RNA‐based fluorescent biosensors for live cell detection of bacterial sRNA

Bacteria contain a diverse set of RNAs to provide tight regulation of gene expression in response to environmental stimuli. Bacterial small RNAs (sRNAs) work in conjunction with protein cofactors to bind complementary mRNA sequences in the cell, leading to up‐ or downregulation of protein synthesis. In vivo imaging of sRNAs can aid in understanding their spatiotemporal dynamics in real time, which inspires new ways to manipulate these systems for a variety of applications including synthetic biology and therapeutics. Current methods for sRNA imaging are quite limited in vivo and do not provide real‐time information about fluctuations in sRNA levels. Herein, we describe our efforts toward the development of an RNA‐based fluorescent biosensor for bacterial sRNA both in vitro and in vivo. We validated these sensors for three different bacterial sRNAs in Escherichia coli and demonstrated that the designs provide a bright, sequence‐specific signal output in response to exogenous and endogenous RNA targets.     

A fully online sensor-equipped,disposable multiphase microbioreactor as a screening platform for biotechnological applications

A new disposable, multiphase, microbioreactor (MBR; with a working volume of 550 μl) equipped with online sensors is presented for biotechnological screening research purposes owing to its high-throughput potential. Its design and fabrication, online sensor integration, and operation are described. During aerobic cultivation, sufficient oxygen supply is the most important factor that influences growth and product formation. The MBR is a microbubble column bioreactor (μBC), and the oxygen supply was realized by active pneumatic bubble aeration, ensuring sufficient volumetric liquid-phase mass transfer (k _L a) and proper homogenization of the cultivation broth. The μBC was equipped with miniaturized sensors for the pH, dissolved oxygen, optical density and glucose concentration that allowed real-time online monitoring of these process variables during cultivation. The challenge addressed here was the integration of sensors in the limited available space. The MBR was shown to be a suitable screening platform for the cultivation of biological systems. Batch cultivations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were performed to observe the variation in the process variables over time and to show the robustness and operability of all the online sensors in the MBR.     

Evidence that L-glutamate can act as an exogenous signal to modulate root growth and branching in Arabidopsis thaliana

The roots of many plant species are known to use inorganic nitrogen, in the form of , as a cue to initiate localized root proliferation within nutrient-rich patches of soil. We report here that, at micromolar concentrations and in a genotype-dependent manner, exogenous l-glutamate is also able to elicit complex changes in Arabidopsis root development. l-Glutamate is perceived specifically at the primary root tip and inhibits mitotic activity in the root apical meristem, but does not interfere with lateral root initiation or outgrowth. Only some time after emergence do lateral roots acquire l-glutamate sensitivity, indicating that their ability to respond to l-glutamate is developmentally regulated. Comparisons between different Arabidopsis ecotypes revealed a remarkable degree of natural variation in l-glutamate sensitivity, with C24 being the most sensitive. The aux1-7 auxin transport mutant had reduced l-glutamate sensitivity, suggesting a possible interaction between l-glutamate and auxin signaling. Surprisingly, two loss-of-function mutants at the AXR1 locus (axr1-3 and axr1-12) were hypersensitive to l-glutamate. A pharmacological approach, using agonists and antagonists of mammalian ionotropic glutamate receptors, was unable to provide evidence of a role for their plant homologs in sensing exogenous glutamate. We discuss the mechanism of l-glutamate sensing and the possible ecological significance of the observed l-glutamate-elicited changes in root architecture.     

