A magnetic microchip for controlled transport of attomole levels of proteins.

A novel method of controlled transport of proteins immobilized on micrometre-sized magnetic beads in a lab-on-a-chip environment is presented. Bead motion is controlled by lithographically made magnetic elements forming transportation lines in combination with an applied in-plane rotating magnetic field. In this way, transport of attomole amounts of proteins is controlled with micrometre precision.

Determination of conductivity of bacteria by using cross-flow filtration.

An important property of the bacterial surface is its conductivity. To obtain reliable conductivity values, it is essential to handle the cells as gently as possible during the measurement procedure. We have developed a method where a standard conductivity meter is used in combination with cross-flow filtration, thus avoiding repeated centrifugation and resuspension.

A structure-activity study of nociceptin-(1-13)-peptide amide. Synthesis of analogues substituted in positions 0, 1, 3, 4 and 10.

A series of analogues of nociceptin, Noc(1-13)NH(2) (an agonist at the ORL1 receptor) was synthesized with following modifications: (1) N-terminal extension with Arg(0); (2) replacement of Gly(3) by basic or polar amino acids-Arg, Asn, Lys(For) or deletion; (3) exchange of Phe(1) or Phe(4) by Phe(NO(2)); (4) substitution of Ser(10) with D-Ser, Pro, D-Pro. The analogs were synthesized by solid-phase methodology using Fmoc-amino acid pentafluorophenyl esters. The affinity for the ORL1 and for the kappa, micro and delta-opioid receptors was investigated by radioligand binding assay and bioactivity by a mouse vas deferens (MVD) assay.