Immobilization of PETase enzymes on magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for the decomposition of microplastic PET.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is responsible for a large amount of environmental contamination with microplastics. Based on its high affinity, the PET degrading enzyme PETase can be immobilized on superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles through a His-tag. The His-tag increases enzyme stability, and allows magnetic separation for recovery.

Validation of activity questionnaires in patients with cystic fibrosis by accelerometry and cycle ergometry.

Background: The objective of this study was to validate physical activity questionnaires for cystic fibrosis (CF) against accelerometry and cycle ergometry.

Methods: 41 patients with CF (12-42 years) completed the Habitual Activity Estimation Scale (HAES), the 7-Day Physical Activity Recall questionnaire (7D-PAR) and the Lipid Research Clinics questionnaire (LRC) and performed an incremental exercise test according to the Godfrey protocol up to volitional fatigue. Time spent in moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) assessed objectively by accelerometry was related to the time spent in the respective activity categories by correlation analyses and calculating intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC).

New designer drug, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-propylthio-beta-phenethylamine (2C-T-7): studies on its metabolism and toxicological detection in rat urine using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Studies are described on the metabolism and toxicological analysis of the phenethylamine-derived designer drug 2,5-dimethoxy-4-propylthio-beta-phenethylamine (2C-T-7) in rat urine using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The identified metabolites indicated that 2C-T-7 was metabolized by hydroxylation of the propyl side chain followed by N-acetylation and sulfoxidation and also by deamination followed by oxidation to the corresponding acid or by reduction to the corresponding alcohol. To a minor extent, 2C-T-7 was also metabolized by S-dealkylation followed by N-acetylation, S-methylation and sulfoxidation.

A New Approach to Glycopeptides.

In only three or four steps glycosylated dipeptide and tripeptide fragments, respectively (see scheme), can be obtained from hydroxy amino acids by using a novel protecting group/activation concept. The method presented is even superior to the pentafluorophenyl ester method.

Stereoconservative and stereoselective syntheses of rare and non-naturalα-amino acids from (S)-aspartic acid and (S)-malic acid.

A new strategy for stereoconservative and stereoselective syntheses of several types of amino acids starting fromα-functional carboxylic acids employing hexafluoroacetone as protecting and activating reagent is described. Outstanding features of this new method are the mild reaction conditions and the high yields for introduction and cleavage of the protective group allowing sensitive functional groups in the side chain to survive. Furthermore, the new concept results in saving of synthetic steps.