Ethyl Acetate—Propionic Acid as Green Mobile Phase System for Selective Densitometric Identification of Maltose with Preliminary Separation on Silica High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatographic Plates

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - A mobile phase system comprising of ethyl acetate and propionic acid in 1:1 (v/v) ratio was identified as the most suitable green...     

Electrochemically Generated Nanoparticles of Halogen‐Bridged Mixed‐Valence Binuclear Metal Complex Chains

Spherical nanoparticles composed of MMX chains can be made by a polymerization strategy driven by electrochemical processes. In particular, the [Pt₂(MeCS₂)₄I₂] (MMI₂) dimetal subunit is employed as a monomer for the formation of [Pt₂(MeCS₂)₄I]_n spherical nanostructures on surfaces. We have paid particular attention to elucidating the general mechanism of the deposition process on the basis of in situ electrochemical measurements. The reduction of MMI₂ to give the electrodeposition of nanostructures agrees well with formation of the reduced [MMI₂]^? species followed by a disproportionation mechanism mediated by iodide anions. The chemical composition of the particles was determined by energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to reveal the MMI₂ polymer.     

PET Imaging of Bacterial Infections with Fluorine‐18‐Labeled Maltohexaose

A positron emission tomography (PET) tracer composed of ¹⁸F‐labeled maltohexaose (MH¹⁸F) can image bacteria in vivo with a sensitivity and specificity that are orders of magnitude higher than those of fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸FDG). MH¹⁸F can detect early‐stage infections composed of as few as 10⁵ E. coli colony‐forming units (CFUs), and can identify drug resistance in bacteria in vivo. MH¹⁸F has the potential to improve the diagnosis of bacterial infections given its unique combination of high specificity and sensitivity for bacteria.     

Propane-1,2,3-triyl tris(hydrogen sulfate): A mild and effcient recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of biscoumarin derivatives in water and solvent-free conditions简

A simple, efficient, and ecofriendly procedure has been developed using propane-l,2,3-triyl tris（hydrogen sulfate） as a catalyst for the synthesis of biscoumarin derivatives in water and solvent-free conditions. The significant features of the present protocol are simplicity, environmentally benign, high yields, no chromatographic separation, and recyclability of the catalyst.     

Comparison and Evaluation of Three Diagnostic Methods for Detection of Beet Curly Top Virus in Sugar Beet Using Different Visualizing Systems

To diminish the time required for some diagnostic assays including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP; due to mainly DNA extraction step) and also triple antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TAS-ELISA) into a minimum level, an innovative immunocapture LAMP (IC-LAMP) and immunocapture PCR (IC-PCR) protocol on the basis of beet curly top virus (BCTV) genome was used and optimized. TAS-ELISA was employed first to validate the existence of the virus. All six IC-LAMP primers (i.e. forward outer primer (F3), backward outer primer (B3), forward inner primer (FIP), backward inner primer (BIP), loop forward (LF) and loop backward (LB)) together with IC-PCR primers were designed on the basis of the replication-associated protein (rep) gene (GenBank accession AF379637.1) of BCTV genome. Also, a novel colorimetric IC-LAMP assay for rapid and easy detection of BCTV was developed here, its potential compared with TAS-ELISA and IC-PCR assays. The method, on the whole, had the following advantages over the two mentioned procedures: (i) fascinatingly, no need of DNA extraction; (ii) no requirement of expensive and sophisticated tools for amplification and detection; (iii) no post-amplification treatment of the amplicons and (iv) a flexible and easy detection approach, which is visually detected by naked eyes using diverse visual dyes.     

Characterization and High Level Expression of Acidic Endoglucanase in Pichia pastoris

Bioconversion of cellulosic material into glucose needs cellulase enzymes. One of the most important organisms that produces cellulases is Trichoderma reesei, whose cellulose enzymes are probably the most widely used in the industry. However, these enzymes are not stable enough at high pH and temperatures. The optimized synthetic endoglucanase II gene with Pichia pastoris codon preferences was secretary expressed in P. pastoris. Recombinant enzyme characterization showed maximum activity at pH 4.8 and temperature 75 °C, and it demonstrated increasing thermal stability in high temperature. The enzyme maintained its activity in a wide pH range from 3.5 to 6.5. The optimization of fermentation medium was carried out in shaking flasks. Recombinant protein expression at optimum conditions (pH 7, temperature 25 °C, and 1 % methanol induction) for 72 h demonstrated 2,358.8 U/ml endoglucanase activity units. To our knowledge, this is the highest acidic thermophilic endoglucanase activity that is reported in crude intracellular medium in P. pastoris. We conclude that P. pastoris is an appropriate host for high-level expression of optimized endoglucanase gene with improved thermal stability.     

