Optimum conditions for lipase immobilization on chitosan-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles

Magnetic Fe₃O₄-chitosan nanoparticles are prepared by the coagulation of an aqueous solution of chitosan with Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The characterization of Fe₃O₄-chitosan is analyzed by FTIR, FESEM, and SQUID magnetometry. The Fe₃O₄-chitosan nanoparticles are used for the covalent immobilization of lipase from Candida rugosa using N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) as coupling agents. The response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to search the optimal immobilization conditions and understand the significance of the factors affecting the immobilized lipase activity. Based on the ridge max analysis, the optimum immobilization conditions were immobilization time 2.14 h, pH 6.37, and enzyme/support ratio 0.73 (w/w); the highest activity obtained was 20 U/g Fe₃O₄-chitosan. After twenty repeated uses, the immobilized lipase retains over 83% of its original activity. The immobilized lipase shows better operational stability, including wider thermal and pH ranges, and remains stable after 13 days of storage at 25 °C.     

The hydrolytic route to Co-porphyrin-doped SnO2 gas-sensing materials: Chemical study of Co-porphyrin versus Sn(IV) oxide interactions

SnO₂ and SnO₂ + Co-porphyrin solids were prepared from SnCl₄ in propanol and hydrolyzed to sol. Thermal behavior of samples obtained at 110 °C was studied in the 20-600 °C interval by thermal analysis coupled with mass spectrometry for identification of released species. The original samples maintain residual Sn-OR, Sn-OH and Sn-Cl groups up to 350 °C. The sample doped with 1% Co-porphyrin differs for a significant presence of residual Sn-Cl species, accounting for SnCl₄ release in the 300-340 °C range.¹¹⁹Sn solid state NMR analysis reveals disordered SnO₂ species in the sample heated at 250 °C and non-uniform SnO₆ units in the SnO₂ + Co-porphyrin sample at 110 °C, due to persistence of Sn-OR and Sn-OH groups. This complexity is lost at 250 °C. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms all these data. The sensing efficiency of these materials versus alcohols is ascribed to the presence of an open, incomplete SnO₂ structure, which is more pronounced in the Co-porphyrin-doped sample.     

Preparation, structure, solid state and gas phase stability of the mixed neodymium nitrate-chloride complex NdCl(NO3)2{[(MeO)2PO]2C(OH)Bu}2

The preparation and structure of the mixed anion complex NdCl(NO₃)₂{[(MeO)₂PO]₂C(OH)^tBu}₂ are reported. Single crystal X-ray diffraction shows that the bisphosphonate is bonded via both phosphoryl groups and the nitrates act as bidentate ligands. Intramolecular H-bonding is seen between the OH and the coordinated nitrate and chloride ligands. Thermal decomposition in the solid state is by loss of methyl nitrate. Electrospray mass spectrometry shows that loss of chloride is preferred over loss of nitrate in the gas phase. Attempted preparation of NdCl₂(NO₃){[(MeO)₂PO]₂C(OH)^tBu}₂ leads to the formation of a product approximating to [Nd{^tBu(OH)C(PO₃H₂)₂}₂]₂H · NO₃ · (PO₄H₂)₂. Electrospray mass spectrometry and elemental analysis confirm the presence of the [^tBu(OH)C(PO₄H₂)₂]⁻ in the decomposition products.     

