Characterization of a β-glucanase produced by Rhizopus microsporus var. microsporus, and its potential for application in the brewing industry

Background  

In the barley malting process, partial hydrolysis of β-glucans begins with seed germination. However, the endogenous 1,3-1,4-β-glucanases are heat inactivated, and the remaining high molecular weight β-glucans may cause severe problems such as increased brewer mash viscosity and turbidity. Increased viscosity impairs pumping and filtration, resulting in lower efficiency, reduced yields of extracts, and lower filtration rates, as well as the appearance of gelatinous precipitates in the finished beer. Therefore, the use of exogenous β-glucanases to reduce the β-glucans already present in the malt barley is highly desirable.     

N,N'-ethylenebis(pyridoxylideneiminato) and N,N'-ethylenebis(pyridoxylaminato): synthesis, characterization, potentiometric, spectroscopic, and DFT studies of their vanadium(IV) and vanadium(V) complexes

The Schiff base N,N'-ethylenebis(pyridoxylideneiminato) (H(2)pyr(2)en, 1) was synthesized by reaction of pyridoxal with ethylenediamine; reduction of H(2)pyr(2)en with NaBH(4) yielded the reduced Schiff base N,N'-ethylenebis(pyridoxylaminato) (H(2)Rpyr(2)en, 2); their crystal structures were determined by X-ray diffraction. The totally protonated forms of 1 and 2 correspond to H(6)L(4+), and all protonation constants were determined by pH-potentiometric and (1)H NMR titrations. Several vanadium(IV) and vanadium(V) complexes of these and other related ligands were prepared and characterized in solution and in the solid state. The X-ray crystal structure of [V(V)O(2)(HRpyr(2)en)] shows the metal in a distorted octahedral geometry, with the ligand coordinated through the N-amine and O-phenolato moieties, with one of the pyridine-N atoms protonated. Crystals of [(V(V)O(2))(2)(pyren)(2)].2 H(2)O were obtained from solutions containing H(2)pyr(2)en and oxovanadium(IV), where Hpyren is the "half" Schiff base of pyridoxal and ethylenediamine. The complexation of V(IV)O(2+) and V(V)O(2) (+) with H(2)pyr(2)en, H(2)Rpyr(2)en and pyridoxamine in aqueous solution were studied by pH-potentiometry, UV/Vis absorption spectrophotometry, as well as by EPR spectroscopy for the V(IV)O systems and (1)H and (51)V NMR spectroscopy for the V(V)O(2) systems. Very significant differences in the metal-binding abilities of the ligands were found. Both 1 and 2 act as tetradentate ligands. H(2)Rpyr(2)en is stable to hydrolysis and several isomers form in solution, namely cis-trans type complexes with V(IV)O, and alpha-cis- and beta-cis-type complexes with V(V)O(2). The pyridinium-N atoms of the pyridoxal rings do not take part in the coordination but are involved in acid-base reactions that affect the number, type, and relative amount of the isomers of the V(IV)O-H(2)Rpyr(2)en and V(V)O(2)-H(2)Rpyr(2)en complexes present in solution. DFT calculations were carried out and support the formation and identification of the isomers detected by EPR or NMR spectroscopy, and the strong equatorial and axial binding of the O-phenolato in V(IV)O and V(V)O(2) complexes. Moreover, the DFT calculations done for the [V(IV)O(H(2)Rpyr(2)en)] system indicate that for almost all complexes the presence of a sixth equatorial or axial H(2)O ligand leads to much more stable compounds.     

Assignment of acetyl groups to O-2 and/or O-3 of pectic oligogalacturonides using negative electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry

Partially acetylated and methylated oligogalacturonides produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of sugar beet pectin were analysed by negative electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-ITMS). The (18)O labelling of the oligomer reducing end allowed the precise assignment of the fragments resulting from glycosidic bond and cross-ring cleavages. The collisional-induced dissociation of the C(i) and Z(j) fragment ions through sequential MS(n) experiments always displayed (0, 2)A-type cross-ring cleavage ions which were related to C(2)H(4)O(2) losses. These (0, 2)A ions appeared to be highly diagnostic ions allowing the precise location of the acetyl groups to the O-2 and/or O-3 of the acetylated galacturonic acid residues.     

