Reaction conditions for laccase catalyzed polymerization of catechol

Poly(catechol) was synthesized in batch runs with laccase from Trametes versicolor (ATCC 200801). The polymerization reaction was conducted in a closed, temperature controlled system containing acetone and sodium acetate buffer for pH control. The effects of the solvent mixture, monomer (catechol), enzyme, medium pH and temperature on the polymerization rate were investigated with respect to initial reaction conditions and depletion rate of dissolved oxygen in the medium. Maximum initial reaction rate was attained with 10% (v/v) acetone-sodium acetate buffer at pH 5.0, 25 degrees C, 0.02 U/ml enzyme and 250 mg/l initial catechol and 10 mg/l dissolved oxygen. A general saturation enzyme kinetics response was observed for catechol substrate. Temperature rise supported the rate increase up to 45 degrees C, after which the rate tended to be stable due to a drop in dissolved oxygen concentration as well as enzyme instability.     

Estimation of polymerization efficiency in the formation of polyacrylamide gel,using continuous optical scanning during polymerization

The Ferguson plot and ‘quantitative’ gel electrophoresis (based on the Ferguson plot) depend on a knowledge of accurate gel concentrations. The easiest way to estimate accuracy of gel concentrations, in terms of the degree of completion of the polymerization reaction which gives rise to a gel, is by spectrophotometry. Making use of the apparatus for continuous optical scanning of polyacrylamide gels, the extent and rate of polymerization of cross-linked polyacrylamide were estimated by measuring the absorbance at 275 mm of the reaction mixture subsequent to free radical initiation of polymerization. Under appropriate conditions of monomer concentration, initiator levels and temperature, absorbance decreased monotonically after alag period of 10 min, and after 20–30 min of reaction the absorbance reached a plateau value which provided a measure of polymerization efficiency. Application of a standard curve of absorbance vs. monomer concentration allowed one to quantitate concentrations of residual monomer throughout the course of polymerization. Under a set of arbitrary polymerization conditions (e.g. 6–20% total gel concentration), the reaction went to 63–96% completion. The rate of polymerization was approximately proportional to the square of the monomer concentration (2nd-order reaction kinetics). Absorbance decrease subsequent to the initiation of the polymerization reaction appeared suitable as a measure of efficiency of polymerization since: (1) absorbance spectra of monomers at 0.5%T and residual monomers in a 10%T gel, at a time when polymerization seemed terminated, coincided; (b) values of residual monomer obtained were reasonable (10–30%); (c) bimolecular reaction kinetics were found, in agreement with expectation; and (c) absorbance of incomplete polymerization mixtures, deficient in either initiators or monomers, was constant with time.     

Rapid biocatalytic polytransesterification: reaction kinetics in an exothermic reaction

Biocatalytic polytransesterification at high concentrations of monomers proceeds rapidly and is accompanied by an increase in the temperature of the reaction mixture due to liberation of heat of reaction during the initial phase. We have used principles of reaction calorimetry to monitor the kinetics of polymerization during this initial phase, thus relating the temperature to the extent of polymerization. Rate of polymerization increases with the concentration of monomers. This is also reflected by the increase in the temperature of the reaction mixture. Using time-temperature-conversion contours, a differential method of kinetic analysis was used to calculate the energy of activation ( approximately 15.1 Kcal/mol). Copyright 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A natural compound (reuterin) produced by Lactobacillus reuteri for hemoglobin polymerization as a blood substitute

