Dilip K Rai

TEAGASC - The Agriculture and Food Development Authority, Carlow, L, Ireland (Republic of Ireland)

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Publications (23)67.34 Total impact

  • Article: Stability of falcarinol type polyacetylenes during processing of Apiaceae vegetables
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    ABSTRACT: Carrots are known as an excellent source of pro-vitamin A and other phytochemicals such as phenolics, and is one of the most consumed vegetable around the world. These phytochemicals are believed to help protect against various chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. The presence of polyacetylenes (PAs) has been known in carrots for many years however it is in recent times that researchers have found evidence for health promoting properties of PAs. In particular falcarinol type PAs have been under continuous study due to their range of bioactivities which could provide health benefits. In common with other vegetables a high proportion of Apiaceae vegetables are processed prior to consumption. The renewed interest in the biological relevance of falcarinol type polyacetylenes has lead to many investigations into the effect of processing on their levels. The primary objective of the present review is to summarise and critically evaluate the effects of food processing technologies on polyacetylene levels of different Apiaceae vegetables with a view to coming to a consensus as to the best practices to optimise their retention in processed products.
    Trends in Food Science & Technology 02/2013; · 3.67 Impact Factor
  • Article: Techniques to extract bioactive compounds from food by-products of plant origin
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    ABSTRACT: By-products of plant origin represent an abundant source of bioactive compounds. However, to exploit these resources commercially relevant strategies for their extraction must be developed. This review focuses on the extraction of bioactive compounds from food by-products of plant origin by a number of novel methods, including pressurised liquid extraction and supercritical CO2 extraction. In general supercritical CO2 extraction is most effective for apolar compounds such as carotenoids, while pressurised liquid extraction can be used to extract more polar compounds such as polyphenols. Both techniques are sustainable and green techniques. In addition, pre-treatment of plant by-products by novel non-thermal processing techniques in order to enhance extraction will be highlighted. In general the selection of an appropriate extraction strategy is dependent on the type of compound to be extracted as well as the potential up scaling of the technique.
    Food Research International. 01/2012; 46(2):505-513.
  • Article: A tandem mass spectrometric investigation of N-(3-ferrocenyl-2-naphthoyl) dipeptide ethyl esters and N-(6-ferrocenyl-2-naphthoyl) dipeptide ethyl esters.
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    ABSTRACT: N-(3-Ferrocenyl-2-naphthoyl) dipeptide ethyl esters 1-4 and N-(6-ferrocenyl-2-naphthoyl) dipeptide ethyl esters 5-8 were prepared by coupling either 3-ferrocenylnaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid or 6-ferrocenylnaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid to the dipeptide ethyl esters GlyGly(OEt) (1, 5), AlaGly(OEt) (2, 6), GlyPhe(OEt) (3, 7) and GlyLeu(OEt) (4, 8), using the standard N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride, 1-hydroxybenzotriazole protocol. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) were employed in conjunction with tandem mass spectrometry in the analysis of N-(3-ferrocenyl-2-naphthoyl) dipeptide ethyl esters 1-4 and N-(6-ferrocenyl-2-naphthoyl) dipeptide ethyl esters 5-8. Radical cations, [M](+•) and [M + H](+) species were both observed in the mass spectra. Intense sodium [M + Na](+) and potassium [M + K](+) adducts were also present. An important diagnostic ion at m/z [M-65](+) was observed in both the MS and MS/MS spectra of the N-(3-ferrocenyl-2-naphthoyl) dipeptide derivatives. Sequence-specific ions were generally not observed in the MS/MS spectra of the N-(3-ferrocenyl-2-naphthoyl) series due to formation of the diagnostic [M-65](+) ion. Sequence-specific ions were observed in the MS/MS spectra of the N-(6-ferrocenyl-2-naphthoyl) dipeptide esters with charge retention on the derivatized N-terminal of the dipeptide. Both series of compounds could be successfully analyzed by MALDI without the use of a matrix (LDI).
    Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 10/2011; 25(19):2905-10. · 2.79 Impact Factor
  • Article: Characterisation of polyacetylenes isolated from carrot (Daucus carota) extracts by negative ion tandem mass spectrometry.
