Reversible redox of NADH and NAD+ at a hybrid lipid bilayer membrane using ubiquinone

Here, we report the reversible interconversion between NADH and NAD(+) at a low overpotential, which is in part mediated by ubiquinone embedded in a biomimetic membrane to mimic the initial stages of respiration. This system can be used as a platform to examine biologically relevant electroactive molecules embedded in a natural membrane environment and provide new insights into the mechanism of biological redox cycling.

Coenzyme Q functionalized CdTe/ZnS quantum dots for reactive oxygen species (ROS) imaging

Quantum dots (QDs) have been widely used for fluorescent imaging in cells. In particular, surface functionalized QDs are of interest, since they possess the ability to recognize and detect the analytes in the surrounding nanoscale environment based on electron and hole transfer between the analytes and the QDs. Here we demonstrate that fluorescence enhancement/quenching in QDs can be switched by electrochemically modulating electron transfer between attached molecules and QDs. For this purpose, a number of redox-active coenzyme Q (CoQ) disulfide derivatives [CoQC(n)S](2) were synthesized with different alkyl chain lengths (n=1, 5, and 10). The system supremely sensitive to NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and superoxide radical (O(2)(.)(-)), and represents a biomimetic electron-transfer system, modeling part of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The results of our in situ fluorescence spectroelectrochemical study demonstrate that the reduced state of [CoQC(n)S](2) significantly enhanced the fluorescence intensity of CdTe/ZnS QDs, while the oxidized state of the CoQ conjugates quench the fluorescence to varying degrees. Fluorescence imaging of cells loaded with the conjugate QD-[CoQC(n)S](2) displayed strikingly differences in the fluorescence depending on the redox state of the capping layer, thus introducing a handle for evaluating the status of the cellular redox potential status. Moreover, an MTT assay (MTT=3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) proved that the cytotoxicity of QDs was significantly reduced after immobilization by CoQ derivatives. Those unique features make CoQ derivatived QDs as a promising probe to image redox coenzyme function in vitro and in vivo.

Enhanced translocation of poly(dt)45 through an α-hemolysin nanopore by binding with antibody

The translocation time of poly(dT)(45) through an α-hemolysin pore was reduced in the presence of a DNA-binding Fab fragment. The Fab acts as a rudder to steer the DNA into the pore.

Bis-coenzyme q(0) : synthesis, characteristics, and application

A methylene-bridged bis-coenzyme Q(0), bis(2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-l,4-benzoquinone)methane (Bis-CoQ(0)), that shows intramolecular electronic communications has been synthesized for the first time. By employing electrochemical, in situ UV/Vis, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroelectrochemical techniques, the unstable reduced intermediate species-monoradicals, diamagnetic dianions and tetraanions of Bis-CoQ(0)-have been observed. The electron-transfer process can be defined as a three-step reduction process with a total of four electrons in solution in CH(3) CN. The chemical reaction in the third redox step process was confirmed by variable temperature cyclic voltammetry. In an aprotic CH(3) CN solution, the peak potential separation between electron-transfer steps diminished sequentially with increasing concentration of water. The hydrogen-bonding interactions between water and the electrochemically reduced intermediates of Bis-CoQ(0) can be estimated by peak potential shifts. The electronic communications of Bis-CoQ(0) may have been blocked when one reduction peak was observed with proper quantities of water in CH(3) CN solution. The antioxidant defense capacity of Bis-CoQ(0)-protected cells has also been assessed.

[Investigation on simultaneous determination of dihydroxybenzene isomers in water samples using multi-walled carbon nanotube modified screen-printed electrode]

A disposable electrode, multi-walled carbon nanotube modified screen printed electrode (MWCNT/SPE), had been fabricated using screen printing technology and drop-coating method to determine dihydroxybenzene isomers (hydroquinone, catechol and resorcinol). The cyclic voltammetry behavior of dihydroxybenzene isomers had been investigated with the MWCNT/SPE. The results reveal that MWCNT/SPE, which shows a strong electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of dihydroxybenzenes, can entirely separate the oxidation peaks of them. According to differential pulse voltammetry tests, the peak currents of dihydroxybenzene isomers are linear to their concentrations at the range of 8.20 x 10(-6) -1.00 x 10(-3), 8.20 x 10(-6) -1.00 x 10(-3) and 1.64 x 10(-5) -1.16 x 10(-3) mol x L(-1), with the detection limits of 4.34 x 10(-6), 3.42 x 10(-6) and 6.70 x 10(-6) mol x L(-1) for hydroquinone, catechol and resorcinol, respectively. For the determination of dihydroxybenzene isomers in water samples, the value of recovery found by standard addition method was in the range of 96.2%-104.9%. These results indicate MWCNT/SPE can be applied to rapid in-situ determination of dihydroxybenzenes-polluted water samples.

Monitoring of an ATP-binding aptamer and its conformational changes using an α-hemolysin nanopore

An aptamer is a specific oligonucleotide sequence that spontaneously forms a secondary structure capable of selectively binding an analyte. An aptamer's conformation is the key to specific binding of a target molecule, even in the case of very closely related targets. Nanopores are a sensitive tool for the single-molecule analysis of DNA, peptides, and proteins transporting through the pore. Herein, a single α-hemolysin natural nanopore is utilized to sense the conformational changes of an adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-binding aptamer (ABA). The known DNA sequence of the ABA is used as a model to develop real-time monitoring of molecular conformational changes that occur by binding targets. The native, folded ABA structure has a nanopore unfolding time of 4.17 ms, compared with 0.29 ms for the ABA:ATP complex. A complementary 14-mer strand, which binds the ABA sequence in the key nucleic acids responsible for folding, forms linear duplex DNA, resulting in a nanopore transit time of 0.50 ms and a higher capture probability than that of the folded ABA oligomer. Competition assays between the ABA:ATP and ABA:reporter complexes are carried out, and the results suggest that the ABA:ATP complex is formed preferentially. The nanopore allows for the detection of an ABA in its folded, ATP-bound, and linear conformations.

6-Vinyl coenzyme Q0: Electropolymerization and electrocatalysis of NADH oxidation exploiting poly-p-quinone-modified electrode surfaces

6-Vinyl coenzyme Q(0) serves as a convenient starting material for the formation of electropolymerized coenzyme Q(0) on glassy carbon electrodes and the modified electrodes displays electrocatalytic activity toward NADH (β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) oxidation. The detection of NADH was measured by differential pulse voltammetry, which reveals that the peak current is linear to the concentration of NADH within the range of 10-100μM. This would be helpful for the understanding of the interaction between coenzyme Q(0) and NADH in the biological process.