Effects of sugar inhibition on cellulases and β-glucosidase during enzymatic hydrolysis of softwood substrates

A quantitative approach was taken to determine the inhibition effects of glucose and other sugar monomers during cellulase and β-Glucosidase hydrolysis of two types of cellulosic material: Avicel and acetic acid-pretreated softwood. The increased glucose content in the hydrolysate resulted in a dramatic increase in the degrees of inhibition on both β-Glucosidase and cellulase activities. Supplementation of mannose, xylose, and galactose during cellobiose hydrolysis did not show any inhibitory effects on β-Glucosidase activity. However, these sugars were shown to have significant inhibitory effects on cellulase activity during cellulose hydrolysis. Our study suggests that high-substrate consistency hydrolysis with supplementation of hemicellulose is likely to be a practical solution to minimizing end-product inhibition effects while producing hydrolysate with high glucose concentration.     

Reactions of [NiIII(cyclam)] with aqueous sulfur dioxide: Exhibition of a deuterium isotope effect and catalysis by chloride and bromide

One unit of S(IV) (SO₂ or SHO₃^?) is oxidized per 2 units of [Ni^III(cyclam)] species to obtain sulfate. Kinetic analyses have been done by varying the acidities (0.013 ? [H⁺] ? 1.0 M) and halide concentrations (0.000 ? [X^?] ? 0.012 M; X=Cl and Br) at constant ionic strength (μ = 1.0 M). The rate law that incorporates the [X^?] and [H⁺] dependence is ?d[Ni^III]_T/dt=2k[Ni^III]_T[S(IV)]_T where 2k={k_a[H⁺] + k_bK + kK′_X[H⁺] [X^?] + kK′_XK[X^?]} {[H⁺] + K}^?1 {1 + K′_X[X^?]}^?1, here k_a=87 ± 7 M^?1 s^?1, k_b=(2.5 ± 0.5)×10³ M^?1 s^?1 and pK = 1.8 ± 0.2. Rate constants k_a and k_b are attributed to the reactions of [Ni^III(cyclam) (H₂O)₂]³⁺ with SO₂ and SHO₃^?, respectively. Monohalo species apparent equilibrium constants K′_Cl=(1600 ± 400) M^?1 and K′_Br=(190 ± 20) M^?1 and rate constants k=80 ± 8 M^?1 s^?1 and k = 140 ± 15 M^?1 s^?1 are ascribed to the protonated pathway, involving the [Ni^III(cyclam) (H₂O)X]²⁺ and SO_2(aq) reaction pairs. The other two rate constants of k=(5 ± 1)×10³ M^?1 s^?1 and k=(3.1 ± 0.5)×10⁴ M^?1 s^?1, refer to the deprotonated pathway and are assigned to the [Ni^III(cyclam) (H₂O)X]²⁺ /SHO₃^? redox couple. A deuterium H₂O / D₂O isotope effect of 2.1–2.8 can be attributed partially to an equilibrium isotope effect at low acidity though a small kinetic isotope (2.5 ± 0.5) effect is evident for the dihydrogen sulfito pathway, k_a. The kinetic isotope effect and the absence of sulfite radical scavenging effects are explained by a mechanism entailing migration of a hydride from sulfur to the Ni^III center to produce a Ni^III—H species, which rapidly comproportionates, and S(VI). © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Dimerization of some substituted benzoic acids in aqueous solution from conductance measurements

Precision molar conductances of benzoic, o-toluic, 2,6-dimethylbenzoic, 2,3,6-trimethylbenzoic, and, o-fluorobenzoic acids have been determined in aqueous solution as a function of temperature and of concentration up to near saturation (<0.035 M). At the higher concentrations molar conductances are found to be less than anticipated for the simple dissociation of a 1-1 electrolyte. Although the deviations are only 1% or less they have been interpreted to show that these acids are dimerized in solution. The interpretation includes an assumption that the dimer ionizes to produce a triple ion. Increasing numbers of methyl groups lead to increasing dimerization. For those acids with two ortho groups the dimerization increases with increasing temperature while the other three show decreasing dimerization with increasing temperature. Temperature functions have been determined for the dimerization constants and from these functions standard changes in enthalpy, entropy, and heat capacity have been determined. Comparisons are made with dimerization studies in non-aqueous solvents. From these as well as the behavior of benzene in water it is concluded that a major factor driving the dimerization is hydrophobic interaction. To provide a limiting conductance of the triple ion needed in the dimerization calculations a conductance study was also made for o-Phenylbenzoic acid on the assumption that its anion provides an approximate model of the triple ion.     

