Sample preparation for metalloprotein analysis: A case study using horse chestnuts

In the present work, 11 different procedures for protein and metalloprotein extraction from horse chestnuts (Aescullus hippocastanum L.) in natura were tested. After each extraction, total protein was determined and, after protein separation through sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), those metals belonging to the protein structure were mapped by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SRXRF). After mapping the elements (Cr, Fe and Mn) in the protein bands (ca. 33 and 23.7 kDa), their concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS).

Good results were obtained for protein extraction using a combination of grinding and sonication. However, this strategy was not suitable to preserve metal ions in the protein structure. In fact, there was 42% decrease on Mn concentration using this procedure, compared to that performed with sample agitation in water (taken as reference). On the other hand, when grinding and agitation with an extracting buffer was used, there was a 530% increase of Mn concentration, when compared to the reference procedure.

These results indicate agreement between metal identification and determination in proteins as well as the great influence of the extraction procedure (i.e., the sample preparation step) for preserving metals in the protein structures.     

A New ent‐Kaurane Diterpene from Stems of Alibertia macrophylla K. Schum. (Rubiaceae)

Phytochemical investigations of the stems of a specimen of Alibertia macrophylla led to the isolation and characterization of the new diterpene ent‐kaurane‐2β,3α,16α‐triol ( 1 ), along with triterpenes 2 – 8 , iridoids 9 – 12 , and phenolic acids 13 – 15 . The structure of 1 was established based on spectroscopic studies (¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, IR, and HR‐ESI‐MS). This is the first report of the isolation of a diterpene from the Alibertia genus in Rubiaceae.     

Thermodynamic Data for the Complex Formation of Alkylamines and Their Hydrochlorides with α-Cyclodextrin in Aqueous Solution

The formation of complexes between α-cyclodextrin and n-alkylamines and their hydrochlorides has been studied in aqueous solution using calorimetric titrations. All alkylamines form stronger complexes than the corresponding hydrochlorides. The values of the reaction enthalpies are smaller for the alkylamine hydrochlorides compared with the alkylamines. By increasing the number of methylene groups, these differences become smaller. In addition, the reaction enthalpies for protonation of the alkylamines and their complexes with α-cyclodextrin have been measured. The heat of protonation of these complexes is always smaller compared with the alkylamines. Due to the protonation and the formation of a strong solvation shell around the ammonium group the interactions with α-cyclodextrins are weakened. From a thermodynamic cycle using all measured reactions, it can be concluded that the aggregation of the alkylamines with long alkyl chains (heptyl-, octyl-, and nonylamine) has an influence on the values of the reaction enthalpies and entropies for the protonated form only.This revised version was published online in July 2005 with a corrected issue number.     

Self-consistent-field – Hartree–Fock method with finite nuclear mass corrections

We have upgraded a Self-consistent-field – Hartree–Fock routine to include a finite nuclear mass correction for molecules developed in our laboratory. The new routine can handle isotopomers without calculating any nuclear kinetic energy matrix element. Tests on H₂, LiH, HF, F₂, and H₂O isotopomers indicate the equivalence of our correction to the standard diagonal adiabatic correction. A further original application to C₂H₆ illustrates the usefulness of the method for polyatomic molecules. The resulting molecular orbitals carry the nuclear mass signature, exemplified with Koopmans ionization potentials.From the Proceedings of the 28th Congreso de Químicos Teóricos de Expresión Latina (QUITEL 2002)     

Characterisation of fatty acids in biological oil samples using comprehensive multidimensional gas chromatography

Comprehensive multidimensional gas chromatography can adequately resolve very complex mixtures of analytes such as the fatty acid mixtures which are contained in, e.g., fish and vegetable oils. Well-ordered patterns are obtained in the two-dimensional separation plane which can be used to tentatively identify peaks when no standard is available. The technique which can also be used for quantification, i.e., quantitative ratio analysis, should be especially useful for fingerprinting purposes. Unravelling the composition of complex mixtures such as fish oils appears to be highly rewarding.     

Synthesis of Chiral Cyclohexenones from α-Campholenic,Fencholenic, and β-Campholenic Derivatives

Summary. Optically active dimethylcyclohexenones, potential building blocks for enantioselective syntheses of various naturally active substances, were prepared. These compounds were obtained by oxidation with KMnO₄/Pb(OAc)₄ or ozonolysis of the corresponding cyclopentenic precursors, followed by aldol condensation. During the course of the preparation intermediate diols and chiral polyfunctional carbonyl derivatives were separated and identified analytically.     

Evaluation of dead time calculation in liquid chromatography using a linearization procedure for homologous series

A mathematical method for the calculation of the dead time (t_m) in HPLC was evaluated using a computer simulation approach, in which artificial perturbations were introduced to Simulated homolog retention times. The calculation was based on a modified and extended Grobler and Bálisz (GB) method. Investigated wav how the precision of the calculated t_M is affected by: statistical fluctuations in retention times and which, and how many homolog retention times are used. Based on these simulations a two-step procedure for the t_M calculation is proposed: In the first step the linearity of log t_{R, n} vs carbon number n is checked using as many homolog retention times as possible. The slope value b^o of the first linear regression in the GB method is used for the selection of homolog retention times in the final t_M calculation. In the second step the optimal selection of homologs is made and the final t_M calculation is carried out. Guidelines for homolog selection are given.     

Shell structure and response properties of metal clusters

Electronic shell structure, which was first recognized in sodium clusters, has been observed in alkali and noble metals, as well as in divalent and trivalent metals. Shell structure with modifications is expected to be broadly applicable to most metals. Features in the cluster abundance spectra and in the experimental dipole polarizabilities and ionization potentials correlate well with predictions of electronic level filling in spherical and spheroidal potential wells. The lack of precise quantitative agreement between experiment and theory for the response properties indicates necessary refinements in the self-consistent uniform background jellium model for clusters.     

High pressure-promoted cycloadditions of ketene acetals and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones

Cycloadditions of ketene acetals with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds are strongly promoted by high pressure. The influence of the solvent and the substitution pattern on the product distribution at 12 kBar has been investigated. In the polar solvent, acetonitrile, α,β-unsaturated aldehydes not having large β-substituents, yield mainly cyclobutane aldehydes, which are minor products at normal pressure. The products can be transformed under basic conditions without ring opening.     

Ionene–surfactant complexes: temperature and humidity sensitive materials

Solid stoichiometric complexes of [3,12]-ionene and dodecyl sulfate form upon reaction of the bromide of the ionene and the silver salt of dodecyl sulfate in methanol. IR, DSC, and TG investigations indicated that the solid complexes are stable between 30 and 120 °C. TG and DSC also showed that the complexes easily take up water at ambient conditions. These samples are optically isotropic. When exposed to an increased humidity they exhibit optical anisotropy, i.e., birefringence, which is caused by the formation of a hexagonal mesogenic phase. Mesogenicity is necessarily accompanied by a further uptake of water (4–5 H₂O molecules per ionic unit), which is dependent on the relative humidity. The phase behavior as a function of temperature and controlled relative humidity was studied using birefringence measurements and polarizing microscopy.