Synthesis of Novel Polycyclic Nucleoside Analogs

Abstract

We have synthesized polycyclic nucleoside derivatives by a novel, one pot procedure by reacting 4-0-TPS-pyrimidine nucleosides with aromatic diamines. The reaction is limited in scope but provides easy access to certain previously unknown heterocyclic ring systems.₂ 4-0-Triisopro- pylphenylsulfonyl-pyrimidine nucleosides were reacted with aromatic diamines leading to fused, polycyclic ring systems: o-phenylenediamine yielded the pyrimido[1,6-a]benzimidazole, 2.3- diaminonaphthalene gave the naphth[2′,3′:4,5]imidam [1.2-flpyrimidine and 1.8-diaminonaph- thalene led to the pyrimido[l,6-a]perimidine ring system. The reaction is unique because two connected nucleophilic centers react with the pyrimidine nucleoside to form an extended ring system. However, reactions of pyrimidine nucleosides with electrophiles are well known. E.g., reaction of cytidine and adenosine with bromoacetaldehyde yields ethenocytidine and ethenoadenosine) and on reaction of cytidine with 1′-methylthiaminium salts dipyrimido[1,6-a:4′,5′-d]pyrimidine derivatives are obtained.₄ Other polycyclic bases have been made from cytidine and adenosine by photochemical reactions₅.     

Degradation of aromatic compounds in plants grown under aseptic conditions

The aim of the work is to investigate the ability of higher plants to absorb and detoxify environmental pollutants - aromatic compounds via aromatic ring cleavage. Transformation of 14C specifically labelled benzene derivatives, [1-6-14C]-nitrobenzene, [1-6-(14)C]-aniline, [1-(14)C]- and [7-(14)C]-benzoic acid, in axenic seedlings of maize (Zea mays L.), kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.) and pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) were studied. After penetration in plants, the above xenobiotics are transformed by oxidative or reductive reactions, conjugation with cell endogenous compounds, and binding to biopolymers. The initial stage of oxidative degradation consists in hydroxylation reactions. The aromatic ring can then be cleaved and degraded into organic acids of the Krebs cycle. Ring cleavage is accompanied by 14CO2 evolution. Aromatic ring cleavage in plants has thus been demonstrated for different xenobiotics carrying different substitutions on their benzene ring. Conjugation with low molecular peptides is the main pathway of aromatic xenobiotics detoxification. Peptide conjugates are formed both by the initial xenobiotics (except nitrobenzene) and by intermediate transformation products. The chemical nature of the radioactive fragment and the amino acid composition of peptides participating in conjugation were identified.     

Aromaticity of the completely annelated tetraphenylenes: NICS and GIMIC characterization

A series of heterocyclic and hydrocarbon [8]circulenes (also named completely annelated tetraphenylenes) were studied by the NICS and GIMIC methods in order to describe their aromatic properties from the magnetic criterion point of view. According to calculations all the hetero[8]circulene molecules demonstrate the bifacial aromatic/antiaromatic nature. The inner octatetraene core of the studied [8]circulenes is characterized by the presence of paratropic (“antiaromatic”) ring currents, whereas the outer macrocycle constructed from the five- and six-membered rings possesses the magnetically-induced diatropic (“aromatic”) ring current. The hydrocarbon [8]circulenes studied in this work consist of a similar planar cyclooctatetraene core but they exhibit a rather different balance of magnetically-induced ring currents.

Aromaticity of the completely annelated tetraphenylenes

     

Preparation and structure determination of two sugar amino acids via corresponding hydantoin derivatives

(4R)-2,3-O-Isopropylidene-methylspiro[4,6-dideoxy-alpha-L-lyxo+ ++-hexopyranosid-4,5'-imidazolidin]-2',4'-dione and (4R)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-methylspiro[4,6-dideoxy-beta-D-ribo-h exopyranosid-4,5'-imidazolidin]-2',4'-dione were prepared under various reaction conditions starting from methyl 6-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-alpha-L-lyxo-hexopyranosid-4-++ +ulose. Corresponding alpha-amino acids methyl (4R)-4-amino-4-C-carboxy-4,6-dideoxy-alpha-L-lyxo-hexopyranosid e and methyl (4R)-4-amino-4-C-carboxy-4,6-dideoxy-beta-D-ribo-hexopyranoside were obtained from the above hydantoins by selective acid hydrolysis of the isopropylidene group, followed by basic hydrolysis of the hydantoin ring. The crystal structures of both hydantoin derivatives are also presented.     

