Structural and spectrophotometric investigation of two unnatural amino-acid altered chromophores in the superfolder green fluorescent protein

The spectrophotometric properties of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) result from the post-translationally cyclized chromophore composed of three amino acids including a tyrosine at the center of the β-barrel protein. Altering the amino acids in the chromophore or the nearby region has resulted in numerous GFP variants with differing photophysical properties. To further examine the effect of small atomic changes in the chromophore on the structure and photophysical properties of GFP, the hydroxyl group of the chromophore tyrosine was replaced with a nitro or a cyano group. The structures and spectrophotometric properties of these superfolder GFP (sfGFP) variants with the unnatural amino acids (UAAs) 4-nitro-L-phenylalanine or 4-cyano-L-phenylalanine were explored. Notably, the characteristic 487 nm absorbance band of wild-type (wt) sfGFP is absent in both unnatural amino-acid-containing protein constructs (Tyr66pNO2Phe-sfGFP and Tyr66pCNPhe-sfGFP). Consequently, neither Tyr66pNO2Phe-sfGFP nor Tyr66pCNPhe-sfGFP exhibited the characteristic emission of wt sfGFP centered at 511 nm when excited at 487 nm. Tyr66pNO2Phe-sfGFP appeared orange due to an absorbance band centered at 406 nm that was not present in wt sfGFP, while Tyr66pCNPhe-sfGFP appeared colorless with an absorbance band centered at 365 nm. Mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography confirmed the presence of a fully formed chromophore and no significant structural changes in either of these UAA-containing protein constructs, signaling that the change in the observed photophysical properties of the proteins is the result of the presence of the UAA in the chromophore.

Simple and Cost Effective Polymer Modified Gold Nanoparticles Based on Colorimetric Determination of L-Cysteine in Food Samples

The purpose of the present research was to design a method for the colorimetric determination of L-cysteine. We have employed PVA capped gold nanoparticles (GNPs) as a probe. The as-synthesized GNPs were further characterized by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Zeta potential analyser. The results show that the presence of L-cysteine caused the quenching of the surface plasmon resonance band of the GNPs at 524 nm. It was accompanied by the appearance of a new absorbance of a new absorbance band at 670 nm. The color of the colloidal GNPs changed from wine red to blue. The change in color of the GNPs was due to their aggregation induced by the presence of L-cysteine. Based on these observations, the as-synthesized GNPs were utilized to develop a novel colorimetric sensor for L-cysteine detection in food samples. Significantly, other biomolecules such as alanine, proline, phenylalanine, tryptophane, valine, arginine, glutamic acid, lysine and histidine did not cause any change in the color of the GNPs solutions. This colorimetric probe showed excellent selectivity and high sensitivity for L-cysteine with a detection limit of 2.0 μg mL-1.

Sintesis Mg2+ doped ZnO dengan penambahan albumen ayam ras menggunakan gabungan metode sol-gel dan sonokimia

Mg2+ doped ZnO has been successfully synthesized using a combination of sol-gel and sonochemical methods. Zinc acetate dihydrate was used as a precursor, magnesium chloride hexahydrate as a source of Mg dopant, methanol as a solvent, and chicken albumen was used as an additive to replace monoethanolamine. The sol was heated at 110 °C for 1 hour. The gel formed was calcined at 600 °C for 3 hours. FTIR analysis shows that the absorbance band around 400-450 cm-1 indicates Mg-O stretching, the absorbance band around 500-550 cm-1 indicates Zn-O stretching, the absorbance band around 400-550 cm-1 shows Zn-O-Mg bonds. Mg. Measurements with UV-DRS, obtained the smallest ZnO band gap value doped Mg2+ around 2.7 eV with the addition of 10 mL albumen. The resulting crystal structure was wurtzite with crystal size with the addition of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mL albumen were 25.22-55.91 nm, 32.99-75.87 nm, 45.92-83.91 nm, 45.92-75.89 nm and 46.15-71.47 nm respectively. SEM photo of Mg2+ doped ZnO with the addition of 10 mL of albumen has a hexagonal surface morphology.

Green Extraction, Characterization, Applications and Antimicrobial Analysis of Natural Dye from Phyllanthus emblica

Global consciousness towards the organic value of eco-friendly products has attracted the interest of people towards the use of naturally dyed textiles and organic mordants. The present study has been focused not only on exploring the bio-colourant activity of Phyllanthus emblica (Amala) but also on the application of natural mordant for textile dyeing and analysis of its medicinal properties. It has been discovered from the investigation that biomordants like extract of Aloe vera’s as well as extract of mango’s bark extract were able to evince their characteristic colour ameliorate behaviour close to synthetic ones. Besides, the disparity in absorbance band in ultraviolet spectroscopy, distinction in functional groups and differences in surface morphology of two extracted dyes were observed that provided information on colour variation in the cotton fabrics. An eagle gray shade and brown-hued on the cotton fabric were noticed from water and ethanol extracted dyes, respectively. Further, it is confirmed that the natural dyes contain bioactive phytochemicals like tannins, phenols and flavonoids that provide a significant antibacterial activity which will help it to be beneficially utilized in protective medical clothing.

