Characterization of a gel-separated unknown glycoprotein by liquid chromatography/multistage tandem mass spectrometry: analysis of rat brain Thy-1 separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

We developed an efficient and convenient strategy for protein identification and glycosylation analysis of a small amount of unknown glycoprotein in a biological sample. The procedure involves isolation of proteins by electrophoresis and mass spectrometric peptide/glycopeptide mapping by LC/ion trap mass spectrometer. For the complete glycosylation analysis, proteins were extracted in intact form from the gel, and proteinase-digested glycoproteins were then subjected to LC/multistage tandem MS (MSn) incorporating a full mass scan, in-source collision-induced dissociation (CID), and data-dependent MSn. The glycopeptides were localized in the peptide/glycopeptide map by using oxonium ions such as HexNAc+ and NeuAc+, generated by in-source CID, and neutral loss by CID-MS/MS. We conducted the search analysis for the glycopeptide identification using search parameters containing a possible glycosylation at the Asn residue with N-acetylglucosamine (203 Da). We were able to identify the glycopeptides resulting from predictable digestion with proteinase. The glycopeptides caused by irregular cleavages were not identified by the database search analysis, but their elution positions were localized using oxonium ions produced by in-source CID, and neutral loss by the data-dependent MSn. Then, all glycopeptides could be identified based on the product ion spectra which were sorted from data-dependent CID-MSn spectra acquired around localized positions. Using this strategy, we successfully elucidated site-specific glycosylation of Thy-1, glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins glycosylated at Asn23, 74, and 98, and at Cys111. High-mannose-type, complex-type, and hybrid-type oligosaccharides were all found to be attached to Asn23, 74 and 98, and four GPI structures could be characterized. Our method is simple, rapid and useful for the characterization of unknown glycoproteins in a complex mixture of proteins.     

Preparation of fritless capillary using avidin immobilized magnetic particles for electrochromatographic chiral separation

In capillary electrochromatography (CEC), magnetic particles (MPs) were packed in a fused silica capillary by using the magnetic field to be retained without frits. For a chiral CEC separation, avidin was immobilized onto the surface of the MPs (AVI-MPs) as a stationary phase by using the physical adsorption technique. The injected AVI-MPs into the capillary were stably captured with the magnet (surface magnetic flux density, 250 mT) under the separation voltage of 10 kV (190 V/cm). By employing the fritless AVI-MPs packed capillary, the chiral separation of ketoprofen was successfully attained with the packing length of only 5 cm. Effects of the modification condition of avidin, pH of background solution, and the packing length on the enantioseparation were also investigated. Under the optimal condition, furthermore, the repeatability for the retention time of ketoprofen was better than 1.5% in the relative standard deviation and the capillary-to-capillary reproducibility was also acceptable in the prepared fritless capillaries.     

Highly regioselective ring opening of epoxides with alcohols catalyzed by organotin phosphate condensates

Organotin phosphate condensates proved to catalyze the ring opening reaction of epoxides with alcohols in a highly regioselective manner.     

Determination of impurities in strontium titanate ceramics by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The determination of impurities in SrTiO₃ by ICPMS was investigated. The sample was decomposed with hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids in a PTFE pressure vessel. The internal standard method using Au was selected to eliminate an ion count suppression by the Sr and Ti matrix. Impurities at sub g/ml level in SrTiO₃ were determined. The detection limits were in the range of 0.008 to 0.01 g/g.     

Effects of surface processing of lactose carrier particles on dry powder inhalation properties of salbutamol sulfate

The effects of the surface processing of lactose carrier particles on the dry powder inhalation properties of salbutamol sulfate were investigated. Lactose carrier particles were processed using a high-speed elliptical-rotor-type powder mixer (Theta-Composer). In the present study, drug/carrier powder mixtures were prepared, consisting of micronized salbutamol sulfate and coarse lactose carriers with various particle surface conditions prepared by surface processing. These powder mixtures were aerosolized by a Jethaler, and the in vitro inhalation properties of salbutamol sulfate were evaluated with a twin impinger. Compared with those of the powder mixed with unprocessed lactose carriers, the in vitro inhalation properties of the powder mixture prepared using the surface processed lactose carriers were significantly different, showing that the in vitro inhalation properties of salbutamol sulfate were improved. The in vitro inhalation properties increased with the rotor rotation rate. Using this surface processing system would thus be valuable for increasing the inhalation properties of dry powder inhalation with lactose carrier particles.     

