Rapid cooling of lipid in a prilling tower Theoretical considerations and consequences on the structure of the microspheres

Two lipid binders, glyceryl behenate and paraffin wax, were examined regarding their ability to be used in a prilling process. Prilling has the advantage to produce microgranules very reproducible in size and shape but involves ultrafast cooling of liquid droplets. The different steps to produce solid micropheres from the molten state were successfully modelled to predict crystallisation time as a function of the binder used. Bulk versus microgranules characterization by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and microscopies showed the peculiar suitability of the 50/50 mixture of the two lipid binders for prilling, in agreement with the theoretical approach.     

Free-solution electrophoresis of DNA modified with drag-tags at both ends

In end-labeled free-solution electrophoresis (ELFSE), DNA molecules are labeled with a frictional modifier or "drag-tag", allowing their size-based electrophoretic separation in free solution. Among the interesting observations from early work with dsDNA using streptavidin as a drag-tag was that the drag induced by including a streptavidin label at both ends was significantly more than double that from a single streptavidin (Heller, C. et al.., J. Chromatogr. A 1998, 806, 113-121). This finding was assumed to be in error, and subsequent work focused on experiments in which only a single drag-tag is appended to one end of the DNA molecule. Recent theoretical work (McCormick, L. C., Slater, G. W., Electrophoresis 2005, 26, 1659-1667) has examined the contribution of end-effects to the free-solution electrophoretic mobility of charged-uncharged polymer conjugates, reopening the question of enhanced drag from placing a drag-tag at both ends. In this study, this effect is investigated experimentally, using custom-synthesized ssDNA oligonucleotides allowing the attachment of drag-tags to one or both ends, as well as dsDNA PCR products generated with primers appropriate for the attachment of drag-tags at one or both ends. A range of sizes of drag-tags are used, including synthetic polypeptoid drag-tags as well as genetically engineered protein polymer drag-tags. The enhanced drag arising from labeling both ends has been confirmed, with 6-9% additional drag for the ssDNA and 10-23% additional drag for the dsDNA arising from labeling both ends than would be expected from simply doubling the size of the drag-tag at one end. The experimental results for ssDNA labeled at both ends are compared to the predictions of the recent theory of end-effects, with reasonably good quantitative agreement. These experimental findings demonstrate the feasibility of enhancing ELFSE separations by labeling both ends of the DNA molecule, leading to greater resolving power and a wider range of applications for this technique.     

An optimized microchip electrophoresis system for mutation detection by tandem SSCP and heteroduplex analysis for p53 gene exons 5-9

With the complete sequencing of the human genome, there is a growing need for rapid, highly sensitive genetic mutation detection methods suitable for clinical implementation. DNA-based diagnostics such as single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) and heteroduplex analysis (HA) are commonly used in research laboratories to screen for mutations, but the slab gel electrophoresis (SGE) format is ill-suited for routine clinical use. The translation of these assays from SGE to microfluidic chips offers significant speed, cost, and sensitivity advantages; however, numerous parameters must be optimized to provide highly sensitive mutation detection. Here we present a methodical study of system parameters including polymer matrix, wall coating, analysis temperature, and electric field strengths on the effectiveness of mutation detection by tandem SSCP/HA for DNA samples from exons 5-9 of the p53 gene. The effects of polymer matrix concentration and average molar mass were studied for linear polyacrylamide (LPA) solutions. We determined that a matrix of 8% w/v 600 kDa LPA provides the most reliable SSCP/HA mutation detection on chips. The inclusion of a small amount of the dynamic wall-coating polymer poly-N-hydroxyethylacrylamide in the matrix substantially improves the resolution of SSCP conformers and extends the coating lifetime. We investigated electrophoresis temperatures between 17 and 35 degrees C and found that the lowest temperature accessible on our chip electrophoresis system gives the best condition for high sensitivity of the tandem SSCP/HA method, especially for the SSCP conformers. Finally, the use of electrical fields between 350 and 450 V/cm provided rapid separations (<10 min) with well-resolved DNA peaks for both SSCP and HA.     

A threaded loop conformation adopted by a family of peptoid nonamers

Non-natural polymers with well-defined three-dimensional folds offer considerable potential for engineering novel functions that are outside the scope of biological polymers. Here we describe a family of N-substituted glycine or "peptoid" nonamers that folds into an unusual "threaded loop" structure of exceptional thermal stability and conformational homogeneity in acetonitrile. The structure is chain-length-specific and relies on bulky, chiral side chains and chain-terminating functional groups for stability. Notable elements of the structure include the engagement of the positively charged amino terminus by carbonyl groups of the backbone through hydrogen bonding interactions and shielding of polar groups from and near-complete exposure of hydrophobic groups to solvent, in a manner resembling a folded polypeptide globular domain turned inside-out. The structure is stable in a variety of organic solvents but is readily denatured in any solvent/cosolvent milieu with hydrogen bonding potential. The structure could serve as a scaffold for the elaboration of novel functions and could be used to test methodologies for predicting solvent-dependent polymer folding.     