Synthesis and derivatization of halflanthanidocene aryl(alk)oxide complexes

The reaction of halflanthanidocene aryloxides Cp^R′Ln(OAr^tBu,R)₂ (Ln = Y, La, Lu; Cp^R′ = C₅Me₅, C₄Me₄H; R = H, Me) and halflanthanidocene alkoxides [(C₅Me₅)Ln(OCH₂CMe₃)₂]₂ (Ln = Y, Lu) with trimethylaluminum (TMA) was investigated. Monomeric Cp^R′Ln(OAr^tBu,R)₂, derived from the ortho-tBu-substituted OC₆H₂tBu₂-2,6-R-4 (R = H, Me) ligands, form mono(tetramethylaluminate) complexes Cp^R′Ln(OAr^tBu,R)(AlMe₄) for the smaller lanthanide metal centers yttrium and lutetium. Such an [aryloxide] → [aluminate] ligand exchange was not observed at the larger lanthanum metal center. The mobility of the tetramethylaluminate ligands of complexes Cp^R′Ln(OAr^tBu,R)(AlMe₄) (Ln = Y, Lu) was examined by variable-temperature (VT) ¹H NMR spectroscopy, revealing two signals for bridging and terminal methyl groups at lower temperatures. The treatment of complexes Cp^R′Ln(OAr^tBu,R)(AlMe₄) with donor solvent d₈-THF gave Cp^R′Ln(OAr^tBu,R)(Me)(d₈-THF)₂ (Ln = Y, Lu) with terminal methyl groups, according to a donor-induced aluminate cleavage reaction. Dimeric [(C₅Me₅)Ln(OCH₂CMe₃)₂]₂ (Ln = Y, Lu) was synthesized from (C₅Me₅)Ln(NiPr₂)₂(THF) and reacted with two equivalents of TMA per Ln center to yield monomeric bis(TMA) adduct complexes (C₅Me₅)Ln(OCH₂CMe₃)₂(AlMe₃)₂(Ln = Y, Lu). VT NMR spectroscopic studies confirmed a high mobility of the Ln(μ-OCH₂CMe₃)(μ-Me)AlMe₂ moieties at an ambient temperature. Both bis(TMA) adduct complexes were characterized by X-ray structure analysis.     

Insertion reactions of organic anhydrides into the Cu-O bond of [CuOBu]: syntheses and structures of functionalised copper (I) and copper (II) carboxylates

The insertion reaction of maleic anhydride into the Cu-O bond in [CuO^tBu] produced the complexes [Cu₂(CO₂C₂H₂CO₂^tBu)₄ · dme] (1), [Cu(CO₂C₂H₂CO₂^tBu)₂ · tmeda] (2) and [Cu₂(CO₂C₂H₂CO₂^tBu)₂ · dppm]₂ (3) (dme = 1,2-dimethoxyethane; tmeda = N¹,N¹,N²,N²-tetramethylethane-1,2-diamine; dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane). This reaction represents a useful synthetic strategy for a range of functionalised Cu(I) and Cu(II) carboxylates.     

Syntheses of Group 14 bis(tert-butylamido)cyclodiphosph(III)azane dichlorides, and the solid-state structures of the silicon and tin derivatives

To test the synthetic utility of bis(tert-butylamido)cyclodiphosph(III)azanes as ligands we extended the coordination chemistry of these diamides from Group 4 to Group 14. The syntheses of compounds of the formula cis-[^tBuNP(μ-^tBuN)₂PN^tBu]ECl₂, E = Si (1), Ge (2), Sn (3) and the solid-state structures of 1 and 3 are reported. Silicon tetrachloride reacted with dilithiobis(tert-butylamido)cyclodiphosph(III)azane to cleanly produce cis-[^tBuNP(μ-^tBuN)₂PN^tBu]SiCl₂, but for the germanium and tin analogues the interaction of GeCl₄ or SnCl₄ with the diazastannylene cis-[^tBuNP(μ-^tBuN)₂PN^tBu]Sn proved to be a better method. Single-crystal X-ray studies on both 1 and 3 revealed that they had C_s-symmetric structures, the central element being coordinated by two amide nitrogens and two chlorides, in addition to being weakly coordinated by one of the cyclodiphosph(III)azane ring nitrogens. Using structural comparisons between crystallographically-independent 1a and 1b, between 1 and 3, and between 3 and its isomorphous zirconium analogue, the nature of this donor bond is discussed.     

Investigations into the preparation of groups 13-15 N-heterocyclic carbene analogues

Attempts have been made to prepare a variety of groups 13-15 N-heterocyclic carbenoid systems. The work in group 13 led to two structurally characterized, paramagnetic gallium(III) heterocycles, [I₂Ga{[N(R)C(Me)]₂}], or C₆H₃(C₆H₄Bu^t-4)₂-2,6. Reduction of the former gave the anionic gallium(I) heterocyclic complex, [K(tmeda)][:Ga{[N(Ar)C(Me)]₂}], which was oxidatively coupled, affording the structurally characterized digallane(4), [Ga{[N(Ar)C(Me)]₂}]₂. From group 14, the new germanium(IV) heterocycle, [Cl₂Ge{[N(Ar)C(H)]₂}], and the N-heterocyclic germylene, [:Ge{[N(Ar)C(H)]₂}], have been prepared and fully characterized. Attempts to prepare N-heterocyclic silylene, phosphenium and arsenium compounds were unsuccessful and led instead to the silyl, phosphino and arsino-substituted ene-amines, [(Cl_nE)₂{μ-[N(Ar)C(H)]₂}], E = Si, n = 3; E = P or As, n = 2.     

