Microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis of proteins combined with liquid chromatography MALDI MS/MS for protein identification

Simple and efficient digestion of proteins, particularly hydrophobic membrane proteins, is of significance for comprehensive proteome analysis using the bottom-up approach. We report a microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis (MAAH) method for rapid protein degradation for peptide mass mapping and tandem mass spectrometric analysis of peptides for protein identification. It uses 25% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) aqueous solution to dissolve or suspend proteins, followed by microwave irradiation for 10 min. This detergent-free method generates peptide mixtures that can be directly analyzed by liquid chromatography (LC) matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) without the need of extensive sample cleanup. LC-MALDI MS/MS analysis of the hydrolysate from 5 microg of a model transmembrane protein, bacteriorhodopsin, resulted in almost complete sequence coverage by the peptides detected, including the identification of two posttranslational modification sites. Cleavage of peptide bonds inside all seven transmembrane domains took place, generating peptides of sizes amenable to MS/MS to determine possible sequence errors or modifications within these domains. Cleavage specificity, such as glycine residue cleavage, was observed. Terminal peptides were found to be present in relatively high abundance in the hydrolysate, particularly when low concentrations of proteins were used for MAAH. It was shown that these peptides could still be detected from MAAH of bacteriorhodopsin at a protein concentration of 1 ng/microl or 37 fmol/microl. To evaluate the general applicability of this method, it was applied to identify proteins from a membrane protein enriched fraction of cell lysates of human breast cancer cell line MCF7. With one-dimensional LC-MALDI MS/MS, a total of 119 proteins, including 41 membrane-associated or membrane proteins containing one to 12 transmembrane domains, were identified by MS/MS database searching based on matches of at least two peptides to a protein.     

FUNDAMENTALS OF TRANSMISSION FLUCTUATION SPECTROMETRY WITH VARIABLE SPATIAL AVERAGING

Transmission signal of radiation in suspension of particles performed with a high spatial and temporal resolution shows significant fluctuations,which are related to the physical properties of the particles and the process of spatial and temporal averaging.Exploiting this connection,it is possible to calculate the particle size distribution (PSD) and particle concentration.This paper provides an approach of transmission fluctuation spectrometry (TFS) with variable spatial averaging,The transmission fluctuations are expressed in terms of the expectancy of transmission square (ETS) and are obtained as a spectrum,which is a function of the variable beam diameter.The reversal point and the depth of the spectrum contain the information of particle size and particle concentration,respectively.     

Direct generation of ion beam images with a two-dimensional charge injection device

The use of a two-dimensional charge injection device (CID) to directly image the spatial profile of impingent positively charged ions is described. By this approach, no prior conversion from an ion beam to a photon image is required. Because of the positive response of the device to plasma photons, ions that emanated from the radiofrequency glow discharge source were diverted around a photon stop and focused onto the CID. The resultant ion images were digitized via an external image processor and corrected for dark current contributions. Two-dimensional ion images and single pixel line profiles are presented.     

Conversion of d-glucose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) using zeolite in [Bmim]Cl or tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBAC)/CrCl2

The formation of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from glucose was studied. It was found that the CrCl₂-catalyzed conversion in the ionic liquid, butylmethylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) leads to negligible quantities of 3-deoxyglucosone confirming that fructose is the main intermediate. It was found that the environmentally unfriendly chromium salt could be replaced with zeolite (H-ZSM-5) leading to a 45% yield of HMF. It was also found that the solvent [Bmim]Cl could be replaced with non-toxic tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBAC) giving a 56% yield of HMF.     

Optimal linear arrangements using betweenness variables

We solve for the first time to proven optimality the small instances in the classical literature benchmark of Minimum Linear Arrangement. This is achieved by formulating the problem as an ILP in a somehow unintuitive way, using variables expressing the fact that a vertex is between two other adjacent vertices in the arrangement. Using (only) these variables appears to be the key idea of the approach. Indeed, with these variables already the use of very simple constraints leads to good results, which can however be improved with a more detailed study of the underlying polytope.     

Modification of the surface properties of polyimide films using polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane deposition and oxygen plasma exposure

Topographically rich surfaces were generated by spray-coating organic solutions of a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane, octakis(dimethylsilyloxy)silsesquioxane (POSS), on Kapton^® HN films and exposing them to radio frequency generated oxygen plasma. Changes in both surface chemistry and topography were observed. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy indicated substantial modification of the POSS-coated polyimide surface topographies as a result of oxygen plasma exposure. Water contact angles varied from 104° for unexposed POSS-coated surfaces to ∼5° for samples exposed for 5 h. Modulation of the dispersive and polar contributions to the surface energy was determined using van Oss Good Chaudhury theory. Changes in surface energy are related to potential adhesive interactions with lunar dust simulant particles.