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The hydration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), Mg · ATP, and Ca · ATP in aqueous solutions has been analyzed based on the Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy and Dynamic Light Scattering data. It is shown that the ATP binding with Mg2+ or Ca2+ leads to weakening of water binding in the hydration shell (apparently, due to the screening of the phosphate-group charge). It is also shown that an increased number of hydrogen bonds are formed in the hydration shells of Mg · ATP, which is not the case for ATP and Ca · ATP. The hydrodynamic diameter of Mg · ATP exceeds that of ATP and Ca · ATP, which is in agreement with the conclusion about the larger number of hydrogen bonds in the Mg · ATP hydration shell. The special role of Mg2+ in the ATP hydration may have a deep biological sense, because ATP is involved in most of biologically significant reactions specifically in the form of Mg · ATP complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impedance of heavily diluted diclofenac centesimal potentiated solutions in the range of 20 Hz - 10 MHz was studied. Each dilution was accompanied by vigorous shaking. The whole set of samples consisted of 33 iteration steps. Two parallel sets were prepared. There was no permittivity increment in the samples, which indicates the absence of mesoparticles with high dipole moment. At the same time, the resistance of the samples presented a non-monotonic character, including ultrahigh dilution samples, in which the concept of diclofenac concentration does not make sense. The pattern of both sets of samples turned out to be well correlated. The evolution of the resistivity patterns consisted of a decrease of the average value with a significant preservation of the shape of the pattern up to 30 days. This means that the result does not depend on the concentration of the solute, but on the sample preparation procedure. A hypothetical explanation of the observed effects consists in the appearance of reactive oxygen and nitrogen forms during mechanical perturbation of solution and the products of subsequent complex chemical reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valence and torsion angles distribution was obtained by computer simulation for protein hydration shell and bulk water. These distributions were analyzed. Hydration shell and bulk water have different distributions and we explain it in terms of topology.

A nonmonotonous dependence of luminescence intensity of aqueous solutions of 0.1 M glycine and its N-methyl derivatives on the number of methyl groups in the solute molecule was found. A correlation between luminescence intensities and optical density at the excitation wavelength of 300 nm was revealed. Possible causes of the phenomenon observed were analyzed. Among these are: luminescence of admixtures, intrinsic luminescence of dissolved molecules, and luminescence related to the formation of nanoscale complexes in solution. On the basis of the data, it is impossible to make a final choice between the three above-mentioned mechanisms of luminescence of aqueous solutions of glycine and its N-methyl derivatives.

A systematic study was undertaken of luminescent aqueous solutions of homeopathic preparation of sodium chloride at a dilution from D1 to D30, produced by "Weleda" company (Moscow) was carried out. It was shown that intensity of luminescence versus the degree of dilution is a non-monotonous function with several maxima, the main maximum corresponds to 13-14 decimal dilution. The dynamics of spectra was registered for several weeks. A systematic study of water samples (D1-D30) exposed to a similar procedure of potentization but without salt addition was also performed. The difference in the luminescence spectra of water of different stages of potentization was shown. The motility of infusoria Spirostoma ambiquum in solutions being examined was studied. A significant negative correlation between the infusoria motility and luminescence intensity was registered.

The physicochemical properties of aqueous solutions resulting from membrane electrolysis were studied. It was shown that the catholyte contains hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of 10(-7), which is formed during the reduction of soluble oxygen. It was found that the relaxation of the catholyte redox potential is caused by the transition of the reducing agent to the gaseous phase. The relaxation characteristics of the redox potentials of the catholyte and molecular hydrogen solution were compared. The similarity of the relaxation characteristics of the catholyte and the hydrogen solution as well as the fact that the catholyte, despite its low redox potential, does not reduce either potassium ferricyanide or 5-5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) support the suggestion that the redox potential of the catholyte is due to molecular hydrogen. However, based on this suggestion, it is impossible to explain the increase in the relaxation time of the catholyte with increasing ionic strength and the fact that, as the redox potential of the catholyte decreases, the concentration of other gases dissolved in the catholyte remains unchanged. Thus, the question regarding the nature of the reducing agent remains open.

