Expanding the Scope of Polyoxometalates as Artificial Proteases towards Hydrolysis of Insoluble Proteins

Despite the enormous importance of insoluble proteins in biological processes, their structural investigation remains a challenging task. The development of artificial enzyme-like catalysts would greatly facilitate the elucidation of their structure since currently used enzymes in proteomics largely lose activity in the presence of surfactants, which are necessary to solubilize insoluble proteins. In this study, the hydrolysis of a fully insoluble protein by polyoxometalate complexes as artificial proteases in surfactant solutions is reported for the first time. The hydrolysis of zein as a model protein was investigated in the presence of Zr(IV) and Hf(IV) substituted Keggin-type polyoxometalates (POMs), (Et₂NH₂)₁₀[M(α-PW₁₁O₃₉)₂] (M = Zr or Hf), and different concentrations of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Selective hydrolysis of the protein upon incubation with the catalyst was observed, and the results indicate that the hydrolytic selectivity and activity of the POM catalysts strongly depends on the concentration of surfactant. The molecular interactions between the POM catalyst and zein in the presence of SDS were explored using a combination of spectroscopic techniques which indicated competitive binding between POM and SDS towards the protein. Furthermore, the formation of micellar superstructures in ternary POM/surfactant/protein solutions has been confirmed by conductivity and Dynamic Light Scattering measurements.     

Novel sulfonated hydrophilic indium(III) and gallium(III) phthalocyanine photosensitizers: preparation and investigation of photophysicochemical properties

The new tetra-non-peripherally benzenesulfonic acid-substituted hydrophilic gallium chloride and indium chloride phthalocyanine complexes have been synthesized by cyclotetramerization of 4-(2,3-dicyanophenyl)benzenesulfonic acid (1). The newly synthesized phthalocyanines have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, mass and UV–vis spectroscopy techniques. The water-soluble gallium(III) phthalocyanine derivative (2) was aggregated in aqueous media but was fully disaggregated in the presence of a surfactant Triton X-100. The incorporation of sulfonate moieties of the phthalocyanine macrocycle provides hydrophilic character to the new compounds, which is useful for drug administration and serves as crucial in PDT application. So, the photochemical properties (singlet oxygen quantum yields and photodegradation quantum yields) and photophysical properties (fluorescence behavior) of the complexes were reported in different solutions (DMSO and water). The results of spectral measurements showed that both np-GaPc (2) and np-InPc (3) can be used as sensitizers in PDT because of their singlet oxygen efficiencies.     

Local dynamics of micelles of new long-chain surfactants in aqueous media

The molecular dynamics, organization, and phase state of aqueous solutions of new long-chain cationic surfactants with saturated hydrocarbon radicals (from C₁₆ to C₂₂) containing one or two hydroxyl groups in their polar heads are studied by the spin-probe EPR spectroscopy. In the region of micellar solutions, local mobility of surfactant molecules slightly changes with an increase in the length of hydrocarbon radical, whereas the order parameter of micelles increases notably. The addition of two hydroxyl groups to the polar part of long-chain (C ₂₂) surfactant molecule considerably decreases local mobility and increases the ordering of micellar system compared to the micelles of analogous surfactant with one hydroxyl group. Phase transition from micellar to a solid state is observed in this system with a decrease in temperature. The addition of KCl to aqueous surfactant solution lowers the local mobility, increases the order parameter of micelles, and can cause changes in the phase state of a system. In the presence of salt, the correlation time of probe rotation and its order parameter depend on surfactant concentration. Apparently, this is explained by changes in the shape of micelles upon variations in surfactant concentration.     

Micellar effect of ionic surfactants in the reaction ofo-dimethylaminomethylphenol withp-nitrophenyl diphenyl phosphate

The effect of cetylpyridinium bromide (CPB) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) on the direction and the rate of the reaction ofo-dimethylaminomethylphenol (MP) withp-nitrophenyl diphenyl phosphate (1) has been studied by³¹P NMR and spectrophotometry. It was shown that the reaction of MP with1 proceeds in two steps both with and without the surfactant. The product of transesterification is formed in the first step. The second step is hydrolysis catalyzed by the aminomethyl group yielding equal amounts of diphenyl phosphate ando-dimethylaminomethyl phenyl phosphate. The reaction of MP with1 is catalyzed by CPB and inhibited by SDS. The ratio between the rates of the first and the second stages changes in the presence of surfactant. The parameters of the reaction of MP with1 inhibited by micellar SDS were calculated.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 242–245, February, 1994.     

