Voltammetric monitoring of laccase-catalysed mediated reactions

Six different compounds capable of mediating laccase-catalysed reactions have been tested by cyclic voltammetry. They exhibited quasi-reversible electrodic behaviour with formal redox potentials ranging from 150 to 800 mV (E(0)' vs. SCE). The immersion of a laccase-coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) in mediator solutions generated large cathodic catalytic currents easily recorded by cyclic voltammetry at low-potential scan rates. This current showed two well-defined pH profiles, which correlated with the variation of the mediator redox potentials at the pH range tested. The relevant effect of temperature on the activity of laccase has been assessed here. Likewise, it was shown that the current record varied with the substrate concentration. This trend fitted Michaelis-Menten kinetics, which allowed us to give an estimation of the affinity of the fungal laccase for the different mediators.     

Structural characterisation of the H-bonded [MnII(OH2)2...(OCH3)2MnIII] motif: a model for resting state hydroxylic solvent coordination in M(II)-M(III) enzymes

A mixed-valence dimanganese complex with two water ligands bound to the Mn(II) ion and two methoxide ligands bound to the Mn(III) ion in a H-bonded arrangement has been structurally characterised and models possible resting state water/hydroxide coordination in purple acid phosphatases.     

Structure-activity relationships of a new antifungal imidazole, AFK-108, and related compounds

Fungicidal activity of widely used imidazole antifungal drugs in topical applications is not so strong in spite of their fungistatic activities against dermatophytes and pathogenic yeasts. In order to improve fungicidal activity of imidazole antifungal agents, a series of novel imidazole derivatives having a hydrophobic substituent derived from isoprenoid were synthesized. The efficacy of these compounds was evaluated with respect to direct cell-membrane damaging activity, ergosterol biosynthesis inhibition, minimum growth-inhibitory concentration (MIC) and therapeutic effect for experimental dermatophytosis of guinea pigs. Among the newly synthesized compounds, the geranyl derivative named AFK-108 (2a) showed the highest in vivo fungicidal activity with both cell membrane damaging activity and ergosterol biosynthesis inhibition in vitro.     

Laser flash photolysis of diphenylsulfonyldiazomethane: detection of the sulfene and a sulfene-pyridine ylide

The photochemistry of diphenylsulfonyldiazomethane (DSD) was studied by means of nanosecond laser flash photolysis. The photochemical behavior of this molecule upon UV irradiation is characterized by sulfene formation, presumed to arise via Wolff rearrangement of a carbene. We were able to detect the sulfene and the sulfene ylide formed upon sulfene trapping by pyridine. Sulfene quenching by nucleophiles was also examined.     

Synthesis and trapping of transient 1,2-diselones to yield 1,4-diselenin derivatives: calculated structures of 1,2-diselones, 1,2-diselenetes and their sulfur analogues

Two conceptually different routes to transient 1,2-diselones are reported: 1) via ring fragmentation of the 1,4,2-diselenazine system 6, and 2) by the tributylphosphane-induced depolymerisation of the shelf-stable organoselenium polymer 15. Evidence for the intermediacy of 1,2-diselone species 7 and 16 is provided in both cases by in situ trapping with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) to yield 1,4-diselenin derivatives. The route via 15 is especially expedient and trapping of 16 is efficient. Subsequent reactions of adduct 17 afford [1,2-ethanediylbis(diphenylphosphane)] [5,6-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-1,4-diselenin-2,3-dithiolato]nickel(IV) (20). Theoretical calculations at Hartree-Fock (HF) and Moller-Plesset electron-correlated levels (MP2) suggest that the cyclic 1,2-diselenete structure 7c is significantly more stable than the acyclic 1,2-diselone structure 7a. For the bicyclic system 16, the difference in energy between the cyclic and acyclic structures is considerably reduced due to the conformational rigidity imposed by the fused 1,3-dithiole ring. In contrast, the acyclic structures of the 1,2-dithione analogues 13a and 25a are computed to be more stable than their corresponding cyclic 1,2-dithiete structures 13c and 25c.     

