Rational Design of Allosteric Fluorogenic RNA Sensors for Cellular Imaging.

Fluorescence-based tools are invaluable in studying cellular functions. Traditional small molecule or protein-based fluorescent sensors have been widely used for the cellular imaging, but the choice of targets is still limited. Recently, fluorogenic RNA-based sensors gained lots of attention. This novel sensor system can function as a general platform for various cellular targets. Here, we describe the steps to rationally design, optimize, and apply fluorogenic RNA-based sensors, using the intracellular imaging of tetracycline in living E. coli cells as an example.

Development of stability-indicating LC method assisted by Design of Experiment for fenticonazole cream analysis in presence of degradation product

Fenticonazole is an antifungal drug widely used in a cream formulation including as a generic medicine. Stability studies of fenticonazole in a cream formulation are very scarce. In this research, we intent to contribute to generic medicines quality control and provide reliable data seeking for insertion of fenticonazole monograph in official compendia. Therefore, in this work it was studied the behavior of fenticonazole under several conditions and developed a stability-indicating LC method to separate the degradation products and quantify the drug in presence of them, using the Design of Experiments (DoE) as tool to achieve robust and easy transferable method. Fenticonazole stability was evaluated under aqueous, alkaline (0.1 M NaOH), acidic (0.1 M HCL) and oxidative (3% v/v, H2O2) at ambient temperature and heating at 90°C, over 6 hours. The drug shows to be unstable under all stressed test conditions. It was completely degraded under acid medium with arising of degradation products. The robust and stability indicating LC method was validated. It is able to reveal the fenticonazole instability and to separate its degradation product with accuracy and precision (CV ˂ 2%) and without any placebo interferences.(AU)

De novo design of a fluorescence-activating ß-barrel.

The regular arrangements of ß-strands around a central axis in ß-barrels and of α-helices in coiled coils contrast with the irregular tertiary structures of most globular proteins, and have fascinated structural biologists since they were first discovered. Simple parametric models have been used to design a wide range of α-helical coiled-coil structures, but to date there has been no success with ß-barrels. Here we show that accurate de novo design of ß-barrels requires considerable symmetry-breaking to achieve continuous hydrogen-bond connectivity and eliminate backbone strain. We then build ensembles of ß-barrel backbone models with cavity shapes that match the fluorogenic compound DFHBI, and use a hierarchical grid-based search method to simultaneously optimize the rigid-body placement of DFHBI in these cavities and the identities of the surrounding amino acids to achieve high shape and chemical complementarity. The designs have high structural accuracy and bind and fluorescently activate DFHBI in vitro and in Escherichia coli, yeast and mammalian cells. This de novo design of small-molecule binding activity, using backbones custom-built to bind the ligand, should enable the design of increasingly sophisticated ligand-binding proteins, sensors and catalysts that are not limited by the backbone geometries available in known protein structures.

Simultaneous enantiomeric determinations of acid and ester imidazolinone herbicides in a soil sample by two-dimensional direct chiral liquid chromatography.

A two-dimensional HPLC method for the simultaneous direct chiral enantiomeric determination of acid and ester IMI herbicides has been described. Difficulties arising from differences in polarity were overcome. Firstly, the imazaphyr, imazethapyr and imazamethabenz methyl herbicides were separated in a C18 achiral column. Then, their respective enantiomers were separated using a protein chiral AGP(TM) column; a heart-cut mode was used. Mobile phases of the two systems were compatibilized, after optimizing by factorial design using multiple response analysis. The proposed method has been validated by recovery studies from an enriched soil sample. Important enantiomer parameters such as enantioresolution higher than 1.12, enantiomeric ratio (ER) close to 1 and enantiomeric fraction (EF) around 0.5 were obtained for standards, confirming that herbicides are present as racemates.

Molecularly imprinted polymer as a novel solid-phase microextraction coating for the selective enrichment of trace imidazolinones in rice, peanut, and soil.

