Biotransformation of the sesquiterpene (+)-valencene by cytochrome P450cam and P450BM-3

The sesquiterpenoids are a large class of naturally occurring compounds with biological functions and desirable properties. Oxidation of the sesquiterpene (+)-valencene by wild type and mutants of P450cam from Pseudomonas putida, and of P450BM-3 from Bacillus megaterium, have been investigated as a potential route to (+)-nootkatone, a fine fragrance. Wild type P450cam did not oxidise (+)-valencene but the mutants showed activities up to 9.8 nmol (nmol P450)(-1) min(-1), with (+)-trans-nootkatol and (+)-nootkatone constituting >85% of the products. Wild type P450BM-3 and mutants had higher activities (up to 43 min(-1)) than P450cam but were much less selective. Of the many products, cis- and trans-(+)-nootkatol, (+)-nootkatone, cis-(+)-valencene-1,10-epoxide, trans-(+)-nootkaton-9-ol, and (+)-nootkatone-13S,14-epoxide were isolated from whole-cell reactions and characterised. The selectivity patterns suggest that (+)-valencene has one binding orientation in P450cam but multiple orientations in P450BM-3.     

Thermodynamics of adsorption (as a function of temperature and pressure) of N2 and CO2 on graphites

Summary A quantitative treatment, coupled with critical qualitative considerations, pertaining to the study of thermodynamics of adsorption of N₂ and CO₂ on different graphite samples, through the evaluation of the film pressure, as a function of temperature and pressure, is presented. The . determination of the adsorbent specific surface areas is affected through the graphic manipulation of the Langmuir adsorption equation utilizing data adopted from literature, and the values are then computed by employing the Gibbs adsorption equation by making use of the areas under them-lnP curves. The results deduced are discussed specifically in terms of as related to the nature of the adsorbents, the magnitude of the calculated thermodynamic functions and the specific surface areas for the individual adsorbents.

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Zusammenfassung Die Arbeit bringt eine thermodynamische Studie der Adsorption von N₂ and CO₂ an verschiedenen Graphitpräparaten. Grundlage der Betrachtung ist der Filmdruck als Funktion der Temperatur und des Druckes. Die Bestimmung der spezifischen Oberfläche des Adsorbens wird beeinflußt durch die graphische Behandlung der Langmuirschen Adsorptionsgleichung. Es wurden Literaturwerte adoptiert und-Werte nach der Gibbsschen Adsorptionsgleichung berechnet. Die abgeleiteten Ergebnisse werden diskutiert und zur Natur des Adsorbens, zur Größenordnung der berechneten thermodynamischen Funktionen und zur spezifischen Oberfläche der einzelnen Adsorbentien in Beziehung gesetzt.

     

Highly efficient and green esterification of carboxylic acids in deep eutectic solvents without any other additives

A protocol that carboxylic acids esterifies with the quaternary ammonium salt of deep eutectic solvent (DES) is presented, which opens a new access to ester using DES as alkylating agent, solvent, and catalyst. The reaction runs smoothly in DES without any other additives. Substituted cinnamic acids, aromatic acids, and aliphatic acids can be esterified in moderate to good yields. The advantages of this reaction include excellent functional group compatibility and simple reaction procedure.     

Transport study of V(V), Zn(II) and Be(II) using supported liquid membranes

V(V), Zn(II) and Be(II) have been studied to test oxine and tri-n-butylphosphate (TBP) as carriers for transport through supported liquid membranes in polypropylene film. All the three types of ions can be passed through such membranes using oxine in case of V(V) and TBP in case of Zn(II) and Be(II). Maximum flux of metal ions has been observed from 0.01M H₂SO₄ for V(V) (3.22·10^–6 mol·m^–2·s^–1) and 2M HCl containing 3M CaCl₂ for Zn(II) solution (1.4·10^–6 mol·m^–2·s^–1). Low flux was observed in case of Be(II) since the membrane was affected by sulphocyanide group and did not remain hydrophobic. Mechanism of transport for these metal ions have been proposed separately. Distribution coefficient data for V(V) have also been evaluated to determine theoretical values of the permeability coefficient, and compared with experimental values.     

Ultrasonic and Volumetric Study of N–H Bond Complexes in Binary Mixtures

Experimental values of the density and ultrasonic velocity have been measured for binary mixtures of butylamine with 1-butanol and with tert-butanol at temperatures of 293.15, 303.15 and 313.15 K over the entire mole fraction range. From these data, the excess molar volumes, deviations in isentropic compressibility, excess internal pressures, and excess molar enthalpies have been calculated. All of the excess functions were fitted to Redlich-Kister polynomial relations to estimate the adjustable parameters along with the standard deviations of the fits. The variations of these excess functions with mole fraction of butylamine have been examined. The changes in these parameters with composition suggest that the interaction between butylamine and 1-butanol is strong, whereas its interaction with tert-butanol is weak. Further, the partial molar volumes and partial molar compressibilities at infinite dilution have also been evaluated since these parameters provide better insight for studying intermolecular interactions.     

