An evaluation of tritium and fluorescence labelling combined with multi-detector SEC for the detection of carbonyl groups in polysaccharides

The carbonyl content of a pectic polysaccharide from Sphagnum papillosum (sphagnan) and periodate oxidised alginates was investigated using three different carbonyl labelling strategies combined with size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) with multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS) and on-line fluorescence or off-line tritium detection. The labelling strategies were tritium incorporation via NaB³H₄ reduction, and fluorescent labelling with carbazole carbonyl oxyamine (CCOA), or 2-aminobenzamide (2-AB), respectively. Carbonyl quantification was based on labelled pullulan, dextran and alginate standards possessing only the reducing end carbonyl group. As a result the carbonyl distribution in the polysaccharides could be determined. In sphagnan it was found that the carbonyl content increased with increasing molecular weight, whereas in periodate oxidised alginate the carbonyl content was as expected independent of the molecular weight. The methods proved useful for carbonyl detection in water soluble polysaccharides in general. The tritium incorporation method was preferred for alkali stable polysaccharides, while the CCOA method was most suitable for acid stable polysaccharides with low carbonyl content. The 2-AB method is applicable for all polysaccharides tested with varying carbonyl content; however, it lacks the ability to detect ketone functionalities.     

Dehydrative ring-closure of 3-substituted 2-quinoxalinones to give fused and nonfused pyrazoloquinoxalines

Reaction of l-ascorbic acid with o-phenylenediamine and arylhydrazines afforded 3-(1-arylhydrazono-l-threo-2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)-2-quinoxalinones (1–6). Whereas compounds 1–6 reacted with alkali to give 1-aryl-3-(l-threo-glycerol-1-yl)-flavazoles, the corresponding acetates (7) underwent deacetylation and rearrangement to 3-[1-aryl-5-(hydroxymethyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-2-quinoxalinones (20–24). Compounds 20–24 were also prepared from 1–5 by treatment with hot hydroxylamine hydrochloride. The action of boiling acetic anhydride on 1–5 or 7 afforded colorless products identified as the pyrazole acetates (15–19), which could also be obtained by the acetylation of compounds 20–24. Deacetylation of 15 gave 20. Oxidation of 20 with potassium permanganate gave the 5-carboxylic acid 26. The i.r., n.m.r., and mass spectra of some of these compounds are discussed.     

Multianalyte immunoassay based on insulating-controllable PoPD film at arrayed electrodes integrated on a silicon chip

A novel, simple and label-free multianalyte immunoassay system is presented here by integrating arrayed electrodes on a silicon chip via MEMS. The chip is consisted of six Au disk electrodes, an Au counter electrode and an Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Semi-insulating poly(o-phenylenediamine) (PoPD) was utilized to co-polymerize and immobilize antibodies at the arrayed Au electrodes, and wider linear detection range was obtained than those prepared with completely insulating PoPD. Electrochemical cyclic voltammogram (CV), AC impedance spectroscopy, AFM and fluorescence microscopy were employed to characterize the system. The arrayed electrodes offered exact control of deposition position via electrochemical operation, allowing selectively immobilization of different antibodies at desired positions on a single chip. Specific recognition of antibody (Ab) to corresponding antigen (An) was quantitatively monitored by cyclic voltammograms in the presence of electrochemical redox probe, ferrocene methanol. The proposed immunoassay chips showed sensitive response to three liver fibrosis markers, hyaluronic acid (HA), collagen type IV (IV-C) and lamin (LN) at ng/mL level simultaneously and specifically in a tiny amount of volume, usually 50 μL. The results obtained via chips were well consistent with those obtained by commercial radio immunoassays (RIA).     

Sphagnan – a pectin-like polymer isolated from Sphagnum moss can inhibit the growth of some typical food spoilage and food poisoning bacteria by lowering the pH

Aims:  Investigate if the antibacterial effect of sphagnan, a pectin-like carbohydrate polymer extracted from Sphagnum moss, can be accounted for by its ability to lower the pH.
Methods and Results:  Antibacterial activity of sphagnan was assessed and compared to that of three other acids. Sphagnan in its acid form was able to inhibit growth of various food poisoning and spoilage bacteria on low-buffering solid growth medium, whereas sphagnan in its sodium form at neutral pH had no antibacterial activity. At similar acidic pH, sphagnan had comparable antibacterial activity to that of hydrochloric acid and a control rhamnogalacturonan pectin in its acid form.
Conclusions:  Sphagnan in its acid form is a weak macromolecular acid that can inhibit bacterial growth by lowering the pH of environments with a low buffering capacity.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  It has previously been suggested that sphagnan is an antimicrobial polysaccharide in the leaves of Sphagnum moss with a broad range of potential practical applications. Our results now show that sphagnan in its acid form can indeed inhibit bacterial growth, but only of acid-sensitive species. These findings represent increased knowledge towards our understanding on how sphagnan or Sphagnum moss might be used in practical applications.     

