15N/14N Analysis of Amino Acids with GC-C-IRMS - Methodical Investigations and Ecotoxicological Applications

Abstract

In order to perform the ¹⁵N/¹⁴N analysis of amino acids using a gas chromatograph and isotope ratio mass spectrometer linked up via a combustion interface (GC-C-IRMS), the amino acids must be derivatized. Tert-butyldimethylsilylation is examined using various techniques (direct conversion to nitrogen gas, ConFlo-IRMS [1], GC-C-IRMS [2]) and subsequently applied to isotopic characterization of amino acids from wheat protein hydrolyzate obtained from plants exposed to ozone. The method provides a reliable tool for studying ecotoxicological effects on plants at a molecular level in addition to the investigation of the natural variations of different N fractions.     

Aufnahme von 15NO2 und Einbau des 15NO2-Stickstoffs in verschiedene Stickstofffraktionen bei Sonnenblumen (Uptake of 15NO2 and Metabolic Transfer of the 15NO2 Nitrogen to Various Nitrogen Fractions of Sunflowers)

Abstract

Sunflowers were exposed to ¹⁵NO₂ at a range between 4,9 and 42,0 ppb. The ¹⁵NO₂ uptake was quantified and the fate of the ¹⁵N in different parts and pools of nitrogen was investigated. The very high δ¹⁵N-values of the free amino acid pool can't give an answer to the question whether the NO₂-nitrogen is incorporated by a different pathway, compared to the nitrogen which derives from root uptake. Or does a compartmentation of the nitrate pool in the plant cell cause a dilution of the ¹⁵N enrichment in the mineral nitrogen pool during sample preparation?     

天然丰度的N-磷酰化氨基酸的15N NMR 研究

采用¹⁵N-¹H的2D HSQC、HMBC实验方法,测定了天然丰度的N-磷酰化氨基酸样品在溶液中的¹⁵N化学位移δ_N及偶合常数J_N-P,J_N-H. 实验表明：对于¹⁵N天然丰度样品,这是一种快速有效的实验方法. 研究发现：N-酰化后的氨基酸,其δ_N以及与氮原子直接相连的质子¹H的化学位移均发生十分明显的高场位移,而偶合常数¹J_N-P,¹J_N-H的变化与化合物构型相关联 .     

Simultaneous Identification and Quantitative Determination of Amino Acids in Mixture by NMR Spectroscopy Using Chemometric Resolution

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy receives increasing interest in biological and metabolomic studies. It is still, however, a great challenge to analyze the NMR spectra of multicomponent samples, containing overlapping responses of the compositions. In this work, nonnegative independent component analysis (nonnegative ICA) and immune algorithm (IA) were employed for simultaneous identification and quantitative determination of three amino acids in mixture samples from measured multicomponent NMR signals. Results show that the correlation coefficients (R) between the extracted and measured spectra are higher than 0.97 and that those between the calculated relative contents and experimental ones are higher than 0.99. The method may provide an alternative technique for analyzing multicomponent samples like biofluids by using NMR spectroscopy.     

天然丰度的N-磷酰化氨基酸的15N NMR 研究

采用¹⁵N-¹H的2D HSQC、HMBC实验方法,测定了天然丰度的N-磷酰化氨基酸样品在溶液中的¹⁵N化学位移δ_N及偶合常数J_N-P,J_N-H. 实验表明：对于¹⁵N天然丰度样品,这是一种快速有效的实验方法. 研究发现：N-酰化后的氨基酸,其δ_N以及与氮原子直接相连的质子¹H的化学位移均发生十分明显的高场位移,而偶合常数¹J_N-P,¹J_N-H的变化与化合物构型相关联 .     

