Pipette tip biosensors for bacterial double-stranded DNA using bioluminescence induced by zinc finger luciferase

The authors describe a pipette type of biosensor for detecting target genes and using a zinc finger protein fused to luciferase (ZF luciferase). The ZF protein binds to a specific DNA sequence, and the target double-stranded (ds) DNA can be detected by monitoring the enzymatic activity of ZF luciferase. A small avidin-immobilized reaction plate is placed on a plastic pipette tip (referred to as Biologi tip). The dsDNA detection procedures are carried out by using a programmable dispensing robot equipped with a photodetector. These procedures include (a) the aspiration of an analyte to capture the biotinylated target dsDNA (a product of a polymerase chain reaction) on the small reaction plate inside the pipette tip, (b) the introduction of ZF luciferase and luciferin into the pipette tip, and (c) migration of the pipette tip to the detection port to measure bioluminescence on the small reaction plate. The emission originating from luciferase activity is observed on the reaction plate containing immobilized biotin-tagged target dsDNA, whereas plates containing non-target or biotinylated single-stranded DNA only do not yield a signal. The intensity of emission increases proportionally to the concentration of dsDNA, and the detection limit of the target dsDNA is as low as 62 pM. An actual genomic DNA sample from Escherichia coli O157 was successfully detected by this automatic analyzer using the Biologi tip equipped with a reaction plate. This indicates that this system has a large potential for practical applications, including in particular point-of-care analyses in hygiene control, food safety testing, and clinical diagnosis.

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Graphical abstract A pipette-type biosensor was developed to detect target genes using a luciferase-fused zinc finger protein, where a small NeutrAvidin-immobilized reaction plate was placed on the tip, and the biotinylated target double-stranded DNA was detected by monitoring the bound luciferase activity.

     

Synthesis,Structure, and Reactivity of Lewis Base Stabilized Plumbacyclopentadienylidenes

Plumbacyclopentadienylidenes, in which the lead atoms have divalent states and are coordinated by THF, pyridine and N‐heterocyclic carbene, were synthesized and characterized. The THF‐ and pyridine‐stabilized compounds can be regarded as rare examples of hypervalent 10‐X‐4 species. The equilibrium between the THF adduct and the free plumbacyclopentadienylidene was evidenced by spectroscopic analysis and theoretical calculations. The THF adduct in benzene converted into a plumbylene dimer, where one of the lead centers is coordinated by THF and the other lead atom is coordinated by a divalent lead atom, the dimer gradually decomposing into spiroplumbole. The THF adduct unexpectedly reacted with trifluoroborane and trichlorogallane to afford fluoroborole and chlorogallole, which are the first examples of non‐annulated fluoroborole and gallole, respectively.     

Synergic extraction of lanthanoids by mixtures of LIX 54 (high molecular weight beta-diketone) and bidentate neutral amines.

The synergic extraction of lanthanoids has been investigated using mixtures of high molecular weight beta-diketone, LIX 54 (HA; major component, 1-phenyl-3-isoheptyl-1,3-propanedion) and bidentate neutral ligands (S) in toluene. The distribution behavior of bidentate amines (2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmp)) was investigated and their related equilibrium constants were evaluated. The synergic effect is produced by the formation of such adduct complexes as MA3 x S. The extraction constants with LIX 54 alone and those in the presence of bidentate ligands were determined for lanthanoid-series elements.     

New alkaline earth aluminum hydride with one-dimensional zigzag chains of [AlH6]: synthesis and crystal structure of BaAlH5

The title hydride and its deuteride were successfully synthesized. The crystal structure of the deuteride was determined by time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction. BaAlD(5) crystallizes with a new orthorhombic structure in space group Pna2(1) (No. 33), cell parameters a = 9.194(1) A, b = 7.0403(9) A, and c = 5.1061(6) A, Z = 4. BaAlH(5) is the first example that contains one-dimensional zigzag chains of [AlH(6)] along the crystallographic c axis.     

