Effect of obligatory replacement and conformational restriction on psychotropic activity of thyroliberin analogs

Easy lactamization of Gln(Asn)−Pro−NH₂ with the formation of cyclic dipeptides with the diketopiperazine structure (mimetics of the conformational fragments of linear tripeptides with the X−Protrans-bond) was observed in the synthesis of tripeptide Glp−Gln−Pro−NH₂ modified by the replacement of histidine with obligatory similar glutamine in thyroliberin (Glp−His−Pro−NH₂, TRH) and in the synthesis of its structural analog [Asn²]TRH. Ion peaks corresponding to the Glp and Pro amino acid residues were revealed in the mass spectra of the peptides synthesized. The biological properties of the compounds obtained were determined indicating that the obligatory replacement resulted in an increased physiological specificity of [Gln²]TRH. The enhanced activity of conformationally restricted cyclic peptides compared to linear ones suggests that the biologically active conformation responsible for the antidepressant activity of linear TRH analogs is the conformation with X−Protrans-bond. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2015–2020, October, 1998.     

Extraction of amino acids with di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid in the presence of dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6

Extraction of amino acids from aqueous solutions into chloroform with di(2-ethyl-hexyl)phosphoric acid was studied. The extraction efficiency decreases in the sequence Trp>Phe>Leu>Arg>Lys>He>Ala>Gly. The addition of dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 improves the efficiency and kinetics of extraction of most amino acids. The extraction degree depends on the concentration of the crown ether. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 952–955, May, 2000.     

Determination of diketopiperazines of Burkholderia cepacia CF-66 by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Bacteria communicate with each other by a process termed “quorum sensing” (QS), and diffusible, low-molecular-weight chemicals, called signal molecules, are used as the communication languages. In cell-free Burkholderia cepacia CF-66 culture supernatants, five compounds suspected of being signal molecules were identified. The gene (cepI) related with AHLs synthesis were not detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) revealed that these compounds were not AHLs but the diketopiperazines (DKPs) cyclo(Pro–Phe), cyclo(Pro–Tyr), cyclo(Ala–Val), cyclo(Pro–Leu), and cyclo(Pro–Val), all of which were both d and l-type. Four kinds of DKPs had been isolated from other Gram-negative bacteria, but the other was a novel kind discovered in CF-66, and l-cyclo (Pro–Phe) was quantified by GC–MS. It was found that exogenous DKPs had a negative effect on the candidacidal activity of the culture supernatant extracts.     

Über die Synthese eines im Gift von Bombina variegata vorkommenden hexapeptid-diamids

Zusammenfassung Mittels der p-Nitrophenylestermethode wurde das Hexapeptiddiamid der Sequenz Ala–Glu–His–Phe–Ala–Asp(NH₂)₂, durchwegsl-Aminosäure, stufenweise aufgebaut. Das synthetische Produkt war mit einem aus Unkengift (Bombina variegata) isolierten Peptid strukturell identisch.

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Using the p-nitrophenylester method the hexapeptide diamide Ala–Glu–His–Phe–Ala–Asp(NH₂)₂ was synthesized froml-amino acids. This product was identical with a natural peptide, which had previously been isolated from the venom ofBombina variegata.

     

Proteinases immobilized on poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogel: novel biocatalysts for peptide synthesis in organic media

Covalent immobilization of subtilisin and thermolysin on cryogel of poly(vinyl alcohol) was carried out. The biocatalysts obtained are characterized by high stability in water and in DMF—MeCN mixtures of various compositions. The synthetic efficiency of immobilized subtilisin in the multiple iterative synthesis of the peptide Z—Ala—Ala—Leu—Phe—pNA was examined in organic mixtures of different solvent compositions. Immobilized subtilisin exhibits high synthetic activity in organic media. A series of N-acylated p-nitroanilides of tetrapeptides of the general formula Z—Ala—Ala—Xaa—Yaa—pNA (Z is benzyloxycarbonyl, Xaa = Leu, Lys, or Glu; Yaa = Phe or Asp; pNA = 4-NO₂—C₆H₄NH-) were synthesized in 70—98% yields using immobilized subtilisin as a biocatalyst without activation and protection of the ionogenic groups of polyfunctional amino acids. Immobilized thermolysin in a DMF—MeCN mixture catalyzed the formation of the peptide Z—Ala—Ala—Leu—pNA, which was obtained in 90% yield (during 1 h). It was demonstrated that the biocatalyst can be used repeatedly and that it retained activity after storage in an aqueous buffer during 6 months.     