The algorithms of module design and the results of constructing the parametric structures of water were considered. The tetrahedral electron structure of the oxygen atom of water, which is a double symmetric donor and acceptor of protons, was taken as the main postulate. As opposed to the crystal lattices of diamond and ice, the hexacycle twist-bath was considered as the basic element of the original structure. A great variety of possible structures were obtained, which involve quasi-unidimensional (helices, rods), dendrite-like, ring-shaped, planar, and fractal structures, as well as combinatoric structures composed of these forms. The functions of distribution of valence angles in fractal structures optimized with respect to energy have two main maxima at 104 and 112 degrees, as differentiated from the starting ideal tetrahedral angle of 109.5 degrees. Changes in, and the accumulation of elastic energy of distortions of rod structure of different symmetry were analyzed. This energy can be utilized during the conformational changes of biopolymers. The substantial difference in the solubility of two anomeric forms of glucose is explained by a different degree of conformity of the glucose molecule structure to the structure of bound water.

Culture growth of bacteria with different membrane lipid composition was studied in liquid media with different isotope content of water. The concentration of deuterium in water was varied from 0.01 to 90%. It was shown that large concentrations of deuterium cause the inhibition of all cultures except Deinococcus radiodurans, the most stable living cell. Two cultures, Methylobacterium organophilum and Hyphomonas jannaschiana, showed a pronounced activation at a deuterium concentration of 0.01%. At higher deuterium concentrations, the inhibition of culture growth was observed. The strains Renobacter vacuolatum, Arcocella aquatica NO502 and Caulobacter crescentus did not show any significant effect at low concentrations of deuterium.

Small (40-60 nm in diameter) and large (300-350 nm) negative vesicles were complexed with a cationic polypeptide, poly-L-lysine (PL). Laser microelectrophoresis experiments showed that in small vesicles rendered anionic with the addition of cardiolipin (CL(2-)), only the CL(2-) in the outer leaflet is involved in the complexation with PL. Calorimetric and other data demonstrate that the binding of PL to the membrane surface causes domains ("rafts") of CL(2-) to form in the outer leaflet, and it is these domains that electrostatically bind the polymer. The kinetics of transmembrane permeation of doxorubicin (Dox, a fluorescent anti-tumor drug) was monitored with and without PL binding to the outer surface of the vesicles. It was found that PL mediates the permeation of Dox into the vesicle interior. In the absence of PL, the Dox molecule (possessing an amino group of pK(a)=8.6) binds to the anionic vesicles in the protonated form and, consequently, suffers an impaired mobility through the membrane. On the other hand, when the PL covers the vesicle surface, Dox passes though the membrane with greater ease. The effects of salt and polyanion on the stability of PL-vesicle complexes and the PL-mediated Dox permeation are also discussed.

Interaction of small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs), composed of negative diphosphatidylglycerol (cardiolipin, CL(2-)) and neutral dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), with poly(N-ethyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide) (PEVP) was studied in water solution above and below the vesicular membrane melting point by means of differential scanning calorimetry, photon correlation spectroscopy, microelectrophoresis, conductometry, and fluorescence techniques. It has been found that CL(2-) species are homogeneously distributed within DPPC-CL(2-) SUV membrane leaflets and between them. Interaction of PEVP with DPPC-CL(2-) SUVs led to drastic structural rearrangements in the membrane if it was in the fluid state (liquid SUVs). Negative CL(2-) molecules migrated from the inner to the outer membrane leaflet and segregated in the vicinity of adsorbed PEVP chains. In addition, PEVP adsorption terminated completely the exchange of lipid molecules between the SUVs. At the same time, the integrity of liquid SUVs contacting PEVP remained unchanged. Since the interaction of PEVP with liquid SUVs was predominantly electrostatic in nature, the polycation could be completely removed from the vesicular membrane by addition of an excess of polyacrylic acid (PAA) polyanions forming a more stable electrostatic complex with PEVP. Removal of PEVP resulted in complete resumption of the original distribution of lipids in lateral and transmembrane directions as well as intervesicular lipid exchange. In contrast, PEVP interacting with DPPC-CL(2-) SUVs formed defects in the vesicular membrane if it was in the gel state (solid SUVs). Such interaction was contributed not only by electrostatic but most likely by hydrophobic interactions involving the defected membrane sites. PEVP kept contacting solid SUVs in the presence of an abundant amount of PAA. The established phenomena may be important for understanding the biological effects of polycations.

