Spectrofluorimetric determination of cysteine by 5-maleimidyl-2-(m-methylphenyl)benzoxazole

A new thiol weak-fluorescence probe, 5-maleimidyl-2-(m-methylphenyl)benzoxazole (MMPB), gives a highly fluorescence product in the presence of Cys. In this paper, MMPB has been developed for the fluorimetric determination of cysteine (Cys). At lambda(ex)/lambda(em) = 305.6/425.6 nm, the linear range is from 0 to 3.3 x 10(-7) mol l(-1) and the detection limit (sigma = 3) of 6.2 x 10(-10) mol l(-1). The main advantage of this method lies in the relative high selectivity compared with the methods using other N-substituted maleimide type of thiol reagents, in which 0.15-fold (molar ratio) of GSH is allowed and most of other amino acids at 100-fold (molar ratio) level had no obvious effect on the results. The proposed method has been applied to the determination of Cys in real samples.     

Methodology for predicting the separation of proteins by hydrophobic interaction chromatography and its application to a cell extract

Ligand-exchange micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography was used for the chiral resolution of underivatized and dansyl amino acid enantiomers simultaneously. The separation was achieved by chiral copper(II)-L-valine complexes incorporated in micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The enantioresolution was strongly affected by SDS and a concentration of 20 mM SDS was shown to be necessary for the separation. Other impacting factors were investigated including pH, the molar ratio of copper(II) to L-valine and the total concentration of complex. Using the proposed method, 11 different dansyl amino acids and two underivatized amino acids were separated successfully with a running electrolyte of 20 mM NH4OAc, 4 mM CuSO4, 8 mM L-valine and 20 mM SDS at pH 9.0 in less than 25 min. Experiments were also performed with other amino acid ligands in order to vary the stability and the sterical arrangement of the copper(II) complexes and the possible chiral recognition mechanism was also discussed briefly.     

氨基酸在水或氯化钾水溶液中体积性质的研究

在298.15K和常压下利用密度法测定了十几种α-氨基酸在水或氯化钾水溶液中的表观摩尔体积, 由此得到了各氨基酸的偏摩尔体积和其相应的转移偏摩尔体积,以及氨基酸中侧链对其偏摩尔体积的贡献值。从理论上计算了各氨基酸在上述溶液浓度的增加而增大; 氨基酸共溶质间的相互作用以1:1形式为主; 氨基酸的水化数随盐浓度的增加而减小。对所得结果进行了定性讨论。     

Interactions of Some Amino Acids with Aqueous Osmoprotectant Proline at 298.15 K: Volumetric and Calorimetric Studies

Apparent molar volumes of a homologous series of amino acids in aqueous proline solutions have been obtained from densities at 298.15 K, measured with a vibrating-tube digital densimeter. These data have been used to deduce the partial molar volumes of transfer from water to aqueous proline solutions; these partial molar volumes of transfer are found to be positive for glycine, alanine, α-amino-n-butyric acid and valine, whereas they are negative for leucine. The number of water molecules hydrated to the amino acids was estimated from the partial molar volume data. In order to supplement this information, enthalpies of transfer of aqueous amino acids from water to 0.1, 2.25 and 1 mol⋅dm⁻³ aqueous proline have been determined at 298.15 K using a VP-ITC titration calorimeter. The data on the partial molar volumes and enthalpies of transfer are discussed in terms of various interactions operating in the ternary mixtures of amino acids, water and proline.     

New triazine spectroscopic reagent for the separation of DL-amino acids by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

An approach to the chiral separation of racemic mixtures of amino acids by means of micellar electrokinetic chromatography after derivatization with a new triazine spectroscopic reagent, 3-(4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazinylamino)-7-dimethylamino-2-methylphenazine (DTDP), has been evaluated. It was found that the derivatives of the aliphatic amino acids such as serine, valine and arginine, could produce a strong UV absorption at 282 nm, whose apparent molar absorptivities are of 10(-4) M(-1) cm(-1), and thus the concentration of the amino acids down to 3 x 10(-7) M can still give a detectable signal (S/N = 3). Beta-Cyclodextrin (beta-CD) added to the buffer system was used as a chiral selector, and separation conditions were optimized. The presence of an organic modifier (2-propanol) was also a prerequisite for the chiral separation. The best results for the chiral separation of DTDP-amino acids were achieved in a mixed sodium dodecylsulfate-beta-CD-borate-2-propanol medium at pH 9.0. Compared to some of the commonly used derivatization methods, the present one offers a relatively stable derivative and strong UV absorption for the spectroscopically inert amino acids, thus enabling amino acids to be separated and detected by CE even with a simpler UV detector.     

