Study of the Ternary Complex Formation Between Vanadium(III), Dipicolinic Acid and Small Blood Serum Bioligands

Ternary complex formation reactions were studied between vanadium(III), dipicolinic acid and small molecular weight blood serum components: lactic, oxalic, citric and ortophosphoric acids. The electromotive force measurement permitted us to determine the chemical speciation of the complexes formed. In the vanadium(III)–dipicolinic acid–lactic acid system the complexes detected were: V(dipic)(lac), V(dipic)(lac)(OH)⁻ and V(dipic)(lac)(OH)₂^2-(\mathrm{OH})_{2}^{2-}. In the vanadium(III)–dipicolinic acid–oxalic acid system the observed complexes were: V(dipic)(ox)⁻, V(dipic)(ox)(Hox)²⁻ and V(dipic)(ox)₂^3-(\mathrm{ox})_{2}^{3-}. In the vanadium(III)–dipicolinic acid–citric acid system the complexes V(dipic)(Hcit)⁻, V(dipic)(cit)²⁻, V(dipic)(cit)(OH)³⁻, V(dipic)(cit)(OH)₂^4-(\mathrm{OH})_{2}^{4-} and V(dipic)(cit)(OH)₃^5-(\mathrm{OH})_{3}^{5-} were detected. Finally in the vanadium(III)–dipicolinic acid–phosphoric acid system the complexes V(dipic)(H₂PO₄) and V(dipic)(HPO₄)⁻ were observed. The UV-vis spectra allowed us to perform a qualitative characterization of the complexes formed in aqueous solution.     

Rapid Resolution Liquid chromatography/High Resolution Tandem Mass Spectrometry to Characterize Metabolic Changes in Subjects Involved in MARS500 Project

A rapid resolution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis was applied to human urine samples to discover new molecular biomarkers of the alteration of psychophysical well-being due to the environmental, physiological and confinement stress conditions achieved in the MARS500 project. Urine samples of crew members were submitted to metabolomic studies by means of separative techniques coupled with mass spectrometric techniques and data analysis. More than 2,000 metabolite features were found in each comparison, and more than 150 metabolites were identified for every differential analysis. Significant modifications in eight metabolites were shared by the subjects under study.     

Identification of changes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum durum</Emphasis> L. leaf proteome in response to salt stress by two-dimensional electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

In order to understand the molecular basis of salt stress response, a proteomic approach, employing two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), was used to identify proteins affected by salinity in wheat (Triticum durum ‘Ofanto’). Identification of proteins, whose levels were altered, was performed by comparing protein patterns of salt-treated and control plants. A set of control plants was grown without NaCl addition under the same conditions as the salt-treated plants. Proteins were extracted from the leaves of untreated and NaCl-treated plants, and resolved using 24-cm immobilized pH gradient strips with a pH 4–7 linear gradient in the first dimension and a 12.5% sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the second dimension; the gels were stained with Coomassie and image analysis was performed. Quantitative evaluation, statistical analyses and MALDI-TOF MS characterization of the resolved spots in treated and untreated samples enabled us to identify 38 proteins whose levels were altered in response to salt stress. In particular, ten proteins were downregulated and 28 were upregulated. A possible role of these proteins in response to salinity is discussed.     

Extraction of Quinolizidine Alkaloids in Non Aqueous Basic Conditions: The Case of Spartium junceum Flowers

In this work the use of basic nonaqueous conditions is suggested as a general method for the extraction of quinolizidine alkaloids. The extraction of quinolizidine alkaloids from fresh flowers of Spartium junceum is performed in ethanolic basic conditions. The procedure is efficient and selective. The extract is essentially formed by N-formylcytisine, N-methylcytisine, cytisine and anagyrine. The method allows a high recovery of N-formylcytisine which becomes the predominant alkaloid in S. Junceum flowers.     

Evaluation of boldenone formation and related steroids transformations in veal faeces by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

It is established that bovine urine can result positive for boldenone and androstadienedione in consequence of faecal contamination. The simple transfer of steroids to urine is one minor aspect of faecal contamination. A high de novo production of steroids in faeces after deposition and in faeces-contaminated urine is almost certainly due to microbial activity, although the precursor compounds and transformations leading to the presence of these illegal steroids are unclear. We developed a simple in vitro method - incubation of faecal matter suspended in 0.9% saline - to induce steroid transformations in faeces, and analyzed the products by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry, without the need for prior extraction. Norethandrolone was the internal standard. The linearity (R(2): 0.987-0.999), sensitivity (LODs: 0.3 to 1.0 ng/mL; LOQs: 1.0 to 3.0 ng/mL), precision (intra-day CVs: 2.6-8.2; inter-day CVs: 4.5-11.5) and accuracy (percentage recovery: 89-120%) were calculated for the studied steroids. Androstenedione, androstadienedione, alpha- and beta-boldenone, testosterone and epitestosterone transformations were investigated. Mutual interconversion of steroids was observed, although 17beta-hydroxy steroids had low stability compared with 17alpha-hydroxy and 17-keto steroids. The results suggest that this simple in vitro system may be an effective way of studying hormone transformations in faeces and, after analogue studies, in faeces-contaminated urine.     

