Purification and Characterization of Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) from Swiss Black,Holstein, and Montofon Bovines

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1: EC 3.1.8.1) is a calcium-dependent enzyme associated with high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) and has a protective effect against oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) in mammals. PON1 is the best-studied member of a family of enzymes called serum paraoxonases, or PONs, identified in mammals and other vertebrates as well as in invertebrates. PONs exhibit a range of important activities, including drug metabolism and detoxification of organophosphates such as nerve agents. This study reports, for the first time, purification and biochemical characterization of serum PON1 from different bovine breeds namely Swiss Black, Holstein, and Montofon. Bovine serum PON1s were purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by Sepharose-4B-l-tyrosine-1-naphthylamine hydrophobic interaction chromatography. SDS–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzymes indicates a single band with an apparent MW of 43 kDa. The purified enzymes had a specific activity of 10.78, 27.00, and 22.38 U/mg for Swiss Black, Holstein, and Montofon bovines, respectively. The overall purification rates of our method were 262.47-, 2,476.90-, and 538.06-fold for Swiss Black, Holstein, and Montofon bovines, respectively. Furthermore, using phenyl acetate as a substrate, we determined the K _M and V _max values of the purified enzymes, as 0.80 mM, 1428.5 U/ml for Swiss Black; 0.40 mM, 714.3 U/ml for Holstein; and 0.50 mM, 1,111.1 U/ml for Montofon bovine. The present study has revealed that there is no substantial difference in PON1 activities among the studied bovine breeds.     

Preparation and characterization of surface modified γ-Fe2O3 (maghemite)-silica nanocomposites used for the purification of benzaldehyde lyase

γ-Fe₂O₃ (maghemite)-silica nanocomposite particles were synthesized using a sol-gel method. The condensation products of 3-glycidoxy propyltrimethoxy silane (GPTMS) and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) were introduced onto the surfaces of the γ-Fe₂O₃-silica nanocomposite particles and subsequently, these modified surfaces were complexed with cobalt (Co⁺²) metal ions. A possibility of using these surface modified γ-Fe₂O₃-silica particles for the purification of 6×histidine tagged recombinant benzaldehyde lyase (BAL, EC 4.1.2.38) based on magnetic separation was investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis, and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) methods were used to characterize the surface modified superparamagnetic γ-Fe₂O₃ (maghemite)-silica nanoparticles. XRD (Scherer's equation) results indicate that the primary particle size of maghemite was around 11 nm. Magnetic characterization results confirmed that the γ-Fe₂O₃ (maghemite)-silica nanoparticles were superparamagnetic. According to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) results, these superparamagnetic nanoparticles specifically capture 6×His-tagged BAL from crude extract of Escherichia coli (E. coli) BL21(DE3)pLysS/BAL_HIS. This study shows that the surface modified γ-Fe₂O₃ (maghemite)-silica nanoparticles are eligible for immobilized metal-ion affinity adsorption for histidine tagged recombinant proteins with its high capacity (3.16±0.4 mg/g) and selectivity.     

Electrochemical behavior of tadalafil on TiO2 nanoparticles–MWCNT composite paste electrode and its determination in pharmaceutical dosage forms and human serum samples using adsorptive stripping square wave voltammetry

A sensitive and selective electroanalytical method for the determination of tadalafil (TAD) using adsorptive stripping square wave voltammetry at multiwalled carbon nanotube paste electrode (MWCNTPE) and modified TiO₂-multiwalled carbon nanotube paste electrode (TiO₂-MWCNTPE) was presented. The calibration curves were linear in the concentration range of 3.6–8.1 and 12.7–61.1 μM on MWCNTPE, 0.27–15.2 μM on TiO₂-MWCNTPE. The recommended method was successfully applied to the determination of the drug in tablets and human serum samples with good recoveries. The selectivity of the proposed method was considered in the presence of Ca²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, 2-mercapto benzimidazole, thiourea, and dopamine by means of recovery tests. Interfering agents did not show considerable effect on TAD determination. No electroactive interferences from the tablet excipients and endogenous substances from biological material were detected. The possible electrooxidation pathway and the number of transferred electrons were also investigated.     

EPR of γ-irradiation-induced free radicals in chicken, duck, and quail egg shells

Chicken, duck, and quail egg shells were γ-irradiated and investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) at ambient temperature and at 113 K. The EPR-active species after γ-irradiation were attributed to the ĊO₃⁻, ĊO₃³⁻, and ĊO₂⁻ radicals at ambient temperature and at 113 K. Furthermore, when the samples were stored in an oven at 423 K for about 1 h new EPR signals appeared at ambient temperature in addition to the above ones and these signals were attributed to the (CH₃)₂Ċ-R radical. These signals appear also at 113 K, but they are broadened likely due to the freezing of some of their motions. Any significant difference between the egg shells of poultry and those of village-grown chickens could not be observed in EPR spectra. The duck and quail egg shells exhibit the same signals and therefore indicate the inducement of the same radicals. The spectroscopic splitting and the hyperfine interaction values were found to be consistent with the literature data.     

Diffraction of sound waves by a rigid cylindrical cavity of finite length with an internal impedance surface

A rigorous solution is presented for the problem of diffraction of plane harmonic sound waves by a cavity formed by a terminated rigid cylindrical waveguide of finite length whose interior surface is lined by an acoustically absorbent material. The solution is obtained by a modification of the Wiener-Hopf technique and involve an infinite series of unknowns, which are determined from an infinite system of linear algebraic equations. Numerical solution of this system is obtained for various values of the parameters of the problem and their effects on the diffraction phenomenon are shown graphically.     

Palladium‐catalysed Suzuki reaction of aryl chlorides in aqueous media using 1,3‐dialkylimidazolidin‐2‐ylidene ligands

A highly effective, easy to handle and environmentally benign process for palladium‐mediated Suzuki cross‐coupling is developed. The in situ prepared three‐component system Pd(OAc)₂–1,3‐bis(alkyl)imidazolinium chlorides (2a–f) and Cs₂CO₃ catalyses quantitatively the Suzuki cross‐coupling of deactivated aryl chlorides. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Darzens reaction of acyl phosphonates with alpha-bromo ketones: selective synthesis of cis- and trans-epoxyphosphonates

Acyl phosphonates with alpha-halo ketones in the presence of bases at room temperature afford cis- and trans-epoxyphosphonates in good chemical yields and high selectivities using different bases. The diastereoselectivity of this reaction is easily controlled by changing the base. Changing the base from Cs2CO3 to DBU changed the diastereomeric ratio (trans/cis) from 3/2 to 9/1. Moreover, the treatment of the trans isomer with DBU showed a complete conversion to the corresponding cis isomer.     

Folic‐Acid‐Modified Conducting Polymer: Electrochemical Detection of the Cell Attachment

Here, postfunctionalization and bioapplication of a π‐conjugated polymer named 4‐[4H‐dithieno(3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d)pyrrol‐4‐yl]aniline (DTP‐aryl‐NH₂) are reported, which is successfully synthesized via electropolymerization onto the glassy carbon electrode. Folic acid (FA) is used to modify the amino functional polymer via N‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐N′‐ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride/N‐hydroxysuccinimide chemistry for the further steps. The selective adhesion of folate receptor positive cells on the surface is followed by the electrochemical methods. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy have been used to characterize stepwise modification of the electroactive surface. After optimization studies such as scan rate during the polymer deposition, FA amount for the efficient surface targeting, incubation time with the cells etc., analytical characterization is carried out. The surface morphologies at each step are imaged by using fluorescence microscopy.