Changes in the physicochemical parameters (pH, redox potential and electroconductivity) of catholyte and anolyte produced by membrane electrolysis of distilled water and dilute (c < 10(-3) M) sodium chloride solutions were studied. The relaxation of these parameters after electrolysis and the influence of catholyte and anolyte on the growth of roots of Tradescantia viridis grafts, the development of duckweed, and the motive activity of infusoria Spirostomum ambiguum were investigated. It was found that the anolyte of distilled water stimulated development of these biological objects. The direction of shift of physicochemical parameters of catholyte and anolyte from equilibrium values and the type of their biological activity (stimulation or inhibition) depend on salt concentration in initial solution. Barbotage of initial distilled water with argon or nitrogen leads to a greater decrease in the redox potential of catholyte during electrolysis. The physicochemical parameters relax to equilibrium values, and the biological activity of catholite and anolyte decreases with time and practically disappears by the end of the day. It was found that the oxidation of reducing agent by atmospheric oxygen is not the sole cause of the relaxation of catalyte redox potential. The increase in the ionic strength of catholite and anolyte by the addition of concentrated sodium chloride after electrolysis decreases the rate of redox potential relaxation several times. The redox potential can be maintained for long periods by freezing.

Interaction of poly(N-ethyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide) with mixed cardiolipin/phosphatidyl-choline (1/9) liposomes was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and photon correlation spectroscopy. It was found that the adsorption of polycation on the surface of liquid liposomes was accompanied by transmembrane migration of negatively charged cardiolipin molecules from the inner to outer membrane leaflet and lateral lipid segregation. At the same time, the liposome integrity was retained, and the adsorbed polycation can be displaced from the membrane by recomplexation with polyanions. As a result, the initial transmembrane and lateral lipid distribution in the membrane was restored.

The kinetic isotope effect of hydrolysis of ATP by myosin subfragment-I in the presence of K+, NH4+, Rb+ was measured. VH/VD was found to be 1.8; 1.3; 2.0, respectively. According to the thermodynamic isotope effect induced by hydration, the kinetic isotope effect must increase with the increase of cation size from K+ to Rb+. The size of ammonium ions is the intermediate between K+ and Rb+, but the observed isotope effect in the presence of ammonium is much lower than in the presence of K+ and Rb+. The results suggest that monovalent cations occur near the active center of the enzyme and contribute to some extent to the hydrolysis reaction but the specificity of ammonium ions seems not to be due to its ideal steric accordance. The obtained results support the viewpoint that NH4+ ions as donor of protons participate in the chemical stage of ATP hydrolysis by subfragment-I.

Effect of the constant magnetic field with up to 3.2 X 10(-4) A/m intensity on the fluorescence of papain aqueous solutions was investigated. It has been shown that depending on the magnetic field direction a reversible decrease or increase of fluorescence intensity takes place. The variation of fluorescence intensity under the influence of magnetic field is maximal under excitation at long wave ultra-violet light. The effect increases with the increase of temperature, increases linearly with the increase of magnetic field intensity but doesn't depend on protein concentration in diluted solutions. The examination of the data leads to the conclusion on the existence of two possible mechanisms: the variation of properties of surface tryptophan residues environment and paramagnetic orientation of protein globule under the influence of a magnetic field.

The influence of substitution of the isotopic composition of the medium on the mechanical properties of immobilized crystals and films from bovine pancreatic ribonuclease and hen egg white lysozyme was investigated. The order of magnitude of the observed effects indicates that the contribution of the electrostatic interaction to the observed isotopic effect may be considered inessential. The absence of aggregation in the H2O and D2O medium under experimental conditions is demonstrated by the method of the low angle dispersion of X-rays. The observed effects of D2O on the mechanical behavior of crystals and films of proteins may be accounted for by the strengthening of molecular interactions in the samples.

Melting temperature of myosin Tm against the concentration of D2O in the system was studied. The D2O/Tm relationship is analogous to that between the kinetics isotope effect and the volumic fraction of D2O in the system. This similarity as well as the difference between the observed kinetic and thermodynamic isotopic effects and the theoretical ones make us suggest that the conformational changes in myosin during ATP hydrolysis are rather substantial.

Compressibility of monolayers of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline, dimyristoyl phosphatidyl choline, egg lecithin, triolein, azolectine, phosphatidyl serine and total brain lipids formed on air--H2O or air--D2O interfaces is investigated.

Ribonuclease hydration in wide concentration and temperature range using differential scanning microcalorimetry and NMR technique was studied. The temperature- concentration equilibrium diagram for H2O--ribonuclease system was suggested. Protein hydration in D2O was shown to be higher than in ordinary water. NMR measurements in dilute protein solutions showed that cooperative temperature denaturation was followed by solvation changes. Models of globular protein hydration are discussed.

