Interfacing Formate Dehydrogenase with Metal Oxides for the Reversible Electrocatalysis and Solar‐Driven Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

The integration of enzymes with synthetic materials allows efficient electrocatalysis and production of solar fuels. Here, we couple formate dehydrogenase ( FDH ) from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough (DvH) to metal oxides for catalytic CO₂ reduction and report an in‐depth study of the resulting enzyme–material interface. Protein film voltammetry (PFV) demonstrates the stable binding of FDH on metal‐oxide electrodes and reveals the reversible and selective reduction of CO₂ to formate. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR‐IR) spectroscopy confirm a high binding affinity for FDH to the TiO₂ surface. Adsorption of FDH on dye‐sensitized TiO₂ allows for visible‐light‐driven CO₂ reduction to formate in the absence of a soluble redox mediator with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 11±1 s^?1. The strong coupling of the enzyme to the semiconductor gives rise to a new benchmark in the selective photoreduction of aqueous CO₂ to formate.     

Method for detecting and characterising actinide-bearing micro-particles in soils and sediment of the Fukushima Prefecture,Japan

An aqueous biphasic system has been used for selective extraction of U(VI) ions from Th(IV), Sm(III) and Ce(III). Role of different biomolecules like morin, catechin, hesperidin and 4-hydroxycoumarin have been studied. Morin serves as the best reagent when citrate ions are used as a masking agent. Citrate forms stronger complexes with the other metal ions than morin thereby restricting their extractions. Contrarily, U(VI) forms a stronger complex with morin than citrate and is selectively extracted under the same conditions. It was also observed that morin can act as a spectrophotometric reagent for ratiometric detection and analysis of U(VI) ions.

     

Luminescence Spectroscopy of Rhodamine Homodimer Dications in Vacuo Reveals Strong Dye-Dye Interactions

Being alone or together makes a difference for the photophysics of dyes but for ionic dyes it is difficult to quantify the interactions due to solvent screening and nearby counter ions. Gas-phase luminescence experiments are desirable and now possible based on recent developments in mass spectrometry. Here we present results on tailor-made rhodamine homodimers where two dye cations are separated by methylene linkers, (CH₂)_n. In solution the fluorescence is almost identical to that from the monomer whereas the emission from bare cation dimers redshifts with decreasing n. In the absence of screening, the electric field from the charge on one dye is strong enough to polarize the other dye, both in the ground state and in the excited state. An electrostatic model based on symmetric dye responses (equal induced-dipole moments in ground state) captures the underlying physics and demonstrates interaction even at large distances. Our results have possible implications for gas-phase Förster Resonance Energy Transfer.     

The Study of Nonisothermal Kinetics of Dehydration of Gibbsite in a Mixture with Zinc Oxide

Nonisothermal kinetics of dehydration of gibbsite in a mixture with zinc oxide has been studied by Friedman analysis (differential method) and Flynn‐Wall‐Ozawa analysis (integral method). The values of the activation energy and preexponential factor depending on the decomposition extent of gibbsite to boehmite have been determined. It has been shown that both methods give similar results. It has been established that the activation energy has a maximum value of 150–170 kJ/mol in the start stages of thermolysis (for conversion extent of less than 0.3). During further dehydration, the activation energy is reduced to 100–110 kJ/mol. It has been found that comilling of the mixture results in decreasing activation energy to 40–50 kJ/mol for a conversion extent more than 0.8. This testifies to the transition of the dehydration process out of the kinetic mode to the diffusion mode. It was explained by the accumulation of mechanical energy in the form defects of crystal lattice of gibbsite at the comilling stage.     

Distinct effect of xenobiotics on the metal‐binding properties of protein molecules

The X‐ray standing‐wave method was applied to study the elemental composition and molecular organization of ordered protein films of alkaline phosphatase exposed to different xenobiotics (drug compounds, lead). Binding of metal ions from triply distilled water to protein molecules has been experimentally observed. Definite differences in the arrangement of impurity metal ions in the films have been established. The considerable enhancement of protein–metal interactions is attributed to partial rearrangement of the protein native structure, induced by xenobiotics.     

Three‐dimensional structure of cyclic antibiotic teicoplanin aglycone using NMR distance and dihedral angle restraints in a DMSO solvation model

The three‐dimensional solution conformation of teicoplanin aglycone was determined using NMR spectroscopy. A combination of NOE and dihedral angle restraints in a DMSO solvation model was used to calculate an ensemble of structures having a root mean square deviation of 0.17 Å. The structures were generated using systematic searches of conformational space for optimal satisfaction of distance and dihedral angle restraints. Comparison of the NMR‐derived structure of teicoplanin aglycone with the X‐ray structure of a teicoplanin aglycone analog revealed a common backbone conformation with deviation of two aromatic side chain substituents. Experimentally determined backbone ¹³C chemical shifts showed good agreement with those computed at the density functional level of theory, providing a cross validation of the backbone conformation. The flexible portion of the molecule was consistent with the region that changes conformation to accommodate protein binding. The results showed that a hydrogen‐bonded DMSO molecule in combination with NMR‐derived restraints together enabled calculation of structures that satisfied experimental data. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Click Chemistry Mediated Functionalization of Vertical Nanowires for Biological Applications

Semiconductor nanowires (NWs) are gaining significant importance in various biological applications, such as biosensing and drug delivery. Efficient and controlled immobilization of biomolecules on the NW surface is crucial for many of these applications. Here, we present for the first time the use of the Cu^I‐catalyzed alkyne–azide cycloaddition and its strain‐promoted variant for the covalent functionalization of vertical NWs with peptides and proteins. The potential of the approach was demonstrated in two complementary applications of measuring enzyme activity and protein binding, which is of general interest for biological studies. The attachment of a peptide substrate provided NW arrays for the detection of protease activity. In addition, green fluorescent protein was immobilized in a site‐specific manner and recognized by antibody binding to demonstrate the proof‐of‐concept for the use of covalently modified NWs for diagnostic purposes using minute amounts of material.     

Isotopic separation of lithium ions by capillary zone electrophoresis

Separation of ⁶Li and ⁷Li isotopes by CZE was demonstrated. The BGE contained 5 mM 4‐aminopyridine, 0.9 mM oxalic acid, 0.25 mM CTAB, and 0.25% w/v Tween 20 (рН = 9.2). The running conditions were +25 kV at 30°C with indirect photometric detection at 261 nm. Under optimal experimental conditions, the analysis time was less than 21 min. Separation of Li preparations with mole fraction of ⁶Li ranging from 3.44 up to 90.38% was demonstrated.     

Synthesis and rheological properties of star-shaped polydimethylsiloxanes based on carbosilane dendrimers

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