Matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry of oligonucleotides using 3-hydroxypicolinic acid as an ultraviolet-sensitive matrix

Matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry has been used to produce quasi-molecular ion signals from underivatized mixed-base single-stranded DNA oligomers ranging from 10 to 67 nucleotides in length. These results were obtained with a new matrix material, 3-hydroxypicolinic acid (3-hydroxypyridine-2-carboxylic acid) which showed significant improvement over many previously reported matrices studied in terms of mass range available, signal-to-noise ratio, and the ability to analyze mixed-base oligomers. The desorption and simultaneous ionization was by pulsed laser light at 10 to 50 mJ/cm2, studied at 266, 308, and 355 nm. Spectra taken at 266 nm provided the smallest amounts of doubly charged and dimer ions--characteristics desirable for DNA sequencing by this technology. Negative-ion spectra were uniformly superior to positive-ion spectra. This new matrix also is quite effective for molecular weight determinations of peptides and proteins in both positive- and negative-ion modes.

Complexometric titrations of protein-bound metal ions: a method for determining binding constants

A method for quantifying the affinity of proteins for specific metal ions has been developed. Both the stoichiometry and the binding constants of the protein-bound metal ion can be determined by titrating protein-bound metal ions with complexometric reagents and observing electrochemically the change in free metal ion concentration. The technique is limited to cases where the affinity of the macromolecule for the metal ion is less than or similar to the affinity of the complexometric reagent for the metal ion. The method has been employed successfully in the study of both Cu(II) and Ag(I) binding to the apoprotein of bovine cuprozinc superoxide dismutase.

Effect of selective and reversible MAO inhibitors on dopamine outflow in rat striatum: a microdialysis study

The effect of reversible inhibitors of the monoamine oxidase type A (MAO-A), moclobemide (Aurorix) and Ro 41-1049 (20 mg/kg i.p. each), as well as of reversible inhibitors of the MAO type B (MAO-B), Ro 19-6327 (1 mg/kg i.p.), on the outflow of dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) was studied in the rat by transstriatal microdialysis. Reversible MAO-A inhibitors markedly increased the output of DA and concomitantly decreased the output of DOPAC and HVA. These effects were absent with the highly selective MAO-B inhibitor Ro 19-6327.

Effects of phorbol ester and teleocidin on Ca2+-induced fusion of liposomes

The effects of different types of lipid membrane defects on Ca2+-induced fusion of liposomes containing phosphatidylserine (PS) were investigated using fluorescent probes. Teleocidin enhanced the fusion of phospholipid vesicles in an assay system using terbium/dipicolinic acid during mixing of internal aqueous phases of vesicles upon fusion. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) suppressed the fusion. This latter phenomenon was also observed by measuring the excitation energy transfer. The promotion of membrane fusion by teleocidin was ascribed to dehydration of the membrane surface, the suppressive effect of TPA to desorption of Ca2+ from the membrane surface. Thus, Ca2+-induced fusion of PS vesicles was shown to be sensitive to defects of the membrane surface, but insensitive to defects of the hydrophobic core of the lipid membrane.

Fusion of liposomes and rat brain microsomes examined by two assays

Liposomes are prepared from rat brain microsomal lipid and loaded with either Tb3+ or dipicolinic acid (DPA) to test fusion with the Tb-DPA assay. They are also loaded with octadecyl Rhodamine B chloride (R18) to test fusion with the R18 assay. The addition of either Ca2+ or Mg2+ to loaded liposomes develops fluorescence with both assays. The fluorescence elicited by Mg2+ is similar to that elicited by Ca2+ if assessed with R18, but much higher if determined by Tb-DPA. The Ca2(+)-dependent fluorescence of the Tb-DPA complex is not suppressed by the addition of EDTA, and therefore it is internal to vesicles. The contrary is true for the Mg2(+)-dependent fluorescence. Rat brain microsomes can be disrupted by adding octylgucoside and reconstituted by removing it by dialysis. We use this procedure to load microsomes with DPA. This allows the use of the Tb-DPA assay for testing the fusion of rat brain microsomes. Reconstituted microsomes fuse with liposomes. This fusion has characteristics similar to those of liposome-liposome fusion. However, no microsome-microsome fusion could be detected with either method. The two methods give different results, owing to the chemical properties of the assays. Indeed Tb-DPA implies the retention of vesicle content, whereas this is not required by the R18 assay.

