Analysis and Enantioseparation of Amino Acids by Liquid Chromatography

Enantioseparation studies of proteinogenic, non-proteinogenic, and dansyl amino acids are described herein by using liquid chromatographic techniques, i.e., HPLC and TLC. A researcher who wants to perform amino acid (AA) analysis or separate enantiomers of AAs by HPLC or TLC can follow the method. Figures included represent the actual experiments.Synthesis and application of chiral derivatizing reagents (CDRs) based on cyanuric chloride (CC) and difluorodinitrobenzene (DFDNB) have been described for AA analysis and enantioseparation by indirect approach. The methods represent pre-column derivatization of AAs and represent a good and less expensive substitute of AA analyzer. The application of commercial "Chiralplate" and use of erythromycin and L-tartaric acid have been described as chiral selector either as impregnating reagent in the stationary phase or as an additive in the mobile phase for direct enantioseparation by TLC. Application of the homemade TLC plates has also been described; the methods are successful in obtaining the native enantiomer as well.

Suppression of antigen-specific adaptive immunity by IL-37 via induction of tolerogenic dendritic cells

IL-1 family member IL-37 limits innate inflammation in models of colitis and LPS-induced shock, but a role in adaptive immunity remains unknown. Here, we studied mice expressing human IL-37b isoform (IL-37tg) subjected to skin contact hypersensitivity (CHS) to dinitrofluorobenzene. CHS challenge to the hapten was significantly decreased in IL-37tg mice compared with wild-type (WT) mice (-61%; P < 0.001 at 48 h). Skin dendritic cells (DCs) were present and migrated to lymph nodes after antigen uptake in IL-37tg mice. When hapten-sensitized DCs were adoptively transferred to WT mice, antigen challenge was greatly impaired in mice receiving DCs from IL-37tg mice compared with those receiving DCs from WT mice (-60%; P < 0.01 at 48 h). In DCs isolated from IL-37tg mice, LPS-induced increase of MHC II and costimulatory molecule CD40 was reduced by 51 and 31%, respectively. In these DCs, release of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-12 was reduced whereas IL-10 secretion increased (37%). Consistent with these findings, DCs from IL-37tg mice exhibited a lower ability to stimulate syngeneic and allogeneic naive T cells as well as antigen-specific T cells and displayed enhanced induction of T regulatory (Treg) cells (86%; P < 0.001) in vitro. Histological analysis of CHS skin in mice receiving hapten-sensitized DCs from IL-37tg mice revealed a marked reduction in CD8(+) T cells (-74%) but an increase in Treg cells (2.6-fold). Together, these findings reveal that DCs expressing IL-37 are tolerogenic, thereby impairing activation of effector T-cell responses and inducing Treg cells. IL-37 thus emerges as an inhibitor of adaptive immunity.

[Development and application of screening method for asparagine synthetase B inhibitors by high performance liquid chromatography]

A screening method for asparagine synthetase B (AS-B) inhibitors by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) has been established. The contents of asparagines produced in the reaction system can be analyzed by HPLC after the derivatization with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNFB) and used to calculate the total activity of AS-B. The sample was separated on an Agilent C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) at the temperature of 30 degrees C with the elution of 50 mmol/L sodium acetate buffer (pH 6.2)-acetonitrile (15:85, v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection wavelength was set at 365 nm. The enzyme reaction system consisted of 100 mmol/L Tris (tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomehane)-HCl buffer (pH 8.0), 100 mmol/L NaCl, 10 mmol/L MgCl2, 5 mmol/L adenosine triphosphate (ATP), 10 mmol/L L-aspartate, 10 mmol/L L-glutamine and 2 microg recombinant soybean AS-B (1 mL of the total volume), then mixed for 1 min and incubated for 15 min at 37 degrees C. After quenching with ethanol and centrifugation, the supernatant was derivatized by DNFB and then separated by HPLC. The amino acids in the reaction system were baseline separated within 6 min. The quantitative analysis of AS-B inhibition was performed by determining its dynamic parameters. The inhibitor L-glutamic acid gamma-methyl ester was used in the enzyme reaction system to test this method and its inhibition constant obtained was close to the literature value. The established method is fast, accurate, sensitive and suitable for high throughput screening AS-B inhibitors.

