A novel glucose biosensor based on immobilization of glucose oxidase into multiwall carbon nanotubes-polyelectrolyte-loaded electrospun nanofibrous membrane

Nanofibrous glucose electrodes were fabricated by the immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOx) into an electrospun composite membrane consisting of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) dispersed with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) wrapped by a cationic polymer (poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA)) and this nanofibrous electrode (NFE) is abbreviated as PMMA-MWCNT(PDDA)/GOx-NFE. The NFE was characterized for morphology and electroactivity by using electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry, respectively. Field emission transmission electron microscopy (FETEM) image reveals the dispersion of MWCNT(PDDA) within the matrix of PMMA. Cyclic voltammetry informs that NFE is suitable for performing surface-confined electrochemical reactions. PMMA-MWCNT(PDDA)/GOx-NFE exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity towards hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) with a pronounced oxidation current at +100 mV. Glucose is amperometrically detected at +100 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) in 0.1M phosphate buffer solution (PBS, pH 7). The linear response for glucose detection is in the range of 20 microM to 15 mM with a detection limit of 1 microM and a shorter response time of approximately 4 s. The superior performance of PMMA-MWCNT(PDDA)/GOx-NFE is due to the wrapping of PDDA over MWCNTs that binds GOx through electrostatic interactions. As a result, an effective electron mediation is achieved. A layer of nafion is made over PMMA-MWCNT(PDDA)/GOx-NFE that significantly suppressed the electrochemical interference from ascorbic acid or uric acid. In all, PMMA-MWCNT(PDDA)/GOx-nafion-NFE has exhibited excellent properties for the sensitive determination of glucose like high selectivity, good reproducibility, remarkable stability and without interference from other co-existing electroactive species.     

In-vivo behaviour of hypodermically implanted microfabricated glucose sensors

The in-vivo behaviour of microfabricated GOD (glucose oxidase)/H2O2 glucose sensor implanted subcutaneously in normal anaesthetized rats has been studied. The sensor consists of a planar, three-electrode microcell, an enzyme membrane (glucose oxidase and bovine serum albumin cross-linked with glutaraldehyde) and an outer diffusion limiting polyurethane membrane. The sensor behaviour during hyperglycaemic (13.8 mM and 11.2 mM), euglycaemic (7.8 mM) and hypoglycaemic (3.5 mM) plateau levels was determined. The values of the in-vivo sensitivity (0.64 +/- 0.05 nA/mM) and background current (1.25 +/- 0.4 nA) were determined using a two-point calibration method and then used to calculate apparent subcutaneous glucose concentrations. The results show the presence of a good correlation between all the plasma glucose levels (G) and the apparent subcutaneous tissue concentrations (G'), with G' = 0.997.G - 0.066, r = 0.9782.     

A new amperometric glucose microsensor: in vitro and short-term in vivo evaluation

For biosensor fabrication, it is important to optimize materials and methods in order to create predictable function in vitro and in vivo. For this reason, we designed a new glucose sensor ('revised protocol') that utilized an outer permselective membrane made of amphiphobic polyurethane which allows glucose passage through hydrophilic segments. An inner polyethersulfone membrane, stabilized with a trimethoxysilane, provided specificity. Before application of the inner membrane, it was necessary to etch the platinum electrode with a radio frequency oxygen plasma. The revised protocol sensors (n=185) were compared with sensors fabricated with an earlier ('original') protocol (n=204) which used an outer polyurethane without hydrophilic segments and a complex inner membrane of cellulose acetate and Nafion. The function of revised protocol sensors was more predictable in vitro as evidenced by a much lower variation of glucose sensitivity than the original protocol sensors. Revised and original protocol sensors were nearly linear up to a glucose concentration of 20 mM. In vitro interference from 0.1 mM acetaminophen was minimal in both groups of sensors and would be expected to represent about 2% of the total sensor response at normal glucose levels for revised protocol sensors. Prolonged testing of the revised protocol sensors for 11 days during immersion in buffer revealed stable sensitivities (day 1: 6.12+/-1.34 nA/mM; day 3: 6.33+/-1.40; day 8: 7.13+/-1.39; and day 11: 7.56+/-1.47; sensitivity for day 1 vs. each other day: not significant) and no critical loss of glucose oxidase activity. The response of the revised protocol sensors (n=7) to intraperitoneal glucose was tested in rats approximately one day after subcutaneous implantation and the sensors tracked glucose closely with a slight lag of 3-6 min.     