Identification by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of long-chain fatty acids and alcohols from hamster meibomian glands using picolinyl and nicotinate derivatives

Meibomian secretions from the hamster were hydrolysed with base and examined as TMS, [2H9]TMS, methyl ester/TMS, picolinyl ester/TMS and nicotinate/TMS derivatives by capillary GC/MS. Over 90 compounds, representing over 89% of the hydrolysed fraction, were identified. Fatty acids with chain lengths from 10 to 32 carbon atoms were found, the most common of these were in the C15 to C18 and in the C25 to C30 regions. Chain types were predominantly iso or anteiso branched, mono-unsaturated (C16 and C18) and straight. Fatty alcohols were mainly from the iso or anteiso series and tended to have longer chain lengths; the major alcohols had anteiso-25 and 27 and iso-26-chains. In these respects the secretions were similar to those reported earlier from other species, although fewer mono-unsaturated compounds with longer chains (C20 to C30 region) were found than in the rat and human. The steroid fraction was characterized by a larger number of compounds than normally present in secretions of this type. The major compound was cholesterol, in common with that in all other examined species except the rabbit.

Complex formation between anionic semiquinoid form of a flavoenzyme D-amino acid oxidase and ligands. Stabilizing mechanism of anionic semiquinoid flavoenzyme

Picolinate binds to the anionic semiquinoid form of D-amino acid oxidase (DAO), and the complex formed has a broad absorption band in the long-wavelength region extending beyond 800 nm, which is reminiscent of a charge transfer interaction. The binding has a stoichiometry of 1:1 with respect to the enzyme. The dissociation constant at 25 degrees C was 30 microM at pH 7.0. The pH dependence (pH 7.0-8.3) of the dissociation constant indicates that one proton is associated with the complex formation, and suggests that picolinate able to bind to the anionic semiquinoid enzyme is in the cationic form protonated at the nitrogen atom. By adding dithionite to the oxidized DAO solution containing pyruvate and various amines, a similar anionic semiquinoid DAO complex having a broad long-wavelength absorption band, appeared. Resonance Raman spectra with excitation at 623.8 nm of the anionic semiquinoid DAO complex formed in the presence of pyruvate and methylamine indicate that the complex consists of the anionic semiquinoid DAO and N-methyl-alpha-iminopropionate produced from pyruvate and methylamine, and that the imino group must be protonated. This supports the proposal that the presence of a positively charged group in the vicinity of flavin is required for the stabilization of the anionic semiquinoid flavin. The results also suggest that the broad absorption band is derived from the charge transfer interaction between the anionic semiquinoid flavin and the imino acid, in which the flavin C(4a)-N(5) locus and the locus containing (Formula: see text) of the amino acid are important for the interaction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Kinetic measurements of fusion of phosphatidylserine-containing vesicles by electron microscopy and fluorometry

Large unilamellar vesicles (REV) containing phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine at a ratio of 1:3 were induced to fuse by adding calcium (4 mM). The kinetics of fusion was monitored by fluorometry using terbium or dipicolinic acid-containing vesicles. The morphology and the states of vesicle aggregation and fusion were examined at approx. 2, 30, 60, 150 and 900 s after calcium addition, by rapid quenching and freeze-fracture electron microscopy. The size and the state of aggregation of vesicles are quantitated from 4000 randomly selected vesicles. The aggregation and fusion kinetics as assayed by fluorescence volume mixing is very well simulated and predicted by the mass action model. The model essentially predicts the time course of the distribution of the aggregates and the increase in size of fused particles as measured by electron microscopy, although in some cases the predicted fusion rate exceeds that by morphometric measurement. No morphological features can be defined as fusion intermediates, although bead-like and rim-like materials may be attributed to the remnants of broken diaphragms between fusion partners.

