Structural basis of malodour precursor transport in the human axilla

Mammals produce volatile odours that convey different types of societal information. In Homo sapiens, this is now recognised as body odour, a key chemical component of which is the sulphurous thioalcohol, 3-methyl-3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3M3SH). Volatile 3M3SH is produced in the underarm as a result of specific microbial activity, which act on the odourless dipeptide-containing malodour precursor molecule, S-Cys-Gly-3M3SH, secreted in the axilla (underarm) during colonisation. The mechanism by which these bacteria recognise S-Cys-Gly-3M3SH and produce body odour is still poorly understood. Here we report the structural and biochemical basis of bacterial transport of S-Cys-Gly-3M3SH by Staphylococcus hominis, which is converted to the sulphurous thioalcohol component 3M3SH in the bacterial cytoplasm, before being released into the environment. Knowledge of the molecular basis of precursor transport, essential for body odour formation, provides a novel opportunity to design specific inhibitors of malodour production in humans.

Degradation of textile dyes Remazol Yellow Gold and reactive Turquoise: optimization, toxicity and modeling by artificial neural networks

In this work, the degradation of Remazol Yellow Gold RNL-150% and Reactive Turquoise Q-G125 were investigated using AOP: photolysis, UV/H2O2, Fenton and photo-Fenton. It was found that the photo-Fenton process employing sunlight radiation was the most efficient, obtaining percentages of degradation above 87%. The ideal conditions for the degradation of the dyes were determined from a factorial design 23 and study of the [H2O2] ([H2O2] equal to 100 mg·L-1); [Fe] equal to 1 mg·L-1 and pH between 3 and 4. In the kinetic study, a degradation of more than 97% was obtained after 150 min for the chromophoric groups and 91% for the aromatic compounds. The experimental data obtained presented a good fit to the nonlinear kinetic model. The model of artificial neural networks multilayer perceptron (MLP) (4-11-5) using the software Statistica 8.0 enabled the modeling of the degradation process and showed a better prediction of the data. The toxicity to the seeds of Lactuca sativa and the bacteria Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis allowed to evaluate the effectiveness of the process. The results of this study suggest that the use of photo-Fenton process with sunlight radiation is an effective way to degrade the dyes under study.

Structural Basis for the Inhibitory Effects of Ubistatins in the Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway

The discovery of ubistatins, small molecules that impair proteasomal degradation of proteins by directly binding to polyubiquitin, makes ubiquitin itself a potential therapeutic target. Although ubistatins have the potential for drug development and clinical applications, the lack of structural details of ubiquitin-ubistatin interactions has impeded their development. Here, we characterized a panel of new ubistatin derivatives using functional and binding assays. The structures of ubiquitin complexes with ubistatin B and hemi-ubistatin revealed direct interactions with ubiquitin's hydrophobic surface patch and the basic/polar residues surrounding it. Ubistatin B binds ubiquitin and diubiquitin tighter than a high-affinity ubiquitin receptor and shows strong preference for K48 linkages over K11 and K63. Furthermore, ubistatin B shields ubiquitin conjugates from disassembly by a range of deubiquitinases and by the 26S proteasome. Finally, ubistatin B penetrates cancer cells and alters the cellular ubiquitin landscape. These findings highlight versatile properties of ubistatins and have implications for their future development and use in targeting ubiquitin-signaling pathways.

Photocatalytic degradation of Direct yellow 86 diazo dye using sulfanilic acid-modified TiO2 in aqueous suspensions

This study synthesized sulfanilic acid (SA)-modified TiO₂ nanocomposites and used them as an effective photocatalyst for Direct yellow 86 diazo dye removal from aqueous solution. This novel nanocomposite (SA/TiO₂) was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results showed the formation of SA/TiO₂ nanocatalyst. The photocatalytic activity of the modified photocatalyst was examined by degradation of Direct yellow 86 (GE) under UV and visible light. The effects of five parameters, the concentration of GE, dosage of SA/TiO₂ nanocomposite, UV light irradiation intensity, pH and visible light illumination, on the removal of GE using SA/TiO₂ nanocomposite were studied. The highest GE removal was determined at pH of 9, nanocomposite dosage of 0.15 g/l and initial GE concentration of 50 mg/l at the constant temperature of 25 °C. However, the results showed that the GE removal rate increased as the UV light intensity increased. In addition, an enhancement in the photodegradation rate was observed with visible light illumination. The adsorption trends of GE at various initial concentrations followed the Langmuir isotherm model.

Accelerating biodegradation of a monoazo dye Acid Orange 7 by using its endogenous electron donors

Biodegradation of a monoazo dye - Acid Orange 7 (AO7) was investigated by using an internal circulation baffled biofilm reactor. For accelerating AO7 biodegradation, endogenous electron donors produced from AO7 by UV photolysis were added into the reactor. The result shows that AO7 removal rate can be accelerated by using its endogenous electron donors, such as sulfanilic and aniline. When initial AO7 concentration was 13.6mg/L, electron donors generated by 8h UV photolysis were added into the same system. The biodegradation rate 0.4mg^0.05h^-1 was enhanced 60% than that without adding electron donor. Furthermore, sulfanilic and aniline were found to be the main endogenous electron carriers, which could accelerate the steps of the azo dye biodegradation.

Physicochemical aspects of the energetics of binding of sulphanilic acid with bovine serum albumin

The thermodynamic study of the binding of sulphanilic acid with model transport protein bovine serum albumin is a promising approach in the area of synthesizing new sulfa drugs with improved therapeutic effect. Thus, such binding studies play an important role in the rational drug design process. The binding between sulphanilic acid and bovine serum albumin has been studied using calorimetry, light scattering in combination with spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The calorimetric data reveals the presence of two sequential nature of binding sites where the first binding site has stronger affinity (~10(4)M(-1)) and second binding site has weaker affinity (~10(3)M(-1)). However, the spectroscopic (absorption and fluorescence) results suggest the presence of single low affinity binding site (~10(3)M(-1)) on protein. The contribution of polar and non-polar interactions to the binding process has been explored in the presence of various additives. It is found that sulphanilic acid binds with high affinity at Sudlow site II and with low affinity at Sudlow site I of protein. Light scattering and circular dichroism measurements have been used to study the effect on the molecular topology and conformation of protein, respectively. Thus these studies provide important insights into the binding of sulphanilic acid with bovine serum albumin both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Simple and clean determination of tetracyclines by flow injection analysis

