4,616 research outputs found
Bug Forensics with Dr Paola Magni
No full textDid you know that bugs could be a major help in solving murder mysteries?
New research discovered by forensic biologist Dr Paola Magni has uncovered critical baseline data for the decomposition of bodies on Rottnest Island.
RTRFM's Madeleine Lombardi spoke to Dr Magni about her research on Rottnest Island and also uncovered secrets about bodies found underwater.
Madeleine started off with asking Dr Magni about her experience diving into the deep end..
PROTEOMIC APPLICATIONS TO PROTEIN TRACEABILITY AND SAFETY STUDIES OF LUPIN-BASED FOOD PRODUCTS
No full textLupin seed is one of the richest in proteins, among grain legumes, thus representing an excellent source for the new
needs of plant proteins in food products.
2D electrophoretic and mass spectrometry analyses can be of great impact to study lupin seed proteome, to evaluate
the effects of technological treatments during food production and to monitor desirable/undesirable protein components
such as biologically active proteins or allergens.
The lupin seed 2D map (1) and its following updating have been used to identify the main protein components. Lupin
maps show the complex pattern of heterogenous storage proteins. Of 357 spots detected, 70 of them were analyzed.
Moreover, a 2D comparative approach between the total protein extract map and the purified major protein seed fractions
maps, allowed to allocate 124 polypeptides within these fractions.
Taking advantage of the availability of lupin protein 2-D map we also studied the presence, integrity and constancy
of proteins throughout the industrial processing of a lupin-based pasta product. Samples, including seeds, raw materials,
i.e. flour and protein concentrate, half-processed products and dry pasta were used to generate the corresponding 2-D
electrophoretic maps. Some differences in the protein profiles between the raw materials were attributed to the different
varieties which they arose from; on the other hand, no alteration of the covalent continuity of the main polypeptide
backbones among the samples during the industrial processing were observed.
In parallel, it was possible to trace a lupin putative dominant allergen (2), i.e.
-conglutin, which is also considered
the candidate molecule to the hypoglycemic activity of lupin seed extracts (3).
This work shows that lupin proteome and related 2D electrophoretic maps can be very useful to both quality control
strategies and traceability of specific protein components in food matrices.
References
(1) Magni et al. (2007). Phytochemistry 68: 997-1007.
(2) Magni et al. (2005). J. Agric. Food Chem. 53: 4567-4571.
(3) Magni et al. (2004). J. Nutr. Biochem. 15: 646-650
Optimizing the electrodeposition protocol of enantioselective inherently chiral electrode surfaces: a multi-technique investigation
No full textWe have recently introduced "inherently chiral" enantiopure electrode surfaces of outstanding chirality manifestations, including circularly polarized luminescence, reversibly potential-driven circular dichroism, and large potential differences for the enantiomers of chiral probes in voltammetry experiments performed on such surfaces. [1-3]
The outstandingly powerful “inherent chirality” concept implies a molecular structure where the stereogenic element does not consist in an isolated stereocentre or an external chirality source, but originates from a tailored torsion in the whole main backbone endowing the molecule with its key functional property (here electroactivity).
A key issue is now to investigate the enantioselection mechanism and to optimize the experimental protocols for the deposition of our inherently chiral surfaces. For both aims it is important to study the thickness and regularity of the chiral oligomer films as a function of the experimental conditions. We started a systematic profilometry study correlated to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements of the oligomer films obtained by carefully controlled electrodeposition, varying one by one different experimental parameters. The study is also important to properly compare enantioselection by films prepared from different inherently chiral monomers, including e.g. bisindole and tetrathiahelicene ones.
[1] S. Arnaboldi, S. Grecchi, M. Magni, P. Mussini, Electroactive chiral oligo- and polymer layers for electrochemical enantiorecognition, Current Opinion in Electrochemistry, 7 (2018) 188-199.
[2] S. Arnaboldi, M. Magni, P. R. Mussini, Enantioselective selectors for chiral electrochemistry and electroanalysis: Stereogenic elements and enantioselection performance, Current Opinion in Electrochemistry, 8 (2018) 60-72.
