Fabrication of glycine-functionalized maghemite nanoparticles for magnetic removal of copper from wastewater.

Maghemite nanoparticles (MNPs) were functionalized with glycine, by a cost-effective and environmentally friendly procedure, as an alternative route to typical amine-functionalized polymeric coatings, for highly efficient removal of copper ions from water. MNPs were synthesized by co-precipitation method and adsorption of glycine was investigated as a function of ligand concentration and pH. The efficiency of these functionalized nanoparticles for removal of Cu(2+) from water has been explored and showed that adsorption is highly dependent of pH and that it occurs either by forming chelate complexes and/or by electrostatic interaction.

Worker honeybee brain proteome.

A large-scale mapping of the worker honeybee brain proteome was achieved by MudPIT. We identified 2742 proteins from forager and nurse honeybee brain samples; 17% of the total proteins were found to be differentially expressed by spectral count sampling statistics and a G-test. Sequences were compared with the EuKaryotic Orthologous Groups (KOG) catalog set using BLASTX and then categorized into the major KOG categories of most similar sequences.

Characterization of a beta-glucanase produced by Rhizopus microsporus var. microsporus, and its potential for application in the brewing industry.

Background: In the barley malting process, partial hydrolysis of beta-glucans begins with seed germination. However, the endogenous 1,3-1,4-beta-glucanases are heat inactivated, and the remaining high molecular weight beta-glucans may cause severe problems such as increased brewer mash viscosity and turbidity. Increased viscosity impairs pumping and filtration, resulting in lower efficiency, reduced yields of extracts, and lower filtration rates, as well as the appearance of gelatinous precipitates in the finished beer.

Primary structure, behavioral and electroencephalographic effects of an epileptogenic peptide from the sea anemone Bunodosoma cangicum.

The primary structure of cangitoxin (CGX), a 4958 Da peptide from the sea anemone Bunodosoma cangicum, was determined: GVACRCDSDGPTVRGNSLSGTLWLTGGCPSGWHNCRGSGPFIGYCCKK. CGX contains all the 11 residues that are conserved and the 5 that are conservatively substituted within or between the type 1 and type 2 sequences of sea anemone peptides with specific action on voltage-sensitive sodium channels. Furthermore, it also has 6 identities (Asp9, Arg14, Asn16, Leu18, Trp33 and Lys48) and 1 homology (Arg36) in the 8 residues of the pharmacophore of the sea anemone ApB which are essential for interaction with mammalian sodium channels.

The plant cytolytic protein enterolobin assumes a dimeric structure in solution.

Enterolobin is a plant cytolytic protein similar to the bacterial cytolysin aerolysin. Biochemical and biophysical techniques were used to verify if enterolobin, like aerolysin, adopts a dimeric structure in solution. SDS-PAGE showed bands corresponding to enterolobin monomer, dimer and oligomers, whilst gel filtration chromatography and electrospray mass spectrometry revealed preferred association of enterolobin as a dimer.

Purification and characterization of loxnecrogin, a dermonecrotic toxin from Loxosceles gaucho brown spider venom.

The most common manifestation of Loxosceles spider envenoming is a dermonecrotic lesion at the bite site. Dermonecrotic toxins from Loxosceles gaucho venom were purified and characterized by mass spectrometry (capillary liquid chromatography followed by mass spectrometry detection). Two components were purified: a major one of 31,444 Da, called loxnecrogin A, and a minor one of 31,626 Da, called loxnecrogin B, being probably two isoforms of the toxin.