Characterization of a new qQq-FTICR mass spectrometer for post-translational modification analysis and top-down tandem mass spectrometry of whole proteins

The use of a new electrospray qQq Fourier transform ion cyclotron mass spectrometer (qQq-FTICR MS) instrument for biologic applications is described. This qQq-FTICR mass spectrometer was designed for the study of post-translationally modified proteins and for top-down analysis of biologically relevant protein samples. The utility of the instrument for the analysis of phosphorylation, a common and important post-translational modification, was investigated. Phosphorylation was chosen as an example because it is ubiquitous and challenging to analyze. In addition, the use of the instrument for top-down sequencing of proteins was explored since this instrument offers particular advantages to this approach. Top-down sequencing was performed on different proteins, including commercially available proteins and biologically derived samples such as the human E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzyme, UbCH10. A good sequence tag was obtained for the human UbCH10, allowing the unambiguous identification of the protein. The instrument was built with a commercially produced front end: a focusing rf-only quadrupole (Q0), followed by a resolving quadrupole (Q1), and a LINAC quadrupole collision cell (Q2), in combination with an FTICR mass analyzer. It has utility in the analysis of samples found in substoichiometric concentrations, as ions can be isolated in the mass resolving Q1 and accumulated in Q2 before analysis in the ICR cell. The speed and efficacy of the Q2 cooling and fragmentation was demonstrated on an LCMS-compatible time scale, and detection limits for phosphopeptides in the 10 amol/muL range (pM) were demonstrated. The instrument was designed to make several fragmentation methods available, including nozzle-skimmer fragmentation, Q2 collisionally activated dissociation (Q2 CAD), multipole storage assisted dissociation (MSAD), electron capture dissociation (ECD), infrared multiphoton induced dissociation (IRMPD), and sustained off resonance irradiation (SORI) CAD, thus allowing a variety of MS(n) experiments. A particularly useful aspect of the system was the use of Q1 to isolate ions from complex mixtures with narrow windows of isolation less than 1 m/z. These features enable top-down protein analysis experiments as well structural characterization of minor components of complex mixtures.     

New green fluorescent polyvinylcarbazole copolymer with 1,8‐naphthalimide side chains as chemosensor for iron cations

The synthesis and basic photophysical characteristics of a novel green fluorescent polyvinylcarbazole polymer containing 4‐N,N‐dimethylaminoethyleneamino‐1,8‐naphthalimide side chains has been described. The ability to sense metal cations has been monitored by fluorescence emission spectroscopy. It is shown that the fluorescent intensity is very sensitive to the Fe²⁺ cations and the copolymer can be used as an homogeneous and heterogeneous fluorescent sensor for Fe²⁺ cations. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Self-assembled monolayer gold electrode for surfactant analysis

A gold electrode coated with a self-assembled monolayer of octane-thiol (SAM/Au) has been used as an amperometric detector for the determination of surfactants. This detector operated in the presence of a high percentage of organic solvent and was adapted to an HPLC System. At the SAM/Au, the electrochemical response of an electroactive tracer (potassium ferricyanide) was completely inhibited, but, in the presence of a cationic surfactant, the electrochemical reduction was progressively restored. In flow injection analysis, using the SAM/Au in an amperometric flow-through detector polarised at 0.0 V vs Ag/AgCl, a linear response (i=f{[surfactant]}) was observed for cationic surfactants e.g. cetylpyridinium chloride in the concentration range 2 × 10⁻⁶–1 × 10⁻³ M. The electrochemical data along with the determination of the ion pair stoichiometry between the redox tracer and the surfactant suggest an electrochemical response related to ion pair formation and governed by electron transfer by tunneling effect. Received: 28 January 1997 / Accepted: 7 March 1997     

Intensités des Transitions Électroniques de [PdCl4]2− Intensities of Electronic Transitions of [PdCl4]2−

The oscillator strengths of the symmetry-forbidden transitions of the ion [PdCl₄]^2– were calculated by a method based on the evaluation of the MO of the distorted ion. It is not very likely that the transition to¹ B _1g (a _1g (d _z ²)b _1g ) state, weak, mainlyz polarized, explains the band that appears as a shoulder observed towards 30 000 cm^–1 in the absorption spectrum. If this band is specific of the ion [PdCl₄]^2–, the assignment to the forbidden charge-transfer transition,¹ A _1g ¹ B _2g , is more plausible.

