Raman spectroscopic studies and ab initio calculations on conformational isomerism of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide solvated to a lithium ion in ionic liquids: effects of the second solvation sphere of the lithium ion.

Raman spectra of the ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide [C(4)mIm][TFSA] containing a LiTFSA salt were measured for the lithium salt mole fractions x(Li) = 0.000, 0.053, 0.

Adsorption of xenon on a protein arising from the translational motion of solvent molecules.

A simple method was used to predict binding sites and to calculate the binding free energy for a xenon atom on a protein to determine the importance of the translational motion of water molecules in molecular recognition. We examined xenon bound on myoglobin and on a fragment of ammonium transporter. Despite the simplicity of our method, the predicted binding sites and the experimental results agree very well, and the estimated values of the free energy gain are also reasonable.

Structural and morphological transition of long-chain phospholipid vesicles induced by mixing with short-chain phospholipid.

Effects of a short-chain phospholipid, dihexanoylphosphatidylcholine (DHPC), on the structure and morphology of membrane assemblies of a long-chain phospholipid, dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), were examined by fluorescence spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). It was found by fluorescence measurements that DHPC affects on the gel and liquid crystalline state of DMPC vesicle membranes in different ways. Further, the result of DSC suggested that, along the transition process from DMPC vesicle to DMPC-DHPC mixed micelle, there are at least three different concentration regions which are characterized by the individual variation pattern of the transition temperature and enthalpy change.

Amphiregulin attenuates bleomycin-induced pneumopathy in mice.

Amphiregulin, an EGF receptor (EGFR) ligand, is essential for epithelial development in various organs. A recent report suggested that amphiregulin acts as a protective factor in a liver injury model. Little is known about the roles of amphiregulin in lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis.

Molecular orientation and multilayer formation in the adsorbed film of 1H,1H,10H,10H-perfluorodecane-1,10-diol at the hexane/water interface; pressure effect on the adsorption of fluoroalkane-diol.

The adsorption of 1H,1H,10H,10H-perfluorodecane-1,10-diol (FC10diol) at the hexane solution/water interface was investigated by the measurement of interfacial tension gamma as a function of pressure p and concentration m1 and the thermodynamic data analysis. The results obtained were compared with those of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecanol (TFC10OH) in order to clarify the effect of molecular orientation on the structure and property of the adsorbed film from the viewpoint of volume change of adsorption. The interfacial pressure pi versus mean area per adsorbed molecule A curve revealed two types of phase transitions among expanded, parallel condensed, and multilayer states.

Oxalate-bridged bimetallic complexes {NH(prol)3}[MCr(ox)3] (M = Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II); NH(prol)3(+) = tri(3-hydroxypropyl)ammonium) exhibiting coexistent ferromagnetism and proton conduction.

The oxalate-bridged bimetallic complexes {NH(prol)(3)}[M(II)Cr(III)(ox)(3)] (M(II) = Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II)) with hydrophilic tri(3-hydroxypropyl)ammonium (NH(prol)(3)(+)) were prepared by a new synthetic procedure, and the effects of the NH(prol)(3)(+) ion upon the structure, magnetism, and electrical conduction were studied. An X-ray crystallographic study of the MnCr dihydrate, {NH(prol)(3)}[MnCr(ox)(3)].2H(2)O, was performed.

Exploration of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on estrogen receptor alpha by the agonist/antagonist differential-docking screening (AADS) method: 4-(1-adamantyl)phenol as a potent endocrine disruptor candidate.

We established a novel screening method to survey endocrine-disrupting chemicals by means of in silico docking calculations. Endocrine disruptors target the human nuclear receptor, which bind a chemical in a pocket presenting in the ligand-binding domain (LBD). The LBD alters its conformation, depending upon the binding of either agonist or antagonist.

Parasporin-2 requires GPI-anchored proteins for the efficient cytocidal action to human hepatoma cells.

Parasporin-2 (PS2) is a Bacillus thuringiensis inclusion protein that reacts intensively with human hepatoma cells. This antitumour toxin oligomerizes at the cell surface via binding to lipid rafts, leading to the cell lysis with typical blebs around peripheral cells. We find here that glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins are involved in the cytocidal actions.

Surface adsorption and aggregate formation of cationic gemini surfactant and long-chain alcohol mixtures.

We measured the surface tension of aqueous solutions of octanol-butandiyl-1,4-bis(decyldimethylammonium bromide) using the drop-volume technique at 298.15 K under atmospheric pressure as a function of the total molality and bulk composition. The results of the surface tension measurements, which were analyzed by originally developed thermodynamic equations, suggested that octanol molecules filled the spaces among the hydrophobic chains of gemini surfactants and formed a densely packed monolayer with them in the adsorbed film.

Magnetic multilamellar liposomes produced by in situ synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles: "magnetonions".

We report the formation of magnetic onion-type multilamellar vesicles. Iron oxide nanoparticles (np's) were synthesized inside lipidic multilamellar vesicles by coprecipitation of vesicle-encapsulated Fe(2+) and Fe(3+) ions induced by HO(-) diffusion through vesicle lamellae. The iron ion encapsulation efficiency of onions was measured by potentiometry and UV-vis absorbance spectroscopy.

Nickel-catalyzed formation of a carbon-nitrogen bond at the beta position of saturated ketones.

Gone fishing: When propiophenone and related ethyl ketones are treated with morpholine in the presence of K(3)PO(4), chlorobenzene, and [Ni(cod)(2)]/PMe(3) catalyst, a carbon-nitrogen bond is formed selectively at the beta position (see scheme; cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene). Secondary amines were employed as substrates to give the corresponding beta-enaminones.

