Mass spectrometric characterization of two novel inflammatory peptides from the venom of the social wasp Polybia paulista

The social wasp P. paulista is relatively common in southeast Brazil causing many medically important stinging incidents. The seriousness of these incidents is dependent on the amount of venom inoculated by the wasps into the victims, and the characteristic envenomation symptoms are strongly dependent on the types of peptides present in the venom. In order to identify some of these naturally occurring peptides available in very low amounts, an analytical protocol was developed that uses a combination of reversed-phase and normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of wasp venom for peptide purification, with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight post-source decay mass spectrometry (MALDI-Tof-PSD-MS) and low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) in a quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (QTof-MS/MS) instrument for peptide sequencing at the sub-picomole level. The distinction between Leu and Ile was achieved both by observing d-type fragment ions obtained under CID conditions and by comparison of retention times of the natural peptides and their synthetic counterparts (with different combinations of I and/or L at N- and C-terminal positions). To distinguish the isobaric residues K and Q, acetylation of peptides was followed by Q-Tof-MS analysis. The primary sequences obtained were INWLKLGKMVIDAL-NH(2) (MW 1611.98 Da) and IDWLKLGKMVMDVL-NH(2) (MW 1658.98 Da). Micro-scale bioassay protocols characterized both peptides as presenting potent hemolytic action, mast cell degranulation, and chemotaxis of polymorphonucleated leukocyte (PMNL) cells. The primary sequences and the bioassay results suggest that these toxins constitute members of a new sub-class of mastoparan toxins, directly involved in the occurrence of inflammatory processes after wasp stinging.     

Nickel(II) and copper(II) – l-cysteine,l-methionine,l-tryptophan-nucleotide ternary complexes

Four new ternary complexes of Cu^II with l-methionine and the nucleotides 5AMP (adenosine 5-phosphate), 5GMP (guanosine 5-phosphate) and 5IMP (inosine 5-phosphate), and with l-tryptophan and 5AMP, were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and i.r. spectroscopy. One ternary complex of N^II with l-cysteine and 5IMP was also prepared and characterized. The study of the three ternary compounds of Cu^II, of general formulae Cu-5NMP-l-methionine, indicates coordination of the phosphate group and of N(7) of the purinic ring. l-Methionine is bound by the carboxylic and amino groups. The ternary complex obtained from a mixture of Cu-5AMP and l-tryptophan is a dimer in which the nucleotide bridges the two copper atoms. In the complex of Ni-5IMP and l-cysteine, the nucleotide seems to bind the metal through the N(7) of the heterocyclic ring, and the l-cysteine is coordinated as a bidentate chelate by the carboxyl and thiol groups. E.s.r. spectra of the copper complexes are in good agreement with the low symmetry structure proposed. The one-electron reduction potentials E_c(Fc⁺/Fc) (V) of Cu^II to Cu^I were established for the four copper complexes from cyclic voltammetry studies. The one-electron oxidation potential E_a(Fc⁺/Fc⁺) (V) of Ni^II to Ni^III was also measured for the nickel complex.     

Tentoxin as a scaffold for drug discovery. Total solid-phase synthesis of tentoxin and a library of analogues

[reaction: see text] A solid-phase method for the synthesis of tentoxin has been developed. Two key steps-dehydration and N-alkylation-are carried out while the peptide is anchored to the resin. The method, which has been validated by the preparation of a library of tentoxin analogues, should be applicable to the generation of further libraries that have the tentoxin scaffold structure, as well as other structures containing N-alkylated didehydroamino acids.     

GC-MS Studies on Derivatization of Creatinine and Creatine by BSTFA and Their Measurement in Human Urine

In consideration of its relatively constant urinary excretion rate, creatinine (2-amino-1-methyl-5H-imidazol-4-one, MW 113.1) in urine is a useful endogenous biochemical parameter to correct the urinary excretion rate of numerous endogenous and exogenous substances. Reliable measurement of creatinine by gas chromatography (GC)-based methods requires derivatization of its amine and keto groups. Creatinine exists in equilibrium with its open form creatine (methylguanidoacetic acid, MW 131.1), which has a guanidine and a carboxylic group. Trimethylsilylation and trifluoroacetylation of creatinine and creatine are the oldest reported derivatization methods for their GC-mass spectrometry (MS) analysis in human serum using flame- or electron-ionization. We performed GC-MS studies on the derivatization of creatinine (d₀-creatinine), [methylo-²H₃]creatinine (d₃-creatinine, internal standard) and creatine (d₀-creatine) with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) using standard derivatization conditions (60 min, 60 °C), yet in the absence of any base. Reaction products were characterized both in the negative-ion chemical ionization (NICI) and in the positive-ion chemical ionization (PICI) mode. Creatinine and creatine reacted with BSTFA to form several derivatives. Their early eluting N,N,O-tris(trimethylsilyl) derivatives (8.9 min) were found to be useful for the precise and accurate measurement of the sum of creatinine and creatine in human urine (10 µL, up to 20 mM) by selected-ion monitoring (SIM) of m/z 271 (d₀-creatinine/d₀-creatine) and m/z 274 (d₃-creatinine) in the NICI mode. In the PICI mode, SIM of m/z 256, m/z 259, m/z 272 and m/z 275 was performed. BSTFA derivatization of d₀-creatine from a freshly prepared solution in distilled water resulted in formation of two lMate-eluting derivatives (14.08 min, 14.72 min), presumably creatinyl-creatinine, with the creatininyl residue existing in its enol form (14.08 min) and keto form (14.72 min). Our results suggest that BSTFA derivatization does not allow specific analysis of creatine and creatinine by GC-MS. Preliminary analyses suggest that pentafluoropropionic anhydride (PFPA) is also not useful for the measurement of creatinine in the presence of creatine. Both BSTFA and PFPA facilitate the conversion of creatine to creatinine. Specific measurement of creatinine in urine is possible by using pentafluorobenzyl bromide in aqueous acetone.     

