pH‐responsive fluorescence chemical sensor constituted by conjugated polymers containing pyridine rings

Poly(p‐pyridinium phenylene ethynylene)s (PPyPE) functionalized with alternating donor–acceptor repeat units were synthesized by a Pd‐catalyzed Sonogashira coupling reaction between diethynyl monomer and di‐iodopyridine for use as a pH‐responsive fluorescence chemical sensor. The synthesized PPyPE, containing pyridine units, was characterized by FT‐IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, UV–visible and fluorescence spectroscopies. We investigated the relationship between changes of optical properties and protonation/deprotonation of PPyPE containing pyridine units in solution. Addition of HCl decreased and red‐shifted the fluorescence intensity of the conjugated polymers that contained pyridine rings; fluorescence intensity of the polymers increased upon addition of NaOH solution. The synthesized PPyPE was found to be an effective and reusable chemical sensor for pH sensing. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study of trivalent samarium ion embedded lithium‐based borate glass for high‐density optical memory devices

Sm³⁺ ions doped strontium lithium lead borate glasses (SLLB:Sm) were prepared using a conventional melt‐quenching technique. The glasses were analyzed using X‐ray diffractometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, optical absorption, fluorescence spectral analysis, and fluorescence lifetime decay. The Judd–Ofelt (J–O) parameters and radiative parameters of the SLLB:Sm10 glass (1.0 mol% Sm³⁺ ion‐doped glass) were calculated using J–O theory. From the emission spectra, among all the synthesized glass, SLLB:Sm10 glass had the highest emission intensity for ⁴G_5/2→⁶H_11/2 transition (610 nm). Emission parameters, such as stimulated emission cross‐section and optical gain bandwidth, were calculated. For all concentrations of Sm³⁺ ions, the decay profile showed an exponential nature and decreased when the Sm³⁺ ion concentration was increased due to a concentration quenching effect. This result suggests that the synthesized SLLB:Sm10 glass could be used for application in high‐density optical memory devices.     

Spectra,stability and labeling of 1‐(5‐carboxypentyl)‐4‐(2‐(N‐ethyl‐carbazole‐3‐yl) vinyl) pyridinium bromide with a large Stokes shift

Carbazole and its derivatives have been widely utilized as a functional building block in the fabrication of the organic medicine, pesticides, materials, etc., because of their excellent solubility, stability and biological activity. In this paper, 1‐(5‐carboxypentyl)‐4‐(2‐(N‐ethyl‐carbazole‐3‐yl) vinyl) pyridinium bromide with a large Stokes shift was synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR and MS. The UV/vis absorption and fluorescence spectra in different solvents and at different pH values were investigated preliminarily. The photostability and thermostability were also studied and the results showed that the compound was stable. The compound was also used to label bovine serum albumin (BSA) and calf thymus (ct)DNA. The results showed that the fluorescence intensity is enhanced when labeling with BSA and the binding ability is stronger than ctDNA, making it may be used as a biological probe. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of the interaction of a mono‐6‐thio‐β‐cyclodextrin‐capped CdTe quantum dots–methylene blue/methylene green system with herring sperm DNA using a spectroscopic approach

Novel, water‐soluble CdTe quantum dots (QDs) capped with β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) and ~ 4.0 nm in diameter were synthesized in aqueous solution, and characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A fluorescence‐sensing system based on the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) of (mono‐6‐thio‐β‐CD)–CdTe QDs was then designed to measure the interaction of phenothiazine dyes [methylene blue (MB) and methylene green (MG)] with herring sperm DNA (hsDNA). This fluorescence‐sensing system was based on a fluorescence “OFF–ON” mode. First, MB/MG adsorbed on the surface of (mono‐6‐thio‐β‐CD)–CdTe QDs effectively quenches the fluorescence of (mono‐6‐thio‐β‐CD)–CdTe QDs through PET. Then, addition of hsDNA restores the fluorescence intensity of (mono‐6‐thio‐β‐CD)–CdTe QDs, because hsDNA can bind with MB/MG and remove it from the as‐prepared (mono‐6‐thio‐β‐CD)–CdTe QDs. In addition, detailed reaction mechanisms of the (mono‐6‐thio‐β‐CD)–CdTe QDs–MB/MG–hsDNA solution system were studied using optical methods, by comparison with the TGA–CdTe QDs–MB/MG–hsDNA solution system. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of a novel fluorescent probe based on 7‐nitrobenzo‐2‐oxa‐1,3‐diazole skeleton for the rapid determination of vitamin B12 in pharmaceuticals

