Comparative studies on soluble and immobilized rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase

Rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase was immobilized by covalent attachment to a polyacrylamide support (Akrilex C) containing carboxylic functional groups. As a result of immobilization, the pH optimum for catalytic activity shifted into a more alkaline direction. The apparentK _m value with phosphoenolpyruvate increased, and that with ADP slightly decreased. With respect to the stability against urea and thermal inactivation, the immobilized pyruvate kinase seemed to be the more stable at lower urea concentrations and between 45 and 55°C. At 1.5 and 2.5M urea and at higher temperature, there were no marked differences between the soluble and the immobilized enzyme.     

Denitrification and removal of heavy metals from waste water by immobilized microorganisms

Pseudomonas fluorescens, immobilized on soft polyvinyl chloride granules containing up to 35% softeners as carbon source, was used for simultaneous removal of nitrate and heavy metals. In typical continuous column operation, a 100 mg/L nitrate input solution was reduced to a 20 mg/L output at a feeding rate of 1500 mL/h, with a capacity of 14 kg/day/m³, and with an efficiency of 79%. In the same column, Pb(NO₃)₂ concentration was reduced from 1.0 to 0.05−0.1 mg/L and ZnSO₄ concentration was reduced from 10 to 5 mg/L.Pseudomonas aeruginosa immobilized on an O₂ plasma-treated melt blown polypropylene web was used for removing 95% of a 1.7 nCi PuCl₄ activity from a nuclear plant waste water in a batch operation.     

Radioimmunoassay of progesterone and estriol in plasma using antibodies immobilized onto protein A-sepharose CL-4B

Protein A-Sepharose CL-4B was used as a solid phase for antibodies in the radioimmunoassay of progesterone and estriol. The method was fast and easily standardizable. Immobilized antibodies had the same binding capacity as free antibodies and gave good correlation curves (r = 0.996 for progesterone andr = 0.989 for estriol). Sensitivity was 12.5 pg/tube for progesterone and 8.0 pg/tube for estriol. Comparison of progesterone radioimmunoassay with chemically immobilized antibody onto Sepharose CL-4B was also carried out.     

Determination of phenol and catechol concentrations with oxygen probes coated with immobilized enzymes or immobilized cells

The enzyme phenol 2-hydroxylase was immobilized on Sepharose and used in conjunction with an O₂ electrode for quantitating phenol. Similarly, catechol 1,2-oxygenase was used for quantitating catechol. A third probe was prepared by immobilization ofTrichosporon cutaneum cells rather than purified phenol 2-hydroxylase for phenol quantitation. The whole cell system gave results comparable to the immobilized enzyme system.     

Influence of the support on the reaction course of tributyrin hydrolysis catalyzed by soluble and immobilized lipases

Lipases from different origins have been immobilized in supports chosen by its different aquaphilicity and used as biocatalysts for the hydrolysis of tributyrin. The changes of the concentration of tri-, di-, monobutyrin, glycerol, and butyric acid during the reactions catalyzed by soluble, as well as immobilized, lipases were evaluated by gas chromatography. The experimental data were fitted to a simple kinetic model for the sequential reaction of tributyrin hydrolysis. The calculated apparent rate constants were different for the biocatalysts used and were apparently related to diffusional effects and aquaphilicity of the supports. Maximal yields of dibutyrin were found with the soluble Candida lipase, whereas the highest yield of monobutyrin (90%) was obtained with the least aquaphylic derivative (Candida-Celite).     

Conformational studies of novel estrogen receptor ligands by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and computational methods

The solution conformations of the novel estrogen receptor ligands (17α,20E)‐(p‐trifluoromethylphenyl)vinylestradiol ( 1 ) and (17α,20E)‐(o‐trifluoromethylphenyl)vinylestradiol ( 2 ) were investigated in 2D and 1D NOESY studies and by comparison of ¹³C NMR chemical shifts with theoretical shieldings. The ¹H and ¹³C assignments of 1 and 2 were determined by DEPT, COSY and HMQC experiments. The conformations of the 17α‐phenylvinyl substituents of 1 and 2 are of interest because of their differing receptor binding affinities and effects in in vivo uterotrophic growth assays. A statistical method of evaluating contributing conformers of 1 and 2 from predicted ¹³C shifts of possible structures correlated fairly well with conformational conclusions derived from the NOE data. The 17α substituents of 1 and 2 apparently exist in similar conformational equilibria, suggesting that while 1 and 2 would occupy a similar receptor volume, interactions with the protein may shift the equilibrium and thereby influence the expression of the ligand. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Conformational analysis of new 14-membered ring diketal dilactam macrocycles: molecular mechanics, liquid and solid state NMR studies