Synthesis of a “memory tripeptide” (Arg—Glu—Arg,RER) and the Kabachnik—Fields reaction with di- and tripeptides as a method for the synthesis of phosphorus-containing peptide analogs

Methods for the synthesis of potential “twin-drugs” containing fragments of the glutamate receptor antagonist and cognitive function enhancing oligopeptides were developed. The “memory tripeptide” Arg—Glu—Arg (RER) containing the tripeptide sequence of a protein APP_328–330, a gB-amyloid precursor, was synthesized. A method for the synthesis of gA-aminophosphonates with oligopeptides as the amine component of the one-pot three-component Kabachnik—Fields reaction was developed. A method for the synthesis of phosphonopeptides by the introduction of gA-aminophosphonates into the peptide chain was proposed.     

Resonance scattering spectral detection of ultratrace IgG using immunonanogold-HAuCl<Subscript>4</Subscript>-NH<Subscript>2</Subscript>OH catalytic reaction

Nanogold particles of 10 nm were used to label goat anti-human IgG (GIgG) to obtain nanogold-labeled GIgG (AuGIgG). In a citrate-HCI buffer solution of pH 2.27, AuGIgG showed a strong catalytic effect on the reaction between HAuCl₄ and NH₂OH to form big gold particles that exhibited a resonance scattering (RS) peak at 796 nm. Under the chosen conditions, AuGIgG combined with IgG to form immunocomplex AuGIgG-IgG that can be removed by centrifuging at 16000 r/min. AuGIgG in the centrifuging solution also showed catalytic effect on the reaction. On those grounds, an immunonanogold catalytic RS assay for IgG was designed. With addition of IgG, the amount of AuGIgG in the centrifuging solution decreased; the RS intensity at 796 nm (I _{796 nm}) decreased linearly. The decreased intensity ΔI _{796 nm} was linear with respect to the IgG concentration in the range of 0.08–16.0 ng · mL⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.02 ng · mL⁻¹. This assay was applied to analysis of IgG in sera with satisfactory sensitivity, selectivity and rapidity. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20667001), Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Province (Grant No. 0728213), and the Foundation of New Century Ten-Hundred-Thousand Talents of Guangxi Province     

Concentration factors for 226Ra in the mullet (Mugilidae) species Mugil cephalus from the South Adriatic Sea

²²⁶Ra activity concentration in the mullet (Mugilidae) species Mugil cephalus whole individuals, and some organs (gills, gastrointestinal system, fins, muscle and bones), was measured by the γ-coincidence spectrometer PRIPYAT-2M. ²²⁶Ra transfer parameters [concentration factors (CFs)] from seawater, sediment and mud with detritus to fish tissues, and annual intake by humans consuming this fish species, have been estimated. Minimum detected radium activity concentration in whole M. cephalus individuals was found to be 0.89 ± 0.42 to 3.09 ± 0.41 Bq kg⁻¹, with arithmetic mean of 1.65 ± 0.39 Bq kg⁻¹. An average concentration in muscles is found to be 2.28 ± 0.84 Bq kg⁻¹, in gills—5.02 ± 1.85 Bq kg⁻¹, in gastrointestinal system—12.88 ± 1.71 Bq kg⁻¹, and in bones—14.72 ± 3.75 Bq kg⁻¹. No one fins showed radium activity above minimum detectable one. Annual intake of ²²⁶Ra by human consumers of this fish species is estimated to provide an effective dose of 0.006 mSv year⁻¹. CFs for ²²⁶Ra indicating transfer from seawater to whole individuals ranged from 8.9 to 30.9, and those indicating transfer from the sediment and mud with detritus—from 0.11 to 0.39 and from 0.08 to 0.3, respectively. The seawater to bones CFs varied from 97.9 to 197.3, to gastrointestinal system—from 59 to 178.8, to gills—from 22.5 to 68.3, to muscles—from 17 to 30.8.     

