Capillary gel electrophoresis for DNA sequencing. Laser-induced fluorescence detection with the sheath flow cuvette

Capillary polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis separation of dideoxycytidine chain-terminated DNA fragments is reported. A post-column laser-induced fluorescence detector based on the sheath flow cuvette was used to minimize background signals due to light scatter from the gel and capillary. A preliminary mass detection limit of 10(-20) mol of fluorescein-labeled DNA fragments was obtained. The system was used to analyze an actual DNA sequencing sample. Theoretical plate counts of 2 x 10(6) were produced. Gel stability limits the performance of the current system.     

Determination of phosphonoformic acid in human plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

Trisodium phosphonoformate (foscarnet) is used in the treatment of cytomegalovirus infections in immunocompromised patients, such as bone marrow and renal transplant recipients, as well as patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic assay is described using an electrochemical detector. The method is accurate, precise and reproducible. Hydrochlorothiazide is used as the internal standard. This assay allows measurement of foscarnet in biological fluids at concentrations as low as 33 microM. This method is being used for the analysis of samples in clinical trials and is important in the evaluation of the pharmacokinetic disposition of the drug.     

Nickel speciation via voltammetric quantification of nickel metal,oxides and salts

A practical speciation method for a solid mixture of nickel species applicable to atmospheric monitoring of Ni⁰, Ni²⁺ and NiO_x is reported. This involves magnetic extraction of Ni⁰ to separate it from the water-soluble nickel salts and the insoluble oxides, followed by adsorptive stripping voltammetry to quantify the nickel in each fraction. The separation scheme was validated by using calibration standards and by simulating air-filter samples prepared with authentic nickel products. The recoveries of nickel were Ni⁰ 94–105% and total nickel 95–102%.     

Purification and partial characterization ofRhizomucor miehei lipase for ester synthesis

A commercialRhizomucor miehei lipase was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation. Phenyl Sepharose 6 Fast Row hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow anion-exchange chromatography. The recovery of lipase activity was 32% with a 42-fold purification. The molecular size of the purified enzyme was 31,600 Dalton and the pI 3.8. The enzyme was stable for at least 24 h within a pH range of 7.0-10.0, and 96.8% of the enzyme activity remained when kept at 30‡C for 24 h. Further, about 10–30% of the lipase activity was inhibited by K⁺, Li⁺, Ni⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Sn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Fe²⁺ ions and by SDS, but EDTA had no effect. Under the experimental conditions, the optimum temperature for the hydrolysis of olive oil was 50‡C (pH 8.0), and for the synthesis of 1-butyl oleate, 37‡C. It was concluded that hydrolytic activity of lipase alone is not a sufficient criterion for its synthetic potential. The optimal molar ratio of oleic acid and 1-butanol was 2:1 for 1-butyl oleate synthesis. The 1-butyl oleate yield was unaffected by purification of the enzyme after 12 h.     

Room-temperature liquid phosphorimetry of the aluminium-ferron chelate in micellar media : Determination of aluminium

Aluminium reacts with 7-iodo-8-quinolinol-5-sulphonic acid (Ferron) in cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micelles to form a highly phosphorescent complex at room temperature. Suitable experimental conditions and the phosphorescent characteristics of the complex are described. Comparison with the results obtained for the phosphorescent niobium-Ferron complex in CTAB micelles helps to elucidate the mechanism of this type of phosphorescence. For aluminium the detection limit is 5.4 ng ml^?1; the relative standard deviation is 4.5% for 20 μg Al. The method is applied to aluminium determination in waters and dialysis fluids.     

Nickel-promoted ligand-free palladium-catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction

Summary A Ni-promoted ligand free palladium catalyst system for Suzuki coupling of aryl bromides has been developed in high efficiency under mild reaction conditions. It was obtained in situ by introducing NiCl₂ to PdCl₂/PVP using a parallel high-throughput screening technique. A wide range of aryl bromides bearing a variety of functional groups was evaluated.     

Ag(I) complexes with alkylidene-bis(2-aminopyrimidines) as building units for discrete metallomacrocyclic frames. A structural and solution study

Alkylidene-bis(2-aminopyrimidines) (pyr2Cx, x = 2-5) are useful ligands to interact with Ag(I) yielding discrete metallocycles. Crystal structures of the [(pyr2C2)Ag(NO3)]2 and [(H-pyr2C4)Ag(NO3)2]2 have been isolated where each macrocyclic moiety interacts with their surroundings through weak interactions, yielding 3D discrete structures, On the other hand, the solution study shows that the equilibrium constants for the formation of Ag(pyr2Cx)+ complexes are higher than the literature values for Ag(I) complexes with single pyrimidines, although the differences could be explained by invoking the solid-state structures of the Ag(I)-pyr2Cx complexes.     

Synthesis,Spectroscopic and EPR Results and Crystal Structure of Copper(II) Formato Derivatives with Pyrazine and Dimethylpyrazines

The complexes of copper formato with pyrazine and dimethylpyrazines: Cu(HCOO)₂(pyrz) ( 1 ), Cu₂(HCOO)₄(pyrz) ( 2 ), Cu₂(HCOO)₄(2,3‐Me₂pyrz) ( 3 ), Cu₂(HCOO)₄(2,5‐Me₂pyrz) ( 4 ), and Cu₂(HCOO)₄(2,6‐Me₂pyrz)₂ ( 5 ) have been synthesized and characterized by chemical analysis and IR and electronic spectro scopies. The three‐dimensional structure of compound 1 consists of –Cu–pyrz–Cu–pyrz– chains joined by bridging formate groups coordinated, in configuration syn‐anti, to two copper atoms. The coordination around the copper atom is orthorhombic with two Cu–O distances of 2.374(1) Å, two Cu–O of 1.952 Å and two Cu–N of 2.080 Å. Compound 5 is formed by molecular dimers with the [Cu₂(μ‐HCOO)₄] unit, two copper atoms and four syn‐syn fomate groups, and two ligands coordinated to the copper atoms in the axial positions. In compounds 2 and 3 chains of [Cu₂(μ‐HCOO)₄] dimers with pyrz or 2,3‐Me₂pyrz as bridging ligands are formed. The EPR signal of 1 is orthorhombic (g = 2.23, 2.20 and 2.06). In the EPR spectra of 2 – 5 compounds the triplet (S = 1) signals are observed. The g_?, g_∥ and D values are been calculated.     

Determination of mercury in soils and sediments by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with slurry sampling

A graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric procedure for the determination of mercury is presented, in which the samples are suspended in a solution containing hydrofluoric and nitric acids. Silver nitrate (4% m/v) and potassium permanganate (3%) are incorporated, in the order specified, and aliquots are directly introduced into the graphite furnace. A fast heating programme with no conventional pyrolysis step is used. The detection limit for mercury in a 125 mg ml⁻¹ suspension is 0.1 μg g⁻¹. Calibration is performed by using aqueous standards. The reliability of the procedure is proved by analysing certified reference materials.