Protection and deprotection approach for the introduction of functional groups into metal-organic frameworks.

A noncoordinating hydroxyl group was introduced into a metal-organic framework (MOF) by a procedure involving a protection, complexation, and deprotection (PCD) reaction sequence, and the crystal structure of a novel MOF, [Zn(dhybdc)(bpy)] x 4 DMF (1), was determined. 1 did not have an interpenetrated structure. The three-dimensional pores had large apertures.

Molecular orientation and multilayer formation of 1H,1H,8H,8H-perfluorooctane-1,8-diol at the air/water interface.

The surface tension of the aqueous solution of 1H,1H,8H,8H-perfluorooctane-1,8-diol (FC(8)diol) was measured as a function of temperature and concentration under atmospheric pressure. The interfacial density and the entropy and energy of adsorption were evaluated and compared to those obtained for the adsorption of 1H,1H,10H,10H-perfluorodecane-1,10-diol (FC(10)diol) at the hexane solution/water interface. The surface tension curves show a break point corresponding to a phase transition of the adsorbed FC(8)diol film.

Phase transition and domain formation in the gibbs adsorbed films of long-chain alcohols.

The adsorption behavior of 1,1,2,2,-tetrahydroheptadecafluorodecanol (FC10OH), 1-eicosanol (C20OH), and their mixtures at the hexane solution/water interface is summarized briefly and examined from the viewpoints of interfacial tensions in the presence of domains, domain formation, and the correlation between the phase transition and the miscibility of film forming substances in the adsorbed films. The two-dimensional analogue of the Laplace equation showed that the interfacial tension is always higher in the presence of domains than that in the absence of them. The higher tendency of domain formation of FC10OH compared to C20OH is mainly ascribed to the excess Gibbs energy of mixing of fluorocarbon chains and hydrocarbon solvent being positive and to the interaction energy between domains being more stable against cohesion for FC10OH than for C20OH.

Sphingomyelin synthase 2 is palmitoylated at the COOH-terminal tail, which is involved in its localization in plasma membranes.

Sphingomyelin synthase (SMS) is an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of phosphocholine from phosphatidylcholine to ceramide for sphingomyelin synthesis. Here, we show that SMS2 is palmitoylated at cysteine residues via thioester bonds in the COOH-terminal cytoplasmic tail. [3H]palmitic acid labeling of SMS1 or SMS2-overexpressing HEK293 cells revealed that SMS2, but not SMS1, is palmitoylated.

High proton conductivity of one-dimensional ferrous oxalate dihydrate.

Proton conductive materials become important for their utility to electrolytes of fuel cells or sensors. The proton conductivity of a one-dimensional coordination polymer, ferrous oxalate dihydrate, was evaluated and found to show 1.3 mS cm(-1) at ambient temperature.

Construction of highly oriented crystalline surface coordination polymers composed of copper dithiooxamide complexes.

Layer-by-layer bottom-up crystal engineering of metal-organic crystals at the surface of sapphire or glass from organic (rubeanic acid and derivatives) and inorganic (Cu(2+)) components which when mixed in solution form instantly an amorphous solid with high proton conduction.

Organic acids and aldehydes in throughfall and dew in a Japanese pine forest.

We analyzed low molecular weight organic acids and aldehydes in throughfall under pine forest, and organic acids in dew on chemically inert surfaces and pine needle surfaces at urban- and mountain-facing sites of pine forest in western Japan. Low molecular weight organic acids and aldehydes accounted for less than 5% of the dissolved organic carbon in throughfall at both sites. Formaldehyde at both sites and formate at the mountain-facing site were found at significantly lower concentrations in throughfall than in rainfall, which may be explained by the degradation and/or retention of these components by the pine canopy as the incident precipitation passed through it.

ATP-sensitive K+ channels in pig urethral smooth muscle cells are heteromultimers of Kir6.1 and Kir6.2.

The inwardly rectifying properties and molecular basis of ATP-sensitive K(+) channels (K(ATP) channels) have now been established for several cell types. However, these aspects of nonvascular smooth muscle K(ATP) channels still remain to be defined. In this study, we investigated the molecular basis of the pore of K(ATP) channels of pig urethral smooth muscle cells through a comparative study of the inwardly rectifying properties, conductance, and regulation by PKC of native and homo- and heteroconcatemeric recombinant Kir6.

Pycnogenol, an extract from French maritime pine, suppresses Toll-like receptor 4-mediated expression of adipose differentiation-related protein in macrophages.

Adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP) is highly expressed in macrophages and human atherosclerotic lesions. We demonstrated that Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-mediated signals, which are involved in atherosclerosis formation, enhanced the expression of ADRP in macrophages. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) enhanced the ADRP expression in RAW264.

Adsorption of 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide and solvation structure of bromide at the air/water interface.

The adsorbed film of 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (DeMIMB) at the air/water interface was investigated employing the surface tension measurement and the x-ray absorption fine structure method under the total reflection condition (TRXAFS). From the surface tension measurement, the surface excess concentrations of ions were determined. From the XAFS measurement, two solvation states of bromide ion were found in the adsorbed film, which were assigned to be "free-Br" and "bound-Br".

Spontaneous vesicle formation of mixtures of double-chain cationic surfactants with a different counterion.

Aggregate formation of a didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) and didodecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) mixture in aqueous solution was investigated. The concentration vs composition diagram of aggregate formation was constructed by analyzing the surface tension, turbidity, and electrical conductivity data. The cryogenic transmission electron microscopy was applied to several representative points in the diagram and provided information of the morphology of aggregates.