ALBERT

Notes: The two-state theory of protein denaturation, in which it is assumed that a protein exists as two species, native and denatured, is examined by three approaches in this paper. First, the point is made that denaturation of an isolated molecule involves a continuous shift in the probabilities of occurrence of many states generated by the partition function for the protein. It is argued that the maximum term approximation does not lead to a two-state mechanism of denaturation, and that the extent of cooperation implied by the two-state theory should give very much sharper transitions than are actually found in proteins. Second, the two-state theory is applied to the various model systems treated in this series of papers, and is found to be inadequate. Since the detailed behaviour of the models is known, it is possible to deduce the effect of the incorrect application of the two-state theory to a system that “denatures” by gradual unwinding. This exercise is useful when, thirdly, we examine experimental data that seem to depart radically from a two-state interpretation. We conclude that a mechanism of gradual unwinding is the most generally valid assumption, and that the two-state theory has no theoretical or experimental support.

Notes: Three types of band-forming centerpieces useful in band centrifugation in the analytical ultracentrifuge are described. The mode of filling and the advantages and disadvantages of each type are discussed.

Notes: The ability of periodate-oxidized amylose to form aggregates in aqueous solution was studied by sedimentation, light scattering, and viscosity analyses. Ultracentrifuge schlieren patterns show that aggregation can be appreciable at pH 3.0 and 1.0. The hydroxyl ion-catalyzed degradation of the oxidized amylose is faster at pH 3.0 than at pH 1.0. Viscosity and sedimentation analyses conducted at pH 3.0 show that a minimum in the degree of aggregation of the oxidized molecules is obtained at 15-25% oxidation. Solubulity studies and x-ray diffraction patterns on retrograded amylose show that maximum solubility of the retrograded amylose is obtained by oxidizing to the extent of 25-35%. It was therefore concluded that in the general range of 20-30% periodate oxidation, the oxidized amylose has a minimum ability to form intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Outside of this range, oxidized amylose readily forms aggregates in aqueous solutions.

Notes: Calorimetric measurements of the heat of the addition of the second strand of poly U to poly (A + 2U) to form the three-stranded poly (A + 2U) complex in 0.1M and 0.5M NaCl at 24 and 37°C. are reported. A value of ΔH = -3800 cal./mole of poly (A + 2U) formed was found to be fairly insensitive to the experimental conditions employed. The heat of the addition of the third strand to the preformed poly (A + U) helix is considerably less exothermic than the heat of reaction between poly A and poly U to form poly (A + U). The insensitivity of the heat of addition of the third strand (poly U) to changes in salt concentration and temperature lends qualitative support to the earlier hypothesis that the major portion of the variation of the ΔH of the poly A and poly U reaction with experimental conditions arises from differences in the conformation of poly A. Combining the information obtained in this study for the ΔH of the reaction forming poly (A + 2U) with data for the ΔH of the formation of poly (A + U) indicates that the conversion of poly (A + U) to poly (A + 2U) is opposed by an enthalpy change which increases with temperature. Extrapolation of these values to 52°C. where poly (A + U) is transformed to poly (A + 2U) in 0.5M NaCl leads to a value of ΔH = +3800 cal./mole (A + 2U) formed and ΔS = 11.5 cal./mole of (A + 2U) formed. It is concluded from the calorimetric data that the driving force for the poly (A + U) to poly (A + 2U) conversion reaction is the favorable entropy change.

Notes: The effect of salt type and concentration on the transformation of an oriented crystalline collagen tendon into a crosslinked network under conditions of equilibrium swelling was investigated. Our main observations are the following. The degree of swelling of crystalline tendons increases at low salt concentration Cs, and decreases at higher Cs for a wide variety of salts. The observation is not reconcilable with swelling taking place in interfibrillar spaces or structural voids. Within the tropocollagen units and at their ends, regions of reduced organization are postulated (as suggested by Bear and by Schmitt) which are able to interact with the diluent in the amorphous-like manner. At least four different factors should be considered in assessing the role of salt and salt concentration on the shrinkage temperature Ts under isoelectric conditions. They are: (1) specific effects, (2) diluent effects, (3) crosslinking effects, and (4) nonequilibrium effects. The diluent effects are correlated with the salting-in-salting-out power of the ions which was characterized in Part I of this series. Smaller amounts of diluents are generally available to the tendon when the salt has a higher salting-out power, and this corresponds to higher shrinkage temperatures, other conditions being the same. The crosslinking effect raises Ts due to a reduction of the diluent content and, probably for p-benzoquinone and formaldehyde, also to a reduction of the conformational entropy in the molten state. Nonequilibrium effects arise from the fact that shrinkage and recrystallization are kinetically hindered when the tendon is highly deswollen in strong salting-out solutions, or when the salt has a crosslinking power. The specific effect is the only effect which is not related to the amount of diluent present in the tendon. Its origin is less clear. For anions such as Cl- and SCN-, it is possibly related to an ability of the ion to prevent intersegmental hydrogen bonding and water carbonyl bridges. The competition of several of the above effects for a given salt solution makes possible various types of dependence of Ts upon Cs: Ts may either continuously decrease or continuously increase with increasing Cs, or it may go through a minimum. In absence of salt, the cooperative character of the transition at the pH at which maximum swelling occurs appears extremely reduced. The large swelling maintains the tendon in the elongated state and this simulates a continuous decrease of Ts on lowering pH. In presence of small quantities of salt, which reduce swelling, the transition is sharp and Ts is decreased with pH up to pH 2, when maximum swelling occurs, and then reincreases on further lowering of the pH. The dependence of Ts upon Cs is more complex than under isoelectric conditions. There is generally an increase of Ts with Cs which is equivalent to an increase of the denaturation temperature with Cs for helical polyelectrolytes in solution. At higher salt concentrations, however, Ts may decrease again, and possibly increase again at still higher salt concentrations, depending upon the effect of the salt solution in the isoelectric zone.

Notes: By using the Nemethy-Scheraga theory of water structure, a calculation was made of the energy changes for the rupture of a DH…A solute-solute hydrogen bond in water. A partition function was also obtained for the binding of water and other solutes to the DH and A groups in the special case where these are the NH and CO groups of a random coil polypeptide chain. In subsequent papers of this series, these calculated quantities will be used in a statistical mechanical treatment of the helix-coil transition for polypeptides in water.

Notes: A partition function is derived for a simple model of interacting helices in a short (20 residues) chain of poly-L-alanine. It is found that interhelical hydrophobic bonds effect a marked stabilization of helical forms, and give rise to a sharp transition of the type found in many proteins.

Notes: The electric birefringence of collagen solutions has been measured over a wide range of field strength with the pulse technique. The soluble collagen was from rat tail tendon. The solvent used was dilute acetic acid. Very pronounced saturation of the electric birefringence was observed, permitting calculation of the optical anisotropy factor. The Kerr constant was determined by extrapolation to zero field strength. From the dependence on field strength of the birefringence, the permanent dipole moment and the anisotropy of polarizability were separately determined. The contribution of the former to the Kerr constant was found to be twice as large as that of the latter. The same conclusion was obtained from the initial slope of the rise curves of the birefringence at low fields. The permanent dipole moment was 1.5 × 104 Debye, and the anisotropy of polarizability was about 3 × 10-15 cm.3. The magnitude of the latter indicates that the ion atmosphere polarization is important. Effects of added salt and thermal denaturation on the electric birefringence were explored.

Notes: The γ-benzyl-L-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) polymerization initialed by diisopropylamine was studied in dimethylformamide (DMF)-dioxane mixtures of different compositions. It was found that the shape of the conversion versus time plots and the molecular weights of the polymers depend on the solvent composition. Auto-catalysis is present only when dioxane predominates in the solvent mixtures. Moreover, the molecular weight of the final polymer depends strongly on the precipitation conditions when the polymerization is carried out in DMF.

