A direct continuous spectrophotometric assay for glycosidases with 3-nitro-2-pyridyl glycosides by tautomerization of 2-hydroxy-3-nitropyridine

Two kinds of 3-nitro-2-pyridyl glycosides were synthesized and evaluated as substrates for continuous spectrophotometric assay for glycosidases. The liberated aglycon, 2-hydroxy-3-nitropyridine, immediately tautomerized to 3-nitro-2(1H)-pyridone, causing an absorption shift of ca. 60 nm even under acidic conditions (pH 3-6). Consequently, the enzymatic hydrolysis of these glycosides was monitored continuously in the acidic to neutral pH range (pH 4-7), the optimum pH for most glycosidases. The absorbance of liberated aglycon increased linearly at 390 nm until 10% consumption of the substrate to enable the initial rate to be determined at once without terminating the reaction. The kinetic parameters for the hydrolysis of 3-nitro-2-pyridyl glycosides were obtained from the slopes of the progress curves and were compared with those obtained from the conventional discontinuous assay using p- and o-nitrophenyl glycosides as substrates. The kinetic parameters indicated that 3-nitro-2-pyridyl glycosides were more activated and specific substrates, but with less affinity to the enzymes than the corresponding nitrophenyl glycosides. Moreover, the absorbance shift by tautomerization should promise further applications to continuous spectrophotometric assays for other enzymes acting under acidic conditions, such as acid proteases and acid phosphatases.     

Spectrophotometric assay of long-chain unsaturated and hydroxy fatty acids in concentrated sulfuric acid

A spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of long-chain unsaturated and hydroxy fatty acids in concentrated sulfuric acid. The assay is based on the absorbance produced in the 290 to 300-nm range from their reaction with sulfuric acid at 100°C. α,β-Unsaturated aliphatic acids give absorption bands at 235–240 nm and thus can be easily differentiated from unsaturated fatty acids having the double bond(s) at positions not conjugated with the carboxyl group. A certain minimum chain length is required for full development of the absorption band at 300 nm. Position and intensity of the so-formed absorption band is independent on the position and number of the double bonds or hydroxyl groups. Carboxyl groups are not essential, as unsaturated hydrocarbons and higher alcohols likewise react with sulfuric acid to produce the absorbing species at 300 nm, providing a minimum chain length of 5 carbon atoms is present. The nature of the absorbing species at 300 nm is discussed.     

A New Spectrophotometric Method for the Detection of Lipase Activity Using 2,4-Dinitrophenyl Butyrate as a Substrate

A rapid and sensitive assay for the detection of lipase activity is described. The method is based upon the increase in absorbance at 360 nm due to the formation of the 2,4-dinitrophenolate anion during the enzymatic hydrolysis of 2,4-dinitrophenyl butyrate. The substrate is used in an emulsified form. Using a diode array spectrophotometer with internal referencing a correction can be made for absorbance changes due to clearance of the emulsion during hydrolysis. The small reaction volume and the high extinction coefficient of the product makes the method applicable for detection of both low substrate and low enzyme concentration.

Four lipases were tested: lipase from porcine pancreas, Candida cylindracea, Pseudomonas sp. and Aspergillus niger. All enzymes are readily able to catalyse the hydrolysis of 2,4-dinitrophenyl butyrate.     

A method to correct for errors caused by generation of interfering compounds during erythrocyte lipid peroxidation

A commonly used method for quantification of lipid peroxidation depends upon measurement of a malonaldehyde-thiobarbituric acid derivative with absorbance at 532 nm. Investigation of this assay demonstrated that erythrocyte peroxidation produces compounds that react with thiobarbituric acid to interfere with the malonaldehyde assay. Interference results from carryover absorbance at 532 nm, equivalent to 20% of the intensity of the maximum absorption peak at 453 nm. These compounds are not products of lipid peroxidation but are derived from erythrocyte hemolysate and reduced glutathione. A specific HPLC assay for malonaldehyde corroborated the improved accuracy of measuring absorbance at 453 nm and correcting for the absorbance of the interfering compounds at 532 nm when assaying erythrocyte malonaldehyde production.     

Brain glutamate decarboxylase and pyrroloquinoline quinone.

Porcine brain glutamate decarboxylase was examined for the presence of covalently bound pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ). HPLC analysis of pure glutamate decarboxylase subjected to the hexanol extraction procedure gave negative results when monitored at 320 nm, the maximum of absorbance of 4-hydroxy-5-hexoxy-PQQ. Resolved glutamate decarboxylase exhibits a structureless absorption band at wavelengths longer than 300 nm which cannot be attributed to PQQ. The holoenzyme is not a pyridoxal-quinoprotein; its catalytic mechanism involves the participation of only one cofactor, i.e. pyridoxal-5-P. Free PQQ is a strong inhibitor of the decarboxylase (Ki = 13 microM) and the reaction with the protein results in spectral changes resembling those of polylysine treated with PQQ. If the concentration of free PQQ in some regions of the brain reaches the micromolar level, then PQQ might play a role in the regulation of glutamate decarboxylase activity.     

