The synthesis of some dipeptides related to gramicidin S

Ferric citrate decreases ruminal hydrogen sulphide concentrations in feedlot cattle fed diets high in sulphate

Dissimilatory reduction of sulphate by sulphate-reducing bacteria in the rumen produces sulphide, which can lead to a build-up of the toxic gas hydrogen sulphide (H2S) in the rumen when increased concentrations of sulphate are consumed by ruminants. We hypothesised that adding ferric Fe would competitively inhibit ruminal sulphate reduction. The effects of five concentrations and two sources (ferric citrate or ferric ammonium citrate) of ferric Fe were examinedin vitro(n6 per treatment). Rumen fluid was collected from a steer that was adapted to a high-concentrate, high-sulphate diet (0·51 % S). The addition of either source of ferric Fe decreased (P< 0·01) H2S concentrations without affecting gas production (P= 0·38), fluid pH (P= 0·80) orin vitroDM digestibility (P= 0·38) after a 24 h incubation. Anin vivoexperiment was conducted using eight ruminally fistulated steers (543 (sem12) kg) in a replicated Latin square with four periods and four treatments. The treatments included a high-concentrate, high-sulphate control diet (0·46 % S) or the control diet plus ferric ammonium citrate at concentrations of 200, 300 or 400 mg Fe/kg diet DM. The inclusion of ferric Fe did not affect DM intake (P= 0·21). There was a linear (P< 0·01) decrease in the concentration of ruminal H2S as the addition of ferric Fe concentrations increased. Ferric citrate appears to be an effective way to decrease ruminal H2S concentrations, which could allow producers to safely increase the inclusion of ethanol co-products.

Decomposition of copper – amino acid complexes by oxalic acid dihydrate

A facile approach to the synthesis of some side-chain-protected amino acids via oxalic acid dihydrate as the copper sequestering reagent is presented. The copper in the amino acid complex reacted with oxalic acid dihydrate to form insoluble cupric oxalate, with the free amino acid released. Compared with conventional methods, this method is convenient, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly.

Formation of D-Phe-Pro-Val-cyclo-Orn by gramicidin S synthetase in the absence of L-leucine

The preparation of both enzymes of gramicidin S synthetase was efficiently improved by introduction of the fast protein liquid chromatography technique. High-resolution anion-exchange chromatography on Pharmacia Mono Q HR 5/5 was used as the final purification step. D-Phe-Pro-Val-cyclo-Orn was obtained as a product of the multienzyme by omission of L-leucine from the complete bioassay mixture. This tetrapeptide was formed by cyclization of the C-terminal ornithine to 3-amino-2-piperidone. It was identified and characterized by chromatographic and spectroscopic procedures using chemically synthesized reference compounds.