Coordination chemistry of the antitumor metallocene molybdocene dichloride with biological ligands

The relative affinity of molybdocene dichloride (Cp(2)MoCl(2)) for the thiol, amino, carboxylate, phosphate(O) and heterocyclic(N) donor ligands present in amino acids and nucleotides, has been studied in aqueous solutions at pH 2-7, using (1)H, (13)C and (31)P NMR spectroscopy. Molybdocene dichloride forms the highly water soluble, air-stable complexes Cp(2)Mo(Cys)(2) and Cp(2)Mo(GS)(2) with cysteine and glutathione respectively, via coordination of the deprotonated thiol groups. While coordination to the imidazole nitrogen in histidine was observed, no evidence for coordination of the amino or carboxylate groups in the amino acids cysteine, histidine, alanine or lysine to Cp(2)MoCl(2) was detected. Competition experiments with dAMP, ribose monophosphate and histidine showed preferential coordination to the cysteine thiol over the phosphate(O) and heterocyclic(N) groups. Cp(2)Mo(Cys)(2) is stable in the presence of excess dAMP or ribose monophosphate and Cys displaces coordinated histidine, dAMP or ribose monophosphate to give Cp(2)Mo(Cys)(2). These results provide further evidence against interaction with DNA as the key interaction that is related to the antitumor activity of molybdocene dichloride. The implications of these results for the biological activity of the antitumor metallocene and the likely species formed in vivo are discussed.     

Extraction of copper(II) with the APCD/DIBK system from concentrated hydrochloric and nitric acid media: estimation of true limit of acidity for the extraction

The extraction of copper(II) from strongly acidic solution (0.01-8M hydrochloric and 0.01-5M nitric acid) with ammonium 1-pyrrolidinecarbodithioate in di-isobutyl ketone has been studied. Compared with the hydrochloric acid system, a considerably larger amount of the reagent is needed for complete extraction of copper chelate from nitric acid solution as the extract is more unstable in the nitric acid system. The decomposition of copper chelates extracted from nitric acid is based on the oxidation of the reagent and the chelate; the spectral change of the extract from nitric acid suggests that the copper(II) chelate is initially oxidized to copper(II) and then decomposes. The upper limit of the acidity of both acids from which the copper chelate can be quantitatively extracted strongly depends on the reagent concentration; the limit with 8 x 10(-2)M APCD (500-fold reagent: metal molar ratio) was taken as 8 and 4M for hydrochloric and nitric acid, respectively.     

Characterization of non-enzymatic acylation of amino or thiol groups of bionucleophiles by the acyl-adenylate or acyl-CoA thioester of cholic acid

Acyl-adenylates and acyl-CoA thioesters of bile acids (BAs) are highly electrophilic acyl-linked metabolites which can undergo transacylation reactions with amino and thiol groups of nucleophilic groups on acceptor molecules such as amino acids, peptides, and proteins. Here, non-enzymatic acylation at pH 7.4 of glycine, taurine, glutathione (GSH), and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) by cholyl-adenylate (CA-AMP) was compared with that mediated by cholyl-CoA thioester (CA-CoA) using a 1:1 mixture of stable isotopically labeled CA-AMP and unlabeled CA-CoA. The transacylation products of these substrates were analyzed by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization linear ion-trap mass spectrometry in negative-ion detection mode. CA-AMP was more reactive than CA-CoA with the amino group of glycine or taurine than with the thiol group of GSH or NAC. In contrast, CA-CoA was more reactive than CA-AMP with the thiol group of GSH or NAC and was far less reactive with the amino group of glycine or taurine. These differences in the reactivity of CA-AMP as compared with that of CA-CoA towards amino and thiol groups may be attributed to the electrophilicity of the carbonyl carbon of these acyl-linked cholic acid metabolites and the nucleophilicity of the amino and thiol group in the bionucleophiles that were studied.     

