Chaetopterus variopedatus Bioluminescence: A Review of Light Emission within a Species Complex

Chaetopterus variopedatus has been studied for over a century in terms of its physiology, ecology and life history. One focus of research is on its intrinsic bioluminescent emissions, which can be observed as a blue light emitted from the extremities of individual body segments, or as a secreted mucus. Even though research shows that C. variopedatus is a species complex miscategorized as a single species, all of the variants of this polychaete produce light, which has been investigated in terms of both physiology and biochemistry. Despite decades of study, there are still many questions about the luminescence reaction, and, as of yet, no clear function for light emission exists. This review summarizes the current knowledge on C. variopedatus luminescence in addition to briefly describing its morphology, life cycle and ecology. Possible functions for luminescence were discussed using observations of specimens found in Brazil, along with a comparison of previous studies of other luminescent organisms. Further study will provide a better understanding of how and why C. variopedatus produces luminescence, and purifying the protein and luciferin involved could lead to new bioanalytical applications, as this reaction is unique among all known luminescent systems.     

Optical and thermal properties of metals,ceramics, and CVD diamond films upon high-temperature laser heating

A complex optical method for simultaneous determination of optical and thermal properties of solids (true temperature, reflectance, transmittance, absorbance, extinction, specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and diffusivity) in a wide temperature range (800–2700°C) was proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The developed setup is characterized by a high processing rate (the time taken for measuring all parameters is from milliseconds to tens of seconds). It allows the study of rather small samples (about several milligrams), which is a significant advantage as applied to new or expensive materials. New and widely used materials (AlN, Al₂O₃, Si₃N₄, SiC, and Al₂O₃/SiC ceramics; C45, 16MnCrS5, 115CrV3, X5NiCr18 9, X12CrNi17 7, Sd, and Satellite 6 steels; E-Cu, CuSn, AlMgSi1, and AlCuMgPb copper and aluminum alloys; as well as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond films) were studied at heating rates of 10³−10⁴K·s⁻¹ in various atmospheres (air and argon at pressures of 1 and 10⁻³ atm). This study demonstrated high efficiency and informativity of the proposed method. The data obtained can be used to develop theoretical models describing the solid structure and properties at high temperatures in oxidizing, neutral, or regenerative atmospheres.     

Novel Mechanism of Bioluminescence: Oxidative Decarboxylation of a Moiety Adjacent to the Light Emitter of Fridericia Luciferin

A novel luciferin from a bioluminescent Siberian earthworm Fridericia heliota was recently described. In this study, the Fridericia oxyluciferin was isolated and its structure elucidated. The results provide insight into a novel bioluminescence mechanism in nature. Oxidative decarboxylation of a lysine fragment of the luciferin supplies energy for light generation, while a fluorescent CompX moiety remains intact and serves as the light emitter.     

Enzyme‐Compatible Dynamic Nanoreactors from Electrostatically Bridged Like‐Charged Surfactants and Polyelectrolytes

Reported is an unanticipated mechanism of attractive electrostatic interactions of fully neutralized polyacrylic acid (PAA) with like‐charged surfactants. Amphiphilic polymer‐surfactant complexes with high interfacial activity and a solubilization capacity exceeding that of conventional micelles are formed by bridging with Ca²⁺ ions. Incorporation of a protease into such dynamic nanoreactors results in a synergistically enhanced cleaning performance because of the improved solubilization of poorly water‐soluble immobilized proteins. Competitive interfacial and intermolecular interactions on different time‐ and length‐scales have been resolved using colorimetric analysis, dynamic tensiometry, light scattering, and molecular dynamic simulations. The discovered bridging association mechanism suggests reengineering of surfactant/polymer/enzyme formulations of modern detergents and opens new opportunities in advancing labile delivery systems.     

A new method of synthesis of substituted 1-(1H-imidazole-4-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazoles and their fungicidal activity

Based on the deoxygenation reaction of 1-(1-tert-butyl-3-nitroazetidine-3-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazoles a new method for the synthesis of substituted 1-(1H-imidazole-4-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazoles has been developed. Fungicidal activity of these compounds has been investigated at a range of phytopathogenic fungi.     

Changes of Parameters of Mixed Monolayers Based on Photosensitive Crown Ether in the Presence of Silver Ions

The use of the achievements attained in colloid chemistry and other fields of chemical sciences allows us to develop new nanoscale systems for chemosensorics. Mixed monolayers consisting of a new chemosensory amphiphilic dithia-18-crown-6, which contains a dye of 4-alkylpyridine series with polyvinyl stearate at the water–air interface, are obtained and studied. The influence of various concentrations of silver ions on these mixed monolayers is studied. A promising method for the detection of silver ions in water using the given nanoscale systems based on chemosensory amphiphilic dithia-18-crown-6 is proposed.     

Defect evolution in block copolymer thin films via temporal phase transitions

We study the details of the defect dynamics in thin films of a cylinder-forming polystyrene-block-polybutadiene (SB) diblock copolymer melt. The high temporal resolution of in-situ scanning force microscopy (SFM) uncovers elementary dynamic processes of structural rearrangements on time scales not accessible so far. Short-term interfacial undulations and the formation of transient phases (spheres, perforated lamellae, and lamellae) are observed. We demonstrate that the well-known structural defects are annihilated by short-term phase transitions into what may be considered excited states. These temporary phase transitions are reproduced in simulations based on dynamic self-consistent field theory. We discuss the role of the observed structural evolution in the context of the equilibrium phase behavior in SB thin films.     

Changes in the Activity of Lipases in the Presence of Synthetic and Natural Polymers

Moscow University Chemistry Bulletin - Abstract—Both synthetic and natural polymers are promising carriers for the immobilization of enzymes, including lipases from different sources. This...