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Yasuo Seto

Publications and source records attributed to Yasuo Seto.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Determination of nitrogen mustard hydrolysis products, ethanolamines by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after tert-butyldimethylsilyl derivatization.

A method for determining N-ethyldiethanolamine (EDEA), N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) and triethanolamine (TEA), hydrolysis products of nitrogen mustards, in water, urine and blood samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after derivatization by tert-butyldimethylsilylation (TBDMS) is described. The sample solution was evaporated to dryness, and reacted with N-methyl-N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) at 60 degrees C for 1h. The TBDMS derivatives were separated on a DB-5 column and detected by electron-ionization MS. The quantitation of EDEA, MDEA and TEA was performed by measuring the respective peak areas on the extracted ion chromatograms of m/z 216, m/z 202 and m/z 346, respectively, using nonadecane (C19), the peak area of which was measured at m/z 268, as an internal standard. When the water sample was initially analyzed, considerable loss of EDEA, MDEA and TEA occurred by evaporation. The addition of hydrochloric acid (HCl) to the water sample (final 1 mM), however, permitted quantitative recoveries to be achieved (88%, 88% and 79% for EDEA-(TBDMS)2, MDEA-(TBDMS)2 and TEA-(TBDMS)3, respectively). The limits of detections (LODs, scan mode, S/N = 3) were 2.5, 2.5 and 10 ng/ml for EDEA, MDEA and TEA, respectively. Ethanolamines could be also determined in urine samples (volume 0.1 ml), with reasonable recoveries of 72-100% by the addition of HCl (final 1 mM). For the analysis of serum samples, the sample was precipitated by the addition of perchloric acid (final 3.2%), and the resulting supernatant was neutralized with potassium carbonate, and then acidified by the addition of HCl. The recovery of TBDMS derivatives of ethanolamines was found to rather low (7-31%).

Acetamides↗
PubMed2006

Detection of human butyrylcholinesterase-nerve gas adducts by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis after in gel chymotryptic digestion.

To verify the exposure to nerve gas, a method for detecting human butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE)-nerve gas adduct was developed using LC-electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Purified human serum BuChE was incubated with sarin, soman or VX, and the adduct was purified by sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and digested in gel by treatment with chymotrypsin. The resulting peptide mixture was subjected to LC-ESI-MS. From the chymotryptic digest of untreated human BuChE, one peak corresponding to the peptide fragment containing the active center serine residue was detected on the extracted ion chromatogram at m/z 948.5, and the sequence was ascertained to be "GESAGAASVSL" by MS/MS analysis. From the chymotryptic digest of the human BuChE-sarin adduct, a singly charged peptide peak was detected on the extracted ion chromatogram at m/z 1,069.5, and the sequence was ascertained to be "GEXAGAASVSL" by MS/MS analysis (X denotes isopropylmethylphosphonylated serine). The difference in molecular weight (120.0 Da) between the active center peptide fragments corresponding to the untreated BuChE and BuChE-sarin adduct was assumed to be derived from the addition of an isopropyl methylphosphonyl moiety to the serine residue. The formation of human BuChE adducts with soman, VX and an aged soman adduct was confirmed by detecting the respective active center peptide fragments using LC-ESI-MS. To apply the established method to an actual biological sample, human serum was incubated with VX, and the adduct was purified by procainamide affinity chromatography followed by SDS-PAGE. After chymotryptic in gel digestion, the ethylphosphonylated active center peptide fragment could be detected, and the structure of the residue was ascertained by LC-ESI-MS analysis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Confirmation of the anomeric structure of galacturonic acid in the galacturonosyl-ceramide of Sphingomonas yanoikuyae.

The anomeric structure of glycosphingolipids significantly influences their activity to stimulate natural killer T cells. In this study the chemical structure of the galacturonosyl-ceramide in Sphingomonas yanoikuyae, designated GSL-1'sy, was re-examined to prove the anomeric structure of the Dgalacturonic acid (GalA) in the lipid, which was reported as beta-configuration by Naka et al., but was suggested as alpha-configuration in our preliminary study. GSL-1'sy was purified from the bacterial cells with the same procedure as Naka et al. The 1H-NMR analysis of GSL-1'sy revealed that the coupling constant of the anomeric proton of GalA was 3.0 Hz, indicating that GalA in GSL-1'sy is alpha-anomer, the configuration active for the stimulation of natural killer T cells.

