Essential of Proline and Valine Residues in the Peptide Derived from Lactoferrin for Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibition

We synthesized Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala‐Glu, the peptide contained in lactoferrin (Lf), to identify the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. In an attempt to know the structure‐activity relationship of this peptide, we replaced Pro (the third amino acid residues from N‐terminal) or Val (the fourth amino acid residues from N‐terminal) with Ala (neutral amino acid), Glu (acidic amino acid) or Lys (basic amino acid) to produce six peptides. From the in vitro ACE inhibition (IC₅₀) of these synthesized peptides, the original peptide (Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala‐Glu) showed higher ACE inhibition than the replaced six peptides. Thus, replacement of Pro at the third amino acid residues or Val at the fourth position with Ala, Glu or Lys revealed the ACE inhibition to be lower than the original form of Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala‐Glu. Otherwise, we added one peptide at the C‐terminal of Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala‐Glu and found both products with an addition of Val (Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala‐Glu‐Val) or Ile (Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala‐Glu‐Ile) showing a lower ACE inhibition than the original one. The ACE inhibitions produced by both replaced peptides were without significance. Also, deletion of the last peptide at the C‐terminal (Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala) failed to produce a marked change of ACE inhibition as compared to the original one. These results suggest that Pro and Val are essential in the peptide for inhibition of ACE activity.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Cysteine and Valine Adducts of Sulphur Mustard

The synthetic standards for cysteine and valine adducts of sulphur mustard have been synthesized using 2-(2-chloroethylthio) ethanol (half-mustard). These adducts have been recognized as biomarkers for exposure to sulphur mustard. The adducts have been fully characterized using 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometric techniques.     

Improvements in monitoring the N-terminal valine adduct in human globin after exposure to sulfur mustard and synthesis of reference chemicals

The N-terminal valine adduct (HETE-Val) in globin is believed to behave as a long-lived biomarker after exposure to sulfur mustard (HD). Development of a highly sensitive method for monitoring HETE-Val, particularly at low HD exposure levels or for retrospective detection, would be a significant achievement. In this study, by improving the sample preparation method, a sensitive NCI-GC/MS method was established for the analysis of HETE-Val in globin after HD exposure. To optimize and investigate the sample preparation method, all the relevant HETE-Val chemicals were synthesized, purified, and characterized. By carrying out optimized solid phase extraction (SPE) cleanup followed by modified Edman degradation results in a low detection level and clean baseline. The minimum detectable exposure level of human blood (in vitro) to HD is 20 nmol/L (S/N > 3). The interday and intraday precisions of the proposed method were found to be acceptable with less than a 15% relative standard deviation (RSD). A nearly linear dose-effect relationship was observed between HETE-Val and a HD exposure concentration range of 0.1-120 μmol/L. The percentage of HD that reacted with N-terminal valine in globin obtained from human blood (in vitro) was quantified using the proposed method.     

Structural analysis of uniformly C-labelled solids from selective angle measurements at rotational resonance

We demonstrate that individual H–C–C–H torsional angles in uniformly labelled organic solids can be estimated by selective excitation of ¹³C double-quantum coherences under magic-angle spinning at rotational resonance. By adapting a straightforward one-dimensional experiment described earlier [T. Karlsson, M. Eden, H. Luhman, M.H. Levitt, J. Magn. Reson. 145 (2000) 95–107], a double-quantum filtered spectrum selective for Cα and Cβ of uniformly labelled l-[¹³C,¹⁵N]valine is obtained with 25% efficiency. The evolution of Cα–Cβ double-quantum coherence under the influence of the dipolar fields of bonded protons is monitored to provide a value of the Hα–Cα–Cβ–Hβ torsional angle that is consistent with the crystal structure. In addition, double-quantum filtration selective for C6 and C1′ of uniformly labelled [¹³C,¹⁵N]uridine is achieved with 12% efficiency for a ¹³C–¹³C distance of 2.5 Å, yielding a reliable estimate of the C6–H and C1′–H projection angle defining the relative orientations of the nucleoside pyrimidine and ribose rings. This procedure will be useful, in favourable cases, for structural analysis of fully labelled small molecules such as receptor ligands that are not readily synthesised with labels placed selectively at structurally diagnostic sites.     

