Effects of ion/ion proton transfer reactions on conformation of gas-phase cytochrome <Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis> ions

Positive ions from cytochrome c are studied in a 3-D ion trap/ion mobility (IM)/quadrupole-time-of-flight (TOF) instrument with three independent ion sources. The IM separation allows measurement of the cross section of the ions. Ion/ion reactions in the 3-D ion trap that remove protons cause the cytochrome c ions to refold gently without other degradation of protein structure, i.e., fragmentation or loss of heme group or metal ion. The conformation(s) of the product ions generated by ion/ion reactions in a given charge state are similar regardless of whether the cytochrome c ions are originally in +8 or +9 charge states. In the lower charge states (+1 to +5) cytochrome c ions made by the ion/ion reaction yield a single IM peak with cross section of ～1110 to 1180 Ų, even if the original +8 ion started with multiple conformations. The conformation expands slightly when the charge state is reduced from +5 to +1. For product ions in the +6 to +8 charge states, ions created from higher charge states (+9 to +16) by ion/ion reaction produce more compact conformation(s) in somewhat higher abundances compared with those produced directly by the electrospray ionization (ESI) source. For ions in intermediate charge states that have a variety of resolvable conformers, the voltage used to inject the ions into the drift tube, and the voltage and duration of the pulse that extracts ions from the ion trap, can affect the observed abundances of various conformers.     

Simultaneous quantification and qualification of synacthen in plasma

Tetracosactide (Synacthen), a synthetic analogue of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), can be used as a doping agent to increase the secretion of glucocorticoids by adrenal glands. The only published method for anti-doping control of this drug in plasma relies on purification by immunoaffinity chromatography and LC/MS/MS analysis. Its limit of detection is 300 pg/mL, which corresponds to the peak value observed 12 h after 1 mg Synacthen IM administration. We report here a more sensitive method based on preparation of plasma by cation exchange chromatography and solid-phase extraction and analysis by LC/MS/MS with positive-mode electrospray ionization using 7–38 ACTH as internal standard. Identification of Synacthen was performed using two product ions, m/z 671.5 and m/z 223.0, from the parent [M?+?5H]⁵⁺ ion, m/z 587.4. The recovery was estimated at 70%. A linear calibration curve was obtained from 25 to 600 pg/mL (R ²?>?0.99). The lower limit of detection was 8 pg/mL (S/N?>?3). The lower limit of quantification was 15 pg/mL (S/N?>?10; CV%?相似文献   

A family of four-step trigonometrically-fitted methods and its application to the schrödinger equation

In this article we present a singularly almost P-stable exponentially-fitted four-step method for the approximate solution of the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation. More specifically we present a method that is singularly almost P-stable (a concept later introduced in this article) and also integrates exactly any linear combination of the functions {1, x, exp ( ±I v x) , x exp ( ±I v x) , x ² exp ( ±I v x)}. The numerical experimentation showed that our method is considerably more efficient compared to well known methods used for the approximate solution of resonance problem of the radial Schrödinger equation.     

High Pressure Super-Heated Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry for Sub-Critical Aqueous Solution

The heating of electrospray ion source under atmospheric pressure is limited to the normal boiling point of the solution. The boiling takes place when the vapor pressure of the liquid at a given temperature equals the ambient pressure. By using a high pressure ESI source, which has been developed previously in our laboratory, a stable electrospray ionization of super-heated aqueous solution is performed up to a solution temperature of 180°C. The ion source is pressurized with pure nitrogen to a maximum pressure of 11 atm, and it is coupled to a commercial mass spectrometer via a custom-made ion transport capillary. A booster pump with variable pumping speed is added to the pumping system to regulate the pressure in the first pumping stage at 1?~?1.3 Torr. High pressure mass spectrometry is performed on several peptides and proteins to demonstrate its application in the temperature-controlled thermally induced denaturation and dissociation. Graphical Abstract

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Nonaqueous CE for Rapid and Sensitive Determination of Matrine and Oxymatrine in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sophora flavescens</Emphasis> and Its Medicinal Preparations

A simple, rapid, and sensitive non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis procedure for the quantitative determination of matrine and oxymatrine is established. Optimum separation conditions were obtained when the sample was injected under pressure for 3 s at 50 mbar and separated with the buffer containing 70 mM ammonium acetate, 7.0% (v/v) acetic acid, and 10% (v/v) acetonitrile in methanol medium at 25 kV applied voltage. The analytes were detected at 205 nm. The two alkaloids can be separated within 12 min and quantified with high sensitivity. The method was validated in terms of reproducibility, linearity, and accuracy when applied to the analysis of matrine and oxymatrine in Sophora flavescens and its medicinal preparations.     

