Simultaneous analysis of trans- and cis-isomers of 2-glucosyloxycinnamic acids and coumarin derivatives in Dendrobium thyrsiflorum by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-photodiode array detection (DAD)-electrospray ionization (ESI)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS)

A novel method has been developed for simultaneous analysis for three pairs of trans- and cis-isomers of 2-glucosyloxycinnamic acids, along with their biogenic metabolites (three coumarin derivatives including scopoletin, scoparone and ayapin) in a Chinese medicinal herb Dendrobium thyrsiflorum by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-photodiode array detection (DAD)-electrospray ionization (ESI)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS). The method was carried out by using a Polaris C₁₈ column with a gradient solvent system of 0.5% acetic acid aqueous solution-acetonitrile. Seven target analytes including isodensifloside, isothyrsifloside, densifloside, thyrsifloside, scoparone, ayapin and scopoletin were exclusively identified by comparing their retention behaviors, UV and MS spectra with the authentic standards, and their contents in D. thyrsiflorum were simultaneous determined by employing UV detection at 342 nm. In addition, another pair of isomers of 2-glucosyloxycinnamic acids was putatively elucidated mainly based on the MS fragmentation. The method was validated and found to be satisfactorily linear, selective and robust. Recoveries ranged from 95.56 to 97.94% for all compounds at three different spiking levels. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) ranged, respectively, from 0.02 to 0.13 μg mL⁻¹ and 0.07 to 0.39 μg mL⁻¹ depending on various compounds. The established quality evaluation method was successfully used for evaluating the quality of D. thyrsiflorum samples of different organs and collections.     

C—H…Cl Hydrogen Bond and π-π Interaction Based Two 3D Supramolecular Architectures of Cu(II) and Co(II) Complexes with Chiral 1,2-Bis(benzimidazol-2-yl) ethane Ligand Containing 2D Grids

合成了两个新的配合物CuLCl₂•2EtOH(1) 和CoLCl₂ (2) [L是( S , S )－1,2－二N－甲基苯并咪唑－1,2－二甲氧基－乙烷],并通过单晶X衍射确定它们的结构。配合物1中,L作为三齿[N, N, O]配体,而配合物2 中,L作为二齿[N, N]配体。这两个配合物共同的结构特点都是通过分子内氢键形成2维的格子结构,然后通过分子间的C－H···Cl型氢键和π–π堆积作用形成3维结构。     

Spatial structure of heptapeptide Aβ16–22 (beta‐amyloid Aβ1–40 active fragment) in solution and in complex with a biological membrane model

The spatial structure of an active fragment of beta‐amyloid Aβ_1–40 heptapeptide Aβ_16–22 (Lys‐Leu‐Val‐Phe‐Phe‐Ala‐Glu) in aqueous buffer solution and in complex with sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles as a model membrane system was investigated by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and two‐dimensional NMR (TOCSY, HSQC‐HECADE (Heteronuclear Couplings from ASSCI‐domain experiments with E.COSY‐type crosspeaks), NOESY) spectroscopy. Complex formation was confirmed by the chemical shift changes of the heptapeptide's ¹H NMR spectra, as well as by the signs and values of the NOE effects in different environments. We compared the spatial structure of the heptapeptide in borate buffer solution and in complex with a model of the cell surface membrane. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Possible key intermediates in arsenic biochemistry: Synthesis and identification by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and high resolution mass spectrometry

Arsenic is a type 1 carcinogen and its toxicity is critically dependent on chemical speciation. However, after decades of research, the biogenesis of at least fifty naturally occurring arsenic species is still not well understood.Here, based on experimental work, it is proposed a set of pathways for the formation of multiple arsenic species that might help to clarify the present situation.These are focused on the thiol protein arsenic bond and on its interaction with reactive metabolites. In fact, arsenic bound to glutathione interacting with sulfur adenosyl methionine (SAM), MethylCB₁₂ and AdoCB₁₂, forms a number of complexes that might be key intermediates in arsenic biochemistry. These include dimethylarsino glutathione (DMAG) m/z 412 [M + H]⁺, synthesized non-enzymatically from glutathione and cacodylate. Trimethylarsonio glutathione (TMAG) m/z 426 [M]⁺ synthesized from DMA, GSH and SAM, apparently by a classical Challenger methylcarbonium attack. Tetramethyl arsonium ion m/z 135 [M]⁺ is formed in a third step, apparently by carbanion methylation. The presence of trimethylarsine oxide (TMAO) m/z 137 [M + H]⁺ is attributed to the hydrolysis of TMAG or TMA, or to carbanion methylation of dimethylarsinoyl glutathione (m/z 428 [M]⁺) formed from cacodylate and GSH. Cantoni type attacks of DMAG on SAM were unsuccessful, eventually due to competition of the trivalent S⁺ atom of SAM for the As^III atom attack. The presence of dimethylarsonio diglutathione (DMADG m/z 717 [M]⁺), is suggested to result from a GS^- attack on dimethylarsenoyl glutathione (m/z 428 [M + H]⁺). The presence of dimethylarsenoyladenosine (m/z 372 [M + H]⁺), trimethylarsenosugar adenine (m/z 370 [M]⁺), and dimethylthioarsenosugar adenine (m/z 388 [M + H]⁺), is explained by the synthesis of the pecursor dimethylarsonio-adenosine glutathione DMAAG (m/z 661 [M]⁺), a likely source of oxo-and trimethylated arsenosugars, as well as of thio-arsenosugars by the cleavage of its S-C bond. The results gathered suggest that cell vacuoles might play a major role in arsenic metabolism, and that the dominance of oxo-As sugars, in algae extracts, may be supported by a mechanism of synthesis independent of DMAAG (m/z 661).They also offer an explanation for the reason why arsenobetaine, and tetramethylarsonium are loosely bound to biotic tissues. Four arsenic species new to science, to the best of our knowledge, and a number of known arsenic compounds were synthesized in this work, identified by HPLC–ESI-MSⁿ and FTICR–ESI-MS, and suggestions regarding their mechanisms of synthesis were advanced. These results provide a framework for arsenic biochemistry which may explain the origin of a significant part of arsenic known metabolites.     

Application of HPLC to measure vanadium in environmental,biological and clinical matrices

Vanadate and vanadium compounds exist in many environmental, biological and clinical matrices, and despite the need only limited progress has been made on the analysis of vanadium compounds. The vanadium coordination chemistry of different oxidation states is known, and the result of the characterization and speciation analysis depends on the subsequent chemistry and the methods of analysis. Many studies have used a range of methods for the characterization and determination of metal ions in a variety of materials. One successful technique is high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) that has been used mainly for measuring total vanadium level and metal speciation. Some cases have been reported where complexes of different oxidation states of vanadium have been separated by HPLC. Specifically reversed phase (RP) HPLC has frequently been used for the measurement of vanadium. Other HPLC methods such as normal phase, anion-exchange, cation-exchange, size exclusion and other RP-HPLC modes such as, ion-pair and micellar have been used to separate selected vanadium compounds. We will present a review that summarizes and critically analyzes the reported methods for analysis of vanadium salts and vanadium compounds in different sample matrices. We will compare various HPLC methods and modes including sample preparation, chelating reagents, mobile phase and detection methods. The comparison will allow us to identify the best analytical HPLC method and mode for measuring vanadium levels and what information such methods provide with regard to speciation and quantitation of the vanadium compounds.