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Voltammetric DNA biosensor for cystic fibrosis based on a modified carbon paste electrode.

Carbon paste electrodes modified by the inclusion of either octadecylamine or stearic acid were used as solid phases to which DNA was covalently bound. Immobilized DNA was detected by voltammetry of solutions containing submillimolar quantities of Co(bpy)3(ClO4)3, Co(phen)3(ClO4)3, and Os(bpy)3-Cl2 (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), all of which associate reversibly with immobilized DNA and yield increased peak currents at DNA-modified electrodes. Immobilization onto octadecylamine-modified electrodes was performed using a water-soluble carbodiimide, and at high DNA concentrations in the reaction mixture, it resulted in visible polymerization of DNA on the surface. Optimization of the deoxyguanosine- (dG-) selective immobilization reaction for stearic acid-modified electrodes, using water-soluble carbodiimide and N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide reagents to activate carboxylate groups on the surface, yielded conditions of 4.5% (w/w) stearic acid and 10 micrograms/mL DNA. Polythymidylic acid of 4000-base average length (poly(dT)4000) was immobilized at stearic acid-modified electrodes following enzymatic elongation with dG residues at the 3'-end. These DNA-modified electrodes were used to study hybridization with analyte poly(dA)4000 by in situ voltammetry of 60 microM Co(bpy)3(ClO4)3 at low ionic strength (20 mM NaCl), and by voltammetry of the same complex, following exposure of the electrode to poly(dA)4000 in a separate hybridization step conducted at high ionic strength (0.5 M NaCl). Results indicate slow (> or = 1 h) hybridization at low ionic strength and fast (< or = 10 min) hybridization at high ionic strength.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Base Sequence↗

Electrochemical sensor for detecting ultratrace nitroaromatic compounds using mesoporous SiO2-modified electrode.

An electrochemical sensor for ultratrace nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) using mesoporous SiO2 of MCM-41 as sensitive materials is reported. MCM-41 was synthesized and characterized by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, and small-angle X-ray diffraction. Glassy carbon electrodes modified with MCM-41 show high sensitivity for cathodic voltammetric detection of NACs (including 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNB), 2,4-dinitrotoluene, and 1,3-dinitrobenzene) down to the nanomolar level. The high sensitivity is attributed to the strong adsorption of NACs by MCM-41 and large surface area of the working electrode resulting from MCM-41 modification. The voltammetric response is fast, and the detection of NACs can be finished within 14 s. SiO2 nanospheres were similarly used to modify glassy carbon electrodes for electrochemical detection of TNT and TNB. The detection limit of SiO2 nanosphere-modified electrodes is lower than that of MCM-41-modified electrodes, possibly due to the smaller surface area of SiO2 nanospheres than mesoporous MCM-41. The results show mesoporous SiO2-modified glassy carbon electrodes, particularly MCM-41-modified electrodes, open new opportunities for fast, simple, and sensitive field analysis of NACs.

Electrochemistry↗

PEG-modified protamine with improved pharmacological/pharmaceutical properties as a potential protamine substitute: synthesis and in vitro evaluation.

