Publications by authors named "C Houee-Levin"

A series of Methionine (Met) derivatives, where either the amino group and/or the carboxylic acid group is blocked by acetyl and/or methyl ester functionalities, has been investigated by Collision Induced Dissociation-tandem mass spectrometry (CID-MS) and Infrared Multiple Photon Dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy. The CID-MS experiments were performed using a Fourier-transform ion-cyclotron-resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source. The IRMPD spectra were recorded employing a Paul type ion-trap coupled with the free-electron laser (FEL) FELIX in the fingerprint region from 600 to 2000 cm.

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OH⋅-induced oxidation products of DNA nucleosides and nucleotides have been structurally characterized by collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (CID-MS ) and Infrared Multiple Photon Dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy. CID-MS results have shown that the addition of one oxygen atom occurs on the nucleobase moiety. The gas-phase geometries of +16 mass increment products of 2'-deoxyadenosine (dA(O)H ), 2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-monophosphate (dAMP(O)H ), 2'-deoxycytidine (dC(O)H ), and 2'-deoxycytidine 5'-monophosphate (dCMP(O)H ) are extensively investigated by IRMPD spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations.

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Reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide (HO) and the hydroxyl radical (OH) have specific functions in biological processes, while their uncontrolled production and reactivity are known to be determining factors in pathophysiology. Methionine (Met) residues act as endogenous antioxidants, when they are oxidized into methionine sulfoxide (MetSO), thus depleting ROS and protecting the protein. We employed tandem mass spectrometry combined with IR multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy to study the oxidation induced by OH radicals produced by γ radiolysis on model cyclic dipeptides c(LMetLMet), c(LMetDMet), and c(GlyMet).

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Neutrophils play a very key role in the human immune defense against pathogenic infections. The predominant players in this role during the activation of neutrophils are the release of cytotoxic agents stored in the granules and secretory vesicles and the massive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) initiated by the enzyme NADPH oxidase. In addition, in living organisms, cells are continuously exposed to endogenous (inflammations, elevated neutrophil presence in the vicinity) and exogenous ROS at low and moderate levels (travels by plane, radiotherapy, space irradiation, blood banking, etc.

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