Homogeneous immunoassay for the detection of trinitrotoluene (TNT) based on the reactivation of apoglucose oxidase using a novel FAD-trinitrotoluene conjugate

A flavin adenine dinucleotide-trinitrotoluene derivative (FAD-TNT) was synthesized by coupling N ⁶-(2-aminoethyl)-FAD covalently to the N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester of trinitrophenyl-γ-aminobutyric acid and characterized by negative-ion electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) after purification by reversed-phase HPLC. Free FAD-TNT can be detected at very low levels by recombination with apoglucose oxidase, since the FAD-TNT-glucose oxidase complex is enzymatically active. On the contrary, if FAD-TNT has been bound by an anti-TNT antibody, the conjugate cannot recombine with apoglucose oxidase any more. Based on these two phenomena, a homogeneous apoenzyme reactivation immunoassay system (ARIS) was developed for the detection of TNT. No separation step is needed in this assay. Proportionality between the TNT concentration and enzyme activity was demonstrated with a detection limit of 5 μg/L TNT.     

Homogeneous immunoassay for the detection of trinitrotoluene (TNT) based on the reactivation of apoglucose oxidase using a novel FAD-trinitrotoluene conjugate

A flavin adenine dinucleotide-trinitrotoluene derivative (FAD-TNT) was synthesized by coupling N ⁶-(2-aminoethyl)-FAD covalently to the N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester of trinitrophenyl-γ-aminobutyric acid and characterized by negative-ion electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) after purification by reversed-phase HPLC. Free FAD-TNT can be detected at very low levels by recombination with apoglucose oxidase, since the FAD-TNT-glucose oxidase complex is enzymatically active. On the contrary, if FAD-TNT has been bound by an anti-TNT antibody, the conjugate cannot recombine with apoglucose oxidase any more. Based on these two phenomena, a homogeneous apoenzyme reactivation immunoassay system (ARIS) was developed for the detection of TNT. No separation step is needed in this assay. Proportionality between the TNT concentration and enzyme activity was demonstrated with a detection limit of 5 μg/L TNT. Received: 5 September 1997 / Revised: 3 December 1997 / Accepted: 9 December 1997     

Water and ice in contact with octadecyl-trichlorosilane functionalized surfaces: a high resolution x-ray reflectivity study

We present a high energy x-ray reflectivity study of the density profiles of water and ice at hydrophobic and hydrophilic substrates. At the hydrophobic water/octadecyl-trichlorosilane (water-OTS) interface, we find clear evidence for a thin density depletion layer with an integrated density deficit corresponding to approximately 40% of a monolayer of water molecules. We discuss the experimental results in terms of a simple model of hydrophobic/hydrophilic solid-liquid interfaces. Our results also exclude the presence of nanobubbles. A detailed study of possible radiation damage induced by the intense x-ray beam at the dry OTS surface and at the ice-OTS, as well as at water-OTS interfaces, discloses that noticeable damage is only induced at the water-OTS interface, and thus points to the dominant role of highly mobile radicals formed in bulk water close to the interface.     

Evaluation of protein loading techniques and improved separation in OFFGEL isoelectric focusing

2-DE proved to be a key technology in protein science since the two orthogonal separation dimensions are capable of protein isoform separation. Recently, Agilent introduced the OFFGEL 3100 fractionator for in solution IEF (off-gel) of proteins with the help of a 12- or 24-well frame. With this instrument also conventional focusing in IPG strips after passive in-tray rehydration can be performed. In this study, two novel IEF applications using the OFFGEL electrophoresis were developed. First, a sample cup was built and a cup-loading method for the OFFGEL device was implemented. Applying proteins via cup resulted in higher reproducibility and less protein loss compared with conventional in-tray rehydration loading. Especially, the recovery of basic and high-molecular-mass proteins seems to be favored by cup loading. These effects are more pronounced with low microgram sample amounts. Second, a 48-well OFFGEL frame was developed, which doubles the resolution of the commercially available 24-well frame. It is capable of separating proteins with small pI differences and shows potential for isoform/PTM separation.     

The 2 × 1 reconstruction of the rutile TiO2(0 1 1) surface: A combined density functional theory, X-ray diffraction, and scanning tunneling microscopy study

An extensive search for possible structural models of the (2 × 1)-reconstructed rutile TiO₂(0 1 1) surface was carried out by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A number of models were identified that have much lower surface energies than the previously-proposed ‘titanyl’ and ‘microfaceting’ models. These new structures were tested with surface X-ray diffraction (SXRD) and voltage-dependent STM measurements. The model that is (by far) energetically most stable shows also the best agreement with SXRD data. Calculated STM images agree with the experimental ones for appropriate tunneling conditions. In contrast to previously-proposed models, this structure is not of missing-row type; because of its similarity to the fully optimized brookite TiO₂(0 0 1) surface, we call it the ‘brookite (0 0 1)-like’ model. The new surface structure exhibits two different types of undercoordinated oxygen and titanium atoms, and is, in its stoichiometric form, predicted to be rather inert towards the adsorption of probe molecules.     

Predictions for the electromagnetic formfactors of baryons from hybrid groups

The predictions of the hybrid groupSU ₃?SU ₃?U ₁ for the electromagnetic formfactors of baryons are studied in detail. Surprisingly, this small group leads already to strong restrictions. For example, it gives for the ratio of the magnetic formfactors of neutron and proton ?2/3 for all values of the momentum transfer variable. The results of the powerful (SU ₆) _W hybrid group which involves more speculative assumptions are also quoted. In addition, the theoretical foundation of the hybrid groups is discussed in the paper.     

Location of interstitial deuterium in Niobium by Huang diffuse scattering

Huang diffuse scattering experiments were performed on NbD single crystals using neutrons. So far such experiments were used to determine the strength and symmetry of the distortion field around the deuteriuml. In the present study the interstitial site occupancy has also been determined and it is found that deuterium occupies tetrahedral sites in Niobium.