Identification and determination of mainstream and sidestream smoke components in different brands and types of cigarettes by means of solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The qualitative and quantitative determination of components of mainstream and sidestream smoke has been performed by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Several brands and types of cigarettes sold in Italy were considered: normal, mild, light, extra light, some with filter and some without. Extraction of the analytes was performed by means of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and the optimisation of the extraction procedure was performed by experimental design, taking into consideration type of fiber polymer, exposure temperature and time. Sixty-seven components of mainstream and sidestream smoke were identified. The quantified compounds (by means of deuterium-labelled isotopologues) were benzene, toluene, p-xylene, m-xylene, pyridine, o-xylene, limonene, naphthalene, phenol and nicotine. Finally, a comparison between the chemical profile of smoke from the different cigarettes was made.     

Diaminotrehalose-capped β-cyclodextrin, a new member of hemispherodextrins: synthesis, thermodynamic and spectroscopic characterization and its exploitation in chiral electrokinetic chromatography

The diaminotrehalose-capped derivative of β-CD, a new member of hemispherodextrins, was synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy. Its protonation constants were determined by potentiometry, and the inclusion of both the enantiomers of dansyl-phenylalanine was investigated by NMR spectroscopy. Its stereoselective properties were exploited in electrokinetic chromatography by separating four enantiomeric pairs of dansyl derivatives of amino acids.     

Biheteroaromatic diphosphine oxides-catalyzed stereoselective direct aldol reactions

A highly stereoselective direct aldol condensation of ketones to aromatic aldehydes was realized; the trichlorosilyl enolether generated in situ in the presence of tetrachlorosilane is activated by catalytic amounts of an enantiomerically pure biheteroaromatic phosphine oxide to react with aldehydes, coordinated as well as activated by the chiral cationic hypervalent silicon species. This Lewis acid-mediated Lewis base-catalyzed transformation allowed, starting from two carbonyl compounds, to directly synthesize β-hydroxy ketones generally with high anti stereoselectivity and up to 93% ee for the anti isomer.     

Thermal transformation of micro-crystalline cellulose in phosphoric acid

Use of crude oil derivatives such as diesel and gasoline is becoming unsuitable due to their detriment to environment and to the increasing worldwide energy demand which is driving crude oil reservoirs towards exhaustion. Replacement of diesel and gasoline with biofuels (i.e. biodiesel and bioethanol, respectively) is very desirable. In fact, biofuels are not only environmentally sustainable, but also potentially inexhaustible due to the large amounts of waste biomasses from which they can be retrieved. In the present study, a model compound (micro-crystalline cellulose) was dissolved in phosphoric acid and converted at 80 °C to glucose, thereby providing the possible substrate for fermentation to bioethanol. Results revealed that after 1 h heating, the reaction had the largest glucose yield as compared to similar studies done by using other acid catalysts. In addition, the temperature applied here was from 40 to 60 °C lower than those already reported in literature for acid-driven cellulose degradations. Phosphoric acid allowed both glucose and levulinic acid achievement. The latter is usually used to synthesize fuel additives, catalysts, solvents and herbicides, thereby enhancing the added value of the conversion of cellulose to glucose in phosphoric acid. Finally, ¹H T₁ NMR relaxometry showed its suitability to monitor cellulose degradation. The advantages of relaxomety are its quickness since only few minutes are needed to obtain relaxograms, and the possibility to use raw mixtures without the needing of sample preparation.     

Formation of insulin fragments by insulin‐degrading enzyme: the role of zinc(II) and cystine bridges

Insulin is the hormone mainly involved in widespread diseases such as diabetes mellitus. It is widely recognized that metal ions such as zinc(II) as well as insulin degradation and insulin fragments are inexplicably linked to the hormone action. Insulin‐degrading enzyme (IDE) has been identified as the main factor of insulin degradation, but it is still unknown the exact way and location at which IDE action toward insulin occurs and how metal ions can modulate this interaction. Interestingly, some insulin fragments have different biological activity from the intact hormone, and it is not clear how they can be generated from insulin. In this work, the role of zinc(II) and cystine bridges in the degradation of insulin by IDE are investigated by high‐performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS), and the experimental conditions at which peculiar insulin fragments having biological activity are formed by the action of IDE are found and discussed. Docking simulations of IDE/insulin A and B chains are in good accordance with the insulin fragments detected by HPLC‐MS. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.