High-throughput screening assay for the quantification of Cer d18:1/16:0, d18:1/24:0, d18:1/24:1, d18:1/18:0, d18:1/14:0, d18:1/20:0, and d18:1/22:0 in HepG2 cells using RapidFire mass spectrometry

Ceramides are known to be involved in various biological processes with their physiological levels elevated in various disease conditions such as diabetes, Alzheimer's, atherosclerosis. To facilitate the rapid screening of Cer d18:1/16:0, d18:1/24:0, d18:1/24:1, d18:1/18:0, d18:1/14:0, d18:1/20:0, and d18:1/22:0 inhibition in HepG2 cells, a RapidFire coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (RF–MS/MS) method has been developed. The RF platform provides an automated solid-phase extraction system that gave a throughput of 12.6 s per sample to an MS/MS system using electrospray ionization under the positive ion mode. Chromatographic separation of Cer d18:1/16:0, d18:1/24:0, d18:1/24:1, d18:1/18:0, d18:1/14:0, d18:1/20:0, and d18:1/22:0 was achieved using a ternary gradient on C₈ type E cartridge. The MS/MS ion transitions monitored were 538.2 → 264.2, 650.7 → 264.2, 648.6 → 264.2, 566.4 → 264.2, 510.4 → 264.2, 594.4 → 264.2, 622.5 → 264.2, and 552.3 → 250.2 for Cer d18:1/16:0, d18:1/24:0, d18:1/24:1, d18:1/18:0, d18:1/14:0, d18:1/20:0, d18:1/22:0, and the internal standard (Cer d17:1/18:0), respectively. The RF–MS/MS methodology showed an excellent performance with an average Z′ value of 0.5–0.7. This is the first report of an RF–MS/MS assay for screening of ceramides which is amenable for high-throughput screening.     

Imaging mass spectrometry distinguished the cancer and stromal regions of oral squamous cell carcinoma by visualizing phosphatidylcholine (16:0/16:1) and phosphatidylcholine (18:1/20:4)

Most oral cancers are oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The anatomical features of OSCC have been histochemically evaluated with hematoxylin and eosin. However, the border between the cancer and stromal regions is unclear and large portions of the cancer and stromal regions are resected in surgery. To reduce the resected area and maintain oral function, a new method of diagnosis is needed. In this study, we tried to clearly distinguish the border on the basis of biomolecule distributions visualized by imaging mass spectrometry (IMS). In the IMS dataset, eleven signals were significantly different in intensity (p?<?0.01) between the cancer and stromal regions. Two signals at m/z 770.5 and m/z 846.6 were distributed in each region, and a clear border was revealed. Tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) analysis identified these signals as phosphatidylcholine (PC) (16:0/16:1) at m/z 770.5 in the cancer region and PC (18:1/20:4) at m/z 846.6 in the stromal region. Moreover, the distribution of PC species containing arachidonic acid in the stromal region suggests that lymphocytes accumulated in response to the inflammation caused by cancer invasion. In conclusion, the cancer and stromal regions of OSCCs were clearly distinguished by use of these PC species and IMS analysis, and this molecular identification can provide important information to elucidate the mechanism of cancer invasion.     

Increased phosphatidylcholine (16:0/16:0) in the folliculus lymphaticus of Warthin tumor

Warthin tumor (War-T), the second most common benign salivary gland tumor, consists mainly of neoplastic epithelium and lymphoid stroma. Some proteins and genes thought to be involved in War-T were evaluated by molecular biology and immunology. However, lipids as an important component of many tumor cells have not been well studied in War-T. To elucidate the molecular biology and pathogenesis of War-T, we investigated the visualized distribution of phosphatidylcholines (PCs) by imaging mass spectrometry (IMS). In our IMS analysis of a typical case, 10 signals were significantly different in intensity (p?+ (m/z 772.5), [PC (16:0/20:4)?+?K]⁺ (m/z 820.5), [PC (16:0/20:3)?+?K]⁺ (m/z 822.5), [PC (18:2/20:4)?+?K]⁺ (m/z 844.5), and [PC (18:0/20:5)?+?K]⁺ (m/z 846.5). PC (16:0/16:0) was increased specifically in the folliculus lymphaticus of War-T lymphoid stroma, suggesting a different metabolism. Localization of PC (16:0/16:0) might reflect inflammation activity participating in the pathogenesis of War-T. Thus, our IMS analysis revealed the profile of PCs specific to the War-T region. The molecules identified in our study provide important information for further studies of War-T pathogenesis.     

