Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Ion Content (ion + content)
Selected AbstractsCharacterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis nicotinamidase/pyrazinamidaseFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 4 2008Hua Zhang The nicotinamidase/pyrazinamidase (PncA) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is involved in the activation of the important front-line antituberculosis drug pyrazinamide by converting it into the active form, pyrazinoic acid. Mutations in the pncA gene cause pyrazinamide resistance in M. tuberculosis. The properties of M. tuberculosis PncA were characterized in this study. The enzyme was found to be a 20.89 kDa monomeric protein. The optimal pH and temperature of enzymatic activity were pH 7.0 and 40 °C, respectively. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry revealed that the enzyme was an Mn2+/Fe2+ -containing protein with a molar ratio of [Mn2+] to [Fe2+] of 1 : 1; furthermore, the external addition of either type of metal ion had no apparent effect on the wild-type enzymatic activity. The activity of the purified enzyme was determined by HPLC, and it was shown that it possessed similar pyrazinamidase and nicotinamidase activity, by contrast with previous reports. Nine PncA mutants were generated by site-directed mutagenesis. Determination of the enzymatic activity and metal ion content suggested that Asp8, Lys96 and Cys138 were key residues for catalysis, and Asp49, His51, His57 and His71 were essential for metal ion binding. Our data show that M. tuberculosis PncA may bind metal ions in a manner different from that observed in the case of Pyrococcus horikoshii PncA. [source] Microparticles of poly(methacrylic acid),gadolinium ion complex and their magnetic force microscopic imagesJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 8 2004Tsuyoshi Michinobu Abstract Modified poly(methacrylic acid) microparticles complexed with gadolinium(III) (Gd3+) ions were prepared in 100 nm. The emulsion terpolymerization of methacrylic acid, ethyl acrylate, and allyl methacrylate and the following complexation with Gd3+ ions yielded the polymer particles with different Gd3+ ion contents. Potentiometric titration of the complexation of the particle with Gd3+ ions indicated the formation of a very stable tris-carboxylate coordinate complex with the Gd3+ ion. Electron spin resonance and IR spectra of the complexed particles were dependent on the Gd3+ ion content and the coordination environment in each particle. The microparticles dispersed on a mica substrate were subjected to atomic force microscopy (AFM), followed by magnetic force microscopy (MFM). AFM showed 100-nm-sized and monodispersed spherical images. The following MFM clearly provided strong magnetic responses exactly on the same particle positions, of which the images were also dependent on the Gd3+ ion content in the particle. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1912,1918, 2004 [source] Methane Oxidation on Perovskite-Type Ca(Mn1,xTix)O3,,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 1 2008Hideki Taguchi X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was performed to elucidate the catalytic activity of CH4 oxidation on perovskite-type Ca(Mn1,xTix)O3,, synthesized at 1173 K in a flow of oxygen from a gel with citric acid and ethylene glycol. The Mn ion content decreases and the ratio of the Mn3+ ion in the Mn ion increases with increases in x. Ca(Mn1,xTix)O3,, has a high catalytic activity of CH4 oxidation at x=0.4. These results indicate that the catalytic activity strongly depends on the Mn3+ ion content of the surface. [source] Structural Characterization and Protein Adsorption Property of Hydroxyapatite Particles Modified With Zinc IonsJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 2 2007Satoshi Hayakawa Zinc-containing hydroxyapatite particles (Zn/HAp) were prepared by an ion exchange reaction process involving hydroxyapatite (HAp) particles with aqueous solutions containing various amounts of zinc nitrate. The Zn2+ ion was partially substituted for the Ca2+ ion position in the HAp lattice, and hence, the obtained samples had changed little in crystallinity, particle size, and specific surface area. Adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and ,2 -microglobulin (,2 -MG) in solutions containing both BSA and ,2 -MG was examined. As the Zn2+ ion content in the apatites increased, the adsorbed amount of BSA was almost constant, whereas that of ,2 -MG increased. [source] Developmental Changes in Effect of Cytokinin and Gibberellin on Shoot K+ and Na+ Accumulation in Salt-Treated Sorghum PlantsPLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2001G. N. Amzallag Abstract: The effect of cytokinin (CK) and/or gibberellin (GA) treatments on shoot accumulation of Na+ and K+ was investigated in Sorghum bicolor exposed to 150 mM NaCl. These hormonal treatments modified the shoot content of Na+ and K+, but the effect varied throughout development. Comparison of ion concentration versus ion content in shoots indicates that regulation of shoot concentration of K+ is modified during a transition period of development. This change is concomitant with reorganization of the regulation network for meristem activity, an event also involving changes in sensitivity to CK and GA. This evidence suggests a strong interdependency between dynamic changes in a between-organ network of relations and control of accumulation of monovalent ions in the shoot. Moreover, a new pattern of regulation of shoot Na+ concentration emerges during the transition period. During this process GA appears progressively involved in regulation of Na retranslocation, while CK is rather controlling the root uptake of Na+. Accordingly, the spontaneous emergence of Na-includer and Na-excluder individuals observed from an initially homogeneous population is interpreted as related to variations in sensitivity to GA and CK during differentiation of this newly emerging pathway of regulation. [source] Thellungiella halophila, a salt-tolerant relative of Arabidopsis thaliana, possesses effective mechanisms to discriminate between potassium and sodiumPLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 1 2004V. VOLKOV ABSTRACT Thellungiella halophila is a salt-tolerant close relative of Arabidopsis thaliana. Significant mRNA similarity was confirmed by hybridization of T. halophila mRNA with the A. thaliana GeneChip ATH1. To establish a platform for future molecular comparison of the two species several physiological mechanisms, which may confer high salt tolerance to T. halophila, were investigated. Determination of ion content in shoots and roots of A. thaliana and T. halophila indicated different strategies of ion uptake and translocation