Supramolecular systems of amphiphilic derivatives of calix[4]resorcinarenes and surfactants in chloroform

Aggregation of amphiphilic calix[4]resorcinarenes (CRA) modified by carboxymethyl (1), 2-hydroxyethyl (2), methylamino acetal (3), and aminomethyl (4) fragments and their interaction with some synthetic (5, 6) and natural (7, 8) surfactants in the low-polarity solvent (chloroform) were studied by permittivity measurements and FT-IR spectroscopy. Compounds 1–4 and surfactants form aggregates at critical micelle concentrations (CMC) of 2.0·10⁻⁵–7.5·10⁻⁵ and 1.7·10⁻⁵–2.0·10⁻³ mol L⁻¹, respectively. The CMC values of CRA—surfactant mixed aggregates depend on the surfactant structure and the structure and concentration of CRA. Analysis of the IR spectra of solutions of a series of amphiphilic CRA (2–4, 9, 10) and their mixtures with the cationic surfactant N-cetyl-N,N-dimethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium bromide (5) showed that an increase in the concentration of the solutions in individual and mixed systems is accompanied by a decrease in the molar integral intensities and intensities in the maxima of the absorption bands of the O—H and C—H bonds down to the CMC point, after which these values change slightly. The discovered effect, which is differently pronounced for all systems studied, indicates that both the polar “head” groups and nonpolar fragments of CRA and surfactant are involved in the formation of supramolecules of the reverse micelle type in all cases. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 459–466, March, 2007.     

Effect of Surfactants on the Formation,Morphology, and Surface Property of Synthesized SiO2 Nanoparticles

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of cationic, anionic (saturated and unsaturated), and nonionic surfactants on the formation, morphology, and surface properties of silica nanoparticles synthesized by the ammonium‐catalyzed hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane in alcoholic media. Results indicate that at a relatively low surfactant concentration (1 × 10^?3–1 × 10^?6 M), cationic surfactants significantly affected the growth of silica particles as measured by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopic analyses. In contrast, the anionic and nonionic surfactants showed relatively minor effects in the low concentration range. The magnitude of negative zeta potential was reduced for silica colloids that were synthesized in the presence of cationic surfactant because of charge neutralization. The presence of anionic surfactants only slightly increased the negative zeta potential while the nonionic surfactant showed no obvious effects. At high surfactant concentrations (>1 × 10^?3 M), cationic and anionic surfactants both induced colloid aggregation, while the nonionic surfactant showed no effect on particle size. Raman spectroscopic analysis suggests that molecules of cationic surfactants adsorb on silica surfaces via head groups, aided by favorable electrostatic attraction, while molecules of anionic and nonionic surfactants adsorb via their hydrophobic tails.     

Dicationic surfactant based catalytic systems for alkaline hydrolysis of phosphonic acid esters

Use of aqueous micellar solutions of dicationic surfactants with the general formula [R(CH₃)₂N(CH₂)₆N(CH₃)₂R]²⁺2Br⁻ (R = n-C₁₀H₂₁ to n-C₁₆H₃₃) as the reaction medium for the alkaline hydrolysis of phosphonic acid esters has revealed a strong catalytic effect of the surfactants, which can increase the reaction rate by two orders of magnitude. This effect depends on the surfactant structure, shows itself at low surfactant concentrations, and is substrate-specific. The effect of the micelles on the phosphonate hydrolysis rate is largely determined by the hydrophobicity factor.     

