Quantifying the Initial Unfolding of Bacteriorhodopsin Reveals Retinal Stabilization

The forces that stabilize membrane proteins remain elusive to precise quantification. Particularly important, but poorly resolved, are the forces present during the initial unfolding of a membrane protein, where the most native set of interactions is present. A high‐precision, atomic force microscopy assay was developed to study the initial unfolding of bacteriorhodopsin. A rapid near‐equilibrium folding between the first three unfolding states was discovered, the two transitions corresponded to the unfolding of five and three amino acids, respectively, when using a cantilever optimized for 2 μs resolution. The third of these states was retinal‐stabilized and previously undetected, despite being the most mechanically stable state in the whole unfolding pathway, supporting 150 pN for more than 1 min. This ability to measure the dynamics of the initial unfolding of bacteriorhodopsin provides a platform for quantifying the energetics of membrane proteins under native‐like conditions.     

菌紫质中视黄醛超快异构化反应的动态光谱分析

利用飞秒时间分辨吸收光谱方法研究了菌紫质(BR)光循环中视黄醛超快异构化反应过程. 发展了结合全局拟合的奇异值分解(SVD)分析方法, 建立了超快异构化反应动力学模型, 解析了几个重要的中间态I460, J625和K590的物种相关差异光谱(SADS)和布居动力学, 确定了光致异构化反应过程. 同时明确了700 nm附近存在的受激荧光来自于弗兰克-康登跃迁态(H中间态)的贡献, 其衰减寿命为0.04 ps. 这些结果对深入认识H态在超快异构化反应过程中的作用具有参考价值.     

An Electrochemical Biosensor Architecture Based on Protein Folding Supports Direct Real-Time Measurements in Whole Blood

The ability to monitor drug and biomarker concentrations in the body with high frequency and in real time would revolutionize our understanding of biology and our capacity to personalize medicine. The few in vivo molecular sensors that currently exist, however, all rely on the specific chemical or enzymatic reactivity of their targets and thus are not generalizable. In response, we demonstrate here an electrochemical sensing architecture based on binding-induced protein folding that is 1) independent of the reactivity of its targets, 2) reagentless, real-time, and with a resolution of seconds, and 3) selective enough to deploy in undiluted bodily fluids. As a proof of principle, we use the SH3 domain from human Fyn kinase to build a sensor that discriminates between the protein's peptide targets and responds rapidly and quantitatively even when challenged in whole blood. The resulting sensor architecture could drastically expand the chemical space accessible to continuous, real-time biosensors.     

Electrodes of Nontoxic Solid Amalgams for Electrochemical Measurements

The preparation, activation and electrochemical pretreatment of electrodes based on nontoxic solid amalgams were described. Testing of metal solid amalgam electrodes (MeSAEs) proved their broad applicability in many respects, e.g., as to the range of working potentials and the level of background currents, well comparable with those of the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). A regeneration of their surfaces before each measurements could be simply automatized using a PC‐controlled system providing a reasonable repeatability of voltammetric measurements down to 3% RSD. Combination with stripping techniques at accumulation times t_ac=300 s the detection limit amounted to the concentration level of 1 ppb Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), etc. Best electrochemical properties were exhibited by the silver solid amalgam electrode (AgSAE). For example, polished AgSAE (p‐AgSAE), completely free of liquid mercury, proved satisfactory even at more negative potentials enabling the determination of Zn(II), Mn(II), IO , etc. Moreover, even better repeatability of mercury meniscus modified AgSAE (m‐AgSAE) was due to better quality and renewability of its surface. In many cases further testing confirmed that under appropriate conditions MeSAEs represent good, often cheaper and more users‐friendly alternatives to HMDE.     

Simple Method for Stabilizing Solution pH in an Electrochemical Cell

A method is proposed for stabilizing solution pH inside an electrochemical cell. During the working electrode polarization, an electrolyte of the same composition as that of the working one, but with a different pH value is continuously added into the cell. Its pH value and rate of addition are selected so as to compensate variations in the electrolyte's acidity occurring in the cell.     

Bacteriorhodopsin as an electronic conduction medium for biomolecular electronics

Interfacing functional proteins with solid supports for device applications is a promising route to possible applications in bio-electronics, -sensors, and -optics. Various possible applications of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) have been explored and reviewed since the discovery of bR. This tutorial review discusses bR as a medium for biomolecular optoelectronics, emphasizing ways in which it can be interfaced, especially as a thin film, solid-state current-carrying electronic element.     

