The application of preirradiation combustion and neutron activation analysis technique for the determination of iodine in food and environmental reference materials

The pre-irradiation combustion (PC) of samples to liberate iodine, followed by trapping the iodine on charcoal and quantifying the element by neutron activation analysis (NAA), has been used at the National Institute of Standards and Technology for the determination of iodine in biological materials. The applicability of this technique to numerous environmental and dietary matrices is illustrated by analysis of a range of certified reference materials (CRMs) and a powdered grass material that was prepared as an in-house reference material (RM). Because of the combustion step involved, samples with low or no fat content (e.g., cereal products, selected botanical specimens, and nonfat milk powder) and inorganic materials (e.g., coal fly ash and dried sediments) are more suited for analysis by this method. In general, the results for several types of samples obtained by this method agreed with those obtained by a second radiochemical (R) NAA, as well as by a third method using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). PC-NAA is a useful technique for determining iodine in biological and environmental samples, especially for verification of iodine results obtained from other methods.     

Lysozyme crystal growth, as observed by small angle X-ray scattering, proceeds without crystallization intermediates

A combination of small angle X-ray scattering and gel techniques was used to follow the kinetics of protein crystal growth as a function of time. Hen egg white lysozyme, at different protein concentrations, was used as a model system. A new sample holder was designed, in which supersaturation is induced in the presence of salt by decreasing the temperature. It had been shown previously that a decrease in temperature and/or an increase in crystallizing agent induces an increase in the attractive interactions present in the lysozyme solutions, the lysozyme remaining monomeric. In the present paper we show that similar behaviour is observed in NaCl when agarose gels are used. During crystal growth, special attention was paid to determine whether oligomers were formed as the protein in solution was incorporated in the newly formed crystals. From these first series of experiments, we did not find any indication of oligomer formation between monomer in solution and crystal. The results obtained are in agreement with the hypothesis that lysozyme crystals in NaCl grow by addition of monomeric particles. Received: 28 July 1997 / Revised version: 4 December 1997 / Accepted: 5 December 1997     

Genotoxic potential of copper oxide nanoparticles in human lung epithelial cells

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are increasingly used in various applications. Recent studies suggest that oxidative stress may be the cause of the cytotoxicity of CuO NPs in mammalian cells. However, little is known about the genotoxicity of CuO NPs following exposure to human cells. This study was undertaken to investigate CuO NPs induced genotoxic response through p53 pathway in human pulmonary epithelial cells (A549). In addition, cytotoxicity and oxidative stress markers were also assessed. Results showed that cell viability was reduced by CuO NPs and degree of reduction was dose dependent. CuO NPs were also found to induce oxidative stress in dose-dependent manner indicated by depletion of glutathione and induction of lipid peroxidation, catalase and superoxide dismutase. The expression of Hsp70, the first tier biomarker of cellular damage was induced by CuO NPs. Further, CuO NPs up-regulated the cell cycle checkpoint protein p53 and DNA damage repair proteins Rad51 and MSH2 expression. These results demonstrate that CuO NPs possess a genotoxic potential in A549 cells which may be mediated through oxidative stress. Our short-term exposure study of high level induction of genotoxic response of CuO NPs will need to be further investigated to determine whether long-term exposure consequences may exist for CuO NPs application.     

The Cancer Mutation D83V Induces an α-Helix to β-Strand Conformation Switch in MEF2B

MEF2B is a major target of somatic mutations in non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Most of these mutations are non-synonymous substitutions of surface residues in the MADS-box/MEF2 domain. Among them, D83V is the most frequent mutation found in tumor cells. The link between this hotspot mutation and cancer is not well understood. Here we show that the D83V mutation induces a dramatic α-helix to β-strand switch in the MEF2 domain. Located in an α-helix region rich in β-branched residues, the D83V mutation not only removes the extensive helix stabilization interactions but also introduces an additional β-branched residue that further shifts the conformation equilibrium from α-helix to β-strand. Cross-database analyses of cancer mutations and chameleon sequences revealed a number of well-known cancer targets harboring β-strand favoring mutations in chameleon α-helices, suggesting a commonality of such conformational switch in certain cancers and a new factor to consider when stratifying the rapidly expanding cancer mutation data.     

Interaction of alpha-lactalbumin with mini-alphaA-crystallin

A-Crystallin can function like a molecular chaperone. We have recently shown that residues 71-88 in A-crystallin represent the chaperone active site of the protein. A peptide containing the sequence of A-crystallin sequence DFVIFLDVKHFSPEDLTVK (mini A-crystallin) by itself displays the antiaggregation property of A-crystallin. We have prepared a complex of reduced -lactalbumin and mini-A-crystallin and investigated the nature, conformation, and properties of the complex by dynamic light scattering, HPLC analysis, CD spectroscopy, and fluorescence studies. Although mini-A was able to prevent the precipitation of reduced -lactalbumin, large aggregates (50-500 nm) of the complex were formed during the assay. Amino acid composition estimation revealed that -lactalbumin and mini-A-crystallin were present in 1:2 ratio in the aggregates. During our study significant red shift in the Trp fluorescence emission maximum and an increase in Bis-ANS binding to the mini A-crystallin-bound -lacatalbumin were observed. The CD spectra of the complex showed a significant loss of -helical content but the -sheet content appeared to be less affected, indicating the molten-globule state of the reduced lactalbumin in the complex. These data show that the active site of A-crystallin by itself can maintain a significantly denatured and unfolded protein in soluble form.     

What can we learn about the lipid vesicle structure from the small-angle neutron scattering experiment?