Human erythrocyte electrofusion kinetics monitored by aqueous contents mixing

The kinetics of electrically induced fusion of human erythrocyte ghosts were monitored by the Tb/DPA and ANTS/DPX fluorescence fusion assays. Ghosts were aligned by dielectrophoresis using a 3-MHz 350-V/cm alternating field and were fused by single 15- or 50-microseconds electric field pulses of amplitude 2.5-5.0 kV/cm. Fusion was detected immediately after the pulse. The peak fluorescence change due to fusion was always obtained within 7 s of pulse application, and was highest for a 5.0 kV/cm 15-microseconds pulse. Probe leakage was measured separately and became apparent only 2-3 s after the initiation of fusion. Increasing pulse amplitudes produced higher fusion yields but produced more leakage from the fusion products. 50-microseconds pulses produced less fusion, resulting from a disruption of the dielectrophoretic alignment by fluid turbulence immediately after pulse application. Probe leakage was observed only when pulse application was preceded by dielectrophoresis, suggesting that close membrane positioning allows for additional membrane destabilization caused by the high field pulse. The fluorescence kinetics are interpreted using a simplified model depicting three major types of events: (a) fusion without observable leakage, (b) fusion followed by probe leakage, and (c) contact-related leakage from ghosts which do not undergo contents mixing.

Perturbation of the lipid bilayer of model membranes by synthetic signal peptides

The interaction of synthetic peptides corresponding to the signal sequences of Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase: Lys-Gln-Ser-Thr-Ile-Ala-Leu-Ala-Leu-Leu-Pro-Leu-Leu-Phe-Thr-Pro-Val-Thr- Lys-Ala - OCH3, chicken lysozyme: Met-Lys-Ser-Leu-Leu-Ile-Leu-Val-Leu-Cys(Bzl)-Phe-Leu-Pro-Leu- Ala-Ala-Leu-Gly-OCH2-C6H5 and variant of the chicken lysozyme signal sequence with a charged residue in the hydrophobic region: Lys-Leu-Leu-Ile-Ala-Leu-Val-Leu-Lys-Phe-Leu-Pro-Leu-Ala-Ala- Leu-Gly-OCH3 with model membranes of brain phosphatidylserine (PS) and egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) have been investigated by 90 degrees light scattering and fluorescence spectroscopy. Our results indicate that the association of signal peptides with model membranes results in extensive perturbation of the lipid bilayer so as to cause fusion of PS vesicles and aggregation of PC vesicles. The vesicles are also rendered permeable to hydrophilic molecules like carboxyfluorescein. The variant peptide with the lysine residue in the hydrophobic region also has the ability to perturb lipid bilayers of model membranes.

Ca2+-induced fusion of large unilamellar phosphatidylserine/cholesterol vesicles

The effect of cholesterol on the Ca2+-induced aggregation and fusion of large unilamellar phosphatidylserine (PS) vesicles has been investigated. Mixing of aqueous vesicle contents was followed continuously with the Tb/dipicolinate assay, while the dissociation of pre-encapsulated Tb/dipicolinate complex was taken as a measure of the release of vesicle contents. Vesicles consisting of pure PS or PS/cholesterol mixtures at molar ratios of 4:1, 2:1 and 1:1 were employed at three different lipid concentrations, each at four different Ca2+ concentrations. The results could be well simulated in terms of a mass-action kinetic model, providing separately the rate constants of vesicle aggregation, c11, and of the fusion reaction itself, f11. In the analyses the possibility of deaggregation of aggregated vesicles was considered explicitly. Values of both c11 and f11 increase steeply with the Ca2+ concentration increasing from 2 to 5 mM. With increasing cholesterol content of the vesicles the value of c11 decreases, while the rate of the actual fusion reaction, f11, increases. Remarkably, the effect of cholesterol on both aggregation and fusion is quite moderate. The presence of cholesterol in the vesicle bilayer does not affect the leakage of vesicle contents during fusion.

Mass spectra of the picolinyl esters of isomeric mono- and dienoic fatty acids

The picolinyl ester derivatives of the complete series of isomeric octadecenoates, methylene-interrupted octadecadienoates, and of octadec-9-ynoate have been subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A fused-silica capillary column, coated with a cross-linked methyl silicone, was used for the separation. Electron impact spectra were determined at 70 eV. Earlier observations with a limited series of model compounds were confirmed, and it was shown that the picolinyl ester derivatives were of almost universal value in the location of double bonds in such isomers. Difficulties of interpretation arose mainly when the double bonds were close to the carboxyl group.