Notes: Crosslinked synthetic polypeptides of poly Glu51Lys33Tyr16 (mol. wt. 31,000) and of poly Glu52Lys33Tyr15 (No. 3) (mol. wt. 52,000) containing from one to six crosslinks per molecule have been prepared by use of FFDNB, WRK and ICD reagents.The monomeric fractions of these derivatives were isolated by Sephadex G-100 chromatography. The number of crosslinks per molecule of DNPene derivatives was determined by total hydrolysis of the derivatives, isolation of O, N∊-DNPene-Tyr-Lys bridges by paper chromatography and then spectrophotometric quantitation. The number of the amide-type crosslinks in Am derivatives was established by their deamination followed by total hydrolysis and quantitation of the remaining lysine residues. Crosslinked derivatives appear to have a more compact structure, as judged by their behavior on the Sephadex columns and by their intrinsic viscosities. They were further characterized in regard to their amino acid composition, average number of the crosslinks per molecule, nitrogen content, solubility, root-mean-square end-to-end distance, and their spectral properties. Their properties recommend them as useful models for the study of the tertiary structure of proteins in solution.

Notes: The introduction of intramolecular amide bonds into synthetic polypeptides produces molecules with organized spatial structure which are good models for the tertiary structure of proteins. Polarization of fluorescence measurements were used to study the internal structure and the overall rigidity of the intramolecularly crosslinked polypeptides. The graph of [(1/p) + (1/3)] against T/η changes from a straight line to a continuous curve: the temperature at which this change occurs and the slope of the straight line segment measure the stability of the internal structure of the molecule. The introduction of one to six crosslinks produces an organized internal structure that becomes more stable as the number of crosslinks increases. In contrast to the fluorescence measurements, the intrinsic viscosities, reflecting the overall hydrodynamic domain of the molecules, change (decrease) to the same extent whether one, four, or six intramolecular crosslinks are present. The overall rigidity of the polymers can be assessed by the rotational relaxation time ρh and the polarization at 10°C. p10. Both of these criteria show that the presence of six crosslinks significantly increases the rigidity, but one or four does not. The various hydrodynamic measurements may be fitted into a hierarchy of discrimination: intrinsic viscosity, sedimentation, and diffusion for size and shape; rotational relaxation time and polarization of fluorescence at a given temperature for overall molecular rigidity; and transition temperature and rate at which it is attained for internal molecular detail.

Notes: A theory for the dependence of the net thermodynamic solvation of a macroion in an electrolyte solution is presented. The solvation in moles salt/mole macroion is shown to approach - |Zp|/v in the limit of infinite dilution of salt and macroion. The solvation in moles water/mole macroion is shown to approach zero at zero water activity. Isopiestic determinations of the hydration of sodium deoxyribonucleate in NaCl, Na2SO4, and NaClO4 solutions indicate that short-range interactions of the NaDNA with solvent account for more than half of the observed solvation. The net hydration appears to be predominantly influenced only by water activity.

Notes: The cohesive energy densities (CED) of three amylose derivatives have been estimated from viscosity measurements in a range of solvents, by using methods proposed by Mangaraj and Bristow and Watson. The values assigned to the triacetate, (2.5) nitrate, and tricarbanilate are 92 ± 2, 90 ± 2, and 87 ± 2 cal./cc., respectively. The CED of unsubstituted amylose has been measured and found to be 154 ± 4 cal./cc. The results are discussed in relation to solvent power, structure, and possible correlation with the internal pressure of the polymer.

Notes: Viscosity measurements and calculated rotary diffusion constants show that collagen undergoes photopolymerization when irradiated with ultraviolet light of 2537 A. Fibril formation at the same time is inhibited. The results are correlated with the aromatic amino acid content of the dangling peptides protruding from the rigid portion of the macromolecule.

Notes: It is shown how the technique of fluorescence may be used to assess conclusions about conformation which are based on a statistical mechanical treatment of simple protein models. Specifically, the state of bonding and distance between two chromophores in a molecule depend on the overall conformation, which can be computed for model systems. On the assumption that the intensity and polarization of fluorescence are affected by exciton transfer between the chromophores, it is possible to compute the effect of conformation on fluorescence. It is demonstrated that the conformational changes computed in the preceding paper will give rise to marked changes in the intensity and polarization of fluorescence.

Notes: Intrinsic viscosity-temperature studies for isoelectric gelatin in KCl and KSCN aqueous solutions and equilibrium degree of swelling, ν-1, measurements for amorphous crosslinked rat tail tendons in the same solutions were carried out. On increasing salt concentration Cs, both [η] and ν-1 increase, go through a maximum, and then decrease at high Cs, KCl being more effective than KSCN in bringing about this decrease. The trend observed is similar to the variation of solubility of polypeptides and soluble proteins with Cs. By regarding a water-salt solution of a given Cs as a single diluent interacting with the protein modified by solvation and binding of ions, usual polymer solution theories were applied to the experimental results. Thus, quantities related to the entropy and enthalpy components of the excess chemical potential of the diluents were obtained. The data indicate that the initial increase of [η] and ν-1 with Cs results from the balance of an enthalpy component which, on increasing Cs, becomes less favorable to dilution and an entropy component which, conversely, becomes more favorable. The subsequent decrease of [η] and ν-1 with Cs is due to the prevailing of the enthalpy component. The maximum is reached at higher Cs for KSCN than for KCl, primarily because of the large increase in the entropy component operated by the former salt. The increase of the entropy parameter with Cs is associated to a breaking down of the coordinated water structure and to an alteration of the conformation of the macro molecules due to ion-dipole interaction and to ion absorption. The decrease in exothermicity of dilution with Cs indicates a reduced thermodynamic affinity of the diluent toward the polymer which probably results from alteration of the nature of both polymer and diluent.

Notes: Nine samples of poly-γ-benzyl-L-glutamate (PBLG), ranging in M̄w from 19,000 to 410,000, were examined viscomctrically and by ultracentrifugation with dimethylforma-mide (DMF) at 25°C. as helicogenic solvent. The data for [η] and s0 (limiting sedimentation coefficient) as functions of M̄w were fitted well by the theories for a rigid prolate ellipsoid of revolution whose major axis increases linearly with M̄w, but whose minor axis is independent of M̄w. This implies that the overall shape of the PBLG molecule in DMF is represented by a straight cylinder whose cross section is independent of its length. The length per monomeric residue h evaluated from [η] is about 1.3 A., whereas that from s0 is about 1.6 A. No adequate explanation for this difference in h can be found at present. More serious is the fact that these hydrodynamically evaluated values of h are appreciably larger than, the value obtained from our light-scattering measurements reported previously. All these values of h from our studies are not consistent with the value characteristic of the α-helix, for which h is 1.5 A. The concentration dependence of s0 was found to agree well with the recent theoretical prediction of Peterson for cylindrical macromolecules.

Notes: Precipitation of soluble forms of collagen from solutions containing the soluble protein-polysaccharide (PP-L) of bovine nasal cartilage, followed by centrifugation at 100,000 g, resulted in the formation of coherent elastic pellets whose wet weights increased with the concentration of PP-L in the initial solution. Dry weights and uronic acid contents of these pellets showed that the amount of water held in the wet pellet was nearly constant for any one kind and concentration of collagen, and ranged from 20 to 100 mg./mg. PP-L in the pellet. Soluble collagens from four different sources and PP-L from three kinds of cartilage showed similar effects. Precipitation of soluble collagen in the presence of hyaluronate or dextran yielded pellets of much smaller size than those formed in the presence of PP-L. The presence of chondroitin sulfate had only a slight effect on wet pellet weights. Wet weights of pellets formed in the presence of PP-L decreased with increasing ionic strength. A model involving entanglement between insoluble collagen fibrils and the relatively stiff chondroitin sulfate chains of branched PP-L seems qualitatively capable of accounting for these results.

