The ETACS European project for testing the comparability of sensors and analysers

ETACS is the official acronym for the European project "European Testing and Assessment of Comparability of On-line Sensors/Analysers". This project has three main objectives to achieve the comparability of performance data for sensors and analysers in the environmental field. First, to develop a test protocol for validation and comparison of the performance of on-line sensors/analysers. The test protocol is intended to be generic, that is independent of the specific sensors/analysers and the specific parameters to be monitored. Second, the practical testing of this test protocol to assess its applicability and to develop the techniques used. Finally, to achieve widespread acceptance of the test protocol by producer/suppliers, users and relevant authorities to assist its early adoption as an agreed European standard. Laboratory tests for producing the test protocol have been carried out and completed to check the applicability of such a protocol.     

Development of an efficient and low-cost protocol for the manual PNA synthesis by Fmoc chemistry

An efficient and low-cost protocol for the manual synthesis of Peptide Nucleic Acids is reported here. The protocol relies on coupling reactions carried out with 2.5 equiv of PNA monomers activated with HOBT/HBTU, in the presence of pyridine/NMM. The protocol has been tested on four PNA oligomers with a length ranging from 9 to 12 bases and a purine content up to 67%.     

Harmonized protocol and certified reference material for the determination of extractable contents of phosphorus in freshwater sediments – A synthesis of recent works

An analytical protocol for the determination of the extractable phosphorus contents in freshwater sediments has been harmonized through interlaboratory studies in the frame of the Standards Measurements and Testing Program of the European Commission. A homogeneous and stable sediment reference material has been prepared and certified on the basis of this protocol named SMT protocol, and will be available in spring of 2001. The SMT protocol, together with the reference material, are useful tools in the field of water management, especially at a time when quality assurance and data comparability are of paramount importance in laboratory analysis. The knowledge of the bioavailable forms of phosphorus is important not only for sediments but also for sludge and soils. Therefore, the SMT protocol could be extended to these materials and new CRMs could be prepared. The SMT protocol was used in a study of a reservoir, which allowed to calculate the P stock, therefore helping to predict the restoration delay of the lake. The paper describes the protocol and the CRM, and gives a brief outline of the case study. Received: 14 November 2000 / Revised: 25 January 2001 / Accepted: 31 January 2001     

Dichloromethane as a methylene synthon for regioselective linkage of diverse carboxylic acids: Direct access to methylene diesters under metal-free conditions

This simple protocol is a convenient and cost-effective route to synthesize methylene diesters from a wide scope of carboxylic acids substrates with good functional group tolerance. Several gram-scale reactions have been performed to evaluate the effectiveness and practicality of this protocol.     

Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of aryl and alkyl halides using palladium/imidazolium salt protocols

A simple new protocol for the high yielding Suzuki-Miyaura cross-couplings of aryl chlorides with aryl boronic acids using a palladium/imidazolium salt catalytic system is presented. The first examples of a palladium/imidazolium salt protocol for sp³-sp³ Suzuki-Miyaura couplings of alkyl halides are also disclosed.     

In Situ Generation of Silylzinc by Si−B Bond Activation Enabling Silylzincation and Silaboration of Terminal Alkynes

A new protocol has been designed for the in situ generation of unstable Si?Zn species through the reaction of dialkylzinc, phosphine, and silylborane (Si?B). Successive reactions with various terminal alkynes using this protocol enabled highly controllable regio‐/stereo‐/chemoselective silylzincation and silaboration on demand without the need for a transition‐metal catalyst.     

An efficient protein preparation for proteomic analysis of developing cotton fibers by 2-DE

Preparation of high-quality proteins from cotton fiber tissues is difficult due to high endogenous levels of polysaccharides, polyphenols, and other interfering compounds. To establish a routine procedure for the application of proteomic analysis to cotton fiber tissues, a new protocol for protein extraction was developed by optimizing a phenol extraction method combined with methanol/ammonium acetate precipitation. The protein extraction for 2-DE was remarkably improved by the combination of chemically and physically modified processes including polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) addition, acetone cleaning, and SDS replacement. The protocol gave a higher protein yield and vastly greater resolution and spot intensity. The efficiency of this protocol and its feasibility in fiber proteomic study were demonstrated by comparison of the cotton fiber proteomes at two growth stages. Furthermore, ten protein spots changed significantly were identified by MS/tandem MS and their potential relationships to fiber development were discussed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a protocol for protein extraction from cotton fiber tissues appears to give satisfactory and reproductive 2-D protein profiles. The protocol is expected to accelerate the process of the proteomic study of cotton fibers and also to be applicable to other recalcitrant plant tissues.     

Click-reagent version of Sonogashira coupling protocol to conjugated fluorescent alkynes with no or reduced homocoupling

A click-reagent version of the Sonogashira-coupling protocol has been developed. Diarylalkynes with donor and/or acceptor substituents have been synthesized via this protocol at moderate to excellent yields and with no or drastically reduced quantities of undesired homocoupled side products. This protocol is green-solvent compatible, air-insensitive, and effective under microwave conditions.     