An environmentally reliable analytical methodology was developed for direct quantification of tetracycline (TC) and oxytetracycline (OTC) using continuous flow injection analysis with spectrophotometric detection. The method is based on the diazo coupling reaction between the tetracyclines and diazotized sulfanilic acid in a basic medium, resulting in the formation of an intense orange azo compound that presents maximum absorption at 434 nm. Experimental design was used to optimize the analytical conditions. The proposed technique was validated over the concentration range of 1 to 40 μg mL(-1), and was successfully applied to samples of commercial veterinary pharmaceuticals. The detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) limits were 0.40 and 1.35 μg mL(-1), respectively. The samples were also analyzed by an HPLC method, and the results showed agreement with the proposed technique. The new flow injection method can be immediately used for quality control purposes in the pharmaceutical industry, facilitating monitoring in real time during the production processes of tetracycline formulations for veterinary use.

Intense Raman scattering on hybrid Au/Ag nanoplatforms for the distinction of MMP-9-digested collagen type-I fiber detection

Well-ordered Au-nanorod arrays were fabricated using the focused ion beam method (denoted as fibAu_NR). Au or Ag nanoclusters (NCs) of various sizes and dimensions were then deposited on the fibAu_NR arrays using electron beam deposition to improve the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect, which was verified using a low concentration of crystal violet (10(-)(5)M) as the probe molecule. An enhancement factor of 6.92 × 10(8) was obtained for NCsfibAu_NR, which is attributed to the combination of intra-NC and NR localized surface plasmon resonance. When 4-aminobenzenethiol (4-ABT)-coated Au or Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were attached to NCsfibAu_NR, the small gaps between 4-ABT-coated NPs and intra-NCs allowed detection at the single-molecule level. Hotspots formed at the interfaces of NCs/NRs and NPs/NCs at a high density, producing a strong local electromagnetic effect. Raman spectra from as-prepared type I collagen (Col-I) and Ag-NP-coated Col-I fibers on NCsfibAu_NR were compared to determine the quantity of amino acids in their triple helix structure. Various concentrations of matrix-metalloproteinase-9-digested Col-I fibers on NCsfibAu_NR were qualitatively examined at a Raman laser wavelength of 785nm to determine the changes of amino acids in the Col-I fiber structure. The results can be used to monitor the growth of healing Col-I fibers in a micro-environment.

Ammonium-oxidizing bacteria facilitate aerobic degradation of sulfanilic acid in activated sludge

Sulfanilic acid (SA) is a toxic sulfonated aromatic amine commonly found in anaerobically treated azo dye contaminated effluents. Aerobic acclimatization of SA-degrading mixed microbial culture could lead to co-enrichment of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) because of the concomitant release of ammonium from SA oxidation. To what extent the co-enriched AOB would affect SA oxidation at various ammonium concentrations was unclear. Here, a series of batch kinetic experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of AOB on aerobic SA degradation in an acclimatized activated sludge culture capable of oxidizing SA and ammonium simultaneously. To account for the effect of AOB on SA degradation, allylthiourea was used to inhibit AOB activity in the culture. The results indicated that specific SA degradation rate of the mixed culture was negatively correlated with the initial ammonium concentration (0-93 mM, R²= 0.99). The presence of AOB accelerated SA degradation by reducing the inhibitory effect of ammonium (≥ 10 mM). The Haldane substrate inhibition model was used to correlate substrate concentration (SA and ammonium) and oxygen uptake rate. This study revealed, for the first time, that AOB could facilitate SA degradation at high concentration of ammonium (≥ 10 mM) in an enriched activated sludge culture.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering characteristics of nanogaps formed by a flat Ag substrate and spherical Pt nanoparticles

We estimated the apparent size of the 'hot site' for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) located within the gaps between Pt nanoparticles and a flat Ag substrate. Initially, no Raman peaks were detected for 4-aminobenzenethiol (4-ABT) on a flat Ag substrate. Upon attaching 68 nm-sized Pt nanoparticles onto the amine group of 4-ABT (thus denoted as Pt-4-ABT/Ag(flat)), Raman peaks were distinctly observed, not only with the excitation at 488 nm but also with the excitation at 632.8 nm. This means that electromagnetic 'hot site' had formed at the gaps between Pt nanoparticles and a flat Ag substrate. When 4-ABT molecules were adsorbed additionally onto the vacant sites of Pt nanoparticles in Pt-4-ABT/Ag(flat), the Raman signal did not increase further, suggesting that the SERS 'hot site' was very limited and located mostly at the gaps between Pt nanoparticles and a flat Ag substrate, in agreement with the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculation. To a rough estimate, about 1000 molecules residing only within a ~15 nm diameter area of the center of the gap must have contributed most of the measured Raman signal of 4-ABT.

Optimization of the electro-Fenton and solar photoelectro-Fenton treatments of sulfanilic acid solutions using a pre-pilot flow plant by response surface methodology

A central composite rotatable design and response surface methodology were used to optimize the experimental variables of the electro-Fenton (EF) and solar photoelectro-Fenton (SPEF) degradations of 2.5L of sulfanilic acid solutions in 0.05M Na(2)SO(4). Electrolyses were performed with a pre-pilot flow plant containing a Pt/air diffusion reactor generating H(2)O(2). In SPEF, it was coupled with a solar photoreactor under an UV irradiation intensity of ca. 31Wm(-2). Optimum variables of 100mAcm(-2), 0.5mM Fe(2+) and pH 4.0 were determined after 240min of EF and 120min of SPEF. Under these conditions, EF gave 47% of mineralization, whereas SPEF was much more powerful yielding 76% mineralization with 275kWh kg(-1) total organic carbon (TOC) energy consumption and 52% current efficiency. Sulfanilic acid decayed at similar rate in both treatments following a pseudo-first-order kinetics. The final solution treated by EF contained a stable mixture of tartaric, acetic, oxalic and oxamic acids, which form Fe(III) complexes that are not attacked by hydroxyl radicals formed from H(2)O(2) and added Fe(2+). The quick photolysis of these complexes by UV light of sunlight explains the higher oxidation power of SPEF. NH(4)(+) was the main inorganic nitrogen ion released in both processes.