Stroma-free hemoglobin (Hb) has been modified by pyridoxylation and followed by polymerization with glutaraldehyde as a blood substitute. Nevertheless, the reaction rate of pyridoxylated Hb (PLP-Hb) with glutaraldehyde is too fast to control its molecular weight distribution. Additionally, it was reported that glutaraldehyde is cytotoxic even at low doses. To overcome these problems, another aldehyde, beta-hydroxypropionaldehyde (beta-HPA), was used in the study to polymerize hemoglobin (PLP-Hb). beta-HPA is a natural compound (reuterin) produced by Lactobacillus reuteri. It was found that the maximum degree of PLP-Hb polymerization by reuterin (RR-PLP-Hb) was approximately 40% if the formation of high molecular (> 500 kDa) polymers should be prevented. In contrast, at the same reaction condition, the glutaraldehyde-polymerized PLP-Hb solution became gel-like, due to overpolymerization. This indicated that the rate of PLP-Hb polymerization by reuterin was significantly slower than that by glutaraldehyde. With increasing the reaction temperature, PLP-Hb concentration, or reuterin-to-PLP-Hb molar ratio, the time to reach the maximum degree of PLP-Hb polymerization by reuterin became significantly shorter. Removal of unpolymerized PLP-Hb from the RR-PLP-Hb solution can be effectively achieved by a gel-filtration column. The P(50) value of the unmodified Hb solution was 14 torr, while that of the RR-PLP-Hb solution was 20 torr, an indication of lower oxygen affinity. Additionally, the oxygen-Hb dissociation curves for both test solutions had a sigmodial shape and a nearly 100% saturation at 100 torr. In the in vivo study, it was found that the animals treated with the RR-PLP-Hb solution all survived and remained healthy more than 3 months. In contrast, only one out of six rats survived for the control group treated with the unmodified Hb solution. Furthermore, it was found that the RR-PLP-Hb solution resulted in a significantly longer circulation time ( approximately 12 h) than the unmodified Hb solution ( approximately 1.5 h). These results suggest that the reuterin-polymerized PLP-Hb solution may be a new option in the development of blood substitutes.     

The chemistry of flavins and flavoproteins. Aerobic photochemistry

1. When a mixture of FMN and a reducing substrate (e.g. unprotonated amine) is illuminated oxygen is consumed. 2. The rate of oxygen uptake increases as oxygen concentration falls with some substrates (type I reaction), but with other substrates (typically aromatic compounds) the rate falls as the oxygen concentration falls (type II reaction). 3. The kinetics of type I reactions with EDTA, dl-alpha-phenylglycine and diethanolamine are all consistent with a mechanism in which the rate-determining step, hydrogen abstraction by the FMN triplet, is followed by rapid reoxidation of reduced FMN by oxygen. The reaction is faster at low oxygen concentrations because oxygen quenches the triplet. 4. The sensitivity of reaction rates to substituents in dl-alpha-phenylglycine can be described by a Hammett rho value of -0.6. 5. Individual rate constants for quenching and reaction of the FMN triplet with substrate were calculated (2.4x10(8) and 2.1x10(7)m(-1)s(-1) respectively for EDTA) on the assumption that oxygen quenches the triplet in a diffusion-controlled reaction. 6. The pH-dependences of oxygen uptake rates with six natural amino acids as substrates were measured. 7. Photoinactivations of l-glutamate dehydrogenase and d-amino acid oxidase by FMN were demonstrated.     

Synthesis of heparosan oligosaccharides by Pasteurella multocida PmHS2 single-action transferases

Pasteurella multocida heparosan synthase PmHS2 is a dual action glycosyltransferase that catalyzes the polymerization of heparosan polymers in a non-processive manner. The two PmHS2 single-action transferases, obtained previously by site-directed mutagenesis, have been immobilized on Ni(II)-nitrilotriacetic acid agarose during the purification step. A detailed study of the polymerization process in the presence of non-equal amounts of PmHS2 single-action transferases revealed that the glucuronyl transferase (PmHS2-GlcUA(+)) is the limiting catalyst in the polymerization process. Using experimental design, it was determined that the N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase (PmHS2-GlcNAc(+)) plays an important role in the control of heparosan chain elongation depending on the number of heparosan chains and the UDP-sugar concentrations present in the reaction mixture. Furthermore, for the first time, the synthesis of heparosan oligosaccharides alternately using PmHS2-GlcUA(+) and PmHS2-GlcNAc(+) is reported. It was shown that the synthesis of heparosan oligosaccharides by PmHS2 single-action transferases do not require the presence of template molecules in the reaction mixture.     

