Characterization of reaction products formed during thin-layer chromatographic detection of thiocarbamate herbicides

The reaction between thiocarbamate herbicides and 2,6-dichlorobenzoquinone-N-chloroimine or 2,6-dibromobenzoquinone-N-chloroimine is suitable for the detection of these herbicides on thin-layer plates with high sensitivity. The reactions were followed by infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. We have established the formation of 2,6-dichlorobenzoquinone-S-alkyl sulphenylimines. In the case of the bromo-derivative, halogen exchange and substitution on the quinone ring took place simultaneously leading to the formation of mixed halogenated 2,6-dihalo- and, in addition, 2,3,6-trihalobenzoquinone-S-alkyl sulphenylimines. The final product of the detection reaction, i.e. 2,6-dichlorobenzoquinone-S-alkyl sulphenylimine was reacted with 2,6-dibromobenzoquinone-N-chloroimine where 2,6-dichloro-3-bromobenzoquinone-S-alkyl sulphenylimine formed as a consequence of the looser bromine-carbon linkage on the 2 and 6 positions of the quinone ring.     

Characterization of a putative sensory [FeFe]-hydrogenase provides new insight into the role of the active site architecture

[FeFe]-hydrogenases are known for their high rates of hydrogen turnover, and are intensively studied in the context of biotechnological applications. Evolution has generated a plethora of different subclasses with widely different characteristics. The M2e subclass is phylogenetically distinct from previously characterized members of this enzyme family and its biological role is unknown. It features significant differences in domain- and active site architecture, and is most closely related to the putative sensory [FeFe]-hydrogenases. Here we report the first comprehensive biochemical and spectroscopical characterization of an M2e enzyme, derived from Thermoanaerobacter mathranii. As compared to other [FeFe]-hydrogenases characterized to-date, this enzyme displays an increased H₂ affinity, higher activation enthalpies for H⁺/H₂ interconversion, and unusual reactivity towards known hydrogenase inhibitors. These properties are related to differences in active site architecture between the M2e [FeFe]-hydrogenase and “prototypical” [FeFe]-hydrogenases. Thus, this study provides new insight into the role of this subclass in hydrogen metabolism and the influence of the active site pocket on the chemistry of the H-cluster.

Characterization of a group D putative sensory [FeFe]-hydrogenase reveals how the active site can be tuned to decrease CO inhibition and increase stability of a reduced H-cluster while retaining the ability to catalyze H⁺/H₂ interconversion.     

Decoupling the effects of hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties at the neuron–nanofibre interface

Peptide-based nanofibres are a versatile class of tunable materials with applications in optoelectronics, sensing and tissue engineering. However, the understanding of the nanofibre surface at the molecular level is limited. Here, a series of homologous dilysine–diphenylalnine tetrapeptides were synthesised and shown to self-assemble into water-soluble nanofibres. Despite the peptide nanofibres displaying similar morphologies, as evaluated through atomic force microscopy and neutron scattering, significant differences were observed in their ability to support sensitive primary neurons. Contact angle and labelling experiments revealed that differential presentation of lysine moieties at the fibre surface did not affect neuronal viability; however the mobility of phenylalanine residues at the nanofibre surface, elucidated through solid- and gel-state NMR studies and confirmed through tethered bilayer lipid membrane experiments, was found to be the determining factor in governing the suitability of a given peptide as a scaffold for primary neurons. This work offers new insights into characterising and controlling the nanofibre surface at the molecular level.

The mobility of hydrophobic moieties at a peptide nanofibre surface determines its suitability as a scaffold for sensitive primary cells.     