A new fluorescent probe, 4‐N,N‐di(2‐hydroxyethyl)imino‐7‐nitrobenzo‐2‐oxa‐1,3‐diazole (HINBD) was synthesized in a single step with reasonably good yield. The water‐soluble HINBD emits strongly in the visible region (λ_ex = 479 nm, λ_em = 545 nm) and is stable over a wide range of pH values. It was found that vitamin B₁₂ (VB₁₂) had the ability to quench the fluorescence of HINBD, and the quenched fluorescence intensity was proportional to the concentration of VB₁₂. A method for VB₁₂ determination based on the quenching fluorescence of HINBD was thus established. Interference effects of various substances, including sugars, vitamins, amino acids, inorganic cations and some organic substances have been studied. Under optimal conditions, the linear range is 0.0–2.4 × 10^–5 mol/L. The determination limit is 8.3 × 10^–8 mol/L. The method was applied to measure VB₁₂ in pharmaceutical preparations with satisfactory results. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new active For‐Met‐Leu‐Phe‐OMe analogues containing para‐substituted Phe residues

In the present study, we report synthesis and biological evaluation of the N‐Boc‐protected tripeptides 4a–l and N‐For protected tripeptides 5a–l as new For‐Met‐Leu‐Phe‐OMe (fMLF‐OMe) analogues. All the new ligands are characterized by the C‐terminal Phe residue variously substituted at position 4 of the aromatic ring. The agonism of 5a–l and the antagonism of 4a–l (chemotaxis, superoxide anion production, lysozyme release as well as receptor binding affinity) have been examined on human neutrophils. No synthesized compounds has higher activity than the standard fMLF‐OMe tripeptide to stimulate chemotaxis, although compounds 5a and 5c with ‐CH₃ and ‐C(CH₃)₃, respectively, in position 4 on the aromatic ring, are better than the standard tripeptide to stimulate the production of superoxide anion, in higher concentration. Compounds 4f and 4i , containing ‐F and ‐I in position 4, respectively, on the aromatic ring of phenylalanine, exhibit significant chemotactic antagonism. The influence of the different substitution at the position 4 on the aromatic ring of phenylalanine is discussed. Copyright © 2012 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chiral separation of catechin by capillary electrophoresis using mono‐, di‐, tri‐succinyl‐β‐cyclodextrin as chiral selectors

The chiral separation of (±)‐catechin was investigated by capillary electrophoresis using characterized succinyl‐β‐cyclodextrins (Suc‐β‐CDs) with one to three degree of substitution values. The effects of nature and concentration of Suc‐β‐CDs and running buffer pH on the migration time and resolution of (±)‐catechin are discussed. All three kinds of Suc‐β‐CDs show a clear baseline separation of (±)‐catechin in capillary electrophoresis. Mono‐Suc‐β‐CD effectively separated (±)‐catechin, and additional substituted CDs (di‐ and tri‐Suc‐β‐CD) were capable of chiral separation at a broad pH range. The optimum running conditions were found to be 100 mM borate buffer (pH 9.8) containing 5 mM mono‐Suc‐β‐CD with no methanol organic modifier. Chirality, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Fluorescence enhancement of europium (III) perchlorate by 1,10‐phenanthroline on the 1‐(naphthalen‐2‐yl)‐2‐(phenylsulthio)ethanone complex and luminescence mechanism

