Modulation of the Biocatalytic Properties of a Novel Lipase from Psychrophilic Serratia sp. (USBA-GBX-513) by Different Immobilization Strategies

In this work, the effect of different immobilization procedures on the properties of a lipase obtained from the extremophilic microorganism Serratia sp. USBA-GBX-513, which was isolated from Paramo soils of Los Nevados National Natural Park (Colombia), is reported. Different Shepharose beads were used: octyl-(OC), octyl-glyoxyl-(OC-GLX), cyanogen bromide (BrCN)-, and Q-Sepharose. The performance of the different immobilized extremophile lipase from Serratia (ESL) was compared with that of the lipase B from Candida antarctica (CALB). In all immobilization tests, hyperactivation of ESL was observed. The highest hyperactivation (10.3) was obtained by immobilization on the OC support. Subsequently, the thermal stability at pH 5, 7, and 9 and the stability in the presence of 50% (v/v) acetonitrile, 50% dioxane, and 50% tetrahydrofuran solvents at pH 7 and 40 °C were evaluated. ESL immobilized on octyl-Sepharose was the most stable biocatalyst at 90 °C and pH 9, while the most stable preparation at pH 5 was ESL immobilized on OC-GLX-Sepharose supports. Finally, in the presence of 50% (v/v) tetrahydrofuran (THF) or dioxane at 40 °C, ESL immobilized on OC-Sepharose was the most stable biocatalyst, while the immobilized preparation of ESL on Q-Sepharose was the most stable one in 40% (v/v) acetonitrile.     

A Photophysical Study of Sensitization-Initiated Electron Transfer: Insights into the Mechanism of Photoredox Activity

The development of photocatalytic reactions has provided many novel opportunities to expand the scope of synthetic organic chemistry. In parallel with progress towards uncovering new reactivity, there is consensus that efforts focused on providing detailed mechanistic insight in order to uncover underlying excited-state reactions are essential to maximise formation of desired products. With this in mind, we have investigated the recently reported sensitization-initiated electron transfer (SenI-ET) reaction for the C−H arylation of activated aryl halides. Using a variety of techniques, and in particular nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, we are able to distinguish several characteristic signals from the excited-state species involved in the reaction, and subsequent kinetic analysis under various conditions has facilitated a detailed insight into the likely reaction mechanism.     

Synthesis of Thymidine,Uridine, and 5‐Methyluridine Nucleolipids: Tools for a Tuned Lipophilization of Oligonucleotides

Three pyrimidine nucleosides, uridine ( 1 ), 5‐methyluridine ( 6 ), and 2′‐deoxythymidine ( 11 ), were converted to amphiphilic nucleolipids. Compounds 1 and 6 were lipophilized by introduction of symmetric ketal moieties with various carbon chain lengths (i.e., 5–17). Two ketal derivatives, 2b and 7a , were additionally further hydrophobized by N(3)‐farnesylation. 2′‐Deoxythymidine was alkylated at N(3) with a cetyl (=hexadecyl) residue, either directly or, after complete orthogonal protection of the sugar OH groups, by Mitsunobu reaction with hexadecan‐1‐ol. Some of the nucleolipids were subsequently converted to their 2‐cyanoethyl phosphoramidites (5′ or 3′), one of which was used for an exemplary synthesis of a lipo‐oligonucleotide. The sequence of this lipo‐oligonucleotide is an encoded manifestation of Pythagoras' law, created with a key table in which the letters of the alphabet, the numbers from 0 to 9 as well as the mostly used mathematical symbols are allocated to a ribonucleic acid triplet of the genetic code.     

Thermal study of new biologic active complexes with mixed ligands

Five new coordinative compounds that contain mixed ligands (4,4′-bipyridine and methacrylate anion) were synthesized and characterized (elemental analysis, IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy, and thermal studies). The complexes are of the type [M(4,4′-bipy)(C₄H₅O₂)₂]·nH₂O ((1) M:Mn, n = 0; (2) Co, n = 0.5; (3) M:Ni, n = 1.5; (4) M:Cu, n = 0.5; (5) M:Zn, n = 0.5; 4,4′-bipy: 4,4′-bipyridine; C₄H₅O₂: methacrylate anion). All the tested complexes exhibited very low MIC values against Escherichia coli strains and one compound against Staphylococcus aureus. Besides the specific antimicrobial spectrum, these compounds also inhibited the microbial ability to colonize the inert surfaces, acting as potential anti-adherence and biofilm-controlling agents. The thermal behavior provided confirmation of the complexes' compositions as well as the number and the nature of water molecules and the intervals of thermal stability.     

