Redox Mechanisms of Nodularin and Chemically Degraded Nodularin

The electrochemical behaviour of Nodularin (NOD), a hepatotoxic cyclic pentapeptide, was studied at a glassy carbon electrode. NOD electrochemical oxidation is an irreversible, pH‐independent process, involving the transfer of one electron. Upon incubation in different pH electrolytes, chemical degradation of NOD was electrochemically detected by the appearance of a new oxidation peak. The chemically degraded NOD (cdNOD), undergoes an irreversible, pH‐dependent oxidation, and its redox products are reversibly oxidised. The charge transfer properties of cdNOD as well as of its redox metabolites were investigated. Mechanisms for NOD oxidation, NOD chemical degradation and oxidation of cdNOD and its metabolites were proposed.     

Intercompany Study to Evaluate the Robustness of Capillary Isoelectric Focusing Technology for the Analysis of Monoclonal Antibodies

Interlaboratory comparisons are essential to bringing emerging technologies into biopharmaceutical industry practice and regulatory acceptance. As a result, an international team including 12 laboratories from 10 independent biopharmaceutical companies in the United States and Switzerland was formed to evaluate the precision and robustness of capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) to assess the charge heterogeneity of monoclonal antibodies. The different laboratories determined the apparent pI and the relative distribution of the charge isoforms of a representative monoclonal antibody (rMAb) sample using the same CIEF method. Statistical evaluation of the data was performed to determine within and between-laboratory consistencies and outlying information. The apparent pI data generated for each charge variant peak showed very good precision between laboratories with percentage of RSD values of ??0.5%. Similarly, the percentage of RSD for the rMAb charge variants percent peak area values are ??4.4% across different laboratories with different analysts using different lots of ampholytes and multiple instruments. Taken together, these results validate the appropriate use of CIEF in the biopharmaceutical industry in support of regulatory submissions.     

Effect of Inoculated Lactic Acid Fermentation on the Fermentable Saccharides and Polyols,Polyphenols and Antioxidant Activity Changes in Wheat Sourdough

Inoculation of sourdough allows the fermentation medium to be dominated by desired microorganisms, which enables determining the kinetics of the conversion of chemical compounds by individual microorganisms. This knowledge may allow the design of functional food products with health features dedicated to consumers with special needs. The aim of the study was to assess the dynamics of transformations of fermentable oligosaccharide, disaccharide, monosaccharide and polyol (FODMAP) compounds from wheat flour as well as their antioxidant activity during inoculated and spontaneous sourdough fermentation. The FODMAP content in grain products was determined by the fructan content with negligible amounts of sugars and polyols. To produce a low-FODMAP cereal product, the fermentation time is essential. The 72 h fermentation time of L. plantarum-inoculated sourdough reduced the FODMAP content by 91%. The sourdough fermentation time of at least 72 h also positively influenced the content of polyphenols and antioxidant activity, regardless of the type of fermentation. The inoculation of both L. plantarum and L. casei contributed to a similar degree to the reduction in FODMAP in sourdough compared to spontaneous fermentation.     

Electroanalytical Determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in Bivalve Mollusks using Electrochemically Reduced Graphene Oxide‐based Electrode

An electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) in bivalve mollusks using a glassy carbon electrode modified with electrochemically reduced graphene oxide has been developed. The modified surface was characterized by cyclic voltammetry, high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR‐SEM), and Raman spectroscopy. The optimum conditions were optimized and a linear range was observed from 15–105 μg L^?1 with a limits of detection of 15 μg L^?1 for Cd(II) and Pb(II). The methodology was validated and applied in different samples of commercial bivalve mollusks with satisfactory results. The high conductivity and greater surface area of the modifying agent improves the preconcentration capacity of the electrochemical sensor, allowing to develop a simple, rapid and sensitive analysis in the detection of lead and cadmium in marine resources.     

