Neolignans from an Aniba species

The trunk wood of an Amazonian Aniba (Lauraceae) species contains, besides dillapiol and the benzodioxane-type neolignan eusiderin, four bicyclo(3.2.1)octanoid neolignans. These comprise representatives of the canellin-type: the known methoxycanellin-A and the novel compounds characterized as (1R, 3S, 4S, 5S, 6S, 7R)-1-allyl-4-hydroxy-3, 5-dimethoxy-7-methyl-6-(3′-methoxy-4′, 5′-methylenedioxyphenyl)-8-oxo-bicyclo(3.2.1)octane; (1R, 3S, 4S, 5S, 6S, 7R)-1-allyl-4-hydroxy-3, 5-dimethoxy-7-methyl-6-(3′, 4′, 5′-trimethoxyphenyl)-8-oxobicyclo(3.2.1)octane and (1R, 4R, 5R, 6S, 7R, 8S)-1-allyl-4, 8-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-7-methyl-6-(3′-methoxy-4′,5′-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-oxobicyclo(3.2.1)octane.     

Mutagen-induced sister chromatid exchange rate in Bloom syndrome remains unaltered in the presence of Bloom corrective factor

Summary Fibroblasts of a patient with Bloom syndrome (GM-1492) were cultured in the presence of either mitomycin C, ethylmethanesulfonate, or 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide, (4-NQ1-O) and sister chromatid exchange was determined. The mutagens enhanced the sister chromatid exchange rate to different degrees, 4-NQ1-O being the most potent substance. Bloom corrective factor, which is present in normal cell-conditioned culture medium, reduced the spontaneously increased SCE in Bloom syndrome cells by about 20 SCE per metaphase but failed to reduce the additional mutagen-induced SCE increase. These findings indicate that only spontaneously, but not mutagen-indeuced, SCE in Bloom syndrome fibroblasts can be decreased by the Bloom corrective factor.     

Modification of available arginine residues in proteins by p-hydroxyphenylglyoxal

p-Hydroxyphenylglyoxal reacts with arginine residues in proteins to give a single product which can be quantitated spectrophotometrically. The reaction takes place under mild conditions, pH 7–9 and 25°C. Under these conditions up to complete modification of N^α-citraconyl-l-arginine was obtained within 60 min with less than 5% modification of other common amino acid side chains. The extent of modification in a protein can be determined at 340 nm using the molar absorption coefficient of 1.83 × 10⁴m^?1 cm^?1 for the product at pH 9.0 and 25°C following removal of excess reagent by gel filtration. Several proteins, previously shown to have essential arginines, were modified by p-hydroxyphenylglyoxal and the losses in arginines were determined spectrophotometrically. These results were in close agreement with those of previous investigators. Rhea ovomucoid, a glycoprotein without arginines but containing an essential lysine, was relatively unaffected.     

Nucleosomal distribution of thymine photodimers following far- and near-ultraviolet irradiation

The nucleosomal distribution of cis-syn cyclobutyl-type thymine photodimers was determined in normal human skin fibroblasts following irradiation with low doses of far-ultraviolet light at 254 nm and nearultraviolet light at 313 nm. The thymine photodimer concentrations were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography in acid hydrolysates of total cellular DNA and of nucleosomal core- and chromatosomal-DNA. The lesion concentrations in linker-DNA were calculated from these data. While thymine photodimers were distributed uniformely following 254 nm irradiation they were enriched by a factor of 2.4 – 4.2 in nucleosomal linker DNA after exposure to 313 nm light.     

Tetravalent Vanadium Releases Ferritin Iron which Stimulates Vanadium-Dependent Lipid Peroxidation

The iron storage protein, ferritin, represents a possible source of iron for oxidative reactions in biological systems. It has been shown that superoxide and several xenobiotic free radicals can release iron from ferritin by a reductive mechanism. Tetravalent vanadium (vanadyl) reacts with oxygen to generate superoxide and pentavalent vanadium (vanadate). This led to the hypothesis that vanadyl causes the release of iron from ferritin. Therefore, the ability of vanadyl and vanadate to release iron from ferritin was investigated. Iron release was measured by monitoring the generation of the Fe²⁺-fcrrozine complex. It was found that vanadyl but not vanadate was able to mobilize ferritin iron in a concentration dependent fashion. Initial rates. and iron release over 30 minutes. were unaffected by the addition of superoxide dismutase. Glutathione or vanadate added in relative excess to the concentration of vanadyl, inhibited iron release up to 45%. Addition of ferritin at the concentration used for measuring iron release prevented vanddyl-induced NADH oxidation. Vanadyl promoted lipid peroxidation in phospholipid liposomes. Addition of ferritin to the system stimulated lipid peroxidation up to 50% above that with vanadyl alone. Fcrritin alone did not promote significant levels of lipid peroxidation.     

