Cobalt(III)‐Mediated Permanent and Stable Immobilization of Histidine‐Tagged Proteins on NTA‐Functionalized Surfaces

We present the cobalt(III)‐mediated interaction between polyhistidine (His)‐tagged proteins and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)‐modified surfaces as a general approach for a permanent, oriented, and specific protein immobilization. In this approach, we first form the well‐established Co²⁺‐mediated interaction between NTA and His‐tagged proteins and subsequently oxidize the Co²⁺ center in the complex to Co³⁺. Unlike conventionally used Ni²⁺‐ or Co²⁺‐mediated immobilization, the resulting Co³⁺‐mediated immobilization is resistant toward strong ligands, such as imidazole and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and washing off over time because of the high thermodynamic and kinetic stability of the Co³⁺ complex. This immobilization method is compatible with a wide variety of surface coatings, including silane self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) on glass, thiol SAMs on gold surfaces, and supported lipid bilayers. Furthermore, once the cobalt center has been oxidized, it becomes inert toward reducing agents, specific and unspecific interactions, so that it can be used to orthogonally functionalize surfaces with multiple proteins. Overall, the large number of available His‐tagged proteins and materials with NTA groups make the Co³⁺‐mediated interaction an attractive and widely applicable platform for protein immobilization.     

In situ IR monitoring of complexation reaction between 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazoyl)pyridine and some metal ions

In situ complexation reactions between 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazoyl)pyridine (bdmpp) and some transition metals (Cu²⁺, Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺) were studied with a new method in liquid cell using FT-IR. In this method, the FT-IR spectrum of the solution of ligand was defined as a background, and then the changes in the FT-IR spectra by the addition of the metal salts were investigated. This method allows one to obtain the spectra of the ligand-metal complex before yielding the solid-state product. Complexation ratios (M/L) of these metals with bdmpp were found 1/1, 1/2 and 1/2, for Cu, Co and Ni, respectively. Studying with Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions showed that there were no interaction between bdmpp and these metal ions in methanol.     

Insight into the Complexation Mode of Bis(nitrilotriacetic acid) (NTA) Ligands with Ni2+ Involved in the Labeling of Histidine‐Tagged Proteins

According to literature reports and our own findings, the binding of new Ni²⁺‐preloaded bis(nitrilotriacetic acid) (NTA) ligands with polyhistidine‐tagged proteins has been found to be accompanied by a one‐ to two‐order‐of‐magnitude increase in affinity, compared to the binding of a single Ni²⁺‐preloaded NTA moiety. In spite of the introduction of a second NTA chelating group, a cooperative effect that is less than the theoretical maximum has been observed. Herein, we present a rational explanation for the observed stability of the ternary complex involving the postulated bis‐NTA–(Ni²⁺)₂ species and multivalent polyhistidine tags. We have found that prior to the formation of the ternary complex, the Ni²⁺‐preloading step of bis‐NTA ligands does not form the expected bis‐NTA–(Ni²⁺)₂ exclusively. Instead of the major formation of bis‐NTA–(Ni²⁺)₂ species, it appears that cyclic discrete 1:1 and 2:2 entities are predominantly formed. It is proposed that these species interact upon ring‐opening with multivalent histidine tags. The occurrence of this phenomena accounts for the overall one‐ to two‐order‐of‐magnitude increase in affinity of ternary complexes involving bis‐NTA ligands.     

Synthesis of lariat organochalcogenoethers based on azacalix[3]arenes for the potentiometric detection of [UO2] ions

The syntheses of organochalcogen-supported azacalix[3]arenes are described in a one-pot manner in satisfactory yields. A remarkably selective potentiometric response was accomplished for uranyl ions over a variety of other metal ions, including alkali (Na⁺, K⁺), alkaline-earth (Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺), transition and heavy metal ions (Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ag⁺, Fe³⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺) using an ion-selective electrode based on compound 3 incorporated into a polymeric (PVC) membrane.     

Using a new solvation model for thermodynamic study on the interaction of nickel with human growth hormone

Thermodynamics of the interaction between Ni²⁺ and human growth hormone (hGH) were determined at 27 °C in Nail solution by isothermal titration calorimetry. A new method to predict protein penetration and the effect of metal ions on the stability of proteins is introduced. The new solvation model was used to reproduce the enthalpies of Ni²⁺-hGH interaction over the whole range of Ni²⁺ concentrations. The solvation parameters recovered from the new equation, attributed to the structural change of hGH and its biological activity.     

