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- Heparin (3)
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Quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) is routinely performed by the internal or external standardization. The manuscript describes a simple alternative to these common workflows by using NMR signal of another active nuclei of calibration compound. For example, for any arbitrary compound quantification by NMR can be based on the use of an indirect concentration referencing that relies on a solvent having both 1H and 2H signals. To perform high-quality quantification, the deuteration level of the utilized deuterated solvent has to be estimated.
In this contribution the new method was applied to the determination of deuteration levels in different deuterated solvents (MeOD, ACN, CDCl3, acetone, benzene, DMSO-d6). Isopropanol-d6, which contains a defined number of deuterons and protons, was used for standardization. Validation characteristics (precision, accuracy, robustness) were calculated and the results showed that the method can be used in routine practice. Uncertainty budget was also evaluated. In general, this novel approach, using standardization by 2H integral, benefits from reduced sample preparation steps and uncertainties, and can be applied in different application areas (purity determination, forensics, pharmaceutical analysis, etc.).
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometric methods for the quantitative analysis of pure heparin in crude heparin is proposed. For quantification, a two-step routine was developed using a USP heparin reference sample for calibration and benzoic acid as an internal standard. The method was successfully validated for its accuracy, reproducibility, and precision. The methodology was used to analyze 20 authentic porcine heparinoid samples having heparin content between 4.25 w/w % and 64.4 w/w %. The characterization of crude heparin products was further extended to a simultaneous analysis of these common ions: sodium, calcium, acetate and chloride. A significant, linear dependence was found between anticoagulant activity and assayed heparin content for thirteen heparinoids samples, for which reference data were available. A Diffused-ordered NMR experiment (DOSY) can be used for qualitative analysis of specific glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in heparinoid matrices and, potentially, for quantitative prediction of molecular weight of GAGs. NMR spectrometry therefore represents a unique analytical method suitable for the simultaneous quantitative control of organic and inorganic composition of crude heparin samples (especially heparin content) as well as an estimation of other physical and quality parameters (molecular weight, animal origin and activity).
Metathese von Ölsäure und Derivaten ist ein interessanter Weg für die Synthese bifunktioneller Verbindungen aus nachwachsenden Rohstoffen. Verwendet wurden Ru-Katalysatoren der zweiten Generation, welche eine hohe Toleranz gegenüber funktionellen Gruppen und Verunreinigungen aufweisen. Trotz des Einsatzes technischer Edukte waren Umsetzungen mit niedrigen Katalysatormengen (0.001 – 0.01 mol-%) möglich, mit Ausbeuten entsprechend der Literatur. Kreuzmetathesen ermöglichten variable Kettenlängen und Funktionalitäten der Monomere, die Produktgewinnung ist jedoch aufwändig. Selbstmetathese lieferte C18-bifunktionelle Verbindungen, welche einfach durch Destillation oder Kristallisation isoliert werden können. Neben der katalystischen Umsetzung wurde auch die Produktgewinnung untersucht und für ausgewählte Produkte auch im größeren Maßstab durchgeführt.
Einige Arten der Braun- und Weißfäulepilze sind in der Lage, selektiv entweder Lignin oder Cellulose im Holz abzubauen. Diese Pilze können für eine energiesparende Vorbehandlung lignocellulosehaltiger Biomasse für Bioraffinerien genutzt werden, ohne auf technisch aufwändige Aufschlussapparate zurückgreifen zu müssen. Weißfäulepilze bauen bevorzugt Lignin ab, wodurch die verbleibende Cellulose leichter für enzymatische Hydrolysen in das Monosaccharid Glucose zugänglich wird. Braunfäulepilze bauen dagegen Cellulose und Hemicellulose ab. Die Auswirkungen der Behandlung von Weizenstroh mit verschiedenen Pilzarten werden zurzeit untersucht. Dabei werden die Veränderung der enzymatischen Hydrolysierbarkeit des Substrats sowie die gebildeten Ligninderivate bestimmt. Detaillierte Betrachtungen der Biomasseveränderung werden mithilfe spezifischer Färbemethoden durchgeführt, durch die morphologische Veränderungen der Pflanzengewebe in der 3D-Lichtmikroskopie dargestellt werden können.