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    ABSTRACT: The potential use of negative electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in the characterisation of the three polyacetylenes common in carrots (Daucus carota) has been assessed. The MS scans have demonstrated that the polyacetylenes undergo a modest degree of in-source decomposition in the negative ionisation mode while the positive ionisation mode has shown predominantly sodiated ions and no [M+H](+) ions. Tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) studies have shown that the polyacetylenes follow two distinct fragmentation pathways: one that involves cleavage of the C3-C4 bond and the other with cleavage of the C7-C8 bond. The cleavage of the C7-C8 bond generated product ions m/z 105.0 for falcarinol, m/z 105/107.0 for falcarindiol, m/z 147.0/149.1 for falcarindiol-3-acetate. In addition to these product ions, the transitions m/z 243.2 → 187.1 (falcarinol), m/z 259.2 → 203.1 (falcarindiol), m/z 301.2 → 255.2/203.1 (falcarindiol-3-acetate), mostly from the C3-C4 bond cleavage, can form the basis of multiple reaction monitoring (MRM)-quantitative methods which are poorly represented in the literature. The 'MS(3) ' experimental data confirmed a less pronounced homolytic cleavage site between the C11-C12 bond in the falcarinol-type polacetylenes. The optimised liquid chromatography (LC)/MS conditions have achieved a baseline chromatographic separation of the three polyacetylenes investigated within 40 min total run-time.
    Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 08/2011; 25(15):2231-9. · 2.79 Impact Factor
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    Article: In vitro activities of synthetic host defense propeptides processed by neutrophil elastase against cystic fibrosis pathogens.
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    ABSTRACT: The antimicrobial and hemolytic activities of a host defense peptide can be controlled by its modification as a propeptide of reduced net charge, which can then be processed by neutrophil elastase, a serine protease involved in chronic airway inflammation and infections associated with cystic fibrosis.
    Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 02/2011; 55(5):2487-9. · 4.84 Impact Factor
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    Article: Characterization of phenolic composition in Lamiaceae spices by LC-ESI-MS/MS.
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    ABSTRACT: A total of 38 phenolic compounds in the solid/liquid extracts of five Lamiaceae spices, rosemary, oregano, sage, basil, and thyme, were identified in the present study using LC-ESI-MS/MS. These compounds were distributed in four major categories, namely, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, flavonoids, and phenolic terpenes. Among them, the category of flavonoids was the largest, with 17 compounds. Identification of the phenolic compounds was carried out by comparing retention times and mass spectra with those of authentic standards. If standards were unavailable, phenolic compounds were identified on the basis of accurate mass of pseudomolecular [M - H](-) ions and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data. The results of accurate mass measurements fit well with the elemental composition of the compounds. The diagnostic fragmentation patterns of the compounds during collision-induced dissociation (CID) elucidated the structural information of the compounds analyzed.
    Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 10/2010; 58(19):10576-81. · 2.82 Impact Factor
  • Article: Synthesis, characterisation and biological evaluation of N-(ferrocenyl)naphthoyl amino acid esters as anticancer agents.
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    ABSTRACT: A series of N-(ferrocenyl)naphthoyl amino acid esters 5-18 has been prepared by coupling ferrocenyl naphthoic acids 3-4 to alpha-amino acids and linear amino acids in the presence of N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt). The compounds were fully characterised by a range of NMR spectroscopic techniques, UV-Vis spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and cyclic voltammetry. X-ray crystallographic studies of the intermediate compounds 1-2 were also performed. Biological evaluation of the intermediates 1-2 and N-(ferrocenyl)naphthoyl amino acid esters 5-18 was performed in the H1299 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line and the Sk-Mel-28 metastatic melanoma cell line. The intermediates 1-2 failed to produce an effect in either cell line. Compounds 5-18 exhibited a strong anti-proliferative effect in the H1299 cell line, whilst the Sk-Mel-28 cells were slightly more resistant to these compounds. N-(6-ferrocenyl-2-naphthoyl)-gamma-aminobutyric acid ethyl ester 17 shows a particularly high activity in both the H1299 cell line (IC(50) = 0.62 +/- 0.07 microM) and the Sk-Mel-28 cell line (IC(50) = 1.41 +/- 0.04 microM).
    Dalton Transactions 09/2010; 39(35):8228-39. · 3.84 Impact Factor
  • Article: Influence of Sous Vide and water immersion processing on polyacetylene content and instrumental color of parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) disks.
