Imaging secondary structure of individual amyloid fibrils of a β2-microglobulin fragment using near-field infrared spectroscopy

Amyloid fibril diseases are characterized by the abnormal production of aggregated proteins and are associated with many types of neuro- and physically degenerative diseases. X-ray diffraction techniques, solid-state magic-angle spinning NMR spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy studies have been utilized to detect and examine the chemical, electronic, material, and structural properties of amyloid fibrils at up to angstrom spatial resolution. However, X-ray diffraction studies require crystals of the fibril to be analyzed, while other techniques can only probe the bulk solution or solid samples. In the work reported here, apertureless near-field scanning infrared microscopy (ANSIM) was used to probe the secondary structure of individual amyloid fibrils made from an in vitro solution. Simultaneous topographic and infrared images of individual amyloid fibrils synthesized from the #21-31 peptide fragment of β(2)-microglobulin were acquired. Using this technique, IR spectra of the amyloid fibrils were obtained with a spatial resolution of less than 30 nm. It is observed that the experimental scattered field spectrum correlates strongly with that calculated using the far-field absorption spectrum. The near-field images of the amyloid fibrils exhibit much lower scattering of the IR radiation at approximately 1630 cm(-1). In addition, the near-field images also indicate that composition and/or structural variations among individual amyloid fibrils were present.     

Morphology and persistence length of amyloid fibrils are correlated to peptide molecular structure

The formation of amyloid fibrils is a self-assembly process of peptides or proteins. The superior mechanical properties of these fibrils make them interesting for materials science but constitute a problem in amyloid-related diseases. Amyloid structures tend to be polymorphic, and their structure depends on growth conditions. To understand and control the assembly process, insights into the relation between the mechanical properties and molecular structure are essential. We prepared long, straight as well as short, worm-like β-lactoglobulin amyloid fibrils and determined their morphology and persistence length by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the molecular conformation using vibrational sum-frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy. We show that long fibrils with near-100% β-sheet content have a 40-times higher persistence length than short, worm-like fibrils with β-sheet contents below 80%.     

Simultaneous Control of pH and Ionic Strength during Interfacial Rheology of β-Lactoglobulin Fibrils Adsorbed at Liquid/Liquid Interfaces

Proteins can aggregate as amyloid fibrils under denaturing and destabilizing conditions such as low pH (2) and high temperature (90 °C). Fibrils of β-lactoglobulin are surface active and form adsorption layers at fluid-fluid interfaces. In this study, β-lactoglobulin fibrils were adsorbed at the oil-water interface at pH 2. A shear rheometer with a bicone geometry set up was modified to allow subphase exchange without disrupting the interface, enabling the investigation of rheological properties after adsorption of the fibrils, as a function of time, different pH, and ionic strength conditions. It is shown that an increase in pH (2 to 6) leads to an increase of both the interfacial storage and loss moduli. At the isoelectric point (pH 5-6) of β-lactoglobulin fibrils, the maximum storage and loss moduli are reached. Beyond the isoelectric point, by further increasing the pH, a decrease in viscoelastic properties can be observed. Amplitude sweeps at different pH reveal a weak strain overshoot around the isoelectric point. With increasing ionic strength, the moduli increase without a strain overshoot. The method developed in this study allows in situ subphase exchange during interfacial rheological measurements and the investigation of interfacial ordering.     

烟草花叶病毒介导合成三角形金纳米片

利用碱处理烟草花叶病毒的生物还原性和辅助结构导向作用,在室温下以水为溶剂直接还原氯金酸制备出三角形金纳米片。采取透射电子显微镜（TEM）、高分辨透射电子显微镜（HRTEM）、选区电子衍射（SAED）和紫外-可见光谱仪（UV-Vis）等对所制备金纳米片的结构和性能进行了表征。结果显示,所制备三角形金纳米片为单晶,三角面为{111}晶面簇,边长在40 ~120 nm之间,厚度约为15 nm。该材料在可见光区有两个等离子共振吸收峰,在感光成像、生物检测和催化等领域具有很好的应用前景。     

Fibrillation of β-lactoglobulin at low pH in the presence of a complexing anionic polysaccharide

The influence of electrostatic complexation with κ-carrageenan was tested on the fibrillation process of β-lactoglobulin at pH 2.0. Morphology and structural development were monitored through cross correlation dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Scattering indicated that noncomplexed β-lactoglobulin monomers aggregated to form fibrils after 15-90 min of heating at 90 °C. However, electrostatic protein-carrageenan complexes found in the unheated system were unchanged by the thermal process. Images and scattering results showed that carrageenan complexes slowed fibrillation kinetics, possibly through reduction in available monomer concentration. Complexes adhered to fibrils at ends and junctions in TEM images, indicating interactive affinity with the fibers, presumably as heterogeneous nucleation sites.     

