Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis for Studying Differences in High-Quality Colombian Cocoa Beans.

Colombia is a producer of fine cocoa, according to the International Cocoa Organization; however, most of its exports are in the ordinary cocoa category. To remedy this situation, several national organizations are working to create technological platforms for small producers to certify the quality of their beans. The objective of this study was to identify differential chemical markers in 36 cocoa bean samples from five Colombian departments and associate them with cocoa quality properties.

In vivo and in vitro testing of native α-conotoxins from the injected venom of Conus purpurascens.

α-Conotoxins inhibit nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and are used as probes to study cholinergic pathways in vertebrates. Model organisms, such as Drosophila melanogaster, express nAChRs in their CNS that are suitable to investigate the neuropharmacology of α-conotoxins in vivo. Here we report the paired nanoinjection of native α-conotoxin PIA and two novel α-conotoxins, PIC and PIC[O7], from the injected venom of Conus purpurascens and electrophysiological recordings of their effects on the giant fiber system (GFS) of D.

Intraspecies variability and conopeptide profiling of the injected venom of Conus ermineus.

The venom of cone snails (ssp. Conus), a genus of predatory mollusks, is a vast source of bioactive peptides. Conus venom expression is complex, and venom composition can vary considerably depending upon the method of extraction and the species of cone snail in question.

Quantum mechanical study of the gas-phase reactions between a series of substituted singlet carbenes and water.

The mechanisms and energetics governing the gas-phase reactions of a series of substituted singlet carbenes with water were studied using highly correlated ab initio molecular orbital calculations. Monosubstituted singlet carbenes ((1)[X-C-H]) were allowed to react with one and two water molecules in the gas phase (X = H, Me, CN, Cl, F for reactions with one water molecule and X = CN, Cl, F for reactions with two water molecules). Our results indicate the presence of stable ylide-like intermediates in all cases studied, with overall and intrinsic barriers depending on the nature of the group bonded to the central carbon atom.