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Surface-activated chemical ionization and high-flow gradient chromatography to reduce matrix effect.

The new atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source, named surface-activated chemical ionization (SACI), has been used in conjunction with high-flow gradient chromatography to reduce the matrix effect. This high-flow gradient chromatography approach avoids the co-elution of analyte and biological matrix compounds that leads to a reduction in quantitation errors due to matrix effect. However, this approach cannot be employed with the classical electrospray ionization (ESI) source that usually works at low eluent flow (< 300 microL/min). SACI can work at high eluent flow (100-2000 microL/min) and can be employed in conjunction with high-flow gradient chromatography. The reduction in matrix effect in tacrolimus analysis in protein-precipitated blood samples, an important immunosuppressive agent for renal transplantation, is presented and discussed.

Chromatography, Liquid↗

Improved liquid chromatography/mass spectrometric analysis of low molecular weight carboxylic acids by ion exclusion separation with electrospray ionization.

An improved, simple and sensitive analytical method for low molecular weight organic acids has been developed. A mixture of acetic, propionic, butyric, glycolic, lactic, 2-hydroxybutyric, malonic, succinic, glutaric, tartaric and citric acids was separated on a semi-rigid styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer-based H-type cation-exchange resin (ULTRON PS-80H) based on an ion exclusion chromatographic (IEC) mechanism, with detection using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Formic or acetic acid was used as a mobile phase to separate the carboxylic acids within 15 min. For liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), the ESI interface was used in both positive and negative ionization mode. ESI produced reasonable signals from positive ions, [M+NH(4)](+), of acetic, propionic and butyric acids and from negative ions, [M-H](-), of glycolic, lactic, 2-hydroxybutyric, malonic, succinic, glutaric, tartaric and citric acids. The effects of ionization parameters, source temperature, capillary voltage and cone voltage, on sensitivity and linearity were examined. Linear plots of peak area versus concentration were obtained over the range 0.1-20 ppm for MS detection. The detection limits of the target carboxylic acids calculated at signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 3 ranged from 9 to 59 ppb. The reproducibility of retention times and peak areas were 0.55-1.25 and 0.85-2.45%, respectively.

Carboxylic Acids↗

Singular perturbation theory applied to Markov models for DNA damage caused by ionizing radiation.

The induction of DNA double strand breaks by ionizing radiation, and enzymatic double strand break repair or misrepair, are modeled as continuous time Markov chains. Systems of partial differential equations for appropriate probability generating functions are solved by singular perturbation theory with scaling. The zero-th order singular perturbation result coincides with a model recently suggested in a biological literature. Higher order terms correct for various effects including "overkill". The results are applicable to both sparsely ionizing and densely ionizing radiation.

Animals↗

Cyclin D1 induced apoptosis maintains the integrity of the G1/S checkpoint following ionizing radiation irradiation.

Cell cycle "checkpoints" help to ensure the integrity of normal cellular functions prior to replicative DNA synthesis and/or cell division. Cell kinetic abnormalities, particularly arrests at the G1/S and G2/M cell cycle checkpoints, are induced following exposure to ionizing radiation in vitro. Following irradiation, cellular signaling pathways may lead to G1 arrest and/or apoptosis at the G1/S cell cycle transition point. Transfection of cyclin D1, a G1/S cyclin, into a rat embryo cells (REC) results in cellular populations that overexpress cyclin D1, are transformed morphologically, demonstrate an increased incidence of apoptosis, and are tumorigenic in immune-deficient mice. Despite such phenotypic changes, transfected cell populations maintain the integrity of the G1 checkpoint following ionizing radiation. The transfected cells overexpressing Cyclin D1 have a statistically significant increase in the incidence of apoptosis as compared to parental REC strains or mock-transfected REC. The work provides further evidence of Cyclin D1 playing a critical role in maintaining the integrity of the G1/S checkpoint, via the activation of apoptotic pathways following exposure to ionizing radiation in vitro.

Animals↗

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of terrestrial humic substances and their size fractions.