Die fermentative Verwertung von Rohglycerin setzt je nach Herstellungsmethode und Produktionsorganismus eine Vorbehandlung des Glycerins zur Entfernung von Produktinhibitoren voraus. Durch den Einsatz von Hydrotalcit-Adsorbern können die im Rohglycerin enthaltenen Fettsäuren entfernt werden. Durch diese einfache Aufarbeitungsmethode ist ein mit reinem Glycerin vergleichbarer Umsatz von stark mit Fettsäuren verunreinigtem Rohglycerin zu 1,3-Propandiol (PDO) möglich. Die durch den Hydrotalcit gebundenen Fettsäuren lassen sich mit einem Ethanol-Wasser-Gemisch eluieren. Somit kann der Adsorber regeneriert und die Fettsäuren wieder der Wertschöpfungskette zugeführt werden. Im Fed-Batch-Experiment kann mit C. diolis eine PDO-Konzentration von über 50 g L⁻¹ unter Verwendung des aufgereinigten Rohglycerins erzielt werden. In der industriellen Produktion wird PDO momentan destillativ aufgearbeitet. Ein adsorptives Aufarbeitungsverfahren kann den Energiebedarf des Herstellungsprozesses drastisch senken. Auf der Suche nach einem geeigneten Material wurde ein Adsorberscreening in Bezug auf die Bindungseigenschaften durchgeführt. Mit einem b-Zeolith der Firma Süd ChemieAG konnte bisher die höchste Beladung im Modellsystem von 120 mg PDO/gAdsorber erreicht werden.
Grasschnitt hat in Deutschland ein beträchtliches Potenzial als nachwachsender Rohstoff. Da frischer Grasschnitt nur in den Sommermonaten zur Verfügung steht und Gras bei der Lagerung verrottet, wird er unter anderem durch Silierung konserviert. Während der Silierung wird ein Teil der wasserlöslichen Kohlenhydrate unter anaeroben Bedingungen zu Milchsäure fermentiert. Die Kombination aus Luftabschluss und Ansäuerung bewirkt die Konservierung der Silage. Silage als weit verbreitetes landwirtschaftliches Erzeugnis ist somit ein potentieller, in großen Mengen verfügbarer Lieferant für eine Vielzahl von Substraten für mikrobielle Fermentationen. Diese können entweder durch die Hydrolyse der in den Pflanzen enthaltenen Cellulosen und Hemicellulosen oder durch die Verwendung eines Silagepresssaftes nutzbar gemacht werden. Die zu entwickelnden Prozesse sollen die verbleibenden Kohlenhydrate, inklusive der Cellulose und Hemicellulose, sowie die Milchsäure nutzen. Die in der Silage enthaltenen Zucker sollen zu Ethanol, Itakonsäure und Bernsteinsäure und die Milchsäure zu 1,2-Propandiol umgesetzt werden. Anfallende Reststoffe wie Hydrolyserückstände, Presskuchen und Fermentationsrückstände sollen bei allen zu etablierenden Prozessen entweder als Viehfutter verwendet oder der Biogasproduktion zugeführt werden können, wodurch eine vollständige stoffliche und energetische Nutzung der Silage erreicht wird.
Obesity-induced overexpression of miR-802 impairs glucose metabolism through silencing of Hnf1b
(2013)
The contribution of altered post-transcriptional gene silencing to the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus so far remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that expression of microRNA (miR)-143 and 145 is upregulated in the liver of genetic and dietary mouse models of obesity. Induced transgenic overexpression of miR-143, but not miR-145, impairs insulin-stimulated AKT activation and glucose homeostasis. Conversely, mice deficient for the miR-143–145 cluster are protected from the development of obesity-associated insulin resistance. Quantitative-mass-spectrometry-based analysis of hepatic protein expression in miR-143-overexpressing mice revealed miR-143-dependent downregulation of oxysterol-binding-protein-related protein (ORP) 8. Reduced ORP8 expression in cultured liver cells impairs the ability of insulin to induce AKT activation, revealing an ORP8-dependent mechanism of AKT regulation. Our experiments provide direct evidence that dysregulated post-transcriptional gene silencing contributes to the development of obesity-induced insulin resistance, and characterize the miR-143–ORP8 pathway as a potential target for the treatment of obesity-associated diabetes.
