Selenium speciation in foods: Preliminary results on potatoes

The present paper deals with the speciation of selenium in potatoes (enriched or not in selenium). The study was carried out by using differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry (DPCSV) for quantifying selenium. Results obtained provide evidence that the selenium content in the protein fraction is rather independent from the selenium added to the plants during their growth. On the contrary, the amount of Se in the non-protein fraction (water and starch) in Se-enriched sample is significantly higher than in non-enriched one, suggesting that it is the main selenium-storing site. In this fraction the Se(VI)/Se(IV) ratio seems independent from selenium application but it may be related to the redox conditions. The accumulation of selenium in the non-protein fraction is tentatively ascribed to the “Se–starch interaction” that should be able to modulate both the Se absorption into proteins and, possibly, its toxic effect for the plant itself.     

Genes encoding enzymes responsible for biosynthesis of L-lyxose and attachment of eurekanate during avilamycin biosynthesis

The oligosaccharide antibiotic avilamycin A is composed of a polyketide-derived dichloroisoeverninic acid moiety attached to a heptasaccharide chain consisting of six hexoses and one unusual pentose moiety. We describe the generation of mutant strains of the avilamycin producer defective in different sugar biosynthetic genes. Inactivation of two genes (aviD and aviE2) resulted in the breakdown of the avilamycin biosynthesis. In contrast, avilamycin production was not influenced in an aviP mutant. Inactivation of aviGT4 resulted in a mutant that accumulated a novel avilamycin derivative lacking the terminal eurekanate residue. Finally, AviE2 was expressed in Escherichia coli and the gene product was characterized biochemically. AviE2 was shown to convert UDP-D-glucuronic acid to UDP-D-xylose, indicating that the pentose residue of avilamycin A is derived from D-glucose and not from D-ribose. Here we report a UDP-D-glucuronic acid decarboxylase in actinomycetes.     

Electronic communication through the ureylene bridge: spectroscopy, structure and electrochemistry of dimethyl 1,1-ureylenedi(1-ferrocenecarboxylate)

Dimethyl 1^′,1^′-ureylenedi(1-ferrocenecarboxylate) (1) formed during the synthesis of 1-amino, 1^′-ferrocenecarboxylic acid shows virtual molecular centrosymmetry. Electronic coupling between the two Fc groups through the ureylene bridge results in both Fc groups being individually oxidizable (ΔE_1/2?0.14 V). The possible existence of intermolecular electronic communication has discussed. The oxidation was followed by spectroelectrochemistry. The separation between the two halfwave potentials ΔE_1/2=137±5 mV and the comproportionation constant K_c=207.     

Glutamate receptor incorporated in a mixed hybrid bilayer lipid membrane array, as a sensing element of a biosensor working under flowing conditions

The realization of a reliable receptor biosensor requires stable, long-lasting, reconstituted biomembranes able to supply a suitable biomimetic environment where the receptor can properly work after incorporation. To this end, we developed a new method for preparing stable biological membranes that couple the biomimetic properties of BLMs (bilayer lipid membranes) with the high stability of HBMs (hybrid bilayer membranes); this gives rise to an innovative assembly, named MHBLM (mixed hybrid bilayer lipid membrane). The present work deals with the characterization of biosensors achieved by embedding an ionotropic glutamate receptor (GluR) on MHBLM. Thanks to signal (transmembrane current) amplification, which is typical of natural receptors, the biosensor here produced detects glutamate at a level of nmol L(-1). The transmembrane current changes linearly vs glutamate up to 100 nmol L(-1), while the limit of detection is 1 nmol L(-1). In addition, the biosensor response can be modulated both by receptor agonists (glycine) and antagonists (Mg(2+)) as well, and by exploiting the biosensor response, the distribution of different kinds of ionotropic GluR present in the purified sample, and embedded in MHBLM, was also evaluated. Finally, one of the most important aspects of this investigation is represented by the high stability of the biomimetic system, which allows the use of biosensor under flowing conditions, where the solutions flow on both biomembrane faces.     

Eptastigmine,nicotinamide and nicotinic acid determination using an inhibition enzyme sensor; application to pharmaceutical analysis

An enzyme inhibition biosensor, developed in our laboratory and previously used for the analysis of compounds with anticholinesterase activity (e.g. physostigmine, neostigmine, pyridostigmine nicotine and organophosphorus compounds) has now been tested for the analysis of another recently synthesized cholinesterase inhibitor, i.e. eptastigmine. In addition nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, although displaying weaker inhibition properties, were also tested in pharmaceutical products using the same inhibition enzyme sensor. The biosensor consisted of a hydrogen peroxide amperometric electrode coupled to a functionalised nylon membrane chemically bonding both the enzymes butyrylcholinesterase and choline oxidase; a butyrylcholine standard solution in glycine buffer acted as substrate. The response of the system to all the inhibitors considered was characterised completely and the analysis of several pharmaceutical formulations containing nicotinamide or nicotinic acid was also performed.     

Decomposizioni di semifiltri e Γ-limiti sequenziali in reticoli completamente distributivi

Summary Sequential forms of De Giorgi's -limits are obtained via a decomposition of their carriers (carrier=sostegno) in the setting of completely distributive complete lattices. Moreover, the notion of carrier enables us to calculate easily the K-limits of epi- or hipo-graphs of arbitrary -limits.     