Modification of the luminescence properties of an Europium(III) Tris(β-diketonate) Complex by Inclusion in γ-cyclodextrin and 2,3,6-trimethyl-γ-cyclodextrin

A 1:1 inclusion compound between octakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-γ-cyclodextrin (TRIMEG) and the chelate complex Eu(NTA)₃·2H₂O (NTA=1-(2-naphthoyl)-3,3,3-trifluoroacetonate) was prepared and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The results were compared with those obtained for the corresponding native γ-CD adduct. Excitation and emission spectra were measured, and the lifetimes were determined for the Eu³⁺ first excited state (⁵D₀). The results indicate the presence of only one low-symmetry environment for the Eu³⁺ cations in the inclusion compounds. Encapsulation of the Europium complex in the two CDs increases the quantum efficiency of the ligand-to-metal energy transfer pathway, but the efficiency of the Eu³⁺ sensitization was significantly higher with TRIMEG as the host molecule. This may be related with the observation that the two hosts appear to have different influences on the Eu³⁺ coordination environments for the guest molecule.     

Trapping tetramethoxyzincate and -cobaltate(II) between Mo24+ units

Two compounds of a new type, [Mo(2)](CH(3)O)(2)M(CH(3)O)(2)[Mo(2)] where [Mo(2)] is an abbreviation for Mo(2)[(p-MeOC(6)H(4))NCHN(p-MeOC(6)H(4))](3) and M = Zn (1) and Co (2), are reported. Discrete [M(OR)(4)](2-) ions, either as such or in the mu(2),eta(4) role, have not heretofore been described. In these compounds they have distorted tetrahedral structures and bridge two [Mo(2)] groups in much the same way as did SO(4)(2-), MoO(4)(2-), and WO(4)(2-) ions in other recently reported compounds (Cotton, F. A.; Donahue, J. P.; Murillo, C. A. Inorg. Chem. 2001, 40, 2229). The (1)H NMR spectrum of 1 and the visible spectrum and magnetic properties of 2 are consistent with these structures. The M(OCH(3))(4) bridges are moderately effective in coupling the two [Mo(2)] redox centers. Compounds 1 and 2 may also be viewed as having Zn(II) and Co(II) centers tetrahedrally coordinated by the bidentate ligand [Mo(2)[(p-MeOC(6)H(4))NCHN(p-MeOC(6)H(4))](3)(OMe)(2)](-). From that point of view they may be compared with Zn(DPM)(2) and Co(DPM)(2) (3), where DPM is the anion of dipivaloylmethane. For purposes of comparison, 3 has been fully characterized structurally, spectroscopically, and magnetically. Close analogies between 2 and 3 are shown to exist.     

Analysis of nickel-niobium alloys by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was applied to the analysis of major and minor elements of Ni-Nb alloys obtained by aluminothermic reduction process. Digestion of samples was made using a mixture of HF+HNO₃. Minor and trace elements were determined without matrix separation. The precision for all constituents was <3%. Recoveries for the analyte-spiked samples were 95%.     

Non-trivial behavior of palladium(II) acetate

Reaction of activated palladium metal with a HNO3/acetic acid mixture produces both orange Pd3(OAc)6, 1, and purple Pd3(OAc)5(NO2), 2. Compound has a trinuclear structure derived from that of the well-known triangular complex 1 in which one acetate group has been replaced by a nitrite group which is bonded to one palladium atom by the nitrogen atom and to another Pd atom using one of the oxygen atoms. Highly pure 1 can be made by continuous removal of the nitric oxides from the reaction mixture using a flow of N2. 1H NMR spectra of solutions of 1 in CDCl3 and C6D6 show several signals of various intensities when a small amount of water is present in the deuterated solvents but only one signal when the solvents are thoroughly dried. These results are consistent with the occurrence of one or more hydrolysis processes when the solvents contain water and suggest that hypotheses about various [Pd(OAc)2]n aggregates that have previously been brought forward in the literature to explain the complexity of the spectrum of 1 are unnecessary, especially for nonpolar solvents. Compound 2 does not hydrolyze, and in wet or dried solvents shows a 1H NMR spectrum that consists of five equal-intensity signals due to the five nonequivalent acetate groups.     

