Characterization and comparison of soluble and immobilized pig muscle aldolases

Pig muscle aldolase was insolubilized by covalent attachment to a polyacrylamide matrix containing carboxylic functional groups. The catalytic activity of the Akrilex C-aldolase was 2014 units/g solid, i.e., an activity loss of only about 5% relative to the initial activity. The pH optimum for catalytic activity shifted form 7.25 to 7.5 and the apparent temperature optimum from 313 to 318 K. The Michaelis constant of the insolubilized enzyme was significantly higher than that of the soluble aldolase. Heat- and urea-inactivation experiments revealed that the immobilization increased the stability of the enzyme.     

Synthesis of Polysubstituted Symmetrical BODIPYs via Fischer Carbene Complexes: Theoretical,Photophysical and Electrochemical Evaluation

A series of new symmetrical highly substituted BODIPYs 6 a – l was synthesized through a prefunctionalization approach in 35 %–89 % yields from the pyrrole core. This strategy allowed modulation of the substituents at the different positions based on the choice of Fischer's alkynyl carbenes, oxazolones and aldehydes used as precursors. The substituent variation at positions 2, 6, 3 and 5 had the greatest effect on the modulation of their photophysical properties such as absorption (λ_abs) and emission (λ_em) wavelengths, extinction coefficient (ϵ), quantum yields (ϕ), Stokes shifts (Δν), fluorescence decay, radiative (k_rad) and non-radiative (k_nr) constants and the CIE 1931 coordinates. Theoretical calculations allowed to corroborate the effect of the substituents of meso-position on the modification of the dihedral angles. Cyclic voltammetry studies revealed that the BODIPY series presents similar redox potential behavior, being electrochemically active even in successive cycles, which suggests that transport by diffusion is the dominant process.     

Long-Term,Single-Molecule Imaging of Proteins in Live Cells with Photoregulated Fluxional Fluorophores

Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) can reveal nanometric details of biological samples, but its high phototoxicity hampers long-term imaging in live specimens. A significant part of this phototoxicity stems from repeated irradiations that are necessary for controlled switching of fluorophores to maintain the sparse labeling of the sample. Lower phototoxicity can be obtained using fluorophores that blink spontaneously, but controlling the density of single-molecule emitters is challenging. We recently developed photoregulated fluxional fluorophores (PFFs) that combine the benefits of spontaneously blinking dyes with photocontrol of emitter density. These dyes, however, were limited to imaging acidic organelles in live cells. Herein, we report a systematic study of PFFs that culminates in probes that are functional at physiological pH and operate at longer wavelengths than their predecessors. Moreover, these probes are compatible with HaloTag labeling, thus enabling timelapse, single-molecule imaging of specific protein targets for exceptionally long times.     

Photochemical Sandmeyer-type Halogenation of Arenediazonium Salts

Trihalide salts were found to efficiently promote photochemical dediazotizing halogenations of diazonium salts. In contrast to classical Sandmeyer reactions, no metal catalysts are required to achieve high yields and outstanding selectivities for halogenation over competing hydridodediazotization. Convenient protocols are disclosed for synthetically meaningful brominations, iodinations, and chlorinations of diversely functionalized derivatives.     

Triterpenes and limonoids of Cedrela: Distribution,biosynthesis, and 1H and 13C NMR data

Cedrela genus, a member of the Meliaceae family, presents both chemical characteristics associated with and those that distinguish it from the rest of its members. The presence of triterpenes and limonoids is the characteristic of the Meliaceae family, but the class and type of these chemical constituents are distinctive for each genus. Cedrela includes cycloartane, ursane, oleanane, tirucallane, butyrospermane, and apotirucallane triterpenes, and its limonoids belongs to six class and nine types, known as class Ia-type havanensines, class Ib-type delevoyin, class II-type gedunin, class IIIb-type andirobin, class IIIg-type mexicanolide, class IVa-type evoludone, class Va-type obacunol, class V-type limonin, and class VIII. Each of these structural arrangements includes specific traits, defined by their biosynthetic origin, which can be established by means of structural elucidation techniques, particularly ¹H and ¹³C NMR, which assisted by 2D NMR techniques, allowing to deduce their structures unequivocally. The constant presence of these skeletal arrangements in Cedrela ensures that they are its chemophenetic markers and their recurrence is an important criterion for their identity. This review is a compilation of the occurrence of triterpenes and limonoids in Cedrela genus, detailing their biosynthetic association and collecting and organizing their NMR data, with the purpose of facilitating its location, analysis, and use in the phytochemical study of species from this genus.     

