On neglecting chemical exchange when correcting in vivo (31)P MRS data for partial saturation: commentary on: "Pitfalls in the measurement of metabolite concentrations using the one-pulse experiment in in Vivo NMR"

This article replies to Spencer et al. (J. Magn. Reson. 149, 251--257, 2001) concerning the degree to which chemical exchange affects partial saturation corrections using saturation factors. Considering the important case of in vivo (31)P NMR, we employ differential analysis to demonstrate a broad range of experimental conditions over which chemical exchange minimally affects saturation factors, and near-optimum signal-to-noise ratio is preserved. The analysis contradicts Spencer et al.'s broad claim that chemical exchange results in a strong dependence of saturation factors upon M(0)'s and T(1) and exchange parameters. For Spencer et al.'s example of a dynamic (31)P NMR experiment in which phosphocreatine varies 20-fold, we show that our strategy of measuring saturation factors at the start and end of the study reduces errors in saturation corrections to 2% for the high-energy phosphates.     

Pitfalls in the Measurement of Metabolite Concentrations Using the One-Pulse Experiment in in Vivo NMR: Commentary on “On Neglecting Chemical Exchange Effects When Correcting in VivoP MRS Data for Partial Saturation”

In an article in a previous issue of the Journal of Magnetic Resonance, Ouwerkerk and Bottomley (J. Magn. Reson.148, pp. 425–435, 2001) show that even in the presence of chemical exchange, the dependence of saturation factors on repetition time in the one-pulse experiment is approximately monoexponential. They conclude from this fact that the effect of chemical exchange on the use of saturation factors when correcting for partial saturation is negligible. We take issue with this conclusion and demonstrate that because saturation factors in the presence of chemical exchange are strongly dependent upon all of the chemical parameters of the system, that is, upon all T₁'s and M₀'s of resonances in the exchange network and upon the reaction rates themselves, it is problematic to apply saturation factor corrections in situations in which any of these parameters may change. The error criterion we establish reflects actual errors in quantitation, rather than departures from monoexponentiality.     

Proton Dynamics in Letovicite, (NH4)3H(SO4)2: A H and N NMR Spectroscopic Study

The improper ferroelastic phase letovicite (NH₄)₃H(SO₄)₂ has been studied by ¹H MAS NMR as well as by static ¹⁴N NMR experiments in the temperature range of 296–425 K. The ¹H MAS NMR resonance from ammonium protons can be well distinguished from that of acidic protons. A third resonance appears just below the phase transition temperature which is due to the acidic protons in the paraelastic phase. The lowering of the second moment M₂ for the ammonium protons takes place in the same temperature range as the formation of domain boundaries, while the signals of the acidic protons suffer a line narrowing in the area of T_c. The static ¹⁴N NMR spectra confirm the temperature of the motional changes of the ammonium tetrahedra. Two-dimensional ¹H NOESY spectra indicate a chemical exchange between ammonium protons and the acidic protons of the paraphase.     

Correlation between P chemical shift tensor and local structure in lithium cyclohexaphosphates Li6P6O18·3H2O and Li6P6O18

To understand the surprising behavior between the variations of the P′–P–P″ angles and the correlated variations of the O′–P–O″ ones, two lithium cyclohexaphosphate compounds Li₆P₆O₁₈·3H₂O and Li₆P₆O₁₈ are studied by solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The two compounds exhibit the same [P₆O₁₈]⁶⁻ ring anions but with 3m or internal symmetry, respectively. Such symmetries induce local distortions that are exhibited by NMR spectroscopy. One-dimensional (1D) NMR gives information on structural sites of ⁷Li and ³¹P ions and the crystallographic non-equivalencies are observed. Nevertheless, in the anhydrous compound, X-ray diffraction and NMR results do not completely agree and some discrepancy exists between the number of sites observed with the first technique and the number of lines exhibited in the NMR spectra either for ⁷Li or ³¹P nuclei. This problem is elucidated by using 2D double quantum NMR spectroscopy coupled with theoretical considerations. We find that the ³¹P chemical shift tensor is dependent on the deviations of the O–P–O angles from those in the regular tetrahedron. Within the same empirical model, we suggest that the surprising behavior between the variations of the P′–P–P″ and the ones of the O′–P–O″ is related to the overall charge on the PO₄ group. We also find the positions of the isotropic lines for ⁷Li essentially depend on the site co-ordination of this nuclei.     

