Biosynthetic production of universally <Superscript>13</Superscript>C-labelled polyunsaturated fatty acids as reference materials for natural health product research

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) have become important natural health products with numerous proven benefits related to brain function and cardiovascular health. Not only are omega-3 fatty acids available in a plethora of dietary supplements, but they are also increasingly being incorporated as triglycerides into conventional foods, including bread, milk, yoghurt and confectionaries. Recently, transgenic oil seed crops and livestock have been developed that enhance omega-3 fatty acid content. This diverse array of matrices presents a difficult analytical challenge and is compounded further by samples generated through clinical research. Stable isotope ¹³C-labelled LCPUFA standards offer many advantages as research tools because they may be distinguished from their naturally abundant counterparts by mass spectrometry and directly incorporated as internal standards into analytical procedures. Further, ¹³C-labelled LCPUFAs are safe to use as metabolic tracers to study uptake and metabolism in humans. Currently, ¹³C-labelled LCPUFAs are expensive, available in limited supply and not in triglyceride form. To resolve these issues, marine heterotrophic microorganisms are being isolated and screened for LCPUFA production with a view to the efficient biosynthetic production of U-¹³C-labelled fatty acids using U-¹³C glucose as a carbon source. Of 37 isolates obtained, most were thraustochytrids, and either DHA or omega-6 docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-6) were produced as the major LCPUFA. The marine protist Hyalochlorella marina was identified as a novel source of EPA and omega-3 docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3). As proof of principle, gram-level production of ¹³C-labelled DHA has been achieved with high chemical purity ( >99%) and high ¹³C incorporation levels (>90%), as confirmed by NMR and MS analyses. Finally, U-¹³C-DHA was enzymatically re-esterified to glycerol to yield a ¹³C-labelled tridocosahexaenoin.     

Mechanismus der elektronenstossinduzierten Äathylenabspaltung aus dem Ion [C9H11]+ aus 2,5-Dimethylbenzylbromid

By the investigation of ¹³C-labelled dimethylbenzylbromide, it has been shown that the [M – Br]⁺ ion isomerises to a dimethyltrophylium cation.     

Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation mass spectrometric tracking of 4-hydroxy-2(E)-nonenal biotransformations by mouse colon epithelial cells using [1,2-13C2]-4-hydroxy-2(E)-nonenal as stable isotope tracer

4-Hydroxy-2(E)-nonenal (HNE), a product of lipid peroxidation, has been extensively studied in several areas, including metabolism with radio-isotopes and quantification in various matrices with deuterium-labelled HNE as standard. The aim of this work was to evaluate the relevance of (13)C-labelled HNE in biotransformation studies to discriminate metabolites from endogens by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS). (13)C-Labelled HNE was synthesised in improved overall yield (20%), with the incorporation of two labels in the molecule. Immortalised mouse colon epithelial cells were incubated with 2:3 molar amounts of HNE/(13)C-HNE in order to gain information on the detection of metabolites in complex media. Our results demonstrated that the stable isotope m/z values determined by mass spectrometry were relevant in distinguishing metabolites from endogens, and that metabolite structures could be deduced. Six conjugate metabolites and 4-hydroxy-2(E)-nonenoic acid were identified, together with an incompletely identified metabolite. Stable-isotope-labelled HNE has already been used for quantification purposes. However, this is the first report on the use of (13)C-labelled HNE as a tracer for in vitro metabolism. (13)C-Labelled HNE could also be of benefit for in vivo studies.     

Elektronenstossinduzierte Fragmentierung von Trimethyl-Benzaldehyden

Using deuterium- and ¹³C-labelled trimethylbenzaldehydes the unusual fragmentation pattern of these compounds has been elucidated. Statistical calculations show that in this case the carbon-atoms are not equilibrated as the hydrogen-atoms, regarding the elimination of C₂H₄.     

13C?C13 coupling constants in dimethyl phthalate and phthalic anhydride. Determination of signs—III

Relative signs of ¹³C? ¹³C coupling constants between ring carbons and carbonyl carbons in dimethyl phthalate and phthalic anhydride, ¹³C-labelled in both carbonyl groups, have been determined. The two-and three-bond coupling constants are shown to be positive, whereas four-bond coupling constants are negative. Substituent effects on carbon-carbon couplings due to a carboxyl group have been determined and effects of 5-membered ring formation in phthalic anhydride have been observed.     

Ungewöhnliche Methyl-Abspaltungen aus Nicht Endständigen Kohlenstoffpositionen Bei p-Methylstyrol

The mechanism of methyl elimination has been investigated with the help of ¹³C-labelled p-methylstyrene. Not only terminal C atoms participate in this process; however, neither complete nor partial C scrambling ensues prior to the fragmentation.     

