Photodissociation spectroscopy of trapped protonated tryptophan

We have coupled a quadrupole ion trap with a frequency doubled optical parametric oscillator laser. The photodissociation spectrum of the protonated tryptophan ion from 215 to 320 nm is reported. The yields of fragmentation on each mass channel as a function of the laser wavelength were obtained. We also report experiments involving multiple stages of laser induced dissociation and discuss possible structures for the fragmentation products.     

WAVELENGTH DEPENDENCE FOR AMT CROSSLINKING OF pBR322 DNA

Abstract The wavelength dependence for 4'aminomethyl-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen crosslinking of a linearized plasmid DNA (pBR322) by narrow band UV-A light (298–382 nm) has been determined. Maximal levels of crosslinking occurred with light in the 322–346 nm range. Crosslinks were shown to be photoreversible by shorter wavelength photons (298 and 310 nm). The correlation between the wavelength dependence for crosslink formation and the optimal wavelength for most psoralen action spectra further supports the notion that crosslinks are the major lesion responsible for the effectiveness of psoralen plus ultraviolet A therapies.     

Formation of a DNA layer on Langmuir-Blodgett films and its enzymatic digestion

Here, we report a system we have developed where long double-stranded DNAs (dsDNAs) are immobilized on a monolayer of Zn-arachidate. We have applied the Langmuir-Blodgett technique to form the monolayer of Zn-arachidate where Zn(II) is bound to arachidic acid through charge neutralization. Because tetrahedral Zn(II) participates in DNA recognition through coordination, we have been able to layer DNA over the Zn-arachidate monolayer. The DNA layer shows a typical compression and expansion cycle in a concentration-dependent fashion. Interestingly, the DNA monolayer is available for enzymatic degradation by DNaseI. The detection of DNA and its accessibility towards biological reaction is demonstrated by imaging through fluorescence microscopy. The conformation of the DNA, immobilized on the monolayer, was studied with the help of atomic force microscopy (AFM). We observed that the dsDNAs were aligned in a stretched manner on the surface. To investigate further, we also demonstrate here that the small single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) immobilized on the air-water interface can act as a target molecule for the complementary ssDNA present in the subphase. The study of DNA hybridization done with the help of fluorescence spectroscopy clearly supports the AFM characterization.     

Directed metalation of pyridinesulphonamides. Synthesis of pyridine-fused isothiazoles and 1,2-oxathioles

4-Lithio-N-t-butylpyridine-3-sulphonamide reacted with benzophenone and carbon dioxide respectively to give the corresponding intermediates which on appropriate treatment gave isothiazolo[5,4-c]pyridin-3-one 1,1-dioxides. Metalation of 2- and 4-(N,N-dialkylaminosulphonyl)pyridines with lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) gave anions which reacted with benzophenone to give carbinols which thermally cyclised to 1,2-oxathiolo[3,4-b]pyridine and 1,2-oxathiolo[4,3-c]pyridine respectively.     

An Unexpected Spectrum of p53 Mutations from Squamous Cell Carcinomas in Psoriasis Patients Treated with PUVA

Photochemotherapy employing 8-methoxypsoralen and long-wavelength ultraviolet radiation (UVA, 320-400 nm) is widely used in the treatment of psoriasis. The pho-toactivation of psoralens in skin cells leads to formation of DNA photoadducts which may be responsible, at least in part, for the efficacy of these photochemotherapies. However, mutations arising from these adducts may also lead to the well-characterized increased incidence of squamous cell carcinoma. Mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene have been detected in many human cancers. To determine whether p53 mutations occur in squamous cell carcinomas in PUVA patients, PCR was used to amplify the exons (5-9) in which other studies have found a high frequency of point mutations. Gel electrophoresis was used to detect single-strand conformational polymorphisms. Aberrantly migrating bands were excised, reamplined and sequenced. Thirty-four specimens from 10 patients were examined. Specimens from one patient who had received no phototherapy as well as from normal controls were also analyzed. Five of the 10 patients showed at least one p53 mutation. In contrast to previously reported psoralen-induced p53 mutations in mice, the expected psoralen type mutations at alternating AT sites were not detected. All but two of the altered sequences occurred at dipyrimidine sites which is typical of solar type mutations. Two C→T mutations and two dipyrimidine mutations (CC→TT) were found. Other mutations included: C→G, G→T, C→A and an 18 bp deletion. A review of therapeutic history of these patients showed that some had also received UVB phototherapy. Furthermore, because sunlight is thought to be beneficial for psoriasis, nontherapeutic, casual UVB exposure cannot be excluded. Our observations suggest that the SCC may have arisen from the solar mutations and that PUVA may enhance tumor progression or immune suppression     

Synthesis and characterisation of a new class of phosphine-phosphonite ferrocenediyl dinuclear rhodium complexes

We previously reported the easy access to mixed ferrocenediyl ligands bearing phosphine and phosphonite moieties. Using this strategy, a new enantiopure phosphine-menthylphosphonite ferrocenediyl has been synthesised. This mixed ligand leads to original unsymmetrical dinuclear rhodium coordination-complexes. One example of this new class of “quasi-close bridging A frame” dinuclear rhodium complexes, fully characterised by multinuclear ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P and ¹⁰³Rh NMR and optical rotation measurements, is presented. Preliminary tests have shown an activity improvement in the hydroformylation of oct-1-ene using the phosphine-menthylphosphonite ferrocenediyl auxiliary compared to known phosphine-phosphonite ligands.     