Preparation of sulfonic-functionalized graphene oxide as ion-exchange material and its application into electrochemiluminescence analysis

Graphene oxide (GO) obtained from chemical oxidation of flake graphite was derivatized with sulfonic groups to form sulfonic-functionalized GO (GO-SO(3)(-)) through four sulfonation routes: through amide formation between the carboxylic group of GO and amine of sulfanilic acid (AA-GO-SO(3)(-)), aryl diazonium reaction of sulfanilic acid (AD-GO-SO(3)(-)), amide formation between the carboxylic group of GO and amine of cysteamine and oxidation by H(2)O(2) (CA-GO-SO(3)(-)), and alkyl diazonium reaction of cysteamine and oxidation by H(2)O(2) (CD-GO-SO(3)(-)). Results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectrospectrocopy showed that -SO(3)(-) groups were attached onto GO. Thermo gravimetric analysis showed that derivatization with sulfonic groups improved thermo stability of GO. X-ray diffraction results indicated that GO-SO(3)(-) had more ordered π-π stacking structure than the original GO. GO-SO(3)(-) and cationic polyelectrote, poly (diallyldimethylammoniumchloride) (PDDA) were adsorbed at indium tin oxide (ITO) glass surface through layer-by-layer assembling to form (GO-SO(3)(-)/PDDA)(n)/ITO multilayers. After tris-(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium (II) dichloride (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)) was incorporated into the multilayers, the obtained Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)/(GO-SO(3)(-)/PDDA)(n)/ITO electrodes can be used as electrochemiluminescence sensors for detection of organic amine with high sensitivity (limit of detection of 1 nM) and stability.     

Assembly of electroactive layer-by-layer films of hemoglobin and polycationic poly(diallyldimethylammonium)

Layer-by-layer (PDDA/Hb)(n) films were assembled by alternate adsorption of positively charged poly(diallyldimethylammonium) (PDDA) and negatively charged hemoglobin (Hb) at pH 9.2 from their aqueous solutions on pyrolytic graphite electrodes and other substrates. The assembly process was monitored and confirmed by quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), UV-vis spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry (CV). CVs of (PDDA/Hb)(n) films showed a pair of well-defined, nearly reversible peaks at about -0.34 V vs SCE at pH 7.0, characteristic of Hb heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple. Positions of Soret absorption band and infrared amide II band of Hb in (PDDA/Hb)(8) films suggest that Hb in the films keeps its secondary structure similar to its native state. The electrochemical parameters of (PDDA/Hb)(8) films were estimated by square wave voltammetry, and the thickness of the PDDA/Hb bilayer was estimated by QCM and scanning electron microscopy. Trichloroacetic acid and nitrite (NO(2)(-)) were catalytically reduced at (PDDA/Hb)(8) film electrodes. The electrochemical catalytic reactions of O(2) and H(2)O(2) on (PDDA/Hb)(8) films were also studied.     

Novel micromachined silicon sensor for continuous glucose monitoring

The construction and the application properties of a micro-machined silicon sensor for continuous glucose monitoring are presented. The sensor uses the conventional enzymatic conversion of glucose with amperometric detection of H(2)O(2). The innovation is the precise diffusion control of the analyte through a porous silicon membrane into a silicon etched cavity containing the immobilised enzyme. A variation of the number and size of the membrane pores allows to adjust the linear range of the sensor to the respective requirement. The sensor was tested in vitro as well as in clinical studies, being supplied with interstitial fluid. The cavity sensor was designed for a linear range between 0.5 and 20 mM. A signal response time of below 30 s and a signal stability exceeding 1 week is shown. By using a double cavity sensor falsification of the glucose signal by interfering substances can be compensated. In clinical trials the sensor measured continuously in interstitial fluid for up to 18 h without any signal drift and with good correlation to blood glucose reference values.     

Identification of three porins in the outer membrane of Bacteroides fragilis

Abstract Four outer membrane proteins were purified to homogeneity from isolated outer membranes of Bacteroides fragilis ; three ( M _r 51000, 92000 and 125 000) had pore-forming activity in reconstituted liposomes as determined by swelling assay. Membrane vesicles containing the M _rmr 55 000 outer membrane protein showed no detectable pore-forming activity. The three B. fragilis porins formed pores that allowed the penetration of uncharged saccharides of M _r lower than 340–400, even though the efficiency of solute diffusion showed slight differences. The diffusion rates of glucose through the porins appeared to be lower than those through Escherichia coli porins.     

