Capillary isoelectric focusing-mass spectrometry: analysis of protein mixtures from human body fluids

Isoelectric focusing within a fused silica capillary (cIEF) has proved to be a powerful and practical method for high-resolution separation of analytes from complex biological mixtures. This technique overcomes many of the problems of isoelectric focusing within slab gel media. However current cIEF systems commonly utilize UV detection which limits the detail of analyte structural information that is obtained during analysis. The use of mass spectrometry (MS) as the detection system provides much greater structural information about the detected analytes allowing accurate relative molecular mass (M(r)) determination for proteins and polypeptides. We have constructed a cIEF-MS interface and compared the separation of standard proteins analyzed by cIEF-UV with cIEF-MS. This allowed rapid optimization of the cIEF-MS system performance. Further we have demonstrated the use of MS as a detection system provides accurate M(r) information and can provide analyte modification details. These factors increase the likelihood of absolute identification for physiological proteins within complex in vivo-derived mixtures. To demonstrate the value of cIEF-MS in such analyses we have undertaken an examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and tentatively identified a number of constituent proteins. We have also analyzed whole blood from control and diabetic patients. We show that glycated alpha- and beta- chains of hemoglobin are found in almost equal abundance in diabetic patient blood. From these results we suggest cIEF-MS is an efficient and useful tool for the separation and examination of in vivo-derived analytes within physiological fluids.     

Photoproteins as luminescent labels in binding assays

Certain marine organisms produce calcium-activated photoproteins that allow them to emit light for a variety of purposes, such as defense, feeding, breeding, etc. Even though there are many bioluminescent organisms in nature, only a few photoproteins have been isolated and characterized. The mechanism of emission of light in the blue region is the result of an internal chemical reaction. Because there is no need for excitation through external irradiation for the emission of bioluminescence, the signal produced has virtually no background. This allows for the detection of the proteins at extremely low levels, making these photoproteins attractive labels for analytical applications. In that regard, the use of certain photoproteins, namely, aequorin, obelin, and the green fluorescent protein as labels in the design and development of binding assays for biomolecules has been reviewed. In addition, a related fluorescent photoprotein, the green fluorescent protein (GFP), has been recently employed in bioanalysis. The use of GFP in binding assays is also discussed in this review.     

Simultaneous ab initio calculations of isoelectronic diatomic molecules

Large gaussian basis sets are employed in simultaneous configuration interaction calculations for the ground states of isoelectronic diatomic molecules. The resulting potential energy curves for three members respectively of four different isoelectronic molecule sequences show the applicability of the method. Comparisons with available results of standard configuration interaction calculations for selected molecules are given. Using our method we often get lower upper bounds for the electronic energy, save computer time and treat physically totally different molecules simultaneously.     

Phase coexistence overlap induced by steric interactions

Novel phase diagram calculations, in which the two phase-separated regions of polymer stabilized colloidal suspensions overlap under certain constraints of the reduction in the range of the steric interaction with increasing temperature, are presented. A phase diagram displaying liquid-vapour, liquid-solid and vapour-solid coexistence with two triple points, but no critical points is shown to exist in qualitative agreement with observations.     

Calculation of the 1J(PP) angular dependence in P2H4

Using the results obtained from an MO SCF ab initio calculation on P₂H₄ in four different conformations, the ¹J(PP) NMR coupling constants have been calculated. The ¹J(PP) values are highly dependent upon the rotational angle φ (?238.0 Hz in the eclipsed conformation, 10.9 Hz in the staggered one). The shape of the theoretical ¹J(PP) plot seems to be in good agreement with experimentally measured ¹J(PP) values.     

IN VIVO INDUCTION OF 4-THIOURIDINE-CYTIDINE ADDUCTS IN tRNA OF E. COLI B/r BY NEAR-ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION*

Abstract— Near-ultraviolet (near-UV; 320–405 nm) irradiation of Escherichia coli B/r induces the formation in vivo of ⁴Srd-Cyd adducts in transfer RNA, as evidenced by (1) fluorescence spectrum changes of tRNA extracted from irradiated cells and reduced with NaBH₄, (2) thin-layer chromatography on cellulose of hydrolysates of trichloroacetic acid-precipitable extracts of irradiated cells, and (3) comparison of these findings with adduct formation induced by near-UV irradiation of purified mixed tRNA from E. coli. The kinetics of induction of the ⁴Srd-Cyd adduct in vivo, and the near-UV fluences required, provide strong support for our earlier hypothesis that formation of these adducts is responsible for near-UV-induced growth delay in E. coli.     

Photophysical behaviour of azaphenanthrenes

Nitrogen position and internal heavy atom effects on the radiative and radiationless transitions from the lowest excited states of the isomeric azaphenanthrenes and some of their methyl, chlorine and bromine derivatives have been studied in E.P.A. solutions at 77 K. The nitrogen position affects the fluorescence and S₁-T₁ intersystem crossing rates more than the phosphorescence and T₁-S₀ intersystem crossing rates. Small differences in the behaviour of 9-azaphenanthrene are enhanced in non-hydroxylic solvents and at room temperature, and it is inferred that (n, π*) states play a more important role in the photophysical behaviour of this isomer. Halogen, substitution in all the isomers increases the phosphorescence rate, induces a smaller increase in the T₁-S₀ intersystem crossing rates and has a negligible effect on the fluorescence rate.     