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    ABSTRACT: The effect of blanching (95 +/- 3 degrees C) followed by sous vide (SV) processing (90 degrees C for 10 min) on levels of two polyacetylenes in parsnip disks immediately after processing and during chill storage was studied and compared with the effect of water immersion (WI) processing (70 degrees C for 2 min.). Blanching had the greatest influence on the retention of polyacetylenes in sous vide processed parsnip disks resulting in significant decreases of 24.5 and 24% of falcarinol (1) and falcarindiol (2) respectively (p < 0.05). Subsequent SV processing did not result in additional significant losses in polyacetylenes compared to blanched samples. Subsequent anaerobic storage of SV processed samples resulted in a significant decrease in 1 levels (p < 0.05) although no change in 2 levels was observed (p > 0.05). 1 levels in WI processed samples were significantly higher than in SV samples (p <or= 0.05). 2 was particularly susceptible to aerobic storage following WI processing with losses of up to 70% occurring after 5 days storage. 1 type polyacetylene undergoes degradation such as oxidation, dehydrogenation when thermally treated forming oxidized form of 1 type molecules, in this case falcarindione, dehydrofalcarinol, dehydrofalcarinone. Thermal processing had a significant effect on instrumental color of parsnip samples compared to minimally processed in both SV and WI processed samples resulting in parsnip disks becoming darker, yellower and browner following processing and storage.
    Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 07/2010; 58(13):7740-7. · 2.82 Impact Factor
  • Article: Production of lipopeptides in Bacillus sp. CS93 isolated from Pozol.
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    ABSTRACT: Bacillus sp. strain CS93, which was previously isolated from Pozol, was previously shown to produce iturin A, bacilysin and chlorotetaine. To investigate the biosynthetic mechanism of chlorotetaine production, the bac genes were amplified from genomic DNA of Bacillus sp. CS93 by PCR and sequenced. The genes bacABCDE were determined, but no gene that might code for a halogenating enzyme was detected either within the gene cluster or in the flanking sequences. Following further analysis of culture supernatants that were active against bacteria by liquid chromatography-MS, it was not possible to detect bacilysin/chlorotetaine. However, in methanolic fractions containing antibacterial activity, molecular ions characteristic of surfactins and fengycin were detectable by electrospray MS. Using primers complementary for conserved regions of nonribosomal peptide synthase, it was possible to amplify gene fragments that had a high degree of homology with known surfactin and fengycin biosynthetic genes. Thus, in addition to the known antimicrobial compounds, we have shown that this strain produces other bioactive lipopeptides, which might account for some of the medicinal properties of Pozol.
    FEMS Microbiology Letters 03/2010; 304(1):69-73. · 2.04 Impact Factor
  • Article: A short synthesis of (+) and (−)-falcarinol
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    ABSTRACT: A short, practical synthesis of the bis-acetylenic natural product falcarinol 1 is reported. This method relies on the alternate functionalisation of bis-trimethylsilylbutadiyne 10. This may be achieved in one-pot, however, better yields were obtained more conventionally. Lipase mediated enzymatic kinetic resolution of the racemic adduct in an organic solvent afforded (+)-1 in 97% enantiomeric excess. The analogous process performed with racemic 3-acetoxy falcarinol 11 under aqueous conditions gave (−)-1. Oxidation of 1 with Dess–Martin periodinane gave falcarinone 2.
    Tetrahedron. 01/2010; 66(51):9681-9687.
  • Article: Poly-6-cationic amphiphilic cyclodextrins designed for gene delivery.
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    ABSTRACT: A new series of amphiphilic cyclodextrins containing cationic groups at the 6-positions and alkyl or biolabile ester groups at the 2-positions has been synthesised. Selective 2-O-allylation followed by photochemical addition of lipophilic thiols made it possible to control lipophilicity in these mesomolecules and allow solubility and self-assembly in water. The cationic groups are cysteamine-derived, while the alkyl and ester groups are C(1)-C(16) and benzyl ester groups. This is a new general synthetic route to a potentially wide range of polycationic cyclodextrins capable of acting as gene delivery vectors by condensing DNA and forming liquid crystalline complexes with oligonucleotides.
    Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry 10/2009; 7(18):3763-71. · 3.70 Impact Factor
  • Article: IDENTIFICATION OF Hb KENYA (Aγ81Leu-β86Ala) BY ELECTROSPRAY MASS SPECTROMETRY
    07/2009; 26(1):71-75.
