Identification of epigenetic DNA modifications with a protein nanopore

Two DNA bases, 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (hmC), marks of epigenetic modification, are recognized in immobilized DNA strands and distinguished from G, A, T and C by nanopore current recording. Therefore, if further aspects of nanopore sequencing can be addressed, the approach will provide a means to locate epigenetic modifications in unamplified genomic DNA.     

Excitable patterns in active nematics

We analyze a model of mutually propelled filaments suspended in a two-dimensional solvent. The system undergoes a mean-field isotropic-nematic transition for large enough filament concentrations, and the nematic order parameter is allowed to vary in space and time. We show that the interplay between nonuniform nematic order, activity, and flow results in spatially modulated relaxation oscillations, similar to those seen in excitable media. In this regime the dynamics consists of nearly stationary periods separated by "bursts" of activity in which the system is elastically distorted and solvent is pumped throughout. At even higher activity, the dynamics becomes chaotic.     

A valveless microfluidic device for integrated solid phase extraction and polymerase chain reaction for short tandem repeat (STR) analysis

A valveless microdevice has been developed for the integration of solid phase extraction (SPE) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on a single chip for the short tandem repeat (STR) analysis of DNA from a biological sample. The device consists of two domains--a SPE domain filled with silica beads as a solid phase and a PCR domain with an ~500 nL reaction chamber. DNA from buccal swabs was purified and amplified using the integrated device and a full STR profile (16 loci) resulted. The 16 loci Identifiler? multiplex amplification was performed using a non-contact infrared (IR)-mediated PCR system built in-house, after syringe-driven SPE, providing an ~80-fold and 2.2-fold reduction in sample and reagent volumes consumed, respectively, as well as an ~5-fold reduction in the overall analysis time in comparison to conventional analysis. Results indicate that the SPE-PCR system can be used for many applications requiring genetic analysis, and the future addition of microchip electrophoresis (ME) to the system would allow for the complete processing of biological samples for forensic STR analysis on a single microdevice.     

Structural characterization of manganese and iron complexes with methylated derivatives of bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine reveals unanticipated conformational flexibility

Iron and manganese complexes with derivatives of bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine (bispicen) have previously been found to be efficient catalysts for hydrocarbon oxygenation. Methylation can potentially impact the conformation of the ligand around the metal center and the electronic character of the bound metal ion; each of these, in turn, impacts reactivity. Reported are mononuclear manganese(II) and iron(II) compounds with bispicen and five increasingly methylated derivatives. The extent and sites of methylation strongly impact the optical and electrochemical properties of the manganese and iron complexes. Increased methylation is correlated with more positive M(III/II) reduction potentials. Structural analysis of the Mn(II) series reveals two ligand conformations that have never been observed for the bispicen framework, cis-β and trans, in addition to the common cis-α conformation. (1)H NMR spectra of the structurally characterized iron compounds are consistent with mixtures of these conformers, suggesting that bispicen coordination is both more flexible and more dynamic than previously thought.     

Transport Properties and Phase Behaviour in Binary and Ternary Ionic Liquid Electrolyte Systems of Interest in Lithium Batteries

A binary ionic liquid (IL) system based on a common cation, N‐methyl‐N‐propylpyrrolidinium (C₃mpyr⁺), and either bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (NTf₂^?) or bis(fluorosulfonyl) imide (FSI^?) as the anion is explored over its entire composition range. Phase behavior, determined by DSC, shows the presence of a eutectic temperature at 247 K and composition around an anion ratio of 2:1 (FSI^?:NTf₂^?) with the phase diagram for this system proposed (under the thermal conditions used). Importantly for electrochemical devices, the single phase melting transition at the eutectic is well below ambient temperatures (247 K). To investigate the effect of such anion mixing on the lithium ion speciation, conductivity and PFG–NMR diffusion measurements were performed in both the binary IL system as well as the Li‐NTf₂‐containing ternary system. The addition of the lithium salt to the mixed IL system resulted in a decrease in conductivity, as is commonly observed in the single‐component IL systems. For a fixed lithium salt composition, both conductivity and ion diffusion have linear behaviour as a function of the anion ratio, however, the rate of change of the diffusion coefficient seems greater in the presence of lithium. From the application point of view, the addition of the FSI^? to the NTf₂^? IL results in a considerable increase in lithium ion diffusivity at room temperature and no evidence of additional complex ion behaviour.