A comparative sonochemical reaction that is independent of the intensity of ultrasound and the geometry of the exposure apparatus

Sonolysis of aqueous solutions of n-alkyl anionic surfactants results in the formation of secondary carbon-centered radicals (-*CH-). The yield of -*CH- depends on the bulk surfactant concentration up to a maximum attainable radical yield (the 'plateau yield') where an increasing surfactant concentration (below the critical micelle concentration) no longer affects the -*CH- yield. In an earlier study it was found that the ratio of -*CH- detected following sonolysis of aqueous solutions of sodium pentane sulfonate (SPSo) to that of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) (i.e. CH(SPSo)/CH(SDS)) depended on the frequency of sonolysis, but was independent of the ultrasound intensity, at the plateau concentrations [J.Z. Sostaric, P. Riesz, Adsorption of surfactants at the gas/solution interface of cavitation bubbles: an ultrasound intensity-independent frequency effect in sonochemistry, J. Phys. Chem. B 106 (2002) 12537-12548]. In the current study, it was found that the CH(SPSo)/CH(SDS) ratio depended only on the ultrasound frequency and did not depend on the geometry of the ultrasound exposure apparatus considered.

Development and validation of a liquid chromatographic method for the determination of branched-chain amino acids in new dosage forms

A reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method (RP-LC) is proposed and validated for the analysis of branched-chain amino acids (l-leucine, l-isoleucine and l-valine) in new pharmaceutical formulations. The pre-column derivatization reaction of these amino acids with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) has been investigated considering the matrix effect. The compound reacts at 60 degrees C for 10 min at pH 9 with the amino function, in presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), to give adducts that have been separated on a RP amide C16 column and detected at lambda=360 nm. Linear responses were observed for each derivative. The intra-day precision (R.S.D.) was <or=2.22% and there was no significant difference between intra- and inter-day data. Recovery studies showed good results for all amino acids (98.9-100.9%) with R.S.D. ranging from 0.1% to 0.8%. The limit of quantitation was about 20 nmol/mL.

Validated HPLC method for the determination of gabapentin in human plasma using pre-column derivatization with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A rapid, sensitive and accurate high-performance liquid chromatographic method with UV detection was developed and validated for the quantification of gabapentin in human plasma. Gabapentin was quantified using pre-column derivatization with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene following protein precipitation of plasma with acetonitrile. Amlodipine was used as internal standard. The chromatographic separation was carried out on a Nova-Pak C(18) column using a mixture of 50 mM NaH(2)PO(4) (pH=2.5)-acetonitrile (30:70, v/v) as mobile phase with UV detection at 360 nm. The flow rate was set at 1.5 ml/min. The method was linear over the range of 0.05-5 microg/ml of gabapentin in plasma (r(2)>0.999). The within-day and between-day precision values were in the range of 2-5%. The limit of quantification of the method was 0.05 microg/ml. The method was successfully used to study the pharmacokinetics of gabapentin in healthy volunteers.

Parallel Solution-Phase Synthesis of 4H-Benzo[1,4]thiazin-3-one and 1,1-Dioxo-1,4-dihydro-2H-1λ6-benzo[1,4]thiazin-3-one Derivatives from 1,5-Difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene

This paper discusses the synthesis of privileged structures 4H-benzo[1,4]thiazin-3-one and 1,1-dioxo-1,4-dihydro-2H-1lambda6-benzo[1,4]thiazin-3-one derivatives in a parallel solution-phase manner using 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Each scaffold possesses four diversity points. A cheap and efficient oxidant, urea-hydrogen peroxide (UHP), was applied for the introduction of the sulfone group. The intramolecular cyclization to 1,1-dioxo-1,4-dihydro-2H-1lambda6-benzo[1,4]thiazin-3-one was achieved by microwave assistance or the use of an inorganic base.

