Effects of Cations on Protein and Peptide Charging in Electrospray Ionization from Aqueous Solutions

The effects of eight different cations with ionic radii between 69 and 337 pm on the charging of peptides and proteins with electrospray ionization from aqueous acetate salt solutions are reported. Significant adduction occurs for all cations except NH₄ ⁺, and the average protein charge is lower when formed from solutions containing salts compared with solutions without salts added. Circular dichroism and ion mobility results show the protein conformations are different in pure water compared with salt solutions, which likely affects the extent of charging. The average charge of protein and peptide ions formed from solutions with Li⁺ and Cs⁺, which have Gibbs solvation free energies (GSFEs) that differ by 225 kJ/mol, is similar. Lower charge states are typically formed from solutions with tetramethylammonium and tetraethylammonium that have lower GSFE values. Loss of the larger cations that have the lowest GSFEs is facile when adducted protein ions are collisionally activated, resulting in the formation of lower analyte charge states. This reaction pathway provides a route to produce abundant singly protonated protein ions under native mass spectrometry conditions. The average protein and peptide charge with NH₄ ⁺ is nearly the same as that with Rb⁺ and K⁺, cations with similar GSFE and ionic radii. This indicates that proton transfer from NH₄ ⁺ to proteins plays an insignificant role in the extent of protein charging in native mass spectrometry.

Monitoring of malolactic fermentation in wine using an electrochemical bienzymatic biosensor for l-lactate with long term stability

l-lactic acid is monitored during malolactic fermentation process of wine and its evolution is strongly related with the quality of the final product. The analysis of l-lactic acid is carried out off-line in a laboratory. Therefore, there is a clear demand for analytical tools that enabled real-time monitoring of this process in field and biosensors have positioned as a feasible alternative in this regard. The development of an amperometric biosensor for l-lactate determination showing long-term stability is reported in this work. The biosensor architecture includes a thin-film gold electrochemical transducer selectively modified with an enzymatic membrane, based on a three-dimensional matrix of polypyrrole (PPy) entrapping lactate oxidase (LOX) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzymes. The experimental conditions of the biosensor fabrication regarding the pyrrole polymerization and the enzymes entrapment are optimized. The biosensor response to l-lactate is linear in a concentration range of 1 × 10⁻⁶–1 × 10⁻⁴ M, with a detection limit of 5.2 × 10⁻⁷ M and a sensitivity of – (13500 ± 600) μA M⁻¹ cm⁻². The biosensor shows an excellent working stability, retaining more than 90% of its original sensitivity after 40 days. This is the determining factor that allowed for the application of this biosensor to monitor the malolactic fermentation of three red wines, showing a good agreement with the standard colorimetric method.     

Stereoselective preparation of mono- and bis-derivatives of pentacyclo[6.3.0.02,6.03,10.05,9] undecane (D 3-trishomocubane)

The rearrangement of easily accessible Cookson’s diketone with chlorosulfonic acid in chloroform followed by the acidic hydrolysis gave 6-chloro-7-hydroxy-dichloropentacyclo[6.3.0.0^2,6.0^3,10.0^5,9]undecane-4-one, whose syn-stereochemistry was assigned through the X-ray crystal structure analysis. This key structure was used for the stereoselective synthesis of the D ₃-trishomocubane derivatives as well as for the preparation of potential drugs bearing hydroxy- and amino-functional groups. A new multigram preparative synthesis of D ₃-trishomocubane was developed.      

Characterization and dynamics of substituted ruthenacyclobutanes relevant to the olefin cross-metathesis reaction

The reaction of the phosphonium alkylidene [(H(2)IMes)RuCl(2)=CHP(Cy)(3))](+) BF(4)(-) with propene, 1-butene, and 1-hexene at -45 °C affords various substituted, metathesis-active ruthenacycles. These metallacycles were found to equilibrate over extended reaction times in response to decreases in ethylene concentrations, which favored increased populations of α-monosubstituted and α,α'-disubstituted (both cis and trans) ruthenacycles. On an NMR time scale, rapid chemical exchange was found to preferentially occur between the β-hydrogens of the cis and trans stereoisomers prior to olefin exchange. Exchange on an NMR time scale was also observed between the α- and β-methylene groups of the monosubstituted ruthenacycle (H(2)IMes)Cl(2)Ru(CHRCH(2)CH(2)) (R = CH(3), CH(2)CH(3), (CH(2))(3)CH(3)). EXSY NMR experiments at -87 °C were used to determine the activation energies for both of these exchange processes. In addition, new methods have been developed for the direct preparation of metathesis-active ruthenacyclobutanes via the protonolysis of dichloro(1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-2-imidazolidinylidene)(benzylidene) bis(pyridine)ruthenium(II) and its 3-bromopyridine analogue. Using either trifluoroacetic acid or silica-bound toluenesulfonic acid as the proton source, the ethylene-derived ruthenacyclobutane (H(2)IMes)Cl(2)Ru(CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)) was observed in up to 98% yield via NMR at -40 °C. On the basis of these studies, mechanisms accounting for the positional and stereochemical exchange within ruthenacyclobutanes are proposed, as well as the implications of these dynamics toward olefin metathesis catalyst and reaction design are described.     

