Flow-injection determination of branched-chain L-amino acids with immobilized leucine dehydrogenase

L-Leucine, L-isoleucine and L-valine are determined by passage through a column of the enzyme immobilized on polystyrene beads, at pH 11.0. The NADH produced is monitored fluorimetrically. The detection limit is 0.1 nmol of L-leucine.     

Determination of rhenium in molybdenite by neutron-activation analysis

A neutron-activation method is described for the determination of rhenium in molybdenite. Radiochemical separation by a carrier technique was carried out very rapidly by means of successive liquid-liquid extraction processes. The recovery of rhenium, which was determined by a spectrophotometric method, was about 93%. About 10 samples could be analysed within 6 hr in parallel runs.     

Thermometric titration of some molybdates,molybdic acid,and molybdenum trioxide

A thermometric titrator equipped with differential thermistor is used for the titration of molybdenum in sodium molybdate, potassium molybdate, magnesium molybdate, tetramethylammonium molybdate, and tetraethylammonium molybdate, based on their reactions with hydrochloric acid, and in ammonium paramolybdate, molybdic acid, and molybdenum trioxide, based on their reactions with sodium hydroxide. Orthomolybdates and ammonium paramolybdate were determined in the 0.5–0.005 M range; sufficient solid molybdic acid or molybdenum trioxide was taken to give a final 0.01–0.5 M solution in 20 ml of water. The method is simple and very quick. The standard deviation varies from 0.5 to 1.5% depending on the amount of sample taken.     

Degradative Effect of Nattokinase on Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged as a pandemic and has inflicted enormous damage on the lives of the people and economy of many countries worldwide. However, therapeutic agents against SARS-CoV-2 remain unclear. SARS-CoV-2 has a spike protein (S protein), and cleavage of the S protein is essential for viral entry. Nattokinase is produced by Bacillus subtilis var. natto and is beneficial to human health. In this study, we examined the effect of nattokinase on the S protein of SARS-CoV-2. When cell lysates transfected with S protein were incubated with nattokinase, the S protein was degraded in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that S protein on the cell surface was degraded when nattokinase was added to the culture medium. Thus, our findings suggest that nattokinase exhibits potential for the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection via S protein degradation.     

Poly(allylamine) beads as selective sorbent for preconcentration of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis

Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in water were determined by preconcentration with poly(allylamine) beads, derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DPH) and analysis by HPLC. Poly(allylamine) beads (0.5 g) were used to adsorb formaldehyde and acetaldehyde at 1.2-150 microg l(-1) and 3.5-220 microg l(-1) from water (1 l). The concentration factor is 50 fold. The aldehydes were eluted and derivatized with 2 mM DPH in 0.5 M H2SO4 (10 ml). The time of analysis was 1 h. The detection limits (S/N=3) for formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were 0.6 and 2 microg l(-1), respectively.     

Retention behavior of monosaccharides and disaccharides on titania

Summary The ability of titania to recognize the position of hydroxyl groups was previously found to result from the formation of a chelate ring between a titanium ion and the two oxygen atoms of the hydroxyl group and carboxylate anion of 2-hydroxycarboxylic acids. We investigated how titania could recognize the position of hydroxyl group of monosaccharides and disaccharides. The retention behavior of monosaccharides and disaccharides on titania was found to be characteristic. Thus, sucrose was eluted much faster than the other sugars, whereas D-ribose, D-fructose and L-sorbose were most strongly retained on titania of all of the sugars tested. It is apparent that the sugars strongly retained on titania have an axial hydroxyl group or neighboring hydroxyl groups of the same conformation.     

Unusual reinforcement of silicone rubber compounds containing mesoporous silica particles as inorganic fillers

We fabricate mesoporous silica/silicone composites in a simple way and systematically examine their thermal stability, swelling characteristic, mechanical strength, and transparency. Simple calculations show that more than 90 vol% of mesopores are filled with silicone rubbers. Compared to non-porous silica/silicone composites, mesoporous silica/silicone composites showed a lower coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CTE). In addition, dramatic improvements of the tensile strength and Young's modulus are obtained with mesoporous silica/silicone composites. Furthermore, mesoporous silica/silicone composites show higher transparency than non-porous silica/silicone composites.     

Determination of l-malate in wine by flow-injection with co-immobilized malate dehydrogenase/oxaloacetate decarboxylase

A method for determination of l-malate in wine is described. Malate dehydrogenase and oxaloacetate decarboxylase were immobilized on poly (vinyl alcohol) beads and incorporated in a flow-injection system with fluorescence detection. Sample solution (50 mul) was injected into the carrier stream [4mM NAD(+) in glycine buffer (pH 10.0)]. The fluorescence based on the NADH formed could be directly related to the amount of malate. The calibration graph was linear over the range 0.4-300muM. The detection limit was 0.2muM. Sampling throughout was 25 samples/hr.     

Enthalpimetry with catalytic reactions-I determination of sulphide solution by the iodine-azide reaction

Sulphide in the range 0.02–0.5 μmole is determined by direct injection enthalpimetry with relative errors and coefficient of variation within 3%.     

Flow-through chemiluminescence sensor using immobilized histamine oxidase from Arthrobacter crystallopoietes KAIT-B-007 and peroxidase for selective determination of histamine.

A flow sensor with immobilized oxidases is proposed for the determination of histamine in fish meat. Chemiluminometric measurement of histamine was based on the luminol reaction with hydrogen peroxide produced by immobilized histamine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.-.) and peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7.) within a flow cell. Histamine oxidase was found in cells of Arthrobacter crystallopoietes KAIT-B-007 isolated from soil. The oxidase and peroxidase were coimmobilized covalently on tresylated hydrophilic vinyl polymer beads and packed into transparent PTFE; the tubing was used as the flow cell. One assay for histamine was done at intervals of 2 min without carryover. The calibration curve for histamine was linear from 0.1 microM to 50 microM. The response was reproducible within 1.25% of the relative standard deviation for 115-replicate injections of 50 microM histamine. The sensor system was applied to the determination of histamine in fish meat extracts.