基于指示剂置换法利用紫外-可见光谱和比色检测水溶液中的半胱氨酸

基于半胱氨酸(Cys)与二价铜离子的配位作用, 发展了一种在纯水溶液中以4-(2-吡啶偶氮)间苯二酚(PAR)为指示剂, 通过紫外-可见光谱定性定量检测半胱氨酸的方法. 研究发现, 在pH=7.0的含有PAR和二价铜离子(摩尔比为1: 1)的缓冲溶液中, 当加入半胱氨酸后, 由于配位竞争使PAR释放出来, 实现了对半胱氨酸的识别, 选择性研究结果表明, 其它氨基酸不干扰体系对半胱氨酸的测定. 通过紫外-可见光谱(UV-Vis)对识别过程进行了研究, 确定了Cu²⁺与PAR的配位比为1: 1, Cu²⁺与Cys的配位比为1: 3; 半胱氨酸的线性关系变化范围为0~240 μmol/L, ε=7519 L/(mol·cm), 线性相关系数为0.9982. 在检测过程中可观察到溶液颜色由桃红色变成了黄色.     

脂肪族α-氨基酸疏水自缔合作用的流动微量热法研究

建立了水溶液中脂肪族α- 氨基酸疏水自缔合相互作用的化学模型, 根据模型方程对由精密流动微量热法测得的α- 氨基酸水溶液的稀释焓数据进行回归分析, 得到等步自缔合作用的平衡常数(K)、焓变(ΔHm)和熵变(ΔSm)等热力学参数, 发现焓、熵之间存在很好的补偿关系. 同时计算了溶液中水的偏摩尔过量熵(SE1), 并根据脂肪族α- 氨基酸的水化模型对结果进行了讨论. 建立的化学模型参数能在一定程度上解释McMillan- Mayer模型中的同系焓作用系数的物理意义.     

三种氨基酸在尿素水溶液中的体积性质

精密密度法详细测定甘氨酸、L-丙氨酸、L-丝氨酸在尿素水溶液中的表观摩尔体积,计算了三种氨基酸从水到尿素水溶液的迁移偏摩尔体积,结合前期的氨基酸从水到尿素水溶液的迁移焓,探讨尿素水溶液的结构特点及其对氨基酸与尿素在水溶液中相互作用的影响。结果表明,尿素分子在水溶液中自缔合,引起溶剂结构的变化并削弱其与氨基酸分子的结构相互作用,造成氨基酸从水到尿素水溶液的迁移偏摩尔体积和迁移焓随尿素浓度的增加而出现多个变化点,这一效应随着氨基酸疏水性的增强而增大,表明氨基酸的疏水性越强,其与尿素相互作用引起的去水化作用越明显。     

Synthesis,characterization, equilibrium studies,and biological activity of complexes involving copper(II), 2-aminomethylthiophenyl-4-bromosalicylaldehyde Schiff base,and selected amino acids

Ternary complexes of copper(II) with 2-aminomethylthiophenyl-4-bromosalicylaldehyde (ATS) and some amino acids have been isolated and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, magnetic moment, molar conductance, UV–vis, mass spectra, and ESR. The proposed general formulas of the prepared complexes are [Cu(ATS)(AA)]·nH₂O (where AA?=?glycine, alanine, and valine). The low molar conductance values suggest the non-electrolytic nature of the complexes. IR spectra show that ATS is coordinated to copper in a bidentate manner through azomethine-N and phenolic-OH. The amino acids also are monobasic bidentate ligands via amino and ionized carboxylate groups. The magnetic and spectral data indicate the square-planar geometry of Cu(II) complexes. The geometry of the Cu(II) complexes has been fully optimized using parameterized PM3 semiempirical method. The Cu–N bond length is longer than that of Cu–O in the isolated complexes. Also, information is obtained from calculations of molecular parameters for all complexes including net dipole moment of the metal complexes, values of binding energy, and lipophilicity value (log P). The antimicrobial activity studies indicate significant inhibitory activity of complex 3 against the selected types of bacteria. The mixed ligand complexes have also been studied in solution state. Protonation constants of ATS and amino acids were determined by potentiometric titration in 50% (v/v) DMSO–water solution at ionic strength of 0.1?M NaCl. ATS has two protonation constants. The binary and ternary complexes of copper(II) involving ATS and some selected amino acids (glycine, alanine, and valine) were examined. Copper(II) forms [Cu(ATS)], [Cu(ATS)₂], [Cu(AA)], [Cu(AA)₂], and [Cu(ATS)(AA)] complexes. The ternary complexes are formed in a simultaneous mechanism.     

