A peptide containing aspartic acid, glutamic acid and serine in calf brain synaptic vesicles

Free amino acids and other amino compounds in calf brain synaptic vesicles were identified and determined by thin-layer chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography. The vesicles contained ten identified amino acids with glutamic acid, aspartic acid, taurine and gamma-aminobutyric acid in the highest concentrations, and also cysteic acid (or cysteinesulfinic acid), glutamine, alanine, serine, glycine and lysine. The vesicles also contained certain unknown acid-labile, ninhydrin-positive compounds, one of which was a peptide yielding, after acid hydrolysis, about 40% aspartic acid, 30% serine, 15% glutamic acid, 10% glycine and possibly some alanine and lysine. The concentration of the peptide in the vesicles was as high as that of all the other amino compounds together.     

FLASH PHOTOLYSIS STUDY OF ALIPHATIC AMINO ACIDS AND PEPTIDES IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION*

Abstract— The intermediates produced in the photolysis of oxygen-free aqueous solutions of a number of aliphatic amino acids and peptides were observed spectrophotometrically using the fast-reaction technique of flash photolysis. Included among the compounds examined are the N-acetyl derivatives of glycine, alanine, sarcosine, glutamic acid and glycylglycine; the esters and amides of these N-acetyl compounds; diketopiperazines; the amino acids glycine, alanine and β-alanine; and finally the oligopeptides di-, tri- and tetraglycine. The direct optical excitation of these compounds was found to lead primarily to a photo-induced decarboxylation reaction:
The transient spectra of the radicals produced have been identified. The quantum yields of these processes were found to be directly proportional to the p K _a of the carboxyl groups of the corresponding ground-state molecules, and hence to the concentration of the non-ionized carboxylic acids. The φ's of these processes for the ionized acids were close to zero. The dependence of φ upon pH is correlated to the absorption spectra of these compounds. The quantum yields of the corresponding esters were lower but independent of pH. No intermediates were observed from excitation of the amine derivatives. Other photolytic reactions are suggested. The photo-decarboxylation of alanine and diglycine were found to be monophotonic, while that of N-acetyl alanine, N-acetyl diglycine, and tetraglycine were found to be biphotonic. A triplet excited state precursor is indicated for the latter group of compounds. These and other results are discussed.     

Amino acids as chiral selectors in enantioresolution by liquid chromatography

Amino acids are unique in terms of their structural features and multidimensional uses. With their simple structures and the ready availability of both enantiomers, amino acids not only serve as a chiral pool for synthesis but also provide an inexpensive pool for resolution studies. There has been no attempt to review the application of amino acids as chiral selectors for chromatographic enantioresolution of pharmaceuticals and other compounds. The present paper deals with application of l-amino acids and complexes of l-amino acids with a metal ion, particularly Cu(II), as an impregnating reagent in thin-layer chromatography or as a chiral ligand exchange reagent or a chiral mobile phase additive in both thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. Enantiomeric resolution of β-blockers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, amino acids (and their derivatives) and certain other compounds is discussed.     

Planar chromatographic separation of enantiomers and diastereomers with cyclodextrin mobile phase additives

A variety of racemic compounds were resolved using reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with mobile phases containing highly concentration solutions of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD). These include the drugs labetalol and mephenytoin, metallocenes, crown ethers, methyl-p-toluenesulfinate, nornicotine derivaties and several dansyl and beta-naphthylamide substituted amino acids. It was possible to resolve some racemates that could not be separated on beta-CD bonded phase liquid chromatography (LC) columns with this technique. Likewise there were some compounds that could be resolved with the LC approach that failed to separate with the present TLC method. In cases of racemates that could be resolved by either approach, it was found that the retention order was exactly opposite for the two methods. Enantiomeric resolution is highly dependent on mobile phase composition. In particular, the type and amount of organic modifier as well as the concentration of beta-CD affect the observed resolution. Possible reasons for the chromatographic behavior are discussed. Several diastereoisomeric compounds were separated as well, including steroid epimers and pharmaceutical compounds.     

The peptide toxin of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7941. Isolation and analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance and fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy

Toxin was obtained from the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7941 by extracting freeze-dried cells with water-saturated, acidified n-butanol, diethyl ether-water distribution, reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography and silica high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Two toxic peptide fractions resulted from HPLC. One of these fractions was analyzed by UV and NMR spectroscopy, amino acid analysis and fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy. The following amino acid analysis and fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy. The following amino acids were identified: beta-methyl-Asp, Thr, Glu, Ala, Val, Leu, Phe, Arg, N-methyldehydro-Ala and 3-amino-9-methoxy-2,6,8-trimethyl-10-phenyldeca-4,6-dienoic acid. Yet the mass spectroscopic data showed that the fraction was still composed of several, most likely cyclic peptides that did not stain with ninhydrin.     

