A multifunctional probe based on the use of labeled aptamer and magnetic nanoparticles for fluorometric determination of adenosine 5’-triphosphate

A multifunctional fluorescent probe is synthesized for the determination of adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP). The 6-carboxyfluorescein-labeled aptamer (FAM-aptamer) was bound to the surface of magnetite nanoparticles coated with polydopamine (Fe₃O₄@PDA) by π-π stacking interaction to form the multifunctional probe. The probe has three functions including recognition, magnetic separation, and yielding a fluorescent signal. In the presence of ATP, FAM-aptamer on the surface of the probe binds to ATP and returns to the solution. Thus, the fluorescence of the supernatant is enhanced and can be related to the concentration of ATP. Fluorescence intensities were measured at excitation/emission wavelengths of 494/526 nm. Response is linear in the 0.1–100 μM ATP concentration range, and the detection limit is 89 nM. The probe was applied to the quantitation of ATP in spiked human urine and serum samples, with recoveries ranging between 94.8 and 102%.

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Graphical abstract A multifunctional fluorescent probe based on the use of FAM-aptamer and Fe₃O₄@PDA is described for the determination of ATP in spiked human urine and serum samples. FAM-aptamer: 6-carboxyfluorescein-labeled aptamer; Fe₃O₄@PDA: magnetite nanoparticles coated with polydopamine. ATP: adenosine 5′-triphosphate.

     

A highly selective and easy-to-synthesize Zn(Ⅱ) fluorescent probe based on 6-methoxyquinolin

A novel fluorescent Zn²⁺ probe based on 6-methoxyquinolin was synthesized in four steps from inexpensive starting materials.It exhibits very strong fluorescence responses and has a remarkably high selectivity to Zn²⁺ than other physiological relevant metal ions.This new compound could be used as low-priced yet high-quality Zn²⁺ probe.     

Homology modelling of the human adenosine A2B receptor based on X-ray structures of bovine rhodopsin, the β2-adrenergic receptor and the human adenosine A2A receptor

A three-dimensional model of the human adenosine A_2B receptor was generated by means of homology modelling, using the crystal structures of bovine rhodopsin, the β₂-adrenergic receptor, and the human adenosine A_2A receptor as templates. In order to compare the three resulting models, the binding modes of the adenosine A_2B receptor antagonists theophylline, ZM241385, MRS1706, and PSB601 were investigated. The A_2A-based model was much better able to stabilize the ligands in the binding site than the other models reflecting the high degree of similarity between A_2A and A_2B receptors: while the A_2B receptor shares about 21% of the residues with rhodopsin, and 31% with the β₂-adrenergic receptor, it is 56% identical to the adenosine A_2A receptor. The A_2A-based model was used for further studies. The model included the transmembrane domains, the extracellular and the intracellular hydrophilic loops as well as the terminal domains. In order to validate the usefulness of this model, a docking analysis of several selective and nonselective agonists and antagonists was carried out including a study of binding affinities and selectivities of these ligands with respect to the adenosine A_2A and A_2B receptors. A common binding site is proposed for antagonists and agonists based on homology modelling combined with site-directed mutagenesis and a comparison between experimental and calculated affinity data. The new, validated A_2B receptor model may serve as a basis for developing more potent and selective drugs.     

Two-photon dual-channel fluorogenic probe for in situ imaging the mitochondrial H2S/viscosity in the brain of drosophila Parkinson’s disease model

H₂S is an essential gas signal molecule in cells, and viscosity is a key internal environmental parameter. Recent studies have shown that H₂S acts as a cytoarchitecture agent and gas transmitter in many tissues, e.g., as a regulator of neuroendocrine in the brain for mediating vascular tone in blood vessels. Mitochondrial viscosity is an important parameter for judging whether mitochondrial function is normal. It has been reported that oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are connected with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and the protective role of H₂S in PD models has been extensively demonstrated. Herein, Mito-HS, a new two-photon fluorescent probe was demonstrated to detect cross-talk between the two channels of mitochondrial viscosity and H₂S content. Moreover, this probe could detect the relative amount of and changes in mitochondrial H₂S in situ due to the reduced mitochondrial targeting ability after reaction with H₂S. The results show that H₂S in mitochondria is inversely related to viscosity. The PD model has a lower H₂S in mitochondria and a higher mitochondrial viscosity than did the normal. This result is important for our deep understanding of PD and its causes.     

