Recent liquid chromatographic-(tandem) mass spectrometric applications in proteomics

Conventional proteomics makes use of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometric analysis of tryptic fragments derived from in-gel digestion of proteins. Although being a very strong technique capable of separating and visualizing hundreds of proteins, 2D-gel electrophoresis has some well-documented disadvantages as well. More recently, liquid chromatographic-(tandem) mass spectrometric techniques have been developed to overcome some of the shortcomings of 2D-gel electrophoresis. In this review we have described several recent applications of liquid chromatography-(tandem) mass spectrometry in the field of proteomics and especially in the field of membrane proteomics, quantitative proteomics and in the analysis of post-translational modifications.     

A new method for the preparation of 2-thio substituted furans by methylsulfanylation of gamma-dithiane carbonyl compounds

Several related methods for the preparation of differentially substituted 2-thiofurans are described. The general procedure involves the formation of a thionium ion from a gamma-dithianyl substituted carbonyl compound followed by cyclization of this reactive intermediate onto the tethered carbonyl group. Two methods for thionium ion generation were explored. One of these involved an acid-catalyzed reaction of beta-ketenedithioacetals, prepared from the condensation of 2,2-bis(methylsulfanyl)acetaldehyde with a variety of ketones. Cyclization followed by loss of methane thiol gave 2-thiofurans 17, 18 and 23, 24 in 70-90% yield. Attempts to prepare 5-heteroatom substituted 2-thiofurans from the corresponding beta-ketenedithioacetal amides or esters were unsuccessful, leading to 1,2-thio rearranged products. A more successful route involved the reaction of beta-acetoxy-gamma-thianyl carbonyl compounds with dimethyl(methylthio)sulfonium tetrafluoroborate (DMTSF). Treatment of the dithiane with this reagent resulted in the smooth generation of a thionium ion. Cyclization followed by loss of acetic acid afforded thiofurans 17, 18, 23, 47-49, 51, and 61-64 in 40-100% yield. The N-butenyl substituted thioamido furan furnished a rearranged hexahydropyrroloquinolin-2-one in high yield when heated at 110 degrees C.     

Theoretical Definition of a Functional Group and the Molecular Orbital Paradigm

It is the purpose of this review to demonstrate that the empirical classification of the observations of chemistry in terms of the properties assigned to functional groups is a consequence of and is predicted by physics. This is accomplished by showing that the atoms and functional groups of chemistry can be identified with bounded space-filling objects whose properties are defined by quantum mechanics. The quantum mechanical definition of a group is combined with a new pictorial representation of its form to obtain a unified picture which should make it eminently recognizable to chemists. This picture, when combined with the demonstrated ability of these groups to recover the measured properties of atoms in molecules, is offered as one which meets the expectations a chemist associates with the concept of a functional group. The manner in which this physical definition of a group differs fundamentally from models of functional groups based upon molecular orbital theory is discussed.     

Carbohydrate chain of ganglioside GM1 as a ligand: identification of the binding strategies of three 15 mer peptides and their divergence from the binding modes of growth-regulatory galectin-1 and cholera toxin

The branched pentasaccharide chain of ganglioside GM1 is a prominent cell surface ligand, for example, for cholera toxin or tumor growth-regulatory homodimeric galectins. This activity profile via protein recognition prompted us to examine the binding properties of peptides with this specificity. Our study provides insights into the mechanism of molecular interaction of this thus far unexplored size limit of the protein part. We used three pentadecapeptides in a combined approach of mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy and molecular modelling to analyze the ligand binding in solution. Availability of charged and hydrophobic functionalities affected the intramolecular flexibility of the peptides differently. Backfolding led to restrictions in two cases; the flexibility was not reduced significantly by association of the ligand in its energetically privileged conformations. Major contributions to the interaction energy arise from the sialic acid moiety contacting Arg/Lys residues and the N-terminal charge. Considerable involvement of stacking between the monovalent ligand and aromatic rings could not be detected. This carbohydrate binding strategy is similar to how an adenoviral fiber knob targets sialylated glycans. Rational manipulation for an affinity enhancement can now be directed to reduce the flexibility, exploit the potential for stacking and acquire the cross-linking capacity of the natural lectins by peptide attachment to a suitable scaffold.     

Ag(I) complexes with alkylidene-bis(2-aminopyrimidines) as building units for discrete metallomacrocyclic frames. A structural and solution study

Alkylidene-bis(2-aminopyrimidines) (pyr2Cx, x = 2-5) are useful ligands to interact with Ag(I) yielding discrete metallocycles. Crystal structures of the [(pyr2C2)Ag(NO3)]2 and [(H-pyr2C4)Ag(NO3)2]2 have been isolated where each macrocyclic moiety interacts with their surroundings through weak interactions, yielding 3D discrete structures, On the other hand, the solution study shows that the equilibrium constants for the formation of Ag(pyr2Cx)+ complexes are higher than the literature values for Ag(I) complexes with single pyrimidines, although the differences could be explained by invoking the solid-state structures of the Ag(I)-pyr2Cx complexes.     

