X-ray diffraction analysis of dehydrated myelin

Improved X-ray diffraction data from dry nerve myelin are presented. In addition to the spacings of approx. 150 Å, 60 Å, 44 Å and 34.6 Å, which have been previously reported, we identify a 14 Å series. The data suggests that the hydrocarbon chains in the single bilayer ($\text{≈ 60}\text{A}\text{?}$) is ordered, whereas in the double bilayer ($\text{≈ 150}\text{A}\text{?}$) and in the fluid phase ($\text{≈ 44}\text{A}\text{?}$) it is disordered. It is shown that cholesterol ($\text{≈34.6}\text{A}\text{?}$) exists as a bilayer, and the 14 Å series is probably another cholesterol phase.     

Miscibility of DPPC and DPPA in monolayers at the air/water interface

Monolayers of mixtures of 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) as the substrate and 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid (DPPA) as the product of the hydrolysis reaction catalyzed by phospholipase D (PLD) were investigated in the presence of Ca2+. The miscibility behavior and the microstructure of mixed domains have been studied by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD), Brewster angle microscopy and film balance measurements. The phase diagram reveals partial miscibility on both sides and a wide miscibility gap, which becomes narrower at high pressure. At low pressure, the segregation of condensed DPPA-rich domains in a fluid-like DPPC matrix was detected already at small DPPA concentrations and their structure was determined. A small amount of DPPC mixed into the segregated DPPA domains induces the transformation from rectangular to an oblique unit cell and increases the tilt angle in the condensed domains. At high pressure, two types of condensed phase domains were found: DPPC-rich and DPPA-rich. A drastic reduction of the tilt angle in the DPPC-rich domains with increasing amount of DPPA was observed. The decrease of the tilt angle must be connected with a change of the head group conformation of DPPC in such mixed domains.     

X-ray diffraction analysis of wet isolated bovine rod outer segment disks. A dehydration study

Sequences of X-ray diffraction patterns were obtained from dehydrating, artificially oriented multilayers of isolated, bovine rod outer segment disks. A direct-phase analysis was applied to highly hydrated specimens to determine sequences of low resolution (approx. 30 Å) electron density profiles of the disks as dehydration proceeded. The profiles were found to evolve smoothly as the multilayer lattice simultaneously shrank and became increasingly ordered. The bilayer profiles were largely invariant under dehydration and the evolution of the diffraction consistent with simple decreases in fluid spacings. The specimens were observed to phase separate into characteristic primary and a secondary lattices when the multi-layer became too dehydrated. The small unit cell size of the secondary lattice was suggestive of a lipid phase. Large changes in the diffraction patterns from phase separated specimens were observed upon bleaching of the specimen. The changes were consistent with a reversible disordering of the primary lattice.     

Kinetics of pretransition in multilamellar dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine vesicle X-ray diffraction study

The time course of transformation between P′_β phase and L′_β phase in a multilamellar dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine vesicle containing 50% water was followed by small-angle X-ray diffraction. The transformation of P′_β → L′_β was 90% complete at 7 min after the temperature jump, although imperfections remained for a long time. Transformation in the opposite direction was fast as compared with P′_β → L′_β.     

Crystallinity of plant epicuticular waxes: electron and X-ray diffraction studies

The crystal structure of the epicuticular waxes of 35 plant species has been examined by electron diffraction and X-ray powder diffraction. The waxes include the most common morphological wax types such as platelets, tubules, films and rodlets. Most of them were prepared with a special mechanical isolation method, which preserves the original crystal structure. Solvent-extracted recrystallized plant waxes were compared with mechanically isolated samples. The waxes were found to occur in three different crystal structures. Most of the waxes exhibited an orthorhombic structure which is the most common for aliphatic compounds. Tubules containing mainly secondary alcohols showed diffraction reflections of a triclinic phase; broad reflection peaks indicated a significant disorder. Ketones, in particular beta-diketone tubules, displayed the reflections of a hexagonal structure. Mixtures of different phases could be identified. For most of the waxes, the 'long spacing' diffraction reflections indicated a layer structure with the characteristics of the major component. Others showed no 'long spacing' reflections indicating a strong disorder of the molecular layers.     