Lipophilic toxin profile in Mytilus galloprovincialis during episodes of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) in the N.E. Adriatic Sea in 2006

Dinophysis spp. blooms and related shellfish toxicity events of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) have been the most reported toxicity event through the Croatian National monitoring program. With the aim to characterize the DSP toxin profile in shellfish farmed in Croatia, for the first time a complete analysis of the toxin profile of Croatian mussels has been carried out using the LC-MS/MS technique. The obtained results showed okadaic acid (OA) as the main toxin contaminating Croatian mussels at that time. The maximum concentration of OA in shellfish tissue was recorded 12 days after the Dinophysis fortii bloom, thus suggesting that rapid growth of the toxin level in the shellfish occurred in the first week after the bloom while it was slower in the second week. Furthermore, the presence of only OA at concentrations which could endanger human health suggests D. fortii as the main organism responsible for the toxic event that occurred in Lim Bay. The presence of gymnodimine and spirolides in Croatian mussel has been detected for the first time, while the presence of yessotoxin and pectenotoxin-2 is confirmed.     

Highly efficient visible-light driven photochromism: developments towards a solid-state molecular switch operating through a triplet-sensitised pathway

We introduce a new highly efficient photochromic organometallic dithienylethene (DTE) complex, the first instance of a DTE core symmetrically modified by two Pt(II) chromophores [Pt(PEt(3))(2)(C≡C)(DTE)(C≡C)Pt(PEt(3))(2)Ph] (1), which undergoes ring-closure when activated by visible light in solvents of different polarity, in thin films and even in the solid state. Complex 1 has been synthesised and fully photophysically characterised by (resonance) Raman and transient absorption spectroscopy complemented by calculations. The ring-closing photoconversion in a single crystal of 1 has been followed by X-ray crystallography. This process occurs with the extremely high yield of 80%--considerably outperforming the other DTE derivatives. Remarkably, the photocyclisation of 1 occurs even under visible light (>400 nm), which is not absorbed by the non-metallated DTE core HC≡C(DTE)C≡CH (2) itself. This unusual behaviour and the high photocyclisation yields in solution are attributed to the presence of a heavy atom in 1 that enables a triplet-sensitised photocyclisation pathway, elucidated by transient absorption spectroscopy and DFT calculations. The results of resonance Raman investigation confirm the involvement of the alkynyl unit in the frontier orbitals of both closed and open forms of 1 in the photocyclisation process. The changes in the Raman spectra upon cyclisation have permitted the identification of Raman marker bands, which include the acetylide stretching vibration. Importantly, these bands occur in the spectral region unobstructed by other vibrations and can be used for non-destructive monitoring of photocyclisation/photoreversion processes and for optical readout in this type of efficiently photochromic thermally stable systems. This study indicates a strategy for generating efficient solid-state photoswitches in which modification of the Pt(II) units has the potential to tune absorption properties and hence operational wavelength across the visible range.     

Role of parallel reformable bonds in the self-healing of cross-linked nanogel particles

We develop a hybrid computational approach to examine the mechanical properties and self-healing behavior of nanogel particles that are cross-linked by both stable and labile bonds. The individual nanogels are modeled via the lattice spring model (LSM), which is an effective method for probing the response of materials to mechanical deformation. The cross-links between the nanogels are simulated via the hierarchical Bell model (HBM), which allows us to capture the rupturing of multiple parallel bonds as the result of an applied force. Because the labile bonds are relatively reactive, they can reform after they have been ruptured. To incorporate the possibility of bonds reforming, we modify the HBM formalism and validate the modified HBM by considering a system of two surfaces, which are connected by multiple parallel bonds. We then use our hybrid HBM/LSM to simulate the behavior of the cross-linked nanogels under a tensile deformation. In these simulations, each labile linkage between the nanogels contains at most N parallel bonds. We vary the fraction of labile linkages and the value of N in these linkages to determine the optimal conditions for improving the robustness of the material. Although numerous parallel bonds within a linkage enhance the strength of the material, these bonds diminish the ductility and the ability of the material to undergo the structural rearrangements that are necessary for self-repair. For a relatively low fraction of labile bonds and N ≤ 4, however, we can significantly improve the strength of the material and preserve the self-healing properties. For instance, a sample with 30% labile linkages and N = 4 per linkage is roughly 200% stronger than a sample that is cross-linked solely by stable bonds and can still undergo self-repair in response to the tensile deformation. The results reveal how mechanical stress can lead not only to the appearance of cavities within the material but also to bond formation that "heals" these cavities and thus prevents the catastrophic failure of the material.     

