Monolayer-controlled substrate selectivity using noncovalent enzyme-nanoparticle conjugates

Electrostatic interactions were used to noncovalently conjugate chymotrypsin to gold nanoparticles featuring hybrid tetraethylene(glycol)alkanethiol monolayers terminated with carboxylate groups. This conjugation process greatly alters the substrate selectivity of the adsorbed chymotrypsin, inhibiting the hydrolysis of anionic subtrates without affecting the hydrolysis rate of cationic analogues.     

Polymeric enzyme mimics: catalytic activity of ribose-containing polymers for a phosphate substrate

The polymers containing ribose rings: poly(5'-acrylamido-5'-deoxy-1',2'-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-ribose) (11), poly(5'-acrylamido-5'-deoxy-alpha-D-ribose) (12) and poly(5'-acrylamido-5'-deoxy-1'-O-methyl-D-ribose) (13) were prepared as enzyme mimics. Polymers 12 and 13 with free vic-cis-diol groups catalyzed the hydrolysis of phosphodiester (ethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate and N-methylpyridinium 4-tert-butylcatechol cyclic phosphate) and phosphomonoester substrates with a rate acceleration of 10 approximately equal to 10(3) compared with the uncatalyzed reaction. They also catalyzed the reverse reactions, i.e., the esterification of phosphomonoester to phosphodiester and the phosphorylation of alcohols with phosphate ions. The catalytic activity was attributable to the vic-cis-diols of riboses on polymer chains, which formed hydrogen bonds with two phosphoryl oxygen atoms of phosphates so as to activate the phosphorus atoms to be attacked by nucleophiles. The catalytic activity was negligible for polymer 11 where vic-cis-diol groups were blocked with isopropylidene groups. The catalytic activity was attributable to the vic-cis-diols of riboses on polymer chains, which formed hydrogen bonds with two phosphoryl oxygen atoms of phosphates so as to activate the phosphorus atoms to be attacked by nucleophiles.     

Determination of enzyme/substrate specificity constants using a multiple substrate ESI-MS assay

The traditional method used to investigate the reaction specificity of an enzyme with different substrates is to perform individual kinetic measurements. In this case, a series of varied concentrations are required to study each substrate and a non-regression analysis program is used several times to obtain all the specificity constants for comparison. To avoid the large amount of experimental materials, long analysis time, and redundant data processing procedures involved in the traditional method, we have developed a novel strategy for rapid determination of enzyme substrate specificity using one reaction system containing multiple competing substrates. In this multiplex assay method, the electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) technique was used for simultaneous quantification of multiple products and a steady-state kinetics model was established for efficient specificity constant calculation. The system investigated was the bacterial sulfotransferase NodH (NodST), which is a host specific nod gene product that catalyzes the sulfate group transfer from 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) to natural Nod factors or synthetic chitooligosaccharides. Herein, the reaction specificity of NodST for four chitooligosaccharide acceptor substrates of different chain length (chitobiose, chitotriose, chitotetraose, and chitopentaose) was determined by both individual kinetic measurements and the new multiplex ESI-MS assay. The results obtained from the two methods were compared and found to be consistent. The multiplex ESI-MS assay is an accurate and valid method for substrate specificity evaluation, in which multiple substrates can be evaluated in one assay.     

Determining protease substrate selectivity and inhibition by label-free supramolecular tandem enzyme assays

An analytical method has been developed for the continuous monitoring of protease activity on unlabeled peptides in real time by fluorescence spectroscopy. The assay is enabled by a reporter pair comprising the macrocycle cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) and the fluorescent dye acridine orange (AO). CB7 functions by selectively recognizing N-terminal phenylalanine residues as they are produced during the enzymatic cleavage of enkephalin-type peptides by the metalloendopeptidase thermolysin. The substrate peptides (e.g., Thr-Gly-Ala-Phe-Met-NH(2)) bind to CB7 with moderately high affinity (K ≈ 10(4) M(-1)), while their cleavage products (e.g., Phe-Met-NH(2)) bind very tightly (K > 10(6) M(-1)). AO signals the reaction upon its selective displacement from the macrocycle by the high affinity product of proteolysis. The resulting supramolecular tandem enzyme assay effectively measures the kinetics of thermolysin, including the accurate determination of sequence specificity (Ser and Gly instead of Ala), stereospecificity (d-Ala instead of l-Ala), endo- versus exopeptidase activity (indicated by differences in absolute fluorescence response), and sensitivity to terminal charges (-CONH(2) vs -COOH). The capability of the tandem assay to measure protease inhibition constants was demonstrated on phosphoramidon as a known inhibitor to afford an inhibition constant of (17.8 ± 0.4) nM. This robust and label-free approach to the study of protease activity and inhibition should be transferable to other endo- and exopeptidases that afford products with N-terminal aromatic amino acids.     