Raman spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction studies of the effect of temperature and Ca2+ on phosphatidylethanolamine dispersions

Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction are used to study the effect of heat and Ca²⁺ on dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine dispersions. Unlike phosphatidylcholine dispersions, dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine bilayers (at pH 8) require heating above T_m in order for hydration to occur and apparently bind Ca²⁺ at very low levels. These results are related to models for membrane fusion.     

Crystallization and X-ray diffraction of spray-dried and freeze-dried amorphous lactose

Crystallization of spray-dried and freeze-dried amorphous lactose over different relative vapor pressures (RVP) and storage times was studied. Crystallization was observed from increasing peak intensities in X-ray diffraction patterns. Lactose was crystallized in the samples stored at RVP of 44.1% and above in both types of dehydrated powders. The rate of crystallization increased with increasing RVP and storage time. Similar crystallization behavior of both spray-dried and freeze-dried lactose was observed. Lactose crystallized as alpha-lactose monohydrate, anhydrous beta-lactose, and the anhydrous form of alpha- and beta-lactose in a molar ratio of 5:3 and 4:1 in both spray-dried and freeze-dried forms. Peak intensities of X-ray diffraction patterns for anhydrous beta-lactose were decreased, and for alpha-lactose monohydrate increased with increasing storage RVP and time. The crystallization data were successfully modeled using Avrami equation at RVP of 54.5% and above. The crystallization data obtained is helpful in understanding and predicting storage stability of lactose-containing food and pharmaceutical products.     

Location and effect of procaine on lecithin/cholesterol membranes using X-ray diffraction methods

X-ray diffraction studies were made on lecithin/cholesterol multilayers with very high water content and containing the local anaesthetic procaine. Narrow-angle diffraction experiments show that the procaine molecules are located with the uncharged aromatic amine group approx. 10 Å from the centre of the bilayer. The polar tertiary amine group of these molecules is almost certainly located in the polar head-group region of the membrane. Wide-angle diffraction experiments show that the incorporation of procaine molecules into such lipid membranes produces an approx. 30% increase in the spread of acyl chain separation, although the average spacing between the chains is slightly reduced.     

A high-pressure form of sulfuric acid monohydrate as determined by X-ray and neutron diffraction

Two high-pressure polymorphs of sulfuric acid monohydrate (oxonium hydrogensulfate) have been obtained at ambient temperature by crystallisation at high pressure from the liquid at 1.3 GPa (form III) and by direct compression of the ambient-pressure form I first to 1.26 GPa (form II) and then to 1.72 GPa (form III). The structure of form III was solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction and this structure was used as the basis for the refinement of hydrogen positions using high-pressure neutron powder diffraction data. Form III crystallises in the orthorhombic crystal system at 1.97 GPa, and features parallel chains of hydrogensulfate ions linked by oxonium ions to form a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network. On further compression to 3.05 GPa, the direction of maximum compressibility is found to be along the a-axis and is associated with the shortening of a hydrogen bond between a hydrogensulfate ion and an oxonium ion. The structure of form II remains elusive although at ambient temperature it is stable (or metastable) at pressures as low as 0.42 GPa, perhaps indicating that it could be recoverable to ambient-pressure at low temperature.     

X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy studies of frozen erythrocyte membrane preparations

Well-defined X-ray diffraction patterns have been recorded from erythrocyte membranes in the frozen state. At ?40°C, lamellar periodicities range from 19 to 95 nm depending on the glycerol content (0–40%, respectively). Freeze-fracture electron micrographs of samples frozen in two stages to approximate to the diffraction conditions show ice formation external to membrane stacks. The membrane stacks have periodicities of the same order of magnitude as those obtained by X-ray diffraction.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of the human major histocompatibility antigen HLA-B27.

