Mapping of stereoselective recognition sites on human serum transferrin by capillary electrophoresis and molecular modelling

Stereoselective recognition of chiral compounds can be used for mapping of surface interaction sites on proteins. Iron-free human serum transferrin is a suitable chiral selector in capillary electrophoresis used in native form in solution. Separation of optical isomers of tryptophan-methylester, tryptophan-ethylester and tryptophan-butylester and various drugs were studied in capillary zone electrophoresis applying a distinct transferrin zone prior to sample injection. Changes in the electrophoretic patterns (i.e., in the migration properties) of the molecules reflected the possible interactions with the protein. The tryptophan derivatives and eight drugs possessed stereoselective interactions, seven drugs showed interactions without appreciable chiral separation, and the others did not present any direct complexation with the protein molecules. Molecular modelling was performed to characterize the binding areas at the iron binding site of iron-free transferrin. The docking of tryptophan derivatives on transferrin showed that the R-enantiomers possess a stronger complexation with transferrin, whereas the S-enantiomers are bound by weaker interactions, which is in excellent agreement with the capillary electrophoresis results, where the R-enantiomers were always retarded stronger by transferrin. A ranking of drugs by the lipo score parameter of the docking shows an accordance with the stereoselective interactions by the protein.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of two new discrete, neutral complexes of manganese and zinc using a rigid organic clip

Two discrete neutral dimanganese(II) and tetrazinc(II) complexes were synthesized from a rigid organic clip and the corresponding metal acetates. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The manganese species is a dinuclear discrete product with two disordered acetates bridging two manganese centers, while the zinc one consists of two octahedral and two tetrahedral Zn(II) centers with both bridging acetates and triply micro(3)-hydroxides. Variable temperature magnetic measurement reveals the existence of weak antiferromagnetic interaction (J = -1.6 cm(-)(1); H = -2JS(1).S(2)) within the manganese complex.     

Determination of rare-earth elements in steels by radiochemical neutron activation analysis

For the separation of rare-earth elements from steel, with a cation exchange resin, separation experiments were performed on NIST reference materials of SRM-363 and SRM-364. Iron, Na, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, As, Mo, Sb and W were separated in 2M hydrochloric acid, five rare-earth elements, La, Ce, Pr, Nd and Sm and three other elements, Hf, Zr and Ba were separated using 8M nitric acid. Each element was determined by a single comparator method using two monitors, gold and cobalt.     

Calculation of the in-plane force constants and vibrational spectra of pyridine and its deuterated derivatives by the CNDO/2 force method

The in-plane vibrations of pyridine and its deuterated derivatives (4-d₁, 2,6-d₂, 3,5-d₂, and d₅) have been studied with the CNDO/2 force method. The calculated values of the force field scaled by five empirical parameters yield good agreement with the experimental spectra. The results seem to permit the reassignment of some bands.     

Synthesis, structure, and magnetic ordering of layered (2-D) V-based tris(oxalato)metalates

The reaction of K3[M(III)(ox)3].3H2O [M = V (1), Cr; ox = oxalate], Mn(II)/V(II), and [N(n-Bu)4]Br in water leads to the isolation of 2-D V-based coordination polymers, [[N(n-Bu)4][Mn(II)V(III)(ox)3]]n (2), [[N(n-Bu)4][V(II)Cr(III)(ox)3]]n (3), [[N(n-Bu)4][V(II)V(III)(ox)3]]n (4), and an intermediate in the formation of 4, [[N(n-Bu)4][V(II)V(III)(ox)3(H2O)2]]n.2.5H2O (4a), while 1-D [V(II)(ox)(H2O)2]n (5) is obtained by using Na2ox and [V(OH2)6]SO4 in water. The structures of 1-5 have been investigated by single crystal and/or powder X-ray crystallography. In 1, V(III) is coordinated with three oxalate dianions as an approximately D3 symmetric, trigonally distorted octahedron. 1 is paramagnetic [mu(eff) = 2.68 mu(B) at 300 K, D = 3.84 cm(-1) (D/k(B) = 5.53 K), theta = -1.11 K, and g = 1.895], indicating an S = 1 ground state. 2 exhibits intralayer ferromagnetic coupling below 20 K, but does not magnetically order above 2 K, and 3 shows a strong antiferromagnetic interaction between V(II), S = 3/2 and Cr(III), S = 3/2 ions (theta = -116 K) within the 2-D layers. 4 and 4a magnetically order as ferrimagnets at T(c)'s, taken as the onset of magnetization, of 11 and 30 K, respectively. The 2 K remanent magnetizations are 2440 and 2230 emu.Oe mol(-1) and the coercive fields are 1460 and 4060 Oe for 4 and 4a, respectively. Both 4 and 4a clearly show frequency dependence, indicative of spin-glass-like behavior. The glass transition temperatures were at 6.3 and 27 K, respectively, for 4 and 4a. 1-D 5 exhibits antiferromagnetic coupling of -4.94 cm(-1) (H = -2Jsigma(i=1)n.S(i-1) - gmu(B)sigma(i=0)(n)H.S(i)) between the V(II) ions.     

