A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method to monitor detergents removal from a membrane protein sample.

In membrane protein biochemical and structural studies, detergents are used to mimic membrane environment and maintain functional, stable conformation of membrane proteins in the absence of lipid bilayers. However, detergent concentration, esp. molar ratio of membrane protein to detergent is usually unknown. Here, a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry selected ion monitoring (GC-MS-SIM) method was developed to quantify four detergents which are frequently used in membrane protein structural studies. To remove excessive detergents, a filtered centrifugation using Centricon tubes was applied. A membrane protein Ig-Beta fragment in four different detergent micelles was exemplified. Detergent concentrations in the upper and lower fraction of the Centricon tube were measured after each round of centrifugation. The results were very consistent to basic properties of detergent micelles in aqueous solvents. Therefore, coupling of GC-MS-SIM and detergent removal by Centricon tubes, detergents concentration, esp. molar ratio of membrane protein to detergent could be controlled, which will expedite membrane protein structural and biochemical studies.

Biofiltration of trimethylamine, dimethylamine, and methylamine by immobilized Paracoccus sp. CP2 and Arthrobacter sp. CP1.

A biofilter using granular activated carbon with immobilized Paracoccus sp. CP2 was applied to the elimination of 10-250 ppm of trimethylamine (TMA), dimethylamine (DMA), and methylamine (MA). The results indicated that the system effectively treated MA (>93%), DMA (>90%), and TMA (>85%) under high loading conditions, and the maximum degradation rates were 1.4, 1.2, and 0.9g-Nkg(-1) GAC d(-1). Among the three different amines treated, TMA was the most difficult to degrade and resulted in ammonia accumulation. Further study on TMA removal showed that the optimal pH was near neutral (6.0-8.0). The supply of high glucose (>0.1%) inhibited TMA removal, maybe due to substrate competition. However, complete TMA degradation was achieved under the co-immobilization of Paracoccus sp. CP2 and Arthrobacter sp. CP1 ( approximately 96%). Metabolite analysis results demonstrated that the metabolite NH(4)(+) concentrations decreased by a relatively small 27% while the metabolite NO(2)(-) apparently increased by heterotrophic nitrification of Arthrobacter sp. CP1 in the co-immobilization biofilter.

[11C]-dimethylamine as a labeling agent for PET biomarkers.

The dimethylamine functional group is a common component of the chemical structure of numerous drugs. The most commonly used synthetic route for carbon-11 labeled radiopharmaceuticals which contain the dimethylamine group is via C-11 methylation of the monomethyl amine precursors. Here we describe the radiosynthesis of [11C]dimethylamine (1) and its application in the direct labeling of several positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents by-passing the preparation of the monomethyl amine precursors.

[Control on products of NDMA degradation by UV/O3].

Comparison experiments of two advanced oxidation processes, UV/O3 and UV/H2O2, were carried out to evaluate their degradation effect of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and controlling effect of dimethylamine (DMA) formation. The results showed that UV/H2O2 could enhance NDMA degradation, but could not control on the formation of DMA. UV/O3 was not only effective for NDMA degradation, but also was good at controlling on DMA formation. Furthermore, factors affecting the formation of DMA during degradation of NDMA by UV/O3 were studied. The formation of DMA decreased with O3 dosage increasing and DMA was 0.98 mg x L(-1) with 7.7 mg x L(-1) NDMA and 6.64 mg x L(-1) O3 dose. Solution pH had obvious effect on controlling of DMA formation during degradation of NDMA by UV/O3 . The formation of DMA lightly increased with pH increasing from acid to neutral but dramatically decreased in basic aqueous solution. The formation of DMA was only 0.3 mg x L(-1) when the initial concentration of NDMA was 7.7 mg x L(-1) under pH = 11.0 condition. UV/O3 had better controlling of DMA formation with lesser initial concentration of NDMA.

Isolation of trimethyl amine oxide and other bases from the hydroid Tubularia larynx.

1. Trimethyl amine oxide, dimethyl amine and choline chloride have been isolated from the marine hydroid Tubularia larynx and identified using physical constants and spectral data. 2. The presence of two guanidine molecules has been demonstrated.