Mass spectrometric identification of a candidate biomarker peptide from the in vitro interaction of epichlorohydrin with red blood cells

The reaction products of epichlorohydrin with human alpha- and beta- globins, obtained through in vitro incubation of these compounds and red blood cells, were determined by using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The alpha-globin was much more reactive than the beta-globin. At low incubation ratios, approximating the order of magnitude of epichlorohydrin concentration as found in workplaces, the only modified peptide still detectable was the 62-90 belonging to the alpha-chain and carrying an incremental mass of 92 u on either His72 or His89. Given that the two peptides co-eluted in a single chromatographic peak during RP-HPLC separation, they could be chosen as suitable biomarkers for quantification in the setting up of a new methodology for the biological monitoring of persons occupationally exposed, replacing currently known procedures.     

Inclusion of Nonopiate Analgesic Drugs in Cyclodextrins. I. X-Ray Structure of a 1 : 1 β-Cyclodextrin-p-bromoacetanilide Complex

The preparation and X-ray crystal structure of a 1 : 1 complex between -cyclodextrin (-CD) and the analgesic p-bromoacetanilide are reported. Thermogravimetric and UV spectrophotometric analyses of single crystals grown from an aqueous solution containing host and guest in 1 : 1 molar ratio yielded the composition -CD p-bromoacetanilide $ 13.5H2O. Crystals of the complex are triclinic, space group P1, with a = 15.197(3), b = 15.613(2), c = 15.743(4) Å, = 87.16(2), = 98.29(2), = 103.39(1)° and Z = 2 crystallographically independent complex units per unit cell. The -CD molecules form head-to-head dimers which pack in the channel-mode. Each dimer contains two guest molecules whose acetylamino substituents are located at the dimer interface while the bromine atoms protrude from the -CD primary faces. The acetyl residues of both guest molecules were found to be disordered but the X-ray data permitted     

Kinetics of Desolvation of Related Organic Inclusion Compounds

Abstract

This study dealt mainly with the structure-reactivity relationship of selected organic inclusion compounds. The crystal structures of the inclusion compounds of three related hosts, 2,2′–bis(2,7–di-tert-butyl-9–hydroxy-9–fluorenyl)biphenyl, 2,2′–bis (2,7–dichloro-9–hydroxy-9–fluoienyl)biphenyl and 2, 2′–bis(2,7-dibromo-9–hydroxy-9–fluorenyl)biphenyl with 1,4–dioxane (Compound 1), 1,3–dioxane (Compound 2) and 1,3–dioxolane (Compound 3) respectively were elucidated, using single crystal X-ray crystallography. It was found that the guests were either located in channels or constricted channels (cavities), formed by the host framework. The kinetics of desolvation of these compounds were studied and their activation energies were compared.     

Mass spectrometric characterisation of proteins in rennet and in chymosin-based milk-clotting preparations

The protein composition of natural rennet and of chromatographic and crystalline chymosin preparations has been defined by on-line reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC/ESI-MS) and by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Natural rennet was found to consist of six chymosin species, corresponding to chymosin A and B genetic variants, each of which comprised a mixture of two other forms differing at theN-terminal end, with one being three residues longer, and the other two residues shorter, than the mature chymosin. Two main tissue proteins were also identified as lysozyme (isozyme 2 plus a novel isozyme labelled 4) and bovine serum albumin. In addition to the proteins, chymosin fragments 247-323 and 288-323 were consistently present in natural rennet. Conversely, chromatographic and crystalline chymosin preparations lacked bovine serum albumin and/or lysozyme, although they contained the same six chymosin species as natural rennet. Since these tissue-specific contaminating proteins each possess specific functions in terms of stabilising enzyme solutions and protecting proteins from proteolytic enzymes, oxidising agents and bacterial proliferation, the rennet may be considered as a functional enzyme preparation that is effectively and naturally adapted to the purposes of cheesemaking. In practice, the highly complex protein composition inherent to natural rennet provided the possibility to differentiate the natural product from other bovine chymosin-based milk-clotting preparations examined in this work.     

14-Hydroxy-14-phenyldibenzo[a,j]xanthene as a lattice host: crystal and molecular structure of its (1:1) complex with diethyl ether

The title compound 14-hydroxy-14-phenyldibenzo[a,j]xanthene 1 formed a (1:1) complex with diethyl ether. 1,4-Dioxane was also enclathrated, but with a variable stoichiometric ratio. Single crystal X-ray crystallography was used to elucidate the crystal structure of the 1·diethyl ether complex. Crystals are orthorhombic with space group P2₁2₁2₁, a = 8.532(3), b = 15.040(4), c = 18.491(5) Å, V = 2373(1) ų, d _c = 1.256 g/cm³, and Z = 4. Host and guest molecules were found to associate via hydrogen bonds, with the guest molecules residing in undulating channels lined by host molecules.     

Liquid chromatography coupled to quadruple time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry for microcystin analysis in freshwaters: method performances and characterisation of a novel variant of microcystin‐RR

Cyanobacteria, also called blue‐green algae, occur worldwide within water blooms in eutrophic lakes and drinking water reservoirs, producing several biotoxins (cyanotoxins). Among these, microcystins (MCs) are a group of cyclic heptapeptides showing potent hepatotoxicity and activity as tumour promoters. So far, at least 89 MCs from different cyanobacteria genera have been characterised. Herein, ion trap, matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐ToF) and quadruple time‐of‐flight (Q‐ToF) mass spectrometry (MS)‐based methods were tested and compared for analysing MCs in freshwaters. Method performances in terms of limit of detection, limit of quantification, mean recoveries, repeatability, and specificity were evaluated. In particular, a liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation (LC/ESI)‐Q‐ToF‐MS/MS method was firstly described to analyse MCs in freshwaters; this technique is highly selective and sensitive, and allowed us to characterise the molecular structure of an unknown compound. Indeed, the full structural characterisation of a novel microcystin variant from a bloom of Planktothrix rubescens in the Lake Averno, near Naples, was attained by the study of the fragmentation pattern. The new cyanotoxin was identified as the 9‐acetyl‐Adda variant of microcystin‐RR. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.