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Metabolic assessment of human liver transplants from biopsy samples at the donor and recipient stages using high-resolution magic angle spinning 1H NMR spectroscopy.

This work presents the first application of high-resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) 1H NMR spectroscopy to human liver biopsy samples, allowing a determination of their metabolic profiles before removal from donors, during cold perfusion, and after implantation into recipients. The assignment of peaks observed in the 1H HR-MAS NMR spectra was aided by the use of two-dimensional J-resolved, TOCSY and 1H-13C HMQC spectra. The spectra were dominated by resonances from triglycerides, phospholipids, and glycogen and from a variety of small molecules including glycerophosphocholine (GPC), glucose, lactate, creatine, acetate, amino acids, and nucleoside-related compounds such as uridine and adenosine. In agreement with histological data obtained on the same biopsies, two of the six livers were found to contain high amounts of triglycerides by NMR spectroscopy, which also indicated that these tissues contained a higher degree of unsaturated lipids and a lower proportion of phospholipids and low molecular weight compounds. Additionally, proton T2 relaxation times indicated two populations of lipids, a higher mobility triglyceride fraction and a lower mobility phospholipid fraction, the proportions of which changed according to the degree of fat content. GPC was found to decrease from the pretransplant to the posttransplant biopsy of all livers except for one with a histologically confirmed high lipid content, and this might represent a biomarker of liver function posttransplantation. NMR signals produced by the liver preservation solution were clearly detected in the cold perfusion stage biopsies of all livers but remained in the posttransplant spectra of only the two livers with a high lipid content and were prominent mainly in the graft that later developed primary graft dysfunction. This study has shown biochemical differences between livers used for transplants that can be related to the degree and type of lipid composition. This technology might therefore provide a novel screening approach for donor organ quality and a means to assess function in the recipient after transplantation.

Adult↗

Methods for acquisition and assignment of multidimensional high-resolution magic angle spinning NMR of whole cell bacteria.

High-resolution magic-angle spinning (HR-MAS) NMR was developed in late 1990s, and it has evolved quickly for the study of a variety of biological matrixes. Recently, it has been used as an effective means to study the cell wall structures of intact bacteria. (1)H-(13)C heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) HR-MAS NMR can provide rapid analysis of the cell wall structure in live bacterial cells, thus allowing observation of drug effects, gene mutation, species differentiation, and environmental effects. However, this rapid analysis is dependent on having an established framework of HR-MAS NMR experiments and a detailed assignment of the whole-cell NMR spectra. This study examines parameters and describes strategies for the effective application of 2D and 3D HR-MAS NMR techniques to assign and study bacterial cell wall structures using Mycobacterium smegmatis as a model organism. Important parameters for successful whole-cell HR-MAS NMR studies, including pulse sequences, rotor synchronization, acquisition times, labeling strategies, temperature, number of cells, and cell viability, are described. A four-prong approach is presented for assignment of the complex whole-cell spectra, including the use of 3D HCCH-TOCSY and HCCH-COSY HR-MAS NMR.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy↗

High-resolution magic angle spinning 1H NMR spectroscopy and reverse transcription-PCR analysis of apoptosis in a rat glioma.

The functional genomic approaches of transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics aim to measure the mRNA, protein or metabolite complement of a cell, tissue or organism. In this study we have investigated the compatibility of transcriptional analysis, using Reverse Transcription (RT)-PCR, and metabolite analysis, by high-resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) 1H NMR spectroscopy, in BT4C rat glioma following the induction of programmed cell death. The metabolite and transcriptional changes that accompanied apoptosis were examined at 0, 4 and 8 days of ganciclovir/thymidine kinase gene therapy. Despite the high spinning speeds employed during HRMAS 1H NMR spectroscopy of one-half of the tumor samples, RT-PCR analysis of the pro-apoptotic transcripts Bcl-2, BAK-1, caspase-9 and FAS was possible, producing similar results to those detected in the unspun half of the tumors. Furthermore, the expression of FAS was inversely correlated with some of the key metabolic changes across the time period examined including the increases CH=CH and CH=CHCH2 lipid resonances which accompany apoptosis. This study demonstrates how combined transcriptomic and metabolomic studies of tumors can be used to understand the molecular events that accompany well documented metabolic perturbations during cell death processes.