A conformational study of new diversely substituted 14-membered diketal dilactam macrocycles was conducted by NMR spectroscopy in liquid and solid states, molecular mechanics calculations and, for one compound, a previous X-ray analysis. The results obtained by the different techniques show that the conformations depend closely on whether the molecules are chiral or achiral and on the stereochemistry of the ketal OMe groups. In achiral compounds, the most stable conformation of each compound has, in both the liquid and solid states, the two NH-CO links positioned perpendicular to the macrocycle plane, lending to the trans-7,7′-OMe macrocycles 6b and 7b a rectangular [3434]-type structure. In contrast, in chiral compounds, the most stable conformations are not the same in the liquid and solid phases. In the liquid state the conformations are set by the presence of one or two N₄-H?O_1′, N_4′-H?O₁ intramolecular hydrogen bonds that position the amide group parallel to the macrocycle plane, whereas in the solid state the amide moieties again adopt a perpendicular position which can be stabilized, when the 3-R substituent is not too bulky, by intermolecular N-H?OC bonds between parallel sheets, and exceptionally, in the cis-7,7′-OMe-3,3′-Ph compound 1c, by a π-π stacking effect between the phenyl groups.     

Properties of bacterial luciferase/NADH : FMN oxidoreductase and firefly luciferase immobilized onto sepharose

NADH : FMN oxidoreductase and bacterial luciferase have been efficiently coimmobilized onto Sepharose 4B. This luminescent immobilized enzyme system can be used to assay NADH. The assay is rapid and sensitive with a lower limit of detection of 0.2 pmol/assay tube. The intra-assay precision was 3.5% at 2 × 10^-5 M and 5.8% at 2 × 10^-6 M NADH. Light intensity was proportional to NADH concentration from 0.2 to 1000 pmol. Added serum and certain dehydrogenases were found to be inhibitory; however, inhibition could be eliminated by a combination of heat treatment and dilution. Firefly luciferase has also been immobilized onto both Sepharose 4B and CL 6B. The detection limit for ATP using this immobilized enzyme was 0.2 pmol and the assay was linear from 0.2 to 2000 pmol. The intra-assay precision was 4.8% at 2 × 10^-4 M and 3.2% at 1 × 10^-5 M ATP. The immobilized enzymes remained fully active when rapidly frozen in the presence of glycerol and DTT. Such preparations could be stored for at least two months with no loss of activity. A variety of different compounds were used to block any remaining reactive groups on the Sepharose following immobilization of the enzymes. Glycine, 2-aminoethanol, and ethylenediamine were examined. The preparations where ethylenediamine was used as a blocking agent exhibited better activity and stability than the others.     

Protection of immobilized sulfhydryl groups against autooxidation by alterations in their microenvironment

Immobilized sulfhydryl groups were prepared by partial thiolation of NH₂-glass beads. The microenvironment of the immobilized SH groups was varied by different chemical modifications of neighboring NH₂ groups. Introduction of a strong charge in the surroundings of immobilized sulfhydryls results in their dramatic stabilization against autooxidation. This effect is due to the salting of O₂ from the surface microlayer of the thiolated beads.     

Reasons for the high stability of fumarase activity ofBrevibacterium flavum cells immobilized with k-carrageenan gel

Whole cells ofBrevibacterium flavum having high fumarase activity were immobilized using K-carrageenan. The reason for the high stability of fumarase activity of immobilized cells was investigated. One of main reasons for stabilizing fumarase activity by immobilization using K-carrageenan against organic solvents such as ethanol and acetone was the lower concentration of these solvents in the carrageenan gel compared with that in outer bulk solution. The stabilization of fumarase activity in the immobilized cells against protein-denaturing reagents was found to be related to rheological properties of K-carrageenan gel. Another reason for stabilizing fumarase activity by immobilization with K-carrageenan was to protect the cells from lysis. When immobilized cells were freeze-thawed, their fumarase activity increased and operation stability decreased. Therefore, one reason for the high decay of fumarase activity caused by the freeze-thawing may be a change in the pore size of the K-carrageenan gel. Fumarase activity and the operational stability of immobilized cells was found to depend on gelling conditions. Therefore, the steric structure of the K-carrageenan gel may be related to the decay of fumarase activity.     

