An Optimized Bioassay for Mucin1 Detection in Serum Samples

Two simple and sensitive electrochemical approaches for Mucin1 (MUC1) tumor marker using magnetic beads coupling screen‐printed arrays were developed. The single‐use bioassays are based on a sandwich format in which aptamers or antibodies were coupled respectively to Streptavidin or Protein G‐modified magnetic beads. The bioreceptor‐modified beads are used to capture the MUC1 protein from the sample and sandwich assay is performed by the addition of a labeled secondary aptamer or antibody. The enzyme alkaline phosphatase and its substrate (1‐naphthyl phosphate) are then used for the electrochemical detection by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The analytical performances of the designed bioassays were compared in terms of sensitivity, selectivity and reproducibility. Using the optimized conditions, a linear range from 0 to 0.28 nM was obtained, with 0.19 nM LOD using antibody‐based and 0.07 nM LOD using aptamer‐based sandwich assay in MUC1 buffered solutions. The results also showed that the aptamer‐based approach exhibited higher selectivity for MUC1, allowing the detection of the protein in complex matrices. The developed aptasensor for MUC1 detection was applied on serum samples obtained from cancer patients, providing promising perspectives for clinical applications.     

Interactions of di- and trivalent anionic azo dyes with polycations of integral type

The spectral changes of Crystal Ponceau 6R and Ponceau 4R induced by the interaction with polycations having N,N-dimethyl-2-hydroxypropane-1,3-diylammonium chloride units in the main chain were followed. The stoichiometry of the polycation-dye complex related to the dye structure was elaborated by UV-VIS spectrophotometry and viscosimetric measurements. Formation of a tricomponent complex between the polycation/dye complex and poly(sodium acrylate) was also revealed.     

人参二醇类皂苷的生物转化动态及人参稀有皂苷C-K或F2的制备

为了低成本有效制备人参稀有皂苷C-K或F₂, 将A. niger g.848菌酶用于转化含有人参皂苷(质量分数)分别为49.6% Rb₁, 25.9% Rd, 19.3% Rc和5.23% Rb₂的西洋参二醇混合皂苷. 霉菌发酵时, 采用人参二醇皂苷诱导物比人参提取液诱导物的产酶总活力提高10%~15%. 所产的2种诱导酶均能水解人参二醇皂苷的3-O-和20-O-多种糖基, 均为人参皂苷酶Ⅰ型; 但是人参二醇皂苷诱导物所产酶几乎全部转化人参二醇皂苷为C-K, 而人参提取液诱导物所产酶则残留中间产物. 使用黑曲霉人参二醇皂苷诱导所产酶, 在转化西洋参二醇皂苷的动态研究中发现, 酶反应1.5~2.5 h, 主要为产物F₂; 酶反应12 h后, 主要产物为C-K皂苷. 基于此, 40 g人参二醇类皂苷在45 ℃粗酶反应24 h, 经处理得到含C-K质量分数为87%的23 g酶反应产物, C-K转化率达85%(摩尔分数). 用40 g西洋参二醇皂苷在45 ℃粗酶反应2.5 h, 经处理得到含有质量分数为58%的F₂和27%的C-K的26 g酶反应产物, F₂转化率为50.4%, C-K转化率为29.5%. 通过人参二醇皂苷诱导的黑曲霉粗酶转化人参二醇类皂苷动态研究, 建立了C-K转化率为85%, F₂转化率为50%的制备方法, 为大批量制备提供了基础依据.     

Integrating Lys-N proteolysis and N-terminal guanidination for improved fragmentation and relative quantification of singly-charged ions

Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA The study of isolated protein complexes has greatly benefited from recent advances in mass spectrometry instrumentation and quantitative, isotope labeling techniques. The comprehensive characterization of protein complex components and quantification of their relative abundance relies heavily upon maximizing protein and peptide sequence information obtained from MS and tandem MS studies. Recent work has shown that using a metalloendopeptidase, Lys-N, for proteomic analysis of biological protein mixtures produces complementary protein sequence information compared with trypsin digestion alone. Here, we have investigated the suitability of Lys-N proteolysis for use with MALDI mass spectrometry to characterize the yeast Arp2 complex and E. coli PAP I protein interactions. Although Lys-N digestion resulted in an average decrease in protein sequence coverage of ∼30% compared with trypsin digestion, CID analysis of singly-charged Lys-N peptides yielded a more extensive b-ions series compared with complementary tryptic peptides. Taking advantage of this improved fragmentation pattern, we utilized differential ¹⁵N/¹⁴N guanidination of Lys-N peptides and MALDI-MS/MS analysis to relatively quantify the changes in PAP I associations due to deletion of sprE, previously shown to regulate PAP I-dependent polyadenylation. Overall, this Lys-N/guanidination integrative approach is applicable for functional proteomic studies utilizing MALDI mass spectrometry analysis, as it provides an effective and economical mean for relative quantification of proteins in conjunction with increased sensitivity of detection and fragmentation efficiency.     

Viscoelastic and dielectric behaviour of thin films made from siloxane-containing poly(oxadiazole-imide)s

Siloxane-containing poly(oxadiazole-imide)s were prepared by polycondensation reaction of two aromatic diamino-oxadiazoles with a dianhydride containing tetramethylsiloxane moiety. Free-standing flexible films having good mechanical properties were made therefrom. The polyimides exhibited high thermal stability with initial decomposition temperature being above 440 °C and glass transition in the range of 165-183 °C. The dielectric constant values, measured at room temperature and in the frequency domain of 1 Hz-1 MHz, are in the range of 2.69-2.90, being significantly lower in comparison with that of Kapton HN® film, whose dielectric constant values ranged from 3.13 to 3.24. The dielectric loss values are low, in the same range with those of Kapton HN®. The dielectric spectroscopy data corroborated with the dynamo-mechanical analysis ones showed distinct sub-glass transitions for these polymers: γ relaxations with activation energies of 44 and 45 kJ/mol, and a β relaxation with an activation energy of 107 kJ/mol. The dielectric properties are discussed in comparison with those of Kapton HN® film measured under the same conditions.     

Hyperfine fields and magnetic anisotropy in Fe1000−x Gd x thin films and Fe80−x GdxB20(0≤x≤24) thin films and ribbons

The Mössbauer measurements performed on Fe_100–x Gd _x thin films and on Fe_80–x Gd _x B₂₀ both as thin films and ribbons show a dependence of the spins orientation and H_hyp versus temperature, Gd content and preparation conditions. Increasing the Gd content, the initial low anisotropy disappears and H_hyp decreases. A sharp increase of the anisotopy with temperature in ribbons with low Gd concentration is evidenced.