Reaction kinetics for laccase-catalyzed polymerization of 1-naphthol

Laccase-catalyzed oxidative polymerization of 1-naphthol was carried out in a closed system containing acetone and sodium acetate buffer. The effects of initial 1-naphthol and dissolved oxygen concentrations on the initial reaction rate were investigated. A multiplicative mathematical model, using a function of 1-naphthol and dissolved oxygen concentrations, was developed for enzymatic polymerization and the corresponding biokinetic parameters have been evaluated for the first time. The activation energy and reaction rate constant of the laccase-catalyzed 1-naphthol polymerization were calculated as 57 kJ/mol and 311 l/s, respectively. The activation energy calculated was in the typical range of 30-60 kJ/mol and rate constant was of the order of magnitude of previously reported values for laccase-catalyzed reactions with different monomers.     

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) surface-grafted chitosan membranes as a new substrate for cell sheet engineering and manipulation

The immobilization of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) on chitosan membranes was performed in order to render membranes with thermo-responsive surface properties. The aim was to create membranes suitable for cell culture and in which confluent cell sheets can be recovered by simply lowering the temperature. The chitosan membranes were immersed in a solution of the monomer that was polymerized via radical initiation. The composition of the polymerization reaction solvent, which was a mixture of a chitosan non-solvent (isopropanol) and a solvent (water), provided a tight control over the chitosan membranes swelling capability. The different swelling ratio, obtained at different solvent composition of the reaction mixture, drives simultaneously the monomer solubility and diffusion into the polymeric matrix, the polymerization reaction rate, as well as the eventual chain transfer to the side substituents of the pyranosyl groups of chitosan. A combined analysis of the modified membranes chemistry by proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H-NMR), Fourier transform spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that it was possible to control the chitosan modification yield and depth in the solvent composition range between 75% and 100% of isopropanol. Plasma treatment was also applied to the original chitosan membranes in order to improve cell adhesion and proliferation. Chitosan membranes, which had been previously subjected to oxygen plasma treatment, were then modified by means of the previously described methodology. A human fetal lung fibroblast cell line was cultured until confluence on the plasma-treated thermo-responsive chitosan membranes and cell sheets were harvested lowering the temperature.     

Guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate), a potent nucleotide inhibitor of microtubule assembly

Guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) and the two diastereoisomers of guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiotriphosphate) (GTP beta S) were prepared enzymatically, and their interactions with tubulin and microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) in 0.1 M 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonate, 0.5 mM MgCl2 were examined. GTP gamma S did not support microtubule assembly but instead inhibited the reaction. This analog was 1.5-2 times more potent than GDP in inhibiting both tubulin polymerization and GTP hydrolysis under conditions in which these reactions were dependent on MAPs. In contrast to the analog's inhibitory effects on polymerization and hydrolysis, however, radiolabeled GTP gamma S was only feebly bound by purified tubulin at 0 degrees C relative to the binding of GDP and GTP. There was a marked increase in the amount of GTP gamma S bound when the reaction temperature was raised to 37 degrees C or when MAPs were included in the reaction mixture. Only when both MAPs were present and the higher reaction temperature was used did the binding of GTP gamma S exceed that of GDP. Since substitution of sulfur for oxygen in a molecule should decrease its hydrophilic properties, these findings suggest that the exchangeable nucleotide binding site of tubulin becomes more hydrophobic at higher temperatures and in the presence of MAPs. The two isomers of GTP beta S were able to support MAP-dependent polymerization, although a 50-100-fold higher concentration of the analogs as compared to GTP was required. Neither isomer of GTP beta S had a significant inhibitory effect on GTP hydrolysis dependent on tubulin + MAPs.     

