Noncanonical regulation of alkylation damage resistance by the OTUD4 deubiquitinase

Repair of DNA alkylation damage is critical for genomic stability and involves multiple conserved enzymatic pathways. Alkylation damage resistance, which is critical in cancer chemotherapy, depends on the overexpression of alkylation repair proteins. However, the mechanisms responsible for this upregulation are unknown. Here, we show that an OTU domain deubiquitinase, OTUD4, is a positive regulator of ALKBH2 and ALKBH3, two DNA demethylases critical for alkylation repair. Remarkably, we find that OTUD4 catalytic activity is completely dispensable for this function. Rather, OTUD4 is a scaffold for USP7 and USP9X, two deubiquitinases that act directly on the AlkB proteins. Moreover, we show that loss of OTUD4, USP7, or USP9X in tumor cells makes them significantly more sensitive to alkylating agents. Taken together, this work reveals a novel, noncanonical mechanism by which an OTU family deubiquitinase regulates its substrates, and provides multiple new targets for alkylation chemotherapy sensitization of tumors.     

First synthesis of a pentadeuterated 3'-hydroxystanozolol--an internal standard in doping analysis

The first synthesis of 16,16,20,20,20-pentadeuterio-3'-hydroxystanozolol (8) in 26% yield over nine steps is described using moderately priced starting materials and economic amounts of reagents. Compound 8 can be used as an internal standard in screening procedures for anabolic steroids as well as for the quantification of stanozolol metabolites via mass spectrometric techniques, such as LC-MS or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).     

Polymethylene Derivatives of Nucleic Bases with ω-Functional Groups: IV. [7-(2-Oxocyclohexyl)-7-oxoheptyl]purines

New polymethylene nucleoside analogues with a β-dioxo function in the ω-position of their hydro-carbon chain, [7-(2-oxocyclohexyl)-7-oxoheptyl]purines, were synthesized, and their physicochemical properties were studied.__________Translated from Bioorganicheskaya Khimiya, Vol. 31, No. 3, 2005, pp. 288–294.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kritzyn, Vepsalainen, Komissarov.For communication III, see [1].     

Catalytic enantioselective addition of indoles to arylnitroalkenes: an effective route to enantiomerically enriched tryptamine precursors

A new valuable catalytic protocol for the preparation of synthetically useful beta-indolyl nitro compounds bearing benzhydryl stereocenters is presented. The combined use of catalytic amounts of a commercially available chiral [SalenAlCl] complex and pyridine allowed, for the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of indoles with aromatic nitro-olefins to be carried out in good yields and enantioselectivity (up to 63% ee).     

A "de-streaking" method for two-dimensional electrophoresis using the reducing agent tris(2-carboxyethyl)-phosphine hydrochloride and alkylating agent vinylpyridine

Optimal isoelectric focusing in the alkaline region remains a challenge in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), though various attempts had been made to reduce basic end streaking. The present study reports the application of a novel reduction and alkylation step prior to 2-DE analysis using tris(2-carboxyethyl)-phosphine hydrochloride as a reducing agent and vinylpyridine as an alkylating agent. This simple sample preparation approach effectively eliminates basic end streaks, thereby enabling the analysis and identification of more protein spots resolved by 2-DE.     

Modulating furin activity with designed mini-PDX peptides: synthesis and in vitro kinetic evaluation

A peptide was designed from reactive site loop structure of alpha1 Antitrypsin Portland known as alpha1 PDX as a novel mini-PDX inhibitor of furin. The sequence was derived from (367-394) that contains the crucial furin cleavage motif RIPR382. A P3 mutant replacing Ile380 by Leu was prepared as a first model peptide. A Cys residue was inserted at each terminal of the peptide for purpose of cyclisation which was accomplished by air or iodine-induced oxidation. This mini-PDX peptide both cyclic and acyclic form inhibited in vitro furin activity (IC50 in nM) when measured against either substrates Boc-RVRRdown double arrow MCA or QVEGF-C [Abz-QVHSIIRRdown double arrow SLP-Y(NO2)-A-CONH2, Abz=2-amino benzoic acid and Y(NO2)=3-nitro tyrosine], latter being derived from vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) processing site. The geometrically constrained structure mimicking PDX reactive loop is crucial for enzyme inhibition. Our study further revealed that both mini-PDX peptides inactivate furin in a slow tight binding manner, with disulfide-bridged cyclic form being slightly more potent. Unlike PDX, these peptides inhibit furin via a different mechanistic pathway. The study provides an alternate strategy for development of efficient peptide-based inhibitors of Proprotein Convertases including furin.     

硫氧还蛋白的共价修饰

硫氧还蛋白是细胞中普遍存在的低分子量蛋白质,为生物体所必需。硫氧还蛋白、硫氧还蛋白还原酶和烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷磷酸组成硫氧还蛋白系统,调节细胞的氧化还原状态。硫氧还蛋白不仅维持细胞的氧化还原平衡,还具有抗凋亡及促进细胞增殖等功能。原核细胞的硫氧还蛋白仅含有两个半胱氨酸残基,真核细胞的硫氧还蛋白除了活性中心的两个半胱氨酸残基外,通常还有另外的半胱氨酸残基。这些半胱氨酸残基的共价修饰使硫氧还蛋白具有了更丰富的功能。硫氧还蛋白的共价修饰包括谷胱甘肽化、巯基氧化、亚硝基化和烷基化。     

The influence of hydrogen bonding on the rate of thiolate alkylation in tripod-zinc thiolate complexes

A series of new thioimidazolylborate zinc thiolate complexes Tti^xylZnSR (2)-(5) (where R = C₆H₄-o-OH, C₆H₄-o-CH₂OH, C₆H₄-o-NH₂, and C₆H₄-p-OH, respectively) have been synthesized and characterized as structural and functional models of the active site of the Ada repair protein. Structural determination of complexes 2-4 reveals intramolecular N/O-H?S hydrogen-bonding interactions. The influence of these hydrogen bonding interactions on the methylation of the thiolate ligands is evident from the fact that the rate of methylation for these complexes is reduced ca. 2 orders of magnitude compared to that found in the case of the non-hydrogen bonding-containing complex, Tti^xylZnSC₆H₅ (1).     

Synthesis of orthogonally protected vicinal diamines with amino acid-based skeleton

Summary A convenient route to amino acid-based orthogonally protected 1,2-diamines starting from materials readily available for a peptide chemist is presented. The key step of the procedure is the Mitsunobu reaction ofN-protected aminoalcohol, obtained by the reduction of commercially available Z- or Boc-protected amino acid, with imidodicarbonate or sulfonylcarbamate related to standard amino-protecting groups used in peptide chemistry yielding triprotected vicinal diamines.     

Catalytic chemistry of solid polyoxometalates and their industrial applications

First, fundamental properties (structure, acid and redox properties) and advantages of solid polyoxometalate catalysts (catalyst design by acid and redox control, molecularity, unusual reaction field and unique basicity) are explained. Then, the mechanism of alcohol dehydration elucidated by direct observation of reaction intermediates by solid-state NMR and the very high activity of Cs_2.5H_0.5PW₁₂O₄₀ are described. Finally several industrial applications of polyoxometalate catalysts are briefly introduced placing stress on the role of unique chemical properties of polyoxometalates.