Solution-Phase Parallel Synthesis of 3,5,6-Substituted Indolin-2-ones

A practical and efficient new parallel method has been developed for the synthesis of 3-substituted indolin-2-ones with a large variety of substituents at the 5- and 6-positions using 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. This 3,5,6-substituted indolin-2-one skeleton possesses three points of diversification and, thus, affords new opportunities for identification and optimization of leads in drug discovery.

Quantification of D-amino acids in the central nervous system of Aplysia californica by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive, specific and reliable liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method has been developed for simultaneous determination of D-amino acids in the central nervous system (CNS) of Aplysia californica. In order to correct for any potential matrix effects on measured signals, deuterium-labeled L-Asp-d3 was used as an internal standard. Pre-column derivatization of the sample with 7-fluoro-4-nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD-F) allowed both effective in-line pre-concentration and sensitive MS/MS detection of the analytes. An extraction column (50x0.25 mm, 5 microm C18 silica particles) was used to pre-concentrate/stack samples. Enantiomeric separation of amino acid enantiomers was achieved on a chiral column packed with teicoplanin aglycone bonded silica particles (170x0.25 mm, 5 microm) with an MS-friendly mobile phase. The characteristic precursor to product ion transitions, m/z 297-->279 (for NBD-Asp), m/z 269-->223 (For NBD-Ser), m/z 311-->293 (for NBD-Glu) and m/z 300-->282 (for NBD-L-Asp-d3) were monitored for the quantification. Samples from the CNS of A. californica and heart tissues were analyzed. D-Asp was detected at high levels in all the ganglia and nerve tissues, but not in the heart tissue. Further, neither D-Ser nor D-Glu was detected in Aplysia, a widely used neuronal model.

Benzofused Tricycles Based on 2-Quinoxalinol

This paper describes our recent efforts to synthesize novel compound scaffolds integrating 2-quinoxalinol with privileged structures of 1,3-dihydro-benzoimidazol-2-one, 1,3-dihydro-benzoimidazole-2-thione, 3-hydroxy-1H-quinoxalin-2-one, 2H-benzo[1,4]oxazin-3-ol, 2H-benzo[1,4]thiazin-3-ol, and 1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-benzo[1,4]diazepin-2-one, respectively. Eight novel benzofused tricycles and their substituent diversity points were developed. These include pyrazino[2,3-g]quinoxaline-2,8-diol (I), 3-hydroxy-6,8,9,10-tetrahydro-1,4,6,10-tetraaza-cyclohepta[b]naphthalen-7-one (II), 6-hydroxy-4H-1-oxa-4,5,8-triaza-anthracen-3-one (III), 6-hydroxy-4H-1-thia-4,5,8-triaza-anthracen-3-one (IV), 6-hydroxy-1,1-dioxo-1,4-dihydro-2H-1lambda(6)-thia-4,5,8-triaza-anthracen-3-one (V), 6-hydroxy-1,3-dihydro-imidazo[4,5-g]quinoxalin-2-one (VI), 6-hydroxy-1,3-dihydro-imidazo[4,5-g]quinoxaline-2-thione (VII), and 7-hydroxy-1,4-dihydro-pyrazino[2,3-g]quinoxaline-2,3-dione (VIII). This strategy of integrating two benzofused privileged structures into one molecule may provide a greater chance for the discovery of novel lead compounds.

Synthesis of Diverse Benzo[1,4]oxazin-3-one-Based Compounds Using 1,5-Difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene

This paper discusses the synthesis of benzo[1,4]oxazin-3-one-based compounds from 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (1), including benzo[1,4]oxazin-3-ones (5-11) and five novel benzo[1,4]oxazin-3-one-based tricycles: 6-hydroxy-4H-1-oxa-4,5,8-triazaanthracen-3-one (14), 3,8-dihydro-5-oxa-1,3,8-triazacyclopenta-[b]-naphthalene-7-one (15, 17, 21), 3,8-dihydro-5-oxa-1,2,3,8-tetraazacylopenta[b]-naphthalene-7-one (16, 20), 3,8-dihydro-1H-5-oxa-1,3,8-triazacyclopenta[b]-naphthalene-2,7-dione (18, 22), and 5,8-dihydro-4H-1-oxa-4,5,8-triazaanthracene-3,6,7-trione (19). Finally, a chemical library based on 15 was synthesized in parallel solution-phase reactions.