Assay and purification of the adenosylcobalamin-dependent 2-methyleneglutarate mutase from Clostridium barkeri

A continuous spectrophotometric assay was developed for the adenosylcobalamin-dependent 2-methyleneglutarate mutase from Clostridium barkeri. Thereby the product (R)-3-methylitaconate is converted by the delta-isomerase from the same organism to 2,3-dimethylmaleate which absorbs at 240 nm, much higher than both parent compounds (delta epsilon = 3.7 mM-1.cm-1). In addition a discontinuous assay using the facile formation of 2,3-dimethylmaleic anhydride in aqueous solution at pH 0-1 (delta epsilon = 4.0 mM-1.cm-1 at 256 nm) was established. The mutase and the isomerase were purified together by chromatography on quaternary-amine-Sepharose (Q-Sepharose) and on cyanocobalamin-agarose. The enzymes were separated and obtained in homogenous forms by preparative PAGE in non-denaturing buffer. Both enzymes appear to be homotetramers with subunits of 70 kDa (mutase) and 50 kDa (isomerase). The equilibrium constants for both reactions were determined at I = 0.1 M and 25 degrees C: K1, app = [(R)-3-methylitaconate].[2-methyleneglutarate]-1 = 0.26 +/- 0.04, K2,app = [2,3-dimethylmaleate].[(R)-3-methylitaconate]-1 = 7.40 +/- 0.21.     

Enhanced phenylpyruvic acid production with Proteus vulgaris in fed-batch and continuous fermentation

Phenylpyruvic acid is a deaminated form of phenylalanine and is used in various areas such as development of cheese and wine flavors, diagnosis of phenylketonuria, and to decrease excessive nitrogen accumulation in the manure of farm animals. However, reported phenylpyruvic acid fermentation studies in the literature have been usually performed at shake-flask scale with low production. In this study, phenylpyruvic acid production was evaluated in bench-top bioreactors by conducting fed-batch and continuous fermentation for the first time. As a result, maximum phenylpyruvic acid concentrations increased from 1350 mg/L (batch fermentation) to 2958 mg/L utilizing fed-batch fermentation. Furthermore, phenylpyruvic acid productivity was increased from 48 mg/L/hr (batch fermentation) to 104 and 259 mg/L/hr by conducting fed-batch and continuous fermentation, respectively. Overall, this study demonstrated that fed-batch and continuous fermentation significantly improved phenylpyruvic acid production in bench-scale bioreactor production.     

Enzymatic lactate-specific radioactivity determination in biological samples

A method for the measurement of specific lactate radioactivity in biological samples is presented. It is based on the following steps: (a) enzymatic conversion of lactate to pyruvate, (b) pyruvate conversion to 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone, (c) concentration-separation of the latter in reusable Amberlite XAD-7 polymeric adsorbent columns, and finally (d) estimation of the radioactivity thus retained compared with that of enzymatically untreated aliquots of the same samples. Specificity was ensured by the use of lactate dehydrogenase as specific recognizing agent for lactic acid. No interference from glucose, lactate, or amino acids was observed. The method presented is simple and can be applied in routine multiple estimations of lactic acid radioactivity in conjunction with the enzymatic measurement of lactate in biological samples in tracer metabolic studies.     

Mechanistic studies on carboxypeptidase A from goat pancreas: role of arginine residue at the active site

Chemical modification of carboxypeptidase Ag1 from goat pancreas with phenylglyoxal or ninhydrin led to a loss of enzymatic activity. The inactivation by phenylglyoxal in 200 mM N-ethylmorpholine, 200 mM sodium chloride buffer, pH 8.0, or in 300 mM borate buffer, pH 8.0, followed pseudo-first-order kinetics at all concentrations of the modifier. The reaction order with respect to phenylglyoxal was 1.68 and 0.81 in 200 mM N-ethylmorpholine, 200 mM NaCl buffer and 300 mM borate buffer, pH 8.0, respectively, indicating modification of single arginine residue per mole of enzyme. The kinetic data were supported by amino acid analysis of modified enzyme, which also showed the modification of single arginine residue per mole of the enzyme. The modified enzyme had an absorption maximum at 250 nm, and quantification of the increase in absorbance showed modification of single arginine residue. Modification of arginine residue was protected by beta-phenylpropionic acid, thus suggesting involvement of an arginine residue at or near the active site of the enzyme.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone in plasma

An analytical method has been developed for the determination of 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone (I, trade name A-007) in plasma. Plasma samples are primed with the internal standard, 2,2′-dihydroxybenzophenone-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone (II), deproteinized with acetonitrile, centrifuged and filtered prior to assay. The components are then separated on a reversed-phase column with retention times of 4.4 and 6.0 min for I and II, respectively. Ultraviolet detection at 365 nm was employed and little interference with the analyte or the internal standard was noted from other plasma components. This method has been applied to the plasma of rats and monkeys dosed for pharmacokinetic and toxicity studies.     