Mechanism of formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins produced on municipal incinerator flyash from reactions of chlorinated phenols

All incinerators burning municipal waste produce chlorinated dioxins. The mechanism by which these compounds are formed is unknown. Experiments were performed that show these compounds can be produced from known precursors by surface catalysed reactions on the flyash particulates present in the incineration process. A full range of the tetra- through octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins were produced from 13C-labelled pentachlorophenol and two trichlorophenols on the surface of flyash from an Ontario municipal incinerator that had been previously freed from organic material. A simple flow-tube apparatus at 300 degrees C under a 10-ml/min nitrogen flow was used for the experiments. The use of 13C-labelled pentachlorophenol gave a direct measure of the extent of the catalytic reactivity of the flyash surface. Much lower amounts of chlorinated dioxins were produced in similar experiments with flyash from a modern Japanese incinerator whose effluents are normally extremely low in these compounds. Only small amounts of octachlorodioxin, the thermal condensation product expected, were formed using ground firebrick or an empty flow-tube for the reactive surface. These results indicate that the flyash surface has constituents and properties that promote the production of chlorinated dioxins from chlorinated phenols and support the catalyzed surface reaction mechanism previously proposed.     

13C-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy as a probe of enzyme environment—II: Effect of solvent and pH on 13C-chemical shifts in derivatized amino-acid models

The synthesis and characterization of side-chain derivatives of amino- and carboxy-protected lysine, serine and cysteine, and of two tripeptides is reported. Broad-band proton-decoupled ¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectra have been determined and in almost all cases, each carbon resonance has been unambiguously assigned by a combination of off-resonance and specific decoupling techniques. The effect of solvent and pH on chemical shifts is discussed. The objective of these studies is to provide models relevant to the use of ¹³C-labelled electrophilic inhibitors as probes of enzyme active-site environment.     

The first biosynthetic studies of the azinomycins: acetate incorporation into azinomycin B

13C-labelled acetate efficiently labels the antitumour natural product azinomycin B, revealing a polyketide origin for the naphthoate fragment, that threonine is the probable precursor of the enol fragment, and that alpha-ketoglutarate is a probable precursor of the aziridine fragment.     

The conformational dependence of vicinal 13C13C spin–spin coupling constants in alicyclic compounds

A series of alicyclic compounds with dihedral angles of 0°, 60°, 90°, 120° and 180° between a ¹³C-labelled carbon atom and a carbon atom separated by three bonds from the label has been synthesized. The vicinal ¹³C¹³C spin coupling constants were measured, and from the results a Karplus-type relationship between ¹³C¹³C spin coupling and dihedral angle is proposed.     

A new short synthesis of coumestrol and its application for the synthesis of [6,6a,11a-C3]coumestrol

A convenient and simple two-step method for the synthesis of coumestrol has been established, which involves a base catalysed condensation of phenyl acetate with benzoyl chloride, followed by demethylation and subsequent tandem intramolecular cyclisation. This method was then employed for the efficient synthesis of multiply ¹³C-labelled coumestrol.     

Isotopic labelling of quercetin 3-glucoside

The potentially important dietary antioxidant, quercetin 3-O-β-d-glucoside, has been ¹³C-labelled at C-2 of the flavonoid unit by synthesis in 15% yield over five steps from [¹³C]carbon dioxide. The route is appropriate for radiochemical synthesis. Formation of the protected 3-glucosylated flavonol appears to result from [1,7]-sigmatropic rearrangement with migration of a benzyl group followed by cyclisation. A free 5-OH results even when a phosphazene superbase is used.     

13C?13C coupling constants of cyclobutane derivatives

Five ¹³C-labelled cyclobutane derivatives were synthesized and the couplings involving the labelled carbon were determined.     

Synthesis of [3,4,8-C3]daidzein

The biological effects of the soy isoflavones have attracted considerable interest in recent years leading to numerous studies on dietary intake and epidemiology. Such studies require accurate and reproducible analytical methods. Herein we report the first synthesis of a multiply ¹³C-labelled daidzein derivative, [3,4,8-¹³C₃]daidzein, which has been employed as an internal standard in LC-MS and GC-MS analysis. The synthesis includes an improved three-step method for the synthesis of [2-¹³C]resorcinol as one building block.     

Synthesis of [11C]/(13C)amines via carbonylation followed by reductive amination

Twelve 11C-labelled amines were prepared via 11C-carbonylation followed by reductive amination. The 11C-carbonylation was performed in the presence of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium using aryl iodides or aryl triflates, [11C]carbon monoxide and phenyl-/methylboronic acid. The [11C]ketones formed in this step were then transformed directly into amines by reductive amination using different amines in the presence of TiCl4 and NaBH3CN. The 11C-labelled amines were obtained with decay-corrected radiochemical yields in the range 2-78%. The radiochemical purity of the isolated products exceeded 98%. (13C)Benzhydryl-phenyl-amine was synthesised and analysed by NMR spectroscopy for confirmation of the labelling position. Specific radioactivity was determined for the same compound. The reference compounds were prepared by reductive amination of ketones using conventional reaction conditions and three of the compounds were novel. The presented approach is a new method for the synthesis of [11C]/(13C)amines.     

Syntheses of C2-labelled 11Z-retinals

To enable solid-state NMR investigations of the rhodopsin chromophore and its photointermediates, a series of 11Z-retinal isotopomers have been synthesised containing pairs of adjacent ¹³C labels at C9/C10, C10/C11 or C11/C12, respectively. The C9 labelled carbon atom was introduced through the Heck reaction of a ¹³C-labelled Weinreb acrylamide derivative, and the label at the C12 position derived from a ¹³C-containing ethoxy Bestmann-Ohira reagent. The ¹³C labels at C10 and C11 were introduced through the reaction of β-ionone with labelled triethyl phosphonoacetate.     

Selective internuclear coupling estimation in the solid-state NMR of multiple-spin systems

A new solid-state NMR method is presented for estimating homonuclear dipole-dipole couplings for selected groups of nuclear spins in a multiple-spin coupled network. The methodology combines off-magic-angle spinning, frequency selective spin echoes, and multiple quantum filtering. The new method is insensitive to incoherent relaxation effects and may be used to estimate weak couplings. Internuclear (13)C-(13)C couplings are estimated in uniformly (13)C-labelled l-Histidine·HCl·H(2)O. Weak intermolecular couplings between (13)C nuclei separated by distances exceeding 6 ? are estimated.     

同位素稀释高分辨气相色谱-高分辨质谱法测定土壤中痕量有机氯农药残留

建立了同位素稀释高分辨气相色谱-高分辨质谱测定土壤中痕量有机氯农药残留的分析方法。采用加速溶剂法萃取土壤样品,以正己烷/丙酮(体积比为1:1)为提取溶剂,提取液经过Florisil硅土固相萃取小柱净化后,采用高分辨DB-5MS毛细管色谱柱(30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm)分离,以保留时间和同位素特征离子丰度比定性,同位素峰面积比定量。实验结果表明,方法的回收率为77.3%～114.5%,相对标准偏差(RSD)≤10.81%（n=5）,检出限均小于0.04 pg/g。应用该方法检测某地区表层土壤中的有机氯农药,结果表明该方法适合测定环境土壤背景中痕量有机氯残留。     

13C?13C coupling constants in diacetylene (1,3-butadiyne) and its bis(triethylsilyl) derivative

Completely ¹³C-labelled diacetylene and its bis(triethylsilyl) derivative have been synthesized and all the possible spin–spin couplings between the acetylenic carbon nuclei have been determined from their Fourier transform ¹³C NMR spectra. J(CC) values in diacetylene have been also computed by means of the finite perturbation INDO method. Carbon–proton coupling constants in diacetylene have been determined from the spectrum at natural abundance. It has been established that J(CC) values across the triple bond in diacetylene and bis(triethylsilyl)diacetylene are greater than in acetylene and triethylsilylacetylene, respectively. The increase is interpreted in terms of σ- and π-electronic changes which occur with the coupling of two isolated triple bonds into a dimer-like system. All CC coupling constants are greater in diacetylene than in bis(triethylsilyl)diacetylene, which indicates that strong (p→d)π interaction takes place in the latter compound.     

Protected homocysteine peptides as precursors of labelled methionine peptides. Application in preparation of methionine-enkephalin

A synthetic scheme from N-benzyloxycarbonyl S-benzyl homocysteine peptide benzyl ester, assembled using well-established procedures in solution and purified, to the corresponding free methionine peptide, has been explored preparatively. Deprotection by sodium in liquid ammonia followed by alkylation on sulfur with methyl iodide gave, after purification by semipreparative HPLC, in the case of methionine-enkephalin a pure product in high yield. No evidence from side-reactions on tyrosine could be detected by HPLC. The scheme was primarily designed to be adaptable to the preparation of 11C-labelled methionine-enkephalin and, in particular, to exploit 11C-methyl iodide, now in routine production in our laboratory, in peptide synthesis, thus providing access to 11C-labelled enkephalins with high specific radioactivity for in vivo experiments. Applying 2H-, 3H-, 13C- or 14C-methyl iodide instead, however, this approach should be equally useful for the preparation of the corresponding peptides. Provided overalkylation by methyl iodide and fatal splitting of peptide bonds by the sodium/ammonia reagent can be avoided, the scheme should be applicable also to the synthesis of other methionine-containing peptides.