Intermolecular transglycosylating reaction of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase immobilized on capillary membrane

The intermolecular transglycosylating reaction of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase ([EC 2.4.1.19]; CGTase) immobilized on a capillary membrane was investigated using low molecular weight substrates such as cyclodextrin (CD), maltooligosaccharide (MOS), and a CD-MOS mixture. The immobilized CGTase catalyzed the conversion reaction of α-CD to β-CD and MOS or β-CD to α-CD and MOS within a short residence time. The conversion ratio increased as the amount of immobilized CGTase increased. The addition of glucose, maltose, and sucrose as acceptors in the substrate solution containing CD resulted in the acceleration of CD degradation compared with only CD substrate. Furthermore, the MOS substrate (degree of polymerization =2–6) was disproportionated with a conversion ratio exceeding 70% by the immobilized CGTase. These data demonstrate that immobilized CGTase can catalyze intermolecular transglycosylation between low molecular substrates in a few minutes by regulating the amount of immobilized enzyme and the residence time. This might contribute to our comprehension of CGTase-immobilized bioreactors for CD production as well as to the development of new glycosides through its excellent transglycosylation ability.     

Cytochrome c-induced acceleration of the reaction of muscle actin polymerization

The reaction of rabbit skeletal muscle actin polymerization initiated by the addition of neutral salts is accelerated in the presence of mitochondrial cytochrome c. The observed effect is specific, since the addition of serum albumin does not change the initial velocity of this process. The dependence of the rate of actin polymerization and exogenous cytochrome c concentration correlates within the molar protein ratios from 43:1 to 9:1, respectively. The increase in the polymerization rate occurs immediately after addition of cytochrome c to the reaction mixture; however, the maximal effect is observed only after 5 min coincubation of the proteins. The ability of cytochrome c to stimulate this process is abolished at alkaline values of pH (8.5), which points to the significant role of the molecule positive charge which, in all probability, serves as a primer of the muscle actin polymerization reaction.     

Simulation of the ignition of a methane-air mixture by a high-voltage nanosecond discharge

The ignition dynamics of a CH₄: O₂: N₂: Ar = 1: 4: 15: 80 mixture by a high-voltage nanosecond discharge is simulated numerically with allowance for experimental data on the dynamics of the discharge current and discharge electric field. The calculated induction time agrees well with experimental data. It is shown that active particles produced in the discharge at a relatively low deposited energy can reduce the induction time by two orders of magnitude. Comparison of simulation results for mixtures with and without nitrogen shows that addition of nitrogen to the mixture leads to a decrease in the average electron energy in the discharge and gives rise to new mechanisms for accumulation of oxygen atoms due to the excitation of nitrogen electronic states and their subsequent quenching in collisions with oxygen molecules. Acceleration of the discharge-initiated ignition is caused by a faster initiation of chain reactions due to the production of active particles, first of all oxygen atoms, in the discharge.     

Rapid protein identification using monolithic enzymatic microreactor and LC-ESI-MS/MS

A monolithic enzymatic microreactor was prepared in a fused-silica capillary by in situ polymerization of acrylamide, glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) in the presence of a binary porogenic mixture of dodecanol and cyclohexanol, followed by ammonia solution treatment, glutaraldehyde activation and trypsin modification. The choice of acrylamide as co-monomer was found useful to improve the efficiency of trypsin modification, thus, to increase the enzyme activity. The optimized microreactor offered very low back pressure, enabling the fast digestion of proteins flowing through the reactor. The performance of the monolithic microreactor was demonstrated with the digestion of cytochrome c at high flow rate. The digests were then characterized by CE and HPLC-MS/MS with the sequence coverage of 57.7%. The digestion efficiency was found over 230 times as high as that of the conventional method. In addition, for the first time, protein digestion carried out in a mixture of water and ACN was compared with the conventional aqueous reaction using MS/MS detection, and the former solution was found more compatible and more efficient for protein digestion.     

