A Dual Enzyme Microgel with High Antioxidant Ability Based on Engineered Seleno‐Ferritin and Artificial Superoxide Dismutase

An antioxidant microgel with both glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities is reported. Using computational design and genetic engineering methods, the main catalytic components of GPx are fabricated onto the surface of ferritin. The resulting seleno‐ferritin (Se‐Fn) monomers can self‐assemble into nanocomposites that exhibit remarkable GPx activity due to the well organized multi‐GPx catalytic centers. Subsequently, a porphyrin derivative is synthesized as an SOD mimic, and is employed to construct a synergistic dual enzyme system by crosslinking Se‐Fn nanocomposites into a microgel. Significantly, this dual enzyme microgel is demonstrated to display better antioxidant ability than single GPx or SOD mimics in protecting cells from oxidative damage.

     

Nanoisozymes: Crystal‐Facet‐Dependent Enzyme‐Mimetic Activity of V2O5 Nanomaterials

Nanomaterials with enzyme‐like activity (nanozymes) attract significant interest owing to their applications in biomedical research. Particularly, redox nanozymes that exhibit glutathione peroxidase (GPx)‐like activity play important roles in cellular signaling by controlling the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) level. Herein we report, for the first time, that the redox properties and GPx‐like activity of V₂O₅ nanozyme depends not only on the size and morphology, but also on the crystal facets exposed on the surface within the same crystal system of the nanomaterials. These results suggest that the surface of the nanomaterials can be engineered to fine‐tune their redox properties to act as “nanoisozymes” for specific biological applications.     

谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶模拟物2-位碲桥联环糊精的合成及催化作用

 以β－环糊精（CD）为酶模型，将Te引入β－环糊精中，成功地合成出一种新的水溶性好、活力高的谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GPX）小分子模拟物2－TeCD，并对其结构进行了表征．采用Wilson辅酶偶联法，间接测定了2－TeCD催化还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）还原H2O2的GPX活力为46．7U／μmol，与文献报道的数据相比，2－TeCD的GPX活力最高．通过考察2－TeCD催化GSH还原H2O2反应的动力学，发现反应初速度对底物浓度的双倒数曲线为一组平行线，表明2－TeCD所遵循的催化机制可能为三转移乒乓机制．通过考察自由基捕获剂2，4－二叔丁基甲基苯酚对酶促和自发反应速率的影响，发现2－TeCD催化的酶促反应为非自由基机理．通过考察酶不可逆抑制剂碘乙酸对酶促反应速率的影响，发现2－TeCD催化反应过程中不生成碲醇中间体．由此推测出2－TeCD的催化循环经历碲硫化合物、次碲酸硫酯和次碲酸中间体．该催化循环与含硒GPX小分子模拟物所经历的催化循环不同，以及环糊精对底物具有识别与结合的能力，可能是2－TeCD具有高GPX活力的主要原因．     

Reversed‐phase liquid chromatography method for the determination of total plasma thiols after derivatization with 1‐benzyl‐2‐chloropyridinium bromide

A high‐performance liquid chromatography method was developed for simultaneous detection and quantitation of total cysteine, glutathione, homocysteine and cysteinylglycine in human plasma. The two key steps in the analysis are reduction of disulfides and treatment with 1‐benzyl‐2‐chloropyridinium bromide, which rapidly and quantitatively reacts with thiol groups to form stable S‐pyridinium derivatives with intense UV absorption. The derivatives are well separated on a Zorbax SB C₁₈ column using reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography and monitored at 315 nm. The calibration graphs were linear over concentration ranges covering most experimental and clinical cases with a regression coefficients better than 0.999. The detection and quantitation limits for all analytes were 0.2 and 0.5 µmol/L, respectively. The recoveries were 99.25–101.68%. The intra‐ and interassay imprecisions were 0.88–4.24 and 1.68–5.14%, respectively. The method was applied for plasma samples donated by apparently healthy volunteers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An experimental and theoretical investigation of gas-phase reactions of Ca2+ with glycine

