Methods for detection of point mutations: performance and quality assessment. The IFCC Scientific Division, Committee on Molecular Biology Techniques.

We give an overview of current methods for the detection of point mutations as well as small insertions and deletions in clinical diagnostics. For each method, the following characteristics are specified: (a) principle, (b) major modifications, (c) maximum fragment size that can be analyzed, (d) ratio and type of mutations that can be detected (e) minimum ratio of mutant to wild-type alleles at which mutations can be detected, and (j) detection methods. Special attention is paid to the possibilities of quality assessment and the potential for standardization and automation.     

Determination of dimetridazole, ronidazole and their common metabolite in poultry muscle and eggs by high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection and confirmatory analysis by atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry.

A method was developed for the determination of the nitroimidazole compounds dimetridazole (DMZ) and ronidazole (RNZ) and their common metabolite, 2-hydroxymethyl-1-methyl-5-nitroimidazole (2-OH-M). Extracts obtained from a clean-up process using strong cation exchange (SCX) solid phase extraction (SPE) can be analysed either by high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV) or by high performance liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS) as a confirmatory method. Up to 20 samples can be extracted in approximately 4 h. The HPLC-UV analysis had a limit of detection of 0.5 microgram kg-1. Validation in chicken muscle fortified at a concentration of 5 micrograms kg-1 gave recoveries of 75% DMZ, 77% RNZ and 81% 2-OH-M with RSDs of 16.4, 11.3 and 14.0%, respectively (n = 17). Validation in egg fortified at the same concentration gave recoveries of 77% DMZ, 80% RNZ and 80% 2-OH-M, with RSDs of 14.9, 22.0 and 18.2%, respectively (n = 18). The limit of detection of the HPLC-APCI-MS method was 0.1 microgram kg-1 for DMZ and RNZ and 0.5 microgram kg-1 for 2-OH-M. This method gave mean recoveries in fortified egg samples of 65% DMZ, 87% RNZ and 75% 2-OH-M with RSDs of 22, 11 and 14%, respectively (n = 10). The ratios of the peak areas of the molecular ion and a fragment ion were monitored as added confirmation of the presence of the analyte. Both the HPLC-UV screening procedure and the HPLC-APCI-MS confirmatory method have subsequently been used for the analysis of several hundred samples as part of UK surveillance programmes.     

The use of redox reactions in the analysis of dyes and dye industry intermediates: IV. Oxidation of benzidine,o-tolidine,and o-dianisidine with chloramine T and N-bromosuccinimide

The oxidation of benzidine, o-tolidine, and o-dianisidine with chloramine T and N-bromosuccinimide was studied, the stoichiometry was established, and a mechanism was proposed. An extraction-photometric determination of these diamines was developed, based on the reaction with excess chloramine T or N-bromosuccinimide and the measurement of the absorbance of the N,N′-dihalogeno-diphenoquinonediimines formed, after their extraction into chloroform.     

Molecular determinants for drug-receptors : Part 11. The preferred conformation of N-(p-anisoyl)pyrrolidin-2-one (“Aniracetam”) in the solid and solution states as indicated by X-ray crystal structure analysis, dipole moment and theoretical calculations

N-(p-anisoyl)pyrrolidin-2-one in the crystalline state exhibites a cis—rans conrotatory conformation with N---CO and CO---C_ar rotational angles of 33.5° and 38.5° respectively, and the p-methoxy group situated cis to the central carbonyl bond, as shown by X-ray structure analysis. As suggested by dipole moment analysis and MMP2 molecular mechanics calculations, in solution similar conrotatory models hold for both c- and t-subconformers having the p-methoxy group cis or trans to the central carbonyl bond. INDO calculations were also carried out, indicating that both subconformers are equally stable.