Identification and correction of spectral contamination in 2H/1H and 18O/16O measured in leaf, stem, and soil water

Plant water extracts typically contain organic materials that may cause spectral interference when using isotope ratio infrared spectroscopy (IRIS), resulting in errors in the measured isotope ratios. Manufacturers of IRIS instruments have developed post-processing software to identify the degree of contamination in water samples, and potentially correct the isotope ratios of water with known contaminants. Here, the correction method proposed by an IRIS manufacturer, Los Gatos Research, Inc., was employed and the results were compared with those obtained from isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). Deionized water was spiked with methanol and ethanol to create correction curves for δ(18)O and δ(2)H. The contamination effects of different sample types (leaf, stem, soil) and different species from agricultural fields, grasslands, and forests were compared. The average corrections in leaf samples ranged from 0.35 to 15.73‰ for δ(2)H and 0.28 to 9.27‰ for δ(18)O. The average corrections in stem samples ranged from 1.17 to 13.70‰ for δ(2)H and 0.47 to 7.97‰ for δ(18)O. There was no contamination observed in soil water. Cleaning plant samples with activated charcoal had minimal effects on the degree of spectral contamination, reducing the corrections, by on average, 0.44‰ for δ(2)H and 0.25‰ for δ(18)O. The correction method eliminated the discrepancies between IRMS and IRIS for δ(18)O, and greatly reduced the discrepancies for δ(2)H. The mean differences in isotope ratios between IRMS and the corrected IRIS method were 0.18‰ for δ(18)O, and -3.39‰ for δ(2)H. The inability to create an ethanol correction curve for δ(2)H probably caused the larger discrepancies. We conclude that ethanol and methanol are the primary compounds causing interference in IRIS analyzers, and that each individual analyzer will probably require customized correction curves.     

Competition between (18, 18) and (18, 16) Configurations in Ni2(CO)5: An Isomerization Energy Decomposition Analysis

The potential energy landscape of the neutral Ni$_2$(CO)$_5$ complex was re-examined. A new $C_{\rm{2v}}$ structure with double bridging carbonyls is found to compete with the previously proposed triply carbonyl-bridged $D_{\rm{3h}}$ isomer for the global minimum of Ni$_2$(CO)$_5$. Despite that the tri-bridged isomer possesses the more favored (18, 18) configuration, where both metal centers satisfy the 18-electron rule, the neutral Ni$_2$(CO)$_5$ complex prefers the di-bridged geometry with (18, 16) configuration. The isomerization energy decomposition analysis reveals that the structural preference is a consequence of the maximization of electrostatic and orbital interactions.     

Determination of the 2H/1H, 17O/16O,and 18O/16O isotope ratios in water by means of tunable diode laser spectroscopy at 1.39 microm

We demonstrate the feasibility of the accurate and simultaneous measurement of the 2H/1H, 17O/16O, and 18O/16O isotope ratios in water vapor by means of tunable diode laser spectroscopy. The absorptions are due to the v1 + v3 combination band, observed using a room temperature, distributed feedback (DFB) diode laser at 1.39 microm. The precision of the instrument is approximately 3, 1, and 0.5/1000 for the 2H, 17O, and 18O isotope ratios, respectively, and is at present limited by residual optical feedback to the laser. The signal-to-noise, however, is superior to that obtained in a similar experiment using a color center laser at 2.7 microm. Replacing the current laser with a better unit, we are confident that a precision well below 1/1000 is attainable for all three isotope ratios. The diode laser apparatus is ideally suited for applications demanding a reliable, cheap, and/or portable instrument, such as the biomedical doubly labeled water method and atmospheric sensing.     

Excess molar enthalpies of methylformate + (1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol and 1-pentanol) at T = 298.15 K, p = (5.0, 10.0) MPa, and methylformate + 1-propanol at T = 333.15 K, p = 10.0 MPa

A high pressure flow-mixing isothermal calorimeter is used to determine the excess molar enthalpies of methylformate + (1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol and 1-pentanol) at T = 298.15 K and p = (5.0, 10.0) MPa, and methylformate + 1-propanol at T = 333.15 K and p = 10.0 MPa. The Redlich-Kister equation is fit to the experimental results.     

