Biological resistance of chemically modified aspen composites

Aspen wood (Populus tremula L.) was chemically modified by a two-step procedure consisting of esterification with maleic anhydride (MA) and subsequent oligoesterification with MA and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) or allyl glycidyl ether (AGE). This chemical modification procedure was carried out on solid wood, veneers and sawdust. The modified wood showed thermoplastic properties and could be thermally formed by hot-pressing. As a result, solid wood and the veneer samples had smooth, glossy surfaces, while a plastic-like material was produced on thermally forming the modified sawdust. The biological resistance of chemically modified and thermally formed samples was assessed by determination of weight loss following exposure to a decay fungus in a laboratory test and by a weathering test. Modified samples exposed to the white rot Coriolus versicolor for 12 weeks in the laboratory were more resistant to decay, with weight losses significantly lower than for the corresponding control samples. Solvents and thermal treatments employed in the chemical modification process had no significant effect on decay resistance of Aspen veneers. However, hot-pressing significantly improved decay resistance in unmodified wood samples by limiting hyphal colonisation of the wood structure. A microscopic comparison of chemically modified and unmodified wood samples was conducted to examine extent of fungal colonisation and decay. Chemical modification was also shown to enhance the weathering resistance of aspen wood to discoloration and surface erosion by UV and rainwater and to stain from mould fungi.     

Preparation and characterization of a chemically modified plastocyanin.

The reaction of plastocyanin with tetranitromethane results in the nitration of only one of the three tyrosyl residues present in the protein. The modification does not affect the blue copper chromophore as both the characteristic visible spectrum of the chromophore and the redox potential of the protein are unchanged. Photochemical assays show that the modified plastocyanin is fully active in the reduction of photooxidized P700 and in the photooxidation of cytochrome f. The pK of the nitro-tyrosyl residue is about 7.3 indicating that the modified residue may be located in a negatively charged environment. Examination of the recently published X-ray structure of poplar plastocyanin suggests that Tyr-80 would be a likely candidate for the site of modification.     

Biological effects of human gastrin I and II chemically modified at the C-terminal tetrapeptide amide.

Binding to gastrin receptors and gastric acid secretion experiments were performed with gastrin derivatives modified at the C-terminal tetrapeptide amide from HG-13 sequence. 1. When the ultimate phenylalanine amide was replaced by a phenethylester or a phenetylamide moiety, the resulting compound bound to gastrin receptors (Kd approximately 10 nM) and exhibited antagonist activity on gastrin-induced acid secretion in the anesthetized rat. 2. Changing the peptide bond between Trp and Leu residues to a -omega(CH2-NH)- bond resulted in a compound which also bound to gastrin receptors (Kd approximately 10 nM) but presented agonist activity on acid secretion in the rat. In contrast, when the peptide bond between Leu and Asp residues was replaced by a -omega(CH2-NH)- bond, the resulting compound was devoid of any affinity for gastrin receptor (Kd greater than 10(-6) M) and of any biological activity. 3. The HG-13 derivatives were synthesized in sulfated and unsulfated forms: O-sulfation of the HG-13 tyrosine residue did not change its intrinsic in vivo activity but enhanced its affinity for gastrin receptors (Kd approximately 0.3 nM). On the contrary, O-sulfation of the various chemically modified HG-13 had no significant effect in either in vitro or in vivo experiments. 4. Finally, no significant difference between binding on parietal (F3) and nonparietal (F1) cells was observed, in agreement with the presence of a gastrin-type receptor in these two cell populations.     

Quality of chemically modified hemp fibers

Hemp fibers are very interesting natural material for textile and technical applications now. Applying hemp fibers to the apparel sector requires improved quality fibers. In this paper, hemp fibers were modified with sodium hydroxide solutions (5% and 18% w/v), at room and boiling temperature, for different periods of time, and both under tension and slack, in order to partially extract noncellulosic substances, and separate the fiber bundles. The quality of hemp fibers was characterised by determining their chemical composition, fineness, mechanical and sorption properties. The modified hemp fibers were finer, with lower content of lignin, increased flexibility, and in some cases tensile properties were improved. An original method for evaluation of tensile properties of hemp fibers was developed.     

