Comparative Analysis of Enzymatic Transglycosylation Using E. coli Nucleoside Phosphorylases: A Synthetic Concept for the Preparation of Purine Modified 2′-Deoxyribonucleosides from Ribonucleosides

A comparative analysis of the transglycosylation conditions catalyzed by E. coli nucleoside phosphorylases, leading to the formation of 2′-deoxynucleosides, was performed. We demonstrated that maximal yields of 2′-deoxynucleosides, especially modified, can be achieved under small excess of glycosyl-donor (7-methyl-2′-deoxyguanosine, thymidine) and a 4-fold lack of phosphate. A phosphate concentration less than equimolar one allows using only a slight excess of the carbohydrate residue donor nucleoside to increase the reaction’s output. A three-step methodology was elaborated for the preparative synthesis of purine-modified 2′-deoxyribonucleosides, starting from the corresponding ribonucleosides.     

A Strategy for the Rapid Development of a Safe Vibrio cholerae Candidate Vaccine Strain

Approximately 1/6 of humanity is at high risk of experiencing cholera epidemics. The development of effective and safe vaccines against Vibrio cholerae, the primary cause of cholera, is part of the public health measures to prevent cholera epidemics. Natural nontoxigenic V. cholerae isolates represent a source of new genetically improved and relatively safe vaccine strains. However, the genomic engineering of wild-type V. cholerae strains is difficult, and these strains are genetically unstable due to their high homologous recombination activity. We comprehensively characterized two V. cholerae isolates using genome sequencing, bioinformatic analysis, and microscopic, physiological, and biochemical tests. Genetic constructs were Gibson assembled and electrotransformed into V. cholerae. Bacterial colonies were assessed using standard microbiological and immunological techniques. As a result, we created a synthetic chromoprotein-expressing reporter operon. This operon was used to improve the V. cholerae genome engineering approach and monitor the stability of the genetic constructs. Finally, we created a stable candidate V. cholerae vaccine strain bearing a recA deletion and expressing the β-subunit of cholera toxin. Thus, we developed a strategy for the rapid creation of genetically stable and relatively safe candidate vaccine strains. This strategy can be applied not only to V. cholerae but also to other important human bacterial pathogens.     

Computer Simulations of Deep Eutectic Solvents: Challenges,Solutions, and Perspectives

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are one of the most rapidly evolving types of solvents, appearing in a broad range of applications, such as nanotechnology, electrochemistry, biomass transformation, pharmaceuticals, membrane technology, biocomposite development, modern 3D-printing, and many others. The range of their applicability continues to expand, which demands the development of new DESs with improved properties. To do so requires an understanding of the fundamental relationship between the structure and properties of DESs. Computer simulation and machine learning techniques provide a fruitful approach as they can predict and reveal physical mechanisms and readily be linked to experiments. This review is devoted to the computational research of DESs and describes technical features of DES simulations and the corresponding perspectives on various DES applications. The aim is to demonstrate the current frontiers of computational research of DESs and discuss future perspectives.     

Is the Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (∆Ψ) Correctly Assessed? Intracellular and Intramitochondrial Modifications of the ∆Ψ Probe,Rhodamine 123

The mitochondrial membrane potential (∆Ψ) is the driving force providing the electrical component of the total transmembrane potential of hydrogen ions generated by proton pumps, which is utilized by the ATP synthase. The role of ∆Ψ is not limited to its role in bioenergetics since it takes part in other important intracellular processes, which leads to the mandatory requirement of the homeostasis of ∆Ψ. Conventionally, ∆Ψ in living cells is estimated by the fluorescence of probes such as rhodamine 123, tetramethylrodamine, etc. However, when assessing the fluorescence, the possibility of the intracellular/intramitochondrial modification of the rhodamine molecule is not taken into account. Such changes were revealed in this work, in which a comparison of normal (astrocytic) and tumor (glioma) cells was conducted. Fluorescent microscopy, flow cytometry, and mass spectrometry revealed significant modifications of rhodamine molecules developing over time, which were prevented by amiodarone apparently due to blocking the release of xenobiotics from the cell and their transformation with the participation of cytochrome P450. Obviously, an important role in these processes is played by the increased retention of rhodamines in tumor cells. Our data require careful evaluation of mitochondrial ∆Ψ potential based on the assessment of the fluorescence of the mitochondrial probe.     

