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Thermal Stability Studies (thermal + stability_studies)
Selected AbstractsThree-Dimensional Structure and Thermal Stability Studies of DNA Nanostructures by Energy Transfer SpectroscopyCHEMPHYSCHEM, Issue 10 2010Jong Bum Lee Dr. Structural changes and stability of DNA nanoarchitectures including Y-shaped DNA (see picture), dendrimer-like DNA, and DNA hydrogels are investigated. The results demonstrate the feasibility and flexibility of FRET and NSET (Förster resonance/ nanometal surface- energy transfer) in determining difficult-to-obtain 3D structures and characterizing the thermal responses of DNA nanoarchitectures in real time. [source] In vitro expansion of DNA triplet repeats with bulge binders and different DNA polymerasesFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 18 2008Di Ouyang The expansion of DNA repeat sequences is associated with many genetic diseases in humans. Simple bulge DNA structures have been implicated as intermediates in DNA slippage within the DNA repeat regions. To probe the possible role of bulged structures in DNA slippage, we designed and synthesized a pair of simple chiral spirocyclic compounds [Xi Z, Ouyang D & Mu HT (2006) Bioorg Med Chem Lett16, 1180,1184], DDI-1A and DDI-1B, which mimic the molecular architecture of the enediyne antitumor antibiotic neocarzinostatin chromophore. Both compounds strongly stimulated slippage in various DNA repeats in vitro. Enhanced slippage synthesis was found to be synchronous for primer and template. CD spectra and UV thermal stability studies supported the idea that DDI-1A and DDI-1B exhibited selective binding to the DNA bulge and induced a significant conformational change in bulge DNA. The proposed mechanism for the observed in vitro expansion of long DNA is discussed. [source] Dispersion-Polymerized Carbon Nanotube/Poly(methyl methacrylate) Composite Particles and their Electrorheological CharacteristicsMACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS, Issue 5 2007Sung Tae Kim Abstract An in situ dispersion polymerization method was adopted to synthesize particulate composites of MWNTs and PMMA, mainly for the investigation of their electrorheological characteristics. The morphology of the PMMA microparticles synthesized in the presence of the MWNTs was examined by both SEM and TEM, showing that the MWNTs were not only grafted onto the surface of the PMMA microbeads, but were also embedded inside the synthesized microbeads. The synthesized MWNT/PMMA particulate composites were also characterized by zeta-potential measurements and TGA for electric and thermal stability studies, respectively. A suspension of the MWNT/PMMA microparticles dispersed in silicone oil was found to show enhanced electrorheological properties on the increase of shear stresses when subjected to an external electric field, exhibiting high yield stresses despite the tiny amount of the MWNT associated. [source] Flammability and thermal stability studies of ABS/Montmorillonite nanocompositePOLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2003Shaofeng Wang Abstract Acrylonitrile,butadiene,styrene (ABS)/montmorillonite nanocomposites have been prepared using a direct melt intercalation technique by blending ABS and organophilic clay of two different particle sizes: OMTa (5 µm) and OMTb (38 µm). Their structure and flammability properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction, high resolution electronic microscopy (HREM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and cone calorimeter experiments. The results of HREM showed that ABS/5 wt% OMTa nanocomposite was a kind of intercalated,delaminated structure, while ABS/5 wt% OMTb nanocomposite was mainly an intercalated structure. The nanocomposites showed a lower heat release rate peak and higher thermal stability than the original ABS by TGA and cone calorimeter experiments. Also, the intercalated nanocomposite was more effective than an exfoliated,intercalated nanocomposite in fire retardancy. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Identification of endo- and exo-polygalacturonase activity in Lygus hesperus (Knight) salivary glands,ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 2 2009Maria de la Paz Celorio-Mancera Abstract Polygalacturonase (PG) activity found in the salivary gland apparatus of the western tarnished plant bug (WTPB, Lygus hesperus Knight) has been thought to be the main chemical cause of the damage inflicted by this mirid when feeding on its plant hosts. Early viscosity and thermal stability studies of the PG activity in L. hesperus protein extracts were difficult to interpret. Thus, it has been suggested that one or more PG protein(s) with different hydrolytic modes of action are produced by this mirid. In order to understand the quantitative complexity of the WTPB salivary PG activity, PG purification from a protein extract from salivary glands excised from L. hesperus insects was performed using affinity and ion exchange chromatography. To elucidate the qualitative complexity of the purified PGs, the digestion products generated by the PGs were separated using high performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection. At least five PG proteins were detected; these differing in terms of their glycosylation, mass-to-charge ratios, and/or molecular mass. The characterization of the products generated by these PGs showed that endo- and exo-acting PGs are produced by WTPB. Although none of the PGs was purified to homogeneity, the present work provides biochemical evidence of a multiplicity of PGs that degrade the pectin component of the plant tissue in different fashions. The implications of these findings affect the understanding of WTPB feeding damage and, potentially, help identify ways to control this important crop pest. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] |