Novel highly selective fluorescent chemosensors for Zn(II)

Two novel fluorescent Zn²⁺ chemosensors were synthesized in four steps from inexpensive starting materials. They exhibited very strong fluorescence responses to Zn²⁺ and had remarkably high selectivity to Zn²⁺ than other metal ions including Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Cd²⁺. These two new molecules could be used as low-priced yet high-quality Zn²⁺ chemosensors.     

Kinetic studies of cobalt alginate gels

Summary Sodium alginate sol can be converted into ionotropic gels by diffusion of di/or trivalent metal ions. The kinetics of this phase transition is studied by two different methods. It is found that the rate of gel membrane formation at the earlier stages is greater than that of the further gel growth. The kinetic studies of gel formation in the presence of a mixture of Cu²⁺ ions with either Co²⁺ or Ni²⁺ ions show that the exhaust of Co²⁺ and Ni^2- ions is remarkable only at the first stage of gel formation. Meanwhile the Cu²⁺ ions continue exchanging all the time with Na²⁺ ions in the alginate sol. The activation energy of gel formation is found to range between 17–23 kJ mol^–, indicating the diffusion control of the process.With 6 figures and 3 tables     

Quantum yields and quantitative spectra of firefly bioluminescence with various bivalent metal ions

We measured quantitative spectra of firefly (Photinus pyralis) bioluminescence in the presence of Zn²⁺ and other bivalent metal ions to investigate the effects of these metal ions on luciferin‐luciferase reaction. We studied the dependence of the quantum yield and spectrum on quantity and kind of bivalent metal ions. Adding various amounts of Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Ca²⁺ produced virtually no change in the quantum yields or the spectra of bioluminescence. In contrast, increasing amounts of ions such as Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ decreased quantum yields and changed the bioluminescence color from yellow‐green to red. Quantitative analysis showed that the sensitivities of the quantum yield and color to various metal ions were in the order of Hg²⁺>Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺>Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Fe²⁺≫Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ca²⁺. We propose that the changes in quantum yield and spectrum caused by the metal ions are due to their effect on luciferase that surrounds oxyluciferin during its radioactive decay. We also found that having more metal ions accelerated bioluminescence reactions. The sensitivity of the reaction rate had no correlation with those of the quantum yield and spectrum.     

Binding Interaction of Captopril with Metal Ions: A Fluorescence Quenching Study

The binding interaction of captopril (CPL) with biologically active metal ions Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ was investigated in an aqueous acidic medium by fluorescence spectroscopy. The experimental results showed that the metal ions quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of CPL by forming CPL‐metal complexes. It was found that static quenching was the main reason for the fluorescence quenching. The quenching constant in the case of Cu²⁺ was highest among all quenchers, perhaps due to its high nuclear charge and small size. Quenching of CPL by metal ions follows the order Cu²⁺>Ni²⁺>Co²⁺>Ca²⁺>Zn²⁺>Mn²⁺>Mg²⁺. The quenching constant K_sv, bimolecular quenching constant K_q, binding constant K and the binding sites "n" were determined together with their thermodynamic parameters at 27 and 37°C. The positive entropy change indicated the gain in configurational entropy as a result of chelation. The process of interaction was spontaneous and mainly ΔS‐driven.     

Die Kinetik der Murexid-Komplexbildung mit Kationen verschiedenen Koordinationscharakters

The kinetics of the reaction of murexide with different divalent metal ions of class A and B have been measured by the temperature-jump-relaxation method. The second-order formation rate constant increases in the sequence Ni²⁺ < Co²⁺ < Mn²⁺ < Zn²⁺ < Cd²⁺ ? Cu²⁺ ? Ca²⁺ < Sr²⁺ < Ba²⁺ < Pb²⁺. Thermodynamic data obtained from kinetic and equilibrium studies, respectively, are in good agreement. The results are compared with the characteristic rate constants for H₂O-exchange in the inner coordination sphere of these metal ions, which follow the same sequence. The rate constants of the reaction of murexide with various trivalent metal ions, including the lanthanides, are also discussed in terms of current ideas on metal complex formation.     