Occurrence of both a-type and o-type cytochromes as the functional terminal oxidases in Rhodopseudomonas spheroides

1. 1. The functional terminal oxidase of the light-anaerobically grown Rhodopseudomonas spheroides cells was found to be the o-type cytochrome, whereas that of the dark-aerobically grown cells was the a-type cytochrome. When the dark-aerobically grown cells were further incubated under a semianaerobic condition in the dark, the content of the o-type cytochrome was increased in these cells, while the synthesis of the a-type cytochrome appeared to be repressed. In Rhodospirillum rubrum cells, grown either aerobically in the dark or anaerobically in the light, cytochrome o was the sole functional terminal oxidase.

2. 2. Reactions with the a-type and o-type cytochromes from Rhodopseudomonas spheroides and also with the o-type cytochrome from Rhodospirillum rubrum were compared using reduced yeast cytochrome c as substrate. The reaction with the a-type cytochrome was far less sensitive to NaN₃ and hydroxylamine than those with the o-type cytochromes, whereas all the reactions were inhibited by KCN in apparently the same manner.

Purification and characterization of an enantioselective carbonyl reductase from Candida viswanathii MTCC 5158

A highly enantioselective carbonyl reductase produced by a new yeast strain Candida viswanathii MTCC 5158, which was isolated using an acetophenone enriched medium, has been purified and characterized. The enzyme has been purified to near homogeneity using ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. The molecular properties of the carbonyl reductase suggested the native enzyme to be tetrameric, with an apparent molecular weight of 120 kDa, the monomer being about 29 kDa. Acetyl aryl ketones were found to be the preferred substrates for the enzyme and the best reaction was the enantioselective reduction of acetophenone. The enzyme yielded (S)-alcohol in preference to (R)-alcohol and utilized NADH, but not NADPH as the cofactor. The purified enzyme exhibited maximum enzyme activity at pH 7.0 and 60 °C. The enzyme retained about 80% of its activity after 7 h incubation at 25 °C in sodium phosphate buffer (50 mM, pH 7.0). The addition of reducing agents like dithiothreitol and β-mercaptoethanol enhanced the enzyme activity while organic solvents, detergents and chaotropic agents had deleterious effect on enzyme activity. Metal chelating agents like hydroxyquinoline and o-phenanthroline have significant effect on enzyme activity suggesting that the carbonyl reductase required the presence of a tightly bound metal ion for activity or stability. The maximum reaction rate (V_max) and apparent Michaelis–Menten constant (K_m) for acetophenone and NADH were 59.21 μmol/(min mg) protein and 0.153 mM and 82.64 μmol/(min mg) protein and 0.157 mM at a concentration range of 0.2–2 mM acetophenone (NADH fixed at 0.5 mM) and 0.1–0.5 mM NADH (acetophenone fixed at 2 mM), respectively.     

Reactivity of a functional carbonyl moiety in bovine aortic lysyl oxidase. Evidence against pyridoxal 5''-phosphate.

Previous studies have pointed towards a cofactor role for pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) in lysyl oxidase, the enzyme that generates the peptidyl aldehyde precursor to the lysine-derived cross-linkages in elastin and collagen. The nature of a carbonyl moiety in purified bovine aortic lysyl oxidase was explored in the present study. A PLP dinitrophenylhydrazone could not be isolated from lysyl oxidase, although corresponding preparations of aspartate aminotransferase, a PLP-dependent enzyme, yielded this derivative, as revealed by h.p.l.c. Analysis of lysyl oxidase for PLP after reduction of the enzyme by NaBH4, a procedure that converts PLP-protein aldimines into stable 5'-phosphopyridoxyl functions, also proved negative in tests using monoclonal antibody specific for this epitope. Lysyl oxidase was competitively inhibited by phenylhydrazine, and inhibition became irreversible with time at 37 degrees C, displaying a first-order inactivation rate constant of 0.4 min-1 and KI of 1 microM. [14C]Phenylhydrazine was covalently incorporated into the enzyme in a manner that was prevented by prior modification of the enzyme with beta-aminopropionitrile, a specific active-site inhibitor, and which correlated with functional active-site content. The chemical stability of the enzyme-bound phenylhydrazine exceeded that expected of linkages between PLP and proteins. The absorption spectrum of the phenylhydrazine derivative of lysyl oxidase was clearly distinct from that of the phenylhydrazone of PLP. It is concluded that lysyl oxidase contains a carbonyl cofactor that is not identical with PLP and that is bound to the enzyme by a stable chemical bond.     

