Immobilization of Yarrowia lipolytica Lipase—a Comparison of Stability of Physical Adsorption and Covalent Attachment Techniques

Lipase immobilization offers unique advantages in terms of better process control, enhanced stability, predictable decay rates and improved economics. This work evaluated the immobilization of a highly active Yarrowia lipolytica lipase (YLL) by physical adsorption and covalent attachment. The enzyme was adsorbed on octyl–agarose and octadecyl–sepabeads supports by hydrophobic adsorption at low ionic strength and on MANAE–agarose support by ionic adsorption. CNBr–agarose was used as support for the covalent attachment immobilization. Immobilization yields of 71, 90 and 97% were obtained when Y. lipolytica lipase was immobilized into octyl–agarose, octadecyl–sepabeads and MANAE–agarose, respectively. However, the activity retention was lower (34% for octyl–agarose, 50% for octadecyl–sepabeads and 61% for MANAE–agarose), indicating that the immobilized lipase lost activity during immobilization procedures. Furthermore, immobilization by covalent attachment led to complete enzyme inactivation. Thermal deactivation was studied at a temperature range from 25 to 45°C and pH varying from 5.0 to 9.0 and revealed that the hydrophobic adsorption on octadecyl–sepabeads produced an appreciable stabilization of the biocatalyst. The octadecyl–sepabeads biocatalyst was almost tenfold more stable than free lipase, and its thermal deactivation profile was also modified. On the other hand, the Y. lipolytica lipase immobilized on octyl–agarose and MANAE–agarose supports presented low stability, even less than the free enzyme.     

Synthesis and Structural Analysis of Aspergillus fumigatus Galactosaminogalactans Featuring α‐Galactose, α‐Galactosamine and α‐N‐Acetyl Galactosamine Linkages

Galactosaminogalactan (GAG) is a prominent cell wall component of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. GAG is a heteropolysaccharide composed of α‐1,4‐linked galactose, galactosamine and N‐acetylgalactosamine residues. To enable biochemical studies, a library of GAG‐fragments was constructed featuring specimens containing α‐galactose‐, α‐galactosamine and α‐N‐acetyl galactosamine linkages. Key features of the synthetic strategy include the use of di‐tert‐butylsilylidene directed α‐galactosylation methodology and regioselective benzoylation reactions using benzoyl‐hydroxybenzotriazole (Bz‐OBt). Structural analysis of the Gal, GalN and GalNAc oligomers by a combination of NMR and MD approaches revealed that the oligomers adopt an elongated, almost straight, structure, stabilized by inter‐residue H‐bonds, one of which is a non‐conventional C?H???O hydrogen bond between H5 of the residue (i+1) and O3 of the residue (i). The structures position the C‐2 substituents almost perpendicular to the oligosaccharide main chain axis, pointing to the bulk solvent and available for interactions with antibodies or other binding partners.     

Cathepsin‐B Induced Controlled Release from Peptide‐Capped Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

New capped silica mesoporous nanoparticles for intracellular controlled cargo release within cathepsin B expressing cells are described. Nanometric mesoporous MCM‐41 supports loaded with safranin O ( S1‐P ) or doxorubicin ( S2‐P ) containing a molecular gate based on a cathepsin B target peptidic sequence were synthesized. Solids were designed to show “zero delivery” and to display cargo release in the presence of cathepsin B enzyme, which selectively hydrolyzed in vitro the capping peptide sequence. Controlled delivery in HeLa, MEFs WT, and MEFs lacking cathepsin B cell lines were also tested. Release of safranin O and doxorubicin in these cells took place when cathepsin B was active or present. Cells treated with S2‐P showed a fall in cell viability due to nanoparticles internalization, cathepsin B hydrolysis of the capping peptide, and cytotoxic agent delivery, proving the possible use of these nanodevices as new therapeutic tools for cancer treatment.     

Theoretical Vibrational Raman and Surface‐Enhanced Raman Scattering Spectra of Water Interacting with Silver Clusters

In this study, we analyzed the Raman spectrum of a water molecule adsorbed on a cluster of 20 silver atoms, and the plasmonic electromagnetic effect of the silver surface was also considered to give a theoretical prediction of the surface‐enhanced Raman scattering spectrum. The calculations were performed at the density functional theory (DFT) level by using both frozen and unfrozen silver clusters. Two different models were used to consider the plasmonic enhancement; one of them was a modified classical (dipole) model and the other was the coupled perturbed Hartree–Fock method with excitation frequencies obtained from time‐dependent DFT calculations and with proper detuning of these frequencies. The importance of small geometrical distortions of the silver surface in the orientation of the adsorbed water was shown. Moreover, it was shown how the symmetry of the transition dipole moment and the symmetry of the vibrational modes influence the Raman intensities of the SERS spectrum.     

