Solid-state IR-LD spectroscopic and theoretical analysis of arginine-containing peptides

Structural prediction and IR-characteristic bands assignment of arginine-containing tri- and tetrapeptides glycyl-glycyl-arginine (GGArg) and glycyl-glycyl-arginyl-alanine (GGArgAla) have been carried out, using linear-dichroic infrared (IR-LD) spectroscopy of oriented solid-samples in a nematic liquid crystal suspension. Spectroscopic data have been supported with ab initio analysis (Hartree-Fock level of theory and 6-31++G** basis set). Predicted geometry parameters have been compared with known crystallographic ones of similar peptides, indicating a good correlation.     

Structural and spectroscopic analysis of hydrogensquarates of glycine-containing tripeptides

The hydrogensquarates of glycine-containing tripeptides glycylglycylglycine (H-Gly-Gly-Gly-OH), glycylglycylmethionine (H-Gly-Gly-Met-OH), and methionylglycylglycine (H-Met-Gly-Gly-OH) have been characterized structurally. Quantum chemical ab initio calculations, solid-state linear-dichroic infrared (IR-LD) spectroscopy, 1H and 13C NMR data, ESI-MS, HPLC-MS/MS, TGV, and DSC methods were employed. The structures consist in a positively charged peptide moiety and a negative hydrogensquarate anion (HSq), stabilized by strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds.     

Electrogenic Absorption of Sugars and Amino Acids in the Small Intestine of the Human Fetus

Some characteristics and the degree of intestinal absorption in the developing human fetus were examined by measuring solute evoked potentials and ¹⁴C-D-glucose uptake into the everted jejunal segments.

In all segments, the Michaelis-Menten relationship was observed between D-glucose concentrations and the evoked potentials or D-glucose uptake. Increase of Na-ion concentrations enhanced both D-glucose evoked potentials and uptake.

Both D-glucose and L-α-alanine evoked potentials increased in a significant correlation to the fetal age; however, the apparent Michaelis constants did not show any significant change. The structural specificity of sugar for generating evoked potentials was the same as that reported for adult mammals. Among amino acids, only the L-form of neutral and acidic amino acids generated markedly high evoked potentials, but the basic ones hardly at all. Oligopeptides such as glycyl-glycine and glycyl-glycyl-glycine also generated high evoked potentials.     

Electrogenic absorption of sugars and amino acids in the small intestine of the human fetus

Some characteristics and the degree of intestinal absorption in the developing human fetus were examined by measuring solute evoked potentials and 14C-D-glucose uptake into the everted jejunal segments. In all segments, the Michaelis-Menten relationship was observed between D-glucose concentrations and the evoked potentials or D-glucose uptake. Increase of Na-ion concentrations enhanced both D-glucose evoked potentials and uptake. Both D-glucose and L-alpha-alanine evoked potentials increased in a significant correlation to the fetal age; however, the apparent Michaelis constants did not show any signficant change. The structural specificity of sugar for generating evoked potentials was the same as that reported for adult mammals. Among amino acids, only the L-form of neutral and acidic amino acids generated markedly high evoked potentials, but the basic ones hardly at all. Oligopeptides such as glycyl-glycine and glycyl-glycyl-glycine also generated high evoked potentials. Our results have indicated that the active transport system of sugars and amino acids in the human fetus have already developed by as early as the sixth month of gestation.     

Stereo-structural prediction and IR-characteristic band assignment of amorphous protonated forms of homodipeptides (L)-Phe-(L)-Phe, (L)-Trp-(L)-Trp, (L)-Tyr-(L)-Tyr and the neutral - (L)-Trp-(L)-Trp. Ab initio approximation and solid-state linear-polarized IR-spectroscopy