[3] S. Arnaboldi, T. Benincori, R. Cirilli, S. Grecchi, L. Santagostini, F. Sannicolò, P.R. Mussini, “Inherently chiral” thiophene-based electrodes at work: a screening of enantioselection ability toward a series of pharmaceutically relevant phenolic or catecholic amino acids, amino esters, and amine, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 408 (2016) 7243-7254
Giustificare il Welfare State: ragioni a confronto
No full textIl paper mette a fuoco le ragioni di carattere normativo a favore dell’intervento pubblico nel settore del welfare. In particolare, il paper sottolinea che, a partire dal secondo dopoguerra, l’erogazione di servizi sociali non risponde più a istanze umanitarie, ma diventa a pieno titolo una questione di giustizia. In quest’ottica, l’intervento pubblico nel settore del welfare è giustificato con riferimento a diritti sociali o a diritti di cittadinanza e le politiche sociali assumono la funzione di controbilanciare i rischi legati ai cicli vitali, alla malattia e all’economia di mercato, rischi rispetto ai quali gli individui non sono responsabili e dai quali devono quindi essere protetti. Inoltre, come sottolineato nel paper, l’intervento pubblico nel settore del welfare può esse giustificato come misura che consente di far fronte ai fallimenti del mercato, garantendone l’efficienza e preservandolo come sfera di libertà all’interno della quale gli individui possono esercitare la propria autonomia. Le politiche sociali sono state giustificate anche alla luce di finalità redistributive ed egualitarie o alla necessità di sottrarre alcuni ambiti, quali la sanità o l’educazione, alla logica del mercato per assicurare l’eguaglianza delle opportunità. Come il paper segnala, ci sono punti di tensione sia tra i diversi principi normativi su cui la giustificazione del welfare state si fonda (libertà e uguaglianza), sia tra le varie finalità che persegue (soddisfare bisogni e garantire l’efficienza del mercato), così come tra i differenti valori che promuove (giustizia e solidarietà). In effetti, come il paper suggerisce, il welfare state rappresenta il tentativo di trovare un equilibrio tra valori e principi propri della tradizione pubblica delle società liberali e democratiche, dalla libertà all’uguaglianza, dalla solidarietà all’efficienza. Si tratta, dunque, di trovare un punto di equilibrio, capace di configurare una nuova forma e formula di welfare state, che sia all’altezza delle critiche che gli vengono mosse e delle sfide che dovrà affrontare
Electroactive Inherently Chiral Surfaces at Work: Clues Toward the Elucidation of the Enantioselection Mechanism
No full textChirality is a concept strictly related to life and to its evolution. Capability to discriminate antipodes and/or produce enantiopure chiral chemicals through cheap and efficient protocols is a crucial task for our modern civilization. So identification of increasingly effective and robust chiral selectors is a challenging task also for the electrochemical community [1,2].
In this frame our research group is working on the so called “inherently chiral functional molecular materials”, ICFMMs; the idea is simple: make the stereogenic element responsible for chirality coincident with the functional group responsible for the material specific property (Figure, left). This approach has constituted an actual breakthrough in chiral electrochemistry, resulting in the preparation of efficient chiral electroactive surfaces [3,4,5] (and chiral additives/media, too [6]) invariably characterized by outstanding enantiodiscrimination ability in quite different working conditions and with chemically different chiral electroactive analytes. Notwithstanding plenty of proofs pointing to a general validity of the ICFMMs concept, a clear rationalization of the enantiodiscrimination mechanism still lacks.
To fill the gap a deeper knowledge of the behavior of our electrodeposited chiral films is mandatory. As a first step some of the most important experimental parameters governing the growth of the conductive coatings have been changed, one by one, to evaluate their impact on the morphological, optical and electronic properties of the final deposit. Results of the multi-technique characterization will be discussed, including profilometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (Figure, right) and spectroelectrochemistry data, all aimed to collect clues useful to rationalize the way in which ICFMMs work.
The support of Fondazione Cariplo/Regione Lombardia (Project 2016-0923) and SmartMatLab are gratefully acknowledged.
References:
[1] S. Arnaboldi, M. Magni, P. Mussini, Curr. Opin. Electrochem., 2018, 8, 60.
[2] S. Arnaboldi, S. Grecchi, M. Magni, P. Mussini, Curr. Opin. Electrochem., 2018, 7, 188.