Animals↗

Metabolic profiling of liver from hypercholesterolemic pigs fed rye or wheat fiber and from normal pigs. High-resolution magic angle spinning 1H NMR spectroscopic study.

This study presents the first application of a high-resolution magic angle spinning 1H NMR approach to elucidate the metabolic effects of a hypercholesterolemic condition and two high-fiber diets based on rye and wheat bread, respectively, in intact pig liver biopsy samples. Standard 1D and spin-echo 1H spectra were acquired on a total of 20 biopsy samples, and 2D total correlation spectroscopy experiments were carried out on selected samples for assignment of the observed resonances. Principal component analyses and partial least-squares regression discriminant analysis revealed differences in the hepatic lipid content and choline-containing compounds between normal and hypercholesterolemic pigs. In addition, the results demonstrated that the liver metabolite profile of hypercholesterolemic pigs fed a high-fiber rye bread differed from that of pigs fed high-fiber wheat bread with respect to both the lipoprotein fractions and the choline-containing compounds. These findings suggest that earlier reports on high-fiber rye diet-induced effects on plasma HDL/LDL content partially can be ascribed to effects on liver cholesterol metabolism and that the hepatic phospholipase pathways of phosphatidylcholine breakdown are affected by the high-fiber rye diet.

Animal Feed↗

Magic-angle spinning and solution 13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies of medium- and long-chain cholesteryl esters in model bilayers.

The incorporation of cholesteryl esters (CE) with saturated acyl chains into the lamellar structure of phospholipids was studied by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The CE (octanoate, palmitate, and stearate) were 13C-enriched in the carboxyl carbon to enhance the signals of the small amounts of bilayer-incorporated CE. Magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR was used to detect signals in unsonicated multilamellar phosphatidylcholine (PC), and solution NMR was used to detect signals in PC small unilamellar vesicles (SUV). All CE showed a carbonyl peak reflecting localization of the carbonyl at the aqueous interface (Hamilton & Small, 1982). The maximal incorporation decreased with chain length, from 5 mol % for octanoate to 1.4 mol % for stearate in multilayers; the stearate ester had a solubility slightly lower than that of cholesteryl oleate (2 mol %). The maximal incorporation of a specific CE was 1.2-2.0 times higher in SUV than in multilayers. Cholesteryl oleate did not prevent solubilization of cholesteryl stearate in the PC interface. CE in excess of the solubility maximum in multilayer samples was shown to be crystalline at 35 degrees C by MAS NMR; thus, in the bilayer the CE gained considerable mobility compared to its mobility in its pure bulk phase at body temperature. Furthermore, CE with two saturated chains were not distinguishable from esters with an unsaturated chain with respect to mobility and position in the interface. These fundamental interfacial properties assure utilization of CE with common dietary fatty acyl chains.

Carbon Isotopes↗

Multinuclear and magic-angle spinning NMR investigations of molecular organization in phospholipid-triglyceride aqueous dispersions.