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedures are frequently associated with massive inflammatory responses, resulting in a high rate of morbidity and mortality in routine cardiac operations. One recognized attribute of these deleterious responses is the synergic effect of heparin and protamine, which elicit the activation of the complement system in vivo. To circumvent such toxic effects following protamine reversal of heparin anticoagulation in the CPB procedures, we proposed that poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-modified protamine could retain the heparin-neutralization ability and yet diminish the induced complement activation by the formed heparin-protamine complexes (HPC), thereby providing highly improved pharmacological properties. PEGylation of protamine was carried out by utilizing N-hydroxysuccinimidyl (NHS) conjugation chemistry. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC), reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), and matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) were used to assess the conjugation stiochiometry, the purity of the conjugates, and the site of PEG modification, respectively. The heparin-neutralizing activity was determined by using heparin affinity chromatography and various biological assays including the plasma-activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), anti-Xa, and anti-IIa methods. The potency in inducing complement activation was examined in vitro using the CH50 hemolytic assay. The PEG-modified protamine was successfully synthesized with a PEG/protamine stiochiometry of 1:1. Only one conjugation site for PEG that was located at the N-terminal end of protamine was obtained. In the biological evaluations, the PEG-modified protamine displayed a full retention of the heparin-neutralizing ability of protamine and a significantly reduced activity in complement activation following its complexation with heparin. Results from studies of the particle size and zeta potential indicated that the PEG-modified protamine formed substantially smaller aggregates with heparin, rendering them less effective in triggering the size-dependent complement responses. As with protamine, PEG-modified protamine exhibited an enhanced aqueous solubility, therefore attaining significantly improved pharmaceutical properties. These preliminary results suggested that the PEG-modified protamine conjugate might serve as a potential protamine substitute with improved therapeutic and pharmaceutical properties in heparin reversal.

Blood Coagulation↗

Induced thermostability of poly(ethylene oxide)-modified hemoglobin in glycols.

The thermostability and redox activity of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-modified human hemoglobin in PEO200 (PEO containing KCl, average MW of 200, < 0.3% H2O) were investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy, by circular dichroism spectroscopy, and by cyclic voltammetry. Using PEO oligomers as a solvent, PEO-modified hemoglobin was reduced and oxidized at an indium tin oxide glass electrode in the temperature range of -10 to 120 degrees C. The thermostability of PEO-modified hemoglobin was affected by the molecular weight of the solvent PEO. In lower-molecular weight glycols (MW of < 150), PEO-modified hemoglobin was denatured within a few minutes at 80 degrees C. On the other hand, the absorbance at the Soret band for PEO-modified hemoglobin was unchanged for 2 h at 80 degrees C in PEO200. A decrease in the water content of solvent PEO200 also improved the thermostability of PEO-modified hemoglobin. Improvement in the thermostability was attributed to physicochemical characteristics such as the relatively low molecular motion of PEO oligomers used as a solvent.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗

Intestinal fatty acid binding protein: folding of fluorescein-modified proteins.

The rat intestinal fatty acid binding protein is an almost all beta-sheet protein that encloses a large interior cavity into which the fatty acid ligand binds. The protein contains neither cysteine nor proline. In a previous report, six site-directed mutants were obtained, each having a single cysteine residue [Jiang, N., & Frieden, C., (1993) Biochemistry 32, 11015-11021] either in a turn or pointed into the cavity. In this report, each mutant has been unfolded in denaturant and modified with 5-iodoacetamido-fluorescein to introduce a large, bulky, and fluorescent group into the protein at a known position. In all cases, fluorescence changes indicated that the modified protein refolded, and circular dichroism measurements suggested that the refolded protein appeared to be mostly beta-sheet. Denaturation curves suggest that for two mutants intermediate structures exist at denaturant concentrations well below the midpoint of the unfolding curve. For each modified, folded protein, one- and two-dimensional 1H NMR spectra were accumulated and compared to the unmodified and wild-type proteins. While the spectra for the modified proteins showed a number of changes in chemical shifts, they were also consistent with folded proteins on the basis of the degree of chemical shift dispersion. Of the six modified mutant proteins, two appear to have the fluorescein group located in the cavity, but only one of these did not bind fatty acid. The remaining modified proteins are capable of ligand binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

NMR solution structure of a nonanucleotide duplex with a dG mismatch opposite a 10S adduct derived from trans addition of a deoxyadenosine N6-amino group to (+)-(7R,8S,9S,10R)-7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10- tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene: an unusual syn glycosidic torsion angle at the modified dA.