Differential effect of phenylhydrazine on the catecholase and cresolase activities of Vitis catechol oxidase

The simultaneous addition of phenylhydrazine and p-cresol to grape catechol oxidase resulted in enhanced oxidation of p-cresol. Carbonyl reagents such as hydrazine, borohydride and semicarbazide also enhanced cresolase activity but had no effect on catecholase activity. Pretreatment of the enzyme with periodate abolished cresolase activity. The effects of periodate and ascorbate or semicarbazide on cresolase activity were mutually reversible. The simultaneous addition of phenylhydrazine and 4-methylcatechol to the enzyme did not result in inhibition of the initial rate of oxidation of the phenolic substrate. It is concluded that phenylhydrazine does not react with a carbonyl group on the enzyme. The possible involvement of conformational changes in the enzyme, determining phenylhydrazine inhibition is discussed.     

The electron transport system of Acetobacter suboxydans with particular reference to cytochrome o

1. The nature and distribution of the electron transport system of Acetobacter suboxydans (ATCC 621) has been investigated, with particular reference to cytochrome o.

2. A highly active membrane-bound electron transport system has been demonstrated, and functional roles suggested for ubiquinone, two c-type cytochromes ( peaks at 549 and 553 nm at — 196°), and two b-type cytochromes ( peaks at 558 and 564 nm at — 196°).

3. Evidence is presented suggesting that both the b-type cytochromes may be terminal oxidases of the cytochrome o type, and that cytochrome o (558) has an O₂ affinity approx. 10 times greater than cytochrome o (565), and a CO affinity only half as great.     

Delayed light studies on photosynthetic energy conversion. VII. Effect of the high energy state, coupled to 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl p-phenylenediamine-catalyzed cyclic electron flow, on millisecond emission from chloroplasts and digitonin subchloroplast particles

The effect of 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl p-phenylenediamine-catalyzed cyclic electron flow on millisecond delayed light emission from chloroplasts has been compared to the effect on subchloroplast particles. Non-cyclic electron flow of both chloroplasts and subchloroplast particles was blocked with 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl p-phenylenediamine-catalyzed cyclic electron flow increased the millisecond delayed emission by 2–4 times in both chloroplasts and subchloroplast particles. Uncoupling conditions which collapse only the pH gradient component of the proton motive force reduced the 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl p-phenylenediamine stimulation of delayed light in chloroplasts but not in particles. The 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl p-phenylenediamine stimulation of delayed light in particles was sensitive to uncoupling conditions which are presumed to destroy the transmembrane potential. Energy transfer inhibitors were without effect on the 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl p-phenylenediamine stimulation in both chloroplasts and particles.

The 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl p-phenylenediamine stimulation of millisecond delayed emission appears to reflect the particular form of the proton motive force; in chloroplasts it seems to be correlated with the proton concentration gradient, whereas in particles it is more closely correlated with the transmembrane potential.     

Molecular dynamics of N,N′-di-p-fluorophenyltriazenido complex of platinum (II)

The triazenide complex of Pt(II) trans-(o-Tol)Pt(PEt₃)₂N₃Ar₂(1) (Ar = p-FC₆H₄) was synthesized by reaction of (o-Tol)Pt(PEt₃)₂BF₄ with Ar₂N₃Na. The ¹H, ¹⁹F and ³¹P NMR spectra of this complex in toluene-d₈ were studied at different temperatures. Two kinds of dynamic processes were observed. The first one is the intramolecular N,N′ migration of the (o-Tol)Pt(PEt₃)₂ group, detected by ¹⁹F NMR. The second process, revealed by ¹H, ¹⁹P NMR, is the rotation around the partially double N(2)–N(3) bond. Thermodynamic parameters for these processes were calculated from dynamic NMR spectra.     

