure of deoxyguanosine 5'-phosphate

RECENT crystallographic studies of the dinucleosides ApU (ref. 1) and GpC (ref. 2) have given experimental proof for the base pairing arrangement proposed by Watson and Crick for the DNA double helix3. Another striking feature of this structure relates to the torsional angle about the C5'-C4' bond in the phosphate−sugar backbone chain. In the Crick and Watson model4, this conformation is gauche−trans (GT). Crystal structures of 5'-nucleotides, dinucleosides and dinucleotides so far studied, however, have shown only the gauche−gauche (GG) conformation about this bond. The GG conformer is also the only one found in the refined models of the proposed structure of the double helical nucleic acids and polynucleotides5−7. The only nucleotide with a GT conformation is 6-azauridine-5'-phosphate8 which is not a normal monomer unit of nucleic acids. It is also reported that 5'-dGMP assumes preferentially GT conformation in solution9.

An uncommon nucleotide conformation shown by molecular structure of deoxyuridine-5-phosphate and nucleic acid stereochemistry

CRYSTAL structure determinations of nucleic acid fragments have shown that several of the conformational features found in the monomeric building blocks are also manifested at the nucleic acid level. Stereochemical variations between thymine and uracil nucleotides are therefore of interest as they can provide a structural basis for some of the differences between the conformations of DNA and RNA. X-ray studies have so far not shown any major dissimilarities between these two nucleotide species although the sugar ring of deoxyribonucleotides is found to possess greater flexibility than that in ribonucleotides. We report here the molecular structure of deoxyuridine-5'-phosphate (dUMP-5') which is not a common monomer unit of DNAs as it is replaced by its 5-methyl analogue deoxythymidine-5'-phosphate (dTMP-5'). The investigation was undertaken to help determine whether or not this implied a fundamental difference between the geometries of these two molecules.

Neutron-diffraction study of structure and conformation of nucleotide uridine-5 phosphate (disodium salt)

Acta Crystallographica Section A: Foundations of Crystallography covers theoretical and fundamental aspects of the structure of matter. The journal is the prime forum for research in diffraction physics and the theory of crystallographic structure determination by diffraction methods using X-rays, neutrons and electrons. The structures include periodic and aperiodic crystals, and non-periodic disordered materials, and the corresponding Bragg, satellite and diffuse scattering, thermal motion and symmetry aspects. Spatial resolutions range from the subatomic domain in charge-density studies to nanodimensional imperfections such as dislocations and twin walls. The chemistry encompasses metals, alloys, and inorganic, organic and biological materials. Structure prediction and properties such as the theory of phase transformations are also covered.

Putrescine-Sensitive (Artifactual) and Insensitive (Biosynthetic) S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine Decarboxylase Activities of Lathyrus sativus Seedlings

The crude extracts of 3-day-old etiolated seedlings of Lathyrus sativus contained two S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase activities. The artifactual putrescine-dependent activity was due to the H2O2 generated by diamine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.6) of this plant system and was inhibited by catalase. This observation was confirmed by using an electrophoretically and immunologically homogeneous preparation of L. sativus diamine oxidase. In the presence of putrescine, diamine oxidase, in addition to S-adenosylmethionine, decarboxylated L-lysine, L-arginine, L-ornithine, L-methionine and L-glutamic acid to varying degrees. The decarboxylation was not metal-ion dependent. The biosynthetic S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.21) was detected after removing diamine oxidase specifically from the crude extracts by employing an immunoaffinity column. This Mg2+ -dependent decarboxylase was not stimulated by putrescine or inhibited by catalase. The enzyme activity was inhibited by semicarbazide, 4-bromo-3-hydroxybenzoylamine dihydrogen phosphate and methylglyoxal-bis (guanylhydrazone). It was largely localized in the shoots of the etiolated seedlings and was purified 40-fold by employing a p-hydroxymercuribenzoate/AH-Sepharose affinity column, which also separated the decarboxylase activity from spermidine synthase.

Structure of disodium deoxyuridine 5'-phosphate pentahydrate

Disodium deoxyuridine 5'-nhosDhate pentahvdrate, Na2(C9H l INEOsP). 5 H20, Call 11N208 P2-. 2Na +. 5 H20, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2: with a = 7.250 (4), b = 35.45 (2), c = 7.132 (4)/~, fl = 102.2 (4) °, Z = 4. The Cu Ka intensity data were collected photographically and estimated visually. The structure was obtained by the minimum-function method and difference syntheses and refined to an R of 0.089. In both molecules the uracil base has an anti conformation (2cN = 57.1 and 59.9 °) with respect to the sugar. The deoxyribose moiety of molecule B shows a typical C(l')-exo puckering, with C(I') displaced by 0.52 /k from the best plane. The furanose ring conformation of molecule A can be described as C(2')-endo,C(l')-exo. Both the molecules have an unusual trans-gauche conformation about the exocyclic C(4')-C(5') bond with (~0oo = 171.1, 172.2°; ~0oc = -64.7, -65.9°).

Solution NMR studies of acetohydroxy acid synthase I: Identification of the sites of inter-subunit interactions using multidimensional NMR methods

The novel multidomain organization in the multimeric Escherichia coli AHAS I (ilvBN) enzyme has been dissected to generate polypeptide fragments. These fragments when cloned, expressed and purified reassemble in the presence of cofactors to yield a catalytically competent enzyme. Structural characterization of AHAS has been impeded due to the fact that the holoenzyme is prone to dissociation leading to heterogeneity in samples. Our approach has enabled the structural characterization using high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance methods. Near complete sequence specific NMR assignments for backbone H-N, N-15, C-13 alpha and C-13(beta) atoms of the FAD binding domain of ilvB have been obtained on samples isotopically enriched in H-2, C-13 and N-15. The secondary structure determined on the basis of observed C-13(alpha) secondary chemical shifts and sequential NOEs indicates that the secondary structure of the FAD binding domain of E. coli AHAS large Subunit (ilvB) is similar to the structure of this domain in the catalytic subunit of yeast AHAS. Protein-protein interactions involving the regulatory subunit (ilvN) and the domains of the catalytic subunit (ilvB) were studied using circular dichroic and isotope edited solution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic methods. Observed changes in circular dichroic spectra indicate that the regulatory subunit (ilvN) interacts with ilvB alpha and ilvB beta domains of the catalytic subunit and not with the ilvB gamma domain. NMR chemical shift mapping methods show that ilvN binds close to the FAD binding site in ilvB beta and proximal to the intrasubunit ilvB alpha/ilvB beta domain interface. The implication of this interaction on the role of the regulatory subunit oil the activity of the holoenzyme is discussed. NMR studies of the regulatory domains show that these domains are structured in solution. Preliminary evidence for the interaction of ilvN with the metabolic end product of the pathway, viz., valine is also presented.