Novel poly-γ-glutamate-processing enzyme catalyzing γ-glutamyl DD-amidohydrolysis

The pgdS gene product of Bacillus subtilis, PgdS, cleaves poly-gamma-glutamate (PGA) in an endo-peptidase-like fashion. However, its catalytic property remains obscure. In this study, a simple assay for the PgdS enzyme using 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene was developed, and some characteristics of PgdS, such as optimal pH, were examined. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by a thiol-modifying reagent, suggesting that it possesses essential cysteine residue(s) in catalysis. PgdS exhibited a high affinity to PGA that consisted mainly of D-glutamate residues, but no affinity to PGA composed only of L-glutamate residues (L-PGA). The enzyme processed DL-copolymer-type PGA (DL-PGA) with an average molecular mass of 1,000 kDa to a high-molecular-mass L-glutamate-rich fragment (average 200 kDa), the L-rich PGA fragment, and low-molecular-mass fragment composed mostly of D-glutamate residues (average 5 kDa), D-fragment. To deepen our understanding of the catalytic property of the PgdS enzyme, we analyzed the structures of the N- and C-terminal regions and found that D-glutamyl residues successively lie even at both ends of the L-rich PGA fragment. Our observations indicate that PgdS is a novel endo-peptidase that specifically cleaves the gamma-amide linkage between two D-glutamate residues in PGA, i.e., gamma-glutamyl DD-amidohydrolase. The enzyme is possibly useful in the biochemical processing of B. subtilis DL-PGA.

Enantiomeric separation of amino acids derivatized with 7-fluoro-4-nitrobenzoxadiazole by capillary liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Pre-column derivatization allowed stacking amino acid enantiomers on C18 reversed-phase micro extraction columns, thus facilitating sample loading in capillary HPLC/tandem mass spectrometry. Two tagging reagents, i.e. 7-fluoro-4-nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD-F) and 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNB-F) were evaluated. Both of them reacted readily with amino acids at an elevated temperature, resulting in derivatives that were effectively stacked and suitable for a sensitive MS/MS detection as well. Separation of the tagged enantiomers on a teicoplanin chiral stationary phase (CSP) with mobile phases compatible with MS detection was investigated. NBD-amino acid enantiomers (12 pairs) tested were all base-line resolved. However, the efforts to separate DNB-F tagged amino acid enantiomers on this CSP were not successful. Separation conditions including pH, organic modifiers, and column dimension were studied. All the NBD-amino acids studied could be sensitively detected by MS/MS detection set in the negative ion mode, but only a few including NBD-Asp, BND-Glu, NBD-Ser, and NBD-Thr were detected in the positive ion mode. Thus, the selectivity for enantiomeric determination of excitatory amino acids (e.g. Asp and Glu) was further improved by choosing MS/MS detection in the positive ion mode.

[Determination of amino acids in Isatis indigotica Fort by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography with pre-column derivatization]

A reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method with pre-column derivatization for the determination of amino acids, which were known as the characteristic constituents of Isatis indigotica Fort was established. The amino acids in alkalescence were derivatized with 2, 4-dinitro-fluorobenzene (DNFB). A reproducible method for simultaneous qualitative analysis of glutamic acid (Glu), argirine (Arg) and proline (Pro) and quantitative analysis of Arg and Pro in Isatis indigotica Fort has been established. NaAc buffer (pH 6.4) acetonitrile (85:15, v/v) as mobile phase and a Sinochrom ODS-BP column were used. The detector was operated at 360 nm. The linear regressions of the standard curves were determined for Arg and for Pro. The method was carried out over the range of 0. 627 - 5.016 microg for Arg and 0. 874 - 7.000 microg for Pro. The recoveries were 98.5% and 98.4% with the relative standard deviations of 2.5% and 2.3% for Arg and Pro respectively. The results indicate that among the three amino acids in Isatis indigotica Fort, Arg content was the highest, Pro the second and Glu the lowest. The method has good accuracy and repeatability and it can be used for the quality control of Isatis indigotica Fort.