The development and application of an imazethapyr molecularly imprinted polymer-based solid-phase microextraction coating were investigated. A novel molecularly imprinted polymer coating with imazethapyr as template was firstly prepared by a one-step in situ polymerization method, and demonstrated specific selectivity to imidazolinone herbicides in complicated samples. The structural characteristics and extraction performance of the imazethapyr molecularly imprinted polymer coating were studied. The molecularly imprinted polymer coating was homogeneous, dense, and heat and solvent resistant. Adsorption capacity experiments showed that the molecularly imprinted polymer coating could selectively extract imazethapyr and its structural analogs, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 2.5 times as much as that of the nonimprinted polymer coating. A method for the determination of five imidazolinones by imazethapyr molecularly imprinted polymer solid-phase microextraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography was developed. The linear range was 0.50-50 µg/L for imazameth, imazamox, imazapyr acid, and imazethapyr, and 1.0-100 µg/L for imazaquin acid, and the detection limits were within the range of 0.070-0.29 µg/L. The method was applied to simultaneous and multiresidual determinations of trace imidazolinones in rice, peanut, and soil samples with satisfactory recoveries of 60.6-99.5, 79.1-123, and 61.3-116%, respectively, and relative standard deviations of 0.40-10%, which indicated that this method was suitable for the trace analysis of imidazolinones in complex food and environmental samples.

Use of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers for the development of controlled release tizanidine matrix tablets

The aim of the present study was to develop tizanidine controlled release matrix. Formulations were designed using central composite method with the help of design expert version 7.0 software. Avicel pH 101 in the range of 14-50% was used as a filler, while HPMC K4M and K100M in the range of 25-55%, Ethylcellulose 10 ST and 10FP in the range of 15 - 45% and Kollidon SR in the range of 25-60% were used as controlled release agents in designing different formulations. Various physical parameters including powder flow for blends and weight variation, thickness, hardness, friability, disintegration time and in-vitro release were tested for tablets. Assay of tablets were also performed as specified in USP 35 NF 32. Physical parameters of both powder blend and compressed tablets such as compressibility index, angle of repose, weight variation, thickness, hardness, friability, disintegration time and assay were evaluated and found to be satisfactory for formulations K4M2, K4M3, K4M9, K100M2, K100M3, K100M9, E10FP2, E10FP9, KSR2, KSR3 & KSR9. In vitro dissolution study was conducted in 900 ml of 0.1N HCl, phosphate buffer pH 4.5 and 6.8 medium using USP Apparatus II. In vitro release profiles indicated that formulations prepared with Ethocel 10 standard were unable to control the release of drug while formulations K4M2, K100M9, E10FP2 & KSR2 having polymer content ranging from 40-55% showed a controlled drug release pattern in the above mentioned medium. Zero-order drug release kinetics was observed for formulations K4M2, K100M9, E10FP2 & KSR2. Similarity test (f 2) results for K4M2, E10FP2 & KSR2 were found to be comparable with reference formulation K100M9. Response Surface plots were also prepared for evaluating the effect of independent variable on the responses. Stability study was performed as per ICH guidelines and the calculated shelf life was 24-30 months for formulation K4M2, K100M9 and E10FP2.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi desenvolver matriz de de tizanidina de liberação controlada. As formulações foram projetadas usando o método do componente, central com a ajuda de software Design expert(r), versão 7.0. Utilizou-se Avicel pH 101, no intervalo de 14-50%, como material de preenchimento, enquanto HPMC K4M e K100M, no intervalo de 25-55%, Etilcelulose 10 ST e 10FP, no intervalo de 15-45% e Kollidon SR, na faixa de 25-60% foram utilizados como agentes de liberação controlada, no planejamento de formulações diferentes. Vários parâmetros físicos, incluindo o fluxo de pó para as misturas e variação de peso, espessura, dureza, friabilidade, tempo de desintegração e liberação in vitro, foram testados para comprimidos. Ensaios dos comprimidos foram, também, realizados, tal como especificado em USP 35 NF 32. Avaliaram-se os parâmetros físicos de ambos, mistura em pó e comprimidos, como índice de compressibilidade, ângulo de repouso, variação de peso, espessura, dureza, friabilidade, tempo de desintegração e de ensaio, considerando-os satisfatórios para as formulações K4M2, K4M3, K4M9, K100M2, K100M3, K100M9, E10FP2, E10FP9, KSR2, KSR3 e KSR9. O estudo de dissolução in vitro foi realizado em 900 mL de HCl 0,1 N, tampão de fosfato pH 4,5 e meio 6,8, usando aparelho USP II. Os perfis de liberação in vitro indicaram que as formulações preparadas com Ethocel 10 padrão não foram capazes de controlar a liberação do fármaco, enquanto as formulações K4M2, K100M9, E10FP2e KSR2, com teor de polímero variando entre 40 e 55% apresentaram padrão de liberação controlada de fármaco no meio anteriormente mencionado. Observou-se cinética de liberação de fármaco de ordem zero para as formulações K4M2 , K100M9, E10FP2 e KSR2. Resultados do teste de similaridade (f 2) para K4M2, E10FP2 e KSR2 foram comparáveis com a formulação de referência K100M9. Gráficos de superfície de resposta também avaliaram o efeito da variável independente sobre as respostas. Estudo de estabilidade foi realizado conforme as diretrizes do ICH e a vida de prateleira calculada foi de 24-30 meses para as formulações K4M2, K100M9 e E10FP2.

