A snapshot of enzyme catalysis using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Insights into the early molecular events involving protein-ligand/substrate interactions such as protein signaling and enzyme catalysis can be obtained by examining these processes on a very short, millisecond time scale. We have used time-resolved electrospray mass spectrometry to delineate the catalytic mechanism of a key enzyme in bacterial lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, 3-deoxy-d-manno-2-octulosonate-8-phosphate synthase (KDO8PS). Direct real-time monitoring of the catalytic reaction under single enzyme turnover conditions reveals a novel hemiketal phosphate intermediate bound to the enzyme in a noncovalent complex that establishes the reaction pathway. This study illustrates the successful application of mass spectrometry to reveal transient biochemical processes and opens a new time domain that can provide detailed structural information of short-lived protein-ligand complexes.     

Sublattices of regular elements

Let L be an r-lattice, i.e., a modular multiplicative lattice that is compactly generated, principally generated, and has greatest element 1 compact. We consider certain subsets of L consisting of regular elements: there is a compact element with there is a principal element is a principal element with (0:X_{\alpha })=0\} . The first three subsets L_{f}, L_{sr}, and L_{r} are augmented filters on L, i.e., is a multiplicatively closed subset of $L$ with $A\in and $B\geq A$ with $B\in L$ implies $B\in and hence are sublattices of $L$ closed under multiplication. We first consider the more general situation of augmented filters on $L.$ These results are then applied to study the four previously defined subsets for $L$ an $r$-lattice or Noether lattice (i.e., an $r$-lattice with ACC). Finally, we give a brief discussion of how the results for augmented lattices can be applied to subsets of $L$ which are regular with respect to an $L$-module.     

Unbounded domains of normality

Let be a transcendental entire function of order less than 1/2. We introduce the method of ``self-sustaining spread' to study the components of the set of normality of such a function. We give a new proof of the fact that any preperiodic or periodic component of the set of normality of is bounded. We obtain the same conclusion for a wandering domain if the growth rate of is never too small.

     

The structure and transport properties of poly(methacrylic acid) in aqueous solution

Diffusion and anisotropic electrical conductivity measurements have been used to investigate the structure of poly(methacrylic acid) in aqueous solution at various degrees of neutralization. Both kinds of measurement indicate that the polyion chain opens from a coiled to an extended configuration as the chain is neutralized. In addition it was found that, at low concentrations, the opening of the chain is a two-step process, whereas at higher concentrations the mechanism involves a single step.     

Using direct electrochemistry to probe rate limiting events during nitrate reductase turnover

Protein film voltammetry of NarGH catalysing nitrate reduction under steady state conditions provides information on events occurring within the enzyme during the catalytic cycle. In this discussion we have focused on exploring the ability of two simple catalytic schemes to reproduce the voltammetric response of NarGH; electron transfer to the enzyme's active site being described either by interfacial electron exchange (Scheme 1) or intramolecular electron delivery via the operation of an electron relay centre (Scheme 2). When the two electron reduced, catalytically competent active site of the enzyme is generated from the oxidised form in 'rapid', non-rate limiting steps of the catalytic cycle, the voltammetric behaviour of NarGH cannot be reproduced. Rather under all the conditions investigated, one electron reduction of the active site from a semi-reduced to a fully-reduced state is found to be crucial to progression through the enzyme's catalytic cycle. The catalytically relevant semi- and fully-reduced oxidation states of the NarGH active site are most likely to correspond to the Mo(V) and Mo(IV) states of the Mo(MGD)2 centre, respectively, although it is not possible to rule out the possibility that they correspond to molybdopterin based oxidation states as observed in other enzymes. We suggest that the rate of either conformational rearrangement within the semi-reduced active site or intramolecular electron delivery to the active site constitutes a defining feature in the catalytic cycle of NarGH and results in the napp approximately 1 appearance of the catalytic waveform.     

Ceramic glaze analysis by simultaneous in-beam PGAA and XRFS

Twenty-one ready-to-use hobby glazes, of which 18 were labeled safe for food containers (SFFC), were analyzed for Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Gd, Hf, K, Mn, Na, Pb, Si, Sm, Sr, Ti, Zn, and Zr by neutron capture prompt -ray activation analysis (PGAA). Simultaneously, Pb was also determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRFS) using Pb K X-rays induced by the -ray component of the neutron beam. The XRFS limits of detection were 200–400 g Pb·g^–1 (dry weight), a factor of 100 better than those for PGAA. Pb concentrations (by dry weight; with weight losses ranging from 28 to 49% after air-drying) found were 0.16–27.2% in the SFFC glazes and 0.86–32% in the other glazes. The SFFC glazes contained from <0.6 to 202 g Cd·g^–1, and Co, Cr, and Cu (elements which may enhance Pb leaching from fired glazes) were found in concentrations up to 1.2, 2.7, and 5.6%, respectively. Method accuracy was demonstrated with the analysis of soil, fly ash, and glass standard reference materials.