Significance of aromatic-backbone amide interactions in protein structure

Weakly polar interactions between aromatic rings of amino acids and hydrogens of backbone amides (Ar-HN) have been shown to support local structures in proteins. Their role in secondary structures, however, has not been elucidated. To investigate the relationship between Ar-HN interaction and the stability of local and secondary structures of polypeptides and to improve the prediction of this interaction based on amino acid sequence, the structures of 560 nonhomologous proteins, from the Protein Data Bank, were searched for Ar-HN interactions between the aromatic ring of each Phe, Tyr, and Trp residue at position i and the backbone amide group of any residue, except Pro, at the positions i, i - 1, i - 2, i - 3, i + 1, i + 2, and i + 3. Ar-HN interactions were identified by calculating the chemical shift of the amide hydrogen caused by the proximal aromatic ring. Ar(i)-HN(i + 1, i + 2 and i + 3) interactions were more common (7.10%, 2.08%, and 0.54%, respectively) than were Ar(i)-HN(i - 1, i - 2, and i - 3) interactions (0.66%, <0.1%, and 0.18%, respectively). The value of the chi(1) torsion angle of the aromatic residue in position i depended on the direction of the Ar-HN interaction. The position of the aromatic ring in Ar(i)-HN(i + 1, i + 2, and i + 3) interactions was mostly trans, in Ar(i)-HN(i - 1, i - 2, and i - 3) interactions mainly gauche(-), and in Ar(i)-HN(i) interactions mostly gauche(+). The analyses of the secondary structures of the protein fragments containing Ar-HN interactions showed that Ar-HN interactions were in all types of secondary structures. Search results suggest that Ar-HN interactions have a stabilizing effect on all types of secondary structures.     

Cyclic retro-inverso dipeptides with two aromatic side chains. II. Conformational analysis.

The conformations of cis and trans cyclic retro-inverso dipeptides--2-[(4-hydroxy)benzyl]-5-benzyl-4,6(1H,2H,3H,5H)-pyrimidinedi one (c[mTyr-gPhe]), and 2-benzyl-5-amino-5-[(4-hydroxy)benzyl]-4,6(1H,2H,3H,5H)-pyrimidinedione (c[mTyr-gPhe]), and 2-benzyl-5-amino-5-[(4-hydroxy)benzyl]-4,6(1H,2H,3H,5H)-pyrimidinedione (c[(alpha-amino)mTyr-gPhe])--and the parent cyclic dipeptides--c[tyrosyl-phenylalanine] (cis-c[L-Tyr-L-Phe]) and c[tyrosyl-D-phenylalanine] (trans-c[L-Tyr-D-Phe])--were studied by using 1H-nmr spectroscopy and semiempirical energy calculations. In the cis compounds of all the cyclic retro-inverso and parent dipeptides, the most stable conformer has both aromatic side chains sharing the space over the backbone ring in a "face-to-face" fashion. All the trans compounds predominantly assume a "sandwich" conformation in which the two aromatic rings are folded back over the backbone ring on opposite sides. However, different conformational preferences were observed for the backbones between the retro-inverso and parent cyclic dipeptides. The parent cyclic dipeptide trans-c[L-Tyr-D-Phe] adopts two types of boat structures with different side-chain orientations in almost equal amounts: one with the Tyr side chain in a pseudoaxial position and the Phe side chain in a pseudoequatorial position, the other with the Tyr side chain in a pseudoequatorial position and the Phe side chain in a pseudoaxial position. On the other hand, the cyclic retro-inverso dipeptides trans-c[mPhe-gTyr] and trans c[mTyr-gPhe] assume only one type of boat structure in which the malonyl side chain is in a pseudoequatorial and the gem-diamino side chain is in a pseudoaxial position. In addition to the preferred conformations, the conformational energies of the C alpha--C beta bonds in the malonyl and gem-diamino residues were estimated from the temperature variation of vicinal 1H--1H coupling constants for the H--C alpha--C beta--H groupings observed for the trans isomers of cyclic retro-inverso dipeptides. The energies were evaluated to be 1.1 and 1.8 kcal mol-1 for the malonyl and gem-diamino residues, respectively. Applying these energies to the parent cyclic dipeptide trans-c[L-Tyr-D-Phe], the observed fractions of three side-chain conformations are reasonably reproduced. The conformational energies as well as conformational properties of the molecules estimated in this investigation may be useful to refine force constants for both parent and retro-inverso peptides with aromatic side chains.     