Notes: The conformations of oligopeptides derived from L-alanine and co-oligomers of L-alanine with γ-methyl-L-glutamate were studied in several solvents via optical rotation and far-ultraviolet spectroscopy. Calculated values for optical rotation based on model compounds were compared with experimental values for the oligomers. In trifluoroacetic and dichloroacetic acids, the oligomers and co-oligomers exhibit rotations in close agreement with predicted values based on model compounds. Thus, in these solvents only nonhelical conformations exist. In trifluoroethanol, the experimental points of molar rotation for the pentamer and larger oligomers no longer follow the predicted values. In addition, the benzyloxycarbonyl and acetyl cononamers show b0 values of about -150, which demonstrates the presence of stable helical forms for these peptides. We also examined the molar extinction coefficients of oligopeptides in the 190 mμ region and determined the values for nonhelical peptide groups. The molar extinction coefficients per amide bond for the benzyloxycarbonyl and acetyl cononamers show extensive hypo-chromism, once again indicating the presence of stable helices for these compounds in trifluoroethanol.

Notes: Studies were made of the influence of hydrostatic pressure on the helix-coil transitions of poly (A + U) and poly (A + 2U). The results were analyzed by a thermodynamic treatment which emphasized the cooperative aspect of the transitions. The helix-to-coil volume changes were found to be small and negative indicating pressure stabilization of the coil form. The significance of the results with respect to other denaturation measurements was discussed.

Notes: The optical rotatory dispersion curves of the proflavine cation were measured in the spectral range 400-500 mμ. No optical activity was observed for the free cation but a large positive Cotton effect appeared in the presence of DNA. The effect of ionic strength, denaturation of the DNA, and the DNA/proflavine ratio were studied. The dependence of the magnitude of the Cotton effect on the DNA/proflavine ratio suggests that a nearest-neighbor interaction between bound proflavine molecules is necessary for optical activity. A simple statistical treatment was made which indicated that only a small number of proflavine molecules are required in close proximity for optical activity to occur. Denaturation of the DNA did not destroy the optical activity, which shows that long runs of DNA double helix are not necessary for optical activity of the ligand molecules. The optical rotatory dispersion curves of acridine orange which was bound to DNA were also measured. Two Cotton effects of opposite sense could be distinguished, the relative magnitudes of which depended on the DNA/acridine orange ratio and the state of denaturation of the DNA. The apparent differences from the proflavine-DNA system can to a large extent be explained in terms of the tendency of acridine orange to form aggregates.

Notes: The reaction, V amylose hydrate ⇄ H2O + V amylose dehydrate, where the amylose hydrate and dehydrate are pseudohexagonal, helical species with packing diameters of 13.7 and 13.0 A., respectively, has been studied. The V amyloses were exposed to water vapor pressures at various temperatures, with phase determination obtained by identifying solid reactant and product from their x-ray patterns. Reversibility of reaction was found to occur over a 50-96°C. range. A Clausius-Clapeyron plot yields a ΔH of reaction of 10.4 kcal./mole of water released, which value is close to analogous heats of reaction of many common hydrate systems.

Notes: The thermal helix-coil transition of DNA was studied by means of dielectric constant measurements. The dielectric dispersion of native helical DNA is characterized by a large dielectric increment and a large relaxation time, whereas that of denatured coil DNA is characterized by a small dielectric increment and a small relaxation time. The dielectric dispersion of partially denatured DNA is of particular interest. At the intermediate stage of the helix-coil transition, dispersion curves which are different from either that of helix DNA or that of coil DNA appear. This is particularly pronounced for large DNA. This indicates the presence of an intermediate form of DNA. Flow birefringence measurements were carried out simultaneously. The negative birefringence of helical DNA diminishes as the helix-coil transition proceeds. However, the extinction angle remains constant, as long as it can be measured. These results indicate the absence of intermediate forms during the helix-coil transition. The discrepancy between dielectric and birefringence measurements can be resolved by assuming that the intermediate forms are not birefringent. The size distribution of native DNA and of the indicated intermediate form of DNA was studied. It is found that a logarithmic normal distribution function explains the distribution of size of DNA reasonably well.

Notes: Poly-γ-berizyl-L-glutamate prepared by polymerization of γ-benzyl-L-glutamate NCA in dimethylformamide (DMF) with the use of diisopropylamine as the initiator was precipitated from the polymerization mixture under different conditions. A portion of the almost completely polymerized solution was treated with an excess of isopropylamine and then precipitated into diethyl ether (sample A). The remaining portion of the polymerization mixture was concentrated in a rotating evaporator, stored at room temperature for a few days, and then diluted with DMF and precipitated into diethyl ether (sample B). The molecular weight distributions of the two polymer samples were determined by the chromatographic procedure of Baker and Williams. The molecular weight of sample B is roughly three times that of sample A. However both samples have the “most probable” distribution of molecular weight. The results are interpreted according to Bamford's polymerization mechanism.

Notes: The sedimentation coefficient of T2 phage DNA has been studied by zone centrifugation in sector-shaped preparative centrifuge tubes over a concentration range of 0.02-2.0 μg./ml. DNA. These results have been compared to a similar study in the analytical centrifuge of T4 DNA over the range of 0.50-5.75 μg./ml. DNA. A value for the sedimentation coefficient of 60.7 ± 1.8 S. was obtained by the first method and a value of 61.3 ± 1.5 S. by the second.

Notes: Based on the four electrodes technique, an apparatus is described which measures the Very Low Frequency (VLF) conductivity of ionic solutions, all electrode effects being completely eliminated. It is thus possible to measure the conductivity frequency dependence between 0.8 and 500 cps, with a relative error of 10-4. Applying this method to DNA solutions, one always finds a conductivity dispersion in the VLF range, which disappears when the biopolymer is heat-denatured. The relaxation time is different from one solution to another, but is always greater than 10 msee. approximately, sometimes even greater than 0.1 sec., the upper limit which one can estimate with our apparatus. The different, explanations of the DNA very low frequency polarization, assuming that its relaxation is connected with the rotational diffusion of the biopolymer long axis, is discussed.

Notes: Studies of the properties of copolymers of N-carboxy sarcosine anhydride with other N-carboxy α-amino acid anhydrides have shown that the secondary structure may be a function of the type of initiator used. In particular, when polysarcosine is the initiator, and the “chain effect” becomes possible, blocklike character appears in the copolymer. This is the result of selective and rapid polymerization of N-unsubstituted N-carboxy α-amino acid anhydrides by the chain-effect mechanism. In suitable circumstances, therefore, the latter may be used to induce order into copolymerizations of this type.

Notes: The molecular weight distribution of poly-γ-benzyl-L-glutamate prepared by N-carboxy anhydride (NCA) polymerization with the use of di-n-butylamine, diisopropylamine, and sodium methoxide as initiators was investigated. In every case, narrow distributions were found. Moreover the results allow us to conclude that the same polymerization mechanism is operative with each of the above initiators. The experimental distribution curves show fairly good agreement with the theoretical distributions expected for a polymerization process without termination.

Notes: The influence of counterion radius on the polyelectrolyte behavior of poly-L-cysteate in aqueous solution under different conditions was investigated. A linear relationship was found between a critical concentration in solution of the synthetic charged poly-peptide and the crystallographic radius of different counterions, indicating that the stability of this macromolecule is inversely proportional to the size of the cations.

Notes: X-ray diffraction patterns from dilute solutions of poly-3,5-dibromo-L-tyrosine in dimethylformamide and equivalent concentrations of 2,6-dibromophenol in the same solvent are compared. The intensity difference as a function of scattering angle is indicative of the arrangement of residues in the polymer. A novel averaging procedure is used to compute the intensity patterns arising from regular arrays of bromine atoms. Interbromine spacings measured on a Drieding model of a right-handed α-helix with side groups restricted to rigid positions of maximum stagger give moderate agreement with experiment. Very good agreement with observations is obtained by allowing for a small oscillation of phenyl rings which effectively cancels out the contribution of large distances to the intensity curve.

