Effects of cholesterol on the structural transitions induced by diacylglycerol in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine bilayer systems

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens R. Coorssen ◽  
R. P. Rand

The transient membrane lipid diacylglycerol (DG) is known to modify and destabilize phospholipid bilayers and can lead to the formation of nonbilayer structures. Since cholesterol forms a major fraction of many plasma membranes, we have investigated how it modifies the structural effects of DG on bilayers of egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) and egg phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). We view these systems as modelling the behaviour of local, DG-containing sites in membranes. Using X-ray diffraction, we have characterized the lamellar (Lα) and inverse hexagonal (HII) structures that these ternary lipid mixtures form in excess aqueous solution. As the DG level increases, the lipid progresses from a single Lα structure to a mixture of Lα and HII, and then to a pure HII structure. This allows determination of the DG levels at which the HII transition begins, which we interpret as those levels that destabilize bilayers. In both PC and PE bilayers, the presence of 30 mol% cholesterol reduces the amounts of DG required to destabilize the bilayer structure. The destabilization can be translated into the number of neighbouring lipid molecules that a DG molecule perturbs, and of bilayer areas that it affects. The data show that the presence of cholesterol greatly enhances the perturbing effects of DG. We examine the possible role of DG in enzyme activation and membrane fusion.Key words: diacylglycerol, cholesterol, bilayers, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine.

1999 ◽  
Vol 55 (11) ◽  
pp. 1914-1916 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. A. V. Seixas ◽  
W. F. de Azevedo ◽  
M. F. Colombo

In this work, initial crystallographic studies of human haemoglobin (Hb) crystallized in isoionic and oxygen-free PEG solution are presented. Under these conditions, functional measurements of the O2-linked binding of water molecules and release of protons have evidenced that Hb assumes an unforeseen new allosteric conformation. The determination of the high-resolution structure of the crystal of human deoxy-Hb fully stripped of anions may provide a structural explanation for the role of anions in the allosteric properties of Hb and, particularly, for the influence of chloride on the Bohr effect, the mechanism by which Hb oxygen affinity is regulated by pH. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 1.87 Å resolution using a synchrotron-radiation source. Crystals belong to the space group P21212 and preliminary analysis revealed the presence of one tetramer in the asymmetric unit. The structure is currently being refined using maximum-likelihood protocols.


Author(s):  
R. J. Narconis ◽  
G. L. Johnson

Analysis of the constituents of renal and biliary calculi may be of help in the management of patients with calculous disease. Several methods of analysis are available for identifying these constituents. Most common are chemical methods, optical crystallography, x-ray diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy. The application of a SEM with x-ray analysis capabilities should be considered as an additional alternative.A scanning electron microscope equipped with an x-ray “mapping” attachment offers an additional dimension in its ability to locate elemental constituents geographically, and thus, provide a clue in determination of possible metabolic etiology in calculus formation. The ability of this method to give an undisturbed view of adjacent layers of elements in their natural state is of advantage in determining the sequence of formation of subsequent layers of chemical constituents.


2009 ◽  
Vol 59 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mihaela Flondor ◽  
Ioan Rosca ◽  
Doina Sibiescu ◽  
Mihaela-Aurelia Vizitiu ◽  
Daniel-Mircea Sutiman ◽  
...  

In this paper the synthesis and the study of some complex compounds of Fe(III) with ligands derived from: 2-(4-chloro-phenylsulfanyl)-1-(2-hydroxy-3,5-diiodo-phenyl)-ethanone (HL1), 1-(3,5-dibromo-2-hydroxy-phenyl)-2-phenylsulfanyl-ethanone(HL2), and 2-(4-chloro-phenylsulfanyl)-1-(3,5-dibromo-2-hydroxy-phenyl)-ethanone (HL3) is presented. The characterization of these complexes is based on method as: the elemental chemical analysis, IR and ESR spectroscopy, M�ssbauer, the thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction. Study of the IR and chemical analysis has evidenced that the precipitates form are a complexes and the combination ratio of M:L is 1:2. The central atoms of Fe(III) presented paramagnetic properties and a octaedric hybridization. Starting from this precipitation reactions, a method for the gravimetric determination of Fe(III) with this organic ligands has been possible. Based on the experimental data on literature indications, the structural formulae of the complex compounds are assigned.