Platinum(II) imidazo[4,5-f]-1,10-phenanthroline chloride and thiolate complexes: Synthesis and crystal structures

The planar aromatic imidazo[4,5-f]-1,10-phenanthroline ligands have been used to prepare platinum(II) chloride and thiolate complexes. The X-ray structures of two thiolate compounds are reported, which show column-like packing in the solid state due to intermolecular aromatic π-π interactions. The compounds absorb moderately in the visible region, owing to {charge-transfer-to-diimine} electronic transition.     

Hydration properties of N-(alpha-hydroxyacyl)-sphingosine: X-ray powder diffraction and FT-Raman spectroscopic studies

The thermotropic properties of N-(alpha-hydroxyacyl)-sphingosine (CER[AS]) in dry and hydrated state were studied by means of X-ray powder diffraction and FT-Raman spectroscopy. The polymorphic states of the CER[AS]/water mixture (lamellar crystalline, lamellar hexagonal gel, liquid crystalline) depend on the thermal pre-treatment of the sample. Only by heating the CER[AS]/water mixture above the melting chain transition can the system be hydrated. At room temperature, both dry and hydrated states form lamellar structures, which differ in their repeat distance and packing of hydrocarbon chains. Above the melting chain transition, hydrated CER[AS] forms a liquid crystalline hexagonal phase, whereas anhydrous CER[AS] forms an isotropic liquid phase. The various phases of hydrated CER[AS] are distinguished on the basis of the corresponding Raman spectra.     

Picomolar inhibitors as transition-state probes of 5'-methylthioadenosine nucleosidases.

Transition states can be predicted from an enzyme's affinity to related transition-state analogues. 5'-Methylthioadenosine nucleosidases (MTANs) are involved in bacterial quorum sensing pathways and thus are targets for antibacterial drug design. The transition-state characteristics of six MTANs are compared by analyzing dissociation constants (K(d)) with a small array of representative transition-state analogues. These inhibitors mimic early or late dissociative transition states with K(d) values in the picomolar range. Our results indicate that the K(d) ratio for mimics of early and late transition states are useful in distinguishing between these states. By this criterion, the transition states of Neisseria meningitides and Helicobacter pylori MTANs are early dissociative, whereas Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Klebsiella pneumoniae MTANs have late dissociative characters. This conclusion is confirmed independently by the characteristic [1'- (3)H] and [1'- (14)C] kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) of these enzymes. Large [1'- (3)H] and unity [1'- (14)C] KIEs are observed for late dissociative transition states, whereas early dissociative states showed close-to-unity [1'- (3)H] and significant [1'- (14)C] KIEs. K d values of various MTANs for individual transition-state analogues provide tentative information about transition-state structures due to varying catalytic efficiencies of enzymes. Comparing K d ratios for mimics of early and late transition states removes limitations inherent to the enzyme and provides a better predictive tool in discriminating between possible transition-state structures.     