New insights into the mechanism of permeation through large channels

The mitochondrial channel, VDAC, regulates metabolite flux across the outer membrane. The open conformation has a higher conductance and anionic selectivity, whereas closed states prefer cations and exclude metabolites. In this study five mutations were introduced into mouse VDAC2 to neutralize the voltage sensor. Inserted into planar membranes, mutant channels lack voltage gating, have a lower conductance, demonstrate cationic selectivity, and, surprisingly, are still permeable to ATP. The estimated ATP flux through the mutant is comparable to that for wild-type VDAC2. The outer membranes of mitochondria containing the mutant are permeable to NADH and ADP/ATP. Both experiments support the counterintuitive conclusion that converting a channel from an anionic to a cationic preference does not substantially influence the flux of negatively charged metabolites. This finding supports our previous proposal that ATP translocation through VDAC is facilitated by a set of specific interactions between ATP and the channel wall.     

Sensor and biosensor based on Prussian Blue modified gold and platinum screen printed electrodes

Gold (Au) and platinum (Pt) screen-printed electrodes were modified with Prussian Blue (PB) for the development of amperometric sensors selective for hydrogen peroxide detection. The sensors exhibited sensitivities towards H(2)O(2) equal to 2 A M(-1) cm(-2) for Au and 1 A M(-1) cm(-2) for Pt electrodes. The sensors were also employed as the basis for construction of glucose biosensors through further modification with crystallised glucose oxidase immobilised in a Nafion membrane. In order to improve the operational stability of the modified electrodes a buffer solution containing tetrabutylammonium toluene-4-sulfonate was used. The long-term performance of the sensors and biosensors were evaluated by continuous monitoring of hydrogen peroxide and glucose solutions (50 microM and 1 mM, respectively) in the flow-injection mode for 10 h.     

Carbon post-microarrays for glucose sensors

A novel design and fabrication method of glucose sensors based on high aspect ratio carbon post-microarrays is reported in this paper. Apart from the fact that carbon has a wide electrochemical stability window, a major advantage of using carbon post-microarrays as working electrodes for an amperometric glucose sensor is the large reactive surface per unit footprint substrate area, improving sensitivity of the glucose sensor. The carbon post-microarrays were fabricated by carbon-microelectromechanical systems (C-MEMS) technology. Immobilization of enzyme onto the carbon post-electrodes was carried out through co-deposition of glucose oxidase (GOx) and electrochemically polymerized polypyrrole (PPy). Sensing performance of the glucose sensors with different post-heights and various post-densities was tested and compared. The carbon post-glucose sensors show a linear range from 0.5 mM to 20 mM and a response time of about 20 s, which are comparable to the simulation result. Sensitivity per unit footprint substrate area as large as 2.02 mA/(mM cm²) is achieved with the 140 μm high (aspect ratio around 5:1) carbon post-samples, which is two times the sensitivity per unit footprint substrate area of the flat carbon films. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that the number of reaction sites scales with the reactive surface area of the sensor. Numerical simulation based on enzymatic reaction and glucose diffusion kinetics gives the optimum geometric design rules for the carbon post-glucose sensor. Glucose sensors with even higher sensitivity can be achieved utilizing higher carbon post-microarrays when technology evolution will permit it.     

Modeling the response time of an in vivo glucose affinity sensor

A mathematical model was developed to describe the dose-response relationship of an optical glucose sensor. The basis for glucose detection is the reversible competitive displacement of a ligand from a receptor protein with specific binding sites for certain carbohydrates. Detection of glucose is based on measurements of the change in fluorescent lifetime of the donor-labeled protein, as it binds to the acceptor-labeled ligand. The sensor was modeled as a hollow fiber membrane, permeable to glucose, which encapsulates a solution of the receptor protein and competing ligand. Model equations that describe the diffusion of glucose through the fiber membrane and the subsequent displacement reactions within the fiber lumen were solved numerically to predict the response time of the sensor following a step change in bulk glucose concentration. The incorporation of an external mass transfer boundary layer was found to increase the response time by a factor of 3.7 over the well-stirred case. On the basis of the results of a parametric study, the response time of the sensor was found to be most sensitive to the diffusion coefficient of glucose in the membrane. When compared to experimental response times for an intensity-based affinity sensor using Concanavalin A as the receptor protein and dextran as the competing ligand, the model predictions were found to be significantly shorter than those observed. The effect of the in vivo environment on the performance of the sensor was also investigated through the incorporation of a fibrotic capsule layer. The additional diffusional resistance offered by the capsular tissue resulted in a 5-fold increase in the response time of the sensor.     

