Specific isolation of N-terminal fragments from proteins and their high-fidelity de novo sequencing

A new method to determine N-terminal amino acid sequences of multiple proteins at low pmol level by a parallel processing has been developed. The method contains the following five steps: (1) reduction, S-alkylation and guanidination for targeted proteins; (2) coupling with sulfosucccimidyl-2-(biotinamido)ethyl-1,3-dithiopropionate(sulfo-NHS-SS-biotin) to N(alpha)-amino groups of proteins; (3) digestion of the modified proteins by an appropriate protease; (4) specific isolation of N-terminal fragments of proteins by affinity capture using the biotin-avidin system; (5) de novo sequence analysis of peptides by MALDI-TOF-/MALDI-TOF-PSD mass spectrometry with effective utilization of the CAF (chemically assisted fragmentation) method.1 This method is also effective for N-terminal sequencing of each protein in a mixture of several proteins, and for sequencing components of a multiprotein complex. It is expected to become an essential proteomics tool for identifying proteins, especially when used in combination with a C-terminal sequencing method.     

Studies on the constituents of Catalpa species. VI. Monoterpene glycosides from the fallen leaves of Catalpa ovata G. Don.

Five new monoterpene glycosides, ovatolactone 7-O-(6'-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, ovatic acid methyl ester 7-O-(6'-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7-O-p-hydroxybenzoylovatol 1-O-(6'-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 6'-O-p-hydroxybenzoylcatalposide and (2E,6R)-2,6-dimethyl-8-hydroxy-2-octenoic acid 8-O-[6'-O-(E)-p-coumaroyl]-beta-D-glucopyranoside were isolated from the fallen leaves of Catalpa ovata G. Don. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic studies and syntheses.     

Quinolone Analogs 14: Synthesis of Antimalarial 1‐Aryl‐3‐(4‐quinolon‐2‐yl)ureas and Related Compounds

The 4‐quinolone‐2‐carbohydrazide 6a was converted into 1‐aryl‐3‐(4‐quinolon‐2‐yl)ureas 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 1‐aryl‐3‐(4‐quinolon‐2‐yl)imidazolidine‐2,4‐diones 9a , 9b , and N‐(4‐quinolon‐2‐yl)carbamates 10a , 10b via 4‐quinolone‐2‐carbonylazide 7a . The 4‐methoxyquinoline‐2‐carbohydrazide 6b was also transformed into 1‐aryl‐3‐(4‐methoxyquinolin‐2‐yl)ureas 11a , 11b , 11c , 11d , 1‐aryl‐3‐(4‐methoxyquinolin‐2‐yl)imidazolidine‐2,4‐diones 12a , 12b , and N‐(4‐methoxyquinolin‐2‐yl)carbamates 13a , 13b via 4‐methoxyquinoline‐2‐carbonylazide 7b . Some of the 1‐aryl‐3‐(4‐quinolon‐2‐yl)ureas 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e showed the in vitro antimalarial activity to chloroquine‐resistant Plasmodium falciparum, wherein IC₅₀ was 0.93 to 4.00 μM.     

Characterization and crystal structures of copper(II), cobalt(II), and nickel(II) complexes with two kinds of piperidine carboxylic acids

Copper(II) complex with -piperidine-3-carboxylic acid ( -Hpipe-3):[Cu( -pipe-3)₂(H₂O)] and cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes with piperidine-4-carboxylic acid (Hpipe-4):[M(Hpipe-4)₂(H₂O)₄]Cl₂ (M: Co, Ni) have been prepared and characterized by means of IR and powder diffuse reflection spectra, thermal analysis, and magnetic susceptibility. The crystal structures of these complexes have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The crystal of [Cu( -pipe-3)₂(H₂O)] is orthorhombic with the space group Pbcn. The copper atom is in a square pyramidal geometry, ligated by two carboxylato oxygen atoms, two nitrogen atoms, and a water molecule. One molecule of this complex consists of either -piperidine-3-carboxylic acid or -piperidine-3-carboxylic acid. The crystals of [M(Hpipe-4)₂(H₂O)₄]Cl₂ are monoclinic with space group P2₁/n. In these complexes the metal atom is in an octahedral geometry ligated by two carboxylato oxygen atoms and four water molecules.     

Asymmetric Ni(II)/Cr(II)-mediated coupling reaction: stoichiometric process

[reaction: see text] Via an X-ray analysis, the sulfonamide bearing R(1) = i-Pr, R(2) = Me, and R(3) = Me is shown to be a tridentate ligand to a Cr(III) salt. This class of ligands, represented by R(1) = t-Bu, R(2) = 2-naphthyl, and R(3) = Me, is effective to achieve an asymmetric Ni/Cr-mediated coupling reaction and, with the C14-C38 segment of halichondrins, its synthetic potential has been demonstrated. A possible mechanism is suggested for the process.     

Total synthesis of the mycolactones

[structure: see text] The first total synthesis of the mycolactones is reported. This work unambiguously confirms our earlier relative and absolute stereochemical assignment of the mycolactones.     

Purification and magnetic properties of carbon nanotubes

Received: 5 January 1998     

Propagating beam analysis of fiber wavelength filters with a depressed-index section

A wavelength filter consisting of single-mode and few-mode fibers is investigated numerically. A simple finite-difference beam-propagation method, in which a transparent boundary condition can be imposed, is developed for circularly symmetric waveguides. After confirming the validity of the numerical method by the mode-mismatch loss, we calculate the propagating field in the fiber wavelength filter, in which interference between LP₀₁, and LP₀₂ modes occurs. To improve the filtering operation, a depressed-index fiber is employed for the few-mode fiber. The effects of the radius and refractive index of the depressed section on the transmission power are revealed and discussed. Power is suppressed to less than 0.1% at 1.3 μm, while maintaining power transmission of more than 85% at 1.55 μm. It is also found that the filtering operation shifts to higher wavelengths as the input power is increased when we choose a self-focusing nonlinear material in the depressed section.