Characterization of oligosaccharide moieties of intact glycoproteins by microwave-assisted partial acid hydrolysis and mass spectrometry

A method, which utilizes microwave-assisted partial acid hydrolysis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS), to elucidate oligosaccharide composition of intact glycoproteins is presented here. Glycoproteins, such as ribonuclease B, avidin, alpha1-acid glycoprotein, and fetuin, are used as model systems to demonstrate this technique. Partial cleavage of oligosaccharides from whole intact glycoproteins with trifluoroacetic acid was observed after a short exposure to microwaves. Due to the high-resolution mass spectra obtained by MALDI-TOFMS from glycoproteins with molecular weights less than 20 kDa, the compositions of oligosaccharides are readily derived for ribonuclease B and avidin. The data agree with the proposed oligosaccharide structures of ribonuclease B (five glycoforms) and avidin (eight glycoforms). Larger glycoproteins such as alpha1-acid glycoprotein (many glycoforms) and fetuin (many glycoforms) exhibited only broad peaks with no glycoform resolution. Nevertheless, this method can be used successfully for analysis of glycoproteins with molecular weights greater than 20 kDa to determine the presence or absence of glycosylation.     

Synthesis,characterization and antimicrobial studies on 13-membered-N6-macrocyclic transition metal complexes containing trimethoprim

Asymmetrical macrocyclic complexes of Mn^II, Co^II, Ni^II, Cu^II and Zn^II have been synthesized by the template process using bis(benzil)ethylenediamine as precursor. Bis(benzil)ethylenediamine reacts with transition metal chlorides and trimethoprim in a 1:1:1 molar ratio in methanol to give several solid metal complexes of the general composition [M(L)X₂] (M = Mn^II, Co^II, Ni^II, Cu^II and Zn^II, L = ligand and X = Cl^?). They were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques. Based on analytical, spectral and magnetic moments, all the complexes are identified as distorted octahedral structures. All the complexes are of the [M(L)X₂] type. The shifts of the ν(CN) (azomethine) stretches have been monitored. To find out the donor sites of the ligands, the activity data show that the metal complexes are more potent than the parent ligand. The [M(L)X₂] complexes showed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity in vitro against both gram-positive and gram-negative human pathogenic bacterial isolates and the antimicrobial spectrum enhanced only with a combination of metal chlorides and trimethoprim complex. From the results it is imperative that the synthesized macrocyclic [M(L)X₂] complexes exhibit potent broad spectrum antibacterial activity.     

Isotope‐Coded Affinity Tagging Technique Using Avidin Functional Affinity Electrophoresis: An Alternative to an Avidin Affinity Column

Avidin functional affinity electrophoresis (AFAEP) is substituted for an avidin affinity column (AAC) to capture biotinylated peptides in the Isotope‐Coded Affinity Tagging (ICAT) technique which is a valuable tool in quantitative proteomics. In this new technique, the AFAEP‐captured ICAT‐labeled biotinylated peptides are extracted with the biotin tag intact from the polyacrylamide gel piece with aqueous 95% formamide (pH 8.2) at 65 °C for 20 min, and then detected by a matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the ¹²C‐ and ¹³C‐ICAT reagents are used to test this AFAEP‐ICAT technique. The results show that both AFAEP and AAC methods provide quantitative information of the relative amounts of ¹²C‐ and ¹³C‐ICAT‐labeled biotinylated tryptic peptides of BSA in a sample. Compared with AAC, the AFAEP is cheaper to perform, more stringent in capturing the biotinylated peptides, and capable of simultaneously processing multiple samples.     

