Novel fragmentation pathway for CID of (b<Subscript>n</Subscript>−1+Cat)<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions from model,metal cationized peptides

We report a new fragmentation pathway for the CID of (b3 - 1 + Cat)+ product ions derived from the model peptide AXAG, where X = beta-alanine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, epsilon-amino-n-caproic acid, or 4-aminomethylbenzoic acid. By changing the amino acid to the C-terminal side of the amino acid X, and incorporating 15N and 13C labeled residues at the same position, we conclude that the dissociation pathway most likely leads to a metal cationized nitrile. With respect to the various amino acids at position X, the putative nitrile product becomes more prominent, relative to the conventional (a3 - 1 + Cat)+ species, in the order beta-alanine < gamma-aminobutyric acid < epsilon-aminocaproic acid < 4-aminomethylbenzoic acid. The pathway is not observed for peptides with alpha-amino acids at position X. The product ion is observed most prominently during the CID of Li+ and Na+ cationized peptides, only to a small extent for Ag+ cationized peptides, and not at all from protonated analogues.     

Manual and automated enrichment procedures for biological samples using lipophilic gels

Aspects of the use of lipophilic gels in manual sample preparation procedures are reviewed. Neutral gels with a controlled hydrophobicity are used for sorbent extraction of non-polar and medium polarity compounds from biological fluids. Acidic amphiphilic compounds can be extracted as ion-pairs with decyltrimethylammonium ions. Solvent or detergent extracts of tissues or faeces can be mixed with hydrophobic gels for transfer of analytes from a solvent to a gel phase, permitting subsequent sample preparation in gel bed systems. Hydrophobic gels, alkyl-bonded silica and polystyrene matrices can be used in series for extraction of compounds with a wide range of polarities. Group fractionations are performed on neutral and ion-exchanging lipophilic gels to yield fractions of neutral, basic and acidic metabolites within selected polarity ranges. Selective isolation of phenolic acids on a strong anion exchanger, of ethynylic steroids on a strong cation exchanger in silver form and of oximes of ketonic steroids on a strong cation exchanger in hydrogen form is possible. A computerized system for automatic sample preparation is also described. It consists of an extraction bed, a cation-exchange column and an anion-exchange column. The pumps and switching valves are arranged so that the columns can operate in series or parallel for isolation of neutral, basic and acidic metabolites of amphiphilic compounds and for regeneration of the column beds. Fractions can be collected, or the effluent from the column beds can be diluted with water to permit sorption on a solid phase. The applicability of the automated method to the analysis of bile acids and metabolites of mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is demonstrated.     

Laser-induced fluorescence microscopic system using an optical parametric oscillator for tunable detection in microchip analysis

A laser-induced fluorescence microscopic system based on optical parametric oscillation has been constructed as a tunable detector for microchip analysis. The detection limit of sulforhodamine B (Ex. 520 nm, Em. 570 nm) was 0.2 mol, which was approximately eight orders of magnitude better than with a conventional fluorophotometer. The system was applied to the determination of fluorescence-labeled DNA (Ex. 494 nm, Em. 519 nm) in a microchannel and the detection limit reached a single molecule. These results showed the feasibility of this system as a highly sensitive and tunable fluorescence detector for microchip analysis.     

Crystallization Temperature Limit of (Ba,Sr)TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Thin Films Prepared by a Non Oxocarbonate Phase Forming CSD Route

A new chemical solution deposition (CSD) route for the fabrication of Ba_0.7Sr_0.3TiO₃ (BST) thin films has been developed which completely prevents the formation of an intermediate oxo-carbonate phase. The latter has been reported previously by several authors to be responsible for increased crystallization temperatures. Barium and strontium diaminoethoxides were synthesized starting from pure barium and strontium metal and aminoethanol. These alkoxides were found to be readily soluble in a wide range of solvents and thus were excellent candidates for the CSD process. To prepare a stable precursor solution the aminoalkoxides were dissolved in 2-butoxyethanol and then used for the deposition of BST thin films. We conclude that the minimum crystallization temperature of 600C to be independent of the formation of the oxo-carbonate phase. DTA-TGA were performed on the precursors and their solutions to study their decomposition behaviour. All films annealed at different temperatures were physically characterized by XRD, IR, and SEM. The films prepared by this route at 650C were found to have high dielectric constant and the leakage currents were comparable to BST films prepared by normal carboxylate based routes at 750C.     