The supramolecular organization of multi-bilayers formed by aqueous egg phosphatidylcholine-triolein (PC-TO) mixtures has been investigated using 31P, 13C, and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). For these emulsions, which mimic substrates in the early hydrolytic stages of fat digestion, the NMR spectra obtained with magic-angle spinning (MAS) exhibit resolution comparable to that of sonicated vesicles and integrated peak intensities consistent with their chemical composition. Both 31P line shapes and MAS sideband patterns from the phosphocholine group indicate that mixing with triolein produces a PC bilayer which remains predominantly liquid crystalline in its organization; nevertheless, anomalous spectral features in MAS spectra may be attributed to additional phases in which the headgroups adopt a different orientation with respect to the bilayer normal, and tight packing enhances phosphorus-phosphorus interactions. 13C and 1H line widths monitored as a function of PC mole fraction, spinning speed, and decoupling strength show that the choline headgroups and glycerol backbones are anchored preferentially in the phospholipid-triglyceride assemblies, whereas all acyl chains become very fluid. The average degree of chain order also decreases for the mixed dispersions, as judged from spinning-sideband intensities in 1H MAS NMR spectra. The absence of proton spin-diffusion effects in the PC-TO multilayers is demonstrated by examination of their spinning sidebands and relaxation times, making it possible to use MAS-assisted two-dimensional NMR to assign overlapped 1H resonances and to identify proximal interactions between the two constituents. The usefulness of these NMR strategies in mechanistic studies of gastric fat digestion is also discussed.

Carbon Isotopes↗

Spectroscopic studies of lipids and biological membranes: carbon-13 and proton magic-angle sample-spinning nuclear magnetic resonance study of glycolipid-water systems.

We have obtained 1H and 13C magic-angle sample-spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of three glycosyldiacylglycerol-water (1:1, weight ratio) mesophases, at 11.7 T, as a function of temperature, in order to probe lipid headgroup, backbone, and acyl chain dynamics by using natural-abundance NMR probes. The systems investigated were monogalactosyldiacyldiglyceride [MGDG; primarily 1,2-di[(9Z,12Z,15Z)octadec-9,12,15-trienoyl++ +]-3-beta-D-galactopyranosyl- sn-glycerol]; digalactosyldiacyldiglyceride [DGDG; primarily 1,2-di[(9Z,12Z,15Z)octadec-9,12,15-trienoyl++ +]-3- (alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-1-6-beta-D-glactopyranosyl)-sn-glycerol] ; and sulfoquinovosyldiacyldiglyceride [SQDG; primarily 1-[(9Z,12Z,15Z)octadec-9,12,15-trienoyl]-2 -hexadecanoyl-3-(6-deoxyl-6- sulfono-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-sn-glycerol]. At approximately 22 degrees C, all three lipid-water systems give well-resoled 13C and 1H MAS NMR spectra, characteristic of fluid, liquid-crystalline mesophases. 13C spin-lattice relaxation times of the headgroup and glycerol backbone carbons of all three materials give, within experimental error, the same NT1 values (approximately 400 ms), implying similar high-frequency motions, independent of headgroup size and charge. Upon cooling, pronounced line broadenings are observed, due to an increase in slow motional behavior. For each lipid, the onset of line broadening is seen with the glycosyl headgroup, glycerol backbone, and the first two or three carbons of the acyl chains. By approximately -20 degrees, all headgroup carbon resonances are broadened beyond detection. Both galactose moieties in DGDG "freeze out" together, implying a rigid-body motion of the disaccharide unit. Upon further cooling, the bulk polymethylene chain resonances in all three systems (in both 13C and 1H MAS) broaden greatly, followed by the olefinic and allylic carbon resonances.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Cytochrome c interactions with cardiolipin in bilayers: a multinuclear magic-angle spinning NMR study.

