Chemically based transmissible ER stress protocols are unsuitable to study cell-to-cell UPR transmission.

Renal epithelial cells regulate the destructive activity of macrophages and participate in the progression of kidney diseases. Critically, the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), which is activated in renal epithelial cells in the course of kidney injury, is required for the optimal differentiation and activation of macrophages. Given that macrophages are key regulators of renal inflammation and fibrosis, we suppose that the identification of mediators that are released by renal epithelial cells under Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress and transmitted to macrophages is a critical issue to address. Signals leading to a paracrine transmission of ER stress (TERS) from a donor cell to a recipient cells could be of paramount importance to understand how ER-stressed cells shape the immune microenvironment. Critically, the vast majority of studies that have examined TERS used thaspigargin as an inducer of ER stress in donor cells in cellular models. By using multiple sources of ER stress, we evaluated if human renal epithelial cells undergoing ER stress can transmit the UPR to human monocyte-derived macrophages and if such TERS can modulate the inflammatory profiles of these cells. Our results indicate that carry-over of thapsigargin is a confounding factor in chemically based TERS protocols classically used to induce ER Stress in donor cells. Hence, such protocols are not suitable to study the TERS phenomenon and to identify its mediators. In addition, the absence of TERS transmission in more physiological models of ER stress indicates that cell-to-cell UPR transmission is not a universal feature in cultured cells.

Interactions of Dimethyltin(IV) with Uracil As Studied in the Gas Phase.

The gas-phase interactions of uracil (Ura) with dimethyltin(IV) were studied by a combined experimental and theoretical approach. Positive-ion electrospray spectra show that the interaction of dimethyltin(IV) with Ura results in the formation of the [(CH3)2Sn(Ura-H)]+ ion. The tandem mass spectrometry spectrum of this complex is characterized by numerous fragmentation processes, notably associated with elimination of H,N,C,O and C3,H3,N,O moieties, as well as the unusual loss of C2H6 leading to the [Sn(Ura-H)]+ complex. In turn, the [Sn(Ura-H)]+ complex fragments according to pathways already observed for the [Pb(Ura-H)]+ analogue. Sequential losses of ·CH3 radicals are also observed from the [(CH3)2Sn(N,C,O)]+ species (m/z 192). Comparison between density functional theory-computed vibrational spectra and the infrared multiple photon dissociation spectrum recorded between 1000 and 1900 cm-1 shows a good agreement as far as the global minimum is concerned. This comparison points to a bidentate interaction with a deprotonated canonical diketo form of uracil, involving both the N3 and O4 electronegative centers. This binding scheme has been already reported for the Pb/uracil system. The bidentate form characterized by the interaction between dimethyltin with N3 and O2 centers is slightly less stable. Interconversion between the two structures is associated with a small activation barrier (56 kJ/mol). The potential energy surfaces were explored to account for the main fragmentations observed upon collision-induced dissociation.

Gas-phase interactions of organotin compounds with cysteine.

The gas-phase interactions of cysteine with di-organotin and tri-organotin compounds have been studied by mass spectrometry experiments and quantum calculations. Positive-ion electrospray spectra show that the interaction of di- and tri-organotins with cysteine results in the formation of [(R)2 Sn(Cys-H)]+ and [(R)3 Sn(Cys)]+ ions, respectively. MS/MS spectra of [(R)2 Sn(Cys-H)]+ complexes are characterized by numerous fragmentation processes, notably associated with elimination of NH3 and (C,H2 ,O2 ). Several dissociation routes are characteristic of each given organic species. Upon collision, both the [(R)3 Sn(Gly)]+ and [(R)3 Sn(Cys)]+ complexes are associated with elimination of the intact amino acid, leading to the formation of [(R)3 Sn]+ cation. But for the latter complex, two additional fragmentation processes are observed, associated with the elimination of NH3 and C3 H4 O2 S. Calculations indicate that the interaction between organotins and cysteine is predominantly electrostatic but also exhibits a considerable covalent character, which is slightly more pronounced in tri-organotin complexes. A preferred bidentate interaction of the type -η2 -S-NH2 , with sulfur and the amino group, is observed. As for the [(R)3 Sn(Cys)]+ complexes, their stability is due to the combination of the hydrogen bond taking place between the amino group and the sulfur lone pair and the interaction between the carboxylic oxygen atom and the metal. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Structures of [M(Ura-H)(H2 O)n ](+) (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba; n = 1-3) complexes in the gas phase by IRMPD spectroscopy and theoretical studies.

