Single-pot derivatisation strategy for enhanced gliotoxin detection by HPLC and MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry

Gliotoxin is produced by non-ribosomal peptide synthesis and secreted from certain fungi, including Aspergillus fumigatus. It is an epipolythiodioxopiperazine that contains an intact disulphide bridge and is the focus of intense research as a consequence of its negative immunomodulatory properties. Gliotoxin detection is generally enabled by reversed-phase–high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), with absorbance detection (220–280 nm), or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, yet detection is not readily achievable by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS). We have developed a single-pot derivatisation strategy which uses sodium borohydride-mediated reduction of gliotoxin followed by immediate alkylation of exposed thiols by 5′-iodoacetamidofluorescein to yield a stable product, diacetamidofluorescein-gliotoxin (GT-(AF)₂), of molecular mass 1103.931 Da ((M + H)+). This product is readily detectable by RP-HPLC and exhibits a 6.8-fold increase in molar absorptivity compared with gliotoxin, which results in a higher sensitivity of detection (40 ng; 125 pmoL). GT-(AF)₂ also fluoresces (excitation/emission, 492:518 nm). Unlike free gliotoxin, the product (>800 fmol) is detectable by MALDI-ToF MS. Sporidesmin A can also be detected by RP-HPLC and MALDI-ToF MS (>530 fmol) using this strategy. We also demonstrate that the strategy facilitates detection of gliotoxin (mean ± SD = 3.55 ± 0.07 μg 100 μL⁻¹; n = 2) produced by A. fumigatus, without the requirement for organic extraction of culture supernatants and associated solvent removal. GT-(AF)₂ is also detectable (150 ng; 460 pmol) by thin-layer chromatography.     

Characterization of several stationary phases prepared by thermal immobilization of poly(methyltetradecylsiloxane) onto silica surfaces

Variations of a thermal immobilization procedure using poly(methyltetradecilsiloxane) and silica produced fourteen stationary phases with carbon contents of 4-18%. The stationary phases were chromatographically evaluated with the Engelhardt, SRM 870 and Tanaka tests. Classifications using USP and Euerby procedures indicate that the new immobilized phases are different from most commercial phases although there was some similarity with phases that have high ion-exchange interactions. The retention mechanism involved in the separation of basic solutes on several of the new stationary phases was studied by varying pH, type of Lewis base and the ionic strength of the eluent. The separations are strongly influenced by the chemistry of the accessible free silanols. The stationary phases present good selectivity at intermediate pH where the basic analytes were protonated, suggesting use of intermediate pH for these separations. Stability tests show that the stationary phases have poor stability at very high pH, even at 23°C, but good stability in acidic mobile phases, even at 75°C, as expected for an immobilized polymer stationary phase.     

Anion separations for liquid chromatography using propylpyridinium silica as the stationary phase

This work describes the characterization and potential applications of a silica-based anion-exchange phase prepared by a two-step modification process that incorporates a propylpyridinium group. The effects of pH and eluent concentration on anion separation were examined using 150 mm × 3.9 mm HPLC columns packed with the new phase. The mobile phase pH values ranged from 3.8 to 6.6 using phthalic acid/Tris solutions. The best separation was achieved using 2.5 mmol L⁻¹ phthalate/2.4 mmol L⁻¹ Tris solution at pH 4.2 as mobile phase with non-suppressed conductivity detection. The new stationary phase was used for the separation of some inorganic and organic anions showing good resolution. The stability of the silica-based anion exchange phase was also evaluated.Analytical curves, for concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 10 mg L⁻¹ for the inorganic anions chloride, nitrite, bromide and nitrate, showed good linear correlations (r > 0.998). The method was tested with certified rainwater samples. The measured and certified values were in good agreement, indicating that the new phase holds significant promise for the analysis of these anions in environmental samples.     

