Search of ligands for the amyloidogenic protein beta2-microglobulin by capillary electrophoresis and other techniques

Beta2-microglobulin (beta2-m) is a small amyloidogenic protein normally present on the surface of most nucleated cells and responsible for dialysis-related amyloidosis, which represents a severe complication of long-term hemodialysis. A therapeutic approach for this amyloidosis could be based on the stabilization of beta2-m through the binding to a small molecule, and consequent inhibition of protein misfolding and amyloid fibril formation. A few compounds have been described to weakly bind beta2-m, including the drug suramin. The lack of a binding site for nonpolypeptidic ligands on the beta2-m structure makes it difficult for both the identification of functional groups responsible for the binding and the search of hits to be optimized. The characterization of the binding properties of suramin for beta2-m by using three different techniques (surface plasmon resonance, affinity CE (ACE), ultrafiltration) is here described and the results obtained are compared. The common features of the chemical structures of the compounds known to bind the protein led us to select 200 sulfonated/suramin-like molecules from a wider chemical library on the basis of similarity rules, so as to possibly single out some interesting hits and to gain more information on the functional groups involved in the binding. The development of screening methods to test the compounds by using ultrafiltration and ACE is described.     

Synthesis of macrocyclic aliphatic disulfide oligomers from dithiols by oxidative coupling with oxygen using a copper‐amine catalyst

A new effective method is provided for the synthesis of macrocyclic aliphatic disulfide oligomers by catalytic oxidation of aliphatic dithiols with oxygen in the presence of a copper‐amine catalyst. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Crystal Structure of Thallium(I) Complex containing Monodeprotonated 2,6‐Pyridinedicarboxylic Acid

The reaction of an ethanolic solution 2,6‐pyridinedicarboxylic acid ( 1 , LH₂) with TlNO₃ in the presence of triethylamine led to the coordination polymer [Tl(LH)]_n ( 2 ). The complex was characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Crystal data for 2 at –80 °C: monoclinic, space group I2/a, a = 696.1(1), b = 1190.6(2), c = 931.0(2) pm, β = 103.28(1)°, Z = 4, R₁ = 0.0256.     

Insoluble eggshell matrix proteins--their peptide mapping and partial characterization by capillary electrophoresis and high-performance liquid chromatography

Avian eggshell matrix proteins were studied by two analytical approaches. Peptide mapping was done by trypsin and pepsin followed by collagenase cleavage; analyses were carried out by capillary electrophoresis and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Comparison of peptide maps obtained by both methods revealed a complex mixture of peptides in the insoluble layers of the eggshell; it was concluded that there are at least three different insoluble protein/peptide layers in the avian eggshell (cuticle, palisade, and mammillary layer). Partial characterization of peptides in each layer was made by HPLC-mass spectrometry analysis. There is an evidence that the eggshell insoluble proteins contain species susceptible to collagenase cleavage, however, the sequences split by this enzyme probably are not those typical for the main triple-helical core of collagenous proteins. It is proposed that the action of collagenase upon eggshell proteins is caused by the side effect of collagenase described previously with synthetic peptides. Some of the proteins present are probably glycosylated. Fatty acid content in the insoluble eggshell layers (after decalcification) was in the range of 2-4% (which reflected both lipid and lipoproteins bound fatty acids). Porphyrin pigments are dominant in the cuticle layer.     

Fabrication and Properties of Conducting Polypyrrole/SWNT‐PABS Composite Films and Nanotubes

We report the electropolymerization and characterization of polypyrrole films doped with poly(m‐aminobenzene sulfonic acid (PABS) functionalized single‐walled nanotubes (SWNT) (PPy/SWNT‐PABS). The negatively charged water‐soluble SWNT‐PABS served as anionic dopant during the electropolymerization to synthesize PPy/SWNT‐PABS composite films. The synthetic, morphological and electrical properties of PPy/SWNT‐PABS films and chloride doped polypyrrole (PPy/Cl) films were compared. Characterization was performed by cyclic voltammetry, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. SEM and AFM images revealed that the incorporation of SWNT‐PABS significantly altered the morphology of the PPy. Cyclic voltammetry showed improved electrochemical properties of PPy/SWNT‐PABS films as compared to PPy/Cl films. Raman Spectroscopy confirmed the presence of SWNT‐PABS within composite films. Field effect transistor (FET) and electrical characterization studies show that the incorporation of the SWNT‐PABS increased the electronic performance of PPy/SWNT‐PABS films when compared to PPy/Cl films. Finally, we fabricated PPy/SWNT‐PABS nanotubes which may lead to potential applications to sensors and other electronic devices.     

