Stability of a novel hexapeptide, (Me)Arg-Lys-Pro-Trp-tert-Leu-Leu-OEt, with neurotensin activity, in aqueous solution and in the solid state

The stability and some physicochemical properties of a novel hexapeptide, (Me)Arg-Lys-Pro-Trp-tert-Leu-Leu-OEt (I), with neurotensin activity, were investigated. The degradation of I in aqueous solution was observed as a pseudo-first order reaction. By determining the degradation rate of I at various pH values, it was found that I was most stable at around pH 4. The activation energies of the degradation in aqueous solutions at pH 2.2, 6.1, 7.0 and 8.0 were 16.3, 22.2, 23.9 and 24.2 kcal/mol, respectively. The enzymatic hydrolysis of I was studied in vitro with a porcine liver esterase at 37 degrees C. The degradation of I in this system was observed as a pseudo-first order reaction. The degradation rate of I in the presence of the esterase was about 10000 times larger than the rate in a buffer solution. I in the solid state was stable under 65 degrees C and labilized by strong light and/or high humidity. The pKa1, pKa2 and pKa3 of I were 7.1, 10.0 and 11.3, respectively. The partition coefficients between n-octanol and the buffer solution at pH values ranging from 2 to 11 were measured. The partition coefficient increased with the increase of the pH value. But the value at pH 7.0 was 2.10 x 10(-2), which was very low. The solubility of I in aqueous solution was more than 10 mg/ml. From the results of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern, I in the solid state was found to be amorphous. The dissolution rates in the 1st and 2nd fluid of JPXI at 37 degrees C and 100 rpm were 19.4 and 9.0 mg/cm2.min, respectively.     

Collision-induced dissociations of substituted benzyl anions: Deprotonated 2-Phenyl-1,3-dithiane

Deprotonated 2-phenyl-1,3-dithiane undergoes competitive losses of H˙, C₃H₆ C₂H₄S, C₃H₄S, C₇H₆S, C₁₀H₁₀ and C₁₀H₁₀S upon collisional activation. The elimination of H occurs from the phenyl ring. The loss of C₃H₆ occurs by simple cleavage of the dithiane ring. All other processes involve specific proton transfer followed by either cleavage or internal nucleophilic displacement.     

Synthesis of fluoride garnets {Na3}[M3+2](Li3)F12 (M = Al,Cr, and Fe) from aqueous solution and their properties

The garnet-type fluorides, Na₃M₂Li₃F₁₂ (M = Al, Cr, and Fe) were synthesized as the coprecipitates of ～1 to 10 μm powders from HF solutions. The garnet structures were always obtained under acidic conditions. The incorporation of water molecules into the structure of the Cr and Fe garnets was observed. After heat treatment at 300°C, very small unknown peaks were observed in the X-ray powder pattern in addition to the garnet phase which had a slightly smaller value of the lattice constant than that of hydrous garnets. From the measurement of magnetic properties and Mössbauer effects, the Fe and Cr garnets were found to be paramagnetic with both ions in the trivalent state. Presentation of infrared spectra of the garnets is also included.     

Etude de la reaction de lactonisation de l'acide ethylenedioxy-1,1 methyl-2 oxo-3 cyclopentane-2- propionique

The lactonisation of ethylene 1,1-dioxy 2-methyl 3-oxo cyclopentane-2 propionic acid has been affected by a new method whose mechanism is discussed. The formation of a β-diketone and other products by isomerisation of the enol lactone has been avoided. The enol lactone is an important intermediate in the total synthesis of steroids and has been prepared with a good yield by the new method.     

Carbon anode materials from polysiloxanes for lithium ion batteries

Three kinds of silicon-containing disordered carbons have been prepared by pyrolysis of polysiloxanes with different amounts of phenyl side groups. X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical capacity measurements were performed to study their behaviors. Graphite crystallites, micropores, and silicon species affect their electrochemical performances. All of them present high reversible capacities, >372 mAh/g. Since the graphite crystallites are very small, they contribute very little to reversible capacity. The number of micropores produced by gas emission during the heat-treatment process decides whether they exhibit reversible capacity. Si mainly exists in the form C–Si–O and influences the irreversible capacity. There is no evident capacity fading in the first ten cycles, indicating promising properties for these disordered carbons.     

Purification of adipoyl-7-amino-3-deacetoxycephalosporanic acid from fermentation broth using stepwise elution with a synergistically adsorbed modulator

Multicomponent adsorption data of a fermentation broth containing adipoyl-7-amino-3-deacetoxycephalosporanic acid (adipoyl-7-ADCA), a cephalosporin precursor for 7-ADCA, and two key impurities, alpha-hydroxyadipoyl-7-ADCA and alpha-aminoadipoyl-7-ADCA were obtained from batch equilibrium and frontal chromatography tests. Amberlite XAD-1600 was chosen as the resin. A rate model was applied to simulate the chromatograms. An alkaline buffer, which by itself has no affinity for the resin, was used as the eluent. The widely used reversed-phase modulator model is inaccurate in explaining the stepwise elution data. A new model, the induced competition model, has been developed to account for apparent retention of the buffer in the presence of adsorbed species. Close agreement between the simulations and the data was achieved with the new model.     