Tailoring size and structural distortion of Fe3O4 nanoparticles for the purification of contaminated water

Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles with different particle sizes were synthesized using two methods, i.e., a co-precipitation process and a polyol process, respectively. The atomic pair distribution analyses from the high-energy X-ray scattering data and TEM observations show that the two kinds of nanoparticles have different sizes and structural distortions. An average particle size of 6–8 nm with a narrow size distribution was observed for the nanoparticles prepared with the co-precipitation method. Magnetic measurements show that those particles are in ferromagnetic state with a saturation magnetization of 74.3 emu g⁻¹. For the particles synthesized with the polyol process, a mean diameter of 18–35 nm was observed with a saturation magnetization of 78.2 emu g⁻¹. Although both kinds of nanoparticles are well crystallized, an obviously higher structural distortion is evidenced for the co-precipitation processed nanoparticles. The synthesized Fe₃O₄ particles with different mean particle size were used for treating the wastewater contaminated with the metal ions, such as Ni(II), Cu(II), Cd(II) and Cr(VI). It is found that the adsorption capacity of Fe₃O₄ particles increased with decreasing the particle size or increasing the surface area. While the particle size was decreased to 8 nm, the Fe₃O₄ particles can absorb almost all of the above-mentioned metal ions in the contaminated water with the adsorption capacity of 34.93 mg/g, which is ∼7 times higher than that using the coarse particles. We attribute the extremely high adsorption capacity to the highly-distorted surface.     

Reductive C-N bond cleavage of the NCCCN β-diketiminate backbone: A direct approach to azabutadienyl and alkylidene-anilide scaffolds

Tetrahydrofuran/toluene solutions of (nacnac)TiCl₂ (nacnac⁻ = [ArNC(^tBu)]₂CH, Ar = 2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) react readily with KC₈ to afford the titanium imide (ArN(^tBu)CCHC(^tBu))TiNAr(THF)Cl (1) in 67% isolated yield. Complex 1 forms from the two-electron reductive C-N bond cleavage of the β-diketiminate ligand. Likewise, reduction of (nacnac)TiCl(NHAr) (2), prepared in 85% yield from (nacnac)TiCl₂ and LiNHAr, with KC₈ results in formation of the imide-anilide analogue (ArN(^tBu)CCHC(^tBu))TiNAr(NHAr) (3) in 88% yield. Another reductant such as Li^tBu (3 equiv.) reacts cleanly with the precursor (nacnac)TiCl₂ to afford the alkylidene-ate complex [Li(Et₂O)][(ArN(^tBu)CCHC(^tBu))TiNAr(Et₂O)] (4), in 81% yield. Complexes 1-4 have been characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Plausible mechanisms to formation of compounds 1, 3 and 4 are also presented and discussed.     

Cinnamic acid pretreatment mitigates chilling stress of cucumber leaves through altering antioxidant enzyme activity

To elucidate the physiological mechanism of chilling stress mitigated by cinnamic acid (CA) pretreatment, a cucumber variety (Cucumis sativus cv. Jinchun no. 4) was pretreated with 50 μM CA for 2 d and was then cultivated at two temperatures (15/8 and 25/18 °C) for 1 d. We investigated whether exogenous CA could protect cucumber plantlets from chilling stress (15/8 °C) and examined whether the protective effect was associated with the regulation of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation. At 2 d, exogenous CA did not influence plant growth, but induced the activities of some antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX, EC 1.11.1.7), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px, EC 1.6.4.2) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11) in cucumber leaves, and it also elevated the contents of reduced glutathione (GSH) and ascorbate (AsA). When CA was rinsed and the CA-pretreated seedlings were exposed to different temperatures, the antioxidant activities in leaves at 3 d had undergone additional change. Chilling increased the activities of CAT, GSH-PX, APX, GSH and AsA in leaves, but the combination of CA pretreatment and chilling enhanced the antioxidant activities even more. Moreover, chilling inhibited plant growth and increased the contents of malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide radical (O₂⁻) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in cucumber leaves, and the stress resulted in 87.5% of the second leaves being withered. When CA pretreatment was combined with the chilling stress, we observed alleviated growth inhibition and decreased contents of MDA, H₂O₂ and O₂⁻ in comparison to non-pretreated stressed plants, and found that the withered leaves occurred at a rate of 25.0%. We propose that CA pretreatment increases antioxidant enzyme activities in chilling-stressed leaves and decreases lipid peroxidation to some extent, enhancing the tolerance of cucumber leaves to chilling stress.     