Oil/Alkanethiol Layers for the Study of Emulsified Protein Conformation by Surface Plasmon Resonance Using Monoclonal Antibodies

A method combining surface plasmon resonance and epitope mapping was developed to study the protein conformation at the oil/water interface of an emulsion. The conformation of beta-lactoglobulin stabilizing dodecane/water and miglyol/water interfaces was investigated using five anti-beta-lactoglobulin monoclonal antibodies. The developed method allows us to specifically recognize the emulsified beta-lactoglobulin at the surface of a sensor chip with good repeatability; i.e., standard deviations range between 0.7 and 3.6%. Considering that the monoclonal antibodies, recognizing conformational epitopes, still bind to beta-lactoglobulin at oil/water interfaces, it is concluded that the protein retains a globular conformation. It is shown that the inhibition-binding values of two pairs of Mabs are different for beta-lactoglobulin stabilizing dodecane/water and miglyol/water interfaces. This indicates that the conformations of emulsified beta-lactoglobulin are slightly different according to the nature of the oil phase. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Benzylic cleavage and McLafferty rearrangement under electron ionization conditions in the fragmentation of 5,6-dialkyl-2, 4-diarylpyrimidines

Several 5,6-dialkyl-2,4-diarylpyrimidines were prepared and their electron ionization (EI) mass spectra reported. The benzylic cleavage takes place easily together with an important McLafferty rearrangement. The involvement of the nitrogen atom appears to be important in the fragmentation of 5-methyl-substituted pyrimidines. In contrast, the 6-methyl-substituted pyrimidines undergo benzylic cleavage without hydrogen transfer. Thus, the difference in the mass spectrometric behaviour allows the identification of these isomeric compounds which, in contrast, exhibit only small differences in their NMR spectra. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Syntheses and Crystal Structure of Erbium(Ⅲ) Coordination Polymers with Two Flexible Double Betaine Ligands

1INTR0DUCTI0NLanthanidecarboxylatecomplexeshavebeenwidelystudiedt1iandm0starefoundtoexhibitavarietyofdimericorinfinitechainstructures.Recentstudiesinourlaboratoryhavedem0nstratedthattheprototypetertiaryaminebetaine(Me,N CHzC0z-)anditsderivativesareusefulinthegenerationoflanthanidecarb0xylate-likecomplexeswithnewstructuralfeaturesduetotheiroverallchargeneutralityandpossibleinclusionofvariouskindsofcounteranionsinthestructuret2~4i.Thelan-thanidecomplexesisolatedsofarhavebeenfoundtobemononu…     

Single cell manipulation, analytics, and label-free protein detection in microfluidic devices for systems nanobiology

Single cell analytics for proteomic analysis is considered a key method in the framework of systems nanobiology which allows a novel proteomics without being subjected to ensemble-averaging, cell-cycle, or cell-population effects. We are currently developing a single cell analytical method for protein fingerprinting combining a structured microfluidic device with latest optical laser technology for single cell manipulation (trapping and steering), free-solution electrophoretical protein separation, and (label-free) protein detection. In this paper we report on first results of this novel analytical device focusing on three main issues. First, single biological cells were trapped, injected, steered, and deposited by means of optical tweezers in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic device and consecutively lysed with SDS at a predefined position. Second, separation and detection of fluorescent dyes, amino acids, and proteins were achieved with LIF detection in the visible (VIS) (488 nm) as well as in the deep UV (266 nm) spectral range for label-free, native protein detection. Minute concentrations of 100 fM injected fluorescein could be detected in the VIS and a first protein separation and label-free detection could be achieved in the UV spectral range. Third, first analytical experiments with single Sf9 insect cells (Spodoptera frugiperda) in a tailored microfluidic device exhibiting distinct electropherograms of a green fluorescent protein-construct proved the validity of the concept. Thus, the presented microfluidic concept allows novel and fascinating single cell experiments for systems nanobiology in the future.     

Probing water interactions and vacancy production on gadolinia-doped ceria surfaces using electron stimulated desorption

Polycrystalline gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC) surfaces were studied using low-energy (5-400 eV) electron stimulated desorption (ESD). H(+), O(+), and H(3)O(+) were the primary cationic desorption products with H(+) as the dominant channel. H(+), H(3)O(+), and O(+) have a 22 eV threshold followed by a yield change around 40 eV. H(+) also has an additional yield change approximately 75 eV and O(+) has an additional change approximately 150 eV. The O(+) ESD yield change approximately 150 eV may indicate bond breaking of Gd-O and the involvement of oxygen vacancies. The H(+) and H(3)O(+) threshold data collectively indicate the presence of hydroxyl groups and chemisorbed water molecules on the GDC surfaces. ESD temperature dependence measurements show that the interaction of water with GDC surface defect sites, mainly oxygen vacancies, influences the desorption of H(+), O(+), and H(3)O(+). The temperature dependence of the O(+) ESD at 400 eV incident electron energy yields a 0.21 eV activation energy. This is close to the energy needed for oxygen vacancy production next to a pair of Ce(3+) on a CeO(2) surface. These results may indicate a correlation between the O(+) ESD yield and oxygen vacancy density on GDC surfaces and a potential correlation of O(+) ESD and GDC ionic conductivity.