Autofluorescence characterization of advanced glycation end products of hemoglobin

This article describes the analysis of autofluorescence of advanced glycation end products of hemoglobin (Hb-AGE). Formed as a result of slow, spontaneous and non-enzymatic glycation reactions, Hb-AGE possesses a characteristic autofluorescence at 308/345 nm (lambda(ex)/lambda(em)). Even in the presence of heme as a quenching molecule, the surface presence of the glycated adduct gave rise to autofluorescence with the quantum yield of 0.19. The specificity of monoclonal antibody developed against common AGE structure with Hb-AGE was demonstrated using reduction in fluorescence polarization value due to increased molecular volume while binding. The formation of fluorescent adduct in hemoglobin in the advanced stage of glycation and the non-fluorescent HbA(1c) will be of major use in distinguishing and to know the past status of diabetes mellitus. While autofluorescence correlated highly with HbA(1c) value under in vivo condition (r = 0.85), it was moderate in the clinical samples (r = 0.55). The results suggest a non-linear relation between glycemia and glycation, indicating the application of Hb-AGE as a measure of susceptibility to glycation rather than glycation itself.     

Fluorescence and biochemical characterization of glycated hemoglobin

Isoelectric focusing (IEF) of glycated hemoglobin (GHb) was carried out in ultra-thin polyacrylamide gels to separate the hemoglobin-advanced glycation endproducts (Hb-AGEs) from the hemoglobin-A_1C (HbA_1C) fraction. Precast polyacrylamide gels (Ampholine^® PAGplate) were used in Pharmacia LKB Multiphor II for this purpose. The separated bands for Hb-AGE and HbA_1C based on their isoelectric point (pI), were confirmed with the purifed fractions obtained from the cation exchange chromatographic technique. From the calibration curve, the pI values were found to be 6.748 and 6.495 for HbA_1C and Hb-AGE, respectively. The lowering of pI values for glycated hemoglobin, when compared to unglycated hemoglobin (pI = 6.852), can be attributed to the glycation at the amino terminals of the peptide chains. Increased reduction in pI value for Hb-AGE can be attributed to the effect of glycation of amino groups at various sites on the peptide chains, apart from the terminal amino groups. Fluorescence analysis was carried out for the purified fraction of Hb-AGE which showed the formation of a new fluorophor adduct having the excitation and emission maxima at 308 nm and 345 nm, respectively. Time-dependent formation of Hb-AGE under in vitro conditions was monitored by fluorescence (308/345 nm) over a period of 120 days, which showed its formation only after 3 weeks of incubation.     

SPED-(styrene-polyethyleneglycol diacrylate-9-decen-1-ol): a novel resin for solid phase peptide synthesis; synthesis and characterization of biologically potent endothelin classes of peptides

Here we present a novel beaded chemically stable, highly permeable hydrophobic/hydrophilic balanced support for solid phase peptide synthesis. The resin (SPED) was prepared by free radical suspension polymerization using monomers styrene and 9-decen-1-ol with amphiphilic cross-linking agent polyethyleneglycol diacrylate (Mn 258). Different cross-linking densities were prepared to check the extent of swelling in different polar and non-polar solvents. The SPED resin was characterized with IR, 13C NMR and surface by SEM. The chemical stability of the support in various peptide synthetic conditions was investigated and monitored by IR spectroscopy. To evaluate the applicability of the new resin in synthetic conditions more challenging peptide sequence of retro-ACP (74-65) was synthesized and compared to commercially available Merrifield resin. The efficiency of SPED was further confirmed by synthesizing biologically important endothelin family of peptides in high yield and purity. The purity of all peptides was checked by RP-HPLC and mass by MALDI-TOF MS.     

Efficient Synthesis of Cinacalcet Hydrochloride

A new route to synthesize cinacalcet hydrochloride ((R)‐α‐methyl‐N‐[3‐[3‐(trifluoromethyl) phenyl] propyl]‐1‐naphthalene methane amine hydrochloride) has been described. The key steps include the Knoevenagel–Doebner condensation and the amide reduction under milder conditions.     

Efficient Synthesis of Sivelestat Sodium Hydrate

An efficient and scaleable synthesis of sivelestat sodium hydrate has been developed.