Glycosphingolipids↗
PubMed2006

[Analytical and on-site detection methods for chemical warfare agents].

Chemical warfare agents (CWAs) are fast acting and sometimes lethal, even at low levels, and can be classified into nerve gases, blister agents, choking agents, blood agents, vomit agents, tear gases, and incapacitating agents. As countermeasures against CWA terrorism, detection and identification are important. In crisis management, monitoring of CWAs in public places and security checks at territorial borders, big event venues, and executive facilities are performed for protection against terrorism. In consequence management, on-site detection by first responders and laboratory analysis after on-site sampling and transfer are performed for minimization of terrorism damage, leading to personal protection, initial investigation, and emergency lifesaving. In incident management, laboratory analysis is performed to provide evidence at court trials for the prevention of future crimes. Laboratory analysis consists of pretreatment of on-site and casualty samples and instrumental analysis using GC-MS. However, CWAs are easily degraded, and thus are difficult to detect. Instead, it is useful to detect their metabolites and degradation products using tert-butyldimethylsilyl derivatization GC-MS or direct LC-MS. Commercially available chemical detection equipment such as gas detection tubes and ion mobility spectrometers are used for on-site detection. We have evaluated the detection performance of such equipment and found that no equipment fulfills the required perfect performance of CWA detection sensitivity, accuracy, response time, return time, and operation. To overcome the drawbacks, we have adopted the monitoring tape method and counterflow introduction atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry and recommend the combination of commercial detection equipment and these new technologies for simultaneous, rapid detection of all CWAs.

Chemical Terrorism↗
PubMed2004

Determination of thiodiglycol, a mustard gas hydrolysis product by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after tert-butyldimethylsilylation.

A method for determining thiodiglycol (TDG), a mustard gas hydrolysis product in water, serum and urine samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after tert-butyldimethylsilylation (TBDMS) is described. Quantitation of TDG was performed by measuring the respective peak area on the extracted ion chromatogram of m/z 293, using an internal standard, the TDG homologue, thiodipropanol, peak area of which was measured as m/z 321. The presence of salts in the sample solution not only suppressed the loss of TDG by vaporization during the evaporation of water, but also facilitated the rate of production of di-silylated derivative, bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyoxylethyl)sulfide (TDG-(TBDMS)2). Under the pretreatment conditions used, in which 0.5 ml of water sample supplemented with 100 microM potassium chloride was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure, followed by reaction with N-methyl-N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide at 60 degrees C for 1 h, TDG-(TBDMS)2 was reproducibly detected with about a 55% recovery and a limit of detection (LOD, scan mode, S/N = 3) of 5.4 ng/ml. TDG was also determined by GC-MS from a 0.5 ml serum sample (after perchloric acid deproteinization) and from a 0.1 ml urine sample, after TBDMS derivatization. The LOD was determined to be 7.0 and 110 ng/ml for serum and urine, respectively.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry↗
PubMed2004

Simultaneous determination of hydrogen cyanide and volatile aliphatic nitriles by headspace gas chromatography, and its application to an in vivo study of the metabolism of acrylonitrile in the rat.

A method for the simultaneous determination of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and aliphatic nitriles using manual headspace (HS) gas chromatography (GC) with a capillary porous polymer column GS-Q and a nitrogen-phosphorus detector is described. With a HS incubation at 50 degrees C for 30 min and a GC temperature at 180 degrees C, HCN and volatile nitriles [acetonitrile, acrylonitrile (VCN), propionitrile, isobutyronitrile] were well separated and could be detected within 7 min with a detection limit of 0.7-2.4 ng/ml in blood samples. The HS-GC method was used in an in vivo study of VCN metabolism. VCN was administered orally (at nearly one-half its LD(50)) to rats, and heart blood and urine were sampled. Blood concentrations of HCN and VCN were measured by HS-GC, and plasma and urinary thiocyanate concentrations were measured by the König colorimetric method. Blood levels of HCN and VCN peaked 1.5 h after VCN administration, at which time the cyanide level (about 0.7 microg/ml) is close to the fatal level. HCN levels were observed to be at almost background levels at 10 h, although 50 ng/ml VCN was still detectable. The plasma thiocyanate level increased, reaching a peak (about 30 microg/ml) at 5 h. The cumulative urinary thiocyanate amount gradually increased, and at 10 h more than 1 mg thiocyanate was excreted into the urine. It is therefore possible to clarify the cause of cyanide poisoning using HS-GC analysis, when someone has taken volatile nitriles.