Versuche mit markierten Atomen über den Mechanismus der Vermehrung von Tabakmosaikvirus in Nicotiana tabacum

Zusammenfassung Tabakmosaikvirus hoher spezifischer Aktivität, das am Phosphor und/oder Kohlenstoff markiert war, wurde biosynthetisch hergestellt. Damit wurde jeweils ein Blatt einer Pflanze von Nicotiana tabacum infiziert und der etwaige Transport von intaktem Virus durch das Leitungssystem der Pflanzen dadurch weitgehend unterbunden, daß die Leitgefäße des behandelten Blattes durchtrennt wurden.Das aus den unbehandelten Blättern der Pflanze nach 17 1/2, 48 und 72 Stdn. isolierte Virus wies im Vergleich zum eingesetzten TMV einen viel geringeren Anteil an Gesamtradiokohlenstoff im Protein auf. Dies deutet darauf hin, daß das Virus der unbehandelten Blätter höchstens zu einem sehr geringen Teil aus intakt transportiertem TMV bestehen könnte.Die nicht im TMV enthaltenen Polynukleotide der unbehandelten Blätter enthalten 7 Stdn. nach der Infektion verhältnismäßig viel³²P, doch tritt derselbe innerhalb 70 Stdn. zum allergrößten Teil in niedermolekulare Verbindungen über.Die in Puffer unlöslichen Polynukleotide der unbehandelten Blätter (Blattnukleinsäure) weisen ein mit der Zeit abnehmendes Verhältnis von³²P/¹⁴C auf. Auch innerhalb der Nukleinsäure (NS) des TMV dieser Blätter nimmt dieses Verhältnis zunächst ab, steigt aber später wieder an.Die angeführten Ergebnisse stehen mit der Vorstellung im Einklang, daß das Virus NS abspaltet und sowohl die systemische Infektion der Pflanze wie auch die Virusvermehrung mindestens zum Teil durch diese freie NS bewirkt wird. Die aus dem Virus stammende freie NS unterliegt zum großen Teil lebhaftem Abbau, wobei ihre Komponenten wahrscheinlich dem Aufbau normaler Blattbestandteile dienen.Mit 3 Abbildungen     

Isomere Diamino-alkoxy-pyridin-carbonitrile — ihre Trennung und Verwendung als Kupplungskomponenten

The isomeric 4,6-diamino-2-alkoxy- (3), and 2,4-diamino-6-alkoxy-3-pyridine-carbonitriles (4) are obtained by treatment of 2-amino-1,1,3-tricyanopropene (1) with sodium alkoxides. Separation is based on their differentpK _a -values (3 a=2.01,4 a=4.17). Coupling reaction of3 a-c with benzenediazonium chloride in strong acidic medium leads to the yellow azo dyes5 a-c, whereas coupling of4 a requires a buffered solution (pH 4–6) to yield6. The UV-VIS spectra of the isomer pyridines and the azo dyes are discussed.     

Sodium dithionite initiated addition of CF2Br2 to β-pinene and reactions of the adduct: Synthesis and the reactivity of new 1,1-difluorodienes

Sodium dithionite effectively promotes the addition of dibromodifluoromethane to the exocyclic double bond of β-pinene. The reaction proceeded in a MeCN/H₂O system to give almost quantitatively an adduct, 1-(2-bromo-2,2-difluoroethyl)-4-(2-bromoisopropyl)-cyclohexene, as the sole product. On treatment of the adduct with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine elimination of HBr only from the (CH₃)₂CHBr group occurred to give a mixture of regioisomeric dienes, while treatment with 50% KOH under phase transfer catalysis conditions or with K₂CO₃ in DMF resulted in total dehydrobromination to give trienes possessing an exocyclic CHCF₂ group. Surprisingly, the main course of the reactions of the adduct with DBU (1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undece-7-ene) and also with t-BuOK in THF was elimination of HBr only from the CH₂CF₂Br group to afford 1-(2,2-difluorovinyl)-4-(2-bromoisopropyl)cyclohexene as the main product. Catalytic hydrogenation of the adduct followed by treatment with DBU afforded a conjugated diene, 1-(2,2-difluorovinyl)-4-isopropylcyclohexene. Compounds bearing the CHCF₂ group are new 1,1-difluorodienes which readily reacted with 4-phenyl-3H-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione to give cycloadducts, derivatives of triazolo[1,2-α]cinnoline.