Anti-inflammatory effect of chemically modified chitin

Anti-inflammatory effects of the three types of chitin derivatives namely phosphated chitin (P-chitin), phosphated–sulfated chitin (PS-chitin), and sulfated chitin (S-chitin) were investigated using a canine model of chitosan-induced pneumonia. After simultaneous administration of chitosan with or without each chitin derivative (chitosan alone: n=6, chitosan and P-chitin: n=6, chitosan and PS-chitin: n=1, and chitosan and S-chitin: n=3), hematological examination and X-ray image processing were performed for up to 24 h. Then the lungs were recovered and were evaluated by softex imaging after inflation and fixation. The hematological findings showed that PS-chitin and S-chitin did not prevent the decrease in white blood cell (WBC) count as seen in dogs administered chitosan, while P-chitin prevented such decrease in WBC count. The surface of the inflated and fixed lung specimens was hemorrhagic in the PS- and S-chitin groups as well as in the chitosan group, while the lung looked like normal in the P-chitin group. The pulmonary blood vessels of the chitosan group showed severe change while the P-chitin group showed no changes with softex findings. Furthermore, the pattern of histogram density obtained with image processing of thoracic X-ray in P-chitin group did not change among pre and post administration while chitosan group showed rightward movement and significant changes on parameters. The cause of which is attribured to an attenuation of X-ray permeability by angiectasis of the lung.     

Reversible immobilization of chemically modified pullulanase

Summary Pullulanase was provided with up to nine de novo thiol groups through a two-step procedure without substantially affecting its enzymatic activity. The chemically modified enzyme was immobilized via disulfide bond formation on two kinds of thiolreactive gels (pyridyldisulfide- and thiolsulfonate-substituted agarose). Thiolation of pullulanase improved both the immobilization yield and the apparent specific activity of the derivatives.     

Heparinase II from Flavobacterium heparinum. HPLC analysis of the saccharides generated from chemically modified heparins.

Saccharides produced by the action of heparinase II on native pig mucosal heparin (heparin IS), de-N-sulphated heparin (heparin IH), N-acetylheparin (heparin IA), de-N/O-sulphated heparin (heparin IVH), de-O-sulphated heparin (heparin IVS) and de-O-sulphated N-acetylheparin (heparin IVA) were analysed by reversed-phase HPLC using Spherisorb ODS2. Fractions obtained by gel filtration with Bio-Gel P-4 were similarly examined. Heparin IS gave delta UA-2S----GlcNS-6S (IS) as the major unsaturated disaccharide and lesser amounts of delta UA----GlcNS-6S (IIS), delta UA-2S----GlcNS (IIIS), delta UA----GlcNS (IVS), delta UA-2S----GlcNAc-6S (IA), delta UA----GlcNAc-6S (IIA), delta UA-2S----GlcNAc (IIIA) and delta UA----GlcNAc (IVA). Heparins IA, IVA and IVS gave as the predominant unsaturated disaccharide that corresponding to the major repeat structure of the polymer. These were respectively delta UA-2S----GlcNAc-6S (IA), delta UA-GlcNAc (IVA) and delta UA----GlcNS (IVS). Minor disaccharides from the heterogeneous structure in native pig heparin and from residual O-sulphates after the de-O-sulphating process were detected. Heparin IH was degraded more slowly than any of the N-substituted heparins. The predominant unsaturated disaccharide was IH, which was derived from the major repeating unit. In addition, disaccharides IIH, IIIH, IA, IIA and IVA were detected. Heparin IVH showed little degradation, the unsaturated disaccharide IVH not being detected after 24 h. Disaccharide IVA was obtained from the heterogeneous sequence in heparin IVH. Several higher oligosaccharides were identified in the gel-filtration fractions including saccharides from the linkage region (for heparin IS and IVA) and the anti-thrombin binding site (for heparin IS only). A tetrasaccharide and hexasaccharide, with the structures delta UA----GlcNAc----UA----GlcNAc and delta UA----GlcNAc----UA----GlcNAc----UA----GlcNAc, were present in the HPLC profiles of heparins IA and IVA.     

Melittin and a chemically modified trichotoxin form alamethicin-type multi-state pores

The bee venom constituent, melittin, is structurally and functionally related to alamethicin. By forming solvent-free planar bilayers of small area (approx. 100 microns 2) on the tip of fire-polished glass pipettes we could observe single melittin pores in these membranes. An increase in the applied voltage induced further non-integral conductance levels. This indicates that melittin forms multi-level pores similar to those formed by alamethicin. Trichotoxin A40, an antibiotic analogue of alamethicin, also induces a voltage-dependent bilayer conductivity, but no stable pore states are resolved. However, chemical modification of the C-terminal molecule part by introduction of a dansyl group leads to a steeper voltage-dependence and pore state stabilization. Comparing structure and activity of several natural and synthetic amphiphilic polypeptides, we conclude that a lipophilic, N-terminal alpha-helical part of adequate length (dipole moment) and a large enough hydrophilic, C-terminal region are sufficient prerequisites for voltage-dependent formation of multi-state pores.     