Online-Messsysteme für die automatisierte Charakterisierung von feldeffektbasierten Biosensoren
(2007)
Opioid Analgesia in P450 Gene Cluster Knockout Mice: A Search for Analgesia-Relevant Isoforms
(2015)
Optical Fibers as Dosimeter Detectors for Mixed Proton/Neutron Fields - A Biological Dosimeter
(2023)
In recent years, proton therapy has gained importance as a cancer treatment modality due to its conformality with the tumor and the sparing of healthy tissue. However, in the interaction of the protons with the beam line elements and patient tissues, potentially harmful secondary neutrons are always generated. To ensure that this neutron dose is as low as possible, treatment plans could be created to also account for and minimize the neutron dose. To monitor such a treatment plan, a compact, easy to use, and inexpensive dosimeter must be developed that not only measures the physical dose, but which can also distinguish between proton and neutron contributions. To that end, plastic optical fibers with scintillation materials (Gd₂O₂S:Tb, Gd₂O₂S:Eu, and YVO₄:Eu) were irradiated with protons and neutrons. It was confirmed that sensors with different scintillation materials have different sensitivities to protons and neutrons. A combination of these three scintillators can be used to build a detector array to create a biological dosimeter.
The optical study carried out on insulating polymers namely polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) and polyvinylchloride (PVC) has been described. The polymers are exposed to different radiation doses by exposing them to swift heavy ions of carbon (90 MeV), silicon (120 MeV) and nickel (100 MeV) which influence on their optical properties. The studies show that amongst the investigated polymers, PVC and PET have potential for application as dosimeter beyond a threshold dose which is strongly dependent on the nature of the material and the radiation type. The optical micrographs show a distinct change in colour of the sample with increase in radiation dose.
Thin films of poly(ethyleneterephthalate) [PET]were exposed to radiation dose ranging from 10 to 30 kGy by using gamma rays in the range 12.8-177.8 MGy using swift light ions of hydrogen. There was no effect of the radiation dose on the optical behaviour of PET as a result of exposure to radiation dose up to 30 kGy brought about by gamma rays but a significant decrease in the optical band gap values was observed when PET was exposed to swift light ions of hydrogen. The data obtained are discussed in terms of optical studies carried out on PET using swift heavy ions.
Optimierung der selektiven Aufarbeitung von Proteinen mit Aptamer-funktionalisierten Magnetpartikeln
(2012)
Die Herstellung pharmakologisch relevanter Proteine durch Mikroorganismen führt eine mehrstufige Aufarbeitung mit sich. Durch die Verwendung von Aptameren, kurzen einzelsträngigen DNA- oder RNA-Oligonukleotiden immobilisiert auf funktionalisierten, wiederverwendbaren Magnetpartikeln, können mehrere dieser Abtrennungsoperationen kombiniert und damit die Prozesskosten minimiert werden. Aufgrund der definierten dreidimensionalen Struktur können Aptamere kleine organische Moleküle hochspezifisch binden. Im vorgestellten Projekt wird die Aufarbeitung von His6-GFP als Modellprotein mithilfe der mit Aptamer funktionalisierten Magnetpartikel durchgeführt. In bisherigen Versuchen wurde die Bindung von Aptameren auf den magnetischen Partikeln sowie die Bindung des Modellproteins GFP auf den Partikeln optimiert. Des Weiteren wurden mehrere Strategien zur Elution des GFPs von den Partikeln verfolgt, um den Proteinertrag zu maximieren und die Partikel rezyklieren zu können. Die Untersuchung unspezifischer Bindungen von Zelltrümmern und Proteinen an die Magnetpartikel wurde mithilfe eines konfokalen Laser-Scanning-Mikroskops durchgeführt.