Total and reactive lysine contents in selected cereal-based food products

The aim of the study was to determine and compare reactive and total lysine contents in a range of breakfast cereal products. Crude fiber, fat, ash, and crude protein contents of 20 breakfast cereal products ranged from 4 to 38, 14 to 144, 7 to 32, and 52 to 253 g/kg, respectively. The concentrations of glutamic acid (18.7-32.1 g/100 g protein) and proline (4.7-10.8 g/100 g protein) were high while those of the amino acids methionine (1.2-2.0 g/100 g protein) and histidine (1.2-3.3 g/100 g protein) were relatively low. There was a strong relationship between reactive lysine determined using the guanidination and fluorodinitrobenzene methods (R = 0.99). The total lysine content, determined after conventional acid hydrolysis, ranged from 0.8 to 3.7 g/100 g protein, while the reactive lysine content (guanidination) ranged from 0.4 to 2.8 g/100 g protein. Reactive lysine was 20-54% lower than total lysine in the cereal products. The large differences between total and reactive lysine suggest a considerable loss of lysine in the breakfast cereals tested.

Absorption of chemically unmodified lysine from proteins in foods that have sustained damage during processing or storage

When a food is processed or stored, amino acids can react with a number of chemical entities to produce new compounds that are often nutritionally unavailable to the consumer. During acid hydrolysis used in amino acid analysis, some of these compounds revert back to the parent amino acid, leading to errors in estimates of both the amino acid content of foods and amino acid digestibility. This is a particular concern for the amino acid lysine in damaged food proteins. Chemical assays have thus been developed to allow determination of unaltered or reactive lysine. However, there is evidence that, in damaged food proteins, not all of the reactive lysine is released during digestion and absorbed. The development and application of an assay for absorbed (ileal digestible) reactive lysine is discussed.

Synthesis of a phenyl thio-β-d-galactopyranoside library from 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene: discovery of efficient and selective monosaccharide inhibitors of galectin-7

The galectins are a family of [small beta]-galactoside-binding proteins that have been implicated in cancer and inflammation processes. Herein, we report the synthesis of a library of 28 compounds that was tested for binding to galectins-1, -3, -7, -8N and -9N. An aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction between 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and a galacto thiol gave 5-fluoro-2,4-dinitrophenyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside. This versatile intermediate was then modified in a two dimensional manner: either by further substitution of the second fluoride by amines or thiols, or by reduction of the nitro groups and acylation of the resulting amines, or both. Deacetylation then gave a library of aromatic beta-galactosides that showed variable inhibitory activity against the different galectins, as shown by screening with a fluorescence-polarisation assay. Particularly efficient inhibitors were found against galectin-7, while less impressive enhancements of inhibitor affinity over methyl beta-D-galactopyranoside were found for galectin-1, -3, -8N and -9N. The best inhibitors against galectin-7 showed significantly higher affinity (K(d) as low as 140 microM) than both beta-methyl galactoside (K(d) 4.8 mM) and the unsubstituted beta-phenyl thiogalactoside (non-inhibitory). The best inhibitors against galectin-7 were poor against the other galectins and thus have potential as structurally simple and selective tools for dissecting biological functions of galectin-7.