The synthesis and study of the fluorescent probe for sensing Cu2＋ based on a novel coumarin Schiff-base

A novel, fluorescent probe was synthesized from 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and 8-hydroxyquinoline for sensing Cu2+by the naked eye. The structure was confirmed by IR, MS,1H NMR,13 C NMR and the spectral properties of the probe were investigated. It exhibited strong fluorescence responses toward Cu2+and high selectivity over other metal ions. The binding constant between the probe and Cu2+was calculated using Benesi–Hildebrand equation.     

FTIR spectra of the 2ν4, ν4 + ν6 and 2ν6 bands of formaldehyde

High resolution IR spectra of the overtones and the combination band of the ν₄ and ν₆ modes of formaldehyde (2ν₄, ν₄ + ν₆ and 2ν₆) were measured in the region of 2200–2650 cm⁻¹ using FTIR. The combination band ν₄ + ν₆, whose dipole transition is forbidden from molecular symmetry, was observed due to the intensity borrowed from the other bands. The observed frequencies were analysed by a Hamiltonian in which A-type Coriolis interactions and Darling—Dennison interaction were taken into account. The ratio and the relative signs of the transition dipole moments of the overtone bands, μ_2ν4 and μ_2ν6, have been determined by analysing the intensity distribution of the vibration—rotation lines.     

A fluorescence probe study of the mixed surfactant vesicles

Vesicle can be prepared from aqueous mixtures of simple commercially available, single-tailed canonic and anionic surfactants. In this work, the I3/I1 value, Ie/ Im value, and fluorescence lifetime of pyrene in different systems (see the preparation of samples) were determined. Hie essential affecting factors in the formation of vesicle can be deduced from the obtained results. It showed that large vesicle must form naturally before sonication in 0.082 M octyltrimethylammonium bromide and sodium laurate pH = 9.2 aqueous solution. While after sonication, only small vesicle exists, which can be proved further through electron microscope.     

Sensitive and selective DNA probe based on “turn-on” photoluminescence of C-dots@RGO

In this study, highly hydrophilic and photoluminescent sheets of reduced graphene oxide decorated with carbon dots (C-dots@RGO), methylene blue (MB), and a probe DNA have been used for the detection of DNA. The photoluminescence of C-dots@RGO is quenched by MB, which is restored in the presence of a target DNA. The combination of the C-dots@RGO, MB, and a DNA probe is selective for perfectly matched DNA over mismatched DNA, mainly because relative to single-stranded DNA, double-stranded DNA intercalates more strongly with MB, but interacts more weakly with RGO. In the presence of a target DNA, MB intercalates with the as-formed double-stranded DNA and is released from the surface of C-dots@RGO, leading to “turn-on” photoluminescence. The practicality of this assay has been validated by the determination of tumor suppressor gene BRCA1, with linearity over the concentration range from 25 to 250 nM and a limit of detection (LOD, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3) of 14.6 nM. The C-dots@RGO probe provides higher specificity towards target DNA than towards common salts, carbohydrates, amino acids, and proteins found in real samples. Having the advantages of simplicity, cost-effectiveness, selectivity, and sensitivity, the DNA-P/C-dots@RGO–MB probe on microwells has been successfully employed for the detection of DNA, suggesting its potential for multiple analyses of DNA targets when various DNA probes are employed.     