Notes: Aqueous solutions of ribonuclease and human serum albumin were subjected to periods of controlled heating and the nuclear magnetic spin-lattice relaxation times, T1, of the water protons measured. The heat treatment causes an initial increase in the relaxation times of the water protons. These T1 variations indicate that a configurational change, compatible with a disordering of the protein structure occurs, which involves an increase in various modes of internal mobility. The T1 measurements also indicate a close, ordered association of the water molecules and the protein.

Notes: The melting characteristics of unfractionated yeast s-RNA in neutral aqueous solution have been examined by high-resolution proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. These studies indicate that the bases of s-RNA become rotationally activated at lower temperatures than their associated ribose units. These observations, as well as the recently determined base sequence of an alanine-specific s-RNA, suggest that base complementarity may not be the primary determinant in the stabilization of the secondary structure of s-RNA. In addition, evidence for exchange of C8-protons of purine bases of s-RNA with D2O was obtained at temperatures above 70°C.

Notes: Anomalous optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) is induced in symmetric dyes when bound in metachromatic complexes with chondroitin sulfates (ChS) and kerato sulfate (KS) from mammalian and shark origin as well as with heparin (H) providing inference that secondary structures exist in these biopolymers. The induced rotation occurs in the absorption band of the bound dye and differs in shape and/or spectral position from the classical Cotton effect seen with single optically active chromophores. The AO:ChS complex has an induced ORD curve similar to that of the exciton band of a helical polymer. Strength of the induced rotations with methylene blue increases with the degree of metachromasy of the 1:1 complex. The sense of the MB Cotton effects may depend upon the conformations of the repeating dimeric units, since MB complexes with ChS (alternating 1-3,1-4 β-glycosides) give (+) effects while MB:H (1-4 α-glycosides) have (-) effects in the γ band region. Preliminary evidence for the occurrence of Cotton effects with the mucopolysaccharides themselves in the ultraviolet region was obtained. The sign of the Cotton effect for ChS-C is (-), trough about 45.9 kK., crossover about 48.8 kK. whereas that for H is (+), peak about 50.4 kK.

Notes: Poly-N5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-L-glutamine (PHPG) samples of molecular weights from 20,000 to 140,000 were synthesized by the action of 3-amino-1-propanol on poly-γ-benzyl-L-glutamate. PHPG is freely soluble in water and in a variety of organic solvents and was shown to be devoid of functional groups ionizing in the pH range 2-12. From hydrodynamic data (viscosity, sedimentation, diffusion) and optical rotatory measurements (ORD in the range 289-650 mμ, circular dichroism and Cotton effects in the range 210-280 mμ) on samples of different molecular weight it was concluded that PHPG is largely helical in methanol, ethylene glycol, formamide, dimethylform-amide, n-butylamine, and acetic acid, and randomly coiled in dichloroacetic acid and formic acid. In water the polymer is partly helical, the degree of helicity increasing with decreasing temperature and increasing molecular weight. The following solutes were found to decrease the helicity in the order indicated: NaOH 〉 guanidinium chloride 〉 urea 〉 HCl 〉 LiBr 〉 NaBr 〉 NaCl 〉 H2O. Detergents do not destroy the helical conformation. Helix-coil transition curves were obtained for the solvent pairs: methanol-water, acetic acid-water, and chloroform-dichloroacetic acid. Thermal transitions were observed in water, water-methanol (70:30 v/v), and dichloroacetic acid-ethylene dichloride (22:78 v/v), the latter being of the “inverted” type. Heats of helix formation were calculated and their significance is discussed.

Notes: Polyadenylic acid is degraded into mononucleotides and low molecular weight oligonucleotides in a 20 hr. period at 64°C. by the action of Mn (II), Co (II), Ni (II), and Cu (II) ions, and in a 2 hr. period by Zn (II) ions. The latter also degrade poly C, poly U, and RNA at approximately the same rate, but poly I is degraded very much more slowly. No such difference in reaction rates can be observed in the alkaline degradation of polynucleotides. The sluggishness of the reaction with poly I is not due to any highly ordered structure of the zinc-poly I complex, but probably to the weakening of the zinc-phosphate bond through simultaneous binding of the zinc to the inosine base. Evidence for such a hypothesis is derived from the inhibition of the zinc degradation of poly A by inosinic acid or poly I. No drastic difference in the nucleotide composition of the undegraded residue can be observed in the degradation of RNA by zinc and by alkali.

Notes: Evidence is presented that polyriboadenylic acid (Poly A) is a single-strand flexible helix of stacked bases at neutral pH and room temperature. As the temperature is raised the stacking decreases, but there is still perceptible order at 80°C. The thermal transition from the double-strand helix (which exists at low pH) to the single-strand helix has been followed by optical rotatory dispersion, optical absorption, and viscosity measurements.

Notes: The binding curves of various aminoacridines on calf thymus DNA have been determined by a spectrophotometric method. The dominant role of electrostatic forces in the interaction has been confirmed by the effect of ionic strength. Side chain and ring substituents in the aminoacridines do not inhibit binding, since this decreases in the order: acranil 〉 neomonacrin 〉 atebrin 〉 9-aminoacridine ∼ proflavine 〉 9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine (THA). The last named shows the effect of diminishing the flat area of the rings in the aminoacridines. The shape of the binding curves of proflavine, 9-aminoacridine, and THA on thermally denatured DNA show that about 30-50% more binding sites are available to these cations on denatured DNA than on native DNA, but that the binding constants are the same. These observations are discussed in relation to the intercalation and other models for the interaction. It is concluded that exact and complete intercalation is not a necessary condition of strong binding and that other, less regular, models, in which the positive ring nitrogens of the acridines are close to the DNA phosphates and the acridine rings partially interact with the DNA base rings, are probably more consistent with the effect of denaturation of DNA on the binding curves which are characteristic of the interaction in solution.

Notes: In an attempt to clarify certain questions of the configuration of amylose in aqueous solution, carboxymethyl groups were introduced into corn amylose (degree of substitution ca. 0.8) and certain properties of the derivative (CMA) studied. The intrinsic viscosity exhibits a strong increase between pH 2 and 6 but remains constant at higher pH. A pH 6 and above, CMA exhibits typical polyelectrolyte behavior. CMA does not form a complex with iodine at pH 6 or above but does form a violet-colored complex at low pH. The absorption maximum of the CMA complex lies at a somewhat lower wavelength (550 mμ) than that of the complex formed by the parent amylose. The reduced viscosity and specific optical rotation of the CMA-iodine complex remains constant up to a concentration of 1.2 mg. iodine/100 mg. CMA, then both properties decrease with further increases of iodine content. All of the above results and hydrogen ion titration behavior are in agreement with the hypothesis that CMA exists as a coil of short helical segments in acid solution and that these helical segments break down on ionization of the carboxyl groups. The specific optical rotation of CMA increases between pH 2 and 6, remains constant between pH 6 and 12, and decreases above pH 12. This later result shows that the similar decrease in rotation seen in amylose cannot be attributed, at least entirely, to a helix-coil transition. There must be another effect on optical rotation, direct or indirect, of the ionization of hydroxyl groups.

Notes: A mathematical method has been developed, together with a digital computer program for its evaluation, for the determination of possible conformations of a polypeptide chain for any given amino acid sequence. Allowed conformations were required to satisfy predetermined criteria regarding the locations of potential energy minima for rotation around single bonds, steric restrictions arising from van der Waals contacts between atoms, and the formation of a closed polypeptide loop by means of a peptide linkage or a disulfide bridge. Requirements for specific noncovalent interactions can also be considered. Various assumptions regarding the selection of the minima for rotational potentials and of the van der Waals contact distances are discussed. According to the assumptions adopted in the paper, 21 conformations are allowed for a glycine residue which is part of a dipeptide. These conformations are assumed to lie at minima of the rotational potential function, and satisfy simultaneously the steric requirements. Dipeptides containing alanine or other residues are restricted to 7 such conformations. As an example of the applicability of the method, the computation was performed for the smallest loop containing a disulfide bridge in the ribonuclease molecule, i.e., the cyclic octapeptide formed by residues 65 to 72. Only 15 allowed conformations were found for the loop as a whole. Parameters characterizing these allowed conformations are tabulated. Approximate calculations indicate the importance of steric restrictions and of the presence of side chains in reducing the conformational freedom of this peptide. Further potentialities of the method are discussed.

