Far-Red Dibenzo[a,j]Perylene-8,16-Dione Dyes as Fluorescent Enzyme Substrates and Tags for Biomolecules

The synthesis of fluorescent 2,10-derivatives of the title chromophore are described. The substituents contain amino-reactive N-hydroxysuccinimde ester and thiol-reactive iodoacetamide groups for attachment to biomolecules. A phosphate derivative was also prepared as an enzyme substrate.     

Characterization of a Series of Far Red Absorbing Perylene Diones: A New Class of Fluorescent Probes for Biological Applications

The far red region of the spectrum is increasingly being utilised in many applications in the biosciences. However, apart from the cyanine group of dyes, there are relatively few far red fluorescent probes available which are of practical use. We have synthesised and characterised a new class of far red fluorescent probes based on the perylene dione chromophore. The 2,10 di-substituted perylene diones possess broad absorption spectra (>90 nm bandwidths), large Stokes shifts (>60 nm) and quantum yields of up to 0.5 with a maximum absorption at 610–640 nm in organic solvents or in solutions of non-ionic detergents. A number of derivatives have been synthesised that can be used as membrane probes, as chromogenic substrates for alkaline phosphatase, and for the labelling of macromolecules such as proteins and DNA. These novel far red fluorophores have potential applications in diagnostic and research applications.     

Red Blood Cells Polarize Green Laser Light Revealing Hemoglobin′s Enhanced Non‐Fundamental Raman Modes

In general, the first overtone modes produce weak bands that appear at approximately twice the wavenumber value of the fundamental transitions in vibrational spectra. Here, we report the existence of a series of enhanced non‐fundamental bands in resonance Raman (RR) spectra recorded for hemoglobin (Hb) inside the highly concentrated heme environment of the red blood cell (RBC) by exciting with a 514.5 nm laser line. Such bands are most intense when detecting parallel‐polarized light. The enhancement is explained through excitonic theory invoking a type C scattering mechanism and bands have been assigned to overtone and combination bands based on symmetry arguments and polarization measurements. By using malaria diagnosis as an example, we demonstrate that combining the non‐fundamental and fundamental regions of the RR spectrum improves the sensitivity and diagnostic capability of the technique. The discovery will have considerable implications for the ongoing development of Raman spectroscopy for blood disease diagnoses and monitoring heme perturbation in response to environmental stimuli.     

Random sequence libraries displayed on phage: identification of biologically important molecules

Phage display has become a widely used tool for the identification of proteins or peptides with affinity for a variety of biomolecules. The versatility, simplicity and cost effectiveness of this application has pervaded a wide variety of research areas. Although not without its limitations, phage display has provided a convenient methodology for obtaining ligands to study the function, structure and diagnostic or therapeutic potential of various macromolecules. This review highlights some recent research employing this technology that serves to illustrate its utility in various research and clinical applications.     

The role of optimization in some recent advances in data-driven decision-making

Mathematical Programming - In this paper, we present a new framework of bi-level unconstrained minimization for development of accelerated methods in Convex Programming. These methods use...