Temperature-dependent behavior of immobilized alkaline phosphatase. I. Role of working conditions and pH during coupling

Alkaline phosphatase from hog intestine was immobilized to controlled-pore glass under various conditions. The specific activity of the enzyme was not diminished by immobilization. The influence of temperature and pH on the behavior and the stability of the immobilized enzyme preparations is discussed and compared to that of the native enzyme.     

1-萘酚诱导人血清白蛋白和牛血清白蛋白构象的变化

采用稳态荧光光谱、同步荧光光谱、荧光共振能量转移技术结合分子对接法,探究了1-萘酚(1-OHNap)诱导人血清白蛋白(HSA)和牛血清白蛋白(BSA)构象变化的差异.结果 表明,与1-OHNap的结合作用使HSA中荧光团周围微环境极性发生改变,BSA中Trp残基周围微环境的极性增加;同时,与1-OHNap的结合作用使H...     

Conformational studies of bipyrimidine-based mesogens by combination of DFT calculations and temperature-dependent infrared studies

Combination of DFT calculations and solid-state temperature-dependent infrared spectroscopy has confirmed that the central core of recently developed bipyrimidine-based mesogens is not flat, i.e. do not adopt a disc shape, inside the columnar liquid-crystalline phase. For this purpose, the intensities and the frequency shifts of the most sensitive C–N and C–C bands of the central bipyrimidine core have been studied as a function of the temperature and of the dihedral angle. The results support the reported packing model in which the molecules are interdigitated alternatively along their long axis and their short axis to form columns inside the mesophase.     

稀土金属离子及pH诱导牛血清白蛋白构象变化的同步荧光光谱研究

用同步荧光法并辅以普通荧光法对不同浓度稀土离子及pH诱导的牛血清白蛋白(BSA)构象变化进行了详细研究, 发现稀土离子使色氨酸(Trp)残基的荧光蓝移, 荧光强度降低; 酪氨酸(Tyr)残基荧光峰位置不变, 稀土离子浓度较低时, 荧光峰强度降低, 而当浓度较高时, Tyr残基荧光峰强度反而增强. 据此推断了稀土离子与BSA结合反应中Trp残基微环境和Tyr残基微环境及构象的变化并与pH引起的变化进行了比较.     

Conformational and structural studies of ethyl fluorosilane from temperature dependent FT-IR spectra of krypton solutions and ab initio calculations

The infrared spectra (3200–30 cm⁻¹) of gaseous and solid ethyl fluorosilane, CH₃CH₂SiH₂F, have been recorded. Additionally, the Raman spectra (3200–30 cm⁻¹) of the liquid and solid have been recorded and quantitative depolarization values obtained. Both the gauche and trans conformers have been identified in the fluid phases but only the gauche conformer remains in the solid. Variable temperature (−105 to −150°C) studies of the infrared spectra of the sample dissolved in liquid krypton have been carried out. From these data, the enthalpy difference has been determined to be 54±16 cm⁻¹ (646±191 J/mol) with the gauche conformer the more stable form. This is consistent with the predictions from ab initio, MP2/6-311+G(2d,2p), calculation as well as those with smaller basis sets with full electron correlations. A complete vibrational assignment is proposed for both the trans and gauche conformers based on infrared band contours, relative intensities, depolarization values, and group frequencies, which are supported by normal-coordinate calculations utilizing the force constants from MP2/6-31G(d) ab initio calculations. Complete equilibrium geometries have been determined for both rotamers by ab initio calculations employing a variety of basis sets up to 6-311+G(2d,2p) at levels of restricted Hartree–Fock (RHF) and/or Moller Plesset to the second order (MP2) with full electron correlation. The adjusted r₀ parameters have been obtained for both conformers from a combination of the previously reported rotational constants with ab initio predicted values. All results are compared to similar quantities of some corresponding molecules.     

