Transglutaminase-mediated synthesis of a DNA-(enzyme)n probe for highly sensitive DNA detection

A new synthetic strategy for DNA-enzyme conjugates with a novel architecture was explored using a natural cross-linking catalyst, microbial transglutaminase (MTG). A glutamine-donor substrate peptide of MTG was introduced at the 5-position on the pyrimidine of deoxyuridine triphosphate to prepare a DNA strand with multiple glutamine-donor sites by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A substrate peptide that contained an MTG-reactive lysine residue was fused to the N terminus of a thermostable alkaline phoshatase from Pyrococcus furiosus (PfuAP) by genetic engineering. By combining enzymatically the substrate moieties of MTG introduced to the DNA template and the recombinant enzyme, a DNA-(enzyme)(n) conjugate with 1:n stoichiometry was successfully obtained. The enzyme/DNA ratio of the conjugate increased as the benzyloxycarbonyl-L-glutaminylglycine (Z-QG) moiety increased in the DNA template. The potential utility of the new conjugate decorated with signaling enzymes was validated in a dot blot hybridization assay. The DNA-(enzyme)(n) probe could clearly detect 10(4) copies of the target nucleic acid with the complementary sequence under harsh hybridization conditions, thereby enabling a simple detection procedure without cumbersome bound/free processes associated with a conventional hapten-antibody reaction-based DNA-detection system.     

Electron-stimulated defect formation in single-walled carbon nanotubes studied by hydrogen thermal desorption spectroscopy

Defects in single-walled carbon nanotubes introduced by low-energy electron irradiation at 8 K were sensitively detected by cryogenic thermal desorption of hydrogen molecules H₂ in the temperature range of 10-40 K. The thermal desorption spectrum was found to change significantly with sample annealing at temperatures as low as 40-70 K. Experimental results suggest that the H₂ physisorption sites responsible for the ‘defect’ peak at 28 K are interstitial channel space between nanotubes closely packed in bundles which becomes more easily accessible on damage. It is also suggested that the disordering provides groove sites for H₂ physisorption with smaller binding energy causing the damage-induced spectral component around 16 K, slightly lower than the desorption peak at 20 K that is observed in undamaged samples. The spectral change at 40-70 K could be interpreted by migration of adatoms at the low temperatures.     

Optimization of an isothermal gas-chromatographic setup for the chemical exploration of dubnium (Db,Z = 105) oxychlorides

An isothermal gas-chromatographic (IGC) device has been developed and tested for on-line gas phase studies of volatile oxychlorides of short-lived group-5 transition metals. Radioisotopes of niobium and tantalum, produced in nuclear fusion evaporation reactions, are directly flushed into the IGC setup by an inert gas-jet. Oxychloride compounds are formed by the addition of SOCl₂ and O₂. Parameters influencing the formation and transport of NbOCl₃ and TaOCl₃ are discussed. For nuclides with half-lives (t_1/2) of about 30 s, an overall efficiency of 7% is obtained, rendering the IGC setup suitable for the chemical exploration of ²⁶²Db (t_1/2?=?34 s).

     

Alkyllithium Compounds Bearing Electrophilic Functional Groups: A Flash Chemistry Approach

Flash chemistry based on flow microreactor systems allowed alkyllithiums bearing electrophilic functional groups to be successfully generated and used for subsequent reactions. The series of reactions with high reactivity was achieved by extremely accurate control over residence time in a controlled and selective manner.     

三线态二苯基卡宾的动力学稳定效应

通过对二苯基重氮甲烷进行光照射产生了一系列于邻位和对位具有不同大小取代基的三线态二苯基卡宾.用紫外可见光谱对其进行了直接观察,并利用激光闪光光解法测定了三线态二苯基卡宾在室温脱氧苯溶液中的寿命,由此表明在邻位和对位里引入庞大的取代基对三线态二苯基卡宾具有更好的稳定效应.     

Self-Assembly of Nanometer-Sized Macrotricyclic Complexes from Ten Small Component Molecules

Nanometer-sized bowls: six metal centers and four tridentate ligands self-assemble in aqueous solution to give the macrotricycle 1 , which has approximate dimensions of 3×2×2 nm. Another macrocycle (not shown), obtained with a different ligand, is of similar size and topology but differs considerably from 1 in its host–guest behavior.     

3-D distortion of observed images reconstructed from a cylindrical holographic stereogram. (2) white light reconstruction type.

The 3-D distortion of the observed images reconstructed from cylindrical holographic stereograms with white light reconstruction (WCHS) are considered, and, from the viewpoint of the distortion, the area of the viewing position is presented.