Modular and tunable chemosensor scaffold for divalent zinc

A modular peptide scaffold has been developed for fluorescent sensing of divalent zinc. The signaling component of the chemosensor is the chelation-sensitive fluorophore 8-hydroxy-5-(N,N-dimethylsulfonamido)-2-methylquinoline, which is prepared as the protected amino acid derivative Fmoc-Sox-OH and integrated into peptide sequences. Nineteen synthetic peptides incorporating the signaling element exhibit a range of affinities for Zn(2+) through variation of the type and number of Zn(2+) ligands, ligand arrangement and the beta-turn sequence that acts as a preorganization element between the ligands. The stoichiometry of the peptide-Zn(2+) complexes is evaluated by several criteria. The fluorescence response of these peptides to pH and various important metal ions is reported. Eleven of these sequences form only 1:1 complexes with Zn(2+) and their affinities range from 10 nM to nearly 1 microM. When used in concert, these sensors can provide Zn(2+) concentration information in a valuable range.     

New directions of activity-based sensing for in vivo NIR imaging

In vivo imaging is a powerful approach to study biological processes. Beyond cellular methods, in vivo studies allow for biological stimuli (small molecules or proteins) to be studied in their native environment. This has the potential to aid in the discovery of new biology and guide the development of diagnostics and therapies for diseases. To ensure selectivity and an observable readout, the probe development field is shifting towards activity-based sensing (ABS) approaches and near-infrared (NIR) imaging modalities. This perspective will highlight recent in vivo ABS applications that utilize NIR imaging platforms.

In vivo imaging is a powerful approach to study biological processes.     

Quantitation of acrylamide in food products by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

A simple and inexpensive liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method was developed for the quantitation of acrylamide in various food products. The method involved spiking the isotope-substituted internal standard (1-C13 acrylamide) onto 6.00 g of the food product, adding 40 mL distilled/deionized water, and heating at 65 degrees C for 30 min. Afterwards, 10 mL ethylene dichloride was added and the mixture was homogenized for 30 s and centrifuged at 2700 x g for 30 min, and then 8 g supernatant was extracted with 10, 5, and 5 mL portions of ethyl acetate. The extracts were combined, dried with sodium sulfate, and concentrated to 100-200 microL. Acrylamide was determined by analysis of the final extract on a single quadrupole, bench-top mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization, using a 2 mm id C18 column and monitoring m/z = 72 (acrylamide) and m/z = 73 (internal standard). For difficult food matrixes, such as coffee and cocoa, a solid-phase extraction cleanup step was incorporated to improve both chromatography and column lifetime. The method had a limit of quantitation of 10 ppb, and coefficients of determination (r2) for calibration curves were typically better than 0.998. Acceptable spike recovery results were achieved in 11 different food matrixes. Precision in potato chip analyses was 5-8% (relative standard deviation). This method provides an LC/MS alternative to the current LC/MS/MS methods and derivatization gas chromatography/mass spectrometry methods, and is applicable to difficult food products such as coffee, cocoa, and high-salt foods.     

Ligand requirements for glmS ribozyme self-cleavage

Natural RNA catalysts (ribozymes) perform essential reactions in biological RNA processing and protein synthesis, whereby catalysis is intrinsic to RNA structure alone or in combination with metal ion cofactors. The recently discovered glmS ribozyme is unique in that it functions as a glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN6P)-dependent catalyst believed to enable "riboswitch" regulation of amino-sugar biosynthesis in certain prokaryotes. However, it is unclear whether GlcN6P functions as an effector or coenzyme to promote ribozyme self-cleavage. Herein, we demonstrate that ligand is absolutely requisite for glmS ribozyme self-cleavage activity. Furthermore, catalysis both requires and is dependent upon the acid dissociation constant (pKa) of the amine functionality of GlcN6P and related compounds. The data demonstrate that ligand is integral to catalysis, consistent with a coenzyme role for GlcN6P and illustrating an expanded capacity for biological RNA catalysis.     

Gamma-radiolysis of quinoline in 2-propanol solution

In the last twenty years the ionizing effects on matter of⁶⁰Co γ-rays have been widely discussed. However, regarding organic compounds, mainly aromatic ones, results are scarce, particularly those obtained in alcoholic solution. γ-Radiation is used mainly in industry and medicine, particularly for sterilization of surgical materials. In this work we studied the chemical and radiolytic stability of products by radiation from quinoline in isopropanol solution. Doses were from 2×10⁴ to 3×10⁵ Gy and the samples concentration was 1∶1 by volume. We have observed significant effects for high radiation doses. Lower doses effected the solvent with the production of long polymeric hydrocarbons. Products formed were characterized by capillary gas chromatography coupled to a mass-selective detector (GC/MSD). We have used a fused silica capillary column 25 m long, 0.2 mm in internal diameter, covered by a 0.33 μm thick film of crosslinked 5% phenyl methyl silicone.     

