Mechanisms of inactivation of lipoxygenases by phenidone and BW755C.

Inhibition of soybean lipoxygenase (L-1) and potato 5-lipoxygenase (5-PLO) by the pyrazoline derivatives phenidone and BW755C only occurs after oxidation of these compounds by the peroxidase-like activity of the lipoxygenases. There is a clear relationship between this oxidation and the irreversible inactivation of L-1. The final product of phenidone oxidation by L-1, 4,5-didehydrophenidone, is not responsible of this inactivation, but the species derived from a one-electron oxidation of phenidone plays a key role in L-1 inactivation. In the absence of O2, inactivation of 1 mol of L-1 occurs after the oxidation of 34 mol of phenidone and the covalent binding of 0.8 mol of phenidone-derived metabolite(s) to L-1. In the presence of O2, inactivation of 1 mol of L-1 occurs already after oxidation of 11 mol of phenidone and only involves the covalent binding of 0.4 mol of phenidone-derived metabolite(s) to L-1. A mechanism is proposed for L-1 inactivation by phenidone, which involves the irreversible binding of a phenidone metabolite to the protein and the oxidation of an L-1 amino acid residue (in the presence of O2).     

Effect of background fluorophores on the NADH fluorescence probe signal

Summary Analysis of the errors caused by a drift in background fluorescence is performed for a fluorescence probe operated in a backscatter configuration. In some cases, significant errors can result if changes in background fluorophores during the course of fermentation are not accounted for. It is shown that the probe's sensitivity to background fluorophores must be considered to calibrate a fluorescence probe properly.     

Influence of mixed-ligand complexes on retention and distribution of radioniobium in mice

The individual effects of desferrioxamine B (DFOA), Na3Ca diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), Na-salicylate, DL-penicillamine, and 2-aminoethylisothiouronium bromide hydrobromide, as well as the effect of mixed-ligand treatment on the retention and elimination of 95Nb in mice have been examined. It was found that 95Nb could easily be mobilized by a single dose of DFOA, but the best result was obtained with the DFOA and DTPA combination. Mixed-ligand treatment did not change the deposition characteristics and translocation kinetics of 95Nb.     

The effect of resistant starch (RS) on the bovine rumen microflora and isolation of RS-degrading bacteria

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - Resistant starch (RS) in the diet reaches the large intestine without degradation, where it is decomposed by the commensal microbiota. The fermentation of...     

Neurogranin Regulates Alcohol Sensitivity through AKT Pathway in the Nucleus Accumbens

Dysfunction of glutamate neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of alcohol use disorders (AUD). Neurogranin (Ng) is exclusively expressed in the brain and mediates N‐methyl‐d ‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypo‐function by regulating the intracellular calcium‐calmodulin (Ca²⁺‐CaM) pathway. Ng null mice (Ng^–/– mice) demonstrate increased alcohol drinking compared to wild‐type mice, while also showing less tolerance to the effect of alcohol. To identify the molecular mechanism related to alcohol seeking, both in vivo microdialysis and label‐free quantification proteomics comparing Ng genotype and effects of alcohol treatment on the NAc are utilized. There is significant difference in glutamate and gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission between genotypes; however, alcohol administration normalizes both glutamate and GABA levels in the NAc. Using label‐free proteomics, 427 protein expression changes are identified against alcohol treatment in the NAc among 4347 total proteins detected. Bioinformatics analyses reveal significant molecular differences in Ng null mice in response to acute alcohol treatment. Ingenuity pathway analysis found that the AKT network is altered significantly between genotypes, which may increase the sensitivity of alcohol in Ng null mice. The pharmacoproteomics results presented here illustrate a possible molecular basis of the alcohol sensitivity through Ng signaling in the NAc.     

An Antiaging Electrolyte Additive for High‐Energy‐Density Lithium‐Ion Batteries

High‐capacity Li‐rich layered oxide cathodes along with Si‐incorporated graphite anodes have high reversible capacity, outperforming the electrode materials used in existing commercial products. Hence, they are potential candidates for the development of high‐energy‐density lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). However, structural degradation induced by loss of interfacial stability is a roadblock to their practical use. Here, the use of malonic acid‐decorated fullerene (MA‐C₆₀) with superoxide dismutase activity and water scavenging capability as an electrolyte additive to overcome the structural instability of high‐capacity electrodes that hampers the battery quality is reported. Deactivation of PF₅ by water scavenging leads to the long‐term stability of the interfacial structures of electrodes. Moreover, an MA‐C₆₀‐added electrolyte deactivates the reactive oxygen species and constructs an electrochemically robust cathode‐electrolyte interface for Li‐rich cathodes. This work paves the way for new possibilities in the design of electrolyte additives by eliminating undesirable reactive substances and tuning the interfacial structures of high‐capacity electrodes in LIBs.     

Rational Design of Core@shell Structured CoSx@Cu2MoS4 Hybridized MoS2/N,S‐Codoped Graphene as Advanced Electrocatalyst for Water Splitting and Zn‐Air Battery

A novel hybrid of small core@shell structured CoS_x@Cu₂MoS₄ uniformly hybridizing with a molybdenum dichalcogenide/N,S‐codoped graphene hetero‐network (CoS_x@Cu₂MoS₄‐MoS₂/NSG) is prepared by a facile route. It shows excellent performance toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline medium. The hybrid exhibits rapid kinetics for ORR with high electron transfer number of ≈3.97 and exciting durability superior to commercial Pt/C. It also demonstrates great potential with remarkable stability for HER and OER, requiring low overpotential of 118.1 and 351.4 mV, respectively, to reach a current density of 10 mA cm^?2. An electrolyzer based on CoS_x@Cu₂MoS₄‐MoS₂/NSG produces low cell voltage of 1.60 V and long‐term stability, surpassing a device of Pt/C + RuO₂/C. In addition, a Zn‐air battery using cathodic CoS_x@Cu₂MoS₄‐MoS₂/NSG catalyst delivers a high cell voltage of ≈1.44 V and a power density of 40 mW cm^?2 at 58 mA cm^?2, better than the state‐of‐the‐art Pt/C catalyst. These achievements are due to the rational combination of highly active core@shell CoS_x@Cu₂MoS₄ with large‐area and high‐porosity MoS₂/NSG to produce unique physicochemical properties with multi‐integrated active centers and synergistic effects. The outperformances of such catalyst suggest an advanced candidate for multielectrocatalysis applications in metal‐air batteries and hydrogen production.     

New Class of Ni‐Rich Cathode Materials Li[NixCoyB1−x−y]O2 for Next Lithium Batteries

A new class of layered cathodes, Li[Ni_xCo_yB_1?x?y]O₂ (NCB), is synthesized. The proposed NCB cathodes have a unique microstructure in which elongated primary particles are tightly packed into spherical secondary particles. The cathodes also exhibit a strong crystallographic texture in which the a–b layer planes are aligned along the radial direction, facilitating Li migration. The microstructure, which effectively suppresses the formation of microcracks, improves the cycling stability of the NCB cathodes. The NCB cathode with 1.5 mol% B delivers a discharge capacity of 234 mAh g^?1 at 0.1 C and retains 91.2% of its initial capacity after 100 cycles (compared to values of 229 mAh g^?1 at 0.1 C and 78.8% for pristine Li[Ni_0.9Co_0.1]O₂). This study shows the importance of controlling the microstructure to obtain the required cycling stability, especially for Ni‐rich layered cathodes, where the main cause of capacity fading is related to mechanical strain in their charged state.