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) on the unilamellar vesicle (ULV) populations (diameter 500 and 1,000 Å) in D₂O was used to characterize lipid vesicles from dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) at three phases: gel L_β′, ripple P_β′ and liquid L_α. Parameters of vesicle populations and internal structure of the DMPC bilayer were characterized on the basis of the separated form factor (SFF) model. Vesicle shape changes from nearly spherical in the L_α phase to elliptical in the P_β′ and L_β′ phases. This is true for vesicles prepared via extrusion through pores with the diameter 500 Å. Parameters of the internal bilayer structure (thickness of the membrane and the hydrophobic core, hydration and the surface area of the lipid molecule) were determined on the basis of the hydrophobic–hydrophilic (HH) approximation of neutron scattering length density across the bilayer ρ(x) and of the step function (SF) approximation of ρ(x). DMPC membrane thickness in the L_α phase (T=30°C) demonstrates a dependence on the membrane curvature for extruded vesicles. Prepared via extrusion through 500 Å diameter pores, vesicle population in the L_α phase has the following characteristics: average value of minor semi-axis 266±2 Å, ellipse eccentricity 1.11±0.02, polydispersity 26%, thickness of the membrane 48.9±0.2 Å and of the hydrophobic core 19.9±0.4 Å, surface area 60.7±0.5 Ų and number of water molecules 12.8±0.3 per DMPC molecule. Vesicles prepared via extrusion through pores with the diameter 1,000 Å have polydispersity of 48% and membrane thickness of 45.5±0.6 Å in the L_α phase. SF approximation was used to describe the DMPC membrane structure in L_β′ (T=10°C) and P_β′ (T=20°C) phases. Extruded DMPC vesicles in D₂O have membrane thickness of 49.6±0.5 Å in the L_β′ phase and 48.3±0.6 Å in the P_β′ phase. The dependence of the DMPC membrane thickness on temperature was restored from the SANS experiment.     

Element Concentrations in Some Species of Seaweeds from La Paz Bay and La Paz Lagoon, South-Western Baja California, Mexico

La Paz Bay and La Paz Lagoon are water bodies of the Gulf of California that are influenced by waste water discharges from the City of La Paz and from activities of the phosphorite mining company “Rofomex”. Because seaweeds concentrate elements from the water and are used as effective indicators of contamination by metals, we investigated their usefulness in this region. Concentrations of certain major elements (Ca, Fe, K and Na) and trace elements (As, Ba, Co, Cr, Cs, Hf, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sr, Ta, Th, U, Zn and Zr) were determined in 12 species of seaweeds from La Paz Bay and La Paz Lagoon using instrumental neutron activation analysis. The contents of trace elements of environmental importance (As, Co, Cr, Fe, Sb, Se and Zn) in all studied samples are within the range of typical levels for a pristine environment not subjected to anthropogenic impact. Somewhat higher concentrations of Cr (81mg kg⁻¹), Hf (4mg kg⁻¹), Rb (48mg kg⁻¹), Sc (6.3mg kg⁻¹), Ta (0.95mg kg⁻¹), Th (6.8mg kg⁻¹), U (33mg kg⁻¹) and Zn (90mg kg⁻¹) were found in the green seaweed species Ulva (formerly Enteromorpha) intestinalis, whereas such elements as As (77mg kg⁻¹), Sb (1.4mg kg⁻¹) and Se (1.8mg kg⁻¹) were mainly concentrated in the species Sargassum sinicola, Codium cuneatum and Padina mexicana respectively. Because of their higher abundance and heterogeneity in elemental composition the seaweeds species Ulva intestinalis and Caulerpa sertularioides seem to be more suitable for further biomonitoring of heavy metal pollution of the coastal waters in this zone.     

银胶浓度对电穿孔获取细胞内表面增强拉曼光谱的影响

探究了银胶浓度对于电穿孔导入银纳米粒子获取细胞内表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)的影响.对6组含有不同浓度银胶的鼻咽癌细胞C666进行电穿孔,测量电穿孔后活细胞内表面增强拉曼光谱.以测得的SERS信号、光谱强度积分值和谱线重复性为指标,研究银胶浓度对电穿孔获取细胞内SERS的影响,对电穿孔后活性C666细胞内SERS平均光谱进行初步谱峰归属.在脉冲电场强度875 V/cm,脉冲持续时间1 ms,电脉冲2次的条件下,每500μl电击缓冲液中含有50μl银胶时测得的细胞内SERS光谱信噪比高,且光谱具有较好的重复性.结果说明,正确选择银胶浓度可以提高电穿孔-SERS效果,获取高质量的活细胞内SERS信号.此研究有助于扩展表面增强拉曼光谱的应用,包括实时检测分析活细胞内生化成分及分布,实时监测细胞生化变化过程等.     

Studies of α- and βL-Crystallin Complex Formation in Solution at 60°C

Studies of molecular mechanisms of chaperone-like activity of -crystallin became an active field of research over last years. However, fine interactions between -crystallin and the damaged protein and their complex organization remain largely uncovered. Complexation between - and _L-crystallins was studied during thermal denaturation of _L-crystallin at 60°C using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), light scattering, gel-permeation chromatography, and electrophoresis. A mixed solution of - and _L-crystallins at concentrations about 10 mg/ml incubated at 60°C was found to contain their soluble complexes with a mean radius of gyration 14 nm, mean molecular mass 4 MDa and maximal size over 40 nm. In pure _L-crystallin solution, no complexes were observed at 60°C. In SAXS studies, transitions in the -crystallin quaternary structure at 60°C were shown to occur and result in doubling of the molecular weight. This suggests that during the temperature-induced denaturation of _L-crystallin it binds with modified -crystallin or, alternatively, _L-crystallin complexation and -crystallin modifications are concurrent. Estimates of the -_L-crystallin complex size and relative contents of - and -_L-crystallins in the complex suggest that several -crystallin molecules are involved in complex formation.