A universal test for gravitational decoherence.

Quantum mechanics and the theory of gravity are presently not compatible. A particular question is whether gravity causes decoherence. Several models for gravitational decoherence have been proposed, not all of which can be described quantum mechanically. Since quantum mechanics may need to be modified, one may question the use of quantum mechanics as a calculational tool to draw conclusions from the data of experiments concerning gravity. Here we propose a general method to estimate gravitational decoherence in an experiment that allows us to draw conclusions in any physical theory where the no-signalling principle holds, even if quantum mechanics needs to be modified. As an example, we propose a concrete experiment using optomechanics. Our work raises the interesting question whether other properties of nature could similarly be established from experimental observations alone-that is, without already having a rather well-formed theory of nature to make sense of experimental data.

Practical Relativistic Bit Commitment.

Bit commitment is a fundamental cryptographic primitive in which Alice wishes to commit a secret bit to Bob. Perfectly secure bit commitment between two mistrustful parties is impossible through an asynchronous exchange of quantum information. Perfect security is, however, possible when Alice and Bob each split into several agents exchanging classical information at times and locations suitably chosen to satisfy specific relativistic constraints. In this Letter we first revisit a previously proposed scheme [C. Crépeau et al., Lect. Notes Comput. Sci. 7073, 407 (2011)] that realizes bit commitment using only classical communication. We prove that the protocol is secure against quantum adversaries for a duration limited by the light-speed communication time between the locations of the agents. We then propose a novel multiround scheme based on finite-field arithmetic that extends the commitment time beyond this limit, and we prove its security against classical attacks. Finally, we present an implementation of these protocols using dedicated hardware and we demonstrate a 2 ms-long bit commitment over a distance of 131 km. By positioning the agents on antipodal points on the surface of Earth, the commitment time could possibly be extended to 212 ms.

Experimental bit commitment based on quantum communication and special relativity.

Bit commitment is a fundamental cryptographic primitive in which Bob wishes to commit a secret bit to Alice. Perfectly secure bit commitment between two mistrustful parties is impossible through asynchronous exchange of quantum information. Perfect security is however possible when Alice and Bob split into several agents exchanging classical and quantum information at times and locations suitably chosen to satisfy specific relativistic constraints. Here we report on an implementation of a bit commitment protocol using quantum communication and special relativity. Our protocol is based on [A. Kent, Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 130501 (2012)] and has the advantage that it is practically feasible with arbitrary large separations between the agents in order to maximize the commitment time. By positioning agents in Geneva and Singapore, we obtain a commitment time of 15 ms. A security analysis considering experimental imperfections and finite statistics is presented.

Solubilization and characterization of a thyroid Ca(2+)-dependent and NADPH-dependent K3Fe(CN)6 reductase. Relationship with the NADPH-dependent H2O2-generating system.

The thyroid plasma membrane contains a Ca(2+)-regulated NADPH-dependent H2O2-generating system which provides H2O2 for the thyroid-peroxidase-catalyzed biosynthesis of thyroid hormones. The molecular nature of the membrane-associated electron transport chain that generates H2O2 in the thyroid is unknown, but recent observations indicate that a flavoprotein containing a FAD prosthetic group is involved. Solubilization was reinvestigated using 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (Chaps), Triton X-100, and high salt concentrations. Chaps eliminated about 30% of the proteins, which included a ferricyanide reductase, without affecting the H2O2-generating system. Similarly, Triton X-100 alone did not extract the NADPH oxidase. An NADPH-oxidase activity, which was measured in the presence of the artificial electron acceptor potassium ferricyanide, was solubilized by increasing the ionic strength to 2 M KCl. This NADPH-ferricyanide reductase activity was shown to belong to the H2O2-generating system, although it did not produce H2O2. It was still Ca2+ dependent and H2O2 production was restored by decreasing the ionic strength by overnight dialysis. No H2O2 production activity was detected after sucrose density gradient centrifugation of the dialyzed solubilized enzyme, but a well-defined peak of NADPH oxidation activity with a sedimentation coefficient of 3.71 S was found in the presence of K3Fe(CN)6. These results suggest that some unknown component(s) (phospholipid or protein) is removed during sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Finally, thyrotropin, which induces NADPH oxidase and regulates H2O2 production in porcine thyrocytes in primary culture, also induced the NADPH-K3Fe(CN)6 reductase activity associated with the H2O2-generating system. Thus, this enzyme seems to be another marker of thyroid differentiation.