Comments on “Cofino statistics”

Cofino et al. have put forward a method for the analysis of data from interlaboratory studies. The method uses ideas and notation from quantum chemistry, and is quite sophisticated. A critical examination shows that it has some relationship with both kernel density estimation and robust estimation methods. The quantitative results it provides are not founded on any statistical probability model, and it is not at all clear how the variance in particular is to be interpreted. There is no clear argument for adopting Cofino statistics in preference to simple problem-free methods that are at least as effective in estimating a concensus value.This report was prepared for the Statistical Subcommittee by Professor T. Fearn, with the assistance of Mr T. Robinson, and approved by the AMC on 25/11/03. The Statistical Subcommittee comprised: Dr. S.L.R. Ellison, Professor T. Fearn, Mr M. Gardner, Dr. F. Hollywood, Professor R.J. Howarth, Dr. P. Lowthian, Professor J.N. Miller, Dr. E.J. Newman, Professor B.D. Ripley, Professor M. Thompson (Chair), Dr. R. Wood, Dr. A. Williams and Mr J.J. Wilson (Secretary).     

Generation of peptide radical dications via low-energy collision-induced dissociation of [Cu<Superscript>II</Superscript>(terpy)(M + H)]<Superscript>·3+</Superscript>

The first example of the formation of hydrogen-deficient radical cations of the type [M + H](.2+) is demonstrated to occur through a one-electron-transfer mechanism upon low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) of gas-phase triply charged [Cu(II)(terpy)(M + H)](.3+) complex ions (where M is an angiotensin III or enkephalin derivative; terpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine). The collision-induced dissociation of doubly charged [M + H](.2+) radical cations generates similar product ions to those prepared through hot electron capture dissociation (HECD). Isomeric isoleucine and leucine residues were distinguished by observing the mass differences between [z(n) + H](.+) and w(n)(+) ions (having the same residue number, n) of the Xle residues. The product ion spectrum of [z(n) + H](.+) reveals that the w(n)(+) ions are formed possibly from consecutive fragmentations of [z(n) + H](.+) ions. Although only the first few [M + H](.2+) species have been observed using this approach, these hydrogen-deficient radical cations produce fragment ions that have more structure-informative patterns and are very different from those formed during the low-energy tandem mass spectrometry of protonated peptides.     

Exploring bioanalytical applications of assisted protein reassembly

Reassembly of protein from its peptide fragments is a technique that can have many applications in the bioanalytical field. Typically, a reporter protein fragmented into its two peptides is employed as a label in this study. This fragments of peptide can reassemble yielding an active functional reporter. This reassembly of the protein can be assisted by non-covalently interacting peptides or proteins, which are attached to the fragmented reporter. This technique has been employed in several applications including study of protein–protein interactions, antibody screening, immunoassays, and high-throughput screening. This review focuses on different reporters employed in the study of reassembly of proteins and applications of this strategy in bioanalysis.     

Transport in ceria electrolytes modified with sintering aids: effects on oxygen reduction kinetics

Small (2 mol%) cobalt oxide additions to ceria-gadolinia (CGO) materials considerably improve sinterability, making it possible to obtain ceramics with 95–99% density and sub-micrometre grain sizes at 1,170–1,370 K. The addition of Co causes a significant shift of the electrolytic domain to lower pO₂. This modification to the minor electronic conductivity of the electrolyte material has influence on the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction. The impedance technique is shown to provide information not only about polarisation resistance, but also about the active electrode area from analysis of the current constriction resistance. It is demonstrated that this current constriction resistance can be related to the minor electronic contributions to total conductivity in these materials. A simple imbedded grid approach gives control of the contact area allowing the properties of the electrolyte materials to be studied. A much lower polarisation resistance for the Co-containing CGO electrolyte is observed, which can be clearly attributed to an increased three-phase reaction area in the Co-containing material, as a consequence of elevated p-type conductivity.     

Application of high-performance liquid chromatography of some antibiotics in clinical microbiology

During recent years high-performance liquid chromatography has become an excellent tool for the determination of antibiotics in biological fluids. Compared with biological assays, the major benefits of this method are specificity and rapidity. In particular, the determination of biologically inactive metabolites emphasizes that this technique plays an outstanding role for the analysis of antibiotics. This paper describes how the method can be used in the analysis of several antibiotics and demonstrates the efficacy of this method for clinical microbiology. Methods for the determination in biological fluids of acylaminopenicillins (azlocillin, mezlocillin, piperacillin and aspoxicillin), quinolones (ciprofloxacine, norfloxacine and ofloxacine), a penem (imipenem) and a cephalosporin (cefixime) are summarized. Furthermore, their application to in vitro studies and their trial in clinical studies are described.     

Preparation of Fe/B powders by mechanical alloying

Steels with a high boron content are valuable as a neutron shield in waste containers and as control absorbers in nuclear reactors. The purpose of this study was to obtain by mechanical alloying an iron powder with 50% boron (by weight) and then powder-metallurgy materials. The elementary powders were mixed in a high-energy mill for 36 h in an inert atmosphere. Samples were withdrawn at intervals, and the powder was characterized by differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. The Fe/B powders withdrawn at different intervals of milling were diluted with further additions of iron up to a final content of 10% boron. The mixtures were uniaxially compacted at 500 MPa; their green density was verified, and they were sintered in argon at 1150°C. Their physical properties (density and dimensional change) and bending strength were evaluated and microstructural studies and fracture tests were performed.