Effect of group II metal cations on catecholate oxidation.

The unexpected effects of Ca(2+) on the free-radical chain reactions of dopamine, norepinephrine, isoproterenol, and pyrocatechol oxidation are studied using oxygen consumption measurements, EPR-spectroscopy, UV/VIS spectrophotometry, and by potentiometric titration. It is found that the formation of Ca(2+)-catecholate complexes is accompanied by an increase in the dissociation constants (K(ai) ) of their phenolic hydroxyls. At pH>pK(ai) and in the presence of alkaline-earth metal cations, the rate of catecholate oxidation increases (Ca(2+), Mg(2+)> Sr(2+), Ba(2+)), whereas on addition of Zn ions the rate decreases. The effects of Group II metal cations on catecholate autoxidation are concomitant with a transient increase of the EPR signal for metal-semiquinonate complexes. Therefore, the effects of Ca(2+) and other alkaline-earth metal cations on catecholate autoxidation can be defined as 1) additional deprotonation of catechol OH-groups involved in the formation of M(2+)-catecholate complexes, the latter exceeding catechols in the susceptibility to dioxygen-induced oxidation and 2) formation of relatively stable free-radical intermediates responsible for chain propagation.     

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Scattering Microscopy.

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy is presented as a new nonlinear optical technique. The combination of vibrational spectroscopy and microscopy allows highly sensitive investigations of unlabelled samples. CARS is an ideal tool for studying a broad variety of samples. The main drawback of the technique is its non-zero-background nature, which implies that the signal has to be detected against a nonresonant background. The need to solve this problem is reflected in the rapid technological developments that have been observed during the last decade. Recent results show that CARS microscopy has the potential to become an important complementary technique that can be used with other well-established microscopic methods. Although it has some limitations, it offers unique access to many problems that cannot be tackled with conventional techniques. For this reason, it can be expected that the impressive growth of the field will continue.     

Synthesis of functionalized rab GTPases by a combination of solution- or solid-phase lipopeptide synthesis with expressed protein ligation

Prenylated proteins with non-native functionalities are generally very difficult to obtain by recombinant or enzymatic means. The semisynthesis of preparative amounts of prenylated Rab guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) from recombinant proteins and synthetic prenylated peptides depends largely on the availability of functionalised prenylated peptides corresponding to the proteins' native structure or modifications thereof. Here, we describe and compare solution-phase and solid-phase strategies for the generation of peptides corresponding to the prenylated C terminus of Rab7 GTPase. The solid-phase with utilisation of a hydrazide linker emerges as the more favourable approach. It allows a fast and practical synthesis of pure peptides and gives a high degree of flexibility in their modification. To facilitate the analysis of semisynthetic proteins, the synthesised peptides were equipped with a fluorescent group. Using the described approach, we introduced fluorophores at several different positions of the Rab7 C terminus. The position of the incorporated fluorescent groups in the peptides did not influence the protein-ligation reaction, as the generated peptides could be ligated onto thioester-tagged Rab7. However, it was found that the positioning of the fluorescent group had an influence on the functionality of the Rab7 proteins; analysis of the interaction of the semisynthetic Rab7 proteins with REP (Rab escort protein) and GDI (guanosine diphosphate dissociation inhibitor) molecules revealed that modification of the peptide side chains or of the C-terminal isoprenoid did not significantly interfere with complex formation. However, functionalisation of the C terminus was found to have an adverse effect on complex formation and stability, possibly reflecting low structural flexibility of the Rab GDI/REP molecules in the vicinity of the lipid-binding site.     

Selective methodologies for the synthesis of biologically active piperidinic compounds

The synthesis of optically active substituted piperidines has been achieved by using four different methodologies. The first one is an intramolecular nucleophilic displacement of activated alcohol moieties that was used to build up the piperidine ring of (-)-prosophylline and (-)-slaframine, and the second one is a ring-closing metathesis of unsaturated amines which was employed in the synthesis of (+)-sedamine and 4a,5-dihydrostreptazoline. The third methodology is the alpha-functionalization of N-Boc piperidines which was particularly useful in the synthesis of argatroban, and the fourth one is a ring expansion of prolinols to 3-chloropiperidines or 3-hydroxypiperidines which was utilized to synthesize (-)-paroxetine, (-)-pseudoconhydrine, the piperidine ring of (-)-velbanamine and (+)-zamifenacin.     

Background-free,fast protein staining in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel using counterion dyes,zincon and ethyl violet

A background-free, fast protein staining method in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using an acidic dye, zincon (ZC) and a basic dye, ethyl violet (EV) is described. It is based on the counterion dye staining technique that employs two oppositely charged dyes to form an ion-pair complex in staining solution. The selective binding of free dye molecules to proteins in acidic solution produces bluish violet-colored bands. It is a rapid and end-point staining procedure, involving only fixing and staining steps that are completed in 1-1.5 h. The detection limit of this method is 8-15 ng of protein that is comparable to the sensitivity of the colloidal Coomassie Brilliant Blue G (CBBG) stain. Due to its sensitivity and speed, this stain may be more practical than any other dye-based stains for routine laboratory purposes.     