Ferritin, Lipid Peroxidation and Redox-Cycling Xenobiotics

A number of xenobiotics are toxic because they rcdox cycle and generate free radicals. Interaction with iron, either to produce reactive species such as the hydroxyl radical, or to promote lipid peroxidation, is an important factor in this toxicity. A potential biological source of iron is ferritin. The cytotoxic pyrimidines, dialuric acid, divicine and isouramil, readily release iron from ferritin and promote ferritin-dependent lipid peroxidation. Superoxide dismutase and GSH, which maintain the pyrimidines in their reduced form, enhance both iron release and lipid peroxidation. Microsomes plus NADPH can reduce a number of iron complexes, although not ferritin. Reduction of Adriamycin. paraquat or various quinones to their radicals by the microsomes enhances reduction of the iron complexes, and in some cases, enables iron release from ferritin. Adriamycin stimulates iron-dependent lipid peroxidation of the microsomes. Ferritin can provide the iron, and peroxidation is most pronounced at low PO₂. Compiexing agents that supress intraccllular iron reduction and lipid peroxidation may protect against the toxicity of Adriamycin.     

A truncated species of apolipoprotein B, B-83, associated with hypobetalipoproteinemia.

Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia, a syndrome associated with low plasma cholesterol levels, can be caused by apoB gene mutations. We identified a healthy 42-year-old man whose total plasma cholesterol level was 80 mg/dl. His plasma very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) contained a unique truncated apoB species, apoB-83, in addition to the normal B apolipoproteins, apoB-100 and apoB-48. Virtually no apoB-83 was detectable in his low density lipoprotein (LDL). From the subject's kindred, we identified nine other hypocholesterolemic subjects whose VLDL contained apoB-83. A tendency for cholelithiasis was noted in the apoB-83 heterozygotes, particularly in the older individuals. From the apparent size of apoB-83 on SDS-polyacrylamide gels and its reactivity with apoB-specific monoclonal antibodies, we estimated that it would contain approximately 3700-3800 amino acids. DNA sequencing of apoB genomic clones from two affected individuals revealed that apoB-83 was caused by a C----A transversion in exon 26 of the apoB gene (apoB cDNA nucleotide 11458). This mutation converts Ser-3750 (TCA) into a premature stop codon (TAA) and creates a unique MseI restriction endonuclease site. Thus, a single nucleotide transversion in the apoB gene results in a unique truncated apoB species, apoB-83, and the clinical syndrome of familial hypobetalipoproteinemia.     

Physiologic mechanisms for reduced apolipoprotein A-I concentrations associated with low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients with normal plasma lipids.

Low plasma concentrations of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) are major risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). Low HDL levels are common in patients with hypertriglyceridemia, but they also occur in those with normal plasma lipids; the latter include obese patients and cigarette smokers, though other patients with low HDL levels are neither obese nor smokers. The present study was designed to define metabolic causes of low apoA-I levels in normal-weight, normolipidemic patients. ApoA-I tracer studies were carried out in two groups of normolipidemic patients having low HDL levels to determine input rates and residence times for ApoA-I; these patients included 11 nonobese nonsmokers and 11 nonobese cigarette smokers. Their results were compared to those of 20 normal-weight, normolipidemic controls with normal HDL levels and 12 obese nonsmokers also having low HDL. In all three groups manifesting low HDL-cholesterol and low apoA-I levels, residence times for plasma apoA-I were reduced by approximately 30%, compared to control subjects with normal HDL levels. In contrast, average input rates for apoA-I were similar among the three low-HDL patients and control subjects. No differences in apoA-I kinetics were observed among any of the three groups with low apoA-I concentrations. Within each of the four groups of the study, however, input rates for apoA-I were highly correlated with plasma concentrations of apoA-I. Thus, for individuals with normal levels of plasma lipids, both residence times and input rates for apoA-I appeared to be important determinants of apoA-I levels. Residence times for apoA-I were reduced in almost all patients with low apoA-I levels, regardless of concomitant factors, whereas input rates were highly variable among individuals.     

The baboon model under anesthesia for in vivo cerebral blood flow studies using single photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) techniques.

Single photon emission computed tomography of the brain can be useful in animal experimentation directed toward cerebral conditions. A well established and understood baboon model, necessarily under anesthesia, could be especially valuable in such investigations. Six normal baboons were studied under various anesthetic agents and their combinations: ketamine, thiopentone, pentobarbitone, and halothane. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) studies were performed with 99mTc-HMPAO. CBF effects from various anesthesia were detected, requiring careful choice of the anesthesia for cerebral investigations.