Measuring the activity of farnesyltransferase by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection

Enzymatic farnesylation of oncogenic forms of Ras proteins is the initial step in a series of posttranslational modifications essential for Ras activity. The modification is catalyzed by the enzyme, protein farnesyltransferase (PFTase), which transfers a farnesyl moiety from farnesyl diphosphate to the protein. We employed capillary electrophoresis (CE) with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection to develop a rapid and sensitive method for the determination of PFTase activity in vitro. The limited substrate specificity of PFTase allowed us to use a fluorescently labeled pentapeptide instead of a Ras protein as a substrate for the enzyme; the product of the enzymatic reaction was the farnesylated pentapeptide. The product was separated from the substrate by CE and quantified with LIF detection. Under optimal conditions, the separation was achieved within 10 min with a resolution of 86. The mass and concentration limits of detection for the farnesylated product were 10(-19) mol and 0.28 nM, respectively. By measuring the rate of accumulation of the farnesylated product, we were able to determine the kinetic parameters of the enzymatic reaction. For yeast PFTase as an enzyme and difluorocarboxyfluorescein-labeled GCVIA peptide as a substrate, the values of k(cat) and K(M) were found to be (3.1 +/- 0.3)x10(-3) s(-1) and (12.0 +/- 1.2) nuM, respectively. Our results suggest that CE-LIF can be efficiently used for the determination of enzymatic activity of PFTase in vitro. After minor modifications, the developed method can be also applied to other reactions of enzymatic prenylation of proteins.     

Determination of aluminum in environmental and biological samples by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography via pre-column complexation with morin

Morin was used as a pre-column reagent for the determination of aluminum by RP-HPLC with fluorescence detection. This method has been successfully applied to direct determination of trace Al in environmental and biological samples. The response was linear from 6 x 10(-9) to 6 x 10(-5) M with a detection limit of 2 x 10(-9) M. In addition, the different Al complexes with morin were separated by the proposed HPLC procedure and their coordination ratios were depicted by molar-ratio method. The results showed that 1:1 and 2:1 Al-morin complexes formed.     

Systematic development of an enzymatic phosphorylation assay compatible with mass spectrometric detection

Abstract The enzymatic peptide phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) was optimized and monitored by means of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The direct detection of phosphorylated peptides by MS renders labeling unnecessary, reduces time and labor, due to less initial sample pretreatment. In this study the phosphorylation of the peptide malantide by PKA was performed in batch and reaction compounds were detected by ESI-MS after the incubation time. The subsequent product quantitation was accomplished by using one-point normalization. Applying this set-up, optimum solvent conditions (such as salt and modifier content), concentrations of essential reaction compounds (such as cAMP, Mg²⁺ and ATP), and the influence of reaction properties (such as pH and reaction time) were determined. The reaction milieu has to be suitable for both, the enzymatic reaction and the mass spectrometric detection. We found that the modifier content and the pH value had to be changed after the enzymatic reaction occurred. Through the addition of methanol and acetic acid, the reaction stopped immediately and a more sensitive mass spectrometric detection could be obtained simultaneously. Furthermore, an inhibitor study was performed, testing the inhibition potency of three protein kinase A inhibitors (PKIs). IC₅₀ values were determined and used to calculate the K _i values, that were 7.4, 19.0 and 340.0 nmol/L for PKI(6-22)amide, PKI(5-24)amide, and PKI(14-24)amide, respectively. These data vary between factor 4.4 (for PKI(6-22)amide) and 8.3 (for PKI(5-24)amide) compared to the K _i values described in literature. However, the K _i values are in good agreement with the data mainly obtained by fluorescence- or radioactivity-based methods. Nevertheless, our results indicate that ESI-MS is a realistic alternative to radioactivity and fluorescence detection in determining enzymatic activity. Furthermore we were able to illustrate its high potential as a quantitative detection method.     

