Effect of opsin on the shape of the potential energy surfaces at the conical intersection of the Rhodopsin chromophore

In order to disentangle the role of the protein in the control of the photoisomerization of the chromophore of the visual pigment Rhodopsin, we compare the structure of the ground and excited potential energy surfaces of gas-phase and opsin-embedded 11-cis retinal chromophore at the corresponding (lowest energy) conical intersections. It is shown that, along the branching plane, the asymmetric opsin environment destabilizes one of the ground state relaxation channels emerging from the conical intersection. This suggests that opsin promotes the formation of the product (bathorhodopsin) via enhanced decay probability along the all-trans exit channel. In contrast, in the gas-phase no significant structural difference has been found for the channels that lead towards the 11-cis or all-trans forms of the chromophore.     

Influence of DFT-calculated electron correlation on energies and geometries of retinals and of retinal derivatives related to the bacteriorhodopsin and rhodopsin chromophores

DFT-calculations were performed on retinal in the all-trans, 1, 11-cis-12-s-cis, 2, and 11-cis-12-s-trans configuration, 3, and on the corresponding N-methyl Schiff base and protonated N-methyl Schiff base derivatives; for the latter, the corresponding 6-s-trans conformations and the 6-s-trans-13-cis-14-s-trans isomer which play a role in the bacteriorhodopsin photocycle were also studied. All geometries were fully optimized using the Becke- three-parameter Lee-Yang-Parr method in conjunction with the 6-31G^** basis set (B3LYP/6-31G^**). The stabilities in order of increasing energy are 1, 3 and 2 regardless of the type of substitution of the end group. While the energy of 3 relative to 1 is almost constant (5 ± 0.2 kcal mol⁻¹), the relative energy of 2 depends somewhat on the nature of the functional group: it is highest in the protonated Schiff base derivative 2-SBH + with its steric congestion along the C12-C13 bond. Comparison with results previously obtained on the basis of RHF/6-31G^** ab initio calculations reveals that the B3LYP method is more biased towards π-electron delocalization. This is indicated by the reduced degree of double bond fixation along the chromophore and also in the increased tendency towards planarization as manifest, e.g. by the change of the C5-C6-C7-C8 dihedral angle between the cyclohexene ring and the open chain double bond system.     

Nonaqueous electrochromatography on continuous bed columns of sol-gel bonded large-pore C18 material: separation of retinyl esters

A nonaqueous electrochromatographic reversed-phase separation method for retinyl esters using continuous bed columns has been developed. The packing material 7 μm Nucleosil 4000 Å C₁₈ was sol–gel bonded in 180 μm I.D. capillaries. The mobile phase used was 2.5 mM lithium acetate in N,N-dimethylformamide–acetonitrile–methanol (2+7+1, v/v). At 350 V/cm and 30°C, this mobile phase composition gave rise to an electroosmotic flow of 1 mm/s. No Joule heating nor bubble formation were observed even at 625 V/cm (17 μA). With a 36 cm L_eff column complete separation of the commercially available and synthesized standards (all-trans-retinyl acetate, palmitate, heptadecanoate, stearate, oleoate, and linoleoate) was obtained within 10 min. The within-day and between-day variations of retention times of all-trans-retinyl palmitate were <0.3% relative standard deviation (RSD) (n=3) and <2% RSD (n=6), respectively. The within-day and between-day variations of peak areas were both <2% (both n=3). The columns were used for more than 1 month without degradation. Liver extracts from arctic seal were analyzed.     

Enzymatic resolution of (±)-cis-2-aminocyclopentanol and (±)-cis-2-aminocyclohexanol

(±)-cis-N-Benzyloxycarbonyl-2-aminocyclopentanol was efficiently resolved by O-acylation with Pseudomonas cepacia lipase, as was (±)-cis-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-2-aminocyclohexanol when Candida antarctica lipase was used.     

Comparative methodology in the determination of alpha-oxocarboxylates in aqueous solution ion chromatography versus gas chromatography after oximation, extraction and esterification

A direct, simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of ketoprofen with ibuprofen as internal standard. Samples were chromatographed on a 5 μm Kromasil 100 C₁₈ column. The mobile phase was a mixture of acetonitrile–0.01 M KH₂PO₄ adjusted to pH 1.5 with orthophosphoric acid 85% (60:40, v/v). Detection was at 260 nm and the run time was 10 min. The detector response was found to be linear in the concentration range 0.02 to 40 μg/ml. This HPLC assay has been applied to measure the “in vitro” percutaneous penetration of ketoprofen through rat skin.     