A study on the adsorption-exchange of UO2 2+,137Cs,169Yb and HPO4 2− on modified peat

The adsorption-exchange equilibrium time and the adsorption isotherms of UO₂ ²⁺,¹³⁷Cs,¹⁶⁹Yb and HPO₄ ²⁻ on modified peat have been investigated by batch experiments. The effect of pH on the adsorption-exchange percentage (E) and the distribution coefficients (K _d) was also examined. It was found that the adsorption-exchange of UO₂ ²⁺ and¹⁶⁹Yb on the modified peat was described well by Freundlich isotherm, whereas the adsorption-exchange of¹³⁷Cs and HPO₄ ²⁻ on modified peat corresponded to a Langmuir isotherm and the maximum adsorption capacities of the modified peat for¹³⁷Cs and HPO₄ ²⁻ ions were 4.4 and 4.1 μg/g respectively. The optimum pH for the adsorption-exchange of UO₂ ²⁺,¹³⁷Cs,¹⁶⁹Yb and HPO₄ ²⁻ on the modified peat was 7.0 at 25°C.     

Two-photon dual-channel fluorogenic probe for in situ imaging the mitochondrial H2S/viscosity in the brain of drosophila Parkinson’s disease model

H₂S is an essential gas signal molecule in cells, and viscosity is a key internal environmental parameter. Recent studies have shown that H₂S acts as a cytoarchitecture agent and gas transmitter in many tissues, e.g., as a regulator of neuroendocrine in the brain for mediating vascular tone in blood vessels. Mitochondrial viscosity is an important parameter for judging whether mitochondrial function is normal. It has been reported that oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are connected with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and the protective role of H₂S in PD models has been extensively demonstrated. Herein, Mito-HS, a new two-photon fluorescent probe was demonstrated to detect cross-talk between the two channels of mitochondrial viscosity and H₂S content. Moreover, this probe could detect the relative amount of and changes in mitochondrial H₂S in situ due to the reduced mitochondrial targeting ability after reaction with H₂S. The results show that H₂S in mitochondria is inversely related to viscosity. The PD model has a lower H₂S in mitochondria and a higher mitochondrial viscosity than did the normal. This result is important for our deep understanding of PD and its causes.     

A photoelectrochemical immunosensor based on Au-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays for the detection of α-synuclein

α‐Synuclein (α‐SYN) is a very important neuronal protein that is associated with Parkinson’s disease. In this paper, we utilized Au‐doped TiO₂ nanotube arrays to design a photoelectrochemical immunosensor for the detection of α‐SYN. The highly ordered TiO₂ nanotubes were fabricated by using an electrochemical anodization technique on pure Ti foil. After that, a photoelectrochemical deposition method was exploited to modify the resulting nanotubes with Au nanoparticles, which have been demonstrated to facilitate the improvement of photocurrent responses. Moreover, the Au‐doped TiO₂ nanotubes formed effective antibody immobilization arrays and immobilized primary antibodies (Ab₁) with high stability and bioactivity to bind target α‐SYN. The enhanced sensitivity was obtained by using {Ab₂‐Au‐GOx} bioconjugates, which featured secondary antibody (Ab₂) and glucose oxidase (GOx) labels linked to Au nanoparticles for signal amplification. The GOx enzyme immobilized on the prepared immunosensor could catalyze glucose in the detection solution to produce H₂O₂, which acted as a sacrificial electron donor to scavenge the photogenerated holes in the valence band of TiO₂ nanotubes upon irradiation of the other side of the Ti foil and led to a prompt photocurrent. The photocurrents were proportional to the α‐SYN concentrations, and the linear range of the developed immunosensor was from 50 pg mL^?1 to 100 ng mL^?1 with a detection limit of 34 pg mL^?1. The proposed method showed high sensitivity, stability, reproducibility, and could become a promising technique for protein detection.     