Electrochemical incineration of sulfanilic acid at a boron-doped diamond anode

The anodic oxidation of sulfanilic acid solutions has been studied in acidic medium using a divided cell with a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode and a stainless steel cathode. Overall mineralization was achieved under all experimental conditions tested due to the efficient destruction of sulfanilic acid and all its by-products with hydroxyl radicals generated at the BDD anode from water oxidation. The alternative use of an undivided cell with the same electrodes gave rise to the coating of the cathode with polymeric compounds, thus preventing the complete electrochemical incineration of sulfanilic acid. The solutions treated in the anodic compartment of the divided cell were degraded at similar rate under pH regulation within the pH interval 2.0-6.0. The mineralization current efficiency was enhanced when the applied current decreased and the initial substrate concentration increased. The decay of sulfanilic acid was followed by reversed-phase HPLC, showing a pseudo first-order kinetics. Hydroquinone and p-benzoquinone were identified as aromatic intermediates by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and/or reversed-phase HPLC. Maleic, acetic, formic, oxalic and oxamic acids were detected as generated carboxylic acids by ion-exclusion HPLC. Ionic chromatographic analysis of electrolyzed solutions revealed that the N content of sulfanilic acid was mainly released as NH(4)(+) ion and in much smaller proportion as NO(3)(-) ion.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering of 4-aminobenzenethiol in Ag sol: relative intensity of a1- and b2-type bands invariant against aggregation of Ag nanoparticles

4-Aminobenzenthiol (4-ABT) is an unusual molecule, showing variable surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra depending upon measurement conditions. In an effort to reduce ambiguity and add clarity, we have thus conducted an ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) extinction measurement, along with Raman scattering measurement, after adding 4-ABT into aqueous Ag sol. Upon the addition of 4-ABT, the surface plasmon absorption band of Ag at 410 nm gradually diminished and, concomitantly, a weak and broad band developed at longer wavelengths, obviously because of the aggregation of Ag nanoparticles. At the same time, the Raman scattering peaks of 4-ABT varied in intensity as the Ag particles proceeded to form aggregates. A close examination revealed that the peak intensity of the ring 7a band of 4-ABT, a typical a(1) vibrational mode, could be correlated with the UV-vis extinction of the Ag sol measured at the excitation laser wavelength. In a separate Raman measurement conducted using sedimented Ag colloidal particles, 4-ABT was found not to be subjected to any surface-induced photoreaction, implying that all of the observable Raman peaks were, in fact, solely due to 4-ABT on Ag. The intensities of the b(2)-type bands, such as the ring 3, 9b, and 19b modes of 4-ABT, were then analyzed and found to be invariant with respect to the 7a band, irrespective of the extent of Ag aggregation as far as at a fixed excitation wavelength. The intensity ratio of the b(2)-type/7a bands would then reflect the extent of the chemical enhancement that was involved in the SERS of 4-ABT in aggregated Ag sol.

Clickable polyglycerol hyperbranched polymers and their application to gold nanoparticles and acid-labile nanocarriers

A one-step, large-scale preparation of alkyne-containing hyper-branched polyglycerols (HPG) is reported. The HPGs undergo click reactions to organic azides allowing a range of applications.

Enhanced biodegradation of 4-aminobenzenesulfonate in membrane bioreactor by Pannonibacter sp. W1

4-Aminobenzenesulfonate (4-ABS), an aromatic amine and recalcitrant toxic pollutant, is widely used in the dye and pharmaceutical industry. Pannonibactersp. W1 is a specialized microbial strain which can efficiently degrade 4-ABS. This study shows the feasibility of using the specialized strain in an MBR system to treat synthetic wastewater containing large amount of 4-ABS. Due to membrane retention, the biomass concentration is able to reach 5 g/L within two months of continuous operation. Pannonibacter sp. W1 is able to adapt to the high loading rate of 1000 mg 4-ABS/L and achieve a remarkable 4-ABS removal efficiency of 99% within 6 h. Strain W1 grows well under the MBR continuous operation and remains as the dominant bacterium at the end of 60 days continuous operation. Minor membrane fouling has been detected within 40 days of operating at 15 LMH. At a flux of 25 LMH, the system experiences the 'TMP jump'. The high organic removal rate and low membrane fouling results illustrate the excellent performance of the bioaugmented MBR system in 4-ABS wastewater treatment.

Synthesis of polyaspartic acid-aminobenzenesulfonic acid grafted copolymer and its scale inhibition performance and dispersion capacity

Polysuccinimide (abridged as PSI) was synthesized by urea and maleic anhydride. Aminobenzenesulfonic acid (ABSA) was introduced at different mole ratio to PSI to generate polyaspartic acid (abridged as PASP)/ABSA graft copolymer. The scale inhibition behavior of resultant PASP/ABSA copolymer was evaluated by using static scale inhibition method. The transmittance of the supernatant of the copolymer solution was measured to evaluate its dispersion ability for ferric oxide. The corrosion inhibition performance of the copolymer for iron plates immersed in the refined testing water (including 0.555 g of CaCl2 2H2O, 0.493 g of MgSO4 7H2O, 50 mg PASP/ABSA graft copolymer and 0.168 g of NaCl) was tested. It was found that PASP/ABSA copolymer was able to efficiently inhibit CaCO3 and Ca3(PO4)2 scales and had good corrosion inhibition ability as well, and it also had good dispersion ability for Fe2O3. Besides, the inhibition efficiency of PASP/ABSA against CaCO3 and Ca3(PO4)2 scales and its dispersion capacity for Fe2O3 was highly dependent on dosage. The reason may lie in that PASP/ABSA copolymer simultaneously possesses carboxylic ion and sulfonic group which can chelate Ca2+ to form stabilized and dissoluble chelates, resulting in increase of solubility of calcium salts in water. Also it may lie in that the introduction of acidic hydrophilic sulfonic group with a strong electrolytic capacity into PASP molecule simultaneously enhances the dispersion of the inhibitor molecules and hinders the formation of Ca3(PO4)2 scale.