Oligomerization of Ribonuclease A

By lyophilization from 40% acetic acid solutions, bovine ribonuclease A forms several types of three-dimensional domain-swapped oligomers: dimers, trimers, tetramers, and higher order multimers. Each oligomeric species comprehends at least two conformers: one less basic and one more basic. The structures of the two dimers and one trimer have been solved. Plausible models have been proposed for the other oligomers. Among them, all chromatographic patterns show the constant presence of minority species, and we focused our attention on two of them. The first oligomer (named X) elutes between the two trimeric conformers; the second (named Y) elutes as a shoulder in the ascending limb of the more basic trimer. After purification with cation-exchange chromatography, on the basis of (a) gel filtration analyses, (b) gel electrophoreses under nondenaturing conditions, (c) SDS-PAGE, (d) cross-linking experiments with divinylsulfone and 1,5-difluoro 2,4-dinitrobenzene, (e) enzymatic activity assays, (f) identification of the products of their spontaneous dissociation, and (g) controlled proteolysis with subtilisin, we propose that the X and Y oligomeric species contain two novel three-dimensional domain-swapped tetrameric conformers of RNase A, differing from each other as well as from the two tetramers already identified. For the two novel tetramers we showed tentative structural models. X(TT) could be a circular NCNC-tetramer; Y(TT) could be a propeller-like C-trimer with an attached N-swapping monomer (NCCC(TT)), identical to a model proposed by Liu and Eisenberg (Liu, Y., and Eisenberg, D. (2002) Protein Sci. 11, 1285-1299).

A murine model for low molecular weight chemicals: differentiation of respiratory sensitizers (TMA) from contact sensitizers (DNFB)

Exposure to low molecular weight (LMW) chemicals contributes to both dermal and respiratory sensitization and is an important occupational health problem. Our goal was to establish an in vivo murine model for hazard identification of LMW chemicals that have the potential to induce respiratory hypersensitivity (RH). We used a dermal sensitization protocol followed by a respiratory challenge with the evaluation of endpoints typically associated with RH in human disease. Trimellitic anhydride (TMA) was used as a prototype respiratory sensitizer and was compared to the dermal sensitizer; 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB), along with vehicle controls. BALB/c mice were dermally sensitized using two exposure protocols. Mice in both protocols were dermally exposed on experimental days; D-18 and D-17 (abdomen), and D-13 (ear). On D 0 mice received an intratracheal (IT) challenge. The mice in Protocol 2 were abdominally exposed twice with the addition of exposures on D-25 and D-24. Results indicate that mice required the additional dermal sensitization and the IT challenge (Protocol 2) to significantly elevate total IgE in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Additional responses suggestive of RH were seen following Protocol 2, including increases in BALF cell numbers and neutrophils post IT with TMA (but not DNFB). These data suggest that the dermal sensitization and IT challenge followed by evaluation of serum antibodies and lung parameters are a reasonable and logistically feasible approach towards the development of a model for RH responses to LMW chemicals.

Determination of vertilmicin in rat serum by high-performance liquid chromatography using 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene derivatization

A procedure for the high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of vertilmicin in rat serum was described using pre-column derivatization. The serum proteins were precipitated with acetonitrile and vertilmicin in the supernatant was derivatized with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Etimicin was selected as the internal standard. The mobile phase consisted of methanol--20mM ammonium acetate (80:20, v/v), and flow-rate was 0.9 ml/min. Ultraviolet detection was set at 365 nm. The reaction products were chromatographed on a C(18) column kept at 40 degrees C. A good linearity was found in the range of 0.5-250 microg/ml. Both intra- and inter-day precisions of vertilmicin, expressed as the relative standard deviation, were less than 7.4%. Accuracy, expressed as the relative error, ranged from -0.1 to 3.6%. The mean absolute recovery of vertilmicin at three different concentrations was 92.5%. Serum volumes of 50 microl were sufficient for the determination of vertilmicin. The method was proved suitable for the pharmacokinetic study of vertilmicin in rats.

Vibrational Stark Effects Calibrate the Sensitivity of Vibrational Probes for Electric Fields in Proteins

Infrared spectroscopy is widely used to probe local environments and dynamics in proteins. The introduction of a unique vibration at a specific site of a protein or more complex assembly offers many advantages over observing the spectra of an unmodified protein. We have previously shown that infrared frequency shifts in proteins can arise from differences in the local electric field at the probe vibration. Thus, vibrational frequencies can be used to map electric fields in proteins at many sites or to measure the change in electric field due to a perturbation. The Stark tuning rate gives the sensitivity of a vibrational frequency to an electric field, and for it to be useful, the Stark tuning rate should be as large as possible. Vibrational Stark effect spectroscopy provides a direct measurement of the Stark tuning rate and allows a quantitative interpretation of frequency shifts. We present vibrational Stark spectra of several bond types, extending our work on nitriles and carbonyls and characterizing four additional bond types (carbon-fluorine, carbon-deuterium, azide, and nitro bonds) that are potential probes for electric fields in proteins. The measured Stark tuning rates, peak positions, and extinction coefficients provide the primary information needed to design amino acid analogues or labels to act as probes of local environments in proteins.

