Compositional differences between soil humic acids extracted by various methods as evidenced by photosensitizing and electrophoretic properties.

Humic acids (HAs) were isolated from Elliott soil provided by the International Humic Substances Society (1BS102M) by three commonly used methods: (i) 0.1M NaOH (EI-HA), (ii) neutral 0.1M Na(4)P(2)O(7) (L-HA) and subsequent 0.1M NaOH (S-HA), and (iii) 0.1M NaOH+0.1M Na(4)P(2)O(7) (NP-HA). The objective was to evaluate the impact of these extractants on the photosensitizing properties of the isolated HAs. HAs were analyzed for their elemental composition, functional acid groups content, absorption and emission properties, electrophoretic characteristics and ability to produce singlet oxygen using furfuryl alcohol (FFA) as a scavenger. L-HA was slightly more aromatic and oxygenated than the other HAs and contained a higher portion of long-wavelength fluorophores and macromolecules showing low molecular size (MS) and high electrophoretic mobility. L-HA also gave a rate of FFA photooxygenation between 1.25- and 1.6-fold higher than the other HAs. This suggests that the free humic macromolecules ionized at pH 7 and/or weakly bounded on mineral surfaces via cation bridges are of relatively low MS and contribute significantly to the photosensitizing and long-wavelength emitting properties. Differences among the other HAs were more subtle, but the parallel evolution of the reactivity and electrophoretic characteristics was observed. Photochemical and electrophoretic measurements seem to be sensitive indicators to evaluate differences among the extraction procedures of HAs.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of chernozem humic acid and their fractions obtained by coupled size exclusion chromatography-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SEC-PAGE).

A humic acid extracted from a chernozem soil was fractionated combining size exclusion chromatography and polyacrylamide electrophoresis (SEC-PAGE). Three fractions named A, B, and C+D, with different electrophoretic mobilities and molecular sizes (MS), were obtained and subsequently characterized by thermochemolysis and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The data confirmed that fraction A, with the higher MS, was more aliphatic than fractions B and C+D and, in turn, fractions with lower MS (B and C+D) denoted an enrichment in lignin residues. These structural features explain conformational changes when varying the pH in the humic fraction A and indicated that combination of the two techniques is a good approach for characterizing humic substances.

Key role of the low molecular size fraction of soil humic acids for fluorescence and photoinductive activity.

The IHSS soil humic acid (HA) standard and two HAs from soils of very different origin (Chernozem and Ranker) were fractionated by tandem size-exclusion chromatography-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. From each HA, three fractions with different molecular sizes (MSs) and electrophoretic mobilities were obtained and investigated for their fluorescence properties and abilityto photoinduce the transformation of 2,4,6-trimethylphenol and herbicide fenuron. Regardless of the source of the HA, the two high MS fractions were found to be very weakly fluorescent. They photoinduced the degradations of fenuron and 2,4,6-trimethylphenol less efficiently than the bulk HA (10-50-fold and 1.4-5.3-fold, respectively). In contrast, the low MS fraction was proved to be fluorescent and to photoinduce the transformation of probes as least as efficiently than the bulk HA. These results show that (i) most of fluorophores and a great part of photoinductive chromophores are located in the low MS fractions of soil HAs and (ii) this distribution of photochemically active constituents may be characteristic across broad soil types.

Photoinductive efficiency of soil extracted humic and fulvic acids.

Humic and fulvic acids extracted from soils of different genesis were investigated for their ability to photoinduce the transformation of fenuron (2 x 10(-4) mol(-1)) at 365 nm. The ratio of the initial rate of fenuron consumption over the rate of light absorption by humic substances was found to be higher for fulvic acids (range 2.0 x 10(-3) to 9.0 x 10(-5)) than for humic acids (range 1.7 x 10(-4) to - 3.6 x 10(-5)). Within the FAs population, this ratio decreased as the specific absorption coefficient at 365 nm increased. It seems therefore that most of 365-nm absorbing components have no photoinductive activity and even reduce that of photoinductive chromophores.

Photoinductive properties of soil humic acids and their fractions obtained by tandem size exclusion chromatography-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Humic acids (HAs) from three soils of different origin (Chernozem, Ferralsol and Ranker) have been fractionated by coupling size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) on three fractions (fractions A, B, C + D) with different molecular sizes (MSs) and exactly defined electrophoretic mobility (EM). Fractions identically marked had similar EM and MS, independently of HA sources. The photoinductive properties of the whole HAs and their fractions were compared by studying the photoinduced transformation of fenuron at 365 nm. High MS fractions A and B appeared to exhibit poor photoinductive activities compared to the whole HAs, whereas low MS fraction C + D in Chernozem and Ranker were more efficient than the whole HAs. A fourth intermediary fraction containing a mixture of fractions B and C + D with small amount of D was shown to photoinduce poorly the transformation of fenuron. It was therefore concluded that the molecules capable of photoinducing the transformation of fenuron were mainly contained in fraction D. Fluorescence properties of Chernozem HA and its fractions have been tested. Fraction C + D exhibited a very similar fluorescence emission spectrum in comparison with the whole HA and in contrast, the fractions A and B emitted very weakly.