Chiral separation of 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol and its analogue on molecular imprinting monolithic columns by HPLC

Two molecular imprinting polymer (MIP) monolithic columns with (S)-(-)-1,1'-bi-2-naphthol and (R)-(+)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahydro-1,1'-bi-2-naphthol as the templating molecules, respectively, have been prepared by in situ polymerization using 4-vinylpyridine and ethylene dimethacrylate as functional monomer and cross-linker, respectively. The columns with good flow-through properties were obtained by changing the molar ratio of the functional monomer and the template molecule. The effects of mobile-phase composition on separation of enantiomers were systematically investigated. The results indicate that hydrophobic interaction in aqueous solution and hydrogen-bonding interaction in ACN between the enantiomers and polymers could play important roles in the retention and resolution. The effects of chromatographic conditions, such as flow rate, column temperature, sample loading, on the enantioseparation were also studied. Further, these two MIP columns show a cross-reactivity.     

Reactivity in the solid state between CoWO4 and RE2WO6 where RE = Sm, Eu, Gd

Reactivity in the solid state between CoWO₄ and some rare-earth metal tungstates RE₂WO₆ (RE = Sm, Eu, Gd) was investigated by the XRD method. Two families of new isostructural cobalt and rare-earth metal tungstates, Co₂RE₂W₃O₁₄ and CoRE₄W₃O₁₆, were synthesized. The Co₂RE₂W₃O₁₄ phases are formed by heating in air the CoWO₄ and RE₂WO₆ compounds mixed at the molar ratio 2:1, while the CoRE₄W₃O₁₆ phases are synthesized at the molar ratio of CoWO₄/RE₂WO₆ equals to 1:2. The Co₂RE₂W₃O₁₄ phases as well as the CoRE₄W₃O₁₆ compounds crystallize in the orthorhombic system. The Co₂RE₂W₃O₁₄ and CoRE₄W₃O₁₆ compound melt above 1150 °C. A melting manner of the Co₂RE₂W₃O₁₄ and CoRE₄W₃O₁₆ compounds was determined in an inert atmosphere. The formation of CoWO_4−x phase was observed during heating in an inert atmosphere.     

Selective Determination of Quercetin Using Carbon Nanotube‐Modified Electrodes

Electrochemical detection of quercetin has been carried out on glassy carbon electrodes modified with carbon nanotubes and Nafion (GC/Nafion‐CNT). GC/Nafion‐CNT electrodes did not show passivation effect that occurs on the unmodified electrodes and displayed better stability and reproducibility. Quercetin oxidation was most favorable in acidic conditions and current gradually decreased as the solution pH increased. No oxidation was observed when two ? OH groups in a catechol moiety were fully deprotonated. These electrodes enabled selective determination of quercetin in the presence of interfering species such as ascorbic acid, uric acid, glucose, and catechol in large excess. Quantification of quercetin in a yellow onion has been made and favorably compared with reported values. Good selectivity and high sensitivity obtained by Osteryoung sSquare‐wave voltammetry can open new possibilities of direct quercetin determination in vegetables with a minimal sample treatment.     

Determination of Copper at a Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Langmuir–Blodgett Film of p‐tert‐Butylthiacalix[4]arene

A new type of voltammetric sensor, Langmuir–Blodgett film of p‐tert‐butylthiacalix[4]arene modified glassy carbon electrode, was advanced and used for determining copper at trace levels by differential pulse stripping voltammetry. Calibration plot was found to be linear in the range of 2×10^?8 M to 5×10^?6 M; the detection limit was 2×10^?9 M. Possible recognition mechanism was also discussed. From determination of Copper in real samples (river, lake and tap water) it can be concluded that the method is rapid, sensitive in determining of copper and can be used in the analysis of natural water samples.     

小分子化合物在离子阱质谱中的分子离子反应研究

利用离子阱质谱的原理和特点，研究了小分子醇、醚、胺、醛、酮等有机化合 物（分子量小于200）在离子阱里的分子离子反应，总结了反应特点和规律，并把 它归类为自身化学电离（SCI）反应。以丁酮、丙烯醇为例，采用FTMS对反应产物 离子进行准确质量测定，验证了它们各自的分子离子反应结果。另外，把该类化合 物（30个）SCI反应的质谱图与NIST98库中的标准EI质谱图进行了比较，建立了 SCI质谱图库，提高了在离子阱质谱上对这类小分子化合物定性分析的准确率。