Isomer-Dependent Escape Rate of Xenon from a Water-Soluble Cryptophane Cage Studied by Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics.

The escape of xenon from the anti and syn diastereomers of hexacarboxylic-cryptophane-222 in water has been studied by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. The structures of both complexes, when the xenon atom is trapped inside their cages, have been compared and show no major differences. The free-energy profiles corresponding to the escape reaction have been calculated with the Blue Moon ensemble method using the distance between Xe and the center of mass of the cage as the reaction coordinate. The resulting free-energy barriers are very different; the escape rate is much faster in the case of the syn diastereomer, in agreement with experimental data obtained in hyperpolarized 129 Xe NMR. Our simulations reveal the mechanistic details for each diastereomer and provide an explanation for the different in-out xenon rates based on the solvation structure around the cages.

129Xe NMR-based sensors: biological applications and recent methods.

Xenon is a first-rate sensor of biological events owing to its large polarizable electron cloud, which induces significant modifications to NMR parameters in response to slight changes in its local environment. The use of xenon as a sensor is of increasing interest for sensitive magnetic resonance imaging, because its signal can be enhanced by several orders of magnitude, mainly by spin-exchange optical pumping. Furthermore, xenon can be vectorized toward targets of interest by using functionalized host systems, which enables their detection at sub-nanomolar concentrations. In association with a new generation of detection methods, this gives rise to a powerful molecular imaging approach, whereby xenon can be delivered systematically several times after the introduction of a functionalized host system.

Note: Spin-exchange optical pumping in a van.

The advent of spin-hyperpolarization techniques designed to overcome the sensitivity issue of nuclear magnetic resonance owing to polarization transfer from more ordered systems has recently raised great enthusiasm. However, the out-of-equilibrium character of the polarization requires a close proximity between the area of production and the site of use. We present here a mobile spin-exchange optical pumping setup that enables production of laser-polarized noble gases in a standalone mode, in close proximity to hospitals or research laboratories. Only compressed air and mains power need to be supplied by the host laboratory.

Solution structure determination by NMR spectroscopy of a synthetic peptide corresponding to a putative amphipathic alpha-helix of spiralin: resonance assignment, distance geometry and simulated annealing.

Spiralin is the major protein of the plasma membrane of several spiroplasmas. Neither the function of this protein nor the crystallographic structure is known. Analysis of the primary structure of spiralin from Spiroplasma melliferum BC3 suggests the presence of an amphipathic peptide in the 143-162 region (Chevalier, C., Saillard, C. and Bové, J.M. (1990) J. Bacteriol. 172, 6090-6097). The structure of a synthetic peptide, H2N-L-N-A-V-N-T-Y-A-T-L-A-K-A-V-L-D-A-I-Q-N-amide, corresponding to this fragment has been examined by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. This 20 amino acid peptide adopts a random coil structure in solution, but the addition of trifluoroethanol stabilizes a structure exhibiting alpha-helical character. The 1H-NMR spectrum has been fully assigned in CF3CD2OD/H2O (30:70, v/v) and the three-dimensional structure has been elucidated using NMR-derived distance information. The calculated structures have been obtained by dynamical simulated annealing or distance geometry followed by simulated annealing. Both sets of structures have been energy-minimized using CHARMm potential. The resulting structures are very similar in terms of constraint violations and energies. It is demonstrated that whereas the first three residues exhibit a large flexibility, the remaining sequence is helical.

3D-printed system optimizing dissolution of hyperpolarized gaseous species for micro-sized NMR.

Dissolution of hyperpolarized species in liquids of interest for NMR is often hampered by the presence of bubbles that degrade the field homogeneity. Here a device composed of a bubble pump and a miniaturized NMR cell both fitted inside the narrow bore of an NMR magnet is built by 3D printing. (129)Xe NMR experiments performed with hyperpolarized xenon reveal high and homogeneous dissolution of the gas in water.

A doubly responsive probe for the detection of Cys4-tagged proteins.

Recombinant proteins bearing a tag are crucial tools for assessing protein location or function. Small tags such as Cys4 tag (tetracysteine; Cys-Cys-X-X-Cys-Cys) are less likely disrupt protein function in the living cell than green fluorescent protein. Herein we report the first example of the design and synthesis of a dual fluorescence and hyperpolarized (129)Xe NMR-based sensor of Cys4-tagged proteins. This sensor becomes fluorescent when bound to such Cys4-tagged peptides, and the (129)Xe NMR spectrum exhibits a specific signal, characteristic of the biosensor-peptide association.

