Modulation of mutagenicity by phosphorylation of mutagen-metabolizing enzymes

In this Minireview, we discuss our findings on phosphorylation of cytochromes P450 (CYP) and influence of this modification on metabolic toxification and/or detoxification of a variety of mutagens. We show that phosphorylation drastically interferes with the mutagenicity of several classes of compounds which are of high human relevance (cytostatic drugs of the cyclophosphamide type, aromatic amines/amides, and nitrosamines). We illustrate this by describing the consequences of the stimulation of protein kinase A (with the example of CYP2B1 and CYP2E1), stimulation of protein kinase C, and inhibition of protein phosphatases PP1 and PP2A (with the example of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2). We discuss a possible mechanism governing these phosphorylation events.     

Glutathione depletion in lung cells by low-molecular-weight aldehydes

Use of oxygenates in gasoline in the United States may increase atmospheric levels of aldehydes. To assist in health assessments of inhalation exposure to aldehydes, we studied glutathione (GSH) depletion by low-molecular-weight n-alkanals and 2-alkenals, ubiquitous air pollutants, in adult rat lung (ARL) cells by laser cytometry. For each homologous series, the effective aldehyde concentration that depleted GSH by 50% (EC₅₀) in ARL cells correlates with published values for the median lethal dose of the chemicals and with Hammett/Taft electronic parameters, * for n-alkanals and _p* for 2-alkenals. n-Alkanals (EC₅₀, 110–400 mmol/L) were 1000 times less effective in depleting GSH than were 2-alkenals (EC₅₀, 2–180 mol/L), of which acrolein was the most potent. Ability of the 2-alkenals to deplete GSH follows the second-order rate constant for adduct formation. Ability of n-alkanals to deplete GSH follows chain length. Within a homologous series of low-molecular-weight aldehydes, structure–activity relationships are useful for predicting the toxicity of the aldehydes in vitro and in vivo.     

Aromatic O-glycosylation

Carbohydrates carrying an aromatic aglycon are important natural products and thus key synthetic targets. However, due to the electron-withdrawing properties of aromatic rings, phenols are difficult to glycosylate. This review covers the most common carbohydrate donors used for aromatic O-glycosylation (anomeric acetates, halides, trichloroacetimidates and thioglycosides) as well as some less common donors. The scope of the review is to give practical examples of aromatic O-glycosylations and to offer guidelines for glycosylation of typical aromatic residues. Anomeric acetates or trichloroacetimidates, activated under acidic conditions, are preferred for electron rich aromatic aglycons, while glycosyl halides, activated using basic conditions, are preferred for electron deficient aromatic residues.     

Enantioselective phenylacetylene addition to aldehydes and ketones catalyzed by recyclable polymeric Zn(salen) complex

New polymeric Zn(salen) complex was employed in the enantioselective phenylacetylene addition to aldehydes and ketones to produce corresponding chiral secondary propargylic alcohols with yields (up to 96%) and enantioselectivity (up to 72%) and tertiary propargylic alcohols with yields (up to 79%) and enantioselectivity (up to 68%) at room temperature, with added advantage of four times reuse with retention of enantioselectivity.     

Enzyme catalytic nitration of aromatic compounds

Nitroaromatic compounds are important intermediates in organic synthesis. The classic method used to synthesize them is chemical nitration, which involves the use of nitric acid diluted in water or acetic acid, both harmful to the environment. With the development of green chemistry, environmental friendly enzyme catalysis is increasingly employed in chemical processes. In this work, we adopted a non-aqueous horseradish peroxidase (HRP)/NaNO₂/H₂O₂ reaction system to study the structural characteristics of aromatic compounds potentially nitrated by enzyme catalysis, as well as the relationship between the charges on carbon atoms in benzene ring and the nitro product distribution. Investigation of various reaction parameters showed that mild reaction conditions (ambient temperature and neutral pH), plus appropriate use of H₂O₂ and NaNO₂ could prevent inactivation of HRP and polymerization of the substrates. Compared to aqueous–organic co-solvent reaction media, the aqueous–organic two-liquid phase system had great advantages in increasing the dissolved concentration of substrate and alleviating substrate inhibition. Analysis of the aromatic compounds’ structural characteristics indicated that substrates containing substituents of NH₂ or OH were readily catalyzed. Furthermore, analysis of the relationship between natural bond orbital (NBO) charges on carbon atoms in benzene ring, as calculated by the density functional method, and the nitro product distribution characteristics, demonstrated that the favored nitration sites were the ortho and para positions of substituents in benzene ring, similar to the selectivity of chemical nitration.     

Phylogenetic analysis and evolution of aromatic amino acid hydroxylase

A study was performed to investigate the phylogenetic relationship among AAAH members and to statistically evaluate sequence conservation and functional divergence. In total, 161 genes were identified from 103 species. Phylogenetic analysis showed that well-conserved subfamilies exist. Exon-intron structure analysis showed that the gene structures of AAAH were highly conserved across some different lineage species, while some species-specific introns were also found. The dynamic distribution of ACT domain suggested one gene fusion event has occurred in eukaryota. Significant functional divergence was found between some subgroups. Analysis of the site-specific profiles revealed critical amino acid residues for functional divergence. This study highlights the molecular evolution of this family and may provide a starting point for further experimental verifications.     

Role of reactive aldehyde in cardiovascular diseases

There is increasing evidence that aldehydes generated endogenously during the degradation process of biological molecules are involved in many of the pathophysiologies associated with cardiovasular diseases such as atherosclerosis and the long-term complications of diabetes. Major sources of reactive aldehydes in vivo are lipid peroxidation, glycation, and amino acid oxidation. Although the types of aldehydes are varied, the important aldehydes that can exert biological effects relevant to the pathobiology of oxidant injury are represented by 2-alkenals, 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals, and ketoaldehydes. These aldehydes exhibit facile reactivity with proteins, generating stable products at the end of a series of reactions. The protein-bound aldehydes can be detected as constituents not only in in vitro oxidized low-density lipoproteins but also in animal models of atherosclerosis and in human patients with increased risk factors or clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis, indicating that they could indeed be involved in the caldiovascular pathology. On the other hand, a number of reactive aldehydes have been implicated as inducers in generating intracellular oxidative stress and activation of stress signaling pathways, that integrate with other signaling pathways to control cellular responses to the extracellular stimuli.     

Modeling tyrosinase activity. Effect of ligand topology on aromatic ring hydroxylation: an overview

Synthetic modeling of tyrosinase (o-phenol ring hydroxylation) has emerged as a novel class of successful biomimetic studies. It is a well-established fact that the reaction of dioxygen with copper(I) complexes of m-xylyl-based ligands generate putative copper-oxygen intermediate species such as side-on peroxo {CuII2(mu-O2)}2+ [in some cases bis-oxo {CuIII2(mu-O)2}2+ in equilibrium with isomeric side-on peroxo], due to oxygen activation. Electrophilic attack of such species brings about monooxygenase activity by incorporating one of the oxygens to m-xylyl ring of the ligand and the other oxygen is reduced to hydroxide ion. The goal of this review is to provide a concise overview of the present day knowledge in this field of research to emphasize the important role the designed ligands play in eliciting the desired tyrosinase-like chemistry.