Preparation of N2, N2,7-trimethylguanosine affinity columns

2,2,7-trimethylguanosine (TMG) binding proteins from human cells were purified through TMG-affinity columns. TMG synthesis was improved and the TMG obtained was shown to be similar to the TMG in the 5' cap of the UsnRNAs. The eluates obtained with TMG-affinity chromatographies were very different from those isolated with m7G-affinity columns, thus suggesting that specific TMG-binding proteins were obtained. The fraction may be enriched with factors associated with import and/or hypermethylation of UsnRNPs.     

Crystallographic and mass spectrometric characterisation of eIF4E with N7-alkylated cap derivatives

Structural complexes of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) with a series of N(7)-alkylated guanosine derivative mRNA cap analogue structures have been characterised. Mass spectrometry was used to determine apparent gas-phase equilibrium dissociation constants (K(d)) values of 0.15 microM, 13.6 microM, and 55.7 microM for eIF4E with 7-methyl-GTP (m(7)GTP), GTP, and GMP, respectively. For tight and specific binding to the eIF4E mononucleotide binding site, there seems to be a clear requirement for guanosine derivatives to possess both the delocalised positive charge of the N(7)-methylated guanine system and at least one phosphate group. We show that the N(7)-benzylated monophosphates 7-benzyl-GMP (Bn(7)GMP) and 7-(p-fluorobenzyl)-GMP (FBn(7)GMP) bind eIF4E substantially more tightly than non-N(7)-alkylated guanosine derivatives (K(d) values of 7.0 microM and 2.0 microM, respectively). The eIF4E complex crystal structures with Bn(7)GMP and FBn(7)GMP show that additional favourable contacts of the benzyl groups with eIF4E contribute binding energy that compensates for loss of the beta and gamma-phosphates. The N(7)-benzyl groups pack into a hydrophobic pocket behind the two tryptophan side-chains that are involved in the cation-pi stacking interaction between the cap and the eIF4E mononucleotide binding site. This pocket is formed by an induced fit in which one of the tryptophan residues involved in cap binding flips through 180 degrees relative to structures with N(7)-methylated cap derivatives. This and other observations made here will be useful in the design of new families of eIF4E inhibitors, which may have potential therapeutic applications in cancer.     

Synthesis and translation of mRNA containing 5'-terminal 7-ethylguanosine cap.

Reovirus mRNA synthesis in vitro by the virion-associated RNA polymerase was only slightly (10 to 15%) diminished in the presence of 2 mM S-adenosylethionine. However, methyl group transfer from S-adenosylmethionine (0.05 mM) to the 5'-terminal cap structure, m7GpppGm in this mRNA was markedly inhibited (80%) under these conditions. Replacement of S-adenosylmethionine by S-adenosylethionine (5 mM) yielded mRNAs containing mainly (70%) 5'-terminal e7GpppGe and e7GpppG, but some of the products were unalkylated (5'-GpppG, ppG). The ethylated mRNAs, but not the unalkylated molecules, bound to wheat germ ribosomes and were translated essentially as well as the corresponding methylated mRNAs in wheat germ extracts and in nuclease-treated rabbit reticulocyte lysates. Protein synthesis directed by ethylated mRNAs in wheat germ extract was 80% decreased by 0.1 mM m7GMP. Under conditions of limited initiation, methylated mRNA bound to wheat germ ribosomes preferentially as compared to ethylated mRNA. The results document for the first time the synthesis of ethylated mRNA and support the hypothesis that N7-alkylation of the 5'-guanosine in caps, rather than methylation itself, is important for the enhancing effect of cap on the initiation of eukaryotic protein synthesis.     

Studies on griseolic acid derivatives. I. Synthesis of substituted derivatives of griseolic acid at the N1, C6, C2' or C7' position and their biological activities

Griseolic acid derivatives having a different substituent at the N1,C6,C2' or C7' position of the natural product were synthesized and their structure activity relationship to cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitory activity was investigated.     

Synthesis of 7-substituted-5-androstene derivatives promoted by SmI2

The 7-substituted-5-androstene derivatives 2a-10a and 2b-10b were prepared by reaction of 3beta,17beta-di(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-5-androsten-7-one 1 with different organic halides. The resulting 7alpha- and 7beta-isomers were carefully separated by column chromatography. The structural assignments of the 7alpha- and 7beta-isomers were determined by 13C-NMR.     

Preparation of N 2, N 2'7-Trimethylguanosine Affinity Columns

Abstract

2,2,7-trimethylguanosine (TMG) binding proteins from human cells were purified through TMG-affinity columns. TMG synthesis was improved and the TMG obtained was shown to be similar to the TMG in the 5′ cap of the UsnRNAs. The eluates obtained with TMG-affinity chromatographies were very different from those isolated with m⁷G-affinity columns, thus suggesting that specific TMG-binding proteins were obtained. The fraction may be enriched with factors associated with import and/or hypermethylation of UsnRNPs.     