Activation of the NADPH-dependent H2O2-generating system in pig thyroid particulate fraction by limited proteolysis and Zn2+ treatment.

The NADPH-dependent H2O2-generating system in a pig thyroid particulate fraction requires micromolar concentrations of Ca2+ for activity. The H2O2 generator could be Ca(2+)-desensitized (i.e. made fully active in the absence of Ca2+) by limited proteolysis with alpha-chymotrypsin or by treatment with ZnCl2. The Zn2+ effect was temperature- and dose-dependent with an apparent half-maximum concentration of 0.15 mM at 40 degrees C. Ca2+ desensitization was not reversed by adding the Zn2+ chelators, 1,10-phenanthroline and EGTA, but about one-third of the Ca(2+)-sensitivity was recovered after addition of 10 mM-dithiothreitol. The proteolysed enzyme and the Zn(2+)-treated enzyme had different Km values for NADPH. The Zn2+ effect did not seem to involve proteolysis or membrane fusion. These results indicate that Ca2+ regulation occurs via an autoinhibitory domain or inhibitory protein component of the H2O2-generator system. Its inhibitory effect may be removed by proteolysis or conformational changes, making the catalytic site accessible to the substrate NADPH and/or enabling electrons to be transferred from NADPH to O2.

Effect of N-glycan removal on the enzymatic activity of porcine thyroid peroxidase.

Active porcine thyroid peroxidase (pTPO) has been purified either by deoxycholate extraction followed by immunoaffinity purification (pTPO A) or by trypsin/digitonin extraction followed by ion-exchange and gelfiltration chromatography (pTPO B); pTPO A appeared as a full-length molecule, while pTPO B appeared as peptide fragments. Purified pTPO were deglycosylated either by peptide N-glycosidase F (PNGase F) or by endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H (endo H) treatment. Electrophoretic controls and affinity blotting with concanavalin A indicated that deglycosylation was not total and that pTPO was more efficiently deglycosylated by endo H than by PNGase F. The enzymatic activity of pTPO A, checked by guaiacol and iodide oxidation, was inhibited by PNGase F and endo H deglycosylation, while that of pTPO B was not. After deglycosylation, the apparent Km of pTPO A for guaiacol and iodide increased, while the Vmax for both substrates decreased. The state of aggregation of pTPO A before and after deglycosylation was checked by sucrose density-gradient centrifugation. Results indicated that this inhibition was not due to a loss of pTPO A solubility. These observations suggest that deglycosylation induced a modification of the tertiary structure of pTPO A which affected the active-site domain of the enzyme.

Mechanism of NADPH oxidation catalyzed by horse-radish peroxidase and 2,4-diacetyl-[2H]heme-substituted horse-radish peroxidase.

The mechanism of NADPH oxidation catalyzed by horse-radish peroxidase (HRP) and 2,4-diacetyl-[2H]heme-substituted horse-radish peroxidase (DHRP) was studied. The roles of the different H2O2/peroxidase compounds were examined by spectral studies. The oxidized NADPH species were identified using the superoxide dismutase effect and by measuring the stoichiometry between NADPH oxidized and H2O2 used. In the presence of a mediating molecule, like scopoletin, both enzymes acted via a similar mechanism, producing only NADP degrees, which in turn reacted with O2 producing O2-. Consequently H2O2 was completely regenerated in the presence of superoxide dismutase and partially regenerated in its absence. In the absence of a mediating molecule, the H2O2 complex of both enzymes (compound I) catalysed NADPH oxidation by single-electron transfer, producing NADP degrees; compound II of these enzymes catalyzed NADPH oxidation more slowly by a direct two-electron transfer, producing NADPH+. There were difference between HRP and DHRP. HRP compound II was produced by the oxidation of 1 mol NADPH/mole compound I, while DHRP compound II was formed by the spontaneous conversion of compound I to compound II. The NADPH oxidation catalyzed by DHRP compound I did not lead to the formation of compound II. When H2O2 was produced slowly by the glucose/glucose-oxidase system, compound II was never formed and a pure O2- adduct of DHRP (compound III) accumulated.