[3] F. Sannicolò, P.R. Mussini, T. Benincori, R. Martinazzo, S. Arnaboldi, G. Appoloni, M. Panigati, E. Quartapelle Procopio, V. Marino, R. Cirilli, S. Casolo, W. Kutner, K. Noworyta, A. Pietrzyk-Le, Z. Iskierko, K. Bartold, Chem. Eur. J., 2016, 22, 10839.
[4] S. Arnaboldi, P.R. Mussini, M. Magni, F. Sannicolò, T. Benincori, R. Cirilli, K. Noworyta, W. Kutner, Chem. Sci., 2015, 6, 1706.
[5] F. Sannicolò, S. Arnaboldi, T. Benincori, V. Bonometti, R. Cirilli, L. Dunsch, W. Kutner, G. Longhi, P.R. Mussini, M. Panigati, M. Pierini, S. Rizzo, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2014, 53, 2623.
[6] S. Rizzo S. Arnaboldi, V. Mihali, R. Cirilli, A. Forni, A. Gennaro, A.A. Isse, M. Pierini, P.R. Mussini, F. Sannicolò, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2017, 56, 2079
The Breakthrough in Enantioselective Electrochemistry: Inherently Chiral Functional Molecular Materials
No full textIn Nature chirality has played a key role since the appearance of the first living being. Nowadays in our modern society capability to discriminate antipodes is still crucial; let us think to pharmaceutical industry: effective chiral selectors are mandatory both from an analytical and a synthetic point of view. Identifying chiral selectors able to effectively discriminate enantiomers of chiral analytes is a challenging task also for electrochemists [1,2].
In this frame our research group is working on the so called “inherently chiral functional molecular materials”, ICFMMs; the idea is simple: make the stereogenic element responsible for chirality coincident with the functional group responsible for the material specific property. This approach has constituted an actual breakthrough in chiral electrochemistry, resulting in the preparation of both chiral electroactive surfaces [3,4] and chiral media [5] invariably characterized by outstanding enantiodiscrimination ability in quite different working conditions and with chemically different chiral analytes.
In this presentation a panoramic overview of our recent results will be given, pointing to a general validity of the aforementioned concept. In particular the following topics will be discussed: ICFMMs with various stereogenic elements (all of which assure a tailored torsion in the molecular backbone), screening of different chiral analytes (with different stereogenic element, too) and working media (e.g. pH, counter-ions).
Very recently efforts have been focused on understanding the enantioselection mechanism, which still lacks. Results of a multi-technique characterization of the inherently chiral oligomer films will be presented, including profilometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and spectroelectrochemistry measurements.
References
(1) Arnaboldi, S.; Magni, M.; Mussini, P. Curr. Opin. Electrochem. 2018, 8, 60.
(2) Arnaboldi, S.; Grecchi, S.; Magni, M.; Mussini, P. Curr. Opin. Electrochem. 2018, 7, 188.
(3) Sannicolò, F.; Arnaboldi, S.; Benincori, T.; Bonometti, V.; Cirilli, R.; Dunsch, L.; Kutner, W.; Longhi, G.; Mussini, P.R.; Panigati, M.; Pierini, M.; Rizzo S. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 2623.
(4) Arnaboldi, S.; Mussini, P.R.; Magni, M.; Sannicolò, F.; Benincori, T.; Cirilli, R.; Noworyta, K.; Kutner W. Chem. Sci. 2015, 6, 1706.
(5) Rizzo S.; Arnaboldi, S.; Mihali, V.; Cirilli, R.; Forni, A; Gennaro, A.; Isse, A.A.; Pierini, M.; Mussini, P.R.; Sannicolò, F. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 2079
Epistolae magni Turci.
No full textDrukker: Fol. 20r G. F. T.Falsely attributed to Mahomet IIIncipit: Lavdini fovitis Hierosolimitani ad Francinu[m] Beltrand[um] comitem in Epistolas magni Tvrci praefatioBabinger, F. Laudivius Zacchia, der Erdichter der "Epistolae Magni Turci", 1960 ; Heft 13(1960)Gesamtkatalog der Wiegendrucke ; M25645Machiels, J. Catalogus van de boeken gedrukt vóór 1600 ; M 626Polain, M.-L. Catalogue des livres imprimés au 15e siècle ... ; 2562.Europeana-GoogleBooksVergauwen, Fran
Purification and molecular characterization of a novel protein factor from Phytophthora cactorum causing toxicity in plant
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