     

A theorem on products of matrices

A new result on products of matrices is proved in the following theorem: let M_i (i=1,2,…) be a bounded sequence of square matrices, and K be the l.u.b. of the spectral radii ρ(M_i). Then for any positive number ε there is a constant A and an ordering p(j) (j = 1,2,…) of the matrices such that

$\text{∏}\text{j=1}\text{n}\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{p(j)}}\text{?A·(K+ε)}{}^{\mathrm{n}}\text{(n = 1,2,…)}$

. The ordering is well defined by p(j), a one-to-one mapping on the set of positive integers. In general the inequality does not hold for any ordering p(j) (a counterexample is provided); however, some sufficient conditions are given for the result to remain true irrespective of the order of the matrices.     

Metal- and ligand-directed one-pot syntheses,crystal structures,and properties of novel oxo-centered tetra- and hexametallic clusters

Starting from closely related metal-ligand combinations, completely different oligomeric metal clusters are synthesized. Whereas, picoline-tetrazolylamide HL(1) (1) and zinc or nickel acetate afforded [2x2] grids [M(4)(L(1))(8)] (2), slightly different N-(2-methylthiazole-5-yl)-thiazole-2-carboxamide HL(2) (5 a) and nickel acetate yielded the monometallic complex [Ni(L(2))(2)(OH(2))(2)] (6). In contrast, reaction of 5 a with zinc acetate produced the tetrametallic zinc cluster [Zn(4)O(L(2))(4)(OAc)(2)] (7). Even more surprising, when 3-methyl-substituted HL(3) (5 b) instead of 2-methyl-substituted HL(2) (5 a) was allowed to react under identical conditions with zinc acetate, the cluster [Zn(4)O(L(3))(4)Cl(2)] (8) crystallized from dichloromethane. Clusters 7 and 8 are isostructural. As for 7, in 8 two of the edges of the tetrahedron of zinc ions are doubly bridged, two are singly bridged, and the other two are nonbridged. On the other hand, when iron(II) acetate under aerobic conditions was allowed to react with 5 a, the unprecedented complex [[Fe(3)O(L(2))(2)(OAc)(4)](2)O] (9) was isolated. Cluster 9 is composed of two trimetallic, triangular mu(3)-O(2-)-centered [Fe(3)O(L(2))(2)(OAc)(4)](+) modules, linked by an almost linear mu(2)-O(2-) bridge. The M?ssbauer spectrum together with cyclic voltammetric and square-wave voltammetric measurements of 9 are reported, and 6-9 were characterized unequivocally by single-crystal X-ray structure analyses.     

The crystal and molecular structure of tris[(triphenylstannyl)methyl]methane

The title compound, C₅₈H₅₂Sn₃, belongs to the triclinic space group P$\text{1}$, with a 10.165, b 13.365, c 18.670 Å, α 96.28, β 93.88, γ 103.15°, V = 2443.8 ų, f_w = 1105.1, Z = 2, D_calc 1.501 g cm^?3, m.p. 206.5–208°C, λ(Mo-K_$\text{α}$) 0.71069 Å. The structure was refined on 2684 nonzero reflections to an R factor of 0.044. The crystal contains molecules in which the (SnCH₂)₃CH core possesses an approximate C₃ symmetry. The three SnC(H₂) bonds are gauche to the C(4)-H bond. Repulsive interactions involving the bulky Ph₃Sn substituents lead to large SnC(H₂)C(H) angles (av. 117.3°), whereas the C(H₂)C(H)C(H₂) angles at the tertiary carbon average 111.3°. Little distortion of the Ph₃Sn groups themselves is present, since the PhSnPh angles (av. 109.8°) are almost equal to the C(H₂)SnPh angles (av. 109.9°). The molecule as a whole has no symmetry because the aromatic rings in the three Ph₃Sn groups have different orientations. The phenyl groups create a pocket in the middle of the molecule which encloses and shields the tertiary hydrogen atom. The resulting inaccessibility of this hydrogen accounts in part for the low reactivity of the title compound in redox reactions.     

An improved synthesis of cyclopropanes from stabilized phosphonates and 1,2-dioxines

Addition of stabilized Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) phosphonates to substituted 1,2-dioxines leads to diastereomerically pure di- and trisubstituted cyclopropanes in high yields and represents a viable alternative to ylides in the cyclopropanation reaction involving 1,2-dioxines. While yields are comparable, reaction times with these stabilized phosphonates were accelerated and the diastereoselectivity for this cyclopropanation reaction was significantly greater than for the previously reported examples employing ylides.