Effects of steric/basic properties of Lewis bases on the degree of aggregation of zinc(II) pivalate complexes

A triangular [Zn₃(μ₃-OH)(OC(O)^tBu)(μ₂-κ¹O:κ¹O′-O₂C^tBu)₄(3,5-lutidine)₃] (1), a paddlewheel based dinuclear [Zn(μ₂-κ¹O:κ¹O′-O₂C^tBu)₂L]₂ [L = 2,4-lutidine (2), 3,4-lutidine (3), and 2,3-lutidine (4)] and an hourglass based linear trinuclear [Zn₃(μ₂-κ¹O:κ¹O′-O₂C^tBu)₆(pyridine)₂] (5) complexes were synthesized to understand the role of subtle steric/basic properties of Lewis bases on the degree of aggregation of the products. The mononuclear Zn(OC(O)^tBu)₂·2H₂O was also prepared in order to probe the origin of the μ₃-OH moiety in complex 1. Complexes 1-5 and Zn(OC(O)^tBu)₂·2H₂O were characterized by microanalytical, IR, TGA/DTA, solution (¹H and ¹³C) NMR, solid-state cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CP-MAS) ¹³C NMR, mass spectral data and single crystal X-ray diffraction data. Complex 1 represents the first example of a discrete trinuclear zinc(II) carboxylate complex that contains a [Zn₃(μ₃-OH)]⁵⁺ core with zinc atoms in three distinct geometries namely a distorted tetrahedral, trigonal bipyramidal, and octahedral. A plausible mechanism for the formation of complexes 1-5 was explained with the aid of point zero charge (pzc) model.     

Impact of a short-term heat event on C and N relations in shoots vs. roots of the stress-tolerant C4 grass, Andropogon gerardii

Global warming will increase heat waves, but effects of abrupt heat stress on shoot–root interactions have rarely been studied in heat-tolerant species, and abrupt heat-stress effects on root N uptake and shoot C flux to roots and soil remains uncertain. We investigated effects of a high-temperature event on shoot vs. root growth and function, including transfer of shoot C to roots and soil and uptake and translocation of soil N by roots in the warm-season drought-tolerant C₄ prairie grass, Andropogon gerardii. We heated plants in the lab and field (lab = 5.5 days at daytime of 30 + 5 or 10 °C; field = 5 days at ambient (up to 32 °C daytime) vs. ambient +10 °C). Heating had small or no effects on photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, leaf water potential, and shoot mass, but increased root mass and decreased root respiration and exudation per g. ¹³C-labeling indicated that heating increased transfer of recently-fixed C from shoot to roots and soil (the latter likely via increased fine-root turnover). Heating decreased efficiency of N uptake by roots (uptake/g root), but did not affect total N uptake or the transfer of labeled soil ¹⁵N to shoots. Though heating increased soil temperature in the lab, it did not do so in the field (10 cm depth); yet results were similar for lab and field. Hence, acute heating affected roots more than shoots in this stress-tolerant species, increasing root mass and C loss to soil, but decreasing function per g root, and some of these effects were likely independent of direct effects from soil heating.     

The use of small subcutaneous transponders for quantifying thermal biology and torpor in small mammals

Remote measurements of body temperature (T_b) in animals require implantation of relatively large temperature-sensitive radio-transmitters or data loggers, whereas rectal temperature (T_rec) measurements require handling and therefore may bias the results. We investigated whether ∼0.1 g temperature-sensitive subcutaneously implanted transponders can be reliably used to quantify thermal biology and torpor use in small mammals. We examined (i) the precision of transponder readings as a function of temperature and (ii) whether subcutaneous transponders can be used to remotely record subcutaneous temperature (T_sub). Five adult male dunnarts (Sminthopsis macroura, body mass 24 g) were implanted with subcutaneous transponders to determine T_sub as a function of time and ambient temperature (T_a), and in comparison to thermocouple readings of T_rec. Transponder temperature was highly correlated with water bath temperature (r²=0.96–0.99) over a range of approximately 10.0–40.0 °C. Transponders provided reliable data (±0.6 °C) over the T_sub of 21.4–36.9 °C and could be read from a distance of up to 5 cm. Below 21.4 °C, accuracy was reduced to ±2.8 °C, but individual transponder accuracy varied. Consequently, small subcutaneous transponders are useful to remotely quantify thermal physiology and torpor patterns without having to disturb the animal and disrupt torpor. Even at T_sub<21.4 °C where the accuracy of the temperature readings was reduced, transponders do provide reliable data on whether and when torpor is used.     

