Ricerc@Sapienza

We explore the possibility that protonated molecular ions might be an unexpected source of interference in the recognition process of anions and neutral species by Zn-salophen receptors. Zn-salophen complexes are known to bind anions and neutral molecules in solution. We present here evidence (from computational work and IRMPD spectroscopy) that these complexes can also be the binding site for protonated pyridine or quinuclidine. The resulting binding pattern does not involve the Zn ion, but one of the oxygen atoms directly attached to it.

A screening strategy using micropropagation glass tubes with a gradient of distances between germinating seeds
and a metal-contaminated medium was used for studying alterations in root architecture and morphology of
Arabidopsis thaliana treated with cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) at the concentration of 10–20 ?M and 100–200 ?M,
respectively. Metal concentrations in plant shoots and roots were measured by quadrupole inductively coupled
plasma mass spectrometry. After 21 days from germination, all plants in the tubes were scanned at high resolution