Evidence for the role of the monB genes in polyether ring formation during monensin biosynthesis

Ionophoric polyethers are produced by the exquisitely stereoselective oxidative cyclization of a linear polyketide, probably via a triepoxide intermediate. We report here that deletion of either or both of the monBI and monBII genes from the monensin biosynthetic gene cluster gave strains that produced, in place of monensins A and B, a mixture of C-3-demethylmonensins and a number of minor components, including C-9-epi-monensin A. All the minor components were efficiently converted into monensins by subsequent acid treatment. These data strongly suggest that epoxide ring opening and concomitant polyether ring formation are catalyzed by the MonB enzymes, rather than by the enzyme MonCII as previously thought. Consistent with this, homology modeling shows that the structure of MonB-type enzymes closely resembles the recently determined structure of limonene-1,2-epoxide hydrolase from Rhodococcus erythropolis.     

Optimum design for maximum wavelength resolution for an edge filter-based ratiometric system

This paper provides a straightforward design method for achieving a maximum wavelength resolution for an edge filter-based ratiometric system. An analysis of the influence of a range of factors on the resolution of the ratiometric wavelength measurement system was carried out. The investigation shows that, for a given input optical signal and when the working wavelength range is known, it is relatively straightforward to select an optimum slope for the edge filter that will yield a maximum resolution for the system. An experimental verification is carried out using a tunable laser and three macrobending fibre edge filters, with a good match between experimental and simulation results.     

Novel Galvanic Nanostructures of Ag and Pd for Efficient Laser Desorption/Ionization of Low Molecular Weight Compounds

A simple approach for synthesis of palladium and silver nanostructures with readily adjustable morphologies was developed using galvanic electrochemical deposition, for application to surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization (SALDI) of small biological molecules. A range of fatty acids, triglycerides, carbohydrates, and antibiotics were investigated to assess the performance of the new materials. Intense analyte cations were generated from the galvanic surfaces upon UV laser irradiation such as potassium adducts for a film thickness <100 nm (originating from impurities of the electrolyte solution) and Pd and Ag cluster ions for films with a thickness >120 nm. Possible laser desorption/ionization mechanisms of these galvanic structures are discussed. The films exhibited self-organizing abilities and adjustable morphologies by changing electrochemical parameters. They did not require any stabilizing agents and were inexpensive and very easy to produce. SALDI analysis showed that the materials were stable under ambient conditions and analytical results with excellent measurement reproducibility and detection sensitivity similar to MALDI were obtained. Finally, we applied the galvanic surfaces to fast screening of natural oils with minimum sample preparation.

Cobalt oxide nanoparticles as a novel high-efficiency fiber coating for solid phase microextraction of benzene,toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene from aqueous solutions

In this work cobalt oxide nanoparticles were introduced for preparation of a novel solid phase microextraction (SPME) fiber coating. Chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique was used in order for synthesis and immobilization of the Co₃O₄ nanomaterials on a Pt wire for fabrication of SPME fiber. The prepared cobalt oxide coating was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The fiber was evaluated for the extraction of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) in combination with GC–MS. A simplex optimization method was used to optimize the factors affecting the extraction efficiency. Under optimized conditions, the proposed fiber showed extraction efficiencies comparable to those of a commercial polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fiber toward the BTEX compounds. The repeatability of the fiber and its reproducibility, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD), were lower than about 11%. No significant change was observed in the extraction efficiency of the new SPME fiber after over 50 extractions. The fiber was successfully applied to the determination of BTEX compounds in real samples. The proposed nanostructure cobalt oxide fiber is a promising alternative to the commercial fibers as it is robust, inexpensive and easily prepared.     

