A novel graphene oxide-based fluorescence method for detection of urine glycosaminoglycans.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) serve as a biomarker for mucopolysaccharidoses disease. In this study, a novel fluorometric method was developed to measure total GAGs in urine. Graphene oxide (GO) and rhodamine B (RhB), a cationic fluorescent dye, were employed in the development of the method. RhB attaches to the GO surface via electrostatic attraction, leading to the quenching of its fluorescence upon the establishment of the RhB-GO complex. However, the presence of GAGs prompts a resurgence of intense fluorescence. The linear range of the method is between 5.00 and 70.00 mg/L. The total GAG levels of urine samples analyzed using the method agree with the results of the biochemistry analysis laboratory (65.85 and 79.18 mg/L; 73.30 ± 1.76 and 72.21 ± 2.21). The method is simple, accurate, and sensitive and may be used for both first-step diagnosis of the mucopolysaccharidoses and detection of individual GAGs for studies of GAG-related research and other biological applications.

Purification and characterization of avocado (Persea americana) polyphenol oxidase by affinity chromatography.

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme was purified from avocado (Persea americana) by ammonium sulfate precipitation 0-80%, dialysis and affinity chromatography. Characterization studies were performed with catechol (0.10 M, pH: 7.2, 37 °C), 4-methyl catechol (0.10 M, pH: 6.0, 37 °C), pyrogallol (0.02 M, pH: 8.5, 5 °C), chlorogenic acid (0.20 M, pH: 6.8, 10 °C) and caffeic acid (0.20 M, pH: 8.5, 10 °C), respectively. Vmax and KM values were determined for catechol (15789.96 U*mL-1*min-1, 10 mM), 4-methyl catechol (6768.40 U*mL-1*min-1, 2 mM), pyrogallol (6802.72 U*mL-1*min-1, 4 mM), chlorogenic acid (1377.97 U*mL-1*min-1, 14.29 mM) and caffeic acid (2567.24 U*mL-1*min-1, 5 mM). PPO was purified as 147.73-fold and 154.00-fold by Sepharose 4B-L-Tyrosine-p-aminobenzoic acid and Sepharose-6B-L-Tyrosine-p-aminobenzoic acid, respectively. 4B isolated PPO gave two bands at 35 and 50 kDa in SDS-PAGE while visible and slightly visible bands at 50-70 kDa and 100 kDa in Native-PAGE. 6B isolated PPO gave bands as distinctively at 50 kDa and unclearly at around 35 kDa in SDS-PAGE while visible and slightly visible bands at 50-70 and 100 kDa in Native-PAGE. The synthesis of original 6B-affinity gel and no any study found in literature on affinity purification of avocado PPO show importance of our study.

Purification of damson plum polyphenol oxidase by affinity chromatography and investigation of metal effects on enzyme activity.

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was firstly purified from damson plum as a high antioxidant source. PPO was treated by 0-80% ammonium sulfate precipitation and dialysis. Characterization results were determined for catechol, 4-methyl catechol, pyrogallol and caffeic acid as 0.05 M/pH: 7.2/25 °C; 0.2 M/pH: 4.5/10 °C; 0.01 M/pH: 6.8/5 °C, and 0.2 M/pH: 8.5/10 °C, respectively. Vmax and KM values were calculated for same substrates as 17,219.97 U/(mL*min) and 11.67 mM; 7309.72 U/(mL*min) and 5 mM; 12,580.12 U/(mL*min) and 3.74 mM; 12,100.41 U/(mL*min) and 6.25 mM, respectively. Catechol gave the highest Vmax value among substrates. Affinity purification was performed by using Sepharose 4B-L-Tyrosine-p-aminobenzoic acid and Sepharose 6B-L-Tyrosine-p-aminobenzoic acid. Single bands were approximately observed at 50 kDa for each affinity sample in SDS-PAGE and Native-PAGE. 93.88 and 10.46 purification-folds were obtained for PPO by reference Sepharose-4B and original Sepharose-6B gels. Metal effects upon PPO activity were also investigated due to the importance of enzymatic browning in foods. Cu+2 activation and Fe+2 inhibition were observed with a final metal concentration of 1 mM at 219.66 and 43.18%, respectively. PPO purification from damson plum by affinity chromatography, its characterization, stability evaluation by statistically, and effects of metal ions on damson plum PPO have not been investigated in the literature.

