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  • Polymer and Materials Science  (112,478)
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  • 1
    ISSN: 1432-0568
    Keywords: Key words Visual system ; Thalamocortical connections ; Postnatal development ; Retrograde axonal tracing ; Fluorescence technique ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The development of visual thalamocortical projections was analyzed quantitatively by comparing, in cresyl violet-stained brain sections of early postnatal (10–17 days) and adult cats, the cell body dimensions and total cell packing density (CPD) of neuronal populations in different laminae (A, A1 and C) of the dorsal lateral geniculate (dLGN), medial interlaminar nucleus (MIN), and in lateral (LPl), intermediate (LPi) and medial (LPm) subdivisions of the lateral posterior complex. Following injections of different fluorescent tracers (FB, NY, EB, RITC) into cortical visual areas 17/18, posterior medial (PMLS) and posterior lateral (PLLS) lateral suprasylvian and anterior ectosylvian (AEV), the thalamic distribution and densities of retrogradely labeled neurons were analyzed. Projection CPDs and ratios of projection/total CPDs were determined and compared within the different thalamic components in the kitten and adult cat. A significant decrease in total cell packing density was observed in the various thalamic components of the adult cat, varying between 43% and 65%, and a marked increase in mean cell body diameter in the A, A1 and C laminae and MIN from kitten to adult (8.4±1.8 and 11.8±2.8 µm respectively) compared to the LP subnuclei (9.0±1.3 and 9.1±1.5 µm). The ratios of projection/total CPDs decreased significantly for projections upon areas 17/18 stemming from layers A and A1 (20 and 25%, respectively) and from LPi upon both PMLS (34%) and AEV (16%). Thalamocortical projections observed in the kitten from LPi upon areas 17/18 and from the A-laminae upon PMLS were absent in the adult cat. The data indicate that, in comparison to the lateral posterior nucleus, the maturation of neurons within the dLGN and MIN is incomplete with respect to cell body size during the early postnatal period. In addition, the developmental changes observed involve both reductions in the total number of thalamic neurons and a differential loss of cortical projections. The selective elimination of early cortical connections stemming from dorsal lateral geniculate laminae A and A1 and from the intermediate division of the lateral posterior nucleus may occur through a process of axon collateral withdrawal from the expanded cortical sites, thereby giving rise to the adult pattern.
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  • 2
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 130 (2000), S. 27-34 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Nucleus ambiguus ; Laryngeal motoneurons ; Superior laryngeal nerve ; Coughing and swallowing ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Membrane potential changes and discharges from 28 laryngeal motoneurons were recorded intracellularly in the caudal nucleus ambiguus of decerebrate, paralyzed and ventilated cats. Electrical activities were recorded from 17 expiratory laryngeal motoneurons (ELMs) with maximal depolarizing membrane potential in early expiration, and from 11 inspiratory laryngeal motoneurons (ILMs) with maximal depolarizing membrane potential in inspiration. Activities during breathing were compared with those observed during fictive coughing and swallowing evoked by electrical stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerves. These non-respiratory behaviors were evidenced in paralyzed animals by characteristic discharge patterns of the phrenic, abdominal nerves and pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve. We recorded the activity of 11 ELMs and 5 ILMs during coughing in which ELMs, but not ILMs, exhibited increased membrane depolarization and discharge frequencies. Membrane depolarization and discharge frequencies of all ELMs were also significantly increased during swallowing. In addition, membrane depolarization of most ELMs (15/17) was preceded by a short-lasting hyperpolarization due to chloride-dependent inhibitory mechanisms occurring at the onset of swallowing. Out of 10 ILMs tested during swallowing, 7 exhibited membrane depolarization, preceded in 5 cases by a short-lasting hyperpolarization. Discharge frequencies of ILMs were significantly reduced during swallowing. The same pattern of phasic activities of ILMs and ELMs was observed during coughing and breathing, suggesting the involvement of similar excitatory pathways in both behaviors. These results imply that the duration of activation and the discharge frequency of neurons of the central generator for breathing that drive laryngeal motoneurons are enhanced during coughing. During swallowing, in addition to central excitatory mechanisms, laryngeal motoneurons are subjected to an initial inhibition of unknown origin. This inhibition probably contributes to the temporal organization of the swallowing motor sequence.
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  • 3
    ISSN: 1573-0603
    Keywords: Anto-immune disease ; Cat ; Dog ; Flow cytometry ; Immunodeficiency ; Leishmaniasis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Clinical applications of flow cytometry to certain diseases of the dog and cat are now possible. The utility of such applications for diagnosis, prognosis and follow-up are illustrated here by a number of examples: feline AIDS resulting from FIV infection, Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency in Irish setters, deep pyoderma in German shepherds, Immune-mediated Thrombocytopenia, canine Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Leishmaniasis, Leukemia and Lymphoma.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 4
    ISSN: 1437-7799
    Keywords: Key words Peritoneal dialysis ; Peritonitis ; Cat ; Pasteurella multocida
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract A 49-year-old man had three episodes of bacterial peritonitis in the 8 months after he started nocturnal intermittent peritoneal dialysis (NIPD) at home, using an automated cycler device. When peritonitis was first diagnosed, Enterobacter agglomerance was cultured in his peritoneal fluid. In the second and third episodes, Pasteurella multocida and alpha-Streptococcus were isolated, respectively. These bacteria are unusual pathogens in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) peritonitis. Detailed questioning revealed that a domestic cat had bitten the dialysis tube before the patient experienced the second episode of peritonitis. Pasteurella multocida is part of the normal oral flora in cats and dogs. We isolated Pasteurella multocida from the teeth of the patient's cat. Enterobacter agglomerance is part of the common bacterial flora in animal's alimentary tract, and alpha-Streptococcus is commonly found in animal's respiratory tracts. Since the patient removed the cat from his bedroom, he has had no peritonitis. NIPD is a very convenient sysytem for patients in the final stage of renal failure; however, patients must be aware of the risks associated with keeping pets in their homes. This case is the first report of cat-associated peritonitis in Japan.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 5
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 128 (1999), S. 527-530 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis ; Reticulospinal neuron ; Neck motoneuron ; Single-neuron EPSP ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Functional connections of single reticulospinal neurons (RSNs) in the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis (NRG) with ipsilateral dorsal neck motoneurons were examined with the spike-triggered averaging technique. Extracellular spikes of single NRG-RSNs activated antidromically from the C6, but not from the L1 segment (C-RSNs) were used as the trigger. These neurons were monosynaptically activated from the superior colliculus and the cerebral peduncle. Single-RSN PSPs were recorded in 43 dorsal neck motoneurons [biventer cervicis and complexus (BCC) and splenius (SPL)] for 21 NRG-RSNs and 135 motoneurons tested. All synaptic potentials were EPSPs, and most of their latencies, measured from the triggering spikes, were 0.8–1.5 ms, which is in a monosynaptic range. The amplitudes of single-RSN EPSPs were 10–360 µV. Spike-triggered averaging revealed single-RSN EPSPs in multiple motoneurons of the same species (SPL or BCC), their locations extending up to nearly 1 mm rostrocaudally. Synaptic connections of single RSNs with both SPL and BCC motoneurons were also found with some predominance for one of them. The results provide direct evidence that NRG-RSNs make monosynaptic excitatory connections with SPL and BCC motoneurons. It appears that some NRG-RSNs connect predominantly with SPL motoneurons and others with BCC motoneurons.
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  • 6
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Abdominal muscles ; Back muscles ; Motoneurons ; Cutaneous afferent ; Spinal cord ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) evoked in motoneurons innervating the back and abdominal muscles in the lumbar part of the body by stimulating hindlimb cutaneous afferents were investigated in unanesthetized decerebate and spinal cats. Various types of PSP: pure excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP), pure inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP), and mixed PSP (i.e., EPSP followed by IPSP, EPSP/IPSP; and IPSP followed by EPSP, IPSP/EPSP) were observed. The weak stimulation at 2 times threshold (2T) produced predominantly the EPSP, while at 5T the incidence of IPSP or EPSP followed by IPSP was increased. In about 20–50% of the various groups of motoneurons, PSPs evoked by ipsi- and contralateral nerves were qualitatively and quantitatively similar. For the other motoneurons, PSPs evoked by ipsi- and contralateral nerves were markedly different with respect to magnitude and/or polarity. These findings suggest that, within each motoneuron pool, some neurons act to increase stiffness of the trunk or to move vertically in response to an increased activity of cutaneous afferents, while the other motoneurons act to produce lateral bending of the trunk.
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  • 7
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Retinal ganglion cells ; Axonal regeneration ; Single-unit activity ; Receptive field ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Receptive-field properties of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that had regenerated their axons were studied by recording single-unit activity from strands teased from peripheral nerve (PN) grafts apposed to the cut optic nerve in adult cats. Of the 286 visually responsive units recorded from PN grafts in 20 cats, 49.7% were classified, according to their receptive-field properties, as Y-cells, 39.5% as X-cells, 6.6% as W-cells, and 4.2% were unclassified. The predominant representation of Y-cells is consistent with a corresponding morphological study (Watanabe et al. 1993a), which identified α-cells as the RGC type with the largest proportion of regenerating axons. Among the X-cells, we only found ON-center types, whereas both ON-center and OFF-center Y-cells were found. As in intact retinas, the receptive-field center sizes of Y-cells and W-cells were larger than those of X-cells at corresponding displacements from the area centralis. Within the 10° surrounding the area centralis, the receptive fields of X-cells with regenerated axons were larger than those in intact retinas, suggesting that some rearrangement of retinal circuitry occurred as a consequence of degeneration and regeneration. Receptive-field center responses of Y-, X-, and W-type units with regenerated axons were similar to those found in intact retinas, but the level of spontaneous activity of Y- and X-type units was, in general, less than that of intact RGCs. Receptive-field surrounds were weak or not detected in more than half of the visually responsive RGCs with regenerated axons.
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  • 8
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 125 (1999), S. 184-199 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Corticospinal tract ; Motor cortex ; Activity-dependent development ; Spinal cord ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Corticospinal (CS) axon terminations in several species are widespread early in development but are subsequently refined into a spatially more restricted distribution. We studied the role of neural activity in sensorimotor cortex in shaping postnatal development of CS terminations in cats. We continuously infused muscimol unilaterally into sensorimotor cortex to silence neurons during the postnatal CS refinement period (weeks 3–7). Using anterograde transport of WGA-HRP, we examined the laterality of terminations from the muscimol-infused (i.e., silenced) and active sides in the spinal cord, as well as in the cuneate nucleus and red nucleus. We found that CS terminations from the muscimol-infused cortex were very sparse and limited to the contralateral side, while those from the active cortex maintained an immature bilateral topography. Controls (saline infusion, noninfusion) had dense, predominantly contralateral, CS terminations. There was a substantial decrease in the spinal gray matter area occupied by terminations from the side receiving the blockade and a concomitant increase in the area occupied by ipsilateral terminations from the active cortex. Optical density measurements of HRP reaction product from the active cortex in muscimol-infused animals showed substantial increases over controls in the ratio of ipsilateral to contralateral CS terminations for all laminae examined (IV–V, VI, VII). Our findings suggest that ipsilateral dorsal horn terminations reflect new axon growth during the refinement period because they are not present there earlier in development. Those in the ventral horn are present earlier in development and thus could reflect maintenance of transient terminations. Increased ipsilateral terminations from active cortex were due to recrossing of CS axons in lamina X and not to an increase in labeled CS axons in the ipsilateral white matter. Examination of brain stem terminations suggested that, between postnatal weeks 3 and 7, development of corticocuneate terminations also is activity-dependent but that development of corticorubral terminations is not. Activity-dependent CS development is a plausible mechanism by which early motor experiences could shape the anatomical and functional organization of the motor systems during a critical postnatal period.
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  • 9
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Omnipause neurons ; OPN ; Saccade ; Gaze shift ; Tracking ; Perisaccadic drifts ; Moving target ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Pontine omnipause neurons (OPNs) have so far been considered as forming a homogeneous group of neurons whose tonic firing stops during the duration of saccades, when the head is immobilized. In cats, they pause for the total duration of gaze shifts, when the head is free to move. In the present study, carried out on alert cats with fixed heads, we present observations made during self-initiated saccades and during tracking of a moving target which show that the OPN population is not homogeneous. Of the 76 OPNs we identified, 39 were found to have characteristics similar to those of previously described neurons, ”saccade” (S-) OPNs: (1) the durations of their pauses were significantly correlated with the durations of saccades; (2) the discharge ceased shortly before saccade onset and resumed before saccade end; (3) visual responses to target motion were excitatory; and (4) during tracking, S-OPNs interrupted the discharge for the duration of saccades and resumed firing during perisaccadic ”drifts”. However, the characteristics of 37 neurons (”complex” (C-) OPNs) were different: (1) the pause duration was not correlated with the duration of self-initiated saccades; (2) time lead of pause onsets relative to saccades was, on average, longer than in the group of S-OPNs, and firing resumed after the saccade end; (3) visual target motion suppressed tonic discharges; and (4) during tracking, firing was interrupted for the total duration of gaze shifts, including not only saccades but also perisaccadic ”drifts”. We conclude that cat OPNs can be subdivided into two main groups. The first comprises neurons whose firing patterns are compatible with gating individual saccades (”saccade” OPNs). The second group consists of ”complex” OPNs whose firing characteristics are appropriate to gate total gaze displacements rather than individual saccades. The function of these neurons may be to disinhibit pontobulbar circuits participating in the generation of saccade sequences and associated perisaccadic drifts.
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  • 10
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 126 (1999), S. 410-416 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Vestibulocollic reflex ; Saccular nerve ; Utricular nerve ; Sternocleidomastoid motoneuron ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Connections from the otolithic organs to sternocleidomastoid (SCM) motoneurons were studied in 20 decerebrate cats. The electrical stimulation was selective for the saccular or the utricular nerves. Postsynaptic potentials were recorded from antidromically identified SCM motoneurons; these muscles participate mainly in neck rotation and flexion. Partial transections of the brainstem at the level of the obex were performed to identify the possible pathway from the otolithic organs to the SCM motoneurons. Saccular or utricular nerve stimulation mainly evoked inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) in the ipsilateral SCM motoneurons. Some of the sacculus-induced IPSPs were preceded by small-amplitude excitatory PSPs (EPSPs). The latencies of the PSPs ranged from 1.8 to 3.1 ms after saccular nerve stimulation and from 1.7 to 2.8 ms after utricular nerve stimulation, indicating that most of the ipsilateral connections were disynaptic. In the contralateral SCM motoneurons, saccular nerve stimulation had no or faint effects, whereas utricular nerve stimulation evoked EPSPs in about two-thirds of neurons, and no visible PSPs in about one-third of neurons. The latencies of the EPSPs ranged from 1.5 to 2.0 ms, indicating the disynaptic connection. Thus, the results suggest a difference between the two otolithic innervating patterns of SCM motoneurons. After transection of the medial vestibulospinal tract (MVST), saccular nerve stimulation did not evoke IPSPs at all in ipsilateral SCM motoneurons, but some (11/40) neurons showed small-amplitude EPSPs. Most (24/33) of the utricular-activated IPSPs disappeared after transection, whereas the other 9 neurons still indicated IPSPs. In the contralateral SCM motoneurons, no utricular-activated EPSPs were recorded after transection. These MVST transection results suggest that most of the otolith-SCM pathways are located in the MVST at the obex level. However, the results also suggest the possibility that other otolith-SCM pathways exist at the obex level.