Magnetization transfer from laser-polarized xenon to protons located in the hydrophobic cavity of the wheat nonspecific lipid transfer protein.

Nonspecific lipid transfer protein from wheat is studied by liquid-state NMR in the presence of xenon. The gas-protein interaction is indicated by the dependence of the protein proton chemical shifts on the xenon pressure and formally confirmed by the first observation of magnetization transfer from laser-polarized xenon to the protein protons. Twenty-six heteronuclear nOes have allowed the characterization of four interaction sites inside the wheat ns-LTP cavity. Their locations are in agreement with the variations of the chemical shifts under xenon pressure and with solvation simulations. The richness of the information obtained by the noble gas with a nuclear polarization multiplied by approximately 12,000 makes this approach based on dipolar cross-relaxation with laser-polarized xenon promising for probing protein hydrophobic pockets at ambient pressure.

(1)H NMR Study of the solution structure of sarafotoxin-S6b.

Sarafotoxin-S6b has been synthesized and studied by (1)H NMR in 50 50 acetonitrile/water mixture. All spin systems were identified and assigned with the aid of 2D experiments. On the basis of these data, a 3D structure of sarafotoxin is proposed and compared to that of [Nle(7)]endothelin obtained in the same conditions. From this study, it appeared that sarafotoxin-S6b and [Nle(7)]endothelin roughly share the same 3D structure, the main differences being located in the 4-7 loop bearing the sequence variation.

A method for determining B1 field inhomogeneity. Are the biases assumed in heteronuclear relaxation experiments usually underestimated?

We describe a method allowing the determination of the effective B1 field amplitude distribution in a high-resolution NMR spectrometer. This method which can be adapted to almost any sequence, essentially consists of a mutation followed by a purging B0 gradient pulse. Experimental results obtained with this approach are described in homonuclear and heteronuclear cases. The experimental distributions are used to estimate the biases induced by B1 inhomogeneity, as well as the loss of RF power on heteronuclear transverse self-relaxation rate determination. In this type of measurement, the experimental biases induced on the intensities can be as large as 5% for long mixing times.

A self-included cyclomaltoheptaose derivative studied by NMR spectroscopy and molecular modelling.

The 3D structure of 6-deoxy-6-L-tyrosinylamidocyclomaltoheptaose, a self-complexing beta-cyclodextrin derivative, was determined by NMR and molecular modelling. The aminoacyl side-chain is included in the cavity and induces chemical-shift variations in the CD proton signals, allowing their complete assignment. Dipolar interactions between protons of the tyrosine ring and internal protons of the cyclodextrin were used to obtain distance constraints. Then 42 structures were calculated from 32 distance constraints--21 shorter than 4 A involve the host-guest interactions--using a simulated annealing procedure. Starting from one of the resulting structures, a 250-ps molecular dynamics simulation was carried out in a waterbox without constraint. The simulation data are in agreement with NMR data such as nOe and ring-current effects. The cyclodextrin part takes an elliptical shape, which tightly fits the aromatic moiety. As a consequence, the respective motion of the host and the guest moieties have the same amplitude and time scale: the self-inclusion complex shows only little flexibility.

Synthesis and NMR study of a heptasaccharide, epitope of the stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1).

This paper describes an efficient synthesis of the beta-2-trimethylsilylethyl glycoside of lacto-N-fucoheptaose based on a highly stereo- and regioselective glycosylation between a Lewis(x) trisaccharidic donor and a tetraol tetrasaccharidic acceptor. The title compound was characterized by high-resolution NMR spectroscopy.

NMR study of a Lewis(X) pentasaccharide derivative: solution structure and interaction with cations.

The structure and conformation of the synthetic pentasaccharide Gal(beta 1-4){Fuc(alpha 1-3)}GlcNAc(beta 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)Glc-beta OMe of the Lewis(X) family has been determined by NMR spectroscopy in dimethyl sulfoxide and methanol. In these solvents, the binding constants with calcium have been evaluated as 9.5 and 29.6 M-1, respectively. Study of the interaction sites has been achieved through the use of paramagnetic divalent cations and distance triangulation methods. Two regions have been found, the first one in the vicinity of the fucose unit, the second one closer to the lactose part.