The class I major histocompatibility (MHC) antigen HLA-B27 was purified by immunoaffinity chromatography from the homozygous human B lymphoblastoid cell line LG-2. Detergent-soluble HLA-B27 was cleaved with the protease papain to remove the hydrophobic transmembrane region and the cytoplasmic tail. Crystals of the resulting water-soluble extracellular fragments were obtained in hanging drops by the vapor-diffusion method. The crystals are triclinic, space group P1, with unit cell dimensions a = 45.9 A, b = 71.0 A, c = 83.7 A, alpha = 79.4 degrees, beta = 88.5 degrees, gamma = 89.9 degrees, and diffract beyond 2.5 A resolution.     

Phase separation of cholesterol and the interaction of ethanol with phosphatidylserine-cholesterol bilayer membranes

Thermotropic and structural effects of ethanol on phosphatidylserine (PS) membranes containing up to 0.4 mol fraction cholesterol were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and fluorescence spectroscopy. It was found that in the presence of cholesterol, 10% (v/v) added ethanol depresses the melting temperature of the phospholipid by approximately 2 degrees C, similar to what was observed in the absence of cholesterol. Below the melting temperature the progressive disordering effect of added cholesterol is weakly enhanced by the presence of ethanol. In the liquid crystalline state, the marked decrease in the thickness of the bilayer which ethanol causes in the absence of cholesterol (Chem. Phys. Lipids 92 (1998) 127), is also observed in its presence. We conclude that, in contrast to what has been observed for zwitterionic phospholipids, high concentrations of cholesterol do not diminish the interaction of ethanol with PS membranes. With addition of 10% (v/v) ethanol, crystalline cholesterol diffraction, an indication of phase separation of the sterol, appears at mol fraction cholesterol 0.34, as compared to 0.3 in the absence of ethanol (Chem. Phys. Lipids 92 (1998) 71).     

Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction study of tendon collagen thermal denaturation

Differential scanning calorimetry, high and small angle X-ray diffraction analyses have been carried out on air-dried and rehydrated rat tail tendon collagen in order to test the reversibility of collagen thermal denaturation. The mean enthalpy values calculated for the denaturation process of air-dried and rehydrated samples are ΔH_D = 9.0 ± 0.8 cal/g and ΔH_D = 11.9 ±0.7 cal/g respectively, while the denaturation temperatures are T_D = 112 ± 1°C and T_D = 51 ± 1°C. Partial reversibility of the coiled coil—random coil process can be obtained by storing the samples in air or more rapidly by equilibration in water. After denaturation air-dried collagen fibres recover not only their molecular structure but also their characteristic fibrillar structure. The latter does not greatly influence the mean experimental enthalpy values.     

States of thin filament regulatory proteins as revealed by combined cross-linking/X-ray diffraction techniques

The regulatory protein system in the skeletal muscle thin filaments is known to exhibit three discrete states, called "off" or "blocked" (no Ca2+), "on" or "closed" (with Ca2+ alone) and "potentiated" or "open" (with strongly bound myosin head) states. Biochemical studies have shown that only weak interactions with myosin are allowed in the second state. Characterization of each state is often difficult, because the equilibria among these states are readily shifted by experimental conditions. To overcome this problem, we chemically cross-linked the skeletal muscle thin filament in the three states with the zero-length cross-linker 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC), in overstretched muscle fibers. The state of the regulatory proteins was monitored by measuring the intensity of the second actin layer-line (2nd LL) reflection in X-ray diffraction patterns. Structurally, the thin filaments cross-linked in the three states exhibited three corresponding discrete levels of 2nd LL intensities, which were not Ca2+-sensitive any more. Functionally, the thin filament cross-linked in the "off-blocked" state inhibited strong interaction with myosin head (subgfragment-1 or S1). The thin filament cross-linked in the "potentiated-open" state allowed strong interaction and full ATPase activity of S1 as described previously. The thin filament cross-linked in the "on-closed" state allowed strong interactions with S1 and actin-activated ATPase without enhancing the 2nd LL to the level of "potentiated-open" state, contrary to the expectations from the biochemical studies. The results demonstrate the potential of EDC as a tool for studying the states of calcium regulation, and the apparent uncoupling between the 2nd LL intensity and the function provides a new insight into the mechanism of thin filament regulation.     