Investigation of selective protein immobilization on charged protein array by wavelength interrogation-based SPR sensor

We have investigated the use of multilayer films of polyelectrolytes as selective surfaces to analyze protein interactions with a self-assembled SPR wavelength-shift sensor. Charged arrays were prepared by alternating adsorption of the charged polyelectrolytes, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS). Multilayer formation was monitored with the SPR wavelength-shift sensor and a Spreeta SPR sensor. Protein immobilization on the charged surfaces, which was also analyzed by the SPR sensors, was dependent on the pI of the proteins. Tissue transglutaminase (tTGase) and beta-galactosidase (pIs, 5.1 and 5.3, respectively) were preferentially bound to the positively charged PDDA surface, whereas lysozyme (pI, 11.0) was selectively bound to the negatively charged PSS surface. Immobilization of tTGase on the PDDA surface was also dependent on the buffer pH. The interaction of tTGase with RhoA(V14), a constitutively active form of Rho, could be detected on the charged arrays with the wavelength-shift sensor. The arrays could be reutilized at least 5 times. Thus, it is likely that charged surfaces, assembled by the layer-by-layer method using polyelectrolytes, will prove useful for preparing selective protein arrays.     

H2O2 induces rapid biophysical and permeability changes in the plasma membrane of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the diffusion rate of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through the plasma membrane decreases during adaptation to H2O2 by means of a mechanism that is still unknown. Here, evidence is presented that during adaptation to H2O2 the anisotropy of the plasma membrane increases. Adaptation to H2O2 was studied at several times (15min up to 90min) by applying the steady-state H2O2 delivery model. For wild-type cells, the steady-state fluorescence anisotropy increased after 30min, or 60min, when using 2-(9-anthroyloxy) stearic acid (2-AS), or diphenylhexatriene (DPH) membrane probe, respectively. Moreover, a 40% decrease in plasma membrane permeability to H2O2 was observed at 15min with a concomitant two-fold increase in catalase activity. Disruption of the ergosterol pathway, by knocking out either ERG3 or ERG6, prevents the changes in anisotropy during H2O2 adaptation. H2O2 diffusion through the plasma membrane in S. cerevisiae cells is not mediated by aquaporins since the H2O2 permeability constant is not altered in the presence of the aquaporin inhibitor mercuric chloride. Altogether, these results indicate that the regulation of the plasma membrane permeability towards H2O2 is mediated by modulation of the biophysical properties of the plasma membrane.     

Stem cell factor and H2O2 induce GLUT1 translocation in M07e cells

This work aims to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the early activation of glucose transport in hematopoietic M07e cells by stem cell factor (SCF) and a reactive oxygen species (ROS) as H2O2. SCF and H2O2 increase Vmax for glucose transport; this enhancement is due to a higher content in GLUT1 in plasma membranes, possibly through a translocation from intracellular stores. Inhibitors of tyrosine kinases or phospholipase C (PLC) remove glucose transport enhancement and prevent translocation. The inhibitory effect of STI-571 suggests a role for c-kit tyrosine kinase on glucose transport activation not only by SCF, but also by H2O2. On the other hand, neither protein kinase C nor phosphoinositide-3-kinase appear to be involved in the acute activation of glucose transport. Our data suggest that i) in M07e cells, SCF and exogenous H2O2 elicit a short-term activation of glucose transport through a translocation of GLUT1 from intracellular stores to plasma membranes; ii) both stimuli could share at least some signaling pathways leading to glucose uptake activation, involving protein tyrosine kinases and PLC iii) H2O2 could act increasing the level of tyrosine phosphorylation through the inhibition of tyrosine phosphatases and mimicking the regulation role of endogenous ROS.     

Intravascular glucose/lactate sensors prepared with nitric oxide releasing poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-based coatings for enhanced biocompatibility