四氮杂杯[2]芳烃[2]三嗪键合硅胶固相萃取-高效液相色谱法测定河水中硝基苯酚和己烯雌酚

基于四氮杂杯[2]芳烃[2]三嗪键合硅胶吸附剂（NC-Si）,构建了固相萃取-高效液相色谱法同时测定河水中3种硝基苯酚和己烯雌酚的新方法。考察并获得了固相萃取和液相色谱分离的优化条件：将样品溶液pH调至5,以5 mL/min上样,经自制固相萃取柱净化,2 mL氨水-甲醇（2：98,v/v）洗脱;在C8柱上以甲醇-0.1%磷酸溶液为流动相进行梯度洗脱。4种目标分析物的检出限（LOD,S/N=3）为0.03~0.3 μg/L,定量限（LOQ,S/N=10）为0.1~1.0 μg/L;加标回收率为75.5%~104.2%,相对标准偏差（RSD,n=5）小于6.3%。该方法准确、可靠,可用于河水中硝基苯酚及己烯雌酚的灵敏检测。     

Simultaneous determination of L-693,612, a topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, and two potential metabolites in human whole blood by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography

A method for the simultaneous determination of a topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, L-693,612, and two of its potential metabolites in human whole blood is described. The analytes are isolated from the matrix via liquid-liquid extraction with a mixture of toluene, ethyl acetate and isopropanol (49:50:1, v/v/v). The analytes are then back extracted into dilute phosphoric acid prior to injection into the HPLC system. A cyano column (Zorbax SB-CN, 150 × 4.6 mm) with a mobile phase of phosphoric acid(0.085%)-acetonitrile (73.5:26.5) containing 10 mM sodium decane sulfonate and adjusted to pH 3 is used for the analysis. Detection is based on UV absorbance at 252 nm. The assay was found to be linear in the concentration range of 5–500 ng/ml for each analyte when 1-ml aliquots of whole blood were extracted.     

Determination of Lovastatin (mevinolin) and mevinolinic acid in fermentation liquids

A rapid and simple HPLC method for the determination of Lovastatin (mevinolin) and mevinolinic acid in fermentation fluids of Aspergillus terreus using a Separon SGX C₁₈ column and methanol-18 mM orthophosphoric acid (77.5:22.5, v/v) as mobile phase with detection at 238 nm is described. The detection limit of Lovastatin and mevinolinic acid was 20–30 ng/ml.     

HPLC assay for determination of amphotericin B in biological samples

A fast and selective HPLC method for assaying amphotericin B in biological samples was developed and validated. The chromatographic separation was achieved in less than 12 min on a reverse-phase C(18) column using an acetonitrile-acetic acid-water (52:4.3:43.7, v/v/v) mixture as mobile phase. The flow rate was 1 mL/min and the effluent was monitored at 406 nm. A linear response over the concentration range 0.1-10.0 microg/mL was obtained. Intra-day and inter-day RSDs were below 5% for all the sample types. This new HPLC method was applied to assay amphotericin B in plasma and several tissue samples such as kidney, liver, spleen and bone marrow. Application of this method to pharmacokinetic studies in mice and dog is provided.     

An improved method of simultaneous determination of lutein and zeaxanthin in food

Based on an official standard method of lutein analysis, an improved high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for simultaneously detecting lutein and zeaxanthin was developed as focusing on the sample preparation protocol. The optimal pretreatment conditions included a saponification in a water bath for 15?min at a constant temperature of 50?°C, using a 10?mL 60% (w/v) potassium hydroxide solution, followed by extraction using 100?mL mixture of n-hexane, ethyl ether and cyclohexane (40: 40: 20, v/v/v). A mixture of dichloromethane, acetonitrile and methanol (20: 30: 50, v/v/v) was validated to elute lutein and zeaxanthin on a C₃₀ column (4.6?×?250?mm, 5?µm). The resolution between lutein and zeaxanthin is ≥2.5. A millet sample was used for methodological verification and the results showed that the linear relations for lutein and zeaxanthin were good in ranges of 0.23–9.37?μg/mL and 0.30–12.02?μg/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviations of lutein and zeaxanthin were 1.40% and 5.09%, respectively, and their spiked recoveries were between 86.60% and 98.75%. The lutein and zeaxanthin results from this modified HPLC method are superior to those from the Chinese official method and ultrasonic extraction method.     