Im vom BMELV/FNR geförderten SynRg-Projekt wurde unter anderem Rapsschrot untersucht, um Polyphenole zu isolieren und aufzureinigen. Diese sollen anschließend als Basisbausteine für Polymere dienen und ihnen neuartige Eigenschaften verleihen. Derzeit wird an der Polyphenolextraktion gearbeitet, da bei organischen oder wässrigen Extraktionsprozessen überwiegend Sinapin, ein Cholinester der Sinapinsäure, vorliegt und dieses nicht für die Polymerbildung eingesetzt werden kann. Für die im Fokus stehende Sinapinsäure wird deshalb eine simultane Extraktion und enzymatische oder chemische Hydrolyse von Sinapin zu Sinapinsäure durchgeführt. Durch die Hydrolyse konnte die Sinapinsäureausbeute bereits um den Faktor 6,2 auf 15,8 mg g⁻¹ gegenüber einer reinwässrigen Extraktion gesteigert werden. Für die Aufreinigung des an Sinapinsäure reichen Extrakts erfolgt anschließend ein adsorptiver Aufarbeitungsschritt, bei dem Zeolithe zum Einsatz kommen. Mit diesem Material ist es möglich, die Sinapinsäure quantitativ zu adsorbieren und später mit 70 %igem Ethanol bei 60 °C zu desorbieren. Bei den Adsorbern handelt es sich um b-Zeolithe von der Süd-Chemie AG.
Primäre Ziele der Hydrolyse pflanzlicher nachwachsender Rohstoffe sind möglichst hohe Zuckerkonzentrationen für nachfolgende Fermentationen und eine Maximierung der Produktivität. Zur Optimierung dieser Prozesse wird Organosolv-aufgeschlossene Buchenholz-Cellulose verwendet. Die Hydrolyse des Faserstoffes erfolgt mithilfe von Novozymes CTec2-Enzymen. Die Hydrolysen konnten durch neue Rührerelemente auf einen Maßstab von 1000 L übertragen werden. Dabei konnten maximale Ausbeuten (g Glucose g –1 Glucose im Faserstoff) bis 81 g g – 1 und Konzentrationen von 152 g L –1 erreicht werden. Zurzeit können unter Einsatz eines Feststoffreaktors Cellulosefasern in einer Konzentration bis 400 g L –1 enzymatisch hydrolysiert werden. Die cellulolytischen Enzyme stoßen bei hohen Feststoffkonzentrationen an ihre Grenzen. Mit steigendem Feststoffgehalt nimmt die Hydrolyseausbeute ab. Ein Ansatz zur Steigerung der Effizienz ist der Einsatz ligninolytischer Enzyme, die Ligninreste an der Organosolv-Cellulose aufschließen können. Eine solche Verbesserung der Zugänglichkeit für cellulolytische Enzyme an ihr Substrat wurde durch Kulturüberstände verschiedener ligninolytischer Pilze erreicht. Mit Kulturüberständen von Stereum sp. sind Steigerungen der Glucoseausbeuten um bis zu 30 % möglich.
The immobilization of NAD+-dependent dehydrogenases, in combination with a diaphorase, enables the facile development of multiparametric sensing devices. In this work, an amperometric biosensor array for simultaneous determination of ethanol, formate, d- and l-lactate is presented. Enzyme immobilization on platinum thin-film electrodes was realized by chemical cross-linking with glutaraldehyde. The optimization of the sensor performance was investigated with regard to enzyme loading, glutaraldehyde concentration, pH, cofactor concentration and temperature. Under optimal working conditions (potassium phosphate buffer with pH 7.5, 2.5 mmol L-1 NAD+, 2.0 mmol L-1 ferricyanide, 25 °C and 0.4% glutaraldehyde) the linear working range and sensitivity of the four sensor elements was improved. Simultaneous and cross-talk free measurements of four different metabolic parameters were performed successfully. The reliable analytical performance of the biosensor array was demonstrated by application in a clarified sample of inoculum sludge. Thereby, a promising approach for on-site monitoring of fermentation processes is provided.
High gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) has been established since the early 1970s. A more recent application of these systems is the use in bioprocesses. To integrate the HGMS in a fermentation process, it is necessary to optimize the separation matrix with regard to the magnetic separation characteristics and permeability of the non-magnetizable components of the fermentation broth. As part of the work presented here, a combined fluidic and magnetic force finite element model simulation was created using the software COMSOL Multiphysics and compared with separation experiments. Finally, as optimal lattice orientation of the separation matrix, a transversal rhombohedral arrangement was defined. The high suitability of the new filter matrix has been verified by separation experiments.
Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis are widely used for the large-scale industrial production of proteins. These strains can efficiently secrete proteins into the culture medium using the general secretion (Sec) pathway. A characteristic feature of all secreted proteins is their N-terminal signal peptides, which are recognized by the secretion machinery. Here, we have studied the production of an industrially important secreted protease, namely, subtilisin BPN′ from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. One hundred seventy-three signal peptides originating from B. subtilis and 220 signal peptides from the B. licheniformis type strain were fused to this secretion target and expressed in B. subtilis, and the resulting library was analyzed by high-throughput screening for extracellular proteolytic activity. We have identified a number of signal peptides originating from both organisms which produced significantly increased yield of the secreted protease. Interestingly, we observed that levels of extracellular protease were improved not only in B. subtilis, which was used as the screening host, but also in two different B. licheniformis strains. To date, it is impossible to predict which signal peptide will result in better secretion and thus an improved yield of a given extracellular target protein. Our data show that screening a library consisting of homologous and heterologous signal peptides fused to a target protein can identify more-effective signal peptides, resulting in improved protein export not only in the original screening host but also in different production strains.
In proton therapy, the dose from secondary neutrons to the patient can contribute to side effects and the creation of secondary cancer. A simple and fast detection system to distinguish between dose from protons and neutrons both in pretreatment verification as well as potentially in vivo monitoring is needed to minimize dose from secondary neutrons. Two 3 mm long, 1 mm diameter organic scintillators were tested for candidacy to be used in a proton–neutron discrimination detector. The SCSF-3HF (1500) scintillating fibre (Kuraray Co. Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan) and EJ-260 plastic scintillator (Eljen Technology, Sweetwater, TX, USA) were irradiated at the TRIUMF Neutron Facility and the Proton Therapy Research Centre. In the proton beam, we compared the raw Bragg peak and spread-out Bragg peak response to the industry standard Markus chamber detector. Both scintillator sensors exhibited quenching at high LET in the Bragg peak, presenting a peak-to-entrance ratio of 2.59 for the EJ-260 and 2.63 for the SCSF-3HF fibre, compared to 3.70 for the Markus chamber. The SCSF-3HF sensor demonstrated 1.3 times the sensitivity to protons and 3 times the sensitivity to neutrons as compared to the EJ-260 sensor. Combined with our equations relating neutron and proton contributions to dose during proton irradiations, and the application of Birks’ quenching correction, these fibres provide valid candidates for inexpensive and replicable proton-neutron discrimination detectors
Paracoccus denitrificans for the effluent recycling during continuous denitrification of liquid food
(2010)
Nitrate is an undesirable component of several foods. A typical case of contamination with high nitrate contents is whey concentrate, containing nitrate in concentrations up to 25 l. The microbiological removal of nitrate by Paracoccus denitrificans under formation of harmless nitrogen in combination with a cell retention reactor is described here. Focus lies on the resource-conserving design of a microbal denitrification process. Two methods are compared. The application of polyvinyl alcohol-immobilized cells, which can be applied several times in whey feed, is compared with the implementation of a two step denitrification system. First, the whey concentrate's nitrate is removed by ion exchange and subsequently the eluent regenerated by microorganisms under their retention by crossflow filtration. Nitrite and nitrate concentrations were determined by reflectometric color measurement with a commercially available Reflectoquant® device. Correction factors for these media had to be determined. During the pilot development, bioreactors from 4 to 250 mg·L-1 and crossflow units with membrane areas from 0.02 to 0.80 m2 were examined. Based on the results of the pilot plants, a scaling for the exemplary process of denitrifying 1,000 tons per day is discussed.