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  • 11
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Vestibulo-ocular reflex ; Vertigo ; Labyrinthectomy ; Compensation ; Motor learning ; Oculomotor ; Plasticity ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Accurate performance by the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) is necessary to stabilize visual fixation during head movements. VOR performance is severely affected by peripheral vestibular damage; after one horizontal semicircular canal is plugged, the horizontal VOR is asymmetric and its amplitude is reduced. The VOR recovers partially. We investigated the limits of recovery by measuring the VOR’s response to ipsilesional and contralesional rotation after unilateral peripheral damage in cats. We found that the VOR’s response to rotation at high frequencies remained asymmetric after recovery was complete. When the stimulus was a pulse of head velocity comprising a dynamic overshoot followed by a plateau, gain was partially restored and symmetry completely restored within 30 days after the plug, but only for the plateau response. The overshoot in eye velocity remained asymmetric. The asymmetry was independent of stimulus velocity throughout the known linear velocity range of primary vestibular afferents. Sinusoidal rotation at 0.05–8 Hz revealed that, within this range, the persistent asymmetry was significant only at frequencies above 2 Hz. Asymmetry was independent of the peak head acceleration over the range of 50–500°/s2. When both horizontal canals were plugged, a small residual VOR was observed, suggesting residual signal transduction by plugged semicircular canals. However, transduction by plugged canals could not explain the enhancement of the VOR gain, at high frequencies, for rotation away from the plugged side compared with rotation toward the plug. Also, the high-frequency asymmetry was present after recovery from a unilateral labyrinthectomy. These results suggest that high-frequency asymmetry after unilateral damage is not due to residual function in the plugged canal. The findings are discussed in the context of a bilateral model of the VOR that includes central filtering.
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  • 12
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 129 (1999), S. 483-493 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Vestibulocollic reflex ; Short-latency pathways ; Vestibulospinal and reticulospinal pathways ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The purpose of this review is to assess the role of short-latency pathways in the vestibulocollic reflex (VCR). First the current knowledge about the disynaptic and trisynaptic pathways linking semicircular canal and otolith afferents with cat neck motoneurons is summarized. We then discuss whether these pathways are sufficient or necessary to produce the responses observed in neck muscles by natural vestibular stimulation and conclude that they are neither. Finally, alternate pathways are considered, most likely involving reticulospinal fibers, which are an important part of the neural substrate of the VCR.
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  • 13
    ISSN: 1432-0568
    Keywords: Key words Claustrum ; Visual cortex ; Visual zones Comparative anatomy ; Rat ; Guinea pig ; Rabbit ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The retrograde axonal transport method was used to compare the topography and organization of the visual zone of the claustrum in rat, guinea pig, rabbit and cat. First, massive Fluoro-Gold injections were placed into the primary visual cortex and the secondary areas. Experiments showed differences in the location of the visual zone among the animals under study. In rat, the visual zone occupied the posteroventral part of the claustrum and spread to its anterior pole. In guinea pig, neurons projecting to the visual cortex were located dorsally in the posterior half of the claustrum. In rabbit, similarly to the rat, they were localized in the posteroventral part; however, they did not reach the anterior pole. In cat, neurons that project to the visual cortex were concentrated dorsally in the posterior fourth of the claustrum. In double-injection experiments, Fast Blue and Diamidino Yellow were placed into the primary and secondary visual areas in various combinations. The experiments showed that in the rat and the rabbit claustral neurons project to primary visual cortex (area 17) as well as to both secondary visual areas (areas 18a and b). Populations of neurons sending axons to the primary and secondary areas showed full overlap. The presence of double-labeled neurons indicates that some claustral neurons project both to the primary and secondary fields. In cat, neurons that project to the primary visual cortex appear to be clearly separated from those connected with the secondary visual area, as no double-labeled neurons were found. In all studied species, the double injections placed into the visual and primary somatosensory cortex did not result in any double-labeling neurons. Our results indicate that the location of the visual zone in the posterior part of the claustrum is a phylogenetically stable feature, whereas its dorsoventral shift as well as the extent toward the anterior pole is related to the particular species. The overlap of neurons projecting to the primary and secondary visual areas in the rat and rabbit as well as the separation of both projections in cat appear to reflect the higher degree of complexity of the visual system in the latter.
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  • 14
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Positron emission tomography ; Articular nociception ; Cerebral blood flow ; Joint inflammation ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  In cats the global (gCBF) as well as the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and blood pressure were measured before, during, and after noxious inward and outward rotations of normal and inflamed elbow joints. The animals were anesthetized with halothane and immobilized by gallamine triethiodide. The gCBF as well as the rCBF were measured using positron emission tomography (PET) with a camera specifically designed for use in small animals. Slow intravenous bolus injections of 15O-labeled water were followed by 3-min acquisition of regional radioactivity starting at the time of injection. In all experiments the gCBF as well as the blood pressure were increased by noxious inward-outward rotations of the normal and of the inflamed joint, whereas the blood pressure and the rCBF remained unchanged during bolus injections under control conditions (without any joint movement). Movements of the inflamed joint evoked significantly greater increases in blood pressure and gCBF than corresponding ones of the normal joint. These increases in gCBF were paralleled by increases in rCBF along the complete anterior to posterior axis of the brain. Again, the increases in rCBF were larger, more extensive and more uniform following the stimulation of the inflamed joint relative to the results obtained with stimulation of the normal joint. No significant laterality was seen, but when an atlas-based region of interest (ROI) analysis was carried out and when the individual variations in rCBF were removed with two-way ANOVA, significant differences were disclosed in rCBF between the stimulated condition and the resting condition in a large number of brain regions. In particular, noxious rotation of the normal (right) elbow joint induced a significant increase in rCBF over the cerebral cortex and in the right thalamus and hippocampus. The same stimulation of the (left) inflamed joint induced a significant increase in rCBF throughout the brain; the biggest increase being over the right posterior cortex. It is concluded that under the conditions of the present experiments the generally accepted autoregulation of the cerebral blood flow is not fully functioning, and various factors that may be responsible for this failure (which obscures rCBF differences) are discussed. The more pronounced increases in rCBF when moving inflamed joints instead of normal ones is thought to be a direct consequence of the peripheral sensitization of the articular nociceptors and the consequent central hyperexcitability induced in the articular nociceptive pathways.
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  • 15
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    Springer
    Experimental brain research 122 (1998), S. 175-184 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Balance ; Sensorimotor transformation ; Neck proprioception ; Vestibular system ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  This study examined (1) how changes in head position affect postural orientation variables during stance and (2) whether changes in head position affect the rapid postural response to linear translation of the support surface in the horizontal plane. Cats were trained to stand quietly on a moveable platform and to maintain five different head positions: center, left, right, up, and down. For each head position, stance was perturbed by translating the support surface linearly in 16 different directions in the horizontal plane. Postural equilibrium responses were quantified in terms of the ground reaction forces, kinematics, dynamics (net joint torques), body center of mass, and electromyographic (EMG) responses of selected limb and trunk muscles. A change in head position involved rotation of not only the neck but also the scapulae and anterior trunk. Tonic EMG levels were modulated in several forelimb and scapular muscles but not hindlimb muscles. Finally, large changes in head orientation in both horizontal and vertical planes did not hamper the ability of cats to maintain postural equilibrium during linear translation of the support surface. The trajectory of the body’s center of mass was the same, regardless of head position. The main change was observed in joint torques at the forelimbs evoked by the perturbation. Evoked EMG responses of forelimb and scapular muscles were modulated in terms of magnitude but not spatial tuning. Hindlimb responses were unchanged. Thus, the spatial and temporal pattern of the automatic postural response was unchanged and only amplitudes of evoked activity were modulated by head position.
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  • 16
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    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 122 (1998), S. 203-213 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Saccadic suppression ; Corollary discharge ; Visually evoked potential ; Striate cortex ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Visually evoked potentials (VEPs) measured under conditions of retinal image stabilization that minimized the influences of visual masking and smearing were averaged from electroencephalographic records measured from striate cortex of three cats. The amplitudes of the VEPs increased around saccade initiation. The grating-evoked potentials obtained at different times relative to the saccade exhibited changes in waveform shape that could be attributed to a saccade-evoked potential. The changes in the shape of the waveform were reasonably accounted for by the summation of the grating-evoked potential (produced when the cat did not make a saccade) and an appropriately timed saccade-evoked potential. The fundamental amplitudes of the residual potentials were computed and found to vary across the time course of the saccade. These observations suggest that there are other influences besides visual masking that are exerted early in the visual pathway to modulate visual processing during saccadic eye movements. A corollary discharge process is the most likely candidate to exert these influences.
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  • 17
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 122 (1998), S. 214-226 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Visual perception ; Three-dimensional motion ; Motion disparity ; Size change ; Posteromedial lateral suprasylvian cortex ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The neuronal responsiveness to three-dimensional (3D) motion in cat posteromedial lateral suprasylvian (PMLS) cortex was studied using a computer-controlled, stereoscopic 3D graphic display capable of reproducing the major visual cues for natural 3D motion, including motion disparity, size, texture, and shading changes. The animals were anesthetized with nitrous oxide supplemented with alphaxalone, and paralysis prevented eye movement. Systematic investigation of neuronal responsiveness to 3D motions in 26 different directions revealed that more than half of the PMLS cells were selectively responsive to approaching (AP cells, 112 of 271) or recessive motion (RC cells, 64 of 271). The remaining cells were selectively responsive to frontoparallel motion (FP cells, 49 of 271) or nonselectively responsive to motion in multiple directions (NS cells, 46 of 271). The dependency on these visual cues was investigated as a reduction in the response amplitude or the response selectivity for the removal of a single cue from the motion stimuli containing the full visual cues. The AP and RC cells showed a strong dependency on the motion disparity cue, moderate dependency on the size cue, and weak dependency on the texture and shading cues. The FP cells showed no dependency on those visual cues. The cue dependency analysis indicated the existence of nonlinear interactions between those visual cues. Comparison of the responses to a combination of the motion disparity and size cues with the summed responses to each of the individual cues revealed that the responses to the combined cues are roughly predicted as a linear sum between the preferred responses. This comparison also showed nonlinear summation between the nonpreferred responses, i.e., responses to the combined cues were smaller than the summed responses. A similar quasilinear summation of the preferred responses between the two eyes and a nonlinear summation of the nonpreferred responses were found in the AP and RC cells for the motion disparity stimulus. All of these observations indicate that quasilinear and nonlinear interactions of the responses to various stimulus elements underlie the 3D motion responsiveness of the PMLS cells.
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  • 18
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    Experimental brain research 119 (1998), S. 391-398 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Mechanoreceptor ; Axoplasm ; Muscle spindle ; Colchicine ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The experiments reported here demonstrate that the mechanical sensitivity of peripheral nerve fibres typically seen after injury can be induced without overtly injuring the nerve, but by simply applying colchicine topically to the nerve. In cats anaesthetised with pentobarbitone sodium, the medial gastrocnemius nerve was exposed and 10 mM colchicine applied topically for 15 min. The animals recovered from the operation normally and showed no subsequent motor deficit. Six days later animals were re-anaesthetised, a laminectomy carried out and responses recorded in single afferents at the level of the dorsal root. It was found that many afferents, particularly those with conduction velocities in the group II–III range, had become sensitive to local mechanical stimulation of the nerve in the region treated with colchicine and showed slowly adapting responses to stretch of the nerve. Many of the smaller fibres exhibited spontaneous activity. Mechanically sensitive afferents exhibited impulse conduction blocks at the colchicine-treated site. Some afferents, which appeared to conduct impulses normally through the treated region, were associated with muscle receptors having normal response properties. However, other muscle receptors were clearly abnormal and were insensitive to muscle stretch or contraction or exhibited only phasic responses. When the nerve was cut proximal to the colchicine-treated site, some, but not all, spontaneous activity was abolished. It was subsequently shown using a collision technique that the activity in some axons had its origin in the cell body in the dorsal root ganglion. In one experiment, it was shown that after nerve section proximal to the colchicine-treated region three of five axons switched their activity from a peripheral to a central origin. It is postulated that colchicine disrupts fast axonal transport of mechanically sensitive or voltage-sensitive ion channels, from the cell body to the peripheral terminals of the axons, leading to an accumulation of these channels at the treated site. This induces mechanical sensitivity and spontaneous activity. It is postulated that interruption of a retrogradely transported signal induces the spontaneous activity in the cell body. These experiments suggest that an important influence is exerted by the cell body on the peripheral terminals of mechanoreceptors to confer on them their normal response properties.
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  • 19
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    Experimental brain research 118 (1998), S. 1-13 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Nerve injury ; Retrograde reaction ; Spinal cord ; Electron microscopy ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The aim of this electron-microscopic study was to analyze the distribution of synaptic contacts on the cell bodies and dendrites of permanently axotomized adult cat spinal α-motoneurons. Following transection and ligation of the medial gastrocnemius nerve, the synaptic covering of the cell bodies and three different dendritic compartments of homonymous α-motoneurons was analyzed quantitatively at 3, 6, and 12 weeks postoperatively. The synaptic boutons were classified according to their size and the shape of their synaptic vesicles. On the soma, a transient increase in the number of boutons was noted at 3 weeks and 6 weeks postoperatively, while after 12 weeks the bouton number had decreased to half of its normal value. The transient increase was mainly due to an increase in the number of F-type boutons. At 12 weeks postoperatively, the synaptic covering was reduced by 83% on the soma and by 57% on the proximal dendrites. In the distal dendritic regions, the values for synaptic covering remained largely unchanged. In summary, axotomized motoneurons exhibit a reduction in synaptic covering which is maximal on the cell body and becomes less pronounced centrifugally along the dendrites. However, if also taking into account the loss of distal dendritic branches that occurs in axotomized motoneurons, the total loss of boutons is several times larger in the dendrites than on the soma.
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  • 20
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    Experimental brain research 118 (1998), S. 14-18 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Subcutaneous formalin ; Dorsal horn ; Nociception ; Central neuronal changes ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  In our previous report we found that subcutaneous (s.c.) formalin injection into the cutaneous receptive field (RF) of dorsal horn wide-dynamic-range (WDR) units and nociceptive primary afferent units resulted in a tonic, long-lasting increase in firing. However, s.c. formalin injection only resulted in a short-lasting increase in firing of non-nociceptive primary afferent units. In the present study, by using extracellular single-unit recording techniques we further studied effects of s.c. formalin on response properties of identified superficial-layer nociceptive-specific (NS) units and deeper-layer, low-threshold mechanoreceptive (LTM) units of L7 dorsal horn in urethane-chloralose-anesthetized cats. s.c. formalin injection into the RF of NS units resulted in a tonic, long-lasting increase in firing (7.08 ± 0.42 spikes/s, n = 5), for more than 1 h, compared with the spontaneous background (1.42 ± 0.03 spikes/s, n = 5). Formalin injection into the RF of LTM units also resulted in an increase in firing; however, the duration was short-lasting, for 25–520 s (152.92 ± 46.73 s, n = 12). The present study demonstrated that s.c. injection of dilute formalin solution resulted in activation of not only nociceptive but also non-nociceptive dorsal horn units, suggesting that tissue injury caused by s.c. formalin results in vigorous injury discharges of peripheral nerve terminals, which subsequently leads to activation of primary afferent neurons and secondary dorsal horn neurons.
