Influence of dielectric constant on protonation equilibria of maleic acid and L-asparagine in acetonitrile water-mixtures

Abstract

The protonation constants of maleic acid and L-asparagine have been studied pH-metrically in various concentrations (0–50% v/v) of acetonitrile–water mixtures maintaining an ionic strength of 0.16 mol L^-1 at 30⁰C. The protonation constants have been calculated using the computer program MINIQUAD75 and are selected based on statistical parameters. Linear variation of step-wise protonation constants (log K) with the reciprocal of the dielectric constant of the solvent mixture has been attributed to the dominance of the electrostatic forces.     

Effect of dielectric constant on protonation equilibria of 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoic acid and malonic acid in 1, 2-propanediol-water mixtures

Abstract

The protonation constants of 2,3-diydroxybenzoic acid (2, 3-DHBA) and malonic acid (MA) at 303.0 ± 0.1 K and 0.16 mol L^-1 ionic strength in various concentrations (0–60% v/v) of 1,2-propanediol–water-mixtures were determined by pH-metric method. The protonation constants were calculated with MINIQUAD75 computer program. Selection of the best fit chemical models of the acid–base equilibria was based on statistical parameters. The log K values were found to increase with the increase in percentage of 1,2-propanediol and vary linearly with the reciprocal of the dielectric constant of the medium. This has been attributed to the dominance of electrostatic forces. Distributions of species and effect of influential parameters on the protonation constants are also presented.     

Chemical speciation of L-proline complexes of Ca(II), Zn(II) and Mn(II) in acetonitrile-water mixtures

Abstract

Chemical speciation of binary complexes of Ca(II), Zn(II) and Mn(II) with L-proline is investigated pH-metrically in acetonitrile-water mixtures. The stability constants are calculated using the computer program MINIQUAD75. The best-fit chemical models are selected based on statistical parameters and residual analysis. The models for the binary species contained ML⁺, MLH²⁺and ML₂H⁺ for Ca(II), Zn(II) and Mn(II). The trend in variation of stability constants with change in the dielectric constant of the medium is explained on the basis of structure forming nature of acetonitrile. Distribution of the species with pH at different variations (0.0-60.0% v/v) in acetonitrile-water mixtures is also presented.     

Chemical speciation of binary complexes of L-valine with Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) in propylene glycol-water mixtures

Abstract

Chemical speciation of Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of L-valine in 0.0-60.0% v/v propylene glycol-water mixtures at an ionic strength of 0.16 mol L^-1 and 303.0 K was studied pH-metrically. Models containing different number of species were refined by using the computer program MINIQUAD75. The number of species in the models was chosen based on exhaustive modelling. The best-fit chemical models were arrived at based on statistical parameters. The formation and distribution of different species with varying pH were represented in the form of distribution diagrams. Influence of the solvent on the speciation was discussed based on the dielectric constant of the medium.     

Surface dielectric constant,surface hydrophobicity and membrane fusion

Summary Membrane fusion induced by ions and its associated membrane property, surface dielectric constant, were studied with the use of acidic and neutral phospholipid vesicles. The fusion of vesicles was monitored by utilizing two fluorescence fusion assays: fluorescence content mixing method and fluorescence labelled membrane component dilution method. For the surface dielectric constant measurements, a fluorescence method was used which detected the environmental effect on the membrane surface upon the addition of various fusogenic cations. Also, the effects of poly-(ethylene glycol) on both fusion and surface dielectric properties were examined. It was found that the extent of fusion correlated well with the degree of lowering in the dielectric constant of the surface membrane, which corresponds to the increase in hydrophobicity of the membrane surface. This agrees with the previously obtained experimental results that the increase in interfacial tension of the membrane, which also corresponds to the increase in surface hydrophobicity, correlates with the extent of membrane fusion.     

