Molecular dynamics simulations of the mononuclear zinc-beta-lactamase from Bacillus cereus complexed with benzylpenicillin and a quantum chemical study of the reaction mechanism

Herein, we present results from MD simulations of the Michaelis complex formed between the B. cereus zinc-beta-lactamase enzyme and benzylpenicillin. The structural and dynamical effects induced by substrate-binding, the specific role of the conserved residues, and the near attack conformers of the Michaelis complex are discussed. Quantum chemical methods (HF/6-31G* and B3LYP/6-31G*) are also applied to study the hydrolysis reaction of N-methylazetidinone catalyzed by a monozinc system consisting of the side chains of the histidine residues (His86, His88, and His149) complexed with Zn-OH and the side chains of Asp90 and His210. From this model system, we built molecular-mechanics representations of the prereactive complex and transition state configurations docked into the active site. Linear-scaling semiempirical calculations coupled with a continuum solvent model were then performed on these static models. We propose that the experimental rate data for the B. cereus enzyme is compatible with a one-step mechanism for the hydrolysis of beta-lactam substrates in which His210 acts as a proton donor.     

Enzyme catalysis in organic solvents: a promising field for optical biosensing

The ability of enzymes to work in non-aqueous media offers new and almost unexploited possibilities for the development of new optical biosensors. The advantages of performing biocatalytic reactions in non-aqueous media are discussed in relation to their possible application in optical biosensor design. Attention is focused on the factors that influence enzymatic catalysis in organic solvents, including the role of enzyme-associated water, criteria for solvent selection and the alteration of enzyme specificity. Recent examples of relevant applications and future prospects of organic-phase optical biosensing are discussed.     

DNase activity ofMicrococcal endonuclease insolubilized on corn cob

The endonuclease from S. aureus has been immobilized on ground maize cob, previously activated with tosyl chloride. Pretreatment of the support on acid before tosylation yielded the best insoluble enzyme derivatives. The catalytic activity has been evaluated as percent of total hydrolysis attained in a batch reactor using DNA as a model substrate. The derivatives prepared are very resistant to high temperatures under conditions of catalysis (24 h at 45 degrees C). For these long reaction times, the extent of hydrolysis in the presence of small amounts of organic solvent (dimethyl sulfoxide at 2 percent) is larger than in plain buffer (Tris). This type of derivative could be very useful for the removal of nucleic acids from single-cell protein concentrates.     

Extraction of the (C4H9)4N+Co(II)SCN− ion-pair in chloroform and in isoamyl alcohol: Spectrophotometric determination of cobalt

When excesses of ammonium thiocyanate and tetrabutylammonium chloride are added to a cobalt(II) solution, a water-insoluble ion-pair is formed; this compound is soluble in chloroform, isoamyl alcohol, and other solvents. The variables which affect the extractions by these two solvents are studied in order to obtain the optimal conditions and two alternative extraction procedures are proposed. Thus, the separation of cobalt as a previous step for its spectrophotometric determination is studied.     

Nachweis von Peroxiden,Hydroperoxiden und Persäuren

Zusammenfassung Die Indikatorbase 4-Methoxyphenylazo--naphthylamin wird von p-Nitrobenzoylperoxid in neutralem oder saurem Medium ohne, von p-Nitrobenzopersäure unter Erwärmen oxydiert, gar nicht aber von p-Nitroäthylbenzol--hydroperoxid. Auf der Grundlage dieses Verhaltens können die drei Verbindungen unterschieden und p-Nitrobenzoylperoxid nachgewiesen werden. Die Indikatorsäure 4-Nitrophenylazo-2-amino-5-nitrobenzol wird von p-Nitroäthylbenzol--hydroperoxid oxydiert, nicht aber von p-Nitrobenzoylperoxid und p-Nitrobenzopersäure. Mit dieser Farbreaktion kann p-Nitroäthylbenzol--hydroperoxid nachgewiesen werden. p-Nitrobenzopersäure kann neben p-Nitroäthylbenzolhydroperoxid mit einer Farbreaktion von p- + m-Phenylendiamin nachgewiesen werden. Auch p-Nitrobenzoylperoxid gibt die Reaktion, aber p-Nitroäthylbenzol--hydroperoxid setzt sich nicht um.

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Detection of peroxides, hydroperoxides, and peracids

Summary The indicator base 4-methoxyphenylazo--naphthylamine is oxidized in neutral medium without warming byp-nitrobenzoyl peroxide, and byp-nitrobenzoperacid with warming, but it is not oxidized at all byp-nitroethylbenzene--hydroperoxide. The three compounds may be differentiated on the basis of these behaviors and furthermore it is thus possible to detect and identifyp-nitrobenzoyl peroxide. The indicator acid 4-nitrophenylazo-2-amino-5-nitrobenzene is oxidized byp-nitroethylbenzene--hydroperoxide but not byp-nitrobenzoyl peroxide andp-nitrobenzoperacid.p-Nitroethylbenzene--hydroperoxide may be detected through this color reaction.p-Nitrobenzoperacid can be detected in the presence ofp-nitroethylbenzene--hydroperoxide by a color reaction withp + m-phenylenediamine but no reaction is given byp-nitroethylbenzene--hydroperoxide.

