Lysozyme coated DNA and DNA/SWNT fibers by solution spinning

DNA fibers were prepared by solution spinning of DNA in a lysozyme (LSZ) coagulation/gelation bath. Strong positive charges carried by LSZ protein condensed the DNA (strong negative charged) molecules resulting in self‐assembly and the formation of fibrillar structures in a gel‐like network. DNA/LSZ fibril formation was found to be dependent on the ratio of DNA to LSZ. A minimum 0.1 wt.‐% of LSZ was necessary to condense 0.1 wt.‐% of DNA into micro‐fibrils. Macroscopic fiber spinning was possible by introducing a 0.1 wt.‐% DNA aqueous solution into a 0.2 wt.‐% LSZ coagulation bath which resulted in fibers with ≈20 µm diameter. Single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) were also incorporated into these fibers to explore the possibility for creating hybrid materials. All DNA‐based fibers exhibit strong birefringence confirming molecular orientation along the fiber axis. Due to the presence of LSZ, the fibers exhibit antimicrobial activity against bacteria like Micrococcus lysodeikticus.

     

Fullerenes without symmetry: crystallographic characterization of C1(30)-C90 and C1(32)-C90

Fullerenes are generally considered as highly symmetric, yet fullerene isomers with only C(1) symmetry, such as C(1)(30)-C(90) and C(1)(32)-C(90) whose structures are reported here, become increasingly numerous as fullerene size increases.     

Statistically disordered short hydrogen bonds in (pipzH2)(cdoH)2 and a comparison with (pipzH2)(cdo)·H2O (pipz is piperazine and cdoH2 is chelidonic acid)

Two related proton‐transfer compounds, namely piperazine‐1,4‐diium 4‐oxo‐4H‐pyran‐2,6‐dicarboxylate monohydrate, C₄H₁₂N₂²⁺·C₇H₂O₆²⁻·H₂O or (pipzH₂)(cdo)·H₂O, (I), and piperazine‐1,4‐diium bis(6‐carboxy‐4‐oxo‐4H‐pyran‐2‐carboxylate), C₄H₁₂N₂²⁺·2C₇H₃O₆⁻ or (pipzH₂)(cdoH)₂, (II), were obtained by the reaction of 4‐oxo‐4H‐pyran‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid (chelidonic acid, cdoH₂) and piperazine (pipz). In (I), both carboxyl H atoms of chelidonic acid have been transferred to piperazine to form the piperazine‐1,4‐diium ion. The structure is a monohydrate. All potential N—H donors are involved in N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The water molecule spans two anions via the 4‐oxo group of the pyranose ring and a carboxylate O atom. The hydrogen‐bonding motif is essentially two‐dimensional. The structure is a pseudomerohedral twin. In the asymmetric unit of (II), the anion consists of monodeprotonated chelidonic acid, while the piperazine‐1,4‐diium cation is located on an inversion centre. The single carboxyl H atom is disordered in two respects. Firstly, the disordered H atom is shared equally by both carboxylic acid groups. Secondly, the H atom is statistically disordered between two positions on either side of a centre of symmetry and is engaged in a very short hydrogen‐bonding interaction; the relevant O...O distances are 2.4549 (11) and 2.4395 (11) Å, and the O—H...O angles are 177 (6) and 177 (5)°, respectively. Further hydrogen bonding of the type N—H...O places the (pipzH₂)²⁺ cations in pockets formed by the chains of (cdoH)⁻ anions. In contrast with (I), the (pipzH₂)²⁺ cations form hydrogen‐bonding arrays that are perpendicular to the anions, yielding a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonding motif. The structures of both (I) and (II) also feature π–π stacking interactions between aromatic rings.     

Multiresidue determination of fluoroquinolones in shrimp by liquid chromatography-fluorescence-mass spectrometry

An efficient multiresidue method for analysis of fluoroquinolones in shrimp has been developed in which quantitation by fluorescence and confirmation by Multiple Stage Mass Spectrometry (MS) is achieved simultaneously. In this method, shrimp tissue is extracted with ammoniacal acetonitrile and the extract is defatted and then evaporated. After dissolution in basic phosphate buffer, fluoroquinolones in the extract are separated by liquid chromatography and quantitated, taking advantage of their intense fluorescence. Eluate from the fluorescence detector enters the MS, which allows for confirmation by monitoring ratios of 2 prominent product ions in the MS3 or MS2 spectrum. Using this method, 8 fluoroquinolones have been analyzed in shrimp samples fortified at 10, 25, 50, or 100 ppb levels. Recoveries for desethyleneciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, danofloxacin, enrofloxacin, orbifloxacin, sarafloxacin, and difloxacin ranged from 75 to 92%, with relative standard deviation values of <6%. The limits of quantitation ranged from 0.1 to 1 ng/g. Enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were also successfully determined in enrofloxacin-incurred shrimp using this method.     

Nickel(II)-Mediated Reversible Thiolate/Disulfide Conversion as a Mimic for a Key Step of the Catalytic Cycle of Methyl-Coenzyme M Reductase

According to the well-accepted mechanism, methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) involves Ni-mediated thiolate-to-disulfide conversion that sustains its catalytic cycle of methane formation in the energy saving pathways of methanotrophic microbes. Model complexes that illustrate Ni-ion mediated reversible thiolate/disulfide transformation are unknown. In this paper we report the synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic properties and redox interconversions of a set of Ni^II complexes comprising a tridentate N₂S donor thiol and its analogous N₄S₂ donor disulfide ligands. These complexes demonstrate reversible Ni^II-thiolate/Ni^II-disulfide (both bound and unbound disulfide-S to Ni^II) transformations via thiyl and disulfide monoradical anions that resemble a primary step of MCR's catalytic cycle.