Studies on the macroscopic protonation constants of some alpha-amino acids in ethanol-water mixtures

Both to demonstrate whether the predominant species are dipolar ion or the neutral form and to predict the change of dipolar form to neutral form ratio in ethanol-water mixtures, the macroscopic protonation constants of eight alpha-amino acid (glycine, L-alanine, L-valine, L-leucine, L-phenylalanine, L-serine, L-methionine, and L-isoleucine) were determined potentiometrically in 20-80% (v/v) ethanol-water mixtures at 25 degrees C with an ionic strength of 0.10 M. The calculation of the constants was carried out using a PKAS computer program. The effect of solvent composition on the protonation constants and the dipolar ionic to neutral form ratio of these acids in the mixed solvents are discussed. One can conclude that the dipolar form of amino acids, HA(+/-), dominates in ethanol-water mixtures.     

Effect of the dielectric constant of the medium on the photooxidation of chlorophyll a by parabenzoquinone]

Spectrophotometric study was carried out of the effect of medium polarity on the parabenzoquinone photooxidation of chlorophyll "a" at lower temperature using as solvents toluene and CCl4 containing different quantities of polaric solvents, methanole, ethanole, amilic alkohol, acetone. It is shown that the photoreaction with the formation of primary photooxidized form of the pigment starts only if some amount of the polar component is in the medium. The data are in favour of the suggestion that chlorophyll and quinone in non-polar medium form an reaction complex which disintegrates under the given conditions at a definite value of medium polarity.     

乙二醇对木瓜蛋白酶催化活性的影响

对不同浓度乙二醇水溶液影响木瓜蛋白酶水解酪蛋白的催化活性及构象的改变进行研究。结果表明,木瓜蛋白酶在乙二醇水溶液中水解酪蛋白的活性显著下降。动力学测定表明,木瓜蛋白酶在乙二醇水溶液中最大反应速度明显下降;差示光谱显示,在乙二醇水溶液中木瓜蛋白酶的二级结构发生了变化;荧光发射光谱显示,木瓜蛋白酶在乙二醇水溶液中发射峰位几乎没移动,但发射强度明显增高。     

The influences of protonation state of histidine on aromatic/arginine region of aquaporin-1 protein

Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) is widely distributed in the epithelial tissue for water absorption and secretion. The histidine (His182) residue in the aromatic/arginine (ar/R) constriction region plays an important role in transporting water through the membrane. In this study, we have performed a total of 46 ns equilibrium molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and obtained the influence of His182 in two protonation states (Hsd is the proton at N_δ and Hse is the proton at N_?) on the ar/R region. Water permeation rate shows that it is easier for water molecules to permeate the ar/R region of the AQP1 with residue in the Hsd state than in the Hse state. The minimum radii of the pore in the ar/R region were calculated during the last 10 ns MD simulation. We have analysed the correlation among the state of the pore (open or close), the minimum radius of the ar/R region and the dihedral angles < C_β-C_γ-C_δ-N_? of Arg197. The results show that the minimum radius can be used to mark the state of the pore.     

N-terminal acetylation and protonation of individual hemoglobin subunits: position-dependent effects on tetramer strength and cooperativity

The presence of alanine (Ala) or acetyl serine (AcSer) instead of the normal Val residues at the N-terminals of either the alpha- or the beta-subunits of human adult hemoglobin confers some novel and unexpected features on the protein. Mass spectrometric analysis confirmed that these substitutions were correct and that they were the only ones. Circular dichroism studies indicated no global protein conformational changes, and isoelectric focusing showed the absence of impurities. The presence of Ala at the N-terminals of the alpha-subunits of liganded hemoglobin results in a significantly increased basicity (increased pK(a) values) and a reduction in the strength of subunit interactions at the allosteric tetramer-dimer interface. Cooperativity in O(2) binding is also decreased. Substitution of Ala at the N-terminals of the beta-subunits gives neither of these effects. The substitution of Ser at the N terminus of either subunit leads to its complete acetylation (during expression) and a large decrease in the strength of the tetramer-dimer allosteric interface. When either Ala or AcSer is present at the N terminus of the alpha-subunit, the slope of the plot of the tetramer-dimer association/dissociation constant as a function of pH is decreased by 60%. It is suggested that since the network of interactions involving the N and C termini of the alpha-subunits is less extensive than that of the beta-subunits in liganded human hemoglobin disruptions there are likely to have a profound effect on hemoglobin function such as the increased basicity, the effects on tetramer strength, and on cooperativity.     