Preparation and characterization of Cu(II)-N-salicylideneanthranilic acids,their reduction products and hydrolysis of the Schiff base

Copper (II) complexes ofN-salicylideneanthranilic acid (I) and its derivatives (II, III) as well as their NaBH₄ reduction products, namelyN-(2-hydroxybenzyl) anthranilic acids (IV–VI) have been prepared and their structures have been determined analytically. Tetracoordinated planar structures of the Cu(II) complexes of the Schiff bases and distorted tetrahedral structures of the Cu(II) complexes of compoundsV–VI have been elucidated by ESR and other spectral methods. During the preparation of the complex the hydrolysis of the Schiff base often takes place in the presence of water giving anthranilates and salicylaldehydates of metals to some extent along with the complexes of the Schiff base. The kinetic data for the hydrolysis ofN-salicylideneanthranilic acid (I) in methanol-water solution also are reported.Presented at the Sixth International Seminar on Inclusion Compounds, Istanbul, Turkey, 27–31 August, 1995.     

Electrochemical Behavior of Cationic‐Anionic Surfactant Solutions by Cyclic Voltammetry

The electrochemical behavior of cationic tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTABr), anionic sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), cationic‐anionic (catanionic) mixed surfactant and self‐assembled solutions at Pt wire electrode has been studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV). On the basis of the cyclic voltammograms and determining the self‐assembled structures by using freeze‐fracture transmission electron microscopy (FF‐TEM), the mechanisms of the electrochemical reactions near the electrode for the two surfactant self‐assembled solutions, i.e., micelles and vesicles, are presented. When mixing TTABr and SDS, at the right mixing ratio of TTABr:SDS, vesicles are established spontaneously. The redox behavior of two vesicle‐phase solutions at a constant total concentration of 25 mmol·L^?1 with the ratios of TTABr:SDS 9.35:0.65 of positive charges of bilayer membranes and 1.25:8.75 of negative charges of bilayer membranes are investigated by cyclic voltammetry. These cyclic voltammograms of vesicles with different charges are compared with those of 100 mmol · L^?1 TTABr and 100 mmol · L^?1 SDS micelle solutions. This CV study on surfactant self‐assembled solutions should open up a new method of study in surfactant science.     

New Methylene Blue (NMB) Encapsulated in Mesoporous AlMCM‐41 Material and Its Application for Amperometric Determination of Ascorbic Acid in Real Samples

New methylene blue (NMB) dye incorporated into AlMCM‐41 surfactant‐free and hybrid surfactant‐AlMCM‐41 mesophase. UV‐vis evidence shows that new methylene blue dye protonated in both cases of zeolites. New methylene blue is electroactive in zeolites and their electrochemical activity has been studied by cyclic voltammetry and compared to that of NMB in aqueous solutions. New methylene blue molecules are not released to the solution during CV measurements and are accessible to H₃O⁺ ions. The presence of surfactant affects the kinetics of the redox process through proton ions diffusion. The midpoint potentials (E_m) values show that new methylene blue dye incorporated into AlMCM‐41 can be reduced easily with respect to solution new methylene blue. New methylene blue interacting with surfactant polar heads and residual Br^? ions as a results, it shows a couple of peaks in high potential with respect to new methylene blue solution. The electrode made with methylene blue‐AlMCM‐41 without surfactant was used for the mediated oxidation of ascorbic acid. The anodic peak current observed in cyclic voltammetry was linearly dependent on the ascorbic acid concentration. The calibration plot was linear over the ascorbic acid concentration range 1.0×10^?5 to 5.0×10^?4 M. The detection limit of the method is 1.0×10^?5 M, low enough for trace ascorbic acid determination in various real samples.     

Preparation of Porous Titania Film by Modified Sol-Gel Method and its Application to Photocatalyst

Sol-Gel derived mesoporous titania films with controlled pore sizes were prepared by surfactant templating. The coating sol was obtained by hydrolysis of Ti(OC₄H₉)₄ in ethanol/HCl solution. The gel films, prepared by spin coating on glass substrate, were dried after immersion in surfactant solutions under an atmospheric pressure. The porous films of anatase with columnar and rectangular structure were obtained after annealing at 500°C. The annealed films are transparent and 80–140 nm in thickness. Refractive indices of the films with surfactant immersion were 10–20% lower than those of the films without immersion. The spacing between the columns or rectangular grains and the grain shape were found to depend on the surfactant species. The pohoto-catalytic activity of the films for the oxidation of NO _x was improved by the surfactant modification.     