Synthesis and antidepressant-like activity of selenophenes obtained via iron(III)-PhSeSePh-mediated cyclization of Z-selenoenynes

We present here the synthesis and antidepressant-like action of a series of 2,5-disubstituted-3-(organoseleno)-selenophenes prepared by a novel synthetic route, the FeCl(3)-diorganyl dichalcogenide-mediated intramolecular cyclization of (Z)-chalcogenoenynes. The cyclized products were obtained in good yields. The results showed that 2c, 2d, 2e and 2o, evaluated in the mouse forced-swimming test, elicited an antidepressant-like activity. The studies clearly show that the phenyl group at the 2-position and an organoselenium group at the 3-position of the selenophene ring are essential for the antidepressant-like activity of selenophenes. A close inspection of the results also revealed that the fluorophenyl portion in the organoselenium group is fundamental for the antidepressant-like action of this class of organochalcogens.     

Kinetic study of antibody adhesion on a silicon wafer by laser reflectometry

Antibody adhesion kinetic in real time has been studied by laser reflectometry technique. An ellipsometer is used to measure the light intensity reflected by a silicon wafer. Light intensity reflected by the wafer presents a minimum at the pseudo-Brewster angle. Then, the reflectance increases as the antibodies (monoclonal anti-AB) adhere on interface. Mathematical analysis of reflectance curves versus time verifies that the antibody adhesion at the interface follows Langmuir kinetics (Prog. Biomed. Opt. Imaging 1(5) (2000) 19) for low antibody concentrations. Parameters obtained allow to carry out a detailed study of the antibody adsorption and the antigen–antibody interaction. This conduces to development of an optical immunosensor for detection and quantification of soluble antigens, and a novel method for commercial antiserum quality control. This technique does not require labeled antibodies, being also independent of cellular factors. Also, this technique is quicker and sensible than the conventional immunohematology methods.     

The hetero-Diels-Alder addition of sulfur dioxide to 1-fluorobuta-1,3-dienes: the sofa conformations preferred by 6-fluorosultines (6-fluoro-3,6-dihydro-1,2-oxathiin-2-oxides) enjoy enthalpic and conformational Anomeric effects

The reactivity of (E)- and (Z)-1-fluorobuta-1,3-diene ((E)- and (Z)-11), 2-fluorobutadiene (12), (E)- and (Z)-1-(fluoromethylidene)-2-methylidenecyclohexane ((E)- and (Z)-13) toward SO(2) has been explored and compared with that of (Z)- and (E)-1-(fluoromethylidene)-2-methylidene-3,4-dihydronaphthalene ((Z)-8 and (E)-8). In agreement with quantum calculations, 12 is unreactive toward SO(2) (no cycloaddition, only polymerization), whereas (E)-1-fluoro-1,3-dienes react more rapidly than their (Z)-isomers to give the corresponding 6-fluorosultines following the endo (Alder rule) mode of hetero-Diels-Alder addition. No sulfolene has been observed following the cheletropic mode of addition with the fluorodienes, in contrast to other substituted dienes. In agreement with the calculations, cis-2-fluoro-3,4-oxathiabenzobicyclo[4.4.0]dec-1(6),9-diene-4-oxide (cis-9, the sultine obtained by SO(2) addition to (Z)-8 under conditions of kinetic control) adopts a sofa conformation with the oxygen atom of the ring lying in the average plane of the four carbon atoms of its sultine moiety when it is in the crystalline state at -100 degrees C. A similar sofa conformation was found for its trans-isomer, trans-9, obtained by isomerization of cis-9 or by hetero-Diels-Alder addition of SO(2) to (E)-8. Experiments (equilibrium constant for hetero-Diels-Alder additions, bond lengths, and bond angles in crystalline fluorosultines cis-9 and trans-9) and high-level quantum calculations on cis- and trans-6-fluoro-3,6-dihydro-1,2-oxathiin-2-oxide (cis- and trans-20) confirm the existence of a stabilizing, enthalpic, anomeric (gem-disubstitution by sulfinyloxy and fluoro groups) effect, which is interpreted in terms of (lone pair) n(O1)-->sigma*(C-F) hyperconjugative interactions. This effect is strongest in the sofa conformers with a gauche arrangement of the sigma(O1,S2) and sigma(C6,F) bonds. The calculations suggest also that n(O1)-->sigma*(S2,O2'), pi*(S=O), and n(S2)-->sigma*(O1,C6) interactions intervene and affect the relative stability of the conformers (sofa, boat, pseudo-chair) found for 6-fluorosultines cis- and trans-20.