Effects of EGTA and slow freezing of bovine oocytes on post‐thaw development in vitro

Experiments were conducted to assess the morphological viability and in vitro developmental potential of bovine oocytes after exposure to Ethylene Glycol‐bis(‐aminoethyl Ether) N,N,N,N‐Tetra‐acetic Acid (EGTA) prior to slow freezing. Different concentrations of EGTA (0, 1, 5 and 10 mM) and exposure intervals (5, 10 and 15 min) were tested on immature (GV) and in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes equilibrated in 1.5 mM propylene glycol (PG) without (experiment 1) or with slow freezing (experiment 2). In addition, PG and ethylene glycol (EG) were compared for cryoprotective efficacy. In vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo culture (IVC) were performed in defined conditions. Pretreatment of both types of oocytes with 1 mM EGTA for 5 min without freezing yielded morphological and functional results comparable to those obtained for controls while results from higher concentrations of EGTA were lower (P < 0.05). Higher rates of freeze‐thaw survival and embryonic development were obtained after pretreating GV oocytes with 1 or 5 mM EGTA for 5 min. Similarly, better results were obtained when IVM oocytes were pretreated with 1 mM EGTA for either 5 or 10 min. When pretreated with 1 mM EGTA for 5 min and frozen with PG IVM oocytes exhibited higher survival rates (P < 0.05) than those frozen with EG. However, no significant differences were observed in the in vitro development of surviving GV or IVM oocytes frozen with either PG or EG. Results suggest that a prefreeze treatment with 1 mM EGTA for 5 min can enhance oocyte viability. Conditions described enabled blastocyst development of 2.9% of GV oocytes and 8.0% of IVM oocytes after cryopreservation and IVF. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 52:86–98, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Reversible effects of medium dielectric constant on structural transformation of β-lactoglobulin and its retinol binding

The secondary structure transformation of β-lactoglobulin from a predominantly β-structure into a predominantly α-helical one, under the influence of solvent polarity changes is reversible. Independent of the alcohol used — methanol, ethanol, or 2-propanol — the midpoints of the observed structural transformation occur around dielectric constant ε ≈ 60. The structural change destroying the hydrophobic core formed by the β-barrel structure leads, at room temperature, to the dissociation of the retinol/β-lactoglobulin complex in the neighborhood of dielectric constant ε ≈ 50. However, when the dielectric constant of the medium is raised back to ε ≈ 70 by the decrease of the temperature, both the refolding of BLG into a β-structure and the reassociation of the retinol/β-lactoglobulin complex are observed. The esterification of β-lactoglobulin carboxyl groups has two effects: on the one hand it accelerates the β-strand → α-helix transition induced by alcohols. On the other hand, the esterification of β-lactoglobulin strengthens its interaction with retinol as it may be deduced from the smaller apparent dissociation constant of retinol/methylated β-lactoglobulin complex. The binding of retinol to modified or unmodified β-lactoglobulin has no influence (stabilizing or destabilizing) on the folding changes induced by alcohol. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effects of ethylene glycol on the torsion elastic constant and hydrodynamic radius of p30delta DNA