1993 ◽  
Vol 58 (7) ◽  
pp. 1591-1599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abd El-Aziz A. Said

Molybdenum oxide catalyst doped or mixed with (1 - 50) mole % Fe3+ ions were prepared. The structure of the original samples and the samples calcined at 400 °C were characterized using DTA, X-ray diffraction and IR spectra. Measurements of the electrical conductivity of calcined samples with and without isopropyl alcohol revealed that the conductance increases on increasing the content of Fe3+ ions up to 50 mole %. The activation energies of charge carriers were determined in presence and absence of the alcohol. The catalytic dehydration of isopropyl alcohol was carried out at 250 °C using a flow system. The results obtained showed that the doped or mixed catalysts are active and selective towards propene formation. However, the catalyst containing 40 mole % Fe3+ ions exhibited the highest activity and selectivity. Correlations were attempted to the catalyst composition with their electronic and catalytic properties. Probable mechanism for the dehydration process is proposed in terms of surface active sites.


1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 1166-1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
John F. Richardson ◽  
Ted S. Sorensen

The molecular structures of exo-7-methylbicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-one, 3, and the endo-7-methyl isomer, 4, have been determined using X-ray-diffraction techniques. Compound 3 crystallizes in the space group [Formula: see text] with a = 15.115(1), c = 7.677(2) Å, and Z = 8 while 4 crystallizes in the space group P21 with a = 6.446(1), b = 7.831(1), c = 8.414(2) Å, β = 94.42(2)°, and Z = 2. The structures were solved by direct methods and refined to final agreement factors of R = 0.041 and R = 0.034 for 3 and 4 respectively. Compound 3 exists in a chair–chair conformation and there is no significant flattening of the chair rings. However, in 4, the non-ketone ring is forced into a boat conformation. These results are significant in interpreting what conformations may be present in the related sp2-hybridized carbocations.


Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 232
Author(s):  
Pedro J. Sánchez-Soto ◽  
Eduardo Garzón ◽  
Luis Pérez-Villarejo ◽  
George N. Angelopoulos ◽  
Dolores Eliche-Quesada

In this work, an examination of mining wastes of an albite deposit in south Spain was carried out using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size analysis, thermo-dilatometry and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, followed by the determination of the main ceramic properties. The albite content in two selected samples was high (65–40 wt. %), accompanied by quartz (25–40 wt. %) and other minor minerals identified by XRD, mainly kaolinite, in agreement with the high content of silica and alumina determined by XRF. The content of Na2O was in the range 5.44–3.09 wt. %, being associated with albite. The iron content was very low (<0.75 wt. %). The kaolinite content in the waste was estimated from ~8 to 32 wt. %. The particle size analysis indicated values of 11–31 wt. % of particles <63 µm. The ceramic properties of fired samples (1000–1350 °C) showed progressive shrinkage by the thermal effect, with water absorption and open porosity almost at zero at 1200–1250 °C. At 1200 °C, the bulk density reached a maximum value of 2.38 g/cm3. An abrupt change in the phase evolution by XRD was found from 1150 to 1200 °C, with the disappearance of albite by melting in accordance with the predictions of the phase diagram SiO2-Al2O3-Na2O and the system albite-quartz. These fired materials contained as main crystalline phases quartz and mullite. Quartz was present in the raw samples and mullite was formed by decomposition of kaolinite. The observation of mullite forming needle-shape crystals was revealed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The formation of fully densified and vitrified mullite materials by firing treatments was demonstrated.


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