Measurement of mercury species in human blood using triple spike isotope dilution with SPME-GC-ICP-DRC-MS

The measurement of different mercury compounds in human blood can provide valuable information about the type of mercury exposure. To this end, our laboratory developed a biomonitoring method for the quantification of inorganic (iHg), methyl (MeHg), and ethyl (EtHg) mercury in whole blood using a triple-spike isotope dilution (TSID) quantification method employing capillary gas chromatography (GC) and inductively coupled dynamic reaction cell mass spectrometry (ICP-DRC-MS). We used a robotic CombiPAL® sample handling station featuring twin fiber-based solid-phase microextraction (SPME) injector heads. The use of two SPME fibers significantly reduces sample analysis cycle times making this method very suitable for high sample throughput, which is a requirement for large public health biomonitoring studies. Our sample preparation procedure involved solubilization of blood samples with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) followed by the derivatization with sodium tetra(n-propyl)borate (NaBPr₄) to promote volatility of mercury species. We thoroughly investigated mercury species stability in the blood matrix during the course of sample treatment and analysis. The method accuracy for quantifying iHg, MeHg, and EtHg was validated using NIST standard reference materials (SRM 955c level 3) and the Centre de Toxicologie du Québec (CTQ) proficiency testing (PT) samples. The limit of detection (LOD) for iHg, MeHg, and EtHg in human blood was determined to be 0.27, 0.12, and 0.16 μg/L, respectively.

Preconditioned iterative methods for diffusion problems with high‐contrast inclusions

This paper is concerned with robust numerical treatment of an elliptic PDE with high‐contrast coefficients, for which classical finite‐element discretizations yield ill‐conditioned linear systems. This paper introduces a procedure by which the discrete system obtained from a linear finite element discretization of the given continuum problem is converted into an equivalent linear system of the saddle‐point type. Three preconditioned iterative procedures—preconditioned Uzawa, preconditioned Lanczos, and preconditioned conjugate gradient for the square of the matrix—are discussed for a special type of the application, namely, highly conducting particles distributed in the domain. Robust preconditioners for solving the derived saddle‐point problem are proposed and investigated. Robustness with respect to the contrast parameter and the discretization scale is also justified. Numerical examples support theoretical results and demonstrate independence of the number of iterations of the proposed iterative schemes on the contrast in parameters of the problem and the mesh size.     

基于纳米结构的电化学传感器用于伏安法测定苄丝肼、尿酸和叶酸(英文)

A carbon paste electrode modified with carbon nanotubes and ferrocene was fabricated.An electrochemical study of the modified electrode and an investigation into its efficiency for the electrocatalytic oxidation of benserazide,uric acid and folic acid were undertaken.The electrode was also used to study the electrocatalytic oxidation of benserazide using cyclic voltammetry,chronoamperometry,and square wave voltammetry(SWV).We found that the oxidation of benserazide at the surface of the modified electrode occurs at a potential about 285 mV lower than that of unmodified carbon paste electrode.SWV gave a linear dynamic range from 8.0×10-7 to 7.0×10 4 mol/L.The detection limit was 1.0×10-7 mol/L for benserazide.This modified electrode was used for the determination of benserazide,uric acid,and folic acid in an urine sample.     

Deactivation of excited states of kynurenine covalently linked to nitroxides

Due to ability of stable nitroxides to interact with free radicals, they are used as antioxidants for therapeutic and research goals in biology and medicine. A modern trend in medical chemistry is the design of multifunctional molecules such as UV absorbers covalently bound to nitroxides, which provides both UV protection and antioxidant properties combined in the same molecule. In the present work, we report the synthesis of conjugates of a natural UV filter kynurenine (KN) with nitroxides (KN‐RNO^• conjugates) and the study of their photochemical properties in aqueous and methanol solutions. Due to the spin‐exchange interaction between KN and nitroxide moieties, the triplet lifetimes in conjugates are much shorter than in KN molecule, but the triplet quantum yields are significantly higher. The reaction of intramolecular electron transfer between photoexcited KN and nitroxide moieties is the main factor determining the quantum yield of KN‐RNO^• conjugates photodecomposition. Consequently, KN‐RNO^• conjugates in aqueous solution are photochemically less stable than the parent KN molecule. Nevertheless, the photostability of KN‐RNO^• conjugates is much higher than that of cinnamates which are widely used as UV absorbers in modern sunscreen formulations. Thus, the combination of the endogenous chromophore KN with nitroxides is very promising for medical applications.