Non-ideal properties of the TRIS—TRIS·HCl−NaCl−H2O buffer system in the 0–40 °C temperature interval. Application of the pitzer equations

The buffer solution TRIS—TRIS·HCl−NaCl−H₂O was studied in the 0–40 °C temperature region and ionic strength interval of (0.1–4)m (m is molality) by the e.m.f. method using two types of cells without liquid junction composed of platinum-hydrogen, silverchloride, and sodium-glass electrodes. For temperatures of 5 and 15 °C and the (1–4)m concentration region, the osmotic coefficients of the TRIS·HCl−H₂O solutions were measured by the isopiestic method. The results were processed in the framework of the Pitzer method, and the parameters of interaction of the components of the buffer system were calculated. The associative character of the interactions in the TRIS·HCl−H₂O solution was shown. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 670–675, April, 2000.     

Determination of human serum albumin using aurothiomalate as electroactive label

A new electroactive label has been used to monitor immunoassays in the determination of human serum albumin (HSA) using glassy-carbon electrodes as supports for the immunological reactions. The label was a gold(I) complex, sodium aurothiomalate, which was bound to rabbit IgG anti-human serum albumin (anti-HSA-Au). The HSA was adsorbed on the electrode surface and the immunological reaction with gold-labelled anti-HSA was then performed for one hour by non-competitive or competitive procedures. The gold(I) bound to the anti-HSA was electrodeposited in 0.1 mol L⁻¹ HCl at −1.00 V for 5 min then oxidised in 0.1 mol L⁻¹ H₂SO₄ solution at +1.40 V for 1 min. Silver electrodeposition at −0.14 V for 1 min followed by anodic stripping voltammetry were then performed in aqueous 1.0 mol L⁻¹ NH₃–2.0×10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ AgNO₃. For both non-competitive and competitive formats, calibration plots in the ranges 5.0×10⁻¹⁰ to 1.0×10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ and 1.0×10⁻¹⁰ to 1.0×10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ HSA, respectively, with estimated detection limits of 1.5×10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹ (10 ng mL⁻¹) and 1.0×10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹ (7 ng mL⁻¹), respectively, were obtained. Levels of HSA in two healthy volunteer urine samples were also evaluated, using both immunoassay formats.     

Contributions of hydrocarbon radicals and functional groups of organic molecules to enthalpies of their solvation in mixed water—tert-butyl alcohol solvents

The contributions of hydrocarbon radicals (−CH₃, >CH₂, >CH−, >C<) and functional groups (−OH, −OCOO−, −NO₂, −CN, >SO) to the enthalpies of solvation of organic molecules in mixed water—tert-butyl alcohol solvents were calculated in the whole range of compositions at 298.15 K. The influence of the composition and properties of the mixture on the solvation of different functional groups is discussed. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1811–1814, October, 1997.     

Membrane affinity chromatography for analysis and purification of biopolymers

Summary Affinity columns suitable for HPLC were prepared by immobilization of various ligands of protein A, human IgG, human IgM and pectinase on GMA modified cellulose membrane. The adsorption capacity, affinity efficiency and activity recovery of various IgGs on these affinity columns were measured. It was observed that the length of the coupling arm plays a very important role in affinity efficiency, and the effect of eluent flow-rate on adsorption capacity was very small. The protein A column was exploited for the process monitoring of dog IgG in clinical experiments on immuno-adsorption therapy. A pectinase column was used for the determination of polygalacturonase inhibiting proteins first purified on a hydroxyapatite column. It took only about 2.5 min for analysis at a flow-rate of 1.0 mL min⁻¹. The high speed analysis of biopolymers could be performed at a flow rate of 6.0 mL min⁻¹ within 15 s. Membrane affinity chromatography gives good reproducibility, high efficiency, low column-pressure and is rapid. It can also be used for micro-scale purification of biopolymers.     