EPR and Mössbauer studies of benzoyl-CoA reductase

Benzoyl-CoA reductase catalyzes the two-electron transfer from a reduced ferredoxin to the aromatic ring of benzoyl-CoA; this reaction is coupled to stoichiometrical ATP hydrolysis. A very low reduction potential (less than -1 V) is required for the first electron transfer to the aromatic ring. In this work the nature of the redox centers of purified benzoyl-CoA reductase from Thauera aromatica was studied by EPR and M?ssbauer spectroscopy. The results obtained indicated the presence of three [4Fe-4S] clusters. Redox titration studies revealed that the reduction potentials of all three clusters were below -500 mV. The previously reported S = 7/2 state of the enzyme during benzoyl-CoA-independent ATPase activity (Boll, M., Albracht, S. J. P., and Fuchs, G. (1997) Eur. J. Biochem. 244, 840-851) was confirmed by M?ssbauer spectroscopy. Inactivation by oxygen was associated with the irreversible conversion of part of the [4Fe-4S] clusters to [3Fe-4S] clusters. Acetylene stimulated the benzoyl-CoA-independent ATPase activity and induced novel EPR signals with g(av) >2. The presence of simple cubane clusters in benzoyl-CoA reductase as the sole redox-active metal centers demonstrates novel aspects of [4Fe-4S] clusters since they adopt the role of elemental sodium or lithium which are used as electron donors in the analogous chemical Birch reduction of aromatic rings.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and ab initio studies of some heptaaza manganese(II) macrocyclic Schiff-base complexes with two 2-aminoethyl pendant arms

Two new heptaaza Mn(II) macrocyclic bis(pendant donor) Schiff-base complexes, [MnL⁶]²⁺ and [MnL⁷]²⁺, have been prepared via Mn(II) templated [1 + 1] cyclocondensation of 2,6-diacetylpyridine with an appropriate branched hexaamine, and characterized by X-ray crystallography and spectroscopic methods. The ligands are 16- and 17-membered pentaaza macrocycles with two 2-aminoethyl pendant arms [L⁶ = 2,14-dimethyl-6,10-bis(2-aminoethyl)-3,6,10,13,19-pentaazabicyclo[13.3.1]nonadeca-1(19),2,13,15,17-pentaene and L⁷ = 2,15-dimethyl-6,11-bis(2-aminoethyl)-3,6,11,14,20-pentaazabicyclo[14.3.1]eicosa-1(20),2,14,16,18-pentaene]. The crystal structures of [MnL⁷]²⁺ and another related complex, [MnL⁵]²⁺ [L⁵ = 2,13-dimethyl-6,9-bis(2-aminoethyl)-3,6,9,12,18-pentaazabicyclo[12.3.1]octadeca-1(18),2,12,14,16-pentaene] were determined from X-ray diffraction data and the structure of each complex indicates that the geometry of the coordination sphere is that of a slightly distorted pentagonal bipyramid with the Mn(II) ion located within a pentaaza macrocycle and two pendant amines coordinating on opposite sides. The increased macrocycle ring size in [MnL⁷]²⁺ introduces an unusual seven-membered chelate ring and leads to long Mn-N bond lengths within the macrocycle, but to shorter pendant amine-Mn(II) bond lengths. Ab initio HF-MO calculations produce structures for the two complexes which are in close agreement with experimental findings and predict a similar structure for [MnL⁶]²⁺, but with the longest pendant amine-Mn(II) bond lengths of the three structures.     

Synthesis of some new [1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazines and [1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4] thiadiazoles starting from 5-nitro-2-furoic acid and evaluation of their antimicrobial activity

New series of fused 1,2,4-triazoles such as, 6-(aryl)-3-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)-5,6-dihydro-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles 4-8, 6-(alkyl/aryl amino)-3-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles 9-13 and 6-(4-substituted phenyl)-3-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)-7H-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazines 14-18 have been synthesized via the reaction of 4-amino-5-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol 3 with various reagents such as hetero aromatic aldehydes, alkyl/aryl isothiocyanates and 4-substituted phenacyl bromides, respectively. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds have been confirmed on the basis of elemental analysis and spectral studies. The newly synthesized triazolo derivatives have been investigated for their in vitro antibacterial activity. Most of the tested compounds showed interesting antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, the most potent antibacterial compounds 11-13 were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines. It was found that compounds 11 and 13 showed higher cytotoxicity against Hep-G2 cell line as compared to standard.     