Synthesis and characterization of homo- and heterodinuclear M(II)-M'(III) (M(II) = Mn or Fe, M'(III) = Fe or Co) mixed-valence supramolecular pseudo-dimers. The effect of hydrogen bonding on spin state selection of M(II)

Reaction of H(3)L(1), the Schiff base condensate of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine with three equivalents of 5-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxaldehyde, with manganese(II)perchlorate or iron(II)tetrafluoroborate results in the isolation of [MH(3)L(1)]X(2) (M = Mn and X = ClO(4) and M = Fe and X = BF(4)). These complexes are high spin d(5) and d(6), respectively, as inferred from the long M-N bond distances obtained by single crystal X-ray diffraction for both and variable temperature magnetic susceptibility and M?ssbauer spectroscopy for the iron complex. Aerobic treatment of a solution of [CoH(3)L(1)](2+) with three equivalents of potassium hydroxide produced [CoL(1)]. Homonuclear pseudo-dimers were prepared by the aerobic reaction of [FeH(3)L(1)](BF(4))(2) with 1.5 equivalents of potassium hydroxide to give {[FeH(1.5)L(1)](BF(4))}(2) or by the metathesis reaction of [FeH(2)L(1)][FeHL(1)](ClO(4))(2) with sodium hexafluorophosphate to give [FeH(3)L(1)][FeL(1)](PF(6))(2). The complexes were characterized by EA, IR, ESI-MS, variable temperature single crystal x-ray diffraction and M?ssbauer spectroscopy. The iron(III) atom is low spin while the iron(II) atom is spin crossover. Heteronuclear pseudo-dimers were prepared by the 1:1 reaction of [FeH(3)L(1)](BF(4))(2) or [MnH(3)L(1)](ClO(4))(2) with [CoL(1)]. [MH(3)L(1)][CoL(1)](X)(2) (M = Fe and X = BF(4) or M = Mn and X = ClO(4)), were characterized by IR, EA, variable temperature single crystal X-ray diffraction and M?ssbauer spectroscopy in the iron case. The data support a spin crossover and high spin assignment for the iron(II) and manganese(II), respectively. DFT calculations demonstrate that the spin state of the iron(II) atom in {[FeH(3)L(1)][FeL(1)]}(2+) changes from high spin to low spin as the iron(II)-iron(III) distance decreases. This is supported by experimental results and is a result of hydrogen bonding interactions which cause a significant compression of the M(II)-N(pyrazole) bond distances.     

CD34 Antigen: Determination of Specific Sites of Phosphorylation In Vitro and In Vivo

CD34, a type I transmembrane glycoprotein, is a surface antigen which is expressed on several cell types, including hematopoietic progenitors, endothelial cells, as well as mast cells. Recently, CD34 has been described as a marker for epidermal stem cells in mouse hair follicles, and is expressed in outer root sheath cells of the human hair follicle. Although the biological function and regulation of CD34 is not well understood, it is thought to be involved in cell adhesion as well as possibly having a role in signal transduction. In addition, CD34 was shown to be critical for skin tumor development in mice, although the exact mechanism remains unknown.Many proteins' functions and biological activities are regulated through post-translational modifications. The extracellular domain of CD34 is heavily glycosylated but the role of these glycans in CD34 function is unknown. Additionally, two sites of tyrosine phosphorylation have been reported on human CD34 and it is known that CD34 is phosphorylated, at least in part, by protein kinase C; however, the precise location of the sites of phosphorylation has not been reported. In an effort to identify specific phosphorylation sites in CD34 and delineate the possible role of protein kinase C, we undertook the identification of the in vitro sites of phosphorylation on the intracellular domain of mouse CD34 (aa 309-382) following PKC treatment. For this work, we are using a combination of enzymatic proteolysis and peptide sequencing by mass spectrometry. After which the in vivo sites of phosphorylation of full-length mouse CD34 expressed from HEK293F cells were determined. The observed in vivo sites of phosphorylation, however, are not consensus PKC sites, but our data indicate that one of these sites may possibly be phosphorylated by AKT2. These results suggest that other kinases, as well as PKC, may have important signaling functions in CD34.     