Dimerization and Coordination Properties of Zinc(II)tetra-4-alkoxybenzoyloxiphthalocyanine in Relation to DABCO in <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-Xylene and Chloroform

For the first time the interactions between zinc(II)tetra-4-alkoxybenzoyloxiphthalocyanine (Zn(4—O—CO—C₆H₄—OC₁₁H₂₃)Pc) and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) in o-xylene and chloroform have been studied by calorimetric titration and NMR and electron absorption spectroscopic methods. It has been found that in o-xylene at concentrations of Zn(4—O—CO—C₆H₄—OC₁₁H₂₃)Pc higher than 6×10⁻⁴ mol⋅L⁻¹ π–π dimers species are formed (λ _max= 685 nm). Additions of DABCO to the solution up to mole ratio 1 : 8 (Zn(4—O—CO—C₆H₄—OC₁₁H₂₃)Pc : DABCO) lead to a shift of the aggregation equilibrium towards monomer species due to formation of monoligand axial complexes. Further increasing the DABCO concentration results in formation of Zn(4—O—CO—C₆H₄—OC₁₁H₂₃)Pc—DABCO—Zn(4—O—CO—C₆H₄—OC₁₁H₂₃)Pc sandwich dimers (λ _max= 675 nm).     

Standardization of pH measurements based on the ion interaction approach

The Pitzer method was used to calculate the pH values on the conventional and “true” scales for the TRIS—TRIS·HCl−NaCl−H₂O buffer system in the 0–40 °C temperature region and 0–4 NaCl molality interval. This buffer can be used as a standard for pH measurements in a wide range of ionic strengths. The conventional scale is used in cells without a salt bridge. The “true” scale is recommended for pH measurements using cells with a salt bridge. At the same concentrations of the buffer solution, the “true” scale is essentially transformed into the scale of the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) of the USA. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 676–680, April, 2000.     

Two‐step chromatography purification of IgGs possessing sialidase activity from human blood serum

Sialation of cell surface is known to be tightly connected with tumorigenicity, invasiveness, metastatic potential and clearance of aged cells, while sialation of immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecules determines their anti‐inflammatory properties. Recently, we have found for the first time IgG‐antibodies possessing sialidase‐like activity (sialylic abzyme) in blood serum of multiple myeloma and systemic lupus erythematosis patients. This abzyme was detected in a pool of IgGs purified by a typical procedure including immunoglobulin's precipitation with ammonium sulfate and following chromatography on protein G–Sepharose column. Here we describe a novel matrix for affinity purification of sialylic abzyme that is based on using bovine submandibular gland mucin conjugated to Sepharose matrix (mucin–Sepharose). This matrix preferentially binds sialidase‐like IgGs from a pool of sialidase‐active fraction of proteins precipitated with 50% ammonium sulfate from blood serum of the systemic lupus erythematosis patients. That allowed us to develop a new scheme of double‐step chromatography purification of sialidase‐like IgGs from human blood serum. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A simple linear sweep voltammetric method for the determination of double-stranded DNA with malachite green

In pH 3.5 Britton—Robinson buffer solution double-stranded (ds) DNA can react with malachite green (MG) to form an interaction complex, which resulted in the decrease of the electrochemical response of MG, MG had a well-defined second-order derivative linear sweep voltammetric peak at −0.73 V (vs. SCE). After the addition of dsDNA into MG solution, the reductive peak current decreased with the positive shift of peak potential, which was the typical characteristic of intercalation. Based on the interaction, an indirect electrochemical determination method for dsDNA was established. The optimum conditions for the reaction were investigated and there were little or no interferences from the commonly coexisting substances. The decrease of peak current was linear with the concentration of dsDNA over the range of 0.8–12.0 μg cm⁻³ with the linear regression equation as ΔI _p″/nA = 91.70 C/(μg cm⁻³) + 74.55 (n = 10, γ = 0.990). The detection limit was calculated as 0.46 μg cm⁻³ (3σ). The method had high sensitivity and was further applied to the dsDNA synthetic samples with satisfactory result. The interaction mechanism was discussed with the intercalation of DNA-MG to form a supramolecular complex and the stoichiometry of the supramolecular complex was calculated by electrochemical method with the binding number 3 and the binding constant 2.35 × 10¹⁵ (mol dm⁻³)⁻³.     