Synthesis of RNA having cap structure.

RNA consisting 43 nucleotides bearing cap structure was synthesized (Figure). In the first place, 9 mer of a leader sequence with the cap structure (F-1) was synthesized by the phosphotriester method and followed by the capping reaction. Next, 32 mer of a cistron was divided into two fragments and each was synthesized by the phosphoramidite method. The 3'-end nucleotide of the RNA, a modified guanosine 5'-phosphate, was introduced to F-3 by use of P1-2',3'-O-methoxymethylene guanosine-5'-yl P2-adenosine-5'-yl diphosphate (A5' ppGmM) with T4 RNA ligase. The chemically synthesized RNA fragments were ligated with T4 RNA ligase to afford the desired RNA.     

Synthesis and fungicidal activity of new N,O-acyl chitosan derivatives

Novel N,O-acyl chitosan (NOAC) derivatives were synthesized to examine their fungicidal activity against the gray mould fungus Botrytis cinerea (Leotiales: Sclerotiniaceae) and the rice leaf blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae (Teleomorph: Magnaporth grisea). The fungicidal activity was evaluated by the radial growth bioassay. NOAC derivatives were more active against the two plant pathogens than chitosan itself, and the effect was concentration dependent. Against B. cinerea, 4-chlorobutyryl chitosan (EC50=0.043%), decanoyl chitosan (EC50=0.044%), cinnamoyl chitosan (EC50=0.045%), and p-methoxybenzoyl chitosan (EC50=0.050%) were the most active (12-13-fold more active than chitosan). (Un)-substituted benzoyl chitosan derivatives were more active against B. cinerea than most of these with N,O-alkyl derivatives. Against P. oryzae chitosan derivatives with lauroyl, methoxy acetyl, methacryloyl and decanoyl were the most active.     

Synthesis and Properties of 7-Acetyl-1, N6-etheno-AMP and 7-Acetyl-1, N6-etheno-NAD+

Abstract

Synthesis, PMR- and UV/Vis-Spectroscopic data of 7-Acetyl-εAMP and 7-Acetyl-?NAD⁺ are described. Due to their unique optical properties (strong absorption and fluorescence well above 300 nm) these nucleotide analogs appear well suited as fluorescent probes in protein-ligand studies.     

Synthesis of N tau-arylhistidine derivatives via direct N-arylation

N(tau)-Aryl-histidine derivatives were synthesized using a modified one-step Cu-catalyzed coupling of aryl halides and N-acetylhistidine methyl ester. The latter is much less reactive than imidazole toward aryl halides. p-Chloroiodobenzene coupled with iodine displacement only, whereas m- and p-bromoiodobenzene both gave mixtures of bromo- and iodophenyl products.     

Synthesis of 7alpha-substituted derivatives of 17beta-estradiol

Estrogen receptor (ER) pure antagonists such as ICI-182,780 (fulvestrant) are effective alternatives to tamoxifen (an ER antagonist/weak partial agonist) in the treatment of postmenopausal, receptor-positive human breast cancers. Structurally, these pure antagonists contain the basic core structure of 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) with a long side chain attached to its C-7alpha position. We explored and compared in this study various synthetic routes for preparing a number of C-7alpha-substituted derivatives of E(2), which are highly useful for the design and synthesis of high-affinity ER antagonists, ER-based imaging ligands, and other ER-based multi-functional agents. Using E(2) as the starting material and 1-iodo-6-benzyloxyhexane as a precursor for the C-7alpha side chain, a seven-step synthetic procedure afforded 3,17beta-bis(acetoxy)-7alpha-(6-hydroxyhexanyl)-estra-1,3,5(10)-triene (one of the derivatives prepared) in an overall yield of approximately 45% as compared to other known procedures that afforded substantially lower overall yield (8-27%). The synthetic steps for this representative compound include: (1) protection of the C-3 and C-17beta hydroxyls of E(2) using methoxymethyl groups; (2) hydroxylation of the C-6 position of the bismethoxymethyl ether of E(2); (3) Swern oxidation of the C-6 hydroxy to the ketone group; (4) C-7alpha alkylation of the C-6 ketone derivative of E(2); (5) deprotection of the two methoxymethyl groups; (6) reprotection of the C-3 and C-6 free hydroxyls with acetyl groups; (7) removal of the C-6 ketone and the benzyl group on the side chain by catalytic hydrogenation in acetic acid. As predicted, two of the representative C-7alpha-substituted derivatives of E(2) synthesized in the present study retained strong binding affinities (close to those of E(2) and ICI-182,780) for the human ERalpha and ERbeta subtypes as determined using the radioligand-receptor binding assays.     