Photoactive extracts from Thevetia peruviana with antifungal properties against Cladosporium cucumerinum

Seeds of Thevetia peruviana were screened for their antifungal photoactivity. Extracts obtained either with n-hexane or dichloromethane were fractionated by column chromatography and further analysed by thin-layer chromatography. All seed extracts and fractions were tested for inhibition of the fungus Cladosporium cucumerinum for the evaluation of photoactive inhibitory effects. Antifungal light-dependent activity was observed for some of the fractions and both crude extracts. The most photoactive fraction was analysed by capillary gas chromatography with mass spectrometry in order to identify its constituents. Two major groups of compounds were identified, terpenes and fatty acids and derivatives. Pulegone, linoleic acid and palmitic acid were the major compounds. Terpenes seem to be the major substances with antifungal photoactivity.     

Determination of bioactive compounds by catalytic method coupled with planar chromatography

The promoting effect of collagen and inhibiting effect of α-alanine on the catalytic activity of copper(II) in the oxidation of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine with ammonium persulfate and the reduction of iron(III) with sodium thiosulfate, respectively, have been found. A method combining planar chromatography with the subsequent catalytic determination of collagen after desorption from a plate and methods of sorption-catalytlic determination of histamine and α-alanine directly on the support have been developed with limits of detection 2 × 10^?14, 5 × 10^?7, and 8 × 10^?14 M for histamine, α-alanine, and collagen, respectively. Separation by paper and thin-layer chromatography allowed a substantial increase in the selectivity of catalytic determination. The methods were used to determine histamine in human saliva and collagen and α-alanine in cosmetics.     

Salting-Out and Salting-in Effects in the Reversed-Phase Thin-Layer Chromatography of Dansylated Amino Acids. Effect of Acids

Abstract

The retention of 15 dansylated amino acid derivatives was determined in aqueous solutions of formic, acetic, propionic and perchloric acid in reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography. The acids increased the retention of each derivatives at the low concentration range. This effect has been tentatively explained by the suppression of dissociation of polar groups in the solute molecules resulting in increased apparent lipophilicity (salting-out phenomenon). The higher concentrations of acid solutions decreased the retention (salting-in effect), the undissociated acid molecules probably act as an organic mobile phase. Both salting-in and salting-out phenomena can be simultaneously described by bilinear function. The polarity parameters of the amino acids, their hydrophobicity and the strength of the acid in the eluent simultaneously influence the retention.     

Étude thermochimique des sels de nickel et de cuivre de quelques amino-acides

Standard enthalpies of formation of:nickel and copper salts of several amino acids (α-alanine, valine, norvaline, isoleucine, norleucine);mixed complexes of copper:. Cu(α-alanine) (valine), Cu(α-alanine) (isoleucine), and Cu(valine) (isoleucine) are determined by calorimetry.The variations of enthalpy linked to the transformation of amminated and hydrated salts of the valine and of the isoleucine into the corresponding anhydrous compounds were determined by two different procedures: indirect calorimetry and differential calorimetric analysis.     

Determination of D- and L-amino acids in mouse kidney by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A method for the enantiomeric analysis of amino acids of mammalian tissues is described. An excellent resolution of D- and L-enantiomers of common protein amino acids was achieved by employing a combination of thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. D-Enantiomers and L-enantiomers of glutamate, aspartate, glutamine, asparagine, serine, threonine, alanine, proline, tyrosine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine and histidine, as well as glycine were derivatized with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrophenyl-5-L-alanine amide. The amino acid diastereomers were separated by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. Each amino acid diastereomer was then analysed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography for the resolution of D- and L-enantiomers. Very sharp peaks were obtained using a conventional octadecylsilyl-bonded column, and the possibility of analysing these amino acids (except tyrosine and histidine) in subnanomole amounts was indicated. The method was used to demonstrate the presence of D-enantiomers of alanine, proline and serine in mouse kidney.     

