| 1. |
- Andersen, Felicie F., et al.
(författare)
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Assembly and structural analysis of a covalently closed nano-scale DNA cage
- 2008
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Ingår i: Nucleic Acids Research. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0305-1048 .- 1362-4962. ; 36:4, s. 1113-1119
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The inherent properties of DNA as a stable polymer with unique affinity for partner mols. detd. by the specific Watson-Crick base pairing makes it an ideal component in self-assembling structures. This has been exploited for decades in the design of a variety of artificial substrates for investigations of DNA-interacting enzymes. More recently, strategies for synthesis of more complex two-dimensional (2D) and 3D DNA structures have emerged. However, the building of such structures is still in progress and more experiences from different research groups and different fields of expertise are necessary before complex DNA structures can be routinely designed for the use in basal science and/or biotechnol. Here we present the design, construction and structural anal. of a covalently closed and stable 3D DNA structure with the connectivity of an octahedron, as defined by the double-stranded DNA helixes that assembles from eight oligonucleotides with a yield of .apprx.30%. As demonstrated by Small Angle X-ray Scattering and cryo-Transmission Electron Microscopy analyses the eight-stranded DNA structure has a central cavity larger than the apertures in the surrounding DNA lattice and can be described as a nano-scale DNA cage, Hence, in theory it could hold proteins or other bio-mols. to enable their investigation in certain harmful environments or even allow their organization into higher order structures.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Steffen, A., et al.
(författare)
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A synthesis of atmospheric mercury depletion event chemistry in the atmosphere and snow
- 2008
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 8:6, s. 1445-1482
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It was discovered in 1995 that, during the spring time, unexpectedly low concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) occurred in the Arctic air. This was surprising for a pollutant known to have a long residence time in the atmosphere; however conditions appeared to exist in the Arctic that promoted this depletion of mercury (Hg). This phenomenon is termed atmospheric mercury depletion events (AMDEs) and its discovery has revolutionized our understanding of the cycling of Hg in Polar Regions while stimulating a significant amount of research to understand its impact to this fragile ecosystem. Shortly after the discovery was made in Canada, AMDEs were confirmed to occur throughout the Arctic, sub-Artic and Antarctic coasts. It is now known that, through a series of photochemically initiated reactions involving halogens, GEM is converted to a more reactive species and is subsequently associated to particles in the air and/or deposited to the polar environment. AMDEs are a means by which Hg is transferred from the atmosphere to the environment that was previously unknown. In this article we review Hg research taken place in Polar Regions pertaining to AMDEs, the methods used to collect Hg in different environmental media, research results of the current understanding of AMDEs from field, laboratory and modeling work, how Hg cycles around the environment after AMDEs, gaps in our current knowledge and the future impacts that AMDEs may have on polar environments. The research presented has shown that while considerable improvements in methodology to measure Hg have been made but the main limitation remains knowing the speciation of Hg in the various media. The processes that drive AMDEs and how they occur are discussed. As well, the role that the snow pack and the sea ice play in the cycling of Hg is presented. It has been found that deposition of Hg from AMDEs occurs at marine coasts and not far inland and that a fraction of the deposited Hg does not remain in the same form in the snow. Kinetic studies undertaken have demonstrated that bromine is the major oxidant depleting Hg in the atmosphere. Modeling results demonstrate that there is a significant deposition of Hg to Polar Regions as a result of AMDEs. Models have also shown that Hg is readily transported to the Arctic from source regions, at times during springtime when this environment is actively transforming Hg from the atmosphere to the snow and ice surfaces. The presence of significant amounts of methyl Hg in snow in the Arctic surrounding AMDEs is important because this species is the link between the environment and impacts to wildlife and humans. Further, much work on methylation and demethylation processes has occurred but these processes are not yet fully understood. Recent changes in the climate and sea ice cover in Polar Regions are likely to have strong effects on the cycling of Hg in this environment; however more research is needed to understand Hg processes in order to formulate meaningful predictions of these changes.
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| 4. |
- Sörensen, Malin H., et al.
(författare)
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Expansion of the F127-templated mesostructure in aerosolgeneratedparticles by using polypropylene glycol as a swelling agent
- 2008
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Ingår i: Microporous and Mesoporous Materials. - : Elsevier BV. - 1387-1811 .- 1873-3093. ; 113, s. 1-13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Expansion of the mesostructure in aerosol-generated particles was performed through incorporation of polypropylene glycol (PPG), a non-volatile swelling agent. TEOS was used as silica source and the Pluronic block copolymer, F127, as template. The ratio of TEOS to F127 was kept constant during synthesis, while varying the weight ratio of PPG to F127 systematically. The impact of the PPG on the expansion of the structure was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nitrogen adsorption. Different methods were used to calculate the pore size distributions, the BJH, the BdB-FHH, the KJS and the NLDFT method. Simple geometrical models of the expansion were derived to interpret the experimental data and establish their accuracy. Experimental data showed a roughly linear expansion of the unit cell and pore size, consistent with that expected by modelling the swelling of a hexagonal (p6mm) structure assuming constant wall thickness. The expansion is increasing as a function of increasing PPG/F127 ratio by about 25 Å. An expression of the density of the silica wall was calculated from the models resulting in a density of 1.95 ± 0.2 g/cm3. At a PPG/F127 ratio of approximately 0.31, the p6mm structure (found at lower PPG/F127 ratios) transforms to a microemulsion-templated foam structure. At an even higher PPG/F127 ratio (0.63–1.56), phase separation of the oil from the swollen template occurred, yielding a two-phase system of coexisting foam and large vesicles.
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