A selective molecularly imprinted polymer for immobilization of acetylcholinesterase (AChE): an active enzyme targeted and efficient method

In the present study, we immobilized acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme onto acetylcholine removed imprinted polymer and acetylcholine containing polymer. First, the polymers were produced with acetylcholine, substrate of AChE, by dispersion polymerization. Then, the enzyme was immobilized onto the polymers by using two different methods: In the first method (method A), acetylcholine was removed from the polymer, and then AChE was immobilized onto this polymer (acetylcholine removed imprinted polymer). In the second method (method B), AChE was immobilized onto acetylcholine containing polymer by affinity. In method A, enzyme‐specific species (binding sites) occurred by removing acetylcholine from the polymer. The immobilized AChE reached 240% relative specific activity comparison with free AChE because the active enzyme molecules bounded onto the polymer. Transmission electron microscopy results were taken before and after immobilization of AChE for the assessment of morphological structure of polymer. Also, the experiments, which include optimum temperature (25–65°C), optimum pH (3–10), thermal stability (4–70°C), kinetic parameters, operational stability and reusability, were performed to determine the characteristic of the immobilized AChE. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The impact of different operating conditions on membrane fouling and EPS production

The main goal of this research was to investigate how different factors influence membrane fouling. The impact of the different concentrations of activated sludge and the amount of extracellular polymer substances (EPS) were monitored. Two pilot plants with submerged membrane modules (hollow fiber and flat sheet) were operated and the raw wastewater was used.Humic substances were identified as the major components of EPS in the activated sludge (more than 34%) in both pilot plants. As the basic constituent in permeate, humic substances were identified as the most dominant components in the effluent (61%) in both pilot plants. Conversely, proteins were mostly analyzed in permeate and supernatant below the detection limit. The total amount of EPS [mg g⁻¹ (VSS)] was similar for concentrations of activated sludge 6, 10 and 14 g L⁻¹. Carbohydrates were identified as the component of EPS which tends most to clog membranes.     

Polymer-based cell-free expression of ligand-binding family B G-protein coupled receptors without detergents

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute the largest family of intercellular signaling molecules and are estimated to be the target of more than 50% of all modern drugs. As with most integral membrane proteins (IMPs), a major bottleneck in the structural and biochemical analysis of GPCRs is their expression by conventional expression systems. Cell-free (CF) expression provides a relatively new and powerful tool for obtaining preparative amounts of IMPs. However, in the case of GPCRs, insufficient homogeneity of the targeted protein is a problem as the in vitro expression is mainly done with detergents, in which aggregation and solubilization difficulties, as well as problems with proper folding of hydrophilic domains, are common. Here, we report that using CF expression with the help of a fructose-based polymer, NV10 polymer (NVoy), we obtained preparative amounts of homogeneous GPCRs from the three GPCR families. We demonstrate that two GPCR B family members, corticotrophin-releasing factor receptors 1 and 2β are not only solubilized in NVoy but also have functional ligand-binding characteristics with different agonists and antagonists in a detergent-free environment as well. Our findings open new possibilities for functional and structural studies of GPCRs and IMPs in general.     

Molecular basis of α1-antitrypsin deficiency revealed by the structure of a domain-swapped trimer

α(1)-Antitrypsin (α1AT) deficiency is a disease with multiple manifestations, including cirrhosis and emphysema, caused by the accumulation of stable polymers of mutant protein in the endoplasmic reticulum of hepatocytes. However, the molecular basis of misfolding and polymerization remain unknown. We produced and crystallized a trimeric form of α1AT that is recognized by an antibody specific for the pathological polymer. Unexpectedly, this structure reveals a polymeric linkage mediated by domain swapping the carboxy-terminal 34 residues. Disulphide-trapping and antibody-binding studies further demonstrate that runaway C-terminal domain swapping, rather than the s4A/s5A domain swap previously proposed, underlies polymerization of the common Z-mutant of α1AT in vivo.     

Graphene–Cellulose Paper Flexible Supercapacitors

A simple and scalable method to fabricate graphene‐cellulose paper (GCP) membranes is reported; these membranes exhibit great advantages as freestanding and binder‐free electrodes for flexible supercapacitors. The GCP electrode consists of a unique three‐dimensional interwoven structure of graphene nanosheets and cellulose fibers and has excellent mechanical flexibility, good specific capacitance and power performance, and excellent cyclic stability. The electrical conductivity of the GCP membrane shows high stability with a decrease of only 6% after being bent 1000 times. This flexible GCP electrode has a high capacitance per geometric area of 81 mF cm^?2, which is equivalent to a gravimetric capacitance of 120 F g^?1 of graphene, and retains >99% capacitance over 5000 cycles. Several types of flexible GCP‐based polymer supercapacitors with various architectures are assembled to meet the power‐energy requirements of typical flexible or printable electronics. Under highly flexible conditions, the supercapacitors show a high capacitance per geometric area of 46 mF cm^?2 for the complete devices. All the results demonstrate that polymer supercapacitors made using GCP membranes are versatile and may be used for flexible and portable micropower devices.     

