Rapid screening of membrane protein activity: electrophysiological analysis of OmpF reconstituted in proteoliposomes

Solvent-free planar lipid bilayers were formed in an automatic manner by bursting of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) after gentle suction application through micron-sized apertures in a borosilicate glass substrate. Incubation of GUVs with the purified ion channel protein of interest yielded proteoliposomes. These proteoliposomes allow for immediate recording of channel activity after GUV sealing. This approach reduces the time-consuming, laborious and sometimes difficult protein reconstitution processes normally performed after bilayer formation. Bilayer recordings are attractive for investigations of membrane proteins not accessible to patch clamp analysis, like e.g. proteins from organelles. In the presented work, we show the example of the outer membrane protein OmpF from Escherichia coli. We reconstituted OmpF in proteoliposomes and observed the characteristic trimeric conductance levels and the typical gating induced by pH and transmembrane voltage. Moreover, OmpF is the main entrance for beta-lactam antibiotics and we investigated translocation processes of antibiotics and modulation of OmpF by spermine. We suggest that the rapid formation of porin containing lipid bilayers is of potential for the efficient electrophysiological characterization of the OmpF protein, for studying membrane permeation processes and for the rapid screening of antibiotics.     

Eco-friendly solvent-free synthesis of thiazolylpyrazole derivatives

Highly versatile ethyl 3-thiosemicarbazidobutanoate was ball-milled with phenacyl bromide to afford the corresponding ethyl 3-[(4-phenyl-2-thiazolyl)hydrazono]butanoate which underwent heterocyclization by heating in ethanolic sodium acetate to give thiazolylpyrazolone that coupled chemoselectively with aromatic diazonium salts to furnish arylhydrazonothiazolylpyrazoles. Vilsmeier-Haack reaction of ethyl 3-thiosemicarbazidobutanoate furnished selectively thiazolylpyrazole. A series of pyrazolylthiosemicarbazones were synthesized by solid-state technique which allowed waste-free production. The reaction of pyrazolylthiosemicarbazones with phenacyl bromide afforded the corresponding 2-(arylidenehydrazino)-4-phenylthiazoles in quantitative yields. Correspondence: Samir Bondock, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, ET-31556 Mansoura, Egypt.     

Gold(I)-dithioether supramolecular polymers: synthesis, characterization, and luminescence

A series of discrete compounds and supramolecular polymers were synthesized by self-assembly of dithioether building blocks and HAuCl4.3H2O. In complexes 1 {[AuL(1-Me)Cl], where L(1-Me) is bis(methylthio)methane} and 2 {[Au2L(2-Ph)Cl2], where L(2-Ph) is 1,2-bis(phenylthio)ethane}, adjacent units are connected via aurophilic interactions. Complex 1, a one-dimensional (1D) supramolecular polymer, and complex 2, a two-dimensional supramolecular network, both feature nearly linear [Au-Au-](infinity) chains. Complexes 4a, 4b, and 4c, all of which contain 1,3-bis(phenylthio)propane (L(3-Ph)), are polymorphs having the composition [Au2L(3-Ph)Cl2]. Complex 3 {[Au2L(1-Ph)Cl2], where L(1-Ph) is bis(phenylthio)methane}and complexes 4a and 4b consist of nearly identical 1D supramolecular polymers formed through Au-Au interactions. The third polymorph, 4c, is a molecular complex, as it does not have metal-metal interactions. Complex 5 {[Au2L(4-Ph)Cl2], where L(4-Ph) is 1,4-bis(phenylthio)butane} is also molecular. UV-vis spectra showed that the absorption bands of these complexes are allowed ligand-centered transitions between 230 and 260 nm. Complexes 1, 2, and 6 {[AuL(3-Me)Cl], where L(3-Me) is 1,3-bis(methylthio)propane} exhibited solid-state luminescence at 5 K with vibronic progressions and band maxima at approximately 570 nm. It is suggested that complex 6 contains [Au-Au-](infinity) chains.     

Ultraviolet cavity ringdown spectra and the S1(n,pi) ring-inversion potential energy function for 2-cyclohexen-1-one-d0 and Its 2,6,6-d3 isotopomer

The cavity ringdown spectra of 2-cyclohexen-1-one (2CHO) and its 2,6,6-d3 isotopomer (2CHO-d3) have been recorded in the spectral region near their S1(n,pi)<--S0 band origins which are at 26,081.3 and 26,075.3 cm-1, respectively. The data allow several of the quantum states of nu39, the ring inversion, to be determined for both the ground and excited electronic states. These were utilized to calculate the one-dimensional potential energy functions which best fit the data. The barriers to inversion for the S0 and S1(n,pi) states were found to be 1,900 +/- 300 and 3,550 +/- 500 cm-1, respectively. Density functional theory calculations predict values of 2,090 and 2,265 cm-1, respectively.     