Ultraviolet absorption and epidermal-transmittance spectra in foliage

We examined the UV absorption spectra and the epidermal-transmittance spectra (280–350 nm) of foliage from 42 plant species. Sun foliage was sampled from naturally growing individuals of seven species in each of six life forms comprising two evergreen groups (gymnosperms and angiosperms) and four deciduous angiosperm groups (trees, shrubs and vines, herbaceous dicotyledons and grasses). There were large differences in absorption spectra of whole-leaf extracts among species. While absorbance declined with increasing wavelength in most woody species, there was a trough in absorbance around 300 nm in many herbaceous species. Absorption spectra were negatively correlated with epidermal-transmittance spectra in 31 of the 42 species. Relationships between absorbance and transmittance did not follow the theoretical exponential function. Species rankings of UV-screening effectiveness were similar when we assessed it by using epidermal transmittance at single wavelengths (300 or 320 nm) or different UV-action spectra to weight epidermal-transmittance spectra and estimate the levels of biologically effective UV reaching the mesophyll. Thus, differences in absolute epidermal transmittance among species appeared to overshadow spectral differences. Nevertheless, the differences we found in the internal UV spectral regime in foliage suggest that whole-plant action spectra will differ among species. While species rankings of UV-screening effectiveness were similar when different action spectra were used, the absolute amounts of biologically effective UV reaching the mesophyll of species varied considerably when different action spectra were used.     

Enzymic synthesis of glutamic acid γ-semialdehyde (Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate) and N-acetyl-l-glutamic acid γ-semialdehyde: Isolation and characterization of their 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones

A protocol is given for the synthesis, by a simple enzyme preparation, of the l-isomers of glutamic acid γ-semialdehyde and N-acetylglutamic acid γ-semialdehyde. The isolation and physical and chemical properties of these products as the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone derivatives are described. Spectral characteristics, NMR, ir, and visible, and melting points for these compounds are given.     

光谱技术研究固氮酶铁硫簇的理化特性

Ｎ－甲基甲酰胺碱度是提取高质量固氮酶铁钼辅基的关键因素之一。过量的亚甲蓝能氧化并分解铁铜铺基为含双相铁硫簇和铁硫簇固氮酶铁钼辅基和在紫外可见光谱区中均无特征吸收峰,而在３２０ｎｍ处却呈弱吸收峰,棕色固氮菌固氮酶和该菌的突变菌侏ＵＷ４５固氮酶（缺铁钼辅基）中的非含钼的铁硫簇在紫外可见光谱区３２０ｎｍ和４０５ｎｍ处均含有特征吸收峰．     

A Direct Synthetic Method of Nucleotides

L-Ascorbic acid, in an acid condition, was degraded to furfural with the formation of 3-deoxy-L-pentosone as an intermediate. Furfural and 3-deoxy-L-pentosone were isolated and identified as 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone and bis-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone, respectively.

This acid-catalyzed degradation reaction took place without oxygen and under the storage or cooking condition of foodstuffs. It was shown that aldopentoses and 2-keto-L-gulonic acid themselves were not intermediates of the reaction. n-Araboascorbic acid was also degraded in the same way to furfural and 3-deoxy-D-pentosone.

A mechanism for the non-oxidative degradation reaction of L-ascorbic acid, including the formation of 3-deoxy-L-pentosone and furfural, was proposed.     

Time dependent inhibition of xanthine oxidase in irradiated solutions of folic acid, aminopterin and methotrexate

The xanthine oxidase catalyzed oxidation of hypoxanthine was followed by monitoring the formation of uric acid at 290 nm. Inhibition of xanthine oxidase occurs in aqueous solutions of folic acid methotrexate and aminopterin. These compounds are known to dissociate upon exposure to ultraviolet light resulting in the formation of their respective 6-formylpteridine derivatives. The relative rates of dissociation were monitored spectrophotometrically by determining the absorbance of their 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine derivatives at 500 nm. When aqueous solutions of folic acid, aminopterin and methotrexate were exposed to uv light, a direct correlation was observed between the concentrations of the 6-formylpteridine derivatives existing in solution and the ability of these solutions to inhibit xanthine oxidase. The relative potency of the respective photolysis products were estimated.     