The structures of singly and doubly (and for Mg, triply) hydrated group 2 metal dications bound to deprotonated uracil were explored in the gas phase using infrared multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy in the mid-infrared region (1000-1900 cm(-1) ) and the O-H/N-H stretching region (2700-3800 cm(-1) ) in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. The infrared multiple photon dissociation spectra were then compared with the computed IR spectra for various isomers. Calculations were performed using B3LYP with the 6-31 + G(d,p) basis set for all atoms except Ba(2+) and Sr(2+) , for which the LANL2DZ or the def2-TZVPP basis sets with relativistic core potentials were used. Atoms-in-molecules analysis was conducted for all lowest energy structures. The lowest energy isomers in all cases are those in which the one uracil is deprotonated at the N3 position, and the metal is coordinated to the N3 and O4 of uracil. Regardless of the degree of solvation, all water molecules are bound to the metal ion and participate in a hydrogen bond with a carbonyl of the uracil moiety.

Gas-phase interactions between lead(II) ions and cytosine: tandem mass spectrometry and infrared multiple-photon dissociation spectroscopy study.

Gas-phase interactions between Pb(2+) ions and cytosine (C) were studied by combining tandem mass spectrometry, infrared multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Both singly and doubly charged complexes were generated by electrospray. The [Pb(C)-H](+) complex was extensively studied, and this study shows that two structures, involving the interaction of the metal with the deprotonated canonical keto-amino tautomer of cytosine, are generated in the gas phase; the prominent structure is the bidentate form involving both the N1 and O2 electronegative centers. The DFT study also points out a significant charge transfer from the nucleobase to the low-lying p orbitals of the metal and a strong polarization of the base upon complexation. The various potential energy surfaces explored to account for the fragmentation observed are consistent with the high abundance of the [PbNH2](+) fragment ion.

Factorial design optimization of experimental variables in preconcentration of carbamates pesticides in water samples using solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography-electrospray-mass spectrometry determination.

An experimental design was applied for the optimization of extraction process of carbamates pesticides from surface water samples. Solid phase extraction (SPE) of carbamates compounds and their determination by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray mass spectrometry detector were considered. A two level full factorial design 2(k) was used for selecting the variables which affected the extraction procedure. Eluent and sample volumes were statistically the most significant parameters. These significant variables were optimized using Doehlert matrix. The developed SPE method included 200mg of C-18 sorbent, 143.5 mL of water sample and 5.5 mL of acetonitrile in the elution step. For validation of the technique, accuracy, precision, detection and quantification limits, linearity, sensibility and selectivity were evaluated. Extraction recovery percentages of all the carbamates were above 90% with relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) in the range of 3-11%. The extraction method was selective and the detection and quantification limits were between 0.1 and 0.5 µg L(-1), and 1 and 3 µg L(-1), respectively.

Gas-phase interactions of organotin compounds with glycine.

Gas-phase interactions of organotins with glycine have been studied by combining mass spectrometry experiments and quantum calculations. Positive-ion electrospray spectra show that the interaction of di- and tri-organotins with glycine results in the formation of [(R)2Sn(Gly)-H](+) and [(R)3Sn(Gly)](+) ions, respectively. Di-organotin complexes appear much more reactive than those involving tri-organotins. (MS/MS) spectra of the [(R)3Sn(Gly)](+) ions are indeed simple and only show elimination of intact glycine, generating the [(R)3Sn](+) carbocation. On the other hand, MS/MS spectra of [(R)2Sn(Gly)-H](+) complexes are characterized by numerous fragmentation processes. Six of them, associated with elimination of H2O, CO, H2O + CO and formation of [(R)2SnOH](+) (-57 u),[(R)2SnNH2](+) (-58 u) and [(R)2SnH](+) (-73 u), are systematically observed. Use of labeled glycines notably concludes that the hydrogen atoms eliminated in water and H2O + CO are labile hydrogens. A similar conclusion can be made for hydrogens of [(R2)SnOH](+) and [(R2)SnNH2](+) ions. Interestingly, formation [(R)2SnH](+) ions is characterized by a migration of one the α hydrogen of glycine onto the metallic center. Finally, several dissociation routes are observed and are characteristic of a given organic substituent. Calculations indicated that the interaction between organotins and glycine is mostly electrostatic. For [(R)2Sn(Gly)-H](+) complexes, a preferable bidentate interaction of the type η(2)-O,NH2 is observed, similar to that encountered for other metal ions. [(R)3Sn](+) ions strongly stabilize the zwitterionic form of glycine, which is practically degenerate with respect to neutral glycine. In addition, the interconversion between both forms is almost barrierless. Suitable mechanisms are proposed in order to account for the most relevant fragmentation processes.