[Implantable defibrillators. Role of the defibrillator in treatment and prevention of sudden death]. / Les défibrillateurs implantables. Le rôle du défibrillateur en traitement et en prévention de la mort subite.

PROVEN EFFICACY: Several studies have demonstrated that implantable defibrillators improve survival in patients with a very high risk of sudden death. INDICATIONS FOR PRIMARY PREVENTION: The most obvious indication is for young patients with severe recurrent rhythm disorders and generally good left ventricular function. However, most of the candidates have severe left ventricular dysfunction due to post infarction ischemia or dilated cardiomyopathy who develop syncopal or hemodynamically poorly tolerated ventricular tachycardia or who have survived a first episode of sudden death. PROPHYLACTIC INDICATIONS: Automatic defibrillation should be proposed for patients with factors of risk of sudden death such as left ventricular dysfunction or infarction sequelae.

[Implantable defibrillators. Sudden death: high risk]. / Les défibrillateurs implantables. La mort subite: un risque certain.

INCIDENCE: The incidence of sudden death remains high. The basic causes are related to ischemic heart disease and heart failure. Automatic defibrillation is the best treatment, as first conceived and implanted by Mirovski twenty years ago. MARKERS OF RISK OF SUDDEN DEATH: Left ventricular dysfunction, functional class and spontaneous and induced ventricular hyperexcitability identify a high-risk population. THERAPEUTIC APPROACH: Drug treatments used in the post infarction period or for heart failure (beta-blockers, converting enzyme inhibitors and amiodarone) have demonstrated a certain efficacy in preventing sudden death. However, different therapeutic trials comparing the efficacy of defibrillators and drug treatments have demonstrated the 20 to 46% superiority of defibrillation in terms of reduced mortality.

Conformation of the oligosaccharide chain of G(M1) ganglioside in a carbohydrate-enriched surface.

The solution structure of ganglioside G(M1) carbohydrate moiety at the surface of a 102-kDa lipid-modified-G(M1) micelle is investigated by high-resolution 1H-NMR in H2O. The micellar surface can be considered a cluster-like lateral distribution of the gangliosides, each single monomer being anchored in a carbohydrate-enriched model membrane matrix. 1H NOESY measurements at short mixing times reveal a rigid trisaccharide core -beta-GalNAc-(1-4)-[alpha-Neu5Ac-(2-3)]-beta-Gal- and a more flexible beta-Gal-(1-3)-beta-GalNAc- terminal glycosidic bond. In the lipid-modified G(M1) ganglioside micellar system, there is no evidence that intermolecular side-by-side carbohydrate interactions modulate, or alter in any way, the head-group spatial arrangement. Possible intermonomer interactions at the level of the branched trisaccharide portion were further investigated on mixed micelles of natural N-glycolyl- and N-acetylneuraminic acid containing G(M1) in D2O, taking advantage of the different NMR features of N-glycolyl- and N-acetylneuraminic acids, which allow discrimination between sialic acid ring proton signals. Measurements of the water/ganglioside-OH proton chemical exchange rates suggest hydroxyl group involvement at position 8 of sialic acid in strong intramolecular interaction processes.

Off-resonance rf fields in heteronuclear NMR: Application to the study of slow motions.

The advantages of using off-resonance rf fields in heteronuclear self-relaxation experiments are explored on a fully (15)N-enriched protein. It is firstly shown that in the absence of slow motions the longitudinal and transverse (15)N self-relaxation rate values derived with this method are in agreement with the ones measured by the classical inversion-recovery and Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) sequences, respectively. Secondly, by comparing the (15)N transverse self-relaxation rates obtained by the proposed off-resonance sequence and by the CPMG sequence, 11 residues out of the 61 of toxin α are shown to exhibit a chemical exchange phenomenon in water on a time scale ranging from 1 µs to 100 ms. By varying the effective field amplitude, chemical exchange processes involving these residues are measured and the corresponding correlation times are evaluated without having assumed any motion model. Similar, though less precise, results are given by the analysis of the (15)N off-resonance self-relaxation rates on the basis of the Lipari-Szabo model to describe the fast internal dynamics of toxin α.