Aptamer-mediated surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy intensity amplification

A bifunctional adenosine-sensitive double-stranded DNA aptamer was used to create and control a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) hot spot between a bulk Au surface and a gold nanoparticle (Au NP) attached to the aptamer via a biotin-avidin linkage. The Au NP was decorated with 4-aminobenzenethiol (4-ABT), a Raman reporter molecule. In the presence of adenosine, the target molecule, the SERS spectrum of 4-ABT increased in intensity by (concentration-dependent) factors as large as ∼4; in situ, atomic force microscopy imaging showed the mean height of the Au NP-bearing aptamer to decrease by ∼5 nm consistent with the observed SERS intensity change. Because the aptamer's geometrical change is induced by one or two molecules, while the resulting SERS intensity changes involve many reporter molecules residing in the modified hot spot, the aptamer amplifies the SERS effect.

[Synthesis and identification of sulfonamides artificial antigen]

OBJECTIVE

To synthesise N-sulfanil-4-aminobutyric acid mother nucleus derivative of sulfonamides, and its artificial antigens in order to explore the methods of preparation were discussed.

METHODS

N-sulfanil-4-aminobutyric acid was synthesized and confirmed by 1HNMR, 13CNMR, IR, ESI-MS. N-sulfanil-4-aminobutyric acid artificial antigen was synthesized by the methods of active ester coupling, and was identified by UV scan. Single factor test and orthogonal test design methods L9(3(3)) were employed to study the influence of the factors such as the initial molar ratio of reagents, activate hapten time and the coupling time to the coupling rate, as to determine the optimal reaction conditions for synthesis. The obtained results showed that the initial molar ratio of hapten to BSA 50:1, activated hapten time 6 hours, coupling time 4 hours. The artificial antigen was prepared by the optimal reaction conditions. The artificial antigen was injected into Balb/c mice and the blood samples were obtained from tails of Balb/c mice after the 5th injection and detected by iELISA method.

RESULTS

The structure of N-sulfanil-4-aminobutyric acid was correct. The artificial antigen was prepared.

CONCLUSION

Antigens was acquired successfully.

Effect of a sulfonated azo dye and sulfanilic acid on nitrogen transformation processes in soil

Introduction of organic dyes into soil via wastewater and sludge applications has been of increasing concern especially in developing or under-developed countries where appropriate management strategies are scarce. Assessing the response of terrestrial ecosystems to organic dyes and estimating the inhibition concentrations will probably contribute to soil remediation studies in regions affected by the same problem. Hence, an incubation study was conducted in order to investigate the impact of a sulfonated azo dye, Reactive Black 5 (RB5) and sulfanilic acid (SA), a typical representative of aromatic sulfonated amines, on soil nitrogen transformation processes. The results apparently showed that nitrogen related processes in soil can be used as bioindicators of anthropogenic stress caused by organic dyes. It was found that urease activity, arginine ammonification rate, nitrification potential and ammonium oxidising bacteria numbers decreased by 10-20% and 7-28% in the presence of RB5 (> 20 mg/kg dry soil) and SA (> 8 mg/kg dry soil), respectively. Accordingly, it was concluded that organic dye pollution may restrict the nitrogen-use-efficiency of plants, thus further reducing the productivity of terrestrial ecosystems. Furthermore, the response of soil microbiota to SA suggested that inhibition effects of the organic dye may continue after the possible reduction of the parent dye to associated aromatic amines.

Spectrophotometric determination of triclosan in personal care products

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of triclosan in personal care products was proposed. It was based on the reaction of sodium nitrite with p-sulfanilic acid in an acidic medium to form diazonium ion, with which triclosan further formed an azo compound in an alkaline medium. The resulting yellow colored product has a maximum absorption at 452 nm. A good linear relationship (r=0.9999) was obtained in the range of 0-30 mg L(-1) triclosan. A detection limit of 0.079 gL(-1) was achieved and the relative standard deviation was 0.24% (n=11) at 14 mg L(-1) triclosan. The proposed method has been applied to the analyses of triclosan in several personal care products and the results were in good agreement with those obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Identification of two vicinal operons for the degradation of 2-aminobenzenesulfonate encoded on plasmid pSAH in Alcaligenes sp. strain O-1

Alcaligenes sp. strain O-1 inducibly deaminates 2-aminobenzenesulfonate (ABS) via dioxygenation to 3-sulfocatechol, which is desulfonated during meta ring-cleavage to yield 2-hydroxymuconate. This intermediate is transformed through the oxalocrotonate-branch of the sulfocatechol meta-pathway (Scm). The complete pathway is encoded on the 180-kb plasmid pSAH, 20kb of which was sequenced. Twenty open reading frames (ORFs) were detected. Two clusters (abs and scm) with degradative genes were surrounded by several transposon-related ORFs. The six genes of the abs cluster were shown to be co-transcribed, and contained the genes for two characterised subunits of the oxygenase component of the ABS-dioxygenase system, and genes putatively encoding ABS-transport functions with similarities to (a) an ABC-type transporter system and (b) a putative major facilitator superfamily transporter. No gene encoding the reductase for the oxygenase system was present in the abs gene cluster, but a candidate gene was found in the scm cluster. The seven-gene scm cluster was also transcribed as single polycistronic message. Functions could be attributed to the gene products, but one enzyme, which was shown to be present, 2-hydroxymuconate isomerase, was not encoded in the scm cluster. No transcriptional regulator was found. This genetic information on the degradation of ABS in strain O-1 provides another example of both split operons and dispersed pathway genes.

Decolorization of azo dyes in bioelectrochemical systems

Azo dyes are ubiquitously used in the textile industry. These dyes need to be removed from the effluent prior to discharge to sewage due to their intense color and toxicity. In this study we investigated the use of a bioelectrochemical system (BES) to abioticlly cathodic decolorization of a model azo dye, Acid Orange 7 (AO7), where the process was driven by microbial oxidation of acetate atthe anode. Effective decolorization of AO7 at rates up to 264 +/- 0.03 mol m(-3) NCC d(-1) (net cathodic compartment, NCC) was achieved at the cathode, with concomitant energy recovery. The AO7 decolorization rate was significantly enhanced when the BES was supplied with power, reaching 13.18 +/- 0.05 mol m(-3) NCC d(-1) at an energy consumption 0.012 +/- 0.001 kWh mol(-1) AO7 (at a controlled cathode potential of -400 mV vs SHE). Compared with conventional anaerobic biological methods, the required dosage of organic cosubstrate was significantly reduced in the BES. A possible cathodic reaction mechanism for the decolorization of AO7 is suggested based on the decolorization products identified: the azo bond of AO7 was cleaved at the cathode, resulting in the formation of the colorless sulfanilic acid and 1-amino-2-naphthol.