Gas Chromatographic Determination of Trimethylsilyl Derivatives of Free Amino Acids from a Botanical Source

Abstract

The application of gas chromatography for the separation of TMS-amino acids from a botanical source was demonstrated. The trimethyl-silyl derivatives of the extracts from germ free tobacco tissue cultures were prepared by reacting amino acid extracts with bis(trimethylsilyl)-trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) using acetonitrile as a reaction solvent following preliminary separation of the free acids by ion exchange chromatography. Gas chromatographic separation was accomplished with a 10% OV-11 glass column and temperature programming. The findings compare favorably with other chromatographic methods. Structures of the TMS-amino acids were confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry combination. Mass spectral data for each derivative is presented for the principal protein amino acids observed as well as γ-aminobutyric acid, asparagine, α-aminobutyric acid and β-alanine.     

Chemical Studies of Formosan Cobra (Naja Naja Atra) Venom: Part III. N-Terminal Amino Acid Analysis of Some Purified Protein Components by DNP and DNS Methods

N-Terminal amino acid residues of Fractions IX, X, and XII were reinvestigated by DNP and DNS methods with two-dimensional polyamide thin-layer chromatography. It was found that our previous work¹ had been erroneously concluded. By the present work, it was obvious that all three fractions had Leu as their N-terminal amino acid residues.     

Planar Chromatography of Heavy Metals on Soil as Stationary Phase with Amino Acid-Containing Mobile Phases

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - Planar thin-layer chromatography of heavy metals has been performed on soil layers with aqueous solutions of amino acids as mobile...     

Lipid content and fatty acid composition in lemon wax

Lipids were extracted from lemon wax and fractionated into four classes on a silicic acid glass packed column by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The free fatty acids, the fatty acid composition and the amount of each separated lipids were determined by capillary column gas chromatography (GC). Total lipids (TL) were 60 mg per 100 g raw weight and the ratio of nonpolar lipids (NPLs): glycolipids (GLs): phospholipids (PLs) was about 47:2:2. The main free fatty acids in lemon wax were hexadecanoic acid, cis-9-octadecenoic acid and cis,cis-9,12-octadecadienoic acid, while in the lipid fractions the main fatty acids were hexadecanoic acid in all the fractions, cis-cis-9,12-octadecadienoic and decanoic acids in triglyceride (TG) fraction, dodecanoic and cis-9-octadecenoic acids in diglyceride (DG) fraction and tetradecanoic, octadecanoic and cis-9-octadecenoic acids in GL and PL fractions. The ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids showed a remarkable difference among these four lipid fractions. In PL and GL fractions this ratio was similar, 47.7% and 47.1% respectively, and in TG fraction it was 42.4% while in DG fraction this value was 23.5%.     

Lipophilicity determination of some fully protected peptides and amino acids

Summary The lipophilicity of 21 fully protected peptides and amino acids was determined by reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography. The R_M values decreased linearly with growing methanol concentration of the eluent. The sequence and conformation of molecular substructures did not significantly influence the lipophilicity. The presence of salt and ammonia in the eluent had a negligible impact on retention; the effect of the pH value was also low. In the presence of 1M and 2M acetic acid the retention of each compound considerably decreased. Acetic acid also changed markedly the selectivity. Our data suggest that the acetic acid has a preponderant role in changing the retention and selectivity of fully protected peptides and amino acids in reversedphase thin-layer chromatography.     

Separation and identification of bioactive compounds in Anabasis articulata (Forsk) Moq. roots

In the present paper, for the first time, we are interested to separate and identify some bioactive fractions isolated from the roots of a Saharan plant Anabasis articulata, which is widely used in traditional medicine against cancer. The crude methanolic extract of the roots was fractionated on column chromatography, and eluted with dichloromethane/methanol each time with increasing polarity of methanol; 17 fractions were separated. One of these fractions named F12 showed more antioxidant activity to scavenge DPPH free radical with percentage inhibition of 95.29%. F12 was separated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) to give 12 compounds. A second preparative TLC of compound 2, which has antioxidative activity of 74.92%, provided the three phenolic acids M1, M2 and M3, analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography and UV–visible spectrophotometry.     

