A flow cell for the study of gas-solid reactions via in situ powder X-ray diffraction.

This paper describes the development and testing of a novel capillary flow cell for use in in situ powder X-ray diffraction experiments. It is designed such that it achieves 200° of rotation of the capillary whilst still allowing the flow of gas through the sample and the monitoring of off gas via mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, or other such analytical techniques. This high degree of rotation provides more uniform heating of the sample than can be achieved in static cells or those with lower rotational ranges and consequently also improves particle statistics.

Biodistributions of intact monoclonal antibodies and fragments of BLCA-38, a new prostate cancer directed antibody.

Background: Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are used for targeting agents to tumours while minimizing normal tissue exposure.

Methods: A new anti-prostate cancer MAb, BLCA-38, was radioiodinated (I125) and assessed for its ability to target subcutaneous human prostate cancer (DU-145) xenografts after systemic intraperitoneal administration. For comparison, the profile of J591 MAb (now in clinical trial) against LNCaP-LN3 tumours was examined.

Cytotoxic properties of immunoconjugates containing melittin-like peptide 101 against prostate cancer: in vitro and in vivo studies.

Background: Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) can target therapy to tumours while minimising normal tissue exposure. Efficacy of immunoconjugates containing peptide 101, designed around the first 22 amino acids of bee venom, melittin, to maintain the amphipathic helix, to enhance water solubility, and to increase hemolytic activity, was assessed in nude mice bearing subcutaneous human prostate cancer xenografts.

Methods: Mouse MAbs, J591 and BLCA-38, which recognise human prostate cancer cells, were cross-linked to peptide 101 using SPDP.

Sequence requirements for the activity of membrane-active peptides.

Synthetic peptides were constructed with the sequence of the first 20 residues of melittin and terminating with a range of different amino acid amides. These were found to have haemolytic and cytolytic activity similar to that of melittin, provided that certain charge constraints were observed. The nature of the 21st residue was not critical except when the residue introduced a negative charge.

Structure and activity of D-Pro14 melittin.

D-Pro14 melittin was synthesized to investigate the effect of increasing the angle of the bend in the hinge region between the helical segments of the molecule. Structural analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance indicated that, in methanol, the molecule consisted of two helices separated at Pro14, as in melittin. However, the two helices in D-Pro14 melittin were laterally displaced relative to each other by approximately 7 A, and in addition, there was a small rotation of the carboxyl-terminal helix relative to the amino-terminal helix around the long axis of the molecule.