In Vivo Residue‐Specific Dopa‐Incorporated Engineered Mussel Bioglue with Enhanced Adhesion and Water Resistance

Misaminoacylation of 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa) molecules to tRNA^Tyr by endogenous tyrosyl‐tRNA synthetase allowed the quantitative replacement of tyrosine residues with a yield of over 90 % by an in vivo residue‐specific incorporation strategy, to create, for the first time, engineered mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs) in Escherichia coli with a very high Dopa content, close to that of natural MAPs. The Dopa‐incorporated MAPs exhibited a superior surface adhesion and water resistance ability by assistance of Dopa‐mediated interactions including the oxidative Dopa cross‐linking, and furthermore, showed underwater adhesive properties comparable to those of natural MAPs. These results propose promising use of Dopa‐incorporated engineered MAPs as bioglues or adhesive hydrogels for practical underwater applications.     

A Facile Fabrication of Poly-ethionine Film on Glassy Carbon Electrode for Simultaneous and Sensitive Detection of Dopamine and Paracetamol

An electrochemical sensor based on poly-ethionine (Poly-ET) film modified glassy carbon electrode was developed for sensitive and simultaneous sensing of dopamine (DA) and paracetamol (PA). The electropolymerization of ethionine monomer was carried out to modify the electrode. The modified electrode was characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The Poly-ET/GCE exhibited excellent electrocatalysis towards the sensing of DA and PA. Poly-ET/GCE showed a linear increase of current response with increase concentration of DA and PA ranging from 0.1 μM–60 μM and 0.1 μM–180 μM, respectively. The LODs were found to be 7 nM and 18 nM (S/N=3) for DA and PA, respectively. This electrochemical sensor was successfully utilized for the detection of DA and PA in pharmaceutical samples.     

A facile and efficient method for the incorporation of multiple unnatural amino acids into a single protein

One stone, two birds: Here, we have developed a simple and efficient method for the incorporation of multiple unnatural amino acids in a single protein. This single protein exhibited two different novel functionalities acquired from the genetically incorporated unnatural amino acids, which is an interesting and not an inherent property of the protein.     

Synthesis and Catalytic Studies of Thermoresponsive Copper (I) Complex towards Click Reactions

Click reaction or copper-assisted azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction can conveniently synthesize desired organic molecules or functionalize biological macromolecules. In many cases, trace amounts of residual copper from the reaction mixture are not trivial to remove when the exhaustive purification step is avoided to fulfill the essential criteria of a click reaction. It is often detrimental, particularly for biochemical applications or when it involves biological macromolecules. Herein, we have reported the synthesis of a new type of copper (I) complex as a smart catalyst for click reaction, which can be separated from the reaction mixture very easily by the slight elevation of temperature, thanks to its thermoresponsive behavior. The click reactions using a thermoresponsive catalyst were first studied in an aqueous medium using various organic molecules containing alkyne and azide functional groups. Later, the strategy was extended to biological macromolecules like collagen.