The synthesis and chelation properties of the oximes of certain pyridinyl- and diazinylmethyl ketones

Two series of oximes derived from pyridinyl and diazinylmethyl ketones have been prepared and tested with regard to their metal-chelation properties.     

Spectroscopy and metastability of CO2 2+ molecular ions

The spectroscopy and metastability of the carbon dioxide doubly charged ion, the CO(2) (2+) dication, have been studied with photoionization experiments: time-of-flight photoelectron photoelectron coincidence (TOF-PEPECO), threshold photoelectrons coincidence (TPEsCO), and threshold photoelectrons and ion coincidence (TPEsCO ion coincidence) spectroscopies. Vibrational structure is observed in TOF-PEPECO and TPEsCO spectra of the ground and first two excited states. The vibrational structure is dominated by the symmetric stretch except in the TPEsCO spectrum of the ground state where an antisymmetric stretch progression is observed. All three vibrational frequencies are deduced for the ground state and symmetric stretch and bending frequencies are deduced for the first two excited states. Some vibrational structure of higher electronic states is also observed. The threshold for double ionization of carbon dioxide is reported as 37.340+/-0.010 eV. The fragmentation of energy selected CO(2) (2+) ions has been investigated with TPEsCO ion coincidence spectroscopy. A band of metastable states from approximately 38.7 to approximately 41 eV above the ground state of neutral CO(2) has been observed in the experimental time window of approximately 0.1-2.3 mus with a tendency towards shorter lifetimes at higher energies. It is proposed that the metastability is due to slow spin forbidden conversion from bound excited singlet states to unbound continuum states of the triplet ground state. Another result of this investigation is the observation of CO(+)+O(+) formation in indirect dissociative double photoionization below the threshold for formation of CO(2) (2+). The threshold for CO(+)+O(+) formation is found to be 35.56+/-0.10 eV or lower, which is more than 2 eV lower than previous measurements.     

Amino-terminal dimerization of an erythropoietin mimetic peptide results in increased erythropoietic activity

Background: Erythropoietin (EPO), the hormone involved in red blood cell production, activates its receptor by binding to the receptor's extracellular domain and presumably dimerizing two receptor monomers to initiate signal transduction. EPO-mimetic peptides, such as EMP1, also bind and activate the receptor by dimerization. These mimetic peptides are not as potent as EPO, however. The crystal structure of the EPO receptor (EBP) bound to EMP1 reveals the formation of a complex consisting of two peptides bound to two receptors, so we sought to improve the biological activity of EPO-mimetic peptides by constructing covalent dimers of EMP1 and other peptide mimetics linked by polyethylene glycol (PEG).Results: The potency of the PEG-dimerized EPO peptide mimetics both in vitro and in vivo was improved up to 1,000-fold compared to the corresponding peptide monomers. The dinners were constructed using peptide monomers which have only one reactive amine per molecule, allowing us to conclude that the increase in potency can be attributed to a structure in which two peptides are linked through their respective amino termini to the difunctional PEG molecule. In addition, an inactive peptide was converted into a weak agonist by PEG-induced dimerization.Conclusions: The potency of previously isolated peptides that are modest agonists of the EPO receptor was dramatically increased by PEG-induced dimerization. The EPO receptor is thought to be dimerized during activation, so our results are consistent with the proposed 2:2 receptor : peptide stoichiometry. The conversion of an inactive peptide into an agonist further supports the idea that dimerization can mediate receptor activation.     

A polymeric liquid crystal capillary column for GC-MS analysis of PCDD and PCDF

A newly developed side chain liquid crystal polysiloxane has been investigated as a stationary phase for the isomer-specific analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans substituted at positions 2, 3, 7, and 8. The retention times from the chromatograms of a standard solution containing all PCDD and PCDF isomers were compared with those from solutions containing only those tetra- to octa-chlorinated compounds substituted at positions 2, 3, 7, and 8. In general, PCDDs substituted at positions 2, 3, 7, and 8 eluted later than most other isomers of the same congener group. The separations obtained on this stationary phase were compared with those obtained elsewhere using a commercially available product.