The influence of cytochrome c binding to cardiolipin bilayers on the motional characteristics of each component has been analyzed by magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR. Observations were made by NMR of natural abundance 31P, 13C, and 1H nuclei in the lipid as well as sites enriched with 13C in the protein. Analysis of methyl carbons enriched in ([epsilon-13CH3]methionine)cytochrome c at residues 65 and 80 reveal quite different behavior for these sites when the protein was bound at a 1:15 molar ratio with hydrated cardiolipin. Cross-polarization (CP) shows a single broad resonance downfield in the methyl region which corresponds to the spectral characteristics of methionine 65 in the solution protein when subjected to moderate thermal perturbations. These observations suggest that although methionine 65 remains motionally restricted when the protein binds to the lipid bilayers, this residue becomes less shielded and exposed to more chemically distinct environments than in the native state of the protein. In contrast to its behavior in native oxidized protein, the methionine 80 methyl could be detected following direct pi/2 pulse excitation, and this residue is assumed to be released from the axial ligand site on the heme iron to become more exposed and highly mobile in the protein-lipid complex. An analysis of the CP response for natural abundance 13C nuclei in the lipid reveals a general increase in motions with slower rates (tens of kilohertz) on binding with cytochrome c, except for sites within the region of fatty acyl chain unsaturation which appear to be selectively mobilized in the complex with protein. It is concluded that, aside from effects on the unsaturated segments, the bound protein induces new modes of slow motions in the lipid assemblies rather than restricting the overall reorientation freedom of the lipid. The strong paramagnetic effects observed previously on the relaxation of phosphorus in protein-bound lipid [Spooner, P.J.R., & Watts, A. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 3880-3885] were not extended to any carbon and proton sites observable by MAS NMR in the lipid, and this infers a specific interaction of lipid phosphate groups with the heme. However, when protein was bound to cardiolipin mixed at a 1:4 mole ratio with dioleoylphosphatidylcholine in bilayers, no direct interaction with the heme was apparent from the phosphorus NMR relaxation behavior in this component, resolved by MAS. Instead, the spectral anisotropy of cardiolipin phosphorus was determined to be reduced, indicating that, on binding with cytochrome c, the headgroup organization was perturbed in this component.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Carbon Isotopes↗

13C magic angle spinning NMR study of the light-induced and temperature-dependent changes in Rhodobacter sphaeroides R26 reaction centers enriched in [4'-13C]tyrosine.

Solid-state 13C magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR has been used to investigate detergent-solubilized photosynthetic reaction centers of Rhodobacter sphaeroides R26, selectively enriched in [4-13C]-tyrosine. The reaction centers were frozen, in the dark and while subject to intense illumination, and studied at temperatures between approximately 215 and approximately 260 K. The signal consists of at least seven narrow lines superimposed on a broad doublet. The chemical shift anisotropy is similar to that for crystalline tyrosine. The two narrowest resonances, corresponding to signals from individual tyrosines, are 28 +/- 5 Hz wide, comparable to what is observed for quaternary carbons in linearly elastic organic solids. The line width as well as the chemical shift of these signals is essentially independent of temperature. This provides strong evidence for an unusually ordered, well-shielded, and structurally, electrostatically, and thermodynamically stable interior of the protein complex without structural heterogeneities. As the temperature is lowered, additional signal from the labels develops and the natural abundance resonances from the detergent broaden, providing evidence for considerable flexibility at the exterior of the protein complex and in the detergent belt at the higher temperatures. In addition, the NMR provides evidence for an electrostatically uniform and neutral complex, since the total dispersion in isotropic shifts for the labels is < 5 ppm and corresponds to electron density variations of less than 0.03 electronic equivalents with respect to tyrosine in the solid state or in solution. When the sample is frozen while subject to intense illumination, a substantial part of the protein is brought into the charge-separated state P.+QA.-. At least three sharp resonances, including the narrowest lines, are substantially reduced in intensity. It is argued that this effect is caused by the electronic spin density associated with the oxidized primary donor P.+. These results strongly suggest that the environment of the special pair is extremely rigid and question the role of protein conformational distortions during the primary photoprocess.

Carbon Isotopes↗

13C magic angle spinning NMR evidence for a 15,15'-cis configuration of the spheroidene in the Rhodobacter sphaeroides photosynthetic reaction center.