Synthesis of sulfone-containing monomers and polymers using cationic cyclopentadienyliron complexes

The synthesis of sulfone-containing monomers with pendent cationic cyclopentadienyliron (CpFe⁺) moieties has been accomplished via nucleophilic aromatic substitution of dichloroarene complexes with a number aliphatic dithiols. These complexes were further oxidized using m-CPBA to give the sulfone-based monomers. Polymerization of the sulfone-based monomers with O-containing nucleophiles produced the sulfone-based polymers. Direct nucleophilic aromatic substitution of dichloroarene complexes with dinucleophiles allowed for the formation of organoiron sulfide-based polymers. Oxidation of these polymers led to the formation of sulfone polymers with the pendent iron moieties. The organometallic monomers and polymers were found to be more soluble in polar solvents in comparison to their organic analogues.     

Counterion selectivity in cationic polyelectrolytes

Chloride ion activity coefficients in aqueous solutions of several cationic copolymers have been determined using ion-selective electrodes in both the absence and the presence of simple univalent and divalent salts. Without added salt, the activity coefficient depends on the polymer concentration. It increases with increasing concentration of the added salt. The extent of interaction between counterions and polyions at a given polymer concentration, as estimated form chloride anion activity, is greater for bivalent than for univalent anions. Experimental data are in good agreement with theory. Selective interaction of anions with the ammonium copolymers has also been evidenced by viscometry. The selectivity follows the order For organic anions, in addition to electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic effects, which depend on the structure of the copolymer, play a significant role.     

Holographic recording using visible-light sensitive polymers based on cationic polycondensation

Negative-working photopolymers based on a cationic polycondensation mechanism were developed. The photopolymers are highly sensitive to 488 nm argon ion laser light, because they use a chemically amplified reaction and are not sensitive to ambient oxygen. These photopolymers are composed of a poly(p-hydroxystyrene) matrix, a hexamethoxy methylmelamine crosslinker and a 2,4,6-tris(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine–coumarin dye combination as a photo-initiator. They exhibit 0.6 mJ/cm² (D^0.7_g) sensitivity to 488 nm light, as well as a high resolution of 0.5 μm. Due to their high sensitivity and high resolution, a relief-type hologram, larger than 50 × 50 cm, can be recorded in a short exposure time using them.     

Opportunities to improve selectivity of determining oxidoreductase substrate using artificial receptors

The review considers the prospects of using molecular recognition by artificial receptors (macro-cyclic compounds and molecularly imprinted polymers) to create sensors for the determination of biologically active compounds, i.e., substrates of oxidoreductases, in samples with complex matrices. The data on the production, properties, and application of complexes of the indicated artificial receptors with the analytes, i.e., organic compounds of different classes, for analytical purposes have been systemized for the first time. Special attention is focused on the discussion of approaches that ensure the specificity of the receptor due to molecular recognition.     

Tuning saccharide selectivity in modular fluorescent sensors

Five modular photoinduced electron-transfer (PET) sensors bearing two phenylboronic acid receptors with different fluorophores have been prepared. The sensors’ interaction with saccharides was assessed via fluorescence spectroscopy. It was shown that monosaccharide selectivity is influenced by the choice of fluorescent moiety.     

Tuning retention and selectivity in reversed-phase liquid chromatography by using functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Aim of this work was to explore the possibility of retention and selectivity tuning in reversed-phase liquid chromatography by means of chemically modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). These were synthesized by derivatizing pristine MWCNTs with amino-terminated alkyl chains containing polar embedded groups. A novel hybrid material based on functionalized MWCNTs (MWCNTs-R-NH₂) was prepared, characterized and tested. The idea was to design a mixed-mode separation medium basing its sorption properties on the peculiar characteristics of MWCNTs combined with the chemical interactions provided by the functional chains introduced on the nanotube skeleton. MWCNTs-R-NH₂ were easily grafted to silica microspheres by gamma radiation (using a ⁶⁰Co source) in the presence of polybutadiene as the linking agent. The composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) analysis in terms of structural morphology, surface area and porosity. The MWCNTs-R-NH₂ sorbent was tested as stationary phase. The reversed-phase behaviour was first proved by analysis of alkylbenzenes, while the key role of CNT derivatization in addressing the selectivity/affinity towards the solutes was evidenced by testing three classes of analytes, viz. barbiturates, steroid hormones and alkaloids. These compounds, with different molecular structure and polarity, were here analysed for the first time on CNT-based LC stationary phases. The behaviour of the novel sorbent was compared in terms of retention capability and resolution with that observed using unmodified MWCNTs, pointing out the mixed-mode characteristics of the MWCNTs-R-NH₂ material. The same test mixtures were analysed also on a conventional mono-modal separation sorbent (C18) to highlight the particular behaviour of the (derivatized)MWCNTs-based stationary phases. The novel material showed better performance in separation of polar compounds, i.e. barbiturates and alkaloids, than the unmodified MWCNTs and than the C18 column. Results showed that MWCNT functionalization is powerful to modulate retention/selectivity in reversed-phase liquid chromatography.     

