Current Organic Chemistry - Volume 10, Issue 5, 2006

In this issue of Current Organic Chemistry new developments and applications of several analytical methods in life science, protein chemistry and natural product chemistry are documented. The article of Hirata and Fujii focuses on the direct detection of reactive oxygen radicals generated from xenobiotics, metal ions and drugs by in vivo detection with ESR spectroscopy and imaging. In their review, Griffith and Kaltashov pr Read More

This review article describes recently developed technologies in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and imaging. Automatic control techniques used for a continuous-wave (CW) EPR spectrometer are discussed. These techniques can solve problems created by the motion of animals. Recent developments with time-domain EPR spectroscopy are also reported. Time-domain EPR spectroscopy is a technically Read More

Hemoglobins are dioxygen transport proteins, which are universally present in higher vertebrates as a tetrameric protein. Recently there has been much interest in mutations and posttranslational modifications to hemoglobins as these may be directly implicated in disease states like thalassemia and diabetes mellitius. The analysis of covalent adducts to hemoglobin provides information on the extent of exposure to m Read More

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) became during the two last decades an important method for biomolecular structure determination. NMR permits to study biomolecules in solution and gives access to the molecular flexibility at atomic level on a complete structure: in that respect, it is occupying a unique place in structural biology. During the first years of its development, NMR was trying to meet the requirements previ Read More

Antimicrobial peptides are key components of innate immunity of all life forms. Understanding the structureactivity relationship of these peptides is essential for developing them into novel therapeutics that substitutes traditional antibiotics. NMR spectroscopy can provide insights into membrane-targeting antimicrobial peptides from a variety of angles. First, three-dimensional structures of antimicrobial peptides can be determine Read More

Isohexenylnaphthazarins (IHN), commonly known as Alkannins and Shikonins (A/S), are lipophilic red pigments. They are found in the underground parts, mainly roots, of at least a hundred and fifty species that belong to the genus Alkanna, Lithospermum, Echium, Onosma, Anchusa and Cynoglossum of the Boraginaceae family. The chiral pair A/S are potent pharmaceutical substances with a well-established and wide spe Read More