Theoretical and numerical analysis on multispectral bioluminescence tomography

Recently, molecular imaging has been rapidly developed to studyphysiological and pathological processes in vivo at the cellularand molecular levels. Among molecular imaging modalities, opticalimaging has attracted a major attention for its unique advantages.In this paper, we establish a mathematical framework for multispectralbioluminescence tomography (BLT) that allows simultaneous studiesof multiple optical reporters. We show solution existence, uniquenessand continuous dependence on data as well as the limiting behaviourswhen the regularization parameter approaches zero or when thepenalty parameter approaches infinity. Then, we propose twonumerical schemes for multispectral BLT and derive error estimatesfor the corresponding solutions.     

Fluorescence anisotropy decay study of self-association of bacterial luciferase intermediates

The fluorescence dynamics parameters of the fluorescent transient flavin-luciferase species from the typesVibrio fischeri andPhotobacterium leiognathi are presented. The fluorescence anisotropy decay is a single exponential function for both types. The correlation time is 70 ns for theP. leiognathi fluorescent transient intermediate (2°C, aqueous buffer, pH 7.0), consistent with the rotational correlation time of the luciferase macromolecule (77 kD) to which the flavin fluorophore is rigidly attached. In contrast, for theV. fischeri species the observed correlation time for the anisotropy decay function is 133 ns. This suggests that protein self-association occurs in theV. fischeri case and this is confirmed by filtration, where the fluorescent transient fromV. fischeri does not pass through a 100,000 molecular weight cutoff membrane, whereas theP. leiognathi species does. The filtration method also demonstrates self-association in the luciferase peroxyflavin and photoflavin fromV. fischeri. A monomer-dimer equilibrium also explains the previously reported high correlation times for theV. harveyi luciferase-flavin species. It is proposed that the self-association competes with the lumazine protein interaction in the bioluminescence reaction.     

Catecholamine release from cultured bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells in the presence of 60-Hz magnetic fields

Effects of powerline frequency (50/60 Hz) electric and magnetic fields on the central nervous system may involve altered neurotransmitter release. This possibility was addressed by determining whether 60-Hz linearly polarized sinusoidal magnetic fields (MFs) alter the release of catecholamines from cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells, a well-characterized model of neural-type cells. Dishes of cells were placed in the center of each of two four-coil Merritt exposure systems that were enclosed within mu-metal chambers in matched incubators for simultaneous sham and MF exposure. Following 15-min MF exposure of the cells to flux densities of 0.01, 0.1, 1.0 or 2 mT, norepinephrine and epinephrine release were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with electrochemical detection. No significant differences in the release of either norepinephrine or epinephrine were detected between sham-exposed cells and cells exposed to MFs in either the absence or presence of Bay K-8644 (2 microM) or dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP, 10 microM). Consistent with these null findings is the lack of effect of MF exposure on calcium influx. We conclude that catecholamine release from chromaffin cells is not sensitive to 60-Hz MFs at magnetic flux densities in the 0.01-2 mT range.     

Construction and evaluation of nagR-nagAa::lux fusion strains in biosensing for salicylic acid derivatives

The NagR protein is a response regulatory protein found in the bacterium Ralstonia sp. U2 that is involved in sensing for salicylic acid and the subsequent induction of the operaon just upstream of its gene. The genes encoded for in this operon are involved in the degradation of salicylic acid. Escherichia coli strain RFM443 carrying a fusion of the Photorhabdus luminesscens luxCDABE operon with the nagR gene and upstream region of the nagAa gene was constructed and characterized with respect to its optimum temperature, its response time and kinetics, and its ability to deterctnumerous benzoic acid derivatives. Although capable of detecting 0.5 mM salicylic acid at any temperature between 28 and 40°C, this E. coli strain, labeled DNT5, showed its greatest relative activity at 30°C, i.e., the temperature at which the largest induction was seen. Furthermore, experiments done with numerous benzoic acid derivatives found the NagR protein to be responsive to only a few of the compounds tested, including salicylic acid and 3-methyl salicylic acid and 3-methyl saliyclic acid, and acetyl salicylic acid was the strongest inducer. The lower limits of detection for these compounds with E. coli strain DNT5 were also established, wit the native inducer, salicylic acid, giving the most sensitive response and detectable down to a concentration of about 2 μM. A second lux fusion plasmid was also constructed and transformed into an NahR background, Pseudomonas putida KCTC1768. Within this strain, NAGK-1768, the supplemental activity of the NahR protein on the nagAn promoter, was shown to extend both the range of chemicals detected and the sensitivity.     