Synthesis and conformational analysis of a locked analogue of carbovir built on a bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-enyl template

The synthesis and biological evaluation of a carbovir analogue (5) built on a bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-enyl template is described. A conformational analysis using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-31G* level has been carried out on the rigid pseudosugar template of 5, the cyclopentene moiety of carbovir and the bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-yl pseudosugars of two isomeric carbonucleosides (12 and 13) containing exo- and endo-fused cyclopropane rings. The results show that while the planar configuration of the fused cyclopentane ring of compound 5 helps retain weak anti-HIV activity, the ability of the cyclopentene ring of carbovir to easily adopt a planar or puckered conformation with little energy penalty may prove to be a crucial advantage. The bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-yl nucleosides 12 and 13 that were inactive against HIV exhibited stiffer resistance to having a planar, fused cyclopentane moiety.     

CP-arene oxides: the ultimate, active mutagenic forms of cyclopenta-fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (CP-PAHs)

The bacterial mutagenic response (Ames-assay, Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98+/-S9-mix) of a series of monocyclopenta-fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (CP-PAHs) identified in combustion exhausts, viz. cyclopenta[cd]pyrene (1), acephenanthrylene (2), aceanthrylene (3) and cyclopenta[hi]chrysene (4), is re-evaluated. The mutagenic effects are compared with those exerted by the corresponding partially hydrogenated derivatives, 3,4-dihydrocyclopenta[cd]pyrene (5), 4,5-dihydroacephenanthrylene (6), 1,2-dihydroaceanthrylene (7) and 4,5-dihydrocyclopenta[hi]chrysene (8). It is shown that the olefinic bond of the externally fused five-membered ring of 1, 3 and 4 is of importance for a positive mutagenic response. In contrast, whilst CP-PAH 2 is found inactive, its dihydro analogue (6) shows a weak metabolism-dependent response. The importance of epoxide formation at the external olefinic bond in the five-membered ring is substantiated by the bacterial mutagenic response of independently synthesized cyclopenta[cd]pyrene-3,4-epoxide (9), acephenanthrylene-4,5-epoxide (10), aceanthrylene-1,2-epoxide (11) and cyclopenta[hi]chrysene-4,5-epoxide (12). Their role as ultimate, active mutagenic forms, when CP-PAHs 1, 3 and 4 exhibit a positive mutagenic response, is confirmed. Semi-empirical Austin Model 1 (AM1) calculations on the formation of the CP-arene oxides (9-12) and their conversion into the monohydroxy-carbocations (9a-12a and 9b-12b) via epoxide-ring opening support our results. For 2 and 4, which also possess a bay-region besides an annelated cyclopenta moiety, the calculations rationalize that epoxidation at the olefinic bond of the cyclopenta moiety is favoured.     

Biotransformation of biphenyl by Paecilomyces lilacinus and characterization of ring cleavage products

We examined the pathway by which the fungicide biphenyl is metabolized in the imperfect fungus Paecilomyces lilacinus. The initial oxidation yielded the three monohydroxylated biphenyls. Further hydroxylation occurred on the first and the second aromatic ring systems, resulting in the formation of five di- and trihydroxylated metabolites. The fungus could cleave the aromatic structures, resulting in the transformation of biphenyl via ortho-substituted dihydroxybiphenyl to six-ring fission products. All compounds were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. These compounds include 2-hydroxy-4-phenylmuconic acid and 2-hydroxy-4-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-muconic acid, which were produced from 3,4-dihydroxybiphenyl and further transformed to the corresponding lactones 4-phenyl-2-pyrone-6-carboxylic acid and 4-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-pyrone-6-carboxylic acid, which accumulated in large amounts. Two additional ring cleavage products were identified as (5-oxo-3-phenyl-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-yl)-acetic acid and [5-oxo-3-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-yl]-acetic acid. We found that P. lilacinus has a high transformation capacity for biphenyl, which could explain this organism's tolerance to this fungicide.     

