Structural Analyses of DP-1, a Protein with the Ability To Bind Gold Nanoparticles, by Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), consisting of metallic gold, are applied in various fields owing to their characteristic physical properties. Collimonas sp. D-25 (D-25) is a Gram-negative bacterium obtained from soil, compost, and other environmental materials in the Akita Prefecture. DP-1 is a water-soluble protein found in D-25 that binds specifically to AuNPs and retains them with high stability. This study aimed to identify the part of DP-1 that interacts with AuNPs and determine its 3D structure in solution using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Peptide fragments obtained by trypsin digestion were examined for their AuNP-binding capacity to determine the key Au-binding domain of DP-1. A fragment consisting of 16 amino acid residues (GHAATPEQYGVVTANK) was identified as the peptide with the highest binding activity. Structural analyses of this peptide indicated that the main chain was elongated, and negatively charged residues in the side chain were exposed on the surface by incorporating AuNPs. These results suggest that DP-1 interacts with AuNPs through negatively charged residues and extended hydrophobic residues for protein-protein interactions. The structural data also provide new insights into biomimetic technologies.

Dispersion Function of a Protein, DP-1, Identified in Collimonas sp. D-25, for the Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles.

Collimonas sp. (D-25), found in the soil of Akita Prefecture, is a gram-negative bacterium with the ability to synthesize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). During the synthesis of AuNPs, one specific protein (DP-1) was found to have disappeared in the sonicated solution of the bacterium. Recombinant DP-1 (rDP-1) from Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) was used to study the effect of DP-1 on the synthesis of AuNPs. AuNPs synthesized with rDP-1 result in small, stabilized nanoparticles. AuNPs synthesized by DP-1 retained the stability of both the dispersion and nano-size particles under high salt concentrations. Isothermal titration calorimetry was employed to investigate the bonding ratio of rDP-1 to AuNPs. Several thousand rDP-1 proteins are attached to the surface of an AuNP to form a protein corona containing multiple layers. These results suggest that DP-1 obtained from D-25 has a size and stability control function during AuNP synthesis.

Adsorption of Chromate from Aqueous Solution by Polyethylenimine Modified Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes.

In this paper, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were modified by Polyethylenimine of different molecular weight of 1800 (MWCNTs-18) and 7000 (MWCNTs-70). The structure and morphology of the functionalized MWCNTs were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The curve of TGA showed that the mass loss of MWCNTs-18 and MWCNTs-70 were 46.5% and 51.9% respectively, which was remarkably different with pristine MWCNTs. The XRD demonstrated that the structure of the pristine MWCNTs and functionalized MWCNTs were similar. In addition, the experiment of the removal of chromate from water solution using functionalized MWCNTs was also conducted. The experimental conditions such as concentration of chromate, temperature, pH were studied. The maximum uptake capacities for chromate anions were obtained at the concentration of 0.4 mmol·L-1. The solution pH showed a significant effect on chromate removal over a pH range from 4.0 to 9.0. Besides, the uptake capacities for chromate anions on MWCNTs-18 and MWCNTs-70 increased as the temperature increase within the range from 30 to 60 °C. Under the experimental conditions, the maximum uptake capacities of MWCNTs-18 and MWCNTs-70 for chromate anions were 0.27 and 0.33 mmol·g-1 respectively. The thermodynamic parameters of the uptake process were calculated, and the results showed that the process of uptake chromate was spontaneous.

Well-defined biobased segmented polyureas synthesis via a TBD-catalyzed isocyanate-free route.

Via an isocyanate-free route, a series of segmented polyureas (PUs) were synthesized from (potentially) renewable resources. To the best of our knowledge, the present work shows for the first time that the organic superbase guanidine 1,5,7-triazabicyclododecene (TBD) which was originally developed as a catalyst for the ring-opening polymerization of lactones, lactides or cyclic carbonates, is also a promising catalyst for the transurethanization between dicarbamates and diamino-terminated poly(propylene glycol) (PPGda) providing PUs via an isocyanate-free strategy. The renewable segmented PUs contain monodisperse hard segments (HSs). This well-defined structure was verified by the DMTA plots of the PUs, showing a sharp glass transition, a sharp flow transition and a flat rubbery plateau. The flow and maximum use temperature (Tfl ) of the PUs increases with the increasing number of urea groups in the corresponding dicarbamates. In addition, at constant HS length, the length of the soft-segment (SS) can be changed to adjust the properties of the PU materials, enabling their application as adhesives, soft elastomers, or rigid plastics.

Synthesis of a furfural-based DOPO-containing co-curing agent for fire-safe epoxy resins.

A furfural-based DOPO-containing flame retardant, 6,6'-(((methylenebis(4,1-phenylene))bis(azanediyl))bis(furan-2-ylmethylene))bis(dibenzo[c,e][1,2]oxaphosphinine 6-oxide) (MBF-DOPO), was synthesized and utilized as a co-curing agent of 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM) for fire-safe epoxy thermosets. For the cured epoxy resin containing 4.0% MBF-DOPO, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) reached 32.9% (with the V-0 rating in UL-94 test), and the peak heat release rate and total smoke production values were respectively decreased by 29.3% and 33.6%, compared to pure epoxy resin. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results confirmed that the furfural-based flame retardant MBF-DOPO promoted the charring formation of the epoxy matrix, which effectively isolated the gas and heat transfer during combustion and thus enhanced the fire-safety performance of the epoxy thermosets. This work provides an effective route for synthesizing a furfural-based flame retardant, which possesses great potential for application in fire-safe epoxy thermosets.

Correction: Synthesis of a furfural-based DOPO-containing co-curing agent for fire-safe epoxy resins.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C9RA06425G.].

Improving biosynthesis of AuPd core-shell nanoparticles through Escherichia coli with the assistance of phytochelatin for catalytic enhanced chemiluminescence and benzyl alcohol oxidation.

In this work, AuPd core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) biosynthesized through Arabidopsis thaliana phytochelatin synthase-modified Escherichia coli (Au-Pd/AtPCS1-E. coli) with catalytic enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) and benzyl alcohol oxidation (BAO) was investigated. Such biosynthesis of AuPd core-shell NPs was obviously enhanced due to insertion of the gene sequence of Arabidopsis thaliana phytochelatin synthase (AtPCS1) to a plasmid vector (pET-28b) of Escherichia coli (E. coli). The obtained Arabidopsis thaliana phytochelatin synthase-modified Escherichia coli (AtPCS1-E. coli) could generate phytochelatins (PCs, (γ-Glu-Cys)n-Gly, n > 1) for efficient capture and enrichment of Au3+. The component and morphology of AuPd core-shell NPs were checked through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Catalytic CL (in H2O2-luminol system) and BAO (in H2O2-benzyl alcohol system) effect with different experimental conditions were examined, respectively. These results revealed that multifunctional PCs could effectively facilitate biosynthetic process of AuPd core-shell NPs with better distribution, higher yield and lower cost while stronger CL intensity and higher conversion could be obtained for further quantitative analysis and application.

Enhanced biosynthesis of CdS nanoparticles through Arabidopsis thaliana phytochelatin synthase-modified Escherichia coli with fluorescence effect in detection of pyrogallol and gallic acid.

In this work, CdS nanoparticles (CdS NPs) biosynthesized through Arabidopsis thaliana phytochelatin synthase-modified Escherichia coli (CdS/AtPCS1-E. coli) with fluorescence (FL) performance for detection of pyrogallol and gallic acid was investigated. Through expression of the AtPCS1 gene inside E. coli cells by pET28b vector, biosynthesis of CdS NPs was greatly enhanced due to generation of phytochelatins (PCs, (γ-Glu-Cys)n-Gly, n ≥ 2) for efficient capture of Cd2+. The expression of AtPCS1 and concentration of glutathione (GSH) and PCs were detected by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively. The morphology and component were checked through scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). FL effect with different experimental conditions were examined. In addition, it is also applied to determination of pyrogallol and gallic acid. These results revealed that multifunctional PCs could effectively facilitate biosynthesis of CdS NPs with higher yield, better distribution and lower cost while stronger FL intensity could be obtained for quantitative analysis.

[Effects of Galla chinensis on bacteria and algae in pool water].

With experimental aquarium, this paper studied the effects of different concentration Galla chinensis on the bacteria and algae in pool water. The results showed that when treated for 72 h, there was a significant correlation (r = - 0.84349, P < 0.05) between the total number of bacteria and the concentration of G. chinensis. At the concentration of G. chinensis being higher than 3 mg x L(-1), the total number of bacteria was decreased by 96.2% averagely, and the proportion of Gram-negative bacteria decreased most. After 72 h, the total number of bacteria showed an increasing trend. Definite concentrations of G. Chinensis had a short-term inhibitory effect on the growth of algae. For fish-pond disinfection, the optimal concentration of G. Chinensis could be 3 mg x L(-1), and the optimal treating duration could be 72 h.