The solution structure of a cyclic endothelin antagonist, BQ-123, based on 1H1H and 13H1H three bond oupling constants

AbstractA cyclic pentapeptide endothelin antagonist, cyclo(dTrp-dAsp-Pro-dVal-Leu), recently reported (K. Ishikawa et al., 13th Am. Pept. Symp., Cambridge MA, 1991) has been studied by NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling. A stable structure has been determined without the use of nuclear Overhauser effects and is based primarily on homonuclear and heteronuclear three bond coupling constants. The 13C-edited TOCSY experiment is demonstrated at natural abundance and ∼30 mM peptide concentrations. Three bond 13C1H coupling constants obtained by this method are shown to reduce the ambiguity in φ angle determination which exists when only interproton coupling constants are used. Three out of four φ angles were determined uniquely by this method and the fourth was reduced to two possible values. The proline φ angle was determined to be −78° based on the 3JHzHα and 3JHzHβ coupling constants. Comparison of amide proton temperature dependence, chemical shifts and vicinal proton coupling constants in a 20% acetonitrile/80% water solvent mixture and in (CD3)2SO indicates that the structure is similar in both solvents

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

The utility of qNMR to improve accuracy and precision of LC-MS bioanalysis

In LC-MS bioanalysis, samples and analytes are quantified against calibration solutions and curves which are derived via serial dilution from stock solutions that are prepared from dry reference standards. The analytical errors associated with the mass and volume measurements required for this preparation of stock solutions can culminate in a variance which might affect bioanalytical data accuracy. Especially in the case of extended studies with intermittent sample analysis, the multiple preparation of separate stock solutions can also adversely affect bioanalytical data precision. Discussed here is an illustrative case study where a single stock solution was utilized for a longitudinal study with multiple data points by means of an orthogonal and synergistic quality control via quantitative NMR methodology resulting in improved bioanalytical data

Understanding and Controlling Sialylation in a CHO Fc-Fusion Process.

A Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) bioprocess, where the product is a sialylated Fc-fusion protein, was operated at pilot and manufacturing scale and significant variation of sialylation level was observed. In order to more tightly control glycosylation profiles, we sought to identify the cause of variability. Untargeted metabolomics and transcriptomics methods were applied to select samples from the large scale runs. Lower sialylation was correlated with elevated mannose levels, a shift in glucose metabolism, and increased oxidative stress response. Using a 5-L scale model operated with a reduced dissolved oxygen set point, we were able to reproduce the phenotypic profiles observed at manufacturing scale including lower sialylation, higher lactate and lower ammonia levels. Targeted transcriptomics and metabolomics confirmed that reduced oxygen levels resulted in increased mannose levels, a shift towards glycolysis, and increased oxidative stress response similar to the manufacturing scale. Finally, we propose a biological mechanism linking large scale operation and sialylation variation. Oxidative stress results from gas transfer limitations at large scale and the presence of oxygen dead-zones inducing upregulation of glycolysis and mannose biosynthesis, and downregulation of hexosamine biosynthesis and acetyl-CoA formation. The lower flux through the hexosamine pathway and reduced intracellular pools of acetyl-CoA led to reduced formation of N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylneuraminic acid, both key building blocks of N-glycan structures. This study reports for the first time a link between oxidative stress and mammalian protein sialyation. In this study, process, analytical, metabolomic, and transcriptomic data at manufacturing, pilot, and laboratory scales were taken together to develop a systems level understanding of the process and identify oxygen limitation as the root cause of glycosylation variability