Two-step enzymatic selective synthesis of water-soluble ketoprofen–saccharide conjugates in organic media

Ketoprofen–saccharide conjugates were synthesized by selectively enzymatic hydrolysis and acylation. Firstly, the (S)-ketoprofen vinyl ester was prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis of (R,S)-ketoprofen vinyl ester. Then enzymatic transesterification of (S)-ketoprofen vinyl ester with a series of saccharides were performed by the catalysis of a commercial protease from Bacillus licheniformis (BLP) in organic medium mixture of pyridine and tert-butanol. The ketoprofen was selectively conjugated onto the primary hydroxyl group of saccharides and with high yield after 72 h. Partition coefficient determination showed that all the products have better water solubility than parent ketoprofen. Chemical hydrolysis experiment indicated that 50% ketoprofen could be release from ketoprofen glucoside and maltoside in aqueous buffer (pH 7.4) within 48 h.     

Parameter estimation of perillyl alcohol in RP-HPLC by moment analysis

Parameter estimations were made for the reversed-phase adsorption of perillyl alcohol (POH), a potent anti-cancer agent, on octadecylsilyl-silica gel (ODS). The average particle diameter of ODS was about 15 μm, and the particles were packed in the column (3.9 × 300 mm). The mobile phase used was a mixture of acetonitrile and water, in which the acetonitrile ranged between 50 and 70 (v/v %). The first absolute moment and the second central moment were determined from the chromatographic elution curves by moment analysis. Experiments were carried out using POH solutions within the linear adsorption range. The fluid-to-particle mass transfer coefficient was estimated using the Wilson-Geankoplis equation. The axial dispersion coefficient and the intraparticle diffusivity were determined from the slope and intercept of a plot ofH vs 1/u ₀, respectively. The contributions of each mass-transfer step were axial dispersion, fluid-toparticle mass transfer, and intraparticle diffusion.     

Antioxidant activity and antitumor activity (in vitro) of xyloglucan selenious ester and surfated xyloglucan

Two kinds of xyloglucan derivatives (xyloglucan selenious ester and sulfated xyloglucan) were prepared and evaluated on antioxidant activity and antitumor activity. Compared with xyloglucan, xyloglucan derivatives have new bioactivity against oxidative damage and tumor. Furthermore, xyloglucan selenious ester is more potent than sulfated xyloglucan at antioxidant activity and antitumor activity in vitro. The current data suggest for the first time that selenition of xyloglucan significantly increases its bioactivity and the chemical modification of polysaccharide may allow the preparation of derivatives with new properties and a variety of applications.     

12-disinapolylglucose accumulated in cotyledons of dark-grown raphanus sativus seedlings

A new sinapic acid ester has been isolated and characterized as 1(E),2(E)-di-O-sinapoyl-β-d-glucopyranoside from cotyledons of dark-grown red radish (Raphanus sativus) seedlings. Its structure was elucidated by negative ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra and enzymatic determination of the glucose moiety. A possible biosynthetic mechanism for the formation of this new ester is discussed in which the energy-rich acyl glucoside 1-O-sinapoyl-β-d-glucose acts as the acyl donor in a sinapoyl transfer to the hydroxyl group at C-2 of the glucose moiety of another molecule of 1-O-sinapoyl-β-d-glucose (‘disproportionation’).     

Perillyl alcohol and perillaldehyde induced cell cycle arrest and cell death in BroTo and A549 cells cultured in vitro

The role of the monoterpenes, especially limonene and perillyl alcohol, in the treatment of certain cancers is currently being evaluated in clinical trials. In this study, the effects of perillyl alcohol (POH) and its analog, perillaldehyde (PALD), on human carcinoma cell lines (BroTo and A549) cultured in vitro were investigated using proliferation assays (MTT and colony formation) and DNA content analysis by flow cytometry. POH and PALD elicited dose- and time-dependent inhibition of proliferation in both cell lines. Concentrations of POH and PALD that inhibited cell proliferation by 50% (IC50) in 24 hr were 1 and 3 mM, respectively. DNA content analysis revealed that 1 mM of either POH or PALD caused cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase in both cell lines while POH alone caused increased hypodiploid and annexin V-positive populations in both BroTo and A549 cells. POH induced apoptosis and was more effective than PALD at inhibiting the proliferation of BroTo and A549 cells cultured in vitro.     

