Surface Coating Rescues Proteins from Magnetite Nanoparticle Induced Damage

The presence of magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) in physiological systems induces toxicity through its effects on mitochondrial function and reactive oxygen species (ROS) imbalance. Magnetic NP induced cytotoxicity has been elaborately evaluated for impending threats, however, a detailed investigation is lacking. It is shown that the interaction of Fe₃O₄ NPs with cytochrome c can lead to different events based on the NPs to protein ratio, the solution conditions, and the type of surface protection. At low NPs concentration, rapid binding and subsequent electron transfer are the preferred events while at higher concentration slow oxidative modification of the protein is initiated. The slow event of protein modification yields conformational disorientation, loss of stability, and formation of amyloid‐like structures with cytochrome c. The possibility that the NP induced oxidative stress and age can work in concert to compromise different aspects of cellular quality control processes is discussed. Suitable surface modifications of the NPs inhibit their direct binding to the protein molecules and minimize NP induced toxicity.     

A novel tryptamine-appended rhodamine-based chemosensor for selective detection of Hg2+ present in aqueous medium and its biological applications

A novel rhodamine–tryptamine conjugate–based fluorescent and chromogenic chemosensor (RTS) for detection of Hg²⁺ present in water was reported. After gradual addition of Hg²⁺ in aqueous methanol solution of RTS, a strong orange fluorescence and deep-pink coloration were observed. The probe showed high selectivity towards Hg²⁺ compared to other competitive metal ions. The 1:1 binding stoichiometry between RTS and Hg²⁺ was established by Job’s plot analysis and mass spectroscopy. Initial studies showed that the synthesized probe RTS possessed fair non-toxicity and effectively passed through cell walls of model cell systems, viz., human neuroblastoma (SHSY5Y) cells and cervical cells (HeLa) to detect intercellular Hg²⁺ ions, signifying its utility in biological system. The limit of detection (LOD) was found to be 2.1 nM or 0.42 ppb by fluorescence titration. Additionally, the potential relevance of synthesized chemosensor for detecting Hg²⁺ ions in environmental water samples has been demonstrated.

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pH‐Controlled Formation of a Stable β‐Sheet and Amyloid‐like Fibers from an Amphiphilic Peptide: The Importance of a Tailor‐Made Binding Motif for Secondary Structure Formation

The new amphiphilic peptide 1 is composed of alternating cyclohexyl side chains and guanidiniocarbonyl pyrrole (GCP) groups. In contrast to analogue 2 , which contains lysine instead of the GCP groups and only exists as a random coil owing to charge repulsion, peptide 1 forms a stable β‐sheet at neutral pH in aqueous medium. The weakly basic GCP groups (pK_a≈7) are key for secondary structure formation as they stabilize the β‐sheet through mutual interactions (formation of a “GCP zipper”). The β‐sheets further aggregate into left‐handed helically twisted fibers. However, β‐sheet formation is completely reversible as a function of pH. At low pH (ca. 4), peptide 1 is unstructured (random coil) as all GCP units are protonated. Only round colloidal particles are observed. The amyloid nature of the fibers formed at neutral pH was confirmed by staining experiments with Congo Red and thioflavin T. Furthermore, at millimolar concentrations, peptide 1 forms a stable hydrogel.     

Regioselective Ring‐Opening of Amino Acid‐Derived Chiral Aziridines: an Easy Access to cis‐2,5‐Disubstituted Chiral Piperazines

An efficient four‐step synthetic strategy for cis‐2,5‐disubstituted chiral piperazines derived from amino‐acid‐based aziridines is described. The key steps in this strategy are the highly regioselective boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BF₃ ⋅ OEt₂)‐mediated ring‐opening of less‐reactive N‐Ts chiral aziridines by α‐amino acid methyl ester hydrochloride followed by Mitsunobu cyclization. This protocol has been used in an attempt to construct the piperazine core framework of natural product (+)‐piperazinomycin.     

One pot synthesis of amino acid derived chiral disubstituted morpholines and 1,4-oxazepanes via tandem aziridine/epoxide ring opening sequences

A new one-pot synthetic strategy is described for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure cis-3,5-disubstituted morpholines and 3,6-disubstituted 1,4-oxazepanes via tandem aziridine/epoxide ring opening sequences. This new strategy describes how epoxy alcohols could act as both a nucleophile and an electrophile in a tandem fashion and undergo intermolecular regioselective ring opening of chiral aziridines for the first time.     

Efficient Gene Transfection through Inhibition of β-Sheet (Amyloid Fiber) Formation of a Short Amphiphilic Peptide by Gold Nanoparticles

The effect of citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the secondary structure of an artificial β-sheet-forming cationic peptide has been studied. The AuNPs inhibited β-sheet formation and led to fragmented fibrils and spherical oligomers with assembled AuNPs on their surface. Besides this structural change, the functional properties of the peptide are also different. Whereas the peptide was unable to act as a vector for gene delivery, formation of a complex with AuNPs allowed successful gene delivery into cells.     

Effects of arginine and other solution additives on the self-association of different surfactants: an investigation at single-molecule resolution

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy is used to monitor the self-association of SDS and DTAB monomers at single-molecule resolution. Tetramethylrhodamine-5-maleimide (TMR) has been chosen as a probe because rhodamine dyes have been shown to bind surfactant micelles. Correlation functions obtained by FCS experiments have been fit using conventional discrete diffusional component analysis as well as the more recent maximum entropy method (MEM). Hydrodynamic radii calculated from the diffusion time values increase with surfactant concentration as the monomers self-associate. Effects of several solution additives on the self-association property of the surfactants have been studied. Urea and glycerol inhibit self-association, and arginine shows a dual nature. With SDS, arginine favors self-association, and with DTAB, it inhibits micelle formation. We propose surfactant self-association to be a "supersimplified" model of protein aggregation.     

Measurement of L subshell fluorescence yields of some rare earth elements using synchrotron radiation

The L subshell fluorescence yields ω₁, ω₂ and ω₃ of Gd, Tb and Ho have been measured using Indus‐2 synchrotron radiation. The L X‐ray photons generated in the elemental targets by 10 and 11 keV synchrotron radiation have been measured using silicon drift detector that has an energy resolution of 130 eV at 5.9 keV. The measured values of ω₁, ω₂ and ω₃ have been compared with theoretical values, semi‐empirical fitted values and other experimental values. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.