A nonanucleotide, d(G1G2T3C4[BaP]A5C6G7A8G9), in which (+)-(7R,8S,9S,10R)-7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10- tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (7-hydroxyl group and epoxide oxygen are trans) is covalently bonded to the exocyclic N6-amino group of deoxyadenosine (dA5) through trans addition at C10 of the epoxide (to give a 10S adduct) has been synthesized. The solution structure of the duplex, d(G1G2T3C4[BaP]A5C6G7A8G9).d(C10T11C12G13G14G15A16C17C18+ ++), containing a dG mismatch opposite the modified dA (designated 10S-[BaP]dA.dG 9-mer duplex) has been investigated using a combination of 1D and 2D (including COSY, PECOSY, TOCSY, NOESY, and indirect detection of 1H-31P HETCOR) NMR spectroscopies. The NMR results together with restrained molecular dynamics/energy minimization calculations show that the modified dA5 adopts a syn glycosidic torsion angle whereas all other nucleotide residues adopt anti glycosidic torsion angles. The sugar ring of dA5 is in the C3'-endo conformation, and the sugar rings of the other residues are in the C2'-endo conformation. The hydrocarbon attached at dA5 orients toward the 3' end of the modified strand (i.e., dC6 direction) and intercalates between and parallel to bases of dG13 and dG14 of the complementary strand directly opposite dC6 and dA5, respectively. The edge of the hydrocarbon bearing H11 and H12 is positioned between the imino protons of dG13 and dG14 in the interior of the duplex, whereas H4 and H5 at the opposite edge are positioned near the sugar H1' and H2" protons of dG13 and facing the exterior of the duplex. The mismatched AG base pair is stabilized by dAsyn-dGanti base pairing in which the imino proton and the O6 of dG14 are hydrogen bonded to N7- and the single N6-amino proton, respectively, of the modified dA5. The modified DNA duplex remains in a right-handed helix, which bends at the site of intercalation about 20 to 30 degrees away from the helical axis and toward the direction of the modified strand.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

Increased agonist affinity is induced in tetranitromethane-modified muscarinic receptors.

Tetranitromethane (TNM) modifies the muscarinic receptors from rat cerebral cortex. The modified receptor possesses an increased binding affinity (6-9-fold) toward several agonists such as acetylcholine, carbamoylcholine, arecoline, etc. The binding of antagonists (Bmax and Kd) is only slightly altered. The effects of TNM treatment can be prevented by atropine, thus indicating that TNM modifies residue(s) at the binding site. We carried out a series of successive chemical modifications which indicated that the modified residue(s) is (are) most probably a tyrosyl and not a cysteinyl residue. This conclusion gains support from the pH profile of agonist binding, which suggests the involvement of a residue with an apparent pK comparable to that of the phenolic hydroxyl of a nitrotyrosyl residue. The binding properties of the modified receptor, when compared to those of the native one, clearly indicate that the response to TNM modification with respect to the binding of agonists such as acetylcholine and carbamoylcholine is different from that when oxotremorine and its analogue are employed. This is interpreted as being the result of different binding modes exhibited by the various agonists. Nitration of the receptors can be prevented by the presence of an antagonist but not by an agonist. We propose that this differential response is due to the formation of ligand-receptor complexes that differ with respect to the microenvironment of the modified tyrosyl residue.

Acetylcholine↗

Properties of chemically modified protein S: effect of the conversion of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid to gamma-methyleneglutamic acid on functional properties.

Protein S, the protein cofactor for activated protein C in the proteolytic inactivation of factor Va, was chemically modified with a mixture of morpholine and formaldehyde. This treatment resulted in the conversion of the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) residues of this vitamin K dependent protein to gamma-methyleneglutamic acid. With a 10,000-fold molar excess of morpholine and formaldehyde over protein S it was found that between 10 and 11 Gla residues could be modified. The degree of modification was proportional to the concentration of the modifying reagents used. The modification of as few as two residues resulted in the 70% loss of activity. Calcium inhibited the modification of several residues. In the presence of 3.2 mM calcium ion, a derivative with 2.5 residues modified was prepared that appeared to have full activity. Modification of protein S resulted in the alteration of a number of its properties. The quenching of intrinsic fluorescence by calcium decreased. The quenching effect of terbium ions was also decreased. However, the modified protein and the native protein were equivalent when protein-dependent terbium fluorescence was measured. When modified, protein S would no longer bind to phospholipid vesicles. Finally, the ability of protein S to self-associate was decreased by modification. These findings suggest that the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues of protein S may play several roles in the maintenance of structure.