Hydrogen bonding in steroidogenesis: studies on new heterocyclic analogs of estrone that inhibit human estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase

New heterocyclic analogs of estrone are reported that inhibit estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase (E2-17 beta DH) from human placenta. The inhibitors are efficiently synthesized in two steps from estrone (or its 3-O-methyl ether), giving fully characterized analogs with pyrazole or isoxazole fused to the 16,17-position on the D ring. Dixon plots of enzyme kinetic data show the heterocyclic steroids are competitive inhibitors of E2-17 beta DH. Correlating molecular structures of the inhibitors with their Ki-values yields a pattern suggesting intermolecular hydrogen bonding stabilizes the [(pyrazole)inhibitor-E2-17 beta DH] complexes. A free energy difference of 2.74 Kcal/mol calculated from Ki-value differences between hydrogen bonded (4.08 microM) and non-bonded (425 microM) [inhibitor-E2-17 beta DH] complexes is in the range for intermolecular hydrogen bonding. We conclude that specific intermolecular hydrogen bonds stabilize [hydroxysteroid-enzyme] complexes, thereby making important contributions to the affinity between hydroxysteroids and steroid-specific enzymes of steroidogenesis.     

3-{2-[Bis-(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl}-6-substituted-3,6-diazabicyclo[3.1.1]heptanes as novel potent dopamine uptake inhibitors

A series of analogues 2a-i related to 3-{2-[bis-(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl}-8-(1H-indol-2-ylmethyl)-3,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octane (1) in which the 3,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octane core was replaced by 3,6-diazabicyclo[3.1.1]heptane ring system has been synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit DA reuptake into striatal nerve endings (synaptosomes). Biological data showed that compound 2a, the closest analogue of lead 1, possessed an increased reuptake inhibition activity over 1 (2a, K(i)=5.5 nM). Replacement of the indole ring with bioisosteric aromatic rings--benzothiophene (2b), benzofurane (2c), or indene (2d)--resulted, with the exception of 2d, in a double digit nanomolar activity. Changing the indenyl moiety of 2d with simplified aryl groups led to compounds 2e-h which displayed a similar or slightly decreased activity with respect to the ground term. Naphthalene derivative (2i) demonstrated a weaker activity than aromatic analogues.     

Mutagenicity of nitro-azabenzo[a]pyrene and its related compounds.

The mutagenicity of nitrated benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and the related compounds, 1- and 3-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene (NBP), 1- and 3-nitro-6-cyanobenzo[a]pyrene (N-6-CBP), 1- and 3-nitro-6-azabenzo[a]-pyrene (N-6-ABP), 1- and 3-nitro-6-azabenzo[a]-pyrene-N-oxide (N-6-ABPO) and 1,6- and 3,6-dinitrobenzo[a]-pyrene (DNBP), was investigated. The mutagenic activities of 3-N-6-CBP and 3-N-6-ABP were 117 and 76 times, respectively, that of 3-NBP. In addition, 3,6-DNBP was more mutagenic than 1,6-DNBP. It is suggested that the mutagenic activation differs with the position of NO2 substitution in the chemical structure. A nitro derivative with NO2 substitution at the 3 position of the aromatic ring of BP was more mutagenic than that with the substitution at the 1 or 6 position. The reducibility of DNBPs was then determined by detecting 1- or 3-amino-6-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene (A-6-NBP), a metabolite of DNBP; 3,6- and 1,6-DNBP were reduced to 3- and 1-A-6-NBP at frequencies of 958 +/- 26 and 79 +/- 8, respectively, pmole per mg of protein, when the compound was incubated anaerobically with rat liver S9 mix at 37 degrees C for 15 min. NO2 substituted at the 3 position of the aromatic ring of BP was readily reduced by a microsome enzyme to form an amino derivative. The result suggests that these compounds have a structure-activity relationship between mutagenicity and NO2 substitution of BP.     