Ru(III)-catalyzed oxidation of pyridoxine and albuterol in pharmaceuticals

Ru(III) complexes with coordinated amide were synthesized and characterized by elemental, IR, mass, electronic, ESR spectral analysis, magnetic and conductance measurements and octahedral structures have been proposed. These complexes were used as catalysts for the oxidation of pyridoxine and albuterol in pharmaceuticals in presence of hydrogen peroxide. The role of co-oxidant and the effect of reaction time on the yields of oxidation products which were spectrophotometrically determined by condensing them with sulfanilic acid in acid medium were investigated. Structures of the oxidation products were established with the help of IR and NMR spectral analysis.

Sensitive voltammetric determination of tyrosine using multi-walled carbon nanotubes/4-aminobenzeresulfonic acid film-coated glassy carbon electrode

A chemically modified electrode is constructed based on the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)/4-aminobenzeresulfonic acid (4-ABSA) film-coated glassy carbon electrode. The electrocatalytic oxidation of tyrosine (Tyr) is investigated on the surface of the MWNTs/4-ABSA-modified electrode using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The prepared modified electrode shows voltammetric responses with high sensitivity and selectivity for Tyr in optimal conditions, which makes it very suitable for sub-micromolar detection of Tyr. A sensitive oxidation peak at +0.64 V is employed to determine Tyr. Good linear relationship between the oxidation peak current and the Tyr concentration in the range of 1x10(-7) to 5x10(-5) mol/L is obtained in phosphate buffer solution with pH 7.0. By use of modified electrode, the voltammetric detection limit for Tyr in DPV measurements is 8x10(-8) mol/L (S/N=3). Good sensitivity, selectivity and stability of the low-cost modified electrode make it very suitable for the determination of trace amounts of Tyr in pharmaceutical and clinical preparations.

Disposal of waste liquor from 2,5-dichlorodisulfanilic acid production

Three alternative procedures were worked out for disposal of waste liquor from production of 2,5-dichlorodisultanilic acid [CAS No. 88-50-6]. This liquor is a hazardous liquid waste which, if discharged into a wastewater treatment plant without any treatment, inhibits processes of biological treatment. The first alternative utilizes stabilization/solidification technology by using fluidized-bed combustion ash. The second alternative consists in treating the liquor in a flow-through column packed with active carbon black as an adsorbent and discharging of the treated liquor, which already displays an acceptable chemical oxygen demand level after removal of organic pollutants by adsorption, into a wastewater treatment plant. The third alternative comprises of passing the waste liquor through the column with active carbon black and stabilization/solidification of the treated liquor by fluidized bed combustion ash. Efficiency of the liquor disposal in cases of stabilization/solidification was evaluated by determining dissolved organic carbon content, conductivity, pH, and ecotoxicity of test specimens' leachates. From results it follows that the proposed procedures represent efficient disposal of given liquid waste.

Effect of Ag and Au nanoparticles on the SERS of 4-aminobenzenethiol assembled on powdered copper

Raman scattering measurements were conducted for 4-aminobenzenethiol (4-ABT) assembled on powdered copper substrates. Initially, very weak Raman peaks were detected, but upon attaching Ag nanoparticles probably via NH2 groups onto 4-ABT/Cu, distinct Raman spectra were observed. Considering the fact that no Raman peak was identified when Ag nanoparticles were adsorbed on 4-aminophenyl-derivatized silane monolayers assembled on silica powders, the Raman spectra observed for Ag@4-ABT/Cu should be surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra, occurring by an electromagnetic coupling of the localized surface plasmon of Ag nanoparticles with the surface plasmon polariton of Cu powders. The extra enhancement factor attainable by the attachment of a single Ag nanoparticle is estimated to be as large as 1.4 x 10(5) in the case when 632.8-nm radiation is used as the excitation source. When Au nanoparticles were attached onto 4-ABT/Cu, at least an order of magnitude weaker Raman spectra were obtained at all excitation wavelengths, however, indicating that the Au-to-Cu coupling should be far less effective than the Ag-to-Cu coupling for the induction of SERS.

The interaction between N-n-undecyl-N'-(sodium p-aminobenzenesulfonate) thiourea and serum albumin studied using various spectroscopies and the molecular modeling method

The preparation and characteristics of N-n-undecyl-N'-(sodium-p-aminobenzenesulfonate) thiourea (UPT), a new water-soluble reagent with a saturated fatty hydrocarbon group, were described. The interactions of UPT with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA) were studied using fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and the molecular modeling method. UPT exhibited a strong ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of both BSA and HSA through a static quenching procedure. The binding constants of UPT and BSA or HSA were determined at different temperatures based on the relevant fluorescence data. The binding sites were obtained and the acting force was suggested to be mainly hydrophobic interaction, which was consistent with the result of the molecular modeling study, and there were also a number of hydrogen bonds between UPT and HSA. The results of determination of the proteins in bovine serum or human serum by this method were very close to those obtained by using Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 colorimetry. A practical method was proposed for the determination of UPT in bovine serum or human serum samples with satisfactory results.

Structural and quantum chemical studies of 8-aryl-sulfanyl adenine class Hsp90 inhibitors

Hsp90 chaperones play a critical role in modulating the activity of many cell signaling proteins and are an attractive target for anti-cancer therapeutics. We report here the structures of the water soluble 8-aryl-sulfanyl adenine class Hsp90 inhibitors, 1 (PU-H71) and 2 (PU-H64), in complex with the N-terminal domain of human Hsp90alpha. The conformation of 1 when bound to Hsp90 differs from previously reported 8-aryl adenine Hsp90 inhibitors including 3 (PU24FCl). While the binding mode for 3 places the 2'-halide of the 8-aryl group on top of the adenine ring, for 1 and 2, we show that the 2'-halide is rotated approximately 180 degrees away. This difference explains the opposing trends in Hsp90 inhibitory activity for the 2'-halo derivatives of the 3',4',5'-trimethoxy series where Cl > Br > I compared to the 4',5'-methylenedioxy series where I > Br > Cl. We also present quantum chemical calculations of 2 and its analogues that illuminate their basis for Hsp90 inhibition. The calculated conformation of 2 agreed well with the crystallographically observed conformations of 1 and 2. The predictive nature of the calculations has allowed the exploration of additional derivatives based on the 8-aryl adenine scaffold.