The photosynthetic reaction center of Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 contains one carotenoid that protects the protein complex against photodestruction. The structure around the central (15,15') double bond of the bound spheroidene carotenoid was investigated with low-temperature magic angle spinning 13C NMR, which allows an in situ characterization of the configuration of the central double bond in the carotenoid. Carotenoidless reaction centers of R. sphaeroides R26 were reconstituted with spheroidene specifically labeled at the C-14' or C-15' position, and the signals from the labels were separated from the natural abundance background using 13C MAS NMR difference spectroscopy. The resonances shift 5.2 and 3.8 ppm upfield upon incorporation in the protein complex, similar to the 5.6 and 4.4 ppm upfield shift occurring in the model compound beta-carotene upon trans to 15,15'-cis isomerization. Hence the MAS NMR favors a cis configuration, as opposed to the trans configuration deduced from X-ray data.

Carbon Isotopes↗

13C magic-angle spinning NMR studies of bathorhodopsin, the primary photoproduct of rhodopsin.

Magic-angle spinning NMR spectra have been obtained of the bathorhodopsin photointermediate trapped at low temperature (less than 130 K) by using isorhodopsin samples regenerated with retinal specifically 13C-labeled at positions 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Comparison of the chemical shifts of the bathorhodopsin resonances with those of an all-trans-retinal protonated Schiff base (PSB) chloride salt show the largest difference (6.2 ppm) at position 13 of the protein-bound retinal. Small differences in chemical shift between bathorhodopsin and the all-trans PSB model compound are also observed at positions 10, 11, and 12. The effects are almost equal in magnitude to those previously observed in rhodopsin and isorhodopsin. Consequently, the energy stored in the primary photoproduct bathorhodopsin does not give rise to any substantial change in the average electron density at the labeled positions. The data indicate that the electronic and structural properties of the protein environment are similar to those in rhodopsin and isorhodopsin. In particular, a previously proposed perturbation near position 13 of the retinal appears not to change its position significantly with respect to the chromophore upon isomerization. The data effectively exclude charge separation between the chromophore and a protein residue as the main mechanism for energy storage in the primary photoproduct and argue that the light energy is stored in the form of distortions of the bathorhodopsin chromophore.

Chlorides↗

Investigation of the mineral phases of bone by solid-state phosphorus-31 magic angle sample spinning nuclear magnetic resonance.

Phosphorus-31 magic angle sample spinning NMR spectra have been employed to investigate the structure and composition of the mineral deposits in chicken bone. Three different pulse sequences, Bloch decay, cross-polarization, and dipolar suppression, were employed to obtain spectra from bone specimens of varying age. These were compared to the spectra obtained from a variety of crystalline and noncrystalline synthetic calcium phosphate solids used as reference standards. The results suggest that the most suitable model for the major solid calcium phosphate mineral phase in bone is a hydroxyapatite containing approximately 5-10% CO32- and approximately 5-10% HPO42- groups, the latter in a brushite-like configuration. From the NMR line shapes it was deduced that the fraction of HPO42- groups was highest in the youngest bone and decreased progressively with increasing age of the specimen.

Animals↗

Magic angle sample spinning 13C nuclear magnetic resonance of isotopically labeled bacteriorhodopsin.

Bacteriorhodopsin (bR), the light-driven proton pump protein from Halobacterium halobium, was biosynthetically labeled with [4-13C]Asp. The incorporation yield was 48%. The magic angle sample spinning (MASS) 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum of this sample revealed six different peaks superimposed on a broad band of naturally abundant peptide-bond 13C. Two of the six carbonyl signals can be attributed to internal-protonated Asp carboxyl groups, one of which might be Asp115. An additional resonance at 110 ppm can be associated with the C-11 carbon of Trp, indicating an unusual biosynthetic pathway of this amino acid in Halobacterium halobium. Similar measurements performed on papain-treated purple membrane which lacks the C-terminal tail display two new intense signals at 178 and 178.9 ppm. If the same spectrum is taken without cross-polarization, these signals do not decrease or disappear. On the basis of their intensities and their chemical shifts, one can assign in addition to the C-terminal Asp four Asp residues facing the cytoplasmic phase. In native bR, at least two of these form a salt-bridge-like bond which also might include the C-terminal tail. These experiments not only provide data about the chemical environment of the Asp residues within the hydrophobic core of bacteriorhodopsin but also yield information about the interactions between surface components.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure and dynamics of the HIV-1 Vpu transmembrane domain revealed by solid-state NMR with magic-angle spinning.

