Limitations and perspectives in the determination of carbofuran with various liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry interfacing systems

Column liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS) has been widely accepted as the preferred technique for the identification and quantification of polar and thermally labile compounds at trace levels. Over the last decade many different types of LC-MS interfacing techniques have been used for the determination of carbamate pesticides and especially for the N-methylcarbamate carbofuran. This article addresses the difficulties encountered with the various types of LC-MS interface and discusses recent alternatives for the determination of carbofuran. With thermospray and particle beam interfaces the quantification of carbofuran is affected by both the ion source pressure and temperature, whereas quantification using the recently developed atmospheric pressure ionization interfaces, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization, electrospray, and ionspray, is less dependent on these parameters.     

Characterisation of botulinum toxins type C, D, E, and F by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation and electrospray mass spectrometry

In a follow-up of the earlier characterisation of botulinum toxins type A and B (BTxA and BTxB) by mass spectrometry (MS), types C, D, E, and F (BTxC, BTxD, BTxE, BTxF) were now investigated. Botulinum toxins are extremely neurotoxic bacterial toxins, likely to be used as biological warfare agent. Biologically active BTxC, BTxD, BTxE, and BTxF are comprised of a protein complex of the respective neurotoxins with non-toxic non-haemagglutinin (NTNH) and, sometimes, specific haemagglutinins (HA). These protein complexes were observed in mass spectrometric identification. The BTxC complex, from Clostridium botulinum strain 003-9, consisted of a 'type C1 and D mosaic' toxin similar to that of type C strain 6813, a non-toxic non-hemagglutinating and a 33 kDa hemagglutinating (HA-33) component similar to those of strain C-Stockholm, and an exoenzyme C3 of which the sequence was in full agreement with the known genetic sequence of strain 003-9. The BTxD complex, from C. botulinum strain CB-16, consisted of a neurotoxin with the observed sequence identical with that of type D strain BVD/-3 and of an NTNH with the observed sequence identical with that of type C strain C-Yoichi. Remarkably, the observed protein sequence of CB-16 NTNH differed by one amino acid from the known gene sequence: L859 instead of F859. The BTxE complex, from a C. botulinum isolated from herring sprats, consisted of the neurotoxin with an observed sequence identical with that from strain NCTC 11219 and an NTNH similar to that from type E strain Mashike (1 amino acid difference with observed sequence). BTxF, from C. botulinum strain Langeland (NCTC 10281), consisted of the neurotoxin and an NTNH; observed sequences from both proteins were in agreement with the gene sequence known from strain Langeland. As with BTxA and BTxB, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) MS provided provisional identification from trypsin digest peptide maps and liquid chromatography-electrospray (tandem) mass spectrometry (LC-ES MS) afforded unequivocal identification from amino acid sequence information of digest peptides obtained in trypsin digestion.     

Synthesis, Structure and Conductivity of the New Charge-transfer Salt (ET)_2(CH_2=CH-CH_2-SO_3)·H_2O

ET is one of the most famous electron-donor molecules, which forms charge-transfer complexes (abbr. CT-complexes) with various types of counterions. These complexes have received intense attention because a wide range of physical properties such as conductivity and superconductivity1, ferromagnetism2-4 and nonlinear optical properties5 was found in these materials. Although the majority of the ET-based CT-complexes were prepared by combining with inorganic counterions, CT-complexes with o…     

Influence of the halogen ligand on the near-UV-visible spectrum of [Ru(X)(Me)(CO)2(alpha-diimine)] (X = Cl, I; alpha-diimine = Me-DAB, iPr-DAB; DAB = 1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene): an ab initio and TD-DFT analysis

The near-UV-vis electronic spectroscopy of [Ru(X)(Me)(CO)(2)(iPr-DAB)] (X = Cl or I; iPr-DAB = N,N'-di-isopropyl-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene) is investigated through CASSCF/CASPT2 and TD-DFT calculations on the model complexes [Ru(X)(Me)(CO)(2)(Me-DAB)] (X = Cl or I). Convergence of the calculated transition energies for the low-lying metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT), X-to-ligand charge-transfer (XLCT, X halide ligand), or sigma-bond-to-ligand charge-transfer (SBLCT) to experimental values is analyzed for both methods. On the basis of these accurate calculations, it is shown that whereas the lowest singlet state can be assigned to a nearly pure XLCT state in [Ru(I)(Me)(CO)(2)(Me-DAB)], its character is mainly MLCT in [Ru(Cl)(Me)(CO)(2)(Me-DAB)]. These results are in agreement with time-resolved emission/IR and resonance Raman experimental data. The experimental UV-vis bands are well reproduced by the CASSCF/CASPT2 calculations. The TD-DFT transition energies to the long-range charge transfer states are dramatically affected by the nature of the functional, with lowering leading to meaningless values in the case of nonhybrid functionals. Both methods reproduce well the red shift of the absorption bands on going from the chloride to the iodide complex as well as the shift of the strongly absorbing higher MLCT transition from the visible to the UV domain of energy.     