Scattering of X-ray Ultrashort Pulses by Complex Polyatomic Structures

The scattering of X-ray ultrashort pulses (USPs) is an important aspect of the diffraction analysis of matter using modern USP sources. The theoretical basis, which considers the specifics of the interaction of ultrashort pulses with complex polyatomic structures, is currently not well developed. In general, research is focused on the specifics of the interaction of ultrashort pulses with simple systems—these are atoms and simple molecules. In this work, a theory of scattering of X-ray ultrashort pulses by complex polyatomic structures is developed, considering the specifics of the interaction of ultrashort pulses with such a substance. The obtained expressions have a rather simple analytical form, which allows them to be used in diffraction analysis. As an example, it is shown that the obtained expressions can be used to study the structures of deoxyribonucleic (DNA) and ribonucleic (RNA) acids.     

Effect of laser irradiation on the photoconductivity and noise in n-Cdx Hg1−x Te single crystals

The effect of nanosecond laser radiation on the photoconductivity and 1/f noise in Cd_xHg_1−x Te crystals has been investigated. It is shown that laser irradiation decreases the photosensitivity of the samples and produces a short-wavelength shift of the maximum and the long-wavelength edge of the photoconductivity spectrum. The intensification of 1/f noise and the increase in its frequency are due to a laser-induced increase in the defect density in the material. Fiz. Tekh. Poluprovodn. 31, 820–822 (July 1997)     

Electroactive polymeric material with condensed structure on the basis of magnesium(II) polyporphine

Previous publication of the authors presented evidences that electrochemical oxidation of Mg(II) porphine (fully unsubstituted porphyrin, MgP) in acetonitrile (AN) at a very low potential leads to deposition of films at electrode surface corresponding to typical electroactive polymers, with their reversible transition between the electron-conducting and insulating states depending on the electrode potential/oxidation level (“film of type I”). It is demonstrated in the actual publication that these films in contact with a monomer-free solution are subject to an irreversible transformation to quite a different material (“film of type II”) under the influence of a higher positive potential (above 0.5–0.6 V vs. Ag/Ag⁺ in AN). Films with the same properties may also be obtained directly by electrooxidation of the monomer, MgP, at a sufficiently high potential. Films of type II possess a high redox activity and electronic conductivity within the whole potential interval of above 3 V in the width. Their grayish color is related to a constant absorption intensity within the whole range of wavelengths studied (320–1000 nm). On the basis of a combination of experimental observations (ATR IR and XPS) and literature data the molecular structure of this new material is assumed to be polymer chains of directly linked porphine units (with a partial loss of Mg cations), probably with multiple bonds (meso–meso and β–β types) between neighboring units.     

Sugar hydrogenation over a Ru/C catalyst

BACKGROUND: In recent years, exploitation of renewable resources has gained considerable attention. In this respect, polyols derived from the hydrogenation of sugar molecules are versatile molecules with a variety of uses, such as low‐caloric sweeteners. The hydrogenation of D‐maltose, D‐galactose, L‐rhamnose and L‐arabinose was carried out on a finely dispersed Ru/activated carbon catalyst with the objective of studying the kinetics of the production of the corresponding polyols. The reactions were carried out in a stirred tank reactor at temperatures ranging from 90 to 130 °C and hydrogen pressures from 40 to 60 bar. RESULTS: Sugar conversions up to 100% were achieved. Some by‐product formation affecting the quality of the selectivity was also observed at elevated operating conditions. The catalyst was characterized by scanning electron microcopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES) and nitrogen physisorption. Kinetic models based on the Langmuir Hinshelwood assumptions were proposed for the reactions and a nonlinear regression was performed to obtain the numerical values of the kinetic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The kinetic models predicted well the sugar hydrogenation process and the kinetic parameters were established. The model can be used to predict the behaviour of batchwise operating slurry reactors. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry