High-throughput screening affords novel and selective trypanothione reductase inhibitors with anti-trypanosomal activity

Trypanothione reductase (TR), an enzyme that buffers oxidative stress in trypanosomatid parasites, was screened against commercial libraries containing approximately 134,500 compounds. After secondary screening, four chemotypes were identified as screening positives with selectivity for TR over human glutathione reductase. Thirteen compounds from these four chemotypes were purchased, and their in vitro activity against TR and Trypanosoma brucei is described.     

A pterocarpan and two isoflavans from alfalfa

(−)6aR,11aR-Dihydro-3-hydroxy-9,10-dimethoxy-6H-benzofuro[3,2c] [1]-benzopyran (10-methoxymedicarpin), (+)-(2,3,4,-trimethoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-4H-1-benzopyran (7-hydroxy-2′,3′,4′-trimethoxyisoflavan) and (+)-(2,3,4-trimethoxy-5-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-4H-1-benzopyran (7,5′-dihydroxy-2′,3′,4′-trimethoxyisoflavan) were isolated for the first time from dried Medicago sativa hay. Structural assignments were based on ¹H NMR and mass spectra, X-ray crystallography, and optical rotations.     

Synthesis of 5,6-dideoxy-3-O-methyl-5-C-(phenylphosphinyl)-d-glucopyranose and its 1,2,4-triacetate

Methyl phenylphosphonite or dimethyl phosphite underwent acid-catalyzed addition reactions with some hexofuranos-5-ulose 5-(p-tolylsulfonylhydrazones) (7, 9, and 16), to give the corresponding adducts, 17, 18, 19, and 21. The isomer ratios of the adducts were affected by a 3-substituent in the hydrazones. Treatment of adduct 21 with sodium borohydride and sodium dihydrobis(2-methoxyethoxy)-aluminate (SDMA), followed by acid hydrolysis, gave 5,6-dideoxy-3-O-methyl-5-C-(phenylphosphinyl)-d-glucopyranose (26), which was acetylated to give the 1,2,4-tri-O-acetyl derivatives 27a and 27b. Conformational analysis of compound 27a by X-ray crystallography revealed that the compound was 1,2,4-tri-O-acetyl-5,6-dideoxy-3-O-methyl-5-C-[(S)-phenylphosphinyl]-β-d-glucopyranose in the ⁴C₁(d) form having all substituents equatorial.     

Citral Sensing by TRANSient Receptor Potential Channels in Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons

Transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels mediate key aspects of taste, smell, pain, temperature sensation, and pheromone detection. To deepen our understanding of TRP channel physiology, we require more diverse pharmacological tools. Citral, a bioactive component of lemongrass, is commonly used as a taste enhancer, as an odorant in perfumes, and as an insect repellent. Here we report that citral activates TRP channels found in sensory neurons (TRPV1 and TRPV3, TRPM8, and TRPA1), and produces long-lasting inhibition of TRPV1–3 and TRPM8, while transiently blocking TRPV4 and TRPA1. Sustained citral inhibition is independent of internal calcium concentration, but is state-dependent, developing only after TRP channel opening. Citral''s actions as a partial agonist are not due to cysteine modification of the channels nor are they a consequence of citral''s stereoisoforms. The isolated aldehyde and alcohol cis and trans enantiomers (neral, nerol, geranial, and geraniol) each reproduce citral''s actions. In juvenile rat dorsal root ganglion neurons, prolonged citral inhibition of native TRPV1 channels enabled the separation of TRPV2 and TRPV3 currents. We find that TRPV2 and TRPV3 channels are present in a high proportion of these neurons (94% respond to 2-aminoethyldiphenyl borate), consistent with our immunolabeling experiments and previous in situ hybridization studies. The TRPV1 activation requires residues in transmembrane segments two through four of the voltage-sensor domain, a region previously implicated in capsaicin activation of TRPV1 and analogous menthol activation of TRPM8. Citral''s broad spectrum and prolonged sensory inhibition may prove more useful than capsaicin for allodynia, itch, or other types of pain involving superficial sensory nerves and skin.     

Preliminary exploration of the Measurement of Diverse Adolescent Spirituality (MDAS) among Mexican youth

In the current article we propose and offer a preliminary test of an ecologically sensitive theoretical and methodological framework for understanding diverse adolescent spiritual development. The study summarizes the initial stages of development of the Measurement of Diverse Adolescent Spirituality (MDAS) that assesses three dimensions of spirituality: transcendence, fidelity, and contribution. We report our procedures and findings from an initial effort to contextualize the measure and validate the resulting scales with youth in Tijuana, Mexico. In the current study, 391 (211 females, M age = 13.78 years old) Mexican youth completed a self-report survey including the MDAS and measures of prosocial tendencies, daily spiritual experiences, and intrinsic religious motivation. Exploratory and confirmatory factor models, reliability, and structural analysis affirm the MDAS as a valid and reliable multidimensional measure of adolescent spirituality within the tested sample. Implications for further study of adolescent spiritual development and culturally valid research methods are discussed.     

Long-chain N-acyltyrosine synthases from environmental DNA

The heterologous expression of DNA extracted directly from environmental samples (environmental DNA [eDNA]) in easily cultured hosts provides access to natural products produced by previously inaccessible microorganisms. When eDNA cosmid libraries were screened in Escherichia coli for antibacterially active clones, long-chain N-acyltyrosine-producing clones were found in every eDNA library. These apparently common natural products have not been previously described from screening extracts of cultured bacteria for biologically active natural products. Of the 11 long-chain N-acyl amino acid synthases (NASs) that were characterized, 10 are unique sequences. A predicted protein of previously unknown function from Nitrosomonas europaea, a gram-negative nitrifying beta-proteobacterium, is 14 to 37% identical to eDNA NASs. When cloned into E. coli, this open reading frame confers the production of long-chain N-acyltyrosines to the host and is therefore the first NAS from a cultured bacterium to be functionally characterized. Understanding the role that long-chain N-acyl amino acids play in soil microbial communities should now be feasible with the identification of a cultured organism that has the genetic capacity to produce these compounds.