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of epimeric alkaloid N-oxides from Thalictrum simplex L.

A simple and precise method was developed for the analytical and preparative reversed-phase HPLC separation of a mixture of epimeric pavine N-oxides containing 49.1% of (−)-thalimonine N-oxide A and 50.1% of (−)-thalimonine N-oxide B isolated from Thalictrum simplex L. (Ranunculaceae). A reversed-phase system with Nucleosil C₁₈ analytical and preparative columns and ethanol-1.5% aqueous orthophosphoric acid (15:85) as the mobile phase was used. The epimeric pavine N-oxides were completely separated within 50 min.     

纤维素键合手性固定相拆分6种萘满酮衍生物对映体

使用Chiralpak IC（纤维素-三（3,5-二氯苯基氨基甲酸酯）共价键合硅胶）手性柱,建立了采用手性固定相高效液相色谱拆分6种 α -芳基萘满酮类衍生物对映体的方法。考察了流动相中有机改性剂的种类和比例、柱温和流速对对映体分离的影响。结果显示6种化合物在异丙醇为改性剂的条件下均可获得较高的对映体分离度。热力学研究表明6种化合物对映体的手性拆分过程均受焓驱动影响,且低温有利于对映体分离。最终推荐分离化合物Ⅰ对映体的流动相是正己烷-异丙醇（90：10,v/v）;分离化合物Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ对映体的流动相是正己烷-异丙醇（99：1,v/v）;分离化合物Ⅴ对映体的流动相是正己烷-异丙醇（85：15,v/v）;分离化合物Ⅵ对映体的流动相是正己烷-异丙醇（80：20,v/v）。柱温为25℃,流速为1.0 mL/min。6种化合物对映体均可在Chiralpak IC手性固定相上得到完全分离,证明该色谱柱对6种化合物具有较高的对映体选择性。     

Substituent-controlled photoisomerization in retinal chromophore models: Fluorinated and methoxy-substituted protonated Schiff bases

The effect of substitution on the intrinsic (i.e. in vacuo) photoisomerization ability of retinal chromophore models has been explored using CASPT2//CASSCF minimum energy path computations to map the S₁ photoisomerization paths of two substituted minimal models of the retinal chromophore: the 2-cis-penta-2,4-dieniminium and the all-trans-epta-2,4,6-trieniminium cations, which have been modified using fluorine or methoxyl substituents as representative examples of electron-withdrawing and electron-releasing groups, respectively. A systematic analysis has been performed involving substitutions in all the possible positions along the chain. It is shown that the photochemical reactivity and photoisomerization efficiency of these systems may be tuned or indeed changed, although this effect strongly depends on the position of the substituent. In particular, we have shown that (i) most of the systems preserves qualitatively the reactivity of the parent (i.e. unsubstituted) compound; (ii) substitution at positions C4 or C6 leads to a different relaxed excited state structure of the chromophore and in general to a very flat photoisomerization path (or to a tiny S₁ energy barrier in some cases); (iii) the nature of the TICT state (i.e. the S₁ → S₀ decay funnel) may be turned from a conical intersection into an excited state minimum; (iv) for the C4 methoxy-substituted system the isomerization path as well as the S₁/S₀ decay funnel involve an unusual torsional angle. Thus, substitution turns out to be a good tool not only to tune the optical properties (i.e. the absorption and emission features) of the chromophore (as we have already shown in a previous work: I. Conti, F. Bernardi, G. Orlandi, M. Garavelli, Mol. Phys. 104 (2006) 915–924), but it may also play a crucial role in tuning and controlling photoisomerization selectivity and efficiency, affecting excited state lifetime and reaction rate. A rationale for these effects is presented, which provides a basis for understanding reactivity properties and the intrinsic photochemical behavior of substituted retinal chromophores.     

Normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of spiramycin in eggs and chicken

A precise method is presented for determination of residual spiramycin (SP) in chicken eggs and tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The sample preparation was performed by homogenizing with a mixture of acetonitrile and n-hexane (5:4, v/v) to minimize the fat amount followed by ultra-filtration using a MolCutII(R). The extracts containing SP were free from interfering compounds when examined by the normal-phase HPLC using a LiChrosorb(R) NH(2) column and a mobile phase of acetonitrile-water (85:15, v/v) with a photo-diode array detector. The average recoveries from spiked SP (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 ppm) were in excess of 89.0% with coefficients of variation between 1.4 and 2.4%. The limit of detection was 0.1 ppm.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of acetone in blood and urine in the clinical diagnostic laboratory.