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  • 21
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Ultrastructure ; Immunohistochemistry ; Bouton ; Synaptic input ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The dendritic tree constitutes more than 93% of the receptive membrane area of a spinal motoneuron, yet little is known about its synaptic inputs. In this study we examined the distribution of glutamate-, GABA- and glycine-like immunoreactivity in boutons apposing dendrites in the L7 spinal cord motor nucleus, by use of postembedding immunohistochemistry on serial sections. We examined 799 boutons apposing 401 cross-sectioned dendrites of different calibre (range 0.2–15 µm), and 14 first-order (stem) dendrites. Thirty-five percent (35%) of the boutons were immunopositive for glutamate and 59% for GABA and/or glycine. Among the latter, 30% showed glycine immunoreactivity only and 24% were immunoreactive for both GABA and glycine. Very few were immunoreactive only for GABA (5%). As few as 6% of the boutons were judged as not enriched for any amino acid analysed. The fine structural characteristics of the boutons were in accordance with previous descriptions. The sample of dendrites was arranged in calibre bins in order to facilitate distribution analysis. Stem dendrites differed from the other bins, with a high total bouton covering (61%) and a high bouton density. Sixty-nine percent of the membrane covering was by glycine- and/or GABA-immunoreactive boutons, whereas 18% was covered by boutons enriched in glutamate. For non-stem dendrites, bouton covering fell from 33% to 12% with decreasing calibre. However, bouton apposition length decreased in parallel, yielding a fairly uniform bouton density among dendrites of different calibre. The lack of correlation between packing density and dendrite calibre was also evident when the sample of dendrites was broken down into subsamples based on content of amino acid immunoreactivity. The latter analysis also revealed that both the relative covering and density of boutons containing inhibitory amino acids (57%; glycine and/or GABA) and glutamate (38%), respectively, did not vary systematically with dendrite calibre. Combined, the data indicate that in non-stem dendrites the proportion of excitatory and inhibition inputs does not change systematically throughout the dendritic arborizations of spinal α-motoneurons. Thus, spinal motoneurons can, with respect to the general synaptic architecture, be divided into two main compartments, i.e. the proximal soma-juxtasomatic compartment (including stem dendrites) and the distal dendritc compartment. The proximal domain is under a powerful glycine and/or GABA influence. Finally, based on the data presented here and previously published data, it was calculated that spinal α-motoneurons receive in the range of 50–140×103 synaptic boutons.
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  • 22
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    Experimental brain research 119 (1998), S. 39-46 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Spinal cord ; Spinocervical tract ; Interneurones ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The possibility of collateral segmental actions of spinocervical tract (SCT) neurones upon interneurones with input from cutaneous and group II muscle afferents was investigated in deeply anaesthetized cats. To this end, intracellular and/or extracellular recordings were made from 35 dorsal horn and 15 intermediate zone interneurones in midlumbar segments of the spinal cord and effects of stimulation of the ipsilateral dorso-lateral funiculus (DLF) at C3 and C1 levels, i.e. below and above the lateral cervical nucleus where axons of SCT cells terminate, were compared. The stimuli applied at the C3 segment were within the range of stimuli (50–100 μA) required for antidromic activation of SCT neurones in the same experiment. Those applied at the C1 segment (200–500 μA) were at least 3 times stronger than C3 stimuli. Under the same experimental conditions, long ascending and descending tract neurones (dorsal spino-cerebellar and rubro-spinal tract neurones) with axons in the DLF were activated at similar thresholds from the C1 and C3 segments. Intracellular recordings were made from 29 interneurnoes of which 19 (65%) were dorsal horn and 10 (35%) were intermediate zone interneurones. Excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) evoked by single stimuli applied at the C3 segment, but not the C1 segment, were found in 14 (48%) of those interneurones; their latencies (3.0–5.7 ms) and frequency following with only minimal temporal facilitation were as required for potentials being evoked monosynaptically by the fastest conducting SCT neurones. Extracellular recordings were made from 30 interneurones (24 dorsal horn and 6 intermediate zone interneurones), and in these neurones spike potentials induced from the C3, but not from the C1 segment, were evoked only by short trains of stimuli. However, their latencies from the first effective stimulus (4.3–5.4 ms) were compatible with mono- or oligosynaptically mediated collateral actions of SCT neurones. They were found in 10 (33%) of the 30 investigated interneurones. Similar effects of C3 stimuli were found in similar proportions of dorsal horn interneurones and intermediate zone interneurones. Indications were also found for synaptic actions evoked by C3 stimuli that could not be attributed to direct collateral actions of SCT neurones. In some intracellularly recorded dorsal horn interneurones, short-latency EPSPs were evoked from the C3 segment by the 2nd or 3rd stimulus in the train, but not by single stimuli. In other dorsal horn and intermediate zone interneurones, inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) were evoked from the C3 segment at minimal latencies (2.7–3.2 ms), which might be too short to allow their mediation via SCT neurones. We conclude that SCT neurones might be used to forward information from muscle group II and cutaneous afferents not only to neurones in the lateral cervical nucleus and via them to thalamus and cerebral cortex but also to interneurones in spinal reflex pathways. Thereby reflex actions evoked from group II and cutaneous afferents might be co-ordinated with responses mediated by supraspinal neurones. We conclude also that dorsal horn and intermediate zone mid-lumbar interneurones might contribute to the previously reported di-and poly-synaptic excitation or inhibition of postsynaptic dorsal column (PSDC), spinothalamic tract (STT) and spinomesencephalic tract (SMT) neurones by collateral actions of SCT cells. Thereby these interneurones might contribute to the co-ordination of responses mediated by various populations of supraspinal neurones.
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  • 23
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Cortical microcircuits ; Relative modulation ; Push-pull mechanism ; Simple cell ; Cascaded inhibition ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The robust behavior, the degree of response linearity, and the aspect of contrast gain control in visual cortical simple cells are (amongst others) the result of the interplay between excitatory and inhibitory afferent and intracortical connections. The goal of this study was to suggest a simple intracortical connection pattern, which could also play a role in other cortical substructures, in order to generically obtain these desired effects within large physiological parameter ranges. To this end we explored the degree of linearity of spatial summation in visual simple cells experimentally and in different models based on half-wave rectifying cells (’’push-pull models’’). Visual cortical push-pull connection schemes originated from antagonistic motor-control models. Thus, this model class is widely applicable but normally requires a rather specific design. On the other hand we showed that a more generic version of a push-pull model, the so-called cascaded inhibitory intracortical connection scheme, which we implemented in a biologically realistic simulation, naturally explains much of the experimental data. We investigated the influence of the afferent and intracortical connection structure on the measured linearity of spatial summation in simple cells. The analysis made use of the relative modulation measure, which is easy to apply but is limited to moving sinusoidal grating stimuli. We introduced two basic push-pull models, where the order of threshold nonlinearity and linear summation is reversed. Very little difference is observed with the relative modulation measure for these models. Alterative models, like half-wave squaring models, were also briefly discussed. Of all model parameters, the ratio of excitation to inhibition in the simple cell exerts the most crucial influence on the relative modulation. Linearity deteriorates as soon as excitatory and inhibitory inputs are imbalanced and the relative modulation drops. This prediction was tested experimentally by extracellular recordings from cat area 17 simple cells and we found that about 62% showed a significant deviation from linear behavior. The problem that individual basic push-pull models are hard to distinguish experimentally led us to suggest a different solution. In order to generically account for the observed behavior (e.g., imbalance of excitation versus inhibition), we suggested a rather generic version of a push-pull model where it no longer mattered about (the hard-to-distinguish) fine differences in connectivity. Thus, we introduced a new class of biophysically realistic models (’’cascaded inhibition’’). This model class requires very little connection specificity and is therefore highly robust against parameter variations. Up to 25 cells are connected to each target cell. Thereby a highly interconnected network is generated, which also leads to disinhibition at some parts of an individual receptive field. We showed that the performance of these models simulates the degree of linearity and its variability in recal simple cells with comparatively high accuracy. This behavior can be explained by the self-regulating properties of a cascaded inhibitory connection scheme by which the balance between excitation and inhibition at a given cell is improved by the joint network effects. The virtues and the generic design of this connection pattern, therefore, allow to speculate that it is used also in other parts of the cortex.
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  • 24
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    Experimental brain research 122 (1998), S. 339-350 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Fictive locomotion ; Proprioception ; Flexor reflex ; Spinal cord ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The generation of locomotor-like spinal rhythms has been proposed to involve two neural centres with mutual reciprocal inhibition (Graham Brown’s ”half-centre” hypothesis). Much later a particular set of segmental flexor reflex pathways were described as being organized in accordance with this half-centre hypothesis. As these pathways became operative following injection of monoaminoxidase inhibitors and l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-dopa), i.e. under the same conditions under which a spontaneous locomotor activity may develop, it was assumed that these particular pathways and spinal rhythm generators involve the same neuronal networks. In order to give further evidence to this hypothesis, we investigated whether short trains to ”flexor reflex afferents” (FRA) reset the spinal locomotor rhythm, i.e. shorten or lengthen the stimulated cycle after which the regular rhythm is resumed with step cycles of the original duration. The experiments were performed in anaemically decapitated, high-spinal curarized cats. A steady locomotor rhythm was induced by injection of nialamide and l-dopa and the influence of electrical stimulation (trains of 50–1000 ms) of FRA (joint, cutaneous, and group II and III muscle afferents) onto this rhythm was tested. Stimulation of FRA induced a clear resetting of the locomotor rhythm, which was mainly characterized by a flexion reflex pattern: during the extension phase the extensor activity was interrupted and a flexion phase was initiated; during the late flexion phase mainly a prolongation of that phase with a variable change of the following extension phase was induced. In addition to this prevailing pattern, stimulation of some nerves (in particular nerves to more distal extensors and the sural nerve) could often prolong extension, when stimulated during the late extension, or terminate the flexor burst and initiate a new extension phase, when stimulated during the late flexion phase. This pattern is probably due to the concomitant stimulation of group I afferents in the case of the muscle nerves and to separate non-FRA pathways in the case of the sural nerve. The results demonstrate that the interneurones of the FRA pathways, which are operative during l-dopa-induced locomotion in spinal animals, can be considered as neuronal elements of the rhythm-generating network for locomotion.
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  • 25
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Motor nucleus ; EMG ; Muscle architecture ; Muscle fiber ; Caudofemoralis ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Feline caudofemoralis (CF) is a promising preparation in which to study the properties of mammalian fast-twitch skeletal muscle, but little is known about its muscle fiber properties, architecture, and motor innervation. We used histochemical techniques to confirm that it contained predominantly type IIB fibers (95±2%, n=8, with six of eight muscles composed exclusively of type IIA and IIB fibers), but physiological experiments showed less fatiguability than for the type IIB component of medial gastrocnemius. This may be related to the surprisingly strong and regular recruitment of CF during repetitive tasks such as walking and trotting, which we demonstrated electromyographically. We measured muscle length over the anatomical range of motion for CF (∼0.6–1.2 L 0) and estimated working length during walking and trotting (∼0.95–1.15 L 0). The specific tension was similar to that of the exclusively slow-twitch soleus muscle (31.2±4.7 N/cm2 compared with 31.8±4.1 N/cm2; P〉0.8). Single fiber dissections of CF revealed a series-fibered architecture with a mean of 2.3 fibers, each 2.5 cm long, required to span the fascicle length. We identified two neuromuscular compartments in CF by cutting one of the two nerve branches innervating CF and depleting the glycogen stores in the intact motor units. These compartments were in parallel and extended the length of the muscle; their electromyographic activity was similar during various natural behaviors. CF and gluteus maximus motoneurons were labeled concurrently with a combination of fluorescent, retrograde tracers including Fluororuby, Fluorogold and Fast Blue. The CF motor nucleus was located in L7-S1, overlapping and intermingling extensively with the nucleus of the adjacent gluteus maximus muscle. Distributions of CF motoneuron diameter revealed one large peak around 50–55 µm, with relatively few small-diameter (less than 35 µm) cells. Using estimates of the total number of fibers in three muscles and the estimated number of α-motoneurons for those same muscles, we calculated a mean innervation ratio of ∼270, which is at the low end of the innervation ratios for type IIB motor units from other feline muscles and more similar to type IIA motor units. In general, CF appears to be a useful preparation in which to study the properties of fast-twitch muscle, but these properties may vary somewhat from type IIB fibers from different muscles.
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  • 26
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Spinal inhibition ; Interneurons ; Micturition ; Bladder-sphincter dyssynergia ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Micturition in the decerebrate cat is characterized by a coordinated bladder contraction and a simultaneous decrease in external urethral sphincter (EUS) efferent activity. Without the suppression of EUS activity, voiding is significantly impaired, resulting in a state sometimes referred to as bladder-sphincter dyssynergia. The aim of the present study was to determine whether glycinergic inhibition contributes to the suppression of EUS activity during micturition evoked by bladder distension or electrical stimulation of the pontine micturition center (PMC) in decerebrate cats. Using subconvulsive intravenous doses of strychnine (0.1–0.24 mg/kg), we examined changes in bladder and EUS electroneurographic (ENG) activity during micturition. Following subconvulsive doses of strychnine, tonic EUS ENG activity increased during bladder filling in five of six animals. In the presence of strychnine, it was possible to evoke reflex bladder contractions of similar duration and peak pressure to those observed before strychnine administration. However, there was an absence of suppression of EUS ENG activity during the bladder contractions in all the animals. To determine whether the changes in sphincter activity could be due to strychnine acting at glycine receptors on EUS motoneurons, sacral spinal tissue was processed for a structural protein (gephyrin) associated with the glycine receptor. Motoneurons in Onuf′s nucleus in S1 were identified using choline acetyltransferase immunohistochemistry and subsequently processed with a gephyrin monoclonal antibody. Abundant gephyrin labeling was evident throughout Onuf′s nucleus. Since Onuf′s nucleus is made up of EUS and other motoneuron populations, a sample of antidromically identified urethral and anal sphincter motoneurons were intracellularly labeled with tetramethylrhodamine dextran (TMR-D) and then processed with the gephyrin antibody. Using dual-beam confocal microscopy, gephyrin immunoreactivity was observed on the soma and proximal processes of individual EUS motoneurons in both male and female animals. It was concluded that a strychnine-sensitive mechanism contributes to the suppression of sphincter activity normally observed during voiding. Although glycinergic inhibition may affect several components of the circuitry responsible for micturition, it appears that the suppression of EUS motoneurons during micturition may be partly due to a direct glycinergic inhibition of the EUS motoneurons.
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  • 27
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    Experimental brain research 119 (1998), S. 315-323 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Stance posture ; Balance ; Epaxial muscles ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  This study examined the role of trunk extensor muscles in the thoracic and lumbar regions during postural adjustments in the freely standing cat. The epaxial extensor muscles participate in the rapid postural responses evoked by horizontal translation of the support surface. The muscles segregate into two regional groups separated by a short transition zone, according to the spatial pattern of the electromyographic (EMG) responses. The upper thoracic muscles (T5-9) respond best to posteriorly directed translations, whereas the lumbar muscles (T13 to L7) respond best to anterior translations. The transition group muscles (T10-12) respond to almost all translations. Muscles group according to vertebral level rather than muscle species. The upper thoracic muscles change little in their response with changes in stance distance (fore-hindpaw separation) and may act to stabilize the intervertebral angles of the thoracic curvature. Activity in the lumbar muscles increases along with upward rotation of the pelvis (iliac crest) as stance distance decreases. Lumbar muscles appear to stabilize the pelvis with respect to the lumbar vertebrae (L7-sacral joint). The transition zone muscles display a change in spatial tuning with stance distance, responding to many directions of translation at short distances and focusing to respond best to contralateral translations at the long stance distance.