Partielle Oxidation von o-Xylol zu Phthalsäreanhydrid an V/Ti-Schalenkatalysatoren : [Synopsis 1898]
(1990)
Partielle Oxidation von o-Xylol zu Phthalsäureanhydrid in einem strukturierten Festbettreaktor
(1991)
Die Darstellung der N-[2-(p-Biphenylyl)isopropyloxycarbonyl]-Derivate (Bpoc-Derivate) des Cysteins unter Verwendung der Thiolschutzgruppen Tetrahydropyranyl (Thp) für 1, Diphenylmethyl (Dpm) für 2, Trityl (Trt) für 3 und S-tert.-Butyl (SBut) für 4 sowie die Synthese von aktivierten Estern der Bpoc-Derivate des Glycins (5), Isoleucins (6) und Prolins (7) werden beschrieben. An einem Beispiel wird die Möglichkeit aufgezeigt, die Bpoc-Gruppe über das Bpoc-Azid nachträglich in den Peptidverband einzuführen.
Die Synthese der Sequenzen A2—21 (13) und A1—21 (15) der Schafinsulin-A-Kette als monomere cyclische Dicystinpeptidderivate wird beschrieben. Die intrachenaren Cystinbrücken A6—7 und A 11 —20 vermitteln die Löslichkeit dieser Derivate in Dimethylformamid und ermöglichen erstmalig die Reindarstellung vollgeschützter Insulin-A-Kettenderivate. Die während der Synthese eingesetzten Schutzgruppen lassen sich mittels Trifluoressigsäure und 2-Mercaptoäthanol quantitativ entfernen.
The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and the pregnane X receptor (PXR) are closely related nuclear receptors involved in drug metabolism and play important roles in the mechanism of phenobarbital (PB)-induced rodent nongenotoxic hepatocarcinogenesis. Here, we have used a humanized CAR/PXR mouse model to examine potential species differences in receptor-dependent mechanisms underlying liver tissue molecular responses to PB. Early and late transcriptomic responses to sustained PB exposure were investigated in liver tissue from double knock-out CAR and PXR (CARᴷᴼ-PXRᴷᴼ), double humanized CAR and PXR (CARʰ-PXRʰ), and wild-type C57BL/6 mice. Wild-type and CARʰ-PXRʰ mouse livers exhibited temporally and quantitatively similar transcriptional responses during 91 days of PB exposure including the sustained induction of the xenobiotic response gene Cyp2b10, the Wnt signaling inhibitor Wisp1, and noncoding RNA biomarkers from the Dlk1-Dio3 locus. Transient induction of DNA replication (Hells, Mcm6, and Esco2) and mitotic genes (Ccnb2, Cdc20, and Cdk1) and the proliferation-related nuclear antigen Mki67 were observed with peak expression occurring between 1 and 7 days PB exposure. All these transcriptional responses were absent in CARᴷᴼ-PXRᴷᴼ mouse livers and largely reversible in wild-type and CARʰ-PXRʰ mouse livers following 91 days of PB exposure and a subsequent 4-week recovery period. Furthermore, PB-mediated upregulation of the noncoding RNA Meg3, which has recently been associated with cellular pluripotency, exhibited a similar dose response and perivenous hepatocyte-specific localization in both wild-type and CARʰ-PXRʰ mice. Thus, mouse livers coexpressing human CAR and PXR support both the xenobiotic metabolizing and the proliferative transcriptional responses following exposure to PB.
