Peptide Dimethylation: Fragmentation Control via Distancing the Dimethylamino Group

Direct reductive methylation of peptides is a common method for quantitative proteomics. It is an active derivatization technique; with participation of the dimethylamino group, the derivatized peptides preferentially release intense a₁ ions. The advantageous generation of a₁ ions for quantitative proteomic profiling, however, is not desirable for targeted proteomic quantitation using multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry; this mass spectrometric method prefers the derivatizing group to stay with the intact peptide ions and multiple fragments as passive mass tags. This work investigated collisional fragmentation of peptides whose amine groups were derivatized with five linear ω-dimethylamino acids, from 2-(dimethylamino)-acetic acid to 6-(dimethylamino)-hexanoic acid. Tandem mass spectra of the derivatized tryptic peptides revealed different preferential breakdown pathways. Together with energy resolved mass spectrometry, it was found that shutting down the active participation of the terminal dimethylamino group in fragmentation of derivatized peptides is possible. However, it took a separation of five methylene groups between the terminal dimethylamino group and the amide formed upon peptide derivatization. For the first time, the gas-phase fragmentation of peptides derivatized with linear ω-dimethylamino acids of systematically increasing alkyl chain lengths is reported. Figure

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互穿网络型二阶非线性光学极化聚合物

报导了二阶非线性光学材料含对硝基苯偶氮苯烷基胺发色基团的聚氨酯和聚丙烯酸酯的互窗网络聚合物的合成和极化工艺，考察了微观形态，用电致色变法测定了其极化膜发色基团的取向度及取向的热稳定性，其二阶非线性光学系数ｘ＾（２）可达１０＾－７ｅｓｕ量级。该互穿网络聚合物极化膜有良好的光学性质和优异的热稳定性，在１２０℃温度下序参数可长期保持稳定。     

Sorption of Radiocobalt on Bentonite and Kaolinite

The factors affecting the sorption of radiocobalt by bentonite and kaolinite were studied with the aim to assess important factors which should be included in modelling radiocobalt migration in soils and waters. The distribution coefficients of radiocobalt sorption on bentonite and kaolinite from aqueous solutions were determined by using the batch method, and it was found that they were insensitive to the loading, the initial pH, the ionic strength, the humic substance and the sorption direction. Thus, the sorption characteristics of radiocobalt on bentonite and kaolinite facilitated the mathematical modelling of radiocobalt migration. In addition, the sorption kinetics and the sorption mechanism of radiocobalt on bentonite and kaolinite were also examined.     

A first principles investigation on the structural,phonon, elastic and thermodynamic properties of the Si0.5Sn0.5 cubic alloy

An investigation on the structural, phonon, elastic and thermodynamic properties of the Si_0.5Sn_0.5 cubic alloy has been conducted using the norm-conserving pseudopotentials within the local density approximation in the frame of the density functional theory (DFT) and the density functional perturbation theory (DFPT) in the ABINIT code. Our results demonstrate that the Si_0.5Sn_0.5 cubic alloy in the zinc-blende phase keeps dynamically stable until 8 GPa. The elastic constants and thermodynamic quantities as a function of pressure and/or temperature are also presented.     

导电聚合物热电材料研究进展

导电聚合物在室温下具有较高的电导率(σ)、较低的热导率(κ)、柔韧性好、易于合成、原料来源丰富、对环境无污染等优势,是目前最具有热电应用潜力的有机热电材料之一。然而,目前针对导电聚合物作为有机热电材料的相关研究依然处于初级阶段,其在空气气氛中的化学稳定性问题、低的热电优值及尚未完全明确的热电机制一直困扰着研究人员。本文主要针对以上问题,在对前人的研究成果进行综述的基础上对目前有机热电材料所面临的关键问题进行阐述和总结。     

A one‐step strategy for aliphatic poly(carbonate‐ester)s with high performance derived from CO2, propylene oxide and l‐lactide