Inhibition of rabbit brain 4-aminobutyrate transaminase by some taurine analogues: a kinetic analysis

The use of the antiepileptic drug, 4-aminobutyrate transaminase (GABA-T) inhibitor vigabatrin (VIGA), has been recently cautioned because it is associated to irreversible field defects from damage of the retina. Since novel GABA-T inhibitors might prove useful in epilepsy or other CNS pathologies as VIGA substitutes, the aim of the present investigation was to characterize the biochemical properties of some taurine analogues (TA) previously shown to act as GABA-T inhibitors. These include (+/-)piperidine-3-sulfonic acid (PSA), 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid (AEP), (+/-)2-acetylaminocyclohexane sulfonic acid (ATAHS) and 2-aminobenzenesulfonate (ANSA). Kinetic analysis of the activity of partially purified rabbit brain GABA-T in the presence of VIGA and TA showed that PSA and AEP caused a linear, mixed-type inhibition (Ki values 364 and 1010 microM, respectively), whereas VIGA, ANSA and ATAHS behaved like competitive inhibitors (Ki values 320, 434 and 598 microM, respectively). Among the compounds studied, only VIGA exerted a time-dependent, irreversible inhibition of the enzyme, with Ki and k(inact) values of 773 microM and 0.14 min(-1), respectively. Furthermore, the ability of VIGA and TA to enhance GABA-ergic transmission was assessed in rabbit brain cortical slices by NMR quantitative analysis. The results demonstrate that VIGA as well as all TA promoted a significant increase of GABA content. In conclusion, PSA, ANSA and ATAHS, reversible GABA-T inhibitors with Ki values close to that of VIGA, represent a new class of compounds, susceptible of therapeutic exploitation in many disorders associated with low levels of GABA in brain tissues.

Combining protein identification and quantification: C-terminal isotope-coded tagging using sulfanilic acid

Two methods of differential isotopic coding of carboxylic groups have been developed to date. The first approach uses d0- or d3-methanol to convert carboxyl groups into the corresponding methyl esters. The second relies on the incorporation of two 18O atoms into the C-terminal carboxylic group during tryptic digestion of proteins in H(2)18O. However, both methods have limitations such as chromatographic separation of 1H and 2H derivatives or overlap of isotopic distributions of light and heavy forms due to small mass shifts. Here we present a new tagging approach based on the specific incorporation of sulfanilic acid into carboxylic groups. The reagent was synthesized in a heavy form (13C phenyl ring), showing no chromatographic shift and an optimal isotopic separation with a 6 Da mass shift. Moreover, sulfanilic acid allows for simplified fragmentation in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) due the charge fixation of the sulfonate group at the C-terminus of the peptide. The derivatization is simple, specific and minimizes the number of sample treatment steps that can strongly alter the sample composition. The quantification is reproducible within an order of magnitude and can be analyzed either by electrospray ionization (ESI) or MALDI. Finally, the method is able to specifically identify the C-terminal peptide of a protein by using GluC as the proteolytic enzyme.

Effect of aspect ratio on chemical reactions on microchip

Parallel two-phase laminar flow, which is formed when two solutions flow in microchannels, has been developed and has advanced unique research in the area of microchip analysis. In two-phase laminar flow, channel size has a significant effect on the efficiency of chemical reactions. However, the sizes of microchannels vary greatly in many studies. In this paper, we report on the effect of microchannel size on chemical reactions on a microchip. Aspect ratio is defined as the ratio of depth to width of a microchannel. Five microchips with different aspect ratios (from 0.50 to 2.00) were fabricated by mechanical machining. The reaction of nitrous acid and Saltzman reagent was carried out on these microchips and the absorbance was measured on-line in a capillary tube, which was attached to the outlet on the microchip. The results showed that the color reaction occurred more efficiently as the aspect ratio increased. This result is expected to be useful when determining the size of microchannels.

Synthesis of N-o-Methylphenyl-N'-(sodium p-aminobenzenesulfonate)thiourea and Its Chromogenic Reaction with Palladium(II)

A new chromogenic reagent, N-o-methylphenyl-N'-(sodium p-aminobenzenesulfonate)thiourea (MSAT), has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, (1)H-NMR, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectra. Based on the absorption spectrum of the colored complex of MSAT with palladium(II), a novel spectrophotometric method for the determination of palladium has been developed. In a pH 4.0 - 5.5 HAc-NaAc buffer solution, palladium(II) reacted with MSAT to form a stable yellow water-soluble complex with an apparent molar absorptivity of epsilon = 2.04 x 10(5) L mol(-1) cm(-1) at the maximum absorption of 318.0 nm. Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range of 1.2 - 11.8 microg per 25 mL for palladium(II) with a correlation coefficient of 0.9997. The probable interfering ions and their tolerable limits have also been investigated in detail. The proposed method is simple, rapid, and sensitive, and has been applied to the determination of palladium in anode mud and ore samples with satisfactory results.

Microbial conversion of selected azo dyes and their breakdown products

Four selected azo dyes (acid orange 6, acid orange 7, methyl orange and methyl red) were completely decolourised in the presence of anaerobic granular sludge, while only methyl red was degraded in aerobic conditions using a conventional activated sludge. Additional experiments with culture broth devoid of cells showed that anaerobic decolourisation of azo dyes was performed by extracellular reducing agents produced by anaerobic bacteria. This was further confirmed by abiotic experiments with sulphide and NADH. The presence of redox mediators such as riboflavin led to dramatic acceleration of the anaerobic biodecolourisation process. The azo dye reduction products were found to be sulphanilic acid and 4-aminoresorcinol for acid orange 6; sulphanilic acid and 1-amino-2-naphthol for acid orange 7; N,N-dimethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine and sulphanilic acid for methyl orange; and N,N-dimethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine and anthranilic acid for methyl red. Anaerobic toxicity assays showed that the azo dyes were more toxic than their breakdown products (aromatic amines), except 1-amino-2-naphthol. In the presence of activated sludge, only anthranilic acid was completely mineralised while sulphanilic acid was persistent. 4-aminoresorcinol, 1-amino-2-naphthol and N,N-dimethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine underwent autooxidation in aerobic conditions yielding coloured polymeric products. On the contrary, in the presence of granular methanogenic sludge, 4-aminoresorcinol, 1-amino-2-naphthol and anthranilic acid were quantitatively methanised, sulphanilic acid was partially (70%) mineralised while N,N-dimethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine was only demethylated producing 1,4-phenylenediamine as an end product.