A Copper (II) Ensemble-Based Fluorescence Chemosensor and Its Application in the ‘Naked–Eye’ Detection of Biothiols in Human Urine

Quick and effective detection of biothiols in biological fluids has gained increasing attention due to its vital biological functions. In this paper, a novel reversible fluorescence chemosensor (L-Cu2+) based on a benzocoumarin-Cu2+ ensemble has been developed for the detection of biothiols (Cys, Hcy and GSH) in human urine. The chemosensing ensemble (L-Cu2+) contains a 2:1 stoichiometry structure between fluorescent ligand L and paramagnetic Cu2+. L was found to exclusively bond with Cu2+ ions accompanied with a dramatic fluorescence quenching maximum at 443 nm and an increase of an absorbance band centered at 378 nm. Then, the in situ generated fluorescence sluggish ensemble, L-Cu2+, was successfully used as a chemosensor for the detection of biothiols with a fluorescence “OFF-ON” response modality. Upon the addition of biothiols, the decomplexation of L-Cu2+ led to the liberation of the fluorescent ligand, L, resulting in the recovery of fluorescence and absorbance spectra. Studies revealed that L-Cu2+ possesses simple synthesis, excellent stability, high sensitivity, reliability at a broad pH range and desired renewability (at least 5 times). The practical application of L-Cu2+ was then demonstrated by the detection of biothiols in human urine sample.

A detailed study on the optical properties of 3-benzoyl-7-hydroxy coumarin compound in different solvents and concentrations

A coumarin-derived compound, 3-benzoyl-7-hydroxy coumarin (BHYC), is synthesized to determine its optoelectronic properties, including absorbance band edge, optical band gap, transmittance, refractive index, electrical susceptibility, volume-surface energy loss functions and optical/electrical conductance parameters. The absorbance spectra of BHYC in dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solvents exhibit maximum peaks at 350 and 353 nm, respectively, in the near-ultraviolet region. The absorbance band edge values of BHYC in DMF and DMSO are 2.526 and 2.500 eV, respectively. The optical band gap of BHYC varies from 2.560 to 2.408 eV with increasing molarity. In contrast, the refractive index of BHYC increases from 2.47 to 2.95 with changing molarity. The obtained results show that 3-benzoyl-7-hydroxy coumarin exhibits a semiconductor behavior and it may be an important candidate for many optoelectronic devices, such as diodes, photodiodes and sensors.

Tuning the Surface Plasmon Resonance of Lanthanum Hexaboride to Absorb Solar Heat: A Review

While traditional noble metal (Ag, Au, and Cu) nanoparticles are well known for their plasmonic properties, they typically only absorb in the ultraviolet and visible regions. The study of metal hexaborides, lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) in particular, expands the available absorbance range of these metals well into the near-infrared. As a result, LaB6 has become a material of interest for its energy and heat absorption properties, most notably to those trying to absorb solar heat. Given the growing popularity of LaB6, this review focuses on the advances made in the past decade with respect to controlling the plasmonic properties of LaB6 nanoparticles. This review discusses the fundamental structure of LaB6 and explains how decreasing the nanoparticle size changes the atomic vibrations on the surface and thus the plasmonic absorbance band. We explain how doping LaB6 nanoparticles with lanthanide metals (Y, Sm, and Eu) red-shifts the absorbance band and describe research focusing on the correlation between size dependent and morphological effects on the surface plasmon resonance. This work also describes successes that have been made in dispersing LaB6 nanoparticles for various optical applications, highlighting the most difficult challenges encountered in this field of study.

Photocatalytic Activity of SrAl2O4:xCu Powders under Solar Irradiation

Cooper doped SrAl2O4:xCu powders were synthesized by combustion method. The doping concentrations were x= 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%, and 1.0 at.%. X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that all Cu doped/undoped powders has monoclinic phase. Also, TEM images show that the size of the nanoparticles decreases as the content of Cu increases. The photocatalytic degradation of Congo red (CR) was studied by monitoring intensity of its characteristic absorbance band centered at 494 nm. The best result was obtained with the 0.1% Cu doped sample, since it degraded 100% of CR after 120 minutes under sunlight excitation. Hence, our results suggest that SrAl2O4:xCu powders could be suitable candidates for photocatalytic degradation of dye pollutants under sunlight.