Five new galactolipids from the freshwater microalga Porphyridium aerugineum and their nitric oxide inhibitory activity

Chemical investigation of the freshwater rhodophyte microalga Porphyridium aerugineum led to the isolation of five new galactolipids, namely, (2S)-1-O-eicosapentaenoyl-2-O-arachidonoyl-3-O-β-d-galactopyranosylglycerol (1), (2S)-1-O-eicosapentaenoyl-2-O-linoleoyl-3-O-β-d-galactopyranosylglycerol (2), (2S)-1-O-arachidoyl-2-O-palmitoyl-3-O-(β-d-galactopyranosyl-6-1α-d-galactopyranosyl)-glycerol (6), (2S)-1-O-eicosapentaenoyl-2-O-arachidoyl-3-O-(β-d-galactopyranosyl-6-1α-d-galactopyranosyl)-glycerol (7), and (2S)-1-O-eicosapentaenoyl-2-O-linoleoyl-3-O-(β-d-galactopyranosyl-6-1α-d-galactopyranosyl)-glycerol (8) together with five known galactolipids. The stereo-structures of all new galactolipids were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and both enzymatic and chemical degradation methods. This is the first report of galactolipids from P. aerugineum. The newly isolated galactolipids showed strong and dose-dependent nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide-induced NO production in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Both galactolipids 1 and 2 possessed stronger NO inhibitory activity than N ^G-methyl-l-arginine acetate salt, a well-known NO inhibitor used as a positive control. Further study suggested that these galactolipids inhibit NO production through downregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression.     

Mono- and digalactosyldiacylglycerols: potent nitric oxide inhibitors from the marine microalga Nannochloropsis granulata

Chemical investigation of a marine microalga, Nannochloropsis granulata, led to the isolation of four digalactosyldiacylglycerols namely, (2S)-1-O-eicosapentaenoyl-2-O-palmitoyl-3-O-(β-d-galactopyranosyl-6-1α-d-galactopyranosyl)-glycerol (1), (2S)-1-O-eicosapentaenoyl-2-O-palmitoleoyl-3-O-(β-d-galactopyranosyl-6-1α-d-galactopyranosyl)-glycerol (2), (2S)-1-O-eicosapentaenoyl-2-O-myristoyl-3-O-(β-d-galactopyranosyl-6-1α-d-galactopyranosyl)-glycerol (3), and (2S)-1,2-bis-O-eicosapentaenoyl-3-O-(β-d-galactopyranosyl-6-1α-d-galactopyranosyl)-glycerol (4), together with their monogalactosyl analogs (5–8). Among the isolated galactolipids 2 and 3 were new natural products. Complete stereochemistry of 1, 4, 5, 7, and 8 was determined for the first time by both spectroscopic techniques and classical degradation methods. Both mono- and digalactosyldiacylglycerols isolated from N. granulata possessed strong nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide-induced NO production in RAW264.7 macrophage cells through downregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression indicating the possible use as anti-inflammatory agents.     

Synthesis of 3-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-l-serine (xylosylserine) andO-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1-4)-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-l-serine (galactosylxylosylserine) and use of the synthetic products for detection of galactosyltransferase I activity in rat liver

3-O-β-d-Xylopyranosyl-l-serine (xylosylserine) was synthesized by the following three-step procedure: 1) 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-α-d-xylopyranosyl bromide (benzobromoxylose) was condensed withN-carbobenzoxy-l-serine benzyl ester using the silver triflate-collidine complex as promoter; 2) theN-carbobenzoxy and benzyl ester groups in the resultant glycoside were cleaved by transfer hydrogenation with palladium black as catalyst and ammonium formate as hydrogen donor; and 3) the benzoyl groups were removed with methanolic ammonia. Xylosylserine was obtained in an overall yield of 70%. O-β-d-Galactopyranosyl-(1-4)-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1-3)-l-serine (galactosylxylosylserine) was also synthesized by this methodology and was characterized by 2-dimensional (2D) NMR spectroscopy techniques. The two serine glycosides (xylosylserine and galactosylxylosylserine) were used in detection and partial purification of galactosyltransferase I (UDP-d-galactose:d-xylose galactosyltransferase) from adult rat liver.     

