TY - JOUR A1 - Weller, Michael G. T1 - The mystery of homochirality on earth N2 - Homochirality is an obvious feature of life on Earth. On the other hand, extraterrestrial samples contain largely racemic compounds. The same is true for any common organic synthesis. Therefore, it has been a perplexing puzzle for decades how these racemates could have formed enantiomerically enriched fractions as a basis for the origin of homochiral life forms. Numerous hypotheses have been put forward as to how preferentially homochiral molecules could have formed and accumulated on Earth. In this article, it is shown that homochirality of the abiotic organic pool at the time of formation of the first self-replicating molecules is not necessary and not even probable. It is proposed to abandon the notion of a molecular ensemble and to focus on the level of individual molecules. Although the formation of the first self-replicating, most likely homochiral molecule, is a seemingly improbable event, on a closer look, it is almost inevitable that some homochiral molecules have formed simply on a statistical basis. In this case, the non-selective leap to homochirality would be one of the first steps in chemical evolution directly out of a racemic “ocean”. Moreover, most studies focus on the chirality of the primordial monomers with respect to an asymmetric carbon atom. However, any polymer with a minimal size that allows folding to a secondary structure would spontaneously lead to asymmetric higher structures (conformations). Most of the functions of these polymers would be influenced by this inherently asymmetric folding. Furthermore, a concept of physical compartmentalization based on rock nanopores in analogy to nanocavities of digital immunoassays is introduced to suggest that complex cell walls or membranes were also not required for the first steps of chemical evolution. To summarize, simple and universal mechanisms may have led to homochiral self-replicating systems in the context of chemical evolution. A homochiral monomer pool is deemed unnecessary and probably never existed on primordial Earth. N2 - Homochiralität ist ein offensichtliches Merkmal des Lebens auf der Erde. Andererseits enthalten extraterrestrische Proben überwiegend racemische Verbindungen. Dasselbe gilt für jede gängige organische Synthese. Daher war es jahrzehntelang ein Rätsel, wie diese Racemate enantiomeren-angereicherte Fraktionen als Grundlage für den Ursprung homochiraler Lebensformen bilden konnten. Zahlreiche Hypothesen wurden aufgestellt, wie sich bevorzugt homochirale Moleküle auf der Erde gebildet und angereichert haben könnten. In diesem Artikel wird gezeigt, dass Homochiralität des abiotischen organischen Pools zum Zeitpunkt der Bildung der ersten selbstreplizierenden Moleküle nicht notwendig und nicht einmal wahrscheinlich ist. Es wird vorgeschlagen, die Vorstellung eines molekularen Ensembles aufzugeben und sich auf die Ebene der einzelnen Moleküle zu konzentrieren. Obwohl die Bildung des ersten selbstreplizierenden, höchstwahrscheinlich homochiralen Moleküls ein scheinbar unwahrscheinliches Ereignis ist, ist es bei näherer Betrachtung fast unvermeidlich, dass sich einige homochirale Moleküle einfach auf statistischer Basis gebildet haben. In diesem Fall wäre der nichtselektive Sprung zur Homochiralität einer der ersten Schritte der chemischen Evolution direkt aus einem racemischen "Ozean". Darüber hinaus konzentrieren sich die meisten Studien auf die Chiralität der ursprünglichen Monomere in Bezug auf ein asymmetrisches Kohlenstoffatom. Jedes Polymer mit einer Mindestgröße, die eine Faltung zu einer Sekundärstruktur erlaubt, würde jedoch spontan zu asymmetrischen höheren Strukturen (Konformationen) führen. Die meisten Funktionen dieser Polymere würden durch diese inhärent asymmetrische Faltung beeinflusst. Darüber hinaus wird ein Konzept der physikalischen Kompartimentierung auf der Basis von Gesteinsnanoporen in Analogie zu den Nanokavitäten digitaler Immunoassays vorgestellt, das darauf hindeutet, dass auch für die ersten Schritte der chemischen Evolution keine komplexen Zellwände oder Membranen notwendig waren. Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass einfache und universelle Mechanismen zu homochiralen selbstreplizierenden Systemen im Rahmen der chemischen Evolution geführt haben könnten. Ein homochiraler Monomerpool wird als unnötig angesehen, welcher auf der Urerde wahrscheinlich nie existiert hat. KW - Chemical evolution KW - Enantiomeric excess ee KW - Chirality KW - Racemate KW - Folding chirality KW - Self-assembly KW - self-replication KW - Single molecule KW - Prebiotic chemistry KW - Protein folding KW - Peptide folding KW - Proteinoid KW - Conformation KW - Segregation KW - Compartmentalization KW - Digital immunoassay KW - Porous rock KW - Miller and Urey KW - Primordial soup KW - Murchison meteorite KW - Micrometeorites KW - Tholins PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-598349 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/life14030341 SN - 2075-1729 VL - 14 IS - 3 SP - 1 EP - 13 PB - MDPI CY - Basel AN - OPUS4-59834 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tang, Chi-Long A1 - Seeger, Stefan T1 - Measurement of sub-4 nm particle emission from FFF-3D printing with the TSI Nano Enhancer and the Airmodus Particle Size Magnifier N2 - The emission of ultrafine particles from small desktop Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) 3D printers has been frequently investigated in the past years. However, the vast majority of FFF emission and exposure studies have not considered the possible occurrence of particles below the typical detection limit of Condensation Particle Counters and could have systematically underestimated the total particle emission as well as the related exposure risks. Therefore, we comparatively measured particle number concentrations and size distributions of sub-4 nm particles with two commercially available diethylene glycol-based instruments – the TSI 3757 Nano Enhancer and the Airmodus A10 Particle Size Magnifier. Both instruments were evaluated for their suitability of measuring FFF-3D printing emissions in the sub-4 nm size range while operated as a particle counter or as a particle size spectrometer. For particle counting, both instruments match best when the Airmodus system was adjusted to a cut-off of 1.5 nm. For size spectroscopy, both instruments show limitations due to either the fast dynamics or rather low levels of particle emissions from FFF-3D printing in this range. The effects are discussed in detail in this article. The findings could be used to implement sub-4 nm particle measurement in future emission or exposure studies, but also for the development of standard test protocols for FFF-3D printing emissions. KW - Air pollution KW - Ultrafine particles KW - Sub-4nm particles KW - FFF-3D printing KW - Emission testing PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-595952 DO - https://doi.org/10.1080/02786826.2024.2320430 SN - 0278-6826 VL - 58 IS - 6 SP - 644 EP - 656 PB - Taylor & Francis CY - London AN - OPUS4-59595 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schmidt, Stephan A1 - Hoffmann, Holger A1 - Garbe, Leif-Alexander A1 - Harrer, Andrea A1 - Steiner, Markus A1 - Himly, Martin A1 - Schneider, Rudolf T1 - Re-assessment of monoclonal antibodies against diclofenac for their application in the analysis of environmental waters N2 - The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac (DCF) is an important environmental contaminant occurring in surface waters all over the world, because, after excretion, it is not adequately removed from wastewater in sewage treatment plants. To be able to monitor this pollutant, highly efficient analytical methods are needed, including immunoassays. In a medical research project, monoclonal antibodies against diclofenac and its metabolites had been produced. Based on this monoclonal anti-DCF antibody, a new indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed and applied for environmental samples. The introduction of a spacer between diclofenac and the carrier protein in the coating conjugate led to higher sensitivity. With a test midpoint of 3 mg L−1 and a measurement range of 1–30 mg L−1, the system is not sensitive enough for direct analysis of surface water. However, this assay is quite robust against matrix influences and can be used for wastewater. Without adjustment of the calibration, organic solvents up to 5%, natural organic matter (NOM) up to 10 mg L−1, humic acids up to 2.5 mg L−1, and salt concentrations up to 6 g L−1 NaCl and 75 mg L−1 CaCl2 are tolerated. The antibody is also stable in a pH range from 3 to 12. Cross-reactivity (CR) of 1% or less was determined for the metabolites 40-hydroxydiclofenac (40-OH-DCF), 5-hydroxydiclofenac (5-OH-DCF), DCF lactam, and other NSAIDs. Relevant