Upon increasing the concentration of ethylene glycol (EG) at 37 degrees C, the twist energy parameter, E(T), which governs the supercoiling free energy, was recently found to undergo a decreasing (or reverse) sigmoidal transition with a midpoint near 20 w/v % EG. In this study, the effects of adding 20 w/v % EG on the torsion elastic constant (alpha) of linear p30delta DNA and on the hydrodynamic radius (R(H)) of a synthetic 24 bp duplex DNA were examined at both 40 and 20 degrees C. The time-resolved fluorescence intensity and fluorescence polarization anisotropy (FPA) of intercalated ethidium were measured in order to assess the effects of 20 w/v % EG on: (1) alpha; (2) R(H); (3) the lifetimes of intercalated and non-intercalated dye; (4) the amplitude of dye wobble in its binding site; and (5) the binding constant for intercalation. The effects of 20 w/v % EG on the circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of the DNA and on the emission spectrum of the free dye were also measured. At 40 degrees C, addition of 20 w/v % EG caused a substantial (1.27- to 1.35-fold) increase in alpha, a significant change in the CD spectrum, and a very small, marginally significant increase in R(H), but little or no change in the amplitude of dye wobble in its binding site or the lifetime of intercalated dye. Together with previously reported measurements of E(T), these results imply that the bending elastic constant of DNA is significantly decreased by 20 w/v % EG at 40 degrees C. At 20 degrees C, addition of 20 w/v % EG caused a marginally significant decrease in alpha and very little change in any other measured properties. Also at 20 degrees C, addition of 30 w/v % betaine caused a marginally significant increase in alpha and significant but modest change in the CD spectrum, but very little change in any other properties.     

Effect of membrane cholesterol enrichment or depletion on the partition behavior of human erythrocytes in dextran-poly(ethylene glycol) aqueous phases

It has previously been shown that by appropriate manipulation of polymer concentrations and ionic composition and concentration one can select whether charge-associated or lipid-related membrane surface properties are reflected by cell partition in dextran-poly(ethylene glycol) aqueous two-phase systems (Walter, H. (1977) in Methods of Cell Separation ((Catsimpoolas, N., ed.), Vol. 1, pp. 307–354, Plenum Press, New York). In the current experiments we have studied the partition behavior of human erythrocytes and found that not only lipid-related but also charge-associated membrane properties are altered as a consequence of cholesterol-enrichment or -depletion. Results further indicate that, just as cell partition in charged phase systems reflects membrane charge-associated properties not readily measured by means other than partition (Brooks, D.E., Seaman, G.V.F. and Walter, H. (1971) Nat. New Biol. 234, 61–62; Walter, H., Tung, R., Jackson, L.J. and Seaman, G.V.F. (1972) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 48, 565–571), cell partition in uncharged phases reflects membrane lipid-related properties also not readily measured by other means.     

The Beneficial Effect of Organic Solvents on the Enzymatic Synthesis of Nucleoside Analogues Using N-Deoxyribosyltransferases from Lactobacillus leichmannii (E.C. 2.4.2.6)

Addition of ethylene glycol (10% v/v) has a beneficial effect on the synthesis of 2'-deoxynucleosides catalysed by crude preparations of N-deoxyribosyltransferases from Lactobacillus leichmannii. In the absence of added organic solvent decomposition of products and starting materials by deamination or hydrolysis occurs giving rise to poor yields of products if the transfer reaction is slow. The glycosyl transfer reaction is unaffected by addition of organic solvent but decomposition of products and starting materials is largely suppressed. The organic solvent appears to inhibit selectively contaminating enzymes in the crude N-deoxyribosyltransferase preparation as the purified transferase does not possess hydrolytic or deaminating activity. Different concentrations of ethylene glycol and other organic solvents have been examined as inhibitors of the side reactions but 10% (v/v) appears to be the most effective. Using the N-deoxyribosyltransferase in the presence of ethylene glycol, a number of 2'-deoxynucleosides of 6-substituted nucleosides have been obtained in high yield on a preparative scale.     

Effect of medium osmotic potential on callus induction and shoot regeneration in flax anther culture

Development of an efficient and cost-effective doubled haploid production system in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is the prerequisite for the application of doubled haploid technology in a practical breeding program. Pre-culture of anthers on a medium containing 15% sucrose for 2–7 days before transfer to the same medium containing 6% sucrose for a total of 28 days culture period significantly increased shoot regeneration for all four genotypes evaluated. Moreover, pre-culture of anthers on medium containing 15% sucrose for 2–7 days was sufficient to dramatically reduce the frequency of shoot regeneration from somatic tissues and thereby to increase the frequency of microspore-derived plants in flax anther culture. Furthermore, replacing 15% sucrose with 6% sucrose and 9% polyethylene glycol (PEG), or 3% sucrose and 12% PEG, in pre-culture medium did not significantly affect callus induction and shoot regeneration. The results indicate that sucrose may act as carbon/energy source as well as an osmotic regulator in flax anther culture. Sucrose as an osmotic regulator may be replaced by a non-metabolizable osmoticum: PEG. The implication of this study in flax anther culture and breeding is discussed.     