Counter-flow electrokinetic supercharging for the determination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in water samples

Electrokinetic supercharging (EKS) has been used in the last few years as a powerful tool for separation and on-line preconcentration of different types of analytes. We have developed a valuable modification for EKS system, namely counter-flow EKS (CF-EKS) and applied it for the separation and on-line preconcentration of seven non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in water samples. In CF-EKS, a hydrodynamic counter-flow is applied during electrokinetic injection of the analytes within the EKS system. This counter-flow minimises the introduction of the sample matrix into the capillary, allowing longer injections to be performed. Careful choice of the optimum counter-flow as well as the optimum injection voltage allowed the sensitivity to be enhanced by 11,800-fold, giving limits of detection (LODs) of 10.7–47.0 ng/L for the selected NSAIDs. The developed method was validated and then applied for the determination of the studied NSAIDs in drinking water as well as wastewater samples from Hobart city.     

Isolation of tumor cells using size and deformation

The isolation and analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood are the subject of intense research. Although tests to detect metastasis on a molecular level are available, progress has been hampered by a lack of tumor-specific markers and predictable DNA abnormalities. The main challenge in this endeavor is the small number of available cells of interest, 1–2 per mL in whole blood. We have designed a micromachined device to fractionate whole blood using physical means to enrich for and/or isolate rare cells from peripheral circulation. It has arrays of four successively narrower channels, each consisting of a two-dimensional array of columns. Current devices have channels ranging in width from 20 to 5 μm, and in depth from 20 to 5 μm. Several optimizations resulting in the fabrication of a total of 10 derivative devices have been carried out; only two types are used in this study. Both have increasingly narrower gap widths between the columns along the flow axis with 20, 15, 10, and 5 μm spacing all on one device. The first 20 μm wide segment disperses the cell suspension and creates an evenly distributed flow over the entire device, whereas the others were designed to retain increasingly smaller cells. The channel depth is constant across the entire device, the first type was 10 μm deep and the second type is 20 μm deep. When cells from each of eight tumor cell lines were loaded into the device, all cancerous cells were isolated. In mixing experiments using human whole blood, we were able to fractionate cancer cells without interference from the blood cells. Additionally, either intact cells, or DNA, could be extracted for molecular analysis. The ultimate goal of this work is to characterize the cells on the molecular level to provide non-invasive methods to monitor patients, stage disease, and assess treatment efficacy. Furthermore, this work will use gene expression profiles to gain insights into metastasis.     

Development and Validation of HPLC,TLC and Derivative Spectrophotometric Methods for the Analysis of Ezetimibe in the Presence of Alkaline Induced Degradation Products

Reversed phase‐high performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC), thin layer chromatography (TLC) densitometry and first derivative spectrophotometry (1D) techniques are developed and validated as a stability‐indicating assay of ezetimibe in the presence of alkaline induced degradation products. RP‐HPLC method involves an isocratic elution on a Phenomenex Luna 5μ C₁₈ column using acetonitrile: water: glacial acetic acid (50:50:0.1 v/v/v) as a mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min. and a UV detector at 235 nm. TLC densitometric method is based on the difference in Rf‐values between the intact drug and its degradation products on aluminum‐packed silica gel 60 F₂₅₄ TLC plates as stationary phase with isopropanol: ammonia 33% (9:1 v/v) as a developing mobile phase. On the fluorescent plates, the spots were located by fluorescence quenching and the densitometric analysis was carried out at 250 nm. Derivative spectrophotometry, the zero‐crossing method, ezetimibe was determined using first derivative at 261 nm in the presence of its degradation products. Calibration graphs of the three suggested methods are linear in the concentration ranges 1–10 mcg/mL, 0.1–1 mg/mL and 1–16 mcg/mL with a mean percentage accuracy of 99.05 ± 0.54%, 99.46 ± 0.63% and 99.24 ± 0.82% of bulk powder, respectively. The three proposed methods were successfully applied for the determination of ezetimibe in raw material and pharmaceutical dosage form; the results were statistically analyzed and compared with those obtained by the reported method. Validation parameters were determined for linearity, accuracy and precision; selectivity and robustness and were assessed by applying the standard addition technique.     