The subtilase family (S8), a member of the clan SB of serine proteases are ubiquitous in all kingdoms of life and fulfil different physiological functions. Subtilases are divided in several groups and especially subtilisins are of interest as they are used in various industrial sectors. Therefore, we searched for new subtilisin sequences of the family Bacillaceae using a data mining approach. The obtained 1,400 sequences were phylogenetically classified in the context of the subtilase family. This required an updated comprehensive overview of the different groups within this family. To fill this gap, we conducted a phylogenetic survey of the S8 family with characterised holotypes derived from the MEROPS database. The analysis revealed the presence of eight previously uncharacterised groups and 13 subgroups within the S8 family. The sequences that emerged from the data mining with the set filter parameters were mainly assigned to the subtilisin subgroups of true subtilisins, high-alkaline subtilisins, and phylogenetically intermediate subtilisins and represent an excellent source for new subtilisin candidates.
This book is based on a multimedia course for biological and chemical engineers, which is designed to trigger students' curiosity and initiative. A solid basic knowledge of thermodynamics and kinetics is necessary for understanding many technical, chemical, and biological processes.
The one-semester basic lecture course was divided into 12 workshops (chapters). Each chapter covers a practically relevant area of physical chemistry and contains the following didactic elements that make this book particularly exciting and understandable:
- Links to Videos at the start of each chapter as preparation for the workshop
- Key terms (in bold) for further research of your own
- Comprehension questions and calculation exercises with solutions as learning checks
- Key illustrations as simple, easy-to-replicate blackboard pictures
Humorous cartoons for each workshop (by Faelis) additionally lighten up the text and facilitate the learning process as a mnemonic. To round out the book, the appendix includes a summary of the most popular experiments in basic physical chemistry courses, as well as suggestions for designing workshops with exhibits, experiments, and "questions of the day."
Suitable for students minoring in chemistry; chemistry majors are sure to find this slimmed-down, didactically valuable book helpful as well. The book is excellent for self-study.
Physikalische Chemie kompakt
(2022)
Preclinical development of highly effective and safe DNA vaccines directed against HPV 16 E6 and E7
(2011)
Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (hrHPV) can result in the formation of anogenital cancers. As hrHPV proteins E6 and E7 are required for cancer initiation and maintenance, they are ideal targets for immunotherapeutic interventions. Previously, we have described the development of DNA vaccines for the induction of HPV16 E6 and E7 specific T cell immunity. These vaccines consist of ‘gene-shuffled’ (SH) versions of HPV16 E6 and E7 that were fused to Tetanus Toxin Fragment C domain 1 (TTFC) and were named TTFC-E6SH and TTFC-E7SH. Gene-shuffling was performed to avoid the risk of inducing malignant transformation at the vaccination site. Here, we describe the preclinical safety evaluation of these candidate vaccines by analysis of their transforming capacity in vitro using established murine fibroblasts (NIH 3T3 cells) and primary human foreskin keratinocytes (HFKs). We demonstrate that neither ectopic expression of TTFC-E6SH and TTFC-E7SH alone or in combination enabled NIH 3T3 cells to form colonies in soft agar. In contrast, expression of HPV16 E6WT and E7WT alone or in combination resulted in effective transformation. Similarly, retroviral transduction of HFKs from three independent donors with both TTFC-E6SH and TTFC-E7SH alone or in combination did not show any signs of immortalization. In contrast, the combined expression of E6WT and E7WT induced immortalization in HFKs from all donors. Based on these results we consider it justified to proceed to clinical evaluation of DNA vaccines encoding TTFC-E6SH and TTFC-E7SH in patients with HPV16 associated (pre)malignancies.
Preprint: Studies on the enzymatic reduction of levulinic acid using Chiralidon-R and Chiralidon-S
(2023)
The enzymatic reduction of levulinic acid by the chiral catalysts Chiralidon-R and Chiralidon-S which are commercially available superabsorbed alcohol dehydrogenases is described. The Chiralidon®-R/S reduces the levulinic acid to the (R,S)-4-hydroxy valeric acid and the (R)- or (S)- gamma-valerolactone.