Simultaneous determination of all-trans, 9-cis, 13-cis retinoic acid and retinol in rat prostate using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Since retinoic acid (RA) and RA receptors are key developmental regulators during organogenesis, they might participate in the abnormal development of the prostate caused by early estrogen exposure. In order to test this assumption, a sensitive analytical method that can differentiate 9-cis, 13-cis, and all-trans RA in small tissue samples ( approximately 8 mg) is required. Since retinol is the metabolic precursor to RA, simultaneous quantification of retinol would also provide valuable information. Here, we report a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method for simultaneous determination of retinol and 9-cis, 13-cis, and all-trans RA in rat prostate. Mass spectrometric signal responses for RA were compared using positive ion atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and electrospray, as well as positive ion and negative ion APCI. Positive ion APCI was selected for all subsequent analysis for its better sensitivity, and to provide simultaneous determination of retinol and RA. Ventral prostate tissue samples were homogenized and extracted following simple protein precipitation without derivatization. Baseline separation of 9-cis, 13-cis, and all-trans RA standards was obtained by using a non-porous silica C18 column. Selected ion monitoring of the ions m/z 301 and m/z 269 was carried out for mass spectrometric quantitative analysis. The ion of m/z 301 corresponded to the protonated molecule of RA, whereas the ion of m/z 269 corresponded to loss of water or acetic acid from the protonated molecule of retinol or the internal standard retinyl acetate respectively. The method has a linear response over a concentration range of at least three orders of magnitude. The limit of quantitation was determined to be 702 fmol all-trans RA injected on-column. The method showed excellent intra- and inter-assay reproducibility and good recovery, and is suitable for analyzing RA and retinol in small tissue samples (approximately 8 mg).     

Oligomerization of phenylacetylene on fe-catalysts

Using a low activity system as a catalyst gives additional opportunities for study of polymerization mechanism. We made an attempt using phenylacetylene as a monomer to synthesize, separate, and identify oligomers of this alkyne on melting iron catalyst—“naked” metal. Four components with the lowest molecular weight were identified as: (compound 1) isomers of 1,2-diphenylcyclobutadiene, (compound 2) 1,3-diphenylcyclobutadiene, (compound 3) 1,4-diphenylbuten-1-yne-3, and (compound 4) triphenyl substituted Dewar benzene. It was shown, that in the presence of iron catalysts the phenylacetylene oligomerization proceeds as a linear polymerization through a 2 + 2 cycloaddition.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for pteroylpolyglutamate hydrolase

A highly sensitive assay for pteroylpolyglutamate hydrolase is described employing high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet detection at 280 nm. The method is based on the separation of pteroylpolyglutamates containing various glutamyl residues on a C18 muBondapak reversed-phase column. Individual pteroylpolyglutamates are eluted by a gradient of 2.5-8.5% acetonitrile in 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) within 20 min. The polyglutamates with higher glutamyl residues were less well retained in the reversed-phase column. The relationship between the peak area and the amount of pteroylpolyglutamate was observed to be linear over the range 10 pmol to 2.5 nmol. Human serum pteroylpolyglutamate hydrolase was studied using pteroylpentaglutamate as substrate in 0.1 M sodium acetate buffer (pH 4.5). The enzyme appeared to function as an exopeptidase based on the detection of intermediates, pteroyltetra-, tri-, and -diglutamate, and the product, pteroylmonoglutamate. Using the HPLC assay, extracts of Plasmodium falciparum were found not to contain detectable enzyme activity.     

On the role of collective and local molecular fluctuations in the relaxation of proton intrapair dipolar order in nematic 5CB

We investigate the role that local motions and slow cooperative fluctuations have on the relaxation of the intrapair dipolar order in the nematic 5CB. With this purpose we present a theoretical and experimental systematic study which allow us to quantify the contribution from each type of molecular fluctuation to the intrapair dipolar order relaxation time, T(1D). The experimental work includes measurements of Zeeman and intrapair dipolar order relaxation times (T(1Z) and T(1D)) as a function of temperature at conventional NMR frequencies, in three complementary samples: normal and chain deuterated 4-n-pentyl-4(')-cyanobiphenyl (5CB and 5CB(d11)) and a mixture of normal 5CB and fully deuterated 4-n-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (5CB(d19)), 50% in weight. Additionally we perform T(1Z) field-cycling Larmor frequency-dependent measurements to obtain the spectral density of the cooperative fluctuations. The obtained results are as follows. (a) The cooperative molecular fluctuations have a strong relative weight in the relaxation of the intrapair dipolar order state, even at Larmor frequencies in the range of conventional NMR. (b) Alkyl chain rotations are an important relaxation mechanism of the intrapair dipolar order at megahertz frequencies. (c) Intermolecular fluctuations mediated by translational self-diffusion of the molecules is not an efficient mechanism of relaxation of the intrapair dipolar order.