We report solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements on the peptide Vpu(1-40), comprising residues 1-40 of the 81-residue type 1 integral membrane protein Vpu encoded by the HIV-1 genome. On the basis of a combination of 13C and 15N NMR chemical shifts under magic-angle spinning (MAS), effects of local mobility on NMR signal intensities, site-specific MAS NMR line widths, and NMR-detected hydrogen-deuterium exchange, we develop a model for the structure and dynamics of the Vpu(1-40) monomer in phospholipid bilayer membranes. Our data are largely consistent with earlier structural studies of Vpu peptides by Opella and co-workers, in which solution NMR and solid-state NMR without MAS were used, but our data provide new information about local variations in the degree of mobility and structural order. In addition, our data indicate that the transmembrane alpha-helix of Vpu(1-40) extends beyond the hydrophobic core of the bilayer. We find no evidence for heterogeneity in the conformation and intermolecular contacts of the transmembrane alpha-helix, with the exception of two distinct chemical shifts observed for the C alpha and C beta atoms of A18 that may reflect distinct modes of helix-helix interaction. These results have possible implications for the supramolecular structure of Vpu oligomers that form cation-selective ion channels.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

13C Magic angle spinning NMR analysis and quantum chemical modeling of the bathochromic shift of astaxanthin in alpha-crustacyanin, the blue carotenoprotein complex in the carapace of the lobster Homarus gammarus.

Selective isotope enrichment, 13C magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR, and semiempirical quantum chemical modeling, have been used to analyze ligand-protein interactions associated with the bathochromic shift of astaxanthin in alpha-crustacyanin, the blue carotenoprotein complex from the carapace of the lobster Homarus gammarus. Spectra of alpha-crustacyanin were obtained after reconstitution with astaxanthins labeled with 13C at positions 4,4', 12,12', 13,13', or 20,20'. The data reveal substantial downfield shifts of 4.9 and 7.0 ppm at positions 12 and 12' in the complex, respectively. In contrast, at the 13 and 13' positions, small upfield shifts of 1.9 ppm were observed upon binding to the protein. These data are in line with previously obtained results for positions 14,14' (3.9 and 6.8 ppm downfield) and 15,15' (0.6 ppm upfield) and confirm the unequal perturbation of both halves after binding of the chromophore. However, these results also show that the main perturbation is of symmetrical origin, since the chemical shift differences exhibit a similar pattern in both halves of the astaxanthin molecule. A small downfield shift of 2.4 ppm was detected for the 4 and 4' positions. Finally, the 20,20' methyl groups are shifted 0.4 ppm upfield by the protein. The full data set provides convincing evidence that charge polarization is of importance for the bathochromic shift. The NMR shifts are compared with calculated charge densities for astaxanthin subjected to variations in protonation states of the ring-functional groups, as models of ligand-protein interactions. Taking into account the color shift and other available optical data, the current model for the mechanisms of interaction with the protein was refined. The results point toward a mechanism in which the astaxanthin is charged and subject to strong electrostatic polarizations originating from both keto groups, most likely a double protonation.

Animals↗

Deuterium magic angle spinning studies of substrates bound to cytochrome P450.

We report solid-state deuterium magic angle spinning NMR spectra of perdeuterated adamantane bound to the active site of microcrystalline cytochrome P450cam (CP450cam) in its resting state. CP450cam contains a high-spin ferric (Fe3+) heme in the resting state; the isotropic shift was displaced from the diamagnetic value and varied with temperature consistent with Curie-law dependence. A nondeuterated competitive tighter binding ligand, camphor, was used to displace the adamantane-bound species. This addition resulted in the disappearance of the hyperfine-shifted signal associated with a perdeuterated adamantane bound to CP450cam, while signals presumably associated with adamantane bound to other cavities persisted. We simulated the deuterium spinning side-band intensities for the enzyme-bound species using dipolar hyperfine coupling as the only anisotropic interaction; the deuterium quadrupolar interaction was apparently averaged due to a fast high-symmetry motion. These data provide direct support for previous proposals that substrates are conformationally mobile on the time scale of enzymatic turnover. The simulations suggested that the adamantane binds with an average metal-deuterium distance of 6.2 (+/-0.2) A, corresponding to a dipolar coupling constant of 6.5 (+/-0.5) kHz.