The divergent eukaryote Trichomonas vaginalis has an m7G cap methyltransferase capable of a single N2 methylation

Eukaryotic RNAs typically contain 5′ cap structures that have been primarily studied in yeast and metazoa. The only known RNA cap structure in unicellular protists is the unusual Cap4 on Trypanosoma brucei mRNAs. We have found that T. vaginalis mRNAs are protected by a 5′ cap structure, however, contrary to that typical for eukaryotes, T. vaginalis spliceosomal snRNAs lack a cap and may contain 5′ monophophates. The distinctive 2,2,7-trimethylguanosine (TMG) cap structure usually found on snRNAs and snoRNAs is produced by hypermethylation of an m⁷G cap catalyzed by the enzyme trimethylguanosine synthase (Tgs). Here, we biochemically characterize the single T. vaginalis Tgs (TvTgs) encoded in its genome and demonstrate that TvTgs exhibits substrate specificity and amino acid requirements typical of an RNA cap-specific, m⁷G-dependent N2 methyltransferase. However, recombinant TvTgs is capable of catalysing only a single round of N2 methylation forming a 2,7-dimethylguanosine cap (DMG) as observed previously for Giardia lamblia. In contrast, recombinant Entamoeba histolytica and Trypanosoma brucei Tgs are capable of catalysing the formation of a TMG cap. These data suggest the presence of RNAs with a distinctive 5′ DMG cap in Trichomonas and Giardia lineages that are absent in other protist lineages.     

Influenza viral mRNA contains internal N6-methyladenosine and 5''-terminal 7-methylguanosine in cap structures.

Influenza viral complementary RNA (cRNA), i.e., viral mRNA was radioactive when purified from the cytoplasmic fraction of cordycepin-treated canine kidney cells that were incubated with [methyl-3H]methionine during infection. Approximately 55 to 60% of the methyl-3H radioactivity was in internal N6-methyladenosine, a feature distinguishing this mRNA from those viral mRNA's that are known to be synthesized in the cytoplasm. The remaining methyl-3H radioactivity was in 5'-terminal cap structures that consisted of 7-methylguanosine in pyrophosphate linkage to 2'-o-methyladenosine, N6, 2'-O-dimethyladenosine, or 2'-O-methylguanosine. Methylated adenosine was the predominant penultimate nucleoside in caps, suggesting that cRNA synthesis in infected cells initiates preferentially with adenosine at the 5' end. In contrast to cRNA, influenza virion RNA segments extracted from purified virus contained mainly 5'-terminal ppA and no detectable cap structures.     

Synthesis of 7alpha-hydroxy derivatives of regulatory oxysterols

7alpha-Hydroxy derivatives of oxysterols are of considerable interest because of their possible involvement in regulation of cholesterol metabolism. This paper describes stereoselective syntheses and complete characterization of the 7alpha-hydroxy derivatives of four key oxysterols: 25-hydroxycholesterol, 27-hydroxycholesterol, 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol, and 24(S), 25-epoxycholesterol.     

Synthesis of 2'-deoxy and 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside derivatives from thioglycosides.

The synthesis of both 2'-deoxy and 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside derivatives by the reaction of thioglycosides with nucleoside bases was examined. The stereochemical outcome at the anomeric position was found to depend on the protecting groups and the C-3 configuration in the sugar moiety, the kind of activator, and the reaction temperature. Based on these findings, 2'-deoxy-D-xylo nucleoside and 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside derivatives have been synthesized in beta-selective manner.     

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship of 7-azaindole piperidine derivatives as CCR2 antagonists

The synthesis and structure-activity relationship of a series of 7-azaindole piperidine derivatives are described. SAR studies led to the discovery of the potent CCR2 antagonists displaying IC(50) values in the nanomolar range. The representative compound 15 showed reasonable P450 and pharmacokinetics profile.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 7-azaindole derivatives, synthetic cytokinin analogues

Cytokinins, N6-substituted adenine derivatives, are plant hormones playing important roles in various processes in plant development. Furthermore, cytokinins and their derivatives are able to control mammalian cell apoptosis and differentiation. The aim of our study was the synthesis of 7-azaindole derivatives as cytokinin analogues with the Hartwig-Buchwald coupling reaction in order to evaluate their biological properties on human myeloblastic leukaemia cells (HL-60 cell line). All these compounds presented a cytotoxic activity on HL-60 cells especially the 4-phenylaminopyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine and the 4-phenethylaminopyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine.