Binding of lithium and boron to human plasma proteins

The binding of lithium and boron, at normal physiological levels, to plasma proteins has been investigated by the techniques of precipitation with ethyl alcohol and gel chromatography. Assays of lithium and boron were made by thermal neutron activation and mass spectrometric assay of³He and⁴He. Results of alcohol precipitation experiments for plasma from two apparently healthy donors showed that 13 ± 4% and 16 ± 3% of the lithium in plasma is protein bound, but essentially no boron is bound under the conditions used. We believe that because of denaturation of proteins which occurs during alcohol precipitation, these percentages represent lithium and boron tightly bound to protein molecules. The results of the gelchromatography experiment, on the other hand, showed that lithium and boron are bound to a wide range of plasma proteins, from low (∼ 60,000 amu) to high (∼ 1,000,000 amu) molecular weights, and to very low- (∼ 6000 amu) molecular-weight ligands. Although a clear identification of the specific proteins which bind lithium and boron cannot be made at present, some possibilities can be suggested. Certain commercial equipment, instruments, or materials are identified in this article to specify adequately the experimental procedure. Such identification does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the materials or equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction study of the ligand-binding domain of the bacterial chemotaxis-mediating aspartate receptor of Salmonella typhimurium.

The periplasmic domain of the aspartate chemotaxis receptor from Salmonella typhimurium has been crystallized in the presence and absence of bound aspartate. Both crystal forms were grown by precipitation with lithium sulfate and diffract to 1.8 A resolution. The aspartate receptor structure is believed to be prototypical of a large class of receptors including those for polypeptide growth factor hormones as well as those for small chemotaxis-affector molecules such as aspartate and serine.     

Purification and physico-chemical characteristics of chorionic alpha1-microglobulin

Highly purified chorionic alpha-microglobulin was isolated from amniotic fluid by precipitation with lantham chloride, ammonium and lithium sulfates coupled with adsorption chromatography with calcium pyrophosphate. The following physicochemical properties of the protein were determined: molecular weight, relative electrophoretic mobility, interaction with protamine sulfate and lectins, enzymatic stability and precipitation with salts.     

The Role of Interlayer Chemistry in Li‐Metal Growth through a Garnet‐Type Solid Electrolyte

Securing the chemical and physical stabilities of electrode/solid‐electrolyte interfaces is crucial for the use of solid electrolytes in all‐solid‐state batteries. Directly probing these interfaces during electrochemical reactions would significantly enrich the mechanistic understanding and inspire potential solutions for their regulation. Herein, the electrochemistry of the lithium/Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂‐electrolyte interface is elucidated by probing lithium deposition through the electrolyte in an anode‐free solid‐state battery in real time. Lithium plating is strongly affected by the geometry of the garnet‐type Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (LLZO) surface, where nonuniform/filamentary growth is triggered particularly at morphological defects. More importantly, lithium‐growth behavior significantly changes when the LLZO surface is modified with an artificial interlayer to produce regulated lithium depositions. It is shown that lithium‐growth kinetics critically depend on the nature of the interlayer species, leading to distinct lithium‐deposition morphologies. Subsequently, the dynamic role of the interlayer in battery operation is discussed as a buffer and seed layer for lithium redistribution and precipitation, respectively, in tailoring lithium deposition. These findings broaden the understanding of the electrochemical lithium‐plating process at the solid‐electrolyte/lithium interface, highlight the importance of exploring various interlayers as a new avenue for regulating the lithium‐metal anode, and also offer insight into the nature of lithium growth in anode‐free solid‐state batteries.     

‘Insulin-like’ effects of lithium ion on isolated rat adipocytes II. Specific activation of glycogen synthase

Lithium ion, like insulin, activated adipocyte glycogen synthase with or without glucose in the medium. However, the effect of lithium ion was much greater than that of insulin under both conditions. The lithium-activated glycogen synthase was stable to both Sephadex chromatography and ethanol precipitation of the enzyme, indicating that the effect of lithium ion on glycogen synthase was through covalent modification of the enzyme. Glycogen synthase was significantly activated by lithium ion under conditions where concentrations of cellular ATP were unaffected. The effect of lithium ion on glycogen synthase was rapid and observed at concentrations as low as 1 to 3 mM, reaching a maximum at the concentration of 40 mM. It was thus the most sensitive of all the effects studied (see previous paper). Insulin further stimulated glycogen synthase at low concentrations but not at maximal concentration of lithium ion. Lithium-activated glycogen synthase was inhibited by both epinephrine and dibutyryl cyclic AMP, but was not affected by the removal of extracellular Ca++. Interestingly, lithium ion had no detectable effect on basal pyruvate dehydrogenase as well as on epinephrine-stimulated phosphorylase. The failure of lithium ion to thus mimic insulin actions on pyruvate dehydrogenase and on phosphorylase suggests that the action of lithium ion on glycogen synthase is quite specific and may be mediated by stimulating a phosphatase or by inhibiting a protein kinase acting specifically on glycogen synthase.     