Poly-N-hydroxyethylacrylamide (polyDuramide): a novel,hydrophilic, self-coating polymer matrix for DNA sequencing by capillary electrophoresis

A replaceable polymer matrix, based on the novel monomer N-hydroxyethylacrylamide (HEA), has been synthesized for application in DNA separation by microchannel electrophoresis. The monomer was found by micellar electrokinetic chromatography analysis of monomer partitioning between water and 1-octanol to be more hydrophilic than acrylamide and N,N-dimethylacrylamide. Polymers were synthesized by free radical polymerization in aqueous solution. The weight-average molar mass of purified polymer was characterized by tandem gel permeation chromatography-multiangle laser light scattering. The steady-shear rheological behavior of the novel DNA sequencing matrix was also characterized, and it was found that the viscosity of the novel matrix decreases by more than 2 orders of magnitude as the shear rate is increased from 0.1 to 1000 s(-1). Moreover, in the shear-thinning region, the rate of change of matrix viscosity with shear rate increases with increasing polymer concentration. Poly-N-hydroxyethylacrylamide (PHEA) exhibits good capillary-coating ability, via adsorption from aqueous solution, efficiently suppressing electroosmotic flow (EOF) in a manner comparable to that of poly-N,N-dimethylacrylamide. Under DNA sequencing conditions, adsorptive PHEA coatings proved to be stable and to maintain negligible EOF for over 600 h of electrophoresis. Resolution of DNA sequencing fragments, particularly fragments > 500 bases, in PHEA matrices generally improves with increasing polymer concentration and decreasing electric field strength. When PHEA is used both as a separation matrix and as a dynamic coating in bare silica capillaries, the matrix can resolve over 620 bases of contiguous DNA sequence within 3 h. These results demonstrate the good potential of PHEA matrices for high-throughput DNA analysis by microchannel electrophoresis.     

Nouveaux échangeurs d'ions hydrophiles pour la chromatographie des protéines: Pipéridine-N-éthyl-cellulose et Di-isopropyl-aminoéthyl-cellulose

Résumé On a étudié la réaction de divers chlorures d'amines aliphatiques [-chloroéthyldiisopropylamine, N-(-chloroéthyl)-pipéridine, N--chloro-éthylpyrrolidine, -chloroéthyl-diméthylamine] avec l'alcali-cellulose. Grâce à l'étude détaillée des courbes de neutralisation des celluloses basiques obtenues et de la triméthylaminoéthyl cellulose (TMAE-cellulose), on a pu mettre en évidence les différences de réactivité des chlorures d'amine pour la formation de liaisons éther avec la cellulose et pour la quaternisation des groupes amine. Dans le cas de la -chloroéthyldi-isopropylamine et de la N-(-chloroéthyl)-pipéridine, on obtient des celluloses à groupes amine tertiaire: respectivement, la di-isopropylamino-éthylcellulose (DIPAE-cellulose) et la Pipéridine-N-éthyl-cellulose (Pipé-NE-cellulose). Dans le cas de la N-(-chloroéthyl)-pyrrolidine, la cellulose basique obtenue a une courbe de neutralisation qui correspond à un échangeur d'ions ayant des groupes amine tertiaire et des groupes ammonium quaternaire. Il en est de même dans le cas du produit de réaction de l'alcali-cellulose avec la -chloroéthyldiméthylamine (cellulose modifiée de capacité supérieure à 0,3 m.équiv./g.).Les propriétés chromatographiques de ces nouveaux échangeurs d'anions hydrophiles ont été étudiées; certains d' entre eux donnent des résultants très intérensants, spécialement, dans le domaine de la chromatographie des protéines. Pour la chromatographie des protéines la Pipéridine-N-éthyl-cellulose qui a une structure fibreuse compacte a un pouvoir séparateur aussi élevé que celui obtenu avec la DEAE-cellulose à structure fibres gélifiées réticulées.

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New hydrophilic ion-exchangers for chromatography of proteins: Piperidine N-ethylcellulose and di-isopropylaminoethyl cellulose

Summary Reaction of different aliphatic amine chlorides [-chloroethyldiisopropylamine, N-(-chloroethyl)-piperidine, N (-chloroethylpyrrolidine, -chloroethyldimethylamine) with alkalicellulose has been investigated. Detailed investigation of titration curves of the basic cellulose thus obtained and of trimethylaminoethylcellulose (TMAE-cellulose) has shown that the reactivity of various amine chlorides varies in the case of formation of ether bonds with cellulose as well as in the case of quaternization of amino-groups. With -chlorethyldiisopropylamine and N-(-chloroethyl-)piperidine, celluloses with tertiary amino-groups were obtained, namely, di-isopropylamino ethyl cellulose (DIPAE-cellulose) and piperidine-N-ethyl-cellulose (Pipe-NE-cellulose). Basic cellulose obtained with N-(-chloroethyl)-pyrrolidine gives a titration curve corresponding to an ion exchanger carrying tertiary amino and quaternary ammonium groups. The same is true for the reaction product of -chloroethyl-dimethylamine with alkali-cellulose (modified cellulose with an exchange capacity greater than 0.3 m.equiv g^–1). Chromatographic behaviour of these new hydrophilic anion exchangers has been investigated. Some of them give very interesting results, mainly in the chromatography of proteins; thus, piperidine-N-ethylcellulose with a dense fibrous texture, has a separating power as great as that of DEAE cellulose with fibres of crosslinked gel type.