Stereo-structures of protonated (L)-phenylalanine ((L)-Phe), (L)-tyrosine ((L)-Tyr) and (L)-tryptophan ((L)-Trp) containing homodipeptides ((L)-Tyr-(L)-Tyr, (L)-Phe-(L)-Phe, (L)-Trp-(L)-Trp) are carried out by ab initio calculations. The obtained data in gas phase are compared with experimental ones, received by linear-dichroic infrared (IR-LD) spectroscopy of solids, oriented as suspension in nematic mesophase. An observation of a good correlation between theoretical and spectroscopic geometry parameters established and illustrated the possibilities of this complex study approach for the prediction of the stereo-structures in compounds in solid state. The protonation leads to little variance in the bond lengths and angles, expecting the COO(-) fragment, where a distortion of equalized COO(-) bond lengths, stabilizing a C=O double bond and C-O(H) one is established. Significant deviations of the dihedral angles as a result of the protonation are obtained in the skeletal aliphatic and amide- fragments. In (L)-Tyr-(L)-Tyr and (L)-Phe-(L)-Phe, a deviation of O=C-N-H torsion angle about 10-14(0) is predicted. The calculations show a trans-amide configuration in (L)-Trp-(L)-Trp and a cis-one after its protonation.     

Photocatalysis by tetraphenylporphyrin of the decomposition of chloroform

Irradiation of solutions of tetraphenylporphyrin (H2TPP) in chloroform causes decomposition of the chloroform at UV wavelengths higher than those that decompose chloroform directly. The catalytic cycle involves photooxidation of the porphyrin followed by thermal reduction. Photocatalysis continues after H2TPP has been completely protonated by the HCl produced during decomposition, and the rate of HCl production accelerates as a second pathway, in which CCl3OOH oxidizes the porphyrin, becomes important.     

Evidence from circular dichroism for the binding of hydrogen ions and calcium ions by poly (L-proline).

The positive circular dichroism band observed near 228 nm with poly(L -proline) responds in a similar fashion to HCl and CaCl₂. The spectra in the HCl solutions are compatible with a simple binding equation and a pK near ?2 for the dissociation of a proton from a protonated peptide bond in poly(L -proline). The data obtained in CaCl₂ is susceptible to the same analysis, suggesting a pK near ?1.5 for the dissociation of a calcium ion from its complex with poly(L -proline).     

1H- and 13C-NMR, FTIR, UV-VIS, ESI-MS, and PM5 studies as well as emission properties of a new Schiff base of gossypol with 5-methoxytryptamine and a new hydrazone of gossypol with dansylhydrazine

A new Schiff base of gossypol with 5-methoxytryptamine (GSTR) and a new hydrazone of gossypol with dansylhydrazine (GHDH) have been synthesized and studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS), electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS) as well as the parametric method PM5. The spectroscopic methods have provided clear evidence that GSTR exists in chloroform solution as an enamine-enamine tautomer, whereas GHDH is present in chloroform as a N-imine-N-imine tautomer. The fluorescence spectra of both compounds indicate that their quantum yield of fluorescence is increased by one or two orders of magnitude compared to that of pure gossypol. The ESI-MS spectra of the 1:1 mixtures of GSTR or GHDH with formic acid have demonstrated that both compounds exist as protonated monomers in the gas phase, whereas GHDH can also exist in a stable protonated dimeric structure. The structures of the stable tautomers are calculated and visualized using the PM5 semiempirical method. The intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds within these structures are discussed.     

Crystal and molecular structure of L-valyl-L-lysine hydrochloride.

L-Valyl-L-lysine hydrochloride, C11N3O3H23 HCl, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1) with a = 5.438(5), b = 14.188(5), c = 9.521(5) A, beta = 95.38(2) degrees and Z = 2. The crystal structure, solved by direct methods, refined to R = 0.036, using full matrix least-squares method. The peptide exists in a zwitterionic form, with the N atom of the lysine side-chain protonated. The two gamma-carbons of the valine side-chain have positional disorder, giving rise to two conformations, chi 1(11) = -67.3 and 65.9 degrees, one of which (65.9 degrees) is sterically less favourable and has been found to be less popular amongst residues branching at beta-C. The lysine side-chain has the geometry of g- tgt, not seen in crystal structures of the dipeptides reported so far. Interestingly, chi 2(3) (63.6 degrees) of lysine side-chain has a gauche+ conformation unlike in most of the other structures, where it is trans. The neighbouring peptide molecules are hydrogen bonded in a head-to-tail fashion, a rather uncommon interaction in lysine peptide structures. The structure shows considerable similarity with that of L-Lys-L-Val HCl in conformational angles and H-bond interactions [4].     