Experimental and theoretical results of some studies by L. A Lapaeva are analysed which state that the dependence of electroconductance on the frequency of applied voltage in some globular protein solutions is of a resonance character in the frequency range of 0,1 minus 10 mHz. The evaluation shows that the theory suggested is not applicable for the results obtained at these frequencies. The measurement method of electroconductance applied by L. A. Lapaeva is critisized. The analysis of her results enables a conclusion that is is premature to speak about resonance properties of proteins as of the fact stated.

Effects of some organic compounds of different hydrophobicity on the structure and ion specificity of the sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na,K-ATPase) membrane preparation were studied. Inhibition abilities of these compounds correlate well with their lipophilic properties. High hydrophobic compounds change mainly the enzyme activation by potassium ions and the spin label mobilities in hydrophobic regions of the membrane preparation. Polar species, in contrast, influence the enzyme activation by sodium ions and the surface polar properties of the membrane preparation. It is supposed, that the Na,K-ATPase activations by potassium and sodium ions are correspondingly related to hydrophobic regions of the lipoprotein enzyme complex and to the polar regions stabilized by hydrogen bonds.

The rate of enzymic reaction of ATP, ITP, GTP with myosin is studied in the presence of potassiu, ammonium and calcium ions in H2O--D2O solutions. There is no kinetic isotope effect of ITPase and GTPase reaction in the neutral pH region (VHVD = 1). The value VH/VD for the ATPase reaction in the pH range from 6.5 to 8.5 with all cations studied varies from 1.05 to 1.26. Such changes of myosin enzymic activity in D2O infer that small changes in the interaction of subunits is not the decisive one in the regulation of myosin ATPase. The equality of isotope effects in potassium salts and ammonium solution suggests that a specific effect of ammonium ion as a proton donor affects the ATPase reaction of myosin. The relationship between the value of isotope effect and D2O concentration in solution in non-linear. The shape of concentration curve suggests essential conformational changes of myosin during ATP hydrolysis.

Effect of heavy water D2O on the rate of hydrolysis of ATP and pNPP by Na,K-ATPase was studied. Heavy water of high concentration inhibits the rate of ATPase reaction in all the studied ratios of the ions Na/K at constant ionic strength 150 mM. Activation of the enzyme was observed in the solution with low concentration of heavy water (less than 5%). The value of isotope effects depended on the ratio between sodium and potassium ion concentrations in the medium. At low temperature no activation of the enzyme with heavy water in low concentration was observed. Substitution of usual water for the heavy one was accompanied by a decrease of apparent constants of enzyme activation with sodium and potassium ions. During pNPP hydrolysis with Na,K-ATPase an increase of reaction rate in the medium with heavy water was observed. Substitution of potassium ions by cesium resulted in an increase of isotope effects during ATP and pNPP hydrolysis. Analysis of isotope effects in terms of the molecular model of sodium pump proposed permits a conclusion that the isotope effects of heavy water are explained by its influence as a solvent, the binding centres of potassium and sodium ions are localized in different regions of the enzyme differing in physico-chemical properties. The structure of sodium centres is controlled by hydrogen bonds, and of potassium ones--by hydrophobic interactions; the transport of ions by the enzyme is accompanied by dehydration of ions.

Dependence of the rate of ATP hydrolysis with subfragment-I and temperature of SF-I, denaturation on the concentration of heavy water in solution was studied. The value of kinetic isotope effect V/Vx linearly increases with the rise of the volume portion of heavy water in solution and at X-1 it equals 1.9. The temperature of protein denaturacticn increases with X rise, the pattern of this relationship looking as an arched curve. The results differ from those earlier obtained on myosin which points to the absence of essential contribution of structural dynamic changes to enzymic hydrolysis of ATP by subfragment-I.

An analysis was carried out of Gross-Butler type equations describing relationship between deuterium isotope effect in reactions with proton transfer and deuterium concentration in the medium. It has been shown that with all possible coefficient values of isotopic fractionation of enzyme functional group protons the shape of indicated relationships qualitatively differs from the experimentally observed one for myosin hydrolysis of ATP. This discrepancy as well as uniform nonlinear change of myosin denaturation temperature and of kinetic isotope effect in myosin hydrolysis of ATP on deuterium fraction in solution give evidence of D2O effect as a solvent and point to an essential role of conformational - dynamic processes in the course of enzymic catalysis with myosin.