Multi-purpose functionality for the structural elaboration of the piperazine-2,5-dione motif

Mild methods for controlled C- and N-alkylation of 3-benzyloxycarbonylpiperazine-2,5-diones are reported. The benzyloxylcarbonyl substituent can also serve as latent functionality for N-acyliminium ion formation and subsequent trapping enables installation of new carbon and/or heteroatom substituents.     

Rapid and sensitive identification of epitope-containing peptides by direct matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem mass spectrometry of peptides affinity-bound to antibody beads

A method has been developed for rapid and sensitive identification of epitope-containing peptides, based on direct MALDI-MS/MS analysis of epitope-containing peptides affinity bound to affinity beads. This technique provides sequence information of the epitope that allows unambiguous identification of the epitope either by database searching or de novo sequencing. With MALDI-MS, affinity beads with bound peptides can be placed directly on the MALDI target and analyzed. Coupling a MALDI source to an orthogonal injection quadrupole time-of-flight (QqTOF) mass spectrometer allows direct sequencing of the bound peptides. In contrast to ESI-MS/MS, elution of the affinity-bound peptides followed by additional concentration and purification steps is not required, thus reducing the potential for sample loss. Direct mass spectrometric sequencing of affinity-bound peptides eliminates the need for chemical or enzymatic sequencing. Other advantages of this direct MALDI-MS/MS analysis of epitope-containing peptides bound to the affinity beads include its sensitivity (femtomole levels) and speed. In addition, direct analysis of peptides on affinity beads does not adversely affect the high mass accuracy of a QqTOF, and database searching can be performed on the MS/MS spectra obtained. In proof-of-principle experiments, this method has been demonstrated on beads containing immobilized antibodies against phosphotyrosine, the c-myc epitope tag, as well as immobilized avidin. Furthermore, de novo sequencing of epitope-containing peptides is demonstrated. The first application of this method was with anti-FLAG-tag affinity beads, where direct MALDI MS/MS was used to determine an unexpected enzymatic cleavage site on a growth factor protein.     

Evidence for π-allylic nickel complexes as intermediates in the reactions of nickelocene with allylic chlorides

Reactions of trans-1-chloro-2-butene and of 3-chloro-1-butene with nickelocene give mixtures of (1-methyl-2-propenyl)-, (trans-2-butenyl)-, and (cis-2-butenyl)-cyclopentadienes. The reaction between π-crotyl-π-cyclopentadienylnickel and 5-chlorocyclopentadiene yields identical products. In the presence of tetrahcloromethane, 5-(trichloromethyl)cyclopentadiene is formed. Mechanisms involving oxidative addition and π-allylic nickel complexes are discussed.     

Pseudo-MS3 in a MALDI orthogonal quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometer

Both the matrix selected and the laser fluence play important roles in MALDI-quadrupole/time of flight (QqTOF) fragmentation processes. "Hot" matrices, such as alpha-cyano4-hydroxycinnamic acid (HCCA), can increase fragmentation in MS spectra. Higher laser fluence also increases fragmentation. Typical peptide fragment ions observed in the QqTOF are a, b, and y ion series, which resemble low-energy CID product ions. This fragmentation may occur in the high-pressure region before the first mass-analyzing quadrupole. Fragment ions can be selected by the first quadrupole (Q1), and further sequenced by conventional MS/MS. This allows pseudo-MS3 experiments to be performed. For peptides of higher molecular weight, pseudo-MS3 can extend the mass range beyond what is usually accessible for sequencing, by allowing one to sequence a fragment ion of lower molecular weight instead of the full-length peptide. Peptides that predominantly show a single product ion after MS/MS yield improved sequence information when this technique is applied. This method was applied to the analysis of an in vitro phosphorylated peptide, where the intact enzymatically-generated peptide showed poor dissociation via MS/MS. Sequencing a fragment ion from the phosphopeptide enabled the phosphorylation site to be unambiguously determined.     

1,1,2,2-Tetraethynylethanes: Synthons for Tetraethynylethenes and Modules for Acetylenic Molecular Scaffolding