Novel self-assembled monolayers of disulfides with bicyclo[2.2.2]octane moieties of Au(111)

A series of disulfides containing bicyclo[2.2.2]octane moieties have been synthesised and their self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au(111) have been characterized using scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM).     

The role of the solvent in equilibrium and kinetic aspects of metal chelate extractions

Equilibria and kinetics for the extraction of nickel(II) and copper(II) by 2-hydroxy-5-nonylbenzophenone oxime (LIX 65N) in seven organic solvent systems were studied in order to test the validity of several hypotheses related to the role of the solvent in equilibrium and kinetic aspects of metal chelate extraction. For the nickel—LIX 65N system, the extraction constant is essentially independent of the solvent system, whereas for the copper—LIX 65N system, the extraction constant is not independent of solvent; this indicates that while the stoichiometry of the nickel chelate remains the same in all solvents, that of copper does not. The observed rate constant for the nickel—LIX 65N extraction was found to vary inversely with the LIX 65N distribution constant as predicted from a mechanism involving slow formation of the 1:1 complex. The observed reaction rate constant for the copper—LIX 65N varied inversely with the square of the distribution constant, also in accordance with the previously postulated mechanism of the slow formation of the 2:1 copper complex. This study, therefore, unequivocally eliminates the interfacial mechanism in favor of the homogeneous chemical reaction mechanism for the extraction of metal ions by LIX 65N, as well as by other similar high-molecular-weight extractants.     

Syntheses and structures of hypervalent pentacoordinate carbon and boron compounds bearing an anthracene skeleton--elucidation of hypervalent interaction based on X-ray analysis and DFT calculation

Pentacoordinate and tetracoordinate carbon and boron compounds (27, 38, 50-52, 56-61) bearing an anthracene skeleton with two oxygen or nitrogen atoms at the 1,8-positions were synthesized by the use of four newly synthesized tridentate ligand precursors. Several carbon and boron compounds were characterized by X-ray crystallographic analysis, showing that compounds 27, 56-59 bearing an oxygen-donating anthracene skeleton had a trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) pentacoordinate structure with relatively long apical distances (ca. 2.38-2.46 A). Despite the relatively long apical distances, DFT calculation of carbon species 27 and boron species 56 and experimental accurate X-ray electron density distribution analysis of 56 supported the existence of the apical hypervalent bond even though the nature of the hypervalent interaction between the central carbon (or boron) and the donating oxygen atom was relatively weak and ionic. On the other hand, X-ray analysis of compounds 50-52 bearing a nitrogen-donating anthracene skeleton showed unsymmetrical tetracoordinate carbon or boron atom with coordination by only one of the two nitrogen-donating groups. It is interesting to note that, with an oxygen-donating skeleton, the compound 61 having two chlorine atoms on the central boron atom showed a tetracoordinate structure, although the corresponding compound 60 with two fluorine atoms showed a pentacoordinate structure. The B-O distances (av 2.29 A) in 60 were relatively short in comparison with those (av 2.44 A) in 59 having two methoxy groups on the central boron atom, indicating that the B-O interaction became stronger due to the electron-withdrawing nature of the fluorine atoms.     

Application of europium(III) extraction with organophosphinic acid to liquid membrane transport

The extraction behavior of Eu(III) has been studied using di(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid (DTMPPA, HA) in kerosene. Europium was extracted as Eu(HA₂)₃ with the extraction constant of 2.0·10^–3. This extraction system was applied to the transport of Eu(III) across a DTMPPA liquid membrane supported on porous polytetrafluoroethylene. Europium was quantitatively moved through the liquid membrane containing 0.1M (HA)₂ as a mobile carrier from the feed solution of pH above 3 into the product solution of 0.1M HNO₃, yielding a concentration factor of ten. The transport rate increased with increasing pH and DTMPPA concentration.