Microhydration of Deprotonated Nucleobases

Hydration reactions of deprotonated nucleobases (uracil, thymine, 5-fluorouracil,2-thiouracil, cytosine, adenine, and hypoxanthine) produced by electrospray have been experimentally studied in the gas phase at 10 mbar using a pulsed ion-beam high-pressure mass spectrometer. The thermochemical data, ΔH ^o , ΔS ^o , and ΔG ^o , for the monohydrated systems were determined. The hydration enthalpies were found to be similar for all studied systems and varied between 39.4 and 44.8 kJ/mol. A linear correlation was found between water binding energies in the hydrated complexes and the corresponding acidities of the most acidic site of nucleobases. The structural and energetic aspects of the precursors for the hydrated complexes are discussed in conjunction with available literature data.

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Graphical Abstract ?

     

Microbial Transformation of Curcumin to Its Derivatives with a Novel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pichia kudriavzevii</Emphasis> ZJPH0802 Strain

Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound, has shown a wide range of pharmacological activities and has been widely used as a food additive. However, the clinical use of curcumin is limited to some extent because of its poor water solubility and low bioavailability. To overcome these problems, many approaches have been attempted and structural modification of curcumin by microbial transformation has been proven to be an alternative. In this study, we isolated a novel yeast strain Pichia kudriavzevii ZJPH0802 from a soil sample, which is capable of converting curcumin to its derivatives. The transformed products by this strain were evaluated by HPLC, (+) electrospray ionization (ESI)-MSⁿ, and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance methods. Compared with controls, two new peaks of the transformed broth appeared at retention times of 26 min (I) and 62 min (II) by HPLC analysis. The two transformed products were then further identified by (+) ESI-MSⁿ. The spectrum showed that compound I had an accurate [M+H+NH₃]⁺ ion at m/z 392, [M+H]⁺ ion at m/z 375, [M+H–H₂O]⁺ ion at m/z 357, and (+) ESI-MS³ spectrum showed that ion at m/z 357 could further form fragment ions at m/z 339, 177, and 163; compound II had an accurate [M+H]⁺ ion at m/z 373, [M+H–H₂O]⁺ ion at m/z 355, and (+) ESI-MS³ spectrum showed that ion at m/z 355 could further form fragment ions at m/z 219, 179, 177, 163, and 137. These two transformed products thereby were confirmed as hexahydrocurcumin (I) and tetrahydrocurcumin (II).     

2-Propylamino-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-3,5-dichlorobenzylideneamino) phenyl]-1,3,4-thiadiazole: X-ray and DFT-calculated structures

2-Propylamino-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-3,5-dichlorobenzylideneamino) phenyl]-1,3,4-thiadiazole, formulated as C₁₈H₁₆Cl₂N₄OS (I), was synthesized. The crystal and molecular structure of (I) have been determined by ¹H-NMR, IR, and X-ray single crystal diffraction. The compound (I) crystallizes in the monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c with unit cell parameters a = 9.0576(2) Å, b = 24.3382(8) Å, c = 9.0585(2) Å, M _r = 407.31, V = 1851.13(9) Å³, Z = 4, R ₁ = 0.036, and wR ₂ = 0.096. Molecular geometry from X-ray experiment of (I) in the ground state has been compared using the density functional method (B3LYP) with 6-31G(d) basis set. To determine conformational flexibility, molecular energy profile of (I) was obtained by semi-empirical (PM3) calculations with respect to selected degree of torsional freedom, which was varied from ?180° to +180° in steps of 10°. The results are indicative that the Schiff base, which contains a thiadiazole ring, prefers to be in E-configuration. In addition, molecular electrostatic potential, frontier molecular orbitals, and natural bond orbitals analysis were performed by the B3LYP/6-31G(d) method.     

Synthesis,structural and spectroscopic properties of asymmetric Schiff bases derived from 2,3-diaminopyridine

Two Schiff base derivatives, 4-(2-amino-3-pyridyliminomethyl)phenol (I) and 3-(2-amino-3-pyridyliminomethyl)nitrobenzene (II), were synthesised and characterised by spectroscopy. The structure of I was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The asymmetric Schiff base derived from 2,3-diaminopyridine selectively recognise transition and heavy metal cations, and some anion. Ligands I and II form stable complexes with Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Al³⁺ whereas ligand I also binds F~ ions. The stoichiometry for the host: cation is 1: 1 and 2: 1. The addition of F~ ion in CH₃CN to ligand I causes a colour change of the solution from colourless to yellow. The binding behaviour of ligand I towards several ions was investigated using density functional theory calculations.     