Synthesis and Antitumor Activity of Acyl and Benzyl Types of Prodrugs of 2′-Deoxy-2′-methylidenecytidine

Abstract

For the purpose of improvement of the in vivo antitumor activity of 2′-deoxy-2′-methylidenecytidine (DMDC, 1), we synthesized its various acyl and benzyl derivatives and evaluated them for their antitumor activity against P388 murine leukemia in mice. In terms of minimum effective dose (30% increase in life span), 5′-O-stearoyl DMDC showed two-fold higher antitumor activity than DMDC on a molar basis, when intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered to mice once a day. The antitumor activities of some other acyl derivatives were almost comparable to that of DMDC, while benzyl derivatives had no antitumor activity. Results on the hydrolysis of 5′-O-acyl derivatives by porcine liver esterase showed that at least these derivatives should not be resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis for exhibiting antitumor activity. After either an i.p. or oral dose of 3′-O-benzyl DMDC, very low concentrations of blood DMDC were seen compared with those after administration of DMDC, suggesting that the inactivity of benzyl derivatives as prodrugs was due to the minimal level of DMDC in circulation after administration.     

Structure–activity relationships of fraxamoside as an unusual xanthine oxidase inhibitor

Fraxamoside, a macrocyclic secoiridoid glucoside featuring a hydroxytyrosol group, was recently identified as a xanthine oxidase inhibitor (XOI) comparable in potency in vitro to the standard antigout drug allopurinol. However, this activity and its considerably higher value than its derivatives oleuropein, oleoside 11-methyl ester, and hydroxytyrosol are not explained by structure–activity relationships (SARs) of known XOIs. To exclude allosteric mechanisms, we first determined the inhibition kinetic of fraxamoside. The resulting competitive mechanism prompted a computational SAR characterization, combining molecular docking and dynamics, which fully explained the behavior of fraxamoside and its derivatives, attributed the higher activity of the former to conformational properties of its macrocycle, and showed a substantial contribution of the glycosidic moiety to binding, in striking contrast with glycoside derivatives of most other XOIs. Overall, fraxamoside emerged as a lead compound for a new class of XOIs potentially characterized by reduced interference with purine metabolism.     

Structure-Biological Activity Relationships in Alfalfa Antimycotic Saponins: The Relative Activity of Medicagenic Acid and Synthetic Derivatives Thereof Against Plant Pathogenic Fungi1

The antimycotic activity of medicagenic acid and of some synthetic derivatives thereof was tested against plant pathogenic fungi. In general they all possess antimycotic activity. Furthermore, in the case of Sclerotium rolfsii, compounds where the hydroxyl functions of the aglycon remained unchanged (medicagenic acid and its dimethyl ester) or could be enzymically released (3-0-β-D-glucoside of medicagenic acid dimethyl ester) were significantly more active than compounds where these functions were modified by acetylation or methylation. Selective 2-0-methylation of medicagenic acid and comparison of the antimycotic activity of the resulting derivative against S. rolfsii to that of other derivatives suggests that a potential free hydroxyl at position 3 is essential to antimycotic activity.     

Protein and m-RNA expression of farnesyl-transferases,RhoA and RhoB in rat liver hepatocytes: action of perillyl alcohol and vitamin A <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">in vivo</Emphasis>.

Summary We analysed the action, in rats in vivo, of the protein isoprenylation inhibitor perillyl alcohol (POH) and that of vitamin A, alone or in association, on m-RNA and protein expression of farnesyltransferases (FTases α and β subunits) and their protein substrates RhoA and RhoB, in isolated hepatocytes. Combined administration of POH and vitamin A induced a sharp decrease in FTase α protein after 96 h, suggesting an involvement not only of farnesyltransferases but also of geranylgeranyltransferases, which share the FTase α protein. FTase β protein did not decrease. POH plus vitamin A, in contrast with POH or vitamin A alone, induced a decrease in RhoB protein, probably because of different cleavages. No modification was observed in RhoA protein. Vitamin A alone increased RhoB m-RNA and protein expression. As one of the functions of RhoB is cell polarisation, these data support our previous hypothesis of a polarised transport of vitamin A from hepatocytes to hepatic stellate cells. As the behaviours of m-RNAs and proteins in this study were often different, cytoplasmic metabolic pathways must be considered for the parameters studied. The behaviour of Rho B, which is thought to have an antioncogene function, is discussed in view of its isoprenylated forms in the membranes. These preliminary findings stress the need, when studying the association of two isoprenoids in cancer therapy, to consider normal as well as tumour-bearing animals.     