Some aromatic hydrazone derivatives as inhibitors for the corrosion of C-steel in phosphoric acid solution

The effect of furfural benzoylhydrazone and its derivatives (I-VII) as corrosion inhibitors for C-steel in 1M phosphoric acid solution has been studied by weight-loss and galvanostatic polarization techniques. A significant decrease in the corrosion rate of C-steel was observed in the presence of the investigated inhibitors. This study revealed that, the inhibition efficiency increases with increasing the inhibitor concentration, and the addition of iodide ions enhances it to a considerable extent. The effect of temperature on the inhibition efficiency of these compounds was studied using weight-loss method. Activation energy (E(a)*) and other thermodynamic parameters for the corrosion process were calculated and discussed. The galvanostatic polarization data indicated that, the inhibitors were of mixed-type, but the cathode is more polarized than the anode. The adsorption of these compounds on C-steel surface has been found to obey Frumkin's adsorption isotherm. The mechanism of inhibition was discussed in the light of the chemical structure of the undertaken inhibitors.     

Spectrophotometric study of the reaction mechanism between DDQ as pi-acceptor and potassium iodate and flucloxacillin and dicloxacillin drugs and their determination in pure and in dosage forms

Two simple and accurate spectrophotometric methods are presented for the determination of beta-lactam drugs, flucloxacillin (Fluclox) and dicloxacillin (Diclox), in pure and in different pharmaceutical preparations. The charge transfer (CT) reactions between Fluclox and Diclox as electron donors and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ) pi-acceptor and potassium iodate via oxidation reduction reaction where the highly coloured complex species or the liberated iodine have been spectrophotometrically studied. The optimum experimental conditions have been studied carefully. Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration range of 2-450 microg ml(-1) for Fluclox and 10-450 microg ml(-1) for Diclox using DDQ reagent and at 50-550 microg ml(-1) for Fluclox and 50-560 microg ml(-1) for Diclox using iodate method, respectively. For more accurate results, Ringbom optimum concentration range is calculated and found to be 6-450 and 15-450 microg ml(-1) for Fluclox and Diclox using DDQ, respectively, and 65-550 and 63-560 microg ml(-1) for Fluclox and Diclox using iodine, respectively. The Sandell sensitivity is found to be 0.018 and 0.011 microg cm(-2) for DDQ method and 0.013 and 0.011 microg cm(-2) for iodate method for Fluclox and Diclox, respectively, which indicates the high sensitivity of both methods. Standard deviation (S.D.=0.01-0.80 and 0.07-0.98) and relative standard deviation (R.S.D.=0.13-0.44 and 0.11-0.82%) (n=5) for DDQ and iodate methods, respectively, refer to the high accuracy and precision of the proposed methods. These results are also confirmed by between-day precision of percent recovery of 99.87-100.2 and 99.90-100% for Fluclox and Diclox by DDQ method and 99.88-100.1 and 99.30-100.2% for Fluclox and Diclox by iodate method, respectively. These data are comparable to those obtained by British and American pharmacopoeias assay for the determination of Fluclox and Diclox in raw materials and in pharmaceutical preparations.     

Influence of polymer molecular weight on the chemical modifications induced by UV laser ablation

This paper investigates the influence of polymer molecular weight (M(W)) on the chemical modifications of poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA, and polystyrene, PS, films doped with iodonaphthalene (NapI) and iodophenanthrene (PhenI), following irradiation at 248 nm (KrF excimer laser, 20 ns fwhm and hybrid excimer-dye laser, 500 fs fwhm) and at 308 nm (XeCl excimer laser, 30 ns fwhm). The changes of intensity and position of the polymer Raman bands upon irradiation provide information on cleavage of the polymer bonds. Degradation of PMMA, which is a weak absorbing system at 248 nm, occurs to a higher extent in the case of a larger M(W), giving rise to the creation of unsaturation centers and to degradation products. For highly absorbing PS, no degradation is observed upon irradiation with a KrF laser. Consistently irradiating doped PS at 308 nm, where the absorption is low, induces degradation of the polymer. Results provide direct support for the bulk photothermal model, according to which ejection requires a critical number of broken bonds. In the case of irradiation of doped PMMA with pulses of 248 nm and 500 fs, neither degradation nor dependence with polymer M(W) are observed, indicating that mechanisms involved in the femtosecond laser ablation differ from those operating in the case of nanosecond laser ablation. Participation of multiphoton/avalanche processes is proposed.