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used to evaluate the average molecular mass of terrestrial humic substances, such as humic (HA) and fulvic (FA) acids from a soil, and humic acid from a lignite (NDL). Their ESI mass spectra, by direct infusion, gave average molecular masses comparable to those previously obtained for aquatic humic materials. The soil HA and FA were further separated in size-fractions by preparative high performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) and analyzed with ESI-MS by both direct infusion and a further on-line analytical HPSEC. Unexpectedly, their average molecular mass was only slightly less than for the bulk sample and, despite different nominal molecular size, did not substantially vary among size-fractions. The values increased significantly (up to around 1200 Da) after on-line analytical HPSEC for the HA bulk sample, at both pH 8 and 4, and for the HA size-fractions when pH was reduced from 8 to 4. It was noticed that HA size-fractions at pH 8 were separated by on-line HPSEC in further peaks showing average masses which progressively increased with elution volume. Furthermore, when the HA and NDL bulk samples were sequentially ultracentrifuged at increasing rotational speed, their supernatants showed mass values which were larger than bulk samples and increased with rotational speed. These variations in mass values indicate that the electrospray ionization is dependent on the composition of the humic molecular mixtures and increases when their heterogeneity is progressively reduced. It is suggested that the dominance of hydrophobic compounds in humic supramolecular associations may inhibit the electrospray ionization of hydrophilic components. Our results show that ESI-MS is reasonably applicable to humic substances only after an extensive reduction of their chemical complexity.

Humic Substances↗

The track structure of alpha-particles from the point of view of ionization-cluster formation in "nanometric" volumes of nitrogen.

Probability distributions of the size of ion clusters created in "nanometric" volumes of nitrogen by single alpha-particles of a gold-plated 241Am source, were measured and compared with those calculated by Monte Carlo methods in the same geometry. The diameter of the sensitive volumes had a mass per area of between 0.015 microgram/cm2 and 1.3 micrograms/cm2 which, for a material at unit density, corresponds to a nanometric target volume 0.15-13 nm in diameter. These nanometre sizes were simulated experimentally in a device called the Jet Counter. This consists of a pulse-operated valve which injects into an interaction chamber an expansion jet of molecular nitrogen gas, which is crossed by a narrow beam of alpha-particles. The resulting ions are counted and analyzed from the point of view of ionization cluster formation. The measured or calculated cluster size probabilities prove that the formation of ionization clusters along a "nanometre" track is governed by Poisson's law only in the case of very small target volumes, due to the contributions by secondary electrons. The present ionization cluster probabilities produced in "nanometric" volumes 0.15-13 nm in diameter, are the first ever determined experimentally and confirmed by Monte Carlo simulation.

Alpha Particles↗

Relationship between vomiting and taste aversion learning in the ferret: studies with ionizing radiation, lithium chloride, and amphetamine.

The relationship between emesis and taste aversion learning was studied in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) following exposure to ionizing radiation (50-200 cGy) or injection of lithium chloride (1.5-3.0 mEq/kg, ip). When 10% sucrose or 0.1% saccharin was used as the conditioned stimulus, neither unconditioned stimulus produced a taste aversion, even when vomiting was produced by the stimulus (Experiments 1 and 2). When a canned cat food was used as the conditioned stimulus, lithium chloride, but not ionizing radiation, produced a taste aversion (Experiment 3). Lithium chloride was effective in producing a conditioned taste aversion when administration of the toxin was delayed by up to 90 min following the ingestion of the canned cat food, indicating that the ferrets are capable of showing long-delay learning (Experiment 4). Experiment 5 examined the capacity of amphetamine, which is a qualitatively different stimulus than lithium chloride or ionizing radiation, to produce taste aversion learning in rats and cats as well as in ferrets. Injection of amphetamine (3 mg/kg, ip) produced a taste aversion in rats and cats but not in ferrets which required a higher dose (> 5 mg/kg). The results of these experiments are interpreted as indicating that, at least for the ferret, there is no necessary relationship between toxin-induced illness and the acquisition of a CTA and that gastrointestinal distress is not a sufficient condition for CTA learning.

Amphetamine↗

The molecular basis for cell cycle delays following ionizing radiation: a review.

