Changes In Solubility Properties Research Articles

Photopatternable Epoxy-Based Thermosets.

The present work provides a comparative study on the photopatterning of epoxy-based thermosets as a function of network structure and network mobility. Local switching of solubility properties by light of a defined wavelength is achieved by exploiting versatile o-nitrobenzyl ester (o-NBE) chemistry. o-NBE derivatives with terminal epoxy groups are synthetized and thermally cured with different types of cycloaliphatic anhydrides via nucleophilic ring opening reaction. By varying the structure of the anhydride, glass transition temperature (Tg) and surface hardness are adjusted over a broad range. Once the network has been formed, the photolysis of the o-NBE groups enables a well-defined degradation of the 3D network. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy studies demonstrate that cleavage rate and cleavage yield increase with rising mobility of the network, which is either facilitated by inherent network properties (Tg below room temperature) or a simultaneous heating of the thermosets above their Tg. The formation of soluble species is evidenced by sol-gel analysis, revealing that low-Tg networks are prone to secondary photoreactions at higher exposure doses, which lead to a re-crosslinking of the cleaved polymer chains. The change in solubility properties is exploited to inscribe positive tone micropatterns within the thermosets by photolithographic techniques. Contrast curves show that the resist performance of rigid networks is superior to flexible ones, with a contrast of 1.17 and a resolution of 8 µm.

The maize Mucronate mutation is a deletion in the 16‐kDa γ‐zein gene that induces the unfolded protein response1

Mucronate (Mc) was identified as a dominant maize (Zea mays L.) opaque kernel mutation that alters zein storage protein synthesis. Zein protein bodies in Mc endosperm are misshapen and are associated with increased levels of ER Lumenal Binding Protein (BiP). Using GeneCalling to profile endosperm RNA transcripts, we identified an aberrant RNA in Mc that encodes the 16-kDa gamma-zein protein. The transcript contains a 38-bp deletion (nucleotides 406-444 after the initiation codon) that creates a frame-shift mutation and an abnormal sequence for the last 63 amino acids. Genetic mapping revealed the Mc mutation is linked with the locus encoding the 16-kDa gamma-zein, and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis confirmed the 16-kDa gamma-zein protein is altered in Mc. The mutant protein exhibited changes in solubility properties and co-immunoprecipitated with the molecular chaperone, BiP. Transgenic maize plants expressing the Mc 16-kDa gamma-zein manifested an opaque kernel phenotype with enhanced levels of BiP in the endosperm, similar to the Mc mutant. Unlike the wild-type protein, the Mc 16-kDa gamma-zein interacted only weakly with the 22-kDa alpha-zein when expressed in the yeast two-hybrid system. These results indicate that the Mc phenotype results from a frame-shift mutation in the gene encoding the 16-kDa gamma-zein protein, leading to the unfolded protein response in developing endosperm.

Separation of amino acids and peptides by temperature induced phase partitioning. Theoretical model for partitioning and experimental data

There is a strong interest in use of ‘smart polymers’ in separation systems. These are polymers which can react on external influence, such as temperature or pH change. With such polymers it is possible from the outside to affect the properties of a separation system. Amphiphilic copolymers show drastic changes in solubility properties, such as self-association and phase separation, at e.g. temperature increase. The random copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide units (EOPO-polymers) can form aqueous two-phase systems above the copolymer cloud point temperature. Two phases are formed, one consisting of 40–60% polymer in water and the other of almost 100% water. Amino acids and peptides can be partitioned in the thermoseparating systems. The partitioning strongly depends on the solute hydrophobicity, where aromatic amino acids and peptides are partitioned to the polymer phase and hydrophilic to the water phase. Salt effects can be used to enhance the partitioning of charged molecules. The thermodynamic driving forces which govern the partitioning of molecules in a thermoseparated aqueous phase system is described with use of the Flory-Huggins theory for polymer solutions. Expressions are derived which show the entropic and enthalpic effects on solute partitioning.

Interval between the synthesis and assembly of cytoskeletal proteins in cultured neurons

We have used pulse-chase experiments to study the time interval between the synthesis and assembly of tubulin and neurofilament proteins (NFP) in sympathetic neurons grown in tissue culture. After varying pulse-chase times, cultures were extracted with Triton X-100 such that polymerized tubulin and NFP were insoluble, while unassembled tubulin and NFP were quantitatively solubilized. The partitioning of labeled tubulin and NFP between Triton X-100-soluble and insoluble, or cytoskeletal, fractions was determined with an isoelectric focusing X SDS gel electrophoresis assay. Labeled tubulin and NFP in cultures pulse-labeled for 5-10 min partitions primarily with the soluble fraction. When pulse-labeled cultures were chased for increasing periods of time, relatively more of the total labeled tubulin and NFP partitioned with the cytoskeleton, attaining maximal values after chase times of 60-120 and 15-30 min, respectively. The maximal values for the relative levels of labeled tubulin and NFP in polymer were 70-75 and greater than 90%, respectively. The levels of labeled tubulin and NFP synthesized during a short pulse-label remained constant for at least 2 hr, indicating that selective turnover of soluble tubulin and NFP does not detectably contribute to the changes in solubility properties of these proteins observed in the pulse-chase experiments. These results indicate that newly synthesized tubulin and NFP are rapidly assembled from soluble precursors. The lag between the synthesis and assembly of the 145,000-molecular-weight NFP is not related to its phosphorylation because its initial incorporation into the cytoskeleton occurs prior to its phosphorylation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The solubility of hemoglobins A and S reconstituted with various metalloporphyrins.