Conformational studies of aliphatic secondary ozonides (propene, 1-butene and 1-heptene) by means of FTIR spectroscopy

Ozonization reaction of simple alkenes was studied by means of FT infrared absorption gas spectroscopy. The reaction was performed at 95 K in neat films of the reactants. IR absorption spectra of the gaseous products were recorded. The spectra were analyzed combining experimental results with theoretical calculations performed at B3LYP 6-311++G (3df, 3pd) level. We found that among all theoretically predicted conformers of propene secondary ozonide, only one which has the O-O half-chair configuration for the five membered ring and the radical attached in the equatorial position was present in the sample. Samples of 1-butene and 1-heptene secondary ozonides consist from two conformers of very similar energy (ΔH=0.3 kJ/mol). The most stable conformer for both ozonides is the one with O-O half-chair configuration of the five membered ring and the radical attached in equatorial position and the aliphatic chain in gauche position. The second stable conformer has the aliphatic chain in anti position.     

Preparation and partial characterization of a soluble site-to-site directed enzyme complex composed of alcohol dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase

A soluble, bifunctional enzyme complex has been prepared by crosslinking lactate dehydrogenase and alcohol dehydrogenase with glutaraldehyde. The crosslinking was performed on a solid phase while the active sites of alcohol dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase were held adjacent to one another with the aid of a bis-NAD analog. Subsequently, the enzyme complex was released from the solid phase. The soluble enzyme complex was then purified by using NAD-Sepharose as an affinity adsorbent. Based on gel filtration experiments, the complex was estimated to consist of one of each dehydrogenase. By using a third enzyme, lipoamide dehydrogenase, which competes with lactate dehydrogenase for NADH produced by alcohol dehydrogenase, the effect of site-to-site orientation was studied. It was found that about 83% of the NADH produced by alcohol dehydrogenase was oxidized by site-to-site oriented lactate dehydrogenase compared to a figure of only about 61% obtained in an identical system of separate enzymes. This indicates that given two alternative routes, the preference for the one to lactate dehydrogenase over the one to lipoamide dehydrogenase is enhanced when lactate dehydrogenase and alcohol dehydrogenase are site-to-site oriented.     

Comparison of direct-total-reflection X-ray fluorescence,sweeping-total-reflection X-ray fluorescence and vapor phase decomposition-total-reflection X-ray fluorescence applied to the characterization of metallic contamination on semiconductor wafers

The issues related to the matching between the 3 modes of Total-reflection X-Ray Fluorescence available on the latest generation of commercial equipment: Direct-Total-reflection X-Ray Fluorescence, Sweeping-Total-reflection X-Ray Fluorescence and Vapor Phase Decomposition-Total-reflection X-Ray Fluorescence, are discussed for quantitative analysis of metallic contamination on Si wafers. Direct-Total-reflection X-Ray Fluorescence and Sweeping-Total-reflection X-Ray Fluorescence agrees very well (+/− 20% for light elements, transition metals and heavy metals), but due to a poor surface coverage with Direct-Total-reflection X-Ray Fluorescence, the matching is correct on a whole wafer only for uniform contaminations. Vapor Phase Decomposition-Total-reflection X-Ray Fluorescence might agree with other Total-reflection X-Ray Fluorescence modes only if the collection of contaminants following the oxide decomposition step is 100% completed. This is not achieved for 2 situations: noble metals which plate on bare Si, and solid particles partially digested during the Vapor Phase Decomposition and collection protocol. Furthermore, even if the collection of contaminants is well completed, quantification after Vapor Phase Decomposition depends on the shape of the dried residues and the Total-reflection X-Ray Fluorescence incident angle. With the incident angle selected to maximize the signal to noise ratio for ultra trace applications, i.e. about 0.5 times the Si critical angle, an increase of the quantification by a factor up to 10 is often seen after Vapor Phase Decomposition because of particle-like shape of the metals against film-like shape for the initial distribution. Taking into account advantages and drawbacks of each Total-reflection X-Ray Fluorescence mode, a proposal for the use of Total-reflection X-Ray Fluorescence in advanced Integrated Circuit manufacturing is given and illustrated by practical results from a R&D pilot line and a mass production plant.