Protein surface area and retention in hydrophobic interaction chromatography

Summary Molecular surface areas accessible to a 4 ? diameter spherical probe were calculated from crystallographic data for five proteins: α-chymotrypsinogen A, lysozyme, trypsinogen, ribonuclease A and ribonuclease S. The retention factors of various proteins were measured on stationary phases having polyether- and phenylligates and with aqueous eluents containing (NH₄)₂SO₄, Na₂SO₄ or NaCl at pH 7.0. The logarithmic retention factors were plotted against the salt molality and the hydrophobic interaction parameters evaluated from the limiting slopes of the plots at high salt concentrations for the proteins in the chromatographic systems investigated. The hydrophobic interaction parameters thus obtained were linear in both the molecular surface areas of the proteins and the molal surface tension increments of the salts. The experimental results obtained with these relatively simple proteins of known molecular structure, which were available in high purity, support earlier theoretical predictions for the dependence of the hydrophobic interaction parameter on the surface area of the protein and the surface tension raising effect of the salt.     

Observation of the ND4 Schüler band in a neutralized ion beam experiment

The emission of the ND₄ Schüler band was observed after neutralization of a mass-selected ND ₄ ⁺ ion beam. Thus the assignment of this band to the ammonium radical was confirmed. The lifetime of the upper state (3p ² F ₂) was determined to be 4.2 ns, which is much shorter than ab initio values of the radiative lifetime, showing that this state decays predominantly by predissociation. The Schuster band was not observed, neither after neutralization of ND ₄ ⁺ , nor of ND ₃ ⁺ .     

Rapid identification and quantitation of compounds with forensic interest using fast liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry and library searching

A fast liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometric (LC-ESI-MS-MS) method by using a monolithic column, gradient elution and ion trap mass spectrometer was developed for 14 forensically interesting and chemically different compounds. All compounds were eluted within 2.5 min and the total analysis time was 5 min including stabilisation time required for the next injection. All the compounds, basics, neutrals and acids were efficiently ionised by positive ion ESI. A laboratory library including MS-MS spectra and retention times was developed and tested. Results with 476 standard samples and 50 authentic samples showed that the compounds studied can be unambiguously identified with the library. A quantitative method was developed for the compounds using external calibration. The evaluation process showed good linearity of the method and reasonable repeatability. Limits of detection ranged from 10.0 to 50.0 ng/ml.     

Microwave survey of the conformational landscape exhibited by the propeller molecule triethyl amine

Conformational studies with quantum chemical methods yielded for the most stable conformer of triethyl amine a propeller-like structure belonging to the point group C(3), which corresponds to an oblate top. The microwave spectrum of this conformer with (14)N hyperfine splitting of all rotational transitions was assigned and molecular parameters were determined. The rotational constants were found to be A = B = 2.314873978(11) GHz, the (14)N quadrupole coupling constant χ(cc) = -5.2444(07) MHz. The observed spectrum could be reproduced within experimental accuracy. The standard deviation of a global fit with 48 rotational transitions is 1.5 kHz. The propeller-like structure seems to be energetically favorable and therefore also typical for related systems like triethyl phosphine, triisopropyl amine, tri-n-propyl amine, and tri-tert-butyl amine. Furthermore, the rotational transitions of two isotopologues, (13)C(2) and (13)C(5), could be measured in natural abundance and fitted with an excellent standard deviation. The C rotational constants could be determined to be 1.32681(96) GHz and 1.32989(18) GHz for the (13)C(2) and (13)C(5) isotopologues, respectively.     

Deuterium-labelled N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones (AHLs)--inter-kingdom signalling molecules--synthesis, structural studies, and interactions with model lipid membranes

N-Acyl-l-homoserine lactones (AHLs) are synthesized by Gram-negative bacteria. These quorum-sensing molecules play an important role in the context of bacterial infection and biofilm formation. They also allow communication between microorganisms and eukaryotic cells (inter-kingdom signalling). However, very little is known about the entire mechanism of those interactions. Precise structural studies are required to analyse the different AHL isomers as only one form is biologically most active. Theoretical studies combined with experimental infrared and Raman spectroscopic data are therefore undertaken to characterise the obtained compounds. To mimic interactions between AHL and cell membranes, we studied the insertion of AHL in supported lipid bilayers, using vibrational sum-frequency-generation spectroscopy. Deuterium-labelled AHLs were thus synthesized. Starting from readily available deuterated fatty acids, a two-step procedure towards deuterated N-acyl-l-homoserine lactones with varying chain lengths is described. This included the acylation of Meldrum’s acid followed by amidation. Additionally, the detailed analytical evaluation of the products is presented herein.     

Quantitative Analysis of Polymer Additives with MALDI-TOF MS Using an Internal Standard Approach

MALDI-TOF MS is used for the qualitative analysis of seven different polymer additives directly from the polymer without tedious sample pretreatment. Additionally, by using a solid sample preparation technique, which avoids the concentration gradient problems known to occur with dried droplets and by adding tetraphenylporphyrine as an internal standard to the matrix, it is possible to perform quantitative analysis of additives directly from the polymer sample. Calibration curves for Tinuvin 770, Tinuvin 622, Irganox 1024, Irganox 1010, Irgafos 168, and Chimassorb 944 are presented, showing coefficients of determination between 0.911 and 0.990.