A New Biosensor for Chiral Recognition Using Goat and Rabbit Serum Albumin Self‐Assembled Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) biosensor was used for the chiral recognition of five pairs of enantiomers by using goat serum albumin (GSA) and rabbit serum albumin (RbSA) as chiral selectors. Serum albumin (SA) was immobilized on the QCM through the self‐assembled monolayer technique, and the surface concentration of GSA and RbSA were 8.8 × 10^?12 mol cm^?2 and 1.2 × 10^?11 mol cm^?2, respectively. The QCM biosensors showed excellent sensitivity and selectivity. Meanwhile, the chiral recognition of SA sensors was quite species dependent. There were differences between GSA and RbSA sensors in the ability and the preference of chiral recognition. To R,S‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐1‐naphthylamine (R,S‐1‐TNA), R,S‐1‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)ethylamine (R,S‐4‐MPEA), and R,S‐1‐(3‐methoxyphenyl)ethylamine (R,S‐3‐MPEA), the preference of the stereoselective SA‐drug binding of the two kinds of SA sensors were consistent. However, to R,S‐2‐octanol (R, S‐2‐OT) and R,S‐methyl lactate (R,S‐MEL), the two kinds of SA sensors had opposite chiral recognition preference. Moreover, the interactions of SA and the five pairs of enantiomers have been further investigated through ultraviolet (UV) and fluorescent (FL) spectra. The UV/FL results were in accordance with the consequence of QCM. Chirality 24:804–809, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Sequential measurement of aminotransferase activities by amperometric biosensors

An l-glutamate biosensor modified by cation exchanger membrane on a palladium (Pd) electrode was designed for the purpose of preventing interferences and electrode fouling during the measurement of serum AST and ALT activities. The rate of signal increase obtained by our sensor for the determination of AST and ALT activity was 0.259 and 0.596 nA/min U(-1)l and the response of the sensor to AST and ALT activity were linear over the range of 8-200 and 8-250 Ul(-1), respectively. Both AST and ALT activities could be measured sequentially by injecting the serum into a solution containing l-aspartate and alpha-ketoglutarate. The rate of current increase was relative to AST activity. The activity of ALT was sequentially determined after addition of l-alanine into the solution. The change in the current increase rate after the addition of l-alanine was proportional to the ALT activity. By using the proposed biosensor, the interference of 1mM ascorbic acid was negligible on a dynamical aminotransferase determination when the dynamic data are taken after the steady state of an elevated baseline has been reached. The proposed l-glutamate biosensor provides adequate sensitivity for the measurement of AST and ALT and is expectable to be applied for rapid blood screening of AST and ALT activity in clinical sample.     

Development of a common biosensor format for an enzyme based biosensor array to monitor fruit quality

Individual enzyme-based biosensors involving three-electrode systems were developed for the detection of analytes comprising markers of the stage of maturity and quality in selected fruits of economic importance to tropical countries. Importantly, a common fabrication format has been developed to simplify manufacture and allow future integration of the individual sensors into a single multi-sensor array. Specifically, sensors for beta-D-glucose, total D-glucose, sucrose and ascorbic acid have been developed. Pectin, a natural polysaccharide present in plant cells, was used as a novel matrix to enhance enzyme entrapment and stabilisation in the sensors. Except for ascorbic acid, all the sensors function via the detection of enzymatically generated H2O2 at rhodinised carbon electrodes. Since ascorbic acid is electrochemically active at the working potential chosen (+350 mV vs. Ag/AgCl), it was measured directly. Enzyme sensors demonstrated expected response with respect to their substrates, typically 0-0.8 microA/20 mm2 electrode area response over analyte ranges of 0-7 mM. Interferences related to electrochemically active compounds present in fruits under study were significantly reduced by inclusion of a suitable cellulose acetate (CA) membrane or by enzymatic inactivation with ascorbate oxidase. Initial development was carried out into production of biosensor arrays. CA membranes were used to improve the linear range of the sensors, producing up to a fivefold improvement in the detection range compared to sensors without an additional diffusion barrier.     

适配体传感器检测抗生素的研究进展

抗生素作为一种微生物的次级代谢产物,具有杀死或抑制微生物生长的作用。抗生素的滥用导致了它在食物中的残留量逐年增加。因此,需要建立一种快速灵敏检测方法用于食品中抗生素残留量的检测。核酸适配体传感器因其高选择性、高特异性和高灵敏性等优点而备受关注。同时,借助纳米材料独特的光、电特性,能够进一步提高适配体传感器的性能。本文综述了目前用于抗生素检测的核酸适配体传感器如荧光适配体传感器、比色适配体传感器和电化学适配体传感器等的研究进展。此外,还对该研究领域面临的挑战和未来前景进行了展望。     

