Remo Hochstrasser

SiLA Basic Standards for Rapid Integration in Laboratory Automation

A standard (SiLA, Standardization in Lab Automation) that focuses on the connection between sample processing devices and a software system for automation gains acceptance. This article reports about the creation and contents of the first set of standard specifications developed during the first 2 years. These specifications-named Device Control and Data Interface Specification, Common Command Dictionary, and Data Capture Specification-describe how devices are connected to a software controlling the interplay of the devices, the command sets for various device classes, and the structure of result data such as data generated by microtiter plate readers. A section about SiLA-compliant products and pilot projects using SiLA-compatible devices for system integration gives an idea about the acceptance of the standard in the marketplace.

Synthesis of pyrene—acridine bis-intercalators and effects of binding to DNA

Abstract A bis-intercalating compound containing pyrene and 9-aminoacridine chromophores ( N -(5-(1-pyrenyl)-pentyl)-6-(9-acridinylamino) hexylamide, I ), was prepared and its interaction with double-stranded DNA was investigated. Homologous compounds in which the two chromophores were connected by a linear carbon chain (pentamethylene ( II ), tetramethylene ( III ) and methylene ( IV )) were also prepared. In acetonitrile solutions of the free ligands, the presence of the proximal pyrene results in reduced acridine fluorescence relative to 9methylaminoacridine (9-MAA), and the degree of quenching increases with decreasing chain length. The quenching process is assigned to exothermic electron transfer from pyrene to the excited 9-aminoacridine (9-AA) chromophore. In the presence of DNA, the relative quenching order is reversed, and I and IV are quenched more strongly than II and III . From linear dichroism experiments, it is concluded that I binds by bis-intercalation of the pyrene and acridine moieties, III and IV undergo intercalation of the acridine chromophore and II binds by partial bis-intercalation at two contiguous sites.