A novel ligand, 1‐(naphthalen‐2‐yl)‐2‐(phenylsulthio)ethanone was synthesized using a new method and its two europium (Eu) (III) complexes were synthesized. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, coordination titration analysis, molar conductivity, infrared, thermo gravimetric analyzer‐differential scanning calorimetry (TGA‐DSC), ¹H NMR and UV spectra. The composition was suggested as EuL₅ · (ClO₄)₃ · 2H₂O and EuL₄ · phen(ClO₄)₃ · 2H₂O (L = C₁₀H₇COCH₂SOC₆H₅). The fluorescence spectra showed that the Eu(III) displayed strong characteristic metal‐centered fluorescence in the solid state. The ternary rare earth complex showed stronger fluorescence intensity than the binary rare earth complex in such material. The strongest characteristic fluorescence emission intensity of the ternary system was 1.49 times as strong as that of the binary system. The phosphorescence spectra were also discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Glycerol‐induced folding of unstructured disulfide‐deficient lysozyme into a native‐like conformation

2SS[6‐127,64‐80] variant of lysozyme which has two disulfide bridges, Cys6‐Cys127 and Cys64‐Cys80, and lacks the other two disulfide bridges, Cys30‐Cys115 and Cys76‐Cys94, was quite unstructured in water, but a part of the polypeptide chain was gradually frozen into a native‐like conformation with increasing glycerol concentration. It was monitored from the protection factors of amide hydrogens against H/D exchange. In solution containing various concentrations of glycerol, H/D exchange reactions were carried out at pH* 3.0 and 4°C. Then, ¹H‐¹⁵N‐HSQC spectra of partially deuterated protein were measured in a quenching buffer for H/D exchange (95% DMSO/5% D₂O mixture at pH* 5.5 adjusted with dichloroacetate). In a solution of 10% glycerol, the protection factors were nearly equal to 10 at most of residues. With increasing glycerol concentration, some selected regions were further protected, and their protection factors reached about a 1000 in 30% glycerol solution. The highly protected residues were included in A‐, B‐, and C‐helices and β3‐strand, and especially centered on Ile 55 and Leu 56. In 2SS[6‐127,64‐80], long‐range interactions were recovered due to the preferential hydration by glycerol in the hydrophobic box of the α‐domain. Glycerol‐induced recovering of the native‐like structure is discussed from the viewpoint of molten globules growing with the protein folding. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 91: 665–675, 2009. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com     

Spectral investigations on Eu3+,Sm3+‐doped and Sm3+/Eu3+ co‐doped potassium‐fluoro‐phosphate glass emitting intense orange‐red for lighting applications

Potassium fluoro‐phosphate (KFP) glass singly doped with different concentrations of europium (Eu³⁺) or samarium (Sm³⁺) or co‐doped (Sm³⁺/Eu³⁺) was prepared, and their luminescence spectra were investigated. The phase composition of the product was verified by X‐ray diffraction analysis. Optical transition properties of Eu³⁺ in the studied potassium phosphate glass were evaluated in the framework of the Judd–Ofelt theory. The radiative transition rates (A_R), fluorescence branching ratios (β), stimulated emission cross‐sections (σ_e) and lifetimes (τ_exp) for certain transitions or levels were evaluated. Red emission of Eu³⁺ was exhibited mainly by the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition located at 612 nm. Concentration quenching and energy transfer were observed from fluorescence spectra and decay curves, respectively. It was found that the lifetimes of the ⁵D₀ level increased with increase in concentration and then decreased. By co‐doping with Sm³⁺, energy transfer from Sm³⁺ to Eu³⁺ occurred and contributed to the enhancement in emission intensity. Intense orange‐red light emission was obtained upon sensitizing with Sm³⁺ in KFP glass. This approach shows significant promise for use in reddish‐orange lighting applications. The optimized properties of the Sm³⁺/Eu³⁺ co‐doped potassium phosphate glass might be promising for optical materials.     

