A mass spectrometry screening method for antiaggregatory activity of proteins covalently modified by combinatorial library members: application to sickle hemoglobin

A homogeneous assay, based on electrospray mass spectrometry, is described for identifying compounds in a combinatorial library that covalently modify a protein and thereby enhance its solubility. The technique is based on measuring the distribution of modified proteins in the supernatant versus aggregate. Compounds having the greatest anti-aggregatory activity are those with the highest supernatant/aggregate ratio. Mass is used as a marker to identify which covalent modifier in the library is involved. An exploratory study is presented which demonstrates that the antisickling activity of a family of isothiocyanates, as measured by the standard C(sat) assay, correlates well (r(2) = 0.98) with the mass spectrometry analysis of the supernatant/aggregate distribution. The technique has potential for screening libraries capable of covalently modifying other proteins of clinical interest, e.g., Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and various prion related diseases.     

Ultrasound-assisted Low Density Solvent Based Dispersive Liquid-liquid Microextraction for Determination of Phthalate Esters in Bottled Water Samples

A technique of ultrasound-assisted low density solvent based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction was developed for the determination of four phthalate esters, including dimethyl phthalate(DMP), diethyl phthalate(DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate(DnBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate(DEHP) in bottled water samples. A low density solvent, toluene, was selected as extraction solvent. In the extraction process, a mixture of 15 μL of toluene(extraction solvent) and 100 μL of methanol(disperser solvent) was rapidly injected into 1.0 mL of water samples. A cloudy solution was formed after ultrasounded for 5 min, and then centrifuged at 5000 r/min for 5 min. The enriched analytes in the floating phase were determined by means of gas chromatograph. Under the optimum conditions, the enrichment factors were found to be in a range of 29-67, and the recoveries were ranged from 81.2% to 103.9%. The limits of the detection were in a range of 3.8-5.6 μg/L. The proposed method was applied to the extraction and determination of phthalate esters in bottled water samples, and the concentrations of phthalate esters found in the water samples were below the allowable levels.     

Synergistic Effects of the ZnCl2-SiCl4 Modified TiCl4 /MgCl2 /THF Catalytic System on Ethylene/1-Hexene and Ethylene/1-Octene Copolymerizations简

The copolymerizations of ethylene with 1-hexene or 1-octene by using TiCl4 /MgCl2 /THF catalysts modified with different metal halide additives(ZnCl2, SiCl4, and the combined ZnCl2-SiCl4) were investigated based on catalytic activity and copolymer properties. It was found that the catalyst modified with mixed ZnCl2-SiCl4 revealed the highest activities for both ethylene/1-hexene and ethylene/1-octene copolymerization. The increase in activities was due to the formation of acidic sites by modifying the catalysts with Lewis acids. Based on the FTIR measurements, the characteristic C―O―C peaks of the catalysts modified with metal halide additives were slightly shifted to lower wavenumber when compared to the unmodified catalyst. This showed that the modified catalysts could generate more acid sites in the TiCl4 /MgCl2 /THF catalytic system leading to an increase in activities as well as comonomer insertion(as proven by13C-NMR). However, Lewis acidmodifications did not affect the microstructure of the copolymers obtained. By comparison on the properties of copolymers prepared with the unmodified catalyst, it was found that polymers with ZnCl2 and/or SiCl4 modification exhibited a slight decrease in melting temperature, crystallinity and density. It is suggested that these results were obtained based on the different amount of α-olefins insertion, regardless of the types of Lewis acids and comonomer.     

Sample Preparation Methods for the Determination of Chlorination Disinfection Byproducts in Water Samples

Chlorination has been widely used as a disinfection method for control of pathogens in drinking water and wastewater treatment plants. Chlorination disinfection byproducts (DBPs) are formed when organic matter is present in water, and they are harmful to human health. The main groups of compounds formed are trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs) and haloacetonitriles (HANs). Analysis of THMs, HAAs and HANs in water samples has been reported. This paper reviews the various sample preparation methods in use for analysis of THMs, HAAs and HANs in water samples.

     

Different C-glycosidation products of glucal with alkynyl or propargyl silanes under acidic conditions

Propargylic and acetylenic silyl groups on propyne control the C-glycosidation products depending on the trimethylsilyl and triisopropylsilyl groups used. Some mechanistic discussions are included. [reaction: see text]     

A Carbon Electrode Functionalized by a Tricopper Cluster Complex: Overcoming Overpotential and Production of Hydrogen Peroxide in the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

A study of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on a screen printed carbon electrode surface mediated by the tricopper cluster complex Cu₃(7‐N‐Etppz(CH₂OH)) dispersed on electrochemically reduced carbon black, where 7‐N‐Etppz(CH₂OH) is the ligand 3,3′‐(6‐(hydroxymethyl)‐1,4‐diazepane‐1,4‐diyl)bis(1‐(4‐ethyl piperazin‐1‐yl)propan‐2‐ol), is described. Onset oxygen reduction potentials of about 0.92 V and about 0.77 V are observed at pH 13 and pH 7 vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode, which are comparable to the best values reported for any synthetic copper complex. Based on half‐wave potentials (E_1/2), the corresponding overpotentials are about 0.42 V and about 0.68 V, respectively. Kinetic studies indicate that the trinuclear copper catalyst can accomplish the 4 e^? reduction of O₂ efficiently and the ORR is accompanied by the production of only small amounts of H₂O₂. The involvement of the copper triad in the O₂ activation process is also verified.     

Chemiluminescence mapping. I. Experimental method and initial measurments on the D+F2 and F+D2 reactions

Measurements by a new experimental chemiluminescence method of the nascent DF product vibrational distribution confirm earlier findings for the F + D₂ → DF(ν?4) + D reaction. The distribution for D + F₂ → DF(ν?15) + F shows a larger fraction (≈ 78%) of the reaction exothermicity channeled into product vibration than is observed by conventional chemiluminescence measurements on the parallel H + F₂ system (58%). The new method, termed chemiluminescence mapping for its simultaneous recording of spectrally and temporally resolved chemiluminescence, differs from the earlier arrested relaxation and measured relaxation techniques by the introduction of a short duty cycle pulsed molecular reagent source, a modified deuterium dissociation source, and signal averaged (time resolved), detection of the DF infrared emission. The chemiluminescence mapping technique results for D + F₂ and F + D₂, are presented; apparent deviation from the energy distribution in the H + F₂ system is discussed.     

Selectivity and energetics in the MPD of isomeric fluoropentanes

The multiphoton gas-phase HF elimination from 1-, 2- and 3-fluoropentanes (1FP, 2FP and 3FP) has been studied; 1FP does not react. The conversion per flash for 3FP is 1000 times greater than that for 2FP. The average excitation energies for 3FP and 2FP are 125 and 110 kcal/mole, respectively; the 3FP undergoes secondary reaction. The difference in photophysical properties of 2FP and 3FP can be used as the basis for a purification technique.