Amphiphilic Schiff Base Organogels: Metal‐Ion‐Mediated Chiral Twists and Chiral Recognition

New amphiphilic gelators that contained both Schiff base and L ‐glutamide moieties, abbreviated as o‐SLG and p‐SLG, were synthesized and their self‐assembly in various organic solvents in the absence and presence of metal ions was investigated. Gelation test revealed that o‐SLG formed a thermotropic gel in many organic solvents, whilst p‐SLG did not. When metal ions, such as Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ni²⁺, were added, different behaviors were observed. The addition of Cu²⁺ induced p‐SLG to from an organogel. In the case of o‐SLG, the addition of Cu²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions maintained the gelating ability of the compound, whilst Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions destroyed the gel. In addition, the introduction of Cu²⁺ ions caused the nanofiber gel to perform a chiral twist, whilst the Mg²⁺ ions enhanced the fluorescence of the gel. More interestingly, the Mg²⁺‐ion‐mediated organogel showed differences in the fluorescence quenching by D ‐ and L ‐tartaric acid, thus showing a chiral recognition ability.     

Synthesis of silica nanospheres with Ni2+-iminodiacetic acid for protein separation

Silica (SiO₂) nanospheres (NSs) with immobilized metal ligands have been prepared for the affinity separation of proteins. First, SiO₂ NSs were prepared by controlled hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane in a basic aqueous-ethanol solution. Then through reaction of iminodiacetic acid (IDA) with 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and immobilization of them onto the surfaces of above SiO₂ NSs, novel affinity adsorbents with IDA chelating groups were obtained. After chelating Ni²⁺ ions, the SiO₂–IDA–Ni²⁺ NSs were applied to separate his-tagged proteins directly from the mixture of lysed cells. The SiO₂–IDA–Ni²⁺ NSs present negligible nonspecific protein adsorption and high protein binding ability (28.3 mg/g).     

Study on Determination of Trace Nickel in Water Samples after Separation/enrichment using Microcrystalline Phenolphthalein Loaded with Chelate

The paper presents a novel method for the separation/enrichment of trace Ni²⁺ using microcrystalline phenolphthalein loaded with chelate prior to the determination by spectrophotometry. The effects of different parameters, such as the dosages of phenolphthalein and sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC), various salts and acidity on the enrichment yield of Ni²⁺ have been investigated to select the experimental conditions. The possible enrichment mechanism of Ni²⁺ was discussed. The results showed that under the optimum conditions, Ni²⁺ could be quantificationally adsorbed on the surface of microcrystalline phenolphthalein in the form of the chelate precipitate of Ni(DDTC)₂, while K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Al²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ could not be adsorbed at all. Therefore, Ni²⁺ was completely separated from the above metal ions in the solution. A new method for the separation/enrichment and determination of trace nickel using microcrystalline phenolphthalein loaded with chelate was established. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of Ni²⁺ in various water samples, and the results agreed well with those obtained by FAAS method.     

Epoxy-based polymer bearing 1-naphthylamine units: highly selective fluorescent chemosensor for ferric ion

A simple epoxy-based polymer 1 bearing 1-naphthylamine units has been synthesized and its recognition behaviors toward various metal ions have been investigated in THF-water (8:2, v/v) solution. The designed polymer 1 was found to exhibit selective ON-OFF-type fluorosensing behavior toward Fe³⁺ ions over other representative metal ions such as Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Hg²⁺ ions.     

New coumarin-based sensor molecule for magnesium and calcium ions

A new coumarin-based sensor molecule (L₁) has been synthesized and this was found to bind calcium and magnesium ions more effectively as compared to other alkali/alkaline earth/lanthanide and certain transition metal ions. A significant enhancement in fluorescence intensity was observed on binding to Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions; while a minor quenching was observed for weakly bound Hg²⁺, Ni²⁺, Fe³⁺, and Co²⁺ ions. PET process, coupled with the ICT process, is proposed to explain the observed spectral response.     

