Substrate-dependent kinetics in tyrosinase-based biosensing: amperometry vs. spectrophotometry

Despite the broad use of enzymes in electroanalytical biosensors, the influence of enzyme kinetics on the function of prototype sensors is often overlooked or neglected. In the present study, we employ amperometry as an alternative or complementary method to study the kinetics of tyrosinase, whose catalytic activity results in o-quinone products. We further compare our results for four monophenolic substrates with those obtained from ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry and show that the results from both assays are in good agreement. We also observe large variations in the enzyme kinetics for different monophenolic substrates depending on the R-group at the para position. To further study this effect, we investigate the stability of quinone products in the enzymatic assay. This information can in principle be utilized to discriminate between different phenolic species by monitoring the reaction rate.     

Survival of adult neurons lacking cholesterol synthesis in vivo

Background  

Cholesterol, an essential component of all mammalian plasma membranes, is highly enriched in the brain. Both during development and in the adult, brain cholesterol is derived from local cholesterol synthesis and not taken up from the circulation. However, the contribution of neurons and glial cells to total brain cholesterol metabolism is unknown.     

Layer-by-layer assembly of Ru3+ and $$ {\text{Si}}_{{\text{8}}} {\text{O}}^{{8 - }}_{{20}} $$ into electrochemically active silicate films

A porous silicate is obtained from octa-anionic cage-like poly-silicate (PS) and Ru³⁺ cations in an ethanol-based layer-by-layer assembly process. Electrochemical experiments (voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy) confirm the formation of redox-active ruthenium centers in the form of hydrous ruthenium oxide throughout the film deposit. Oxidation of Ru(III) to Ru(IV) at a potential below 0.5 V vs saturated Calomel electrode (SCE) is reversible, but a potential positive of 0.5 V vs SCE is associated with an irreversible change in reactivity, which is characteristic for very small hydrous ruthenium oxide nanoparticles. Further voltammetric experiments are performed in aqueous phosphate buffer solutions, and the effects of number of layers, scan rate, and pH are investigated. Three aqueous redox systems are studied in contact with the PS–Ru³⁺ films. The reduction of cationic methylene blue adsorbed onto the negative surface of the nanocomposite silicate is shown to occur, although most of the bound methylene blue appears to be electrochemically inactive either bound to silicate or buried into small pores. The PS–Ru³⁺-catalyzed oxidations of hydroquinone and arsenite(III) are investigated. Scanning electron microscopy images show that a macroscopically uniform porous surface is formed after deposition of 50 layers of the PS–Ru³⁺ nanocomposite. However, atomic force microscopy images demonstrate that in the initial deposition stages, irregular island growth occurs. The average rate of thickness increase for PS–Ru³⁺ nanocomposite films is 6 nm per deposition cycle.     

Characterization of perchlorate in a new frozen human urine standard reference material

Perchlorate, an inorganic anion, has recently been recognized as an environmental contaminant by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Urine is the preferred matrix for assessment of human exposure to perchlorate. Although the measurement technique for perchlorate in urine was developed in 2005, the calibration and quality assurance aspects of the metrology infrastructure for perchlorate are still lacking in that there is no certified reference material (CRM) traceable to the International System of Units. To meet the quality assurance needs in biomonitoring measurements of perchlorate and the related anions that affect thyroid health, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developed Standard Reference Material (SRM) 3668 Mercury, Perchlorate, and Iodide in Frozen Human Urine. SRM 3668 consists of perchlorate, nitrate, thiocyanate, iodine, and mercury in urine at two levels that represent the 50th and 95th percentiles, respectively, of the concentrations (with some adjustments) in the US population. It is the first CRM being certified for perchlorate. Measurements leading to the certification of perchlorate were made collaboratively at NIST and CDC using three methods based on liquid or ion chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Potential sources of bias were analyzed, and results were compared for the three methods. Perchlorate in SRM 3668 Level I urine was certified to be 2.70?±?0.21?μg?L(-1), and for SRM 3668 Level II urine, the certified value is 13.47?±?0.96?μg?L(-1).     

Organocatalytic Michael cycloisomerization of bis(enones): the intramolecular Rauhut-Currier reaction

The utilization of enones as latent enolates enables regioselective enolate formation from chemically robust presursors. In this communication, we report a catalytic Michael cycloisomerization of bis(enones) under Morita-Baylis-Hillman conditions. Upon exposure to 10 mol % tributylphosphine, bis(enone) substrates afford both five- and six-membered ring products. Notably, unsymmetrical bis(enones) possessing sufficient steric or electronic bias yield single isomeric products.     