Determination of benzo[a]pyrene tetrols by column-switching capillary liquid chromatography with fluorescence and micro-electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection

The present work displays capillary liquid chromatographic column switching methodology tailored for determination of benzo[a]pyrene tetrol isomers in biological matrices using on-line fluorescence and micro-electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection. A well-established off-line crude solid phase extraction procedure was used in order to make the method compatible with several biological matrices. The solid phase extraction eluates were evaporated to dryness, redissolved in 1.0 ml methanol:water (10:90, v/v), loaded onto a 0.32 mm I.D. x 40 mm 5 microm Kromasil C(18) pre-column for analyte enrichment and back-flushed elution onto a 0.30 mm I.D. x 150 mm 3.5 microm Kromasil C(18) analytical column. The samples were loaded with a flow rate of 50 microl min(-1) and the tetrols were separated at a flow rate of 4 microl min(-1) with an acetonitrile:10 mM ammonium acetate gradient from 10 to 90%. A sample loading flow rate up to 50 microl min(-1) was allowed. The fluorescence excitation and emission were set to 342 and 385 nm, respectively, while mass spectrometric detection of the benzo[a]pyrene tetrols was obtained by monitoring their [M - H](-) molecular ions at m/z 319. The method was validated over the concentration range 0.1-50 ng ml(-1) benzo[a]pyrene tetrols in a cell culture medium with 100 microl injection volume, fluorescence detection and the first eluting tetrol isomer as model compound, resulting in a correlation coefficient of 0.993. The within-assay (n= 6) and between-assay (n= 6) precisions were determined to 2.6-8.6% and 3.8-9.6%, respectively, and the recoveries were determined to 97.9-102.4% within the investigated concentration range. The mass limit of detection (by fluorescence) was 3 pg for all the tetrol isomers, corresponding to a concentration limit of detection of 30 pg ml(-1) cell culture medium. The corresponding mass spectrometric mass limits of detection were 4-10 pg, corresponding to concentration limits of detection of 40-100 pg ml(-1) cell culture medium.     

Syntheses of cis- and trans-dibenzo-30-crown-10 derivatives via regioselective routes and their complexations with paraquat and diquat

cis-Dibenzo-30-crown-10 (cis-DB30C10) diester and trans-dibenzo-30-crown-10 (trans-DB30C10) diester were synthesized regioselectively with reasonable yields. These two isomers were further reduced to cis-dibenzo-30-crown-10 diol (1) and trans-DB30C10 diol (2), respectively. The complexations of cis- and trans-DB30C10 diols with paraquat (3) and diquat (4) were investigated by (1)H NMR, mass spectrometry, UV-vis spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray analysis. The reversible control of complexations of 1 x 3 and 2 x 3 by adding small molecules (KPF 6 and dibenzo-18-crown-6) was demonstrated by (1)H NMR. The addition of 2 molar equiv of KPF 6 is enough to dissociate 2 x 3 and 1 x 3 completely while the subsequent addition of 2 molar equiv of DB18C6 allows the two complexes to reform. However, 2 molar equiv of KPF6 cannot dissociate 1 x 4 and 2 x 4 completely. Because the DB30C10 cavity has a better geometry fit with paraquat 3 than with diquat 4, 4-based complexes have much higher association constants than the corresponding 3-based complexes. In the crystal structure of 1 x 4, the two hydroxymethyl groups of the crown ether 1 were joined by a "water bridge" to form a "supramolecular cryptand" while this kind of supramolecular cryptand structure was not observed in the crystal structure of 2 x 4. This is a possible reason for the increase in association constant from 2 x 4 (3.3 x 10(4) M(-1)) to 1 x 4 (5.0 x 10(4) M(-1)).     

