9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate as a fluorescence-labeling reagent for derivatization of carboxylic acid moiety of sodium valproate using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for binding characterization: a human pharmacokinetic study

In High Performance Liquid Chromatographic (HPLC) determination of chemicals with acidic functions, different labeling agents are used to improve sensitivity of the assay. 9-Fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC-Cl), on the other hand, is a suitable labeling agent, which reacts with both primary and secondary amines and less readily with hydroxyl groups in alkaline conditions. However, the reagent has not been applied in labeling of chemicals with acidic function yet. In this study which is the first report on application of FMOC-Cl in derivatization and analysis of a drug with acidic function, valproic acid (VPA), one of a series of fatty carboxylic acids with anticonvulsant activity, was derivatized using the reagent and quantified in serum samples by HPLC with fluorescence detection. In addition, to document the reaction between the labeling agent and carboxylic acid moiety of the drug, we developed a liquid chromatography-tandem MS/MS (LC-MS/MS) method. Following liquid-liquid extraction, derivatization of the drug and an internal standard was achieved in alkaline medium. The elute was monitored by a fluorescence detector with respective excitation and emission wavelengths of 265 and 315 nm. The present method is more sensitive comparing with other published HPLC procedures for analysis of VPA. The assay is sensitive enough to measure drug levels obtained in human single dose studies with a limit of quantification of 0.01 μg/mL. Also the method is linear over the concentrations range of 0.01-32 μg/mL of VPA in human serum using 100 μL serum sample and 5 μL injection. The coefficient variation values of both inter and intra day analysis were less than 12% and the percentage error was less than 4%. The method performance was studied and the validated procedure applied in a randomized cross-over bioequivalence study of two different VPA preparations in 24 healthy volunteers.     

Differential proteome analysis of a selected bacterial strain isolated from a high background radiation area in response to radium stress

The present study describes the response of a bacterial strain, isolated from a hot spring in an area with the highest levels of natural radiation, under radium ((226)Ra) stress. The bacterium has been characterized as a novel and efficient radium biosorbent and identified as a variant of Serratia marcescens by biochemical tests and molecular recognition. In order to gain insights into key cellular events that allow this strain to survive and undergo (226)Ra adaptation and biosorption, the strain was tested under two experimental conditions of 1000 and 6000 Bq (226)Ra stress. A proteomic approach involving two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry was used to identify the differentially expressed proteins under (226)Ra stress. Functional assessment of identified proteins with significantly altered expression levels revealed several mechanisms thought to be involved in (226)Ra adaptation and conferring resistant phenotype to the isolate, including general stress adaptation, anti-oxidative stress, protein and nucleic acid synthesis, energy metabolism, efflux and transport proteins. It suggests that this strain through evolution is particularly well adapted to the high background radiation environment and could represent an alternative source to remove (226)Ra from such areas as well as industrial radionuclide polluted wastewaters.     

Modification of Gold Nanoparticle Loaded on Activated Carbon with Bis(4-methoxysalicylaldehyde)-1,2-Phenylenediamine as New Sorbent for Enrichment of Some Metal Ions

In this study, a new sorbent based on the gold nanoparticle loaded in activated carbon (Au-NP-AC) was synthesized and modified by bis(4-methoxy salicylaldehyde)-1,2-phenylenediamine (BMSAPD). This sorbent, which is abbreviated as Au-NP-AC-BMSAPD, has been applied for the enrichment and preconcentration of trace amounts of Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Fe²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Zn²⁺ ions in real samples. All metal ions under study were retained on the Au-NP-AC-BMSAPD sorbent by complexation of the ions with the BMSAPD ligand, providing an efficient preconcentration fashion. The retained metal ions were then eluted from the sorbent by HNO₃ and detected by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The analytical parameters including pH, amount of ligand, and the nature of the eluent and solid phase were evaluated to obtain the optimum condition for the preconcentration factor. Following the optimum conditions, a preconcentration factor of 200 was obtained for all the metal ions under study with detection limits of 1.4–2.6 ng mL⁻¹. The method has been successfully applied for the extraction and determination of the ion content in the same real samples with recoveries in the range of 95–99.6% and a relative standard deviation lower than 4.0%.     

Genetic variants of EGFR (142285G>A) and ESR1 (2014G>A) gene polymorphisms and risk of breast cancer

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide. The estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been...     

Alternatively activated macrophages during parasite infections

Depending on the cytokine environment, macrophages can differentiate into distinct subsets that perform specific immunological roles. In this regard, the functions of macrophages activated by interferon gamma, referred to as classically activated macrophages, have been extensively documented, particularly during immune responses to infection. Recently, it was recognized that macrophages exposed to cytokines generated by T helper cell type 2 (Th2) cells exert an alternative activation program. However, the nature and functions of alternatively activated macrophages are ill defined. Evidence for the presence of alternatively activated macrophages and their possible influence in the outcome of several parasite diseases are discussed here.     

Candidate gene prioritization

Candidate gene identification is typically labour intensive, involving laboratory experiments required to corroborate or disprove any hypothesis for a nominated candidate gene being considered the causative gene. The traditional approach to reduce the number of candidate genes entails fine-mapping studies using markers and pedigrees. Gene prioritization establishes the ranking of candidate genes based on their relevance to the biological process of interest, from which the most promising genes can be selected for further analysis. To date, many computational methods have focused on the prediction of candidate genes by analysis of their inherent sequence characteristics and similarity with respect to known disease genes, as well as their functional annotation. In the last decade, several computational tools for prioritizing candidate genes have been proposed. A large number of them are web-based tools, while others are standalone applications that install and run locally. This review attempts to take a close look at gene prioritization criteria, as well as candidate gene prioritization algorithms, and thus provide a comprehensive synopsis of the subject matter.     

Draft Genome Sequence of Ureibacillus thermosphaericus Strain Thermo-BF, Isolated from Ramsar Hot Springs in Iran

Ureibacillus thermosphaericus strain Thermo-BF is an aerobic, thermophilic bacillus which has been characterized to biosynthesize gold nanoparticles. Here we present the draft genome sequence of Ureibacillus thermosphaericus strain Thermo-BF which consists of a 2,864,162-bp chromosome. This is the first report of a shotgun sequenced draft genome of a species in the Ureibacillus genus.