Characterization of complex,heterogeneous lipid A samples using HPLC–MS/MS technique I. Overall analysis with respect to acylation,phosphorylation and isobaric distribution

We established a new reversed phase‐high performance liquid chromatography method combined with electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry for the simultaneous determination and structural characterization of different lipid A types in bacteria (Escherichia coli O111, Salmonella adelaide O35 and Proteus morganii O34) showing serological cross‐reactivity. The complex lipid A mixtures (obtained by simple extraction and acid hydrolysis of the outer membrane lipopolysaccharides) were separated and detected without phosphate derivatization. Several previously unidentified ions were detected, which differed in the number and type of acyl chains and number of phosphate groups. In several cases, we observed the different retention of isobaric lipid A species, which had different secondary fatty acyl distribution at the C2′ or the C3′ sites. The fragmentation of the various, C4′ monophosphorylated lipid A species in deprotonated forms provided structural assignment for each component. Fragmentation pathways of the tri‐acylated, tetra‐acylated, penta‐acylated, hexa‐acylated and hepta‐acylated lipid A components and of the lipid A partial structures are suggested. As standards, the hexa‐acylated ion at m/z 1716 with the E. coli‐type acyl distribution and the hepta‐acylated ion at m/z 1954 with the Salmonella‐type acyl distribution were used. The results confirmed the presence of multiple forms of lipid A in all strains analyzed. In addition, the negative‐ion mode MS permitted efficient detection for non‐phosphorylated lipid A components, too. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photophysical properties of core-modified expanded porphyrins: nature of aromaticity and enhancement of ring planarity

We have investigated the excited-state dynamics and nonlinear optical properties of representative core-modified expanded porphyrins, tetrathiarubyrin, tetraselenarubyrin, pentathiaheptaphyrin, tetrathiaoctaphyrin, and tetraselenaoctaphyrin, containing 26, 30, and 34 pi electrons using steady-state and time-resolved absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic measurements along with femtosecond Z-scan method, with a particular attention to the photophysical properties related to molecular planarity and aromaticity. Core-modification of macrocycles by sulfur and selenium leads to NIR-extended steady-state absorption and fluorescence spectra and short-lived excited-state due to the heavy-atom effect in time-resolved spectroscopic experiments. Large negative nucleus-independent chemical shift values ranging from -13 to -15 ppm indicate that all molecular systems are highly aromatic. The observed enhancement of two-photon absorption cross-section values over 10 (4) GM for core-modified hepta- and octaphyrins is mainly attributable to their rigid and planar structures as well as their aromaticity. Overall, the observed spectroscopic and theoretical results consistently demonstrate the enhanced molecular planarity of core-modified expanded porphyrins compared with their corresponding all-aza expanded porphyrins.     

Improving the analytical sensitivity of alpha-emitting impurities in grinding high purity silica

The source of contaminating high purity silica during grinding process and analytical sensitivity of alpha-emitting impurities have been investigated. To improve the analytical sensitivity for alpha-emitting impurities in grinding high purity silica, a new procedure was studied by employing an irradiation facility in the hydraulic transfer system (HTS) and the nitrogen flushing system. The source of silica contamination was found to be attributed mostly to alumina balls. The detection limit of U and Th in 3N-grade silica samples by neutron activity analysis (NAA) could be improved to a sub-ng/g level. The contamination rates of Th, U, Cl, Fe and Na from the alumina balls were calculated to be 95%, 15%, 15% and 3.5%, respectively.     

Development of a method for the quantification of D-glucaric acid in different varieties of grapefruits by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectra

Grapefruits were found to contain D-glucaric acid, which has anticancer properties. In the present investigation, a method has been developed for the quantification of D-glucaric acid in grapefruit by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a simple isocratic mobile phase with detection at 210 nm. Grapefruit samples were homogenized, centrifuged and filtered through a 0.45 microm membrane and injected into a HPLC system. The developed method was used for the quantification of D-glucaric acid in nine widely used grapefruit varieties. Furthermore, the identity of D-glucaric acid was confirmed by mass spectra. Seasonal variation of D-glucaric acid within the individual varieties were also measured in fruits harvested during November, February and May. The overall trend of D-glucaric acid level was increased from early to late season fruits. The developed method has a sensitivity of D-glucaric acid as low as 0.05 microg with an accuracy and precision >95%. This method was found to be simple, fast, accurate and reproducible. Moreover, the identity of D-glucaric acid was confirmed by mass spectra. Additionally, the labor intensity and cost of sample preparation were greatly reduced as compared to reported methods. This is the first report on quantification of D-glucaric acid in different varieties of grapefruits from three harvesting sessions.