cross-reactivity occurred only with an amide derivative of DCF, 6-aminohexanoic acid (DCF-Ahx), aceclofenac (ACF) and DCF methyl ester (DCF-Me) with 150%, 61% and 44%, respectively. These substances, however, have not been found in samples. Only DCF-acyl glucuronide with a cross-reactivity of 57% is of some relevance. For the first time, photodegradation products were tested for cross-reactivity. With the ELISA based on this antibody, water samples were analysed. In sewage treatment plant effluents, concentrations in the range of 1.9–5.2 mg L−1 were determined directly, with recoveries compared to HPLC-MS/MS averaging 136%. Concentrations in lakes ranged from 3 to 4.4 ng L−1 and were, after pre-concentration, determined with an average recovery of 100% KW - Antikörper KW - Immunoassay KW - Wasser PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-602280 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d3ay01333b VL - 16 IS - 21 SP - 3349 EP - 3363 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) CY - London AN - OPUS4-60228 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Braymer, Joseph J. A1 - Stehling, Oliver A1 - Stümpfig, Martin A1 - Rösser, Ralf A1 - Spantgar, Farah A1 - Blinn, Catharina M. A1 - Mühlenhoff, Ulrich A1 - Pierik, Antonio J. A1 - Lill, Roland T1 - Requirements for the biogenesis of [2Fe-2S] proteins in the human and yeast cytosol N2 - The biogenesis of iron–sulfur (Fe/S) proteins entails the synthesis and trafficking of Fe/S clusters, followed by their insertion into target apoproteins. In eukaryotes, the multiple steps of biogenesis are accomplished by complex protein machineries in both mitochondria and cytosol. The underlying biochemical pathways have been elucidated over the past decades, yet the mechanisms of cytosolic [2Fe-2S] protein assembly have remained ill-defined. Similarly, the precise site of glutathione (GSH) requirement in cytosolic and nuclear Fe/S protein biogenesis is unclear, as is the molecular role of the GSH-dependent cytosolic monothiol glutaredoxins (cGrxs). Here, we investigated these questions in human and yeast cells by various in vivo approaches. [2Fe-2S] cluster assembly of cytosolic target apoproteins required the mitochondrial ISC machinery, the mitochondrial transporter Atm1/ABCB7 and GSH, yet occurred independently of both the CIA system and cGrxs. This mechanism was strikingly different from the ISC-, Atm1/ABCB7-, GSH-, and CIA-dependent assembly of cytosolic–nuclear [4Fe-4S] proteins. One notable exception to this cytosolic [2Fe-2S] protein maturation pathway defined here was yeast Apd1 which used the CIA system via binding to the CIA targeting complex through its C-terminal tryptophan. cGrxs, although attributed as [2Fe-2S] cluster chaperones or trafficking proteins, were not essential in vivo for delivering [2Fe-2S] clusters to either CIA components or target apoproteins. Finally, the most critical GSH requirement was assigned to Atm1-dependent export, i.e. a step before GSH-dependent cGrxs function. Our findings extend the general model of eukaryotic Fe/S protein biogenesis by adding the molecular requirements for cytosolic [2Fe-2S] protein maturation. KW - Biokorrosion KW - Hydrogenasen KW - Microbially Induced Corrosion PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-602328 DO - https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2400740121 VL - 121 IS - 21 SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences CY - Washington D.C. AN - OPUS4-60232 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gregório, Bruno J.R. A1 - Ramos, Inês I. A1 - Marques, Sara S. A1 - Barreiros, Luísa A1 - Magalhães, Luís M. A1 - Schneider, Rudolf A1 - Segundo, Marcela A. T1 - Microcarrier-based fluorescent yeast estrogen screen assay for fast determination of endocrine disrupting compounds N2 - The presence of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) in water poses a significant threat to human and animal health, as recognized by regulatory agencies throughout the world. The Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES) assay is an excellent method to evaluate the presence of these compounds in water due to its simplicity and capacity to assess the bioaccessible forms/fractions of these compounds. In the presence of a compound with estrogenic activity, Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, containing a lacZ reporter gene encoding the enzyme