X-ray,FT-IR,ESI MS and PM5 studies of Schiff base of gossypol with allylamine and its complexes with alkali metal cations and perchlorate anion

Crystals of the Schiff base derivative of gossypol with allylamine (GSBAL) were grown and subsequently examined by X-ray diffraction and FT-IR methods. The crystal space group is C2/c with a = 16.057(1) Å, b = 14.112(1) Å, c = 27.185(2) Å, β = 99.371(5)? and Z  = 8. In the crystal, GSBAL exists in the enamine–enamine tautomeric form. The FT-IR spectral features of the crystals are in agreement with the X-ray data indicating that both parts of the molecule are similarly intramolecular hydrogen-bonded but different intermolecular hydrogen-bonded, although the molecule is symmetrically substituted. On the basis of the electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) experiments, it has been shown for the first time that Schiff base of gossypol forms complexes with the perchlorate anion and metal cations simultaneously. The ESI MS spectra of the 1:1:1 mixtures of GSBAL:GOS:M⁺, in the positive and negative ion detection mode, have indicated the preferential formation of the 1:1 complexes of GSBAL with M⁺ (Li, Na or K) and ClO₄ ^? over the respective complexes forming between GOS and the metal cation or the anion. The PM5 semiempirical calculations have allowed visualization of the most energetically favourable structures of these two types of GSBAL complexes.     

Improving the Sensitivity of Mass Spectrometry by Using a New Sheath Flow Electrospray Emitter Array at Subambient Pressures

Arrays of chemically etched emitters with individualized sheath gas capillaries were developed to enhance electrospray ionization (ESI) efficiency at subambient pressures. By incorporating the new emitter array in a subambient pressure ionization with nanoelectrospray (SPIN) source, both ionization efficiency and ion transmission efficiency were significantly increased, providing enhanced sensitivity in mass spectrometric analyses. The SPIN source eliminates the major ion losses of conventional ESI-mass spectrometry (MS) interfaces by placing the emitter in the first reduced pressure region of the instrument. The new ESI emitter array design developed in this study allows individualized sheath gas around each emitter in the array making it possible to generate an array of uniform and stable electrosprays in the subambient pressure (10 to 30 Torr) environment for the first time. The utility of the new emitter arrays was demonstrated by coupling the emitter array/SPIN source with a time of flight (TOF) mass spectrometer. The instrument sensitivity was compared under different ESI source and interface configurations including a standard atmospheric pressure single ESI emitter/heated capillary, single emitter/SPIN and multi-emitter/SPIN configurations using an equimolar solution of nine peptides. The highest instrument sensitivity was observed using the multi-emitter/SPIN configuration in which the sensitivity increased with the number of emitters in the array. Over an order of magnitude MS sensitivity improvement was achieved using multi-emitter/SPIN compared with using the standard atmospheric pressure single ESI emitter/heated capillary interface. Graphical Abstract

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A Novel 3D Platinum–Thallium Coordination Polymer having Strong Metal–Metal Interactions

A new three-dimensional platinum(II)–thallium(I) coordination polymer [{Pt(pda)(NHCOtBu)₂}₄Tl₄][Pt(CN)₄]₂·2H ₂ O (pda = 1,2-propyldiamine) has been prepared from the direct reaction of [Tl₂Pt(CN)₄] and [Pt(pda)(NHCOtBu)₂] in water, and its structure was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. The compound crystallizes in monoclinic, space group Pn, a = 11.567(2) Å, b = 11.570(2) Å, c = 37.677(8)Å, β = 94.64(3)°, V = 5025.8(17) Å³, Z = 2, R1 = 0.0679 and wR2 = 0.1574 [I >  2σ (I)], Goodness-of-fit on F ² = 1.055. The compound exhibits a novel 3D network structure consisting of [Pt(CN)₄]^2? connected 1D infinite Pt–Tl–Pt–Tl chains via strong Pt–Tl bonds.     