A simple and very sensitive spectrophotometric method for the direct determination of copper ions

A sensitive spectrophotometric method for the direct determination of copper in aqueous samples without a preconcentration step has been developed. It is based on the formation of a yellow complex with the chromogenic reagent di-2-pyridyl ketone benzoylhydrazone (dPKBH) in an alkaline medium. The complex stoichiometry was 1:2 (Cu:dPKBH) and presents maximum absorbance at 370 nm. The influence of chemical variables affecting the behaviour of the system such as pH, concentration of dPKBH, buffer solution and ethanol, order of addition of the reagents and stability of the complex, were evaluated. The molar absorptivity (epsilon) was 3.92x10(4) L mol(-1) cm(-1), and Beer's law was obeyed up to 3 mg L(-1) of copper. The relative standard deviation was 0.46% (n=11) for a sample containing 1 mg L(-1) Cu(II). The limit of detection was 2.5 micro g L(-1) and was therefore more sensitive than the direct methods reported previously. Finally, the method was successfully validated by analysing several real samples with different matrices, such as tap water, natural water or copper alloys, with an average relative error of 2.46%.     

Advances in the o-phthalaldehyde derivatizations. Comeback to the o-phthalaldehyde-ethanethiol reagent

The main aims of this work were (a) to present the characteristics and stability of the o-phthalaldehyde (OPA)-ethanethiol (ET) derivatives of 22 amino acids, including the believed-to-be less stable OPA derivatives providing glycine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, beta-alanine, histidine, ornithine, lysine and the C(1)-C(5) aliphatic amines; (b) to compare the stability properties of the most common amino acids and amines as OPA-ET-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC) derivatives to the corresponding ones obtained from OPA reagents containing various (SH)-additives; (c) to show the molar responses of alanine and lysine depending on the OPA reagent's composition; as well as (d) to prove the practical utility of these basic researches, by the simultaneous HPLC separation of 22 amino acids and 15 amines as their OPA-ET-FMOC derivatives. Investigations have been carried out by varying the composition of the reagents, the molar ratios of reactants and the reaction time, applying diode array and fluorescence detections simultaneously. Average reproducibility of quantitations, characterized with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) based on the fluorescence intensities of derivatives, in the order of listing, proved to be 1.2-5.9% for amino acids and 1.1-8.7% for amines. The practical utility of the method is demonstrated by the analysis of the amino acid and amine contents of mouse tissues, with an average reproducibility of 3.5%.     

A highly sensitive colour reaction for Se(IV) with the iodide-rhodamine B-PVA system Spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of selenium in water

A highly sensitive spectrophotometric method for determination of selenium(IV) has been developed, based on Se(IV) oxidation of I(-) to I(-)(3) in a weak-acid medium, then formation of the 1:1 ion-association complex of I(-)(3) with Rhodamine B in the presence of poly(vinyl alcohol). The molar absorptivity is 1.97 x 10(5)l.mole(-1).cm(-1). Preconcentration of Se(IV) and elimination of interfering ions is achieved by an improved thiol cotton method, so the determination has very good selectivity. Se(IV) at mug/l. levels in tap water, hot-spring water and river water has been satisfactorily determined by the method.     

An Efficient Thiol‐Ene Chemistry for the Preparation of Amphiphilic PHA‐Based Graft Copolymers

We present a straightforward method to prepare amphiphilic graft copolymers consisting of hydrophobic poly(3‐hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) backbone and hydrophilic α‐amino‐ω‐methoxy poly(oxyethylene‐co‐oxypropylene) (Jeffamine®) units. Poly(3‐hydroxyoctanoate)‐co‐(3‐hydroxyundecenoate) (PHOU) was first methanolyzed to obtain the desired molar mass. The amino end groups of Jeffamine were converted into thiol by a reaction with N‐acetylhomocysteine thiolactone and subsequently photografted. This “one‐pot” functionalization prevents from arduous and time‐consuming functionalization of the hydrophilic precursor or tedious modifications of PHAs, thus simplifying the process. The amphiphilic nature of modified PHAs leads to water‐soluble copolymers exhibiting thermoresponsive behavior.     

