Determination of sulfur-containing amino acid residues in proteins by pyrolysis-gas chromatography with flame photometric detection

Summary A new method for the determination of sulfur-containing amino acid residues, cysteine (Cys) and methionine (Met) in proteins has been developed with pyrolysis-gas chromatography. Characteristic sulfur compounds among the complicated pyrolysis products formed from protein samples were separated by using a high resolution fused silica capillary column and selectively detected by flame photometric detector (FPD). In order to improve the reproducibility, an internal standard substance, benzothiophene, was pyrolyzed at 600 °C together with the protein samples. Thus the observed pyrograms were interpreted in terms of the compositional analysis. On the basis of the relative peak intensities of CH₃SH and H₂S, the simultaneous determinations of Cys and Met residues in various enzyme proteins were successfully carried out with 10–12% and 5–6% of relative standard deviations, respectively.

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Bestimmung von schwefelhaltigen Aminosäureresten in Proteinen durch Pyrolyse-GC mit flammenphotometrischer Detektion

     

Amphiphilic NaY zeolite particles loaded with niobic acid: Materials with applications for catalysis in immiscible liquid-liquid system

The catalytic potential of catalysts for acid-catalyzed reactions has been demonstrated by NaY zeolite loaded with alkylsilane-covered niobic acid in the liquid phase hydration of 1,2-epoxyoctane with water. The catalytic activity of the catalysts was correlated to the amphiphilic character of the solid catalyst particles. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Solution viscosity behavior of polystyrene-based cationic ionomers: Effects of quaternary-group structure and counter ion

The dilute solution viscosity was investigated for several polystyrene-based cationic io-nomers. It was found that intramolecular aggregation among the ionic groups was strongly dependent on the sizes of quaternary onium groups and counter anions. The extent of the aggregation was controled by the solvent polarity and the solvation to the ionic groups. When there was a strong selective soivation to small counter ions, the structure of onium groups shows a minor effect on the viscosity behavior, indicating little aggregation among the ionic groups. A strong solvation to small quaternary cations also eliminates the intra-molecular aggregation and the influence of counter ions was barely observable. When the selective solvation to counter ions was disabled by the enlarged size of the counter ions, however, the viscosity depended on onium group structure or spacer chain length. If the solvent solvates neither counter ions nor quaternary groups, the smaller the sizes of onium cation and counter anion, the lower the reduced viscosity due to an enhancement of the ionic aggregate formation. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Photocatalytic reaction of neat alcohols by metal-loaded titanium(IV) oxide particles

The photocatalytic reaction (excitation wavelength, greater than 300 nm) of neat alcohols (ethanol or 2-propanol) by metal-loaded titanium(IV) oxide (TiO₂) was conducted under argon at room temperature. The dehydrogenation products hydrogen (H₂) and acetaldehyde (or acetone in the case of 2-propanol) were found in the absence of additives. The corresponding acetals, ethers, and alkanes were obtained by the addition of concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl). The measurement of the product yields during the post-irradiation dark reaction in the presence of photocatalyst (TiO₂) loaded with platinum(IV) oxide (PtO₂) revealed that the production of ether and ethane and the regeneration of ethanol proceed by the hydrogenation of acetal over loaded metal, presumably via a hemiacetal intermediate. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses showed that the loaded PtO₂ is reduced to platinum metal during the course of the photocatalytic reaction. For the production of ether from HCl-acidified ethanol, Pd-loaded catalysts, especially prepared by precipitation—reduction, exhibit the highest activity of several metal-loaded TiO₂ catalysts. From XRD and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies of Pd-loaded TiO₂ particles, it was shown that the smaller the size of the Pd particles, the higher the selectivity for ether production from the acidified ethanol suspension. The application of this photocatalytic O-alkylation to the synthesis of cyclic ethers was demonstrated.     