Complex Formation During Molybdenum Chlorination in DMF Medium

IR and EPR studies of solutions formed after molybdenum chlorination in the medium of DMF revealed the diamagnetic Mo(VI) and paramagnetic Mo(V) complexes of composition R₂[MoOCl₅], where R is [(CH₃)₂NCOH₂]⁺ (I) and [(CH₃)₂NH₂]⁺ (II). The hydrolysis of complex II was found to give dimethyl-substituted ammonium chloride.     

Effect of ethylene glycol on micellization and micellar-catalyzed alkaline hydrolysis reaction of a cationic surfactant at 293–313 K

Changes in critical micellar concentrations (CMC’s) of gemini surfactant, α, ω-ethane bis(dimethyl cetyl ammonium bromide) (C₁₆-2-C₁₆) with different concentrations of ethylene glycol (EG) addition have been investigated by electrical conductivity method. Subsequently, alkaline hydrolysis of ethyl acetate (EA) in the presence of C₁₆-2-C₁₆ and C₁₆-2-C₁₆-EG has been studied conductometrically at 303.2 and 313.2 K, respectively. It was found that an increase in concentrations of EG added to C₁₆-2-C₁₆ aqueous solutions caused an increase in CMC’s of C₁₆-2-C₁₆, provoked by the decrease in the interfacial Gibbs energy contribution to G _M^∘. The hydrolysis of EA showed catalytic and restrained dual behavior in the presence of surfactant, it may be related to higher microviscosity and change of morphology with increased surfactant for C₁₆-2-C₁₆ at higher concentration. Addition of EG did not change microenvironment in micellar interfacial region significantly, which had less effect on gemini C₁₆-2-C₁₆ micellar catalytic efficiency.     

Synthesis, structures, and properties of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzosemiquinone complexes of copper(i) with 1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctanes

Two new 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzosemiquinone complexes of copper(i) (2a and2b) with 1,3,5,7-tetraphenyl-1,5-diaza-3,5-diphosphacyclooctane (1a) and 1,5-dibenzyl-3,7-diphenyl-1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane (1b), respectively, were synthesized. Their structures in solution and in the crystalline state were studied. According to the results of X-ray diffraction analysis, the copper(i) atom in molecules2a and2b is in a pseudotetrahedral environment and is directly coordinated to two P atoms of the diazadiphosphacyclooctane ligand and two O atoms of the benzosemiquinone ligand. In complex2a, ligand1a adopts a chair-boat conformation typical of all complexes with eight-membered cyclic 1,5-donors studied previously. Unlike ligand1a, the ligand in complex2b adopts a chair-chair (crown) conformation identical with that of the free ligand. Both complexes are paramagnetic in the solid state and in solutions. The parameters of the isotropic ESR spectra of complexes2a and2b are typical of four-coordinateo-semiquinone copper(i) complexes with bidentate bisphosphine ligands. Based on analysis of the isotropic ESR spectra, it was suggested that compound2b in solutions exists as two isomers, which differ in the conformation of the eight-membered heterocycle (chair-boat or chair-chair). Published inIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1806–1812, October, 2000.     

Synthesis of Polysiloxane-Immobilized Monoamine,Diamine, and Triamine Ligand Systems in the Presence of CTAB and Their Applications

Abstract

Polysiloxane-immobilized monoamine, diamine, and triamine ligand systems of the general formula P-(CH₂)₃-X [where P represents a polysiloxane three-dimension silica like network, and X represents monoamine(-NH₂), diamine (-NH(CH₂)₂NH₂), or triamine (-NH(CH₂)₂NH(CH₂)₂NH₂) functional ligand groups] were prepared by hydrolytic polycondensation of the tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and the appropriate amine silane coupling agent (RO)₃Si-(CH₂)₃X in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as surfactant using the sol-gel method. The polysiloxane-immobilized amine ligand systems exhibit a higher potential for divalent metal ions (Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺) when CTAB was used as surfactant than those of the corresponding polysiloxane ligand systems prepared without CTAB. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analyses show a significant change in the surface composition as resulting from the incorporation of CTAB, which can be related to the increase in the uptake of metal ions.     

