Mechanism of efficient firefly bioluminescence via adiabatic transition state and seam of sloped conical intersection

Firefly emission is a well-known efficient bioluminescence. However, the mystery of the efficient thermal generation of electronic excited states in firefly still remains unsolved, particularly at the atomic and molecular levels. We performed SA-CASSCF(12,12)/6-31G* and CASPT2(12,12)/6-31G*//SA-CASSCF(12,12)/6-31G* calculations to elucidate the reaction mechanism of bioluminescence from the firefly dioxetanone in the gas phase. Adiabatic transition state (TS) for the O-O bond cleavage and the minimum energy conical intersection (MECI) were located and characterized. The unique topology of MECI featuring a seam of a sloped conical intersection for the firefly dioxetanone, which was uncovered for the first time, emerges along the reaction pathway to provide a widely extended channel to diabatically access the excited-state from the ground state.     

Improving prediction selectivity for on-line near-infrared monitoring of components in etchant solution by spectral range optimization

The components (H₃PO₄, HNO₃, CH₃COOH and water) in an etchant solution have been accurately measured in an on-line manner using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy by directly illuminating NIR radiation through a Teflon line. In particular, the spectral features according to the change of H₃PO₄ or HNO₃ concentrations were not mainly from NIR absorption themselves, but from the perturbation (or displacement) of water bands; therefore, the resulting spectral variations were quite similar to each other. Consequently partial least squares (PLS) prediction selectivity among the components should be the most critical issue for continuous on-line compositional monitoring by NIR spectroscopy. To improve selectivity of the calibration model, we have optimized the calibration models by finding selective spectral ranges with the use of moving window PLS. Using the optimized PLS models for each component, the resulting prediction accuracies were substantially improved. Furthermore, on-line prediction selectivity was evaluated by spiking individual pure components step by step and examining the resulting prediction trends. When optimized PLS models were used, each concentration was selectively and sensitively varied at each spike; meanwhile, when whole or non-optimized ranges were used for PLS, the prediction selectivity was greatly degraded. This study verifies that the selection of an optimal spectral range for PLS is the most important factor to make Teflon-based NIR measurements successful for on-line and real-time monitoring of etching solutions.     

A cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing sesquiterpenoid isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia princeps PAMPANINI (Sajabalssuk)

Repeated silica gel and octadecyl silica gel (ODS) column chromatography of the aerial parts of Artemisia princeps PAMPANINI (Sajabalssuk) led to the isolation of a new sesquiterpenoid, 3-((S)-2-methylbutyryloxy)-costu-1(10),4(5)-dien-12,6 alpha-olide (2), along with two previously reported sesquiterpenoids: 8 alpha-angeloyloxy-3beta,4 beta-epoxy-6 beta H,7 alpha H,8 beta H-guaia-1(10),11(13)-dien-12,6 alpha-olide (1, carlaolide B) and 3beta,4 beta-epoxy-8 alpha-isobutyryloxy-6 beta H,7 alpha H,8 beta H-guaia-1(10),11(13)-dien-12,6 alpha-olide (3, carlaolide A). The structure of compound 2 was elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis, including one dimensional (1D) and two dimensional (2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. Of the isolates, compound 2 exhibited potent cytotoxicity against human cervix adenocarcinoma cells and induced apoptosis.     

Determination of the elemental contents in stream sediments collected from Cheongju city by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Sediment samples were collected from seven locations of the MeeHo stream in Cheongju city, strained out by a sieve, dried by an oven and pulverized by an agate mortar. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied for the determination of the elemental contents in the sediment samples by using the NAA #1 and #2 irradiation holes of the HANARO research reactor and HPGe gamma-ray spectrometers. Twenty-five elements were determined by a relative method with NIST SRM 2711-Montan Soil and the ranges of the elemental contents for the seven locations were identified. The contamination levels for elements such as As, Ba, Cr, Mn, Fe and Zn were compared with the guidelines of USEPA. The detection limits and combined uncertainties for the hazardous elements such as As, Ba, Cr, Mn, Sb, V and Zn were estimated under the given analytical conditions.     