Fate and biodegradability of sulfonated aromatic amines

Ten sulfonated aromatic amines were tested for their aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability and toxicity potential in a variety of environmental inocula. Of all the compounds tested, only two aminobenzenesulfonic acid (ABS) isomers, 2- and 4-ABS, were degraded. The observed degradation occurred only under aerobic conditions with inocula sources that were historically polluted with sulfonated aromatic amines. Bioreactor experiments, with non-sterile synthetic wastewater, confirmed the results from the aerobic batch degradation experiments. Both ABS isomers were degraded in long-term continuous experiment by a bioaugmented enrichment culture. The maximum degradation rate in the aerobic bioreactor was 1.6-1.8 g 1(-1) d(-1) for 2-ABS and a somewhat lower value for 4-ABS at hydraulic retention times (HRT) of 2.8-3.3 h. Evidence for extensive mineralization of 2- and 4-ABS was based on oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide production during the batch experiments and the high levels of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal in the bioreactor. Furthermore, mineralization of the sulfonate group was demonstrated by high recovery of sulfate. The sulfonated aromatic amines did not show any toxic effects on the aerobic and anaerobic bacterial populations tested. The poor biodegradability of sulfonated aromatic amines indicated under the laboratory conditions of this study suggests that these compounds may not be adequately removed during biological wastewater treatment.

Identification of the Precursor of (S)-3-Methyl-3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol, the Sulfury Malodour of Human Axilla Sweat

A careful study of human axillary microflora led us to the identification of a new strain of Staphylococcus haemolyticus. The role in axillary malodour formation of this microorganism was compared to those of Corynebacterium xerosis and Staphylococcus epidermidis, upon incubation on sterile human eccrine and apocrine axilla sweat. St. haemolyticus was responsible for the strongest sulfury malodour and the generation of the volatile sulfur compound (VSC) (S)-3-methyl-3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3). In this study, we investigated the nonvolatile precursors of VSCs. Human axillary sweat was collected, fractionated and analysed by HPLC/APCI-MS (High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography coupled to Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation Mass Spectrometry). The precursor of 3 was identified as [1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-methylbutyl]-L-cysteinylglycine (Cys-Gly-(S)-conjugate; 12). Because Cys-Gly-(S)-conjugates are key intermediates in the glutathione biodetoxification pathway, other derivatives of 12, specifically glutathione-(S)-conjugate 11 and Cys-(S)-conjugate 13, were prepared. Compounds 11 and 13 were not detected by HPLC/MS of sterile sweat. Synthetic homologues 11, 12, and 13 were incubated with C. xerosis, St. heamolyticus, and St. epidermidis. We observed efficient conversion of precursors 12 and 13 to form VSCs when incubated with St. haemolyticus, with a clear preference for 12. C. xerosis and St. epidermidis were less efficient in cleaving Cys-Gly-(S)-conjugate 12 to form the corresponding thiol 3. Incubation of glutathione-(S)-conjugate 11 never led to the formation of 3 under the experimental conditions employed.

Selective and validated spectrophotometric methods for the determination of nicorandil in pharmaceutical formulations

Two simple and sensitive validated spectrophotometric methods have been described for the assay of nicorandil in drug formulations. Method A is based on the reaction of the drug with phloroglucinol-sulfanilic acid reagent in sulfuric acid medium to give yellow-colored product, which absorbs maximally at 425 nm. Method B uses the oxidative coupling of 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone hydrochloride (MBTH) with DL- 3,4 - dihydroxyphenylalanine (DL-dopa) in the presence of nicorandil as oxidant in sulfuric acid medium to form an intensely colored product having maximum absorbance at 530 nm. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range 2.5 to 50.0 and 1.0 to 15.0 microg mL(-1) with methods A and B, respectively. Both methods have been successfully applied for the analysis of drug in pharmaceutical formulations. The reliability and the performance of the proposed methods are established by point and interval hypothesis and through recovery studies. The experimental true bias of all samples is smaller than +/-2%.

[Preparation and FTIR properties of amino compounds modified glutaraldehyde crosslinked chitosan resin activated with cyanuric chloride]

The preparation and IR properties of 1-butylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, triethylamine, benzylamine, 4-methylaniline and 4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid modified glutaraldehyde crosslinked chitosan activated with cyanuric chloride were studied. The absorption of nu(O-H) and nu(N-H) at 3430-3440 cm(-1), nu(C-O-C) at 1155 cm(-1), nu(C-OH) at 1030 cm(-1) and nu(C-O) of beta-D-glucose at 899 cm(-1) were not shifted obviously. The absorption of delta(C-H) at 1400-1384 cm(-1) and nu(C-OH) at 1095 cm(-1) varied markedly. The nu(C=N) absorption of crosslinked chitosan was at 1640-1650 cm(-1). The skeleton vibration absorption of 1,3,5-triazine ring was at 803-812 cm(-1) and 1584-1590 cm(-1). With different deacetylation or substitution, the amide I, II, III absorption at 1650, 1600 and 1310 cm(-1) varied obviously. When modified with 1-butylamine, dimethylamine, benzylamine, 4-methylaniline and 4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid, strong absorption of delta(NH3+) appeared at 1517-1530 cm(-1), which was weakened or disappeared when modified with trimethylamine or triethylamine, but a series of new absorption of nu(C-N) appeared at 1400-1500 cm(-1).

