Direct minimally invasive enzymatic determination of tyramine in cheese using digital imaging

An enzymatic method for the direct (without pretreatment) minimally invasive tyramine determination in cheese is proposed. Colorimetric test strips containing tyramine oxidase (TAO), peroxidase and 3, 3', 5, 5'-tetramethylbenzidine (Q-TAO), allow tyramine determination through the RGB chromatic coordinates of the observed blue colour (LOD = 2.6·10-6 M, LOQ = 8.7·10-6 M, RSD% (n = 5; 1.8·10-4 M) = 3.2%). The strips are inserted in the sample for 2 min and then the RGB coordinates are measured using a smartphone. Previously, these Q-TAO strips have been also optimized for tyramine determination in cheese extract. To do that, a spectrophotometric method in solution for tyramine determination in cheese extracts has been developed, which included an in-depth study of the indicating reaction; this study has allowed to gain new information about the spectroscopic properties of different TMB species and, which it is more important, to detect cross-reactions between TAO and TMB species. A mathematical model has also been developed which relate the RGB signals obtained with the tyramine concentrations, the instrumental characteristics of the smartphone and the spectroscopic properties of the absorbing product of the enzymatic reaction. © 2021 Elsevier B.V

In situ enzymatic generation of Au/Pt nanoparticles as an analytical photometric system: proof of concept determination of tyramine

In situ enzymatic generation of bimetallic nanoparticles, mainly Au/Pt, overcomes the drawbacks (continuous absorbance drift, modest LOQ, and long-time reaction) observed when AuNP alone are produced. In this study, Au/Pt nanoparticles have been characterized by EDS, XPS, and HRTEM images using the enzymatic determination of tyramine with tyramine oxidase (TAO) as a model. Under experimental conditions, the Au/Pt NPs show an absorption maximum at 580 nm which can be related to the concentration of tyramine in the range 1.0 × 10-6M to 2.5 × 10-4M with a RSD of 3.4% (n = 5, using 5 × 10-6M tyramine). The Au/Pt system enables low LOQ (1.0 × 10−6 M), high reduction of the absorbance drift, and a significant shortening of the reaction time (i.e., from 30 to 2 min for a [tyramine] = 1 × 10−4M); additionally, a better selectivity is also obtained. The method has been applied to tyramine determination in cured cheese and no significant differences were obtained compared to a reference method (HRP:TMB). The effect of Pt(II) seems to involve the previous reduction of Au(III) to Au(I) and NP generation from this oxidation state. Finally, a three-step (nucleation-growth-aggregation) kinetic model for the generation of NPs is proposed; this has enabled us to obtain a mathematical equation which explains the experimentally observed variation of the absorbance with time

Fluorescence of the Flavin group in choline oxidase. Insights and analytical applications for the determination of choline and betaine aldehyde

Choline oxidase (ChOx) is a flavoenzyme catalysing the oxidation of choline (Ch) to betaine aldehyde (BA) and glycine betaine (GB). In this paper a fundamental study of the intrinsic fluorescence properties of ChOx due to Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide (FAD) is presented and some analytical applications are studied in detail. Firstly, an unusual alteration in the excitation spectra, in comparison with the absorption spectra, has been observed as a function of the pH. This is ascribed to a change of polarity in the excited state. Secondly, the evolution of the fluorescence spectra during the reaction seems to indicate that the reaction takes place in two consecutive, but partially overlapped, steps and each of them follows a different mechanism. Thirdly, the chemical system can be used to determine the Ch concentration in the range from 5×10-6 M to 5×10-5 M (univariate and multivariate calibration) in the presence of BA as interference, and the joint Ch+BA concentration in the range 5×10-6-5×10-4 M (multivariate calibration) with mean errors under 10%//a semiquantitative determination of the BA concentration can be deduced by difference. Finally, Ch has been successfully determined in an infant milk sample

Smartphone-interrogated test supports for the enzymatic determination of putrescine and cadaverine in food

Diamino-oxidase (DAO), horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) have been immobilized into cellulose to obtain circular cellulose test supports (CCTSs) for the determination of cadaverine (Cad) and putrescine (Put). During the enzymatic reaction, TMB is oxidized and a blue spot is obtained. This color (RGB coordinates) is measured with a smartphone and a commercial application. The highest sensitivity is provided by the component R and a linear response is observed for low biogenic amine (BA) concentrations, but a second-order polynomial response better fits the experimental results for a wider concentration range. This has been successfully explained with a model developed to explain the RGB values obtained in this type of analytical system. Optimization studies enable CCTSs to be obtained for Put and Cad determination, which could be used (kept at 4 °C) for at least 45 days if a stabilizer (StabilCoat™ or StabilGuard™) is added during its synthesis. In these conditions, the R coordinate follows the model up to at least 4 × 10-4 M Put and/or Cad (both analytes give the same response). The method permits the Put and Cad determination from 5 × 10-5 M up to 4 × 10-4 M (RSD = 3%, n = 3). The CCTSs have been applied to Put + Cad determination in a tuna sample without any interference by other biogenic amines. The concentration found statistically agrees with that obtained using a HPLC-MS-validated method