The solubilities of hemoglobins A and S, reconstituted with various metalloporphyrins, in concentrated phosphate solutions are reported. In HbA the metallo-substituted derivatives have solubilities identical to Fe(II)HbAO2, except for PorHbA, which is less soluble. In HbS the central metal influences the solubility in the order Fe(II)HbSO2 greater than Cu(II)HbS greater than Ni(II)HbS greater than Zn(II)HbS approximately of porphyrinHbS greater than Fe(II)HbS. The changes in solubility properties of metallo-substituted HbS is probably related to conformational changes which alter interactions among hemoglobin molecules.

Partial Chemical Characterization of Corn Root Cell Walls

The present study reports on chemical changes which occur in the cell wall of Zea mays during early phases of growth. Roots of seedling corn plants were divided into a meristematic zone, the zone of elongation, and the maturation zone, and the cell wall isolated from each of these zones. The wall preparations were then extracted sequentially to obtain pectin, hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin fractions. Each of these, except for the lignin fraction, was hydrolyzed and the resultant sugars isolated, identified, and estimated quantitatively. Quantitative analysis of the products of hydrolysis of these fractions demonstrated that the classical scheme of fractionation is a valuable indicator of the changes in solubility properties which the various polysaccharide components for the wall undergo. It does not however yield definite chemical entities. For example, the "pectin" fraction contains only about 3% galacturonic acid; the bulk of it being composed of glucose, xylose, and galactose. By summation of analysis of these various fractions, it was found that substances yielding glucose and xylose upon hydrolysis increase with advancing age of the tissue. Galactose- and arabinose-yielding compounds decrease and mannose appears during maturation. Anhydrouronic acids first decrease, then increase. Most interestingly, of the total dry weight of the cell wall, only 24, 45, and 50% of the meristematic, elongation, and maturation zones respectively are accounted for as simple sugars in the acid hydrolysates. Oligosaccharides were not encountered in large amounts so that the 50 to 75% of the wall weight unaccounted for would consist of polysaccharides or oligosaccharides not precipitated by ethanol from the extracting solutions employed and by polysaccharides in the hemicellulose fraction which are resistant to acid hydrolysis.

Studies on the lipid content of polyvinyl sponge biopsy connective tissue.

Abstract The lipid content of inflammatory tissue obtained by subcutaneous implantation of polyvinyl alcohol sponge has been studied utilizing implants 3 through 42 days of age. Values for total lipid content were high in interscapular implants due to capsular contamination by adipose cells where the major component was neutral fat. Low dorsolumbar implants have been found to be free of this capsular contamination and were used to investigate the tissue lipid content. Use of chloroform-methanol as the extracting solvent leads to high gravimetric values for total extractable solids. Diethyl ether extraction of this material yields 2 fractions. The ether-soluble portion has been partially characterized. After 21 days, when tissue completely penetrates the implants, the phospholipids are high, total cholesterol low, and neutral lipid intermediate in concentration. Total phospholipids appear to increase during the period of tissue ingrowth. Total ether-soluble lipids, after complete tissue penetration, constitute approximately 15 per cent of the estimated dry tissue weight. The ether-insoluble fraction appears to arise from the polyvinyl alcohol sponge polymer itself. This change in solubility properties of the sponge cannot be demonstrated by the other lipid solvent systems studied; in vivo alterations in the sponge polymer have not been reported previously by other investigators. The relationship of this high lipid content to the complex morphology of the polyvinyl sponge granuloma is discussed.

Thermal degradation of polymethacrylonitrile. Part II. The coloration reaction

AbstractThe thermal coloration which occurs in copolymers of methacrylonitrile with small amounts of methacrylic acid has been studied at 140°C. The infrared spectra of colored polymers show a decrease in nitrile absorption (which has been followed quantitatively) and new absorption appears, mainly at 1693–1490 cm.−1 No volatile material is lost during coloration and molecular weight measurements show that neither chain scission nor crosslinking is involved. Copolymers of different compositions have been used to control the length of sequences of adjacent methacrylonitrile units, and it has been found that coloration is inhibited by larger concentrations of methacrylic acid. Colored polymer slowly reverts to the original material in solution, and rapid decoloration is effected by addition of aqueous solutions of acids, alkalis, and salts. A structure has been deduced for colored polymethacrylonitrile analogous to those proposed previously for paracyanogen and colored polyacrylonitrile. Essentially this is the results of the linking up of adjacent nitrile groups to form conjugated carbon‐nitrogen sequences of considerable length. It is suggested that this structure is formed in a nonradical chain process initiated at methacrylic acid units and propagated through adjacent nitrile units. The changes in solubility properties are not the result of crosslinking but of the rigidity of the modified polymer structure.