Exposure of a wide variety of cells to ionizing (X- or gamma-) irradiation results in a division delay which may have several components including a G1 block, a G2 arrest or an S phase delay. The G1 arrest is absent in many cell lines, and the S phase delay is typically seen following relatively high doses (> 5 Gy). In contrast, the G2 arrest is seen in virtually all eukaryotic cells and occurs following high and low doses, even under 1 Gy. The mechanism underlying the G2 arrest may involve suppression of cyclin B1 mRNA and/or protein in some cell lines and tyrosine phosphorylation of p34cdc2 in others. Similar mechanisms are likely to be operative in the G2 arrest induced by various chemotherapeutic agents including nitrogen mustard and etoposide. The upstream signal transduction pathways involved in the G2 arrest following ionizing radiation remain obscure in mammalian cells; however, in the budding yeast the rad9 gene and in the fission yeast the chk1/rad27 gene are involved. There is evidence indicating that shortening of the G2 arrest results in decreased survival which has led to the hypothesis that during this block, cells repair damaged DNA following exposure to genotoxic agents. In cell lines examined to date, wildtype p53 is required for the G1 arrest following ionizing radiation. The gadd45 gene may also have a role in this arrest. Elimination of the G1 arrest leads to no change in survival following radiation in some cell lines and increased radioresistance in others. It has been suggested that this induction of radioresistance in certain cell lines is due to loss of the ability to undergo apoptosis. Relatively little is known about the mechanism underlying the S phase delay. This delay is due to a depression in the rate of DNA synthesis and has both a slow and a fast component. In some cells the S phase delay can be abolished by staurosporine, suggesting involvement of a protein kinase. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind these delays may lead to improvement in the efficacy of radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy if they can be exploited to decrease repair or increase apoptosis following exposure to those agents.

Animals↗

Effects of ionizing radiation on the blood brain barrier permeability to pharmacologically active substances.

Ionizing radiation can impair the integrity of the blood brain barrier (BBB). Data on early and late damage after brain irradiation are usually reported separately, yet a gradual transition between these two types has become evident. Signs appearing within 3 weeks after irradiation are considered to be early manifestations. The mechanism of radiation-effected integrity impairment of the BBB is discussed in relation to changes in morphological structures forming the BBB, the endothelium of intracerebral vessels, and in the surrounding astrocytes. Alterations in the function of the BBB are manifested in the endothelium by changes in the ultra-structural location of the activity of phosphatases and by the activation of pinocytotic vesicular transport, and in astrocyte cytoplasm by glycogen deposition. The changes in ultrastructure were critically surveyed with regard to increasing doses of radiation to the brain in the range of 5 Gy to 960 Gy. The qualitative as well as the semiquantitative and quantitative observations on the passage of substances across the damaged BBB were treated separately. Qualitative changes are based mainly on findings of extravasation of vital stains and of labelled proteins. The quantitative studies established differences in radiation-induced changes in the permeability of the BBB depending on the structure and physico-chemical properties of the barrier penetrating tracers. Indirect evaluation of radiation-induced BBB changes is based on studies of pharmacological effects of substances acting on the CNS. In conclusion, radiation impairs significantly the integrity of the BBB following single irradiation of the brain with a dose exceeding 10-15 Gy. The response of the BBB to ionizing radiation is dependent both on the dose to which the brain is exposed and on specific properties of the tracer. Either an increase or a decrease of BBB permeability, or both, occurring in a certain time sequence, was observed. The mechanism of hyperpermeability after irradiation is not fully understood, but the activation of vesicular transport offers one possible explanation. Even less understood is the mechanism of decreased permeability. The response of the BBB to ionizing radiation is most probably nonspecific and its nature may be assumed to be similar to its responses to other physical or chemical noxious factors.

Blood-Brain Barrier↗

Enhanced induction of tissue-type plasminogen activator in normal human cells compared to cancer-prone cells following ionizing radiation.

Normal human fibroblast (i.e., GM2936B, GM2907A, and IMR-90) and cancer-prone human fibroblast (i.e., Fanconi's anemia, Bloom's syndrome, and Ataxia telangiectasia) cells demonstrated the induction of intracellular and extracellular levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) at 6 and 12 hr, respectively, following ionizing radiation. Induced t-PA enzymatic activities following ionizing radiation were blocked by actinomycin D treatments. t-PA enzymatic activities were induced over 14-fold in Ataxia telangiectasia cells, over 9-fold in Bloom's syndrome cells, and over 6-fold in Fanconi's anemia cells, as compared to normal human fibroblasts. Similarly, the induction of t-PA mRNA levels in cancer-prone cells were between 5- to 10-fold higher than those observed in normal cells following equitoxic doses of ionizing radiation. Temporal induction of t-PA mRNA levels for normal and cancer-prone human cells were consistent with quantifiable enzymatic activities. The elevated induction of an intracellular protease (i.e., t-PA) in cancer-prone human cells is reminiscent of an "SOS"-like response observed in yeast and bacteria.

Ataxia Telangiectasia↗

Repair of ionizing-radiation damage in the radiation resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans.