An efficient novel synthesis of beta-(azuleno[1,2-b]benzothienyl)- and beta-(azuleno[2,1-b]benzothienyl)-alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones by the tropylium ion-mediated intramolecular furan ring-opening reaction and X-ray investigation of methyl ketone derivative

Intramolecular reaction of 2-tropylio-3-(5-substituted 2-furyl)benzothiophenes (3), prepared from the corresponding 2-cycloheptatrienyl-3-(5-substituted 2-furyl)benzothiophenes (2), afforded the beta-(azuleno[1,2-b]benzothienyl)-alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones (4), which are otherwise difficult to obtain, in moderate yields. The reaction involves a ring-opening process of the furan ring by intramolecular attack of the tropylium ion onto the 2-position of the furan ring. Similarly, beta-(azuleno[2,1-b]benzothienyl)-alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones (8) were obtained from the corresponding 3-tropylio-2-(5-substituted 2-furyl)benzothiophenes (7) albeit in lower yields. The molecular and crystal structures of the methyl ketone derivative, 8a, are discussed on the basis of X-ray structure analysis.     

Synthesis of New Spiropyrans With a Polyaromatic or Heteroaromatic Pendant and Their Photochromic Bedhaviors

A series of spiropyrans with a polyaromatic or heteroaromatic pendant was synthesized conveniently.Their photochromic behaviors were investigated with the aid of absorption spectral measurements.The results indicated that the compounds with the same parent spiropyran but different aromatic pendant show significantly different photochromic properties.This may be due to the π-π orbital interaction between the polyaromatic pendant and the open photomerocyanine form of spiropyran.The results obtained are very useful in the molecule design area.     

Elaboration and characterization of hybrid organic-inorganic gels obtained by reaction of 1,4-butanediol on tetramethoxysilane

New hybrid organic-inorganic gels have been obtained by reaction of 1,4-butanediol, on tetramethoxysilane Si(OMe)₄ dissolved in CCl₄. This reaction does not require water and leads to the formation of polymeric transparent materials.Infrared, ²⁹Si and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy shows that interchange reactions between OMe groups of alkoxide and -O-(CH₂)₄-O of 1,4-butanediol occurred, leading to the monolithic transparent gels in which both organic (Si-O-(CH₂)₄-O-Si) and inorganic (Si-O-Si) bridges are formed.     

Cloning, sequencing, analysis, and heterologous expression of the fredericamycin biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces griseus

Fredericamycin (FDM) A, a pentadecaketide featuring two sets of peri-hydroxy tricyclic aromatic moieties connected through a unique chiral spiro carbon center, exhibits potent cytotoxicity and has been studied as a new type of anticancer drug lead because of its novel molecular architecture. The fdm gene cluster was localized to 33-kb DNA segment of Streptomyces griseus ATCC 49344, and its involvement in FDM A biosynthesis was proven by gene inactivation, complementation, and heterologous expression experiments. The fdm cluster consists of 28 open reading frames (ORFs), encoding a type II polyketide synthase (PKS) and tailoring enzymes as well as several regulatory and resistance proteins. The FDM PKS features a KSalpha subunit with heretofore unseen tandem cysteines at its active site, a KSbeta subunit that is distinct phylogenetically from KSbeta of hexa-, octa-, or decaketide PKSs, and a dedicated phosphopantetheinyl transferase. Further study of the FDM PKS could provide new insight into how a type II PKS controls chain length in aromatic polyketide biosynthesis. The availability of the fdm genes, in vivo characterization of the fdm cluster in S. griseus, and heterologous expression of the fdm cluster in Streptomyces albus set the stage to investigate FDM A biosynthesis and engineer the FDM biosynthetic machinery for the production of novel FDM A analogues.     

Rutin Inhibits Ox-LDL-Mediated Macrophage Inflammation and Foam Cell Formation by Inducing Autophagy and Modulating PI3K/ATK Signaling

Atherosclerosis (AS) is one of the leading causes of death among the elderly, and is primarily caused by foam cell generation and macrophage inflammation. Rutin is an anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-allergic, and antiviral flavonoid molecule, known to have anti-atherosclerotic and autophagy-inducing properties, but its biological mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, we uncovered that rutin could suppress the generation of inflammatory factors and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in ox-LDL-induced M2 macrophages and enhance their polarization. Moreover, rutin could decrease foam cell production, as shown by oil red O staining. In addition, rutin could increase the number of autophagosomes and the LC3II/I ratio, while lowering p62 expression. Furthermore, rutin could significantly inhibit the PI3K/ATK signaling pathway. In summary, rutin inhibits ox-LDL-mediated macrophage inflammation and foam cell formation by inducing autophagy and modulating PI3K/ATK signaling, showing potential in treating atherosclerosis.