Molecular and crystal structure of 15-acetylsongorine and songoramine isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aconitum szechenyianum</Emphasis> Gay

Two napelline skeletal diterpenoid alkaloids 15-acetylsongorine, C₂₄H₃₃NO₄ I, and songoramine, C₂₂H₂₉NO₃ II, were first isolated from the roots of Aconitum Szechenyianum Gay. The crystal structures were determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis. The crystal I is the triclinic system with space group P1 having unit cell parameters of a = 9.360(8) Å, b = 11.593(9) Å, c = 11.830(16) Å, α = 113.223(15)°, β = 105.950(16)°, γ = 101.296(12)°, and Z = 2. Hydrogen bonds O–H···O and O–H···N joint the molecules into dimer. The crystal II belongs to the orthorhombic system with space group P2₁2₁2₁ having unit cell parameters of a = 8.950(2) Å, b = 13.272(3) Å, c = 15.454(4) Å and Z = 4. The O–H···O hydrogen bonding interaction links the molecule into linear chains. The distortion of rings of compound I and II were evaluated by calculation of the Cremer and Pople puckering parameters. The presence of the C–O–C bond in the compound II results in the changes of ring conformations compared with that of the compound I.     

Properties of solvate shells and the mobility of ions,according to molecular dynamics data

The solvate shells of an ion, its velocity autocorrelation function, and diffusion coefficient D are found, and the interrelations between them are analyzed. A single ion in the system of atoms of a liquid is considered a model system. The interaction between the ion and atoms of the liquid is described by polarization potential U(r); the interaction between atoms of the liquid alone is described by the Lennard–Jones potential. A classical molecular dynamics method is used. Five solvate shells around the ion are found, and the lifetimes of atoms on each shell are calculated. It is found that the velocity autocorrelation function is of a vibrating nature. The spectrum of the autocorrelator and the frequency of cluster vibrations in a linear approximation are compared. Dependences D on parameters of potential U(r) are found. No dependence D on the ion mass is found; this is explained by solvation. The Einstein–Stokes formula and the HSK approximation are used in discussing the results. It is shown that at small radii of the ion, dependence D on parameters U(r) is described by such a model. When the ion radius is increased, the deviation from this dependence and an increase in D are observed. The results are compared to experimental mobilities of O₂^- and Ar₂⁺ ions in liquid argon.     

Quantification of Protein-Ligand Interactions by Laser Electrospray Mass Spectrometry

Laser electrospray mass spectrometry (LEMS) measurement of the dissociation constant (K_d) for hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) and N,N′,N″-triacetylchitotriose (NAG₃) revealed an apparent K_d value of 313.2?±?25.9 μM for the ligand titration method. Similar measurements for N,N′,N″,N″’-tetraacetylchitotetraose (NAG₄) revealed an apparent K_d of 249.3?±?13.6 μM. An electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) experiment determined a K_d value of 9.8?±?0.6 μM. In a second LEMS approach, a calibrated measurement was used to determine a K_d value of 6.8?±?1.5 μM for NAG₃. The capture efficiency of LEMS was measured to be 3.6?±?1.8% and is defined as the fraction of LEMS sample detected after merging with the ESI plume. When the dilution is factored into the ligand titration measurement, the adjusted K_d value was 11.3 μM for NAG₃ and 9.0 μM for NAG₄. The calibration method for measuring K_d developed in this study can be applied to solutions containing unknown analyte concentrations.

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Graphical Abstract

     

Synthesis,Structure, and Fluorescence of a Novel Samarium Compound

A novel samarium compound, [Sm(Phen)₂(H₂O)₅]₂(Phen)₂(Bipy)Cl₆ · 7H₂O (I) (Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline and Bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine), was prepared by a solvothermal reaction. The crystal structure of I was characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction method (CIF file CCDC no. 1025736). Compound I is an isolated structure with the samarium ions possessing a nine-coordinated distorted monocapped square antiprism geometry. There are abundant hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking interactions which connect the molecules together to yield a three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular structure. The fluorescence spectra data reveals that I can display the characteristic emission ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H _J transitions (J = 5/2, 7/2, 9/2 and 11/2, respectively) of Sm³⁺ ions.     

Crystal structure and properties of polymeric hexaaqua-<Emphasis Type="Italic">hexakis</Emphasis>-(2-thiobarbiturato)-disamarium(III)

The structure (CIF file CCDC No. 1401886) of the hexaaqua-hexakis(2-thiobarbiturato)-disamarium [Sm₂(H₂O)₆(HTBA)₆] _n polymeric complex (I), where H₂ТВА is 2-thiobarbituric acid, is determined; its thermal decomposition and IR spectrum are studied. The crystals of I are monoclinic: a = 14.072(1) Å, b = 10.0842(6) Å, c = 15.323(1) Å, β = 110.408(2)°, V = 2037.9(2) ų, space group P2/n, Z = 2. All three independent thiobarbiturate anions HTBA^– coordinate to Sm³⁺ through oxygen atoms. To one of independent Sm³⁺ ions six (two terminal and four bridging) HTBA^– ions and two water molecules are coordinated; the second is bonded with four bridging HTBA^– and four water molecules, forming square antiprisms. The bridging HТВА–anions arrange antiprisms in layers. The structure is stabilized by hydrogen bonds and a π–π interaction between the HТВА^– ions. The topology of the polymer network of I is analyzed.     