Isolation and properties of plastocyanin from Anabaena variabilis

Plastocyanin is a copper protein found in photosynethetic tissue and it exhibits the properties of a physiological redox reagent. This protein has been purified from the blue-green alga Anabaena variabilis. Plastocyanin is required for a number of partial reactions of the photosynthetic electron transfer chain. These reactions include the transfer of electrons from reduced 2,3′,6-trichlorophenolindophenol,N,N,N′,N′- tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine and 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine to low potential oxidants. Reduced cytochrome c photooxidation does not appear to be dependent on plastocyanin. Cytochrome f, isolated from this alga, will partially replace plastocyanin in many of these reations. Inhibition of photosynthetic reactions by copper chelators appears to occur at some site other than the site of plastocyanin function.     

Biohydroxylation of N,N-dialkylarylamines by the isolated topsoil bacterium Bacillus megaterium

Topsoil microorganisms were screened for their acceptability of the standard substrate N,N-dimethylaniline in bacterial ‘whole-cell’ incubations. One bacterium converted N,N-dimethylaniline and was identified as Bacillus megaterium by 16S rDNA analysis and DNA/DNA-hybridization. In contrast to the well-known C-hydroxylation by liver microsomes, leading to p-hydroxylation, B. megaterium formed o- and p-monohydroxylated products, i.e. N,N-dimethyl-2-aminophenol and N,N-dimethyl-4-aminophenol, both identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) using synthesized reference compounds. The observed hydroxylation showed slight regioselectivity in favour of the o-hydroxylated product. Two further substrates, N,N-diethylaniline and N-ethyl-N-methylaniline, were also successfully biohydroxylated by B. megaterium with corresponding regioselectivity. Interestingly, aniline, known to be transformed easily by cytochrome P-450meg into p-aminophenol, was not accepted as substrate.     

Removal of chlorophenols from synthetic solutions using Phanerochaete chrysosporium

The potential use of the fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium to remove chlorophenols (phenol, o-chlorophenol, p-chlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol) from aqueous solutions was evaluated. The kinetics of both adsorption and desorption of phenolic compounds was rapid for all adsorbates. The maximum adsorptions of phenol and chlorophenols onto the Phanerochaete chrysosporium were 1.23 mmol/g for phenol, 1.49 mmol/g for o-chlorophenol, 1.78 mmol/g for p-chlorophenol and 2.14 mmol/g for 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. The affinity order was as follows: 2,4,6-trichlorophenol > p-chlorophenol > o-chlorophenol > phenol. Phenol and chlorophenols binding with Phanerochaete chrysosporium were clearly pH dependent. The adsorption of phenol and chlorophenols increased as pH increased. Desorption of phenol or chlorophenols was achieved using methanol solution (30% (v/v)). Phanerochaete chrysosporium is suitable for reuse for more than ten cycles without noticeable loss of adsorption capacity.     

Design, synthesis, and inhibition of platelet aggregation for some 1-o-chlorophenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives

Based on ticlopidine active as an ADP receptor antagonist for inhibiting platelet aggregation in clinical test, and upon finding (±)-1,2-substituted-7-sulfonylamide/amide-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (11–31) inhibited of platelet aggregation, a series of (±)-1-o-chlorophenyl-2-substituted-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives was designed and synthesized. Four analogs proved to be potential antiplatelet aggregation agents, and compound 9 (TQP-3, applying for patent) which inhibits ADP-induced human platelet aggregation with IC₅₀ values of approximately 0.206 nM was the most active. Compound 2 is more active than compound 1, which (Type I) is similar to ticlopidine. This is because there is a spacial hindrance in compound 1, and the o-chloro group of compound 2 may play the same a role as o-chloro group of ticlopidine. On the other hand, with the different substitutions at different positions on the 2-substituted phenylacyl group, their inhibition of platelet aggregation differs. These compounds with m-substituted group (5, 7, 9) showed a higher IC₅₀ value for inhibiting ADP-induced human platelet aggregation than those with o-substituted group (4, 6) or p-substituted group (3, 8). It was observed that their inhibition is bromine-substituted derivative (9), chlorine-substituted derivative (7), and nitro-substituted derivative (5) in turn. Moreover, these compounds (Type II) may be more similar to clopidogrel than to ticlopidine due to the acyl group at 2 position of the nucleus playing a role as the ester group of clopidogrel. It was conjectured that these analogs function as a potential antiplatelet aggregation role by acting as ADP receptor antagonists.     