ZnS纳米球的水热法制备及其光催化性能研究

在表面活性剂十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)的辅助下,以乙酸锌为锌源,硫脲(NH₂)₂CS为硫源,使用水热法通过改变反应时间,成功制备了不同粒径的ZnS球状颗粒.利用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线能谱,高分辨透射电子显微镜(HRTEM))、紫外可见分光光谱和光致发光谱(PL)等测试手段对样品的晶体结构、形貌、光学性质进行了分析.通过对不同粒径的ZnS纳米颗粒对亚甲基蓝的光催化降解的催化活性进行了评估.实验结果表明:在表面活性剂CTAB的作用下,随着反应时间的增加,生成的ZnS晶核生长成纳米颗粒,然后ZnS纳米颗粒将进一步发生团聚从而形成平均粒径超过500nm的ZnS纳米球,但制备的ZnS产物的晶体结构均为立方纤锌矿结构.随着ZnS粒径的增加,样品的紫外吸收峰从418nm逐渐蓝移到362nm,而PL发射峰位的峰强随着粒径的增大而增强.光催化结果显示,反应12h制备的ZnS纳米球的光催化性能最佳.     

ZnS纳米球的水热法制备及其光催化性能研究

在表面活性剂十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)的辅助下,以乙酸锌为锌源,硫脲(NH2)2CS为硫源,使用水热法通过改变反应时间,成功制备了不同粒径的ZnS球状颗粒。利用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X-射线能谱,高分辨透射电子显微镜(HRTEM))、紫外可见分光光谱和光致发光谱(PL)等测试手段对样品的晶体结构、形貌、光学性质进行了分析。通过对不同粒径的ZnS纳米颗粒对亚甲基蓝的光催化降解的催化活性进行了评估。实验结果表明:在表面活性剂CTAB的作用下,随着反应时间的增加,生成的ZnS晶核生长成纳米颗粒,然后ZnS纳米颗粒将进一步发生团聚从而形成平均粒径超过500nm的ZnS纳米球,但制备的ZnS产物的晶体结构均为立方纤锌矿结构。随着ZnS粒径的增加,样品的紫外吸收峰从418nm逐渐蓝移到362nm,而PL发射峰位的峰强随着粒径的增大而增强。光催化结果显示,反应12h制备的ZnS纳米球的光催化性能最佳。     

Synthesis of single crystal CdMoO4 octahedral microparticles via microemulsion-mediated route

The single crystal octahedra of tetragonal CdMoO4 were synthesized on large scale via a microemulsion-mediated hydrothermal route at 120 degrees C for 10 h. The structures, compositions and morphologies of the as-prepared products were characterized by X-ray power diffraction pattern, field emission scanning electronic microscopy, transmission electron microscopy. Further studies reveal that the octahedral CdMoO4 crystal has eight equivalent exposed crystal faces {101}. The possible growth mechanism of the CdMoO4 octahedral is based on the anisotropic growth habit of CdMoO4 crystals and the selective absorption of surfactant molecules CTAB on the faces of the prime crystals, and the reaction time, composition of the microemulsions and temperature have considerable effects on the final morphology of CdMoO4.     

Supramolecular parallel β-sheet and amyloid-like fibril forming peptides using δ-aminovaleric acid residue

Four terminally blocked tripeptides containing δ-aminovaleric acid residue self-assemble to form supramolecular β-sheet structures as are revealed from their FT-IR data. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies of two representative peptides also show that they form parallel β-sheet structures. Self-aggregation of these β-sheet forming peptides leads to the formation of fibrillar structures, as is evident from scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) images. These peptide fibrils bind to a physiological dye, Congo red and exhibit a typical green-gold birefringence under polarized light, showing close resemblance to neurodegenerative disease causing amyloid fibrils.     

ZnO twin-cones: synthesis, photoluminescence, and catalytic decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

ZnO twin-cones, a new member to the ZnO family, were prepared directly by a solvothermal method using a mixed solution of zinc nitrate and ethanol. The reaction and growth mechanisms of ZnO twin-cones were investigated by X-ray diffraction, UV-visible spectra, infrared and ion trap mass spectra, and transmission electron microscopy. All as-prepared ZnO cones consisted of tiny single crystals with lengths of several micrometers. With prolonging of the reaction time from 1.5 h to 7 days, the twin-cone shape did not change at all, while the lattice parameters increased slightly and the emission peak of photoluminescence shifted from the green region to the near orange region. ZnO twin-cones are also explored as an additive to promote the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate. The variations of photoluminescence spectra and catalytic roles in ammonium perchlorate decomposition were discussed in terms of the defect structure of ZnO twin-cones.     

