Translocation polarity

While many biological molecules may be targets for oxidant stress and free radicals, it is clear that the cell membrane and its associated proteins may be particularly vulnerable. The ability of the cell to control its intracellular ionic environment as well as its ability to maintain a polarized membrane potential and electrical excitability depends on the activity of ion-translocating proteins such as channels, pumps and exchangers. Either direct or indirect disturbances of the activity of these ion translocators must ultimately underlie reperfiision and oxidant stress-induced arrhythmias in the heart. A number of studies have therefore investigated the effects of free radicals and oxidant stress on cellular electrophysiology and the activity of key membrane-bound ion translocating proteins. 

Plant Diaziuou was rapidly absorbed by and translocated in rice plants. Metabolites identified in both rice plants and a paddy soil were 2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-hydroxypyrimidine (hydrolysis product), 2-(l -hydroxy-l -methyl)ethyl-4-methyl-6-hydroxypyrimidine, and other polar compounds (Laanio et al, 1972). Oxidizes in plants to diazoxon (Laanio et al., 1972 Ralls et al, 1966 Wolfe et al., 1976) although 2-isopropyl-4-methylpyrimidin-6-ol was identified in bean plants (Kansouh and Hopkins, 1968) and as a hydrolysis product in soil (Somasundaram et al., 1991) and water (Suffet et al., 1967). Five d after spraying, pyrimidine ring-labeled C-diazinon was oxidized to oxodiazinon which then hydrolyzed to 2-isopropyl-4-methylpyrimidin-6-ol which, in turn, was further metabolized to carbon dioxide (Ralls et al, 1966). Diazinon was transformed in field-sprayed kale plants to hydroxydiazinon 0,0-diethyl-0-[2-(2 -hydroxy-2 -propyl)-4-methyl-6-pyrimidinyl] phosphorothioate which was not previously reported (Pardue et al., 1970). 

The amount of chloroform-soluble C in the roots of peanut plants grown in hydroponics decreased greatly as a function of time. After 33 days, chloroform soluble C accounted for only 5 of the 14C in the roots. This was probably due to metabolism of the remaining PCNB, volatilization of some metabolites, translocation to foliar tissue, and additional metabolism of nonpolar metabolites to polar metabolites or Insoluble residue. Because of volatility, it is possible that chloroform-soluble... 

FIGURE 27-32 Translocation into the ER directed by amino-terminal signal sequences of some eukaryotic proteins. The hydrophobic core (yellow) is preceded by one or more basic residues (blue). Note the polar and short-side-chain residues immediately preceding (to the left of, as shown here) the cleavage sites (indicated by red arrows). 

To begin to elucidate such issues and to create a theoretical framework for them, we have focused [4-9] on a model of a protonated Schiff base (PSB) in a nonequilibrium dielectric continuum solvent. A key feature for the Sj-Sq Cl in PSBs such as retinal which plays a key role in the chromophore s cis-trans isomerization is that a charge transfer is involved, implying a strong electrostatic coupling to a polar and polarizable environment. In particular, there is translocation of a positive charge [92], discussed further below. Charge transfer also characterizes the earliest events in the photoactive yellow protein photocycle, for example [93],... 

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