The hammerhead ribozyme is generally accepted as a well characterized metalloenzyme. However, the precise nature of the interactions of the RNA with metal ions remains to be fully defined. Examination of metal ion-catalyzed hammerhead reactions at limited concentrations of metal ions is useful for evaluation of the role of metal ions, as demonstrated in this study. At concentrations of Mn2+ ion...

Reverse electrodialysis (RED) is a membrane-based renewable energy technology that can harvest energy from salinity gradients. The anticipated feed streams are natural river and seawater, both of which contain not only monovalent ions but also divalent ions. However, RED using feed streams containing divalent ions experiences lower power densities because of both uphill transport and increased ...

The distribution of counterions in solutions of high molecular mass hyaluronic acid, in near-physiological conditions where mono- and divalent ions are simultaneously present, is studied by small angle neutron scattering and anomalous small angle x-ray scattering. The solutions contain either sodium or rubidium chloride together with varying concentrations of calcium or strontium chloride. The ...

BACKGROUND The catalytic activity of RNA enzymes is thought to require divalent metal ions, which are believed to facilitate RNA folding and to play a direct chemical role in the reaction. RESULTS We have found that the hammerhead, hairpin and VS ribozymes do not require divalent metal ions, their mimics such as [Co(NH3)6]3+, or even monovalent metal ions for efficient self-cleavage. The HDV ...

Electron microscopic evidence is presented, from mitochondria in whole cells of toad urinary bladder and from isolated rat kidney mitochondria, indicating that the divalent cations calcium, strontium, and barium are accumulated in granules localized in the mitochondrial matrix. This accumulation occurs under conditions in which divalent ions are present in the medium bathing either whole cells ...

BACKGROUND The pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease is the deposition of cytoplasmic neuronal inclusions termed Lewy bodies. The major component of Lewy bodies is amyloid fibrils of α-synuclein. To investigate what causes α-synuclein aggregation is essential to understand its pathological roles in Parkinson's disease. Various metal ions, including iron and copper, have been implicated i...

the acidity constants of some amino acids (am) were determined by potentiometric ph titration. the stability constants of the 1:1 complexes formed between m2+: ca2+, mg2+, mn2+, co2+, ni2+, cu2+ or zn2+ and am2-, were determined by potentiometric ph titration in aqueous solution (i = 0.1 m, nano3, 25°c). the order of the stability constants was reported. it is shown that the stability of the bi...

We have investigated the ability of various divalent cations to carry current through membrane channels in ciliates activated by mechanical stimulation and by membrane depolarization. Both types of channels are identified as Ca2+ channels. Whereas Ba2+ ions and Sr2+ ions can replace Ca2+ ions as charge carriers during either kind of current, Mg2+ ions can carry the current evoked by mechanical ...

Ion channels are proteins with holes down their middle that control the flow of ions and electric current across otherwise impermeable biological membranes. The flow of sodium, potassium, calcium (divalent), and chloride ions have been central issues in biology for more than a century. The flow of current is responsible for the signals of the nervous system that propagate over long distances (m...

The reversible insertion of monovalent ions such as lithium into electrode materials has enabled the development of rechargeable batteries with high energy density. Reversible insertion of divalent ions such as magnesium would allow the creation of new battery chemistries that are potentially safer and cheaper than lithium-based batteries. Here we report that nanomaterials in the Prussian Blue ...