Effect of viscosity and dielectric constant variation on fractional fluorescence quenching analysis of coumarin dye in binary solvent mixtures

Photo physical properties of fluorescent organic compounds give an immense improved knowledge on characteristics of excited state that is beneficial to devise innovate molecules and understand their performance in particular applications. Coumarin derivatives have been extensively investigated in this regard. This article narrates steady state fluorescence quenching measurements of a coumarin derivative namely 3‐hydroxy‐3‐[2‐oxo‐2‐(3‐oxo‐3H‐benzo[f]chromen‐2‐yl)‐ethyl]‐1,3‐dihydro‐indol‐2‐one (3HBCD) in a binary mixture of acetonitrile and 1,4‐dioxane. Aniline is used as quencher. Fluorescence intensity is large in acetonitrile and decreases as the percentage of 1,4‐dioxane in the solvent mixture increases. With modest quencher concentration a deviation towards the x axis is noticed in the Stern–Volmer (S–V) plots. This downward curvature is interpreted as due to the presence of 3HBCD in different conformers in the lowest energy level. Ground state intramolecular hydrogen bonding formation is observed due to the conformational changes in the solute. Figured estimations of various quenching parameters recommend that, while dynamic quenching prompts linearity in S–V plot at lower quencher concentration, increasing quenching efficiency with increasing medium viscosity suggests that reaction is not entirely controlled by material diffusion. Stern–Volmer constant increases with decreasing medium dielectric constant.     

Effects of small neutral osmolytes on the supercoiling free energy and intrinsic twist of p30delta DNA

Both theory and experiments are employed to investigate the effects of small neutral osmolytes on the average intrinsic twist (l0), the torsion and bending elastic constants, and the twist energy parameter (ET) that governs the supercoiling free energy. The experimental data for ethylene glycol and acetamide at 37 degrees C suggest, and are interpreted in terms of, a model wherein the DNA exhibits an equilibrium between two distinct conformational states that possess different numbers of bound water molecules and exhibit different intrinsic twists and torsion and bending elastic constants. Expressions are derived to relate the effective ET and l0 to the equilibrium constant, water activity (aw), and number (n) of bound water molecules released per cooperative domain undergoing the two-state transition. The variations of l0 and ET with -ln(aw) are similar for acetamide and ethylene glycol at 37 degrees C. Fitting the theory to those data yields the range n = 103-125 for ethylene glycol and n = 71-113 for acetamide, depending on the assumed value of ET for the dehydrated state. The cooperative domain size of the two-state transition is estimated to exceed about 25-30 base pairs (bp). Between 0 and 19.4 w/v % ethylene glycol, the torsion elastic constant, measured by time-resolved fluorescence polarization anisotropy (FPA), increases by 1.37-fold, whereas the measured ET decreases by 1.15-fold over that same range. The implied decrease in bending rigidity over that range is by a factor of about 0.7. The variations of l0 and ET with increasing -ln(aw) due to added ethylene glycol at 37 degrees C are far smaller than the corresponding variations observed previously at 14 and 15 degrees C. However, at 21 degrees C, upon adding either ethylene glycol or acetamide, l0 and ET initially decline steeply with increasing -ln(aw), with slopes possibly comparable to those seen at 14 and 15 degrees C, but then flatten out and follow curves similar to those at 37 degrees C. Possible origins of such mixed behavior are discussed. The effects of betaine at both 37 and 21 degrees C differ qualitatively and quantitatively in various respects from those of ethylene glycol and acetamide. Upon adding sucrose, l0 initially jumps to higher plateaus at both 37 and 21 degrees C, but its effects on ET cannot be reliably assessed, due to the limited range of -ln(aw).