Further Analytical Studies on a Mercuri Thiol Adduct Isolated from a Human Prostate Cancer Cell Line (LNCaP)

Thiols play vital roles in cellular metabolism knowledge of which may be important the design future anticancer drugs. Previous work on composition thiols present human cancer cell lines has shown presence an unknown low molecular weight species, deemed to a “Conthiol”, could this respect. This was prepared and isolated from prostate line (LNCaP) form adduct 2-mercuri-4-nitrophenol; it accounts for 56.5% total line. Initial LC-MS analysis had indicated that possible thiol region 467 daltons. In further analytical studies identify thiol, attempts were made release by passage through Thiopropyl Sepharose6B column. column eluate revealed two components yielding negative ion fragments 427 m/z 449 m/z. Only former component contained indicating breakdown and/or rearrangement Conthiol occurred. Further investigations using ICP-MS showed sulfur content agreed with spectrophotometric result (Ellman assay) molecule did not contain phosphate. Amino acid analyses negative. attempt prevent released Sepharose 6B column, treated 5% v/v bromine water prior applying instance containing obtained equimolar quantity mercuric chloride forming fresh adduct, RS-Hg-SR. mercurial detected fragment 782 ionization gave ladder like pattern showing loss mass units 58 each rung. would seem suggest repeat polymer structure 5 monomers, which, plus atom, gives formula 322; probably revealing only part whose properties do correlate any known thiol. Infra-red (FTIR) provided little information except confirm group C=O stretch bands together possibility lactam ring at 1651 1634 cm·s&#451.