Mechanism of hydrogen peroxide formation catalyzed by NADPH oxidase in thyroid plasma membrane.

The thyroid plasma membrane contains a Ca2(+)-regulated NADPH-dependent H2O2 generating system which provides H2O2 for the thyroid peroxidase-catalyzed biosynthesis of thyroid hormones. The plasma membrane fraction contains a Ca2(+)-independent cytochrome c reductase activity which is not inhibited by superoxide dismutase. But it is not known whether H2O2 is produced directly from molecular oxygen (O2) or formed via dismutation of super-oxide anion (O2-). Indirect evidence from electron scavenger studies indicate that the H2O2 generating system does not liberate O2-, but studies using the modified peroxidase, diacetyldeuteroheme horseradish peroxidase, to detect O2- indicate that H2O2 is provided via the dismutation of O2-. The present results provide indirect evidence that the cytochrome c reductase activity is not a component of the NADPH-dependent H2O2 generator, since it was removed by washing the plasma membranes with 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonic acid without affecting H2O2 generation. Spectral studies with diacetyldeuteroheme-substituted horseradish peroxidase showed that the thyroid NADPH-dependent H2O2 generator does not catalyze superoxide anion formation. The O2- adduct compound (compound III) was formed but was completely inhibited by catalase, indicating that the initial product was H2O2. The rate of NADPH oxidation also increased in the presence of diacetylheme peroxidase. This increase was blocked by catalase and was greatly enhanced by superoxide dismutase. The O2- adduct compound (compound III) was produced in the presence of NADPH when glucose-glucose oxidase (which does not produce O2-) was used as the H2O2 generator. NADPH oxidation occurred simultaneously and was enhanced by superoxide dismutase. We conclude that O2- formation occurs in the presence of an H2O2 generator, diacetylheme peroxidase and NADPH, but that it is not the primary product of the H2O2 generator. We suggest that O2- formation results from oxidation of NADPH, catalyzed by the diacetylheme peroxidase compound I, producing NADP degree, which in turn reacts with O2 to give O2-.

Nonenzymatic NADPH-dependent reduction of 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol.

The reduction of 2,6-dichloroindophenol (DCIP) by direct interaction with NADPH was studied. The results indicate that reduction proceeds via a direct electron transfer from NADPH to DCIP, with no oxygen consumption, and a rate constant of k = 4.69 M-1.s-1. The reduced DCIP can rapidly transfer its electrons to potassium ferricyanide (K3Fe(CN)6) or ferricytochrome c, but not to nitro blue tetrazolium. Superoxide dismutase inhibits DCIP reduction in an oxygen-dependent manner by favoring the reoxidation of the reduced DCIP. We therefore conclude DCIP is not suitable for detecting O2- when the nucleotides NADH or NADPH are present.

NADPH-dependent H2O2 generation catalyzed by thyroid plasma membranes. Studies with electron scavengers.