Intravenous amperometric needle-type enzymatic glucose/lactate sensors intended for continuous monitoring are prepared with a novel nitric oxide (NO) releasing layer to improve device hemocompatibility. To create an underlying NO release coating, the sensors with immobilized enzymes (either glucose oxidase or lactate oxidase) are prepared with a thin layer of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) loaded with lipophilic diazeniumdiolate species that slowly release NO via a proton driven reaction. An outer thin layer (ca. 30 μm) of PurSil (polyurethane/dimethylsiloxane copolymer) limits the flux of glucose and lactate to the inner layer of enzyme, to provide the desired linear amperometric response. A 30 μm coating of PLGA containing 33 wt% of the appropriate NO donor (N-diazeniumdiolated dibutylhexanediamine, DBHD/N?O?) can release NO at a physiologically relevant rate > 1 × 10?1?mol min?1 cm?2 for at least 7 days without influencing the analytical performance of the glucose/lactate sensors. In vitro, the sensors exhibit relatively stable amperometric response over a one-week period with high selectivity over interferences (e.g., ascorbic acid) required for blood monitoring applications. Glucose sensors implanted in the veins of rabbits for 8h exhibit significantly enhanced hemocompatibility for the NO release sensors vs. corresponding controls (without NO release in same animals), with greatly reduced thrombus formation on their surfaces. Further, the analytical performance of the NO release glucose sensors are superior to controls placed in the veins of the same animals, with a greater accuracy in measuring blood glucose levels as evaluated using a Clarke error grid type analysis.     

Endocytosis and Vacuolar Degradation of the Yeast Cell Surface Glucose Sensors Rgt2 and Snf3

Sensing and signaling the presence of extracellular glucose is crucial for the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae because of its fermentative metabolism, characterized by high glucose flux through glycolysis. The yeast senses glucose through the cell surface glucose sensors Rgt2 and Snf3, which serve as glucose receptors that generate the signal for induction of genes involved in glucose uptake and metabolism. Rgt2 and Snf3 detect high and low glucose concentrations, respectively, perhaps because of their different affinities for glucose. Here, we provide evidence that cell surface levels of glucose sensors are regulated by ubiquitination and degradation. The glucose sensors are removed from the plasma membrane through endocytosis and targeted to the vacuole for degradation upon glucose depletion. The turnover of the glucose sensors is inhibited in endocytosis defective mutants, and the sensor proteins with a mutation at their putative ubiquitin-acceptor lysine residues are resistant to degradation. Of note, the low affinity glucose sensor Rgt2 remains stable only in high glucose grown cells, and the high affinity glucose sensor Snf3 is stable only in cells grown in low glucose. In addition, constitutively active, signaling forms of glucose sensors do not undergo endocytosis, whereas signaling defective sensors are constitutively targeted for degradation, suggesting that the stability of the glucose sensors may be associated with their ability to sense glucose. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that the amount of glucose available dictates the cell surface levels of the glucose sensors and that the regulation of glucose sensors by glucose concentration may enable yeast cells to maintain glucose sensing activity at the cell surface over a wide range of glucose concentrations.     

Glucose oxidation catalyzed by liposomal glucose oxidase in the presence of catalase-containing liposomes

A catalase-containing liposome (CAL) was prepared and characterized in terms of stability during storage and catalysis of the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) that was initially added or produced in the oxidation of glucose catalyzed by the glucose oxidase-containing liposomes (GOL). The reactors used were a test tube and an external loop airlift bubble column as the static liquid and circulating liquid flow systems, respectively. The free catalase (CA) at low concentrations was unstable during storage at 4 degrees C as a result of dissociation of the tetrameric CA subunits. On the other hand, the deactivation of the CA activity in the CAL was depressed because of the high CA concentration in the CAL liposome. The CAL effectively catalyzed the repeated decompositions at 25 degrees C with 10 mM H2O2 added initially, whereas the free CA was significantly deactivated during the repeated reactions. The high stability of the CAL was attributed to the moderately depressed reactivity, which was essentially derived from the diffusion limitation of the CAL membrane to H2O2 in the liquid bulk. In the GOL-catalyzed prolonged oxidation of 10 mM glucose at 40 degrees C in the static liquid in a test tube, both the free CA and CAL could continuously catalyze the decomposition of H2O2 produced. This was because the glucose oxidation rate was small due to the limited reactivity of the GOL to glucose with its low permeability through the GOL membrane. In the glucose oxidation catalyzed by the GOL with the free CA or the CAL in the airlift, much larger oxidation rates were observed compared to those in the test tube because the permeability of the GOL membrane to glucose was increased in the gas-liquid two phase flow in the airlift. The GOL/CAL system in the airlift operated in an acidic condition, which was preferable to the GO activity, gave the largest oxidation rate with negligible accumulation of the H2O2 produced. On the other hand, the GOL/free CA system gave an oxidation rate smaller than that of the GOL/CAL system even under the acidic condition due to an unfavorable interaction of the free CA molecules with the GOL membranes leading to the decreased reactivity of the GOL.     