Predicting the selectivity of imprinted polymers

Summary Imprinted polymers as stationary phases for HPLC separations have been the subject of extensive investigations in recent years. In order to aid the rational design of synthetic protocols for the preparation of imprinted polymers, a series of calculations were made to assess the equilibrium concentration of templatemonomer complexes as a function of association constant (K) for the functional groups involved in the interactions and initial concentrations of reactants. This data was then used to predict the selectivity of polymers prepared under different reaction conditions and the model was tested using an experimentally determined value ofK and separation factors taken from the literature.     

Origins of cell selectivity of cationic steroid antibiotics

A key factor in the potential clinical utility of membrane-active antibiotics is their cell selectivity (i.e., prokaryote over eukaryote). Cationic steroid antibiotics were developed to mimic the lipid A binding character of polymyxin B and are shown to bind lipid A derivatives with affinity greater than that of polymyxin B. The outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria are comprised primarily of lipid A, and a fluorophore-appended cationic steroid antibiotic displays very high selectivity for Gram-negative bacterial membranes over Gram-positive bacteria and eukaryotic cell membranes. This cell selectivity of cationic steroid antibiotics may be due, in part, to the affinity of these compounds for lipid A.     

Solid-vapor sorption of xylenes: prioritized selectivity as a means of separating all three isomers using a single substrate

A Werner complex is highly selective for o-xylene in a vapor mixture containing all three isomers. However, in the absence of o-xylene, the substrate shows similar selectivity for m-xylene over p-xylene. Kinetic studies show a different trend whereby m-xylene is absorbed most rapidly, implying that thermodynamic factors must be responsible for the selectivity.     

Branched polymers by cationic ring-opening polymerization

Two methods for the synthesis of branched (co)polymers by cationic ring-opening polymerization are presented. The first method is based on the spontaneous intermolecular termination that is observed in the polymerization of the four-membered cyclic sulfides (thietanes). The branching points in these polymers are sulfonium ions. This method has been extended to polyether - polysulfide block copolymers obtained by sequential polymerization of THF and a thietane. In the thus obtained AB block polymers, the branching points are concentrated in the sulfide segments only. By similar techniques, ABA types of block copolymer networks have been obtained making use of bifunctional initiators. The second method consists of copolymerizing a cyclic acetal such as 1,3-dioxolane (DXL), with a “monofer”, which is a monomer that contains also a chain-transfer function. As monofers for the DXL polymerization glycidol and glycerol formal were used. The end products are polyacetal-polyols which contain a hydroxyl group at each of the chain ends. Reaction of these polyols with di-isocyanates leads to the corresponding polyacetal polyurethanes.     

NLO polymers based on cellulose diacetate and a cationic chromophore

An attempt has been made to prepare second-order nonlinear optic (NLO) materials based on cellulose diacetate and melamine derivatives. The NLO cationic chromophore, composed of 1,3-dimethyl-2-(4′-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-azo-imidazole chloride and small amounts of 1,3-dimethyl-2-(4′-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-azo-imidazole methylsulfate, was incorporated into a crosslink network formed from the reaction of cellulose diacetate with trimethylol melamine or hexamethylol melamine. The poled and cured NLO materials exhibited an electro-optic coefficient (r ₁₃) of 1.03 or 1.42 pm/V, respectively, at the laser wavelength 1550 nm and a modulation frequency of 12.7 kHz; the r ₁₃ values decreased to 97% or 86.6%, respectively, of the initial values after 4 days. The laser transmission loss was 0.58 or 0.6 dB, respectively. The crosslinked materials showed better temporal stability than the material of the host/guest system with a doped cationic chromophore. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dielectric relaxation and thermogravimetry analyses proved the formation of a crosslink structure, and the degree of dielectric relaxation was shown to became higher if a crosslinker of too high functionality was used.     

Adsorption behavior of cationic polymers on bentonite

The adsorption behavior of a series of cationic water-soluble polymers poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) with different molar masses onto raw bentonite was investigated through the elaboration of their adsorption isotherms and the quantification of the water content of the clay/polymer complexes formed. It was found that the type of adsorption isotherms obtained depends on the chain length of the polymer. The study showed a correlation between the amount of adsorbed polymer and the water content of the clay, after the adsorption experiments. The lower the molar mass of the polymer used, the larger was the reduction on water content of the complexes.