FT-SERS研究非极性R侧链氨基酸在银胶体系中的吸附状态

利用傅里叶变换表面增强拉曼光谱(FT-SERS)研究了以L-蛋氨酸为代表的非极性R侧链氨基酸在纳米银衬底上的吸附状态和相互作用的特性,并结合浓度、pH值的变化探讨了吸附作用的特点和规律。实验结果表明, L-蛋氨酸在银胶上的最佳FT-SERS的浓度范围为10-3～10-4 mol·L-1;其pH范围以酸性、等电点、碱性而分段,当pH值在等电点附近及酸碱度过大时的FT-SERS都较差;L-蛋氨酸与纳米银的作用是通过氨基、羧基、硫与银的物理、化学吸附,其吸附态随着pH值的变化而改变。结合文献,对非极性R侧链氨基酸与纳米银的吸附特性作了总结,以期有助于对氨基酸、蛋白质、多肽、酶等相关领域更深入的研究。     

The Relationship of Nitrate Reductase Activity to Uptake and Assimilation of Atmospheric 15NO2-Nitrogen in Needles of Norway Spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.)

Abstract

Using ¹⁵NO₂, relations between nitrate reductase activity and stomatal conductance, ¹⁵N-uptake and ¹⁵N-glutamate were studied in the two youngest needles flushes of potted Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). There were linear correlations between the stomatal conductance and the ¹⁵N-uptake and between the ¹⁵N-uptake and nitrate reductase (E.C. 1.6.6.1/1.6.6.2) activity. The ¹⁵N labelling of free glutamate shows the assimilation of NO₂ from the atmosphere in addition to the nitrogen from the soil. The portion of glutamate originating from ¹⁵NO₂ was linearly related to nitrate reductase activity in spring experiments. This indicates that this enzyme activity reflected the rate of NO₂-assimilation.     

Separation of Ammonium and Nitrate for Isotopic Analysis of Nitrogen 15 Using Vacuum Distillation Method

The parameters affecting the vacuum distillation method for quantitative separation of ammonium and nitrate for mass spectrometric determination of ¹⁵N were investigated. The vacuum distillation was found to be advantageous to steam distillation method because no interference from organic compounds was encountered, greater volumes could be processed and no previous evaporation of the water samples was necessary. The mass spectrometric isotopic analysis of nitrogen 15 proved the suitability of the vacuum distillation method for quantitative separation of ammonium and nitrate.     

Course of Uptake of Weed-Borne Nitrogen by Maize,Tested with 15N

Abstract

The course of uptake of weed-borne nitrogen by maize was tested with ¹⁵N in a pot experiment with silty loam after common growth of maize and Chenopodium album L., and mulching the weed in the 5-leaf stage of maize. Harvests 4,8 and 12 weeks after mulching show that the maize took up 35, 63 and 70% of the weed-borne nitrogen, resp., in consequence of a rapid and almost complete mineralization. The portion of weed-borne nitrogen in total N of the maize was 16% at all harvest dates. The differences in yield between weeded and unweeded maize were not significant neither at 5-leaf stage nor at corn maturity.     

低能离子束处理前后氨基酸和碱基的拉曼光谱研究

本文报导我们利用激光拉曼光谱获取低能离子束生物诱变信息的初步探索。初步的研究结果表明拉曼光谱可以给出离子注入前后生物分子结构突变或重组,分子结构突变与注入剂量的关系,分子的光催化修复、自然修复以及离子注入改变的光敏性等信息。     

The Impact of Ozone on the 15N Incorporation and Nitrogen Assimilation of Wheat and Maize

Abstract

Young wheat (C3) and maize (C4) plants were exposed to near-ambient concentrations of ozone in open-top chambers in order to investigate the possible effects of ozone on nitrogen metabolism. Nitrogen was supplied to the plants by adding ¹⁵N-labelled tracer substances via the soil substrate. Enzyme activities (NADH nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, glutamine synthetase and NADH glutamate dehydrogenase) and the incorporation of ¹⁵N were determined.

The findings show that nitrogen metabolism was affected by O₃, however, there were distinct differences between the two species. In plants treated with O₃, NADH nitrate reductase activity in maize leaves was reduced, while NR activity in wheat leaves only slightly declined. Only minor changes were observed with respect to the activities of nitrite reductase, glutamine synthetase and NADH glutamate dehydrogenase.

Feeding experiments using ¹⁵NO₃ ^? showed that the incorporation of nitrate nitrogen in wheat plants exposed to ozone remains virtually unchanged, whereas in maize plants reduced incorporation rates were observed for nitrate nitrogen. The incorporation of ammonium nitrogen was distinctly increased in wheat and maize by the impact of ozone.