β-galactosidase, are induced, the enzyme is synthesised, and released to the extracellular medium. In this work, a YES-based approach encompassing the use of a lacZ reporter gene modified strain of S. cerevisiae, microcarriers as solid support, and a fluorescent substrate, fluorescein di-β-D-galactopyranoside, is proposed, allowing for the assessment of EDCs’ presence after only 2 h of incubation. The proposed method provided an EC50 of 0.17 ± 0.03 nM and an LLOQ of 0.03 nM, expressed as 17β-estradiol. The assessment of different EDCs provided EC50 values between 0.16 and 1.2 × 103 nM. After application to wastewaters, similar results were obtained for EDCs screening, much faster, compared to the conventional 45 h spectrophotometric procedure using a commercial kit, showing potential for onsite high-throughput screening of environmental contamination. KW - Biosensoren KW - YES assay KW - Endokrine Disruptoren PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-602315 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2024.125665 VL - 271 SP - 1 EP - 7 PB - Elsevier B.V. CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-60231 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Junge, Florian A1 - Wittwer, Philipp A1 - Sommerfeld, Thomas A1 - Gehrenkemper, Lennart A1 - Zoister, Christian A1 - Nickl, Philip A1 - Koch, Matthias A1 - Meermann, Björn A1 - Haag, Rainer T1 - Adsorber Charge Dominates over Hydrophobic or Fluorophilic Functionalization in Influencing Adsorption of PFCA onto Polystyrene Resins N2 - A systematic series of industrial-relevant polystyrene-based anion exchange resins that are functionalized with hydro- or fluorocarbon chains are compared regarding their adsorption behavior toward perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCA) in respect to their charge, chain length, and type of chain. The results clearly show the dominance of electrostatic interactions in the adsorption process as uncharged adsorber materials showed no adsorption at all. In contrast, the charged adsorber materials showed in general a PFCA removal of 80% to 30% over the experiment depending on effluent fraction. Unexpectedly, for perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) the highest removal rate is found with consistently >90%. Despite observing significant benefits in the adsorption of PFCA for fluoroalkylated adsorbers in comparison to their non-fluorinated counterparts, this effect of fluoroalkylation is comparatively small and can not be clearly attributed to fluorophilic interactions between the fluoroalkyl chains. These findings help clarifying that the introduction of fluorocarbon moieties in adsorber materials is not necessary in order to remove fluorocarbon molecules from the environment. KW - PFAS KW - Remediation KW - Adsorption KW - Fluorophilic interactions PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-601883 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202400199 SN - 2196-7350 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - John Wiley & Sons CY - Hoboken, New Jersey, USA AN - OPUS4-60188 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - You, Zengchao A1 - Winckelmann, Alexander A1 - Vogl, Jochen A1 - Recknagel, Sebastian A1 - Abad Andrade, Carlos Enrique T1 - Determination of calcium, iron, and selenium in human serum by isotope dilution analysis using nitrogen microwave inductively coupled atmospheric pressure plasma mass spectrometry (MICAP-MS) N2 - In this study, we demonstrate the applicability of nitrogen microwave inductively coupled atmospheric pressure mass spectrometry (MICAP-MS) for Ca, Fe, and Se quantification in human serum using isotope dilution (ID) analysis. The matrix tolerance of MICAP-MS in Na matrix was investigated, uncovering that high Na levels can suppress the signal intensity. This suppression is likely due to the plasma loading and the space charge effect. Moreover, 40Ca and 44Ca isotopic fractionation was noted at elevated Na concentration. Nine certified serum samples were analyzed using both external calibration and ID analysis. Overestimation of Cr, Zn, As, and Se was found in the results of external calibration, which might be resulted from C-induced polyatomic interference and signal enhancement, respectively. Further investigations performed with methanol showed a similar enhancement effect for Zn, As, and Se, potentially supporting this assumption. The mass concentrations determined