1-Carboxyglutamic Acid↗

Thermodynamics of binding to native alpha-chymotrypsin and to forms of alpha-chymotrypsin in which catalytically essential residues are modified; a study of "productive" and "nonproductive" associations.

The standard free energy (deltaG degrees), enthalpy (deltaH degrees), and entropy (deltaS degrees) of association for proflavin and D- and L-N-AcTrp have been obtained at pH 7.8 for native alpha-chymotrypsin (Cht) and for forms of Cht in which essential catalytic residues of the active site are modified. The modified Cht forms studied are dehydroalaninyl-195-alpha-Cht and N-methylhistidinyl-57-alpha-Cht. Associations to native Cht (pH 7.8) are characterized by negative deltaH degrees and deltaS degrees values (i.e., for L-AcTrp deltaH degrees = -9.1 kcal/mol and deltaS degrees = -21 eu at T = 25 degreesC). In contrast, we found associations to modified Chts to be characterized by an enthalpy near zero and a positive entropy of association, the values of the deltaH degrees and deltaS degrees for association to the modified Cht forms being similar to those expected for transfer of small aromatic molecules from water to a nonpolar solvent phase. Differences in deltaH degrees and deltaS degrees observed for binding of substrate analogues and inhibitors to modified and native Cht (pH 7.8) are approximately + 10 kcal/mol and +30 eu, respectively. Data from D. D. F. Shiao ((1970), Biochemistry 9, 1083) similarly show differences of comparable magnitude between binding of substrate analogues to active alpha-Cht (pH 7.8) and the His-57 protonated form of alpha-Cht (pH 5.6). The negative deltaH degrees and deltaS degrees values of associations for binding to active alpha-Cht indicate that a substrate-induced conformational change occurs on substrate association with the primary binding site (S1), which does not occur in Ser-195 and His-57 modified Cht. From these differences we infer a linkage between binding of substrate into S1 and the catalytic residues in the nucleophilic subsite (S1-S1'). Our data also show that associations of substrate analogues into potentially productive Michaelis complexes S1 cannot be easily differentiated from associations that are nonproductive (i.e., nonactivated) from their deltaG degrees obsd, but may be differentiated by their respective deltaH degrees obsd and deltaS degrees obsd for association. Accordingly, it is indicated that the probable substrate association-activation process, characterized thermodynamically in this work, occurs in the substrate binding step and leads to lowered free energies of activation in catalytic steps succeeding binding however, the process does not influence the observed strength of substrate binding.

Binding Sites↗

Conformation of DNA modified with a dihydrodiol epoxide derivative of benzo[a]pyrene.

The conformation of calf thymus DNA modified by reaction with (+/-)-7beta,8alpha-dihydroxy-9alpha,10alpha-epoxy7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene, which binds covalently mainly to the 2-amino group of guanosine residues, was studied. With samples in which 1.5 or 2.2% of the bases were modified, there was a slight decrease in Tm during heat denaturation and a slight increase in susceptibility to the single strand specific nuclease S1. In a DNA sample in which 4.5% of the bases were modified, there was an appreciable decrease in Tm and a marked increase in susceptibility to S1 nuclease. The kinetics of the reaction of the modified DNAs with formaldehyde provided evidence for locally destabilized regions ranging from 1 to 7 base plates, depending on the extent of modification. Alkaline and neutral sucrose gradient analyses revealed no evidence for strand breakage in the 1.5 and 2.2% modified samples, although single-strand breaks were found in the 4.5% modified samples. Taken together, these results suggest that DNA molecules containing a covalently bound benzo[a]pyrene derivative have an altered conformation characterized by small localized regions which are destabilized and easily denatured. The conformational changes associated with the covalent binding of the benzo[a]pyrene derivative to native DNA appear to be different from, and less marked, than those associated with the covalent binding of N-2-acetylaminofluorene to native DNA.