Studies on Escherichia coli enzymes involved in the synthesis of uridine diphosphate-N-acetyl-muramyl-pentapeptide

The specific activities of l-alanine:d-alanine racemase, d-alanine:d-alanine ligase, and the l-alanine, d-glutamic acid, meso-diaminopimelic acid, and d-alanyl-d-alanine adding enzymes were followed during growth of Escherichia coli. The specific activities were nearly independent of the growth phase. d-Alanine:d-alanine ligase was inhibited by d-alanyl-d-alanine, d-cycloserine, glycine, and glycyl-glycine. l-Alanine:d-alanine racemase was found to be sensitive to d-cycloserine, glycine, and glycyl-glycine. The l-alanine adding enzyme was inhibited by glycine and glycyl-glycine.     

Synthesis,equilibrium studies and structural characterisation of the Zn(II) complexes with trimethylene-N6,N6'-bisadenine

The new compound trimethylene-N(6),N(6')-bisadenine (L), in which two adenine molecules are linked together by a trimethylene bridge that connects the N(6) atoms, has been prepared. Reaction of L with HgCl(2) and ZnCl(2) in concentrated HCl solution leads to crystalline solids. The X-ray characterisation of the Hg(II) complex (H(2)L)[HgCl(4)].3H(2)O reveals that it is an outer-sphere complex in which the ligand is protonated at N(1) and N(1'). In contrast, the structure of the complex [H(2)L(ZnCl(3))(2)].2H(2)O shows the ligand co-ordinated to two different Zn(II) ions through the N(7) of both adenine fragments, the protons being located on the N(1) atoms. The latter compound constitutes the first crystallographic evidence of an inner sphere complex with bis-adenines and, for this reason, an equilibrium study was carried out on the Zn(II)-L-H(+) system. Potentiometric studies indicate that L is protonated in aqueous solution to form HL(+) and H(2)L(2+) with logK(H) values of 4.42 and 3.35 (25 degrees C, 0.10 M KNO(3)). The data from potentiometric titrations in the presence of Zn(2+) can be analysed considering the formation of the species LZn(2+), HLZn(3+), LZn(2)(4+) and HLZn(2)(5+), whose stability constants exceed the value expected for a monodentate interaction of the metal ion with adenine and suggest the possibility of a polydentate behaviour of L in the pH range 2.5-5.0. In contrast, spectrophotometric titrations carried out under conditions similar to those used in the synthetic work (1 M HCl) can be fitted with a model involving exclusively the H(2)LZn(4+) and H(2)LZn(2)(6+) species with logK(M) values reasonable for the interaction of Zn(II) with the N(7) of the protonated adenine fragments. Despite the H(2)LZn(2)(6+) species has a low stability, the spectrophotometric results are in agreement with its formation under the conditions in which the solid complex was prepared.     

H+/glycyl-glycine cotransport in eel intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles: studies with the pH-sensitive dye Acridine orange.

Monitoring the fluorescence quenching of the pH-sensitive dye Acridine orange, proton accumulation in the presence of an inside-negative transmembrane potential was measured in eel (Anguilla anguilla) intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles. It was demonstrated that the proton accumulation was specifically increased by the presence of the dipeptide glycyl-glycine in the extravesicular space, showing saturation kinetics at increasing dipeptide concentrations and was specifically inhibited by diethylpyrocarbonate. Data reported suggest the presence of an electrical-potential-dependent H+/glycyl-glycine cotransport system in the eel intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles.     

Prebiotic synthesis of histidyl-histidine

Summary Histidyl-histidine (His-His) has been synthesized in a yield of up to 14.4% under plausible prebiotic conditions using histidine (His), cyanamide, and 4-amino-5-imidazole carboxamide. A trace amount of His trimer was also detected. Because the imidazole group of His is involved in a number of important enzymatic reactions, and His-His has been shown to catalyze the prebiotic synthesis of glycyl-glycine, we expect this work will stimulate further studies on the catalytic activities of simple His-containing peptides in prebiotic reactions.     