High-yield Synthesis of Branched Gold Nanocrystals by a Sodium Diphenylamine-4-Sulfonate Reduction Process in Polyethylene Glycol Aqueous Solution

For developing new excellent electrocatalysts toward methanol and oxygen, branched Au nanocrystals have been prepared in high yield by the reaction of HAuCl₄ and sodium diphenylamine‐4‐sulfonate in the presence of PEG (polyethylene glycol) at room temperature. When the amount of PEG was in the range of 1–3 mL, branched Au nanocrystals were all obtained, and the amounts of sodium diphenylamine‐4‐sulfonate and HAuCl₄ had no obvious effect on the morphology of gold nanocrystals. PEG molecules play an important role in the formation of branched gold nanocrystals. The nanocrystals were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and UV‐Vis absorption spectrum. HRTEM research suggests that the tips of gold nanocrystals grow selectively in the [111] directions. The UV‐Vis absorption spectrum displays two‐separated surface plasmon resonance peaks.     

Direct synthesis of branched gold nanocrystals and their transformation into spherical nanoparticles

We report a facile synthesis of branched gold nanocrystals by the addition of a suitable amount of NaOH to an aqueous solution of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), HAuCl(4), and ascorbic acid. The branched nanocrystals were formed within minutes of reaction and showed monopod, bipod, tripod, and tetrapod structures. They are crystalline and have smooth surfaces. These gold multipods are kinetically controlled products and are thermodynamically unstable. The branched nanocrystals quickly transformed into spherical nanoparticles within 1 h of reaction, and the process was essentially complete after 2 days. The morphological transformation has been monitored by both UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and electron microscopy. The appearance of two major absorption bands for the branched gold nanocrystals eventually became only a single band at 529 nm for the spherical nanoparticles. The resulting nanoparticles are single crystals with diameters of 20-50 nm and do not show a faceted structure. When the freshly prepared branched nanocrystals are kept in a refrigerator at 4 degrees C, their multipod structure can be preserved for over a month without significant spectral shifts.     

紫外光辐照法制备金纳米盘及其反应机理

用紫外光辐照氯金酸、聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)和纳米金种子的混合溶液, 在室温下用30 min制备出尺度小于100 nm的截角三角形或六边形金纳米盘. X射线能谱和衍射分析表明粒子是以{111}面为盘状面的高纯面心立方金单晶, 红外透射光谱表明金粒子与PVP之间存在作用. 产物的可见吸收光谱表现出纳米盘的各向异性表面等离子体共振吸收峰. 不同实验条件下产物的吸收光谱分析表明: PVP起还原剂和包覆剂的作用; 高强度紫外光加速了反应进行; 种子对反应具有催化作用; 种子的加入量有最佳值, 在该值下纳米盘平均尺度最大(达80 nm), 吸收谱上的面内偶极共振峰位于950 nm处; 种子的加入量超过该值时, 纳米盘尺度变小, 面内偶极共振峰发生蓝移.     

Amyloidosis of Alzheimer's Abeta peptides: solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, electron paramagnetic resonance, transmission electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy studies

Aggregation cascade for Alzheimer's amyloid-beta peptides, its relevance to neurotoxicity in the course of Alzheimer's disease and experimental methods useful for these studies are discussed. Details of the solid-phase peptide synthesis and sample preparation procedures for Alzheimer's beta-amyloid fibrils are given. Recent progress in obtaining structural constraints on Abeta-fibrils from solid-state NMR and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) data is discussed. Polymorphism of amyloid fibrils and oligomers of the 'Arctic' mutant of Abeta(1-40) was studied by (1)H,(13)C solid-state NMR, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), and a real-time aggregation of different polymorphs of the peptide was observed with the aid of in situ AFM. Recent results on binding of Cu(II) ions and Al-citrate and Al-ATP complexes to amyloid fibrils, as studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and solid-state (27)Al NMR techniques, are also presented.     

