The goal of this work was to check the ability of the PC-SAFT equation to represent the solubility of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) in ionic liquids. Parameters of pure imidazolium-based ionic liquids were estimated using experimental densities over a large range of temperatures and then correlated with respect to the molecular weight and structure of the solvents. It was found that such a correlation is able to predict the density with high accuracy. The solubility of carbon dioxide in such ionic liquids was then studied. The binary interaction parameter k(ij) needed for the representation of such binary systems was first fitted to experimental liquid-vapor equilibria data. In a second step, a correlation based on the group contribution concept was developed to determine this temperature-dependent parameter. The ability of the model to describe accurately carbon dioxide solubility in imidazolium-based ionic liquids is demonstrated.
Gentle touch sensation in Caenorhabditis elegans is mediated by the MEC-4/MEC-10 channel complex, which is expressed exclusively in six touch receptor neurons (TRNs). The complex contains two pore-forming subunits, MEC-4 and MEC-10, as well as the accessory subunits MEC-2, MEC-6 and UNC-24. MEC-4 is essential for channel function, but beyond its role as a pore-forming subunit, the functional contribution of MEC-10 to the channel complex and to touch sensation is unclear. We addressed this question using behavioral assays, in vivo electrophysiological recordings from TRNs, and heterologous expression of mutant MEC-10 isoforms. Animals with a deletion in mec-10 showed only a partial loss of touch sensitivity and a modest decrease in the size of the mechanoreceptor current (MRC). In contrast, five previously identified mec-10 alleles acted as recessive gain-of-function alleles that resulted in complete touch insensitivity. Each of these alleles produced a substantial decrease in MRC size and a shift in the reversal potential in vivo. The latter finding indicates that these mec-10 mutations alter the ionic selectivity of the transduction channel in vivo. All mec-10 mutant animals had properly localized channel complexes, indicating that the loss of MRCs was not due to a dramatic mislocalization of transduction channels. Finally, electrophysiological examination of heterologously expressed complexes suggests that mutant MEC-10 proteins may affect channel current via MEC-2.
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