A specific enzyme electrode for l-glutamate-development and application

A biosensor for the specific determination of l-glutamate has been developed using l-glutamate oxidase in combination with a hydrogen peroxide indicating electrode. The biosensor response depends linearly on l-glutamate concentration between 0.001 and 1.0 mM. The measuring time is 2 min. The sensor is stable for more than 10 days during which more than 500 assays can be performed. The sensor has been applied to l-glutamate determination in liquid seasonings. Furthermore, transaminase activities have been determined by their catalytic l-glutamate production from alpha-ketoglutarate and l-alanine or l-aspartate. Also, the coimmobilization of glutaminase yielded a bienzyme electrode sensitive to l-glutamine.     

Free-calcium and tension responses in single barnacle muscle fibres following the application of l-glutamate

The effect of the putative transmitter, l-glutamate, on free intracellular Ca²⁺, tension and membrane potential in single muscle fibres from the barnacle Balanus nubilus has been investigated. External application of l-glutamate (0.1–10 mM) resulted in a transient increase in free intracellular Ca²⁺, monitored by the Ca²⁺-activated protein aequorin. This increase in free intracellular Ca²⁺ was associated with membrane depolarization and force development, and was followed by a period of ‘desensitization’ in which the preparation was unresponsive to l-glutamate. This could be reversed by removing l-glutamate from the external saline. External application of a number of closely related compounds, including d-glutamate and l-aspartate, were ineffective for initiating the transient light response. The l-glutamate response was virtually abolished in Na-free (Li) medium and completely abolished in Ca-free (Na) medium. The responses to l-glutamate were not reduced in Mg-free medium. The fibre's response to 1 mM l-glutamate was also inhibited by D-600 (10 μM) or by La³⁺ (1 mM), suggesting that Ca was directly involved in the underlying ionic conductance changes brought about by this putative excitatory transmitter.     

多层生物介质传感器的特性研究（英文）

目的 多层生物介质的生物传感器被广泛应用于各大领域,其检测特性对于传感器优劣的评估尤为重要。本文目的在于量化表征多层生物介质的电学特征。方法 基于生物电阻抗谱技术来探究多层生物介质的电化学阻抗谱特性,并结合保角映射的方法来量化表征多层生物介质,阐明其对阻抗的影响规律,继而为生物传感器的研制与开发提供理论基础。有效提取各生物介质层修饰后电阻抗参数(Z^*),从而量化表征多层生物介质层的电阻抗谱特性。结果 对多层模型进行了理论计算并构建了相关试验测试系统,研究结果表明,随着生物介质层的逐步修饰,检测区域电阻抗参数(Z^*)在f=0.1～50 MHz下持续上升,理论计算结果趋势与试验结果趋势较好吻合,论证了此理论计算方法的正确性。结论 本文证实了可根据生物电阻抗谱和保角映射方法量化表征多层生物介质的电阻抗谱特性,对生物传感器的研制与开发有一定的实用价值。     

Effects of L-glutamate and other drugs on some membrane properties of muscle fibres of Diptera.

The effects of different drugs, active at certain neuromuscular junctions, have been studied on the membrane properties of three different muscles of Sarcophaga bullata. No evidence could be found to support the presence of cholinergically mediated neuromuscular transmission in these muscles. The drug having the most effect was l-glutamate, although differences in effectiveness were observed between the three muscles. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed. A transmitter rôle in the Dipteran muscles is postulated for l-glutamate.     

The Mg insertion step in chlorophyll biosynthesis.

A developing chloroplast preparation obtained from greening cucumber cotyledons is able to bring about the synthesis of Mg-protoporphyrin-IX and/or Mg-protoporphyrin-IX monomethyl ester. l-glutamate, δ-aminolevulinic acid, and protoporphyrin-IX can serve as precursors for Mg-protoporphyrin synthesis. However, when δ-aminolevulinic acid or protoporpyrin are used, no Mg-protoporphyrin is formed unless l-glutamate is also added. Mg-Protoporphyrin synthesis with δ-aminolevulinic acid plus l-glutamate, or proto-porphyrin plus l-glutamate, is much more active than with l-glutamate alone. Therefore, it is apparent that l-glutamate plays a role in the Mg chelation step in chloroplasts. α-Keto-glutarate can replace l-glutamate in this role; glutamine cannot. ATP is also required for Mg chelation. The role of l-glutamate in the Mg insertion step is not yet understood, except that l-glutamate itself does not need to be converted to porphyrins in this process, because Mg-protoporphyrin can be synthesized from protoporphyrin and l-glutamate even in the presence of the δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase inhibitor, levulinate.     