生物/化学同步聚合法制备纤维蛋白纳米复合物及传感研究

本文以有效提高生物分子包埋率为目的,基于生物/化学同步聚合的新方法制备了一种新型纤维蛋白聚合物基纳米复合物,并研究了该复合物修饰电极的传感性能。该方法在凝血仿生聚合的同时,采用NaAuCl4作为氧化剂化学氧化聚合生成聚多巴胺(PDA),在PDA膜内原位合成纳米金(AuNPs),同时在PDA-纤维蛋白凝胶生长时包埋葡萄糖氧化酶(GOx)。生物/化学同步聚合法操作简单,条件温和。该纳米复合物引入了AuNPs的优异性质,有效提升了GOx的包埋量,所制电化学生物传感器对葡萄糖的检测灵敏度高达117μA/(cm2·mmol/L),检测限为57nmol/L。     

High-throughput quantification for a drug mixture in rat plasma-a comparison of Ultra Performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A quantitative Ultra Performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPL/MS/MS) protocol was developed for a five-compound mixture in rat plasma. A similar high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS) quantification protocol was developed for comparison purposes. Among the five test compounds, three preferred positive electrospray ionization (ESI) and two preferred negative ESI. As a result, both UPLC/MS/MS and HPLC/MS/MS analyses were performed by having the mass spectrometer collecting ESI multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) data in both positive and negative ion modes during a single injection. Peak widths for most standards were 4.8 s for the HPLC analysis and 2.4 s for the UPLC analysis. There were 17 to 20 data points obtained for each of the LC peaks. Compared with the HPLC/MS/MS method, the UPLC/MS/MS method offered 3-fold decrease in retention time, up to 10-fold increase in detected peak height, with 2-fold decrease in peak width. Limits of quantification (LOQs) for both HPLC and UPLC methods were evaluated. For UPLC/MS/MS analysis, a linear range up to four orders of magnitude was obtained with r2 values ranging from 0.991 to 0.998. The LOQs for the five analytes ranged from 0.08 to 9.85 ng/mL. Three levels of quality control (QC) samples were analyzed. For the UPLC/MS/MS protocol, the percent relative standard deviation (RSD%) for low QC (2 ng/mL) ranged from 3.42 to 8.67% (N = 18). The carryover of the UPLC/MS/MS protocol was negligible and the robustness of the UPLC/MS/MS system was evaluated with up to 963 QC injections.     

Stereoselective synthesis of unnatural α-amino acid derivatives through photoredox catalysis

A protocol for stereoselective C-radical addition to a chiral glyoxylate-derived N-sulfinyl imine was developed through visible light-promoted photoredox catalysis, providing a convenient method for the synthesis of unnatural α-amino acids. The developed protocol allows the use of ubiquitous carboxylic acids as radical precursors without prior derivatization. The protocol utilizes near-stoichiometric amounts of the imine and the acid radical precursor in combination with a catalytic amount of an organic acridinium-based photocatalyst. Alternative mechanisms for the developed transformation are discussed and corroborated by experimental and computational studies.

A protocol for stereoselective C-radical addition to a chiral glyoxylate-derived N-sulfinyl imine was developed through visible light-promoted photoredox catalysis, providing a convenient method for the synthesis of unnatural α-amino acids.     

An ultrasonication-assisted extraction and derivatization protocol for GC/TOFMS-based metabolite profiling

Conventional chemical derivatization of metabolites in biological specimens is time-consuming, which limits the throughput and efficiency of metabolite profiling using a gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC/TOFMS) platform. We report an ultrasonication-assisted protocol which reduces the derivatization time from hours to about 30 min and significantly enhances the derivatization efficiency prior to a GC/TOFMS analysis. The protocol was evaluated using 40 compounds representing different classes of human metabolites, and demonstrated good analytical precision and accuracy. In comparison with the conventional method, the new protocol was able to increase the intensity of most of the identified peaks (71.0%) in the GC/TOFMS chromatograms of human serum samples. The detected compounds with increased intensity include most amino acids, keto-containing organic acids, carbonyl-containing carbohydrates, and unsaturated fatty acids. We applied this protocol in a metabolomic study of human serum samples obtained from 34 patients diagnosed with hypertension and 29 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. Metabolite markers associated with hypertension, including glucosamine, D-sorbitol, 1-stearoylglycerol, and homocysteine, were identified and validated by statistical methods and use of reference standards. Our work highlights the potential of this novel approach for the large-scale metabolite profiling of samples generated from plant, animal, and clinical and epidemiological studies.     

An environmentally benign solvent/catalyst-free one-pot synthesis of N-substituted phthalimides via Aza-wittig reaction

For the first time an environmentally benign solvent/catalyst-free protocol for the synthesis of a variety of N-substituted phthalimides is submitted. It involves a one-pot coupling of nascent phosphazene generated in situ with phthalic anhydride. The protocol is novel in (1) avoiding toxic solvents, (2) no catalyst is employed and (3) no isophthalimide is formed as noted in the prevailing solution phase/catalysed methodology.     