嗜盐古菌Haloferax volcanii WFD11中龙胆酸1,2-双加氧酶HagA的研究

【目的】研究嗜盐古菌Haloferax volcanii WFD11菌株以不同芳香酸作为碳源的生长情况;鉴定其通过龙胆酸途径代谢芳香酸过程中的开环酶龙胆酸1,2-双加氧酶的基因,并对其进行生化水平的研究;初步揭示古菌和细菌代谢芳香酸的可能差异。【方法】分别以4 mmol/L的6种不同芳香酸为唯一碳源培养菌株WFD11,利用全自动生长曲线分析仪测定菌株生长情况并绘制生长曲线;利用高效液相色谱检测菌株WFD11代谢3-羟基苯甲酸的中间产物;对菌株WFD11的基因组进行生物信息学分析,寻找潜在的龙胆酸1,2-双加氧酶编码基因,并在Haloferax volcanii H1424中异源表达;通过快速纯化系统(采用Ni2+-NTA亲和层析柱)纯化异源表达的蛋白,以龙胆酸为底物通过紫外分光光度计检测粗酶液和纯化后的龙胆酸1,2-双加氧酶和相关酶学特性;通过实时定量PCR观察hag A的表达类型。【结果】菌株WFD11能以4 mmol/L的3-羟基苯甲酸和3-羟基苯丙酸为唯一碳源和能源生长;高效液相色谱检测证明菌株WFD11通过龙胆酸代谢3-羟基苯甲酸(3HBA);克隆和异源表达了龙胆酸1,2-双加氧酶基因hag A;Hag A粗酶液和纯化蛋白均具龙胆酸1,2-双加氧酶的活性,催化龙胆酸开环生成顺丁二酸单酰丙酮酸;Hag A的龙胆酸1,2-双加氧酶比活力为0.024 8 U/mg,且其活性不依赖于Fe2+;荧光定量PCR实验结果证明hag A是组成型表达。【结论】嗜盐古菌H.volcanii WFD11可能是通过龙胆酸途径代谢芳香酸类物质,为进一步研究古菌和细菌代谢芳香酸的可能差异打下了基础。     

Effects of the substitution positions of Br group in intercalative ligand on the DNA-binding behaviors of Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes

Two new polypyridyl ligands containing substituent Br at different positions in the phenyl ring, PBIP [PBIP=2-(4-bromophenyl)imidazo[4,5-f]1,10-phenanthroline], OBIP [OBIP=2-(2-bromophenyl)imidazo[4,5-f]1,10-phenanthroline] and their Ru(II) complexes, [Ru(phen)2PBIP]2+ 1, [Ru(phen)2OBIP]2+ 2 (phen=1,10-phenanthroline), have been synthesized and characterized. The binding strength of the two complexes to calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) was investigated with spectrophotometric methods, viscosity measurements, as well as equilibrium dialysis and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The theoretical calculations for these two complexes were also carried out applying the density functional theory (DFT) method. The experimental results show that the Br group substituting H at different positions of the phenyl ring in the intercalated ligand has significant effects on the spectral properties and the DNA-binding behaviors of Ru(II) complexes. Both the complexes can bind to CT DNA in intercalative mode and interact with CT DNA enantioselectively. Moreover, complex 1 can bind to CT DNA more strongly than complex 2, and complex 2 can become a much better candidate as an enantioselective binder to CT DNA than complex 1. The theoretical calculations show that both intercalative ligands, PBIP and OBIP, in these two complexes are essentially planar, and the obtained electronic structures of the complexes can be used to explain reasonably some of their experimental regularities or trends. Such experimental and theoretical information will be useful in design of novel probes of nucleic acid structures.