The cytochrome system of Bacillus megaterium KM. The presence and some properties of two CO-binding cytochromes

1. Difference spectra of Bacillus megaterium KM membrane preparations indicate the presence of two pigments which bind CO and which exhibit the spectral characteristics of cytochromes a₃ and o. Relative amounts of the pigments vary with growth stage of the organism, but both are present at all stages which have been investigated. The pigments are believed to be metabolically active because they are completely reducible by substrate (NADH) and are reoxidizable in the presence of air. CO difference spectra of whole cell suspensions are in agreement with spectra of the isolated membrane fragments. In particulate preparations and in whole cells, CO difference spectra suggest that the a₃ component binds CO much more readily than the o component; this behavior offers a possible explanation for the fact that cytochrome o has been detected in only a few other microorganisms, since CO binding is by definition the property used to identify this cytochrome.

2. A separation of the two CO-binding pigments is obtained by incubation of membrane preparations with pancreatic lipase. This treatment selectively removes the o pigment from the membrane, leaving the a₃ component associated with an enzymatically active particulate fraction.     

Cyanide-resistant respiration and a branched cytochrome system in Kinetoplastidae

Two functional terminal oxidases, cytochrome aa₃ and cytochrome o, are present in the cytochrome system in cyanide-sensitive trypanosomatids. The organisms examined included Crithidia fasciculata, Leptomonas sp., Blastocrithidia culicis, Herpetomonas muscarum, Leishmania tarentolae, Trypanosoma lewisi, Trypanosoma conorhini and Trypanosoma cruzi. A CO-binding protein with the spectral properties of cytochrome o has been solubilized and partially purified from C. fasciculata. In L. tarentolae, T. conorhini and C. fasciculata, 10–20% of the respiration is cyanide-resistant but is inhibited by salicylhydroxamic acid. The various possibilities of a branched electron transport system are examined and discussed.     

Identification of cytochromes o and a3 as functional terminal oxidases in the thermophilic bacterium, PS3

Low-temperature photodissociation spectra of membranes from the thermophile PS3 reveal cytochromes o and a₃. The latter reacts with O₂ at −103°C to give a light-insensitive compound(s), but the initial stages of O₂ binding to cytochrome o could not be studied under these conditions. Photochemical action spectra identify cytochromes a₃ and o, but not a CO-binding c-type cytochrome, as functional terminal oxidases in this bacterium.     

Effect of drinking green tea on age-associated accumulation of Maillard-type fluorescence and carbonyl groups in rat aortic and skin collagen.

Tea catechins and other flavonoids have been shown to potentially protect against chronic cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis. In this study, 6-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed green tea extract (50 mg/100 ml in drinking water) up to the age of 22 months, and the age-associated changes in Maillard-type fluorescence and carbonyl groups in the aortic and skin collagen were compared with those occurring in the water-fed control animals. Collagen-linked Maillard-type fluorescence was found to increase in both the aortic and skin tissues as animals aged. The age-associated increase in the fluorescence in the aortic collagen was remarkably inhibited by the green tea extract treatment, while that occurring in the skin collagen was not significantly inhibited by the treatment. The collagen carbonyl content also increased in both the aortic and skin tissues as animals aged. In contrast with the case of Maillard-type fluorescence, however, the age-associated increase in the carbonyl content was not inhibited by the green tea extract treatment either in the aortic or skin collagen. These results suggest that the inhibition of AGE formation in collagen is an important mechanism for the protective effects of tea catechins against cardiovascular diseases.     

Optical organophosphorus biosensor consisting of acetylcholinesterase/viologen hetero Langmuir–Blodgett film

The fiber-optic biosensor consisting of an acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-immobilized Langmuir–Blodegtt (LB) film was developed to detect organophosphorus compounds in contaminated water. The sensing scheme was based on the decrease of yellow product, o-nitrophenol, from a colorless substrate, o-nitrophenyl acetate, due to the inhibition by organophosphorus compounds on AChE. Absorbance change of the product as the output of enzyme reaction was detected and the light was guided through the optical fibers. The enzyme portion of the sensor system was fabricated by the LB technique for formation of the enzyme film. AChE-immobilized LB film was formed by adsorbing the enzyme molecules onto a viologen monolayer using the electrostatic force. The proposed kinetics for irreversible inhibition of organophosphorus compounds on AChE agreed well with the experimental data. The surface topography of AChE-immobilized LB film was investigated by atomic force microscope (AFM). The immobilized AChE had the maximum activity at pH 7. The proposed biosensor could successfully detect the organophosphorus compounds upto 2 ppm and the response time to steady signal of the sensor was about 10 min.