Enantioseparation of hydrochloride salts using carbon dioxide-based mobile phases with on-line polarimetric detection

Most HPLC enantioseparations of amine analytes are performed using normal-phase systems containing mobile phases of heptane with ethanol (or 2-propanol) and an amine additive. Since salt-forms of amine analytes are usually insoluble in normal-phase eluents, free-base forms are synthesized for preparative chromatography. It would be highly desirable to directly chromatograph salt forms of amine analytes using mobile phases of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and methanol (MeOH). Such separations would be readily suitable for preparative chromatography, since most amine salts are highly soluble in MeOH. In this article, advantages are shown for the use of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) instrumentation with tandem UV and polarimetric detection for confirming enantioseparation as well as for determining optimum preparative column injections. Examples are shown for racemic mixtures of propranolol HCl (I), thioridazine HCl (II), tramadol HCl (III), and flurbiprofen (IV), all of which resolved on Chiralpak AD-H chiral stationary phase using mobile-phase systems of CO(2) and MeOH without the use of basic or acidic additives.     

Interaction of jasmonic and abscisic acid in the control of lipases and proteases in germinating apple embryos

Effects of jasmonic (JA) and abscisic (ABA) acid on the activities of lipases and proteases were studied in cultured embryos excised from apple seeds. JA stimulated alkaline (AlkL) and acid (AcL) lipases as well as proteases hydrolyzing casein, L-cystine-di-β-naphthylamide (CysβNa), glycyl-glycyl-glycine (GlyGlyGly) and native apple seed proteins. ABA inhibited AlkL and protease activities, with the exception of the hydrolysis of native proteins which was stimulated. The activity of AcL was not affected by ABA. AlkL was affected by JA and ABA also in vitro. An antagonistic interaction between JA and ABA on all studied enzyme activities. except CysβNa hydrolyzing protease, was observed. The positions of JA- and ABA-controlled sites in the metabolic regulation of the removal of embryonal dormancy in apple seeds are discussed.     

Possible role of PEPT1 in gastrointestinal hormone secretion

Oligopeptides originating from ingested meal stimulate the secretion of various gastrointestinal hormones, but the mechanism is unknown. In this study, we show that transfection of oligopeptide transporter 1 (PEPT1) in STC-1 cells, a murine enteroendocrine cell line, evokes di-peptide-stimulated hormone secretion in a pH-dependent manner. Measurement of membrane potentials shows that PEPT1- transfected STC-1 cells are depolarized by di-peptide glycyl-glycine but not by glycine monomer. Glycyl-glycine stimulation induces a rise in the intracellular calcium concentration in PEPT1-transfected STC-1 cells. The secretion induced by glycyl-glycine in PEPT1-transfected STC-1 cells was blocked by nifedipine, a Ca(2+) channel blocker, suggesting that the secretion is triggered by Ca(2+) influx through L-type voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels. These data suggest that PEPT1 mediates oligopeptide-induced hormone secretion in enteroendocrine cells.     

Thermochemistry of dissolving glycine, glycyl-glycine, and diglycyl-glycine in a mixed water-dimethylsulfoxide solvent at 298.15 K

The enthalpies of dissolving glycine, glycyl-glycine and diglycyl-glycine (deltaH(soln)0) in a mixed water-dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solvent was determined by the calorimetric method in the range of concentrations of the organic component 0 < X2 < 0.4 m.d. at 298.15 K. The enthalpies of solvation ((deltaH(solv)0) and transfer ((deltaH(tr)0) of these compounds from water to a mixed solvent were calculated. The dependencies deltaH(tr)0 =f(X2) were found to be extreme, indicating complex intermolecular interactions between the solution components. The influence of the structure and the properties of the substances dissolved and the composition of the mixture and the nature of organic solvent on their thermochemical characteristics was studied. The coefficients of enthalpy for pair interactions of glycine and its oligomers with DMSO molecules were calculated. These have positive values and increase in the order: glycyl-glycine < glycine < diglycyl-glycine. The changes in the thermochemical characteristics of dissolving, transfer, and solvation of glycine and its olygomers were shown to be determined by the energy of the mixed solvent formation, the nature of the organic solvents, and the structure of amino acids and peptides.     