Notes: The kinetics of renaturation of heat- or formamide-denatured DNA have been studied by following the change of optical density at a constant temperature. Solvents of different ionic strength and various DNA samples have been used. At the lower ionic strengths studied, the reaction follows second-order kinetics, substantiating the hypothesis that strands of native DNA separate upon denaturation and recombine during renaturation. As the ionic strength is increased at a constant temperature, the reaction deviates from simple second-order behavior. This appears to be the result of the inhibition to rewinding caused by short helical segments in the denatured DNA which are more stable at the higher ionic strenth.

Notes: The structure of renatured T4 DNA has been studied by CsCl density-gradient centrifugation. It has been found that the products of the reaction differ, depending on the method used for denaturation of the DNA. If denaturation is carried out without taking precautions to prevent chain degradation, for example, by heat, the DNA formed by renaturation shows approximately 70% recovery of the native structure as judged by its density. With long times of annealing, the DNA can recover the native density. This behavior is also observed with bacterial DNA samples. On the other hand, if precautions arc taken to prevent chain degradation during denaturation, two products appear as a result of renaturation. One of them is undistinguishable from native T4 DNA, whereas the second one consists of highly aggregated DNA which shows only a partial recovery of the native structure. With long times of annealing, this second species recovers the native density but retains its highly aggregated nature. At higher ionic-strengths, renaturation follows a different pattern and a single product is formed. The relevance of all these observations to the kinetic anomalies reported in the previous communication is discussed.

Notes: The axial ratios (a/b) of native and 60 min. ultraviolet-irradiated myosin A molecules were calculated from previously reported sedimentation and diffusion data; values found were a/b = 74, a = 1880 A., and b = 26 A. for native myosin A; a/b = 104, a = 3280 A., and b = 32 A. for 60 min. ultraviolet-irradiated myosin A. Electrophoretic mobilities gave identical values of 3.2 (±0.1) × 10-5 cm.2/v.-sec. for both native and 60 min. ultraviolet-irradiated myosin A. From the prior sedimentation and diffusion data, together with newly obtained electrophoretic data, the net charge Z and the charge density σ of native and ultraviolet-irradiated myosin A molecules were calculated from Henry's equation. The following results were obtained: for native myosin A, Z = 160 negative charges per molecule and σ = 22 coulombs/cm.2; for ultraviolet-irradiated myosin A, Z = 312 negative charges per molecule and σ = 20 coulombs/cm.2. The results of this study provide an experimental demonstration that, the electrophoretic mobility of charged solute particles is dependent upon the particle charge density and not on the absolute charge of the particle.

Notes: Optical rotatory dispersion measurements were made on the oligonucleotides (pA)2, (pA)4, and (pA)6 at neutral pH over the temperature range 5-85°C., and compared to similar data for polyriboadenylic acid. The data were interpreted in terms of a temperature-dependent stacking of the bases in the single-strand oligomers, with very little dependence of the degree of stacking on the chain length. These results can be explained by a theory of cooperative stacking. The degrees of freedom available per residue are rotations about the five backbone covalent bonds and the bond connecting the base to the ribose ring. To nucleate a stacking interaction between neighboring bases the backbone sequence must be ordered as must be the two bases. For this stack to grow by one base a backbone sequence must again be ordered, but only one additional base must be ordered. Thus, the degree of freedom of the base with respect to the ribose ring determines the extent of the cooperative effect and hence the effect of chain length. A matrix formulation of the partition function is presented which incorporates this cooperative nature of the interaction and is shown to be in fair agreement with the data. The entropy of ordering a base with respect to the ribose ring is found to be 0.68 e.u., which suggests that the purine has a torsional oscillation when unstacked, but does not have several isoenergetic positions of internal rotation available. The enthalpy of stacking is found to be -6.5 kcal./mole. A model involving neighbor and next-nearest neighbor interactions could also account for the data. For all practical purposes, the stacking interactions of successive residues can be treated as independent, i.e., the state of one residue is essentially independent of the state of stacking of its neighbors.

Notes: Solutions of calf thymus DNA have been degraded in the presence of vibrating air bubbles in ultrasonic fields of low power which would not normally induce ultrasonic cavitation. The DNA was degraded to a limiting intrinsic viscosity, after which further irradiation by ultrasound had little or no effect. This limiting intrinsic viscosity decreased with increase in the ultrasonic intensity. Previously developed theories have-been adapted to calculate the maximum velocity gradient associated with the streaming of the solution around such vibrating air bubbles. The tensile force which is induced and which acts on the DNA has been calculated on the basis of current theories of degradation by hydrodynamic shear. These calculations indicate that the degradation of the DNA by ultrasound under conditions of “stable cavitation” is mainly the result of the shearing forces engendered in the solution around the oscillating bubbles.

Notes: For infrared absorption measurements, the following five isotopic polyglycines have been prepared: ordinary polyglycine ( - NHCH2CO - )n, N-deuterated polyglycine ( - NDCH2CO - )n, C-deuterated polyglycine ( - NHCD2CO - )n, completely deuterated polyglycine ( - NDCD2CO - )n, and N15-substituted polyglycine ( - 15NHCH2CO - )n. Infrared spectra have been observed both in the I and II forms of each of these five isotopic polyglycines in the spectral region of 4000-300 cm.-1. On the basis of the comparison of these spectra with each other, a nearly complete set of assignments of the observed bands of polyglycines has been given.

Notes: Solutions of calf thymus NaDNA in 0.2M NaCl and CsDNA in 0.2M CsCl (fragmented by sonic irradiation to a molecular weight of about 5 × 105) were examined by electron microscopy, light scattering, and viscosity measurements. Electron microscopy showed that the molecular fragments are rodlike in shape and that the distribution of their lengths is sharp (Lw/Ln ∼ 1.06). The weight-average number of nucleotides Zw per DNA molecule derived from light scattering was found to be in very good agreement with the value Lw derived from electron microscopy. The z-average length Lz derived from light scattering at 25°C. was found to be about 89% of the corresponding value derived by electron microscopy. Similarly, the value of Lw derived from intrinsic viscosity at 25°C. on the basis of a rodlike model was found to be about 87% of the corresponding value derived by electron microscopy. It is concluded that the molecules are slightly flexible and do not, assume their full contour length in solution because of the disorienting effect of Brownian motion. The intrinsie viscosity was found to increase linearly with decreasing temperature toward a limiting value corresponding to the fully stretched length of the macromolecules at 0°K.: a reasonable value for the modulus of elasticity could be calculated. It was also found that, no differences in conformation could be delected in t he two systems CsDNA-0.2M CsCl and NaDNA-0.2M NaCl.

Notes: The Lamm equation has been solved numerically for conditions corresponding to equilibrium runs for a nonlinear concentration dependence of the form s/s0 = (1 + kc)-1. It is shown that the approach to equilibrium is very close to being exponential (in time) as in the case k = 0. We also compare results for the nonlinear case given above with results obtained for linear c-dependence of the form s/s0 = 1 - kc. For relatively high speeds the time required to attain equilibrium may be greatly underestimated by use of the latter approximation. Finally, we present analytic approximations for the concentration distribution at equilibrium and as a function of time.

