A bioluminescence method for direct measurement of phosphodiesterase activity

TiO2-Ag-NP adhesive photocatalytic films able to disinfect living indoor spaces with a straightforward approach

TiO₂-Ag doped nanoparticulate (TiO₂-Ag-NP) adhesive photocatalytic films were used to assess the ability in dropping down the burden of indoor microbial particles. The application of an easy-to use photocatalytic adhesive film to cleanse indoor living spaces from microbial pollution, represents a novelty in the field of photocatalytic devices. Reduction was attained by photocatalysis in selected spaces, usually with overcrowding (≥ 3 individuals) in the common working daily hours, and upon indoor microclimate monitoring. TiO₂-Ag doped nanoparticulate (TiO₂-Ag-NP) adhesive photocatalytic films were applied within five types of living spaces, including schools and job places. The microbial pollution was assessed at time 0 (far from routine clean, ≥ 9 h) and throughout 2-4 weeks following the photocatalyst application by relative light unit (RLU) luminometry and microbial indirect assessment (colony forming units per cubic meter, CFU/m³). TiO₂-Ag-NP photocatalyst reduced RLU and CFU/m³ by rates higher than 70% leading to RLU ≤ 20 and microbial presence ≤ 35 CFU/m³. The described TiO₂-Ag-NP is able to reduce microbial pollution to the lowest RLU threshold (≤ 20) within 60 min in open daylight in a standardized test room of 100 m². The correlation between RLU and CFU/m³ was positive (r = 0.5545, p < 0.05), assessing that the microbial reduction of indoor areas by the TiO₂-Ag-NP adhesive film was real. Titania photocatalysts represent promising tools to ensure air cleaning and sanitization in living indoor microclimates with a low cost, feasible and straightforward approach. This approach represents an easy to handle, cost effective, feasible and efficacious approach to reduce microbial pollution in indoor spaces, by simply attaching a TiO₂-Ag-NP adhesive film on the wall.

An NMR based phosphodiesterase assay

We propose a phosphodiesterase assay based on 1D ¹H NMR to monitor the hydrolysis of cyclic nucleotides directly, without requiring tags or the addition of exogenous reagents. The method is suitable to measure phosphodiesterase K_M and k_cat parameters and to identify phosphodiesterase inhibitors.

Mass spectrometry-guided refinement of chemical energy buffers

Biocatalytic reactions often require supplying chemical energy and phosphate groups in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Auxiliary enzymes can be used to convert a reaction by-product-adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-back to ATP. By employing real-time mass spectrometry (RTMS), one can gain an insight into inter-conversions of reactants in multi-enzyme reaction systems and optimize the reaction conditions. In this study, temporal traces of ions corresponding to adenosine monophosphate (AMP), ADP and ATP provided vital information that could be used to adjust activities of the 'buffering enzymes'. Using the RTMS results as a feedback, we also characterized a bienzymatic energy buffer that enables the recovery of ATP in the cases where it is directly hydrolysed to AMP in the main enzymatic reaction. The significance of careful selection of enzyme activities-guided by RTMS-is exemplified in the synthesis of glucose-6-phosphate by hexokinase in the presence of a buffering enzyme, pyruvate kinase. Relative activities of the two enzymes, present in the reaction mixture, influence biosynthetic reaction yields. This observation supports the conclusion that optimization of chemical energy recycling procedures is critical for the biosynthetic reaction economy.

Microcontroller-assisted compensation of adenosine triphosphate levels: instrument and method development

In order to ascertain optimum conditions for biocatalytic processes carried out in vitro, we have designed a bio-opto-electronic system which ensures real-time compensation for depletion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in reactions involving transfer of phosphate groups. The system covers ATP concentration range of 2-48 μM. The report demonstrates feasibility of the device operation using apyrase as the ATP-depleting enzyme.

Resveratrol and curcumin enhance pancreatic β-cell function by inhibiting phosphodiesterase activity

Resveratrol (RES) and curcumin (CUR) are polyphenols that are found in fruits and turmeric, and possess medicinal properties that are beneficial in various diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Results from recent studies have indicated that their therapeutic properties can be attributed to their anti-inflammatory effects. Owing to reports stating that they protect against β-cell dysfunction, we studied their mechanism(s) of action in β-cells. In T2DM, cAMP plays a critical role in glucose- and incretin-stimulated insulin secretion as well as overall pancreatic β-cell health. A potential therapeutic target in the management of T2DM lies in regulating the activity of phosphodiesterases (PDEs), which degrade cAMP. Both RES and CUR have been reported to act as PDE inhibitors in various cell types, but it remains unknown if they do so in pancreatic β-cells. In our current study, we found that both RES (0.1-10 μmol/l) and CUR (1-100 pmol/l)-regulated insulin secretion under glucose-stimulated conditions. Additionally, treating β-cell lines and human islets with these polyphenols led to increased intracellular cAMP levels in a manner similar to 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, a classic PDE inhibitor. When we investigated the effects of RES and CUR on PDEs, we found that treatment significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of most of the 11 PDE isozymes, including PDE3B, PDE8A, and PDE10A, which have been linked previously to regulation of insulin secretion in islets. Furthermore, RES and CUR inhibited PDE activity in a dose-dependent manner in β-cell lines and human islets. Collectively, we demonstrate a novel role for natural-occurring polyphenols as PDE inhibitors that enhance pancreatic β-cell function.