Neuron-based microarray sensors for environmental sensing

We present a novel sensing scheme for detecting the effects of unburned fossil fuels by integrating microarray technology and dielectrophoresis to develop single-neuron arrays. These arrays have the capability to sense and identify the two fuels, at parts per billion (ppb) concentrations, as well to determine the associated physiological changes at the single-cell level. Identification is achieved through frequency domain analysis of the measured changes to the extracellular electrical activity due to the effect of the fossil fuels. This yields unique electrical identifiers known as "signature patterns". Simultaneous optical visualization to the physiological changes is obtained by specific fluorescent staining. The correlation between the signature patterns and the cellular biological behavior establishes the veracity of this identification technique.     

Formulation and In Vitro Evaluation of Sustained Release Microspheres of Diltiazem Hydrochloride Prepared by Emulsification-Internal Gelation Method

The present work describes the formulation of alginate microspheres containing diltiazem hydrochloride by the emulsification-internal gelation method with the use of barium carbonate as a cross-linking agent. The effect of various factors (the concentration of alginate and barium chloride) on the drug loading efficiency and in vitro release were investigated. Fourier transform infrared microscopy (FTIR) and differential scanninig calorimetry (DSC) analysis confirmed the absence of any drug polymer interaction. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern showed that there is a decrease crystallinity of the drug. The in vitro drug release profile could be altered significantly by changing various processing parameters to give a controlled release of drug from microcapsules. The stability studies of drug-loaded microcapsules showed that the drug was stable at different storage conditions.     

One-pot three-component azide-alkyne cycloaddition: Synthesis of new pyrazole, 1,2,3-triazole,and oxadiazole tethered and their anti-inflammatory,quantitative structure-activity relationship,and docking studies

A simple and efficient one-pot three-component azide-alkyne cycloaddition of 5-chloro-1-phenyl-pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde with 2-(prop-2-yn-1-ylthio)-5-(substituted phenoxy)methyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole and sodium azide is reported. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by spectral and analytical data. They were screened for in vitro anti-inflammatory activity by bovine serum albumin denaturation assay. All the tested compounds showed moderate anti-inflammatory activity, whereas three compounds ( 4d , 4i , and 4k ) showed excellent activity comparable with that of the standard drug diclofenac sodium. The quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study was carried out for anti-inflammatory activities of the synthesized compounds and developed a QSAR model. Inspired by their in vitro anti-inflammatory activities, they were docked to the active site of COX-2 to know the anti-inflammatory potency in silico.     

Stereoselective synthesis of beta-substituted phenylalanine-beta-phenylisoserine-derived tripeptides using N-cinnamoyl-L-proline as template: synthesis of structural analogues of HIV protease inhibitors

N-Cinnamoyl-L-proline can be used as a template on which beta-substituted phenylalanine and beta-phenylisoserine residues can be synthesized leading to tripeptide derivatives as structural analogues of HIV protease inhibitors.     

Electronic, e.p.r., cyclic voltammetric and biological activities of copper(II) complexes with macrocyclic ligands

Eight new macrocyclic ligands have been prepared by the reaction of the precursor diketone (benzil, glyoxal, diacetyl or 2,3-pentanedione) with a diamine (thiosemicarbazide or semicarbazide). Copper(II) complexes of these ligands have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility, i.r., u.v.–vis, ¹H-n.m.r., mass and e.p.r. spectral studies. Mass, n.m.r. and i.r. data indicate the condensation of the diamine and diketone and the whole molecular ion structure. g-Values are calculated for all of the complexes in polycrystalline form as well as in DMSO solution. Spin Hamiltonian values and bonding parameters have also been calculated which indicates that an unpaired electron is present in the orbital. The metal-ligand bonding parameters shows strong in-plane σ sigma and in-plane π bonding. The magnetic and spectral data indicate tetragonal geometry for all of the complexes except [CuH₂L⁴]Cl₂ and [CuH₂L⁴]Cl₂ which are square planar. From c.v. data reversible Cu^II/Cu^I couples are observed for these complexes. The macrocyclic complexes show more antibacterial and antiviral activity as compared to the ligands. The antibacterial activities of the compounds were tested against S. aureus, S. subtillis and E. coli.