Infrared spectroscopy of human tissue. IV. Detection of dysplastic and neoplastic changes of human cervical tissue via infrared microscopy

Infrared absorption spectra of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human cervical tissue are reported for normal, dysplastic and neoplastic samples. The spectral differences found in this study between these states of the tissues are far less than those observed for single cells by us and others. Nevertheless, we find a direct correspondence between spectral data from tissue sections, obtained from biopsies, and individual exfoliated cells, typically obtained during a pap procedure. We also find that spectra due to dysplastic samples fall about halfway between the spectral features of normal and cancerous samples.

Conformational studies of the smallest structural motifs of DNA detectable via vibrational circular dichroism: cytidylyl-(3'-5')-guanosine and guanylyl-(3'-5')-cytidine

The infrared absorption and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of buffered aqueous solutions of cytidylyl-(3'-5')-guanosine (5'(CG)3') and guanylyl-(3'-5')-cytidine (5'(GC)3') are reported. Under low ionic strength conditions, these dinucleotides exhibit VCD features that can be predicted qualitatively from structural data of (CG)2 and (GC)2 sequences of poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC), using the exciton model for infrared VCD intensities.

IR circular dichroism of turns in small peptides

The observation of circular dichroism (CD) in vibrational transitions in the infrared spectral region offers new possibilities for the determination of peptide solution conformation. Infrared or vibrational CD (VCD) is a particularly sensitive probe for the conformation of various peptide turns. Results of small linear and cyclic peptides containing beta- or gamma-turns are reported.

Strategies for the computation of infrared CD and absorption spectra of biological molecules: ribonucleic acids

We report observed and computed infrared (vibrational) circular dichroism spectra of a number of polyribonucleic acids in aqueous solutions in the 1600-1750 cm-1 spectral region, in which C = O and some nucleotide base ring stretching vibrations occur. The experimental data are compared with results calculated using different levels of sophistication within the exciton approach. We find that observed band shapes are generally well reproduced by these models, particularly if care is taken to determine the direction of the vibrational dipole transition moments accurately.

Infrared CD of deoxy oligonucleotides. Conformational studies of 5'd(GCGC)3', 5'd(CGCG)3', 5'd(CCGG)3', and 5'd(GGCC)3' in low and high salt aqueous solution

Infrared (vibrational) circular dichroism (VCD) spectra have been obtained for the self-complementary tetranucleotides, 5'd(CGCG)3', 5'd(GCGC)3', 5'd(CCGG)3', and 5'd(GGCC)3'. In buffered aqueous solution at low salt concentration, these tetramers exhibit spectra associated with right-handed polymers, although the spectra differ significantly for the four species. In high salt solution, a B-->Z transition occurs in 5'd(CGCG)3', while the other tetranucleotides appear only slightly altered. Temperature dependent studies of these oligonucleotides reveal a greater amount of thermal stability for the tetramers in low salt than for the high salt solutions. VCD intensities computed via the exciton formalism are compared with observed results.

IR (vibrational) CD of peptide beta-turns: a theoretical and experimental study of cyclo-(-Gly-Pro-Gly-D-Ala-Pro-)

IR vibrational CD (VCD) has been observed for the cyclic pentapeptide cyclo-(-Gly-Pro-Gly-D-Ala-Pro-) in solution in CDBr3. The observed VCD spectra do not resemble the VCD features of any of the previously reported peptide secondary structures, such as alpha-helical, "random coil," or sheet structures, and might be due to the beta-turn contained in this molecule. To shed light onto the origin of the observed spectra, VCD intensity calculations, based on the solution and solid-state structures of cyclo-(-Gly-Pro-Gly-D-Ala-Pro-), have been carried out. In addition, calculated VCD data for pure beta-turns are discussed.