Galvanostatically Deposited PtNi Thin-Films as Electrocatalysts for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

The synthesis of hybrid platinum materials is fundamental to enable alkaline water electrolysis for cost-effective H₂ generation. In this work, we have used a galvanostatic method to co-deposit PtNi films onto polycrystalline gold. The surface concentrations of Ni (Γ_Ni) and Pt (Γ_Pt) were calculated from electrochemical measurements; the Γ_Pt/Γ_Ni ratio and electrocatalytic activity of these materials towards hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in 1 M KOH show a strong dependence on the current density pulse applied during the electrodeposition. Analysis of the Tafel parameters hints that, on these deposits, HER proceeds through a Volmer-Heyrovsky mechanism. The galvanostatically deposited PtNi layers present a high current output per Pt gram, 3199 A g_Pt⁻¹, which is significantly larger compared to other PtNi-based materials obtained by more extended and more complex synthesis methods.     

Methodology for measuring the thermal conductivity of insulating samples with small dimensions by heat flow meter technique

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Nowadays, developing advanced, highly insulating materials for minimizing heat losses in buildings is of utmost relevance. Thus, there is a constant...     

Nucleobases,Nucleosides and Nucleotides Determination in Yeasts Isolated from Extreme Environments

Chromatographia - Nucleobases, nucleosides and nucleotides can act as chemical markers and immunnostimulants. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization and...     

Capillary electrochromatography and nano‐liquid chromatography coupled to nano‐electrospray ionization interface for the separation and identification of estrogenic compounds

Nano‐LC and CEC were coupled to MS through a nanospray or a pressurized liquid‐junction interface for the simultaneous separation and determination of 11 estrogenic compounds. Different stationary phases, that is, phenyl, C18, and C18 bidentate silica hydrate, were studied. For both techniques, the phenyl stationary phase was the best option, considering separation efficiency, selectivity, and resolution. Under the optimized conditions, the baseline separation of the target compounds (including estradiol and zearalanol epimers) was achieved in less than 20 min in nano‐LC‐MS and less than 13 min in CEC‐MS. Molecular imprinted polymer SPE was used for extracting the target compounds from mineral water samples with the analysis of nano‐LC‐MS. The whole molecular imprinted polymer SPE nano‐LC‐MS method was validated through a recovery study at two levels of concentration. Sensitivity was improved by on‐column focusing technique obtaining LODs in the range 1.4–55.4 ng/L.     

Flavonoid glycosides from Persea caerulea. Unraveling their interactions with SDS‐micelles through matrix‐assisted DOSY,PGSE, mass spectrometry,and NOESY

Two flavonoid glycosides derived from rhamnopyranoside ( 1 ) and arabinofuranoside ( 2 ) have been isolated from leaves of Persea caerulea for the first time. The structures of 1 and 2 have been established by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and IR spectroscopy, together with LC–ESI–TOF and LC–ESI–IT MS spectrometry. From the MS and MS/MS data, the molecular weights of the intact molecules as well as those of quercetin and kaempferol together with their sugar moieties were deduced. The NMR data provided information on the identity of the compounds, as well as the α and β configurations and the position of the glycosides on quercetin and kaempferol. We have also explored the application of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) normal micelles in binary aqueous solution, at a range of concentrations, to the diffusion resolution of these two glycosides, by the application of matrix‐assisted diffusion ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) and pulse field gradient spin echo (PGSE) methodologies, showing that SDS micelles offer a significant resolution which can, in part, be rationalized in terms of differing degrees of hydrophobicity, amphiphilicity, and steric effects. In addition, intra‐residue and inter‐residue proton–proton distances using nuclear Overhauser effect build‐up curves were used to elucidate the conformational preferences of these two flavonoid glycosides when interacting with the micelles. By the combination of both diffusion and nuclear Overhauser spectroscopy techniques, the average location site of kaempferol and quercetin glycosides has been postulated, with the former exhibiting a clear insertion into the interior of the SDS‐micelle, whereas the latter is placed closer to the surface. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.