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  • 28
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    Experimental brain research 119 (1998), S. 324-332 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Vertebral column ; Antigravity support ; Scapula ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  This study examined the configuration of the vertebral column of the cat during independent stance and in various flexed positions. The range of motion in the sagittal plane is similar across most thoracic and lumbar joints, with the exception of a lesser range at the transition region from thoracic-type to lumbar-type vertebrae. The upper thoracic column exhibits most of its range in dorsiflexion and the lower thoracic and lumbar in ventroflexion. Lateral flexion is limited to less than 5° at all segments. The range in torsion is almost 180° and occurs primarily in the midthoracic region, T4-T11. Contrary to the depiction in most atlases, the standing cat exhibits several curvatures, including a mild dorsiflexion in the lower lumbar segments, a marked ventroflexion in the lower thoracic and upper lumbar segments, and a profound dorsiflexion in the upper thoracic (above T9) and cervical segments. The curvatures are not significantly changed by altering stance distance but are affected by head posture. During stance, the top of the scapula lies well above the spines of the thoracic vertebrae, and the glenohumeral joint is just below the bodies of vertebrae T3-T5. Using a simple static model of the vertebral column in the sagittal plane, it was estimated that the bending moment due to gravity is bimodal with a dorsiflexion moment in the lower thoracic and lumbar region and a ventroflexion moment in the upper thoracic and cervical region. Given the bending moments and the position of the scapula during stance, it is proposed that two groups of scapular muscles provide the major antigravity support for the head and anterior trunk. Levator scapulae and serratus ventralis form the lateral group, inserting on the lateral processes of cervical vertebrae and on the ribs. The major and minor rhomboids form the medial group, inserting on the spinous tips of vertebrae from C4 to T4. It is also proposed that the hypaxial muscles, psoas major, minor, and quadratus lumborum could support the lumbar trunk during stance.
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  • 29
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    Experimental brain research 119 (1998), S. 333-344 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Disparity sensitivity ; Binocular interactions ; Superior colliculus ; Stereopsis ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Cells in the superficial layers of the superior colliculus of the cat have mainly binocular receptive fields. The aim of the present experiment was to investigate the sensitivity of these cells to horizontal spatial disparity. Unit recordings were carried out in the superficial layers of the superior colliculus of paralyzed and anesthetized cats. Centrally located receptive fields were mapped, separated using prisms, and then stimulated simultaneously using two luminous bars optimally adjusted to the size of the excitatory region of the receptive fields. Only binocular cells were tested, and 65% of these units were found to be sensitive to spatial disparities. Some cells (20%) were clearly insensitive to spatial disparity and the remaining 15% showed complex, unclassifiable interactions. The sensitive cells could be divided into four classes based on their disparity-sensitivity profiles: 38% showed excitatory interactions, whereas 9% showed inhibitory interactions. Moreover, 11% and 7% of the cells responded, respectively, to crossed or uncrossed disparities, and were classified as near cells and far cells. Whereas the general shapes of the sensitivity profiles were similar to those of cells in areas 17–18, selectivity in the superior colliculus was significantly coarser. The superficial layers of the superior colliculus project topographically to the deep layers of the superior colliculus, which are known to contain circuits involved in the control of ocular movements. The results thus suggest that disparity-sensitive cells of the superior colliculus could feed information to these oculomotor neurons, allowing for the localization and fixation of objects on the appropriate plane of vision.
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  • 30
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Antagonist neck muscles ; Eye movements ; Unilateral vestibular neurectomy ; Visual substitution ; Motor strategies ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in neck muscle and eye movement responses during the early stages of vestibular compensation (first 3 weeks after unilateral vestibular neurectomy, UVN). Electromyographic (EMG) activity from antagonist neck extensor (splenius capitis) and flexor (longus capitis) muscles and eye movements were recorded during sinusoidal visual and/or otolith vertical linear stimulations in the 0.05–1 Hz frequency range (corresponding acceleration range 0.003–1.16 g) in the head-fixed alert cat. Preoperative EMG activity from the splenius and longus capitis muscles showed a pattern of alternate activation of the antagonist neck muscles in all the cats. After UVN, two motor strategies were observed. For three of the seven cats, the temporal activation of the individual neck muscles was the same as that recorded before UVN. For the other four cats, UVN resulted in a pattern of coactivation of the flexor and extensor neck muscles because of a phase change of the splenius capitis. In both subgroups, the response patterns of the antagonist neck muscles were consistent for each cat independently of the experimental conditions, throughout the 3 weeks of testing. Cats displaying alternate activation of antagonist neck muscles showed an enhanced gain of the visually induced neck responses, particularly in the high range of stimulus frequency, and a gain decrease in the otolith-induced neck responses at the lowest frequency (0.25 Hz) only. By contrast, for cats with neck muscle coactivation, the gain of the visually induced neck responses was basically unaffected relative to preoperative values, whereas otolith-induced neck responses were considerably decreased in the whole range of stimulation. As concerns oculomotor responses, results in the two subgroups of cats were similar. The optokinetic responses were not affected by the vestibular lesion. On the contrary, otolith-induced eye responses showed a gain reduction and a phase lead. Deficits and short-term changes after UVN of otolith- and semicircular canal-evoked collic and ocular responses are compared.
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  • 31
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    Experimental brain research 121 (1998), S. 319-333 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Spinal cord ; Synaptic inhibition ; GABAA receptors ; GABAB receptors ; GABA antagonists ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  In pentobarbitone-anaesthetised spinal cats, a comparison was made of the effects of intravenous bicuculline hydrochloride, a GABAA-receptor antagonist, and several (-)-baclofen (GABAB-receptor) antagonists (CGP 35348, 46381, 56999A) on the prolonged inhibition of extensor-muscle monosynaptic reflexes, recorded from lumbar ventral roots, by brief or continuous tetanic stimulation of low-threshold afferent fibres of hindlimb flexor muscles. Two components of brief tetanus inhibition were detected. Whilst possibly of similar central latency, the inhibition associated with GABAB receptors had a longer time course than that reduced by bicuculline. Furthermore, whereas bicuculline reduced primary afferent depolarization, generated by the inhibitory volleys, and detected as dorsal-root potentials, such potentials were generally enhanced by intravenous baclofen antagonists. The inhibition of reflexes during and after continuous (333 Hz) tetanic flexor-nerve stimulation appeared to be predominantly associated with the activation of GABAB receptors. In the period following continuous tetanic flexor-nerve stimulation, during which monosynaptic extensor reflexes were reduced in amplitude, the action potentials of the intraspinal terminations of extensor-muscle group-Ia afferent fibres were reduced in duration, as detected by the time course of the recovery of the threshold to extracellular microstimulation following the arrival of an orthodromic impulse. A reduction in termination action-potential duration also accompanied the reduction by microelectrophoretic (-)-baclofen of the release of excitatory transmitter from group-Ia terminations, both presynaptic effects being blocked by microelectrophoretic baclofen antagonists. However, the reduction of the duration of the action potential of individual group-Ia terminations, which followed continuous flexor-nerve stimulation, was not sensitive to the baclofen antagonist CGP 55845A, but was diminished by bicuculline methochloride. Intravenously administered bicuculline hydrochloride, however, had little or no effect on the inhibition of reflexes following continuous flexor-nerve stimulation. These observations are discussed in the context of possible intraspinal pathways and pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms for GABAA and GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition of the monosynaptic excitation of spinal motoneurones and of the functional significance of central GABAB receptor-associated inhibitory processes, given the relatively minimal effects on motor activity and behaviour produced by baclofen antagonists that penetrate the mammalian blood-brain barrier.
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  • 32
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Retrorubral nucleus ; A8 ; Oro-facial dyskinesia ; Striatum ; GABA ; Bicuculline ; Muscimol ; DPI (3 ; 4 dihydroxy-phenylimino)-2-imidazoline ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Orofacial dyskinesia (OFD) is a disorder characterized by involuntary movements of the oral and facial muscles. OFD attacks can be elicited acutely in cats by local injections of dopaminergic agents into the anterodorsal part (r-CRM) of the caudate nucleus. Because the dopaminergic A8 cell group, being embedded in the retrorubral nucleus (RRN), gives rise to fibres which terminate in the r-CRM, two questions arose: (1) whether the A8 cell group forms part of the circuitry that directs and/or modulates OFD, and (2) whether GABA-ergic compounds in the RRN play a role in OFD, and if so, whether a pharmacological GABA-ergic intervention of the activity in the RRN modulates or mediates OFD. For this purpose, the activity of the RRN was manipulated with local injections of the GABAA agonist muscimol and antagonist bicuculline. These local injections into the RRN were subsequently combined with manipulations of dopamine transmission in the r-CRM with local injections of the selective DAi receptor agonist (3,4-dihydroxyphenylimino)-2-imidazoline. The present study shows that local injections of GABA-ergic compounds into the RRN do not elicit OFD attacks in cats, but can modulate oral behaviour elicited from the r-CRM. The latter effect is dose dependent and GABA-ergic specific.
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  • 33
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Cell & tissue research 293 (1998), S. 285-291 
    ISSN: 1432-0878
    Keywords: Key words Muscle ; Masseter ; Biceps ; P blood group ; CD77 ; Galactose ; Cat ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  There is evidence that glycans carrying terminal galactose residues are differently expressed in the sarcoplasm of different muscle fiber types. In this study monoclonal antibodies directed against P blood group antigens Pk: Galα1–4Galβ1–4Glcβ- and P1: Galα1–4Galβ1–4GlcNAcβ- were used to detect terminal α-galactosylated glycoconjugates on muscle proteins. Electrotransfer of proteins, extracted from human masseter and biceps muscles, to nitrocellulose after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and incubation with anti-Pk (CD77) consistently showed two bands with apparent molecular weights of 66 kDa and 64 kDa. In fresh frozen muscle sections from some humans there was endothelial reaction with anti-CD77 in capillaries, venules and veins but not in arterioles and arteries. In muscle samples from other humans there was no staining of endothelial cells. Formalin-fixed human muscle displayed a CD77 reaction with highest accumulation of reaction product at the periphery of the fibers. This may be explained by the presence of Pk glycoconjugates on intermediate filaments in muscle fibers. In preparations of cat masseter muscle proteins the antibodies against P1Pk antigens reacted with a 170 kDa and a 55 kDa band while in preparations of cat biceps brachii only a 55 kDa band was reactive. The specificities of the antibodies were investigated by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS), α- and β-galactosidase digestion and inhibitory sugars. This study indicates that glycans carrying Galα1–4Galβ1- epitopes are expressed on myofibrillar associated proteins.
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  • 34
    ISSN: 1573-899X
    Keywords: Cat ; striate cortex ; internal connections ; horseradish peroxidase
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Studies were carried out on the organization of the internal connections of the striate cortex in cats in the projection zone of the center (0–5°) of the field of vision by microintophoretic application of horseradish peroxidase to electrophysiologically identified orientational columns. The area containing neurons showing retrograde labeling in most cases extended in the mediolateral direction. Labeled cells were located in the upper (II, III) and lower (V, VI) layers of the cortex, and the shapes and orientations of the areas containing labeled neurons in these layers coincided. Spatial asymmetry was detected in the distribution of labeled neurons relative to the orientational column studied. Labeled cells were located predominantly medial to the columns, regardless of the distance from the projection of the area centralis. Considering the visuotopical map of field 17, the asymmetry detected here provides evidence that neurons in orientational columns have more extensive connections with neurons of the peripheral part of the cortex. An asymmetrical distribution of “silent” zones around the receptive fields of neurons in orientational columns is suggested, and that these appear to receive influences from the periphery of the visual field.
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  • 35
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: folding type-specific secondary structure propensities ; amino acids ; α-helical proteins ; β sheet proteins ; α/β proteins ; α+β proteins ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Folding type-specific secondary structure propensities of 20 naturally occurring amino acids have been derived from α-helical, β-sheet, α/β, and α+β proteins of known structures. These data show that each residue type of amino acids has intrinsic propensities in different regions of secondary structures for different folding types of proteins. Each of the folding types shows markedly different rank ordering, indicating folding type-specific effects on the secondary structure propensities of amino acids. Rigorous statistical tests have been made to validate the folding type-specific effects. It should be noted that α and β proteins have relatively small α-helices and β-strands forming propensities respectively compared with those of α+β and α/β proteins. This may suggest that, with more complex architectures than α and β proteins, α+β and α/β proteins require larger propensities to distinguish from interacting α-helices and β-strands. Our finding of folding type-specific secondary structure propensities suggests that sequence space accessible to each folding type may have differing features. Differing sequence space features might be constrained by topological requirement for each of the folding types. Almost all strong β-sheet forming residues are hydrophobic in character regardless of folding types, thus suggesting the hydrophobicities of side chains as a key determinant of β-sheet structures. In contrast, conformational entropy of side chains is a major determinant of the helical propensities of amino acids, although other interactions such as hydrophobicities and charged interactions cannot be neglected. These results will be helpful to protein design, class-based secondary structure prediction, and protein folding. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 45: 35-49, 1998
    Additional Material: 6 Ill.
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  • 36
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    Biopolymers 45 (1998), S. 69-83 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: DNA branched junctions ; branch migration ; superhelical torque ; control of DNA structure ; endonuclease VII ; nanomechanical device ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: DNA branched junctions are analogues of Holliday junction recombination intermediates. Partially mobile junctions contain a limited amount of homology flanking the branch point. A partially mobile DNA branched junction has been incorporated into a synthetic double-stranded circular DNA molecule. The junction is flanked by four homologous nucleotide pairs, so that there are five possible locations for the branch point. Two opposite arms of the branched junction are joined to form the circular molecule, which contains 262 nucleotides to the base of the junction. This molecule represents a system whereby torque applied to the circular molecule can have an impact on the junction, by relocating its branch point. Ligation of the molecule produces two topoisomers; about 87% of the product is a relaxed molecule, and the rest is a molecule with one positive supercoil. The position of the branch point is assayed by cleaving the molecule with endonuclease VII. We find that the major site of the branch point in the relaxed topoisomer is at the maximally extruded position in the relaxed molecule. Upon the addition of ethidium, the major site of the branch point migrates to the minimally extruded position. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 45: 69-83, 1998
    Additional Material: 9 Ill.
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  • 37
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: conformation ; aggregation ; κ-carrageenan ; flow field-flow fractionation ; multiangle light scattering ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: The relatively novel combination of flow field-flow fractionation (FFF) and multiangle light scattering (MALS) was employed to study a nondegraded κ-carrageenan in different 0.1M salt solutions. The applicability of the technique was tested, and the effects of salt type and salt composition on the molar mass and radius of gyration were studied. A conformational ordering was induced at room temperature by switching the solvent from 0.1M NaCl (coil form) to 0.1M NaI (helix form). An approximate doubling of the average molar mass and an increase in radius of gyration was then observed, in agreement with results obtained previously using size exclusion chromatography-MALS. This increase in size was attributed to conformational ordering and to the formation of double helices. Severe aggregation was observed above 40% CsI in the 0.1M mixed salt solution of CsI and NaI. This was ascribed to the association of helices into large aggregates. For these large associates, having molar masses of several millions, a reversal of the elution order in flow FFF was detected. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 45: 85-96 1998
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  • 38
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    Biopolymers 45 (1998), S. 119-133 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: conformations of D-alanyl-D-alanine ; β-lactam ; structural overlay ; AMBER force field ; AM1 ; ab initio ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: In this article a conformational analysis of the D-alanyl-D-alanine dipeptide, both charged and neutral, has been carried out. The preferred conformations were determined by means of ab initio and semiempirical quantum, together with empirical force field calculations. The AMBER* force field and the 6-31 + G** and 6-31G** ab initio levels give rise to a coincident minimum energy structure, which, on the other hand, differs from that determined by AM1, 3-21 + G, and 3-21G. The solvent effect on the different charged and neutral conformations have been considered through the AMSOL semiempirical method. A quantification regarding the structural similarities between the different dipeptide conformations and the ampicillin has been performed. The results show that the best overlay is attained by the minimum structure energy obtained by using the 6-31 + G** methodology, which presents a planar amidic nitrogen. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 45: 119-133, 1998
    Additional Material: 5 Ill.