Dynamics and residues of mixed formulation of fenamidone and mancozeb in gherkin field ecosystem.

The dynamics and residues of mixed formulation of fenamidone and mancozeb in a gherkin field ecosystem were investigated. The quantification was performed using gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD) and UV-vis spectrophotometry for fenamidone and mancozeb residues, respectively. The method was validated using blank samples spiked at three levels and the results showed that recoveries ranged from 92 to 98 and 90 to 96 percent with relative standard deviations (RSD) ranging of 0.78-5.9 and 2.04-4.41 percent for fenamidone and mancozeb, respectively. The compound degradation followed a first order kinetics with half-lives of 2.8-2.82 and 2.02-2.26 days, for fenamidone and mancozeb, respectively. Pesticide residues in fruit were below the EU maximum residue level (MRL) after 10 days for fenamidone (0.02 µg/g) and just after treatment for mancozeb (2 µg/g). These results can be utilized in formulating the spray schedule and safety evaluation for these pesticides in gherkin.

Residue dynamics of fenamidone and mancozeb on gherkin under two agro climatic zones in the state of Karnataka, India.

Residue dynamics of fenamidone and mancozeb on gherkin was evaluated at two different agro climatic zones i.e. at Bangalore (Zone-1) and Dharwad (Zone-2) in the state of Karnataka, India. Two treatments of the combination formulation (fenamidone 10% + mancozeb 50%) were given at the standard dose 150 + 750 g a.i. ha(-1) and double dose 300 + 1,500 g a.i. ha(-1). Initial residue deposits of fenamidone were 0.467 and 0.474 mg kg(-1) at Zone-1 and 2, respectively from standard dose treatment. From double dose treatment they were 0.964 and 0.856 mg kg(-1), respectively. Fenamidone residues persisted for 15 and 10 days and dissipated with the half-life of 4 and 3 days at Zone-1 and 2, respectively. Mancozeb residue deposits on gherkin were 0.383 and 0.428 mg kg(-1) from standard dose and 0.727 and 0.626 mg kg(-1) from double dose treatment at Zone-1 and 2, respectively. Mancozeb residues dissipated with the half-life of 2 and 1 day, respectively. Residues of both fenamidone and mancozeb dissipated faster at Zone-2 compared to Zone-1. The limit of quantification of fenamidone and mancozeb were 0.02 and 0.1 mg kg(-1), respectively in both gherkin and soil. Residues of fenamidone and mancozeb in soil collected on the 20th day from the 2 locations were found to be below quantifiable limit of both fungicides.

Influence of fenamidone, indoxacarb, pyraclostrobin, and deltamethrin on the population of natural yeast microflora during winemaking of two sardinian grape cultivars.

The influence of fenamidone ((S)-1-anilino-4-methyl-2-methylthio-4-phenylimidazolin-5-one), pyraclostrobin (methyl 2-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)pyrazol-3-yloxymethyl]-N-methoxycarbanilate), indoxacarb (methyl 7-Chloro-2,5-dihydro-2-[[(methoxycarbonyl) [4- (trifluoromethoxy) phenyl] amino] carbonyl] indeno[1,2-e][1,3,4] oxadiazine-4a(3H)-carboxylate), and deltamethrin ([cyano-[3-(phenoxy)phenyl]methyl] 3-(2,2-dibromoethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate) on spontaneous fermentation carried out by natural yeast grapes microflora, was studied during the wine-making process. Aliquots of pesticide standard solutions were added to the grapes before crushing, to reach a concentration equal or half the maximum residue limit (MRL). Vinifications were performed, with maceration (R), or without maceration (W). During the wine-making process, samples were taken at the beginning (one hour after grapes crushing), at the middle and at the end of the spontaneous fermentation process. At half the MRL concentration, deltamethrin affected Pichia sp. population with a decrease of almost 50 %, while fenamidone decreased Candida sp., Candida stellata at 83, and 36%, respectively. Metschnikowia pulcherrima population decreased in all samples when compared to the control. Experiments at MRL levels showed a strong reduction for all non-Saccharomyces yeast species, when grapes had been treated with pyraclostrobin, fenamidone, and deltamethrine, except for Candida sp. which was found to have been affected only by fenamidone residues. Growth zone inhibition test showed only an in vitro activity of pyraclostrobin over Kloeckera spp., C. stellata, and M. pulcherrima. Microvinification experiments produced wines with no differences concerning S. cerevisiae population as well as production of ethanol and residual sugars. Experiments showed that at the end of the fermentation process pesticides were adsorbed by the lees and grape skins, and no pesticides residue was detectable in wine.