with ID analysis show metrological compatibility with the reference values, indicating that MICAP-MS combined with ID analysis can be a promising method for precise Ca, Fe, and Se determination. Moreover, this combination reduces the influences of matrix effects, broadening the applicability of MICAP-MS for samples with complex matrix. KW - Selenium KW - Nitrogen microwave inductively coupled atmospheric pressure mass spectrometry KW - Isotope dilution KW - Human serum KW - Calcium KW - Iron PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-598664 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-024-05274-0 SN - 1618-2642 SP - 3117 EP - 3125 PB - Springer CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-59866 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tatzel, Michael A1 - Oelze, Marcus A1 - Frick, Daniel A. A1 - Di Rocco, Tommaso A1 - Liesegang, Moritz A1 - Stuff, Maria A1 - Wiedenbeck, Michael T1 - Silicon and oxygen isotope fractionation in a silicified carbonate rock N2 - Silicon isotope fractionation during silicification is poorly understood and impedes our ability to decipher paleoenvironmental conditions from Si isotopes in ancient cherts. To investigate isotope fractionation during silica-for-carbonate replacement we analyzed the microscale Si and O isotope composition in different silica phases in a silicified zebra dolostone as well as their bulk δ18O and Δ’17O compositions. The subsequent replacement of carbonate layers is mimicked by decreasing δ18O and δ30Si. The textural relationship and magnitude of Si and O isotope fractionation is best explained by near-quantitative silica precipitation in an open system with finite Si. A Rayleigh model for silicification suggests positive Ɛ30/28Si during silicification, conforming with predictions for isotope distribution at chemical equilibrium from ab-initio models. Application of the modelled Ɛ30Si-T relationship yields silicification temperatures of approx. 50°C. To reconcile the δ18Ochert composition with these temperatures, the δ18O of the fluid must have been between -2.5 and -4 ‰, compositions for which the quartz phases fall close to the oxygen equilibrium fractionation line in three-isotope space. Diagenetic silica replacement appears to occur in O and Si isotopic equilibrium allowing reconstructions of temperatures of silicification from Si isotopes and derive the δ18O composition of the fluid – a highly desired value needed for accurate reconstructions of the temperature- and δ18O histories of the oceans. KW - Silicon isotopes PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-603430 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2024.122120 SN - 0009-2541 VL - 658 SP - 1 EP - 13 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-60343 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Roesch, Philipp A1 - Schinnen, Andrea A1 - Riedel, Maren A1 - Sommerfeld, Thomas A1 - Sawal, G. A1 - Bandow, N. A1 - Vogel, Christian A1 - Kalbe, Ute A1 - Simon, Franz-Georg T1 - Investigation of pH-dependent extraction methods for PFAS in (fluoropolymer-based) consumer products: A comparative study between targeted and sum parameter analysis N2 - Here, we report a comparative study of different sum parameter analysis methods for the extraction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from manufactured consumer products, which can be measured by combustion ion chromatography (CIC). Therefore, a hydrolysis-based extraction method was further developed, which accounts for the addition of hydrolyzable covalently bound polyfluoroalkylated side-chain polymers (SFPs) to the extractable organic fluorine portion of the mass balance proposed as "hydrolyzable organically bound fluorine" (HOF). To test this hypothesis, the method was applied to 39 different consumer products containing fluoropolymers or monomeric PFAS taken from four different categories: outdoor textiles, paper packaging, carpeting, and permanent baking sheets. We also evaluated the method's efficiency by extracting four synthesized fluorotelomer polyacrylate reference compounds. The total fluorine (TF) and extractable organically bound fluorine (EOF) values were measured through CIC using established protocols. The TF values ranged from sub-ppb to %-levels, depending on the compound class. All samples showed results for hydrolyzed organofluorine (HOF) between 0.03 and 76.3 μg/g, while most EOF values were lower (