Anti-AIDS agents. Part 58: synthesis and anti-HIV activity of 1-thia-di-O-(-)-camphanoyl-(+)-cis-khellactone (1-thia-DCK) analogues

Two 1-thia-DCK analogues (9a and 9b) were synthesized and evaluated for inhibition of HIV-1 replication in H9 lymphocytes. Compound 9a showed excellent anti-HIV activity with an EC(50) value of 0.00012 microM and therapeutic index of 1408000. Compound 9b was less active with EC(50) and TI values of 3.11 microM and 62.3, respectively. The bioassay results indicated that thia-DCK analogues merit attention as potential HIV-1 inhibitors.     

Specific inhibition effects of N-pentafluorobenzyl-1-deoxynojirimycin on human CD4+ T cells

We first synthesized N-pentafluorobenzyl-1-deoxynojirimycin (5F-DNM), one new derivative of 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNM). Effects on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBC) and secretion of cytokines from human PBMC by 5F-DNM were investigated. It was first found that 5F-DNM remarkably inhibited the secretion of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and had a specific inhibition on the expression of CD4 molecules. 5F-DNM, much less toxic than cyclosporin A, might be used as a new candidate of immunosuppressant for specifically treating Th2-mediated immune diseases.     

Structural differences between paroxetine and femoxetine responsible for differential inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus efflux pumps

In this study the chemical modification of paroxetine was employed to determine which structural differences between the paroxetine-like and femoxetine-like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors is responsible for the differential potency of these agents in the inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus multidrug efflux pump systems.     

Synthesis and amine transporter affinities of novel phenyltropane derivatives as potential positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents

A series of novel fluoroalkyl-containing tropane derivatives (6-8, 10-14, 17, and 18) were synthesized from cocaine. Novel compounds were evaluated for affinity and selectivity in competitive radioligand binding assays selective for cerebral serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE) transporters (SERT, DAT, and NET). The nortropane-fluoroalkyl esters (7, 10, 11) were most potent for SERT (K(i): 0.18, 0.24, and 0.30 nM, respectively). Tosylate esters 17 and 18, synthesized as precursors for [(18)F]-labeled, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging agents, also showed high affinity for DAT.     

Optimal conditions for hepatitis B core antigen production in shaked flask fermentation

The effects of various environmental factors such as pH (5, 6, 7, 8 and 9), temperature (30, 37 and 40°C) and rotational speed (150, 200 and 250 rpm) on the growth and the hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) production ofEscherichia coli W3110IQ were examined in the present study. The highest growth rate is achieved at PH 7, 37°C and at a rotational speed of 250 rpm which is 0.927 h⁻¹. The effect of pH on cell growth is more substantial compared to other parameters; it recorded a 123% different between the highest growth rate (0.927 h⁻¹) at pH 7 and lowest growth at pH 5. The highest protein yield is achieved at pH 9, rotational speed of 250 rpm and 40°C. The yield of protein at pH 7 is 154% higher compared to the lowest yield achieved at pH 5. There is about 28% different of the protein yield for theE. coli cultivated at 250 rpm compared to that at 150 rpm which has the lowest HBcAg yield. The yield of protein at 40°C is 38% higher compared to the lowest yield achieved, at 30°C.     

Structural basis of Rab5-Rabaptin5 interaction in endocytosis

Rab5 is a small GTPase that regulates early endosome fusion. We present here the crystal structure of the Rab5 GTPase domain in complex with a GTP analog and the C-terminal domain of effector Rabaptin5. The proteins form a dyad-symmetric Rab5-Rabaptin5(2)-Rab5 ternary complex with a parallel coiled-coil Rabaptin5 homodimer in the middle. Two Rab5 molecules bind independently to the Rabaptin5 dimer using their switch and interswitch regions. The binding does not involve the Rab complementarity-determining regions. We also present the crystal structures of two distinct forms of GDP-Rab5 complexes, both of which are incompatible with Rabaptin5 binding. One has a dislocated and disordered switch I but a virtually intact switch II, whereas the other has its beta-sheet and both switch regions reorganized. Biochemical and functional analyses show that the crystallographically observed Rab5-Rabaptin5 complex also exists in solution, and disruption of this complex by mutation abrogates endosome fusion.     

Expression of a modified Cry1Ie gene in E. coli and in transgenic tobacco confers resistance to corn borer

The wild-type Crylle gene from Bacillus thuringiensis was modified for its efficient expression in transgenic plants. Modified Crylle gene (designated as Cryllem) was cloned into prokaryotic expressionvector pET28b and its expression in E.coli was confirmed by SDS-PAGE analysis. Bioassays using crude expression products in E.coli revealed that CrylIem protein had a similar toxicity to corn borer as wild-type CrylIe. CrylIem gene was then inserted downstream of the maize ubiquitin-1 promoter in plant expression vector p3301. Transgenic tobacco plants carrying Cryllem showed insecticidal activity against corn borer.     

The cDNA and genomic DNA organization of a novel toxin SHT-I from spider Ornithoctonus huwena

Spider venoms are complex mixtures of neurotoxicpeptides, proteins and low molecular mass organicmolecules. Their neurotoxic activity is due to the interac-tion of the venom components with cellular receptors, inparticular ion channels. Spider venoms have…     

Current limitations of SNP data from the public domain for studies of complex disorders: a test for ten candidate genes for obesity and osteoporosis

Background

Public SNP databases are frequently used to choose SNPs for candidate genes in the association and linkage studies of complex disorders. However, their utility for such studies of diseases with ethnic-dependent background has never been evaluated.

Results

To estimate the accuracy and completeness of SNP public databases, we analyzed the allele frequencies of 41 SNPs in 10 candidate genes for obesity and/or osteoporosis in a large American-Caucasian sample (1,873 individuals from 405 nuclear families) by PCR-invader assay. We compared our results with those from the databases and other published studies. Of the 41 SNPs, 8 were monomorphic in our sample. Twelve were reported for the first time for Caucasians and the other 29 SNPs in our sample essentially confirmed the respective allele frequencies for Caucasians in the databases and previous studies. The comparison of our data with other ethnic groups showed significant differentiation between the three major world ethnic groups at some SNPs (Caucasians and Africans differed at 3 of the 18 shared SNPs, and Caucasians and Asians differed at 13 of the 22 shared SNPs). This genetic differentiation may have an important implication for studying the well-known ethnic differences in the prevalence of obesity and osteoporosis, and complex disorders in general.

Conclusion

A comparative analysis of the SNP data of the candidate genes obtained in the present study, as well as those retrieved from the public domain, suggests that the databases may currently have serious limitations for studying complex disorders with an ethnic-dependent background due to the incomplete and uneven representation of the candidate SNPs in the databases for the major ethnic groups. This conclusion attests to the imperative necessity of large-scale and accurate characterization of these SNPs in different ethnic groups.