On neglecting chemical exchange effects when correcting in vivo (31)P MRS data for partial saturation

Signal acquisition in most MRS experiments requires a correction for partial saturation that is commonly based on a single exponential model for T(1) that ignores effects of chemical exchange. We evaluated the errors in (31)P MRS measurements introduced by this approximation in two-, three-, and four-site chemical exchange models under a range of flip-angles and pulse sequence repetition times (T(R)) that provide near-optimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In two-site exchange, such as the creatine-kinase reaction involving phosphocreatine (PCr) and gamma-ATP in human skeletal and cardiac muscle, errors in saturation factors were determined for the progressive saturation method and the dual-angle method of measuring T(1). The analysis shows that these errors are negligible for the progressive saturation method if the observed T(1) is derived from a three-parameter fit of the data. When T(1) is measured with the dual-angle method, errors in saturation factors are less than 5% for all conceivable values of the chemical exchange rate and flip-angles that deliver useful SNR per unit time over the range T(1)/5 < or = T(R) < or = 2T(1). Errors are also less than 5% for three- and four-site exchange when T(R) > or = T(1)(*)/2, the so-called "intrinsic" T(1)'s of the metabolites. The effect of changing metabolite concentrations and chemical exchange rates on observed T(1)'s and saturation corrections was also examined with a three-site chemical exchange model involving ATP, PCr, and inorganic phosphate in skeletal muscle undergoing up to 95% PCr depletion. Although the observed T(1)'s were dependent on metabolite concentrations, errors in saturation corrections for T(R) = 2 s could be kept within 5% for all exchanging metabolites using a simple interpolation of two dual-angle T(1) measurements performed at the start and end of the experiment. Thus, the single-exponential model appears to be reasonably accurate for correcting (31)P MRS data for partial saturation in the presence of chemical exchange. Even in systems where metabolite concentrations change, accurate saturation corrections are possible without much loss in SNR.     

The problems with M

M² is now widely used to characterize the quality of laser radiation. In the paraxial approach the inequality M²1 holds, if M² is defined by the second moments. Nevertheless, in some publications M²<1 is presented, either theoretically or experimentally (Wang et al., Optik 1995;100(1):8; Lu et al., Optik 1995;100(2):91; Wang et al., Optics and Laser Technology 1999;31:151). In particular, it is stated that for a superposition of axially shifted Gaussian spherical beams, M² can become smaller than one (Wang et al., Optics and Laser Technology 1999;31:151). These problems with M² are briefly summarized.     

Detection and Characterization of Boric Acid and Borate Ion Binding to Cytochrome c Using Multiple Quantum Filtered NMR

The application of multiple quantum filtered (MQF) NMR to the identification and characterization of the binding of ligands containing quadrupolar nuclei to proteins is demonstrated. Using relaxation times measured by MQF NMR multiple binding of boric acid and borate ion to ferri and ferrocytochrome c was detected. Borate ion was found to have two different binding sites. One of them was in slow exchange, k_diss = 20 ± 3 s⁻¹ at 5°C and D₂O solution, in agreement with previous findings by ¹H NMR (G. Taler et al., 1998, Inorg. Chim. Acta 273, 388–392). The triple quantum relaxation of the borate in this site was found to be governed by dipolar interaction corresponding to an average B–H distance of 2.06 ± 0.07 Å. Other, fast exchanging sites for borate and boric acid could be detected only by MQF NMR. The binding equilibrium constants at these sites at pH 9.7 were found to be 1800 ± 200 M⁻¹ and 2.6 ± 1.5 M⁻¹ for the borate ion and boric acid, respectively. Thus, detection of binding by MQF NMR proved to be sensitive to fast exchanging ligands as well as to very weak binding that could not be detected using conventional methods.     

GIAO Calculations of Chemical Shifts in Ethene‐1,1,2,2‐tetrayltetramethylene tetrathiocyanate

Geometric optimization and gauge including atomic orbital (GIAO). ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shift calculations with Hartree–Fock (HF) method and density functional method (B3LYP), using the 6‐31G(d) and 6‐31+G(d) basis sets, are proposed as a tool to be applied in the structural characterization of ethene‐1,1,2,2‐tetrayltetramethylene tetrathiocyanate, thus providing useful support in the interpretation of experimental NMR data. Parameters related to linear correlation plot of computed versus experimental ¹³C NMR chemical shifts in DMSO‐d₆ are provided.     