Chiral palladium template promoted asymmetric hydrophosphination reaction between diphenylphosphine and vinylphosphines

An organopalladium complex containing ortho-metalated (S)-(1-(dimethylamino)ethyl)naphthalene as the chiral auxiliary has been used to promote the asymmetric hydrophosphination reactions between diphenylphosphine and (E)- or (Z)-diphenyl-1-propenylphosphine in high regio- and stereoselectivities under mild conditions. Hydrophosphination of (Z)-diphenyl-1-propenylphosphine with diphenylphosphine gave (S)-(-)-prophos as the major product. Using the same chiral metal template, the corresponding hydrophosphination reaction with (E)-diphenyl-1-propenylphosphine gave (R)-(+)-prophos predominantly. The hydrophosphination reactions generated the asymmetric diphosphines as bidentate chelates on the chiral naphthylamine palladium templates. The template products obtained undergo cis-trans isomerization in solution to form an equilibrium mixture of regioisomers. X-ray analysis of the major template products obtained from the hydrophosphination of (Z)-diphenyl-1-propenylphosphine reveals that the two regioisomers are cocrystallized in a 1:1 ratio. The naphthylamine auxiliary could be removed chemoselectively from the template products by treatment with concentrated hydrochloric acid to form the corresponding optically pure neutral complexes [(R)- or (S)-(prophos)PdCl(2)]. Subsequently, the (R)- and (S)-dichloro complexes undergo ligand displacement with aqueous cyanide to generate the corresponding optically pure diphosphine ligands in high yields. Mechanistic pathways explaining the stereoselectivity of the chiral organopalladium template promoted hydrophosphination reactions are also proposed.     

A general and convenient synthesis of N-aryl piperazines

A general and convenient synthesis of N-aryl piperazines from bis(2-chloroethyl)amine hydrochloride and a broad range of anilines in diethylene glycol monomethyl ether is described.     

Cover Picture

The cover picture shows a model of the "progenitor-TADDOLs" in front of a panorama of the Fünffingersstocks and the Wenden Glacier in the Titlisgebiet (Switzerland). The model is flanked by a stylized view of the general mechanistic model for the preferred stereochemical pathway of the Ti-TADDOLate-catalyzed reaction of chelating substrates (left) and a blackboard (right) showing formulae of compounds that can be prepared with high enantioselectivity by nucleophilic addition in the presence of titanium TADDOLates. From TADDOL, introduced in 1982, a genuine auxiliary system for the "introduction of chirality" (not only by reaction) has been developed, which, in the final sprint against the competition has a good chance of securing a place on the winning podium. The photograph of the mountain landscape was taken by Dr. J. Frackenpohl, the cover picture was generated by one of the authors (A.H.) of the comprehensive review of TADDOLs in this issue (p. 92 ff.) with the help of the program Povray. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.angewandte.com or from the author.     

Cyclopeptid-Antibiotika aus Aspergillus-Arten. Struktur der Echinocandine C und D

Cyclopeptide antibiotics from Aspergillus species. Structure of echinocandins C and D The echinocandins B, C and D are antifungal antibiotics produced by a strain of Aspergillus rugulosus. All three metabolites are closely related representing cyclic oligopeptides composed of six amino acids and a linolic acid residue in an amide linkage. The complete structure of echinocandin B ( 1 ) has recently been established by X-ray analysis. Structural assignments to the new minor metabolites C and D have now been made by hydrolytic and oxidative cleavage reactions, formation of N-acyl-α-aminoethers as well as by chemical correlations and extensive NMR. examinations. Echinocandin C ( 2 ), C₅₂H₈₁N₇O₁₅, contains 3-hydroxyhomotyrosine in the place of 3, 4-dihydroxyhomotyrosine present in 1 . Echinocandin D ( 3 ), C₅₂H₈₁N₇O₁₃, differs in two amino acids: 3, 4-dihyroxyhomotyrosine and 4, 5-dihydroxyornithine, unusual units of 1 being replaced by 3-hydroxyhomotyrosine and ornithine.     

Ab initio study of AmCl(+): f-f spectroscopy and chemical binding

A valence full configuration interaction study with a polarized double-zeta quality basis set has been carried out for the lowest 49 electronic states of AmCl(+). The calculations use a pseudopotential treatment for the core electrons and incorporate a one-electron spin-orbit interaction operator. Electrons in the valence s, p, d, and f subshells were included in the active space. The resulting electronic potential energy curves are largely repulsive. The chemical bonding is ionic in character with negligible participation of 5f electrons. The molecular f-f spectroscopy of AmCl(+) arises essentially from an in situ Am(2+) core with states slightly redshifted by the presence of chloride ion. Am(+)+Cl asymptotes which give rise to the few attractive potential energy curves can be predicted by analysis of the f-f spectroscopy of isolated Am(+) and Am(2+). The attractive curves have substantial binding energies, on the order of 75-80 kcal/mol, and are noticeably lower than recent indirect measurements on the isovalent EuCl(+). An independent empirical correlation supports the predicted reduction in AmCl(+) binding energy. The energies of the repulsive curves are strongly dependent on the selection of the underlying atomic orbitals while the energies of the attractive curves do not display this sensitivity. The calculations were carried out using our recently developed parallel spin-orbit configuration interaction software.