Multiple-injection affinity capillary electrophoresis to estimate binding constants of receptors to ligands

Multiple-injection affinity capillary electrophoresis (MIACE) is used to determine binding constants (K _b) between receptors and ligands using as model systems vancomycin and teicoplanin from Streptomyces orientalis and Actinoplanes teichomyceticus, respectively, and their binding to D-Ala-D-Ala peptides and carbonic anhydrase B (CAB. EC 4.2.1.1) and the binding of the latter to arylsulfonamides. A sample plug containing a non-interacting standard is first injected followed by multiple plugs of sample containing the receptor and then a final injection of sample containing a second standard. Between each injection of sample, a small plug of buffer is injected which contains an increasing concentration of ligand to effect separation between the multiple injections of sample. Electrophoresis is then carried out in an increasing concentration of ligand in the running buffer. Continued electrophoresis results in a shift in the migration time of the receptor in the sample plugs upon binding to their respective ligand. Analysis of the change in the relative migration time ratio (RMTR) or electrophoretic mobility (μ) of the resultant receptor–ligand complex relative to the non-interacting standards, as a function of the concentration of ligand yields a value for K _b. The MIACE technique is a modification in the ACE method that allows for the estimation of binding affinities between biological interactions on a timescale faster than that found for standard ACE. In addition sample volume requirements for the technique are reduced compared to traditional ACE assays. These findings demonstrate the advantage of using MIACE to estimate binding parameters between receptors and ligands.     

Surface phase behavior and microstructure of lipid/PEG-emulsifier monolayer-coated microbubbles

Langmuir trough methods and fluorescence microscopy were combined to investigate the phase behavior and microstructure of monolayer shells coating micron-scale bubbles (microbubbles) typically used in biomedical applications. The monolayer shell consisted of a homologous series of saturated acyl chain phospholipids and an emulsifier containing a single hydrophobic stearate chain and polyethylene glycol (PEG) head group. PEG-emulsifier was fully miscible with expanded phase lipids and phase separated from condensed phase lipids. Phase coexistence was observed in the form of dark condensed phase lipid domains surrounded by a sea of bright, emulsifier-rich expanded phase. A rich assortment of condensed phase area fractions and domain morphologies, including networks and other novel structures, were observed in each batch of microbubbles. Network domains were reproduced in Langmuir monolayers under conditions of heating–cooling followed by compression–expansion, as well as in microbubble shells that underwent surface flow with slight compression. Domain size decreased with increased cooling rate through the phase transition temperature, and domain branching increased with lipid acyl chain length at high cooling rates. Squeeze-out of the emulsifier at a surface pressure near 35 mN/m was indicated by a plateau in Langmuir isotherms and directly visualized with fluorescence microscopy, although collapse of the solid lipid domains occurred at much higher surface pressures. Compression of the monolayer past the PEG-emulsifier squeeze-out surface pressure resulted in a dark shell composed entirely of lipid. Under certain conditions, the PEG-emulsifier was reincorporated upon subsequent expansion. Factors that affect shell formation and evolution, as well as implications for the rational design of microbubbles in medical applications, are discussed.     

Estimating measurement uncertainty in an afternoon. A case study in the practical application of measurement uncertainty

The ISO/IEC 17025:1999 standard requires chemical testing laboratories to have an estimate of the uncertainty of their measurements. This is a new requirement for many laboratories and there is confusion as to how to estimate uncertainty. Concerns have been raised about the time and effort required to obtain uncertainty estimates.Uncertainty budgets were prepared for the measurement of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylenes (BTEX) in water using purge and trap coupled with GC/MS. A time limit of one working afternoon (2 pm–5.30 pm) was imposed for preparing the uncertainty estimate. Details of the uncertainty estimate for toluene are described.The method in question had been in routine use for several years and the laboratory held third party (NATA) accreditation for the test. Consequently a considerable amount of performance data was readily available. Relevant information was extracted from the documented test method, validation data, instrument calibration and from routine quality control. This data was combined according to the principles of the ISO Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty, as promulgated in the Eurachem document "Quantifying Uncertainty in Analytical Measurement."The uncertainty estimates were compared to estimates obtained from generalised empirical models (the Horwitz and Lowthian equations), and from interlaboratory studies of this analysis.A traceability chain from routine measurements to the SI units of metre, kilogram and mole is described.Realistic and useful uncertainty estimates were obtained with a few hours work using data extant in the laboratory.     