Notes: A combinatorial formulation of the partition function is developed for short polypeptide chains, where summations can be evaluated. From the complete combinatorial expression it is possible to assess the validity of any approximations which are made in evaluating the partition function. It is shown that it is an excellent approximation to consider the hydrogen-bonded portion of a short (20 residues) chain as consisting of a single helical sequence of any size, with all sizes of helical sequences being about equally probable at the transition temperature. Another approximation, involving a linear dependence of the energy and entropy on the number of hydrogen bonds, helps to clarify the nature of the intermediate states in the denaturation process. Expressions are developed which incorporate the effect of hydrophobic bonds on the stability of the α-helix, and the binding of water to the random coil. It is concluded that hydrophobic bonds in helical sequences can greatly stabilize the helix, but that similar bonds in the random coil can largely offset this stabilization.

Notes: The Lifson-Roig matrix theory of the helix-coil transition in polyglycine is extended to situations where side-chain interactions (hydrophobic bonds) are present both in the helix and in the random coil, as discussed for short chains in paper II of this series. It is shown that the conditional probabilities of occurrence of any number and size of hydrophobic pockets in the random coil can be adequately described by a 2 × 2 matrix. This is combined with the Lifson-Roig 3 × 3 matrix to produce a 4 × 4 matrix which represents all possible combinations of any amount and size sequence of α-helix with random coil containing all possible types of hydrophobic pockets in molecules of any given chain length.

Notes: The method of sequence-generating functions is applied to long polypeptide chains to describe various types of hydrophobic bonding in the random coil. These results are then combined with a similar treatment of the α-helix in order to discuss the helix-coil transition in single helices and in molecules whose helical segments interact by side-chain hydrophobic bonding. Numerical calculations, based on the equations derived in this and preceding papers, are presented to show the relative probabilities of occurrence in the random coil of neighbor-neighbor hydrophobic bonds and pockets of hydrophobic bonding, and the relative probabilities of occurrence of the various states in a system of interacting helices. A discussion is also presented of the dependence of the helix-coil nucleation and growth parameters on solvent and side chain.

Notes: The partition function of paper II for short polypetide chains is incorporated here into one for a simple model for side-chain hydrogen bonds between helices. It is thus possible to calculate the fraction of amide hydrogen bonds, the fraction of side-chain hydrogen bonds, and the number of bound protons as a function of temperature and pH. Illustrative data are presented for the probabilities of occurrence of intermediate structures and for the influence of the overall conformation on the observed pK's of ionizable groups.

Notes: The neighbor-neighbor interactions in the small ribotrinucleotide ApApCp were investigated with the aid of optical rotatory dispersion measurements. This trinucleotide shows a Cotton effect between 220 and 325 mμ, in the region of its maximum ultraviolet absorption. The specific rotation of the trinucleotide is independent of concentration while the magnitude of the Cotton effect (levorotation) decreases markedly with increasing temperature. Such effects were not observed with the component nucleotides alone, in a simulated hydrolysis mixture, nor with the hydrolyzed trinucleotide. The Cotton effect is attributed to perturbation of the nucleotide base chromophores by neighbor-neighbor intramolecular interaction (stacking), without any hydrogen bonding being involved; this interaction decreases with increasing temperature because of increased internal rotational freedom about the single bonds of the backbone chain with an accompanying disruption of the neighbor-neighbor interaction between the bases. This explanation is supported by a statistical mechanical theory of neighbor-neighbor interactions in polynucleotides, involving the forces between the bases. Application of this technique to further studies of polynucleotides and polypeptides is discussed.

Notes: A study of silver-ion binding by nucleic acids and synthetic ribo and deoxyribopolynucleotides, has been carried out by means of potentiometric titration, thermal transition, and difference spectra. It is clearly demonstrated that a strong complex between Ag+ and nitrogen atoms of bases is made reversibly. Binding constants and site numbers are determined for each type of polynucleotide. Base reactivity varies strongly with chain length, and a cooperative phenomenon is found in each case. Two successive complexes with DNA are seen in all the three techniques, and they have the same characteristics as complexes with respectively poly-dGC and poly dAT. In the first complex, Ag+ is linked to four bases, provided two of them are a G-C pair. Calculated and experimental values of site numbers agree very well for DNA of different G-C content. Thermal stabilization occurs simultaneously, and the increase of melting temperature corresponds to calculated changes of stacking energy between base pairs. In the second complex a new ordered structure insensitive to temperature is formed, with simultaneous release of protons. The stoichiometry can be related to base sequence. Complexing with silver increases the resistance of TMV RNA to both temperature and ribonuclease; a tentative explanation is given in the latter case.

Notes: The results of the application of a modified polarographic method to the study of binding of thallous ions in solutions of pepsin are reported. Isoionic solutions of pepsin were converted by using a cation exchange resin to solutions of thallous pepsin. The extent of ion binding was obtained as in the case of cadmium pepsin by assuming that only free, i.e., unbound, ions contribute to the diffusion and migration currents, respectively. However, the relations used previously for computing the degree of ion binding have been refined on the basis of experience acquired in a parallel study of solutions of thallous acrylate and polyacrylate, respectively.

Notes: The electronic absorption and circular dichroism spectra of the complex formed by acridine orange with poly-α,L-glutamic acid in the α-helix conformation have been measured in aqueous solution over a range of glutamate residue-to-dye ratios. Three Cotton effects (circular dichroism bands) associated with the long wavelength absorption band of acridine orange at 4950 A. are induced by complex formation between the dye and the polypeptide, and further circular dichroism bands are observed in the ultraviolet region associated with the 2700 A., but not with the 2950 A. absorption band of the dye. The induced optical activity is found to be relatively insensitive to the glutamate residue-to-dye ratio and to be more dependent upon the ionic strength of the solution. By Measuring the circular dichroism spectrum of the complex in aqueous solution under streaming conditions with the light propagated along the direction of flow the observed circular dichroism bands are assigned to electronic transitions polarized parallel or perpendicular to the axis of the polypeptide α-helix. From the spectroscopic data it is inferred that the dye aggregate in the L-PGA-AO complex has the form of a left-handed superhelix bound to the core of the right-handed α-helix of poly-α,L-glutamic acid. It is shown that the longer and the shorter of the in-plane axes of the dye molecule are probably orientated respectively at a small angle, and radially, with respect to the axis of the α-helix in the complex.

Notes: Three approaches to the simultaneous sedimentation and diffusion of hands or zones of noninteracting homogeneous macromolecules are examined: (1) The authors' method of moments: (2) the transport me of Sehumaker and Rosenbloom; and (3) the stochastic solution of the Lamm equation due to Gehatia and Katehalski. All three methods indicate that the motion of the maximum of the hand may be used to evaluate the sedimentation coefficient. The moment, method provides relations which appear to be useful for measuring diffusion coefficients. Relations are given for the analysis of resolved components. The problem of measuring sedimentation coefficients of macromolecules with concentration-dependent sedimentation coefficients is examined. Methods are described for evaluating the sedimentation coefficient in these systems and for obtaining the sedimentation coefficient at infinite dilution. Methods are described for determining the weight-average sedimentation coefficient in Multi-component systems, and the differential and integral distribution of sedimentation coefficients of macromolecules with low-diffusion coefficients.

Notes: A series of oligomers was synthesized of the form: \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$${\rm Z} \rlap{--} ({\rm Ala} \rlap{--})_n {\rm OEt}$$\end{document} Where Z is the benzyloxycarbonyl group and n = 2, 3, 5, 10. We encountered difficulty in dissolving the decamer in any solvent except strong organic acids. We therefore prepared co-oligomers of the type: where (a) w = x = y = 1; (b) w = 0, x = y = 3; and (c) w = x = y = 3. A series of model compounds composed of glycine L-alamine and γ-methyl-L-glutamate were also prepared. We converted manyof the benzyloxycarbonyl oligopeptides into their corresponding acetyl derivatives. Some of these peptides were synthesized by mixed anhydride and active ester techniques while others were prepared via azide coupling techniques using the tert-butoxycarbonylhydrazide blocking group. All reactions proceeded with retention of configuration.