Conformations of helical Aib peptides containing a pair of l‐amino acid and d‐amino acid

A pair of l ‐leucine (l ‐Leu) and d ‐leucine (d ‐Leu) was incorporated into α‐aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) peptide segments. The dominant conformations of four hexapeptides, Boc‐l ‐Leu‐Aib‐Aib‐Aib‐Aib‐l ‐Leu‐OMe (1a), Boc‐d ‐Leu‐Aib‐Aib‐Aib‐Aib‐l ‐Leu‐OMe (1b), Boc‐Aib‐Aib‐l ‐Leu‐l ‐Leu‐Aib‐Aib‐OMe (2a), and Boc‐Aib‐Aib‐d ‐Leu‐l ‐Leu‐Aib‐Aib‐OMe (2b), were investigated by IR, ¹H NMR, CD spectra, and X‐ray crystallographic analysis. All peptides 1a,b and 2a,b formed 3₁₀‐helical structures in solution. X‐ray crystallographic analysis revealed that right‐handed (P) 3₁₀‐helices were present in 1a and 1b and a mixture of right‐handed (P) and left‐handed (M) 3₁₀‐helices was present in 2b in their crystalline states. Copyright © 2012 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study on the synthesis and structure–effect relationship of multi‐aryl imidazoles with their fluorescence properties

In this paper, 23 multi‐aryl imidazole derivatives were synthesized and identified by nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet‐visible and elemental analysis. At the same time, their ultraviolet‐visible maximum absorption (λ_ab^max), fluorescence emission maximum (λ_em^max) and quantum yields (Ф_f) were measured. The relationships between the optical behaviors and structures for these compounds were assessed. The results show that the λ^max_ab and λ^max_em are red‐shifted and the fluorescence Ф_f are increased by the introduction of electron‐withdrawing substituents and the increase in the planarity of multi‐aryl imidazole molecules. The results also showed that the fluorescence quantum yields of the compounds containing two imidazole nuclei are double the corresponding mono‐imidazole nucleus compounds. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An efficient method for the synthesis of phenacyl ester‐protected dipeptides using neutral alumina‐supported sodium carbonate ‘Na2CO3/n‐Al2O3’

In the synthesis of dipeptides (Boc‐AA¹‐AA²‐OPac: AA¹ and AA² represent amino acids) protected by phenacyl (Pac) ester, amines and solid bases as the base for the conversion of the trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) salt of the amino component (TFA·H‐AA²‐OPac) into the corresponding free amino component (H‐AA²‐OPac) were examined. The synthesis of a dipeptide (Boc‐Ala‐Gly‐OPac) using amines for the conversion afforded an unsatisfactory yield with by‐products. On the other hand, the use of neutral alumina‐supported Na₂CO₃ (Na₂CO₃/n‐Al₂O₃) as a solid base for the conversion provided the dipeptide in a quantitative yield without by‐products. The application of Na₂CO₃/n‐Al₂O₃ to the synthesis of some dipeptides protected by Pac ester gave the desired peptides in excellent yields. Copyright © 2013 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,photoluminescence properties and theoretical insights on 1,3‐diphenyl‐5‐(9‐anthryl)‐2‐pyrazoline and ‐1H‐pyrazole