Adamantane↗

Structures of the O-specific polysaccharides from Yokenella regensburgei (Koserella trabulsii) strains PCM 2476, 2477, 2478, and 2494: high-resolution magic-angle spinning NMR investigation of the O-specific polysaccharides in native lipopolysaccharides and directly on the surface of living bacteria.

The structures of the carbohydrate O-specific side-chain moiety of the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of Yokenella regensburgei, strains PCM 2476, 2477, 2478, and 2494, have been investigated by (1)H and (13)C NMR, fast atom bombardment tandem mass spectrometry (FAB-MSMS), matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, methylation analysis, partial acid hydrolysis, and immunological methods. It was concluded that the O-specific polysaccharides of strains 2476, 2477, 2478, and 2494 are composed of the same basic trisaccharide repeating unit having the structure -->3)-alpha-D-FucpNAc-(1-->2)-L-alpha-D-Hepp-(1-->3)-6-deoxy -alpha-L- Talp-(1-->, in which L-alpha-D-Hepp is L-glycero-alpha-D-manno-heptopyranose. The detailed analysis revealed, however, differences in O-acetylation patterns of the 6-deoxy-L-talose residue, with 2- and 4-O-acetyl disubstituted -->3)-6-deoxy-alpha-L-Talp-(1--> in strain PCM 2476 and a 2-O-acetylated residue in strains 2477, 2478, and 2494. These structures represent novel, trisaccharide repeating units of bacterial O-antigens that are characteristic and unique to the Y. regensburgeispecies. By use of the high-resolution magic-angle spinning (HR-MAS) technique, (1)H NMR spectra of the O-polysaccharides directly in isolated LPS were obtained. This allowed for almost full assignment and structural determination of the polysaccharide. By this technique the O-polysaccharide components were also observed in their original form directly on the surface of living bacterial cells.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Magic-angle spinning NMR studies of cell wall bound aromatic-aliphatic biopolyesters associated with strengthening of intercellular adhesion in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber parenchyma.

Intercellular adhesion strengthening, a phenomenon that compromises the texture and the edible quality of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.), has been induced reproducibly by exposure to low-pH acetic acid solutions under tissue culture conditions. The resulting parenchyma tissues have been examined by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in order to characterize the biopolymer(s) thought to be associated with this syndrome. Cross polarization-magic angle spinning (CPMAS) (13)C NMR has been used to establish the presence of a polyphenol-suberin-like aromatic-aliphatic polyester within an abundant cell wall polysaccharide matrix in potato tubers that exhibit hardening due to strengthened intercellular adhesion. Dipolar dephasing and CP chemical shift anisotropy experiments suggest that the aromatic domain is composed primarily of guaiacyl and sinapyl groups. Two-dimensional wide-line separation experiments show that the biopolymer associated with parenchyma hardening contains rigid polysaccharide cell walls and mobile aliphatic long-chain fatty acids; (1)H spin diffusion experiments show that these flexible aliphatic chains are proximal to both the phenolics and a subpopulation of the cell wall polysaccharides. Finally, high-resolution MAS NMR of parenchyma samples swelled in DMSO in conjunction with two-dimensional through-bond and through-space NMR spectroscopy provides evidence for covalent linkages among the polysaccharide, phenolic, and aliphatic domains of the intercellular adhesion-strengthening biopolymer in potato parenchyma tissue.

Biocompatible Materials↗