Notes: Various techniques for recombining the fully reduced A and H chains of insulin were studied. Best results were obtained from water solutions of the reduced chains allowed to oxidize by standing in air at 3 °C. and from metal-catalyzed oxidation under the same conditions but in 7.6M urea solutions. Average net regeneration of insulin was 6% by weight, based on rat hemidiaphragm analysis for insulin activity. The theoretical yield for a random recombination of the A and B chains was calculated to be 3%. The 50% yield of insulin (from the oxidation of reduced insulin thiosulfate) reported by Jiang et al. could not. be confirmed.

Notes: The melting temperature of a natural DNA is decreased in the presence of increasing amounts of copper ions, whereas other divalent metal ions stabilize the DNA secondary structure at low ionic strength. At 1.28 × 10-4M, Cu2+ produces a decrease of Tm depending on base composition. At very low Cu2+ concentrations (0.5 Cu2+/2 DNA-P) a stabilization of the DNA conformation appears due to an interaction between Cu2+ and phosphate groups of the DNA molecule. In this case the normal trend of GC dependence of Tm exists similar to that with Na+ and Mg2+ as counterions. If copper ions are in excess, the observed destabilization is stronger for DNAs rich in guanine plus cytosine than for those rich in adenine plus thymine. A sharp decrease of Tm occurs between 0.5-0.8 Cu2+/2 DNA-P and 1.5 Cu2+/2 DNA-P. The breadth of the transition decreases at high Cu2+ concentration with further addition of copper ions. Denaturation and renaturation experiments indicate that Cu2+ ions exceeding the phosphate equivalents interact with the bases and reduce the forces of the DNA helix conformation. Evidence is presented, that the destabilization effect produced by Cu2+ is possibly due to an interaction with guanine sites of the DNA molecule.

Notes: A description is given of the preparation and properties of four water-insoluble papain derivatives by three different techniques: (a) covalent binding to a water-insoluble diazoimitn salt derived from a copolymer of p-aminophenylalanine and leucine; (b) binding to insoluble preparations of collagen via bisdiazobenzidine-2,2′-disulfonic acid; (c) in-solubilization by crosslinking the enzyme itself with bisdiazobenzidine. By all three methods it, was possible to obtain stable water-insoluble papain derivatives retaining much of the activity of the native enzyme on low and high molecular weight substrates.

Notes: This paper gives an account, of the numerical technique used to derive results to he presented in future papers of this series.

Notes: Measurements have been made of the nuclear magnetic relaxation times T1 and T2 of the protons of water in hair. These are interpreted as showing that water molecules in hair exist in a continuous range of environments with a wide spread of rates of molecular rotation. Even at high water contents most of the water molecules are much less mobile than molecules in bulk water. The term “mobility” is given a quantitative meaning.

Notes: Spectrophotometric acid titrations of DNA samples of different GC content were performed at different wavelengths. From the acid titration profile and absorbance changes of deoxycytidine-5′-monophosphate and DNA the extent of protonated cytosine within the DNA double-stranded molecule was estimated (pK 3.65 at 25°C. in 0.02M KCl). At constant counterion concentration and temperature the maximum of protonated cytosine in DNA before denaturation occurs depends on the base composition and can exceed 50%. The thermal stability of the DNA secondary structure is strongly reduced with increasing amount of ionized cytosine residues. The degree of protonation of cytosine in DNA is decreased with increasing counterion concentration.

Notes: Water-insoluble films of poly-L-lysine, crosslinked with formaldehyde, were suspended in aqueous media and their relative lengths measured as a function of pH. A sharp transition of the polymer was observed in the pH range which corresponded with that observed in polylysine solutions by optical rotation or dilatometry. In NaBr and NaCl solutions the coiled form of the polylysine film shrinks with increasing salt concentration, but in NaHCO3 solution the extent of the contraction is larger, and the coil-helix transition of polylysine occurs at lower pH when NaHCO3 is added to the medium. If one assumes the formation of amino carbamate in this case, this phenomenon can be well explained. Urea does break up the hydrogen bonds in helical polylysine film, but not completely. This result is interesting compared with that obtained for poly(L-glutamic acid). After the coil-helix transition region was found by film experiments, the volume change associated with the coil-to-helix transition was measured and found to be about 1-l.5 ml. per amino residue after taking electrostatic interaction into consideration. This value is nearly same as that obtained for poly(L-glutamic acid). By contrast, the value for poly-γ-benzyl-L-glutamate was reported to be -0.077 ml./mole of repeating unit. So it is still necessary to determine the magnitude and direction of the volume change for various kinds of polypeptides.

Notes: S-Carboxymethyl (SCM) kerateine preparations from a range of keratins were fractionated by acid precipitation into low-sulfur (SCMKA) and high-sulfur (SCMKB) fractions. Amiono acid analyses and optical rotatory dispersion measurements on the SCMKA fractions from different keratins indicated that the proportion of α-helical material (30-64%) increased with increasing leucine and glutamic acid contents and decreased with increasing SCM-cysteine and proline contents. It is shown that these variations in α-helix contents are due mainly to differences in the conformations of the principal components of the SCMKA fractions, although there is also a smaller contribution arising from contamination with varying amounts of non helical components. The thiol + disulfide contents for the parent keratins were measured and compared with the SCM -cysteine contents of the solubilized fractions. In general the SCM-cysteine contents of the SCMKA fractions increased with increasing thiol + disulfide content of the parent keratin, but these values were not directly proportional. The extent of total supercontraction in 8M LiBr solution was measured for the parent keratins and shown to bear no significant relationship to their disulfide contents. From the extents of first-stage and total supercontractions the disulfide contents of the contractile structures in the fibers were calculated according to a model described previously and compared with the analytical values for the SCM -cysteine contents of the SCMKA and SCMKB fraction. Data for both fractions were consistent with the model in that they were in each case related to the calculated values by a constant factor. However, because of simplifying assumptions in the model, it was not possible to identity positively one or other of these protein fractions with the contractile elements in the fiber.

Notes: The intrinsic, viscosities at zero shear rate of defined complexes of proflavine, 9-aminoacridine, and 9-amino-l,2,3,4-tetrahydroaeridine with calf thymus DNA have been determined at, various ionic strengths by means of rotating cylinder viscometers. By controlled adjustment, of the composition of the mixtures, the amount of bound acridine (r moles/g.-atom DNA phosphorus) was maintained constant at different dilutions. The intrinsic viscosities of the complexes increased with r up to r values (ca. 0.16-0.20) corresponding to the end of the process of strong binding of the acridinium cations. However, complex formation between the acridines and thermally denatured DNA caused either a marked decrease in viscosity (at the low ionic strengths of 0.0015 and 0.005) or no change at all (ionic strength 0.1). These results are discussed in the light of presently available hydrodynamic theories relating the intrinsic, viscosity of DNA to its molecular extension.

Notes: Three processes by which tropocollagen units associate to yield highly specific aggregates have been examined. From the temperature coefficients of the amounts aggregated it is concluded that the complex “native” aggregation is endothermic, whereas both end-to-end and lateral aggregation are exothermic. These results combined with additional information lead to the conclusion that “native” aggregation is an entropy-driven process in which hydrophobic bonding plays the dominant role. In contrast the reactions producing the lateral aggregate and the aggregate in which end-to-end bonding is dominant are electrostatically governed.

Notes: The effects of deuteration and of changes in solvent composition on the thermo dynamics of the helix-coil transition have been studied by calorimetric and optical measurements in the poly-γ-benzyl-L-glutamate-dichloroacetic acid-1,2-dichloro-ethanc system. For a given solvent composition, deuteration of the polypeptide and of the acid lowers the transition temperature Tc, while an increase in the volume fraction of acid in the solvent raises Tc. A rise in Tc is accompanied by a decrease in both the van't Hoff and the calorimetric heats of transition, but at different rates. The result is a temperature dependency in the Zimm-Bragg cooperation parameter σ. Possible causes of this result and its implications are discussed.