Spectrophotometric determination of lisinopril in tablets using 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene reagent

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of lisinopril (LN) in single and multicomponent tablets also containing hydrochlorothiazide (HCT), based on the derivatization reaction with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (FDNB, Sanger reagent) is described. Aqueous solutions of LN (4.5-27.2 x 10(-5) M) react with FDNB (in acetonitrile) at pH 8.2 (borate buffer) in dark at 60 degrees C for 45 min. After acidification with HCl to decolourize 2,4-dinitrophenolate (the alkaline hydrolysis product of FDNB), the LN-derivative is measured at 356.5 or 405.5 nm (only at 405.5 nm if HCT is present). The calibration curves are linear (r>0.996 at both wavelengths) with a between days precision of slopes of 1.8 and 2.3% at 405.5 and 356.5 nm, respectively. The quantification limit is 3.49 x 10(-5) M (0.014 mg) at 405.5 nm and 5.69 x 10(-5) M (0.023 mg) at 356.5 nm. The accuracy and precision of the method were evaluated with the analysis of synthetic mixtures (Er%: 0.30-0.60 and 0.27-1.00 at 405.5 and 356.5 nm, respectively; RSD%: 0.48-0.92 and 0.35-0.51 at 405.5 and 356.5 nm, correspondingly; recovery%: 99.2-100.4 at 405.5 nm and 97.9-104.3 at 356.5 nm). Results obtained from the analysis of commercial preparations with the proposed method are in good agreement with those obtained with the official HPLC method (% relative difference 0.2-2.5%). The developed method can be used for rapid routine analysis for content uniformity, dissolution profile studies and assay of pharmaceutical preparations.

Rigid tetranitroresorcinarenes

[reaction: see text]. o-alkylation of C2V-symmetrical resorcinarene tetraesters 2 with 2 equiv of 1,3-difluoro-4,6-dinitrobenzene readily affords conformationally rigid octanitro resorcinarene 3, which is a potential scaffold for the design of supramolecular structures.

Determination of neurotoxin 3-N-oxalyl-2,3-diaminopropionic acid and non-protein amino acids in Lathyrus sativus by precolumn derivatization with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene

A rapid and simple method is presented for determining neuro-excitatory nonprotein amino acid 3-N-oxalyl-2,3-diaminopropionic acid (beta-ODAP) and non-protein amino acids in Lathyrus sativus. Seed and foliage extracts of Lathyrus sativus were treated with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (FDNB) and a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method (RP HPLC) for the separation of the derivatives in the pmol range is reported. The RP HPLC method and a colorimetric method were compared for measuring ODAP.

Isotope edited product ion assignment by alpha-N labeling of peptides with [2H3(50%)]2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene

An isotopic modification of Sanger's method for identifying peptide N-termini has been developed to assist peptide sequencing by tandem mass spectrometry. Tryptic peptides, such as Val-His-Leu-Thr-Pro-Val-Glu-Lys, are derivatized with an equimolar mixture of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene and [2H3]2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene. Under optimized derivatization conditions, the alpha-amino group could be derivatized while the epsilon-amine of the lysine side chain and the imidazole of histidine remained underivatized. The alpha-dinitrophenyl modified peptides were characterized by electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography (LC)-ESI-MS. The [M + H]+ ions showed a doublet pattern with a delta m/z of 3 and the [M + 2H]2+ ions were recognized as doublets with a delta m/z of 1.5. MS/MS was employed where both isotopic [M + 2H]2+ ions were alternately subjected to collision-induced dissociation in the second quadrupole. Fragmentation in the ionization source generated identical product ion patterns that were observed during fragmentation in the second quadrupole. In the product ion mass spectra, the N-terminal a and b ions (no c ion observed) are doublets with a delta m/z of 3 or 1.5, while the C-terminal y and z ions (no x ion observed) are singlets appearing at identical masses. Thus, the product ions containing the N-terminus derivatized with a dinitrophenyl group are unequivocally distinguished from the product ions containing the C-terminus. The dinitrophenyl modification generally enhanced the production of a and b ions without diminishing y and z ion yields.

