Application of WET sequence for the detection of the ligand signals resonating close to water

An efficient pulse sequence for observing the ligand signals resonating close to the water signal has been developed by incorporating the WET technique into the saturation transfer difference pulse sequence. Although several pulse sequences have been developed for observing a ligand binding with a protein receptor, the ligand signals resonating close to the water were undetectable owing to the interference of the huge water signal in the samples containing 95% ¹H₂O. On the point of sample preparation, it is preferable to avoid the solvent exchange in the protein samples. In the proposed pulse sequence, a WET sequence is incorporated for the selective suppression of the water resonance. The efficient water suppression and the clear observation of the bound ligand signals close to the water have been demonstrated using the lysozyme‐glucose complex. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ordered nano-structure of a stamped self-organized protein layer on a HOPG surface using a HFB carrier

A groundbreaking method for ordered molecular layer preparation on a solid surface employing the drop-stamp method has been developed by us taking advantage of the characteristics of the HFB molecule as a self-organizer/adsorption carrier. It is a smart method which can be used to prepare a self-organized protein layer on a solid surface without unspecific adsorption or defects. In our previous report, we clarified the self-organizing nature of HFB-tagged protein molecules on a surface of a solution droplet. In this report, a protein layer was prepared on a HOPG surface by using the drop-stamp method with a maltose binding protein (MBP)-tagged HFBII molecule. The structure of the stamped protein layer was investigated using frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM) in a liquid condition. The FM-AFM images show that the drop-stamp method can prepare an ordered protein layer on a solid surface smartly. The drop-stamp method using a HFB carrier is a practical method which can be used to prepare an ordered protein layer on a solid substrate surface without unspecific adsorption defects.     

Application of NMR screening techniques for observing ligand binding with a protein receptor

Water ligand observed via gradient spectroscopy (WaterLOGSY), saturation transfer difference and NOE pumping NMR techniques were used to identify ligand binding with a receptor. Although these experiments were originally designed to observe ligands in complexes, their application is limited by the affinity of ligands towards target molecules. Here the improved WaterLOGSY pulse sequence was developed by incorporating the double pulsed field gradient spin-echo and gradient-tailored excitation WATERGATE sequences. The efficiency of these ligand-observed NMR screening techniques was investigated using the ribonuclease T1-inhibitor system.     

Observation of water molecules bound to a protein using cold-spray ionization mass spectrometry.

The characterization of water molecules bound to ribonuclease T1 (RNase T1) was carried out using cold-spray ionization mass spectrometry (CSI-MS). CSI-MS is a variant of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) operating at low temperature, and is particularly suitable for investigating the weaker molecular associations, since the temperature at the spray interface is much lower than that in the conventional ESI-MS. In this approach, ion peaks due to the addition of nine water molecules were identified at a spray temperature of 48 degrees C. This result showed good agreement with that inferred by the combinational analysis of NMR and X-ray crystallography, indicating that CSI-MS is capable of rapidly providing reliable information to characterize the number of water molecules bound to a macromolecule.     

Ontogenetic changes of the water status in the heated quail's egg as studied by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.

The 1H-magnetic resonance imaging technique was applied for monitoring the extent of the heat coagulation in the shell egg. It is demonstrated that spin-spin relaxation time (T2) is an effective marker to observe the extent of coagulation in egg white and yolk and that the T2 value image is quite useful to recognize non-destructively the extent and status of coagulation of the heated eggs. This technique can also be applied to the material science as well as food science for observation of the inner status of the objects.     

An efficient use of the WATERGATE W5 sequence for observing a ligand binding with a protein receptor

An efficient pulse sequence for observing a ligand binding with a receptor has been developed by incorporating the WATERGATE W5 sequence. In the conventional water ligand observed via gradient spectroscopy (WaterLOGSY) techniques, the water resonance is selectively excited using, e.g. the double-pulsed field gradient spin-echo (DPFGSE) sequence at the initial portion of pulse sequence. In the current version, the modified WATERGATE W5 sequence is incorporated at the initial portion of the pulse sequence, and the resonance at the water frequency can be selectively reserved by the modified WATERGATE W5 sequence. The efficiency of ligand-observed NMR screening techniques has been demonstrated using the human serum albumin (HSA)-tryptophan complex.     

Dispersion compensating fiber used as a transmission fiber: inverse/reverse dispersion fiber

This paper gives an overview of IDF/RDF fiber design and development for submarine system. It starts with the concept of dispersion management line and its difference from the conventional DCF used in a module. Then it reviews the fiber design details and optical properties of various types of fibers used as parts of dispersion management lines. Fiber splicing issues using MFD expanding method and a brief summary of transmission experiments using the dispersion management lines are also included. Finally, we discussed a medial dispersion alternative comprising a positive and negative medial dispersion fiber and future optical properties improvements possibilities.     

Computational and NMR analyses for the identification of bound water molecules in ribonuclease T1.

A structural characterization of bound water molecules in ribonuclease T1 (RNase T1) was carried out by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation. Amide protons of residues Trp59, Leu62, Tyr68 and Phe100 were found to cross-relax with protons of bound waters. Molecular dynamics simulations of the 120 water molecules observed in the free form of the crystal structure indicate that these amide protons donate hydrogen bonds to the less mobile water molecules. Hydrogen-bonded chains of the water molecules that are identified in the simulation study are located in the hairpin-like loop of RNase T1, comprising residues 62 to 76. The temperature factors of the observed water molecules in the crystal structure are very low, indicating that these bound waters are intrinsic components of RNase T1.     

Application of difference NOE-pumping NMR technique and cold-spray ionization mass spectrometry to identify a ligand binding with a protein receptor.

A difference diffusion-based NMR technique and cold-spray ionization mass spectrometry were employed as a solution-based approach for identifying a ligand binding with a protein receptor. The difference diffusion-based NMR technique, called difference NOE-pumping, can directly detect the ligand interacting with a protein receptor. This technique uses a simple pulse sequence and the diffusion filter can easily be optimized. The cold-spray ionization mass spectrometry (CSI-MS), a variant of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) operating at low temperature, has been applied to detect the ligand-receptor complex. The efficiency of these techniques for identifying binding ligands is demonstrated with the human serum albumin (HSA)-drug system.     

Two new triterpenes from the seeds of Trichosanthes cucumeroides

Two new triterpenes named 7-oxodihydrokarounitriol (1) and 7,11-dioxodihydrokarounidiol (2), and one known triterpene, 7-oxodihydrokarounidiol (3), were isolated from the unsaponifiable matter of the seeds of Trichosanthes cucumeroides. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated as (3alpha, 11beta, 13alpha, 14beta, 20alpha)-3,11,29-trihydroxy-13-methyl-26-norolean-8-ene-7-one, and (3alpha,13alpha,14beta,20alpha)-3,29-dihydroxy-13-methyl-26-norolean-8-ene-7,11-dione on the basis of extensive NMR (1H, 13C, 1H-1H COSY, DEPT, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY) and MS studies.