Widely Applicable Deprotection Method of 2,2,2-Trichloroethoxycarbonyl (Troc) Group Using Tetrabutylammonium Fluoride

The N-Troc (2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl) groups in glucosamine and muramic acid derivatives were removed by treatment with tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) under mild conditions. The use of Troc protection for the amino group in aminosugars such as glucosamine is increasing the importance for selective and efficient glycosylation, and the cleavage method described here will expand the available opportunities for using the Troc group in the preparation of a variety of glycans. This cleavage is especially advantageous for compounds that are labile or may be decomposed under acidic conditions, strong basic conditions, or reductive conditions.     

Training native English speakers to identify Japanese vowel length contrast with sentences at varied speaking rates

Native English speakers were trained to identify Japanese vowel length in three types of training differing in sentential speaking rate: slow-only, fast-only, and slow-fast. Following Pisoni and Lively's high phonetic variability hypothesis [Pisoni, D. B., and Lively, S. E., Speech Perception and Linguistic Experience, 433-459 (1995)], higher stimulus variability by means of training with two rates was hypothesized to aid learners in adapting to speech rate variation more effectively than training with only one rate. Trained participants identified the length of the second vowel of disyllables, short or long, embedded in a sentence of the respective rate, and received immediate feedback. The three trained groups' abilities before and after training were examined with tests containing sentences of slow, normal, and fast rates, and were compared with those of a control that was not trained. A robust effect of slow-fast training, a marginal effect of slow-only training, but no significant effect of fast-only training were found in the overall test scores. Slow-fast and slow-only training showed small advantages over fast-only training on the fast-rate test scores, while effects for all three training types were found on the slow- and normal-rate test scores. The degree to which the results support the high phonetic variability hypothesis is discussed.     

Sex Differences in Physical Activity in People After Stroke: A Cross-sectional Study

OBJECTIVE: Adequate physical activity after stroke is critical for cardiovascular health. Although sex is a potential factor associated with post-stroke physical activity, its mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to examine sex differences in human physical activity following stroke. METHOD: A cross-sectional study with 62 participants (men: 42, women: 20) was conducted. Physical activity was measured for three consecutive days using a step activity monitor. The walking durations per day in light physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and total physical activity were calculated. Sex differences in walking duration were compared using Welch''s t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: Women had a significantly greater walking duration in light physical activity and in total than did the men. In contrast, no significant differences were found in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. CONCLUSION: This study reported sex differences in the walking duration after stroke. Moreover, it found that women spent more time in low intensity physical activity than men. Our results will be useful for planning interventions to increase physical activity and decrease sedentary behavior after stroke.     

Hydrogen gas-sensing properties of Pt/WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> thin film in various measurement conditions

A well-known gasochromic material is Pt particle-dispersed tungsten trioxide (Pt/WO₃). Its optical properties could make it effective as a hydrogen gas sensor. In this study, Pt nanoparticle-dispersed WO₃ thin films were prepared using the sol–gel process, and their optical and electrical properties dependent on the working environment (i.e., temperature, hydrogen gas concentration, oxygen partial pressure, etc.) were investigated. The Pt/WO₃ thin films prepared at 400 °C showed the largest change in optical transmittance and electrical conductivity when exposed to hydrogen gas compared with the films prepared at other temperatures. The optical absorbance and electrical conductivity were found to be dependent on the hydrogen and oxygen gas concentration in the atmosphere because generation and disappearance of W⁵⁺ in the thin films depend on the equilibrium reaction between injection and rejection of H⁺ into and from the thin films. In addition, the equilibrium reaction depends on the hydrogen and oxygen gas concentrations.