Bis(2-methyltetrazole)dichlorocopper(II) is a layered coordination polymer built from dinuclear chloro-bridged Cu units linked by bridging tetrazoles. The first structurally and magnetically characterized complex of 2-monosubstituted tetrazoles

The data on synthesis, crystal structure, magnetic susceptibility and thermal properties of coordination compound of copper(II) chloride with 2-methyltetrazole (2mtet) of Cu(2mtet)₂Cl₂ composition are reported. The Cu atom environment forms an elongated octahedron, with two 2-methyltetrazole ligands (N4 bound) and two Cl atoms in the equatorial positions. Symmetry related 2-methyltetrazole ligand and Cl atom are in the axial positions. One of the two 2-methyltetrazole molecules of the asymmetric unit exhibits bridging properties being linked to two Cu atoms through two N atoms (i.e., N4 and N1) of the tetrazole ring, while the other ligand molecule is coordinated in monodentate fashion via one tetrazole N4 atom. The Cu-octahedra form dinuclear building bricks by sharing edges with equatorial and axial Cl atoms. These dinuclear units are linked together via bridging 2-methyltetrazole ligands to form infinite layers parallel to the plane. Magnetic properties of Cu(2mtet)₂Cl₂ and the data of quantum-chemical calculations of molecular electrostatic potential and energies of hydronation of nitrogen atoms for 2mtet using B3LYP/6-31G^* level of theory are in agreement with the structural data obtained.     

Temperature effect on the conversions of phthalato and maleato manganese(II) complexes with diamine ligands

1,10-Phenanthroline hydrogen phthalato manganese(II) dimer [Mn₂(Hphth)₂(phen)₄] · 2Hphth · 6H₂O (1), monomeric phenanthroline phthalato manganese(II) monomer [Mn(phth)(phen)₂(H₂O)] · 2.5H₂O (2), 2,2′-bipyridine phthalato manganese(II) polymer [Mn(phth)(bpy)(H₂O)₂]_n (3) and 1,10-phenanthroline maleato polymer [Mn(male)(phen)(H₂O)₂]_n · 2nH₂O (4) (H₂phth = o-phthalic acid, male = maleic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline and bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) have been synthesized and characterized spectroscopically and structurally. Each Mn(II) atom in dimeric 1 is octahedrally coordinated by two oxygen atoms of phthalate anions and by two cis-phenanthroline ligands. The hydrogen phthalato anion bridges the Mn(II) ions through the deprotonated carboxyl groups, while the carboxylic acid group remains free. In the monomeric 2, the Mn(II) ion is octahedrally surrounded by four nitrogen atoms from two cis-phen ligands, one carboxyl oxygen from a monodentate phth ion, and one coordinated water molecule. The dimeric phthalato complex 1 can be cleaved into monomer 2 under heating with deprotonation, and the course of the reaction can be qualitatively traced by IR spectra. The phthalate group in the complex 3 binds to two manganese atoms through the vicinal carboxyl-oxygen atoms in syn-syn bridging mode. The Mn(II) atoms are linked by the phthalate group to yield a one-dimensional chain running along the a-axis. The coordination polymer 3 can be obtained from the reaction of dichloro dibipyridine manganese with phthalate under heating. In polymer 4, the manganese atom is six-coordinated by two nitrogen atoms from phen, two oxygen atoms from the coordinated water molecules and two oxygen atoms from two different maleate dianions. Each maleato unit links two neighboring manganese atoms to yield one-dimensional chain along b-axis in bis-monodentate mode. The single-chain polymer 4 prepared at low temperature can be converted to double-chain coordination polymer [Mn(male)(phen)]_n · nH₂O (5) with dehydration in warm solution.     

Syntheses, structures and properties of three metal pyridinecarboxylates

Three new metal pyridinecarboxylates, namely [Co₂(pydc)₂(H₂O)₅] (1), [Mn(pydc)(H₂O)₂] (2) and [Cd₂(OH)₂(2,4-pydc)] (3), were hydrothermally synthesized. X-ray single crystal structural analysis revealed: 1 and 2 have polymeric one-dimensional chain-like structure constructed by dinuclear cobalt units and Mn-O chains, respectively; 3 has a three-dimensional layer pillared structure constructed from inorganic Cd-O layer and pydc pillars. 1 shows antiferromagnetic interaction but 2 shows alternative antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic interactions.     

Polymer-based Preparation of Soil Inoculants: Applications to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is an important group of soil microorganisms which form beneficial symbiotic associations with roots with a wide range of plants thus improving plant growth, nutrition and health. This paper reviews the current status of preparation and formulation of mycorrhizal inoculum applying polymer materials with determined characteristics. The most widely used methods are based on the entrapment of fungal materials in natural polysaccharide gels. The potential of such inoculant preparations is illustrated by various studies which include immobilization of mycorrhized root pieces, vesicles and spores, in some cases co-entrapped with other plant beneficial microorganisms. Suggestions for further research in this field are also discussed.