Oligomerization-driven avidity correlates with SARS-CoV-2 cellular binding and inhibition.

Cellular processes are controlled by the thermodynamics of the underlying biomolecular interactions. Frequently, structural investigations use one monomeric binding partner, while ensemble measurements of binding affinities generally yield one affinity representative of a 1:1 interaction, despite the majority of the proteome consisting of oligomeric proteins. For example, viral entry and inhibition in SARS-CoV-2 involve a trimeric spike surface protein, a dimeric angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) cell-surface receptor and dimeric antibodies.

Label-free methods for optical characterization of protein-protein interactions.

Protein-protein interactions are involved in the regulation and function of the majority of cellular processes. As a result, much effort has been aimed at the development of methodologies capable of quantifying protein-protein interactions, with label-free methods being of particular interest due to the associated simplified workflows and minimisation of label-induced perturbations. Here, we review recent advances in optical technologies providing label-free in vitro measurements of affinities and kinetics.

Hyper-truncated Asn355- and Asn391-glycans modulate the activity of neutrophil granule myeloperoxidase.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) plays essential roles in neutrophil-mediated immunity via the generation of reactive oxidation products. Complex carbohydrates decorate MPO at discrete sites, but their functional relevance remains elusive. To this end, we have characterised the structure-biosynthesis-activity relationship of neutrophil MPO (nMPO).

Quantifying Protein-Protein Interactions by Molecular Counting with Mass Photometry.

Interactions between biomolecules control the processes of life in health and their malfunction in disease, making their characterization and quantification essential. Immobilization- and label-free analytical techniques are desirable because of their simplicity and minimal invasiveness, but they struggle with quantifying tight interactions. Here, we show that mass photometry can accurately count, distinguish by molecular mass, and thereby reveal the relative abundances of different unlabelled biomolecules and their complexes in mixtures at the single-molecule level.

Options and limitations for bromate control during ozonation of wastewater.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are important point sources for micropollutants, which are harmful to freshwater organisms. Ozonation of wastewater is a powerful option to abate micropollutants, but may result in the formation of the potentially toxic oxidation by-product bromate in bromide-containing wastewaters. This study investigates options to reduce bromate formation during wastewater ozonation by (i) reducing the bromide concentration of the wastewater, (ii) lowering the ozone dose during wastewater treatment and (iii) adding hydrogen peroxide to limit the lifetime of ozone and quench the intermediates of the bromate formation pathway.

Bromide Sources and Loads in Swiss Surface Waters and Their Relevance for Bromate Formation during Wastewater Ozonation.

Bromide measurements and mass balances in the catchments of major Swiss rivers revealed that chemical industry and municipal waste incinerators are the most important bromide sources and account for ∼50% and ∼20%, respectively, of the ∼2000 tons of bromide discharged in the Rhine river in 2014 in Switzerland. About 100 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) will upgrade their treatment for micropollutant abatement in the future to comply with Swiss regulations. An upgrade with ozonation may lead to unintended bromate formation in bromide-containing wastewaters.

Trichloramine reactions with nitrogenous and carbonaceous compounds: kinetics, products and chloroform formation.

Trichloramine is a hazardous disinfection by-product that is of particular relevance in indoor swimming pools. To better understand its fate in pool waters, apparent second order rate constants (kapp) at pH 7 for its reaction with several model compounds were determined. kapp values at pH 7 for nitrogenous compounds were found to increase in the following order: ammonia ∼ amides (∼10(-2)-10(-1) M(-1) s(-1)) < primary amines (∼10(-1)-10(0) M(-1) s(-1)) < relevant body fluid compounds (l-histidine, creatinine) (∼10(0)-10(1) M(-1) s(-1)) < secondary amines (∼10(1)-10(2) M(-1) s(-1)) < trimethylamine (∼10(3) M(-1) s(-1)).

Comparison of a novel extraction-based colorimetric (ABTS) method with membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS): trichloramine dynamics in pool water.

Trichloramine is a hazardous disinfection by-product, which is present in chlorinated swimming pools. Although it is primarily taken up by inhalation, the concentration in pool water is important to monitor pool water quality and to assess trichloramine mitigation strategies. To date, scarce data is available on trichloramine concentration in pool water due to the lack of a suitable and easily applicable analytical method.

Photolysis of inorganic chloramines and efficiency of trichloramine abatement by UV treatment of swimming pool water.

Trichloramine, one of the three inorganic chloramines (mono-, di- and trichloramine), is a problematic disinfection by-product in recreational pool water since it causes skin and eye irritations as well as irritations of the respiratory tract. The most commonly used chloramine mitigation strategy in pool water is UV treatment. Experiments with membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) confirmed that inorganic chloramines are effectively degraded by UV irradiation with low-pressure (LP) and medium-pressure (MP) mercury lamps (apparent quantum yields (QY): NH2Cl = 0.

Analysis of N-nitrosamines and other nitro(so) compounds in water by high-performance liquid chromatography with post-column UV photolysis/Griess reaction.

Despite their potential carcinogenicity and probable formation during water disinfection processes, little is known about the occurrence of other nitro(so) compounds than a few specific N-nitroso compounds such as N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). An analytical method was developed to monitor various nitro(so) compounds including N-nitrosamines based on the Griess colorimetric determination of nitrite generated by UV-254 nm photolysis of nitro(so) compounds after separation by HPLC (HPLC-Post Column UV photolysis/Griess reaction (HPLC-PCUV)). To differentiate N-nitro(so) compounds (i.

Enhanced N-nitrosamine formation in pool water by UV irradiation of chlorinated secondary amines in the presence of monochloramine.

N-Nitrosamines, in particular N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), are carcinogens, which occur as chlorine disinfection by-products (DBPs) in swimming pools and hot tubs. UV treatment is a commonly used technique in swimming pools for disinfection and DBP attenuation. UV irradiation is known to efficiently degrade N-nitrosamines.

Modeling the environmental fate of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs): the importance of photolysis for the formation of lighter PBDEs.

A global multimedia model is used to calculate the fate of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the environment. Special emphasis is given to the importance of direct photolysis, which has been shown to be an important degradation mechanism for highly brominated PBDEs and is believed to result in the formation of lower-brominated PBDEs. We show that the inclusion of direct photolysis decreases the overall persistence and long-range transport potential of most PBDEs, in particular the heavier ones.