Isolation of RNA from floral tissue ofRumex acetosa (Sorrel)

Flower tissue ofRumex acetosa was previously intractable for the isolation of RNA using standard methods, due probably to its high level of polysaccharides. Extraction at low pH, precipitation of polysaccharides with potassium acetate followed by precipitation of RNA with lithium chloride yielded high-quality RNA that was suitable for northern hybridisation,in-vitro translation, poly(A)⁺ RNA selection, and subsequent cDNA synthesis.     

The fate of minor alkali elements in the chemical evolution of salt lakes

Alkaline earth elements and alkali metals (Mg, Ca, Na and K) play an important role in the geochemical evolution of saline lakes as the final brine type is defined by the abundance of these elements. The role of major ions in brine evolution has been studied in great detail, but little has been done to investigate the behaviour of minor alkali elements in these systems despite their similar chemical affinities to the major cations. We have examined three major anionic brine types, chloride, sulphate, and bicarbonate-carbonate, in fifteen lakes in North America and Antarctica to determine the geochemical behaviour of lithium, rubidium, strontium, and barium. Lithium and rubidium are largely conservative in all water types, and their concentrations are the result of long-term solute input and concentration through evaporation and/or sublimation. Strontium and barium behaviours vary with anionic brine type. Strontium can be removed in sulphate and carbonate-rich lakes by the precipitation of carbonate minerals. Barium may be removed in chloride and sulphate brines by either the precipitation of barite and perhaps biological uptake.     

Total RNA isolation from<Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea mariana</Emphasis> dry seed

Isolating RNA from dry conifer seeds can be difficult because of a number of interfering compounds present in seeds. We describe a protocol for total RNA isolation from black spruce dry seeds, which is an adaptation of a method used for mouse myeloma tissues. The extraction relies on selective precipitation of RNA by using lithium chloride.     

The cytochemical localization of lysozyme activity in leucocytes

Synopsis A method for the cytochemical localization of lysozyme activity has been developed, using chitin as substrate. A homogenous film of substrate is prepared on a microscope slide by precipitation of chitin from a lithium iodide solution.Hydrolysis of the chitin substrate by lysozyme results in breakdown products which stain with Alcian Blue at pH 4. The method permits the cellular localization of lysozyme activity and has been applied to the neutrophils of peripheral blood which are known to be rich in lysozyme.     

Isolation of three main sericin components from the cocoon of the silkworm,Bombyx mori

To characterize the sericin components of the cocoon of silkworm Bombyx mori, fresh cocoon shells were dissolved in saturated aqueous lithium thiocyanate containing 2-mercaptoethanol, and fractionated by ethanol precipitation. Cocoon sericin was found to mainly consist of three polypeptides having molecular masses of the 400, 250, and 150 kDa estimated by SDS-PAGE, which corresponds to the sericin present in the middle, anterior, and posterior part of the middle silk gland. The amino acid compositions of the 400 and 150 kDa components were similar to each other, but that of the 250 kDa component was different. This suggests differences in the coding gene and properties of the 250 kDa sericin from the other two.     

Isolation of Three Main Sericin Components from the Cocoon of the Silkworm,Bombyx mori

To characterize the sericin components of the cocoon of silkworm Bombyx mori, fresh cocoon shells were dissolved in saturated aqueous lithium thiocyanate containing 2-mercaptoethanol, and fractionated by ethanol precipitation. Cocoon sericin was found to mainly consist of three polypeptides having molecular masses of the 400, 250, and 150 kDa estimated by SDS-PAGE, which corresponds to the sericin present in the middle, anterior, and posterior part of the middle silk gland. The amino acid compositions of the 400 and 150 kDa components were similar to each other, but that of the 250 kDa component was different. This suggests differences in the coding gene and properties of the 250 kDa sericin from the other two.     