The Role of Lateral Tension in Calcium-Induced DPPS Vesicle Rupture

We assess the role of lateral tension in rupturing anionic dipalmitoylphosphatidyserine (DPPS), neutral dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), and mixed DPPS-DPPC vesicles. Binding of Ca(2+) is known to have a significant impact on the effective size of DPPS lipids and little effect on the size of DPPC lipids in bilayer structures. In the present work we utilized laser transmission spectroscopy (LTS) to assess the effect of Ca(2+)-induced stress on the stability of the DPPS and DPPC vesicles. The high sensitivity and resolution of LTS has permitted the determination of the size and shape of liposomes in solution. The results indicate a critical size after which DPPS single shell vesicles are no longer stable. Our measurements indicate Ca(2+) promotes bilayer fusion up to a maximum diameter of ca. 320 nm. These observations are consistent with a straightforward free-energy-based model of vesicle rupture involving lateral tension between lipids regulated by the binding of Ca(2+). Our results support a critical role of lateral interactions within lipid bilayers for controlling such processes as the formation of supported bilayer membranes and pore formation in vesicle fusion. Using this free energy model we are able to infer a lower bound for the area dilation modulus for DPPS (252 pN/nm) and demonstrate a substantial free energy increase associated with vesicle rupture.     

The interaction of the antitoxin DM43 with a snake venom metalloproteinase analyzed by mass spectrometry and surface plasmon resonance

DM43 is a circulating dimeric antitoxin isolated from Didelphis aurita, a South American marsupial naturally immune to snake envenomation. This endogenous inhibitor binds non‐covalently to jararhagin, the main hemorrhagic metalloproteinase from Bothrops jararaca snake venom, and efficiently neutralizes its toxicity. The aim of this study was to apply mass spectrometry (MS) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to improve the molecular characterization of this heterocomplex. The stoichiometry of the interaction was confirmed by nanoelectrospray ionization‐quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight MS; from native solution conditions, the complex showed a molecular mass of ~94 kDa, indicating that one molecule of jararhagin (50 kDa) interacts with one monomer of DM43 (43 kDa). Although readily observed in solution, the dimeric structure of the inhibitor was barely preserved in the gas phase. This result suggests that, in contrast to the toxin–antitoxin complex, hydrophobic interactions are the primary driving force for the inhibitor dimerization. For the real‐time interaction analysis, the toxin was captured on a sensor chip derivatized with the anti‐jararhagin monoclonal antibody MAJar 2. The sensorgrams obtained after successive injections of DM43 in a concentration series were globally fitted to a simple bimolecular interaction, yielding the following kinetic rates for the DM43/jararhagin interaction: k_a = 3.54 ± 0.03 × 10⁴ M^?1 s^?1 and k_d = 1.16 ± 0.07 × 10^?5 s^?1, resulting in an equilibrium dissociation constant (K_D) of 0.33 ± 0.06 nM. Taken together, MS and SPR results show that DM43 binds to its target toxin with high affinity and constitute the first accurate quantitative study on the extent of the interaction between a natural inhibitor and a metalloproteinase toxin, with unequivocal implications for the use of this kind of molecule as template for the rational development of novel antivenom therapies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,Thermodynamic Properties,and Gas- Liquid Chromatographic Evaluation of a High-Melting Liquid Crystal Series

The synthesis, phase transition temperatures and thermodynamic data (enthalpies and entropies) are reported for the methoxy through n-octyloxy (and n-decyloxy) homologues of the liquid crystal series represented by N,N′-bis[p-alkoxybenylidene]-α, aα′-bi-p-toluidine. The trends in transition temperatures are more or less analogous to previously-studied liquid crystal series. Nematic-isotropic enthalpy values are appreciably higher than average values for other series. Entropy values show the usual odd-even effect, but in contrast to observed trend for other series, they decrease with increasing terminal substituent chain length. Di-Schiff' s bases with various terminal substituents that showed interesting linear correlation between nematicisotropic transition temperatures and the anisotropy of polarizability of the substituent were also synthesized. A simple gas-liquid chromatographic method for the investigation of the selectivity of nematic stationary phases and its dependence on the degree of molecular order in the nematic state is also presented.     

Closed Form Approximations for Spread Options

Abstract

Market mechanisms are increasingly being used as a tool for allocating somewhat scarce but unpriced rights and resources, and the European Emission Trading Scheme is an example. By means of dynamic optimization in the contest of firms covered by such environmental regulations, this article generates endogenously the price dynamics of emission permits under asymmetric information, allowing inter-temporal banking and borrowing. In the market, there are a finite number of firms and each firm's pollution emission follows an exogenously given stochastic process. We prove the discounted permit price is a martingale with respect to the relevant filtration. The model is solved numerically. Finally, a closed-form pricing formula for European-style options is derived.