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  • 39
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: chemical oxidation ; cellulose ; conformational transition ; capillary viscosity ; microcalorimetry ; calcium ions ; gels ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: The conformational behavior of different molecular weight fractions of a synthetic C6-oxidized derivative of cellulose were investigated by means of capillary viscometry, CD, and microcalorimetric measurements. Experiments were carried out in the presence of either monovalent or divalent counterions.The experimental data indicated that C6-oxidized cellulose can assume an ordered extended conformation at low ionic strength, induced by the intrachain repulsions of negative charges. This conformation was suggested to be very similar to the fully extended structure of cellulose. In addition to this, upon increasing the ionic strength, a conformational transition of the order-to-disorder type occurred. In fact, the screening of the electrostatic repulsions introduced a number of conformational kinks into the cellulosic backbone, which enabled the polymer to assume a more coiled conformation hence producing less viscous aqueous solutions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 45: 157-163, 1998
    Additional Material: 6 Ill.
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  • 40
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: conformational stability ; biological polyelectrolytes ; enthalpy ; entropy ; conformational transitions ; carrageenan ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: A new method is proposed for the determination of the enthalpy and entropy changes of nonionic origin upon conformational transition of linear biopolyelectrolytes in solution. For all transition midpoints, defined by given temperature and ionic strength, the total free energy change of the system is zero, which means that the nonionic contribution to the free energy change is equal in value and opposite in sign to the polyelectrolytic one. The counterion condensation theory of linear polyelectrolytes provides for the appropriate analytical expression to be used in such calculations. Linear plots of the proper functions of the calculated free energy changes vs the proper functions of temperature allows for the determination of the enthalpic and entropic terms of the nonionic free energy change of transition.The method has been applied to the extensive available data of the ion-induced conformational change of κ-carrageenan, a linear sulfated galactan extracted from seaweeds. The method has proved very successful, with the results showing a remarkable convergency of the enthalpy values for different monovalent counterions. On the other hand, the above approach has made it possible to explain the known effect of counterion specificity on the transition by a small difference in the nonionic entropic contributions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 45: 203-216, 1998
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  • 41
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: uv resonance Raman spectroscopy ; Raman cross section ; hypochromism ; DNA ; deoxynucleoside ; protein ; aromatic amino acid ; virus assembly ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Ultraviolet resonance Raman (UVRR) spectra of H2O and D2O solutions of the nucleoside (dA, dG, dC, dT) and aromatic amino acid (Phe, Trp, Tyr) constituents of DNA viruses have been obtained with laser excitation wavelengths of 257, 244, 238, and 229 nm. Using the 981 cm-1 marker of Na2SO4 as an internal standard, Raman frequencies and scattering cross sections were evaluated for all prominent UVRR bands at each excitation wavelength. The results show that UVRR cross sections of both the nucleosides and amino acids are strongly dependent on excitation wavelength and constitute sensitive and selective probes of the residues. The results provide a library of UVRR marker bands for structural analysis of DNA viruses and other nucleoprotein assemblies. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 45: 247-256, 1998
    Additional Material: 4 Ill.
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  • 42
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: hemoglobin ; hexagonal bilayer ; Lumbricus ; electron microscopy ; three-dimensional reconstruction ; small-angle x-ray scattering ; three-dimensional models ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: The quaternary structure of Lumbricus terrestris hemoglobin was investigated by small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). Based on the SAXS data from several independent experiments, a three-dimensional (3D) consensus model was established to simulate the solution structure of this complex protein at low resolution (about 3 nm) and to yield the particle dimensions. The model is built up from a large number of small spheres of different weights, a result of the two-step procedure used to calculate the SAXS model. It accounts for the arrangement of 12 subunits in a hexagonal bilayer structure and for an additional central unit of cylinder-like shape. This model provides an excellent fit of the experimental scattering curve of the protein up to h = 1 nm-1 and a nearly perfect fit of the experimental distance distribution function p(r) in the whole range. Scattering curves and p(r) functions were also calculated for low-resolution models based on 3D reconstructions obtained by cryoelectron microscopy (EM). The calculated functions of these models also provide a very good fit of the experimental scattering curve (even at h 〉 1 nm-1) and p(r) function, if hydration is taken into account and the original model coordinates are slightly rescaled. The comparison of models reveals that both the SAXS-based and the EM-based model lead to a similar simulation of the protein structure and to similar particle dimensions. The essential differences between the models concern the hexagonal bilayer arrangement (eclipsed in the SAXS model, one layer slightly rotated in the EM model), and the mass distribution, mainly on the surface and in the central part of the protein complex. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 45: 289-298, 1998
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  • 43
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: conformational changes ; vicinal glycosylation ; branched α-l-Rhap(1-2)[β-d-Galp(1-3)]-β-d-Glc1-OMe trisaccharide ; parent disaccharides ; hydrogen bond ; isotope effect ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Conformations of the α-l-Rhap(1-2)-β-d-Glc1-OMe and β-d-Galp(1-3)-β-d-Glc1-OMe disaccharides and the branched title trisaccharide were examined in DMSO-d6 solution by 1H-nmr. The distance mapping procedure was based on rotating frame nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) constraints involving C- and O-linked protons, and hydrogen-bond constraints manifested by the splitting of the OH nmr signals for partially deuteriated samples. An “isotopomer-selected NOE” method for the unequivocal identification of mutually hydrogen-bonded hydroxyl groups was suggested. The length of hydrogen bonds thus detected is considered the only one motionally nonaveraged nmr-derived constraint. Molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics methods were used to model the conformational properties of the studied oligosaccharides. Complex conformational search, relying on a regular Φ,Ψ-grid based scanning of the conformational space of the selected glycosidic linkage, combined with simultaneous modeling of different allowed orientations of the pendant groups and the third, neighboring sugar residue, has been carried out. Energy minimizations were performed for each member of the Φ,Ψ grid generated set of conformations. Conformational clustering has been done to group the minimized conformations into families with similar values of glycosidic torsion angles. Several stable syn and anti conformations were found for the 1→2 and 1→3 bonds in the studied disaccharides. Vicinal glycosylation affected strongly the occupancy of conformational states in both branches of the title trisaccharide. The preferred conformational family of the trisaccharide (with average Φ,Ψ values of 38°, 17° for the 1→2 and 48°, 1° for the 1→3 bond, respectively) was shown by nmr to be stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the nonbonded Rha and Gal residues. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 417-432, 1998
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  • 44
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    Biopolymers 46 (1998), S. 489-492 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: refractive index increment ; proteins ; solvent ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: The refractive index increment of a protein solution is a property not only of the protein, but also of the solvent. This is demonstrated theoretically and confirmed experimentally using analytical interferometry. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 489-492, 1998
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  • 45
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    Biopolymers 47 (1998), S. 1-1 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: No abstract.
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  • 46
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: hepatitis A ; synthetic peptides ; CD ; liposomes ; computational study ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: The present study was undertaken to examine the structural features that may be important to explain the immunogenicity of the (110-121) peptide sequence (FWRGDLVFDFQV) of VP3 capsid protein of hepatitis A virus. A conformational analysis of the preferred conformations by CD and molecular mechanics was carried out. Present results suggest that the interaction with liposomes as biomembrane model induces and stabilizes the amphipathic β-structure of the peptide.To study the contribution of amino acid replacements at the RGD tripeptide as well as the influence of the peptide chain length on peptide conformation, solid-phase peptide synthesis of several peptide analogs was carried out and the peptide conformation was studied using CD spectroscopy. The results show that the RGD sequence is necessary to induce the β-structure in the presence of liposomes. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 45: 479-492, 1998
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  • 47
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    Biopolymers 46 (1998), S. 31-37 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: DNA liquid crystals ; DNA fragments ; screened Coulomb interactions ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: The critical volume fractions pertaining to the formation of DNA liquid crystals were obtained from polarization microscopy, 31P-nmr, and phase separation experiments. The DNA length (approximately one to two times the persistence length 50 nm), ionic strength, and counterion variety dependencies are reported. The cholesteric-isotropic transition is interpreted in terms of the coexistence equations, which are derived from the solution free energy including orientational entropy and excluded volume effects. With the wormlike chain as reference system, the electrostatic contribution to the free energy is evaluated as a thermodynamic perturbation in the second virial approximation with a Debye-Hückel potential of mean force. The hard core contribution has been evaluated with scaled particle theory and/or a simple generalization of the Carnahan-Starling equation of state for hard spheres. For sufficiently high ionic strengths, the agreement is almost quantitative. At lower amounts of added salt deviations are observed, which are tentatively attributed to counterion screening effects. The contour length dependence agrees with a DNA persistence length 50 nm. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 31-37, 1998
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  • 48
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    Biopolymers 46 (1998), S. 245-252 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: gelatin ; gelation ; atomic force microscopy ; interfacial rheology ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Gelation of gelatin under various conditions has been followed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) with the objective of understanding more fully the structure formed during the gelation process. AFM images were obtained of the structures formed from both the bulk sol and in surface films during the onset of gelation. While gelation occurred in the bulk sol, the extent of helix formation was monitored by measurements of optical rotation, and the molecular aggregation was imaged by AFM. Interfacial gelatin films formed at the air-water interface were also studied. Measurements of surface tension and surface rheology were made periodically and Langmuir-Blodgett films were drawn from the interface to allow AFM imaging of the structure of the interfacial layer as a function of time. Structural studies reveal that at low levels of helical content the gelatin molecules assemble into aggregates containing short segments of dimensions comparable to those expected for gelatin triple helices. With time larger fibrous structures appear whose dimensions suggest that they are bundles of triple helices. As gelation proceeds, the number density of fibers increases at the expense of the smaller aggregates, eventually assembling into a fibrous network. The gel structure appears to be sensitive to the thermal history, and this is particularly important in determining the structure and properties of the interfacial films. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 245-252, 1998
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  • 49
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    Biopolymers 48 (1998), S. 65-81 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: nucleotide analogue interference mapping ; phosphorothioate ; group I intron ; interference suppression ; RNA ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: In this review I will outline several chemogenetic approaches used to determine the chemical basis of large ribozyme function and structure. The term chemogenetics was first used to describe site-specific functional group modification experiments in the analysis of DNA-protein interactions. Within the past few years equivalent experiments have been performed on large catalytic RNAs using both single-site substitution and interference mapping techniques with nucleotide analogues. While functional group mutagenesis is an important aspect of a chemogenetic approach, chemical correlates to genetic revertants and suppressors must also be realized for the genetic analogy to be intellectually valid and experimentally useful. Several examples of functional group revertants and suppressors have now been obtained within the Tetrahymena group I ribozyme. These experiments define an ensemble of tertiary hydrogen bonds that have made it possible to construct a detailed model of the ribozyme catalytic core. The model includes a functionally important monovalent metal ion binding site, a wobble-wobble receptor motif for helix-helix packing interactions, and a minor groove triple helix. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 48: 65-81, 1998
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  • 50
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    Biopolymers 48 (1998), S. 83-96 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: nucleic acid ; disulfide cross-link ; structure ; dynamics ; stability ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: In this review I discuss straightforward and general methods to modify nucleic acid structure with disulfide cross-links. A motivating factor in developing this chemistry was the notion that disulfide bonds would be excellent tools to probe the structure, dynamics, thermodynamics, folding, and function of DNA and RNA, much in the way that cystine cross-links have been used to study proteins. The chemistry described has been used to synthesize disulfide cross-linked hairpins and duplexes, higher order structures like triplexes, nonground-state conformations, and tRNAs. Since the cross-links form quantitatively by mild air oxidation and do not perturb either secondary or tertiary structure, this modification should prove quite useful for the study of nucleic acids. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 48: 83-96, 1998
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  • 51
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    Biopolymers 48 (1998), S. 113-135 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: divalent cations ; magnesium ; RNA ; ion binding ; RNA folding ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Divalent cations, like magnesium, are crucial for the structural integrity and biological activity of RNA. In this article, we present a picture of how magnesium stabilizes a particular folded form of RNA. The overall stabilization of RNA by Mg2+ is given by the free energy of transferring RNA from a reference univalent salt solution to a mixed salt solution. This term has favorable energetic contributions from two distinct modes of binding: diffuse binding and site binding. In diffuse binding, fully hydrated Mg ions interact with the RNA via nonspecific long-range electrostatic interactions. In site binding, dehydrated Mg2+ interacts with anionic ligands specifically arranged by the RNA fold to act as coordinating ligands for the metal ion. Each of these modes has a strong coulombic contribution to binding; however, site binding is also characterized by substantial changes in ion solvation and other nonelectrostatic contributions. We will show how these energetic differences can be exploited to experimentally distinguish between these two classes of ions using analyses of binding polynomials. We survey a number of specific systems in which Mg2+-RNA interactions have been studied. In well-characterized systems such as certain tRNAs and some rRNA fragments these studies show that site-bound ions can play an important role in RNA stability. However, the crucial role of diffusely bound ions is also evident. We emphasize that diffuse binding can only be described rigorously by a model that accounts for long-range electrostatic forces. To fully understand the role of magnesium ions in RNA stability, theoretical models describing electrostatic forces in systems with complicated structures must be developed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 48: 113-135, 1998
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  • 52
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: 1H-nmr ; molecular modeling ; peptaibol ; peptide-lipid interaction ; sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles ; trichorzianin TA VII ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Trichorzianin TA VII, Ac0 U1 A2 A3 U4 J5 Q6 U7 U8 U9 S10 L11 U12 P13 V14 U15 I16 Q17 Q18 Fol19, is a nonadecapeptide member of the peptaibol antibiotics biosynthesized by Trichoderma soil fungi, which is characterized by a high proportion of the α,α-dialkylated amino acids, α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib, U) and isovaline (Iva, J), an acetylated N-terminus and a C-terminal phenylalaninol (Pheol, Fol). The main interest in such peptides stems from their ability to interact with phospholipid bilayers and form voltage-dependent transmembrane channels in planar lipid bilayers. In order to provide insights into the lipid-peptide interaction promoting the voltage gating, the conformational study of TA VII in the presence of perdeuterated sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-d25) micelles has been carried out. 1H sequential assignments have been performed with the use of two-dimensional homo- and -heteronuclear nmr techniques including double quantum filtered correlated spectroscopy, homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn, nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy, 1H-13C heteronuclear single quantum correlation, and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation. Conformational parameters, such as 3JNHCαH coupling constants, temperature coefficients of amide protons (Δδ/ΔTNH) and quantitative nuclear Overhauser enhancement data, lead to detailed structural information. Ninety-eight three-dimensional structures consistent with the nmr data were generated from 231 interproton distances and six Φ dihedral angle restraints, using restrained molecular dynamics and energy minimization calculations. The average rms deviation between the 98 refined structures and the energy-minimized average structure is 0.59 Å for the backbone atoms. The structure of trichorzianin TA VII associated with SDS micelles, as determined by these methods, is characterized by two right-handed helical segments involving residues 1-8 and 11-19, linked by a β-turn that leads to an angle about 90°-100° between the two helix axes; residues 18 and 19 at the end of the C-terminal helix exhibit multiple conformations. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 75-88, 1998