Infrared spectra and molar absorption coefficients of the 20 alpha amino acids in aqueous solutions in the spectral range from 1800 to 500 cm(-1)

In this work, we present the absorption spectra and molar coefficients of all 20 amino acids in aqueous solutions down to 500 cm(-1). The spectral region between 1200 and 500 cm(-1) was yet disregarded for protein infrared spectroscopy, mainly due to the strong H(2)O absorption. Absorption spectra were obtained mainly for physiological relevant pH region. Intense bands for aromatic amino acids, histidine and such with OH group could clearly be identified throughout the given spectral region. For sulfur-containing amino acids cysteine and methionine some strong bands besides the weak carbon-sulfur stretching vibration was shown. Effects of aqueous solution environment, pH, protonation states were discussed, together with previously reported data from theoretical approaches. With this complete set of spectral information application to proteins in the whole mid infrared region could be described precise and the potential of the lower spectral region to study typical cofactor ligands like histidine, shown.     

Spurenanalyse von huminstoffen im trinkwasser: The d.c. polarographic determination of traces of humic substances in potable waters

(The d.c. polarographic determination of traces of humic substances in potable waters) The inhibiting effect of a tri-n-butylphosphate layer adsorbed at the mercury drop on the polarographic wave of copper(II) is reduced by humic substances. This effect can be utilized to determine humic substances in the range 0.05–1 mg l^-1. The standard substance used was isolated from peaty water. Humic and fulvic acids are not differentiated but amino acids, peptides and polyhydroxy compounds do not interfere.     

Products of Cu(II)-catalyzed oxidation of alpha-synuclein fragments containing M1-D2 and H50 residues in the presence of hydrogen peroxide

Metal-catalyzed oxidation (MCO) of proteins is mainly a site-specific process in which one or a few amino acids at metal-binding sites on the protein are preferentially oxidized. The oxidation of proteins by MCO can lead to oxidation of amino acid residue side chains, cleavage of the peptide bonds and formation of covalent protein-protein cross-linked derivatives. In an attempt to elucidate the products of the copper(II)-catalyzed oxidation of the 29-56, M29-D30-56 and Ac-M29-D30-56 fragments of alpha-synuclein, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) methods and Cu(II)/hydrogen peroxide as a model oxidizing system were employed. The peptide solution (0.50 mM) was incubated at 37 degrees C for 24 h with metal : peptide : hydrogen peroxide 1 : 1 : 4 molar ratio in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. Oxidation targets for all studied peptides are the histidine residues coordinated to the metal ions. For the M29-D30-56 and Ac-M29-D30-56 peptides the oxidation of the methionine residue to methionine sulfoxide and sulfone is observed. The cleavage of the peptide bond M29-D30 for the M29-D30-56 peptide was detected as metal binding residues. The fragmentations of the M29-D30-56 peptide near the Lys residues were observed supporting the participation of this (Lys) residue in the coordination of the copper(II) ions.     

Partial molar volumes of l-alanine,dl-serine,dl-threonine,l-histidine,glycine, and glycylglycine in water,NaCl, and DMSO aqueous solutions at T = 298.15 K

The apparent molar volumes of l-alanine, dl-serine, dl-threonine, l-histidine, glycine, and glycylglycine in water and in the aqueous solutions of NaCl and DMSO with various concentrations at T = 298.15 K have been measured by the precise vibrating-tube digital densimeter. The calculated partial molar volumes at infinite dilution have been used to obtain corresponding transfer volumes from water to various solutions. The experimental results show that the standard partial molar volumes of the above amino acids and peptide at the dilute DMSO aqueous solutions are very close to those in water. However, the volumes show several types of variations with the increase of the concentrations of DMSO due to different types of side chain of amino acids, which should be discussed specifically. The NaCl changes considerably the infinite dilution standard partial molar volumes of the above amino acids and peptide in the aqueous solutions. The infinite dilution standard partial molar volumes of the each amino acids and peptide increase with the concentrations of NaCl. The experimental results have been rationalized by a cosphere overlap model.