Crystallization of single phase (K,Na)-clinoptilolite

A single phase (K, Na)-clinoptilolite was hydrothermally crystallized without seed crystals from a reactant mixture of (K, Na)-aluminosilicate gel slurry through homogeneous mixing at 150 °C for 144 h. Compositions of the reactant mixtures and reaction temperatures to obtain the clinoptilolite were restricted within narrow limits in the case of syntheses without seed crystals, while the compositions and temperatures were expanded into wide ranges in the case of syntheses with 1 wt.-% of seed crystals. Coexistence of Na⁺- and K⁺-ions with appropriate ratios in the reactant mixture, and homogeneous mixing of this mixture, were indispensable for the crystallization of clinoptilolite. The crystals obtained were characterized by X-ray diffraction, chemical analysis, thermal analysis (DTA/TG), electron microscopy, and electron diffraction. The crystals were assigned as clinoptilolite, not heulandite, based on their chemical compositions and thermal stability.     

Structural evolution of Iowa mutant β-amyloid fibrils from polymorphic to homogeneous states under repeated seeded growth

Structural variations in β-amyloid fibrils are potentially important to the toxicity of these fibrils in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We describe a repeated seeding protocol that selects a homogeneous fibril structure from a polymorphic initial state in the case of 40-residue β-amyloid fibrils with the Asp23-to-Asn, or Iowa, mutation (D23N-Aβ(1-40)). We use thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to track the evolution of fibril structure through multiple generations under this protocol. The data show that (i) repeated seeding selectively amplifies a single D23N-Aβ(1-40) fibril structure that can be a minor component of the initial polymorphic state; (ii) the final structure is highly sensitive to growth conditions, including pH, temperature, and agitation; (iii) although the initial state can include fibrils that contain both antiparallel and parallel β-sheets, the final structures contain only parallel β-sheets, suggesting that antiparallel β-sheet structures are thermodynamically and kinetically metastable. Additionally, our data demonstrate that ThT fluorescence enhancements, which are commonly used to monitor amyloid fibril formation, vary strongly with structural variations, even among fibrils comprised of the same polypeptide. Finally, we present a simple mathematical model that describes the structural evolution of fibril samples under repeated seeding.     

在SDS-PVP团簇软模板中自组装多脚状金纳米粒子

利用十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)与聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)组成的团簇为软模板, 在微波辅助下以柠檬酸钠为还原剂快速还原氯金酸生成金晶并自组装成多脚状金纳米粒子. TEM结果显示, 得到回转直径约为50 nm的多脚状纳米结构, 电子衍射(ED)证实其为多晶结构. XRD结果表明, 该多脚状金纳米结构主要沿(111)晶面生长, 构成该纳米结构的晶粒尺寸约为12.7 nm. SDS与PVP组成的团簇结构对金纳米粒子的形貌有显著影响, 固定PVP浓度时, 随着SDS浓度增大, 金纳米粒子的形貌由球形向多脚状转变, 同时还原产物水溶液的UV-Vis光谱在800 nm附近的吸收逐渐增强.     

Synthesis and characterization of cuprous selenide nanocrystals at room temperature

A simple method has been developed to prepare cuprous selenide nanocrystals by the reaction of copper nitrate trihydrate with selenium and sodium mercaptoacetate in aqueous ammonia system. Cu_2Se nanocrystals were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron diffraction (ED), fluorescence spectrum and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrum. Cu_2Se nanocrystals showed berzelianite structure with 20-40 nm in length and 10-20 nm in width. A possible mechanism is also discussed.     

Growth of compound Bi(III)- VI(A)-VII(A) crystals with special morphologies under mild conditions

A series of crystals Bi(III)-VI(A)-VII(A), including the platelike crystals BiOCl, polygonal tubular crystals BiSCl, bundle-rodlike crystals Bi(19)S(27)Br(3), and BiSI, have been grown with use of mild solution routes in an ethanol system. The products are characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), electron diffraction (ED), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectrum techniques. A possible mechanism of the reaction and of the growth of the crystals is proposed.     

The synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes/gold composites and their application to the detection of thioridazine

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs)/gold composites were synthesized through a simple self-assembly method. The morphology, composition, and optical properties of the resulted composites were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, ultraviolet–visible absorption spectrum, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic. This nanocomposite combines the advantages of N-CNTs and gold nanoparticales showing many excellent properties such as good dispersibility in water and satisfactory biocompatibility. Cyclic voltammogram experiment shows that N-CNTs/gold composite has high conductivity. Based on these aspects, N-CNTs/gold-modified electrode was applied to the voltammetric determination of thioridazine hydrochloride (TH) successfully. The linear calibration range for the TH sensor was 12?~?850?μM with a detection limit of 1.3?μM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, long-term stability, and good reproducibility.