α-Amylase assay with starch-iodine-sodium fluorescein-based fluorometric method in human serum samples.

A new fluorometric method was developed for the determination of α-amylase activity in human serum samples. Firstly, a saturated starch-iodine complex (SI) was prepared. The SI complex was combined with sodium fluorescein to form a starch-iodine-sodium fluorescein complex (SIF). As the SIF complex decomposes with the α-amylase enzymatic hydrolysis of starch, the intensity of its fluorescence emission increases. The α-amylase activity is determined using the increased fluorescence emission intensity following hydrolysis of the SIF complex by α-amylase. The optimum pH, optimum buffer concentration, optimum temperature, and interference effect were identified for the developed fluorometric measurement method. Under the optimum conditions, a linear calibration curve was obtained between 0.18 and 9.00 U/L for α-amylase. The α-amylase activity in the human serum sample was also determined by our prepared measurement system and compared with the result from a medical center. Both methods are in good agreement with each other. Because this newly developed fluorometric method for α-amylase activity in serum samples is inexpensive, easy to use, and carried out to detect a very low amount of human serum α-amylase with sensitivity, it can be proposed this method for alpha-amylase activity assay in all other biological samples.

Development of a fluorometric measurement system used in biological samples upon the determination of iron (II) metal ion.

2-thioxanthone thioacetic acid (TXSCH2COOH, T), which has a fluorometric character, was used for new fluorometric system upon Fe(II) analysis in biological samples as the main target. T-BSA binary complex was firstly consisted with non-covalent interactions between T and BSA at the equilibrium concentration as 1.77 × 10-4.M. T-BSA binary complex emission was increased at the ratio of 24.40% due to stabilization property of BSA (pH:7), compared with T emission intensity. Fluorescence emission spectroscopy was used for the all measurements because of an economic, a sensitive and a practical method compared with other spectroscopic analysis. T-BSA-Fe(II) triple complex was also obtained by adding Fe(II) ion to T-BSA binary complex solution. Its characterization was performed to be investigated with optimum excitation wavelength, buffer concentration, pH and temperature as 297 nm, 10-3 M Tris HCl (10-2M NaCI), pH:7.2 at 25 °C, respectively. The results of Fe(II) analysis in serum showed a certain response in fluorometric T-BSA-Fe(II) triple complex measurement system as 50.42 ± 5.8 µg/dL. The analyses of our fluorometric triple complex system were compared with the reference electrochemiluminescence method and similar results were obtained. Fluorometric measurements of T-BSA-Fe(II) triple complex, its characterization and Fe(II) analysis in this system have not been investigated in literature gives originality to our study.

Analysis of hydrolytic differences of free and "polyacrylic acid (PAAc)-conjugated trypsin and chymotrypsin" by using fluorescence lifetime distributions.

Electroanalytic, photometric or fluorometric methods may provide information about the presence of proteolysis in a related sample, but they cannot accurately identify which protease belongs to the proteolytic activity. In other words, they cannot distinguish the proteases according to the differences in their activities. Previous studies on the chymotrypsin and trypsin have shown that the activities of proteases can be distinguished from each other by fluorescence lifetime distributions. In this study, it is aimed to show the sensitivity of the distributional model on the proteolytic activities of the two proteases. For this purpose, the proteolytic activities have been reduced by making covalent conjugation with polyacrylic acid (PAAc) and the effects of the low activities were examined on Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) which excimer emission character was incorporated into its structure by modification with N-(1-pyrenyl)maleimide. The time-resolved spectrofluorometer was used to collect fluorescence decay data at λ(excimer) = 464 nm, which were analyzed by using Exponential Series Method (ESM) to obtain the changes of lifetime distributions. The results showed a significant decline in the activities. Despite the very low activities, the changes of fluorescence lifetime distributions exhibited remarkable specific differences that proved the sensitivity of ESM analysis.