Studies of solvent effects

The effect of water on the conformational preferences of acetylcholine has been studied within the discrete, the continuum and the combined discrete-continuum models described in parts I and II of this series. All the models lead to the conclusion that the trans-gauche form which is, following refined quantum-mechanical computations, the intrinsically preferred one and the one observed in the crystal of acetylcholine and of a number of analogues should remain also the preferred conformation in water. This result agrees with NMR studies. The results of the empirical discrete model used here compare favorably to those obtained by an ab initio super-molecule treatment. The continuum model utilized here represents a net improvement above such models utilized in other works.     

Calculations of the electronic structures of cage molecules using free-electron orbitals as a basis

A non-empirical molecular orbital method, particularly suitable for calculations on cage-like molecules, is described. The method uses as basis functions the set of free-electron functions which are the solutions of Schrödinger's equation for an electron confined between two concentric, spherical potential energy barriers. Application of the theory to the SCF calculation of the energies of the delocalized electrons in benzene and tetrasulphur tetranitride shows that the model is capable of interpreting the properties of such systems. However, it does highlight a difficulty in the calculation of excited state energies with one-centre models which appears to be largely unrecognized.Extension of the method to a consideration of all the valence electrons, using P₄ as an example, reveals problems the origin of which is an inadequate treatment of the core electrons. It is suggested that these problems may best be dealt with by use of a suitable pseudo potential.     

Vaporisation et dissociation thermique des sulfures de phosphore P4S3, P4S7 et P4S10 a l'etat gazeux

Résumé Nous avons montré par spectrométrie Raman à chaud et mesure des tensions de vapeur que P₄S₃ se vaporise de façon congruente tandis que P₄S₇ et P₄S₁₀ se dissocient dès le début de leur vaporisation. P₄S₇ donne réversiblement P₄S₃ et soufre. P₄S₁₀ se dissocie irréversiblement en P₄S₇ et soufre. A l'état de vapeur non saturante, P₄S₃ se dissocie au-dessus de 600° avec formation de phosphore, de soufre et d'autres espèces non identifiées.Nous avons mesuré expérimentalement la capacité calorifique de P₄S₃ liquide, calculé celle de P₄S₃ gazeux et son entropie standard. Nous avons aussi estimé l'enthalpie standard de vaporisation de P₄S₃ à l'aide des mesures des tensions de vapeur saturante. Nous en avons déduit l'entropie standard de P₄S₃ liquide et son point d'ébullition.

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It is shown by Raman spectroscopy at high temperature and by vapor tensimetric measurements that the vaporisation of P₄S₃ is congruent, whereas P₄S₇ and P₄S₁₀ dissociate at the beginning of vaporisation. P₄S₇ gives P₄S₃ and sulfur reversibly. The dissociation of P₄S₁₀ into P₄S₇ and sulfur is irreversible. Above 600°, in non-saturated vapour the dissociation of P₄S₃ gives phosphorus, sulfur and some unidentified gaseous species. The heat capacity of liquid P₄S₃ has been measured. That of gaseous P₄S₃ and its standard entropy have been calculated. The vaporisation standard enthalpy of P₄S₃ has been estimated from the experimental results on the saturated vapour pressures. The standard entropy of liquid P₄S₃ and its boiling point have been derived from these data.

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Zusammenfassung Mittels Raman-Spektrometrie bei erhöhter Temperatur und durch Messung der Dampfdrucke wurde festgestellt, daß sich P₄S₃ verflüchtigt, während P₄S₇ und P₄S₁₀ mit Beginn der Verflüchtigung dissoziieren. P₄S₇ ergibt reversibel P₄S₃ und Schwefel. Im Zustand ungesättigten Dampfes dissoziiert P₄S₃ oberhalb von 600° unter Bildung von Phosphor, Schwefel und anderer nicht identifizierter Substanzen.Die Wärmekapazität von flüssigem P₄S₃ wurde gemessen, während die vom gasförmigem P₄S₃ sowie seine Standard-Entropie berechnet wurden. Die Standard-Enthalpie der Verflüchtigung des P₄S₃ wurde durch Messungen der Sättigungs-Dampfdrucke ermittelt. Daraus wurden die Standard-Entropie des flüssigen P₄S₃ sowie sein Siedepunkt berechnet.

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- - , P₄S₃ , P₄S₇ P₄S₁₀ . P₄S₇ P₄S₃ , P₄S₁₀ P₄S₇ . 600° P₄S₃ , . P₄S₃, P₄S₃ . P₄S₃. P₄S₃ .

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Nous remercions Monsieur Letoffe du laboratoire du Professeur J. Bousquet, INSA de Lyon, 20 Avenue Albert Einstein 401, 69621 Villeurbanne, qui a r6alis6 pour nous les déterminations expérimentales des capacités calorifiques de P₄S₈ liquide.