Monitoring cellular redox dynamics using newly developed BRET-based redox sensor proteins

Reactive oxygen species are key factors that strongly affect the cellular redox state and regulate various physiological and cellular phenomena. To monitor changes in the redox state, we previously developed fluorescent redox sensors named Re-Q, the emissions of which are quenched under reduced conditions. However, such fluorescent probes are unsuitable for use in the cells of photosynthetic organisms because they require photoexcitation that may change intracellular conditions and induce autofluorescence, primarily in chlorophylls. In addition, the presence of various chromophore pigments may interfere with fluorescence-based measurements because of their strong absorbance. To overcome these problems, we adopted the bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) mechanism for the sensor and developed two BRET-based redox sensors by fusing cyan fluorescent protein–based or yellow fluorescent protein–based Re-Q with the luminescent protein Nluc. We named the resulting redox-sensitive BRET-based indicator probes “ROBINc” and “ROBINy.” ROBINc is pH insensitive, which is especially vital for observation in photosynthetic organisms. By using these sensors, we successfully observed dynamic redox changes caused by an anticancer agent in HeLa cells and light/dark-dependent redox changes in the cells of photosynthetic cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Since the newly developed sensors do not require excitation light, they should be especially useful for visualizing intracellular phenomena caused by redox changes in cells containing colored pigments.     

High-affinity glutamic acid binding to brain synaptic membranes

Rat brain homogenate preparations exhibited two types of glutamine binding, one a high-affinity (K₁ = 0.2 μM) and the other a low-affinity type (K₂ = 4.4 μM). The high-affinity binding was primarily associated with the plasma membrane subcellular fractions and in particular with the synaptic membrane subfraction. This l-glutamate binding was found to be strongly stereospecific for the l-form and was almost totally reversible. The synaptic membrane glutamate binding was partialy inhibited by neuro-excitatory and neuro-inhibitory amino acids but was not affected by amino acids lacking in neuropharmacologic activity. The membrane-associated l-glutamate binding system could be solubilized by Triton X-100 without loss of its high-affinity binding activity. The chemical nature of this glutamate binding component was found to be that of a glycolipoprotein. It is proposed that this glutamate binding system represents the physiologic receptor on neuronal membranes of this amino acid.     

Differences between substrate specificities of l-glutamate uptake by neurons and glia,studied in cell lines and primary cultures

High affinity uptake of [³H]l-glutamate was studied in cultures of continuous cell lines, originating either from mouse neuroblastoma or rat glioma, and in two types of primary cultures containing cerebellar granule cells and astrocytes from cerebral cortex, respectively. In the continuous lines, d- and l-aspartate-4-hydroxamate were found to interact preferentially with the uptake of [³H]l-glutamate in glioma cells while l-glutamate-5-hydroxamate and 2-aminoadipate interacted more strongly with [³H]l-glutamate uptake in neuroblastoma cells, d-Aspartate-4-hydroxyamate, l-glutamate-5-hydroxamate and 2-aminoadipate were inactive as inhibitors of [³H]l-glutamate uptake by either granule cells or astrocytes, grown in primary culture, but several other glutamate analogues, which did not differentiate between neuroblastomal and gliomal uptake of [³H]l-glutamate, were somewhat stronger inhibitors of [³H]l-glutamate uptake in astrocytes as compared to that in granule cells. However, all of these compounds (N-acetyl-l-glutamate, formimino-l-aspartate, d-homocysteate, l-homocysteate and dl-2-methylglutamate) were only very weak inhibitors and, consequently, it is unlikely that any of them could be useful in experiments with central nervous tissue in vivo or, at least, in brain slices in vitro, attempting to resolve the uptake of l-glutamate into glia- and neuron-localized components.     

