Various embodiments relate to p-phenylene ethynylene compounds as bioactive and detection agents. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of inducing germination of microbial spores including contacting the microbial spores with a p-phenylene ethynylene compound. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method for detecting an enzyme, a method of protein analysis, or a method of detecting a chemical agent, including introducing a p-phenylene ethylylene compound to a composition including an enzyme substrate, and analyzing the fluorescence of the p-phenylene ethynylene compound. Various embodiments provide sensors that include a p-phenylene ethynylene compound and an enzyme substrate.

In some embodiments, methods for ligating nucleic acid ends comprise: conducting a nucleic acid ligation reaction in the presence of at least one agent that generates a ligatable terminal 5 phosphate group by removing an adenylate group from a terminal 5 phosphate of a nucleic acid. In some embodiments, an aprataxin enzyme can catalyze removal of an adenylate group from a terminal 5 phosphate of a nucleic acid. In some embodiments, methods for ligating nucleic acid ends comprise: conducting a nucleic acid ligation reaction in the presence of an aprataxin enzyme under conditions suitable for ligating nucleic acid ends.

In some embodiments, methods for ligating nucleic acid ends comprise: conducting a nucleic acid ligation reaction in the presence of at least one agent that generates a ligatable terminal 5 phosphate group by removing an adenylate group from a terminal 5 phosphate of a nucleic acid. In some embodiments, an aprataxin enzyme can catalyze removal of an adenylate group from a terminal 5 phosphate of a nucleic acid. In some embodiments, methods for ligating nucleic acid ends comprise: conducting a nucleic acid ligation reaction in the presence of an aprataxin enzyme under conditions suitable for ligating nucleic acid ends.

In some embodiments, methods for ligating nucleic acid ends comprise: conducting a nucleic acid ligation reaction in the presence of at least one agent that generates a ligatable terminal 5 phosphate group by removing an adenylate group from a terminal 5 phosphate of a nucleic acid. In some embodiments, an aprataxin enzyme can catalyze removal of an adenylate group from a terminal 5 phosphate of a nucleic acid. In some embodiments, methods for ligating nucleic acid ends comprise: conducting a nucleic acid ligation reaction in the presence of an aprataxin enzyme under conditions suitable for ligating nucleic acid ends.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for analyzing an extracted sample using an immiscible extraction solvent. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a system for analyzing an analyte in a sample. The system includes an ionization probe and a mass spectrometer. The ionization probe includes a hollow body that optionally includes a distal tip. The hollow body is configured such that there is no substrate within the body and no electrode disposed on a surface of the body. An electrode is at least partially disposed within the hollow body.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for analyzing an extracted sample using an immiscible extraction solvent. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a system for analyzing an analyte in a sample. The system includes an ionization probe and a mass spectrometer. The ionization probe includes a hollow body that optionally includes a distal tip. The hollow body is configured such that there is no substrate within the body and no electrode disposed on a surface of the body. An electrode is at least partially disposed within the hollow body.

Various embodiments relate to p-phenylene ethynylene compounds as bioactive and detection agents. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of inducing germination of microbial spores including contacting the microbial spores with a p-phenylene ethynylene compound. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method for detecting an enzyme, a method of protein analysis, or a method of detecting a chemical agent, including introducing a p-phenylene ethynylene compound to a composition including an enzyme substrate, and analyzing the fluorescence of the p-phenylene ethynylene compound. Various embodiments provide sensors that include a p-phenylene ethynylene compound and an enzyme substrate.

Various embodiments relate to p-phenylene ethynylene compounds as bioactive and detection agents. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of inducing germination of microbial spores including contacting the microbial spores with a p-phenylene ethynylene compound. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method for detecting an enzyme, a method of protein analysis, or a method of detecting a chemical agent, including introducing a p-phenylene ethynylene compound to a composition including an enzyme substrate, and analyzing the fluorescence of the p-phenylene ethynylene compound. Various embodiments provide sensors that include a p-phenylene ethynylene compound and an enzyme substrate.

An apparatus and method for detecting an analyte of interest using paper spray mass spectrometry includes a spray material; a sample on the spray material including an enzyme of interest; a solvent to hydrate the sample, promote enzymatic activity, and extract analytes of interest from the sample; a substrate specific to the enzyme of interest, wherein any of the spray material and the solvent includes the substrate; a voltage source to apply a voltage to the spray material to create charged droplets of a mixture containing the sample; and a mass spectrometer to perform spectrometry on the droplets to perform any of: identify the analytes of interest in the sample; and measure a level of inhibition in any enzymes contained in the sample.

An apparatus and method for detecting an analyte of interest using paper spray mass spectrometry includes a spray material; a sample on the spray material including an enzyme of interest; a solvent to hydrate the sample, promote enzymatic activity, and extract analytes of interest from the sample; a substrate specific to the enzyme of interest, wherein any of the spray material and the solvent includes the substrate; a voltage source to apply a voltage to the spray material to create charged droplets of a mixture containing the sample; and a mass spectrometer to perform spectrometry on the droplets to perform any of: identify the analytes of interest in the sample; and measure a level of inhibition in any enzymes contained in the sample.