A highly specific polyclonal antiserum to the environmental contaminant 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)-ethane (p,p′-DDT)

A very selective polyclonal antiserum against 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)-ethane (p,p′-DDT) was obtained by a careful choice of the haptenic structure (2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-ethanol hemisuccinate). This hapten was conjugated to BSA to prepare the immunogen. The effects of different types of solid phases on the equilibrium reaction between the hapten on solid phase and the polyclonal antiserum were evaluated to obtain a fine tuning of the antiserum performances in terms of specificity for p,p′-DDT and sensitivity to low levels of this pesticide. The calibration curves obtained show that it is possible to set up a sensitive assay for p,p′-DDT, employing a p,p′-dichlorodiphenylacetic acid-based solid phase, with a detection limit of 0.12 ng/mL and a working range of about 0.21–40 ng/mL. Selectivity towards several p,p′-DDT-related substances was good (o,p-DDT 17%, p,p′-DDD 1.2% o,p-DDD 6.3%, p,p′-DDE 6.7%).     

A new approach to phosphoserine and phosphothreonine analysis in peptides and proteins: chemical modification,enrichment via solid-phase reversible binding,and analysis by mass spectrometry

beta-Elimination of the phosphate group on phosphoserine and phosphothreonine residues and addition of an alkyldithiol is a useful tool for analysis of the phosphorylation states of proteins and peptides. We have explored the influence of several conditions on the efficiency of this PO(4)(3-) elimination reaction upon addition of propanedithiol. In addition to the described influence of different bases, the solvent composition was also found to have a major effect on the yield of the reaction. In particular, an increase in the percentage of DMSO enhances the conversion rate, whereas a higher amount of protic polar solvents, such as water or isopropanol, induces the opposite effect. We have also developed a protocol for enrichment of the modified peptides, which is based on solid-phase covalent capture/release with a dithiopyridino-resin. The procedure for beta-elimination and isolation of phosphorylated peptides by solid-phase capture/release was developed with commercially available alpha-casein. Enriched peptide fragments were characterized by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric analysis before and after alkylation with iodoacetamide, which allowed rapid confirmation of the purposely introduced thiol moiety. Sensitivity studies, carried out in order to determine the detection limit, demonstrated that samples could be detected even in the low picomolar range by mass spectrometry. The developed solid-phase enrichment procedure based on reversible covalent binding of the modified peptides is more effective and significantly simpler than methods based on the interaction between biotin and avidin, which require additional steps such as tagging the modified peptides and work-up of the samples prior to the affinity capture step.     

Experimental and theoretical study of the interaction of CO2 with alpha-Al2O3

Density functional molecular cluster calculations are combined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), quadrupolar mass spectrometry (QMS), and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy to investigate the interaction of CO2 with alpha-Al2O3 and partially reduced alpha-Al2O3. The electronic structure of the stoichiometric and partially reduced substrate, adsorbate geometries, chemisorption enthalpies, and adsorbate vibrational parameters are computed and discussed. Theoretical results agree quite well with experimental data and previous theoretical investigations. As far as the adsorbate-substrate interaction is concerned, the results of our calculations indicate that CO2 forms bidentate-chelating carbonate species. The bonding scheme of this surface complex implies a significant substrate-->adsorbate transfer of charge (from the occupied dangling bond of a surface Lewis base site into one component of the CO2 2 pi u LUMO) assisted by a definitely weaker adsorbate-->substrate donation (from one component of the CO2 1 pi g HOMO into an empty dangling bond of a surface Lewis acid site). Our estimate of the chemisorption enthalpy (-15 kcal/mol) agrees quantitatively with calorimetric data reported for CO2 adsorbed on high surface area alpha-alumina (-16.0 kcal/mol). [Mao, C.-F.; Vannice, M. A. Appl. Catal. A 1994, 111, 151.] According to XPS and QMS outcomes, theoretical results predict that the interaction of CO2 with partially reduced alpha-Al2O3 gives rise to the reduction of the adsorbate to CO and to the concomitant substrate reoxidation.     