Animals↗

Activation of regulated actin by SH1-modified myosin subfragment 1.

The reactive SH1 (Cys-707) group of the myosin subfragment 1 (S1) has been used frequently as an attachment site for fluorescent and spin probes in solution and muscle fiber experiments. In this study we examined (i) the motor function of SH1 spin-labeled heavy meromyosin (HMM) in the in vitro motility assays and (ii) the effect of SH1-modified S1 on the motility of regulated actin, i.e., actin complexed with tropomyosin and troponin. N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), N-(1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl)-iodacetamide (IASL), N-[[(iodoacetyl)amino]ethyl]1-sulfo-5-naphthylamine (IAEDANS), and iodoacetamide (IAA) were used to selectively modify the SH1 group on S1; the SH1 group on HMM was labeled with IASL. In the in vitro motility assays, 10-20% of unregulated actin filaments moved at a speed of approximately 1 microm/s over a surface coated with 90-95% modified IASL-HMM. Actin sliding was not observed with 95-98% modified IASL-HMM. The sliding of regulated actin over unmodified HMM was activated by the addition of S1 modified with any of the SH1 reagents to the in vitro motility assay solutions; both the speeds and the percentage of the moving filaments increased at pCa 5, 7, and 8. To shed light on the activation of regulated actin sliding by SH1-modifed S1, acto-S1 ATPase and the binding to actin were determined for IASL-S1. While the binding affinities to actin were similar for IASL-S1 and unmodified S1 in the presence and absence of ADP and ATP, the Km and Vmax values were approximately 10-fold lower for the modified protein. It is concluded that the activation of regulated actin by SH1-modifed S1 facilitates the interaction of unmodified HMM heads with actin and thus can increase the sliding speeds and the percentage of regulated actin filaments that move in the in vitro motility assays.

Actins↗

Sorption of nonpolar aromatic contaminants by chlorosilane surface modified natural minerals.

The efficacy of the surface modification of natural diatomite and zeolite material by chlorosilanes is demonstrated. Chlorosilanes used were trimethylchlorosilane (TMSCI), tert-butyldimethylchlorosilane (TBDMSCI), dimethyloctadecylchlorosilane (DMODSCI), and diphenyldichlorosilane (DPDSCI) possessing different headgroups and chemical properties. Silanol groups of the diatomite and zeolite were modified by chemical reaction with the chlorosilanes resulting in a stable covalent attachment of the organosilanes to the mineral surface. The alteration of surface properties of the modified material was proved by measurements of water adsorption capacity, total organic carbon (TOC) content, and thermoanalytical data. The surface modified material showed great stability even when exposed to extremes in ionic strength, pH, and to pure organic solvents. Sorption of toluene, o-xylene, and naphthalene from water was greatly enhanced by the surface modification compared to the untreated materials which showed no measurable sorption of these compounds. The enhanced sorption was dependent on the organic carbon content as well as on chemical characteristics of the chlorosilanes used. Batch sorption experiments showed that the phenyl headgroups of DPDSCI have the best affinity for aromatic compounds. Removal from an aqueous solution of 10 mg/L of naphthalene, o-xylene, and toluene was 71%, 60%, and 30% for surface modified diatomite and 51%, 30%, and 16% for modified clinoptilolite, respectively. Sorption data were well described by the Freundlich isotherm equation, which indicated physical adsorption onto the lipophilic surface rather than partitioning into the surface organic phase. The chlorosilane modified materials have an apparent potential for application in environmental technologies such as permeable reactive barriers (PRB) or wastewater treatment.

Adsorption↗

Uniformly modified 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro phosphorothioate oligonucleotides as nuclease-resistant antisense compounds with high affinity and specificity for RNA targets.