Thermodynamic stability and kinetic inertness of MS-325, a new blood pool agent for magnetic resonance imaging

Stability constants were measured for complexes formed between a modified DTPA ligand and the metal ions Gd(III), Eu(III), Fe(III), Ca(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) at 25 degrees C in 0.1 M NaClO4. The gadolinium complex of this ligand is MS-325, a novel blood pool contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging currently undergoing clinical trials. Stability constants were determined by 4 different methods: direct pH titration, pH titration with competition by EDTA, competition with DTPA using an HPLC-MS detection system, and competition with Eu(III) by monitoring equilibrium by luminescence spectroscopy. The 1:1 stability constants, log beta101, are the following: Gd, 22.06 (23.2 in 0.1 M Me4NCl); Eu, 22.21; Fe, 26.66; Ca, 10.45; Cu, 21.3; Zn, 17.82. The exchange kinetics of the Gd complex, MS-325, with the radioactive tracer (152,154)Eu were studied at 25 degrees C in 0.1 M NaClO4. The exchange reaction has acid-dependent and acid-independent terms. The rate expression is given by the following: R = k(a)[GdL][H]2 + kb[GdL][Gd][H] + kc[GdL][Gd]. The rate constants were determined to be the following: k(a) = 1.84 x 10(6) M(-2) x min(-1), kb = 2.87 x 10(3) M(-2) x min(-1), kc = 3.72 x 10(-3) M(-1) x min(-1). MS-325 is 2-3 times more stable than GdDTPA at pH 7.4 and is 10-100 times more kinetically inert.     

Spectrophotometric determination of methyldopa and dopamine in pharmaceutical formulations using a crude extract of sweet potato root (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) as enzymatic source

A rapid, precise and low cost spectrophotometric method is proposed for the determination of methyldopa and dopamine in pharmaceutical formulations. The crude extract of sweet potato root (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) was used as an enzymatic source of polyphenol oxidase (PPO; EC.1.14.18.1). This enzyme catalyses the oxidation of catecholamines to the corresponding methyldopaquinone and dopaminequinone. Those compounds are converted by a rapid spontaneous auto-oxidation to methyldopachrome and dopaminechrome which have a strong absorption at 480 or 470 nm, respectively. The calibration graphs are linear from 2.0x10(-4) to 6.0x10(-3) M. The results obtained by the proposed enzymatic method are in close agreement with those obtained using a Pharmacopoeia procedure and also with the label values. The detection limit (three times the signal blank/slope) was 3.4x10(-5) and 3.0x10(-5) M for methyldopa and dopamine, respectively, the recovery of methyldopa and dopamine from three samples ranged from 97.5 to 102.9% of the added amount.     

Monitoring enzymatic conversions by mass spectrometry: a critical review

This review highlights recent advances in the application of electrospray ionisation and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry (MS) to study enzymatic reactions. Several assay schemes for different fields of application are presented. The employment of MS as a means of detection in pre-steady-state kinetic studies by rapid-mixing direct analysis and rapid-mixing quench flow techniques is discussed. Several steady-state kinetic studies of a broad range of different enzymatic systems are presented as well as enzyme inhibition studies for various target enzymes. As a promising new development multiplex assays, which monitor the conversion of several substrates simultaneously in one experiment, are described. This assay type has been used for competition studies, enzymatic activity screenings and for diagnostic purposes in clinical chemistry. Generally, it can be concluded that mass spectrometry offers an intriguing alternative as detection methodology in enzymatic bioassays. Its applicability for the monitoring the conversion of naturally occurring substrates and its overall versatility make MS an especially promising tool for the study of enzyme-catalysed processes.     

Seven-coordinate iron and manganese complexes with acyclic and rigid pentadentate chelates and their superoxide dismutase activity

