A study of low-energy ion induced radiolysis of thiol-containing amino acid cysteine in the solid and aqueous solution states

The radiolysis of cysteine under plasma discharge and irradiation of low-energy Ion beam was investigated. The damage of cysteine in aqueous solution under discharge was assessed via the acid ninhydrin reagent and the yield of cystine produced from the reaction was analyzed by FTIR In addition, the generation of hydrogen sulfide was also identified The destruction of solid cysteine under low-energy ion beam irradiation was estimated via monitoring IR bands of different functional groups (-SH, -NH3, -COO-) of cysteine. and the production of cystine from ion-irradiated solid cysteine after dissolution in water was also verified These results may help us to understand the inactivation of sulphydryl enzymes under direct and indirect interaction with the low-energy ion irradiation (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved.

Interactions of Rare Earth-Amino Acid Complexes with Nucleic Acids

A number of metal-based anticancer drugs are designed to target nucleic acids. Therefore, the elucidation of their interactions with nucleic acids is important for rational design of new anticancer agents with high selectivity and low toxicity, which has been received much attention in this field. Lanthanide complexes have the potential to be therapeutic agents due to their unique magnetic, optical, electronic, and coordinate characteristics. However, lanthanide ions are easy to hydrolysis under physiological pH, which makes it difficult to study rare earth complexes nucleic acids selectivity. Recent studies have shown that natural amino acids can form stable complexes with rare earth ions under near physiological condition and the complexes have high solubility. This review summarizes the current progress in rare earth-amino acid complexes binding to nuclelic acids and their selectivity.

CE with electrochemical detection for investigation of label-free recognition of amino acid amides by guanine-rich DNA aptamers

In this work, we report a simple and effective investigation into adaptive interactions between guanine-rich DNA aptamers and amino acid amides by CE with electrochemical (EC) detection. Argininamide (Arm) and tyrosinamide (Tym) were chosen as model molecules. On a copper electrode, Arm generated a good EC signal in 60 mM NaOH at 0.7 V (vs Ag/ AgCl), while Tym. was detected well on a platinum electrode at 1. 3 V in 20 mM phosphate of pH 7.0. Based on their EC properties, the ligands themselves were used as indicators for the adaptive interactions investigated by CE-EC, making any step of labeling and/or modification of aptamers with indicators exempted. Hydrophilic ionic liquid was used as an additive in running buffer of CE to improve the sensitivity of Arm detection, whereas the additive was not used for Tym. detection due to its negative effect. Two guanine-rich DNA aptamers were used for molecular recognition of Arm and Tym. When the aptamers were incubated with ligands, they bound the model molecules with high affinity and specificity, reflected by obvious decreases in the signals of ligands but no changes in those of the control molecules. However, the ligands were hardly affected by the control ssDNAs after incubation. The results revealed the specific recognition of Arm and Tym. by the aptamers.

Structural diversity of lanthanide-amino acid complexes under near physiological pH conditions and their recognition of single-stranded DNA

We reported here four structures of lanthanide-amino acid complexes obtained under near physiological pH conditions and their individual formula can be described as [Tb-2(DL-Cys)(4)(H2O)(8)]Cl-2 (1), [Eu-4(mu(3)-OH)(4)(L-Asp)(2)(L-HAsp)(3)(H2O)(7)] Cl center dot 11.5H(2)O (2), [Eu-8-(L-HVal) (16)(H2O)(32)]Cl-24 center dot 12.5H(2)O (3), and [Tb-2(DL-HVal)(4)(H2O)(8)]Cl-6 center dot 2H(2)O (4). These complexes showed diverse structures and have shown potential application in DNA detection. We studied the interactions of the complexes with five single-stranded DNA and found different fluorescence enhancement, binding affinity and binding stoichiometry when the complexes are bound to DNA.

Gene transfection of hyperbranched PEI grafted by hydrophobic amino acid segment PBLG

The complex copolymer of hyperbranched polyethylenimine (PEI) with hydrophobic poly(gamma-benzyl L-glutamate) segment (PBLG) at their chain ends was synthesized. This water-soluble copolymer PEI-PBLG (PP) was characterized for DNA complexation (gel retardation assay, particle size, DNA release and DNase I protection), cell viability and in vitro transfection efficiency. The experiments showed that PP can effectively condense pDNA into particles. Size measurement of the complexes particles indicated that PP/DNA tended to form smaller nanoparticles than those of PEI/DNA, which was caused by the hydrophobic PBLG segments compressing the PP/DNA complex particles in aqueous solution. The representative average size of PP/DNA complex prepared using plasmid DNA (pEGFP-N1, pDNA) was about 96 nm. The condensed pDNA in the PP/pDNA complexes was significantly protected from enzymatic degradation by DNase1. Cytotoxicity studies by MTT colorimetric assays suggested that the PP had much lower toxicity than PEI. The in vitro transfection efficiency of PP/pDNA complexes improved a lot in HeLa cells, Vero cells and 293T cells as compared to that of PEI25K by the expression of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) as determined by flow cytometry. Thus, the water-soluble PP copolymer showed considerable potential as carriers for gene delivery.