PHOTOCHIMIE DES ACIDES AMINES AROMATIQUES EN SOLUTION - I. dl-PHENYLALANINE, dl-TYROSINE ET l-DOPA

Abstract— The action of ultraviolet radiation on dl -phenyldanine, dl -tyrosine and l -dopa has been studied in dilute aqueous solutions (10^-2M–5 × 10^-3M). Irradiation was performed in nitrogen or in air, at a wavelength of 254nm. The photoproducts of low molecular weight (amino acids, carboxylic acids, amines) were isolated either by chromatography on an ion exchange column or by thin-layer chromatography and identified mainly by ultraviolet absorption and staining with ninhydrin. The isolation of photopolymers was carried out by chromatography on a Biogel column; identification of these photoproducts was mainly achieved by ultraviolet and infrared spectroscopy. With phenylalanine, which is the most photosensitive amino acid, the principal reaction results in splitting of the side chain, giving alanine, glycine, and four other amine compounds whose structure has not been determined. In air, additional minor products resulting from photooxydation are obtained: ortho, meta and paratyrosine. Traces of phenylethylamine were isolated after irradiation in an inert atmosphere. The polymers produced under air and nitrogen are similar. They probably result from rearrangement of aromatic radicals formed by splitting of the side chain. Tyrosine and dopa, irradiated in air, yield mainly melanin; before polymerization, tyrosine is first converted into dopa. In a inert atmosphere, these aromatic aminoacids also polymerize, giving monophenolic and biphenolic compounds with structure close to that of melanin. The biphenolic polymer (thus obtained from dopa) shows the properties of a leuco derivative of melanin. The monophenolic polymer can be converted into melanin by the combined action of oxygen and ultraviolet radiation. Other reactions give only minor products: parahydroxy-phenyllactic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid by deamination-hydroxylation of tyrosine and dopa (in air): meta and paratyrosine by dehydroxylation of dopa, either in air or in nitrogen.     

Synthesis of polynitroalcohols by nucleophilic addition of butadiene-styrene nitrooligomer to acetaldehyde

Two types of secondary polynitroalcohols (PNA) were prepared by A_N-reaction of butadiene-styrene nitrooligomer (BSNO) and acetaldehyde. The corresponding yields were 58-64% and 25-33%. The reaction was conducted in water-ethanol solution in the presence of alkaline base as catalyst at temperatures from 40 to 60 °C, for 3.5-4 h. Introduction of hydroxyethyl groups by A_N-reaction of BSNO to acetaldehyde increased the polarity and thermal stability of PNA as compared to BSNO. By using IR spectroscopy and liquid absorption chromatography on silica gel, PNA were found to be polyfunctional compounds, that contained structurally and functionally heterogeneous fractions. The quantitative functional composition of the first PNA type as well as their main fractions were determined by evaluating the relative content of nitro-, carbonyl and hydroxyl groups in the products. PNA are considered to be starting materials for the preparation of polynitrourethanes and salts of N-containing sulphonic acids.     

Simultaneous Quantitation of Amino Acid Mixtures using Clustering Agents

A method that uses the abundances of large clusters formed in electrospray ionization to determine the solution-phase molar fractions of amino acids in multi-component mixtures is demonstrated. For solutions containing either four or 10 amino acids, the relative abundances of protonated molecules differed from their solution-phase molar fractions by up to 30-fold and 100-fold, respectively. For the four-component mixtures, the molar fractions determined from the abundances of larger clusters consisting of 19 or more molecules were within 25% of the solution-phase molar fractions, indicating that the abundances and compositions of these clusters reflect the relative concentrations of these amino acids in solution, and that ionization and detection biases are significantly reduced. Lower accuracy was obtained for the 10-component mixtures where values determined from the cluster abundances were typically within a factor of three of their solution molar fractions. The lower accuracy of this method with the more complex mixtures may be due to specific clustering effects owing to the heterogeneity as a result of significantly different physical properties of the components, or it may be the result of lower S/N for the more heterogeneous clusters and not including the low-abundance more highly heterogeneous clusters in this analysis. Although not as accurate as using traditional standards, this clustering method may find applications when suitable standards are not readily available.     

Rapid screening of natural products by high-resolution high-temperature gas chromatography

The crude ethanol extracts from the leaves of three Croton hemiargyrus hemiargyreus plants are fractionated by thin-layer chromatography, yielding five fractions. The fractions and the crude extract are analyzed by high-temperature high-resolution gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HT-HRGC-MS). Several natural products, including thermolabile components, can be characterized directly in the samples, such as alkaloids, terpenes, flavonoids, acids, alcohols, etc. The cold on-column technique proves to be appropriate for the injection of these thermolabile compounds. HT-HRGC-MS is shown to be a valuable tool and an alternative technique to classical phytochemical procedures for the simple and fast routine analysis of natural products in crude extracts.