The quaternary geometry of transcription termination factor rho: assignment by chemical cross-linking

Transcription termination factor rho from Escherichia coli is a ring-shaped homohexamer of 419 amino acid subunits and catalyzes an ATP-dependent release of nascent RNA transcripts. Previous chemical cross-linking studies suggested that the rho hexamer might have D3 symmetry with three isologous dimers as protomers. However, our recent mutational analysis of rho alongside its putative structural homology to F1-ATPase rather argued for C6 symmetry. To resolve this discrepancy, we have re-investigated the pattern of cross-linking of rho using various cross-linkers with different functional groups and spacer lengths. Upon reaction with dimethyl suberimidate followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, rho protein generated a series of cross-linked oligomers up to hexamers, of which dimers migrated as distinct doublet bands of approximately equal intensities. However, the lower band became much stronger than the upper one with dimethyl adipimidate and difluorodinitrobenzene, and vice versa with disuccinimidyl glutarate, disuccinimidyl suberate and disulfosuccinimidyl tartarate. Furthermore, the trimeric products also produced doublet bands, whose relative intensities were again variable with cross-linkers, but in an inverse correlation with those of the dimer bands. These results combined with theoretical considerations support a C6 symmetry model in which cross-linking is assumed to occur stochastically at one of two alternative sites within each subunit interface with variable relative frequencies depending on cross-linkers. The D3 symmetry is excluded, for the putative trimeric subspecies should always retain mutually equal intensities in that case. Detailed inspections of the cross-linking kinetics further revealed a moderate characteristic of C3 symmetry for the rho hexamer such that the collective as well as relative rates of cross-linking at the two available sites could fluctuate between alternating interfaces. The final model designated as C3/6 is also compatible with other functional and structural properties known for rho.

Identification of the CoA-modified forms of mitochondrial acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase and of glutamate dehydrogenase as nearest-neighbour proteins

A 52 kDa protein could only be co-purified with the CoA-modified forms of acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase) (EC 2.3.1.9) from rat liver mitochondria. Immunoprecipitations of these modified forms with anti-(acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase) IgG or anti-(52 kDa protein) IgG yielded, in addition to the appropriate proteins, the 52 kDa protein or the CoA-modified form of acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (41 kDa) respectively. This was demonstrated by SDS/PAGE and immunoblots. The modified forms containing the 52 kDa protein could be cross-linked by 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene to a high-molecular-mass complex containing both the 41 kDa and 52 kDa proteins. The 52 kDa protein was identified as mitochondrial glutamate dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.3) by amino acid sequence analysis. The results of co-immunoprecipitation and cross-linking characterize the CoA-modified forms of acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase and the glutamate dehydrogenase as nearest-neighbour proteins.

N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase assay based on specific radioactive labeling of muropeptide L-alanine: quantitation of the enzyme activity in the autolysin deficient Bacillus subtilis 168, flaD strain

A sensitive and highly reproducible assay for N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase (EC 3.5.1.28) was devised, based on specific and homogeneous L-[14C]alanine labeling of the substrate, the peptidoglycan. The method involves partial purification of both the enzyme and the substrate and monitoring the muropeptide cleavage by coupling fluorodinitrobenzene to freed L-alanine NH2 groups. After acid hydrolysis of the substrate, the resulting DNP-L-alanine and L-alanine are separated by TLC, and radioactive counts in relevant spots are determined. Application of the method to the autolysin-endowed strain and an autolysis-deficient flaD-bearing mutant has revealed (i) that the N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase behaves like an endoenzyme with an apparent Kcat(s-1) of 40, and (ii) that the residual enzyme activity in the flaD bearing strain amounts to 2.5 (+/- 0.1)% of that of the parent strain.