PolydA and polyrA self-structured by a europium and amino acid complex

Different DNA selectivity was found for the newly synthesized europium-L-valine complex. Unexpected DNA and RNA selection results showed that europium-L-valine complex can cause single-stranded polydA and polyrA to self-structure. The sigmoidal melting curve profiles indicate the transition is cooperative, similar to the cooperative melting of a duplex DNA. This is different from another europium amino acid complex, europium-L-aspartic acid complex which can induce B-Z transition under the low salt condition. To our knowledge, there is no report to show that a metal-amino acid complex can cause the self-structuring of single-stranded DNA and RNA.

Interactions of the human telomeric DNA with terbium-amino acid complexes

The human telomeric DNA can form four-stranded structures: the G-rich strand adopts a G-quadruplex conformation stabilized by G-quartets and the C-rich strand may fold into an I-motif based on intercalated C (.) C+ base pairs. There is intense interests in the design and synthesis of compounds which can target telomeric DNA and inhibit the telomerase activity. Here we report the thermodynamic studies of the two newly synthesized terbium-amino acid complexes bound to the human telomeric G-quadruplex and I-motif DNA which were studied by means of UV-Visible, DNA meltings, fluorescence and circular dichroism. These two complexes can bind to the human telomeric DNA and have shown different features on DNA stability, binding stoichiometry, and sequence-dependent fluorescence enhancement. To our knowledge, this is the first report to show terbium-amino acid complexes can interact with the human telomeric DNA.

Glucose-lowering activity of amino acid-N-phosphonic acid oxovanadium complexes and its interaction with DNA

Vanadium has well-documented lowering glucose properties both in vitro and in vivo. The design of new oxovanadium(IV) coordination compounds, intended for use as insulin-enhancing agents in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, can potentially benefit from a synergistic approach, in which the whole complex has more than an additive effect from its component parts. Biological testing with oxovanadium(IV) organic phosphonic acid, for insulin-enhancing potential included acute administration, by oral gavage in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. The complexes of oxovanadium(IV) amino acid-N-phosphonic acid exhibit higher lowering glucose activity in vivo. The interaction of the complexes of oxovanadium(IV) amino acid-N-phosphonic acid with DNA was investigated by agarose gel electrophoresis. The results indicated that these complexes have strong interaction with DNA.

Synthesis, structure characterization and biological activity of a novel amino acid salt (HAla)(8)(H3O)(10)[PMo12O40](6) center dot 22H(2)O

A novel compound was synthesized and characterized by means of elemental analysis, IR and UV spectra, TG, CV and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallized in an orthorhombic space group C222 with a=1. 622 4(3) nm, b=3. 498 4(7) nm, c=1. 301 5(3) nm, V=7. 387 (3) nm(3), Z=6, R-1= 0. 037 3, wR(2)=0. 114 0. The Ala (Ala = alanine) molecules were protonated at the amino nitrogen N (1) and the C (2) of Ala group with the terminal oxygen atom O(15), O(14), O(26) and O(27) of the polyoxometalates participating in the hydrogen bond network. The anti-tumor activity of the title compound was estimated against Hela and Pc-3m cancer cells.

Synthesis and crystal structure of a novel amino-acid-containing polyoxometalate: K-6[Cu (Ala)(2) (H2O)(2)](2)[ CU4 (H2O)(2) (AsW9O34)(2)] center dot 16H(2)O

The novel amino-acid-containing polyoxometalate Ka(6) [Cu(Ala)(2) (H2O)(2)](2) [Cu-4 (H2O)(2) . (AsW9O34)(2)] . 16H(2)O was synthesized from the reaction of K-10[Cu-4(H2O)(2)(AsW9O34)(2)] . 20H(2)O with beta -alanine, Its structure has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the triclinic space group P (1) over bar, with a=1. 196 3(2) nm, b=1. 536 5(3) nm, c=1. 591 4(3) nm, alpha =93. 97(3)degrees, beta= 110. 88(3)degrees, gamma =101. 07(3)degrees, V=2. 651 8(9) nm(3) and Z=1. Least-squares refinement of the structure leads to R and R-w factors of 0. 067 3 and 0. 162 8, respectively. An unusual structural feature of the compound is that the polyanion [Cu-4(H2O)(2) (AsW9O34)](10-) is linked with the amino-acid complex of Cu2+ by a mu -oxygen atom.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and mass spectra study of alpha-amino acid

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and mass spectrometry have been used to study the ten alpha-Amino Acids. The chemical shiftss of N-1s electron binding energy have been explained by means of the difference in the hydrocarbon group of amino acids. The influence of the hydrocarbon group on NH2 has been disscussed using the XPS and MS results.

Purification and characterization of L-amino acid oxidase from Agkistrodon blomhoffii ussurensis snake venom of Changbai Mountains

The L-a. a, oxidase of Agkistrodon blomhof fii ussurensis of Changbai Mountains in northeast of China has been separated by using ion-exchange and gel filtration techniques, This enzyme is composed of two subunits, the molecular weight of one subunit is about 36 000, the another is about 57 000, determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacryamide gel electrophoresis and matrix assisted laser desorption ion/time of flight mass spectrometry, The activity of L-a, a. oxidase determined using L-Leu as substrate. The optimal pH of the enzyme is 4. 5 similar to 5. 5 and 8 similar to 9. The UV-Visible absorption spectrum of L-a, a. oxidase shows the characteristics of flavor-proteins.