Ionization energy reductions in small 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid-proline clusters

The photoionization of (pro)(n)DHB (pro = proline, DHB = 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, n = 0, 1, 2 or 4) clusters was studied both experimentally and computationally. Experimentally the (pro)(n)DHB clusters are generated in the gas phase by laser desorption and supersonic jet entrainment. The photoionization thresholds are then determined by the mass-selective measurement of both one- and two-color photoionization efficiency curves. These experiments demonstrate that the ionization energies (IEs) of the (pro)(n)DHB clusters are substantially reduced in comparison with the IE of free DHB. Computational studies of the (pro)(n)DHB clusters provide insights into the mechanism of IE reduction. For the (pro)DHB system the IE reduction results from spin delocalization in the ion state of the cluster. In contrast, for the (pro)(2)DHB and (pro)(4)DHB clusters the IE reduction results from an inductive delocalization of electron density from pro to DHB in the ground state of the cluster. This latter effect, which is a result of the specific hydrogen-bonding interactions occurring in the mixed clusters, leads to IE reductions of >1 eV. Finally, determination of the energetics of the (pro)(2)DHB radical cation demonstrate that the DHB-to-proline proton transfer reaction is a barrierless, exoergic process in the ion state and that energetic demands for cluster dissociation to protonated (pro)(2) plus a deprotonated DHB radical are substantially lower than those for cluster dissociation to (pro)(2) plus DHB(+*). Cumulatively, these studies provide new energetic and mechanistic insights into both primary and secondary MALDI ionization processes.     

Surface patterns of block copolymers in thin layers after vapor treatment

A systematic study of formation of surface patterns in block copolymer thin layers after their exposure to solvent vapors was performed. The studied effect involves layers of thickness approximately equal to the ordering size of polymers - about 45 nm. Experiments were performed on three styrene - methacrylate derivative block copolymers, synthesized by living anionic polymerization: poly(4-octylstyrene)-block-poly(butyl methacrylate), poly(4-fluorostyrene)-block-poly(butyl methacrylate) and poly(p-octylstyrene)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate). The polymers were exposed to vapors of chloroform, 1,4-dioxane, hexane, acetone and tetrahydrofuran.     

Alkyl (C<Subscript>10</Subscript>, C<Subscript>12</Subscript>, C<Subscript>14</Subscript> and C<Subscript>16</Subscript>) triphenyl phosphonium bromide influenced cloud points of nonionic surfactants (Triton X 100, Brij 56 and Brij 97) and the polymer (Polyvinyl methyl ether)

The clouding points (CP) of the nonionic surfactants p-tert-octyl phenyl polyoxyethylene ether (Triton X 100), Brij-56 and Brij-97, and the water soluble polymer polyvinylmethylether (PVME) have been measured in the presence of the ionic surfactants alkyl (C₁₀, C₁₂, C₁₄ and C₁₆) triphenyl phosphonium bromides (ATPBs). The threshold additive concentrations required for efficient CP enhancement of the systems that were studied have been determined. Considering CP as the threshold state of phase separation, the energetics of the process at different additive concentrations has been evaluated. The spontaneity of free energy of the clouding process (G _c ⁰ ) at the transition concentrations followed the order PVME > TX 100  Bj 56 > Bj 97. The clouding process has been found to be energetically endothermic with fairly large enthalpy and entropy changes that nicely compensate each other. The compensation temperature has been evaluated and compared with different types of the clouding agents.This revised version was published online in January 2005 with corrections to the names of the authors.     