Screening of ionic liquids for extraction of flavonoids from heather

Room temperature ionic liquids are novel solvents with the specific properties that makes them of interest for application for extraction for a wide range of compounds. In this work extraction efficiency of flavonoids from heather flowers using ionic liquids based on imidazolium cation were evaluated and compared with organic solvents. It was found that the anion of ionic liquid significantly influence the extraction yields. Flavonoid content as well as antioxidant activity based on radical scavenging on 1,1-diphenul-2-pirylhydrazyl radicals and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity increased in the order: [Bmim]PF₆ < [Bmim]BF₄ < [Bmim]Cl. The obtained extraction yield using [Bmim]Cl were higher than reported for 60% ethanol and ethyl acetate under similar conditions, thus, may be helpful for better utilization of heather flowers as the potential pharmaceutical and nutraceutical ingredients.     

Phytochemical analysis of non-polar solvent extracts of the Wisteria sinensis leaves

A comparative study on the phytochemical composition of the n-hexane and chloroform extracts from Wisteria sinensis leaves collected in June and October is described. Continuous extraction in Soxhlet apparatus, as well as ultrasound-assisted technique, was used for the preparation of the extracts. All the extracts were analysed by GC/MS method. As a result, α-tocopherol was identified as the main component (56%) of the extracts from October leaves, whereas, β-sitosterol was identified as the main compound (47%) in the extracts from the June leaves. Additionally, pure α-tocopherol was isolated from n-hexane extract of the October leaves using column chromatography. A total of 6.25 mg of α-tocopherol was isolated from 1 g of dried leaves. The presence of the vitamin E in extracts from W. sinensis leaves is described here for the first time.     

Ethylethanolammonium 4-nitrobenzoate

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In the present studies, the thermal behaviour of NaUO2BO3 has been investigated. This compound is a potential product of interaction between the...     

Synthesis and Characterization of the New Copper Tetraphosphonate Cu2[(HO3PCH2)4C6H2]·2H2O

Following the strategy of using polyfunctional phosphonic acids for the synthesis of three‐dimensional metal phosphonates, the ethyl ester of a tetraphosphonic acid, i. e. 1,2,4,5‐(Et₂O₃PCH₂)₄C₆H₂, was used in the hydrothermal synthesis of the new copper tetraphosphonate, Cu₂[(HO₃PCH₂)₄C₆H₂]·2H₂O ( 1 ). The in situ hydrolysis of the ethyl ester leads to the acid (1,2,4,5‐(H₂O₃PCH₂)₄C₆H₂) which reacts with the Cu²⁺ ions to form the green coarse‐crystalline product. The title compound is the first fully characterized copper tetraphosphonate. Its structure was solved from single crystal data ( 1 : triclinic, , a = 4.9262(10), b = 8.1890(16), c = 11.800(2) Å, α = 71.17(3), β = 89.15(3), γ = 88.56(3)°, V = 450.39(16) ų, Z = 2, R1 = 0.0284, wR₂ = 0.0682). The structure is built up from edge‐sharing CuO₅ polyhedra each containing a single H₂O molecule. Thus, dimeric [Cu₂O₈] units are formed. In the second coordination sphere of each of the Cu²⁺ ions four HO₃PCH₂R units are observed. The [Cu₂O₈] polyhedra are connected to eight other [Cu₂O₈] polyhedra by these organic linkers and a three‐dimensional framework structure is formed. Thermogravimetric, magnetic, and temperature dependent powder XRD measurements and the Raman‐spectrum are also presented.     

Elucidation of the Streptomyces coelicolor pathway to 2-undecylpyrrole, a key intermediate in undecylprodiginine and streptorubin B biosynthesis

The red gene cluster of Streptomyces coelicolor directs production of undecylprodiginine. Here we report that this gene cluster also directs production of streptorubin B and show that 2-undecylpyrrole (UP) is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of undecylprodiginine and streptorubin B. The redPQRKL genes are involved in UP biosynthesis. RedL and RedK are proposed to generate UP from dodecanoic acid or a derivative. A redK(-) mutant produces a hydroxylated undecylprodiginine derivative, whereas redL(-) and redK(-) mutants require addition of chemically synthesized UP for production of undecylprodiginine and streptorubin B. Fatty acid biosynthetic enzymes can provide dodecanoic acid, but efficient and selective prodiginine biosynthesis requires RedPQR. Deletion of redP, redQ, or redR leads to an 80%-95% decrease in production of undecylprodiginine and an array of prodiginine analogs with varying alkyl chains. In a redR(-) mutant, the ratio of these can be altered in a logical manner by feeding various fatty acids.