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  • 53
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: 9-hydroxyellipticine ; DNA ; CD ; linear dichroism ; resonance light scattering ; intercalation ; drug-drug interactions ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: The binding of 9-hydroxyellipticine to calf thymus DNA, poly[d(A-T)]2, and poly-[d(G-C)]2 has been studied in detail by means of CD, linear dichroism, resonance light scattering, and molecular dynamics. The transition moment polarizations of 9-hydroxyelliptiycine were determined in polyvinyl alcohol stretched film. Spectroscopic solution studies of the DNA/drug complex are combined with theoretical CD calculations using the final 50 ps of a series of molecular dynamics simulations as input. The spectroscopic data shows 9-hydroxyellipticine to adopt two main binding modes, one intercalative and the other a stacked binding mode involving the formation of drug oligomers in the DNA major groove. Analysis of the intercalated binding mode in poly[d(A-T)]2 suggests the 9-hydroxyellipticine hydroxyl group lies in the minor groove and hydrogen bonds to water with the pyridine ring protruding into the major groove. The stacked binding mode was examined using resonance light scattering and it was concluded that the drug was forming small oligomer stacks rather than extended aggregates. Reduced linear dichroism measurements suggested a binding geometry that precluded a minor groove binding mode where the plane of the drug makes a 45° angle with the plane of the bases. Thus it was concluded that the drug stacks in the major groove. No obvious differences in the mode of binding of 9-hydroxyellipticine were observed between different DNA sequences; however, the stacked binding mode appeared to be more favorable for calf thymus DNA and poly[d(G-C)]2 than for poly[d(A-T)]2, an observation that could be explained by the slightly greater steric hindrance of the poly[d(A-T)]2 major groove. A strong concentration dependence was observed for the two binding modes where intercalation is favored at very low drug load, with stacking interactions becoming more prominent as the drug concentration is increased. Even at DNA : drug mixing ratios of 70:1 the stacked binding mode was still important for GC-rich DNAs. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 127-143, 1998
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  • 54
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    Biopolymers 46 (1998), S. 169-179 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: macromolecular carriers ; drug targeting and delivery ; branched chain synthetic polypeptides ; membrane-synthetic polypeptide interaction ; lipid monolayers/bilayers ; polymer therapeutics ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: The surface properties at the air/water interface and the interaction of branched chain polymeric polypeptides with a general formula poly[Lys-(DL-Alam-X1)], where X = Π (AK), Ser (SAK), or Glu (EAK), with phospholipids were investigated. Polylysine derivatives with polycationic (SAK, AK) or amphoteric (EAK) were capable to spread and form stable monomolecular layers. The stability of monolayers at the air/water interface was dependent on the side-chain terminal amino acid residue of polymers and can be described by SAK 〈 AK 〈 EAK order. The area per amino acid residue values calculated from compression isotherms were in the same range as compared to those of linear poly-α-amino acids and proteins. Moreover, these polymers interact with phospholipid monomolecular layers composed of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline (DPPC) or DPPC/PG (PG: phosphatidyl glycerol; 95/5, mol/mol). Data obtained from compression isotherms of phospholipids spread on aqueous polymer solutions at different initial surface pressure indicated that insertion into lipid monolayers for SAK or AK is more pronounced than for EAK. The interaction between branched polypeptides and phospholipid membranes was further investigated using lipid bilayers with DPPC/PG and fluorescent probes located either at the polar surface [1-(4-trimethylammonium-phenyl)-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH) sodium anilino naphthalene sulfonate (ANS)] or within the hydrophobic core (DPH) of the liposome. Changes in fluorescence intensity and in polarization were observed when TMA-DPH or ANS, but not DPH were used. Comparative data also indicate that all three polymers interact only with the outer surface of the bilayer, but even the most marked penetration of polycationic polypeptide (SAK) did not result in alteration of the ordered state of the alkyl chains in the bilayer. Taken together, data obtained from mono- or bilayer experiments suggest that the interaction between branched polymers and phospholipids are highly dependent on the charge properties (Ser vs Glu) and on the identity (Ser vs Ala) of side-chain terminating amino acids. The binding of polymers to the model membranes could be mainly driven by electrostatic forces, but the significant role of hydrophilic properties in case of SAK cannot be excluded. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 169-179, 1998
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  • 55
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: Cα,α-dialkylated glycines ; molecular dynamics ; geometry and conformation ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: The relationship between the local backbone conformation and bond angles at Cα of symmetrically substituted Cα,α-dialkylated glycines (Cα,α-dimethylglycine or α-aminoisobutyric acid, Aib; Cα,α-diethylglycine, Deg; Cα,α-di-n-propylglycine, Dpg) has been investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation adopting flat bottom harmonic potentials, instead of the usual harmonic restraints, for the Cα bond angles. The MD simulations show that the Cα bond angles are related to the local backbone conformation, irrespectively of the side-chain length of Aib, Deg, and Dpg residues. Moreover, the N-Cα-C′ (τ) angle is the most sensitive conformational parameter and, in the folded form, is always larger and more flexible than in the extended one. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 239-244, 1998
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  • 56
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    Biopolymers 46 (1998), S. 319-327 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: methionine ligation ; parathyroid hormones ; biomimetic ligation ; S-methylation ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: In biological systems, both proteolysis and aminolysis of amide bonds produce activated intermediates through acyl transfer reactions either inter- or intramolecularly. Protein splicing is an illustrative example that proceeds through a series of catalyzed acyl transfer reactions and culminates at an O- or S-acyl intermediate. This intermediate leads to an uncatalyzed acyl migration to form an amide bond in the spliced product. A ligation method mimicking the uncatalyzed final steps in protein splicing has been developed utilizing the acyl transfer amide-bond feature for the blockwise coupling of unprotected, free peptide segments at methionine (Met). The latent thiol moiety of Met can be exploited using homocysteine at the α-amino terminal position of a free peptide for transthioesterification with another free peptide containing an α-thioester to give an S-acyl intermediate. A subsequent, proximity-driven S- to N-acyl migration of this acyl intermediate spontaneously rearranges to form a homocysteinyl amide bond. S-methylation with excess p-nitrobenezensulfonate yields Met at the ligation site. The methionine ligation is selective and orthogonal, and is usually completed within 4 h when performed at slightly basic pH and under strongly reductive conditions. No side reactions due to acylation were observed with any other α-amines of both peptide segments as seen in the synthesis of parathyroid hormone peptides. Furthermore, cyclic peptide can also be obtained through the same strategy by placing both homocysteine at the amino terminus and the thioester at the carboxyl terminus in an unprotected peptide precursor. These biomimetic ligation strategies hold promise for engineering novel peptides and proteins. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 319-327, 1998
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  • 57
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    Biopolymers 46 (1998), S. 359-373 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: boundary element method ; DNA electrophoresis ; electrophoretic mobility of DNA ; free solution electrophoretic mobility of DNA ; ion relaxation, DNA electrophoresis ; modeling electrophoresis of polyions ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Boundary element methods are used to model the free solution electrophoretic mobility of short DNA fragments. The Stern surfaces of the DNA fragments are modeled as plated cylinders that reproduce translational and rotational diffusion constants. The solvent-accessible and ion-accessible surfaces are taken to be coincident with the Stern surface. The mobilities are computed by solving simultaneously the coupled Navier-Stokes, Poisson, and ion-transport equations. The equilibrium electrostatics are treated at the level of the full Poisson-Boltzmann equation and ion relaxation is included. For polyions as highly charged as short DNA fragments, ion relaxation is substantial. At .11 M KCl, the simulated mobilities of a 20 base pair DNA fragment are in excellent agreement with experiment. At .04 M Tris acetate, pH = 8.0, the simulated mobilities are about 10-15% higher than experimental values and this discrepancy is attributed to the relatively large size of the Tris counterion. The length dependence of the mobility at .11 M KCl is also investigated. Earlier mobility studies on lysozyme are reexamined in view of the present findings. In addition to electrophoretic mobilities, the effective polyion charge measured in steady state electrophoresis and its relationship to the preferential interaction parameter γgG is briefly considered. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 359-373, 1998
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  • 58
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    Biopolymers 45 (1998), S. 341-346 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: No abstract.
    Additional Material: 5 Ill.
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  • 59
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: diffusional encounter ; Brownian dynamics ; average Boltzmann factor ; acetylcholinesterase ; Poisson-Boltzmann ; electrostatics ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: The utility of the average Boltzmann factor around the active site of an enzyme as the predictor of the electrostatic enhancement of the substrate binding rate is tested on a set of data on wild-type acetylcholinesterase and 18 charge mutants recently obtained by Brownian dynamics simulations. A good correlation between the average Boltzmann factors and the substrate binding rate constants is found. The effects of single charge mutations on both the Boltzmann factor and the substrate binding rate constant are modest, i.e., 〈5 fold increase or decrease. This is consistent with the experimental results of Shafferman et al. but does not support their suggestion that the overall rate of the catalytic reaction is not limited by the diffusional encounter of acetylcholinesterase and its substrate. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 45: 355-360, 1998
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  • 60
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    Biopolymers 45 (1998), S. 469-478 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: molecular dynamics ; hydrated proteins ; crystal structures ; density distributions ; globular proteins ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Using molecular dynamics simulations of fully hydrated proteins and analysis of crystal structures contained in the Protein Data Bank, we develop a transferable set of perpendicular radial distribution functions for water molecules around globular proteins. These universal functions may be used to reconstruct the unique three-dimensional solvent density distribution around every individual protein with a modest error. We discuss potential applications of this solvent treatment in protein x-ray crystallographic refinements and in theoretical modeling. We also present a fast, grid-based algorithm for construction of the perpendicular solvent density distributions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 45: 469-478, 1998
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  • 61
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    Biopolymers 47 (1998), S. 23-29 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: independently folded polypeptide motifs ; miniproteins ; natural target domains ; BBA motif ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: In this paper we present a redesign strategy for the development of uniquely folded polypeptide motifs of less than 40 residues. These mini proteins are based on natural target domains, including the zinc finger domains (BBA motif) Nomenclature corresponds to the defined elements of secondary structure, beginning at the N-terminus of the peptide. Roman lettering refers to a specific motif while Greek characters correspond to the elements of secondary structure within that motif. and the disulfide-rich snake and scorpion toxins (BBB motif). These motifs are designed to act as the molecular framework for the construction of novel functional polypeptides. We will explore the structural determinants of the folded BBA motif, inspired by the zinc finger peptides, in relation to the redesign process. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 47: 23-29, 1998
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  • 62
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    Biopolymers 47 (1998), S. 75-81 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: ion channel ; synthetic peptide ; de novo design ; template-assembled synthetic proteins ; supramolecular assembly ; membrane protein ; planer lipid bilayers ; amphiphilic peptide ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: To create ion channel function by synthetic peptides is a challenge in the de novo design of artificial membrane proteins. Amphiphilic α-helical motifs of ∼ 20 amino acid residues to span lipid bilayers are most often used for the creation of peptide ion channels. Template molecules to tether helical peptides have been employed to obtain more organized pore structures. Approaches to form molecular assembly of peptides in the membranes by hydrogen bonding have been also investigated. We have developed approaches to assemble helices with individual amino acid sequences to construct artificial helical proteins. Using one of these approaches, four helices corresponding to the voltage sensor segments (S4 in repeat I-IV) of the sodium channel were assembled on a peptide template to give a protein having ion channel activity with rectification. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 47: 75-81, 1998
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  • 63
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    Biopolymers 47 (1998), S. 127-142 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: collagen mimetics ; triple helix ; peptoid ; template ; biophysics ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Collagen peptidomimetics have been synthesized as an alternative to natural collagen. The incorporation of unnatural residues such as peptoids in the collagen sequences can demonstrate potent and specific biological activity and enhance the biostability against enzymatic degradation. Furthermore, the use of achiral peptoids simplifies synthetic strategies by reducing racemization problems. The peptoid residue N-isobutylglycine (Nleu) has been successfully incorporated into a series of collagen mimetics composed of Gly-Pro-Nleu, Gly-Nleu-Pro, and Gly-Nleu-Nleu. The discovery of template-assembled collagen mimetics and metal binding ability has laid the foundation for new opportunities in the design of novel collagen mimetic complexes. This review summarizes the synthesis and integrated biophysical analyses of the structures of these collagen mimetics. Solid phase segment condensation techniques have been utilized for the synthesis of the single chain and template-assembled analogues. The characterization of the collagen-like structures has been established by temperature-dependent optical rotation measurements, CD, NMR spectroscopy, and molecular modelling simulations. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 47: 127-142, 1998
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  • 64
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: non-natural amino acid ; peptide ; squarylium dye ; thin film ; poly(3-methylthiophene) ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: We designed a polypeptide that behaves as a photodevice by using a non-natural amino acid with replacement of an α-hydrogen by a squarylium dye and succeeded in syntheses of the non-natural amino acid derivative containing a squarylium and its peptide with trialanine Ala-Ala-Ala. Strong dye-dye interactions were confirmed by absorption and CD spectra for the peptide in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol solution and in water suspension. The non-natural amino acid derivative could be deposited onto a PMeT/Au electrode by the micelle disruption method. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 47: 179-183, 1998
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  • 65
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    Biopolymers 47 (1998), S. 263-263 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: No abstract.
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  • 66
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: electrostatically driven Monte Carlo method ; cluster analysis ; global energy minimum ; perturbed conformations ; conformational space ; lowest energy conformations ; polypeptide chain ; melittin, membrane-bound portion ; Empirical Conformational Energy Program for Peptides 3 ; annealing methods ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: The electrostatically driven Monte Carlo (EDMC) method has been greatly improved by adding a series of new features, including a procedure for cluster analysis of the accepted conformations. This information is used to guide the search for the global energy minimum. Alternative procedures for generating perturbed conformations to sample the conformational space were also included. These procedures enhance the efficiency of the method by generating a larger number of low-energy conformations.The improved EDMC method has been used to explore the conformational space of a 20-residue polypeptide chain whose sequence corresponds to the membrane-bound portion of melittin. The ECEPP/3 (Empirical Conformational Energy Program for Peptides) algorithm was used to describe the conformational energy of the chain. After an exhaustive search involving 14 independent runs, the lowest energy conformation (LEC) (-91.0 kcal/mol) of the entire study was encountered in four of the runs, while conformations higher in energy by no more than 1.8 kcal/mol were found in the remaining runs with the exception of one of them (run 8). The LEC is identical to the conformation found recently by J. Lee, H.A. Scheraga, and S. Rackovsky [(1998) “Conformational Analysis of the 20-Residue Membrane-Bound Portion of Melittin by Conformational Space Annealing,” Biopolymers, Vol. 46, pp. 103-115] as the lowest energy conformation obtained in their study using the conformational space annealing method. These results suggest that this conformation corresponds to the global energy minimum of the ECEPP/3 potential function for this specific sequence; it also appears to be the conformation of lowest free energy. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 117-126, 1998
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  • 67
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    Biopolymers 46 (1998), S. 195-200 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: No abstract.
    Additional Material: 3 Ill.