Fluorescence affinity sensing by using a self-contained fluid manoeuvring microfluidic chip

An application of a novel polymer microfluidic chip for sample exchange via natural capillary forces for immuno-analysis is described. The microfluidic device was designed to achieve sample replacement by capillary force only, which would therefore be suitable for point-of-care-testing. Complete and automatic replacement of the sample in the reaction chamber with another one makes the chip able to mimic affinity chromatography and immunoassay processes. The microfluidic chip was made using polymer replication techniques, which were suitable for fast and cheap fabrication. Micrometre-sized polystyrene beads were used for the functionalization of biomolecules. Dinitrophenyl (DNP) and anti-DNP antibody coordination was employed on the chip for fluorescence analysis. DNP was immobilized on the polymer beads via a pre-adsorbed dendrimer layer and the beads were placed in the reaction chamber. Fluorescein tagged anti-DNP was successfully observed by a fluorescence microscope after the completion of the entire flow sequence. A calibration curve was registered based on the anti-DNP concentration. A multiplex sensing was accomplished by adding biotin/streptavidin coordination to the system. DNP and biotin conjugated beads were placed in the reaction chamber in an ordered fashion and biospecific bindings of anti-DNP antibody and streptavidin were observed at their expected sites. A ratiometric analysis was carried out with different concentration ratios of anti-DNP/streptavidin. The microfluidic chip described in this work could be applied to various biological and chemical analyses using integrated washing steps or fluid replacement steps with minimum sample handling.     

A simple and sensitive liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of free docosanoic, tetracosanoic and hexacosanoic acids in human plasma as fluorescent derivatives

Docosanoic (C22), tetracosanoic (C24) and hexacosanoic (C26) acids are saturated very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA) present at trace levels in biosamples. VLCFA can be used as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of hereditary diseases such as X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. Because the analytes to be detected are at trace levels, a sensitive fluorimetric liquid chromatographic method was developed to analyze VLCFA in plasma. The method is simple based on extracting VLCFA from plasma with toluene, and the obtained toluene extract was subject to the derivatization of VLCFA with a fluorescent reagent 2-(2-naphthoxy)ethyl-2-(piperidino)ethanesulfonate (NOEPES) without solvent evaporation/replacement. The resulting fluorescent derivatives were monitored by fluorimetric detection (excitation at 225 nm and emission at 360 nm), giving a high sensitivity with the limit of detection about 5.0 nM (S/N = 3, 10 μL injected) of the analytes. Application of the method to the analysis of VLCFA in the plasma of patients with adrenoleukodystrophy proved practical and effective.     

Contributions of a Surface Hydrophobic Cluster to the Folding and Structural Stability of Ubiquitin

The role of the small exterior hydrophobic cluster (SEHC) in the strand region of the N‐terminal β‐hairpin of ubiquitin on the structural stability and the folding/unfolding kinetics of the protein have been examined. We introduce a Phe→Ala substitution at residue 4 in the strand region of the N‐terminal β‐hairpin of the ubiquitin. A peptide with the same amino acid sequence as the first 21 residues of the mutated ubiquitin has also been synthesized. The F4A mutation unfolds the hairpin structure of the peptide segment without disruption of the turn. The same mutation does not seem to affect the overall structure, but the stability of the mutated full‐length protein decreases by approx. 2 kcal/mol. Kinetically, the entire hairpin structure is implicated in the transition state during folding of the wild type protein. The rate of refolding is retarded by the F4A mutation in ～80% of the protein molecules. The F4A substitution also increases the unfolding rate of the protein by 10 fold. Thus the hydrophobic side‐chain of Phe‐4 not only contributes to the stability of the hairpin, but also to the stability of the entire protein by forming a cluster together with the hydrophobic residues on the C‐terminal strand.     

TH‐11, a Streptomyces sp. Strain that Degrades Poly(3‐Hydroxybutyrate) and Poly(Ethylene Succinate)

TH‐11, a bacterial strain with strong depolymerase activity that breaks down aliphatic esters such as poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly(ethylene succinate) (PES) was isolated from a soil sample collected from the sediment of Tou‐Chain River, Taiwan, R.O.C. It was phenotypically and genetically characterized to be a Streptomyces strain. The degradation of PHB and PES were tested both using emulsified polymers in solid agar and thin polymer films in liquid culture media. The degradations were measured by clear‐zone formation on solid agar plates, or direct weight measurements and electromicroscope inspection of the incubated polymer films in the liquid culture. The depolymerase activities can be detected in the cell‐free preparation of the culture medium, and can be enhanced by gelatin.     

Change in the interfacial reaction of Hf-silicate film as a function of thickness and stoichiometry

Medium energy ion scattering and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy are used to investigate the depth of the interfacial reaction of Hf-silicate film. The interfacial reaction is critically affected by the film thickness and the mole fraction of HfO(2) in silicate film. The interfacial compressive strain generated at the surface of the Si substrate is dependent on the film thickness during the postannealing process in film with a thickness of approximately 4 nm. Finally, the phase separation phenomenon demonstrates critically different behaviors at different film thicknesses and stoichiometries because the diffusion of Si from interface to surface is dependent on these factors. Moreover, the oxidation by oxygen impurity in the inert ambient causes SiO(2) top formation.