from root to shoot in the two species. During salt stress T. halophila accumulated less sodium than A. thaliana. Tissue concentrations of sodium and potassium showed negative correlation in A. thaliana but not in T. halophila. Electrophysiological experiments proved high potassium/sodium selectivity of root plasma membrane channels in T. halophila. In particular, voltage-independent currents were more selective for potassium in T. halophila than in A. thaliana. Single cell sampling of T. halophila leaves during salt exposure revealed increased concentrations of sodium and decreased concentrations of potassium in epidermal cells suggesting that this cell type could function to ensure storage of sodium and exchange of potassium with the rest of leaf. Application of salt resulted in a sharp drop of transpiration in A. thaliana. By contrast, transpiration in T. halophila responded more slowly and was only slightly inhibited by salt treatment, thus maintaining high water uptake and ion transport. [source] Propagation of spreading depression inversely correlates with cortical myelin content,ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 3 2009Doron Merkler MD Objective Cortical myelin can be severely affected in patients with demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system. However, the functional implication of cortical demyelination remains elusive. In this study, we investigated whether cortical myelin influences cortical spreading depression (CSD). Methods CSD measurements were performed in rodent models of toxic and autoimmune induced cortical demyelination, in neuregulin-1 type I transgenic mice displaying cortical hypermyelination, and in glial fibrillary acidic protein,transgenic mice exhibiting pronounced astrogliosis. Results Cortical demyelination, but not astrogliosis or inflammation per se, was associated with accelerated CSD. In contrast, hypermyelinated neuregulin-1 type I transgenic mice displayed a decelerated CSD propagation. Interpretation Cortical myelin may be crucially involved in the stabilization and buffering of extracellular ion content that is decisive for CSD propagation velocity and cortical excitability, respectively. Our data thus indicate that cortical involvement in human demyelinating diseases may lead to relevant alterations of cortical function. Ann Neurol 2009;66:355,365 [source] Arsenic speciation in natural and contaminated waters using CZE with in situ derivatization by molybdate and direct UV-detectionELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 6 2009Olga S. Koshcheeva Abstract A simple and sensitive procedure for simultaneous determination of arsenate, arsenite, monomethylarsonate and dimethylarsinate (DMA) ions in waters using CZE with chemical derivatization in situ and UV-detection at 250,nm was developed. The separation was performed in a fused-silica capillary using solution containing sodium molybdate and sodium perchlorate as electrolyte. Molybdate forms heteropolycomplexes with arsenic species in low acidic media, while sodium perchlorate masks silicate ion. The analysis conditions were optimized; the best results were achieved with the electrolyte consisting of 10,mM Na2MoO4 and 10,mM NaClO4 at pH 3.0 using negative voltage and pneumatic injection of the sample. Nevertheless, the signal of arsenite ion was not detected, probably because of its instability. Arsenite ion was quantified as a difference between arsenate ion contents after and before oxidation by bromine water. The detection limits for the fresh water at the level of 5.0,,g/L for AsIII and AsV, 16,,g/L for DMA and 20,,g/L for MMA were achieved. The reproducibility varied in the range of 0.06,0.25 relative units. To reduce the interferences of the sample salinity an addition of organic substances and isotachophoretic effect were used. [source] Assessing the Suitability of Various Physiological Traits to Screen Wheat Genotypes for Salt ToleranceJOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 9 2007Salah E. El-Hendawy Abstract Success of improving the salt tolerance of genotypes requires effective and reliable screening traits in breeding programs. The objective was to assess the suitability of various physiological traits to screen wheat genotypes for salt tolerance. Thirteen wheat genotypes from Egypt, Germany, Australia and India were grown in soil with two salinity levels (control and 150 mmol/L NaCl) in a greenhouse. The physiological traits (ion contents in leaves and stems, i.e. Na+, Cl,, K+, Ca2+), the ratios of K+/Na+ and Ca+/Na+ in the leaves and stems, net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, chlorophyll content (SPAD value), and leaf water relations, were measured at different growth stages. The physiological traits except for Na+ and Cl, in stems and the leaf transpiration rate at 150 mmol/L NaCl showed a significant genotypic variation, indicating that the traits that have a significant genotypic variation may be possibly used as screening criteria. According to the analysis of linear regression of the scores of the physiological traits against those of grain yield, however, the physiological traits of Ca2+ and Ca2+/Na+ at 45 d and final harvest with the greatest genotypic variation were ranked at the top. From a practical and economic point of view, SPAD value should be considered to be used as screening criteria and/or there is a need to develop a quick and practical approach to determine Ca2+ in plant tissues. [source] Microparticles of poly(methacrylic acid),gadolinium ion complex and their magnetic force microscopic imagesJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 8 2004Tsuyoshi Michinobu Abstract Modified poly(methacrylic acid) microparticles complexed with gadolinium(III) (Gd3+) ions were prepared in 100 nm. The emulsion terpolymerization of methacrylic acid, ethyl acrylate, and allyl methacrylate and the following complexation with Gd3+ ions yielded the polymer particles with different Gd3+ ion contents. Potentiometric titration of the complexation of the particle with Gd3+ ions indicated the formation of a very stable tris-carboxylate coordinate complex with the Gd3+ ion. Electron spin resonance and IR spectra of the complexed particles were dependent on the Gd3+ ion content and the coordination environment in each particle. The microparticles dispersed on a mica substrate were subjected to atomic force microscopy (AFM), followed by magnetic force microscopy (MFM). AFM showed 100-nm-sized and monodispersed spherical images. The following MFM clearly provided strong magnetic responses exactly on the same particle positions, of which the images were also dependent on the Gd3+ ion content in the particle. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1912,1918, 2004 [source] | |||||||||||||