Optimized and validated spectrophotometric methods for the determination of nicorandil in drug formulations and biological fluids

Two simple, sensitive and economical spectrophotometric methods have been developed for the determination of nicorandil in drug formulations and biological fluids. Method A is based on the reaction of the drug with brucine-sulphanilic acid reagent in sulphuric acid medium producing a yellow-coloured product, which absorbs maximally at 410 nm. Method B depends on the formation of the intensely blue-coloured product which results due to the interaction of an electrophilic intermediate of 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone hydrochloride (MBTH) with oxidized product of 4-(methyl amino) phenol sulphate (metol) in the presence of nicorandil as an oxidizing agent in sulphuric acid medium. The coloured product shows absorbance maximum at 560 nm. Under the optimized experimental conditions, Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 2.5-35.0 and 0.40-2.2 microg ml(-1) for Methods A and B, respectively. Both the methods have been successfully applied to the determination of nicorandil in drug formulations and biological fluids. The results are validated statistically and through recovery studies. In order to establish the bias and the performance of the proposed methods, the point and interval hypothesis tests have been performed. The experimental true bias of all samples is smaller than +/-2%.

Simple and rapid catalytic spectrophotometric determination of superoxide anion radical and superoxide dismutase activity in natural medical vegetables using phenol as the substrate for horseradish peroxidase

The coupling reaction of 4-aminoantipyrine (4-AAP) with phenol using the superoxide anion radical (O2-*) as oxidizing agent under the catalysis of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was studied. Based on the reaction, O2-* produced by irradiating vitamin B2 (VB2) was spectrophotometrically determined at 510 nm. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the relationship between A510 and O2-* concentration was linear in the range 9.14x10(-6)-1.2x10(-4) mol L(-1). The detection limit was determined to be 1.37x10(-6) mol L(-1). A possible reaction mechanism was discussed. The effect of interferences and surfactants on the determination of O2-* was also investigated. The proposed method was applied to determine superoxide dismutase activity in garlic, scallion, and onion with satisfactory results.

Antimycobacterial and antifungal isosters of salicylamides

A set of 40 derivatives of 3-hydroxypicolinic acid and 2-sulfanylbenzoic acid, isosteric to salicylanilides was synthesized. The compounds were evaluated for in vitro activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium kansasii and Mycobacterium avium, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata, Trichosporon beigelii, Aspergillus fumigatus, Absidia corymbifera, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum gypseum. Structure-activity relationships of antimycobacterial activity and antifungal activity against T. mentagrophytes and M. gypseum were analyzed by the Free-Wilson method. An increase in antimycobacterial activity was observed only for the sulfanylbenzoic acid derivatives, especially those with the benzyl moiety. The antifungal activity was not significant.

Evidence for the mechanism of the irreversible inhibition of oestrone sulphatase (ES) by aminosulphonate based compounds

In our search for the mechanism of the enzyme oestrone sulphatase (ES) we have synthesised and evaluated a number of compounds that were predicted to possess some inhibitory activity. Some of these compounds were indeed found to be inhibitors of ES, whilst other compounds were not. From a consideration of the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of the inhibitors and non-inhibitors of this enzyme, we discovered a factor which we now believe is the main inhibitory moiety within the aminosulphonated inhibitors. We therefore report the results of our study into a series of phenyl and alkyl sulphamated compounds as inhibitors of ES. The results of the study show that the substituted phenyl sulphamates are potent inhibitors, whereas the alkyl compounds are, in general, non-inhibitors. Using the results of our SAR study, we postulate the probable mechanism for the irreversible and reversible inhibition of ES, and rationalise the role of the different physicochemical factors in the inhibition of this crucial enzyme.

Spectrophotometric methods for the determination of ritodrine hydrochloride and its application to pharmaceutical preparations

Two simple and sensitive spectrophotometric methods are described for the determination of ritodrine hydrochloride (RTH) in both pure and dosage forms. The methods are based on the interaction of diazotised p-nitroaniline (DPNA) and sulphanilic acid (DSNA) with RTH in an alkaline medium. The resulting azo dyes are measured at 480 nm (for the DPNA method) and at 440 nm (for the DSNA method) and are stable for more than 1 h. The optimum reaction conditions and other analytical parameters are evaluated. A study of the effect of commonly associated excipients and additives do not interfere with the determinations. Statistical analysis of results indicates that the methods are precise and accurate.

[Study on the stability of N-alkyl-N'-(sodium p-aminobenzenesulfonate) thiourea]

In this work, the stability of 13 kinds derivative of thiourea were studied by the UV absorption spectra and IR spectra of thiourea compounds in acidic medium at pH = 4.00, neutrality medium at pH = 7.00, basic property medium at pH = 10.00, under the influence of diffeveut store time, oxygen and sun light. Their structures were discussed and the changing rules of stability were developed.

A Schiff base formed from sulfanilic acid and dimethylformamide

The crystal structure the Schiff base contains one 4-dimethylaminomethyleneaminobenzenesulfonic acid molecule in zwitterionic form [4-(dimethylaminomethyleneammonio)benzenesulfonate], and one water molecule in the asymmetric unit (C9H12N2O3S.H2O). Protonation occurs at nitrogen atom N1, but the charge is delocalized.

Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry with collision-induced dissociation of arachidonic acid metabolites derivatized with aminobenzenesulphonic acid

A fused-silica capillary high-performance liquid chromatography column (i.d. 0.25 mm) packed with octadecylsilane-bonded silica has been used on-line with continuous-flow negative-ion fast-atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry for the separation and structural analysis of series of fatty acids and arachidonic acid metabolites derivatized with 4-aminobenzenesulphonic acid. Negative-ion FAB spectra of the derivatized lipids showed strong [M-H] pseudomolecular ions. Collision-induced dissociation of these anions produced structurally informative daughter ions, arising from charge-remote fragmentations.

Development of a CELSS bioreactor: oxygen transfer and micromixing in parabolic flight

The gas exchange portion of a phase-separated loop bioreactor was tested with respect to oxygen mass transfer and micromixing in accelerations of 0.01g, 1g, and 2g. A plot of the overall mass transfer coefficient versus gravity indicates the rate of oxygen transfer does not change as a function of acceleration. Also, it was determined that the micromixing did not exhibit significant changes in the various gravitational fields. These observations indicate the loop bioreactor should function independent of acceleration.