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  • 68
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    Biopolymers 46 (1998), S. 201-214 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: band broadening ; dispersion ; DNA ; gels ; electrophoresis ; fluorescence recovery ; photobleaching ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: We determined quantitatively the band broadening effect during gel electrophoresis by measuring the longitudinal dispersion coefficient Dx, with a fluorescence recovery after photobleaching setup, coupled to an electrophoretic cell. We carried out measurements as a function of the electric field, the average pore size, and the molecular length of DNA fragments. Our results are in good agreement with the predictions of the biased reptation model with fluctuations described by T. A. Duke et al. [(1992) Physics Review Letters, vol. 69, pp. 3260-3263]. This agreement is observed on single-stranded DNA [persistence length ≅ 4 nm; B. Tinland et al. (1997) Macromolecules, vol. 30, pp. 5763-5765] in polyacrylamide gels and on double-stranded DNA (persistence length ≅ 50 nm) in agarose gels, two systems where the ratio between the average pore size and the Kuhn length is larger than 1. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 201-214, 1998
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  • 69
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    Biopolymers 46 (1998), S. 403-415 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: molecular dynamics ; DNA curvature ; DNA flexibility ; TATA box functionality ; TATA box binding protein (TBP) ; TBP recognition ; TBP binding ; TBP transcriptional activation ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Four 1.5 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed on the d(GCTATAAAAGGG) · d(CCCTTTTATAGC) double helix dodecamer bearing the Adenovirus major late promoter TATA element and three iso-composition mutants for which physical and biochemical data are available from the same laboratory. Three of these DNA sequences experimentally induce tight binding with the TATA box binding protein (TBP) and induce high transcription rates; the other DNA sequence induces much lower TBP binding and transcription. The x-ray crystal structures have previously shown that the duplex DNA in DNA-TBP complexes are highly bent. We performed and analyzed MD simulations for these four DNAs, whose experimental structures are not available, in order to address the issue of whether inherent DNA structure and flexibility play a role in establishing these observed preferences. A comparison of the experimental and simulated results demonstrated that DNA duplex sequence-dependent curvature and flexibility play a significant role in TBP recognition, binding, and transcriptional activation. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 403-415, 1998
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  • 70
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: vibrational CD ; solution conformation ; alanine oligopeptides ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: The solution conformation of a number of small, linear alanine oligomers was investigated via ir (or vibrational) CD (VCD). We find that these oligopeptides assume distinct solution conformations that depend primarily on chain lengths, and to a lesser degree on temperature, ionic strength, and pH. As expected, the longer chain oligomers exhibit more distinct VCD features and, presumably, more stable solution structures. At the level of the hexamer, however, aggregation of the peptide occurs. The fast time scale of VCD allows solution structures to be detected that may not be observable using slower techniques such as various forms of nmr spectroscopy. The VCD results reported here confirm that it is generally possible to obtain conformational information for small, linear homo- and heterooligopeptides via VCD spectroscopy. In this respect, the sensitivity of VCD is similar to that of electronic CD. Furthermore, the temperature dependence of the VCD results indicate that at elevated temperatures, the increasing number of conformational states results in a loss of discernible conformers, and consequently, a broadening and weakening of the VCD features. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 455-463, 1998
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  • 71
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    Biopolymers 47 (1998), S. 5-22 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: hemoproteins ; model systems ; miniaturized proteins ; mimochromes ; helix structures ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: The present paper highlights and reviews current research in the field of hemoprotein models. Hemoproteins have been extensively studied in order to understand structure-function relationships, and to design new molecules with desired functions. A wide number of synthetic analogues have been developed, using quite different approaches. They differ in molecular structures, ranging from simple meso-substituted tetraaryl-metalloporphyrins and peptide-porphyrin conjugates.In this paper we summarize the state of the art on peptide based hemoprotein models. We also report here the approach used by us to develop a new class of molecules, named mimochromes. They can be regarded as miniaturized hemoproteins, because mimochromes are low molecular weight compounds with some structural and functional properties common to those of the parent high molecular weight protein. The basic structure of mimochromes is a deuteroporphyrin ring covalently linked to two helical peptide chains. Two molecules of this series have been fully characterized. All the information derived from their structural analysis has been applied to the design of new analogues with additional functions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 47: 5-22, 1998
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  • 72
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    Biopolymers 46 (1998), S. 503-516 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: discrete charge model of DNA ; dielectric cylinder in water ; effective dielectric constant ; salt effects ; Debye shielding factor ; potential variations in DNA surface ; Boltzmann averaged bending angles ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: We have studied electrostatic properties of DNA with a discrete charge model consisting of a cylindrical dielectric core with a radius of 8 Å and a dielectric constant Di = 4, surrounded by two helical strings of phosphate point charges at 10 Å from the axis, immersed in an aqueous medium with dielectric constant Dw = 78.54. Eliminating the dielectric core makes potentials in the phosphate surface less negative by about 0.5 kT/e. Salt effects are evaluated for the model without a dielectric core, using the shielded Coulomb potential. Smearing the phosphate charges increases their potential by about 2.5 kT/e, due mostly to the self-potential of the smeared charge. Potentials in the center of the minor and major grooves vary less than 0.02 kT/e along their helical path. The potential in the center of the minor groove is from 1.0 to 1.7 kT/e, more negative than in the center of the major groove, depending on dielectric core and salt concentration. So multivalent cations and also larger cationic ligands, such as some antibiotics, are likely to adsorb in the minor groove, in agreement with earlier computations by A. and B. Pullman. Dielectric effects on the surface potential and the local potential variations are found to be relatively small. Bending of DNA is studied by placing a multivalent cation, MZ+, in the center of the minor or major groove, curving DNA around it for a certain length, and calculating the free energy difference between the bent and the straight configuration. Boltzmann averaged bending angles, 〈β〉, are found to be maximal in 0.03M monovalent salt, for a length of about 50 or 25 Å of curved DNA when an MZ+ ion is adsorbed in the minor or the major groove, respectively. When the dielectric constant of water is used throughout the calculation, we find maximal bends of 〈β〉 = 11° for M2+ and 〈β〉 = 16° for M3+ in the minor groove, 〈β〉 = 13° for M3+ in the major groove. The absence of bends in DNA adsorbed to mica in the presence of Mg salts supports the role of Mg2+ in “ion bridging” between DNA and mica. The treatment of the effective dielectric constant between two points outside a dielectric cylinder in water is appended. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 503-516, 1998
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  • 73
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    Biopolymers 47 (1998), S. 63-73 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: protein de novo design ; novel macromolecules ; topological templates ; Template Assembled Synthetic Proteins (TASP) ; biosensors ; protein folding ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: The ultimate goal in protein de novo design is the creation of novel macromolecules with tailor-made receptor, sensory, and catalytic functions. Despite considerable progress in understanding basic rules of secondary structure formation and protein stability, the well-known protein folding problem is still far from being solved and, in general, only a limited number of designed proteins are folded uniquely. In this article the state-of-the-art in protein design is demonstrated on some selected examples, indicating that the construction of protein-like macromolecules mimicking some essential features of natural proteins seems to be within reach. Thus, protein design and mimicry has become an interdisciplinary challenge with most intriguing perspectives. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 47: 63-73, 1998
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  • 74
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    Biopolymers 47 (1998), S. 451-463 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: bacteria ; antibiotics ; linear amphipathic α-helical antimicrobial peptides ; peptide-lipid interactions ; membrane permeation ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: The increasing resistance of bacteria to conventional antibiotics resulted in a strong effort to develop antimicrobial compounds with new mechanisms of action. Antimicrobial peptides seem to be a promising solution to this problem. Many studies aimed at understanding their mode of action were described in the past few years. The most studied group includes the linear, mostly α-helical peptides. Although the exact mechanism by which they kill bacteria is not clearly understood, it has been shown that peptide-lipid interactions leading to membrane permeation play a role in their activity. Membrane permeation by amphipathic α-helical peptides can proceed via either one of the two mechanisms: (a) transmembrane pore formation via a “barrel-stave” mechanism; and (b) membrane destruction/solubilization via a “carpet-like” mechanism. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent studies aimed at understanding the mode of action of linear α-helical antimicrobial peptides. This review, which is focused on magainins, cecropins, and dermaseptins as representatives of the amphipathic α-helical antimicrobial peptides, supports the carpet-like rather the barrel-stave mechanism. That these peptides vary with regard to their length, amino acid composition, and net positive charge, but act via a common mechanism, may imply that other linear antimicrobial peptides that share the same properties also share the same mechanism. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 47: 451-463, 1998
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  • 75
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    Biopolymers 48 (1998), S. 39-55 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: modified nucleotides ; site-specific probes ; RNA structure ; RNA function ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Modified nucleotides can be incorporated site specifically into RNA by the use of total chemical synthesis as well as by use of a variety of recombinant RNA techniques. The range of nucleotide analogues includes modifications to base, sugar, and phosphate for structure-function analysis and for cross-linking studies as well as to answer specific mechanistic questions in RNA catalysis. We describe how RNA containing site-specific modifications are prepared, concentrating in particular on routes involving chemically synthesized oligoribonucleotides, and give examples of their application in studies of the hammerhead and hairpin ribozymes. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 48: 39-55, 1998
    Additional Material: 9 Ill.
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  • 76
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    Biopolymers 48 (1998), S. 29-37 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: amide synthase ; catalytic antibodies ; Diels-Alderase ; ideal catalyst platform ; in vitro selection ; Lewis acid ; modified uridines ; modified RNA ; ribozymes ; SELEX ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: In this manuscript the catalytic ability of RNA is examined and compared to other biopolymers. Despite having considerably fewer catalytically enabling properties when compared to proteins, the power of in vitro selection has allowed for RNA and DNA catalysts to be isolated. RNA catalysis has been expanded by incorporating modified bases to enrich the structural and functional diversity of RNA. Successful examples of new RNA chemistry using base modifications include carbon-carbon bond forming reactions and creation of highly specific active sites that are capable of recognizing small organic molecules without the need for nucleic acid templating or intercalation. In fact, the scope of functional modifications available for use in the RNA platform may eventually surpass those that are found in proteins and there are already hints that well chosen modifications allow nucleic acid catalysts to take advantage of mechanisms not available to selected protein catalysts for similar reactions. The chemical versatility of RNA is just emerging and future research directions will likely entail more creative methods for functional modification that will lead to new catalysts. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 48: 29-37, 1998
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  • 77
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    Biopolymers 48 (1998), S. 137-153 
    ISSN: 0006-3525
    Keywords: RNA ; pseudoknot ; Turnip Yellow Mosaic Virus ; Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus ; Beet Western Yellows Virus ; Simian Retrovirus type-1 ; Hepatitis Delta Virus ; translational frameshifting ; ribozyme ; nmr ; x-ray diffraction ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Recently, several high-resolution structures of RNA pseudoknots have become available. Here we review the progress in this area. The majority of the structures obtained belong to the classical or H-type pseudoknot family. The most complicated pseudoknot structure elucidated so far is the Hepatitis Delta Virus ribozyme, which forms a nested double pseudoknot. In particular, the structure-function relationships of the H-type pseudoknots involved in translational frameshifting have received much attention. All molecules considered show interesting new structural motifs. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 48: 137-153, 1998
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  • 78
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    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 737-748 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: inverse microemulsion polymerization ; MADQUAT ; nucleation ; photopolymerization ; molecular weights ; flocculants ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: The polymerization of inverse microemulsions of 2-methacryloyl oxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride stabilized by a blend of nonionic emulsifiers (a sorbitan sesquioleate and a sorbitan monooleate) and initiated by UV light in the presence of Azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) was investigated. The effect of initiator concentration, light intensity, emulsifier concentration, and dispersed phase weight fraction on the polymerization rate (Rp), number of polymer particles (Np), and polymer molecular weight (Mw) was studied. The application of this process to tubular reactors is discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 737-748, 1998
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  • 79
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    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 1217-1226 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: polypropylene ; pyrene ; two-solute system ; pulse radiolysis ; solute ionic species ; solute excited states ; low-temperature radiolysis ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: A pulse radiolysis study of isotactic polypropylene (PP) film has been carried out with the main aims of investigating charge trapping in an undoped system and solute radical ion generation in an pyrene (Py) doped matrix. In PP, pulse radiolysis gives electron-positive hole pairs. The electron can be stabilized in the undoped system as a trapped electron, et-. The transient absorption spectrum of et- in the near-IR (up to 1800 nm) was observed in the temperature range 30-100 K. This IR absorption was not detected in the case of oxidized PP. In such a matrix electrons can be scavenged by oxidation products generating respective radical-anions (absorption in the UV RANGE, λ 〈 350 nm). In a doped matrix transient absorption bands centered at 450 and 500 nm were observed which can be assigned to the Py radical cation and anion, respectively. The recombination of these ionic species leads to monomer excited-state formation observed during and after the 17 ns pulse. Contrary to the Py-doped polyethylene no excimer emission was detected at room temperature even if Py content in PP was close to 0.02 mol dm-3. The rate of Py radical-ion decay was found to be temperature dependent. Two linear parts of the Arrhenius plot were observed which intersected at ca. 240 K, the glass transition temperature, Tg, for PP. The activation energies calculated for two parts of Arrhenius plot were equal to 111 and ca. 0.78 kJ mol-1 for T 〉 Tg and T 〈 Tg, respectively. Some preliminary results concerning the ionic processes in PP containing two solutes (Py, 3,3′-dimethyldiphenyl) were presented. The mechanism of ionic recombination in PP will be proposed and discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1217-1226, 1998
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  • 80
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    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 1345-1348 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: acid functional ; telechelic ; benzyl alcohol ; poly(ε-caprolactone) ; polymerization ; living ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Additional Material: 2 Ill.
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  • 81
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    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 883-888 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: temperature sensitive ; particle ; emulsion polymerization ; morphology ; adsorption ; enzyme ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Two kinds of temperature-sensitive composite polymer particles were prepared by seeded emulsion copolymerizations of (dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate with 0.14 μm-sized polystyrene and 0.26 μm-sized poly(methylmethacrylate) seed particles. To evaluate the usefulness as a carrier for biomolecules, the enzymatic activities of trypsin adsorbed on these two composite polymer particles were measured at temperatures above and below each lower critical solution temperature (LCST). In both cases, adsorbed trypsin retained its enzymatic activity during repeated adsorption/desorption measurements. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 883-888, 1998
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  • 82
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: (1→6)-2,5-anhydro-D-glucitol ; HPLC ; optical resolution ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: The cyclopolymerization of 3,4-di-O-allyl-1,2 : 5,6-dianhydro-D-mannitol (1) was carried out using BF3·OEt2 and t-BuOK. The polymer obtained by the polymerization with BF3·OEt2 mainly consisted of (1→6)-bonded 3,4-di-O-allyl-2,5-anhydro-D-glucitol as the five-membered constitutional repeating unit, though it contained a small amount of other cyclic repeating units. On the other hand, during the polymerization using t-BuOK, the stereoregular polymer (1→6)-linked 3,4-di-O-allyl-2,5-anhydro-D-glucitol (2) was synthesized via a regio- and stereoselective mechanism. Cleavage of the allyl ether linkage in polymer 2 occurred to produce the polymer consisting of only 2,5-anhydro-D-glucitol units, i.e., (1→6)-2,5-anhydro-D-glucitol (3). Chromatographic enantioseparation of chloroquine and tröger base has been performed on (3,5-dimethylphenyl)carbamate and 4-methylbenzoate derivatives of 3 as a chiral stationary phase for high-performance liquid chromatography. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 901-909, 1998
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  • 83
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    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 939-947 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: fluorine ; perfluoropolyether ; polyester ; segmented ; thermoplastic ; interfacial synthesis ; thermal transitions ; dynamic-mechanical properties ; chemical resistance ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Linear segmented polyesters containing soft perfluoropolyether (PFPE) and hard aromatic segments are obtained by an interfacial polycondensation reaction of an acyl chloride-ended fluorinated prepolymer with various aromatic diphenols in the presence of phase transfer catalysts (PTC) as accelerators. Experimental conditions for reaching high molecular weights are discussed. The calorimetric analysis (DSC) of all the polyesters synthesized shows a typical biphasic morphology, where a very low Tg (〈 -110°C) corresponding to the segregated PFPE moiety, is always accompanied by another Tg or a higher melting temperature, depending on the nature of the hard phase. Dynamic-mechanical analysis (DMA) has been carried out confirming the DSC results and suggesting diversified mechanical behaviors at the various temperatures in line with the amorphous or semicrystalline nature of the polymer. Chemical resistance was finally tested by dipping in several solvents and chemicals. The new polyesters show high contact angles, a moderate swelling in many organic solvents and excellent stability in aggressive hydrolytic environments. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 939-947, 1998
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  • 84
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    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 1919-1928 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: emulsion polymerization ; vinylidene chloride ; kinetics ; sodium lauryl sulfate ; potassium persulfate ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Emulsion polymerization of vinylidene chloride was carried out at 50°C using sodium lauryl sulfate as emulsifier and potassium persulfate as initiator, respectively. Contrary to the results so far reported, the stirring rate did not affect the progress of the polymerization and such an abnormal kinetic behavior as the rate of polymerization suddenly drops in the course of polymerization was not observed. The number of polymer particles produced was proportional to the 0.7 power of the concentration of emulsifier forming micelles and to the 0.3 power of the initial initiator concentration, respectively, and was independent of the initial monomer concentration. The rate of polymerization was in proportion to the 0.3 power of the concentration of emulsifier forming micelles, to the 0.5 power of the initial initiator concentration, to the 0.2 power of the initial monomer concentration, and to the 0.45 power of the number of polymer particles, respectively. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1919-1928, 1998
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  • 85
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    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 1961-1964 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: Poly(4,4′-phenylene-3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxyimide) ; poly(4,4′-oxydiphenylenepyromellitimide) ; precursor solution ; aprotic polar solvent ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: No abstract.
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  • 86
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    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 1969-1972 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: hydrosilation ; polymer ; siloxane ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: No abstract.
    Additional Material: 2 Ill.
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  • 87
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    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 1995-1999 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: poly-γ-D-glutamic acid ; biopolymer ; covalent modification ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Methods for the covalent modification in aqueous solution of poly-γ-D-glutamic acid from Bacillus licheniformis have been studied. Co-derivatization of a synthetic UV-absorbent amine and ethanolamine, using a water-soluble carbodi-imide coupling agent, yielded a water-soluble modified polymer. Derivatization of the polymer was accompanied by cleavage of the γ-linked polypeptide backbone, and a reduction in molecular mass from 170 to 10 kDa. A procedure was developed for the removal of noncovalently bound ligands by treatment with 5 M CaCl2. The polymer sidechains also reacted in aqueous solution with p-nitrophenyl acetate to form covalent linkages. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 1995-1999, 1998
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  • 88
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    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 2037-2042 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: radical polymerization ; vinylcyclopropane ; vinylsilane ; desilylation ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Synthesis and radical polymerization of novel vinylcyclopropanes; 1-carboethoxy-2-trimethylsilyl-2-vinylcyclopropane (1a) and 1-carboethoxy-2-(1-trimethylsilyl)-vinylcyclopropane (1b), were examined. 1a and 1b were prepared by the coupling reaction of 2-trimethylsilylbutadiene with ethyl diazoacetate, which was prepared from glycine ethyl ester hydrochloride. The radical polymerization of 1a and 1b was carried out at 60°C in bulk for 40 h in the presence of 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (5 mol % vs. monomer). Poly(1) consisted of a 1,5-ring-opened unit. Desilylation reaction of poly(1) proceeded quantitatively in aqueous hydrochloric acid. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2037-2042, 1998
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  • 89
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    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 2021-2027 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: 2,2′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)biphenyl dianhydride ; aromatic polyimides ; solubility ; thermal behavior ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: A new aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydride having a crank and twisted noncoplannar structure, 2,2′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)biphenyl dianhydride, was synthesized by the reaction of 4-nitrophthalonitrile with biphenyl-2,2′-diol, followed by hydrolysis and cyclodehydration. The biphenyl-2,2′-diyl-containing aromatic polyimides having inherent viscosities up to 0.66 dL/g were obtained by the conventional two-step procedure starting from the dianhydride monomer and various aromatic diamines. Most of the polyimides were readily soluble in amide-type solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. The aromatic polyimides had glass transition temperatures in the range of 205-242°C, and began to lose weight around 415°C, with 10% weight loss being recorded at about 500°C in air. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2021-2027, 1998
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  • 90
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    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 2069-2079 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: Candida antarctica lipase ; Novozym 435® ; polyester ; enzymatic polymerization ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Preliminary enzymatic polymerization studies in the simple stoichiometric adipic acid/butane-1,4-diol system using lipase B from Candida antarctica, immobilized as Novozym 435®, suggest that in solvent-free conditions a step-growth mechanism operates involving the sequential addition of an AB synthon by esterification mode only. Conversely, in toluene as solvent there is a change to the more facile transesterification mode in line with the conventional polyesterification procedure, pointing to a change in specificity of the lipase. Evidence is drawn from qualitative studies using a series of synthetic intermediates, enabling authentication of product mixtures together with an indication of the comparative reactivity of species along the proposed reaction pathway. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2069-2080, 1998
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  • 91
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    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 2111-2117 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: dendritic polymer ; blends ; coatings ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Hybrid blends of poly(amidoamine) PAMAM dendrimers with two linear high polymers, poly(vinyl chloride), PVC, and poly(vinyl acetate), PVAc, are reported. The interaction between the blend components was studied using dynamic mechanical analysis, xenon nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and tensile property measurements. The data suggest a much higher degree of interaction between components of PVAc-containing blends compared to those containing PVC. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2111-2117, 1998
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  • 92
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    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 2135-2146 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: SCLC polyurethanes ; azobenzene mesogenic group ; alkyl spacer ; bilayer smectic phases ; hydrogen bonding ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: A series of side chain liquid crystal polyurethanes (CnCNPs), in which the spacer length was varied from 2 to 12 methylene units, were synthesized by the addition polymerization of α-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-ω-(4-cyanoazobenzene-4′-oxy)alkanes (CnCN-diols) with hexamethylene diisocyanate. The liquid crystalline properties of CnCNPs were characterized by means of differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Polyurethanes with spacer length 4 or higher exhibited mesomophic properties. C4CNP and C5CNP exhibited an enantiotropic nematic mesophase, while C6-C12CNPs exhibited enantiotropic bilayer smectic mesophases. CnCNPs have a high tendency to crystallize; crystallization is kinetically controlled. Polyurethane's backbone crystallization is closely related to hydrogen bonding. To establish the role of hydrogen bonding in mesophase formation as well as crystallization, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies of CnCNPs were carried out at different temperatures focusing on H-bonds between the N—H and C=O groups of the urethane backbone. With increasing temperature, C=O and N—H stretching bands were evenly shifted to higher wavenumbers, with two exceptions (C4CNP and C5CNP) discussed in detail in the text. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2135-2146, 1998
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  • 93
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    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 2169-2176 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: free radical ; initiation ; styrene ; acrylonitrile ; copolymerization ; nitroxide trapping ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: The competitive reactions of cyanoisopropyl radicals with the mixed monomers styrene and acrylonitrile have been investigated using the nitroxide radical trapping technique. When the trap concentration is kept low, second, third, and even fourth generation (in terms of successive monomer addition) carbon radicals have been observed as trapped products. The ratio of rate constants for the addition of styrene and acrylonitrile to cyanoisopropyl radicals is 2.7 at 75°C and 5.3 at 105°C. These values are compared with the ratios for reactions of these two monomers with a number of other radicals and discussed in terms of the polarities of the radicals and monomers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2169-2176, 1998
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  • 94
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    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 2193-2200 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: N-phenylated polyamides ; 4,4′-dianilinobiphenyl ; solubility ; thermal behavior ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: New N-phenylated aromatic-aliphatic and all aromatic polyamides were prepared by the high-temperature solution polycondensation of 4,4′-dianilinobiphenyl with both aliphatic (methylene chain lengths of 6-11) and aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides. All of the aromatic-aliphatic polyamides and the wholly aromatic polyamides exhibited an amorphous nature and good solubility in amide-type and chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, except for those aromatic polyamides containing p-oriented phenylene or biphenylylene linkages in the backbone; the latter were crystalline and insoluble in organic solvents except m-cresol. The N-phenylated aromatic-aliphatic polyamides and aromatic polyamides had glass transition temperatures in the range of 79-116°C and 207-255°C, respectively, and all the polymers were thermally stable with decomposition temperatures above 400°C in air. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2193-2200, 1998
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  • 95
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    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 2237-2245 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: NMR ; polysiloxane, polysiloxane-block-polyimide ; solution imidization ; kinetic analysis ; structure analysis ; spin-lattice relaxation time ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: A series of polysiloxane-block-polyimides were synthesized by solution imidization of the polyamic acids derived from the combination of 3,3′,4,4′-diphenylsulfonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (DSDA), 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane (BAPP), and diamino(polysiloxane) (PSX (Mw = 750)) in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Their structures were analyzed by 1H-, 13C-, and 29Si-NMR spectra as well as by IR spectroscopy. The solid-state NMR spectrum was also measured to determine the spin-lattice relaxation time of the copolyimides. The observed relaxation times of both aromatic and polysiloxane segments were similar in the copolyimides having 10-30 wt % of PSX, while those in the copolyimide with 50 wt % of PSX was significantly different. This may be attributed to the morphology change due to the increase in PSX composition in the polymer backbone. The reduced viscosity of the copolyimides could be controlled by changing the monomer ratio in the feed or by adding an end-capping reagent such as phthalic anhydride into the polymerization system. The kinetic study of the solution imidization revealed that the imidization reaction obeyed second-order kinetics. The activation energy calculated for this imidization was 99.2 kJ/mol, being similar to that for the imidization of the DSDA-based aromatic polyimides. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2237-2245, 1998
    Additional Material: 10 Ill.
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  • 96
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    Bognor Regis [u.a.] : Wiley-Blackwell
    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 2229-2235 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: polyarylates ; aromatic polyether ; 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,2-diphenylethanone ; solubility ; thermal behavior ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: New polyarylates having benzopinacolone units were synthesized from 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,2-diphenylethanone and aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides. The polymers having an inherent viscosity of 0.71-0.94 dL/g were obtained by the two-phase method using toluene as an organic solvent. The polymers were easily soluble in various organic solvents and had high glass transition temperatures in the range of 200-240°C. An aromatic polyether having benzopinacolone unit was also prepared. However, its inherent viscosity was low because of the occurrence of a side reaction. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2229-2235, 1998
    Additional Material: 2 Ill.
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  • 97
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    Bognor Regis [u.a.] : Wiley-Blackwell
    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 31-38 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: triblock copolymers ; polycondensations ; telechelic character ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Telechelic oligo(ether-ketone)s containing two trimethylsiloxy end groups and one methyl group per repeating unit were prepared by polycondensation of 4-fluoro-2′-methyl-4′-(trimethylsiloxy)benzophenone. The telechelic character was achieved by cocondensation of a small amount of silylated bisphenol-P. The end groups of the silylated oligo(ether-ketone)s were acetylated by means of acetyl chloride. On the basis of 1H-NMR end group analyses two samples of α,ω-bis(acetoxy) oligo(ether-ketone)s with DP = 14 and DP ∼ 28 were obtained. These oligo(ether-ketone)s and a 70 or 140 fold molar amount of silylated 3,5-bis(acetoxy)benzoic acid were polycondensed at 270°C in bulk. The resulting A-B-A triblock copolymers were fractionated by dissolution in tetrahydrofuran. In three out of four experiments a small fraction of precipitated material rich in oligo(ether-ketone) was isolated. The purified triblock copolymers were characterized by inherent viscosities and NMR spectra. For those samples containing the long oligo(ether-ketone) block a low degree of crystallinity was observed after annealing. Four additional polycondensations were conducted with an initial reaction temperature of 290°C. In this way a completely soluble and amorphous triblock copolymer was obtained. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 31-38, 1998
    Additional Material: 8 Ill.
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  • 98
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: liquid crystalline polymers ; epoxy resins ; thermotropic ; polymer chain extension ; catalytic polyaddition ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: This work is a continuation of the authors' earlier investigations of liquid crystalline epoxy resins prepared from diglycidyl ether of 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl (DGE-DHBP), which was used as a mesogenic agent, and aliphatic dicarboxylic compounds, which were used as flexible spacers. In this paper, the synthesis and characterization of liquid crystalline epoxy resins, prepared from DGE-DHBP and difunctional aromatic compounds are described. Three series of liquid crystalline epoxy resins were prepared by chain extension of DGE-DHBP with isomeric hydroxybenzoic and benzenedicarboxylic acids as well as diphenols. An isophthalic-terminated polyether was applied to decrease the temperature of phase transitions. The syntheses were carried out by catalytic polyaddition in the melt. Triphenylphosphine was applied as the catalyst. The resulting epoxy resins were investigated by DSC, polarizing microscope as well as by X-ray and IR spectroscopy. The phase transition temperatures and the type of mesophase of the resulting products depend on the character of the functional groups in the chain extender and on the position of the functional groups in the aromatic ring. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 21-29, 1998
    Additional Material: 4 Ill.
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  • 99
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    Bognor Regis [u.a.] : Wiley-Blackwell
    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 1987-1994 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: triphenylamine-based bis(o-aminophenol)s ; aromatic polybenzoxazoles ; solubility ; thermal behavior ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Two new triphenylamine-based bis (o-aminophenol) monomers, 4,4′-diamino-3,3′-dihydroxytriphenylamines, were successfully synthesized by the cesium fluoride-mediated condensation of 2-(benzyloxy)-4-fluoronitrobenzene with aniline derivatives, followed by simultaneous deprotection and reduction. Aromatic polybenzoxazoles having inherent viscosities of 0.58-1.05 dL/g were obtained by the low-temperature solution polycondensation of the bis(aminophenol)s with various aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides and the subsequent thermal cyclodehydration of the resultant poly(hydroxyamide)s. All the polybenzoxazoles were amorphous, and most of them were soluble in organic solvents such as m-cresol and o-chlorophenol. Flexible and tough films of polybenzoxazoles could be cast from the DMAc solutions of some aromatic poly(hydroxyamide)s, followed by thermal cyclodehydration. The glass transition temperatures and 10% weight loss temperatures of the polybenzoxazoles under nitrogen were in the range of 262-327 and 610-640°C, respectively. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1987-1994, 1998
    Additional Material: 1 Ill.
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  • 100
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    Bognor Regis [u.a.] : Wiley-Blackwell
    Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 36 (1998), S. 2013-2019 
    ISSN: 0887-624X
    Keywords: asymmetric polymerization ; anionic polymerization ; (2-fluorophenyl)(4-fluorophenyl)(2-pyridyl) methyl methacrylate ; optically active polymer ; helix ; Chemistry ; Polymer and Materials Science
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: A novel racemic methacrylate, (2-fluorophenyl)(4-fluorophenyl)(2-pyridyl)-methyl methacrylate1 (2F4F2PyMA), was synthesized and polymerized with chiral complexes of N,N′-diphenylethylenediamine monolithium amide (DPEDA-Li) with (-)-sparteine (Sp), (2S, 3S)-(+)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-bis(dimethylamino)butane (DDB), and (S)-(+)-1-(2-pyrrolidinylmethyl)pyrrolidine (PMP) in toluene at -78°C. The monomer showed higher resistance against methanolysis compared with triphenylmethyl methacrylate (TrMA) and several other analogues. In the asymmetric anionic polymerization of 2F4F2PyMA, PMP was found to be a more effective chiral ligand than DDB and Sp and gave quantitatively an optically active polymer with nearly perfect isotacticity. Enantiomer selection was observed in the polymerization of racemic 2F4F2PyMA with the chiral lithium complexes. Chiral recognition ability of the optically active poly(2F4F2PyMA) was examined by an enantioselective adsorption experiment. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2013-2019, 1998
    Additional Material: 4 Ill.
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