Synthesis of 2-(p-trifluoroacetamidophenyl)ethylO-α-l-fucopyranosyl-(1–3)-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl) (1–3)-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1–4)-β-d-glucopyranoside,a tetrasaccharide fragment of a tumour-associated glycosphingolipid

The tetrasaccharide 2-(p-trifluoroacetamidophenyl)ethylO-α-l-fucopyranosyl-(1–3)-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1–3)-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1–4)-β-d-glucopyranoside was synthesized from thioglycoside intermediates. The key step was a methyl triflate promoted glycosidation of a lactose-derived 3′,4′-diol with a disaccharide thioglycoside to give a β(1–3)-linked tetrasaccharide derivative in 67% yield.     

Protodioscin-glycosidase-1 hydrolyzing 26-O-β-d-glucoside and 3-O-(1 → 4)-α-l-rhamnoside of steroidal saponins from Aspergillus oryzae

A novel protodioscin-(steroidal saponin)-glycoside hydrolase, named protodioscin-glycosidase-1 (PGase-1), was purified and characterized from the Aspergillus oryzae strain. The molecular mass of this enzyme was determined to be about 55 kDa based on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. PGase-1 was able to hydrolyze the terminal 26-O-β-d-glucopyranoside of protodioscin (furostanoside) to produce dioscin (spirostanoside), and then further hydrolyze the terminal 3-O-(1?→?4)-α-l-rhamnopyranoside of dioscin to form progenin III. However, PGase-1 could hardly hydrolyze the 3-O-(1?→?2)-α-l-rhamnopyranoside of progenin III, 3-O-β-d-glucoside of trillin, and the 1-O-glycosides of ophiopogonin D (steroidal saponin). In addition, PGase-1 also could hydrolyze the α-d-galactopyranoside, β-d-glucopyranoside, and β-d-galactopyranoside of p-nitrophenyl-glycosides, but the enzyme could not hydrolyze the α-d-mannopyranoside, α-l-arabinopyranoside, α-d-glucopyranoside, β-d-xylopyranoside, and α-l-rhamnopyranoside of p-nitrophenyl-glycosides. These new properties of PGase-1 were significantly different from those of previously described steroidal saponin-glycosidases and the glycosidases currently described in Enzyme Nomenclature by the NC-IUBMB. The gene (termed as pgase-1) encoding PGase-1 was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115. The complete nucleotide sequence of pgase-1 consists of 1,725 bp. The recombinant PGase-1 from recombinant P. pastoris GS115 strain also showed the activity hydrolyzing glycosides of steroidal saponins which was similar to that of the wild-type PGase-1 from A. oryzae. The PGase-1 gene is highly similar to Aspergilli α-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1), and PGase-1 should be classified as glycoside hydrolase family 13 by the method of gene sequence-based classification. But the enzyme properties of PGase-1 are different from those of α-amylase in this family.     

Transportable and Non-transportable Inhibitors of L-glutamate Uptake Produce Astrocytic Stellation and Increase EAAT2 Cell Surface Expression

Astrocytic excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) regulate excitatory transmission and limit excitotoxicity. Evidence for a functional interface between EAATs and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) relevant to astrocytic morphology led to investigations of actions of transportable (d-Aspartate (d-Asp) and (2S,3S,4R)-2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine (l-CCG-III)) and non-transportable (dl-threo-β-benzyloxyaspartate (dl-TBOA)) inhibitors of Glu uptake in murine astrocytes. d-Asp (1 mM), l-CCG-III (0.5 mM) and dl-TBOA (0.5 mM) produced time-dependent (24–72 h) reductions in ³[H]d-Asp uptake (approximately 30–70%) with little or no gliotoxicity. All drugs induced a profound change in phenotype from cobblestone to stellate morphology and image analysis revealed increases in the intensity of GFAP immunolabelling for l-CCG-III and dl-TBOA. Cytochemistry indicated localized changes in F-actin distribution. Cell surface expression of EAAT2, but not EAAT1, was elevated at 72 h. Blockade of Glu uptake by both types of EAAT inhibitor exerts longer-term effects on astrocytic morphology and a compensatory homeostatic rise in EAAT2 abundance.     

Cyclic tetrapeptides with –SS– bridging between amino acid side chains for potent histone deacetylases’ inhibition

Cyclic depsipeptide FK228 with an intramolecular disulfide bond is a potent inhibitor of histone deacetylases (HDAC). FK228 is stable in blood because of its prodrug function, whose –SS– bond is reduced within the cell. Here, cyclic peptides with –SS– bridges between a variety of amino acids were synthesized and assayed for HDAC inhibition. Cyclic peptide 3, cyclo(-l-amino acid-l-amino acid-l-Val-d-Pro-), with an –SS– bridge between the first and second amino acids, was found to be a potent HDAC inhibitor. Cyclic peptide 7, cyclo(-l-amino acid-d-amino acid-l-Val-d-Pro-), with an –SS– bridge between the first and second amino acids, was also a potent HDAC inhibitor.     

