Quadrupole ion trap(QIT) mass spectrometry has become one of the most widelyused tools in the analysis of the structure of small molecules. The motion of the ionsstored in the quadrupole ion trap is extremely important. This ion motion within thequadrupole ion trap is controlled by several factors including the m/z ratio and thecollisional cross section of the ion. Investigation of ion motion within the QIT has thepotential to elucidate a new way to separate ions based on these factors. DC tomographyexperiments allow for the trajectory of the ion motion to be measured withoutmodifications to the ion trap. The ability to use DC tomography for separation ofisomeric ions on a commercial GC/MS system was investigated.Investigation of the mass range within the ion trap is necessary for the analysis ofa wide range of molecules. The ability of the quadrupole ion trap to perform MS/MSanalyses can provide insight into the structural information of many compounds.However, there exists a low mass cut-off (LMC) within the quadrupole ion trap and thusinformation about the low m/z fragments from a parent ion is lost. Schwartz and coworkerspresented a new technique labeled pulsed q dissociation (PQD) at the 53rdAnnual ASMS Conference in San Antonio TX in 2005. PQD eliminates the LMC byperforming CID at a qz of 0.4 but, then immediately lowering the q level before the massscan in a linear ion trap. By operating the quadrupole ion trap in this same manner, lowm/z product ions can be detected. This technique and elucidation of the energetic processcontained within PQD were explored further using a modified commercial quadrupoleion trap and the results discussed in this work.

Mitochondrial fatty acid �-oxidation disorders are a group of clinically and biochemically heterogeneous defects mainly associated with intolerance to catabolic stress. The diseases are potentially fatal, but treatable and the prognosis for most diagnosed disorders is generally favourable. Early diagnosis is thus important to prevent morbidity and mortality. This project describes an improved and validated quantitative fibroblast acylcarnitine profile assay for the investigation of suspected fatty acid �-oxidation disorders. Intact cells were incubated with deuterium-labelled hexadecanoate and L-carnitine, and the accumulated acylcarnitines in the medium analysed using electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. This modified procedure is less demanding technically, requires fewer cells and better reflects the in vivo acylcarnitine status than previously published methods. Mitochondrial fatty acid �-oxidation is coupled to the respiratory chain. Functional defects of one pathway may lead to secondary alterations in flux through the other. The diagnostic specificity and the prognostic potential of the in vitro acylcarnitine profile assay were investigated in fibroblasts from 14 normal controls, 38 patients with eight enzyme deficiencies of fatty acid �-oxidation presenting with various phenotypes, and 16 patients with primary respiratory chain defects including both isolated and multiple enzyme complex defects. All fatty acid �-oxidation deficient cell lines revealed disease-specific acylcarnitine profiles related to the sites of defects irrespective of the severity of symptoms or of different mutation. Preliminary studies suggested a correlation between severity of symptoms and higher concentrations of long-chain acylcarnitine species. However, the fibroblast acylcarnitine profiles from some patients with respiratory chain defects were similar to those of controls, whereas others had abnormal profiles resembling those found in fatty acid �-oxidation disorders. In vitro acylcarnitine profiling is useful for the detection of fatty acid �-oxidation deficiencies, and perhaps the prediction of disease severity and prognostic evaluation facilitating decisions of therapeutic intervention and genetic counselling. However, abnormal profiles do not exclusively indicate these disorders, and primary defects of the respiratory chain remain a possibility. Awareness of this diagnostic pitfall will aid in the selection of subsequent confirmatory tests and therapeutic options.

Thesis (M.S.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Chemistry, 2006. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Nov. 20, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 105-110). Also issued in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xxiii, 276 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 261-276).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, November, 2007. / Release of full electronic text on OhioLINK has been delayed until November 30, 2008 Includes bibliographical references (leaves 147-164)

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, November, 2007. / Title from PDF t.p. Release of full electronic text on OhioLINK has been delayed until November 30, 2008 Includes bibliographical references (leaves 147-164)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xiv, 118 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

A dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) method has been developed, optimized and validated for the extraction of seven beta-agonists (Cimaterol, Cimbuterol, Clenproperol, Clenbuterol, Ractopamine, Isoxsuprine and Ritodrine) from bovine muscle. The homogenized tissue samples were hydrolyzed enzymaticaly by beta-glucuronidase and extracted with DLLME. The extraction parameters (pH, extraction solvent, extraction solvent volume, disperser solvent) were accurately optimized. Separation of the beta-agonists was by gradient elution on C18 LC column using acetonitrile and formic acid aqueous solutions as mobile phases, multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) scan mode was used. The seven beta-agonists were then simultaneous determined and identified in single analysis using 4000 Qtrap LC-MS/MS system. The DLLME method was validated using ISO 17025 and the EU criteria (Commission Decision 2002/657/EC) for validation of analytical method, good precision, repeatability and spiked recoveries were obtained. The limits of detection and quantification for the residues were between 0.0728 – 0.0922 μg/kg and 0.243 – 0.307 μg/kg respectively for beta-agonists. The overall recoveries were between 85% and 100% with the relative standard deviation of (RSDs) between 3.0% and 10%. The recoveries from the developed DLLME method were compared with those obtained from dSPE. DLLME proved to be comparable to SPE. The real samples test showed that the DLLME method developed is accurate and sensitive for the determination of beta-agonist residues in bovine muscle. / Chemistry / M. Sc. (Analytical Chemistry)

