Handling and detection of 0.8 amol of a near-infrared cyanine dye by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection

We are interested in the detection of DNA adducts and other trace analytes by labeling them with a fluorescent tag followed by use of capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection (CE-LIF) for high resolution and sensitivity. Towards this goal, here we report the following: (1) synthesis and handling properties of a near-IR, carboxyl-substituted heptamethine cyanine dye; (2) modification of an existing ball lens LIF detector to provide near-LIF detection with excitation at 785 nm for CE; and (3) corresponding handling and detection of as little as 0.8 amol of the dye by enrich-injection of 4.7 microl of 1 x 10(-13) mol/l dye in methanol from an 8-microl volume into a corresponding CE-LIF system. The electrolyte for the separation was methanol-40 mmol/l aqueous sodium borate (98:2, v/v). This finding encourages further exploration of the dye by functionalization of its carboxyl group for chemical labeling purposes.     

Laser-induced fluorescence as a powerful detection tool for capillary electrophoretic analysis of heparin/heparan sulfate disaccharides

In quest for high sensitivities necessary for determining the disaccharide composition of heparin/heparan sulfate present in trace amounts in biologic samples, an ultrahighly sensitive capillary electrophoresis (CE) method using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection was developed. Heparin/heparan sulfate-derived Delta-disaccharides were derivatized with the fluorophore 2-aminoacridone and resolved by a reversed-polarity CE method. Estimation of the limit of detection in concentration term and limit of quantitation showed that LIF detection of AMAC-derivatives of Delta-disaccharides resulted in 27-744 times higher sensitivity as compared to those detected by UV at 255 nm. These data suggest that CE-LIF is a powerful tool to quantify minute amounts of heparin/heparan sulfate disaccharides.     

Reaction of BH4- with [Mo2Cp2(mu-SMe)n] species to give tetrahydroborato, hydrido or dimetallaborane compounds: control of product by ancillary ligands

The reaction of mono- or dichloro-dimolybdenum(III) complexes [Mo2Cp2(mu-SMe)2(mu-Cl)(mu-Y)] (Cp=eta5-C5H5; 1, Y=SMe; 2, Y=PPh2; 3, Y=Cl) with NaBH4 at room temperature gave in high yields tetrahydroborato (8), hydrido (9) or metallaborane (12) complexes depending on the ancillary ligands. The correct formulation of derivatives and has been unambigously determined by X-ray diffraction methods. That of the hydrido compound 9 has been established in solution by NMR analysis and confirmed by an X-ray study of the mu-azavinylidene derivative [Mo2Cp2(mu-SMe)2(mu-PPh2)(mu-N=CHMe)] (10) obtained from the insertion of acetonitrile into the Mo-H bond of 9. Reaction of NaBH4 with nitrile derivatives, [Mo2Cp2(mu-SMe)4-n(CH3CN)2n]n+(5, n=1; 6 n=2), afforded the tetrahydroborato compound 8, together with a mu-azavinylidene species [Mo2Cp2(mu-SMe)3(mu-N=CHMe)](14), when n=1, and the metallaborane complex 12, together with a mixed borohydrato-azavinylidene derivative [Mo2Cp2(mu-SMe)2(mu-BH4)(mu-N=CHMe)] (13), when n=2. The molecular structures of these complexes have been confirmed by X-ray analysis. Preparations of some of the starting complexes (3 and 4) are also described, as are the molecular structures of the precursors [Mo2Cp2(mu-SMe)2(mu-X)(mu-Y)] (1, X/Y=Cl/SMe; 2, X/Y=Cl/PPh2; 4, X/Y=SMe/PPh2).     

Crystal and molecular structure analysis of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) analogs:trans-4-hydroxycrotonic acid (THCA),trans-4-hydroxy-4-0-chlorophenylcrotonic acid (THCCA), andtrans-4-hydroxy-4-p-nitrophenylcrotonic acid (THNCA)

The crystal structures oftrans-4-hydroxycrotonic acid (THCA), 4-o-chloro-phenyl-THCA (THCCA), and 4-p-nitrophenyl-THCA (THNCA) have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques, and refined by full-matrix least squares. THCA crystallizes in the monoclinic space groupCc witha=7.847(1),b=8.519(1),c=7.685(4) Å,=109.66(2)° andZ=4; THCCA is triclinic, space groupP¯1, witha=7.878(2),b=8.621(1),c=7.653(1) Å,=92.20(1)°,=114.15(2)°, =94.40(2)°, andZ=2; THNCA is orthorhombic, space groupPna2₁, witha=7.488(1),b=19.666(2),c=7.143(3) Å, andZ=4. FinalR-factors are 0.034, 0.045, and 0.031, respectively. The first two compounds present a semiextended conformation. The third structure is extended; however, for this last compound, empirical molecular mechanics calculations show that the semiextended conformation corresponds also to a low-energy state.     

A second-order accurate material-order-independent interface reconstruction technique for multi-material flow simulations

A new, second-order accurate, volume conservative, material-order-independent interface reconstruction method for multi-material flow simulations is presented. First, materials are located in multi-material computational cells using a piecewise linear reconstruction of the volume fraction function. These material locator points are then used as generators to reconstruct the interface with a weighted Voronoi diagram that matches the volume fractions. The interfaces are then improved by minimizing an objective function that smoothes interface normals while enforcing convexity and volume constraints for the pure material subcells. Convergence tests are shown demonstrating second-order accuracy. Static and dynamic examples are shown illustrating the superior performance of the method over existing material-order-dependent methods.     

N = 2 Supersymmetric Unconstrained Matrix GNLS Hierarchies are Consistent

We develop a pseudo-differential approach to the N = 2 supersymmetric unconstrained matrix (k|n, m)-generalized nonlinear Schrödinger hierarchies and prove consistency of the corresponding Lax-pair representation (nlin.SI/0201026). Furthermore, we establish their equivalence to the integrable hierarchies derived in the super-algebraic approach of the homogeneously-graded loop superalgebra ${sl(2k{+}n\vert 2k{+}m)\otimes C[{\lambda},{\lambda}^{-1}]}$ (nlin.SI/0206037). We introduce an unconventional definition of N = 2 supersymmetric strictly pseudo-differential operators so as to close their algebra among themselves.     

Fluorescent Isoindole Crosslink (FlICk) Chemistry: A Rapid,User‐friendly Stapling Reaction

The stabilization of peptide secondary structure via stapling is a ubiquitous goal for creating new probes, imaging agents, and drugs. Inspired by indole‐derived crosslinks found in natural peptide toxins, we employed ortho‐phthalaldehydes to create isoindole staples, thus transforming inactive linear and monocyclic precursors into bioactive monocyclic and bicyclic products. Mild, metal‐free conditions give an array of macrocyclic α‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (α‐MSH) derivatives, of which several isoindole‐stapled α‐MSH analogues (K_i≈1 nm ) are found to be as potent as α‐MSH. Analogously, late‐stage intra‐annular isoindole stapling furnished a bicyclic peptide mimic of α‐amanitin that is cytotoxic to CHO cells (IC₅₀=70 μm ). Given its user‐friendliness, we have termed this approach FlICk (fluorescent isoindole crosslink) chemistry.