"Uniformly" modified phosphodiester or phosphorothioate oligonucleotides incorporating 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoroadenosine, -guanosine, -uridine, and -cytidine, reported herein for the first time, when hybridized with RNA afforded consistent additive enhancement of duplex stability without compromising base-pair specificity. CD spectra of the 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-modified oligonucleotides hybridized with RNA indicated that the duplex adopts a fully A-form conformation. The 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-modified oligonucleotides in phosphodiester form were not resistant to nucleases; however, the modified phosphorothioate oligonucleotides were highly nuclease resistant and retained exceptional binding affinity to the RNA targets. The stabilizing effects of the 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro modifications on RNA-DNA duplexes were shown to be superior to those of the 2'-O-methylribo substitutions. RNA hybrid duplexes with uniformly 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-modified oligonucleotides did not support HeLa RNase H activity; however, incorporation of the modifications into "chimeric" oligonucleotides has been shown to activate mammalian RNase H. "Uniformly" modified 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro phosphorothioate oligonucleotides afforded antisense molecules with (1) high binding affinity and selectivity for the RNA target and (2) stability toward nucleases.

Base Sequence↗

Electrophoretic properties of DNA-modified colloidal gold nanoparticles.

Oligonucleotide-modified gold nanoparticles are used in various kinds of colorimetric DNA targeting biosensors and nanoparticle assembly techniques. Herein we focus on how the size of 13 nm gold colloids changes upon DNA modification. We have performed a series of electrophoresis experiments of particles modified both thiol specifically and nonspecifically with single- and double-stranded oligonucleotides of different lengths (12- and 25-mers). Both unmodified and DNA-modified particles migrated at constant velocity in different concentrations of Metaphor agarose gels. Linear Ferguson plots were obtained for all samples, and on the basis of the Ogston model approach, we present how the particle size increases in different amounts depending on the oligonucleotide length, secondary structure, and type of modification (specific or nonspecific). Thiol specifically modified particles obtain a thicker DNA layer since the oligonucleotides are only anchored to the particle in one end and thus stand up from the surface more compared to nonspecifically modified ones, where the oligonucleotides tend to lay more or less flat on the surface with multiple adsorption points. However the thickness of the DNA layer for the thiol specifically modified particles is smaller than the length of a corresponding stretched oligonucleotide, suggesting a flexibility of the thiol-bound strands allowing them to tilt relative to the particle surface.

Electrophoresis↗

Adsorption and activity of Candida rugosa lipase on polypropylene hollow fiber membrane modified with phospholipid analogous polymers.

Efforts have recently been made toward the study of interactions of phospholipid with various enzymes. It seems that phospholipids may be directly involved in regulating the enzyme activity. In this work, three phospholipid analogous polymers (PAPs), containing hydrophobic octyloxy, dodecyloxy, and octadecyloxy groups (abbreviated as 8-PAP, 12-PAP, and 18-PAP, respectively), were tethered on polypropylene hollow fiber microfiltration membrane (PPHFMM) to create a biocompatible interface for lipase immobilization. Lipase from Candida rugosa was immobilized on these PPHFMMs by adsorption. The adsorption capacity, activity, and thermal stability of enzyme on the PAP-modified PPHFMMs were compared with those of enzyme on the nascent ones. It was found that, as for the PAP-modified PPHFMMs, the adsorption capacities of lipase are lower than that of the nascent ones, while the activity retention of immobilized lipase increases from 57.5% to 74.1%, 77.5%, and 83.2% respectively for the 8-PAP-, 12-PAP-, and 18-PAP-modified PPHFMMs. In addition, the experimental results of thermal stability show that the residual activity of the immobilized lipase at 50 degrees C for 2 h is 62% for the 8-PAP-modified PPHFMM, 59% for the 12-PAP-modified PPHFMM, and 66% for the 18-PAP-modified PPHFMM, which are also higher than that of the nascent ones.

Adsorption↗

Fast removal and recovery of Cr(VI) using surface-modified jacobsite (MnFe2O4) nanoparticles.