Graphene quantum dots with Zn2+ and Ni2+ conjugates can cleave supercoiled DNA

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), inheriting the superb property of graphene oxide, possess smaller lateral size and high biocompatibility, thus having potential in biomedical applications. We previously discovered that GQDs, combining with Cu²⁺ ions, could cleave DNA primarily through an oxidative pathway; yet, oxidative DNA cleavage is not practically preferred in biology. In this work, we explore the DNA cleavage ability of GQDs with Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺. Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ alone are incapable of cleaving supercoiled DNA, but when combining with the GQDs, Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ exhibit DNA cleavage activity. However, the activity of these two systems is much lower than that of GQDs/Cu²⁺, and GQDs/Ni²⁺ is less active than GQDs/Zn²⁺. The functional mechanism of GQDs/Ni²⁺ and GQDs/Zn²⁺ is different from that of GQDs/Cu²⁺. The GQDs play a key role in the two systems; the redox inactive Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions assist to generate the oxidative species that eventually lead to the DNA cleavage. The current results together with our previous result indicate that GQDs together with metal ions can cleave supercoiled DNA, and their cleavage activities depend on the properties of metal ions: for redox active metal ions, metal ions play key roles, for redox inactive metal ions, GQDs are dominant.     

Interaction of lignosulfonate with certain metal ions

The reaction of lignosulfonate with the Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cu²⁺ ions has been studied by the methods of gel chromatography, potentiometric titration, and UV spectroscopy. Lignosulfonate forms polymer-metal complexes with the metal ions over a wide pH range. In this process the size of the macromolecule scarcely changes, thanks to the reticular structure of the lignosulfonate. The capacity of lignin with respect to Cu²⁺ ions has been determined.     

Blends of polyester having amino sulfonic acid moieties with poly(vinyl alcohol) and their metal complex formation

Polyester having amino sulfonic acid moieties (TBES) was prepared by a liquid/solid biphase polycondensation of terephthaloyl chloride (TPC) and N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (BES) in trimethyl phosphate (TMP) using triethylamine (TEA) as an acid acceptor. Blends of TBES with PVA and their metal complexes with Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺ ions were prepared. A strong interaction was observed between TBES and PVA. An electric conductivity of 10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹ was attained for the blend films containing about 5 wt % water. A coordination structure with two chelate rings is proposed for the metal complex with Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺ ions when the molar ratio of amino sulfonic acid groups in TBES to metal ions is larger than 2. Polymer blends complexed with Ni²⁺ or Co²⁺ ions result in semi-interpenetrating polymer networks from chelate formation. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 3561–3569, 1997     

Reversible Immobilization of Peptides: Surface Modification and In Situ Detection by Attenuated Total Reflection FTIR Spectroscopy

A generic method is described for the reversible immobilization of polyhistidine‐bearing polypeptides and proteins on attenuated total reflecting (ATR) sensor surfaces for the detection of biomolecular interactions by FTIR spectroscopy. Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) groups are covalently attached to self‐assembled monolayers of either thioalkanes on gold films or mercaptosilanes on silicon dioxide films deposited on germanium internal reflection elements. Complex formation between Ni²⁺ ions and NTA groups activates the ATR sensor surface for the selective binding of polyhistidine sequences. This approach not only allows a stable and reversible immobilization of histidine‐tagged peptides (His–peptides) but also simultaneously allows the direct in situ quantification of surface‐adsorbed molecules from their specific FTIR spectral bands. The surface concentrations of both NTA and His–peptide on silanized surfaces were determined to be 1.1 and 0.4 molecules nm^?2, respectively, which means that the surface is densely covered. A comparison of experimental FTIR spectra with simulated spectra reveals a surface‐enhancement effect of one order of magnitude for the gold surfaces. With the presented sensor surfaces, new ways are opened up to investigate, in situ and with high sensitivity and reproducibility, protein–ligand, protein–protein, protein–DNA interactions, and DNA hybridization by ATR–FTIR spectroscopy.     

Bisnitronyl nitroxides bridged by tetra(ethyleneoxy) sensing metal ions spectroscopically and electrochemically

Compound 1 containing two nitronyl nitroxide units bridged by tetra(ethyleneoxy) was designed and synthesized for sensing metal ions, by taking the features of nitronyl nitroxides: a chromophore showing absorption in visible range, reversible oxidation/reduction and coordination to metal ions. The absorption spectrum of 1 was altered markedly upon mixing with a few rare earth metal ions and some transition metal ions. Moreover, the oxidation potential of 1 was shifted to more positive range in the presence of metal ions including Pb²⁺, Ba²⁺, and Ca²⁺. Thus, compound 1 can sense metal ions both spectroscopically and electrochemically.