The gas-phase reactions between Ca(2+) and glycine ([Ca(gly)](2+)) have been investigated through the use of mass spectrometry techniques and B3-LYP/cc-pWCVTZ density functional theory computations. The major peaks observed in the electrospray MS/MS spectrum of [Ca(gly)](2+) correspond to the formation of the [Ca,C,O(2),H](+), NH(2)CH(2) (+), CaOH(+), and NH(2)CH(2)CO(+) fragment ions, which are produced in Coulomb explosion processes. The computed potential energy surface (PES) shows that not only are these species the most stable product ions from a thermodynamic point of view, but they may be produced with barriers lower than for competing processes. Carbon monoxide is a secondary product, derived from the unimolecular decomposition of some of the primary ions formed in the Coulomb explosions. In contrast to what is found for the reactions of Ca(2+) with urea ([Ca(urea)](2+)), minimal unimolecular losses of neutral fragments are observed for the gas-phase fragmentation processes of [Ca(gly)](2+), which is readily explained in terms of the topological differences between their respective PESs.     

Determination of Antioxidant Capacity by Using Xanthine Oxidase Bioreactor Coupled with Flow‐through H2O2 Amperometric Biosensor

A new flow system for antioxidant capacity (AOC) estimation, consisting of a bioreactor, containing immobilized xanthine oxidase (XOD), coupled with a H₂O₂ amperometric biosensor, based on Os‐wired horseradish peroxidase, was developed. The H₂O₂, resulting from the enzymatic reaction between xanthine (XA) and XOD, was amperometrically monitored at ?0.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl/KCl_sat, in order to avoid the electrochemical interferences. Two protocols were used to perform the AOC evaluation: “steady‐state”, when the antioxidant (AOX) was injected in the XA flow, and “transient state”, when XA and AOX were simultaneously injected in the carrier flow. The AOC of some commercial beverages were evaluated and compared with those obtained with 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical and Folin–Ciocalteu methods.     

Reversible Topochemical Exsolution of Iron in BaFe2+2(PO4)2

BaFe²⁺₂(PO₄)₂ was recently prepared and identified as the first 2D‐Ising ferromagnetic oxide with an original reentrant structural transition driven by high‐spin Fe²⁺ ions arranged in honeycomb layers. Both long‐term air exposure and moderate temperature (T>375 °C) leads to topochemical oxidation into iron‐depleted compounds with mixed Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ valence. This process is unique, as the exsolution is effective even from single crystal with preservation of the initial crystallinity, and the structure of the deficient BaFe_2?x(PO₄)₂ (xx=2/7 and 1/3 with creation of novel original depleted triangular lattices. Under flowing H₂/Ar, Fe is reincorporated in the structure above 480 °C, as reproduced under the electron beam in a transmission microscope. After Fe exsolution, the insulating ferromagnetic compound turns into an antiferromagnetic semiconductor.     

Parameterization of Ca+2-protein interactions for molecular dynamics simulations

Molecular dynamics simulations of Ca+2 ions near protein were performed with three force fields: GROMOS96, OPLS-AA, and CHARMM22. The simulations reveal major, force-field dependent, inconsistencies in the interaction between the Ca+2 ions with the protein. The variations are attributed to the nonbonded parameterizations of the Ca+2-carboxylates interactions. The simulations results were compared to experimental data, using the Ca+2-HCOO- equilibrium as a model. The OPLS-AA force field grossly overestimates the binding affinity of the Ca+2 ions to the carboxylate whereas the GROMOS96 and CHARMM22 force fields underestimate the stability of the complex. Optimization of the Lennard-Jones parameters for the Ca+2-carboxylate interactions were carried out, yielding new parameters which reproduce experimental data.     

Gas-phase reactions between thiourea and Ca2+: new evidence for the formation of [Ca(NH3)]2+ and other doubly charged species.

The gas-phase reactions between Ca(2+) and thiourea are investigated by means of electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry experiments. The MS/MS spectra of [Ca(thiourea)](2+) complexes show the appearance of new doubly charged species formed by the loss of NH(3) and HNCS. Other intense peaks at m/z 43, 56, 60, 73, 76 and 98 are also observed, and assigned to monocations produced in different coulomb-explosion processes. The structures and bonding characteristics of the different stationary points of the [Ca(thiourea)](2+) potential energy surface (PES) were theoretically studied by DFT calculations carried out at B3LYP/cc-pWCVTZ level. The analysis of the topology of this PES permits to propose different mechanisms for the loss of ammonia and HNCS, and to identify, the m/z 43, 56, 60, 73, 76 and 98 peaks as H(2)NCNH(+), CaNH(2) (+), H(2)NCS(+), CaSH(+), thiourea(+) and CaNCS(+) ions respectively. There are significant dissimilarities between the reactivity of urea and thiourea, which are related to the lower ionization energy of the latter, and to the fact that thioenols are intrinsically more stable than enols with respect to the corresponding keto forms.     

Tailoring of Deep‐Red Luminescence in Ca2SiO4:Eu2+

We report a new dicalcium silicate phosphor, Ca_2?xEu_xSiO₄, which emits red light in response to blue‐light excitation. When excited at 450 nm, deep‐red emission at 650 nm was clearly observed in Ca_1.2Eu_0.8SiO₄, the external and internal quantum efficiencies of which were 44 % and 50 %, respectively. The red emission from Ca_2?xEu_xSiO₄ was strongly related to the peculiar coordination environments of Eu²⁺ in two types of Ca sites. The red‐emitting Ca₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺ phosphors are promising materials for next‐generation, white‐light‐emitting diode applications.     

Rapid detection of trace Cu2+ using an l‐cysteine based interdigitated electrode sensor integrated with AC electrokinetic enrichment

Copper is an indispensable trace element for human health. Too much or too little intake of copper ion (Cu²⁺) can lead to its own adverse health conditions. Therefore, detection of Cu²⁺ is always of vital importance. In this work, a simple sensor was developed for rapid detection of trace Cu²⁺ in water, in which L‐cysteine (Cys) as a molecular probe was self‐assembled on a gold interdigital electrode to form a monolayer for specific capture of Cu²⁺. The interfacial capacitance of interdigital electrode was detected to indicate the target adsorption level under an AC signal working as the excitation to induce directed movement and enrichment of Cu²⁺ to the electrode surface. This sensor reached a limit of detection of 4.14 fM and a satisfactory selectivity against eight other ions (Zn²⁺, Hg²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺, As³⁺, and As⁵⁺). Testing of spiked tap water was also performed, demonstrating the sensor's usability. This sensor as well as the detection method shows a great application potential in fields such as environmental monitoring and medical diagnosis.     

随机的长程关联对耦合细胞体系中钙信号传导的作用

The effect of random long-range connections（shortcuts）on Ca2 + signal propagation in the coupled cell chain is investigated by using the Euler method. It is found when the first cell is subjected to the external stimuli,the firing activity is triggered and then its neighboring cells excited,then the Ca2 + signal may propagate along the chain helped by the shortcuts,indicating the shortcuts can enhance intercellular Ca2 + signal propagations significantly. In addition,it is also found that there is an optimal level of randomness where the shortcuts can enhance the regularity of Ca2 + oscillations in the whole system. These results suggest that shortcuts among the cells may play a constructive role in helping the cell information propagating.     

Comparison of Ca2+ and Mg2+ binding to calmodulin. An enthalpy,entropy, and gibbs free energy analysis