High precision measurements of 17O/16O and 18O/16O ratios in H2O

We have optimized the method of water fluorination using the solid reagent CoF3 to produce O2. This allows isotope ratio measurements by dual-inlet mass spectrometry with very high precision of 0.01 to 0.03/1000 for both delta17O and delta18O. Using this method, delta17O and delta18O of atmospheric O2 were determined as 12.08 and 23.88/1000 vs. VSMOW, respectively. Likewise, delta17O and delta18O of GISP were -13.12 and -24.73/1000, and for SLAP they were -29.48 and -55.11/1000 vs. VSMOW, respectively. Analysis of these data in a ln(delta17O + 1) vs. ln(delta18O + 1) plot yields a line with a regression coefficient (lambda) of 0.5279 +/- 0.0001 (R2 = 0.999999). We also determined the fractionation factors 17alpha and 18alpha in liquid-vapor equilibrium, and found that the ratio ln 17alpha/ln 18alpha is constant (0.529 +/- 0.001) over the temperature range 11.4 to 41.5 degrees C.     

Theoretical study on the substitution and insertion reactions of silylenoid H2SiLiF with CH3XHn−1 (X = F, Cl, Br, O, N; n = 1, 1, 1, 2, 3)

The substitution and insertion reactions of H₂SiLiF (A) with CH₃XH_n−1 (X = F, Cl, Br, O, N; n = 1, 1, 1, 2, 3) have been studied using density functional theory. The results indicate that the substitution reactions of A with CH₃XH_n−1 proceed via two reaction paths, I and II, forming the same product H₂SiFCH₃. The insertion reactions of A with CH₃XH_n−1 form H₂SiXH_n−1CH₃. The following conclusions emerge from this work. (i) The substitution reactions of A with CH₃XH_n−1 occur in a concerted manner. The substitution barriers of A with CH₃XH_n−1 for both pathways decrease with the increase of the atomic number of the element X for the same family systems or for the same row systems. Path I is more favorable than path II. (ii) A inserts into a C-X bond via a concerted manner, and the reaction barriers increase for the same-row element X from right to left in the periodic table, whereas change very little for the systems of the same-family element X. (iii) The substitution reactions occur more readily than the insertion reactions for A with CH₃XH_n−1 systems. (iv) All substitution and insertion reactions of A with CH₃XH_n−1 are exothermic. (v) In solvents, the substitution reaction process of A with CH₃XH_n−1 is similar to that in vacuum. The barrier heights in solvents increase in the order CH₃F < CH₃Cl < CH₃Br < CH₃OH < CH₃NH₂. The solvent polarity has little effects on the substitution barriers. The calculations are in agreement with experiments.     

High-precision measurements of 17O/16O and 18O/16O of O2 and O2/Ar ratio in air

A method for high-precision and high-accuracy mass spectrometric measurements of the ratios among the three oxygen isotopes, and of the O(2)/Ar ratio, is presented. It involves separation of the O(2)-Ar mixture from air and includes a fully automated system that ensures highly reliable sample processing. Repeated measurements of atmospheric oxygen yield the repeatability (+/-SE x t, standard error of the mean (n = 12) multiplied by Student's t-factor for a 95% confidence limit) of 0.004, 0.003 and 0.2 per thousand for delta(18)O, delta(17)O and delta O(2)/Ar, respectively.     

Partial pressure dependency of 17O/16O and 18O/16O of molecular oxygen in the mass spectrometer

A method to determine both (17)O/(16)O and (18)O/(16)O ratios for molecular oxygen with high precision by direct introduction into the mass spectrometer without gas separation is presented. Because both (17)O/(16)O and (18)O/(16)O in mixed gases have good linear correlations with their mixing ratios, these isotopic compositions can be determined without a gas-separation procedure by calibration using prepared standard gases with variable mixed ratios and by monitoring the amounts of fragment ions. Analytical precision for delta(17)O and delta(18)O of 45 and 7 per meg, respectively, were obtained. The observed partial pressure dependency of isotopic composition may be caused by isotope fractionation during admission from the ionization chamber into the flight tube of the mass spectrometer.     