New diacylglyceryltrimethylhomoserines from the marine microalga Nannochloropsis granulata and their nitric oxide inhibitory activity

Chemical investigation of polar lipids from the marine eustigmatophyte microalga Nannochloropsis granulata led to the isolation of six betaine lipid diacylglyceryltrimethylhomoserine (DGTS), namely, (2S)-1,2-bis-O-eicosapentaenoylglyceryl-3-O-4′-(N,N,N-trimethyl)-homoserine (1), (2S)-1-O-eicosapentaenoyl-2-O-arachidonoylglyceryl-3-O-4′-(N,N,N-trimethyl)-homoserine (2), (2S)-1-O-eicosapentaenoyl-2-O-myristoylglyceryl-3-O-4′-(N,N,N-trimethyl)-homoserine (3), (2S)-1-O-eicosapentaenoyl-2-O-palmitoylglyceryl-3-O-4′-(N,N,N-trimethyl)-homoserine (4), (2S)-1-O-eicosapentaenoyl-2-O-palmitoleoylglyceryl-3-O-4′-(N,N,N-trimethyl)-homoserine (5), and (2S)-1-O-eicosapentaenoyl-2-O-linoleoylglyceryl-3-O-4′-(N,N,N-trimethyl)-homoserine (6). Structures of the isolated DGTSs were elucidated based on both spectroscopic technique and degradation methods. This is the first report of isolation of 1 in pure state, and 2–6 are all new compounds. The isolated betaine lipids showed dose-dependent nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Further study suggested that these betaine lipids (1–6) inhibit NO production in RAW264.7 macrophage cells through downregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, indicating the possible use as an anti-inflammatory agent. This is the first report of DGTS with anti-inflammatory activity.     

Characterization of a recombinant cellobiose 2-epimerase from Dictyoglomus turgidum that epimerizes and isomerizes β-1,4- and α-1,4-gluco-oligosaccharides

A recombinant putative N-acyl-d-glucosamine 2-epimerase from Dictyoglomus turgidum was identified as a cellobiose 2-epimerase by evaluating its substrate specificity. The purified enzyme was a 46?kDa monomer with a specific activity of 16.8?μmol?min^?1?mg^?1 for cellobiose. The epimerization activity was maximal at pH 7.0 and 70?°C with a half-life of 55?h. The isomerization of the glucose at the reducing end of β-1,4- and α-1,4-linked gluco-oligosaccharides to a fructose moiety by the enzyme took place after the epimerization of the glucose to a mannose moiety. The enzyme converted cellobiose to 12.8?% 4-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-d-mannose and 54.6?% 4-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-d-fructose as an equilibrium and converted lactose to 12.8?% epilactose and 54.3?% lactulose.     

Probing the specificity of gamma-glutamylamine cyclotransferase: an enzyme involved in the metabolism of transglutaminase-catalyzed protein crosslinks

γ-Glutamylamine cyclotransferase (gGACT) catalyzes the intramolecular cyclization of a variety of l-γ-glutamylamines producing 5-oxo-l-proline and free amines. Its substrate specificity implicates it in the downstream metabolism of transglutaminase products, and is distinct from that of γ-glutamyl cyclotransferase which acts on l-γ-glutamyl amino acids. To elucidate the mechanism by which gGACT distinguishes between l-γ-glutamylamine and amino acid substrates, the specificity of the rabbit kidney enzyme for the amide region of substrates was probed through the kinetic analysis of a series of l-γ-glutamylamines. The isodipeptide N ^?-(l-γ-glutamyl)-l-lysine 1 was used as a reference. The kinetic constants of the l-γ-glutamyl derivative of n-butylamine 7, were nearly identical to those of 1. Introduction of a methyl or carboxylate group on the carbon adjacent to the side-chain amide nitrogen in l-γ-glutamylamine substrates resulted in a dramatic decrease in substrate properties for gGACT thus providing an explanation of why gGACT does not act on l-γ-glutamyl amino acids except for l-γ-glutamylglycine. Placement of substituents on carbons further removed from the side-chain amide nitrogen in l-γ-glutamylamines restored activity for gGACT, and l-γ-glutamylneohexylamine 19 had a higher specificity constant (k _cat /K _m) than 1. gGACT did not exhibit any stereospecificity in the amide region of l-γ-glutamylamine substrates. In addition, analogues (26–30) with heteroatom substitutions for the γ methylene position of the l-γ-glutamyl moiety were examined. Several thiocarbamoyl derivatives of l-cysteine (28–30) were excellent substrates for gGACT.     