Combined impact of ultraviolet radiation and increased nutrients supply: a test of the potential anthropogenic impacts on the benthic amphipod Amphitoe valida from Patagonian waters (Argentina)

Experiments were conducted during the Austral Summer of 2014 to determine the effects of increased nutrient input and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the food consumption rate (FCR) and food preference in the amphipod Amphitoe valida. We collected specimens from the Patagonian coast (Argentina), from beaches close (Barrancas Blancas; BB) and further away (Cangrejales; C) from the Chubut River, which constitutes the potential source of eutrophication. Organisms were exposed to different radiation regimes (full radiation vs. PAR only) and fed with different macroalgae diets (i.e., from different geographical location and with different quality in terms on nutrient content). Males collected from C showed food compensation, consuming more food under low-nutrient diets, while no compensation was observed in males from BB. Regardless of their origin, UVR decreased the FCR when males where fed on ambient nutrient diets, but not when males fed on high-quality diets indicating that in the former case, individuals were in worse physiological conditions to cope with UVR; food quality, however, significantly counteracted the deleterious effects of UVR on FCR. Females collected from the two beaches showed similar FCR under high-nutrient diet and had no food compensation when fed in low-nutrient diets. Females were more vulnerable to UVR, since their FCR were lower when exposed to UV radiation independent of the diet. Our results show that under anthropogenic eutrophication and high solar UVR levels an increase in the nutrient input could favor only males of A. valida, by reducing the negative effects of UVR on their FCR. Nevertheless, these nutrient inputs might cause additional problems like anoxia, as a result of an unusual macroalgal growth, thus affecting amphipod's survival

An inactivating caspase 11 passenger mutation originating from the 129 murine strain in mice targeted for c-IAP1

A recent study revealed that ES (embryonic stem) cell lines derived from the 129 murine strain carry an inactivating mutation within the caspase 11 gene (Casp4) locus [Kayagaki, Warming, Lamkanfi, Vande Walle, Louie, Dong, Newton, Qu, Liu, Heldens, Zhang, Lee, Roose-Girma and Dixit (2011) Nature 479, 117–121]. Thus, if 129 ES cells are used to target genes closely linked to caspase 11, the resulting mice might also carry the caspase 11 deficiency as a passenger mutation. In the present study, we examined the genetic loci of mice targeted for the closely linked c-IAP (cellular inhibitor of apoptosis) genes, which were generated in 129 ES cells, and found that, despite extensive backcrossing into a C57BL/6 background, c-IAP1−/− animals are also deficient in caspase 11. Consequently, data obtained from these mice should be re-evaluated in this new context

DW-MRI as a Biomarker to Compare Therapeutic Outcomes in Radiotherapy Regimens Incorporating Temozolomide or Gemcitabine in Glioblastoma

The effectiveness of the radiosensitizer gemcitabine (GEM) was evaluated in a mouse glioma along with the imaging biomarker diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) for early detection of treatment effects. A genetically engineered murine GBM model [Ink4a-Arf−/− PtenloxP/loxP/Ntv-a RCAS/PDGF(+)/Cre(+)] was treated with gemcitabine (GEM), temozolomide (TMZ) +/− ionizing radiation (IR). Therapeutic efficacy was quantified by contrast-enhanced MRI and DW-MRI for growth rate and tumor cellularity, respectively. Mice treated with GEM, TMZ and radiation showed a significant reduction in growth rates as early as three days post-treatment initiation. Both combination treatments (GEM/IR and TMZ/IR) resulted in improved survival over single therapies. Tumor diffusion values increased prior to detectable changes in tumor volume growth rates following administration of therapies. Concomitant GEM/IR and TMZ/IR was active and well tolerated in this GBM model and similarly prolonged median survival of tumor bearing mice. DW-MRI provided early changes to radiosensitization treatment warranting evaluation of this imaging biomarker in clinical trials

Two distinct signalling cascades target the NF-κB regulatory factor c-IAP1 for degradation

c-IAP1 (cellular inhibitor of apoptosis 1) has recently emerged as a negative regulator of the non-canonical NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) signalling cascade. Whereas synthetic IAP inhibitors have been shown to trigger the autoubiquitination and degradation of c-IAP1, less is known about the physiological mechanisms by which c-IAP1 stability is regulated. In the present paper, we describe two distinct cellular processes that lead to the targeted loss of c-IAP1. Recruitment of a TRAF2 (tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2)–c-IAP1 complex to the cytoplasmic domain of the Hodgkin's/anaplastic large-cell lymphoma-associated receptor, CD30, leads to the targeting and degradation of the TRAF2–c-IAP1 heterodimer through a mechanism requiring the RING (really interesting new gene) domain of TRAF2, but not c-IAP1. In contrast, the induced autoubiquitination of c-IAP1 by IAP antagonists causes the selective loss of c-IAP1, but not TRAF2, thereby releasing TRAF2. Thus c-IAP1 can be targeted for degradation by two distinct processes, revealing the critical importance of this molecule as a regulator of numerous intracellular signalling cascades