Focus of this study was on the development of one of the faster, simpler, cost effective and environmentally friendly sample pre-treatment techniques which employs a supported liquid membrane, in this case a Hollow-fiber supported liquid membrane (HF-SLM) for determination of seven (7) quinolone antibiotics (enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, danofloxacin, difloxacin, norfloxacin, nalidixic acid and sarafloxacin) in bovine kidney samples followed by LC-MS/MS analysis. The key parameters of the method were optimized and the method was validated following the 2002/657 EC guidelines. The optimum HF-SLM conditions were therefore; NaH2PO4 as a donor phase at pH 7, 0.1% formic acid at pH 3 as acceptor phase. Triethylamine was the optimized liquid membrane and the stirring time was optimized at 1 hour. Separation of the 7 quinolones including 3 internal standards (enrofloxacin-d5, norfloxacin-d5 and difloxacin-d3) was carried out on a Phenomenex Kinetex 2.6 μm XB-C18, 100 mm x 4.6 mm, 100Å column. Validation parameters such as Correlation coefficients (r2) ranging from 0.9714-0.9975 were obtained, while limit of detection (LOD) ranged between 3-39 ug kg-1 and limit of quantification (LOQ) ranged between 10-130 ug kg-1. The obtained limits at which it can be concluded with an error probability of α = 95% that a sample is non-compliant (CCα) ranged from 28 – 422 ug kg-1 while CCβ; the smallest content of the substance that may be detected, identified or quantified in a sample with an error probability of β = 95%, ranged from 29 – 454 ug kg-1. The method was found to be reproducible with CVs ≤ 23 %. The tested samples from Botswana local abattoirs showed no presence of quinolone antibiotics when the method was applied to real bovine kidney samples. Hollow-fiber supported liquid membrane can therefore be used for extraction of biological samples since it is a “greener technique” which uses less solvent which are less harmful to the environment when disposed as compared to dispersive Solid Phase Extraction (dSPE). / Chemistry / M. Sc. (Chemistry)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-04-23Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:46:23Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 pivatto_m_dr_araiq.pdf: 3895401 bytes, checksum: 8f00934510e296fa101a80060a9db12a (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O presente trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo das vias biossintéticas dos alcalóides piperidínicos presentes em Senna spectabilis, motivado pela potente atividade anticolinesterásica e baixa toxicidade observada no derivado (–)-3-O-acetil-espectalina (15), eleito como composto líder para o desenvolvimento de fármacos anti-Alzheimer que estão em fase de estudos pré-clínicos. Por outro lado, o interesse acadêmico no conhecimento das vias metabólicas, pode levar a estudos futuros de engenharia genética para potencializar a produção desses metabólitos uma vez que a síntese é extremamente complexa em função da presença de três centros estereogênicos. Tendo isso em vista, foram selecionadas seis espécies de Senna e Cassia para avaliar a presença dos alcalóides e selecionar aquela que os produz em maior quantidade. Foram estudadas as flores de S. spectabilis, S. multijuga, S. macranthera, S. velutina, C. fistula, C. leptophylla, sendo que só foram detectados alcalóides piperidínicos e piridínicos em S. spectabilis e S. multijuga, respectivamente, utilizando a espectrometria de massas tandem. Embora sejam de classes diferentes, esses metabólitos têm padrão de substituição similar, porém, apresentaram atividade anticolinesterásica diferenciada. De S. spectabilis foram isolados os alcalóides piperidínicos: (–)-cassina (1), (–)-espectalina (9), (–)-3-O-acetil-espectalina (15), (–)-3-O-acetil-cassina (16) e identificados 7-hidroxi-carnavalina (71), 7-hidroxi-cassina (18) e/ou espicigerina (42) utilizando a EM. De S. multijuga foram isolados os alcalóides piridínicos: 7'-multijuguinona (67) e 12'-hidroxi-7'-multijuguinona (69) e identificados 7'-multijuguinol (68) e 12'-hidroxi-7'- multijuguinol (70). Para os estudos biossintéticos dos alcalóides piperidínicos foi inicialmente proposta a biogênese onde lisina e acetato foram eleitos potenciais... / The following work encompass as main goal the study of biosynthetic pathways to produce piperidine alkaloids using Senna spectabilis as natural matrix. Such research was instigated due to the high acetylcholinesterase activity and low toxicity showed by the derivative (–)-3-O-acetyl-spectaline (15), selected as a lead compound against Alzheimer’s disease and currently under pre-clinical trials. Still yet, the academic interest on researching metabolic pathways that may lead to further genetic engineering studies to enhance the production of these metabolites is of extremely importance, due to the inability of producing any commercially viable synthetic strategy for their stereogenic centers. We selected six Senna and Cassia species to evaluate the presence of these metabolites aiming to select which matrix will produce them the most. We studied flowers from S. spectabilis, S. multijuga, S. macranthera, S. velutina, C. fistula and C. leptophylla. From those, we were able to detect piperidine and pyridine alkaloids only in S. spectabilis and S. multijuga, respectively, using tandem mass spectrometry. Regardless of the different structural nature towards 15, those metabolites have similar substitution patterns and showed differential acetylcholinesterase activity. From S. spectabilis were isolated the piperidine alkaloids: (–)-cassine (1), (–)-spectaline (9), (–)-3-O-acetyl-spectaline (15), (–)-3-O-acetyl-cassine (16), and identified 7-hidroxy- carnavaline (71), 7-hidroxy-cassine (18) and/or spicigerine (42) by tandem mass spectrometry and from S. multijuga were isolated the pyridine alkaloids: 7'-multijuguinone (67), 12'-hydroxy-7'-multijuguinone (69) and, identified by MS: 7'-multijuguinol (68) and 12'-hydroxy-7'-multijuguinol (70). We initially proposed the incorporation of lysine and acetate as main precursors of the piperidine alkaloids biosynthetic pathway and thus... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)