Electrochemical Properties of the Oxo‐Manganese‐Phenanthroline Complex Immobilized on Ion‐Exchange Polymeric Film and Its Application as Biomimetic Sensor for Sulfite Ions

A biomimetic sensor containing the oxo‐bridged dinuclear manganese‐phenanthroline complex incorporated into a cation‐exchange polymeric film deposited onto glassy carbon electrode for detection of sulfite was studied. Cyclic voltammetry at the modified electrode in universal buffer showed a two electron oxidation/reduction of the couple Mn^IV(μ‐O)₂Mn^IV/Mn^III(μ‐O)₂Mn^III. The sensor exhibited electrocatalytic property toward sulfite oxidation with a decrease of the overpotential of 450 mV compared with the glassy carbon electrode. A plot of the anodic current versus the sulfite concentration for potential fixed (+0.15 V vs. SCE) at the sensor was linear in the 4.99×10^?7 to 2.49×10^?6 mol L^?1 concentration range and the concentration limit was 1.33×10^?7 mol L^?1. The mediated mechanism was derived by Michaelis? Menten kinetics. The calculated kinetics values were Michaelis? Menten rate constant= =1.33 µmol L^?1, catalytic rate constant=6.06×10^?3 s^?1 and heterogeneous electro‐chemical rate constant=3.61×10^?5 cm s^?1.     

Theoretical studies on water–tetracaine interaction

The action of local anesthetics (LA) is controversial. There is experimental evidence that the unprotonated form of LA penetrates the axon, while the charged form acts in the intracellular phase. To obtain some insight on the structure of the local anesthetics tetracaine and its pharmacological action, we made calculations using the density functional theory (DFT) method. After those calculations, we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in a p, N, T ensemble, in an aqueous environment, on both unprotonated and protonated forms of the molecule. The radial distribution function was used to study water solvent effects, through the characterization of the affinity of tetracaine to water. The results indicate that the molecule has regions with different degree of hydrophobicity, and the N‐terminal of the anesthetic was primarily affected by changes in the protonation state of the anesthetic. The pH‐dependent activity of TTC should then be analyzed in view of local changes in different regions of the molecule, rather than in terms of general effects on the hydrophobicity of the molecule as a whole. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Do the neighboring residues in a polypeptide affect the electron distribution of an amino acid significantly? A quantitative study using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM)

Geometries, as well as bond and atomic properties obtained with the atoms-in-molecules theory applied on B3LYP/6-31++G//B3LYP/6-31G charge densities, of the N-formyl amides of the nine tripeptides obtained by combining glycine, alanine, and serine around a central glycine residue were analyzed to check how the properties of the central residue are modified by other amino acids bonded to it. All of the molecules were optimized from an alpha-helix conformation that was also displayed by the optimized structure. Significant variations of the geometry (especially remarkable for dihedral angles) and atomic properties of the central glycine residue are observed when it is attached to a serine residue whose side chain is involved in a hydrogen bond.     

Analysis of Main Factors Determining the Prediction of Stabilization Energies of Halide-water Clusters

This work studies the main factors determining the stabilization energy [E _stab(n)] of a series of halide clusters, [X(H₂O) _n ]⁻ (X≡F, Br and I). This property measures the difference between the ionization process of the hydrated and isolated halide. In a previous paper [J. Chem. Phys., 121, 7269 (2004)], the E _stab(n) was studied for a large number of clusters (up to n = 60) by using classical computer simulations based on first-principles polarizable potentials to describe the halide–water interactions. In this work we analyze what features of the MCDHO-type model are necessary for a proper reproduction of the experimental E _stab. The role of the charge redistribution (polarizability) of the water molecule and halide anion, the geometrical relaxation of water molecule (flexibility), as well as the replacement of water clusters by a dielectric continuum of different dielectric permittivities are presented and discussed. The parallel behavior of the E _stab magnitude with the dielectric permittivity of the continuum and with the number of water molecules forming the cluster supports that the electrostatic interactions are the main responsible for the changes induced on the electron structures determining the energetics of the photodetachement process. The photodetachment process does not only occur without nuclear relaxation but also with a small electron redistribution of water molecules.     

Evaluation of solid and submerged fermentations for the production of cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase by Paenibacillus campinasensis H69-3 and characterization of crude enzyme

Cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) is an enzyme that produces cyclodextrins from starch by an intramolecular transglycosylation reaction. Cyclodextrins have been shown to have a number of applications in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. In the current study, the production of CGTase by Paenibacillus campinasensis strain H69-3 was examined in submerged and solid-state fermentations. P. campinasensis strain H69-3 was isolated from the soil, which grows at 45°C, and is a Gramvariable bacterium. Different substrate sources such as wheat bran, soybean bran, soybean extract, cassava solid residue, cassava starch, corn starch, and other combinations were used in the enzyme production. CGTase activity was highest in submerged fermentations with the greatest production observed at 48–72 h. The physical and chemical properties of CGTase were determined from the crude enzyme produced from submerged fermentations. The optimum temperature was found to be 70–75°C, and the activity was stable at 55°C for 1 h. The enzyme displayed two optimum pH values, 5.5 and 9.0 and was found to be stable between a pH of 4.5 and 11.0.     

Carbon-13 and proton NMR assignments of a new agathisflavone derivative

The (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra of 5-acetyl-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone-(6-8')-5'-acetyl-7',4'-dimethoxyflavone, a new agathisflavone derivative, were completely assigned on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR techniques.