Trinuclear, tetranuclear, and polymeric Cu(II) complexes from the first use of 2-pyridylcyanoxime in transition metal chemistry: synthetic, structural, and magnetic studies

The first use of 2-pyridylcyanoxime, (py)C(CN)NOH, in transition metal chemistry is described. Depending on the nature of the metal starting material and the reaction conditions employed, the Cu(II)/(py)C(CN)NOH system has provided access to complexes [Cu(3)O{(py)C(CN)NO}(3)(NO(3))(H(2)O)(2)(MeOH)] (1), [Cu(4)O{(py)C(CN)NO}(4)(O(2)CMe)(2)] (2), [Cu(4)(OH)(2){(py)C(CN)NO}(2)(O(2)CPh)(4)](2n)·n[Cu(4)(OH)(2){(py)C(CN)NO}(2)(O(2)CPh)(4)] (3), and [Cu{(py)C(CN)NO}(2)](n) (4). The molecule of 1 consists of three Cu(II) atoms in a strictly equilateral arrangement bridged by a central μ(3)-oxide group. The molecule of 2 consists of a tetrahedron of Cu(II) atoms held together by a central μ(4)-oxide ion, four η(1):η(1):η(1):μ-(py)C(CN)NO(-) ligands and two η(1):η(1):μ-MeCO(2)(-) groups. The crystal structure of 3 consists of [Cu(4)(OH)(2){(py)C(CN)NO}(2)(O(2)CPh)(4)](2n) double chains and discrete cluster [Cu(4)(OH)(2){(py)C(CN)NO}(2)(O(2)CPh)(4)] molecules. The crystal structure of 4 consists of neutral polymeric chains based on centrosymmetric mononuclear [Cu{(py)C(CN)NO}(2)] units. The Cu(II) atoms are doubly bridged by the oximate groups of two η(1):η(1):η(1):μ-(py)C(CN)NO(-) ligands. Variable-temperature, solid-state direct current (dc) magnetic susceptibility studies were carried out for 1-4. The data indicate very strong antiferromagnetic exchange interactions for 1-3. The obtained J values are discussed in depth on the basis of the structural parameters of the complexes, literature reports, and existing magnetostructural correlations.     

Microfluidics made of yarns and knots: from fundamental properties to simple networks and operations

We present and characterize cotton yarn and knots as building blocks for making microfluidic circuits from the bottom up. The yarn used is made up of 200-300 fibres, each with a lumen. Liquid applied at the extremity of the yarn spontaneously wets the yarn, and the wetted length increases linearly over time in untreated yarn, but progresses according to a square root relationship as described by Washburn's equation upon plasma activation of the yarn. Knots are proposed for combining, mixing and splitting streams of fluids. Interestingly, the topology of the knot controls the mixing ratio of two inlet streams into two outlet yarns, and thus the ratio can be adjusted by choosing a specific knot. The flow resistance of a knot is shown to depend on the force used to tighten it and the flow resistance rapidly increases for single-stranded knots, but remains low for double-stranded knots. Finally, a serial dilutor is made with a web made of yarns and double-stranded overhand knots. These results suggest that yarn and knots may be used to build low cost microfluidic circuits.     

Calculations of the EPR g-tensor using unrestricted two- and four-component relativistic approaches within the HF and DFT frameworks

ABSTRACT

Approaches and programs for calculations of the EPR g-tensor in the framework of the two- and four-component methods are still very rare. There are three main reasons for this: the wider community's unawareness of the importance of second- and higher order spin–orbit effects on the g-tensor, the methodological problems associated with performing such calculations and the lack of understanding of these problems. This paper reports on the implementation of a method for calculation of the g-tensor in the framework of the relativistic unrestricted two- and four-component Hartree–Fock and density functional theory approaches based on the Kramers pair formalism. This implementation allows us to analyse problems which arise when the g-tensor is calculated via Kramers pairs in the unrestricted framework.     

Interactions of 10.6 GeV/n gold nuclei with light and heavy target nuclei in nuclear emulsion

Zeitschrift für Physik C Particles and Fields - We have investigated the particle production and fragmentation of nuclei participating in the interactions of 10.6 GeV/n gold nuclei in nuclear...