Characterization and Semiquantitative Analysis of Volatile Compounds in Orange Juice by Use of Headspace-Solvent Microextraction and Gas Chromatography

By alternate use of two different extraction solvents, n-hexadecane and benzyl alcohol, a headspace-solvent microextraction (HSME)–GC–FID/MS method has been established for characterization of the volatile components of an orange juice beverage. The method avoids two disadvantages of conventional HSME—difficulty identifying components obscured by the solvent peak and inefficient extraction of some of the compounds if one solvent only is used. The optimum conditions (droplet volume, equilibration temperature and time, extraction time, and ionic strength) were determined by the factor-rotation method. The volatile components of the beverage were mainly terpenes, terpenols, fatty acids, and alcohols, for example limonene (114.71 mg L⁻¹), phellandrene (4.50 mg L⁻¹), terpineol (p-menth-1-en-8-ol; 3.12 mg L⁻¹), α-pinene (0.33 mg L⁻¹), n-hexadecanoic acid (0.28 mg L⁻¹), and terpinol (0.13 mg L⁻¹).     

Biotransformation of (−)β-pinene by Aspergillus niger ATCC 9642

The main objective of this work was to investigate the biotransformations of (−)α-pinene, (−)β-pinene, and (+) limonene by Aspergillus niger ATCC 9642. The culture conditions involved—concentration of cosolvent (EtOH), substrate applied, and sequential addition of substrates—were investigated. Adaptation of the precultures with small amounts of substrate was also studied. The experiments were performed in conical flasks with liquid cultures. This strain of A. niger was able to convert only (−)β-pinene into α-terpineol. An optimum conversion of (−)β-pinene into α-terpineol of about 4% was obtained when the substrate was applied as a diluted solution in EtOH and sequential addition of substrate was used.     

Initiation of ethylene polymerization on organoelement cations L<Subscript>2</Subscript>MMe<Superscript>+</Superscript> (M = Ge,Sn) with intramolecular coordination bonds: a theoretical study

The initiation of ethylene polymerization on L₂MMe⁺ cations (M = Ge, Sn; L = alkoxy, alkyl, phenoxyiminate, β-diketonate) was studied by the PBE/TZ2P density functional method. It was found that ethylene insertion into the M—C bond of the L₂MMe⁺ cations is energetically favorable (ΔG ⁰ = −7.6—−13.6 kcal mol⁻¹). The calculated energy barriers to reactions lie in a wide range 39.8 to 75.6 kcal mol⁻¹. The lowest energy barriers were obtained for tin cations bearing hexa- and heptafluoroacetylacetonate substituents. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1338–1347, July, 2008.     

Assessing indoor air exposures using passive sampling with bioanalytical methods for estrogenicity and aryl hydrocarbon receptor activity

Passive air sampling was undertaken using polyurethane foam passive air samplers at three types of locations, including indoors (six offices) at buildings in the central business district (CBD) and at a private suburban home (indoor and outdoor) located 9 km from the CBD in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Estrogenic (E-SCREEN—MCF7-BOS) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) (CAFLUX—H4G1.1c2) activity were assessed for samples collected from each of these locations. The samples were tested either as crude extracts (“untreated”) or were subjected to H₂SO₄ silica gel (“treated”) for each location in order to determine whether chemicals, which are not resistant to this treatment like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, potentially account for the observed activity. In most cases, H₂SO₄ treatment resulted in a statistically significant reduction of potency for both endpoints, suggesting that chemicals less resistant to treatment may be responsible for much of the detected biological activity in these locations. Estrogenic potency measurements (<0.22–185 pg m⁻³) were highest in the indoor offices, followed by the indoor suburban home and finally the outdoor suburban home (which was not estrogenic). Total AhR activity for crude extracts (1.3–10 pg m⁻³) however was highest for the outdoor suburban home site. Levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were monitored indoors and outdoors at the suburban home. At that location, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon air concentrations were on average approximately two times higher outdoor than indoor, while AhR potency was five times higher outdoor than indoor. No significant correlation was found between the estrogenic and AhR activity (P = 0.88) for the sites in this study. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.