     

Application of pressurized sample preparation methods for the analysis of steels and copper alloys

Pressurized sample preparation devices (High Pressure Asher, Pressurized Microwave Digestion system, compared with a PTFE decomposition vessel) were used to dissolve certified metal alloy samples (steel, copper) for ICP analysis. Based on the results of the analysis it was established that both up-to-date devices can be advantageously applied to quickly and quantitatively dissolve metal alloy samples. To dissolve the samples, two different kinds of acid mixtures (A: nitric and hydrochloric acid; B: nitric and hydrochloric and sulphuric and phosphoric acid) were used. The sample preparation is simpler and less time-consuming than the earlier commonly used methods, sample loss and degree of contamination are also reduced. Steel samples containing tungsten, titanium and niobium (less than 0.5%) can only be analyzed using a mixture of the four acids. By dissolving steel samples in the nitric and hydrochloric acid mixture, the concentration of their most common elements (Cr, Ni, Mn, V, Cu) as well as their S and P content can be determined. Copper alloy samples can be dissolved quickly by the pressurized microwave decomposition device using hydrochloric acid and diluted (1:1) nitric acid.     

Oxorhenium(V) dithiolates catalyze the oxidation by tert-butyl hydroperoxide of sulfoxides and sulfides, including 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene

tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) efficiently converts a wide variety of sulfides to sulfoxides and sulfones. The method offers the advantage that one product or the other can be obtained in high purity by a modest variation of conditions. The reactions occur smoothly at 25minus sign50 C in chloroform and, to the extent studied, in toluene and methylene chloride. A catalyst is required; the most extensively studied was MeReO(mtp)PPh(3), 1, where mtpH(2) is 2-(mercaptomethyl)thiophenol. Other chelating dithiolate ligands can be used with comparable results. These oxidations were tested for dialkyl, alkylminus signaryl, and diaryl sulfides; thiophenes; and thianthrene. Even the "hard" sulfide, 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (DMDBT) was quantitatively oxidized to the dioxide with TBHP:DMDBT 3.0-3.5 and 0.05-3.8 mol % 1. The mechanism was explored in kinetics studies carried out only for methyl tolyl sulfide. The product buildup curve was complex, with an induction period followed by a rapid growth phase. The kinetic data could be modeled adequately but not perfectly by allowing five rate constants to refine. Their values are consistent with the chemical sense of the mechanism.     

Polarographische Bestimmung des Pyridoxols in pharmazeutischen Präparaten

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine neue polarographische Methode zur direkten Bestimmung des Pyridoxols in Injektionspräparaten und Tabletten beschrieben. Die ausgearbeitete Methode beruht auf der polarographischen Reduktion des Pyridoxolmoleküls im Milieu von Ammoniak-Ammoniumchlorid-Puffern und weiter auf der Bildung einer katalytischen Stufe des Pyridoxols in Veronalpuffern. Die polarographische Methode ist rascher und in manchen Fällen genauer und empfindlicher als die bisher in Gebrauch stehenden Methoden. Die Anwesenheit der in den Präparaten laufend vorkommenden Begleitstoffe des Pyridoxols stört nicht die polarographische Bestimmung. Die Methode kann auch zur Bestimmung des 3-Hydroxy-4-methoxymethyl-5-oxymethyl-2-methylpyridins benutzt werden, das ein Zwischenprodukt bei der Pyridoxolerzeugung ist.

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Summary A new polarographic method is described for the direct determination of pyridoxol in injection preparations and tablets. This method is based on the polarographic reduction of the pyridoxol in ammonia-ammonium chloride buffer medium and also on the formation of a catalytic stage of the pyridoxol in veronal buffers. The polarographic method is faster and in many cases more accurate and more sensitive than the methods now in use. The presence of the materials which always accompany the pyridoxol in the preparations does not interfere with the polarographic determination. The method can likewise be used for determining 3-hydroxy-4-methoxymethyl-5-oxymethyl-2-methylpyridine, which is an intermediate product in the manufacture of pyridoxol.

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Résumé On décrit une nouvelle méthode polarographique pour le dosage direct du pyridoxol dans les préparations pour injections et dans les comprimés. La méthode élaborée repose sur la réduction polarographique de la molécule de pyridoxol dans le milieu tampon ammoniaque-chlorure d'ammonium, et, en outre, sur la formation d'une phase catalytique du pyridoxol dans les tampons au véronal. La méthode polarographique est plus rapide et dans de nombreux cas plus exacte et plus sensible que les méthodes utilisées jusqu'ici. La présence d'impuretés existant couramment dans les préparations à côté du pyridoxol ne gêne pas le dosage polarographique. On peut aussi utiliser la méthode pour le dosage de l'hydroxy-3 méthoxyméthyl-4 oxyméthyl-5 méthyl-2 pyridine, substance intermédiaire dans la préparation du pyridoxol.

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Herrn Dr.P. Zuman danken wit für Ratsehläge bei der Abfassung dieser Arbeit.     

Generalized Sidon sets of perfect powers

The Ramanujan Journal - For $$h \ge 2$$ and an infinite set of positive integers A, let $$R_{A,h}(n)$$ denote the number of representations of the positive integer n as the sum of h distinct terms...