Deinococcus radiodurans is extremely resistant to the lethal and mutagenic effects of ionizing-radiation and many other physical and chemical agents that damage DNA. This resistance is known to be due to D. radiodurans' extremely proficient DNA repair processes. However, little is known about the precise mechanisms employed by this organism to achieve its efficient repair. In the past two years there has been substantial progress in studies on the repair and tolerance of ionizing radiation damage. Areas of progress include: 1) studies on the importance of the deinococcal recA-gene in repair; 2) characterization of a large number of new ionizing radiation-sensitive strains; 3) newly discovered genetic loci with novel repair-related mutational phenotypes; 4) demonstration of efficient interplasmidic and interchromosomal recombination occurring postirradiation; and 5) recent speculations on the mechanisms of radiation resistance and the driving forces of natural selection for DNA damage resistance in D. radiodurans.

DNA Damage↗

Kinetics of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction measured by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry using a simple rapid mixing attachment.

Mass spectrometry offers a potential means of measuring virtually all enzyme-catalyzed reactions by simultaneously measuring the concentrations of substrates, products, and intermediates where there are differences in mass between them. To perform these measurements the reaction mixture must be aged for different times and then ionized. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry provides the most direct means of measuring these reactions. Here we describe a simple reaction mixing and ageing attachment for an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer, built from commercially available components. We have employed this device to measure the kinetics of a model reaction, namely the hydrolysis of N2-(carbobenzyloxy)-L-lysine-p-nitrophenyl ester-catalyzed by trypsin. In this way we were able to measure the kinetics of substrate depletion, product formation, and changes in both free enzyme and acyl-enzyme intermediate concentration in the approach to steady state. With this device we were able to measure reaction times down to about 640 ms.

Catalysis↗

The carboxyl-terminal of BRCA1 is required for subnuclear assembly of RAD51 after treatment with cisplatin but not ionizing radiation in human breast and ovarian cancer cells.

BRCA1 plays an important role in maintaining genomic stability through its involvement in DNA repair. Although it is known that BRCA1 and RAD51 form distinct DNA repair subnuclear complexes, or foci, following environmental insults to the DNA, the role of BRCA1 in this process remains to be characterized. The purpose of the study was therefore to determine the role of BRCA1 in the formation of RAD51 foci following treatment with cisplatin and ionizing radiation. We found that although a functional BRCA1 is required for the subnuclear assembly of BRCA1 foci following treatment with either ionizing radiation or cisplatin, a functional BRCA1 is required for RAD51 foci to form following treatment with cisplatin but not with ionizing radiation. Similar results were obtained in SKOV-3 cells when the level of BRCA1 expression was knocked down by stable expression of a retrovirus-mediated small-interfering RNA against BRCA1. We also found that the carboxyl-terminal of BRCA1 contains uncharacterized phosphorylation sites that are responsive to cisplatin. The functional BRCA1 is also required for breast and ovarian cancer cells to mount resistance to cisplatin. These results suggest that the carboxyl-terminal of BRCA1 is required for the cisplatin-induced recruitment of RAD51 to the DNA-damage site, which may contribute to cisplatin resistance.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separations using ethoxynonafluorobutane as hexane alternative. II. Liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry applications with methanol gradients.

We have reported recently that high-speed normal-phase (NP) HPLC separations of a broad range of organic compounds can be performed on cyano columns using gradients of methanol in hexane-like solvent-ethoxynonafluorobutane (ENFB), available commercially. In this communication, we demonstrate that atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) in combination with mass spectrometry (MS) can be effectively used for detection in such separations. The efficiency of APCI under conditions studied has also been compared to the efficiency of traditional electrospray ionization (ESI) in combination with MS for reversed-phase (RP) HPLC of the same compounds. The compounds included in this study were steroids, benzodiazepines, and other central nervous system-active substances, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, tricyclic antidepressants, and beta-adrenergic blocking agents. Non-polar compounds were found to respond stronger when APCI-MS technique was used, whereas APCI and ESI ionization efficiencies were comparable when polar substances were studied. The combination of normal-phase HPLC separation conditions with mass spectral detection may expand the range of LC-MS applications traditionally associated with reversed-phase HPLC and ESI-MS detection.

Atmospheric Pressure↗

Liquid chromatography electrospray tandem mass spectrometric and desorption electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric analysis of chemical warfare agents in office media typically collected during a forensic investigation.

