Atomistic Simulation Study of Calcium,Phosphate and Fluoride Ion Association to the Teleopeptide‐Tails of Collagen – Initial Steps to Biomineral Formation

The attachment of single ions to putative adsorption sites in the tails of collagen fibers is investigated by means of molecular dynamics simulations and discussed with respect to the very early steps of apatite/collagen biomineral formation. Our studies clearly demonstrate an increased flexibility of the tails of the triple‐helical collagen protein. Apart from the termini of the backbone, several side chains were also observed to be freely accessible to ion attachment from aqueous solution. The teleopeptide was systematically scanned for suitable adsorption sites for calcium, phosphate and fluoride ions. Association of these ions was then explored from potential of mean force calculations. The resulting energy profiles reveal a variety of favorable protein‐ion bonds and hint at the suitability of the collagen tails to promote apatite aggregation.     

Phase Transition and Crystal Structure of the Monomeric Europium(II) Thiolate Eu(SC36H49)2

Single crystal X‐ray diffraction of Eu(SC₃₆H₄₉)₂ has revealed a first order phase transition at a temperature of 119 K, that involves a reduction of the specific volume by 1 %. The transition corresponds to a doubling of the unit cell, as it is the result from reorientations of isopropyl groups that appear at peripheral sites of the organic ligands. It is argued that a denser packing is achieved at the expense of a less favourable conformation of one of the two crystallographically‐independent complexes in the low‐temperature phase. The Bond‐Valence method is used to show that interactions of equal strengths are present between europium and both sulphur atoms and both coordinating phenyl rings.     

Comparison of quantitative methods for analysis of polyphasic pharmaceuticals

Adequate very sensitive quantification methods are needed for the development and are also now required for the monitoring of undesirable solid form(s) as routine tests. The pre-requisite for quantitation are selectivity, sensitivity and most important the purity of standards and their proper storage, what is a challenge for metastable forms. Several analytical techniques are available such as X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, thermal analysis and microcalorimetry. The different steps of the validation of the analytical methods and problems to be solved are discussed. Examples illustrate the different techniques and compare their possible advantages and limits. The relative standard deviation of measurements should allow for checking the homogenization procedure of mixtures for calibration. The validation should be carried out following ICH guidelines for validation of analytical methods. Comparison of different techniques in adequate concentration range add confidence in the analytical results.     

The identification of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in diesel particulate extracts and their potential formation as artifacts during particulate collection

Summary The highly complex matrix of diesel particulate extracts was analyzed for nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAH) using fused-silica capillary-column gas chromatography along with a thermionic nitrogen-phosphorus detector (TID) and high-performance liquid chromatography followed by on-line catalytic reduction of the nitro-PAH to amino-PAH and subsequent fluorescence detection. Positive isomer identification and quantitation of nitro-PAH are from retention times of authentic standards and their mass spectra. The ease of nitro-PAH formation by nitration of PAH raises the question regarding the origin of these species, whether they are produced as “native” products during the engine combustion process and/or in the exhaust, or instead, formed as the result of chemical conversion to produce artifacts during the sampling procedure. This problem is assessed examing 1-nitropyrene-concentration in particulates of three light-duty diesel engines for different sampling times. 1-Nitropyrene concentrations show only a moderate increase with sampling time under average sampling conditions. Presented at the 15th International Symposium on Chromatography, Nürnberg, October 1984     

Screening for library-assisted identification and fully validated quantification of 22 beta-blockers in blood plasma by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization

A liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric assay with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (LC-APCI-MS) is presented for screening for, library-assisted identification (both in scan mode) and quantification (selected-ion mode) of the beta-blockers acebutolol, diacetolol, alprenolol, atenolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, bupranolol, carazolol, carteolol, carvedilol, celiprolol, esmolol, labetalol, metoprolol, nadolol, nebivolol, oxprenolol, penbutolol, propranolol, sotalol, talinolol and timolol in blood plasma after mixed-mode (HCX) solid-phase extraction (SPE) and separation by reverse-phase liquid chromatography with gradient elution. The validation data were within the required limits. The assay was successfully applied to authentic plasma samples allowing confirmation of diagnosis of overdose situations as well as monitoring of patients' compliance.     

Square-planar coordinated polyanions of palladium, platinum, and gold stannaborate [SnB11H11]2- coordination chemistry

The tetrasubstituted polyanions of platinum, palladium, and gold [M(SnB(11)H(11))(4)](x-) (x=6, M=Pd, Pt; x=5, M=Au) have been prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR, Raman, (11)B, and (119)Sn heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy. In the case of the platinum derivative [Bu(3)MeN](6)[Pt(SnB(11)H(11))(4)] (2) (119)Sn M?ssbauer spectroscopy has been carried out. The isolated salts are stable towards moisture and air and the complexes 2 and 3 were treated with 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp) to give the respective substitution products [Bu(3)MeN](2)[(dppp)M(SnB(11)H(11))(2)] (M=Pd, Pt).     

Adrenaline recognition in water

Host molecule 1 displays a high affinity in water towards catecholamines and especially related structures such as beta-blockers with extended aromatic pi-faces (up to 7x10(3) M(-1) for each single complexation step or 5x10(7) M(-2) for both steps). The amphiphilic structural design leads to an extensive self-association of host molecules through their aromatic flanks. Above a cmc (critical micelle concentration) of 3x10(-4) M, host 1 forms micelles that produce a favorable microenvironment for hydrophobic interactions with the included guest molecules. Electrostatic attraction of the ammonium alcohol by the phosphonate anions is thus combined with hydrophobic contributions between the aromatic moieties. Ionic hydrogen bonds with polar OH or NH groups of the guest enforce the non-covalent interactions, and finally lead to increased specificity. Both its affinity and its selectivity towards adrenergic receptor substrates are greatly enhanced if the receptor molecule 1 is transferred from water into a lipid monolayer. Catecholamines and beta-blockers lead to drastically different effects at concentrations approaching the micromolar regime. Especially beta-blockers with minute structural changes can be easily distinguished from each other. In both cases, extensive hydrophobic interactions with a self-associated and/or self-organized microenvironment are largely responsible for the observed high efficiency and specificity.     

Cellular logic with orthogonal ribosomes

The creation and use of unnatural molecules to control cellular function is a long standing goal of the chemical community, but in general, these efforts have been directed at finding molecules to inhibit or activate a particular molecular target or function, or to elicit a particular phenotype. Here we show that multiple unnatural molecules (orthogonal ribosomes) can be used combinatorially, in a single cell, to program Boolean logic functions. These experiments show how attention to the molecular specificity of noncovalent interactions between unnatural macromolecules allows the synthesis of complex function from the "bottom-up" in living matter.