Hydrologic Variability of Small, Northern Michigan Lakes Measured by the Addition of Tracers

The hydraulic residence time (or flushing rate of water) is a key variable for any aquatic ecosystem and is used in many types of models and calculations. Rather than being measured directly, the hydraulic residence time is usually inferred from estimates of watershed size, precipitation, and water yield. Such estimates can be problematic in any environment but are especially so in environments in which flat or complex topography makes delineations of mapped watershed boundaries difficult to discern. We added lithium bromide, (LiBr) to three small seepage lakes in the flat topography of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to provide an independent estimate of the water residence time. Water residence time [volume/(outflow + evaporation)] averaged 921 ± 381 (SD) days among lakes and years and ranged from 400 to 1661 days at the extremes. This variation was not clearly related to year-to-year variation in precipitation, which was relatively constant [0.26 ± 0.06 (SD) cm day (d)^{− 1}]. The addition of the tracer (along with measurements of lake volume) enabled us to estimate, independent from other hydrologic information, the flow of water leaving the lakes in seepage plus surface outflow. This value, in conjunction with measurement of precipitation and evaporation, enabled us to calculate complete water budgets for these lakes. Among lakes and years, the groundwater input averaged 0.48 ± 0.36 cm d^{− 1} and accounted for 57%± 19% of total water input. This estimate was larger by 150% than that obtained by multiplying precipitation (minus estimated evapotranspiration) times a mapped value of the watershed areas. Our analysis enables us to calculate the relative significance of groundwater and precipitation for solutes such as phosphorus, hydrogen ion, and dissolved organic carbon. Received 17 February 1998; accepted 19 February 1998.     

Preparation and characterization of antisera to the myelin-associated glycoprotein

Rabbits were immunized with the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) that had been purified from isolated rat brain myelin by selective extraction with lithium diiodosacicylate (LIS) and phenol followed by preparative SDS gel electrophoresis. Antibodies to MAG were detected qualitatively by immunodiffusion and quantitatively by a double antibody assay utilizing [³H]fucose-labeled MAG as antigen. The antisera were capable of precipitating between 300 and 500 g of MAG/ml of serum under the conditions of the assay. Preincubation of the anti-MAG serum with other glycoproteins or glycolipids did not inhibit the precipitation of labeled MAG. Similarly, preincubation of the antiserum with LIS-phenol extracts of non-neural tissues did not inhibit the immune precipitation of MAG. The specificity of the antiserum was also indicated by the selective double antibody precipitation of MAG from solubilized whole myelin that contained a heterogeneous mixture of [³H]fucose-labeled glycoproteins. The antibodies to MAG were not effectively absorbed by whole brain homogenate or purified myelin, indicating that the antigenic site(s) is not accessible in the intact membranes, but can be exposed by treatment with detergent or partial purification. Low levels of antibodies reacting with MAG were detected in three rabbits with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis induced by injection of purified myelin in complete Freund's adjuvant.     

Effect of diuretics on the distribution and renal excretion of lithium in rats of different ages

The postnatal development of the renal lithium elimination is maturated earlier than that of renal sodium excretion. The filtered lithium is reabsorbed to a great amount in the kidney (70-80%). 90% of the administered lithium is eliminated by the kidney. Acetazolamide stimulates the renal lithium excretion in young and adult rats. Other diuretics with different sites of attack are not able to influence the elimination of lithium. Also, a forced diuresis does not change the elimination rate of lithium. The well-known interactions between sodium and ithium must have their cause in extrarenal processes.     

A simple and rapid method to isolate purer M13 phage by isoelectric precipitation

M13 virus (phage) has been extensively used in phage display technology and nanomaterial templating. Our research aimed to use M13 phage to template sulfur nanoparticles for making lithium ion batteries. Traditional methods for harvesting M13 phage from Escherichia coli employ polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based precipitation, and the yield is usually measured by plaque counting. With this method, PEG residue is present in the M13 phage pellet and is difficult to eliminate. To resolve this issue, a method based on isoelectric precipitation was introduced and tested. The isoelectric method resulted in the production of purer phage with a higher yield, compared to the traditional PEG-based method. There is no significant variation in infectivity of the phage prepared using isoelectric precipitation, and the dynamic light scattering data indirectly prove that the phage structure is not damaged by pH adjustment. To maximize phage production, a dry-weight yield curve of M13 phage for various culture times was produced. The yield curve is proportional to the growth curve of E. coli. On a 200-mL culture scale, 0.2 g L^?1 M13 phage (dry-weight) was produced by the isoelectric precipitation method.     