Sensitive and accurate determination of oil-soluble and water-soluble organosulfur compounds in garlic matrix using reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography.

Garlic is in the family Liliaceae and has many different constituents such as organic sulfur compounds, amino acids, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. In this work, a simple, sensitive, and accurate analytical method was developed for the determination of selected organosulfur compounds (OSCs) in garlic bulbs using reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Oil-soluble and water-soluble OSCs were extracted from the garlic samples via acetonitrile and deionized water, respectively. The OSCs were separated on a Phenomenex C18 (250 mm, 4 mm, 5mm) column and the monitoring was performed with a UV detector at 220 nm. An isocratic mobile phase comprising of 0.10 M trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in 85% acetonitrile (ACN) and 0.10 M TFA in distilled water (DW) (90: 10% v/v) was used to elute the analytes. Under optimum experimental conditions, the limits of detection (LOD) for the analytes were calculated in the range of 0.09 to 0.17 mg/kg. For the garlic sample extracts analyzed under optimal instrumental conditions, DAS (diallyl sulfide), DADS (diallyl disulfide), and DATS (diallyl trisulfide) were detected in the ranges of 8.0 to 32.5 mg/kg, 20.4 to 67.3 mg/kg, and 60.7 to 356.6 mg/kg, respectively. Spiked recovery experiments were conducted on the garlic samples to confirm the method's applicability and accuracy. The recovery results ranged between 39.0% and 90.9% for the garlic samples extracted with deionized water. The developed method is simple, precise, accurate, reliable, and time-effective for the determination of OSCs. Additionally, the green profile of the developed method was investigated by using AGREEprep software and the greenness score was recorded as 0.65, indicating that the method developed is environmentally friendly.

Production and optimization of L-glutaminase enzyme from Hypocrea jecorina pure culture.

L-Glutaminase (L-glutamine amidohydrolase, EC 3.5.1.2) is the important enzyme that catalyzes the deamination of L-glutamine to L-glutamic acid and ammonium ions. Recently, L-glutaminase has received much attention with respect to its therapeutic and industrial applications. It acts as a potent antileukemic agent and shows flavor-enhancing capacity in the production of fermented foods. Glutaminase activity is widely distributed in plants, animal tissues, and microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts, and fungi. This study presents microbial production of glutaminase enzyme from Hypocrea jecorina pure culture and determination of optimum conditions and calculation of kinetic parameters of the produced enzyme. The optimum values were determined by using sa Nesslerization reaction for our produced glutaminase enzyme. The optimum pH value was determined as 8.0 and optimum temperature as 50°C for the glutaminase enzyme. The Km and Vmax values, the kinetic parameters, of enzyme produced from Hypocrea jecorina, pure culture were determined as 0.491 mM for Km and 13.86 U/L for Vmax by plotted Lineweaver-Burk graphing, respectively. The glutaminase enzyme from H. jecorina microorganism has very high thermal and storage stability.

Comparison of covalent and noncovalent immobilization of Malatya apricot pectinesterase (Prunus armeniaca L.).

Pectinesterase isolated from Malatya apricot pulp was noncovalently and covalently immobilized onto bentonite and glutaraldehyde-containing amino group functionalized porous glass beads surface at pH 8.0 and pH 9.0, respectively. The effect of various parameters such as pH, temperature, activation energy, heat and storage stability on immobilized enzyme were investigated. The optimum temperature of covalently and noncovalently immobilized PE was 50°C. This value was 60°C for free PE. Although optimum pH of covalently-immobilized PE was 8.0, this parameter was 9.0 for free and covalently-immobilized PE. The noncovalently immobilized enzyme exhibited better thermostability than the free and covalently immobilized PE.

