Proteomic profiling of human urine using multi-dimensional protein identification technology

Human urine samples are ideal for proteomic profiling and have tremendous potential as sources of biomarkers. Multi-dimensional protein identification technology (MudPIT) is an effective approach to analyzing human urine or other fluids dominated by diverse metabolites. MudPIT analysis was used to identify 87 proteins in just 15 ml of human urine. A high throughput, reproducible, and sensitive technology, MudPIT may soon be used for more proteomic analyses of metabolites.     

Exploring human plasma proteome strategies: high efficiency in-solution digestion protocol for multi-dimensional protein identification technology

Multi-dimensional protein identification technology (MudPIT) is becoming a prevalent proteomic approach due to its high-throughput separations and accurate mass detection. Prior to MudPIT analysis, complicated samples required in-solution digestion. Unlike in-gel digestion, in which enzymes work on just a few proteins, in-solution digestion involves simultaneous digestion of hundreds or thousands of proteins. In-solution digestion protocols must therefore be very efficient. Few investigations have evaluated the efficiency of in-solution digestion protocols. The present research compared three such protocols. Results suggest that a protocol utilizing trifluoroethanol (TFE) as denaturant is most efficient.     

Automated quantitative gait analysis in animal models of movement disorders

Background  

Accurate and reproducible behavioral tests in animal models are of major importance in the development and evaluation of new therapies for central nervous system disease. In this study we investigated for the first time gait parameters of rat models for Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD) and stroke using the Catwalk method, a novel automated gait analysis test. Static and dynamic gait parameters were measured in all animal models, and these data were compared to readouts of established behavioral tests, such as the cylinder test in the PD and stroke rats and the rotarod tests for the HD group.     

Ion formation in fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry: a divided probe investigation of gas-phase reactions

Some ion-formation processes during fast atom bombardment (FAB) are discussed, especially the possibility of reactions in the gas phase. Divided (two halves) FAB probe tips were used for introducing two different samples into the source at the same time. Our results showed [M + A]⁺ ions (where M = crown ethers and A = alkali metal ions), can be produced, at least in part, in the gas phase when crown ethers and sources of alkali metal ion are placed on two halves of the FAB probe tip. The extent of this ion formation depends on the volatility of the crown ether and on steric factors. Cluster ions such as (M + LiCl)Li⁺, (2M + LiCl)Li⁺, [2M + K]⁺ and [2M + Na]⁺ are also observed to form in the gas phase. Unimolecular decompositions contribute to some ions detected in FAB. When the alkali ion salt and the crown ether are mixed together the probability of [M + A]⁺ ion formation increases significantly, regardless of the volatility of the crown ether.     

Suppression of angular momentum transfer in cold collisions of transition metal atoms in ground States with nonzero orbital angular momentum

The Zeeman relaxation rate in cold collisions of Ti(3d(2)4s(2) 3F2) with He is measured. We find that collisional transfer of angular momentum is dramatically suppressed due to the presence of the filled 4s(2) shell. The degree of electronic interaction anisotropy, which is responsible for Zeeman relaxation, is estimated to be about 200 times smaller in the Ti-He complex than in He complexes with typical non-S-state atoms.     

Moment Bounds on Discrete Expected Stop-Loss Transforms, with Applications

This paper shows how to make the best possible use of the information contained in the first few moments (mean, variance and skewness, say) of an integer-valued random variable when one is interested in expected stop-loss transforms. This allows to bound various quantities in applied probability, including the ruin probabilities, for instance.      

Antiangiogenic Activity and in Silico Cereblon Binding Analysis of Novel Thalidomide Analogs

Due to its antiangiogenic and anti-immunomodulatory activity, thalidomide continues to be of clinical interest despite its teratogenic actions, and efforts to synthesize safer, clinically active thalidomide analogs are continually underway. In this study, a cohort of 27 chemically diverse thalidomide analogs was evaluated for antiangiogenic activity in an ex vivo rat aorta ring assay. The protein cereblon has been identified as the target for thalidomide, and in silico pharmacophore analysis and molecular docking with a crystal structure of human cereblon were used to investigate the cereblon binding abilities of the thalidomide analogs. The results suggest that not all antiangiogenic thalidomide analogs can bind cereblon, and multiple targets and mechanisms of action may be involved.     

Bis(4‐picoline‐κN)gold(I) dibromidoaurate(I) and bis(4‐picoline‐κN)gold(I) dichloridoaurate(I): space‐group ambiguity?

Bis(4‐picoline‐κN)gold(I) dibromidoaurate(I), [Au(C₆H₇N)₂][AuBr₂], (I), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n, with two half cations and one general anion in the asymmetric unit. The cations, located on centres of inversion, assemble to form chains parallel to the a axis, but there are no significant contacts between the cations. Cohesion is provided by flanking anions, which are connected to the cations by short Au...Au contacts and C—H...Br hydrogen bonds, and to each other by Br...Br contacts. The corresponding chloride derivative, [Au(C₆H₇N)₂][AuCl₂], (II), is isotypic. A previous structure determination of (II), reported in the space group P with very similar axis lengths to those of (I) [Lin et al. (2008). Inorg. Chem. 47 , 2543–2551], might be identical to the structure presented here, except that its γ angle of 88.79 (7)° seems to rule out a monoclinic cell. No phase transformation of (II) could be detected on the basis of data sets recorded at 100, 200 and 295 K.