The influence of cosolvent concentration on enzymatic kinetic resolution of trans-2-phenyl-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid derivatives

A method to improve the enantioselectivity of lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution (KR) of trans-2-phenyl-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid derivatives in water–acetone solution is presented. Two different approaches were compared: enzyme-catalyzed esterification and enzymatic hydrolysis of the target ester. A substantial influence of enzyme type, ethoxy group donor, and solvent on conversion and enantioselectivity of the enzymatic esterification was noted. While enzymatic esterification proceeds with poor enantioselectivity, the hydrolysis of target ester proceeds efficiently. Studies on the influence of cosolvent used for the enzymatic hydrolysis reaction showed that kinetic resolution can be performed in acetone and water buffer mixture predominantly containing organic solvent. Any change in organic solvent content resulted in a substantial decrease in enantioselectivity from almost E = 150 to less than 5.     

Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for limonene and perillyl alcohol production

Limonene is a valuable monoterpene used in the production of several commodity chemicals and medicinal compounds. Among them, perillyl alcohol (POH) is a promising anti-cancer agent that can be produced by hydroxylation of limonene. We engineered E. coli with a heterologous mevalonate pathway and limonene synthase for production of limonene followed by coupling with a cytochrome P450, which specifically hydroxylates limonene to produce POH. A strain containing all mevalonate pathway genes in a single plasmid produced limonene at titers over 400 mg/L from glucose, substantially higher than has been achieved in the past. Incorporation of a cytochrome P450 to hydroxylate limonene yielded approximately 100 mg/L of POH. Further metabolic engineering of the pathway and in situ product recovery using anion exchange resins would make this engineered E. coli a potential production platform for any valuable limonene derivative.     

Selective carboxypropionylation of chitosan: synthesis, characterization, blood compatibility, and degradation

Two water-soluble chitosan (WSC) derivatives of N-succinyl-chitosan (NSCS) and N,O-succinyl-chitosan (NOSCS) with a degree of substitution (DS) that ranged form 0.28 to 0.61 were selectively synthesized by varying the molar ration of succinic anhydride and chitosan. The chemical structure and physical properties of the chitosan derivatives were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, and XRD. XRD analysis showed that the derivatives were amorphous. The lysozyme enzymatic degradation results revealed that the NSCS was of higher susceptibility to lysozyme. The degradation rate and the solubility of the chitosan derivatives were strongly determined by the degree of substitution and the position of the substitution. The results of antithrombotic properties, hemolytic properties and anticoagulant properties of WSCs indicated that the blood compatibility was dramatically improved, and the carboxyl group introduced on the C-6 or C-2 hydroxyl group appeared to impact anticoagulant activity in different ways.     

New carotenoids from the thermophilic green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium tepidum: 1′,2′-dihydro-γ-carotene, 1′,2′-dihydrochlorobactene, and OH-chlorobactene glucoside ester, and the carotenoid composition of different strains

The complete carotenoid composition of the thermophilic green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium tepidum strain TNO was determined by spectroscopic methods. Major carotenoids were four kinds of carotenes: γ-carotene, chlorobactene, and their 1′,2′-dihydro derivatives (1′,2′-dihydro-γ-carotene and 1′,2′-dihydrochlorobactene). In lesser amounts, hydroxyl γ-carotene, hydroxyl chlorobactene, and their glucoside fatty acid esters were found. The only esterified fatty acid present was laurate, and OH-chlorobactene glucoside laurate is a novel carotenoid. In other strains of C. tepidum, the same carotenoids were found, but the composition varied from strain to strain. The overall pigment composition in cells of strain TNO was 4 mol carotenoids and 40 mol bacteriochlorophyll c per mol bacteriochlorophyll a. The effects of nicotine on carotenoid biosynthesis in C. tepidum differed from those in the thermophilic green nonsulfur bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus. Received: 3 February 1997 / Accepted: 6 June 1997     

N-acetylgalactosamine 4,6-bissulfate in rat urine I. Isolation, identification and chemical synthesis

By starting with 4 l of rat urine, it was possible to obtain a sulfate ester of hexosamine in crystalline form. A series of identification procedures including chemical analyses, enzymatic digestion, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy showed that this substance is 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose 4,6-bissulfate. The trivial name for this compound is N-acetylgalactosamine 4,6-bissulfate; structural formula:

Full-size image (2K)