Determination of L-Phenylalanine in Human Plasma Samples with New Fluorometric Method.

The measurement of phenylalanine in biological fluids for the diagnosis of phenylketonuria (PKU) in newborns and the monitoring/therapeutic drug monitoring of individuals with PKU are especially important. Owing to the importance of PKU monitoring in clinical medicine, a new fluorometric method was developed for the determination of L-phenylalanine in serum samples. This method is based on the relationship between phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and o-phthalaldehyde (OPA). PAL catalyzes the conversion of phenylalanine to ammonia and trans-cinnamic acid. The formed ammonia reacts with OPA in the presence of sodium sulfite, giving a fluorescent product. The presence of sulfide in an alkaline environment prevents OPA from reacting with other amino acids while allowing it to react only with ammonia. Method characterization and optimization studies, such as the effects of pH, temperature, and interferents, were carried out. The amount of L-phenylalanine in a human serum sample was successfully determined by using the fluorescence emission intensity of the fluorescent product formed as a result of the reaction between OPA and ammonia. The linear range of the method is between 10 µM and 10 mM. The obtained result showed good agreement with the results of the biochemistry analysis laboratory. Recoveries of 95.41% and 73.39% were obtained for phenylalanine and ammonia, respectively. This PAL-OPA-based fluorometric method for phenylalanine is practical, easy to operate, low cost, highly sensitive, and selective and can also be used for the simultaneous determination of ammonia in human serum samples.

A novel fluorometric measurement system based on triple complex for mercury (II) determination.

T-BSA binary complex was formed with non-covalent interactions between fluorometric 2-thioxanthone thioacetic acid and stabilizator bovine serum albumin by fluorescence emission spectroscopy as a sensible and practical method. T-BSA concentration at 1.77 × 10-4 M was obtained as the most suitable and reliable amount for the formation of T-BSA-Hg(II) triple complex. Trace amount of Hg(II) analyses were achieved by this new fluorometric triple complex system as the primary aim. The emission spectra from 350 nm to 650 nm were assayed on fluorometer for Hg(II) concentrations from 1.77 × 10-8 M to 3.53 × 10-4 M under an excitation wavelength of 337 nm. Hg(II) was found to increase the emission intensity of T-BSA by 50% even at 1.77 × 10-7 M Hg(II). So this new system has strong sensitivity to Hg(II) ion. T-BSA-Hg(II) triple complex formation and its fluorometric characterization have not been investigated in literature yet. This study is critically important to provide Hg(II) analyses in wastewater treatments and biological samples for further studies.

Noncovalent immobilization of Pectinesterase (Prunus armeniaca L.) onto bentonite.

In this work, pectinesterase isolated from Malatya apricot was immobilized onto acid-treated bentonite surface by simple adsorption at pH 9.0. The properties of free and immobilized enzyme were defined. The effect of various factors such as pH, temperature, heat, and storage stability on immobilized enzyme were investigated. Optimum pH and temperature were determined to be 9.0 and 50 degrees C, respectively. Kinetic parameters of the immobilized enzyme (Km and Vmax values) were also determined as 0.51 mM of the Km and 14.6 micromol min(-1) mg(-1) of the Vmax. No drastic change was observed in the Km value after immobilization. The Vmax value of immobilized enzyme was 8.4-fold bigger than those of free enzyme. Thermal and storage stability experiments were carried out. The patterns of heat stability indicated that the immobilization process tends to stabilize the enzyme. The properties of the immobilized enzyme were compared to those of the free enzyme.

Purification and biochemical characteristics of pectinesterase from Malatya apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.).