In vivo lifetimes of the three color-sectors in bioluminescence emissions of the firefly Luciola praeusta at different temperatures

Bioluminescence emissions from fireflies have been well-studied for over a century. From the apparent features of the emitted light, conclusions have been drawn and hypotheses put forward on the characteristics of the highly efficient light emitting system. The basic emitter oxyluciferin, being chemically unstable, is difficult to study in isolation and, therefore, its analogs have been prepared and analyzed. In this letter, the lifetimes of the excited-state emitter oxyluciferin are measured, and an inference is drawn on the chemiluminescence reaction in vivo. The light from the Indian species of firefly Luciola praeusta contains three color-sectors: green, yellow, and red, and hence three optical filters are used to study time-resolved emissions from these sectors at different temperatures. All the three color-sectors are observed to be temperature sensitive in the time domain. An exponential variation of lifetime with temperature is observed for the emissions in these three regions.     

Reagentless Bioluminescent Sensor for NADH

Abstract

A reagentless fiber optic biosensor specific for NADH, associated with flow injection analysis and based on bacterial bioluminescence is described. Only a buffer solution as flowing stream is required for the probe which works without supply of its coreactants (FMN and N-decyl-aldehyde). These are coentrapped in a poly(vinyl)alcohol (PVA) matrix which allows their internal release in the vicinity of the immobilized enzymes. Two PVA matrices differing by the reticulation process have been tested : first, by polymerization with glutaraldehyde and secondly, by a cyclic freezing-thawing process. The self-containment working time was estimated at 1 and 1.5 h of continuous measurements, respectively. NADH was determined using flow injection analysis. The sensor gave excellent reproducibility (RSD ≤ 3%) in the linear dynamic range 5 — 500 pmol with an average cycle-time of 2.5 min.     

中华黄萤荧光素酶的性质

近年来,萤火虫荧光素酶催化的生物发光反应被广泛的应用到ATP检测、细菌数目检测、环境监测和其他生物学研究之中。通过对中华黄萤荧光素酶的性质研究,发现其分子量为6 400左右,是一种非典型的Michaelis-Menten氏酶,对底物之一的ATP动力学曲线为S型。最适反应温度为20～25℃,对温度极其敏感,当反应温度高于30℃时,该酶的活性快速失活。该荧光素酶的最适pH=6.5。随着pH值的下降该荧光素酶生物发光的最大发射光波长没有明显的红移现象。Mg²⁺和Mn²⁺对该酶活性的激活效果比较接近,最佳的激活浓度均在1mmol/L附近,而Ca²⁺最佳的激活浓度则小于1 mmol/L,且激活的效果只有Mg²⁺作用效果的50%左右。和Hg²⁺、Cd²⁺等离子一样,Cu²⁺会在一定程度上抑制该荧光素酶的活性。该酶的稳定性较差,对盐浓度和光照比较敏感,高浓度的盐类和长时间的日光照射能够使酶失活。谷胱甘肽(GSH)和二硫苏糖醇(DTT)是该酶较好的保护剂,可以提高该酶在一定时间内的稳定性,其中前者的作用效果要好于后者。     

Beyond labels: A review of the application of quantum dots as integrated components of assays, bioprobes, and biosensors utilizing optical transduction

A comprehensive review of the development of assays, bioprobes, and biosensors using quantum dots (QDs) as integrated components is presented. In contrast to a QD that is selectively introduced as a label, an integrated QD is one that is present in a system throughout a bioanalysis, and simultaneously has a role in transduction and as a scaffold for biorecognition. Through a diverse array of coatings and bioconjugation strategies, it is possible to use QDs as a scaffold for biorecognition events. The modulation of QD luminescence provides the opportunity for the transduction of these events via fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET), charge transfer quenching, and electrochemiluminescence (ECL). An overview of the basic concepts and principles underlying the use of QDs with each of these transduction methods is provided, along with many examples of their application in biological sensing. The latter include: the detection of small molecules using enzyme-linked methods, or using aptamers as affinity probes; the detection of proteins via immunoassays or aptamers; nucleic acid hybridization assays; and assays for protease or nuclease activity. Strategies for multiplexed detection are highlighted among these examples. Although the majority of developments to date have been in vitro, QD-based methods for ex vivo biological sensing are emerging. Some special attention is given to the development of solid-phase assays, which offer certain advantages over their solution-phase counterparts.     

小麦超弱延迟发光测试系统

应用一种新型高灵敏度光电倍增管作为传感器,设计一套用于检测小麦超弱发光的光子计数测量系统,实现对储藏小麦超弱发光的定量测量.适当安排LED阵列分布,设计适合延迟发光需要的照明系统,通过对白光LED光源辐射等效单光子能量和流明效率的计算,建立起光照度与光子数强度之间的联系,实现了光源照射强度与样品延迟发光强度之间的定量比较.对不同光照强度下小麦样品延迟发光的测试和双曲函数拟合,探讨了小麦超弱延迟发光双曲函数拟合参量的变化规律;发现不同照射强度下存在不同的饱和照射时间;小麦超弱延迟发光强度曲线符合双曲衰减规律,超弱延迟发光持续时间达数小时.通过对光照时间和数据采集时间的精确控制,以及在拟合函数中设置延迟时间参量因子,实现了延迟发光测试数据对应时间点的精确标定.