Quantitation by isotopic techniques indicated the urine possessed an average concentration of 8 μM N-acetylgalactosamine 4,6-bissulfate.Further extension of these studies necessitated the chemical synthesis of N-acetylgalactosamine 4,6-bissulfate and related compounds to be used for references or as biological substrates. Direct sulfation of N-acetylgalactosamine was attempted first, and strong preference for attak on the primary hydroxyl group (position 6) was found for chlorosulfonic acid. Thus, the reaction with 2.2 molar equivalents of the sulfating agent gave N-acetylgalactosamine 6-sulfate and its derivatives bearing a second sulfate at either position 1 (minor) or position 3 (major). The lack of sulfation at position 4 could be attributed to steric effects of the sulfate group preferentially attached to position 6. Another experiment in which UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine 4-sulfate was used in place of the free sugar led to the formation of a bissulfated sugar-nucleotide which, on subsequent hydrolysis with mild acid, afforded N-acetylgalactosamine 4,6-bissulfate, the same compound as that obtained from rat urine.     

Rutaceous alkaloids as models for the design of novel antitumor drugs

The chemical diversity of alkaloids in the Rutaceae is correlated with biosynthetic pathways involving various aromatic amino acid precursors, tyrosine, tryptophan, histidine, and anthranilic acid. The interest of rutaceous polyheteroaromatic alkaloids as models for the development of anticancer agents relies on their frequent ability to interact with DNA or with systems involved in the control of its topology, repair, and replication. Fagaronine and nitidine, from Zanthoxylum, demonstrate antileukemic activity, associated with topoisomerases inhibition. Evodiamine from Euodia rutaecarpa, displays antimetastatic properties. The pyranoacridone acronycine, from Sarcomelicope, exhibits antitumor activity against a broad spectrum of solid tumors. Development of synthetic analogues based on this latter natural product template followed the isolation of the unstable acronycine epoxide, which led to a hypothesis of bioactivation of acronycine by transformation of the 1,2-double bond into the corresponding oxirane. 1,2-Diacyloxy-1,2-dihydroacronycine derivatives exhibited antitumor properties, with a broadened spectrum of activity and an increased potency. The demonstration that acronycine interacted with DNA led to develop benzo[a], [b], and [c]acronycine analogs. Benzo[a] and [b] derivatives displayed significant antitumor activities. 1,2-Dihydroxy-1,2-dihydrobenzo[b]acronycine esters and diesters were active in human orthotopic models of cancers xenografted in nude mice. The activity of these compounds was correlated with their ability to give covalent adducts with DNA, involving reaction between the N-2 amino group of guanines and the ester group at the benzylic position of the drug. Cis-1,2-diacetoxy-1,2-dihydrobenzo[b]acronycine, currently developed under the code S23906-1, successfully underwent phase I and is currently under phase II clinical trials.     

蒙农红豆草不同花色表型及色素成分特征分析

蒙农红豆草不仅是良好的饲草作物,还可以用作庭院观赏及蜜源植物。该研究以蒙农红豆草浅色花瓣突变体与对照群体中的粉红色、紫红色花瓣为试验材料,通过对花瓣颜色的表型和色素种类及含量的综合分析,明确影响花色形成的主要物质。结果表明:(1)蒙农红豆草浅色花突变体与对照的粉红色花和紫红色花为3种不同的色系,根据黄度(b*)和色相角(h°)将浅色花突变体的花色定义为黄白色花。(2)在3种花色中共检测到10种类黄酮和5种花青素,其中6种山奈酚衍生物、2种矮牵牛素衍生物、2种飞燕草素衍生物和1种锦葵素衍生物为首次在蒙农红豆草中报道;同时还发现山奈酚-3-芸香苷、山奈酚-3-葡萄糖苷和飞燕草素-3-羧基修饰芸香苷在3种花色中含量(36%~50%、21%~35%和27%~65%)最多。研究推测:芦丁、山奈酚-3-芸香苷-5-鼠李糖苷和山奈酚-3-p-香豆酰葡萄糖苷为影响蒙农红豆草花色变化的主要成分。     

Sugar-linked biodegradable polymers: Regio-specific ester bonds of glucose hydroxyls in their reaction with maleic anhydride functionalized polystyrene and elucidation of the polymer structures formed

