48 



SUBCELLULAR PARTICLES 



maximum at 315 m//,, in addition to other features. These mineral substances have 

 in common hydroxyl groups and electronegative oxygen atoms capable of acting 

 as H-bond acceptors, but differ in their spatial arrangement, and include the 

 random structure of silica gel; the sheets of hexagonally assembled Si-O tetrahedra 

 with superimposed OH in kaolin; and the hexagonally arranged chains of Si-O 

 tetrahedra in the amphiboles and serpentines (3). 



The matrix activity of mineral substances was further studied under different 

 physical conditions omitting peroxidase from the system. First, it was shown that 

 when eugenol, water and air are incubated at moderately elevated temperatures 

 and pressures (at i25°C, 5 atm, for example) a variety of polymeric products 

 is obtained, among them dark, spongy, inert substances high in C (50-60%) 

 low in H (2-3%), and, in general, melanin-like in nature. If, however, chrysotile 

 (serpentine) fibers are present, either in the liquid or vapor phases of the system, 

 the products formed thereon include lignin-like polymers. Even under mild con- 

 ditions (25 °C, I atm) chrysotile and other minerals, including amphibole and 

 mica, can form a lignin-like polymer if peroxide is provided but peroxidase 

 omitted (34). In the absence of minerals, substances resembling the naturally 

 occurring dimeric lignanes (12) are formed in eugenol-peroxide solutions at 25°C. 

 Thus, products representative of three groups of natural substances can be 

 formed under comparatively controlled conditions, the nature of the matrix serv- 

 ing as a principal determinant of reaction product, with oxidant and physical 

 conditions as contributing factors (fig. 4). 



The investigations under consideration have emphasized the matrix properties 

 of natural polymers, both inorganic and organic. A precise knowledge of the 

 mechanism of matrix action requires both adequate information about the sur- 



Dimers (lignane-like) __ 25* C un 

 ^^ I otm. "2°2 



I25» C 



Polymer (lignin-like) < 



Dinners (lignane-like) a 

 Side Chain Degradation 



Polymer (melanin-like) 



125* C rt 

 5 atm. "2 



Peroxidase 



I atm. "2°2 



Chrysotile^ Polymer (lignin-like) 



Peroxidase 

 Polysaccharide 



Polymer (lignin) 



Fig. 4. Summary of transformations of cuLjcnol umlcr \arious conditions. 