1,3‐Diphenyl‐5‐(9‐anthryl)‐2‐pyrazoline and 1,3‐diphenyl‐5‐(9‐anthryl)‐1H‐pyrazole with an anthryl chromophore were synthesized and characterized using ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FT‐IR, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. Their optical properties were characterized by UV–vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. It was observed that the absorption and fluorescence spectra of the two compounds showed a red shift with respect to that of anthracene. Pyrazole exhibited high fluorescent quantum yields (Φ_f = 0.90 in toluene) while pyrazoline showed nearly no fluorescence in solution. The significant fluorescence divergence of the two similar compounds was investigated theoretically through density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The energetically lowest‐lying state S₁ in the pyrazoline exhibited both characteristics of locally excited and electron‐transfer states that resulted in the fluorescence quenching of anthryl chromophore whereas the S₁ state in the pyrazole corresponded to an optically allowed state that led to high fluorescence quantum yields in solutions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of (Boc‐Cys/Sec‐NHMe)2 and (Boc‐Cys/Sec‐OMe)2: Evidence of local conformational difference between disulfide and diselenide

Conformations of disulfide and diselenide were compared in (Boc‐Cys/Sec‐NHMe)₂ and (Boc‐Cys/Sec‐OMe)₂ using X‐ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, density functional theory (DFT), and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Conformations of disulfide/diselenide in polypeptides are defined based on the sign of side chain torsion angle χ₃ (–CH₂–S/Se–S/Se–CH₂–); negative indicates left‐handed and positive indicates right‐handed orientation. In the crystals of (Boc‐Cys‐OMe)₂ and (Boc‐Sec‐OMe)₂, the disulfide exhibits a left‐handed and the diselenide a right‐handed orientation. Characterization of cystine and selenocystine derivatives in solution using ¹H‐NMR, natural abundant ⁷⁷Se NMR, 2D‐ROESY, and chemical shift analysis coupled to DMSO titration has indicated the symmetrical nature and antiparallel orientation of Cys/Sec residues about the disulfide/diselenide bridges. Structural calculations of cystine and selenocystine derivatives using DFT further support the antiparallel orientation of Cys/Sec residues about disulfide/diselenide. The far‐ultraviolet (UV) region CD spectra of cystine and selenocystine derivatives have exhibited the negative Cotton effect (CE) for disulfide and positive for diselenide confirming the difference in the conformational preference of disulfide and diselenide. In the previously reported polymorphic structure of (Boc‐Sec‐OMe)₂, the diselenide has right‐handed orientation. In the X‐ray structures of disulfide and diselenide analogues of Escherichia coli protein encoded by curli specific gene C (CgsC) retrieved from Protein Databank (PDB), disulfide has left‐handed and the diselenide right‐handed orientation. The current report provides the evidence for the local conformational difference between a disulfide and a diselenide group under unconstrained conditions, which may be useful for the rational replacement of disulfide by diselenide in polypeptide chains.     

Solution conformation of a tetradecapeptide stabilized by two di‐n‐propyl glycine residues

The solution conformation of a designed tetradecapeptide Boc‐Val‐Ala‐Leu‐Dpg‐Val‐Ala‐Leu‐Val‐Ala‐Leu‐Dpg‐Val‐Ala‐Leu‐OMe (Dpg‐14) containing two di‐n‐propyl glycine (Dpg) residues has been investigated by ¹H NMR and circular dichroism in organic solvents. The peptide aggregates formed at a concentration of 3 mM in the apolar solvent CDCl₃ were broken by the addition of 12% v/v of the more polar solvent DMSO‐d₆. Successive N_iH N_i+1H NOEs observed over the entire length of the sequence in this solvent mixture together with the observation of several characteristic medium‐range NOEs support a major population of continuous helical conformations for Dpg‐14. Majority of the observed coupling constants ( ) also support ? values in the helical conformation. Circular dichroism spectra recorded in methanol and propan‐2‐ol give further support in favor of helical conformation for Dpg‐14 and the stability of the helix at higher temperature. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure‐based in silico identification of ubiquitin‐binding domains provides insights into the ALIX‐V:ubiquitin complex and retrovirus budding