The reactions of seven-coordinate [Fe(III)(dapsox)(H(2)O)(2)]ClO(4).H(2)O (1), [Fe(II)(H(2)dapsox)(H(2)O)(2)](NO(3))(2).H(2)O (2), and [Mn(II)(H(2)dapsox)(CH(3)OH)(H(2)O)](ClO4)2(H2O) (3) complexes of the acyclic and rigid pentadentate H(2)dapsox ligand [H2dapsox = 2,6-diacetylpyridinebis(semioxamazide)] with superoxide have been studied spectrophotometrically, electrochemically, and by a submillisecond mixing UV/vis stopped-flow in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The same studies were performed on the seven-coordinate [Mn(II)(Me(2)[15]pyridinaneN(5))(H(2)O)(2)]Cl(2).H(2)O (4) complex with the flexible macrocyclic Me(2)[15]pyridinaneN(5) ligand (Me(2)[15]pyridinaneN(5) = trans-2,13-dimethyl-3,6,9,12,18-pentaazabicyclo[12.3.1]octadeca-1(18),14,16-triene), which belongs to the class of proven superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetics. The X-ray crystal structures of 2-4 were determined. All complexes possess pentagonal-bipyramidal geometry with the pentadentate ligand in the equatorial plane and solvent molecules in the axial positions. The stopped-flow experiments in DMSO (0.06% of water) reveal that all four metal complexes catalyze the fast disproportionation of superoxide under the applied experimental conditions, and the catalytic rate constants are found to be (3.7 +/- 0.5) x 10(6), (3.9 +/- 0.5) x 10(6), (1.2 +/- 0.3) x 10(7), and (5.3 +/- 0.8) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) for 1-4, respectively. The cytochrome c McCord-Fridovich (McCF) assay in an aqueous solution at pH = 7.8 resulted in the IC(50) values (and corresponding kMcCF constants) for 3 and 4, 0.013 +/- 0.001 microM (1.9 +/- 0.2 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1)) and 0.024 +/- 0.001 microM (1.1 +/- 0.3 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1)), respectively. IC(50) values from a nitroblue tetrazolium assay are found to be 6.45 +/- 0.02 and 1.36 +/- 0.03 microM for 1 and 4, respectively. The data have been compared with those obtained by direct stopped-flow measurements and discussed in terms of the side reactions that occur under the conditions of indirect assays.     

SINGLET MOLECULAR OXYGEN QUENCHING BY SATURATED AND UNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS AND BY CHOLESTEROL

The rate constants of molecular singlet oxygen quenching by saturated and unsaturated fatty-acids and by cholesterol-membrane critical components - membrane critical components - have been measured by time resolved detection of the 1270 nm phosphorescence of singlet molecular oxygen [O2(1deltag)]. We have determined (i) an increment of 5.7 x 10(2)M(-1)s(-1) per -CH2- in C6D6 and CD3OD for saturated fatty acids between C4 and C20, (ii) an increment of 3 x 10(4)M(-1)s(-1) per non-conjugated cis-double bond for C18 unsaturated fatty acids, identical in C6D6 and DC3OD, (iii) a lower quenching rate constant by a factor of 2.7 for the trans-C16 and trans-C18 as compared to the corresponding cis-monounsaturated fatty acids, (iv) a rate constant of O2x(1deltag) quenching by cholesterol of 5.7 x 10(4)M(-1)s(-1) in benzene. These rate constants are compared to those obtained for other membrane cellular components.     

Incorporation of horseradish peroxidase in a Kieselguhr membrane and the application to a mediator-free hydrogen peroxide sensor.

Horseradish peroxidase was incorporated in a kieselguhr membrane. The electron-transfer process of the enzyme was examined by cyclic voltammetry. It was observed that the electron-transfer reactivity of horseradish peroxidase was greatly enhanced, and that direct electrochemistry was accordingly feasible. Using the merits of the direct electron-transfer reactivity of horseradish peroxidase and its specific enzymatic catalysis towards hydrogen peroxide, an unmediated hydrogen peroxide biosensor was constructed. The calibration plot of this hydrogen peroxide sensor was linear in the range of 2.0 x 10(-6) mol/L - 6.5 x 10(-4) mol/L. The relative standard deviation was 4.1% for 6 successive determinations at a concentration of 1.0 x 10(-4) mol/L. The detection limit was 1.0 x 10(-6) mol/L.     

