Size and Fluorescence Properties of Algal Photosynthetic Antenna Proteins Estimated by Microscopy.

Antenna proteins play a major role in the regulation of light-harvesting in photosynthesis. However, less is known about a possible link between their sizes (oligomerization state) and fluorescence intensity (number of photons emitted). Here, we used a microscopy-based method, Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS), to analyze different antenna proteins at the particle level. The direct comparison indicated that Chromera Light Harvesting (CLH) antenna particles (isolated from Chromera velia) behaved as the monomeric Light Harvesting Complex II (LHCII) (from higher plants), in terms of their radius (based on the diffusion time) and fluorescence yields. FCS data thus indicated a monomeric oligomerization state of algal CLH antenna (at our experimental conditions) that was later confirmed also by biochemical experiments. Additionally, our data provide a proof of concept that the FCS method is well suited to measure proteins sizes (oligomerization state) and fluorescence intensities (photon counts) of antenna proteins per single particle (monomers and oligomers). We proved that antenna monomers (CLH and LHCIIm) are more "quenched" than the corresponding trimers. The FCS measurement thus represents a useful experimental approach that allows studying the role of antenna oligomerization in the mechanism of photoprotection.

Antenna Protein Clustering In Vitro Unveiled by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy.

Antenna protein aggregation is one of the principal mechanisms considered effective in protecting phototrophs against high light damage. Commonly, it is induced, in vitro, by decreasing detergent concentration and pH of a solution of purified antennas; the resulting reduction in fluorescence emission is considered to be representative of non-photochemical quenching in vivo. However, little is known about the actual size and organization of antenna particles formed by this means, and hence the physiological relevance of this experimental approach is questionable. Here, a quasi-single molecule method, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), was applied during in vitro quenching of LHCII trimers from higher plants for a parallel estimation of particle size, fluorescence, and antenna cluster homogeneity in a single measurement. FCS revealed that, below detergent critical micelle concentration, low pH promoted the formation of large protein oligomers of sizes up to micrometers, and therefore is apparently incompatible with thylakoid membranes. In contrast, LHCII clusters formed at high pH were smaller and homogenous, and yet still capable of efficient quenching. The results altogether set the physiological validity limits of in vitro quenching experiments. Our data also support the idea that the small, moderately quenching LHCII oligomers found at high pH could be relevant with respect to non-photochemical quenching in vivo.

Spontaneous and Stress-Induced Pore Formation in Membranes: Theory, Experiments and Simulations.

The large plasticity, dynamics and adaptability of biological membranes allow different modes of intrinsic and inducible permeability. These phenomena are of physiological importance for a number of natural functions related to cell death and can also be manipulated artificially for practical purposes like gene transfer, drug delivery, prevention of infections or anticancer therapy. For these advances to develop in a controllable and specific way, we need a sufficient understanding of the membrane permeability phenomena. Since the formulation of early concepts of pore formation, there has been an enormous effort to describe membrane permeability by using theory, simulations and experiments. A major breakthrough has come recently through theoretical developments that allow building continuous trajectories of pore formation both in the absence and presence of stress conditions. The new model provides a coherent quantitative view of membrane permeabilization, useful to test the impact of known lipid properties, make predictions and postulate specific pore intermediates that can be studied by simulations. For example, this theory predicts unprecedented dependencies of the line tension on the pore radius and on applied lateral tension which explain previous puzzling results. In parallel, important concepts have also come from molecular dynamics simulations, of which the role of water for membrane permeabilization is of special interest. These advances open new challenges and perspectives for future progress in the study of membrane permeability, as experiments and simulations will need to test the theoretical predictions, while theory achieves new refinements that provide a physical ground for observations.

Validación de métodos analíticos de control de procesos de antitumorales inyectables / Analytical methods validation of processes control in injectable antitumor agents

Se validaron los métodos analíticos alternativos para el control de proceso de fluorouracilo 500 mg, doxorrubicina 50 mg y metotrexato 50 mg por espectrofotometría, por ser estos métodos màs sencillos, económicos, que permiten controlar la calidad de los medicamentos en el anàlisis de control de proceso. Las curvas de calibración del fluorouracilo, la doxorrubicina y el metotrexato, se realizaron en el intervalo de 60 al 140 por ciento, donde fueron lineales con coeficientes de correlación iguales a 0,9998; 0,9999 y 0,9999, respectivamente; la prueba estadística para el intercepto y la pendiente se consideraron no significativas. Se obtuvieron recobrados del 99,97, 99,08 y 99,35 por ciento, respectivamente en el intervalo de concentraciones estudiado, y las pruebas de Cochran y t de Student resultaron no significativas. Los coeficientes de variación de los estudios de la repetibilidad fueron inferiores al 3 por ciento para las 6 réplicas ensayadas, mientras que en los anàlisis de la precisión intermedia las pruebas de Fischer y t de Student indicaron diferencias no significativas. Los métodos resultaron específicos, lineales, precisos y exactos en el intervalo de concentraciones estudiadas.

Alternative analytical methods were validated for the process control of 500 mg florouacil, 50 mg doxorrubicin and 50 mg methotrexate by spectrophotometry because of they are more simple and economic allowint to control the drugs quality in process anaslysis control. Calibration curves of fluorouracil, doxorrubicin and methotrexate were plotted in interval from 60 to 140 percent, where there were linear with correlation coeficients similar to 0.9998, 0.9999 and 0.9999, respectively; statistical text for intercept and slope were considered as non-significant. Recoveries of 99.97, 99.98 and 99.35 percent were achieved, respectively in study concentration interval and Cochran and t-Student tests were also non-significant. Methods were specific, linear, precises and exacts in interval of study concentrations.