Mechanism for high stability of liposomal glucose oxidase to inhibitor hydrogen peroxide produced in prolonged glucose oxidation

Glucose oxidase (GO) was encapsulated in the liposomes composed of POPC (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) to increase the enzyme stability through its decreased inhibition because of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) produced in the glucose oxidation. The GO-containing liposomes (GOLs) were completely free of the inhibition even in the complete conversion of 10 mM glucose at 25 degrees C because the H(2)O(2) concentration was kept negligibly low both outside and inside liposomes throughout the reaction. It was interestingly revealed that the H(2)O(2) produced was decomposed not only by a slight amount of catalase originally contained in the commercially available GO but also by the lipid membranes of GOL. As compared to the GOL-catalyzed reaction, the free GO-catalyzed reaction more highly accumulated H(2)O(2) because of the more rapid glucose conversion despite containing free catalase, leading to the completely inhibited GO before reaching a sufficient glucose conversion. This suggested that only the liposomal catalase could continue to catalyze the H(2)O(2) decomposition. The effect of the glucose oxidation rate, i.e., the H(2)O(2) production rate on the liposomal GO inhibition, was also examined employing the various GOLs with different permeabilities to glucose present in their external phase. It was concluded that the liposomal GO free of the inhibition could be obtained when the GOL-catalyzed H(2)O(2) formation rate was limited by such a suitable lipid bilayer as POPC membrane so that the rate was well-balanced with the sum of the above two H(2)O(2) decomposition rates. The highly stable GOL obtained in the present paper was shown to be a useful biocatalyst for the prolonged glucose oxidation.     

NMR structural studies of the bacterial outer membrane protein OmpX in oriented lipid bilayer membranes

The beta-barrels found in the outer membranes of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms constitute an important functional class of proteins. Here we present solid-state NMR spectra of the bacterial outer membrane protein OmpX in oriented lipid bilayer membranes. We show that OmpX is folded in both glass-supported oriented lipid bilayers and in lipid bicelles that can be magnetically oriented with the membrane plane parallel or perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field. The presence of resolved peaks in these spectra demonstrates that OmpX undergoes rotational diffusion around an axis perpendicular to the membrane surface. A tightly hydrogen-bonded domain of OmpX resists exchange with D2O for days and is assigned to the transmembrane beta-barrel, while peaks at isotropic resonance frequencies that disappear rapidly in D2O are assigned to the extracellular and periplasmic loops. The two-dimensional 1H/15N separated local field spectra of OmpX have several resolved peaks, and agree well with the spectra calculated from the crystal structure of OmpX rotated with the barrel axis nearly parallel (5 degrees tilt) to the direction of the magnetic field. The data indicate that it will be possible to obtain site-specific resonance assignments and to determine the structure, tilt, and rotation of OmpX in membranes using the solid-state NMR methods that are currently being applied to alpha-helical membrane proteins.     

DNA-Cu(II) poly(amine) complex membrane as novel catalytic layer for highly sensitive amperometric determination of hydrogen peroxide

A novel hydrogen peroxide biosensor was fabricated by using a DNA-Cu(II) complex as a novel electrocatalyst for the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). A polyion complex (PIC) membrane composed of DNA and poly(allylamine) (PAA) functioned as a support matrix for immobilization of electrocatalytic element-copper ion. The circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of the DNA-Cu(II)/PAA membrane in wet state showed that the DNA exists in B-like form within the membrane. Electrochemical measurements of the DNA-Cu(II)/PAA membrane-modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode revealed that the copper ion embedded in the DNA/PAA layer exhibits good electrochemical behaviors, and the electrochemical rate constant between the immobilized copper ion and the GC electrode surface was estimated to be 26.4 s(-1). The resulting DNA-Cu(II)/PAA/GC electrode showed an excellent electrocatalytic activity for the H2O2 reduction. The sensitivity of the sensor for the determination of H2O2 was affected by the amount of each component, such as copper ion, DNA and PAA in the DNA-Cu(II)/PAA membrane. Effects of applied potential, pH, temperature, ionic strength and buffer concentrations upon the response currents of the sensor were also investigated for an optimum analytical performance. Even in the presence of dissolved oxygen, the sensor exhibited highly sensitive and rapid (response time, less than 5 s) response to H2O2. The steady-state cathodic current responses of the sensor obtained at -0.2 V versus Ag/AgCl in air-saturated 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 5.0) increased linearly up to 135 microM with the detection limit of 50 nM. Interference by ascorbic acid and uric acid due to the reduction of Cu(II) was effectively cancelled by further modification of outermost layer of polyion complex film. In addition, the sensor exhibited good reproducibility and stability.