Mononuclear and dinuclear peroxotungsten complexes with co-ordinated dipeptides as potent inhibitors of alkaline phosphatase activity

New molecular peroxotungstate(VI) complexes with dipeptides as ancillary ligands of the type, [WO(O(2))(2)(dipeptide)(H(2)O)].3H(2)O, dipeptide = glycyl-glycine or glycyl-leucine, have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, spectral and physico-chemical methods including thermal analysis. The complexes contain side-on bound peroxo groups and a peptide zwitterion bonded to the metal centre unidentately through an O(carboxylate) atom. Investigations on certain biologically important key properties of these compounds and a set of dimeric compounds in analogous co-ligand environment, Na(2)[W(2)O(3)(O(2))(4)(dipeptide)(2)].3H(2)O, dipeptide = glycyl-glycine and glycyl-leucine, reported previously by us revealed interesting features of the compounds. Each of the compounds despite having a 7 co-ordinated metal centre exerts a strong inhibitory effect on alkaline phosphatase activity with a potency higher than that of the free dipeptide, tungstate or peroxotungstate. The compounds exhibit remarkable stability in solutions of acidic as well as physiological pH and are weaker as substrate to the enzyme catalase, compared to H(2)O(2). The mononuclear and dinuclear peroxotungsten compounds are efficient oxidants of reduced glutathione (GSH), a reaction in which only one of the peroxo groups of a diperoxotungsten moiety of the complexes was found to be active.     

Rat liver alcohol dehydrogenase. I. Purification and characterization

Alcohol dehydrogenase was purified in 14 h from male Fischer-344 rat livers by differential centrifugation, (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, and chromatography over DEAE-Affi-Gel Blue, Affi-Gel Blue, and AMP-agarose. Following HPLC more than 240-fold purification was obtained. Under denaturing conditions, the enzyme migrated as a single protein band (Mr congruent to 40,000) on 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Under nondenaturing conditions, the protein eluted from an HPLC I-125 column as a symmetrical peak with a constant enzyme specific activity. When examined by analytical isoelectric focusing, two protein and two enzyme activity bands comigrated closely together (broad band) between pH 8.8 and 8.9. The pure enzyme showed pH optima for activity between 8.3 and 8.8 in buffers of 0.5 M Tris-HCl, 50 mM 2-(N-cyclohexylamino)ethanesulfonic acid (CHES), and 50 mM 3-(cyclohexylamino)-1-propanesulfonic acid (CAPS), and above pH 9.0 in 50 mM glycyl-glycine. Kinetic studies with the pure enzyme, in 0.5 M Tris-HCl under varying pH conditions, revealed three characteristic ionization constants for activity: 7.4 (pK1); 8.0-8.1 (pK2), and 9.1 (pK3). The latter two probably represent functional groups in the free enzyme; pK1 may represent a functional group in the enzyme-NAD+ complex. Pure enzyme also was used to determine kinetic constants at 37 degrees C in 0.5 M Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.4 (I = 0.2). The values obtained were Vmax = 2.21 microM/min/mg enzyme, Km for ethanol = 0.156 mM, Km for NAD+ = 0.176 mM, and a dissociation constant for NAD+ = 0.306 mM. These values were used to extrapolate the forward rate of ethanol oxidation by alcohol dehydrogenase in vivo. At pH 7.4 and 10 mM ethanol, the rate was calculated to be 2.4 microM/min/g liver.     

The causes of hydration changes during DNA protonation

Changes of DNA hydration provoked by protonation in the way of Na+- and H+-ions exchange, and in the way of HCl addition to Na+-DNA, were analysed by IR-spectroscopy. Water is shown not to contribute essentially to the formation and stabilization of conformations arising when DNA is protonated. The differences between hydratation of DNA protonated by different ways are in the main accounted for by alteration of the quantities of Na+ and Cl- ions forming the aqueous-salt envelope of polynucleotide.