Chemical reaction dynamics of PeCB and TCDD decomposition: A tight‐binding quantum chemical molecular dynamics study with first‐principles parameterization

The decomposition reaction dynamics of 2,3,4,4′,5‐penta‐chlorinated biphenyl (2,3,4,4′,5‐PeCB), 3,3′,4,4′,5‐penta‐chlorinated biphenyl (3,3′,4,4′,5‐PeCB), and 2,3,7,8‐tetra‐chlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxin (2,3,7,8‐TCDD) was clarified for the first time at atomic and electronic levels, using our novel tight‐binding quantum chemical molecular dynamics method with first‐principles parameterization. The calculation speed of our new method is over 5000 times faster than that of the conventional first‐principles molecular dynamics method. We confirmed that the structure, energy, and electronic states of the above molecules calculated by our new method are quantitatively consistent with those by first‐principles calculations. After the confirmation of our methodology, we investigated the decomposition reaction dynamics of the above molecules and the calculated dynamic behaviors indicate that the oxidation of the 2,3,4,4′,5‐PeCB, 3,3′,4,4′,5‐PeCB, and 2,3,7,8‐TCDD proceeds through an epoxide intermediate, which is in good agreement with the previous experimental reports and consistent with our static density functional theory calculations. These results proved that our new tight‐binding quantum chemical molecular dynamics method with first‐principles parameterization is an effective tool to clarify the chemical reaction dynamics at reaction temperatures. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Nitration Products of 5‐Amino‐1H‐tetrazole and Methyl‐5‐amino‐1H‐tetrazoles – Structures and Properties of Promising Energetic Materials

The nitration of 5‐amino‐1H‐tetrazole ( 1 ), 5‐amino‐1‐methyl‐1H‐tetrazole ( 3 ), and 5‐amino‐2‐methyl‐2H‐tetrazole ( 4 ) with HNO₃ (100%) was undertaken, and the corresponding products 5‐(nitrimino)‐1H‐tetrazole ( 2 ), 1‐methyl‐5‐(nitrimino)‐1H‐tetrazole ( 5 ), and 2‐methyl‐5‐(nitramino)‐2H‐tetrazole ( 6 ) were characterized comprehensively using vibrational (IR and Raman) spectroscopy, multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁴N, and ¹⁵N) NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The molecular structures in the crystalline state were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The thermodynamic properties and thermal behavior were investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the heats of formation were determined by bomb calorimetric measurements. Compounds 2, 5 , and 6 were all found to be endothermic compounds. The thermal decompositions were investigated by gas‐phase IR spectroscopy as well as DSC experiments. The heats of explosion, the detonation pressures, and velocities were calculated with the software EXPLO5, whereby the calculated values are similar to those of common explosives such as TNT and RDX. In addition, the sensitivities were tested by BAM methods (drophammer and friction) and correlated to the calculated electrostatic potentials. The explosion performance of 5 was investigated by Koenen steel sleeve test, whereby a higher explosion power compared to RDX was reached. Finally, the long‐term stabilities at higher temperatures were tested by thermal safety calorimetry (FlexyTSC). X‐Ray crystallography of monoclinic 2 and 6 , and orthorhombic 5 was performed.     

The mean spherical model in a random external field and the replica method

We provide a quick elementary solution of the mean spherical model in a random external field. This also allows an immediate proof of the self-averaging property of the free energy. We calculate the free energy by means of the replica method, i.e., for any (not necessarily integer) replica numbern, and show that when a phase transition occurs the limits andn 0 are not interchangeable.     

Low-temperature bath/coupled-capillary/sweeping-micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography for the separation of naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde-derivatized dopamine and norepinephrine

The use of a low-temperature (0 degrees C) bath-assisted coupled capillary for the separation of naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde (NDA)-derivatized dopamine and norepinephrine using the sweeping-micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) mode is described. In this technique, a capillary consisting of two portions with different inside diameters is used. Therefore, the field strength inside the capillary is different. Hence, the electrophoretic migration velocities of the analytes and the electro-osmotic flow (EOF) also are different. Furthermore, when a portion of the capillary (wide portion, used for sweeping) is immersed in a low-temperature bath, the viscosity of the buffer and the retention factor of the analytes inside are increased. Thus, not only are the interactions between the SDS micelles and the analytes increased, but the SDS-analytes also move more slowly. As a result, a more complete separation can be achieved, even when the sample injection volume is large, up to approximately 2 microL. In general, when the volume of an injected sample is larger, the effects of sweeping and separation would become insufficient, especially when the retention values (k) of the analytes are quite different. However, this limitation can be improved when the low-temperature bath/coupled capillary/sweeping-MEKC mode is used.     

Enantioseparation in capillary electrophoresis using 2-O-(2-hydroxybutyl)-beta-CD as a chiral selector

The resolving ability of 2-O-(2-hydroxybutyl)-beta-CD (HB-beta-CD) with different degrees of substitution (DS = 2.9 and 4.0) as a chiral selector in CZE is reported in this work. Fourteen chiral drugs belonging to different classes of compounds of pharmaceutical interest such as beta-agonists, antifungal agents, ageneric agents, etc., were resolved. The effects of the DS of HB-beta-CD on separations were also investigated. The chiral resolution (R(s)) was strongly influenced by the concentrations of the CD derivative, the BGE, and the pH of the BGE. Under the conditions of 50 mmol/L Tris-phosphate buffer at pH 2.5 containing 5 mmol/L HB-beta-CD, all 14 analytes were separated. The very low concentration necessary to obtain separation was particularly impressive. The DS had a significant effect on the resolution of the chiral drugs and the ionic strength of the separation media; hence, the use of a well-characterized CD derivative is crucial.