1,4-Pentenyne as a five-carbon synthon for efficient and selective syntheses of natural products containing 2,4-dimethyl-1-penten-1,5-ylidene and related moieties by means of Zr-catalyzed carboalumination of alkynes and alkenes

Two highly efficient protocols for enantioselective synthesis of 2,4-dimethyl-1-penten-1,5-ylidene derivatives involve the combined use of the Zr-catalyzed methylalumination of alkynes (ZMA) and the Zr-catalyzed asymmetric carboalumination of alkenes (ZACA). The ZMA/ZACA protocol has been applied to the synthesis of a nafuredin intermediate 14 and a potential intermediate 18 for milbemycin beta 3, while the ZACA/ZMA protocol has been applied to the synthesis of a (-)-bafilomycin A(1) intermediate 25.     

One-Pot Synthesis of Dihydropyrimidinones/Thiones Catalyzed by White Marble a Metamorphic Rock: an Efficient and Reusable Catalyst for the Biginelli Reaction

In this work, we report a simple, efficient and green protocol for the synthesis of dihydropyrimidinones/thiones (products of Biginelli reaction) by the use of white marble as an effective heterogeneous catalyst. Short reaction times, high product yields, simple processing procedure and reusability of the catalyst are the superior characteristics of this protocol.     

Evaluation of extraction procedures for 2‐DE analysis of aphid proteins

Protein sample preparation is a crucial step in a 2‐DE proteomics approach. In order to establish a routine protocol for the application of proteomics analysis to aphids, this study focuses on the specific protein extraction problems in insect tissues and evaluates four methods to bypass them. The approaches of phenol extraction methanol/ammonium acetate precipitation (PA), TCA/acetone precipitation, PEG precipitation, and no precipitation were evaluated for proteins isolation and purification from apterous adult aphids, Sitobion avenae. For 2‐DE, the PA protocol was optimal, resulting in good IEF and clear spots. PA method yielded the greatest amount of protein and displayed most protein spots in 2‐DE gels, as compared with the TCA/acetone precipitation, PEG precipitation and no precipitation protocols. Analysis of protein yield, image quality and spot numbers demonstrate that the TCA/acetone precipitation protocol is a reproducible and reliable method for extracting proteins from aphids. The PEG precipitation approach is a newly developed protein extraction protocol for aphids, from which more unique protein spots can be detected, especially for detection of acid proteins. These protocols are expected to be applicable to other insects or could be of interest to laboratories involved in insect proteomics, despite the amounts and types of interfering compounds vary considerably in different insects.     

Solid-phase extraction and purification for the quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites in fish bile

An analytical protocol including solid-phase extraction and purification is described for the individual quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites (hydroxylated PAHs) in liquid biological matrices such as plasma and bile. The method consists in an enzymatic deconjugation followed by a solid-phase extraction on a C₁₈ cartridge and by a cleanup on an NH₂ cartridge. Extracts are then submitted to a derivatization step before gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. The quantification of PAH metabolites is ensured by adding an internal standard, 1-hydroxypyrene deuterated, at the beginning of the protocol. Recoveries obtained for the entire protocol were for the major part of the compounds between 96 and 70%. However, recoveries were not so satisfying concerning 2-hydroxybiphenyl and especially 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene, with 62 and 36% respectively. Finally, the protocol was applied to different fish bile samples and showed its good applicability to fish bile samples. The NH₂ cleanup step has been proved to be a very selective purification step, necessary to remove most of the bile pigments before GC/MS injection. Different PAH metabolites could be detected in those natural samples and their quantification allowed us to distinguish different levels of fish exposure.     

One-step separation of endocytic organelles, Golgi/trans-Golgi network and plasma membrane by density gradient electrophoresis

Many different methods for the fractionation of subcellular organelles have been reported. However, no protocol for rapid separation of plasma membrane, Golgi/trans-Golgi network (TGN) and endosomes is available to date. Such a method is a prerequisite for a quantitative biochemical analysis of vesicular transport from the Golgi/TGN compartment to plasma membrane and endosomes. Here a density gradient electrophoresis protocol is described that allows the fractionation of these organelles in one step. This protocol requires only low-cost instrumentation available in most biochemical laboratories.     

FeCl3-catalyzed efficient synthesis of di(5-methylfuran/thiophen-2-yl)isatin analogues

A simple, inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and high yield protocol is described for the synthesis of (5-methylfuran/thiophene-2-yl)isatin by the reaction of 2-methylfuran/2-methylthiophene with isatin/isatin imine in the presence of FeCl₃. The present protocol is ideal for the direct introduction of 2-methylfuran/2-methylthiophene onto isatin at 3-position with complete regioselectivity.     

Simple and Efficient Purification Protocol of 9-(Trifluoroacetyl)anthracene from Anthracene

A protocol has been developed to purify 9-(trifluoroacetyl)anthracene from anthracene, the major impurity associated in its synthesis. The protocol utilizes a chemoselective thermal Diels–Alder reaction, employing maleic anhydride as the dienophile. The resulting Diels–Alder adduct can then be removed by extractive workup followed by recrystallization to give 9-(trifluoroacetyl)anthracene with ≥99% chemical purity.