scholarly journals Electrochemical Amino Acid Sensing: A Review on Challenges and Achievements

Biosensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 502
Author(s):  
Kaveh Moulaee ◽  
Giovanni Neri

The rapid growth of research in electrochemistry in the last decade has resulted in a significant advancement in exploiting electrochemical strategies for assessing biological substances. Among these, amino acids are of utmost interest due to their key role in human health. Indeed, an unbalanced amino acid level is the origin of several metabolic and genetic diseases, which has led to a great need for effective and reliable evaluation methods. This review is an effort to summarize and present both challenges and achievements in electrochemical amino acid sensing from the last decade (from 2010 onwards) to show where limitations and advantages stem from. In this review, we place special emphasis on five well-known electroactive amino acids, namely cysteine, tyrosine, tryptophan, methionine and histidine. The recent research and achievements in this area and significant performance metrics of the proposed electrochemical sensors, including the limit of detection, sensitivity, stability, linear dynamic range(s) and applicability in real sample analysis, are summarized and presented in separate sections. More than 400 recent scientific studies were included in this review to portray a rich set of ideas and exemplify the capabilities of the electrochemical strategies to detect these essential biomolecules at trace and even ultra-trace levels. Finally, we discuss, in the last section, the remaining issues and the opportunities to push the boundaries of our knowledge in amino acid electrochemistry even further.

Nanomaterials ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 162
Author(s):  
Pooja Chauhan ◽  
Deepa Mundekkad ◽  
Amitava Mukherjee ◽  
Savita Chaudhary ◽  
Ahmad Umar ◽  
...  

In the recent era, carbon dots (C-dots) have been extensively considered as a potential tool in drug delivery analysis. However, there have been fewer reports in the literature on their application in the sensing of amino acids. As part of our ongoing research on coconut-husk-derived C-dots, we synthesized C-dots under different temperature conditions and utilized them in the field of amino acid sensing and found them to be highly selective and sensitive towards tyrosine. The detailed characterization of the prepared C-dots was carried out. The developed C-dots exhibit good values of quantum yield. BSA, HSA and glutamic acid were utilized to explore the binding efficiency of C-dots with biologically active components. Hemolysis, blood clotting index activity and cell viability assays using the prepared C-dots were evaluated and they were found to be biocompatible. Therefore, the C-dots described in this work have high potential to be utilized in the field of amino acid sensing, especially L-tyrosine. The limit of detection and the binding constant for the developed C-dots in the presence of tyrosine were found to be 0.96 nM and 296.38 nM−1, respectively. The efficiency of the developed C-dots was also investigated in the presence of various other amino acids and different water mediums in order to enhance the working scope of the developed sensors.


Amino Acids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grażyna Gałęzowska ◽  
Joanna Ratajczyk ◽  
Lidia Wolska

AbstractThe quantitation and qualification of amino acids are most commonly used in clinical and epidemiological studies, and provide an excellent way of monitoring compounds in human fluids which have not been monitored previously, to prevent some diseases. Because of this, it is not surprising that scientific interest in evaluating these compounds has resurfaced in recent years and has precipitated the development of a multitude of new analytical techniques. This review considers recent developments in HPLC analytics on the basis of publications from the last few years. It helps to update and systematize knowledge in this area. Particular attention is paid to the progress of analytical methods, pointing out the advantages and drawbacks of the various techniques used for the preparation, separation and determination of amino acids. Depending on the type of sample, the preparation conditions for HPLC analysis change. For this reason, the review has focused on three types of samples, namely urine, blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Despite time-consuming sample preparation before HPLC analysis, an additional derivatization technique should be used, depending on the detection technique used. There are proposals for columns that are specially modified for amino acid separation without derivatization, but the limit of detection of the substance is less beneficial. In view of the fact that amino acid analyses have been performed for years and new solutions may generate increased costs, it may turn out that older proposals are much more advantageous.


2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 551-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhengchang Liu ◽  
Janet Thornton ◽  
Mário Spírek ◽  
Ronald A. Butow

ABSTRACT Cells of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae sense extracellular amino acids and activate expression of amino acid permeases through the SPS-sensing pathway, which consists of Ssy1, an amino acid sensor on the plasma membrane, and two downstream factors, Ptr3 and Ssy5. Upon activation of SPS signaling, two transcription factors, Stp1 and Stp2, undergo Ssy5-dependent proteolytic processing that enables their nuclear translocation. Here we show that Ptr3 is a phosphoprotein whose hyperphosphorylation is increased by external amino acids and is dependent on Ssy1 but not on Ssy5. A deletion mutation in GRR1, encoding a component of the SCFGrr1 E3 ubiquitin ligase, blocks amino acid-induced hyperphosphorylation of Ptr3. We found that two casein kinase I (CKI) proteins, Yck1 and Yck2, previously identified as positive regulators of SPS signaling, are required for hyperphosphorylation of Ptr3. Loss- and gain-of-function mutations in PTR3 result in decreased and increased Ptr3 hyperphosporylation, respectively. We found that a defect in PP2A phosphatase activity leads to the hyperphosphorylation of Ptr3 and constitutive activation of SPS signaling. Two-hybrid analysis revealed interactions between the N-terminal signal transduction domain of Ssy1 with Ptr3 and Yck1. Our findings reveal that CKI and PP2A phosphatase play antagonistic roles in SPS sensing by regulating Ptr3 phosphorylation.


2004 ◽  
Vol 91 (01) ◽  
pp. 38-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christof Geisen ◽  
Erhard Seifried ◽  
Johannes Oldenburg ◽  
Matthias Watzka

SummaryFactorVIII acts as an essential compound of the tenase complex of the coagulation system. Herein we report the cDNA of the rat factor VIII. The rat cDNA comprises 6777 nucleotides and encodes a protein of 2258 amino acids, 61 amino acids less than mouse and 92 amino acids less than human factor VIII. The overall identity compared to human cDNA is 61% on the cDNA and 51% on the amino acid level. In cDNA, highest levels of sequence identity can be observed in the A and C domains (ranging between 68% and 73%), whereas B domain and the small acidic regions are more divergent (34%-49%). Compared to mouse and human most sites for posttranslational modifications such as sulfatation and glycosylation as well as thrombin and protein C cleavage sites are conserved in rat. Alternative transcripts lacking exon 17 and/or comprising additional 26 bp due to alternative splicing of exon 20 were found. Furthermore, 13 polymorphisms (seven in exon 14, one in exon 20, 23, 24, and 25, two in the 3’UTR) three of which lead to an amino acid exchange could be detected. Our findings might provide new insights into the structure-function analysis of the factor VIII protein and might prove useful for future animal models addressing the function of factor VIII.


Author(s):  
Totka Dodevska ◽  
Dobrin Hadzhiev ◽  
Ivan Shterev ◽  
Yanna Lazarova

Recently, the development of eco-friendly, cost-effective and reliable methods for synthesis of metal nanoparticles has drawn a considerable attention. The so-called green synthesis, using mild reaction conditions and natural resources as plant extracts and microorganisms, has established as a convenient, sustainable, cheap and environmentally safe approach for synthesis of a wide range of nanomaterials. Over the past decade, biosynthesis is regarded as an important tool for reducing the harmful effects of traditional nanoparticle synthesis methods commonly used in laboratories and industry. This review emphasizes the significance of biosynthesized metal nanoparticles in the field of electrochemical sensing. There is increasing evidence that green synthesis of nanoparticles provides a new direction in designing of cost-effective, highly sensitive and selective electrode-catalysts applicable in food, clinical and environmental analysis. The article is based on 157 references and provided a detailed overview on the main approaches for green synthesis of metal nanoparticles and their applications in designing of electrochemical sensor devices. Important operational characteristics including sensitivity, dynamic range, limit of detection, as well as data on stability and reproducibility of sensors have also been covered. Keywords: biosynthesis; green synthesis; nanomaterials; nanotechnology; modified electrodes


1959 ◽  
Vol 197 (4) ◽  
pp. 873-879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland A. Coulson ◽  
Thomas Hernandez

The rate of renal deamination of 18 amino acids was determined by injecting them into alligators and measuring the ammonia excreted. Not only did glycine, alanine, glutamine and leucine account for nearly half of the plasma amino acids, they were also deaminated more rapidly than any of the others. In view of this it was concluded that these four amino acids are the natural precursors of urinary NH3 in the alligator. Increased NH3 and CO2 excretion following glycine injections resulted in increased renal reabsorption of Na and Cl when NaCl was injected and increased Na reabsorption when NaHCO3 or Na phosphate solutions were injected. The fact that excess NH4HCO3 excretion enhances salt reabsorption independent of plasma pH makes it probable that the excretion of N is the chief function of the ammonia mechanism and that salt conservation is incidental. Insulin decreased the plasma amino acid level and drastically reduced the NH3 excretion. With the decrease in ammonia, NaCl and NaHCO3 were excreted in increased amounts.


1990 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 538-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Friedberg ◽  
J. Seijffers

We present here the isolation and molecular characterization of acetolactate synthase (ALS) genes from the cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC7942 which specify a sulfonylurea-sensitive enzyme and from the sulfonylurea-resistant mutant SM3/20, which specify resistance to sulfonylurea herbicides. The ALS gene was cloned and mapped by complementation of an Escherichia coli ilv auxotroph that requires branched-chain amino acids for growth and lacks ALS activity. The cyanobacterial gene is efficiently expressed in this heterologous host. The ALS gene codes for 612 amino acids and shows high sequence homology (46%) at the amino acid level with ALS III of E. coli and with the tobacco ALS. The resistant phenotype is a consequence of proline to serine substitution in residue 115 of the deduced amino acid sequence. Functional expression of the mutant gene in wild-type Synechococcus and in E. coli confirmed that this amino-acid substitution is responsible for the resistance. Yet the deduced amino-acid sequence as compared with othjer ALS proteins supports the notion that the amino-acid context of the substitution is important for the resistance.