Characterization of recombinant human serum albumin using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Chromatographically purified recombinant human serum albumin (rHSA), produced in genetically transformed yeast cells, was characterized using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MS techniques. The molecular mass of the intact protein was determined to be 66671, in good agreement with that of purified HSA which was used as a standard. The identity of rHSA to its natural counterpart was established with high precision using peptide mass fingerprinting of tryptic peptides. Partial amino acid sequence data for rHSA were obtained using Ettan CAF MALDI Sequencing Kit and post-source decay on the tryptic peptides. The results achieved provide strong evidence that MALDI-TOF-MS is an important analytical technique for characterising gene products and for establishing the identity and bio-compatibility of recombinant proteins relative to their natural counterparts.     

IR and raman spectra of two layered aluminium phosphates Co(en)3Al3P4O16.3H2O and

The FT IR and FT Raman spectra of Co(en)3Al3P4O16.3H2O (compound I) and [NH4]3[Co(NH3)6]3[Al2 (PO4)4]2.2H2O (compound II) are recorded and analysed based on the vibrations of Co(en)(3)3+, Co(NH3)(6)3+, NH4, Al-O-P, PO3, PO2 and H2O. The observed splitting of bands indicate that the site symmetry and correlation field effects are appreciable in both the compounds. In compound I, the overtone of CH2 deformation Fermi resonates with its symmetric stretching vibration. The NH4 ion in compound II is not free to rotate in the crystalline lattice. Hydrogen bonding of different groups is also discussed.     

Synthesis of substituted 5-aminomethyl tetrahydro-isoquinolines and dihydro-isoindoles

The synthesis of ten substituted aminomethylene tetrahydro-isoquinolines is described, proceeding in eight steps from 5-hydroxyisoquinoline via reductive amination of N-Boc tetrahydro-isoquinoline 5-carboxaldehyde. Likewise, reductive amination was used to prepare four substituted dihydro-isoindoles from the corresponding aldehyde. The dihydro-isoindole ring system was conveniently accessed via a 2+2+2 cycloaddition reaction.     

Efficient solid-phase-based total synthesis of the bisintercalator TANDEM

[reaction: see text] In this article, the first solid-phase-based total synthesis of TANDEM, a synthetic analogue of triostin A, is described. In initial studies, the synthesis incorporated depsipeptide formation, introduction of chromophores, and disulfide bond formation on the solid phase, prior to a final solution-phase macrolactamization, to give the target molecule. Although pure TANDEM was obtained in an overall yield comparable to those for all syntheses to date, the yield of the final cyclization was low (11%). A more efficient approach involved removal from the solid phase prior to disulfide bond formation. The resulting linear peptide underwent macrolactamization under mild conditions and high dilution. Final disulfide bond formation was essentially quantitative and gave the target molecule, TANDEM, in an overall yield of 18%. The final compound was assessed for its ability to bind to 5'-TpA sequences on DNA by DNase I footprinting. This efficient synthesis sets the stage for a study of the structure-activity relationship of TANDEM and the natural product triostin A, with analogues containing "point mutations" at every site within the cyclic compounds.     

Vibrational spectra of molten and aqueous NaClO3 and KClO3

Raman spectra of molten NaClO₃ and KClO₃ and of aqueous solutions of these salts were measured over the frequency interval from 50 to 1200 cm⁻¹|. Infrared emission spectra of the molten chlorates and of chlorate-nitrate mixtures were recorded, and absorption spectra of aqueous sodium and potassium chlorate also were determined. The ν₃(e) and ν₄(e) modes of ClO⁻₃ were split in the molten salt and aqueous solution spectra, and a single, weak band was observed between ca. 80 and 200 cm⁻ in the Raman spectra of molten NaClO₃ and KClO₃.     

THE ROLE OF SOLAR ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION IN 'NATURAL' WATER PURIFICATION

Abstract— The concentration of Escherichia coli in the input and output of a tertiary wastewater system (4 lagoons) has been monitored over an 11 month period. The integrated flux of biologically active solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation was measured during this period. By also determining (1) the effective temperature in the system, (2) the growth rate of E. coli at the effective temperature, (3) the penetration of the solar UV into the lagoons, (4) the dose-response relation for killing of E. coli by UV and (5) the retention time of water in the system, it is possible to compare the 'die off' expected from solar UV exposure to the actual 'die off' observed for different batches of water.
The observed killing of E. coli was quite close to the values calculated, considering the numerous factors involved. Solar UV light would thus seem to be a very important factor in the natural purification of water. Because each successful species must possess characteristics (physiological or behavioral) which provide adequate resistance to solar UV, the ecological role of solar UV radiation has not been widely appreciated.