Continuous flow 2H/1H and 18O/16O analysis of water samples with dual inlet precision

A method for isotope ratio analysis of water samples is described comprising an on-line high-temperature reduction technique in a helium carrier gas. Using a gas-tight syringe, injection of 0.5 to 1 microL sample is made through a heated septum into a glassy carbon reactor at temperatures in excess of 1300 degrees C. More than 150 injections can be made per day and both isotope ratios of interest, delta2H and delta18O, can be measured with the same setup. The technique has the capability to transfer high-precision stable isotope ratio analysis of water samples from a specialized to a routine laboratory task compatible with other common techniques (automated injection for GC, LC, etc.). Experiments with an emphasis on the reactor design were made in two different laboratories using two different commercially available high-temperature elemental analyser (EA) systems.In the Jena TC/EA unit, sample-to-sample memory (single injection) has been reduced to approximately 1% and high precision of about 0.1 per thousand for delta18O and < 1 per thousand for delta2H has been achieved by a redesign of the glassy carbon reactor and by redirecting the gas flow of the commercial TC/EA unit. With the modified reactor, the contact of water vapour with surfaces other than glassy carbon is avoided completely. The carrier gas is introduced at the bottom of the reactor thereby flushing the outer tube compartment of the tube-in-tube assembly before entering the active heart of the reactor.With the Leipzig high-temperature reactor (HTP) similar precision was obtained with a minor modification (electropolishing) of the injector metal sleeve. With this system, the temperature dependence of the reaction has been studied between 1100 and 1450 degrees C. Complete yield and constant isotope ratio information has been observed only for temperatures above 1325 degrees C. For temperatures above 1300 degrees C the reactor produces an increasing amount of CO background from reaction of glass carbon with the ceramic tube. This limits the usable temperature to a maximum of 1450 degrees C. Relevant gas permeation through the Al2O3 walls has not been detected up to 1600 degrees C.     

Determination of the 15N/14N, 17O/16O, and 18O/16O ratios of nitrous oxide by using continuous-flow isotope-ratio mass spectrometry

We developed a rapid, sensitive, and automated analytical system to determine the delta15N, delta18O, and Delta17O values of nitrous oxide (N2O) simultaneously in nanomolar quantities for a single batch of samples by continuous-flow isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (CF-IRMS) without any cumbersome and time-consuming pretreatments. The analytical system consisted of a vacuum line to extract and purify N2O, a gas chromatograph for further purification of N2O, an optional thermal furnace to decompose N2O to O2, and a CF-IRMS system. We also used pneumatic valves and pneumatic actuators in the system so that we could operate it automatically with timing software on a personal computer. The analytical precision was better than 0.12 per thousand for delta15N with >4 nmol N2O injections, 0.25 per thousand for delta18O with >4 nmol N2O injections, and 0.20 per thousand for Delta17O with >20 nmol N2O injections for a single measurement. We were also easily able to improve the precision (standard errors) to better than 0.05 per thousand for delta15N, 0.10 per thousand for delta18O, and 0.10 per thousand for Delta17O through multiple analyses with more than four repetitions with 190 nmol samples using the automated analytical system. Using the system, the delta15N, delta18O, and Delta17O values of N2O can be quantified not only for atmospheric samples, but also for other gas or liquid samples with low N2O content, such as soil gas or natural water. Here, we showed the first ever Delta17O measurements of soil N2O.     

The 1 : 1 complexes between benzo-18-crown-6, 18-crown-6 and aminosulfuric acid

The title compounds were prepared by treating a methanol solution of the corresponding crown ether with an aqueous solution of aminosulfuric acid.Crystals of [benzo-18-crown-6·H₂NSO₂OH] suitable for X-ray crystallography were obtained by recrystallization from methanol. The crystals are orthorhombic, space groupP2₁2₁2₁,a = 14.310(7),b = 12.516(4),c = 10.890(4) Å. Refinement led to a final conventionalR value of 0.051 for 909 reflections.Crystals of [18-crown-6·H₂NSO₂OH] suitable for X-ray crystallography were obtained by recrystallization from acetone. They are orthorhombic, space groupP2₁2₁2₁,a = 17.027(6),b = 14.866(5),c = 8.345(4) Å. The structure was solved by a heavy atom method and refined to an agreement value of 0.067.