The synthesis of functionalized 1,1,2,2-tetraethynylethanes (= 3,4-diethynylhexa-1,5-diynes) as synthons for tetraethynylethenes (3,4-diethynylhex-3-ene-1,5-diynes) and as building blocks for three-dimensional acetylenic molecular scaffolding targeting the synthesis of the molecular carbon belts 3 and 4 is reported (Scheme 1). Reaction of diethyl oxalate and (trialkylsilyl)ethynyl Grignard reagents afforded the silyl-protected 3,4-diethynylhexa-1,5-diyne-3,4- diols 7 and 8 which were transformed in high yields into the cyclic carbonate 9 and the cyclic orthoesters 10–13 , respectively (Scheme 2). The solid-state structures of 9 and 10 were elucidated by X-ray crystallography. The alkyne protecting groups in 9, 10 , and 12 were smoothly removed to give the free tetraynes 14–16 as relatively stable oils in nearly quantitative yields (Scheme 3). Orthoesters 15 and 16 underwent Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling with iodobenzene to give the tetraphenyl derivatives 17 and 18 (Scheme 4). Thermal acid-catalyzed elimination of the orthoester moieties in 12 and 13 produced the silyl-protected tetraethynylethenes 19 and 20 and concluded a novel, simple three-step synthesis of these fully two-dimensionally conjugated π-chromophores (Scheme 5).     

Methods for research on immune complement activation on modified sensor surfaces

We have developed a methodological system consisting of a new surface sensitive quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) sensor surfaces together with different surface modification methods for the investigation of surface associated complement activation in human sera. The QCM-D surface, 10 mm in diameter, was modified by spin-coating of poly(urethane urea) (PUUR) and polystyrene (PS). Some sensor surfaces were also sputtered with titanium (Ti) or modified by hydrophobic self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of an 18-carbon alkane thiol with a ---CH₃ end group. The amount of surface deposited complement protein was investigated by incubation of the modified sensor surfaces in human sera, followed by incubation with antibodies directed against complement factor 3c (C3c). The amounts of bound anti-C3c were then used as an arbitrary measure of surface induced complement activation. The order of complement activation of the different surfaces, as judged by three separate measurements per surface modification, was PUUR>PS=SAM>Ti. The Ti surface had a similar low degree of anti-C3c binding as the negative controls (heat inactivated sera). The novel QCM-D methodology was found to be very simple, accurate, sensitive and well suited as a screening method for complement activation and protein adsorption on different materials. We also compared the sensitivity of QCM-D method with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) for the quantification of protein adsorption and complement activation on gold sensor surfaces. The QCM-D method was equally sensitive as the SPR for the detection of protein adsorption from a solution independently if low flow rate (5 μl/min) was used. A slight increase in sensitivity was found at higher flow rate (30 μl/min). However, we found it difficult to use the SPR method on the Ti, PS and PUUR surfaces due to decreased light penetration of the modified SPR sensor chip.     

Ultraviolet B Wavelength Dependence for the Regulation of Two Major Matrix-Metalloproteinases and Their Inhibitor TIMP-1 in Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Abstract— The wavelength dependence for the regulation of two major matrix-metalloproteinases, interstitial collagenase (MMP-1) and stromelysin-1 (MMP-3), and their major inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1), was studied in human dermal fibroblasts in vitro. Monochromatic irradiation at 302, 307, 312 and 317 nm with intensities ranging from 20 to 300 J/m² increased MMP-1 and MMP-3 mRNA steady-state levels and the secretion of the corresponding proteins up to 4.4-fold, whereas almost no increase was observed at wavelengths <290 nm. In contrast, the synthesis of TIMP-1 increased only marginally. This unbalance may contribute to the severe connective tissue damage related to photoaging of the skin. The wavelengths responsible for MMP-1 and MMP-3 induction reported here are distinct from the absorption spectrum of DNA and are different from results previously reported in the literature. Importantly, they overlap with wavelengths whose intensity is predicted to increase on the earth's surface upon ozone depletion. Intensities and particular wavelengths used in our studies in vitro can be absorbed readily by fibroblasts within the skin in vivo and, thus, are relevant for risk assessment and development of protective agents.     

Pro-domain removal in ASP-2 and the cleavage of the amyloid precursor are influenced by pH

Background

One of the signatures of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of aggregated amyloid protein, Aβ, in the brain. Aβ arises from cleavage of the Amyloid Precursor protein by β and γ secretases, which present attractive candidates for therapeutic targeting. Two β-secretase candidates, ASP-1 and ASP-2, were identified as aspartic proteases, both of which cleave the amyloid precursor at the β-site. These are produced as immature transmembrane proteins containing a pro-segment.

Results

ASP-2 expressed in HEK293-cells cleaved the Swedish mutant amyloid precursor at different β-sites at different pHs in vitro. Recent reports show that furin cleaves the pro-peptide of ASP-2, whereas ASP-1 undergoes auto-catalysis. We show that purified recombinant ASP-2 cleaves its own pro-peptide at ph 5 but not pH 8.5 as seen by mass spectrometry, electrophoresis and N-terminal sequencing.

Conclusion

We suggest that ASP-2 processing as well as activity are influenced by pH, and hence the cellular localisation of the protein may have profound effects on the production of Aβ. These factors should be taken into consideration in the design of potential inhibitors for these enzymes.