A method for the determination of acetone in plasma or urine by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed. Plasma specimens are deproteinized with acetonitrile (1:1, v/v) 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) is added to the supernatant or to filtered urine samples, similarly treated with acetonitrile (2:1, v/v) to prevent crystallization of the synthesized phenylhydrazone. An aliquot (20 microliters) of the reaction mixture was subjected to HPLC at ambient temperature using a reversed-phase Pecosphere 3 x 3 C18 column with acetonitrile-water (45:55, v/v) as eluent at a flow-rate of 1 ml/min and detection at 365 nm. Hydroxyacetone and acetoacetate phenylhydrazone derivatives do not interfere. The identification of acetone by its retention time was confirmed by comparison with a laboratory-synthesized acetone DNPH derivative. The concentration of acetone, eluted within 3 min, was determined by the peak-height method. The detection limit was 0.034 mmol/l; the relative standard deviations were less than 5% within run (n = 20) and less than 10% between run (n = 20).     

New chiral Schiff base–Cu(II) complexes as cyclopropanation catalysts

A series of chiral Schiff base ligands 1–4, derived from (1R,2S)-(+)-cis-1-amino-2-indanol and other chiral amines with substituted salycilaldehydes were synthesized and transformed to the corresponding Cu(II) complexes. Molecular structures of six Cu(II) complexes were determined by X-ray crystallographic studies. The structures show the metal ion in a distorted square planar geometry with dimeric or monomeric structures, depending on the ligand denticity. The potential use of these complexes in asymmetric Cyclopropanation was explored.     

Preparative separation of gambogic acid and its C-2 epimer using recycling high-speed counter-current chromatography

A recycling counter-current chromatographic system was first set up with a high-speed counter-current chromatography instrument coupled with a column switching valve. This system was first successfully applied to the preparative separation of epimers, gambogic acid and epigambogic acid from Garcinia hanburyi using n-hexane-methanol-water (5:4:1, v/v/v) as the two-phase solvent system. As a result, 28.2 mg gambogic acid and 18.4 mg epigambogic acid were separated from 50 mg of mixture. Their purities were both above 97% as determined by HPLC. The chemical structures were then identified by their (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR spectra.     

Determination of niobium(V) and tantalum(V) as 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol–citrate ternary complexes in geological materials by ion-interaction reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

A method for the simultaneous separation and determination of Nb(V) and Ta(V) as ternary complexes formed with 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR) and citrate was developed using ion-interaction reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a C₁₈ column. Method parameters, such as pre-column complex formation conditions and composition of the complexes were investigated using spectrophotometry and HPLC. Under the optimum conditions, the Nb(V) and Ta(V) complexes were eluted within 12 min with a mobile phase of methanol–water (32:68, v/v) containing 5 mM acetate, 5 mM TBABr and 5 mM citrate buffer at pH 6.5, with detection at 540 nm. A typical separation efficiency was 33 000 and 20 000 theoretical plates per metre for Nb(V) and Ta(V), respectively. The relative standard deviation of retention times for the Nb(V) and Ta(V) complexes were 0.16% and 0.17% and for peak areas were 0.28% and 1.36%, respectively. The detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio=3) for Nb(V) and Ta(V) were 0.4 ppb and 1.4 ppb, respectively. Results obtained for standard reference rock samples agreed well with certified values and results obtained by inductively coupled plasma MS.     

HPLC determination of imidazole antimycotis in antidandruff cosmetic products.

A simple HPLC method for the determination of imidazole antimycotics in cosmetic antidandruff formulations has been developed. HPLC was carried out on a Discovery RP-Amide C16 column and spectrophotometric detection was performed at 220 nm. The initial mobile phase was a mixture of acetonitrile and aqueous 10(-3) M NaClO4 (pH 3.0) in the ratio of 15:85 (v/v); then a linear gradient up to 46% acetonitrile in 70 min, and up to 50% in 80 min. The extraction procedure has been validated by analyzing samples of shampoo and lotion spiked with 1% of the active principles. The recoveries were greater than 95% and the reproducibility was within 3%.