Relayed magnetization transfer from nuclear Overhauser effect and chemical exchange observed by in vivo ³¹P MRS in rat brain

The ³¹P magnetization transfer effects among nuclear magnetic resonances (NMRs) of phosphocreatine (PCr), γ-adenosine-5'-triphosphate (γ-ATP) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) have been attributed to the chemical exchange reactions among PCr, ATP and Pi catalyzed by creatine kinase (CK) and ATPase enzymes and, therefore, are commonly applied in situ to measure chemical exchange fluxes involving two chemically coupled CK and ATPase reactions (i.e., PCr↔ATP↔Pi) by selectively saturating γ-ATP resonance. Besides the expected reductions in the Pi and PCr NMR signals upon saturating γ-ATP resonance, one particularly interesting phenomenon showing decreases in α-ATP and β-ATP signals was also observed. The underlying mechanism was investigated and identified via saturating NMR of β-ATP in the present study. The unique relayed magnetization transfer effects through spin diffusion were observed in the rat brain using in vivo ³¹P magnetic resonance spectroscopy.     

On the significant relativistic heavy atom effect on 13C NMR chemical shifts of β- and γ-carbons in seleno- and telluroketones

Unexpectedly large ‘Heavy Atom on Light Atom’ (HALA) effects have been found in ¹³C NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) chemical shifts of β- and γ-carbons of seleno- and telluroketones established by means of the high-accuracy calculations of ¹³C NMR chemical shifts in three representative real-life compounds, 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-cyclopentene-1-selone, selenofenchone and 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-indene-2-tellurone. The proposed computational scheme consists of the combination of accurately correlated coupled-cluster singles and doubles model approach for the non-relativistic calculations of shielding constants taking into account the solvent, vibrational and relativistic corrections, the latter obtained within the 4-component fully relativistic gauge-including atomic orbitals KT2 approach resulting in a very good agreement of the performed calculations with the experiment. The stereochemical dependence of the ‘long-range’ γ-HALA effect on the dihedral angle has been established in the model seleno- and telluroketones providing the largest shielding effect in the orthogonal orientation of the X=C_α–C_β–C_γ (X=Se, Te) moiety.     

Probing Proteins in Solution by Xe NMR Spectroscopy

The interaction of xenon with different proteins in aqueous solution is investigated by ¹²⁹Xe NMR spectroscopy. Chemical shifts are measured in horse metmyoglobin, hen egg white lysozyme, and horse cytochrome c solutions as a function of xenon concentration. In these systems, xenon is in fast exchange between all possible environments. The results suggest that nonspecific interactions exist between xenon and the protein exteriors and the data are analyzed in term of parameters which characterize the protein surfaces. The experimental data for horse metmyoglobin are interpreted using a model in which xenon forms a 1:1 complex with the protein and the chemical shift of the complexed xenon is reported (Locci et al., Keystone Symposia “Frontiers of NMR in Molecular Biology VI”, Jan. 9–15, 1999, Breckenridge, CO, Abstract E216, p. 53; Locci et al., XeMAT 2000 “Optical Polarization and Xenon NMR of Materials”, June 28–30, 2000, Sestri Levante, Italy, p. 46).     

Determination of Internucleotide JHN Couplings by the Modified 2D JNN-Correlated [N, H] TROSY

Recent developments in the direct observation of J couplings across hydrogen bonds in proteins and nucleic acids provide additional information for structure and function studies of these molecules by NMR spectroscopy. A J_NN-correlated [¹⁵N, ¹H] TROSY experiment proposed by Pervushin et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95, 14147–14151, 1998) can be applied to measure ^hJ_HN in smaller nucleic acids in an E.COSY manner. However, it cannot be effectively applied to large nucleic acids, such as tRNA^Trp, since one of the peaks corresponding to a fast relaxing component will be too weak to be observed in the spectra of large molecules. In this Communication, we proposed a modified J_NN-correlated [¹⁵N, ¹H] TROSY experiment which enables direct measurement of ^hJ_HN in large nucleic acids.     