Stability indicating methods for determination of Donepezil Hydrochloride according to ICH guidelines

Stability indicating assays for determination of Donepezil Hydrochloride in presence of its oxidative degradate were developed and validated. The first three are spectrophotometric methods depending on using zero order (D(0)), first order (D(1)) and second order (D(2)) spectra. The absorbance was measured at 315 nm for (D(0)) while the amplitude was measured at 332.1nm for (D(1)) and 340 nm for (D(2)) using deionized water as a solvent. Donepezil Hydrochloride (I) can be determined in the presence of up to 70% of its oxidative degradate (II) using (D(0)), 80% using (D(1)) and 90% using (D(2)). The linearity range was found to be 8-56 microg ml(-1) for (D(0)), (D(1)) and (D(2)). These methods were applied for the analysis of I in both powder and tablet form. Also, a spectrofluorimetric method depending on measuring the native fluorescence of I in deionized water using lambda excitation 226 nm and lambda emission 391 nm is suggested. The linearity range was found to be 0.32-3.20 microg ml(-1) using this method, I was determined in the presence of up to 90% of II. The proposed method was applied for the analysis of I in tablet form as well as in human plasma. The last method depends on using TLC separation of I from its oxidative degradate II and I was then determined spectrodensitometrically. The mobile phase was methanol : chloroform : 25% ammonia (16 : 64 : 0.1 by volume). The linearity range was found to be 2-15 microg/spot. This method was applied to the analysis of I in both powder and tablet form using acetonitrile as a solvent.     

Production of Plant Beneficial and Antioxidants Metabolites by Klebsiella variicola under Salinity Stress

Bacteria that surround plant roots and exert beneficial effects on plant growth are known as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). In addition to the plant growth-promotion, PGPR also imparts resistance against salinity and oxidative stress and needs to be studied. Such PGPR can function as dynamic bioinoculants under salinity conditions. The present study reports the isolation of phytase positive multifarious Klebsiella variicola SURYA6 isolated from wheat rhizosphere in Kolhapur, India. The isolate produced various plant growth-promoting (PGP), salinity ameliorating, and antioxidant traits. It produced organic acid, yielded a higher phosphorous solubilization index (9.3), maximum phytase activity (376.67 ± 2.77 U/mL), and copious amounts of siderophore (79.0%). The isolate also produced salt ameliorating traits such as indole acetic acid (78.45 ± 1.9 µg/mL), 1 aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (0.991 M/mg/h), and exopolysaccharides (32.2 ± 1.2 g/L). In addition to these, the isolate also produced higher activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (13.86 IU/mg protein), catalase (0.053 IU/mg protein), and glutathione oxidase (22.12 µg/mg protein) at various salt levels. The isolate exhibited optimum growth and maximum secretion of these metabolites during the log-phase growth. It exhibited sensitivity to a wide range of antibiotics and did not produce hemolysis on blood agar, indicative of its non-pathogenic nature. The potential of K. variicola to produce copious amounts of various PGP, salt ameliorating, and antioxidant metabolites make it a potential bioinoculant for salinity stress management.     

On the Gauge and BRST Invariance of the Chiral QED with Faddeevian Anomaly

Chiral Schwinger model with the Faddeevian anomaly is considered. It is found that imposing a chiral constraint this model can be expressed in terms of chiral boson. The model when expressed in terms of chiral boson remains anomalous and the Gauss law of which gives anomalous Poisson brackets between itself. In spite of that a systematic BRST quantization is possible. The Wess-Zumino term corresponding to this theory appears automatically during the process of quantization. A gauge invariant reformulation of this model is also constructed. Unlike the former one gauge invariance is done here without any extension of phase space. This gauge invariant version maps onto the vector Schwinger model. The gauge invariant version of the chiral Schwinger model for a=2 has a massive field with identical mass however gauge invariant version obtained here does not map on to that.     

Interference of Different Types of Mastication on Static Balance in Individuals without Temporomandibular Disorder

Purpose: This study was to determine whether non-habitual (isotonic) bilateral and unilateral mastication with eyes open and eyes closed exerts an influence on static balance in individuals without temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Method: An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted involving 20 volunteers aged 20 to 40 years without temporomandibular disorder. Static balance was assessed with the individuals in a quiet standing position on a force plate performing different types of mastication under six separate conditions. Results: Significant differences (p < .05) were found in the area of oscillation during bilateral mastication (eyes open) and the right unilateral mastication, significant differences were only found for oscillation area with eyes open and mediolateral center of pressure with eyes closed (p < .05). Conclusions: The findings of the present study reveal that the stomatognathic system (bilateral and unilateral mastication) promote changes in some variables of static balance.     

Gradient-purged isotope filter experiments for the detection of bound water in proteins

A combination of gradient-purged isotope-filtered NMR experiments is presented, which allows for the detection of long-lived bound water molecules in proteins. The discrimination of direct water–protein exchange from NOE effects between bound water and protein protons is achieved by NOE/ROE cancellation during the mixing time in one of the otherwise identical experiments. The method was applied successfully to ¹³C/¹⁵N-labelled serine protease PB92, and allowed for the identification of 22 protein–water NOEs in this 269-residue enzyme.