Most prior analytical studies have dealt with the determination of chemical warfare agents in environmental or biological matrices that would typically be collected following battlefield use or in support of the Chemical Weapons Convention. These methods may be useful for some investigations, but may not be practical for indoor forensic investigations where chemical warfare agent use is suspected. There is a need for analytical methods for chemical warfare agent identification in office media, including flooring, wall surfaces, office fabrics and paper products, which would typically be collected in an office environment during forensic investigations. During this study, typical office environment media were spiked at the 4-20microg/g level with either a complex munitions grade sample of tabun (GA) or with a standard containing the three nerve agents, sarin (GB), cyclohexyl methylphosphonofluoridate (GF), soman (GD) and the nerve agent simulant, triethyl phosphate (TEP), to evaluate the potentials of liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) and liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) for forensic purposes. An emerging technique, desorption electrospray ionization (DESI-MS/MS), was also investigated for the direct determination of TEP, GB and GD sampled onto solid phase microextraction (SPME) fibers exposed to spiked office media. The spiked chemical warfare agents were recovered with varying efficiencies during this study, but in all cases sufficient chemical warfare agent was recovered for mass spectrometric identification purposes. Full high resolution mass spectra were acquired for all the chemical warfare agents in the continuum mode, which typically resulted in mass measurement errors of 0.001Da or less.

Central Nervous System Agents↗

Analysis of hexabromocyclododecane diastereomers and enantiomers by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry: chromatographic selectivity and ionization matrix effects.

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a flame retardant that is undergoing environmental risk assessment. The liquid chromatographic retention and electrospray ionization matrix effects were investigated for HBCD methods of analysis for environmental matrices. Column selectivity towards HBCD diastereomers was evaluated for C30 and C18 stationary phases under different mobile phase conditions and column temperatures. The HBCD elution order was dependent on the shape selectivity of the stationary phase and the mobile phase composition. Greater resolution, on columns with reduced shape selectivity, of beta-HBCD and gamma-HBCD was achieved with the use of an acetonitrile/water (compared with a methanol/water) mobile phase composition. A liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) method for the analysis of HBCD in biological tissues was evaluated for potential matrix effects. The influence of extracted matrix components on HBCD diastereomer and enantiomer analysis was investigated using a postextraction addition approach. Although the analysis of HBCD diastereomers was relatively unaffected by the sample matrix, the responses of the HBCD enantiomers in tissue samples were significantly influenced by matrix effects and other changes to the ionization conditions. The use of racemic 13C-labeled HBCD diastereomers as internal standards for enantiomer fraction measurements corrected for the changes in the mass spectrometer response.

Acetonitriles↗

Oxalomalate regulates ionizing radiation-induced apoptosis in mice.

Ionizing radiation induces the production of reactive oxygen species, which play an important causative role in apoptotic cell death. Recently, we demonstrated that the control of mitochondrial redox balance and the cellular defense against oxidative damage are primary functions of mitochondrial NADP(+)-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDPm) by supplying NADPH for antioxidant systems. In this paper, we demonstrate that modulation of IDPm activity in the kidneys of mice regulates ionizing radiation-induced apoptosis. When oxalomalate, a competitive inhibitor of IDPm, was administered to mice, inhibition of IDPm and enhanced susceptibility of apoptosis reflected by DNA fragmentation, the changes in mitochondria function, and the modulation of apoptotic marker proteins were observed upon exposure to 2 Gy of gamma-irradiation. We also observed a significant difference in the mitochondrial redox status between the kidneys of the control and the oxalomalate-administered mice. This study indicates that IDPm may play an important role in regulating the apoptosis induced by ionizing radiation, presumably, through acting as an antioxidant enzyme.

Animals↗

Ionizing radiation-induced damage on developing cerebellar granule cells cultures can be prevented by an early amifostine post-treatment.

Developing central nervous system (CNS) is highly sensitive to ionizing radiation due, in part, to reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage. A variety of compounds able to protect brain cells essentially by decreasing ROS production have been widely used to confirm ROS participation in different mechanisms of brain injury, as well as to evaluate them as therapeutic tools. To test if ionizing radiation-induced damage on immature cerebellar granule cells is mainly mediated by ROS accumulation, a free radical scavenger--amifostine (amf)--was used in an in vitro model. Moreover, the amf therapeutic effect was investigated. Results show that only an early (20-30 min) post-treatment with amf, acting through an antioxidant mechanism, has been effective in preventing cerebellar granule cell loss observed after ionizing radiation exposure in vitro. These data suggest that immature cerebellar granule cells grown in vitro are highly vulnerable to ROS damage and that a therapeutic intervention could be effective in a narrow temporal window. Moreover, radiation-induced cell death can be partially prevented by a complete limitation of ROS generation, suggesting that other mechanisms besides oxidative stress would also be responsible for the cellular damage found in this model.

Amifostine↗