Capillary liquid chromatography with MS3 for the determination of enkephalins in microdialysis samples from the striatum of anesthetized and freely-moving rats

In vivo microdialysis sampling was coupled to capillary liquid chromatography (LC)/electrospray ionization quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry (MS) to monitor [Met]enkephalin and [Leu]enkephalin in the striatum of anesthetized and freely-moving rats. The LC system utilized a high-pressure pump to load 2.5 microl samples and desalt the 25 microm i.d. by 2 cm long column in 12 min. Samples were eluted with a separate pump at approximately 100 nl min(-1). A rapid gradient effectively separated the endogenous neuropeptides in 4 min. A comparison was made for operating the mass spectrometer in the MS2 and MS3 modes for detection of the peptides. In standard solutions, the detection limits were similar at 1-2 pM (2-4 amol injected); however, the reproducibility was improved with MS3 as the relative standard deviation was <5% compared with 20% for MS2 for 60 pM samples. For dialysate solutions, reconstructed ion chromatograms and tandem mass spectra had much higher signal-to-noise ratios in the MS3 mode, resulting in more confident detection at in vivo concentrations. The method was successfully used to monitor the peptides under basal conditions and with stimulation of peptide secretion by infusion of elevated K+ concentration.     

Multi-dimensional pulsed field gradient magic angle spinning NMR experiments on membranes

The benefits of gradient techniques in the study of lipid membranes are demonstrated on a sample of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3 phosphocholine (POPC) liposomes embedded with ibuprofen. Most techniques from gradient NMR spectroscopy on solution samples are directly applicable to membrane samples subjected to magic angle spinning (MAS). Gradient-enhanced homo- and heteronuclear chemical shift correlation techniques were used to make resonance assignments. Gradient NOESY experiments provide insight into the location and dynamics of lipids, ibuprofen and water. Application of gradients not only reduces experiment time but also the t(1) noise in the multi-dimensional spectra. Diffusion measurements with pulsed field gradients characterize lateral movements of lipid and drug molecules in membranes. The theoretical framework for data analysis of MAS diffusion experiments on randomly oriented multilamellar liposomes is presented.     

Coupled reference interaction site model/simulation approach for thermochemistry of solvation: theory and prospects

We present a new methodology for computing solvation free energy, which is based upon the reference interaction site model (RISM)/hypernetted chain (HNC) solvation free energy expression, but which substitutes radial distribution functions taken from simulations for those calculated by simultaneous solution of the RISM and HNC equations. Consequently, solvation free energy can be obtained from a single molecular dynamics or Monte Carlo simulation. Here we describe in detail the coupled RISM/simulation approach, and offer some error analysis. Finally we give the results of its application to a set of small test molecules in aqueous solution. The success shown in some of our results demonstrates that the coupled RISM/simulation approach is worth considering further as a potentially useful tool in studies of solvated systems, such as aqueous molecular biosystems.     

Chemoproteomic Discovery of AADACL1 as a Regulator of Human Platelet Activation

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Stereoselective Remote Functionalization via Palladium-Catalyzed Redox-Relay Heck Methodologies

Exploration of novel, three-dimensional chemical space is of growing interest in the drug discovery community and with this comes the challenge for synthetic chemists to devise new stereoselective methods to introduce chirality in a rapid and efficient manner. This Minireview provides a timely summary of the development of palladium-catalyzed asymmetric redox-relay Heck-type processes. These reactions represent an important class of transformation for the selective introduction of remote stereocenters, and have risen to prominence over the past decade. Within this Minireview, the vast scope of these transformations will be showcased, alongside applications to pharmaceutically relevant chiral building blocks and drug substances. To complement this overview, a mechanistic summary and discussion of the current limitations of the transformation are presented, followed by an outlook on future areas of investigation.     

Stress-enhanced transport of toluene in poly aryl ether ether ketone (PEEK)

The transport of fluids in the semicrystalline polymer, poly(aryl ether ether ketone) (PEEK), was investigated. Both solubility and rate of penetration of toluene into PEEK are markedly increased by the application of an external stress. The induction period (i.e., the time for the sorption to begin) is a function of applied stress as well as temperature and crystallinity. At 22°C in 29% crystalline PEEK the induction period was reduced from more than 2000 h to approximately 10 h whereas the solubility of toluene was increased from 9 to 44 wt % upon the application of an external tensile stress of 30 MPa. A critical stress (i.e., a stress value below which the stress-enhanced effects are not observed) was determined. The critical stress is a strong function of crystallinity and temperature. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.