The ubiquitylation signal promotes trafficking of endogenous and retroviral transmembrane proteins. The signal is decoded by a large set of ubiquitin (Ub) receptors that tether Ub‐binding domains (UBDs) to the trafficking machinery. We developed a structure‐based procedure to scan the protein data bank for hidden UBDs. The screen retrieved many of the known UBDs. Intriguingly, new potential UBDs were identified, including the ALIX‐V domain. Pull‐down, cross‐linking and E3‐independent ubiquitylation assays biochemically corroborated the in silico findings. Guided by the output model, we designed mutations at the postulated ALIX‐V:Ub interface. Biophysical affinity measurements using microscale‐thermophoresis of wild‐type and mutant proteins revealed some of the interacting residues of the complex. ALIX‐V binds mono‐Ub with a K_d of 119 μM. We show that ALIX‐V oligomerizes with a Hill coefficient of 5.4 and IC₅₀ of 27.6 μM and that mono‐Ub induces ALIX‐V oligomerization. Moreover, we show that ALIX‐V preferentially binds K63 di‐Ub compared with mono‐Ub and K48 di‐Ub. Finally, an in vivo functionality assay demonstrates the significance of ALIX‐V:Ub interaction in equine infectious anaemia virus budding. These results not only validate the new procedure, but also demonstrate that ALIX‐V directly interacts with Ub in vivo and that this interaction can influence retroviral budding.     

Controlling the helical screw sense of peptides with C‐terminal L‐valine

One chiral L ‐valine (L ‐Val) was inserted into the C‐terminal position of achiral peptide segments constructed from α‐aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) and α,β‐dehydrophenylalanine (Δ^ZPhe) residues. The IR, ¹H NMR and CD spectra indicated that the dominant conformations of the pentapeptide Boc‐Aib‐ΔPhe‐(Aib)₂‐L ‐Val‐NH‐Bn (3) and the hexapeptide Boc‐Aib‐ΔPhe‐(Aib)₃‐L ‐Val‐NH‐Bn (4) in solution were both right‐handed (P) 3₁₀‐helical structures. X‐ray crystallographic analyses of 3 and 4 revealed that only a right‐handed (P) 3₁₀‐helical structure was present in their crystalline states. The conformation of 4 was also studied by molecular‐mechanics calculations. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,spectral properties and antimicrobial activity of a new cationic water‐soluble pH‐dependent poly(propylene imine) dendrimer modified with 1,8‐naphthalimides

A three‐step synthesis was implemented to prepare a quaternary ammonium functionalized blue fluorescent poly(propylene imine) dendrimer modified with pyridinium salt of 4‐acylamino‐1,8‐naphthalimide. The new cationic dendrimer absorbs in the ultraviolet light region and emits blue fluorescence. Its spectral characteristics in organic solvents and in an aqueous solution were studied. The influence of pH on the fluorescence intensity of the dendrimer was established with regard to its use as a pH sensor. The effect of hydroxyl ions on the absorption and fluorescence spectra in dry N,N‐dimethylformamide was also investigated. The antimicrobial activity of the dendrimer was assessed against model pathogenic microorganisms in agar, liquid medium, and after its deposition on cotton fabric.     

A simple and sensitive label‐free fluorescence sensing of heparin based on Cdte quantum dots

A rapid, simple and sensitive label‐free fluorescence method was developed for the determination of trace amounts of an important drug, heparin. This new method was based on water‐soluble glutathione‐capped CdTe quantum dots (CdTe QDs) as the luminescent probe. CdTe QDs were prepared according to the published protocol and the sizes of these nanoparticles were verified through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) with an average particle size of about 7 nm. The fluorescence intensity of glutathione‐capped CdTe QDs increased with increasing heparin concentration. These changes were followed as the analytical signal. Effective variables such as pH, QD concentration and incubation time were optimized. At the optimum conditions, with this optical method, heparin could be measured within the range 10.0–200.0 ng mL^?1 with a low limit of detection, 2.0 ng mL^?1. The constructed fluorescence sensor was also applied successfully for the determination of heparin in human serum. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.