The mannobiose-forming exo-mannanase involved in a new mannan catabolic pathway in Bacteroides fragilis

We have proposed a new mannan catabolic pathway in Bacteroides fragilis NCTC 9343 that involves a putative mannanase ManA in glycoside hydrolase family 26 (BF0771), a mannobiose and/or sugar transporter (BF0773), mannobiose 2-epimerase (BF0774), and mannosylglucose phosphorylase (BF0772). If this hypothesis is correct, ManA has to generate mannobiose from mannans as the major end product. In this study, the BF0771 gene from the B. fragilis genome was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli cells. The expressed protein was found to produce mannobiose exclusively from mannans and initially from manno-oligosaccharides. Production of 4-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-d-mannose or 4-O-β-d-mannopyranosyl-d-glucose from mannans was not detectable. The results indicate that this enzyme is a novel mannobiose-forming exo-mannanase, consistent with the new microbial mannan catabolic pathway we proposed.     

Isomerization ofd-glycero-d-galacto-heptose tod-manno-heptulose by selected yeasts

Selected eight yeast strains isomerized-glycero-d-galacto-heptose tod-manno-heptulose. The conversion is 7–10%. Under identical conditions, the reverse isomerization ofd-manno-heptulose tod-glycero-d-galacto-heptose ord-glycero-d-talo-heptose does not take place.     

Novel alkyl alkanethiolsulfonate sulfhydryl reagents. Modification of derivatives ofl-cysteine

A simple, general scheme for the synthesis of sulfhydryl-specific alkyl alkanethiolsulfonate (RSSO₂R′) reagents where R′ is methyl, has been developed. Two new reagents, methyl aminoethanethiolsulfonate (2) and methyl benzylthiolsulfonate (3) were synthesized. These were used to modify stoichiometrically and selectively under mild conditions the sulfhydryl groups ofN-acetyl-l-cysteine ethyl ester (4),N-acetyl-l-cysteinep-nitroanilide (7), glutathione, and the A chain of bovine insulin. The corresponding β-S-(β-aminoethanethiol) and β-S-(benzylthiol) derivatives ofl-cysteine and of the peptides were afforded. The characteristics and significance of these reactions and products are discussed.     

On the structure of the peptidoglycan of cell walls from Myxobacter AL-1 (Myxobacterales)

Basically the peptidoglycan of Myxobater AL-1 consists of alternating β-1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamic-N-acetylmuramic acid chains. After splitting the aminosugar backbone with a specific algal enzyme three subunits arise: a monomer, a dimer and a trimer. Investigation of the monomer with specific enzymes and comparison of the degradation products to standards derived from other bacterial peptidoglycans suggest the following structure of the monomer peptide: l-alanyl-d-glutamic-l-meso-diaminopimelic-d-alanine. A d-alanyl-d-meso-diaminopimelic acid bond is the bridgebond between the peptides of the subunits.     

Accumulation of galloyl derivatives in a green alga, Spirogyra varians, in response to cold stress

The green alga Spirogyra varians accumulated antioxidative compounds in response to cold stress. When the algae were transferred from 20°C to 4°C, the amount of phenolic contents and flavonoids in the cell increased 17 times and 30 times, respectively, in 2 months. At this time, the radical scavenging activity of the methanolic extract of S. varians was 238 times higher than that of initial culture. To identify the responsible antioxidants, the methanolic extract was obtained from the algae grown at 4°C. HPLC analysis of the extract showed six compounds newly produced or increased over time. Four of the compounds were successfully purified, and the structures were identified using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The compounds were galloyl derivatives—methyl gallate, 1-O-Galloyl-β-d-glucose, 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-Galloyl-β-d-glucose and 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-Galloyl-β-d-glucose which are intermediates of the shikimate pathway.     

Principal component analysis of the relationship between the d-amino acid concentrations and the taste of the sake