Purification of xylenol orange by preparative paper chromatography, and examination of its zirconium complex

Preparative paper chromatography is proposed as a suitable method for purification of Xylenol Orange (XO). The last three dissociation constants of pure XO have been determined with the aid of the program SPEKTFOT, the values found being pK(9) = 12.34; pK(8) = 10.66; pK(7) = 6.69 (0.1M KNO(3), 20 +/- 0.5 degrees ). The complexation of zirconium with the purified reagent has been studied and the co-existence of ML and M(2) L complexes proved by use of the program DALSFEK. The following conditional stability constants of the complexes and their molar absorptivities were computed: log beta'(ml) 4.58; log beta'(M(2)L) 11.59; (ML) 2.00 x 10(4); (M(2)L) 9.40x 10(4) l.mole(-1).cm(-1) at 550 nm.     

Bond dissociation energies and equilibrium structures of Cu+(MeOH)x, x = 1-6, in the gas phase: competition between solvation of the metal ion and hydrogen-bonding interactions

The solvation of Cu+ by methanol (MeOH) was studied via examination of the kinetic energy dependence of the collision-induced dissociation of Cu+(MeOH)x complexes, where x = 1-6, with Xe in a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer. In all cases, the primary and lowest-energy dissociation channel observed is the endothermic loss of a single MeOH molecule. The primary cross section thresholds are interpreted to yield 0 and 298 K bond dissociation energies (BDEs) after accounting for the effects of multiple ion-neutral collisions, kinetic and internal energy distributions of the reactants, and lifetimes for dissociation. Density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G* level are performed to obtain model structures, vibrational frequencies, and rotational constants for the Cu+(MeOH)x complexes and their dissociation products. The relative stabilities of various conformations and theoretical BDEs are determined from single-point energy calculations at the B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,2p) level of theory using B3LYP/6-31G*-optimized geometries. The relative stabilities of the various conformations of the Cu+(MeOH)x complexes and the trends in the sequential BDEs are explained in terms of stabilization gained from sd hybridization, hydrogen-bonding interactions, electron donor-acceptor natural bond orbital stabilizing interactions, and destabilization arising from ligand-ligand repulsion.     

The role of the radical-complex mechanism in the ozone recombination/dissociation reaction

The data bases for low-pressure rate coefficients of the dissociation of O3 and the reverse recombination of O with O2 in the bath gases M=He, Ar, N2, CO2 and SF6 are carefully analyzed. At very high temperatures, the rate constants have to correspond solely to the energy transfer (ET) mechanism. On condition that this holds for Ar and N2 near 800 K, average energies transferred per collision of -DeltaE/hc=18 and 25 cm-1 are derived, respectively. Assuming an only weak temperature dependence of DeltaE as known in similar systems, rate coefficients for the ET-mechanism are extrapolated to lower temperatures and compared with the experiments. The difference between measured and extrapolated rate coefficients is attributed to the radical complex (RC) mechanism. The derived rate coefficients for the RC-mechanism are rationalized in terms of equilibrium constants for equilibria of van der Waals complexes of O (or O2) with the bath gases and with rate coefficients for oxygen abstraction from these complexes. The latter are of similar magnitude as rate coefficients for oxygen isotope exchange which provides support for the present interpretation of the reaction in terms of a superposition of RC- and ET-mechanisms. We obtained rate coefficients for the ET-mechanism of k/[Ar]=2.3x10(-34) (T/300)(-1.5) and k/[N2]=3.5x10(-34) (T/300)(-1.5) cm6 molecule-2 s-1 and rate coefficients for the RC-mechanism of k/[Ar]=1.7x10(-34) (T/300)(-3.2) and k/[N2]=2.5x10(-34) (T/300)(-3.3) cm6 molecule-2 s-1. The data bases for M=He, CO2 and SF6 are less complete and only approximate separations of RC- and ET-mechanism were possible. The consequences of the present analysis for an analysis of isotope effects in ozone recombination are emphasized.     

Capillary electrophoretic determination of phosphate based on the formation of a Keggin-type [PMo12O40]3- complex.