Physicochemical characterization of silicon-containing glycolipids by DSC,FT-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction

Derivatives of dimethylalkylchlorosilanes are novel substances which may be used in formulations for drug targeting. In order to design their properties it is essential to perform physicochemical characterization. For this purpose, a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), FT-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction is well suited. For the starting material dimethyloctadecylchlorosilane (DMOC), the assignment of Raman bands is discussed. The influence of sugar-containing head groups on the structures of the hydrocarbon chains of 1-O-(dimethyldodecylsilyl)-[2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside] and 1-O-(dimethyloctadecylsilyl)-[2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside] was investigated using the band position of the symmetric methylene mode. The temperature dependence of conformationally sensitive bands in the CH(2)-stretching region (2800-2900 cm(-1)), C-C-stretching region (1000-1150 cm(-1)) and CH(3)-rocking region (830-900 cm(-1)) was studied to characterize the state of order of the alkyl chains. Using X-ray diffraction, the repeating distances of layered structures was determined. The phase transitions occurring were found to be completely reversible. The subcell of DMOC shows an orthorhombic perpendicular packing structure in the crystalline state.     

Determination of the degree of deacetylation of chitin and chitosan by X-ray powder diffraction

A new method to determine the degree of deacetylation (DD) of alpha-chitin and chitosan in the range of 17-94% DD using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) is proposed. The results were calibrated using (1)H NMR spectroscopy for chitosan and FTIR for chitin, in comparison with the potentiometric titration method. The results showed a good linear correlation between the CrI020 from XRD and the calibrated DD value. This method is found to be simple, rapid and nondestructive to the sample.     

Role of intestinal mucus in crystal biogenesis: an electron-microscopical,diffraction and X-ray microanalytical study

Summary In the posterior intestine of the sea-water eel, mucus plays an important role in biocrystallization of calcium ions. By means of transmission and scanning electron microscopy associated with X-ray microanalysis and X-ray diffraction it has been possible to determine the role of mucous fibers as nucleation sites. Biocrystallization occurs in 2 steps: (1) Calcification of mucus. As soon as mucus is excreted in the intestinal lumen, it is loaded with calcium, as shown by lanthanum affinity and X-ray microanalysis on freeze-dried tissues. (2) Genesis of crystals. Needleshaped crystallites build up in coalescent spherites in the intestinal lumen near the microvilli. Genesis occurs as follows: (a) crystallite mineralization by nucleation in an organic matrix composed of glycoproteinaceous mucous fibers, followed by the appearance of spherites; (b) coalescence in spherites and association of spherites in rhombohedra; (c) extrusion of organic material during the final step of crystallization.     

Single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction and solid-state C NMR of p-nitrophenyl glycopyranosides, the derivatives of d-galactose, d-glucose, and d-mannose

The X-ray diffraction patterns, ¹³C CP MAS NMR spectra, and powder X-ray diffraction analyses were obtained for selected p-nitrophenyl glycosides: α- and β-d-galactopyranosides (1 and 2), α- and β-d-glucopyranosides (3 and 4), and α- and β-d-mannopyranosides (5 and 6). In X-ray diffraction analysis of 1 and 2, characteristic shortening and lengthening of selected bonds were observed in the molecules of 1 due to anomeric effect, and in the crystal lattice of 1 and 2, hydrogen bonds of complex network were detected. In the crystal asymmetric unit of 1 there were two independent molecules, whereas in 2 there was one molecule. For 1 and 3–6 the number of resonances in solid-state ¹³C NMR spectra exceeded the number of the carbon atoms in the molecules, while for 2 there were distinct singlet resonances in its solid-state NMR spectrum. Furthermore, the powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) performed for 1–3 and 5 revealed that 1, 3, and 5 existed as single polymorphs proving that the doublets observed in appropriate solid-state NMR spectra were connected with two non-equivalent molecules in the crystal asymmetric unit. On the other hand 2 existed as a mixture of two polymorphs, one of them was almost in agreement with the calculated pattern obtained from XRD (the difference in volumes of the unit cells), and the subsequent unknown polymorph existed in small amounts and therefore it was not observed in solid-state NMR measurements.     