  • Article: Precursor-directed biosynthesis of fluorinated iturin A in Bacillus spp.
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    ABSTRACT: Some iturin A-producing strains of Bacillus subtilis will elaborate the novel fluorinated analogue when incubated with 3-fluoro-L-tyrosine. The activity of iturin A is dependent on the D-tyrosine residue and the presence of fluorotyrosine may result in an improvement of the biological properties of this lipopeptide. The fluorinated iturin might also be used as a probe for studying its interaction with biological membranes.
    Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry 03/2009; 7(4):644-6. · 3.70 Impact Factor
  • Article: Alpha78(EF7)Asn-->Asp is a posttranslational modification in Hb J-Singapore [alpha78(EF7)Asn-->Asp;alpha79(EF8)Ala-->Gly].
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    ABSTRACT: In Hb J-Singapore, the alpha78(EF7)Asn-->Asp and alpha79(EF8)Ala-->Gly substitutions were initially thought to be genetic mutations. Subsequent studies on other similar hemoglobin variants suggested that the Asn-->Asp change was a posttranslational modification. Nevertheless, lack of DNA evidence made it difficult to confirm the deamidation in Hb J-Singapore. We recently encountered a female patient with Hb J-Singapore trait. In this report, we present electrospray mass spectrometry and DNA data to confirm the alpha78(EF7)Asn-->Asp is indeed a posttranslational modification.
    Hemoglobin 01/2007; 31(4):483-9. · 1.30 Impact Factor
  • Article: Haemoglobin Södertälje (beta118 Phe-->Val): a new mutation in human haemoglobin identified by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry.
    Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 02/2006; 20(22):3481-2. · 2.79 Impact Factor
  • Article: Accurate mass measurement and tandem mass spectrometry of intact globin chains identify the low proportion variant hemoglobin Lepore-Boston-Washington from the blood of a heterozygote.
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    ABSTRACT: Within a mixture of proteins, minor polymorphic components are difficult to identify using a conventional proteomic approach. Their identification generally requires multi-dimensional separation steps, before or after proteolytic cleavage, followed by sequence analysis of the proteolytic products. In this study, we investigated the potential of tandem mass spectrometry for protein characterization by identifying the delta-beta hybrid human hemoglobin variant Lepore-Boston-Washington using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Hemoglobin Lepore-Boston-Washington occurs mainly in heterozygotes, where it comprises approximately 10% of the total non-alpha-chains, the dominant non-alpha-chain being the normal beta (approximately 90%). Furthermore, Hemoglobin Lepore-Boston-Washington has an average molecular mass (15,865.23 Da) that is only 2 Da lower than that of the normal beta-chain (15,867.24 Da). Consequently, it cannot be resolved from the normal beta-chain by mass spectrometry. Here we show how Hemoglobin Lepore-Boston-Washington was identified directly from the diluted blood of a heterozygote by analyzing the product ions from the Lepore-Boston-Washington and normal beta-chain ions without prior separation of the individual chains. This study shows the potential of the tandem mass spectrometry for identifying a minor component in an unseparated mixture of proteins.
    Journal of Mass Spectrometry 04/2004; 39(3):289-94. · 3.27 Impact Factor
  • Article: The human bile acid-CoA:amino acid N-acyltransferase functions in the conjugation of fatty acids to glycine.
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    ABSTRACT: Bile acid-CoA:amino acid N-acyltransferase (BACAT) catalyzes the conjugation of bile acids to glycine and taurine for excretion into bile. By use of site-directed mutagenesis and sequence comparisons, we have identified Cys-235, Asp-328, and His-362 as constituting a catalytic triad in human BACAT (hBACAT) and identifying BACAT as a member of the type I acyl-CoA thioesterase gene family. We therefore hypothesized that hBACAT may also hydrolyze fatty acyl-CoAs and/or conjugate fatty acids to glycine. We show here that recombinant hBACAT also can hydrolyze long- and very long-chain saturated acyl-CoAs (mainly C16:0-C26:0) and by mass spectrometry verified that hBACAT also conjugates fatty acids to glycine. Tissue expression studies showed strong expression of BACAT in liver, gallbladder, and the proximal and distal intestine. However, BACAT is also expressed in a variety of tissues unrelated to bile acid formation and transport, suggesting important functions also in the regulation of intracellular levels of very long-chain fatty acids. Green fluorescent protein localization experiments in human skin fibroblasts showed that the hBACAT enzyme is mainly cytosolic. Therefore, the cytosolic BACAT enzyme may play important roles in protection against toxicity by accumulation of unconjugated bile acids and non-esterified very long-chain fatty acids.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 10/2003; 278(36):34237-44. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Accurate mass measurement by electrospray ionization quadrupole mass spectrometry: detection of variants differing by <6 Da from normal in human hemoglobin heterozygotes.