Based on the formation of a Keggin-type [PMo12O40]3- complex, a sensitive capillary electrophoresis (CE) method was developed for the determination of P(V) with direct UV detection at 220 nm. A mixture of alpha- and beta-Keggin-type [PMo12O40]3- complexes was readily formed in a sample solution consisting of a trace amount of P(V), 2.5 mM Mo(VI), 0.050 M p-C6H3(CH3)-2-SO3H (XSA), and 60% v/v CH3CN. When a 0.05 M HCl and 60% v/v CH3CN solution was used as a migration electrolyte, the Keggin complexes exhibited a sharp and well-defined peak in the electropherogram. The peak area was linearly dependent on the P(V) concentration in the range of 5 x 10(-7)-5 x 10(-5) M; a detection limit of 1 x 10(-7) M was achieved. In comparison with indirect UV detection, the direct UV detection is about ten times more sensitive, because the Keggin complexes possess high molar absorptivities. The developed CE method was applied to the determination of P(V) in river water, and the results were in good agreement with those obtained by ion chromatography (IC) and colorimetry (COL) based on the formation of mixed-valence heteropoly blue species.     

Affinity of the monoclonal antibody M1 directed against the FLAG peptide.

The FLAG (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) peptide is a frequently used hydrophilic and immunogenic fusion tag which was specifically designed to facilitate rapid purification by immunoaffinity chromatography. The monoclonal antibody M1 recognizes the free N-terminus of the peptide tag in a calcium dependent manner. Dissociation of the complex can be performed by the addition of chelating agents such as EDTA. This effect can be exploited for immunoaffinity purification of FLAG-tagged fusion proteins. Kinetic information obtained from monitoring interactions in real-time measurement (Biacore 2000) using surface plasmon resonance as detection principle did not show any difference for association and dissociation rate constants in the presence (k(a) = 3.03 x 10(3) M(-1) k(d) = 1.25 x 10(-3) s(-1)) and in the absence of Ca2+ (k(a) = 3.59 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1), k(d) = 1.16 x 10(-3) s(-1)). These findings corroborate the reports from Mol. Immunol. 33 (1996) 601-608 describing similar binding analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay experiments. These investigations are in contrast to the observations in immunoaffinity chromatography with immobilized anti-FLAG antibody M1.     

Desorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soot surface: pyrene and fluoranthene

The kinetics of thermal desorption of two four-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, fluoranthene, and pyrene from well-characterized laboratory-generated kerosene soot surface was studied over the temperature range 260-320 K in a low-pressure flow reactor combined with an electron-impact mass spectrometer. Two methods were used to measure the desorption rate constants: monitoring of the surface-bound fluoranthene and pyrene decays due to desorption using off-line HPLC measurements of their concentrations in soot samples, and monitoring of the desorbed molecules in the gas phase using in situ mass spectrometric detection. Results obtained with the two methods were in good agreement and yielded the following Arrhenius expressions for the desorption rate constants: k(des) (fluoranthene) = 4 x 10(14) exp[-(93900 +/- 1700)/RT] and k(des) (pyrene) = 6 x 10(14) exp[-(95200 +/- 1800)/RT] (k(des) are in units of s(-1), and activation energies are in J mol(-1)). In addition, the combined uptake coefficient of fluoranthene and pyrene on soot (calculated using specific surface area) was estimated to be near 5 x 10(-3) at T = 310 K.     

Determination of myoglobin based on its enzymatic activity by stopped-flow spectrophotometry

A new method has been developed for the determination of myoglobin (Mb) based on its enzymatic activity for the oxidation of o-phenylenediamine (OPDA) with hydrogen peroxide. Stopped-flow spectrophotometry was used to study the kinetic behavior of the oxidation reaction. The catalytic activity of Mb was compared to other three kinds of catalyst. The time dependent absorbance of the reaction product, 2,3-diamimophenazine (DAPN), at a wavelength of 426 nm was recorded. The initial reaction rate obtained at 40 degrees C was found to be proportional to the concentration of Mb in the range of 1.0 x 10(-6) to 4.0 x 10(-9)mol L(-1). The detection limit of Mb was found to be 9.93 x 10(-10)mol L(-1). The relative standard deviations were within 5% for the determination of different concentrations of Mb. Excess of bovine serum albumin (BSA), Ca(II), Mg(II), Cu(II), glucose, caffeine, lactose and uric acid did not interfere.     