Evaluation of the transformation of organic matter to humic substances in compost by coupling sec-page.

Humic acids (HAs) from soil and compost at the beginning (S0) and at the end of the stabilization process after 130 days (S130) have been fractionated by coupling size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Preparative quantities of HA fractions (HAFs) with different molecular sizes (MSs) and exactly defined electrophoretic mobility (EMs) have been obtained from all samples and the HAFs weight content has been studied. A high degree of similarity in HAFs weight content between soil HA and a stabilized compost HAs130 has been observed. Such data seem to be reliable for monitoring the evolution of the compost organic matter to humic substances for their agricultural uses.

Cytotoxicity of glucose oxidase conjugated with antibodies to target cells: killing efficiency depends on the conjugate internalization.

The cytotoxic action of glucose oxidase conjugated with antibodies against the target cells has been examined in a culture of human endothelial cells. Internalizable (anti-endothelial, MoAb E25) and non-internalizable (anti-fibronectin, MoAb FN) monoclonal antibodies were employed as vectors. Anti-endothelial monoclonal antibody E78 (whether it can be internalized by endothelial cells is unclear) and polyclonal mouse antiserum to the human endothelium were also used. The conjugates were prepared by oxidation of the enzyme carbohydrate moiety with periodate. Free conjugates display similar enzyme activity in glucose solution. In contrast to glucose oxidase, conjugated with no-immune IgG, antibody-conjugated glucose oxidase binds specifically to target cells. The efficiency of targeting was different for various conjugates. Targeting via the anti-fibronectin antibody and anti-endothelial antiserum provided maximal quantitative binding of glucose oxidase to endothelial cells, while the conjugates with MoAb E25 and MoAb E78 monoclonal antibodies provided less effective binding. In the presence of glucose, targeted glucose oxidase generated H2O2. Hydrogen peroxide is relatively stable in buffer, but rapidly decays in the culture medium supplemented with 20% human serum. Though the quantitative binding of MoAb E25-conjugated glucose oxidase was minimal comparing to other conjugates, targeting via MoAb E25 produced the maximal cytotoxic effect as well as targeting via polyclonal antiserum. The killing efficiencies of MoAb FN-conjugated and MoAb E78-conjugated glucose oxidase were about 30-fold lower. The high efficiency of the MoAb E25-conjugated enzyme may be due to its internalization by target cells. Internalization can lead to unaccessibility of generated H2O2 for extracellular scavengers and pH optimization for glucose oxidase activity, which provides valuable advantages for the cytotoxicity of the conjugate. Thus, cytotoxicity of antibody-conjugated glucose oxidase depends not only on the efficiency of specific binding to the target cell, but also on the fate of cell-bound conjugate. Cytotoxicity is extremely effective in case of 'internalizable' conjugate and drastically less effective in case of 'non-internalizable' conjugate.

Monoclonal antibody to human endothelial cell surface internalization and liposome delivery in cell culture.

A monoclonal antibody (mAb), E25, is described that binds to the surface of cultured human endothelial cells. Upon binding E25 is rapidly internalized and digested intracellularly. Selective liposome targeting to the surface of the cells is performed using a biotinylated E25 antibody and an avidin-biotin system. Up to 30% of the cell-adherent liposomal lipid is internalized.

Oligomycin sensitivity-conferring protein (OSCP) of beef heart mitochondria. Internal sequence homology and structural relationship with other proteins.

Structural analysis of oligomycin sensitivity-conferring protein (OSCP) revealed repeating sequences (residues 1-89, 105-190) suggesting an evolution of the protein by gene duplication. In addition to the reported homology with the delta-subunit of Escherichia coli F1ATPase, OSCP also shows a certain homology with the b-subunit of E. coli F0 and the ADP/ATP carrier of mitochondria.

Amino acid sequence of the oligomycin sensitivity-conferring protein (OSCP) of beef-heart mitochondria and its homology with the delta-subunit of the F1-ATPase of Escherichia coli.

The complete amino acid sequence of the oligomycin sensitivity-conferring protein (OSCP) of beef-heart mitochondria is reported. The protein contains 190 amino acids and has a molecular mass of 20 967. Its structure is characterized by a concentration of charged amino acids in the two terminal segments (N 1-77 and C 128-190) of the protein, whereas its central region is more hydrophobic. The earlier reported homology of the protein with the delta-subunit of E. coli F1, based on the terminal amino acid sequences of OSCP, is further substantiated.