2014 ◽  
Vol 172 ◽  
pp. 457-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingping Hu ◽  
Sirikarn Wisetsuwannaphum ◽  
John S. Foord

l-Glutamate is one of the most important neurotransmitters in the mammalian central nervous system, playing a vital role in many physiological processes and implicated in several neurological disorders, for which monitoring of dynamic levels of extracellular glutamate in the living brain tissues may contribute to medical understanding and treatments. Electrochemical sensing of glutamate has been developed recently mainly using platinum, carbon fibre and carbon nanotube electrodes. In the present work, we explore the fabrication and properties of electrochemical glutamate sensors fabricated on doped chemical vapour deposition diamond electrodes and graphene nanoplatelet structures. The sensors incorporate platinum nanoparticles to catalyse the electrooxidation of hydrogen peroxide, glutamate oxidase to oxidise glutamate, and a layer of poly-phenylenediamine to impart selectivity. The performance of the devices was compared to a similar sensor fabricated on glassy carbon. Both the diamond and the graphene sensor showed very competitive performance compared to the majority of existing electrochemical sensors. The graphene based sensor showed the best performance of the three investigated in terms of sensitivity, linear dynamic range and long term stability, whereas it was found that the diamond device showed the best limit of detection.


1996 ◽  
Vol 315 (3) ◽  
pp. 807-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Said MODARESSI ◽  
Bruno CHRIST ◽  
Jutta BRATKE ◽  
Stefan ZAHN ◽  
Tilman HEISE ◽  
...  

In human liver, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK; EC 4.1.1.32) is about equally distributed between cytosol and mitochondria in contrast with rat liver in which it is essentially a cytosolic enzyme. Recently, the isolation of the gene and cDNA of the human cytosolic enzyme has been reported [Ting, Burgess, Chamberlain, Keith, Falls and Meisler (1993) Genomics 16, 698–706; Stoffel, Xiang, Espinosa, Cox, Le Beau and Bell (1993) Hum. Mol. Genet. 2, 1–4]. It was the goal of this investigation to isolate the cDNA of the human mitochondrial form of hepatic PCK. A human liver cDNA library was screened with a rat cytosolic PCK cDNA probe comprising sequences from exons 2 to 9. A cDNA clone was isolated which had overall a 68% DNA sequence and a 70% deduced amino acid sequence identity with the human cytosolic PCK cDNA. Without the flanking 270 bases (=90 amino acids) each at the 5´ and 3´ end, the sequence identity was 73% on the DNA and 78% on the amino acid level. The isolated cDNA had an open reading frame of 1920 bp; it was 54 bp (equivalent to 18 amino acids) longer than that of human or rat cytosolic PCK cDNA. The isolated cDNA was cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNAI and transfected into human embryonal kidney cells HEK293; PCK activity was increased by 3-fold in the mitochondria, which normally contain 70% of total PCK activity, but not in the cytosol. The isolated cDNA was also transfected into cultured rat hepatocytes; again, PCK activity was enhanced by about 40-fold in the mitochondria, which normally possess only 10% of total PCK activity, but not in the cytosol. In the rat hepatocytes only the endogenous cytosolic PCK and not the transfected mitochondrial PCK was induced 3-fold with glucagon. Comparison of the amino acid sequences deduced from the isolated cDNA with human and rat cytosolic PCK showed that the additional 18 amino acids were located at the N-terminus of the protein and probably constitute a mitochondrial targeting signal. Northern-blot analyses revealed the human mitochondrial PCK mRNA to be 2.25 kb long, about 0.6 kb shorter than the mRNA of the cytosolic PCK. Primer extension experiments showed that the 5´-untranslated region of mitochondrial PCK mRNA was 134 nucleotides in length.


2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 248-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah C.I. Goberdhan ◽  
Margret H. Ögmundsdóttir ◽  
Shubana Kazi ◽  
Bruno Reynolds ◽  
Shivanthy M. Visvalingam ◽  
...  

mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) plays a key role in determining how growth factor, nutrient and oxygen levels modulate intracellular events critical for the viability and growth of the cell. This is reflected in the impact of aberrant mTOR signalling on a number of major human diseases and has helped to drive research to understand how TOR (target of rapamycin) is itself regulated. While it is clear that amino acids can affect TOR signalling, how these molecules are sensed by TOR remains controversial, perhaps because cells use different mechanisms as environmental conditions change. Even the question of whether they have an effect inside the cell or at its surface remains unresolved. The present review summarizes current ideas and suggests ways in which some of the models proposed might be unified to produce an amino acid detection system that can adapt to environmental change.


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