Quantitative Evaluation of the Lactate Signal Loss and Its Spatial Dependence in PRESS Localized H NMR Spectroscopy

Localized ¹H NMR spectroscopy using the 90°−t₁−180°−t₁+t₂−180°−t₂−Acq. PRESS sequence can lead to a signal loss for the lactate doublet compared with signals from uncoupled nuclei which is dependent on the choice of t₁ and t₂. The most striking signal loss of up to 78% of the total signal occurs with the symmetrical PRESS sequence (t₁=t₂) at an echo time of 2/J (290 ms). Calculations have shown that this signal loss is related to the pulse angle distributions produced by the two refocusing pulses which leads to the creation of single quantum polarization transfer (PT) as well as to not directly observable states (NDOS) of the lactate AX₃ spin system: zero- and multiple-quantum coherences, and longitudinal spin orders. In addition, the chemical shift dependent voxel displacement (VOD) leads to further signal loss. By calculating the density operator for various of the echo times TE=n/J, n=1, 2, 3, …, we calculated quantitatively the contributions of these effects to the signal loss as well as their spatial distribution. A maximum signal loss of 75% can be expected from theory for the symmetrical PRESS sequence and TE=2/J for Hamming filtered sinc pulses, whereby 47% are due to the creation of NDOS and up to 28% arise from PT. Taking also the VOD effect into account (2 mT/m slice selection gradients, 20-mm slices) leads to 54% signal loss from NDOS and up to 24% from PT, leading to a maximum signal loss of 78%. Using RE-BURP pulses with their more rectangular pulse angle distributions reduces the maximum signal loss to 44%. Experiments at 1.5 T using a lactate solution demonstrated a maximum lactate signal loss for sinc pulses of 82% (52% NDOS, 30% PT) at TE=290 ms using the symmetrical PRESS sequence. The great signal loss and its spatial distribution is of importance for investigations using a symmetrical PRESS sequence at TE=2/J.     

A simple method for analyzing 51V solid-state NMR spectra of complex systems

Five vanadium complexes as models for biological systems were investigated using ⁵¹V-MAS–NMR spectroscopy. All spectra show an uncommon line shape, which can be attributed to a shorter relaxation time of the satellite transition in contrast to the central one. A method for the reliable analysis of such kind of spectra is presented for the first time and the most important NMR parameters of the investigated complexes (quadrupolar coupling constant C_Q, asymmetry of the EFG tensor η_Q, isotropic chemical shift δ_iso, chemical shift anisotropy δ_σ and asymmetry of the CSA tensor η_σ) are presented. These results are of particular importance with respect to the analysis of the ⁵¹V-MAS–NMR spectra of vanadium moieties in biological matrices such as vanadium chloroperoxidase, which show hitherto unexplained low intensity of the satellite sideband pattern.     

13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of the Conformations of Serine‐3′‐ and 5′‐Thymidine Monophosphate Conjugates

The differences in the backbone conformation between O‐thymidine‐3′‐(1) and 5′‐yl O‐alkyl N‐phosphoryl serine methyl esters (2) have been investigated by solution ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The stereo‐sensitive vicinal ³¹P–¹³C coupling constants were measured and used in the conformational analysis for the P–O5′–C5′, P–O3′–C3′, and P–N–C_α bonds. Three‐dimensional structural characteristics of dephosphorylation reactions of Compounds are also discussed.     

NMR Study of Pentafluoroaniline - Hydrogen Bonding and Proton Exchange

The temperature and concentration dependence of ¹H NMR chemical shifts of pentafluoroaniline and aniline in acetone (Ac), dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and hexamethylphosphortriamide (HMPA) indicate that the effect of hydrogen bond formation, δ = δ_obs - δ_A' is similar for both anilines. The analysis of ¹H NMR spectra showed, that proton exchange of t-butyl alcohol (tBA) and 2,6-di-t-butylphenol (DTBPh) with pentafluoroaniline is slower than that with aniline.     