Exact mass measurement of product ions for the structural confirmation and identification of unknown compounds using a quadrupole time-of-flight spectrometer: a simplified approach using combined tandem mass spectrometric functions

This article describes a simple method to perform lock mass corrected accurate mass measurements in tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) with a quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometer. The experimental approach consists of using the protonated molecule of a known compound, which is measured in a MS/MS function using low collision energy (no fragmentation), as mass calibrator. The unknown compound is acquired in MS/MS mode albeit using high collision energy. After the acquisition, the two MS/MS spectra of unknown and mass calibrator are combined, and the fragments of the unknown are lock mass corrected by using the protonated molecule of the mass calibrator. To prove this concept, 10 compounds were analyzed using this approach, the fragments interpreted and, where possible, related to structural data available in the literature. All the unequivocally assigned fragments were accurately mass measured with mass errors within appropriate limits, i.e. for m/z values <200 with a mass tolerance of 3 mDa while for m/z > 200 the mass tolerance is expressed as 10 ppm.     

Reactions of Sulphate Radicals with Substituted Pyridines: A Structure–Reactivity Correlation Analysis

The kinetics of the oxidation of pyridine, 3‐chloropyridine, 3‐cyanopyridine, 3‐methoxypyridine and 3‐methylpyridine mediated by SO₄ ^{< M ‐>} radicals are studied by flash photolysis of peroxodisulphate, S₂O₈^2?, at pH 2.5 and 9. The absolute rate constants for the reactions of both, the basic and acid forms of the pyridines, are determined and discussed in terms of the Hammett correlation. The monosubstituted pyridines react about 10 times faster with sulphate radicals than their protonated forms, the pyridine ions. The organic intermediates are identified as the corresponding hydroxypyridine radical adducts and their absorption spectra compared with those estimated employing the time‐dependent density functional theory with explicit account for bulk solvent effects. A reaction mechanism which accounts for the observed intermediates and the pyridinols formed as products is proposed.     

Cis- and trans-3-hexene: infrared spectrum in liquid argon solution, ab initio calculations of equilibrium geometry, normal coordinate analysis, and vibrational assignments

The infrared spectra of cis-3-hexene and trans-3-hexene dissolved in liquid argon have been obtained at temperatures from 93 to 120 K. The absorptions were observed with a low-temperature cell and a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer. Ab initio molecular orbital calculations were performed to obtain the equilibrium geometry, vibrational frequencies, force fields, and infrared intensities. The calculations were done at the Hartree-Fock level using 6-31G basis set. The Cartesian force fields from ab initio calculations have been converted to the force field in symmetry coordinates. The scale factors of ab initio calculated force fields were determined. Normal coordinate calculations were performed using a scaled quantum mechanical (SQM) force field. Vibrational normal modes calculated for the lowest energy rotamers of cis- and trans-3-hexene have been assigned to infrared absorption bands observed in liquid argon solution. The assignments were based on calculated frequencies and potential energy distributions. The equilibrium geometries of the two lowest energy rotamers (symmetry C₂ and C_s) of cis-3-hexene and of the three lowest energy rotamers (symmetry C_i, C₂, and C₁) of trans-3-hexene were calculated. Variable temperature studies of the infrared spectrum of cis- and trans-3-hexenes dissolved in liquid argon were done to obtain the ΔH of conversion between the rotamers C₂ and C_s of cis-3-hexene and between the rotamers C_i, C₂, and C₁ of trans-3-hexene.