Nanoemulsions for the Determination of the Antioxidant Capacity of Oils by an Electrochemical Method

The paper describes a rapid and simple method for the evaluation of the antioxidant capacity in oil in water nanoemulsion. This procedure does not require extensive sample treatment and, most important, does not use any organic solvent for dissolution of the fatty matrix. The nanoemulsions were directly injected in a flow injection (FI) system with an electrochemical detector equipped with a glassy carbon working electrode operating amperometrically at a potential of +0.8 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Results obtained were compared with those obtained by the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assay.     

异构体化合物的电化学传感器检测进展

综述了电化学传感器在分离和检测异构体化合物方面的研究进展.在位置异构体方面,介绍了碳纳米管修饰电极、碳纳米管复合修饰电极、表面活性剂增敏下的玻碳电极对酚类异构体的检测研究(包括萘酚、硝基酚、二硝基酚、苯二酚);在立体异构体方面,重点介绍了碳糊修饰电极、酶修饰电极、手性膜电极、免疫传感器的制备及其在氨基酸对映体检测中的应用,并展望了该研究领域的发展前景.     

Working Electrodes from Amalgam Paste for Electrochemical Measurements

Paste electrode with paste amalgam as an active electrode material is described here for the first time. Designed electrode from silver paste amalgam (AgA‐PE) is solely metallic and does not contain any organic binder. Mechanical surface regeneration of AgA‐PE is performed in the same way as for classical carbon paste electrodes and reproducibility of such regeneration is about 10%. Electrochemical surface regeneration appeared very efficient for most measurements. In dependence on paste metal content, the electrode surface can be liquid (resembling a film) or rather solid. The hydrogen overvoltage on AgA‐PE is high, and the electrode allows measurements at highly negative potentials. AgA‐PE is well suited for study of reduction or oxidation processes without an accumulation step. Anodic stripping voltammetry of some metals tested on the electrode is influenced by formation of intermetallic compounds. The measurement based on cathodic stripping voltammetry (adenine, cysteine) and on catalytic processes from adsorbed state (complex of osmium tetroxide with 2,2′‐bipyridine) can be performed on AgA‐PE practically under the same conditions as found earlier for HMDE and for silver solid amalgam electrode. The working electrode from paste amalgam combines the advantages of paste and metal electrodes.     

A Direct Electrochemical Detection Method of Melanoma Based on Melanoma Biomarker

A new method of detecting and diagnosing melanoma based on melanoma biomarker was developed and its feasibility demonstrated. The method is based on an electrochemical biosensor platform comprised of a special biochip and device, performing a multi‐channel amperometric detection of the enzymatic activity of tyrosinase, an enzyme biomarker of melanoma. The newly developed biosensor platform is able to electrochemically detect tyrosinase activity in fresh biopsy samples. This bioelectrochemical detection method is rapid, yielding results within minutes from biopsy removal. Using “as is” biopsy samples, without pretreatment, simplifies the process, saves time and reduces cost and labor dramatically. Using modern portable microelectronics provides an accurate biomarker expression measurement at the “point of care” increasing the accessibility of new bio‐chip technologies to the public.     

A Reference Electrode System for Electrochemical Measurements in Pure Water

A reference hydrogen electrode systems is constructed by employing a strip of proton‐type Nafion membrane as an ion‐conducting “bridge” to connect a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in an acidic solution to an electrochemical system using pure water as electrolyte, in which the working electrode (WE) is placed. Using such a reference electrode system, the potential at the “WE/pure water” interface is equal to the equilibrium hydrogen electrode potential in pure water when the potential difference between RHE and WE is zero, irrespective of the pH value of the acidic solution in the RHE compartment. The accuracy and reproducibility of the WE potential measurements are within 1–2 mV.     

铁取代钨硅酸盐位置异构体的合成、表征及电化学性质

取代型杂多酸盐（ HPC）具有金属卟啉的类似结构 ,它可以代替金属卟啉在很多反应中作催化剂 [1],被称为无机金属卟啉。 Hill[2],Neumann[3]分别报道了过渡元素单取代的杂多阴离子 [PW11M(H2O)O39]n－, [SiW11Ru(H2O)O39]n－对烯烃环氧化反应具有催化活性。目前,在单取代的杂多配合物中,β异构体的报道很少,我们发现,某些单取代金属衍生物中,β异构体具有良好的催化活性,具有明显的应用前景。继过去的工作 [4],我们又研究了过渡元素取代的 11-系列杂多阴离子的某些性质。有关α-XW11Fe(H2O)O39n－（ X=Si, P, Ge, As…     