Preparation of polystyrene/MWCNT‐Valine composites: Investigation of optical,morphological, thermal,and electrical conductivity properties

The attempt of this research was to examine the effect of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)‐Valine as efficient fillers on the thermal, optical, and electrical behaviors of polystyrene (PS). To reduce aggregation and obtain uniform spreading of fillers into the PS, at first, MWCNTs' surfaces were modified by Valine amino acid. Then, different contents of MWCNT‐Valine (0.5, 1, and 2 wt%) were added to PS by ultrasonication processes. The field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy results showed a uniform distribution of modified MWCNTs into the matrix. The thermal properties of nanocomposites were improved by increasing nanofiller content. In addition, embedding of MWCNT‐Valine into the PS matrix increased the electrical conductivity of nanocomposites in comparison with pure PS.     

Synthesis of 2-methyl- and 2-methylenecyclobutane amino acids

An efficient and easy formal [2+2] cycloaddition (Michael-Dieckmann-type reaction) on methyl 2-acetamidoacrylate with ketene diethyl acetal gave the cyclobutane core. Two kinds of 2-substituted cyclobutane amino acids have been obtained from this compound by means of stereocontrolled interconversion of functional groups: 1-amino-2-methylcyclobutane-1-carboxylic acids (2,4-methanovalines) and 1-amino-2-methylenecyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid. The latter amino acid can be regarded as a restricted α-methyl-α-vinylglycine.     

反应时间、温度和溶剂对缬氨酸自组装成聚合肽反应的影响

寡肽类化合物一般具有较强的生物活性,多数可作为药物或药物前体,因此成为人们的研究热点之一．目前寡肽的合成方法主要有液相法、固相法及酶促合成法,这些合成方法往往需要对氨基酸的活性基团进行选择性保护,步骤繁琐．近期研究发现,在水-醇体系中α-氨基酸被磷酰化为N-磷酰-α-氨基酸后,可发生自组装聚合肽反应;在无水条件下,N,O-二(三甲基硅基)-α-氨基酸可与磷酰化试剂如O,O-亚苯基磷酰氯反应生成N-磷酰-α-氨基酸,后者也可通过自组装反应得到二～八肽,但这些N-磷酰-α-氨基酸的制备均需使用有机磷试剂．我们发现,在无机磷试剂如PCl5等辅助下,α-氨基酸同样可以发生自组装反应,得到一系列寡聚肽,这既可为寡聚肽的合成提供一种新的方法,同时,因无机磷试剂在原始地球条件下更可能存在,因而对于揭示多肽及蛋白质的起源具有重要意义．氨基酸的自组装反应具有链锁反应的特点,因此必须控制反应条件实现对反应的控制。     

荷移分光光度法测定缬氨酸

用分光光度法研究缬氨酸与7,7,8,8-四氰基对苯醌二甲叉(TCNQ)的荷移反应.确定以pH=9.2的三酸缓冲溶液为介质,在50C的水浴中加热30min,形成稳定的络合物,其λmax=417nm,表观摩尔吸光系数ε=7.8×103L·mol-1·cm-1,在1-9μg/mL的范围内符合比耳定律,回收率在96.7％-102.7％,相对标准偏差小于2.9％.     

尾式缬氨酸四苯基卟啉锌与嘧啶轴配反应光谱和热力学

研究了５（４－缬氨酸丁氧苯基）－１０,１５,２０－三（４－氯苯基）卟啉锌与嘧啶在氯仿溶液中轴配反应光谱和热力学性质。用紫外－可见分光光度法测定了轴向配位反应体系的配位数和平衡常数。用温度系数法求得了轴配反应的标准摩尔焓变和标准摩尔熵变。探讨了温度对轴向配位反应的影响。     

宇称与手性——丙氨酸（缬氨酸）对映体宇称破缺能差的实验探索

为什么构成生命的蛋白质全由L型氨基酸组成（DNA和RNA全由D核糖组成）,这是至今未解的科学之谜.由Z°玻色子介导的弱中性流宇称破缺被认为是造成生命分子手性起源的主要原因.1991年Salam提出由于Z°相互作用,电子与电子或电子与核子耦合形成库柏对,在其临界低温下玻色凝聚,有可能引起氨基酸由D型向L型的二级相变,并理论预测相变温度为250 K.本文用差分绝热连续加热量热法测定了100～300 K下D-缬氨酸(丙氨酸)和L-缬氨酸(丙氨酸)的Cp－T图,实验发现在270 K有明显的λ型二级相变.用量子磁强计测定了正向与反向1万高斯下直流磁化率行为,显示出D和L型氨基酸不同电子手征性密度特征.利用毛细管手性柱气相色谱分析否定了Salam预言的氨基酸由D型到L型相变的可能性.本文在实验中发现的相变,虽然不是D型到L型相变,但检测出了电弱力宇称不守恒能差在分子水平上的反映.