Residue-free wines: fate of some quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides in the winemaking process.

The fate of three fungicide residues (fenamidone, pyraclostrobin, and trifloxystrobin) from vine to wine was studied to evaluate the decay ratio and the influence of the technological process. The aim of this work was to identify pesticides that can degrade rapidly or be eliminated together with byproduct (lees and cake) of the winemaking process to obtain wine free of residues. The disappearance rate on grapes was calculated as pseudo-first-order kinetics, and the half-life (t(1/2)) was in the range from 5.4 +/- 1.9 to 12.2 +/- 1.2 days. The mechanism of dissipation of the three quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides was studied using different model systems. It was observed that the main mechanism responsible for disappearance was photodegradation. For active ingredients (ai) the half-lives of fenamidone, pyraclostrobin, and trifloxystrobin were 10.2 +/- 0.8, 20.1 +/- 0.1, and 8.6 +/- 1.0 h, respectively, whereas for formulation higher half-lives were observed when epicuticular waxes were present (from 13.8 +/- 0.2 to 26.6 +/- 0.1 h). After winemaking, fenamidone, pyraclostrobin, and trifloxystrobin residues were not detected in the wine, but they were present in the cake and lees. This was due to the adsorption of pesticide residues to the solid parts, which are always eliminated at the end of the alcoholic fermentation. The data obtained in these experiments suggest that these three active ingredients could be used in a planning process to obtain residue-free wines.

[Simultaneous determination of residues of six imidazolinone herbicides in adzuki beans by high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ion trap tandem mass spectrometry].

A method for the simultaneous determination of six pesticides in adzuki beans by high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ion trap tandem mass spectrometry was developed and evaluated. The sample was extracted with 0.1 mol/L NH4HCO3 (pH 5)-methanol (70 : 30, v/v). The extract was partitioned with dichloromethane, and cleaned up with gel permeation chromatography. The separation was performed on an Inertsil ODS-3 column (150 mm x 2.1 mm, 5 microm) with the gradient elution of methanol and 1% acetic acid as mobile phase. The identification and quantification were performed by electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring mode. The calibration curves of imidazolinone herbicides showed good linearities in the range of 10 - 200 microg/L (5 -100 microg/L for imazaquin) with the correlation coefficients between 0.998 7 and 0.999 7. The limits of detection ranged between 0.2 microg/kg and 0.5 microg/kg (S/N = 3). The average recoveries of six imidazolinone herbicides spiked in adzuki beans ranged between 81.6% and 99.4% (n = 6) with the relative standard deviations of 3.1% -7.8%. The method has been used for the determination of 6 imidazolinone herbicides simultaneously in adzuki beans with easy operation, high accuracy and good precision.

Validation and global uncertainty of a gas chromatographic with mass spectrometry method for fenamidone analysis in grapes and wines.

Fenamidone is an imidazolinone fungicide recently introduced in viticulture practices. This work reports the validation and assessment of global uncertainty of a gas chromatographic with mass spectrometry method to analyze fenamidone in grapes and wines. This method consists in a simple and fast liquid-liquid extraction step followed by chromatographic determination. Limits of detection for fenamidone in grapes and wines were, respectively, 0.05 mg/kg and 0.06 mg/L, precision was below 9.4% and average recovery was 89 +/- 5%. In the concentration range from 0.05 to 1.00 mg/kg (or mg/L) of fenamidone, global uncertainty calculated following the EURACHEM/CITAC rules, and also by the Horwitz function, was below 25%. The EURACHEM/CITAC global uncertainty budget used gave lower estimates than those obtained from the Horwitz function.

Imidazoline and its derivatives: an overview.

Imidazoline derivatives, a class of novel cationic surfactants are presently gaining importance in global detergent market due to their wide range of applications. These are extensively used mainly as fabric softeners and antistatic agents. The present communication reviews the preparation, reaction scheme, reaction rates and properties of imidazoline derivatives. The analysis of imidazoline derivatives, its mode of action, their biodegradation and various applications have also been discussed.