Redox chemistry of tellurium bis(tert-butylamido)cyclodiphosph(V)azane disulfide and diselenide systems: a spectroscopic and structural study

The redox chemistry of tellurium-chalcogenide systems is examined via reactions of tellurium(IV) tetrachloride with Li[(t)()BuN(E)P(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)P(E)N(H)(t)Bu] (3a, E = S; 3b, E = Se). Reaction of TeCl(4) with 2 equiv of 3a in THF generates the tellurium(IV) species TeCl(3)[HcddS(2)][H(2)cddS(2)] 4a [cddS(2) = (t)BuN(S)P(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)P(S)N(t)Bu] at short reaction times, while reduction to the tellurium(II) complex TeCl(2)[H(2)cddS(2)](2) 5a is observed at longer reaction times. The analogous reaction of TeCl(4) and 3b yields only the tellurium(II) complex TeCl(2)[H(2)cddSe(2)](2) 5b. The use of 4 equiv of 3a or 3b produces Te[HcddE(2)](2) (6a (E = S) or 6b (E = Se)). NMR and EPR studies of the 5:1 reaction of 3a and TeCl(4) in THF or C(6)D(6) indicate that the formation of the Te(II) complex 6a via decomposition of a Te(IV) precursor occurs via a radical process to generate H(2)cddS(2). Abstraction of hydrogen from THF solvent is proposed to account for the formation of 2a. These results are discussed in the context of known tellurium-sulfur and tellurium-nitrogen redox systems. The X-ray crystal structures of 4a.[C(7)H(8)](0.5), 5a, 5b, 6a.[C(6)H(14)](0.5), and 6b.[C(6)H(14)](0.5) have been determined. The cyclodiphosph(V)azane dichalcogenide ligand chelates the tellurium center in an E,N (E = S, Se) manner in 4a.[C(7)H(8)](0.5), 6a.[C(6)H(14)](0.5), and 6b.[C(6)H(14)](0.5) with long Te-N bond distances in each case. Further, a neutral H(2)cddS(2) ligand weakly coordinates the tellurium center in 4a small middle dot[C(7)H(8)](0.5) via a single chalcogen atom. A similar monodentate interaction of two neutral ligands with a TeCl(2) unit is observed in the case of 5a and 5b, giving a trans square planar arrangement at tellurium.     

Metal ion catalysis in the beta-elimination reactions of N-[2-(4-pyridyl)ethyl]quinuclidinium and N-[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]quinuclidinium in aqueous solution

Catalysis of the beta-elimination reaction of N-[2-(4-pyridyl)ethyl]quinuclidinium (1) and N-[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]quinuclidinium (2) by Zn(2+) and Cd(2+) in OH(-)/H(2)O (pH = 5.20-6.35, 50 degrees C, and mu = 1 M KCl) has been studied. In the presence of Zn(2+), the elimination reactions of both isomers occur from the Zn(2+)-complexed substrates (C). The equilibrium constants for the dissociation of the Zn(2+)-complexes are as follows: K(d) = 0.012 +/- 0.003 M (isomer 1) and K(d) = 0.065 +/- 0.020 M (isomer 2). The value of k(C)(H2O) for isomer 1 is 4.81 x 10(-6) s(-1). For isomer 2 both the rate constants for the "water" and OH(-)-induced reaction of the Zn(2+)-complexed substrate could be measured, despite the low concentration of OH(-) in the investigated reaction mixture [k(C)H2O)= 1.97 x 10(-6) s(-1) and k(C)(OH-)= 21.9 M(-1) s(-1), respectively]. The measured metal activating factor (MetAF), i.e., the reactivity ratio between the complexed and the uncomplexed substrate, is 8.1 x 10(4) for the OH(-)-induced elimination of 2. This high MetAF can be compared with the corresponding proton activating factor (Alunni, S.; Conti, A.; Palmizio Errico, R. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2 2000, 453), PAF = 1.5 x 10(6) and is in agreement with an E1cb irreversible mechanism (A(xh)D(E)* + D(N)) (Guthrie, R. D.; Jencks, W. P. Acc. Chem. Res. 1989, 22, 343). A value of k(C)(H2O)>or= 23 x 10(-7) s(-1) is estimated for the Cd(2+)-complexed isomer 2, while catalysis by Cd(2+) has not been observed for isomer 1.     

Novel platinum-catalysed cascade reactions: cyclisation, ring expansion and 1,2-oxygen shift reaction of a camphor-derived diyne

2,3-Bis(ethynyl)-3-hydroxy-camphorsultam was converted in one step into a novel tetracyclic cyclopentenone derivative, in an unprecedented platinum-catalysed cascade reaction. In the course of this reaction, cyclisation of the alkynes takes place, together with a ring expansion of the camphor skeleton and 1,2-migration of an oxygen atom. The structure of the unexpected product was analysed in detail by one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, and validated with the help of quantum mechanical calculations (B3LYP/6-31G^∗∗ and B3LYP/6-31+G(2df)) of the IR vibrational frequencies and the ¹H and ¹³C isotropic chemical shifts.     

Bis (2,4,6,8-cyclononatetraen-1-yl)methane

Bis (2,4,6,8-cyclononatetraen-1-yl)methanes Bis (2,4,6,8-cyclononatetraen-1-yl)methanes ( 2a–c ) have been prepared by reaction of all-cis-cyclononatetraenide with 1,1-dichlorodimethyl ether as well as with carbenium ion precursors 9b and 9c . The title compounds 2 are attractive precursors of highly delocalised nonafulvenes of type 3 ; however, elimination experiments 2→3 failed so far.