Bacterial cell-surface displaying of thermo-tolerant glutamate dehydrogenase and its application in l-glutamate assay

In this paper, glutamate dehydrogenase (Gldh) is reported to efficiently display on Escherichia coli cell surface by using N-terminal region of ice the nucleation protein as an anchoring motif. The presence of Gldh was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and enzyme activity assay. Gldh was detected mainly in the outer membrane fraction, suggesting that the Gldh was displayed on the bacterial cell surface. The optimal temperature and pH for the bacteria cell-surface displayed Gldh (bacteria-Gldh) were 70 °C and 9.0, respectively. Additionally, the fusion protein retained almost 100% of its initial enzymatic activity after 1 month incubation at 4 °C. Transition metal ions could inhibit the enzyme activity to different extents, while common anions had little adverse effect on enzyme activity. Importantly, the displayed Gldh is most specific to l-glutamate reported so far. The bacterial Gldh was enabled to catalyze oxidization of l-glutamate with NADP⁺ as cofactor, and the resultant NADPH can be detected spectrometrically at 340 nm. The bacterial-Gldh based l-glutamate assay was established, where the absorbance at 340 nm increased linearly with the increasing l-glutamate concentration within the range of 10 − 400 μM. Further, the proposed approach was successfully applied to measure l-glutamate in real samples.     

GDH biosensor based off-line capillary immunoassay for alkylphenols and their ethoxylates

The application of a quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase modified thick-film sensor as label detector in a capillary immunoassay (CIA) for xenoestrogens is presented. The detection of the alkylphenols and their ethoxylates is based on the competition between the analyte and tracer molecules for the binding sites of anti-alkylphenol ethoxylate antibodies. This assay is performed off-line in small disposable PVC capillaries coated with immobilized antibodies. This format allows the combination of the assay with a small portable device potentially useful for on-site environmental monitoring. Beside high amplification the utilization of beta-galactosidase as enzyme label allows the direct combination with a GDH biosensor at optimal pH conditions. The bioelectrocatalytic properties of this biosensor offer an additional amplification and thus allow a very sensitive quantification of 4-aminophenol, generated by the beta-galactosidase. Detection limits of the analytes in the microg/l range were obtained, while other phenolics and surfactants showed no or very little cross reactivity.     

核酸适配体光学生物传感器在卡那霉素检测中的研究进展

卡那霉素是一种氨基糖苷类抗生素,由于其效果好、价格低等优点,是我国常用兽药之一。但如果剂量过大就会大量残留在动物体内,进而通过食物链富集进入人体,引发耳毒性、肾毒性等毒副作用,严重时会导致人死亡,因此对其含量的检测十分重要。近几年,大量基于核酸适配体检测卡那霉素的光学方法被开发,以满足人们对其检测的需求。首先明确了核酸适配体与光学生物传感器等相关概念;再根据其反应机制不同,对光学方法介导的生物传感器进行了分类综述,阐述了各类传感器的基本原理及其检测范围;最后对这几类传感器的优缺点和发展前景进行了总结和展望,对这些方法的进一步探索将为食品安全检测提供新的技术支撑。     

Catecholamine detection using enzymatic amplification

Different amplification sensors based on the substrate recycling principle were investigated with respect to their applicability to catecholamine detection. In the bioelectrocatalytic approach, glassy carbon electrodes were modified by laccase or a PQQ-dependent glucose dehydrogenase. Substrate recycling occurs and the detection limit is in the lower nanomolar concentration range (e.g. 10 nM dopamine and 1 nM noradrenaline for the laccase- and glucose dehydrogenase-modified electrodes, respectively). Combinations of glucose dehydrogenase with laccase or tyrosinase were investigated as bienzymatic probes. Among the systems we studied, the laccase/glucose dehydrogenase sensor is the most sensitive (detection limit: 0·5 nM adrenaline). The selectivities of the different sensor systems are discussed. Application of the laccase/glucose dehydrogenase electrode in different media (i.e. brain homogenate, heart effluate) was successfully shown. For samples with high concentrations of interfering substances (uric and ascorbic acid), the interferences can be effectively removed using enzymatic methods.