Notes: Previous fluorescence and phosphorescence studies of aromatic model compounds have been extended to polymers: “atactic” and isotactic polystyrene, seven aromatic poly-(amino acids), and two proteins. We have confirmed previous observations that both forms of polystyrene exhibit strong excimer fluorescence emission at room temperature but not at 77°K. Of the poly(amino acids) (all observed in helix-supporting solvents), poly-L-phenylalanine, poly(α-benzyl-L-aspartic acid), and poly-1-benzyl-L-histidine likewise show excimer emission at room temperature but not at 77°K., while poly-L-tyrosine, poly-L-tryptophan, poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamic acid), and poly-S-benzyl-L-cysteine exhibit no excimer emission at either temperature. The aromatic residues of bovine serum albumin exhibit only “normal” fluorescence, but, lysozyme appears to be unique among proteins in showing excimer-like tryptophan emission in the native state; its luminescence becomes “normal” upon denaturation. It appears very probable that none of these polymers has a ground-state conformation in which the aromatic groups have face-to-face orientations appropriate for excimer interaction. It is concluded that at room temperature absorption of light can cause local “melting” of regular (usually helical) structures and thus, in some polymers, permit the attainment of a face-to-face arrangement of aromatic rings within the radiative lifetime of their excited singlet states. In certain other polymers (for reasons not clear at present), and in all polymers at 77°K., this does not occur. This concept is extended to provide a bettor basis for understanding the mechanism of formation of the photodimer of thy mine in irradiated DNA.

Notes: 2.3-Dihydro-thionaphthenon-(3)-1.1-dioxid (III), für das eine ergiebige Synthese beschrieben wird, bildet mit p-Tosylazid das Hydrazon VIII. Beim Erwärmen in stark polaren, „basischen“ Lösungsmitteln wie Äthylenglykol, Dimethylformamid oder Dimethylsulfoxid entkuppelt VIII zu dem α-Diazo-β-keto-sulfon IX und III. Einige Verkochungs- und Azo-Kupplungsreaktionen von IX mit trans-fixierten β-Diketonen zu Azoverbindungen werden beschrieben.

Notes: Die cyclische Dimerisierung von F3CSNCO und die quantitative Hydrolyse des Dimeren zu N.N′-Bis-trifluormethylsulfenyl-harnstoff und Kohlendioxid werden untersucht. Die daraus gefolgerte Struktur eines Bis-trifluormethylsulfenyl-uretidin-dions steht im Einklang mit dem IR- sowie dem 19F-NMR-Spektrum.

Notes: Tetraalkylharnstoffe zeigen einen starken katalytischen Effekt bei der Umsetzung von 1.3-Dimethyl-barbitursäure mit Phosgen. Die Struktur der erhaltenen Verbindungen wird aufgeklärt.

Notes: Die Metallierung des Di-benzol-chroms(0) mit Amylnatrium konnte zu einer präparativen Methode für die Darstellung substituierter Di-benzol-chrom-Verbindungen ausgebaut werden. Es wurden die Abfangreaktionen mit CO2, CH2O, CH3CHO, C6H5CHO und (C6H5)2CO untersucht. Aus dem Gemisch der verschiedenen Substitutionsprodukte konnten jeweils die Monosubstitutionsprodukte isoliert werden. Die Konstitutionen der Verbindungen wurden durch gaschromatographische Untersuchung der abgespaltenen Aromaten ermittelt. Die Carboxylatgruppen konnten mit Dimethylsulfat verestert, die primären und sekundären Alkohole dehydriert werden. Mit den Carbonyl-Verbindungen wurden LiAlH4-Reduktionen und Grignard-Additionen durchgeführt. Sowohl der Effekt des Di-benzol-chrom-Restes auf die Reaktionen der organischen Seitenkette als auch der Einfluß der Substituenten auf den komplexen Molekülteil werden diskutiert. Im Falle der Carbonsäureester wurden auch die Di-, Tri-und Tetrasubstitutionsprodukte gefaßt und strukturell gesichert.

Notes: Das sarkomerzeugende, heptacyclische Peropyren (IX) wurde aus dem Benzpyrenderivat IVb in einer Vierstufenreaktion synthetisiert. Ein Zwischenprodukt dieser Synthese ließ sich in das Methyl-naphthopyren XI überführen.

Notes: Durch Umsetzung von Cl2O oder Ozon mit überschüssigem TiBr4 entsteht TiOBr2 in Form tiefgelber Kristalle. Analog entsteht SnOBr2 aus SnBr4 als farbloser, röntgenamorpher Festkörper. Die Eigenschaften und IR-Spektren werden mitgeteilt. Mit POX3 (X = Cl, Br) entstehen die Additionsverbindungen TiOBr2.2 POX3, mit Pyridin die Addukte TiOBr2.2 1/2 Pyridin und SnOBr2.1 1/2 Pyridin.

Notes: Einige ω-Formylamino-acetophenone wurden mit Natriumborhydrid zu 2-Formylamino-1-phenyl-äthanolen-(1) reduziert, diese mit Phosphoroxychlorid in Pyridin behandelt. Es resultierten die entsprechenden β-Chlor-β-phenyl-äthylisonitrile. Nur in zwei Fällen entstanden durch HCl-Eliminierung Styrylisonitrile. Unter Anwendung der gewonnenen Erfahrungen gelang es, N.N′-Diformyl-1.2-bis-[4-methoxy-benzoyl]-äthylendiamin in das α.β-ungesättigte 1.2-Di-isonitril Xanthocillin-dimethyläther umzuwandeln und damit die analytisch ermittelte Struktur des Antibiotikums durch eine übersichtliche Synthese zu bestätigen.

Notes: Organopentafluorosilicate gestatten die Darstellung von Organoquecksilberverbindungen, wie z. B. CH3HgCl und (CH3)2Hg, aus anorganischen Quecksilbersalzen, da sie in wäßriger und alkoholischer Lösung als Organylierungsmittel zu wirken vermögen. An Stelle der Organopentafluorosilicate können vor allem in Gegenwart von Flußsäure auch die Organotrifluorsilane selbst eingesetzt werden.

Notes: Die Umsetzung von in 4-Stellung alkyl- oder arylsubstituierten Thiosemicarbaziden mit α-Chlor-acetessigester in Äthanol führt unter Entschwefelung zu in der Aminogruppe substituierten 3-Amino-5-methyl-4-äthoxycarbonyl-pyrazolen. In saurer Lösung dagegen bilden sich 3-Amino-4-methyl-5-äthoxycarbonyl-thiazolon-(2)-alkylimide. Eine Ausnahme macht das 4-Phenyl-thiosemicarbazid, aus dem auch in saurer Lösung das Pyrazol-Derivat entsteht. Andererseits können durch Blockierung des N1-Atoms in den Thiosemicarbaziden die in 3-Stellung substituierten 4-Methyl-5-äthoxycarbonyl-thiazolon-(2)-hydrazone dargestellt werden.

Notes: SnCl4 und ClF reagieren bei 80° in guter Ausbeute zu SnF2Cl2, einem farblosen, hygroskopischen, kristallinen Pulver. Mit überschüssigem Chlornitrat bildet sich daraus quantitativ Zinndifluoriddinitrat, SnF2(ONO2)2. Beide Verbindungen besitzen nach dem IR-Spektrum Tetraedersymmetrie (C2v). Die ONO2-Gruppen sind weitgehend homöopolar gebunden und gegeneinander verdrillt. Durch thermischen Abbau von SnF2(ONO2)2 erhält man bei 250° kubisch kristallisierendes, polymeres SnOF2 (a = 8.89 Å, Z = 12). Das IR-Spektrum des SnOF2 läßt sich in erster Näherung nach der Symmetrie Oh mit sechsfach koordiniertem Zinn zuordnen.