Determination of the fragmentation mechanisms of organophosphorus ions by H2O and D2O atmospheric-pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Dimethylmethyl phosphonate (DMMP), dimethyl phosphite (DMPI), trimethyl phosphite (TMPI) and trimethyl phosphate (TMP) were investigated using H₂O and D₂O atmospheric-pressure ionization (API) tandem mass Spectrometry. All daughter ions could be explained by losses of one or a successive number of stable molecules as opposed to losses of radicals such as the hydride, methyl and methoxy species. Losses of neutral methanol and dimethyl ether and of protonated methanol and formaldehyde ions from all four organophosphorus pseudo-molecular ions were observed. The DMMP and DMPI MH⁺ pseudomolecular ions produced the losses of neutral C₂H₆ and water, respectively. Formaldehyde loss was not observed for the MH⁺ ions, but it was well represented in the decomposition pathways of daughter ions. The D₂O reagent gas highlighted the role of the ionizing proton/ deuteron in the various daughter ions, including m/z 95, 79, 65, 49, 33, 31 and 47. The last ion was found to be isobaric in that m/z 47 and 48 both appeared with similar abundances in the D₂O-API daughter ion mass spectra of TMPI and TMP.     

Comparisons of NMR spectral quality and success in crystallization demonstrate that NMR and X-ray crystallography are complementary methods for small protein structure determination

X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy provide the only sources of experimental data from which protein structures can be analyzed at high or even atomic resolution. The degree to which these methods complement each other as sources of structural knowledge is a matter of debate; it is often proposed that small proteins yielding high quality, readily analyzed NMR spectra are a subset of those that readily yield strongly diffracting crystals. We have examined the correlation between NMR spectral quality and success in structure determination by X-ray crystallography for 159 prokaryotic and eukaryotic proteins, prescreened to avoid proteins providing polydisperse and/or aggregated samples. This study demonstrates that, across this protein sample set, the quality of a protein's [15N-1H]-heteronuclear correlation (HSQC) spectrum recorded under conditions generally suitable for 3D structure determination by NMR, a key predictor of the ability to determine a structure by NMR, is not correlated with successful crystallization and structure determination by X-ray crystallography. These results, together with similar results of an independent study presented in the accompanying paper (Yee, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., accompanying paper), demonstrate that X-ray crystallography and NMR often provide complementary sources of structural data and that both methods are required in order to optimize success for as many targets as possible in large-scale structural proteomics efforts.     

Carbohydrate analysis prepares to enter the "Omics" era

In this issue, Houseman and Mrksich describe a carbohydrate array preparation method that can be used to analyze protein-carbohydrate interactions and to characterize the substrate specificity of a carbohydrate-modifying enzyme. Carbohydrate chips were prepared by a novel procedure that allows the covalent attachment of carbohydrate-diene conjugates to a specially engineered monolayer surface. The surface presents a precisely controllable ratio of reactive benzoquinone and inert ethylene glycol groups. Nonspecific adsorption of proteins to the surface is extremely low, and the surface is compatible with popular detection techniques. The immobilization technique was demonstrated to be compatible with recently developed automated solid phase carbohydrate synthesis methods, paving the way for the development of highly complex carbohydrate arrays.     

Catecholamine binding to CNS adrenergic receptors.

The properties of 3H-catecholamine binding to alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors in CNS are reviewed. 3H-epinephrine and 3H-norepinephrine label one class of alpha-receptors throughout the brain, with high affinities for agonists and some antagonists. Agonist affinities at this site are increased in low temperature conditions but are reduced by guanine nucleotides and monovalent cations. Divalent cations reverse both effects. This alpha-receptor may be coupled to adenylate cyclase by GTP and/or sodium, and uncoupled by divalent cations. 3H-epinephrine labels beta2, but not beta1, receptors in CNS, especially in bovine cerebellum. The same beta-receptor does not show agonist-specific GTP-sensitivity, but does exhibit Na+-sensitivity. This receptor appears to be linked to adenylate cyclase, and sodium rather than GTP may be the coupling agent.     

A unified and quantitative receptor model for the microtubule binding of paclitaxel and epothilone

[formula: see text] Paclitaxel and epothilone represent the two major classes of antimicrotubule agents that promote tubulin polymerization and, presumably, mitotic arrest during cell division. A common minireceptor binding site model at beta-tubulin has been constructed for these structurally divergent compounds. Utilizing 20 amino acids identified in photoaffinity labeling experiments, the 3-D model correlates measured and predicted Ki's with r = 0.99 and rms(delta Gcalc-delta Gexp) = 0.2 kcal/mol. In addition, the model predicts the affinity of compounds not used in the training set and explains much of the SAR for the paclitaxel and epothilone families.     

VACUUM ULTRAVIOLET NATURAL AND MAGNETIC CIRCULAR DICHROISM WITH CONVENTIONAL SOURCES AND SYNCHROTRON RADIATION

Vacuum ultraviolet natural and magnetic circular dichroism measurements have added significantly to our knowledge of the geometric and electronic structure of molecules and have provided a better understanding of the correct approach for theoretical calculations. In this review, I define natural and magnetic circular dichroism, and discuss information obtained with these techniques. The instrumentation for vacuum ultraviolet natural and magnetic circular dichroism is reviewed, from its beginning with conventional sources to the present time use of synchrotron radiation. The future possibilities and challenges for these measurements are examined with particular reference to making measurements to higher energies.