When investigating pigment contents, reduced levels of chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids were observed, whereas the pigment content of wheat leaves remained unchanged. These results indicate that young maize plants are more susceptible than wheat plants to short-term ozone exposure.     

非天然氨基酸在蛋白质动态特性核磁共振研究中的应用

核磁共振（NMR）是蛋白质结构解析的主要方法之一.除可获得蛋白质的高分辨结构外,NMR还可用于观测最接近生理条件的蛋白质动态构象,获得蛋白质行使生物学功能的详细机制.非天然氨基酸定点标记方法可显著减少大分子量蛋白质的信号数目,降低数据采集和分析难度,已广泛运用于蛋白质结构和功能研究.本文介绍了常用的在蛋白质中引入非天然氨基酸的实验方法,包括蛋白质化学合成法、蛋白质化学修饰法、氟代芳香族氨基酸插入和基因密码子编辑的位点特异性插入等方法,并介绍了部分应用非天然氨基酸结合NMR研究大分子量蛋白的成功案例.此外,此篇综述讨论了目前非天然氨基酸标记在蛋白质研究中的局限性及发展方向.     

Measuring of the Integral Airborne Nitrogen-Input into a Soil-Plant System by the 15N-Isotope Dilution Method

Abstract

Airborne nitrogen-inputs so far have only been measured in single fractions (deposition on plant surfaces or on soil and direct absorption of nitrogen containing gases by plants) by intensive exposition experiments in gas chambers, measurement of wet and dry N-deposition in the field and very expensive micrometereological field measurements. It is very difficult to estimate any overall N-input with practical relevance from these single N-component measurements. In this introduced field experiment an isolated measuring system is labelled with a ¹⁵N-tracer since it is not possible to label the nitrogen compounds of the atmosphere (e.g. NH₃, NO_x) which are to be absorbed. Through the dilution of this ¹⁵N-tracer by nitrogen derived from the atmosphere the total input of airborne nitrogen is determined. As soil resembling substrate sand was used and summer wheat was planted. With the regular and automated irrigation of nitrogen-free nutrient solution and the collection of precipitation surpluses this system measured the total input of airborne nitrogen for one vegetation period.

The first application of the described system gave an airborne nitrogen input into the soil-plant system during a vegetation period of 10 weeks (April-June) of about 32 kg ha^?1.     

Amino Acid 15N/14N Analysis at Natural Abundances: A New Tool for Soil Organic Matter Studies in Agricultural Systems

Abstract

The effects of landuse, fertilizer history and soil type on the quantity and isotopic quality of hydrolysable soil amino acids were examined in 3 grassland and 2 arable soils. Results showed, (i) that overall concentrations of individual amino acids were highest in the grassland soils, (ii) that ‰δ¹⁵N values of the individual amino acids differed considerably between the five soils, and (iii) that the combination of amino acid ‰δ¹⁵N values and concentrations could be used to distinguish between landuse, crop type and fertilizer history. This preliminary study indicates that the pathways of transformation of soil amino acid N are influenced by long term N inputs and that associated biological processes are reflected in differences in concentrations and ‰δ¹⁵N values of individual soil amino acids.     

A Quantum Chemical Investigation into the Molecular Mechanism of the Atmospheric Reactions of Chemi-Ions with Nitrogen and Nitrogen Oxides

