Comparison of standard capillary and chip separations of sodium dodecylsulfate-protein complexes

Conditions for converting a set of five standard proteins to electrochemically active sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) complexes were worked out with the aim of using such complexes for conductivity detection with a a chip electrophoresis system. The results obtained were compared with standard capillary electrophoresis (37 cm (effective length 30 cm)×75 μm I.D. capillary, 10 kV, negative polarity at the inlet). The chip separations were run at 500 V per chip (100 V/cm) as compared to the standard capillary arrangement, which was run at 266.6 V/cm. For the capillary set-up the protein complexes were prepared in aqueous solution (Milli-Q water) made 10 mM with respect to SDS. If the SDS concentration was increased to 50 mM, the separation in the capillary was incomplete. On the other hand with the chip system both approaches yielded acceptable results. The chip separations were slightly (but not distinctly) shorter and offered better separations than the standard set-up. The concentration of the surfactant used for the preparation the complexes results in alternations of the elution sequence, which is preserved if the chip separation is used instead of the capillary set-up. Apparently the full capacity of protein–SDS binding is not exploited for the preparation of the adducts.     

Insoluble eggshell matrix proteins--their peptide mapping and partial characterization by capillary electrophoresis and high-performance liquid chromatography

Avian eggshell matrix proteins were studied by two analytical approaches. Peptide mapping was done by trypsin and pepsin followed by collagenase cleavage; analyses were carried out by capillary electrophoresis and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Comparison of peptide maps obtained by both methods revealed a complex mixture of peptides in the insoluble layers of the eggshell; it was concluded that there are at least three different insoluble protein/peptide layers in the avian eggshell (cuticle, palisade, and mammillary layer). Partial characterization of peptides in each layer was made by HPLC-mass spectrometry analysis. There is an evidence that the eggshell insoluble proteins contain species susceptible to collagenase cleavage, however, the sequences split by this enzyme probably are not those typical for the main triple-helical core of collagenous proteins. It is proposed that the action of collagenase upon eggshell proteins is caused by the side effect of collagenase described previously with synthetic peptides. Some of the proteins present are probably glycosylated. Fatty acid content in the insoluble eggshell layers (after decalcification) was in the range of 2-4% (which reflected both lipid and lipoproteins bound fatty acids). Porphyrin pigments are dominant in the cuticle layer.     

A De Giorgi–Type Conjecture for Minimal Solutions to a Nonlinear Stokes Equation

We study the one-dimensional symmetry of solutions to the nonlinear Stokes equation which are periodic in the d − 1 last variables (living on the torus 𝕋^d−1) and globally minimize the corresponding energy in Ω = ℝ × 𝕋^d−1, i.e., Namely, we find a class of nonlinear potentials W ≥ 0 such that any global minimizer u of E connecting two zeros of W as x₁ → ± ∞ is one-dimensional; i.e., u depends only on the x₁ -variable. In particular, this class includes in dimension d = 2 the nonlinearities with w being a harmonic function or a solution to the wave equation, while in dimension d ≥ 3 , this class contains a perturbation of the Ginzburg-Landau potential as well as potentials W having d + 1 wells with prescribed transition cost between the wells. For that, we develop a theory of calibrations relying on the notion of entropy (coming from scalar conservation laws). We also study the problem of the existence of global minimizers of E for general potentials W providing in particular compactness results for uniformly finite energy maps u in Ω connecting two wells of W as x₁ → ± ∞ . © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Deglycosylation of glucose oxidase to improve biosensors and biofuel cells

We demonstrate that a more efficient redox hydrogel structure can be achieved by engineering the size and the surface charge of the bioelectrocatalyst. Deglycosylated glucose oxidase (GOx) modified electrode exhibits higher current density than native GOx, for the same molar composition of the hydrogel. This improvement is very likely due to a more efficient hydrogel structure rather than a better intrinsic electron transfer between the FAD/FADH₂ redox center and the redox mediator.     

Theoretical analysis of imaging properties of a pressure-actuated deformable mirror for adaptive compensation of rotationally symmetrical wavefronts

Our work presents a theoretical analysis of aberration properties of a simple single-channel deformable mirror from both the aspect of modeling the shape of the mirror reflecting surface and the mechanisms of wave-front correction using such mirror. The proposed mirror can be used for a compensation of rotationally symmetrical wavefronts, e.g. focusing of optical beams, adaptive change of resonator parameters in laser technology, phase shifting, etc. The detailed analysis of possibilities of wave-front correction was performed.     

Enantioselective Sulfoxidations Catalyzedby Horseradish Peroxidase, ManganesePeroxidase, and Myeloperoxidase

Summary.  Horseradish peroxidase (HRP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and manganese peroxidase (MnP) have been shown to catalyze the asymmetric sulfoxidation of thioanisole. When H₂O₂ was added stepwise to MPO, a maximal yield of 78% was obtained at pH 5 (ee 23%), whereas an optimum in the enantiomeric excess (32%, (R)-sulfoxide) was found at pH 6 (60% yield). For MnP a yield of 18% and a high enantiomeric excess of 91% of the (S)-sulfoxide were obtained at pH 5 and a yield of 36% and an ee of 87% at pH 7.0. Optimization of the conversion catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase at pH 7.0 by controlled continuous addition of hydrogen peroxide during turnover and monitoring the presence of native enzyme as well as of intermediates I, II, and III led to the formation of the sulfoxide in high yield (100%) and moderate enantioselectivity (60%, (S)-sulfoxide). Received November 18, 1999. Accepted January 21, 2000     

State of the Art in the Field of Electronic and Bioelectronic Tongues – Towards the Analysis of Wines

This review compares various types of (bio)electronic tongues. The design and principles of potentiometric and voltammetric electronic tongues are discussed together with applications in food and environmental analysis. Different approaches towards bioelectronic tongue are presented. Several methods for evaluation and interpretation of the measured data are described. Finally, the potential of such devices for analysis of wine is discussed.     

Steady Plane Flow of Viscoelastic Fluid Past an Obstacle

We consider the steady plane flow of certain classes of viscoelastic fluids in exterior domains with a non-zero velocity prescribed at infinity. We study existence as well as asymptotic behaviour of solutions near infinity and show that for sufficiently small data the solution decays near infinity as fast as the fundamental solution to the Oseen problem.     

Hyperchromats with linear dependence of longitudinal chromatic aberration on wavelength

Optical lens systems that are characterized by a chromatic aberration of a predefined form are called hyperchromats. Our work describes a theory of hyperchromats with a linear dependence of longitudinal chromatic aberration on wavelength. The equations are derived for calculation of basic design parameters of these optical systems and some examples of hyperchromatic optical systems are shown. Mentioned optical systems can be used especially in 3D imaging systems and confocal microscopy.