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    ABSTRACT: Mass spectrometry has a basic limitation when human hemoglobin variants are analyzed, because it cannot resolve two globin chains that differ in mass by <6 Da. Several common beta-chain variants differ by 1 Da from normal and, hence, when present in heterozygotes, are not resolved from the normal beta-chain. Normal and variant chains appear together in the spectrum as a single entity, whose mass is the abundance weighted mean of the two chains. Here we show that such heterozygotes can be detected in 500-fold diluted blood by accurately measuring the mass of the beta-chain using an electrospray ionization quadrupole instrument and the alpha-chain for internal mass calibration. A statistical analysis of the normal beta-chain mass (n = 86) showed that the standard deviation (SD) of the mean was <+/-0.05 Da (<+/-3.2 ppm). Hence, at the 95% confidence level (+/-2 SD), an abnormal alpha- or beta-chain differing by 1 Da from normal should be detectable in a heterozygote provided its abundance is >10% of total alpha- or beta-chains, respectively. Variants whose masses lay between 1 and 4 Da from normal were detected in 19 heterozygotes. Moreover, the proportion of each variant estimated from the mass change correlated with the proportion determined by cation-exchange HPLC. Variants were assigned to the alpha- or beta-chain by combining the sign of the mass change with the polarity change inferred from electrophoretic data. This procedure could be used for screening clinically significant hemoglobin variants.
    Analytical Chemistry 06/2003; 75(9):1978-82. · 5.86 Impact Factor
  • Article: Electrospray tandem mass spectrometry of intact beta-chain hemoglobin variants.
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    ABSTRACT: In this report, we present data to illustrate how human hemoglobin (Hb) variants can be identified by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) of the intact Hb chains following the one-step dilution of whole blood. MS/MS spectra were recorded on a series of intact beta-chain human Hb variants. The resultant spectra were interpreted, and using the information gleaned from the fragmentation patterns of known variants, two unknown beta-chain variants were characterized solely by this mass spectrometric method. Fragment ions that serve to identify beta-chain variants were identified. The fragmentation patterns of the intact beta-chain [M + 18H]18+ ions showed classical facile cleavages adjacent to acidic residues and N-terminal to proline residues, with Thr50-Pro51 being the most prominent cleavage site. Abundant product ions were formed by peptide bond cleavage in the regions close to the termini of the beta chain, the central region being less well-represented in the MS/MS spectra. Nearly 50% of the beta-chain primary structure could be determined by MS/MS of the intact chain. However, analysis of the Hb variants where mutations have occurred in the inner region (residues 58-111) of the beta globin proved to be difficult and required mass spectrometric analysis of their tryptic peptides for a complete identification.
    Analytical Chemistry 06/2002; 74(9):2097-102. · 5.86 Impact Factor
  • Article: Identification of Hb Kenya (Agamma81Leu-beta86Ala) by electrospray mass spectrometry.
    Hemoglobin 03/2002; 26(1):71-5. · 1.30 Impact Factor

Institutions

  • 2011
    • TEAGASC - The Agriculture and Food Development Authority
      • Division of Food Bioscience
      Carlow, L, Ireland (Republic of Ireland)
  • 2010
    • Dublin City University
      • School of Chemical Sciences
      Dublin, L, Ireland (Republic of Ireland)
  • 2007
    • St. James's Hospital
      Dublin, L, Ireland (Republic of Ireland)
    • University College Dublin
      • Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology
      Dublin, L, Ireland (Republic of Ireland)
  • 2004
    • Karolinska Institutet
      • Institutionen för laboratoriemedicin
      Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
  • 2002–2003
    • Stockholm University
      Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
    • Karolinska University Hospital
      Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden