Characterization of a New Bacteriocin from Lactobacillus plantarum LE5 and LE27 Isolated from Ensiled Corn

Bacteriocins are low molecular peptides with antimicrobial activity, which are of great interest as food bio-preservatives and for treating diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria. In this study, we present the characterization of bacteriocins produced by Lactobacillus plantarum LE5 and LE27 isolated from ensiled corn. Bacteriocins were purified through ammonium sulfate precipitation and double dialysis by using 12- and 1-kDa membranes. Bacteriocins showed activity against Listeria innocua, Listeria monocytogenes, and Enteroccocus faecalis. Molecular weight was estimated through Tricine-SDS-PAGE and overloading the gel onto Mueller-Hinton agar seeded with L. monocytogenes, showing an inhibition zone between 5 and 10 kDa. NanoLC-MS/MS analysis allowed the identification of UPF0291 protein (UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot Q88VI7), which is also presented in other lactic acid bacteria without assigned function. Ab initio modeling showed it has an α-helix-rich structure and a large positive-charged region. Bacteriocins were stable between 4 and 121 °C and pH 2 and 12, and the activity was inhibited by SDS and proteases. Mode of action assay suggests that the bacteriocin causes of target microorganism. Taken together, these results describe a possible new class IIa bacteriocin produced by L. plantarum, which has a wide stability to physicochemical conditions, and that could be used as an alternative for the control of foodborne diseases.     

Synthesis,characterization, and DNA binding of two copper(II) complexes as DNA fluorescent probes

[Cu(DAPT)₂Cl]Cl·H₂O and [Cu(DBM)(DAPT)Cl] [DAPT = 2,4-diamine-6-(pyrazin-2-yl)-1,3,5-triazine] were synthesized and characterized by IR and UV spectroscopy, elemental analysis, TG–DTA, molar conductivity, and LC–MS. The interaction with calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) of the two complexes has been studied using UV spectra, fluorescent spectra, cyclic voltammetry, and viscosity measurements. The complexes interact with ct-DNA through classical intercalation. Fluorescence intensity changes of 1 and 2 in the absence and presence of ct-DNA have been investigated for quantitative determination of ct-DNA with the limit of detection of 3.8 and 7.7 ng mL^?1, respectively. From the result, the two complexes are potentially sensitive DNA fluorescent probes.     

Photoaddition of thienocoumarin derivatives to DNA: stoichiometry and kinetics of binding

Photoreaction of the 6,9-dimethyl-4-methoxymethyl-2H-thieno[3,2-g]-1-benzopyran-2-one (compound I) and 4-acetoxymethyl-6,9-dimethyl-2H-thieno[3,2-g]-1-benzopyran-2-one (compound II) to DNA was studied. The quantitative evaluation of the photobound molecules was performed by means of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), exploiting the presence of the sulphur atom inside the tricyclic chromophore. The concurrent estimation of the phosphorus atom, present exclusively in the macromolecule, allowed possible intercalation sites to be identified and their involvement in the photoaddition reaction to be determined. The development of a kinetic model made it possible to discriminate and evaluate the single kinetic events that constitute the overall photoaddition process of I and II to DNA.     

Synthesis,structure, DNA binding studies and nuclease activities of two luminescent neodymium complexes

Two neodymium(III) complexes, [Nd(Phen)(NO₃)₃(DMF)₂] (1) and [Nd(Phen)₂(NO₃)₃] (2) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline; DMF = dimethylformamide), have been synthesized with a view to design artificial luminescent nucleases and nuclease mimics. The complexes were characterized by spectroscopic, powder, and single crystal XRD studies. The complexes, as expected, have luminescent properties. The DNA binding studies of both complexes have been carried out by spectroscopic studies e.g. electronic absorption (UV–Vis), fluorescence emission as well as viscosity measurements. The nuclease activity of the complexes has been established by gel electrophoresis using pUC19 circular plasmid DNA. The results of DNA binding as well as DNA cleavage activity and the model studies of interaction with pNPP indicate that both neodymium complexes demonstrate nuclease activity through phosphoester bond cleavage.     

The role of thermodynamics and kinetics in ligand binding to G-quadruplex DNA

Molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the binding of four different 2,4,6-triarylpyridines to G-quadruplex DNA. Both the binding free energies, and the kinetics of binding are required to explain the measured degree of ligand induced stabilisation of the compounds, with bulky substituents having the potential to prevent the ligand from reaching the lowest energy binding site.     

DNA binding and photocleavage properties of two mixed-ligand oxovanadium complexes

An oxovanadium complex [VO(satsc)(bipy)] (1) (satsc = salicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone, bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine) and its dibromo derivative [VO(3,5-dibrsatsc)(bipy)] (2) (3,5-dibrsatsc = 3,5-dibromosalicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ES-MS and ¹H NMR. The interaction of these two complexes with calf-thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was studied using UV/Vis, fluorescence spectroscopic titration, viscosity measurements and thermal denaturation. The results suggest that complexes 1 and 2 interact with CT-DNA by intercalative modes. The DNA-binding affinity of complex 1 is larger than that of complex 2. In addition, their photocleavage reactions with pBR322 supercoiled plasmid DNA were investigated by gel electrophoresis experiments. Both complexes exhibit significant DNA cleavage activity, and complex 1 showed greater cleaving efficiency than complex 2.     

Cell-Free Supernatants Obtained from Fermentation of Cheese Whey Hydrolyzates and Phenylpyruvic Acid by Lactobacillus plantarum as a Source of Antimicrobial Compounds, Bacteriocins, and Natural Aromas

Cheese whey hydrolyzates supplemented with phenylpyruvic acid (PPA) and commercial nutrients can be efficiently metabolized by Lactobacillus plantarum CECT-221 to biosynthesize some compounds with attractive applications in the food market. The main metabolites of cell-free extracts were antimicrobial compounds such as phenyllactic acid (PLA) and lactic acid (LA). The production of PLA by L. plantarum CECT-221 was evaluated in the Man–Rogosa–Sharpe broth supplemented with two biosynthetic precursors: phenylalanine or PPA. Using 30.5 mM PPA, the microorganism increased sevenfold the concentration of PLA producing 16.4 mM PLA in 46 h. A concentration of 40 mM PPA was a threshold to avoid substrate inhibition. The biosynthesis of whey hydrolyzates as a carbon source was enhanced by fed-batch fermentation of PPA; the average productivity of PLA increased up to 45.4?±?3.02 mM after 120 h with a product yield of 0.244 mM mM^?1; meanwhile, LA reached 26.1?±?1.3 g L^?1 with a product yield of 0.72 g g^?1. Cell-free fed-batch extracts charged in wells showed bacteriocin activity with halos of 7.49?±?1.44 mm in plates inoculated with Carnobacterium piscicola and antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (11.54?±?1.14 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10.17?±?2.46 mm), Listeria monocytogenes (7.75?±?1.31 mm), and Salmonella enterica (3.60?±?1.52 mm). Additionally, the analysis of the volatile composition of the headspace of this cell-free extract revealed that L. plantarum is a potential producer for natural aromas, such as acetophenone, with high price in the market. This is the first report of PLA production from cheese whey and PPA. The extracts showed bacteriocin activity and potential to be applied as an antimicrobial in the elaboration of safer foods.     

Syntheses,crystal structures,and DNA binding and catalytic properties of two transition metal coordination polymers constructed from 5-aminoisophthalic acid and bis-benzimidazole ligands

Two mixed-ligand transition metal coordination polymers, {[Co(aip)(bbp)]·(H₂O)} _n (1) and {[Ni₂(aip)(Hbbop)₂]·(H₂O)₂} _n (2) (H₂aip = 5-aminoisophthalic acid, bbp = 1,3-bis(benzoimidazol-2-yl)propane, H₂bbop = 1,3-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)-2-oxapropane), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analyses. Complex 1 has a 1D chain structure, while 2 has a 3-connected 2D network with (6³) topology. Both structures are further connected by hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions to form the 3D supramolecular architectures. DNA binding and catalytic properties of the two complexes were investigated.     

Crystal structures, cyclic voltammetry and DNA binding of two mononuclear nickel(II) complexes

Two unsymmetrical complexes, [NiL¹]ClO₄ (1) and [NiL²]ClO₄ (2) have been synthesized and characterized by IR, UV, ES-MS and single crystal X-ray diffraction, where HL¹ and HL² are, respectively, the [1+1] condensation products of 2,6-diformyl-4-X-phenol (X = F or CH₃) with N ¹-(2-aminoethyl)-N ²-(4-nitrobenzyl) ethane-1,2-diamine. The coordination geometry of the metal in both complexes can be approximately described as square planar with a mean plane deviation of 0.032 Å in complex 1 and 0.027 Å in complex 2, respectively. The binding activities of the complexes toward calf-thymus DNA have been analyzed by spectroscopy and viscosity methods. The binding constants of 1 and 2 obtained from UV spectroscopic studies are 5.43 × 10⁵ and 1.83 × 10⁵ M^?1, respectively, while the linear Stern–Volmer quenching constants obtained from fluorescence spectroscopic studies are 0.83 × 10³ and 0.71 × 10³ M^?1, respectively. The cyclic voltammograms of the complexes show a pseudo-reversible electrochemical process.     

Thermodynamics of unstable DNA structures from the kinetics of the microgene PCR

The microgene polymerization reaction (MPR) generates head-to-tail tandem repeats from homoduplexes (HDs). In MPR initiation, one HD putatively aligns two others in the proximity required to form a nucleation complex, thus allowing the DNA polymerase to skip the intertemplate gap and generate an initial doublet (ID) prone to repeat propagation. The current investigation refines this stage by additional thermodynamic considerations and elucidates the fundamental mechanism underlying propagation. Four different HD types were designed to extend the range of melting temperatures and to simultaneously modify the stabilities of their secondary structures. Following the propagation kinetics with these, using real-time PCR at different temperatures revealed a new stage in the MPR, amplification of an ID by an original HD, and enabled us to decipher the biphasic kinetics of the process. This amplification merges with the propagation stage if the lifetime of the staggered conformation of the ID is sufficiently long for DNA polymerase to fill in the overhangs. The observed increase with temperature of thermodynamically unfavorable conformations of singlet and doublet HDs that underlies, respectively, MPR initiation and propagation is well correlated with simulations by UNAFold.     

Synthesis, crystal structures, DNA binding and cleavage studies of two oxovanadium(IV) complexes of 1,10-phenanthroline and Schiff bases derived from tryptophan

Two new V(IV) complexes, [VO(Naph?Ctrp)(phen)]·CH₃OH (1) and [VO(o-Van?Ctrp)(phen)]·CH₃OH·H₂O (2) (Naph?CTrp?=?Schiff base derived from 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde and l-tryptophan, o-Van?Ctrp?=?Schiff base derived from o-vanillin and l-tryptophan, phen?=?1,10-phenanthroline), have been synthesized and characterized by physicochemical methods. The V(IV) atoms in both complexes are six-coordinated in a distorted octahedral environment. In the crystals of complex 1, the C?CH···?? and ?ШC?? stacking interactions form a 1D chain structure, whereas for complex 2, hydrogen bonds connect the molecular units into a 2D plane structure. The DNA binding properties and cleavage efficiencies of the complexes have been investigated by spectroscopic methods, viscosity measurements and agarose gel electrophoresis. The results suggest that both complexes can bind to CT-DNA in an intercalative mode and can also cleave pBR322 DNA.     

Yield ratio of [11C]-CO2, [11C]-CO and [11C]-CH4 from the irradiation of N2/H2-mixtures in a gas target

The¹⁴N/p, /¹¹C-reaction was studied in different N₂/H₂-mixtures. The products are [¹¹C]-CO₂, [¹¹C]-CO and [¹¹C]-CH₄. The yield ratio may be controlled by varying the bombardment conditions. High pressure, high H₂-content, high beam current and high proton energy shift the ratio towards [¹¹C]-CH₄. Lower beam current and lower proton energy increase the yield of [¹¹C]-CO₂. The production of [¹¹C]-CO is constant over a wide range of conditions /about 10%/. For the production of [¹¹C]-CH₄ in good yield a target gas holder for high pressures has been developed. Details are given in Fig. 7. This target gas holder was filled with 5% H₂ in N₂ at 3×10⁶ Pa. Proton irradiation of the mixture gives a typical yield of [¹¹C]-CH₄ of 400–500 mCi at a beam current of 15–20 A within 20 min. Only traces of other¹¹C-labelled compounds could be detected under these conditions.     

Novel Steroidal Glycosides from two Indian Caralluma species,C. stalagmifera and C. indica

New steroidal glycosides, stalagmosides I–V ( 1 – 5 ) and indicosides I and II ( 7 and 8 ), together with the known compounds carumbelloside III, lasianthoside A, and lasianthoside B, were isolated from whole plants of Caralluma stalagmifera and Caralluma indica, respectively. Their structures were elucidated by extensive NMR spectroscopic studies.     

Comparison of the kinetics and thermodynamics for methyl radical addition to C=C, C=O, and C=S double bonds

The barriers, enthalpies, and rate constants for the addition of methyl radical to the double bonds of a selection of alkene, carbonyl, and thiocarbonyl species (CH(2)=Z, CH(3)CH=Z, and (CH(3))(2)C=Z, where Z = CH(2), O, or S) and for the reverse beta-scission reactions have been investigated using high-level ab inito calculations. The results are rationalized with the aid of the curve-crossing model. The addition reactions proceed via early transition structures in all cases. The barriers for addition of methyl radical to C=C bonds are largely determined by the reaction exothermicities. Addition to the unsubstituted carbon center of C=C double bonds is favored over addition to the substituted carbon center, both kinetically (lower barriers) and thermodynamically (greater exothermicities). The barriers for addition to C=O bonds are influenced by both the reaction exothermicity and the singlet-triplet gap of the substrate. Addition to the carbon center is favored over addition to the oxygen, also both thermodynamically and kinetically. For the thiocarbonyl systems, addition to the carbon center is thermodynamically favored over addition to sulfur. However, in this case, the reaction is contrathermodynamic, addition to the sulfur center having a lower barrier due to spin density considerations. Entropic differences among corresponding addition and beta-scission reactions are relatively minor, and the differences in reaction rates are thus dominated by differences in the respective reaction barriers.     

Estimation of binding sites from the adsorption profile of complexed DNA

The adsorption profiles of free and Daunomycin bound DNA at an alumina–H₂O interface have been studied. Proper experimental conditions were maintained to considerably reduce intercalation and to make electrostatic binding predominant in the DNA–Daunomycin complex. For both free and complexed DNA, Langmuir plots gave straight lines. Adsorption of drug bound DNA was less than that of free DNA. This has been explained from the viewpoint of electrostatic interactions between adsorbate and adsorbent. A Langmuir-type model for adsorption of polymers combined with Scatchard equation have been used to estimate the average value of percent of phosphates in DNA stacked with Daunomycin.     

Synthesis,characterization, and non-isothermal curing kinetics of two silicon-containing arylacetylenic monomers

Vinyltri(phenylethynyl)silane ((ph–C≡C)₃–Si–C=CH₂; VTPES) and phenyltri(phenylethynyl)silane ((ph–C≡C)₃–Si–ph; PTPES) were synthesized by Grignard reaction. Their molecular structures were characterized by means of ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, ²⁹Si NMR, and FT-IR spectroscopy. Their nonisothermal thermal curing processes were characterized by DSC, and the corresponding kinetic data, for example activation energy (E), pre-exponential factor (A), and the order of the reaction (n), were obtained by the Kissinger method. The results showed that the melting points of VTPES and PTPES were 84 and 116 °C, respectively. Their curing reaction rates were consistent with first-order kinetic equations. VTPES monomer had a lower activation energy and curing temperature as a result of coordination between reactive groups.     

Towards sequence selective DNA binding: design, synthesis and DNA binding studies of novel bis-porphyrin peptidic nanostructures

A new series of peptidic nanostructures bearing two intercalating moieties was designed and synthesized to achieve selective recognition of DNA sequences. A cationic porphyrin was attached to a glutamic acid side chain and the latter introduced into a peptidic sequence by standard solid-phase peptide synthesis methodology. Conformation of the hydrosoluble peptidic structures bearing two cationic porphyrins was studied by circular dichroism. Using UV-visible spectroscopy and induced circular dichroism, we demonstrate that the compounds are fully intercalated upon binding to double-stranded DNA and that the compounds exhibit a tremendous preference for GC over AT sequences for intercalation.     

Synthesis,characterization and DNA binding studies of two cyclopentadienyl ruthenium(II) complexes with amino acid ligands

Two new half-sandwich cyclopentadienyl ruthenium(II) complexes containing α-amino acids, [CpRu(PPh₃)₂(Ser)] (Ser = l-serine) and [CpRu(PPh₃)(Met)] (Met = l-methionine), were synthesized and characterized by physicochemical methods. Interactions of these two complexes with calf thymus DNA were investigated by UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, emission spectroscopy and competitive binding studies. The results indicate that both complexes can interact with DNA, leading to the damage of the double helix. [CpRu(PPh₃)₂(Ser)] binds to DNA by intercalation, while the binding mode for [CpRu(PPh₃)(Met)] is more complicated due to the formation of an EB-DNA-complex (EB = ethidium bromide). The affinity of the Met complex for DNA is stronger than that of the Ser complex, which could be due to groove–surface combination or electrostatic interaction in addition to intercalative binding.