Hydrolysis of Peptide Bonds in Protein Micelles Promoted by a Zirconium(IV)-Substituted Polyoxometalate as an Artificial Protease

The development of artificial proteases is challenging, but important for many applications in modern proteomics and biotechnology. The hydrolysis of hydrophobic or unstructured proteins is particularly difficult due to their poor solubility, which often requires the presence of surfactants. Herein, it is shown that a zirconium(IV)-substituted Keggin polyoxometalate (POM), (Et₂NH₂)₁₀[Zr(α-PW₁₁O₃₉)₂] ( 1 ), is able to selectively hydrolyze β-casein, which is an intrinsically unstructured protein at pH 7.4 and 60 °C. Four surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate (ZW3-12), 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS), and polyethylene glycol tert-octylphenyl ether (TX-100)), which differ in the nature of their polar groups, were investigated for their role in influencing the selectivity and efficiency of protein hydrolysis. Under experimental conditions, β-casein forms micellar structures in which the hydrophilic part of the protein is water accessible and able to interact with 1 . Identical fragmentation patterns of β-casein in the presence of 1 were observed through SDS poly(acrylamide) gel electrophoresis both in the presence and absence of surfactants, but the rate of hydrolysis varied, depending on the nature of surfactant. Whereas TX-100 surfactant, which has a neutral polar head, caused only a slight decrease in the hydrolysis rate, stronger inhibition was observed in the presence surfactants with charges in their polar heads (CHAPS, ZW3-12, SDS). These results were consistent with those of tryptophan fluorescencequenching studies, which showed that the binding between β-casein and 1 decreased with increasing repulsion between the POM and the polar heads of the surfactants. In all cases, the micellar structure of β-casein was not significantly affected by the presence of POM or surfactants, as indicated by circular dichroism spectroscopy.     

Spectral,kinetic, and redox properties of basic fuchsin in homogeneous aqueous and sodium dodecyl sulfate micellar media

Effect of anionic surfactant on the optical absorption spectra and redox reaction of basic fuchsin, a cationic dye, has been studied. Increase in the absorbance of the dye band at 546 nm with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is assigned to the incorporation of the dye in the surfactant micelles with critical micellar concentration (CMC) of 7.3 × 10^?3 mol dm^?3. At low surfactant concentration (<5 × 10^?3 mol dm^?3) decrease in the absorbance of the dye band at 546 nm is attributed to the formation of a dye–surfactant complex (1:1). The environment, in terms of dielectric constant, experienced by basic fuchsin inside the surfactant micelles has been estimated. The association constant (K_A) for the formation of dye–SDS complex and the binding constant (K_B) for the micellization of dye are determined. Stopped‐flow studies, in the premicellar region, indicated simultaneous depletion of dye absorption and formation of new band at 490 nm with a distinct isosbestic point at 520 nm and the rate constant for this region increased with increasing SDS concentration. The reaction of hydrated electron with the dye and the decay of the semireduced dye are observed to be slowed down in the presence of SDS. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 629–636, 2003     

The Synthesis and Substituent Effect of the Acid Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Amidosulfites

The acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of 2-oxo-3-(p-substituted)-phenyl-5-methyl-1,2,3-oxathiazolidines (1) have been studied in 60% (v/v) 1,4 dioxane-aqueous solutions of perchloric and hydrochloric acids at 10.0 ± 0.05°C. The analysis of the kinetic data by the order of the catalytic effects of the acids, activation parameters, kinetic solvent isotope effect, and substituent effect are all in agreement with an A-2 mechanism in the studied range.     

Synthesis of 3-Methyl-2,6-dimethylbicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-exo-2,exo-6-diol

In this article, a new 2,6-dimethylbicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-exo-2, exo-6-diol derivative was designed and synthesized. First, the precursor compound (8) was prepared. Key intermediate dione compounds were obtained by reaction with iodomethane followed by hydrolysis and decarboxylation. Finally, methylation of the mixture of compounds 10a and 10b resulted in the formation of the title compound (5).