Experimental and computational infrared CD studies of prototypical peptide conformations

The infrared vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectral features of prototypical peptide secondary structures were reported previously by Yasui and Keiderling [Yasui, S.C., & Keiderling, T.A. (1986) Biopolymers 25, 5]. These results demonstrated that the "random coil" peptide conformation exhibits VCD signals which are approximately mirror-image features of those exhibited by alpha-helical conformers. We report here a comparison of observed VCD spectra with those computed for several secondary structures, using the extended coupled oscillator formalism employed previously to compute VCD spectra of model DNA [Zhong et al. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 7485]. These studies suggest that the so-called random-coil peptide conformation has distinct short-range order and appears to be a left-handed, helical structure.

DNA solution conformation via infrared circular dichroism: experimental and theoretical results for B-family polymers

Infrared (vibrational) circular dichroism (VCD) has been observed for the DNA models d(CG)5, poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC), poly(dG).poly(dC), poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT), and poly(dA).poly(dT) in the B-conformation in buffered, aqueous solution. The observed results are quantitatively interpreted in terms of the exciton model for coupled carbonyl stretching vibrational states.

IR vibrational CD in model deoxyoligonucleotides: observation of the B----Z phase transition and extended coupled oscillator intensity calculations

The first observation of ir vibrational CD (VCD) in small model DNA molecules is reported. The VCD signals in the 1550-1750-cm-1 spectral region, which originate from coupling of carbonyl stretching modes of the nucleic acid bases, are found to be sensitive to the handedness of the polymer helix. The formalism to calculate VCD intensities of polymers is developed from the exciton model derived earlier by Tinoco [(1963) Radiation Res. 20, 133; (1960) J. Chem. Phys. 33, 1332; (1964) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 86, 297] and Schellman and co-workers [(1975) Biopolymers 14, 173; (1969) J. Phys. Chem. 73, 28]. The resulting equations, which are a direct extension of the dimeric case known as the "coupled oscillator," are used in model calculations of the helical polymers.

IR vibrational CD in alanyl tripeptide: indication of a stable solution conformer

Infrared vibrational CD (VCD) of a small peptide, L-alanyl-L-alanyl-L-alanine (Ala3), and a peptide model, N-acetyl-L-alanine-N'-methyl-amide (AAMA), in the 1550-1750-cm-1 region has been observed. The "coupled oscillator" VCD feature observed for Ala3 in the amide I region is interpreted in terms of a solution structure stabilized by the electrostatic interaction of the zwitterionic groups. No such interactions are possible in basic aqueous solution of Ala3 nor in AAMA in neutral solution. Thus, the coupled oscillator features are lost in the latter two cases, indicating the absence of a simple stabilized conformation.

How is the exact length of an internode determined

(1) The length of the human ventral spinal roots in the newborn and in the adult were compared with the length of the internodes in these roots. Internodes of fibers of a given caliber were more than twice as long in the adult sacral roots than in the cervical roots. The factors of root elongation corresponded closely to the factors of internode elongation. (2) Internode length was in a statistically significant linear relation with fiber caliber in individual roots. The slope of the regression lines differed among roots, and were steeper caudally. If data from roots having different elongation factors were pooled there was no longer a linear relationship between fiber caliber and internode length. Internode length, therefore, correlated directly and quantitatively with root elongation; it was not directly linked to fiber caliber. (3) The total Schwann cell population per fiber was nearly stable from the newborn to the adult, but the sacral roots had 5 times as many Schwann cells as the cervical roots. Calculations based on the number of internodes and on the length of fetal roots at the onset of myelination showed that the mean "initial length" of the Schwann cell at the onset of myelination was 187 micrometer, the same for all roots. (4) The Schwann cell population per fiber is determined by 2 reciprocal growth phases: elongation of the fetal fiber up to the onset of myelination corresponds to a multiplication of Schwann cells each having a given initial length. Schwann cell populations stabilize after the onset of myelination; from then on the geometry of each internode is determined by its passive elongation. The timing of myelination is critical for determining the ultimate length of the Schwann cell. If myelination does not begin before a fiber system has attained approximately one eighth of its definitive size, the longest internodes of that system will average 1.5 mm and most will remain below 2 mm, regardless of body size.