     

Lebbeckoside C,a new triterpenoid saponin from the stem barks of Albizia lebbeck inhibits the growth of human glioblastoma cells

One new acacic acid-type saponin, named lebbeckoside C (1), was isolated from the stem barks of Albizia lebbeck. Its structure was established on the basis of extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR (¹H, ¹³C NMR, DEPT, COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, HSQC and HMBC) experiments, HRESIMS studies, and by chemical evidence as 3-O-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(l→2)-β-d-fucopyranosyl-(1→6)-[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1→2)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-21-O-{(2E,6S)-6-O-{4-O-[(2E,6S)-2,6-dimethyl-6-O-(β-d-quinovopyranosyl)octa-2,7-dienoyl]-4-O-[(2E,6S)-2,6-dimethyl-6-O-(β-d-quinovopyranosyl)octa-2,7-dienoyl]-β-d-quinovopyranosyl}-2,6-dimethylocta-2,7-dienoyl}acacic acid 28 O-[β-d-quinovopyranosyl-(l→3)-[α-l-arabinofuranosyl-(l→4)]-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(l→2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl] ester. The isolated saponin (1) displayed significant cytotoxic activity against the human glioblastoma cell line U-87 MG and TG1 stem-like glioma cells isolated from a patient tumor with IC₅₀ values of 1.69 and 1.44 μM, respectively.     

Recent developments in X-UV optics and X-UV diagnostics

Metrology of XUV beams (X-ray lasers, high-harmonic generation and VUV free-electron lasers) is of crucial importance for the development of applications. We have thus developed several new optical systems enabling us to measure the optical properties of XUV beams. By use of a Michelson interferometer working as a Fourier-transform spectrometer, the line shapes of different X-ray lasers have been measured with a very high accuracy (/10^-6). Achievement of the first XUV wavefront sensor has enabled us to measure the beam quality of laser-pumped as well as discharge-pumped X-ray lasers. A capillary discharge X-ray laser has demonstrated a very good wavefront allowing us to achieve an intensity as high as 3×10¹⁴ Wcm^-2 by focusing with a f=5 cm mirror. The sensor accuracy has been measured using a calibrated spherical wave generated by diffraction. The accuracy has been estimated to be as good as /120 at 13 nm. Commercial developments are underway. At Laboratoire dOptique Appliquée, we are setting up a new beamline based on high-harmonic generation in order to start the femtosecond, coherent XUV optic . PACS 07.85.Nc;32.70.Jz;41.50.+h;42.15.Dp;42.55.Vc;52.70.La     

Efficient Bromination of Naphthalene Dianhydride and Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Core-Brominated Naphthalene Diimides

This article presents an efficient method for the synthesis of core-brominated naphthalene diimides (NDI) from naphthalene dianhydride (NDA). A procedure for monitoring the NDA bromination reaction by ¹H NMR spectroscopy is described, allowing for optimization and greater consistency of this reaction. Furthermore, the subsequent bis-imidization reaction of the brominated NDA product has been significantly enhanced using microwave-assisted conditions, with recovery of pure product via simple filtration in excess of 90% of theoretical yield. This chemistry offers greatly improved methodology for obtaining core-substituted NDI compounds with high efficiency and good yields.     

Simultaneous detection of 19 K‐ras mutations by free‐solution conjugate electrophoresis of ligase detection reaction products on glass microchips

We demonstrate here the power and flexibility of free‐solution conjugate electrophoresis (FSCE) as a method of separating DNA fragments by electrophoresis with no sieving polymer network. Previous work introduced the coupling of FSCE with ligase detection reaction (LDR) to detect point mutations, even at low abundance compared to the wild‐type DNA. Here, four large drag‐tags are used to achieve free‐solution electrophoretic separation of 19 LDR products ranging in size from 42 to 66 nt that correspond to mutations in the K‐ras oncogene. LDR‐FSCE enabled electrophoretic resolution of these 19 LDR‐FSCE products by CE in 13.5 min (E = 310 V/cm) and by microchip electrophoresis in 140 s (E = 350 V/cm). The power of FSCE is demonstrated in the unique characteristic of free‐solution separations where the separation resolution is constant no matter the electric field strength. By microchip electrophoresis, the electric field was increased to the maximum of the power supply (E = 700 V/cm), and the 19 LDR‐FSCE products were separated in less than 70 s with almost identical resolution to the separation at E = 350 V/cm. These results will aid the goal of screening K‐ras mutations on integrated “sample‐in/answer‐out” devices with amplification, LDR, and detection all on one platform.