We performed sensory evaluations on 141 bottles of sake and analyzed the relationship between the d-amino acid concentrations, and the taste of the sake using principal component analysis, which yielded seven principal components (PC1–7) that explained 100 % of the total variance in the data. PC1, which explains 33.6 % of the total variance, correlates most positively with strong taste and most negatively with balanced tastes. PC2, which explains 54.4 % of the total variance, correlates most positively with a sweet taste and most negatively with bitter and sour tastes. Sakes brewed with “Kimoto yeast starter” and “Yamahaimoto” had high scores for PC1 and PC2, and had strong taste in comparison with sakes brewed with “Sokujo-moto”. When present at concentrations below 50 μM, d-Ala did not affect the PC1 score, but all the sakes showed a high PC1 score, when the d-Ala was above 100 μM. Similar observations were found for the d-Asp and d-Glu concentrations with regard to PC1, and the threshold concentrations of d-Asp and d-Glu that affected the taste were 33.8 and 33.3 μM, respectively. Certain bacteria present in sake, especially lactic acid bacteria, produce d-Ala, d-Asp and d-Glu during storage, and these d-amino acids increased the PC1 score and produced a strong taste (Nojun). When d- and l-Ala were added to the sakes, the value for the umami taste in the sensory evaluation increased, with the effect of d-Ala being much stronger than that of l-Ala. The addition of 50–5,000 μM dl-Ala did not effect on the aroma of the sakes at all.     

Cytotoxicity and enzymatic activity inhibition in cell lines treated with novel iminosugar derivatives

Iminosugars are monosaccharide analogues that have been demonstrated to be specific inhibitors for glycosidases and are currently used therapeutically in several human disorders. N-alkylated derivatives of d-fagomine and (2R,3S,4R,5S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-5-methylpyrrolidine-3,4-diol with aliphatic chains were tested in eight human cancer cell lines to analyze their cytotoxicity and the inhibitory effect in the activities of specific glycosidases. Results indicate that these compounds were more cytotoxic as the length of the alkyl chain increases. N-dodecyl-d-fagomine inhibited specifically the α-d-glucosidase activity in cell lysates, whereas no effect was detected in other glycosidases. The N-dodecyl derivative of (2R,3S,4R,5S)-2-(Hydroxymethyl)-5-methylpyrrolidine-3,4-diol induced specific inhibition against α-l-fucosidase in cell lysates. Our results indicated that the length of the alkyl chain linked to the iminosugars determine their cytotoxicity as well as the inhibitory effect on the enzymatic activities of specific glycosidases, in human cancer cell lines.     

d-Amino Acid-Induced Expression of d-Amino Acid Oxidase in the Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

We investigated d-amino acid oxidase (DAO) induction in the popular model yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The product of the putative DAO gene of the yeast expressed in E.?coli displayed oxidase activity to neutral and basic d-amino acids, but not to an l-amino acid or acidic d-amino acids, showing that the putative DAO gene encodes catalytically active DAO. DAO activity was weakly detected in yeast cells grown on a culture medium without d-amino acid, and was approximately doubled by adding d-alanine. The elimination of ammonium chloride from culture medium induced activity by up to eight-fold. l-Alanine also induced the activity, but only by about half of that induced by d-alanine. The induction by d-alanine reached a maximum level at 2?h cultivation; it remained roughly constant until cell growth reached a stationary phase. The best inducer was d-alanine, followed by d-proline and then d-serine. Not effective were N-carbamoyl-d,l-alanine (a better inducer of DAO than d-alanine in the yeast Trigonopsis variabilis), and both basic and acidic d-amino acids. These results showed that S. pombe DAO could be a suitable model for analyzing the regulation of DAO expression in eukaryotic organisms.     

Characterization of the mucilage sheaths ofLemonniera aquatica by lectin-gold labelling

A pre-embedding lectin-gold labelling method was used to characterize the carbohydrate components in the mucilage ofLemonniera aquatica. A specific tissue processing protocol was developed, namely: a) primary fixation in 2% paraformaldehyde and 0.2% glutaraldehyde in PIPES buffer (pH 7.2) for 30 min; b) secondary fixation in 2% glutaraldehyde in the same buffer system for 1 h; c) post-fixation in 1% aqueous OsO₄ for 1h; d) embedment in Möllenhaur's resin. The three gold conjugated lectins used were: concanavalin A, wheat germ agglutinin andLimax flavus agglutinin, allowing detection of their complementary saccharides, namely α-d-mannose/α-d-glucose,N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (GluNAc), andN-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA), respectively.N-Acetyl-d-glucosamine and NANA residues were the major components of germ tube mucilage with only a small amount of α-d-manose/α-d-glucose. However, NANA was restricted to the mucilage in the region of germ tube emergence from the conidial arm. The abundance of GluNAc and NANA residues on hyphae and appressoria was less than that on the germ tube. Conversely, α-d-mannose/α-d-glucose was more abundant in the appressorial mucilage. Variability of mucilage composition was found to exist between different structures of the germinated conidium and also between different regions of the same structure. Further, the conidial cell wall ofL. aquatica is not chitinous, and lacks NANA and α-d-mannose/α-d-gluocse.