Spectroscopic studies of chemically modified synthetic melanins

The infrared and electron spin resonance spectra of synthetic 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and tyrosine melanins and chemically modified melanin samples were determined, and it was shown that unmodified and reduced DOPA melanins exhibited similar ir spectra. Oxidized DOPA melanins showed a higher number of carboxy groups in the sample. A significant increase of free radical content in reduced DOPA melanin and a decrease of free radical content in oxidized DOPA melanin in comparison to unmodified samples were demonstrated by the use of ESR methodology. Methylation of tyrosine melanin with an excess of diazomethane gave very rich ir spectra as compared to melanins methylated with methanol saturated by gaseous HCl. In tyrosine melanin samples the esterification of carboxy groups with methanol caused a decrease in the free radical content. When diazomethane was used, the methylated melanin samples had free radical levels reduced to only about 4% of the total observed for unmodified tyrosine melanin.     

Interaction of phalloidin with chemically modified actin

Modification of Tyr-69 with tetranitromethane impairs the polymerizability of actin in accordance with the previous report [Lehrer, S. S. and Elzinga, M. (1972) Fed. Proc. 31, 502]. Phalloidin induces this chemically modified actin to form the same characteristic helical thread-like structure as normal F-actin. The filaments bind myosin heads and activate the myosin ATPase activity as effectively as normal F-actin. When a dansyl group is introduced at the same point [Chantler, P. D. and Gratzer, W. B. (1975) Eur. J. Biochem. 60, 67-72], phalloidin still induces the polymerization. The filaments bind myosin heads and activate the myosin ATPase activity. These results indicate that Tyr-69 is not directly involved in either an actin-actin binding site or the myosin binding site on actin. Moreover, the results suggest that phalloidin binds to actin monomer in the presence of salt and its binding induces a conformational change in actin which is essential for polymerization, or that actin monomer fluctuates between in unpolymerizable and polymerizable form while phalloidin binds to actin only in the polymerizable form and its binding locks the conformation which causes the irreversible polymerization of actin. Modification of Tyr-53 with 5-diazonium-(1H)tetrazole blocks actin polymerization [Bender, N., Fasold, H., Kenmoku, A., Middelhoff, G. and Volk, K. E. (1976) Eur. J. Biochem. 64, 215-218]. Phalloidin is unable to induce the polymerization of this modified actin nor does it bind to it. Phalloidin does not induce the polymerization of the trypsin-digested actin core. These results indicate that the site at which phalloidin binds is involved in polymerization and the probable conformational change involved in polymerization may be modulated through this site.     

XPS studies of chemically modified banana fibers

Banana fibers obtained from the sheath of the banana plant (Musa Sapientum) whose major constituent is cellulose were modified using various chemical agents in order to improve their compatibility with the polymer matrix. The change in the surface composition of the raw and chemically modified fiber was investigated using various techniques such as solvatochromism, electrokinetic measurements, and XPS. Surface characterization by XPS showed the presence of numerous elements on the surface of the fiber. Investigation of the surface after alkali treatment on the other hand showed the removal of most of the elements. Silane treatment was found to introduce a considerable amount of silicon on the surface of the fiber. The [O]/[C] ratio was found to decrease in all cases except for the fluorinated and vinyl silane treated fibers. Detailed investigation of the deconvoluted C 1s spectra revealed the change in the percentage atomic concentration of the various elements on the fiber surface. The dissolution of the various surface components by alkali treatment, which was earlier revealed by SEM, was further confirmed by XPS. The XPS results were found to perfectly agree with the solvatochromic and electrokinetic measurements.     

Infrared spectroscopy of chemically modified heparins.

Analysis by i.r. spectroscopy of natural and chemically modified heparins suggests that the N-sulphonate group of these polymers may vibrationally absorb radiation at two distinctly different frequencies. This property may reflect the existence of different conformational states important in the biological activities of the polymers. Examination of carboxylate- and N-acetyl-group absorbances of these polymers accords with the possibility that one of these polymer conformational states involves interaction between juxtaposed N-sulphonate and carboxylate groups. In heparin bearing large quantities of artificially introduced N-acetyl groups, an interaction between carboxylate and N-acetyl groups may also occur.