To improve the performance of PPC, aliphatic poly(carbonate‐ester)s were prepared in one‐step strategy from the terpolymerization of CO₂, propylene oxide (PO), and l ‐lactide (L ‐LA) catalyzed by zinc glutarate. Consequently giving high‐molecular weight terpolymers (PPCLAs) in a very high yield (8450.8–9435.8 g mol^?1 of Zn). The resulting terpolymers PPCLAs were characterized by ¹H NMR, showing that PPCLAs had an almost alternating structure for the components of CO₂, PO, and L‐LA. The influence of molecular weight and L‐LA content on the properties of PPCLAs was also investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis (measurements revealed that the glass transition temperature (T _g) and thermal decomposition temperature (T _d) of PPCLAs are all much higher than those of PPC and increased with increasing molecular weight and L‐LA content. Tensile tests showed that the high mechanical properties of PPCLAs are due to the introduction of L‐LA into the copolymerization of CO₂ and PO. Furthermore, PPCLA4 exhibits high degradability, and after 10 weeks, the weight loss increases up to 6.58%, which is significantly higher than that of PPC of 4.58%. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identification of Metabolites of Epimedin A in Rats Using UPLC/Q–TOF–MS

Herba Epimedii (Epimedium) is a kind of tonic herb, widely used in China. Epimedin A is a major component of Herba Epimedii with bioactivities. Analysis of the metabolic profile in vivo plays a pivotal role in understanding how traditional Chinese medicine works. And the metabolites of epimedin A might influence the effects of Herba Epimedii. Moreover, the metabolic routes of epimedin A provide an important basis for safety evaluation. Until now, little has been known about the metabolism of epimedin A. The current study was designed to characterize the metabolic pathways of epimedin A in vivo. The metabolites in rat plasma, bile, feces, and urine were identified by UPLC/Q–TOF–MS analysis. A total of 27 metabolites from epimedin A were detected or tentatively identified. The major metabolic processes were hydrolysis, hydrogenation, hydroxylation, dehydrogenation, demethylation, and conjugation with glucuronic acid and different sugars. The present study revealed the metabolic pathways of epimedin A in rat for the first time, and epimedin A could undergo extensive phase I and phase II metabolism in rat. These findings would provide an important basis for the further study and clinical application of epimedin A. In addition, the results of this work have shown the feasibility of the UPLC/Q–TOF–MS approach for rapid and reliable characterization of metabolites.     

A colorimetric sensor for the recognition of biologically important anions

A colorimetric anion sensor 1 based on 3-phthaloyl-N-4-nitrophenylhydrozone was synthesized and characterized. The binding ability evaluated by UV?Cvis experiment reveals that 1 can selectively recognize fluoride. Further insights into the nature of interactions between sensor 1 and anions were investigated by H NMR titrations experiments. In addition, the color changes induced by fluoride can provide a way of detection by ??naked-eye??.     

Rapid, sensitive DNT vapor detection with UV-assisted photo-chemically synthesized gold nanoparticle SERS substrates

We report rapid, sensitive, and direct detection of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) vapor using tailored gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) as the SERS substrate. The Au-NPs were synthesized using the UV-assisted photo-chemical reduction method and subsequently formed a monolayer on the glass slide through polymer-mediated self-assembly. The SERS substrate such prepared has high SERS enhancement, high affinity towards DNT vapor, and rapid response to the DNT adsorption/desorption. We systematically studied the effect of the Au-NP size and surface density on the SERS performance such as enhancement factor and response time. With the optimized SERS substrate, an enhancement factor over 5.6 × 10(6) was achieved. Furthermore, real-time detection of DNT vapor with only 0.35 second data acquisition time was demonstrated using a 12 mW laser. Compared to previously reported results, we achieved two orders of magnitude reduction in detection time and more than one order of magnitude reduction in excitation laser power. The detection limit is estimated to be 0.4 attogram, which corresponds to a sub-ppb DNT concentration in air. This work will lead to the development of ultra-fast and ultra-sensitive SERS devices for explosive identification and monitoring.