A [P]NAD-based method to identify and quantitate long residence time enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase inhibitors

The classical methods for quantifying drug–target residence time (t_R) use loss or regain of enzyme activity in progress curve kinetic assays. However, such methods become imprecise at very long residence times, mitigating the use of alternative strategies. Using the NAD(P)H-dependent FabI enoyl-acyl carrier protein (enoyl-ACP) reductase as a model system, we developed a Penefsky column-based method for direct measurement of t_R, where the off-rate of the drug was determined with radiolabeled [adenylate-³²P]NAD(P⁺) cofactor. In total, 23 FabI inhibitors were analyzed, and a mathematical model was used to estimate limits to the t_R values of each inhibitor based on percentage drug–target complex recovery following gel filtration. In general, this method showed good agreement with the classical steady-state kinetic methods for compounds with t_R values of 10 to 100 min. In addition, we were able to identify seven long t_R inhibitors (100–1500 min) and to accurately determine their t_R values. The method was then used to measure t_R as a function of temperature, an analysis not previously possible using the standard kinetic approach due to decreased NAD(P)H stability at elevated temperatures. In general, a 4-fold difference in t_R was observed when the temperature was increased from 25 to 37 °C.     

A cryoprotective and cold-adapted 1,3-β-endoglucanase from cherimoya (Annona cherimola) fruit

A 1,3-β-glucanase with potent cryoprotective activity was purified to homogeneity from the mesocarp of CO₂-treated cherimoya fruit (Annona cherimola Mill.) stored at low temperature using anion exchange and chromatofocusing chromatography. This protein was characterized as a glycosylated endo-1,3-β-glucanase with a M_r of 22.07 kDa and a pI of 5.25. The hydrolase was active and stable in a broad acidic pH range and it exhibited maximum activity at pH 5.0. It had a low optimum temperature of 35 °C and it retained 40% maximum activity at 5 °C. The purified 1,3-β-glucanase was relatively heat unstable and its activity declined progressively at temperatures above 50 °C. Kinetic studies revealed low k_cat (3.10 ± 0.04 s⁻¹) and K_m (0.32 ± 0.03 mg ml⁻¹) values, reflecting the intermediate efficiency of the protein in hydrolyzing laminarin. Moreover, a thermodynamic characterization revealed that the purified enzyme displayed a high k_cat at both 37 and 5 °C, and a low E_a (6.99 kJ mol⁻¹) within this range of temperatures. In vitro functional studies indicated that the purified 1,3-β-glucanase had no inhibitory effects on Botrytis cinerea hyphal growth and no antifreeze activity, as determined by thermal hysteresis analysis using differential scanning calorimetry. However, a strong cryoprotective activity was observed against freeze-thaw inactivation of lactate dehydrogenase. Indeed, the PD₅₀ was 8.7 μg ml⁻¹ (394 nM), 9.2-fold higher (3.1 on a molar basis) than that of the cryoprotective protein BSA. Together with the observed accumulation of glycine-betaine in CO₂-treated cherimoya tissues, these results suggest that 1,3-β-glucanase could be functionally implicated in low temperature-defense mechanism activated by CO₂.     

The Zinc Center Influences the Redox and Thermodynamic Properties of Escherichia coli Thioredoxin 2

Thioredoxins are small, ubiquitous redox enzymes that reduce protein disulfide bonds by using a pair of cysteine residues present in a strictly conserved WCGPC catalytic motif. The Escherichia coli cytoplasm contains two thioredoxins, Trx1 and Trx2. Trx2 is special because it is induced under oxidative stress conditions and it has an additional N-terminal zinc-binding domain. We have determined the redox potential of Trx2, the pK_a of the active site nucleophilic cysteine, as well as the stability of the oxidized and reduced form of the protein. Trx2 is more oxidizing than Trx1 (-221 mV versus -284 mV, respectively), which is in good agreement with the decreased value of the pK_a of the nucleophilic cysteine (5.1 versus 7.1, respectively). The difference in stability between the oxidized and reduced forms of an oxidoreductase is the driving force to reduce substrate proteins. This difference is smaller for Trx2 (ΔΔG°_H2O = 9 kJ/mol and ΔT_m = 7. 4 °C) than for Trx1 (ΔΔG°_H2O = 15 kJ/mol and ΔT_m = 13 °C). Altogether, our data indicate that Trx2 is a significantly less reducing enzyme than Trx1, which suggests that Trx2 has a distinctive function. We disrupted the zinc center by mutating the four Zn²⁺-binding cysteines to serine. This mutant has a more reducing redox potential (-254 mV) and the pK_a of its nucleophilic cysteine shifts from 5.1 to 7.1. The removal of Zn²⁺ also decreases the overall stability of the reduced and oxidized forms by 3.2 kJ/mol and 5.8 kJ/mol, respectively. In conclusion, our data show that the Zn²⁺-center of Trx2 fine-tunes the properties of this unique thioredoxin.     