Concentration of ultraviolet-B radiation absorbing compounds in leaves of a range of fynbos species

Leaves from 38 species representing 17 families were collected from contrasting elevations (100 to 824 m above sea level) in sclerophyllous mountain fynbos vegetation near Hermanus, South Africa, and the leaf percentage dry mass (PDM), specific leaf mass (SLM) and ultraviolet-B (UV-B, 280 to 320 nm) absorbance properties determined. Leaf PDM, SLM and UV-B absorbance were generally high compared to mesophyllous plants. Leaves collected at high elevation exhibited higher absorbances per unit dry mass at both 280 and 320 nm than those from the same species at low elevation. No differences in absorbance per unit leaf area were observed. UV-B absorbance properties differed between families, with high values obtained for the Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Ericaceae, Penaeaceae and Proteaceae, but lower values for the Anacardiaceae, Fabaceae and Geraniaceae. A positive correlation was found between absorbance at 280 nm per unit leaf area and SLM. It was concluded that most fynbos species, on account of their highly sclerophyllous leaves and large accumulation of UV-B absorbing compounds (flavonoids and related phenolics) may be well protected against future increases in UV-B radiation.     

A microtiter plate assay for aspartate transcarbamylase

A discontinuous, colorimetric method for the assay of aspartate transcarbamylase has been adapted for use with 96-well microtiter plates. The method is based on that of L.M. Prescott and M.E. Jones (1969 Anal. Biochem. 32, 408-419) for the detection of ureido compounds, using monoxime and antipyrine. The enzymatic reaction is carried out in a volume of 150 microliters and is stopped by the addition of 100 microliters of a color mix. After development, the absorbance at 460 nm is directly proportional to the quantity of N-carbamyl-L-aspartate up to at least 0.125 mumol and to the quantity of Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamylase up to about 7 ng. Kinetic parameters obtained from saturation curves for L-aspartate in 50 mM Tris-acetate, pH 8.0, are indistinguishable from those previously obtained: Vmax = 26,225 mumol h-1 mg-1; S0.5 = 14.7 mmol liter-1; hill constant = 2.5.     

Use of UV absorbance To monitor furans in dilute acid hydrolysates of biomass

A simple method based on UV spectra was developed for the estimation of total furans (furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural) in hemicellulose hydrolysates. UV spectra of hemicellulose hydrolysate contained a single dominant peak at around 278 nm. Approximately two-thirds of this peak can be attributed to furan absorbance (furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural). At 284 nm, both furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural have equal absorbance on a weight basis. A comparison of HPLC determinations for different samples of hydrolysate was used to develop a simple equation that allows the accurate prediction of total furans based on the difference in absorbance at 284 and 320 nm. This method may prove useful for quality control applications during the production of biomass syrups using a dilute acid hydrolysis process and during treatments for the amelioration of toxins. Although furans represent only a portion of the toxins present in hemicellulose hydrolysates, the abundance of furans appears to serve as a useful marker to predict relative toxicity.     

An improved spectrophotometric assay for prostaglandin synthetase based on the oxidation of epinephrine

The spectrophotometric assay method for prostaglandin synthetase from Takeguchi and Sih (1) was improved by monitoring the absorption change at 320 nm instead of at 480 nm during the enzymatic synthesis. The measurement at 320 nm is more sensitive and more consistent than the A₄₈₀ measurement. The improvement resulting from the measurement at 320 nm is attributed to a combination of factors, including a higher extinction coefficient, a more inclusive measurement of other epinephrine oxidative product(s) and lower interference due to the product of the further oxidation of adrenochrome. The validity of this spectrophotometric method was also verified in this report.     

Ligand based virtual screening and biological evaluation of inhibitors of chorismate mutase (Rv1885c) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv

We have identified new lead candidates that possess inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv chorismate mutase by a ligand-based virtual screening optimized for lead evaluation in combination with in vitro enzymatic assay. The initial virtual screening using a ligand-based pharmacophore model identified 95 compounds from an in-house small molecule database of 15,452 compounds. The obtained hits were further evaluated by molecular docking and 15 compounds were short listed based on docking scores and the other scoring functions and subjected to biological assay. Chorismate mutase activity assays identified four compounds as inhibitors of M. tuberculosis chorismate mutase (MtCM) with low K(i) values. The structural models for these ligands in the chorismate mutase binding site will facilitate medicinal chemistry efforts for lead optimization against this protein.