In this work, the effectiveness of surface-modified jacobsite (MnFe2O4) nanoparticles was investigated for the removal and recovery of Cr(VI) from synthetic wastewater. Ten nanometer modified MnFe2O4 nanoparticles were produced to be a new adsorbent using a co-precipitation method followed by a surface redox reaction. The equilibrium time for Cr(VI) adsorption onto modified MnFe2O4 nanoparticles was as short as 5 min, and the adsorption data fit the Langmuir model well. The maximum uptake of 31.5 mg of Cr(VI)/g of modified MnFe2O4 was obtained at pH 2, which was comparable with other common adsorbents such as activated carbon and sawdust. The effects of ligands (EDTA, SO4(2-), NH4+) and ionic strength were studied in a pH range of 2-10. EDTA and SO4(2-) inhibited the adsorption of Cr(VI) over the entire pH range studied, whereas NH4+ enhanced the uptake of Cr(VI) at pH greater than 6.5. The mechanisms leading to Cr(VI) adsorption by modified MnFe2O4 nanoparticles were determined by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to be a combination of electrostatic interaction and ion exchange. Regeneration studies indicated the potential reuse of the modified MnFe2O4 nanoparticles without sacrificing adsorption capacity and the possible recycling of Cr(VI) without changing the valence.

Journal Article↗

Comparative studies on electrogenerated chemiluminescence of luminol on gold nanoparticle modified electrodes.

Comparative studies on the electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) behavior of luminol on various electrodes modified with gold nanoparticles of different size were carried out in neutral solution by conventional cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results demonstrated that the gold nanoparticle modified electrodes could generate strong luminol ECL in neutral pH conditions. The catalytic performance of gold nanoparticle modified electrodes on luminol ECL depended not only on the gold nanoparticles but also on the substrate. Gold electrode and glassy carbon electrode were the most suitable substrates for the self-assembly of gold nanoparticles. Moreover, the gold nanoparticle modified gold and glassy carbon electrode had satisfying stability and reproducibility and did not need tedious pretreatment of electrode surface before each measurement. It was also found that luminol ECL behavior depended on the size of gold nanoparticles. The most intense ECL signals were obtained on a 16-nm-diameter gold nanoparticle modified electrode. The modified electrode prepared by the self-assembly method exhibited much better catalytic effect on luminol ECL than that prepared by the electrically deposited method. The ECL behavior of luminol on a gold nanoparticle self-assembled gold electrode was also investigated by other transient-state electrochemical techniques, such as chronoamperometry, differential pulse voltammetry, normal pulse voltammetry, and square wave voltammetry. The strongest ECL intensity was obtained under square wave voltammetric condition.

Journal Article↗

Synthesis, characterization, and solution properties of ras sequences modified by arylamine carcinogens at the first base of codon 61.

The complementary pentadecamers d(5'-TACTCTTCTTGACCT) (strand A) and d(5'-AGGTCAAGAAGAGTA) (strand B), which span a portion of the mouse c-Ha-ras protooncogene centered around codon 61, were synthesized by using standard beta-cyanoethyl phosphoramidite chemistry and characterized by sequence analysis. Strand A, containing a sole guanine at the position corresponding to the first base of codon 61, was modified with N-acetoxy-N-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-aminofluorene or its 4-aminobiphenyl analogue. In both cases only the corresponding N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)arylamine adduct was formed, as judged from HPLC and UV analyses conducted after enzymatic hydrolysis of the modified oligomers. Nonmodified and modified pentadecamers were annealed with strand B. Cooperative melting transitions were observed with all samples, thus indicating the formation of stable duplexes. Melting temperatures decreased in the order nonmodified duplex greater than 2-aminofluorene-modified duplex greater than 4-aminobiphenyl-modified duplex, which indicated destabilization of the helical structure upon incorporation of the adducts, with 4-aminobiphenyl having the greatest effect. Circular dichroism spectra of all duplexes were characteristic of an overall right-handed B-type conformation, with no major conformational differences being detected between the two arylamine-modified oligomers.

Aminobiphenyl Compounds↗