Determination of ochratoxin A in domestic and imported beers in italy by immunoaffinity clean-up and liquid chromatography

A method first developed to quantify ochratoxin A in wine has been applied to the analysis of domestic and imported beers in Italy. The method uses commercial immunoaffinity columns for clean-up and high-performance liquid chromatography for quantification of the toxin. Beer was degassed, then diluted with a polyethylene glycol-sodium hydrogencarbonate solution and applied to an OchraTest immunoaffinity column. Ochratoxin A was eluted from the immunoaffinity column with methanol and quantified by reversed-phase HPLC with fluorometric detector. Average recoveries of ochratoxin A from blank beer spiked at levels from 0.04 to 1.0 ng/ml ranged from 93.8% to 100.4%, with relative standard deviations between 3.3% and 5.7%. The detection limit was 0.01 ng/ml based on a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1. The analysis of 61 samples of domestic (10) and imported (51) beers showed ochratoxin A levels ranging from <0.01 to 0.135 ng/ml with an incidence of contamination of 50% and no substantial difference between strong and pale beers.     

Development of a liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry method for confirmation of chloramphenicol residues in milk after alfa-1-acid glycoprotein affinity chromatography

In this work we present a method for confirmatory analysis of chloramphenicol (CAP) in bovine and buffalo raw milk. CAP is extracted in acetonitrile and purified by affinity chromatography on an alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) column, then is identified and determined by ion-trap liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) analysis in the negative ion mode. CAP was identified at the minimum required performance limit (MRPL) of 0.30 ppb, by monitoring the [M-H]- ion and at least two product ions, meeting the qualitative and quantitative criteria set by the European Commission in Decision 2002/657/EC for confirmation of prohibited veterinary drugs. The trueness and within-day and between-day repeatability data are also reported. Moreover, the loading capacity of affinity columns towards CAP was tested. This method, based on the molecular recognition between drug and AAG during the purification step to improve sample cleanup, represents a quantitative and repeatable procedure for confirmatory analysis, and fits the requirements for the routine official control of CAP residues in raw milk.     

Preparation and self-assembly of chiral porphyrin diads on the gold electrodes of quartz crystal microbalances: a novel potential approach to the development of enantioselective chemical sensors

Porphyrin diad 1 was synthesized by reaction of the acyl chloride of porphyrin 2 and trans-1,2-dithiane-4,5-diol. The Co complex of this diad was studied as a potential enantioselective receptor for chiral recognition in solution and in the solid state. In solution both enantiomers of limonene induce significant changes in the visible and circular dichroism (CD) spectra of [Co2(1)], while a different behavior is observed in the case of the enantiomeric pair of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane. A different efficiency of [Co2(1)] chiral recognition is obtained for these compounds, with a remarkable degree of enantiodiscrimination observed in the case of limonene. Self-assembled monolayers of [Co2(1)] were deposited onto the gold electrodes of quartz crystal microbalances to be used as sensing materials of nanogravimetric sensors operating in the gas phase. The enantiodiscrimination properties of these sensors towards the enantiomeric pairs of chiral analytes have been studied. While in the case of analytes bearing donor ligand atoms we did not observe a remarkable enantioselectivity, a significant degree of chiral discrimination was observed in the case of limonene; this result is particularly encouraging for the potential development of enantioselective chemical sensors for use in an array configuration.     

Uranyl-salophen based ditopic receptors for the recognition of quaternary ammonium halides

Uranyl-salophen complexes endowed with aromatic side arms behave as very efficient ditopic receptors towards tetralkylammonium halides as a result of a combination of Lewis acid-base and cation-pi interactions.     

Simplified chemical and radiochemical synthesis of 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol, an endogenous ligand of cannabinoid receptors

Endocannabinoids have emerged as a new class of lipid mediators, with manifold roles in the central nervous system and in the periphery. Several studies have identified 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol (2-AG) as a major endogenous agonist of cannabinoid receptors. Here, the chemical synthesis of 2-AG is reported, along with the synthesis of its tritium-labeled derivative. These unlabeled and radiolabeled compounds are suitable tools for unravelling some metabolic routes and biological activities of 2-AG in various cells and tissues.     

Multielemental analysis of food and agricultural matrixes by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

The suitability of quadrupole inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for multielemental analysis of food following microwave closed vessel digestion of samples was evaluated in relation to analytical challenges presented by some major food and agricultural matrixes. Fifteen key analytes (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn, V, Zn) were determined in 9 reference materials representative of 3 major groups of staple foods (cereals, seafood, and meat). For all measurements, the method of external calibration was used and Rh was selected as internal standard. Matrix-induced interferences were evaluated for each material, and suitable methods to overcome them were applied. Spectral interferences caused by C, Cl, and Ca content of digestates were quantitated and corrected by entering a simple system of mathematical correction equations into the instrument software before each analytical run. Full mastering of interferences together with adoption of a series of measures to control the reliability of analytical measurements produced accurate results for all the analytes. A standard analytical protocol is outlined for the benefit of both research and routine high-throughput laboratories that perform ICP-MS analyses of food.