The Studies of the Reactions of 2, 4, 6-Triphenylpyrylium Tetrafluoroborate with Amino Acids

The reactions of triphenylpyrylium salt 1 with various amino acids were explored and compared. The reactions with most α-amino acids yielded decarboxylation products 2 viadecarboxylation. The reactions with glutamic acid, lysine and ACC (1-aminocyclopropyl-carboxylic acid) gave triphenylpyridine 8, dimer 9 and acid 5a-ace, respectively. The reactionswith β and γ-amino acids yielded triphenylpyridine by intramolecular elimination.     

Colorimetric assay for T4 polynucleotide kinase activity based on the horseradish peroxidase-mimicking DNAzyme combined with λ exonuclease cleavage

T4 polynucleotide kinase (PNK) plays a critical role in various cellular events. Here, we describe a novel colorimetric strategy for estimating the activity of PNK and screening its inhibitors taking advantage of the efficient cleavage of λ exonuclease and the horseradish peroxidase-mimicking DNAzyme (HRPzyme) signal amplification. A label-free hairpin DNA with the sequence of HRPzyme was utilized in the assay. The 5′-hydroxyl terminal of the hairpin DNA was firstly phosphorylated in the presence of PNK and then digested by λ exonuclease. As a result, the blocked ‘HRPzyme’ sequence of the hairpin DNA was released due to the removal of its completely complementary sequence. Using this strategy, the assay for PNK activity was successfully translated into the detection of HRPzyme. Because of the completely blocking and efficiently releasing of HRPzyme, the colorimetric method exhibited an excellent performance in PNK analysis with a low detection limit of 0.06 U mL⁻¹ and a wide detection range from 0.06 to 100 U mL⁻¹. Additionally, the effects of different inhibitors on PNK activity were also evaluated. The proposed strategy holds great potential in the development of high-throughput phosphorylation investigation as well as in the screening of the related drugs.     

The role of probe–probe interactions on the hybridization of double-stranded DNA targets onto DNA-modified magnetic microparticles

In this work, we have studied the effect of different probe lengths and surface densities on the hybridization of a 181-bp polymerase chain reaction product to probes tethered onto magnetic microparticles. Hybridization was shown to be favored by longer probes but only at probe surface densities where probe-to-probe interactions are absent. From these results, a simple rule was inferred for determining maximum surface densities above which hybridization signals decreased. According to this rule, if the average surface area occupied by an immobilized probe (Σ) is larger than the projected surface area of each tethered probe molecule (S _ss ), hybridization efficiency increases with surface density, whereas the reverse occurs when Σ −  S _ss  < 0.     

A water-soluble,small molecular fluorescence probe based on 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl) benzoxazole for Zn2+ in plants

A water-soluble, small molecular zinc fluorescence probe (ZFP) based on 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl) benzoxazole was prepared. It exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity to Zn²⁺ than the other metal ions. The highest fluorescence enhancement was observed in the presence of Zn²⁺ owing to the inhibition of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). Furthermore, fluorescence imaging experiments confirmed that ZFP can be used to monitor Zn²⁺ in biological systems.     

A study on the reaction of 2''''-hydroxychalcones with I_2-H_2SO_4-DMSO system

The reaction of 2'-hydroxychalcones with I_2-H_2SO_4-DMSO system has been studied. The results obtained by us are entirely different from those reported in the literature. The mechanism of this reaction has also been investigated.     

A ‘clicked’ macrocyclic probe incorporating Binol as the signalling unit for the chiroptical sensing of anions

We describe a macrocyclic chiroptical sensor for the detection of halide anions, with the Binol moiety acting as the CD signalling unit. The macrocycle is conveniently synthesized using CuAAC ‘click’ reactions in the cyclization step; this methodology installs 1,2,3-triazole moieties within the macrocyclic backbone, able to directionally bind anions by means of CH?X^– hydrogen bonds. ¹H NMR complexation studies in CDCl₃ reveal weak binding to halide and aliphatic carboxylate anions. Halide anions, however, when held into the macrocyclic cavity, are able to trigger a large chiroptical response originating from the steric interaction with the Binol moiety, which changes its dihedral angle, thus modulating its characteristic CD signature.