Oxidative reactivity of the tryptophan metabolites 3-hydroxyanthranilate, cinnabarinate, quinolinate and picolinate

The oxidative reactivities of four tryptophan metabolites in the kynurenine pathway were examined as a potential mechanism for their reported neurotoxicities and carcinogenicities. Neither quinolinic acid, a neurotoxin, nor its monocarboxylic analogue, picolinic acid, auto-oxidized over a wide pH range. However, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-HAT), a carcinogen, readily auto-oxidized and the reaction rate increased exponentially with increasing pH. 3-HAT auto-oxidation likely involves two steps: auto-oxidation of 3-HAT to the semiquinoneimine (anthranilyl radical) which oxidizes to the quinoneimine, followed by condensation and oxidation reactions to yield a second carcinogen, cinnabarinic acid. 3-HAT auto-oxidation to cinnabarinate required molecular oxygen and generated superoxide radicals and H2O2. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) accelerated 3-HAT auto-oxidation 4-fold, probably by preventing back reactions between superoxide and either the anthranilyl radical or the quinoneimine formed during the initial step of auto-oxidation. Catalase did not accelerate 3-HAT auto-oxidation, but it did prevent destruction of cinnabarinate by H2O2. Interconversion between oxyhemoglobin and methemoglobin occurred during 3-HAT auto-oxidation, although neither form of hemoglobin altered rates of 3-HAT auto-oxidation. Mn2+, Mn3+ and Fe3+-EDTA did not directly catalyze cinnabarinate formation in the absence of O2, but they did accelerate cinnabarinate formation under aerobic conditions.

A comparison of pyrrolidide and picolinyl ester derivatives for the identification of fatty acids in natural samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The pyrrolidide and picolinyl ester derivatives of the fatty acids in two natural lipid samples rich in unsaturated fatty acids, pig testis lipids and cod liver oil were satisfactorily resolved on capillary columns of fused silica coated with stationary phases of varying polarity. The picolinyl esters, in particular, when subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry on a column containing a cross-linked methyl silicone, gave distinctive mass spectra, which could be interpreted in terms of both the numbers and positions of the double bonds.

Complex formation between reduced D-amino acid oxidase and pyridine carboxylates

Picolinate binds to a reduced form of D-amino acid oxidase, and the complex formed has a broad absorption band around 600 nm as in the case of the purple intermediate of the enzyme with a substrate. The dissociation constant at 25 degrees C was 35 microns at pH 7.0. The pH dependence (pH 8.3-pH 6.4) of the dissociation constant indicates that one proton is associated with the complex formation, and picolinate protonated at the N atom binds to the reduced enzyme. Resonance Raman spectra of the complex support that picolinate in the complex is a cationic form protonated at the N atom. Nicotinate also binds to the reduced enzyme, but isonicotinate does not.

Promotion and inhibition of vesicle fusion by polylysine

Polylysine induced rapid aggregation of large unilamellar vesicles composed of phosphatidylcholine-cardiolipin (1:1 molar ratio) but not their fusion. Application of the terbium-dipicolinic acid fusion assay showed that addition of polylysine at nanomolar concentrations enabled a significant lowering of the Ca2+ threshold concentration for vesicle fusion from 9 to 1 mM. Analysis of the kinetics of fusion with a mass-action kinetic model showed that polylysine enhanced significantly the rate of aggregation but affected only slightly the rate of fusion per se. Maximal enhancement of overall fusion rates occurred at a charge ratio (polylysine/cardiolipin) of about 0.5. At larger polylysine concentrations, e.g., at charge ratios greater than 3, polylysine inhibited vesicle fusion.

Oxygen quenching of sensitized terbium luminescence in complexes of terbium with small organic ligands and proteins

Oxygen does not quench the luminescence of either free Tb or of Tb bound to dipicolinate. However, sensitized Tb luminescence in complexes of that ion with elastase, thermolysin, and alpha-amylase is quenched by oxygen at rates that far exceed that with which the intrinsic fluorescence of the proteins is quenched. We infer that this more rapid quenching of Tb luminescence indicates a major role for energy transfer from tryptophan moieties in a triplet excited state.