Biochemical demonstration of the myelin-associated glycoprotein in the peripheral nervous system

Recent immunocytochemical studies indicated that the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) is localized in the periaxonal region of central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) myelin sheaths but previous biochemical studies had not demonstrated the presence of MAG in peripheral nerve. The glycoproteins in rat sciatic nerves were heavily labeled by injection of [3H]fucose in order to re-examine whether MAG could be detected chemically in peripheral nerve. Myelin and a myelin-related fraction, W1, were isolated from the nerves. Labeled glycoproteins in the PNS fractions were extracted by the lithium diiodosalicylate (LIS)-phenol procedure, and the extracts were treated with antiserum prepared to CNS MAG in a double antibody precipitation. This resulted in the immune precipitation of a single [3H]fucose-labeled glycoprotein with electrophoretic mobility very similar to that of [14C]fucose-labeled MAG from rat brain. A sensitive peptide mapping procedure involving iodination with Bolton-Hunter reagent and autoradiography was used to compare the peptide maps generated by limited proteolysis from this PNS component and CNS MAG. The peptide maps produced by three distinct proteases were virtually identical for the two glycoproteins, showing that the PNS glycoprotein is MAG. The MAG in the PNS myelin and W1 fractions was also demonstrated by Coomassie blue and periodic acid-Schiff staining of gels on which the whole LIS-phenol extracts were electrophoresed, and densitometric scanning of the gels indicated that both fractions contained substantially less MAG than purified rat brain myelin. The presence of MAG in the periaxonal region of both peripheral and central myelin sheaths is consistent with a similar involvement of this glycoprotein in axon-sheath cell interactions in the PNS and CNS.     

Improvement of an RNA purification method for grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) suitable for cDNA library construction

A method is described, which consistently yields high quality total RNA from grapevine. Dissolving of crude RNA pellets in borate-containing buffer, instead of normally used water before a selective lithium chloride precipitation, was found to be a critical step, leading to a 2.5-fold increase of yield. The resulting RNA preparations were suitable for standard downstream applications and also for cDNA library construction. The method worked efficiently and reproducibly and could easily be scaled from milligram to gram quantities of plant material grown in hydroponic culture, sandy soil or Perlite. It was applied to different kinds of grapevine tissues (leaves, stem) and, after additional adaptation of the protocol, to roots.     

Cytological and morphological studies of the action of lithium on the development of the sea urchin embryo

Summary The effect of lithium ions on cleavage and development of sea urchin larvae was investigated. Lithium was found to interfere with the movements of the chromosomes at mitosis, which is also very delayed in the presence of lithium. The disturbances inflicted by lithium were observed during the course of development up to the pluteus stage.The lithium sensitive period coincides with the period in which the mitotic activity reaches its maximum.The rate of cleavage is reduced by lithium. In the normal untreated larva there is during the early blastula stage an animal trend in which the formation of cells of prospective ectodermal significance preponderates. The mesomeres were found to be relatively more affected by lithium than were the macromeres. This shift in the cleavage pattern influences the numbers of cells of ectodermal and endo-mesodermal significance.Studies were also made of morphological changes following treatment with lithium.     

Experiments on the Capture of Li,H, and D by Lithium Collectors at Different Surface Temperatures at the T-11M Tokamak

Prototypes of lithium emitters and collectors designed on the basis of capillary-porous systems (CPS) are being tried-out at the T-11M tokamak within the concept of continuous lithium circulation, previously proposed for stationary fusion neutron sources (FNSs). One of the goals of the T-11M tokamak research program are to implement the closure of the lithium circulation circuit and to develop the technology of recuperation (extraction and removal from the tokamak chamber) of hydrogen isotopes by using special lithium CPS-based collectors in order to prevent hydrogen isotope accumulation on the inner surface of the discharge chamber. In order to determine the optimal temperature regime for the future FNS operation, the effect of the temperature of the collector surface on its ability to capture lithium and hydrogen isotopes was studied. It is ascertained that the efficiency of capturing lithium and hydrogen isotopes by metal (12Cr18Ni10Ti) collectors in the operating regimes of the T-11M tokamak depends on the temperature of their collecting surfaces; namely, it remains almost constant in the temperature range from–196 to 50°С and then gradually decreases as the temperature rises to 300–400°С. In this case, the amount of the collected lithium is reduced by no more than sixfold, whereas the amount of collected hydrogen isotopes decreases by more than two orders of magnitude. Thus, the wall of a tokamak reactor chamber, which will be heated to 400°С but still coated with residual lithium (or its chemical compounds), will serve as a “mirror” for the incident hydrogen isotopes. It is found that the liquid lithium surface of the CPS-based collector can efficiently capture hydrogen isotopes falling onto it. As the lithium CPS-based collector is heated from 100 to 240°С, the amount of captured deuterium is reduced only twofold. This means that, in a steady-state mode, if, e.g., an MHD pump is used to transport liquid lithium from the collector back to the emitter, then, together with lithium, the captured hydrogen isotopes can also be transported into the recuperation zone.