Acetonitriles↗
PubMed2003

Discriminative determination of alkyl methylphosphonates and methylphosphonate in blood plasma and urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after tert.-butyldimethylsilylation.

A method for determining two nerve gas hydrolysis products, alkyl (ethyl, isopropyl and pinacolyl) methylphosphonates (RMPAs) and methylphosphonate (MPA), separately, in human plasma and urine samples was developed, using two different deproteinization procedures. In the first method, the plasma sample was deproteinized by adding a fourfold volume of acetonitrile, followed by passing the supernatant through a Bond Elut strong anion-exchange (SAX) cartridge [fluoride (F(-)) form]. After washing the cartridge with water and methanol, the RMPAs were eluted with a 3% (v/v) solution of methanolic ammonia, and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after tert.-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) derivatization. The detection yields of TBDMS derivatives of RMPAs were in the range of 69 to 99%, in contrast to the poor yields obtained when only acetonitrile deproteinization pretreatment was used (yield: 13-26%). The yield of the TBDMS derivative of MPA was very low (8%), however. In a the second method, a plasma sample was deproteinized by adding a half volume of 10% (w/v) trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and the resulting supernatant was extracted with diethyl ether to remove TCA, the aqueous fraction was then passed through a Bond Elut SAX cartridge. After washing the cartridge with 0.5% (v/v) methanolic ammonia, MPA was eluted with 3% (v/v) methanolic ammonia. The detection yield of the TBDMS derivative of MPA was nearly quantitative. A pretreatment method using SAX solid-phase extraction was also developed for the cleanup of a urine sample, in which the sample was directly applied to a Bond Elut SAX cartridge, followed by elution of the RMPAs and MPA with 3% (v/v) methanolic ammonia, which were then derivatized and analyzed by GC-MS. The detection yields of TBDMS derivatives of RMPAs and MPA were in the range of 61 to 97%.

Electrophoresis, Capillary↗
PubMed2003

Pralidoxime iodide (2-pAM) penetrates across the blood-brain barrier.

The in vivo rat brain microdialysis technique with HPLC/UV was used to determine the blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration of pralidoxime iodide (2-PAM), which is a component of the current nerve agent antidote therapy. After intravenous dosage of 2-PAM (10, 50, 100 mg/kg), 2-PAM appeared dose-dependently in the dialysate; the striatal extracellular/blood concentration ratio at 1 h after 50 mg/kg dosage was 0.093 +/- 0.053 (mean +/- SEM). This finding offered conclusive evidence of the BBB penetration of 2-PAM. We also examined whether the BBB penetration of 2-PAM was mediated by a certain specific transporter, such as a neutral or basic amino acid transport system. Although it was unclear, the neural uptake of 2-PAM was Na+ dependent. The mean BBB penetration by 2-PAM was approximately 10%, indicating the intravenous administration of 2-PAM might be to a degree effective to reactivation of the blocked cholinesterase in the brain.

Amino Acid Transport Systems↗
PubMed2002

Improved tert-butyldimethylsilylation gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric detection of nerve gas hydrolysis products from soils by pretreatment of aqueous alkaline extraction and strong anion-exchange solid-phase extraction.

In the analysis of tert-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives (IBDMS) of alkyl methylphosphonic acids (RMPA) and methylphosphonic acid (MPA), from soils by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), the detection yields are generally low, due to the suppression of TBDMS derivatization by the soil matrix components and the adsorption of RMPA and MPA to the soils. An ion-exchange pretreatment of the aqueous soil extract can be used to overcome the former factor by removing interfering compounds. A pretreatment method is described for improving the detection yields due to the latter factor, using an alkaline extraction procedure. The recovery was estimated quantitatively using capillary electrophoresis. The soil samples tested included volcanogenous immature soils and showed a low aqueous extraction recovery and GC/MS detection yields. The inclusion of sodium hydroxide in the extraction solvent dramatically increased the recovery. Using a 0.1 M sodium hydroxide solution, the recovery was in excess of 68%. Interfering components were removed from the alkaline soil extract by solid-phase extraction of the acids on a silica-based strong anion exchanger. The alkaline soil extract was neutralized with hydrofluoric acid and applied to the cartridge in the fluoride form. After washing with water, MPA and RMPA could be eluted with methanolic ammonia nearly quantitatively. Using the established pretreatment method, MPA and RMPA were detected from all the soil samples in more than 67% yield.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Occurrence of an alpha-galacturonosyl-ceramide in the dioxin-degrading bacterium Sphingomonas wittichii.