[A photometric determination of copper in urine (author's transl)]

A photometric determination for urinary copper excretion in 24-hour urine is described. 6-methylpicolonic acid-thioamide as a 3.3 mmol/l solution in methanol is used as the reagent. It is highly specific and sensitive for copper-I ions, and stable. The method can be used for qualitative screening for Morbus Wilson, and for monitoring the urinary copper excretion fo Morbus Wilson patients under penicillamine therapy.

A pmr study of the effects of pH and anion and metal ion binding of the histidyl residues of ovotransferrin

High resolution proton magnetic resonance studies of ovotransferrin show clear resolution of four groups of C(2)-H histidyl resonances to low field of the major aromatic envelope. Titrations of the protein in the absence and presence of synergistic anions, oxalic acid, malonic acid, and 2,6-dipicolinic acid, and anions plus metal ions reveal that six histidines are involved in the binding sites. These histidines, three in each binding site, are near to one another. In each binding site one histidine is involved in binding to anions and two are involved in binding to metal ions.

Studies on the mechanism of membrane fusion: kinetics of calcium ion induced fusion of phosphatidylserine vesicles followed by a new assay for mixing of aqueous vesicle contents

We describe an assay for following the mixing of aqueous contents during fusion of phospholipid vesicles. Terbium is encapsulated as the Tb(citrate)3(6-) chelation complex in one population of vesicles, dipicolinic acid (DPA) in another. Vesicle fusion results in the formation of the fluorescent Tb(DPA)3(3-) chelation complex. The presence of EDTA (0.1 mM) and Ca2+ (greater than 1 mM) prevents the formation of the Tb/DPA complex in the external medium. We have studied the Ca2+-induced fusion of small or large unilamellar vesicles (SUV or LUV, respectively) composed of phosphatidylserine (PS). In addition, vesicle aggregation was monitored by light scattering, and release of vesicle contents was followed by carboxyfluorescein (CF) fluorescence enhancement. The addition of Ca2+ induced an immediate enhancement in Tb fluorescence with both SUV and LUV, which occurs on the same time scale as aggregation but much faster than the release of CF. The release of contents from LUV occurs with a considerable delay. It is estimated that the initial fusion of SUV is accompanied by 10% leakage of the internal volume per fusion event; in contrast, fusion of LUV is essentially nonleaky. Massive release of vesicle contents appears to be a secondary phenomenon related to the collapse of fused vesicles. The initial rate and the extent of Tb fluorescence enhancement are markedly dependent on the Ca2+ concentration. Threshold Ca2+ concentrations are 1.2 and 2.4 mM for SUV nd LUV, respectively. At saturating Ca2+ concentrations (greater than 10 mM), the rate of fusion of LUV is slightly lower than that of SUV at the same vesicle concentration. At any Ca2+ concentration, the rates of both SUV and LUV fusion are consistent with vesicle aggregation being rate limiting. When measured at a subsaturating Ca2+ concentration, fusion is essentially second order over a wide range of relatively low vesicle concentrations, whereas at higher vesicle concentrations the order is decreased. This suggests that at high vesicle concentrations (and at relatively low Ca2+ concentrations) aggregation may proceed faster than fusion.

Mass action kinetics of phosphatidylserine vesicle fusion as monitored by coalescence of internal vesicle volumes

The kinetics of Ca2+-induced fusion of sonicated phosphatidylserine vesicles is analyzed by means of the mass action model. The results of calculations are shown to simulate the experimental results for the mixing of aqueous vesicle volumes, release of vesicle contents and for the observed increase in light scattering [Wilschut, J., Düzgünes, N., Fraley, R., & Papahadjopoulos, D. (1980) Biochemistry (first of three papers in this issue)]. The calculations give the distribution of vesicle sizes during the initial stages of the fusion process and an estimate for the occurrence of multiple fusion events. It is estimated that during the first few seconds from the beginning of the fusion process in the above systems only a small fraction of the material trapped will leak during each fusion event. The fraction of material which leaks per fusion event is further reduced with increased Ca2+ concentrations. The values of the rates of fusion which describe the above experiments suggest that the rate limiting step of the overall fusion reaction is the aggregation and close approach of vesicles to each other rather than the fusion event per se.