Quantitative determination of lysozyme-ligand binding in the solution and gas phases by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

Affinity constants for the binding of a range of substrate and non-substrate oligosaccharides to hen egg white lysozyme were determined by direct observation of the protein.ligand complexes using electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) with a chip-based nano-ESI source. The values obtained for a series of beta-1,4-N-acetylglucosamine oligomers (NAGn) were found to be in good agreement with those determined by fluorescence measurement. Oligomers of alpha-1,4-glucose (Glcn), which are believed to bind to lysozyme non-specifically, exhibited a 10(6)- to 10(8)-fold lower affinity for the enzyme. Lysozyme.NAGn complexes displayed an increase in Ka from n=2 to n=4, but then reached a plateau. In contrast non-specific lysozyme.Glcn complexes showed no such trend. Determination of gas-phase complex stability was achieved by quantitative collision-induced dissociation (CID) and infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) measurements. The collision energy (Ec50) or laser power (IRMPD50) required to dissociate precursor ions to 50% of their original intensity was determined for lysozyme.NAGn and Glcn complexes using the [M+8H]8+ charge state. An excellent correlation between trends in Ka and gas-phase stability was seen for NAGn oligomers bound to lysozyme, whereas no such relationship was observed with the non-specific, weaker lysozyme.Glcn complexes. These results illustrate that ESI-MS can be used to quantify the interactions between lysozyme and oligosaccharides in both the solution and gas phase and that measurement of gas-phase complex stability by CID or IRMPD can provide information about specific solution binding events.     

Equilibrium and NMR studies on GdIII, YIII, CuII and ZnII complexes of various DTPA-N,N'-bis(amide) ligands. Kinetic stabilities of the gadolinium(III) complexes

Three DTPA-derivative ligands, the non-substituted DTPA-bis(amide) (L(0)), the mono-substituted DTPA-bis(n-butylamide) (L(1)) and the di-substituted DTPA-bis[bis(n-butylamide)] (L(2)) were synthesized. The stability constants of their Gd3+ complexes (GdL) have been determined by pH-potentiometry with the use of EDTA or DTPA as competing ligands. The endogenous Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions form ML, MHL and M(2)L species. For the complexes CuL(0) and CuL(1) the dissociation of the amide hydrogens (CuLH(-1)) has also been detected. The stability constants of complexes formed with Gd3+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ increase with an increase in the number of butyl substituents in the order ML(0) < ML(1) < ML(2). NMR studies of the diamagnetic YL(0) show the presence of four diastereomers formed by changing the chirality of the terminal nitrogens of their enantiomers. At 323 K, the enantiomerization process, involving the racemization of central nitrogen, falls into the fast exchange range. By the assignment and interpretation of 1H and 13C NMR spectra, the fractions of the diastereomers were found to be equal at pH = 5.8 for YL(0). The kinetic stabilities of GdL(0), GdL(1) and GdL(2) have been characterized by the rates of the exchange reactions occurring between the complexes and Eu3+, Cu2+ or Zn2+. The rates of reaction with Eu3+ are independent of the [Eu3+] and increase with increasing [H+], indicating the rate determining role of the proton assisted dissociation of complexes. The rates of reaction with Cu2+ and Zn2+ increase with rising metal ion concentration, which shows that the exchange can take place with direct attack of Cu2+ or Zn2+ on the complex, via the formation of a dinuclear intermediate. The rates of the proton, Cu2+ and Zn2+ assisted dissociation of Gd3+ complexes decrease with increasing number of the n-butyl substituents, which is presumably the result of steric hindrance hampering the formation or dissociation of the intermediates. The kinetic stabilities of GdL(0) and GdL(1) at pH = 7.4, [Cu2+] = 1 x 10(-6) M and [Zn(2+)] = 1 x 10(-5) M are similar to that of Gd(DTPA)2-, while the complex GdL2 possesses a much higher kinetic stability.