Kinetic studies of the reduction of hexaaquacobalt(III) perchlorate by a cobaloxime, [Co(dmgBF2)2(H2O)2]

The reaction of with Co(dmgBF₂)₂(H₂O)₂ in 1.0 M HClO₄/LiClO₄ was found to be first-order in both reactants and the [H⁺] dependence of the second-order rate constant is given by k_2obs = b/[H⁺], b at 25 °C is 9.23 ± 0.14 × 10² s⁻¹. The [H⁺] dependence at lower temperatures shows some saturation effect that allowed an estimate of the hydrolysis constant for as K_a = 9.5 × 10⁻³ M at 10 and 15 °C. Marcus theory and the known self-exchange rate constant for Co(OH₂)₅OH^2+/+ were used to estimate an electron self-exchange rate constant of k₂₂ = 1.7 × 10⁻⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for .     

A nanocomposite/crude extract enzyme-based xanthine biosensor

A novel amperometric biosensor for xanthine was developed based on covalent immobilization of crude xanthine oxidase (XOD) extracted from bovine milk onto a hybrid nanocomposite film via glutaraldehyde. Toward the preparation of the film, a stable colloids solution of core–shell Fe₃O₄/polyaniline nanoparticles (PANI/Fe₃O₄ NPs) was dispersed in solution containing chitosan (CHT) and H₂PtCl₆ and electrodeposited over the surface of a carbon paste electrode (CPE) in one step. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometry, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used for characterization of the electrode surface. The developed biosensor (XOD/CHT/Pt NPs/PANI/Fe₃O₄/CPE) was employed for determination of xanthine based on amperometric detection of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) reduction at –0.35 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The biosensor exhibited a fast response time to xanthine within 8 s and a linear working concentration range from 0.2 to 36.0 μM (R² = 0.997) with a detection limit of 0.1 μM (signal/noise [S/N] = 3). The sensitivity of the biosensor was 13.58 μA μM⁻¹ cm⁻². The apparent Michaelis–Menten (K_m) value for xanthine was found to be 4.7 μM. The fabricated biosensor was successfully applied for measurement of fish and chicken meat freshness, which was in agreement with the standard method at the 95% confidence level.     

Characterization and expression of cytoplasmic copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD) gene under temperature and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus

Superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) is an important antioxidant enzyme that protects organs from damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS). We cloned cDNA encoding SOD activated with copper/zinc (CuZn SOD) from the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas. The full-length cDNA of CuZn SOD was 692 bp and had a 465 bp open reading frame encoding 154 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of B. calyciflorus CuZn SOD showed 63.87%, 60.00%, 59.74% and 48.89% similarity with the CuZn SOD of the Ctenopharyn godonidella, Schistosoma japonicum, Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans, respectively. The phylogenetic tree constructed based on the amino acid sequences of CuZn SODs from B. calyciflorus and other organisms revealed that rotifer is closely related to nematode. Analysis of the expression of CuZn SOD under different temperatures (15, 30 and 37 °C) revealed that its expression was enhanced 4.2-fold (p < 0.001) at 30 °C after 2 h, however, the lower temperature (15 °C) promoted CuZn SOD transiently (4.1-fold, p < 0.001) and then the expression of CuZn SOD decreased to normal level (p > 0.05). When exposed to H₂O₂ (0.1 mM), CuZn SOD, manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD) and catalase (CAT) gene were upregulated, and in addition, the mRNA expression of CuZn SOD gene was induced instantaneously after exposure to vitamin E. It indicates that the CuZn SOD gene would be an important gene in response to oxidative and temperature stress.