Flow injection spectrophotometric method for chloride determination in natural waters using Hg(SCN)(2) immobilized in epoxy resin

A flow injection (FI) spectrophotometric method was proposed for the determination of chloride ion in natural waters. The determination of chloride was carried out by reaction with Hg(SCN)₂ immobilized in an epoxy resin bead in a solid-phase reactor (SPR) and the thiocyanate ions released were determined spectrophotometrically at 480 nm after complexing reaction with Fe(III). The analytical curve for chloride was linear in the concentration range from 5.6 × 10⁻⁵ to 2.2 × 10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ with a detection limit of 1.4 × 10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was 2.2% for a solution containing 2.2 × 10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ (n = 10). The simple manifold allows a routine analytical frequency of 100 determinations per hour. The main advantage of the developed method is the 400% reduction of the Hg waste solution generated when compared to conventional methods for chloride determination based on the same spectrophotometric reaction.     

Lipase production by solid-state fermentation

The production of lipase by Penicillium simplicissimum in solid-state fermentation was studied using babassu cake as the basal medium. Tray-type and packed-bed bioreactors were employed. In the former, the influence of temperature; content of the medium, and medium supplementation with olive oil, sugarcane molasses, corn steep liquor, and yeast hydrolysate was studied. For all combinations of supplements, a temperature of 30°C, a moisture content of 70%, and a concentration of carbon source of 6.25% (m/m, dry basis) provided optimum conditions for lipase production. When used as single supplements olive oil and molasses also were able to provide high lipase activities (20 U/g). Using packed-bed bioreactors and molasses-supplemented medium, optimum conditions for enzyme production were air superficial velocities above 55 cm/min and temperatures below 28°C. The lower temperature optimum found for these reactors is probably related to radial heat gradient formation inside the packed bed. Maximum lipase activities obtained in these bioreactors (26.4 U/g) were 30% higher than in tray-type reactors.     

Synthesis and characterisation of transition metal halide complexes of the xylyl-distibine, 1,2-bis(dimethylstibanylmethyl)benzene

Complexes of the title ligand with Cu(I), Ag(I), Au(I), Pd(II), Pt(II), Rh(III), and rare examples with Ni(II) and Co(III) have been prepared and characterised by analysis, IR, UV-vis, 1H, 63Cu and 59Co NMR spectroscopy and ES+ mass spectrometry as appropriate. The structures of [Cu[1,2-C6H4(CH2SbMe2)2]2]BF4, [PtCl2[1,2-C6H4(CH2SbMe2)2]], [M[1,2-C6H4(CH2SbMe2)2]2][PF6]2 (M = Pd or Pt), and [NiI[1,2-C6H4(CH2SbMe2)2]2]ClO4 have been determined, and the varying chelate bite and conformations of the xylyl backbone in these structures are discussed. Despite the unfavourable seven-membered chelate ring and the large soft antimony donors, 1,2-C6H4(CH2SbMe2)2 proves to be a surprisingly good ligand for late transition metals in medium oxidation states.     

Electrically actuated, pressure-driven microfluidic pumps

In order to make the lab-on-a-chip concept a reality, it is desirable to have an integrated component capable of pumping fluids through microchannels. We have developed novel, electrically actuated micropumps and have integrated them with microfluidic systems. These devices utilize the build-up of electrolysis gases to achieve pressure-driven pumping, only require small voltages (approximately 10 V), and have approximate dimensions of 5 cm x 3 cm x 2 cm. Furthermore, these micropumps are composed of relatively inexpensive materials, and the reversible sealability of their poly(dimethylsiloxane) body to different microfluidic arrays enables repeated uses of the same pump. Under an applied potential of 10 V, three different micropumps had average flow rates of 8-13 microL min(-1) for water being pumped through five different 2 cm-long, 5500 microm(2) cross-sectional-area channels in poly(methyl methacrylate), in approximate agreement with predicted pump rates. We have also evaluated pump operation at the lower applied potential of 8 V and observed an average flow rate of 6.1 microL min(-1) for a pump-channel system. The current micropump design is capable of sustaining pumping pressures in the range of 300 kPa. The various advantages of these micropumps make them well suited for use in lab-on-a-chip analysis techniques.