Brief comment on W. S. Warren et al II: Optical NMR and the B(3) field

It is pointed out that the only possible artifact, free opticalNMR (ONMR) shift of up to 0.1Hz reported by Warrenet al. [1] is the same precisely, 0.1Hz, as that predicted byB ³ theory. However, the great majority of the data by Warrenet al. are almost completely artifactual and cannot be used to discriminate between differentONMR mechanisms with any objectivity. Some references toB ³ theory andrecent ONMR data uncited by Warrenet al. are pointed out, data which show that the Warren group–s failure to see very well known [2,3] polarization-dependent effects of irradiation inNMR is a major design failure, not one of theory.     

The B 2Σ+–X 2Σ+ Transition of 12C17O+: The 2‐υ″ Progression

Abstract

Three new bands of the B ²Σ⁺–X ²Σ⁺ system of ¹²C¹⁷O⁺ have been investigated using conventional spectroscopic techniques. The spectra were observed in a graphite hollow‐cathode lamp by discharging molecular oxygen (enriched in about 45% of the ¹⁷O₂ isotope) under 1.0 Torr pressure. The rotational analysis of the 2–4, 2–5, and 2–6 bands was performed with the effective Hamiltonian of Brown (Brown et al., J. Mol. Spectrosc. 1979; 74: 294–318). Molecular constants were derived from a merge calculation, including both the current wavenumbers and the spectroscopic data published by the authors previously. The principal equilibrium constants for the ground state of ¹²C¹⁷O⁺ are ω_e=2185.9658(84), ω_e x _e = 14.7674(11), B _e=1.927001(38), α_e=1.8236(22)×10^?2, γ_e=?0.331(28)×10^?4, D _e=6.041(12)×10^?6, β_e=0.100(31)×10^?7 cm^?1, and the equilibrium constants for the excited state are σ_e=45876.499(15), ω_e=1712.201(12), ω_e x _e=27.3528(39), B _e=1.754109(35), α_e=2.8706(57)×10^?2, γ_e = ?1.15(19)×10^?4, D _e=7.491(20)×10^?6, β_e=2.13(12)×10^?7, γ_e = 2.0953(97)×10^?2, and α_γe=?9.46(59)×10^?4 cm^?1, respectively. Rydberg–Klein–Rees potential energy curves were constructed for the B ²Σ⁺ and X ²Σ⁺ states of this molecule, and Franck–Condon factors were calculated for the vibrational bands of the B–X system.     

Spectral and Computational Studies on Benzil Mono-(2-Pyridyl)Hydrazone

In the present study, structural properties of Mono-(2-Pyridyl) Hydrazone were studied extensively utilizing density functional theory (DFT) employing B3LYP exchange correlation. The Fourier transform infrared (solid phase) was recorded. The vibrational frequencies in the ground state were calculated by using density functional method (B3LYP) with 6-31G* and 6-311G** as basis sets. The spectral studies revealed that the title compound exists in Keto form. Spectral techniques that we employed include ¹H and ¹³C NMR, electronic, thermal techniques. Correlation between experimental chemical shifts and GIAO/B3LYP/6-311G**-calculated isotropic shielding constants, δ_exp = a + bσ_calc, are reported. Good linear regressions between experimental and theoretical results for ¹H and ¹³C were obtained.     

Solid-state NMR investigations of Si-29 and N-15 enriched silicon nitride

We compare ²⁹Si magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra from the two modifications of silicon nitride, α-Si₃N₄ and β-Si₃N₄, with that of a fully (²⁹Si, ¹⁵N)-enriched sample ²⁹Si₃¹⁵N₄, as well as ¹⁵N NMR spectra of Si₃¹⁵N₄ (having ²⁹Si at natural abundance) and ²⁹Si₃¹⁵N₄. We show that the ¹⁵N NMR peak-widths from the latter are dominated by J(²⁹Si–¹⁵N) through-bond interactions, leading to significantly broader NMR signals compared to those of Si₃¹⁵N₄. By fitting calculated ²⁹Si NMR spectra to experimental ones, we obtained an estimated coupling constant J(²⁹Si–¹⁵N) of 20 Hz. We provide ²⁹Si spin-lattice (T₁) relaxation data for the ²⁹Si₃¹⁵N₄ sample and chemical shift anisotropy results for the ²⁹Si site of β-Si₃N₄. Various factors potentially contributing to the ²⁹Si and ¹⁵N NMR peak-widths of the various silicon nitride specimens are discussed. We also provide powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and mass spectrometry data of the samples.