The chemical structure of two glycosphingolipids (GSLs) found in the dioxin-degrading bacterium Sphingomonas wittichii strain RW1 was investigated by means of mass spectrometry and (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. One of the GSLs was alpha-D-glucuronosyl-ceramide, commonly present in Sphingomonas spp., and the other was proved to be alpha-D-galacturonosyl-ceramide, whose sugar configuration has not been reported before. In both GSLs the ceramide portion was composed of myristic acid or 2-hydroxy-myristic acid as the fatty acid, and 2-amino-1,3-octadecanediol or 2-amino-cis-13,14-methylene-1,3-eicosanediol as the dihydrosphingosine.

Dioxins↗
PubMed2002

Analysis of organophosphorus compound adducts of serine proteases by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

In order to confirm that diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) phosphorylates the active site serine residue in alpha-chymotrypsin, a peptide containing the phosphorylated active site was analyzed by liquid chromatography (LC)-electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). After reduction with dithiothreitol and subsequent alkylation with acrylamide, alpha-chymotrypsin was digested by treatment with trypsin. Tryptic digest was subjected to LC-ESI-MS. Nearly all the peptide fragments were identified by comparison with fragments predicted from as tryptic digest of alpha-chymotrypsin. From the tryptic digest of native alpha-chymotrypsin, a doubly protonated peptide peak which corresponded to the peptide fragment containing the active site serine residue was detected on a selected ion chromatogram at m/z 1265.0, and the sequence was determined to be "DAMICAGASGVSSCMGDSGGPLVCK". From the tryptic digest of DFP-inhibited alpha-chymotrypsin, the doubly protonated peptide peak was detected on a selected ion chromatogram at m/z 1347.0. The difference in mass number (82 in a doubly charged ion) of active site peptide fragments between the native and DFP inhibited alpha-chymotrypsins was assumed to be the result of phosphorylation of the serine residue with a diisopropylphosphoryl moiety. A total of +164 Da mass shifts of y-series fragment ions from the y(8) to y(21) positions in the active site peptide of the DFP inhibited alpha-chymotrypsin was observed, in comparison with the native alpha-chymotrypsin. Thus, the phosphorylation site in alpha-chymotrypsin could be unequivocally identified to be at the serine residue which is located at position 47, from the N-terminus of the alpha-chymotrypsin C-chain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Determination of S-methyl-, S-propyl-, and S-propenyl-L-cysteine sulfoxides by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after tert-butyldimethylsilylation.

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for the determination of S-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (1), S-propyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (2), and S-propenyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (3), specific marker compounds in the genus Allium, is described. The target amino acids were converted to the tert-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives. The products were silylated on the amino and carboxyl groups and on an additional oxygen atom and were separated on a nonpolar capillary column. That incorporation of three tert-butyldimethylsilyl groups had occurred was verified by mass spectrometry, which gave an m/z 302 fragment as base peak (amino acid side chain eliminated ion) and m/z 436 (1), 464 (2), or 462 (3) as major peaks (tert-butyl function eliminated ion), by electron impact ionization. The detection limits for 1 and 2 under selected ion monitoring at m/z 436 (1) and m/z 464 (2), respectively, were determined to be 0.3 and 1.8 ng per injection. To clean up the analytes from the solvent extract of onion, as a representative food material, onion, the sample solution was subjected to combined solid phase extraction. The eluate from a Sep-Pak C(18) cartridge was applied to a Bond Elut SCX cartridge (H(+) form), followed by washing with 0.1 M hydrochloric acid and elution with 0.5 M ammonia. From a simulated matrix solution containing 5% sucrose, 1 and 2 were extracted quantitatively, and the detection yield was approximately 75%. The contents of 1, 2, and 3 in commercial onion were estimated to be 0.3, 3.1, and 3.0 mg, respectively, per gram of fresh weight.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