Kinetics of formation of fibrin oligomers. III. Ligation kinetics concurrent with and subsequent to oligomer assembly

Human fibrinogen was treated with thrombin in the presence of fibrinoligase (Factor XIIIa) and calcium ion at pH 8.5, ionic strength 0.45, and the ensuing polymerization was interrupted at various time intervals (t) both before and after the clotting time (t_c) by solubilization with a solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate and urea. Aliquots of the solubilized protein were subjected to gel electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels after disulfide reduction by dithiothreitol and on agarose gels without reduction. The degree of γ-γ ligation was determined from the former. The latter provided the size distribution of ligated end-to-end sequences produced by splitting the ligated staggered overlapped oligomers down the middle, for degrees of polymerization, x, from 1 to 10. Addition of fibrinoligase (in which the activating thrombin had been inhibited by p-nitrophenyl-p′-guanidinobenzoate, NPGB) to Kabi fibrinogen showed the presence of small amounts of ligatable oligomers. Addition of fibrinoligase to a polymerizing mixture in which the action of thrombin had been stopped before clotting by NPGB produced the same distribution of ligated end-to-end sequences that was obtained when fibrinoligase was originally present, at least for reaction times up to 0.7 of the clotting time. The kinetics of γ-γ ligation by fibrinoligase acting on a polymerized mixture stabilized by NPGB were followed. The reaction was first order in the concentration of ligatable γ-γ junctions and the initial velocity was proportional to the enzyme concentration. The time evolution of size distribution of ligated end-to-end sequences agreed with a theory based on random ligation of ligatable junctions.     

Fixation of aldehydic dextrans onto human deoxyhemoglobin.

A procedure commonly used to transform native adult human hemoglobin (Hb) into a physiological oxygen carrier consists of a pyridoxylation of the protein to lower its oxygen affinity, followed by its polymerization in the presence of glutaraldehyde, with or without further reduction, to increase its circulating half-life. This series of reactions yields derivatives presenting a great molecular heterogeneity that have to be fractionated for use in vivo. Hemoglobin derivatives with low oxygen affinity and a narrow distribution of molecular weights were obtained by linking a dextran polyaldehydic derivative to deoxyhemoglobin at pH 8. From oxygen-binding measurements carried out in the presence of inositolhexaphosphate, a strong effector of hemoglobin, it appeared that the allosteric site of hemoglobin was blocked, probably by crosslinking bonds, which stabilizes its deoxy structure. On the other hand, when the reaction was performed in the presence of inositolhexaphosphate, the resulting conjugates exhibited an oxygen affinity identical to that of unmodified hemoglobin. After treatment with NaBH4, the polymer-hemoglobin derivatives were stable and possessed a reversible oxygen-carrying capacity similar to that of blood. The conjugates prepared from oxyhemoglobin all possessed a lower P50 than native hemoglobin whatever the reaction conditions.     

An oxygraphic method for determining kinetic properties and catalytic mechanism of aromatic amino acid hydroxylases

We have developed a simple and versatile oxygraphic assay procedure that can be used for determination of kinetic constants and enzyme reaction mechanisms of wild-type and mutant aromatic amino acid hydroxylases. The oxygen concentration and rate of oxygen consumption were measured continuously throughout the enzyme reaction, while aliquots of the reaction mixture were removed at regular intervals for measurement of other substrates and products. Using (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin as electron donor in the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) reaction, a stable stoichiometry of 1:1 was obtained between the amount of oxygen consumed and the tyrosine formation. In comparison, low and variable coupling efficiency values between oxygen consumption and tyrosine formation were found using the parent unsubstituted tetrahydropterin. The application of this assay procedure to study mechanisms of disease-associated mutations was also demonstrated. Thus, the phenylketonuria-associated PAH mutant R158Q had a coupling efficiency of about 80%, compared to the wild-type enzyme under similar conditions. Furthermore, the amount of H(2)O(2) produced in the reaction catalyzed by R158Q PAH was about four times higher than the amount produced by the wild-type PAH, demonstrating a possible pathogenetic mechanism of the mutant enzyme.     