A consistent set of G _B , H _B , and S _B parameters have been determined from ion specific electrode, calorimetric, and spectrophotometric studies for the binding of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ to bovine calmodulin at pH=7.0 and an ionic strength I of 0.113M. A non-linear least squares analysis of calcium specific ion electrode data yields, on a molar basis, four calcium dissociation constants: 10^–7 for the first site, 10^–5 for the fourth site, and two constants between these values. Both calorimetric experiments and an indicator method provide evidence that Mg²⁺ binds to calmodulin, probably at the same sites as Ca²⁺, but with affinities about 100 times smaller: 4×10^–5 for the first site and 2×10^–3 for the fourth. Calorimetric titrations on Ca²⁺ binding to calmodulin in three buffers are consistent with 0.46 protons released upon binding at all four sites and yield an average H _B per site of 5.6 and 7.9 kJ-mol^–1 for Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, respectively. The entropy of the system increases by 524 and 361 J-K^–1-mol^–1 when Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, respectively, bind to four sites on calmodulin, i.e., the selectivity of calmodulin for Ca²⁺ is primarily derived from entropy effects. Further analysis based on elimination of the entropy term for the metal ions demonstrates that calmodulin bound to Ca²⁺ has a larger entropy than the unbound calmodulin; the opposite is true for calmodulin bound to Mg²⁺. These analyses are consistent with the hypothesis that Ca²⁺ forms tight complexes at all sites on calmodulin and that release of waters of hydration upon binding is the source of the increase of entropy in the system.     

Biginelli Reaction Synthesis of Novel Multitarget-Directed Ligands with Ca2+ Channel Blocking Ability,Cholinesterase Inhibition,Antioxidant Capacity,and Nrf2 Activation

Novel multitarget-directed ligands BIGI 4a-d and BIGI 5a-d were designed and synthesized with a simple and cost-efficient procedure via a one-pot three-component Biginelli reaction targeting acetyl-/butyrylcholinesterases inhibition, calcium channel antagonism, and antioxidant ability. Among these multitarget-directed ligands, BIGI 4b, BIGI 4d, and BIGI 5b were identified as promising new hit compounds showing in vitro balanced activities toward the recognized AD targets. In addition, these compounds showed suitable physicochemical properties and a good druglikeness score predicted by Data Warrior software.     

Hemocompatibility of Ca2+‐Crosslinked Nanocellulose Hydrogels: Toward Efficient Management of Hemostasis

The present work investigates Ca²⁺‐crosslinked nanofibrillated cellulose hydrogels as potential hemostatic wound dressings by studying core interactions between the materials and a central component of wounds and wound healing—the blood. Hydrogels of wood‐derived anionic nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and NFC hydrogels that incorporate kaolin or collagen are studied in an in vitro whole blood model and with platelet‐free plasma assays. The evaluation of thrombin and factor XIIa formation, platelet reduction, and the release of activated complement system proteins, shows that the NFC hydrogel efficiently triggered blood coagulation, with a rapid onset of clot formation, while displaying basal complement system activation. By using the NFC hydrogel as a carrier of kaolin, the onset of hemostasis is further boosted, while the NFC hydrogel containing collagen exhibits blood activating properties comparable to the anionic NFC hydrogel. The herein studied NFC hydrogels demonstrate great potential for being part of advanced wound healing dressings that can be tuned to target certain wounds (e.g., strongly hemorrhaging ones) or specific phases of the wound healing process for optimal wound management.     

Effect of Na+ and Ca2+ Ions on a Lipid Langmuir Monolayer: An Atomistic Description by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Studying the effect of alkali and alkaline‐earth metal cations on Langmuir monolayers is relevant from biophysical and nanotechnological points of view. In this work, the effect of Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ on a model of an anionic Langmuir lipid monolayer of dimyristoylphosphatidate (DMPA^?) is studied by molecular dynamics simulations. The influence of the type of cation on lipid structure, lipid–lipid interactions, and lipid ordering is analyzed in terms of electrostatic interactions. It is found that for a lipid monolayer in its solid phase, the effect of the cations on the properties of the lipid monolayer can be neglected. The influence of the cations is enhanced for the lipid monolayer in its gas phase, where sodium ions show a high degree of dehydration compared with calcium ions. This loss of hydration shell is partly compensated by the formation of lipid–ion–lipid bridges. This difference is ascribed to the higher charge‐to‐radius ratio q/r for Ca²⁺, which makes ion dehydration less favorable compared to Na⁺. Owing to the different dehydration behavior of sodium and calcium ions, diminished lipid–lipid coordination, lipid–ion coordination, and lipid ordering are observed for Ca²⁺ compared to Na⁺. Furthermore, for both gas and solid phases of the lipid Langmuir monolayers, lipid conformation and ion dehydration across the lipid/water interface are studied.