Thin-layer chromatography of inorganic ions on polyethyleneimine cellulose in sulfuric acid and acid-ammonium sulfate media

Summary The thin-layer chromatographic behavior of 49 inorganic ions on polyethyleneimine (PEI) cellulose, a weakly basic anion-exchanger, has been systematically studied in sulfuric acid and ammonium sulfate media (both 0.01–1.0 moldm⁻³). The sorption on the cellulose decreases with increasing concentration of the acid or sulfate for most of the ions and to a lesser extent for Hg(II), Bi(III), Th(IV), Nb(V), and U(VI). The R_f values of Pd(II), Ru(III), Au(III), Pt(IV), and Ta(V) are extremely low in both systems. Ba(II), Pb(II), Sb(III), Mo(VI), and W(VI) are also strongly retained on the layer. Oxy-anions such as As(III) and Se(VI) are not adsorbed on the cellulose to any great extent, but Re(VII) distributes on the plate with a R_f value of about 0.5. The characteristic retention on PEI-cellulose layer of several polyvalent ions, which form anionic sulfato complexes, can be observed in ammonium sulfate media. Possibilities for separations of analytical interest are also demonstrated in both systems.     

Practical synthesis of L-erythro- and L-threo-4-fluoroglutamic acids using aminoacylase

Enantiomerically pure L-erythro- and L-threo-4-fluoroglutamic acids 1a and 1b were conveniently prepared. The key steps in this synthesis relied upon separation of diastereomers of N-chloroacetyl-4-fluoroglutamic acid 5-methyl ester 7 by recrystallization and enzymatic resolution of enantiomers of the resulting 7(a+c) and 7(b+d) by aminoacylase. Protection of the γ-carboxyl group as a methyl ester was found to be crucial for this enzymatic reaction.     

Synthesis and structures of one- and two-electron oxidized forms of bis(acetylene)tetrairon clusters Cp'(4)Fe(4)(HCCH)(2) (Cp' = Cp,eta5-C(5)H(4)Me)

Air-oxidation of Cp'(4)Fe(4)(HCCH)(2) (Cp' = Cp (1a), C(5)H(4)Me (1b)) in an NH(4)PF(6)/CH(3)CN solution afforded the one-electron oxidized clusters [Cp'(4)Fe(4)(HCCH)(2)](PF(6)). Oxidation of 1a with excess AgBF(4) in THF afforded [1a](BF(4)), while that of 1b with excess AgBF(4) gave [1b](BF(4))(2). The X-ray crystal structure analysis of [1a](BF(4)) revealed that the monocationic cluster retains the butterfly-type Fe(4)(mu4-eta(2):eta(2):eta(1):eta(1)-HCCH)(2) framework similar to that of the neutral cluster. The average Fe-Fe bond length is shorter by 0.029 A than that in the neutral cluster. Electrochemical oxidation of 1a and 1b in 0.1 M NH(4)PF(6)/CH(3)CN solution at +0.30 and +0.25 V versus Ag/10 mM AgNO(3), respectively, afforded the two-electron oxidized clusters [1a](PF(6))(2) and [1b](PF(6))(2). The X-ray crystal structure analysis for [1b](BF(4))(2) shows that the butterfly-type cluster core is retained but shrinks more of those of neutral and monocationic clusters. The four Fe-Fe bonds in [1b](BF(4))(2) are unequivalent: one Fe-Fe bond (2.397(1) A) is apparently shorter than the others (2.439(2)-2.461(2) A).     

Inhibitory effects of bis(2-aminohexyl)disulfide and its analogues on polymorphonuclear leukocyte functions in vitro.

Water soluble analogues of the anti-inflammatory compound, bis(2-aminopropyl)disulfide dihydrochloride (compd. I) with a butyl (II), phenyl (III), benzyl (IV) or pyrrolidinyl group (V) instead of the methyl group were synthesized, and their effects on the functions of cells related to inflammation were studied in vitro. Compounds II, III and IV showed much higher inhibitory activity than compd. I on formyl Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP)-induced O2(-)-generation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and platelet aggregation. Compound II showed the strongest activity among the compounds (IC50 values: 2.6 microM). The inhibition of O2(-)-generation of PMNs by compd. II was the most effective when FMLP was used as a stimulant rather than when phorbol myristate acetate, A-23187 and opsonized zymosan were used. However, compd. II was not an O2(-)-scavenger. Compounds II, III and IV significantly inhibited a series of activation processes in PMNs, chemotaxis, phagocytosis and lysosomal enzyme release at doses ranging from 10 to 100 microM. Under these doses, compds II, III and IV did not affect the histamine release from mast cells or the hemolysis of erythrocytes. These results strongly suggest that the anti-inflammatory action caused by compd. II and its analogues was at least partly due to inhibition of several functions of PMNs and platelets.