Direct determination of the heteronuclear T1/T2 ratio by off-resonance steady-state magnetization measurement: Investigation of the possible application to fast exchange characterization of 15N-labeled proteins.

The (15)N steady-state magnetization in the presence of off-resonance rf irradiation is an analytical function of the T(1)/T(2) ratio and of the angle between the (15)N effective field axis and the static magnetic field direction. This relation holds whatever the relaxation mechanisms due to motions on the nanosecond time scale, and the size of the spin system. If motions on the micro- to millisecond time scale are present (fast exchange), the same observable depends also on their spectral density at the frequency of the effective field. The cross-peak intensity in each 2D (15)N-(1)H correlation map is directly related to the dynamic parameters, so that the characterization of fast exchange phenomena by this method is in principle less time-consuming than the separate measurement of self-relaxation rates. The theory of this approach is described. Its practical validity is experimentally evaluated on a (15)N-labeled 61 amino acid neurotoxin. It turns out that existing equipments lead to non-negligible biases. Their consequences for the accuracy attainable, at present, by this method are investigated in detail.

Solution structure of a Lewis(x) analogue by off-resonance 1H NMR spectroscopy without use of an internal distance reference.

A recent 1H NMR method has been applied to the determination of the solution structure and internal dynamics of a synthetic mixed C/O trisaccharide related to sialyl Lewis(x). Varying the rf field offset in ROESY-type experiments enabled the measurement of longitudinal and transverse dipolar cross-relaxation rates with high accuracy. Assuming that for each proton pair the motion could be represented by a single exponential autocorrelation function, it was possible to derive geometrical parameters (r) and dynamic parameters (tau(cp)). With this assumption, 224 cross-relaxation rates have been transformed into 30 interproton distance constraints and 30 dipolar correlation times. The distance constraints have been used in a simulated-annealing procedure. This trisaccharide exhibits a structure close to the O-glycosidic analogue, but its flexibility seems highly reduced. On the basis of the determined structure and dynamics, it is shown that no conformational exchange occurs, the molecule existing in the form of a unique family in aqueous solution. In order to assess the quality of the resulting structures and to validate this new experimental procedure of distance extraction, we finally compare these solution structures to the ones obtained using three different sets of distances deduced from three choices of internal reference. It appears that this procedure allows the determination of the most precise and accurate solution.

Determination of the structure of [Nle7]-endothelin by 1H NMR.

[Nle7]-endothelin was synthesized and studied by 1H NMR and distance geometry calculations. The NMR study was performed first in DMSO-d6 and then in 50% acetonitrile/water since this peptide aggregates in pure water. In both cases, all spin systems were identified and assigned with the aid of two-dimensional spectroscopy (2D): COSY (for scalar couplings) and NOESY (for dipolar couplings). On the basis of the acetonitrile/water NMR parameters, and using the DISGEO program, a three-dimensional structure of [Nle7]-endothelin is proposed and discussed.

Is there a unique sequence in heparin for interaction with heparin cofactor II? Structural and biological studies of heparin-derived oligosaccharides.

To study the structural requirements in heparin for interaction with heparin cofactor II (HC II) we have analyzed the properties of oligosaccharide fractions obtained after digestion of heparin by heparinase and gel filtration. No activation of HC II was detected in the presence of di-, tetra-, hexa-, octa-, deca-, or do-decasaccharides. The hexasaccharide pool was fractionated by ion-exchange chromatography, and the structure of the major species, obtained in a homogeneous state, was investigated by NMR. All the resonances were unambiguously assigned using correlation by homonuclear and heteronuclear scalar coupling. The six monosaccharide residues of this hexasaccharide were thus easily identified. The sequence was established through two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect experiments. The results indicate that this product is a hexasaccharide recently described by Linhardt et al. (Linhardt, R. J., Rice, K. G., Merchant, Z. M., Kim, Y. S., and Lohse, D. L. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 14448-14454). However, we could not confirm the anticoagulant activity observed by these authors. Moreover, none of the individual components obtained after fractionation of the hexasaccharide pool was able either to activate HC II against thrombin or to inhibit HC II activation by heparin. Thus, our data led us to conclude that no unique sequence is involved in heparin for binding to HC II and inactivation of thrombin. The interaction merely results from the highly anionic character of heparin.