Nitrogen oxides and chemi-ions are atmospheric pollutants with considerable aeronomic interest. These toxicants can react with each other, producing various ionic species and highly reactive by-products that play a crucial role in aerosol clustering and mediate several important atmospheric reactions. Understanding the chemical reactivity of these pollutants can provide essential information for controlling their excess emission into the atmosphere. Computational modeling and electronic structure studies help in predicting the structure, reactivity, and thermodynamics of transient atmospheric chemical species and can guide experimental research by providing vital mechanistic insights and data. In the present study, a computational investigation into the mechanisms of the binary associative reactions between negative ions: O₂⁻ and O₃⁻ with NO, NO₂, and N₂ was conducted using the Coupled-Cluster Singles and Doubles (CCSD) theory. Five model reactions between N₂/NO_x with O_n⁻ (n = 2, 3) were considered in this work. Our calculations revealed that reactions (2) and (5) are two sequential processes involving intermediates, and all others occur in a concerted manner by direct transitions from the reactants to the products, with no isolable intermediates proceeding via single non-planar transition states. Our study revealed that the higher activation barrier required for the formation of NO₃⁻ (2) as compared to NO₂⁻ (1) could be the reason for the excess formation of NO₂⁻ ions over NO₃⁻ ions in the atmosphere. Further, all the investigated reactions except (5) are found to be feasible at room temperature. The energy required to break N-N bonds in the N₂ molecule justifies the high barrier for (5). The results obtained from the study are in close agreement with the available experimental data. Moreover, the data from the study can be utilized for the evaluation of experiments and model predictions pertaining to NOx oxidation and molecular modeling of the gas-phase chemistry of pollutants/nucleation precursors formed in the Earth’s atmosphere and aircraft engines.     

Enzymatic synthesis of some 15N-labelled l-amino acids

Our group has developed a stereospecific enzymatic method, which is very efficient for the in vitro synthesis of l-[¹⁵N]serine, l-[¹⁵N]methionine and l-[¹⁵N]glutamic acid. These amino acids were prepared from the corresponding α -ketoacids in the suitable enzymatic systems. The bacterial NAD-dependent amino acid dehydrogenases alanin dehydrogenase, leucin dehydrogenase and glutamate dehydrogenase were used as catalysts. Glucose dehydrogenase was used for the regeneration of NADH and ¹⁵NH₄Cl as isotopically labelled material at 99 at.% ¹⁵N. All reactions are inexpensive and easy to perform on a synthetically useful scale (1-10g) giving high yields of l-amino acids. The ¹⁵N isotope content was determined by mass spectrometry.     

氨基酸与四氰代苯醌二甲叉的荷移反应的研究

本文用分光光度法研究了 6种氨基酸与四氰代苯醌二甲叉 (简称TCNQ)之间的荷移反应。测定了配合物的不稳定常数 ,讨论了配合物的组成。考察了形成配合物的影响因素 ,确立了最佳反应条件 ,并测定了味精中谷氨酸钠的含量 ,结果令人满意     

7-羟基香豆素与三种芳香族氨基酸作用的荧光光谱研究

运用荧光光谱和紫外光谱研究7-羟基香豆素UBM分别与色氨酸Trp,酪氨酸Tyr和苯丙氨酸Phe三种芳香族氨基酸的相互作用。结果表明在模拟人体生理条件下,UMB能引起上述氨基酸发生荧光猝灭,最大猝灭波长依次为347,303和282 nm,猝灭机制均为静态猝灭,相互之间均以摩尔比1：1形成了复合物,且得到两种温度下UMB与Trp,Tyr和Phe反应的表观平衡常数K_c分别为298.15 K时2.993×106,7.858×104和1.186×103 L·mol-1,310.15 K时2.702×104,1.063×105和8.352×103 L·mol-1。热力学函数变化表明UMB与以上三种氨基酸结合作用较强,其中UMB-Trp相互作用力是氢键或范德华力,UMB-Tyr和UMB-Phe相互作用主要以疏水作用为主,同时都可能存在偶极-偶极之间的相互作用。     

Radiophotosynthesis of some 14C-labelled Amino Acids using the Unicellular Green Alga Scenedesmus acutus

Radiophotosynthesis has been carried out using the unicellular green algea Scenedesmus acutus grown, as a substrate for preparing some carbon-14 labelled amino acids. Gaseous ¹⁴CO₂, in an air tight photosynthesis chamber or NaH¹⁴CO₃ solution, in an ordinary photosynthesis chamber, were used as radioactive carbon sources. The yields, radiochemical yields and specific activities of the formed radioactive products are reported in both cases. The results obtained clearly showed the advantages of using the NaH¹⁴CO₃ method. In that case the process was by far less tedious. Moreover, the chemical and radiochemical yields of the formed amino acids were relatively much more higher than the values obtained on using ¹⁴CO₂ in the tight photosynthesis chamber.