Pectinesterase (PE) in Malatya apricot pulp (Prunus armeniaca L.) was extracted and purified through (NH(4))(2)SO(4) precipitation, dialysis, and DEAE-Sephadex gel filtration chromatography. The samples obtained from the dialysis procedure, named partially purified enzyme, were used for characterization of the apricot pectinesterase. The effect of various factors such as pH, temperature, heat, and storage stability on the partially purified apricot PE enzyme was investigated. Optimum pH value was 9.0 for PE with 1% pectin in 0.1 N NaCl (w/v). The optimum temperature for apricot PE was found to be 60 degrees C on standard analysis conditions. Heat inactivation studies showed a decrease in enzymatic activity at temperatures above 70 degrees C. Km and V(max) values were 0.77 mM and 1.75 micromol min(-1) mg(-1) for apricot PE. Five inhibitors were tested in the study; the most effective inhibitor was found to be sodium carbonate (100% inhibition). The order of inhibitory effectiveness was: Na(2)CO(3), iodine, lauril sulphate, AgNO(3), EDTA. Thermal inactivation data indicated that apparent activation energy with pectin substrate was 2.96 kcal mol(-1) for the enzyme. Ascorbic acid, CaCl(2), and KCl showed activatory effect on the apricot PE enzyme.

A novel potentiometric biosensor for determination of L-lysine in commercial pharmaceutical L-lysine tablet and capsule.

The construction of an L-lysine biosensor on ammonium-selective poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) membrane electrode is described in this study. The construction procedure occurs in two stages: (I) the preparation of ammonium-selective poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) membrane electrode and (II) the chemical immobilization of lysine oxidase on this ammonium-selective electrode by using glutaraldehyde. The ammonium ions produced after enzymatic reaction were determined potentiometrically. The sensitivity of the lysine biosensor against ammonium ions and lysine were studied. The response time, linear working range, reproducibility and life time of the biosensor were also determined. The interfering effect of other amino acids on the biosensor performance was also studied and potentiometric selectivity coefficients were calculated. Although the biosensor responded mainly against tyrosine, a lot of amino acids and ascorbic acid that can be present in some real samples did not show any important interference. Additionally, lysine assay in commercial pharmaceutical lysine tablets and capsules was also successfully carried out. The results were in good agreement with previously reported values.

A novel glutamine biosensor based on zinc oxide nanorod and glutaminase enzyme from Hypocria jecorina.

A novel biosensor for determination of L-glutamine in pharmaceutical glutamine powder was developed via immobilizing our produced glutaminase enzyme from Hypocria jecorina onto our prepared zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod and chitosan. ZnO nanorods were prepared as surface-dependent and surface-independent and both were used. The biosensor is specific for L-glutamine and the peculiar analytical properties (linearity range, reproducibility, and accuracy) of it were experimentally determined. The optimum operating conditions of the biosensor such as buffer concentration, buffer pH, and medium temperature effect on the response of biosensor were studied. Km and Vmax values for the our-producing glutaminase enzyme from Hypocria jecorina immobilized on the biosensor were also determined as 0.29 mM and 208.33 mV/min., respectively, from Lineweaver-Burk plot. The biosensor was then used for the determination of glutamine contained in pharmaceutical formulations.

The modifier effects of chymotrypsin and trypsin enzymes on fluorescence lifetime distribution of "N-(1-pyrenyl)maleimide-bovine serum albumin" complex.

Chymotrypsin and trypsin are the well known proteolytic enzymes, both of which are synthesized in the pancreas as their precursors - the inactive forms; chymotrypsinogen and trypsinogen - and then are released into the duodenum to cut proteins into smaller peptides. In this paper, the effects of activities of chymotrypsin and trypsin enzymes on fluorescence lifetime distributions of the substrat bovine serum albumin (BSA) modified with N-(1-pyrenyl)maleimide (PM) were examined. In the labeling study of BSA with PM, it is aimed to attach PM to the single free thiol (Cys34) and to all the free amine groups in accessible positions in order to produce excimers of pyrene planes of the possible highest amount to form the lifetime distributions in the widest range, that may show specifically distinguishing changes resulting from the activities of the proteases. The time resolved spectrofluorometer was used to monitor fluorescence decays, which were analyzed by using the exponential series method (ESM) to obtain the changes of lifetime distributions. After the exposure of the synthesized substrat PM-BSA to the enzymes, the fluorescence lifetime distributions exhibited different structures which were attributed to the different activities of the proteases.