Applications of homemade kit in mutation detection of genes

With the accomplishment of Human Genome Project (HGP), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and mutation detection in human genome are becom-ing a new researching focus. These researches can help us to understand the phenotype diversity of indi-vidual, disease susceptibility and drug resistance of different colonies. Traditional method used for muta-tion detection is slab gel electrophoresis, which re-mains labor-intensive and time-consuming because of the requirement of radioactivity or te…     

Adsorption of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> N</Emphasis>-dodecyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate (DDAPS), a model zwitterionic surfactant,on the Au(111) electrode surface

Electrochemical measurements including cyclic voltammetry, differential capacity, and chronocoulometry have been used to characterize the adsorption behaviors of the zwitterionic surfactant N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate (DDAPS) on the Au(111) electrode surface. The thermodynamics of the ideally polarized electrode have been employed to determine the Gibbs excess and the Gibbs energy of adsorption. The results show that the adsorption of DDAPS has a multistate character. The first two states are observed at potentials close to zero charge. At low bulk DDAPS concentrations, it corresponds to the formation of a film of nearly flat adsorbed molecules. At higher concentrations it is converted into a hemimicellar state. The second state is formed at negative potentials and charge densities close to 0 C cm^–2. It corresponds to a film of tilted molecules oriented with the hydrocarbon tail towards the metal and the polar head toward the solution.Dedicated to Professor Zbigniew Galus on the occasion of his 70^th birthday and in recognition of his many contributions to electrochemistry.     

Limitations of low resolution mass spectrometry in the electron capture negative ionization mode for the analysis of short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins

The analysis of complex mixtures of chlorinated paraffins (CPs) with short (SCCPs, C₁₀–C₁₃) and medium (MCCPs, C₁₄–C₁₇) chain lengths can be disturbed by mass overlap, if low resolution mass spectrometry (LRMS) in the electron capture negative ionization mode is employed. This is caused by CP congeners with the same nominal mass, but with five carbon atoms more and two chlorine atoms less; for example C₁₁H₁₇³⁷Cl³⁵Cl₆ (m/z 395.9) and C₁₆H₂₉³⁵Cl₅ (m/z 396.1). This can lead to an overestimation of congener group quantity and/or of total CP concentration. The magnitude of this interference was studied by evaluating the change after mixing a SCCP standard and a MCCP standard 1+1 (S+MCCP mixture) and comparing it to the single standards. A quantification of the less abundant C₁₆ and C₁₇ congeners present in the MCCP standard was not possible due to interference from the major C₁₁ and C₁₂ congeners in the SCCPs. Also, signals for SCCPs (C₁₀–C₁₂) with nine and ten chlorine atoms were mimicked by MCCPs (C₁₅–C₁₇) with seven and eight chlorine atoms (for instance C₁₀H₁₂Cl₁₀ by C₁₅H₂₄Cl₈). A similar observation was made for signals from C₁₅–C₁₇ CPs with four and five chlorine atoms resulting from SCCPs (C₁₀–C₁₂) with six and seven chlorine atoms (such as C₁₅H₂₈Cl₄ by C₁₀H₁₆Cl₆) in the S+MCCP mixture. It could be shown that the quantification of the most abundant congeners (C₁₁–C₁₄) is not affected by any interference. The determination of C₁₀ and C₁₅ congeners is partly disturbed, but this can be detected by investigating isotope ratios, retention time ranges and the shapes of the CP signals. Also, lower chlorinated compounds forming [M+Cl]^– as the most abundant ion instead of [M-Cl]^– are especially sensitive to systematic errors caused by superposition of ions of different composition and the same nominal mass.     

Determination of Dopamine in the Presence of Ascorbic Acid Using a Poly(Amidosulfonic Acid) Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

A glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified with electropolymerized films of amidosulfonic acid in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution (PBS) by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The modified electrode showed an excellent electrocatalytical effect on the oxidation of dopamine (DA). In pH 7.0 PBS, the anodic peak current increased linearly with the concentration of DA in the range of 5.0×10^–7 1.0×10^–4moldm^–3, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9932, and a detection limit (S/N=3) of 1.0× 10^–7moldm^–3. The relative standard deviation of 10 successive scans was 2.5% for 1.0×10^–6moldm^–3 DA. The interference of ascorbic acid (AA) with the determination of DA could be eliminated because of the very distinct attracting interaction between DA cations and the negatively poly(amidosulfonic acid) film in pH 7.0 PBS. The proposed method exhibited good recovery and reproducibility.