Synthesis of poly(L-lactide) and polyglycolide by ring-opening polymerization

This protocol describes the synthesis of poly(L-lactide) by ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide using tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate catalyst as well as the synthesis of polyglycolide by ring-opening polymerization of glycolide. Ring-opening polymerization of cyclic diesters synthesized from alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acids gives high-molecular-weight polyester in high yield. Tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate catalyst is the most common catalyst for ring-opening polymerization of diesters owing to its high reactivity and low toxicity. Purity of monomers and the amount of water and alcohol in the reaction system are significant factors for increasing molecular weight and conversion of polyesters. The molecular weight of the polyesters is also dependent on reaction temperature and reaction time. This protocol can be completed in 3 d for the synthesis of poly(L-lactide) and 2 d for the synthesis of polyglycolide.     

Measurement of steady-state values of respiration rate and oxidation levels of respiratory pigments at low oxygen tensions. A new technique

1. An apparatus was developed for the simultaneous measurement of steady-state values of respiration rate and oxidation level of respiratory pigments at low oxygen tensions. An open reaction system is utilized. The liquid sample is in contact with a gas mixture whose oxygen tension can be increased linearly with time at a rate so slow that the system is always practically at a steady state.

2. Assuming Michaelis-Menten kinetics in the respiration, theoretical curves for oxygen tension in the liquid and oxidation level of the terminal oxidase during a linear increase of the oxygen tension in the gas were calculated.

3. Measurements were performed on rat liver mitochondria. Steady-state curves for oxygen tension in the liquid and oxidation level of the terminal oxidase, cytochrome a₃, obtained with coupled mitochondria resembled the theoretical curves. For uncoupled mitochondria the cytochrome a₃ curve was signmoidal, deviating strongly from the theoretical curve.

4. The apparent K_m for oxygen uptake of coupled mitochondria in the presence of pyruvate and malate, in the absence of phosphate was found to be 0.5 μM. In the case of uncoupled mitochondria the oxygen tension in the liquid could not be measured with sufficient accuracy to allow comparison with Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The apparent K_m for oxygen uptake was less than 0.05 μM.     

The effect of pH and oxygen concentration on the formation of 3-ketodisaccharides by Agrobacterium tumefaciens

The further optimization of 3-ketodisaccharide formation with sucrose, leucrose and iso maltutose was studied with special regard to pH and oxygen concentration in the reaction mixture with resting cells of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. It was found that the optimal pH values for the highest reaction rate and highest yield were different as the pH affected the stability of the 3-keto derivatives formed. A pH shift to 5.0 clearly reduced the enzymatic degradation of the 3-keto derivatives thus stabilizing them. The influence of constant oxygen concentrations on 3-ketosucrose formation was tested showing results not explicable with normal Michaelis-Menten kinetics. For each substrate a maximum of reaction rate and yield were obtained at very low oxygen concentrations.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Fritz Wagner on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

酶促聚合：绿色的高分子材料合成技术

以酶促聚合为代表的绿色高分子合成途径，以其反应条件温和、产物多分散性低、无金属催化剂残留、高度立体和区位选择性等优势，成为医用高分子材料合成领域中的研究热点。目前，氧化还原酶、水解酶、转移酶均成功应用于聚合反应，其中脂肪酶催化的缩聚反应及开环聚合反应研究最为广泛，同时，以可逆加成-断裂链转移聚合和原子转移自由基聚合为代表的酶促可逆失活自由基聚合得到了快速发展。针对酶促聚合中单体及合成产物结构与性能单一、应用范围有限等缺陷，基于酶促聚合与原子转移自由基聚合、开环易位聚合等反应的偶联，制备了多种不同结构与性能的聚合物材料，推动了上述材料在药物与基因递送领域中的应用。本文综述了脂肪酶催化聚合、酶促可逆失活自由基聚合、酶促化学偶联催化等方面的研究进展，并探讨了目前研究的局限性和未来研究方向。