铁取代钨硅酸盐位壹异构体的合成、表征及电化学性质

The four heteropoly isomers K3H2 [α-,βi-SiW11 Fe (H2O) O39]·χH2O (βi =β1,β2,β3) were prepared and Characterized by elementary analysis, IR and UV Spectroscopy. Its electrochemical behavior in aqueous solution has been discussed. The order of Polarographic half-wave potential E1/2 of heteropoly anions is as follows: β2>β1>β3>α. Its reduction process involves an one-electron reduction of Fe (Ⅲ) and a pair of two-electron reduction of W (Ⅵ). Epolidation of maleic acid with H2O2 Catalyzed by heteropoly positional isomers was studied. β3 isomers are the most active     

Nuclear Versus Side-Chain Bromination of 4-Methoxy Toluene by an Electrochemical Method

The electrochemical bromination of 4-methoxy toluene by two-phase electrolysis yields 3-bromo 4-methoxy toluene at first, which subsequently undergoes side-chain bromination to give 3-bromo 4-methoxy benzyl bromide as a final product in 86% yield. The two-phase electrolysis consists of 25–50% NaBr as aqueous electrolyte and CHCl₃ containing aromatic compound as organic phase. The reaction temperature is maintained at 10–25 °C. The probable orientation of bromine atom in an alkyl aromatic compound (nuclear versus side chain) is explained from the experimental result.     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定水泥样品中的铅同位素比值

研究和讨论了用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICP—MS)测定铅的同位素比值测定时，影响测试结果的准确度和精密度的主要因素及其优化过程。在优化后的仪器分析条件下，测定5μg/L的NIST SRM981自然丰度铅同位素标准溶液的各对铅同位素比值，获得的^207Pb／^206Pb分析精度可优于0．1％。在该条件下测定了14个不同的水泥粉样品中的铅同位素比值，结果显示：铅的同位素比值分析技术可以用来示踪环境监测样品的铅污染源。     

电化学测试中溶液电阻的自动测量与补偿

由16位DAC器件作为分压器,设计了恒电位仪以及正反馈补偿电路,实现了对溶液电阻的自动测量和补偿,同时采用高阻抗体系对其溶液电阻测量的准确性和补偿效果进行了验证.结果表明,溶液电阻最高补偿值可达1.0×10(8)Ω,在可补偿电阻范围内,自动电阻测量误差最大不超过1.5%,平均误差小于0.5%.本实验设计的电路可以较精确...     

A Prototype of Electrochemical Sensor for Measurements of Carbonyl Compounds in Air

The paper presents the results of investigation on a prototype sensor for measurements of benzaldehyde and formaldehyde in air. Sensitivity, limit of quantification and coefficient of selectivity of the sensor have been determined as a function of membrane thickness and electrode type using square wave voltammetry (SWV) technique. The working and counter electrodes were made of platinum and gold. Ionic liquids 1‐hexyl, 3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide constituted an internal electrolyte. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane separated gaseous medium from the electrolyte.     

Direct Electrochemical Synthesis of Diaziridines

The possibility of direct electrosynthesis of mono- and bicyclic diaziridines is studied using, respectively, 1,2-dimethyldiaziridine and 1,5-diazobicyclo[3,1,0]hexane as an example. In either case the process is realized in a galvanostatic electrolysis in the anodic space of a diaphragm cell and proceeds through intermediate formation of alkylchloramines; other electrosynthesis conditions depend on the structure of the source aminoalkane. In the synthesis of monocyclic diaziridines, for the electrolyte, a 4 M solution of NaCl in water was used, which contained high concentrations of 0.5 and 2.0 M of, respectively, CH₂O and MeNH₂, and the amine excess served, in particular, for binding protons in the reaction of diaziridine synthesis. The process occurs in a homogeneous phase, and the current efficiency for 1,2-dimethyldiaziridine amounted to 40–50% in optimum conditions. In the synthesis of bicyclic diaziridines, the electrolyte was a 4 M solution of NaCl in a 20-% aqueous methanol, containing a low—0.1 M concentration of H₂N(CH₂)₃NH₂ and an equimolar quantity of CH₂O, and additives of NaHCO₃ were used for binding protons in the reaction of diaziridine synthesis. The process occurs in a heterophase environment because of an incomplete dissolution in the conditions of experiment of NaCl and intermediately-formed chloraminoalkane. The current efficiency for 1,5-diazobicyclo[3,1,0]hexane reached 80–85% in optimum conditions, but the loads of the source aminoalkane were 20 times lower than in the synthesis of monocyclic diaziridines. Compared are the results of a direct and an earlier-described indirect method of electrosynthesis of mono- and bicyclic diaziridines.