X-ray fibre diffraction study of conformational changes in hyaluronate induced in the presence of sodium,potassium and calcium cations

Hyaluronate purified from all cations by ion exchange chromatography was introduced to the cations sodium, potassium and calcium in a controlled way. The conformations formed in the presence of these ions were studied as a function of ionic strength, hydrogen ion activity, humidity and temperature using X-ray fibre diffraction. In sodium hyaluronate above pH 4.0 a contracted helix is found which approximates to a four-fold helix with an axial rise per disaccharide of 0.84 nm. There is no requirement for water molecules in the unit cell as the Na⁺ can be coordinate by the hyaluronate chains alone. On crystallizing hyaluronate below pH 4.0 an extended 2-fold helix with an axial rise per disaccharide of 0.98 nm is formed. In the presence of potassium above pH 4.0 a conformation similar, but not identical, to that of sodium was found where the helix backbone is again four-fold with an axial rise per disaccharide h=0.90 nm. To maintain the coordination of the potassium ion, four water molecule/disaccharide are required and on removal of these the conformation is destabilized going to a new helix where n = 4 and h = 0.97 nm. Below pH 4.0 the conformation is a contracted 4-fold helix with h = 0.82 nm. In this structure two antiparallel chains intertwine to form a double helix. The packing of the double helical units is stabilized by water molecules, the unit cell requiring 8 water molecules/disaccharide. Formation of the calcium hyaluronate complex above pH 3.5 yields a three-fold helix with h = 0.95 nm. The requirement for water in the unit cell to maintain full crystallinity is high, at 9 water molecules/disaccharide; however, on removal of this water, though the crystallinity is disrupted, the conformation remains constant. The acid form of calcium-hyaluronate yields an equivalent conformation to that of sodium under the same condition, i.e. a helix with n = 2, h = 0.98 nm. The presence of small quantities of calcium in what are otherwise potassium or sodium solutions of hyaluronate yield the 3-fold conformation for hyaluronate. Thus calcium has an important role to play in deciding the dominating conformation present in hyaluronate. The variety of conformations yielded by the different cations indicates a subtle interaction between hyaluronate and its environment, in which the balance between the cations will control to some degree the interactions between hyaluronate chains and thus affect the mechanical properties of the matrix which they form. The conformations of individual chains are all stabilized in varying degrees by intra-chain hydrogen bonds.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction data of two different human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subfractions

Human LDL subfractions LDL-2 (d = 1.031–1.034 g/ml) and LDL-5 (d = 1.040–1.044 g/ml) were crystallized in two different crystal forms by using polyethylene glycol as a precipitant. Both fractions were from one donor. Crystals of LDL-5 were yellow, hexagonal, and showed no dichroism. Crystals of LDL-2 were of the same color, had a rodlike shape with notches at both ends, and were highly dichroitic. LDL-2 crystals diffracted to a resolution of 29 Å by using synchrotron radiation. Indexing in P1 resulted in preliminary parameters for the reduced cell of a = 171 Å, b = 438 Å, c = 519 Å, α = 102°, β = 99°, γ = 91. These dimensions are consistent with the size of LDL particles. Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and agarose gel electrophoresis, we could further confirm that the crystals consist of LDL. The FTIR spectrum showed bands characteristic for lipids and protein. Dissolved crystals exhibited a mobility similar to native LDL in agarose gels and could be stained with anti-human apolipoprotein B (apoB). Proteins 28:293–297, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss Inc.