Sterols associated with small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs): intrinsic mobility role for 1H NMR detection

Small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) of phospholipids are often used as a membrane model system for studying the interaction of molecules. When using NMR under the standard liquid‐state conditions, SUV phospholipid proton spectra can be recorded, exhibiting sharp signals. This is not only because of the fast vesicular tumbling but also because of the combination of this tumbling with the individual motion of the lipids inside the bilayer. This appears evident because addition of cholesterol is responsible of broader resonances because of the slowing down of the lipid motion. On the other hand, no ¹H signal is detected for cholesterol in the bilayer. This lack of detection of the inserted molecules explains why generally SUVs are not considered as a good model for NMR studies under the standard liquid‐state conditions. Here, we use two other sterols in order to demonstrate that an increase of the molecular mobility inside the bilayer could allow the detection of their proton resonances. For desmosterol and lanosterol, which show higher mobility inside the bilayer, with increasing lateral diffusion rates, ¹H sterol signals are detected in contrast to cholesterol. For the fast diffusing lanosterol, no significant improvement in detection is observed using deuterated lipids, demonstrating that homonuclear dipolar coupling is fully averaged out. Furthermore, in the case of low mobility such as for cholesterol, the use of a fast magic angle spinning probe is shown to be efficient to recover the full proton spectrum. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tuning percolation speed in layer-by-layer assembled polyaniline�Cnanocellulose composite films

Polyaniline of low molecular weight (ca. 10?kDa) is combined with cellulose nanofibrils (sisal, 4?C5?nm average cross-sectional edge length, with surface sulphate ester groups) in an electrostatic layer-by-layer deposition process to form thin nano-composite films on tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) substrates. AFM analysis suggests a growth in thickness of ca. 4?nm per layer. Stable and strongly adhering films are formed with thickness-dependent coloration. Electrochemical measurements in aqueous H₂SO₄ confirm the presence of two prominent redox waves consistent with polaron and bipolaron formation processes in the polyaniline?Cnanocellulose composite. Measurements with a polyaniline?Cnanocellulose film applied across an ITO junction (a 700?nm gap produced by ion beam milling) suggest a jump in electrical conductivity at ca. 0.2?V vs. SCE and a propagation rate (or percolation speed) two orders of magnitude slower compared to that observed in pure polyaniline This effect allows tuning of the propagation rate based on the nanostructure architecture. Film thickness-dependent electrocatalysis is observed for the oxidation of hydroquinone.     

Liquidambar styraciflua: a renewable source of shikimic acid

An isolation procedure is presented that yields 2.4-3.7% w/w pure shikimic acid from the seeds of Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum). Shikimic acid, the starting material in the commercial synthesis of the antiviral agent oseltamivir and an important intermediate in the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids in plants, was found by HPLC to be abundant in the granular, aborted seeds (6.5% w/w) while present only in small amounts in the developed, fertile seeds (0.14% w/w). This extraction technique makes L. styraciflua, which is found in 40 states of the continental US, a potential renewable source of this important natural product.     

Moduli dimensions of lattice polygons

Journal of Algebraic Combinatorics - Given a lattice polygon P with g interior lattice points, we can associate to $$P$$ two moduli spaces: the moduli space of algebraic curves that are...     

Formulation of Topical Dosage Forms Containing Synthetic and Natural Anti-Inflammatory Agents for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Topical anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is of major interest because of their fewer side effects compared to oral therapy. The purpose of this study was to prepare different types of topical formulations (ointments and gels) containing synthetic and natural anti-inflammatory agents with different excipients (e.g.,: surfactants, gel-forming) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The combination of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), diclofenac sodium, a topical analgesic agent methyl salicylate, and a lyophilized extract of Calendula officinalis with antioxidant effect were used in our formulations. The aim was to select the appropriate excipients and dosage form for the formulation in order to enhance the diffusion of active substances and to certify the antioxidant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects of these formulations. To characterize the physicochemical properties of the formulations, rheological studies, and texture profile analysis were carried out. Membrane diffusion and permeability studies were performed with Franz-diffusion method. The therapeutic properties of the formulations have been proven by an antioxidant assay and a randomized prospective study that was carried out on 115 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The results showed that the treatment with the gel containing diclofenac sodium, methyl salicylate, and lyophilized Calendula officinalis as active ingredients, 2-propenoic acid homopolymer (Synthalen K) as gel-forming excipient, distilled water, triethanolamine, and glycerol had a beneficial analgesic and local anti-inflammatory effect.