Hog thyroid plasma membrane preparations containing a Ca2+-regulated NADPH-dependent H2O2-generating system were studied. The Ca2+-dependent reductase activities of ferricytochrome c, 2,6-dichloroindophenol, nitroblue tetrazolium, and potassium ferricyanide were tested and the effect of these scavengers on H2O2 formation, NADPH oxidation and O2 consumption were measured, with the following results. 1. Thyroid plasma membrane Ca2+-independent cytochrome c reduction was not catalyzed by the NADPH-dependent H2O2-generating system. This activity was superoxide-dismutase-insensitive. 2. Of the three other electron scavengers tested, only K3Fe(CN)6 was clearly, but partially reduced in a Ca2+-dependent manner. 3. Though the NADPH-dependent reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium was very low and superoxide-dismutase-insensitive, nitroblue tetrazolium inhibited O2 consumption, H2O2 formation and NADPH oxidation, indicating that nitroblue tetrazolium inhibits the H2O2-generating system. We conclude that the thyroid plasma membrane H2O2-generating system does not or liberate O2- and that Ca2+ controls the first step (NADPH oxidation) of the H2O2-generating system.

Ca2+ regulation of thyroid NADPH-dependent H2O2 generation.

A thyroid particulate fraction contains an NADPH-dependent H2O2-generating enzyme which requires Ca2+ for activity. A Chaps solubilized extract of the thyroid particulate fraction partially purified by DEAE chromatography did not show a dependence on Ca2+ for activity. Preincubation of the particulate fraction with Ca2+ yielded a preparation insensitive to Ca2+. The non-particulate fraction obtained after incubation of the particles in the presence of Ca2+ was able to inhibit, in the presence of EGTA, the Ca2+-desensitized particulate fraction and the enzyme isolated on DEAE. It is concluded that the reversible Ca2+ activation of the NADPH-dependent H2O2 generation was modulated in porcine thyroid tissue by (a) calcium-releasable inhibitor protein(s).

Solubilization and characteristics of the thyroid NADPH-dependent H2O2 generating system.

Solubilization of the thyroid particulate-associated NADPH-dependent H2O2 generating system has been tested with different detergents; (3-(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio)1-propane sulfonate (CHAPS) was found to be the best of the six detergents tested. The ratio of H2O2 generation to NADPH oxidation was similar for CHAPS extract and native particulate material. CHAPS was also the only detergent able to preserve the Ca++-sensitivity of the NADPH oxidase. Solubilization of this enzyme allowed the determination of some of its characteristics: specificity for divalent cations, apparent Km for NADPH, optimum pH and sensitivity to SH- reagents.

Spectral characteristics and catalytic properties of thyroid peroxidase-H2O2 compounds in the iodination and coupling reactions.

Hog thyroid peroxidase (TPO) was highly purified in order to study the spectral properties and catalytic specificities of its H2O2 compounds in iodothyronine biosynthesis. Purified TPO exhibited a Soret spectrum with an absorption maximum at 410 nm and had an A410/A280 value of 0.55. Protein iodination was only catalyzed under conditions which allowed formation of the transient TPO compound I (Fe(IV)-pi o+). On addition of an equimolar amount of H2O2, TPO formed a stable compound with an absorption maximum at 417 nm. This compound efficiently catalyzed the coupling reaction, but was unable to iodinate proteins. It catalyzed the formation of 1 mol iodothyronines/mol TPO, and therefore retained two oxidizing equivalents per molecule. It is proposed that this compound constitutes a second form of compound I whose structure might be Fe(IV)-Ro, analogous to that of cytochrome c peroxidase compound I. In the presence of an excess of H2O2, it formed TPO-compound III with an absorption maximum at 420 nm. TPO-compound III catalyzed neither the iodination nor the coupling reaction.

NADPH-dependent H2O2 generation and peroxidase activity in thyroid particular fraction.

A NADPH-dependent H2O2 generating system associated with a thyroid particular fraction is described. H2O2 is measured by two different methods: iodination of NADPH itself when the system is supplemented with lactoperoxidase and [125I]iodide, and by the scopoletin method. It is shown that: H2O2 generation is inhibited by catalase and is dependent on NADPH or particulate protein concentration; radical scavengers of OH and of singlet oxygen have no effect while superoxide dismutase has only a marginal effect; disruption of the particular fraction by phospholipase A2 or digitonin treatment completely abolished H2O2 generation activity while thyroid peroxidase activity appears, suggesting different sites for the two activities in the membrane vesicles.