Effect of Adenine Sulphate Interaction on Growth and Development of Shoot Regeneration and Inhibition of Shoot Tip Necrosis Under In Vitro Condition in Adult Syzygium cumini L.—a Multipurpose Tree

An efficient method for cloning Syzygium cumini (above 40 years old) through mature nodal segments has been successfully developed and that could be exploited for large-scale production of this valuable multipurpose tree. Nodal segments from mature tree were taken as explants and cultured on MS basal medium with different cytokinins (BA, Kin, AdS). The application of BA proved to be the best responsive cytokinin for the induction of shoot buds and shoots, but the proliferated shoots exhibited slower and stunted growth accompanied with abscission of leaves and shoot tip necrosis (STN). The problem of leaf abscission and STN was considerably reduced by the application of an adjuvant, adenine sulphate (AdS) in the optimal medium which led to the production of a maximum of 14 shoots. Further improvement in shoot bud regeneration and improved growth pattern of the regenerating tissue was obtained on the media comprised of MS?+?BA (10 μM)?+?GA₃ (2.5 μM). A total number of 15 shoots with mean shoot length of 5.9 cm was obtained. The healthy elongated shoots were then rooted on MS basal augmented with NAA (5 μM). The plantlets obtained were healthy and were successfully acclimatized and transferred under field condition with 70 % survival rate.     

Synthesis of SnO2 nanostructures by ultrasonic-assisted sol–gel method

Fluorine doped SnO₂ nanostructures were grown using ultrasonic assisted sol–gel method. The gel was obtained by dissolving stannous chloride in methanol with ammonium fluoride as dopant followed by irradiation with ultrasonic vibrations. Obtained samples were characterized by structural, morphological and optical studies. All the peaks in the X-ray diffractograms are identified and indexed as tetragonal cassiterite structure. Negative slope of Williamson–Hall plots indicates compressive strain. Particle size of SnO₂ nanostructures is decreases with increases in concentration of fluorine doping. Atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy studies confirm the formation of ring like porous structures and then hollow tube like growth with increase in the fluorine concentration. Peaks in Raman spectra also indicate strong confinement in SnO₂ particles. Distinct peaks in the PL spectra make the structure suitable for photovoltaic applications.     

TEAD–YAP Interaction Inhibitors and MDM2 Binders from DNA-Encoded Indole-Focused Ugi Peptidomimetics

DNA-encoded combinatorial synthesis provides efficient and dense coverage of chemical space around privileged molecular structures. The indole side chain of tryptophan plays a prominent role in key, or “hot spot”, regions of protein–protein interactions. A DNA-encoded combinatorial peptoid library was designed based on the Ugi four-component reaction by employing tryptophan-mimetic indole side chains to probe the surface of target proteins. Several peptoids were synthesized on a chemically stable hexathymidine adapter oligonucleotide “hexT”, encoded by DNA sequences, and substituted by azide-alkyne cycloaddition to yield a library of 8112 molecules. Selection experiments for the tumor-relevant proteins MDM2 and TEAD4 yielded MDM2 binders and a novel class of TEAD-YAP interaction inhibitors that perturbed the expression of a gene under the control of these Hippo pathway effectors.     

99mTc-radiolabeled imidazo[2,1-b]benzothiazole derivatives as potential radiotracers for glioblastoma

This study presents [^99mTc]BPTG-1 and [^99mTc]BPTG-2 for glioblastoma imaging. In vitro cellular uptakes of these radiotracers were examined in SKOV-3, MCF-7, U87-MG, HT-29, and A549 cell lines. U87-MG cell line displayed the highest radiotracers uptakes. Biodistribution study in U87-MG tumor bearing mice revealed higher uptake of radiotracers in tumor than muscle and brain. Liver, intestine, and kidneys displayed the highest radioactivity uptakes. The main route of radiotracers elimination was hepatobiliary. Due to the brain uptake of these radiotracers, they are promising radiotracers for future studies in the diagnosis of glioblastoma.