Polymeric lithium(I) diaquabarbiturate: Crystal structure

The lithium(I) catena-diaquabarbiturate complex [Li(H₂O)₂(HBA–O,O′)] _n (I), where Н₂ВА is barbituric acid, has been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction (CIF file CCDC no. 1447689), and its thermal decomposition and IR spectrum have been studied. Crystals of complex I are monoclinic, a = 6.4306(7) Å, b = 16.720(1) Å, c = 7.1732(8) Å, β = 108.253(4)°, V = 732.5(1) ų, space group P2₁/c, and Z = 4. One independent μ₂-bridging HBA^– ligand is coordinated to two Li(I) ions via the two oxygen atoms of C₄₍₆₎=O carbonyl groups. Each Li⁺ ion is linked with two μ₂-HBA^– ions and two terminal water molecules at tetrahedron vertices. μ₂-HBA^– ions link tetrahedra into a chain. The structure is stabilized by multiple hydrogen bonds and π–π-interaction between HBA^–. The shift of ν(C=O) vibration bands in the IR spectrum of complex I in comparison with Н₂ВА towards lower frequencies agrees with the coordination of HBA^– via oxygen atoms. The dehydration of complex I occurs in two stages in the regions of 100–150 and 150–240°C.     

Modelling of proton and metal exchange in the alginate biopolymer

Acid–base behaviour of a commercial sodium alginate extracted from brown seaweed (Macrocystis pyrifera) has been investigated at different ionic strengths (0.1≤I/mol l^?1≤1.0) and in different supporting electrolytes (Et₄NI, NaCl, KCl, LiCl, NaCl+MgCl₂), with the aim of examining the influence of ionic medium on the proton-binding capacity and of quantifying the strength of interaction with light metal ions in the perspective of speciation studies in natural aqueous systems. Potentiometric ([H⁺]-glass electrode) and titration calorimetric data were expressed as a function of the dissociation degree (α) using different models (Henderson–Hasselbalch modified, Högfeldt three parameters and linear equations). The dependence on ionic strength of the protonation constants was taken into account by a modified specific interaction theory model. Differences among different media were explained in terms of the interaction between polyanion and metal cations of the supporting electrolytes. Quantitative information on the proton-binding capacity, together with the stabilities of different species formed, is reported. Protonation thermodynamic parameters, at α=0.5, are log K ^H=3.686±0.005, ΔG ⁰=?21.04±0.03 kJ mol^?1, ΔH ⁰=4.8±0.2 kJ mol^?1 and TΔS ⁰=35.7±0.3 kJ mol^?1, at infinite dilution. Protonation enthalpies indicate that the main contribution to proton binding arises from the entropy term. A strict correlation between ΔG and TΔS was found, TΔS=?9.5–1.73 ΔG. Results are reported in light of building up a chemical complexation model of general validity to explain the binding ability of naturally occurring polycarboxylate polymers and biopolymers. Speciation profiles of alginate in the presence of sodium and magnesium ions, naturally occurring cations in natural waters, are also reported.     

Formation of Surface Platinum Oxides in the Interaction of the Pt/Sibunit Catalysts with NO<Subscript>2</Subscript>: Estimates of the Width of Oxide Shell from XPS Data

The method of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) using two types of radiation, nonmonochromatic AlK_α (hν = 1486.6 eV) and monochromatic AgL_α (hν = 2984.3 eV), was used to study the interaction of the Pt/C (C = Sibunit) catalysts with NO₂, which occurs in the preparation chamber of an XPS spectrometer at room temperature and NO₂ pressure, equal to 3 × 10^–6 mbar. It was found that, under these conditions, platinum was partially oxidized and metallic core becomes covered with a shell formed by a mixture of PtO and PtO₂ oxides. The ratio of intensities Pt4f and Pt3d_5/2 belonging to platinum oxides to the corresponding intensities of metallic platinum was used to estimate the width of oxide shell. For two of the three studied Pt/C samples, the width of the shell was 0.15–0.3 nm, which approximately corresponds to one monolayer of platinum oxide with a stoichiometry of PtO or PtO₂.