Using electrospray laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry to rapidly examine the integrity of proteins stored in various solutions

Electrospray laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (ELDI/MS) allows the rapid desorption and ionization of proteins from solutions under ambient conditions. In this study, we have demonstrated the use of ELDI/MS to efficiently examine the integrity of the proteins stored in various solutions before they were further used for other biochemical tests. The protein standards were prepared in the solutions containing buffers, organic salts, inorganic salts, strong acid, strong base, and organic solvents, respectively, to simulate those collected from solvent extraction, filtration, dialysis, or chromatographic separation. Other than the deposit of a drop of the sample solution on the metallic sample plate in an ELDI source, no additional sample pretreatment is needed. The sample drop was then irradiated with a pulsed laser; this led to desorption of the analyte molecules, which subsequently entered the ESI plume to undergo post-ionization. Because adjustment of the composition of the sample solution is unnecessary, this technique appears to be useful for rapidly evaluating the integrity of proteins after storage or prior to further biochemical treatment. In addition, when using acid-free and low-organic-solvent ESI solutions for ELDI/MS analysis, the native conformations of the proteins in solution could be detected.

Sensitive detection of T4 polynucleotide kinase activity based on coupled exonuclease reaction and nicking enzyme-assisted fluorescence signal amplification

As a prominent member of the 5′-kinase family, T4 polynucleotide kinase (PNK) plays an important role in gene function regulations, and the study of PNK activity and its potential inhibitors is significant for research related to the DNA phosphorylation process. Here, we proposed a novel strategy for the detection of PNK activity and its inhibition, which combines exonuclease enzyme reaction and nicking enzyme-assisted fluorescence signal amplification. Through recycling cleavage of DNA fluorescence probe for signal amplification, a highly sensitive PNK sensing platform is developed, and a very low detection limit of 0.05 mU/mL is achieved, which is better than or comparable to that of the previously reported PNK assays. The present approach adopts a simple separation-free procedure in which the enzyme assay is conducted in homogeneous solutions. Additionally, the inhibitory effects of several known kinase inhibitors on PNK have been successfully detected. Since the proposed assay exhibits the advantages of high sensitivity and simplicity, it holds great potential in providing a promising platform for convenient and highly sensitive detection of PNK activity and its inhibitors.

α-Al_2O_3比表面积标准物质的研制

选择市售α-Al2O3粉体作为比表面积标准物质候选材料,采用交叉缩分方法对标准物质样品进行分装。检验结果表明α-Al2O3标准物质样品具有良好的均匀性和稳定性(18个月)。采用国际公认的氮气物理吸附BET方法,联合测量能力经过确认的8家实验室对α-Al2O3标准物质样品进行定值,标准值比表面积为5.47 m2/g,不确定度为0.22 m2/g(k=2)。     

The Crystallization and Melting Behaviors of PDLA-b-PBS-b-PDLA Tri-block Copolymers

In this study,the poly(D-lactide)-block-poly(butylene succinate)-block-poly(D-lactide)(PDLA-b-PBS-b-PDLA)triblock copolymers with a fixed length of PBS and various lengths of PDLA are synthesized,and the crystallization behaviors of the PDLA and PBS blocks are investigated.Although both the crystallization behaviors of PBS and PDLA blocks depend on composition,they exhibit different variations.For the PDLA block,its crystallization behaviors are mainly influenced by temperature and block length.The crystallization signals of PDLA block appear in the B-D 2-2 specimen,and these signals get enhanced with PDLA block length.The crystallization rates tend to decrease with increasing PDLA block lendth during crystallizing at 90 and 100°C.Crystallizing at higher temperature,the crystallization rates increase at first and then decrease with block length.The crystallization rates decrease as elevating the crystallization temperature.The melting temperatures of PDLA blocks increase with block lengths and crystallization temperatures.For the PBS block,its crystallization behaviors are mainly controlled by the nucleation and confinement from PDLA block.The crystallization and melting enthalpies as well as the crystallization and melting temperatures of PBS block reduce as a longer PDLA block has been copolymerized,while the crystallization rates of the PBS block exhibit unique component dependence,and the highest rate is observed in the B-D 2-2 specimen.The Avrami exponent of PBS crystallites is reduced as a longer PDLA block is incorporated or the sample is crystallized at higher temperature.This investigation provides a convenient route to tune the crystallization behavior of PBS and PLA.     

Copolymer synthesis of poly(L-lactide-b-DMS-L-lactide) via the ring opening polymerization of L-lactide in the presence of α,ω-hydroxylpropyl-terminated PDMS macroinitiator

Various amounts of hydroxy terminated PDMS were linked into PLLA chains via in-situ ring opening polymerization at a very low content of SnOt₂. The ¹H and FTIR spectra provided evidence for the incorporation of the PDMS in the PLLA chains. The molecular weights, T_g, T_m, crystallinity and the heats of fusion decreased as the feed mole ratio of PDMS/LLA in the block copolymer increased. The molecular weight distribution broadened as the content of the PDMS increased, due the occurrence of two initiation and propagation mechanisms. Linking PDMS into the PLLA chains improved its thermal stability. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effects of guanidinium cations on structural,optoelectronic and photovoltaic properties of perovskites

Guanidinium (GA) cations are intentionally introduced in MAPbl3 perovskite by considering its potential capability of stabilizing the material through plenty of...     

A new inorganic–organic hybrid compound constructed from polyoxoanions and rare earth coordination complexes

A new chainlike polymer, Na[Ce(dipic)(H₂O)₃]₂ [CrMo₆H₆O₂₄] · 13H₂O (H₂dipic = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid) (1), has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis; IR and XPS spectroscopy, TG analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound (1) is built up of Anderon-type polyoxoanions as structural motifs and cerium–dipic coordination fragments as linkers to yield an unprecedented one-dimensional chain. Such chains are further in close contact forming a three-dimensional supramolecular framework with channels via extensive hydrogen-bonding interactions among polyoxoanions, dipic ligands and water molecules. Furthermore, the magnetic properties of compound (1) have been studied by measuring their magnetic susceptibility in the temperature range 2–300 K.     

Efficient and wavelength-tunable anti-Stokes frequency conversion with good beam quality in the fundamental mode of photonic crystal fiber

Using the photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with the zero dispersion wavelength of 848 nm for the fundamental mode, the efficient anti-Stokes signal generations from 645 to 543 nm are realized by pumping in the normal dispersion region. When the pump average power increases from 200 to 500 mW, the output power of the anti-Stokes signal increases 8.46 times, the power ratio of the anti-Stokes signal at 543 nm to the residual pump is calculated as 22.6:1, and the conversion efficiency η in the experiment can be up to 46%. Moreover, good optical beam quality of the anti-Stokes signal can be achieved.