In the development of sugar-linked synthetic polymers as biodegradable polymers, it is imperative to know the variety of polymer structures formed by the reaction of a multi-functional sugar molecule with the functionalized synthetic polymer on which the sugar is to be anchored. Enzymes produced by the microorganisms causing the polymer to biodegrade can be sensitive to the particular type of sugar hydroxyl utilized (such as anomeric, primary, or secondary hydroxyl group) for getting anchored to the polymer. In this paper, we present synthesis of regio-specific ester derivatives of glucose with anhydride, functionalized polymers, i.e., ester formation specifically with the anomeric, primary or secondary hydroxyls of glucose. Characterization of these different esters groups was done using FTIR spectroscopy; each ester peak was further deconvoluted to yield its different components. For this purpose, we studied the reactions of d-glucose, 6-O-trityl glucose, methyl glucoside, 1,2-5,6-diisopropylidene-d-glucose, and 1,2,3,4-tetraacetyl-d-glucose with maleic anhydride functionalized polystyrene (PSMAH). In this study, the primary hydroxyl of glucose was found to be even more reactive than the anomeric hydroxyl. The peaks at 1716, 1725, and 1729–1737 cm⁻¹ were assigned to the ester carbonyl of the anomeric, primary, and secondary hydroxyls of glucose (C2, C3, and C4), respectively. An attempt was made to quantify the extent to which the different polymer structures are formed in a particular reaction by taking ratios of non-variable reference peaks (polystyrene peak at 1493 cm⁻¹) and variable peaks caused by the reaction (the residual anhydride carbonyl at 1780 cm⁻¹).     

Discovery of Novel 3,11-Bispeptide Ester Arenobufagin Derivatives with Potential in Vivo Antitumor Activity and Reduced Cardiotoxicity

Arenobufagin, one of the bufadienolides isolated from traditional Chinese medicine Chan'su, exhibits potent antitumor activity. However, serious toxicity and small therapeutic window limits its drug development. In the present study, to our knowledge, novel 3,11-bispeptide ester arenobufagin derivatives have been firstly designed and synthesized on the base of our previous discovery of active 3-monopeptide ester derivative. The in vitro antiproliferative activity evaluation revealed that the moiety at C3 and C11 hydroxy had an important influence on cytotoxic activity and selectivity. Compound ZM350 notably inhibited tumor growth by 58.8 % at a dose 10 mg/kg in an A549 nude mice xenograft model. Therefore, compound ZM350 also presented a concentration-dependent apoptosis induction and low inhibitory effect against both hERG potassium channel and Cav1.2 calcium channel. Our study suggests that novel 3,11-bispeptide ester derivatives will be a potential benefit to further antitumor agent development of arenobufagin.     

Epstein-Barr Virus Early Antigen Inducing Activity of 14-O-Derivatives of (*#x2212;)-Indolactam V

New 14-O-derivatives of (?)-indolactam V, which has the basic ring-structure of teleocidins without the monoterpenoid moiety, were prepared and their Epstein–Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) inducing activity was tested. A series of 14-O-alkyl derivatives was far less active than (?)-indolactam V, but the 14-O-acyl derivatives showed a high EBV-EA inducing activity. These results suggest that the free hydroxyl group at C-14 plays an important role in inducing the EBV-EA, and that the activity of the acyl derivatives arises through hydrolysis of the ester groups.     

两种黄素蛋白对奴卡霉素化合物的催化

【背景】2,4-二酮吡咯烷类化合物奴卡霉素和替达霉素都含有C-10酮基结构,但是该结构是由两种不同的酶短链脱氢酶NcmD和黄素腺嘌呤二核苷酸(flavine adenine dinucleotide, FAD)依赖的脱氢酶TrdL分别催化形成的。然而奴卡霉素生物合成基因簇中的FAD依赖的酶NcmL是否能回补NcmD的功能,以及TrdL能否催化奴卡霉素C-10酮基的形成,尚无相关的实验证据。【目的】通过体外酶催化实验研究NcmL和TrdL对奴卡霉素II和奴卡霉素F的C-10位羟基的催化作用。【方法】通过克隆ncmL和trdL至pET-28a(+)中,然后于大肠杆菌中进行诱导表达。诱导后的蛋白经纯化后,考察了纯化的NcmL和TrdL对奴卡霉素II和奴卡霉素F的催化作用,利用高效液相色谱与高分辨质谱联用技术鉴定了酶反应产物。【结果】NcmL不能催化奴卡霉素II和奴卡霉素F的C-10位羟基的脱氢反应,TrdL能催化奴卡霉素II和奴卡霉素F的C-10位羟基脱氢,分别得到奴卡霉素I和奴卡霉素G。【结论】体外生化研究表明,NcmL不参与奴卡霉素C-10酮基的生物合成反应,TrdL具有较广的底物谱,能催化多种奴卡霉素的C-10位羟基转化为酮基。