Immobilization of glutaminase enzyme from Hypocria jecorina on polyacrylic acid: preparation and biochemical characterization.

L-glutaminase enzyme produced from Hypocrea jecorina pure culture and polyacrylic acid (PAA) in the presence (Cu2+) ions were composed the ternary complex at pH 7. The properties of free and immobilized enzyme were defined. The effect of various factors such as pH, temperature, heat, and storage stability on immobilized enzyme were investigated. The properties of immobilized enzyme were investigated and compared to those of free enzyme. Optimum pH and temperature of both enzyme were determined to be 8.0 and 50°C, respectively. Kinetic parameters of the immobilized enzyme (Km and Vmax values) were also determined as 0.38 mM of the Km and 10.9 U/L of the Vmax. No drastic change was observed in the Km and Vmax values. Thermal and storage stability experiments were carried out. The thermal stability studies indicated that the immobilization process tends to stabilize the enzyme.

Novel creatine biosensors based on all solid-state contact ammonium-selective membrane electrodes.

Novel creatine bienzymatic potentiometric biosensors were prepared by immobilizing urease and creatinase on all solid-state contact PVC-containing palmitic acid and carboxylated PVC matrix membrane ammonium-selective electrodes without inner reference solution. Potentiometric characteristics of biosensors were examined in physiological model solutions at different creatine concentrations. The linear working range and long-term sensitivity of the biosensors were also determined. The creatine biosensors prepared by using the carboxylated PVC membrane electrodes showed more effective performance than those of the PVC containing palmitic acid membrane electrodes. Creatine assay in serum samples was successfully carried out by using the standard addition method.

New urea biosensor based on urease enzyme obtained from Helycobacter pylori.

The urease enzyme of Helicobacter pylori was isolated from biopsy sample obtained from antrum big curvature cell extracts. A new urea biosensor was prepared by immobilizing urease enzyme isolated from Helicobacter pylori on poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) ammonium membrane electrode by using nonactine as an ammonium ionophore. The effect of pH, buffer concentration, and temperature for the biosensor prepared with urease from H. pylori were obtained as 6.0, 5 mM, and 25 °C, respectively. We also investigated urease concentration, stirring rate, and enzyme immobilization procedures in response to urea of the enzyme electrode. The linear working range of the biosensor extends from 1 × 10(-5) to 1 × 10(-2) M and they showed an apparent Nernstian response within this range. Urea enzyme electrodes prepared with urease enzymes obtained from H. pylori and Jack bean based on PVC membrane ammonium-selective electrode showed very good analytical parameters: high sensitivity, dynamic stability over 2 months with less decrease of sensitivity, response time 1-2 min. The analytical characteristics were investigated and were compared those of the urea biosensor prepared with urease enzyme isolated from Jack bean prepared at the same conditions. It was observed that rapid determinations of human serum urea amounts were also made possible with both biosensors.

A new potentiometric ammonium electrode for biosensor construction.

New ammonium-selective membrane electrode based on poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane containing palmitic acid (a long-chain fatty acid) and nonactin as an ammonium ionophore for the determination of ammonium ions in the 10(-7) - 10(-1) mol/L concentration range was prepared and compared to those of the electrode prepared by using carboxylated PVC. Sebacate was used as a plasticiser for both of the ammonium sensor membranes. The analytical characteristics of the ammonium electrodes was investigated. The effect of pH, buffer concentration, temperature and stirring rate on the response to ammonium electrode was investigated. The linear working range and sensitivity of the electrodes were also determined. Ammonium electrodes give Nernstian response (52-58 mV/p[NH4+]) throughout the ammonium ion concentration range of 10(-1) to 10(-6)M with detection limits of 10(-6)M ammonium ions. The ammonium-selective electrodes prepared by using the PVC membranes containing palmitic acid showed more effective performance than those of the carboxylated PVC. The ammonium ion sensor has potential application in the analysis of ammonium ions for biosensor construction.