Effect of N,N′-bis (alkyldimethyl)-α,ω-alkanediammonium dibromides on bacteria of the genusclostridium

Antibacterial effect of 17 ammonium compounds of the type of N,N′-bis(alkyldimethyl)-α,ω-alkanediammonium dibromides was tested on anaerobically sporulating bacteria of the genusClostridium. A sizable antibacterial activity was displayed by five N,N′-bis(alkyldimethyl)-1,6-hexanediammonium dibromides and by four N,N′-bis(decyldimethyl)-α,ω-alkanediammonium dibromides. These compounds exhibited activity higher than, or comparable with, that of the reference standards Ajatin and Septonex. The maximum antibacterial activity was found in compounds whose alkyl chain contained 9–12 carbon atoms. Compounds with a lower number of carbon atoms in the chain (less than 8) exhibited a low activity.     

Mode of action of N,N′-diphenylurea: The isolation and identification of the cytokinins in the transfer RNA from tobacco callus grown in the presence of N,N′-diphenylurea

Summary The tRNA from cytokinin-dependent tobacco callus (Nicotiana tabacum) grown on mineral medium containing N,N-diphenylurea as the source of cytokinin was found to contain 3 cytokinin-active ribonucleosides. The 2 ribonucleosides present in the largest amounts were identified conclusively by their chromatographic properties, ultra-violet and low-resolution mass spectra as the naturally-occurring cytokinins 6-(4-hydroxy-3-methyl-cis-2-butenylamino)-9--D-ribofuranosylpurine and 6-(3-methyl-2-butenylamino)-9--ribofuranosylpurine. A third ribonucleoside, present in smaller amounts, was identified as another naturally-occurring cytokinin 6-(4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butenylamino)-2-methylthio-9--D-ribofuranosylpurine on the basis of its chromatographic behaviour. No evidence was found to associate the mode of action of the non-purine cytokinin, N,N-diphenylurea, with tRNA.Abbreviation DPU N,N-diphenylurea     

N-terminal acetylation and other functions of Nα-acetyltransferases

Abstract Protein N-terminal acetylation by Nα-acetyltransferases (NATs) is an omnipresent protein modification that affects a large number of proteins. The exact biological role of N-terminal acetylation has, however, remained enigmatic for the overall majority of affected proteins, and only for a rather small number of proteins, N-terminal acetylation was linked to various protein features including stability, localization, and interactions. This minireview tries to summarize the recent progress made in understanding the functionality of N-terminal protein acetylation and also focuses on noncanonical functions of the NATs subunits.     

Chemistry of the N′-Oxides of Nicotine and Myosmine

Nicotine-N′-oxide (II) was purified to give a crystalline form which has m.p. 170~171°C, and . The reaction of nicotine-N′-oxide with acetic anhydride afforded a good yield of 1′-(3-pyridyl)-4′-(N′-acetylmethylamino)-l′-propanone (V) which was hydrolyzed to give pseudoöxynicotine (III). Nicotine-N′-oxide (II) either with acetyl chloride or with benzoyl chloride, under similar conditions, furnished pseudoöxynicotine (III) without giving the corresponding acyl compound as an intermediate. 2′-Methyl-6′-(3-pyridyl)-tetrahydro-l′,2′-oxazine (XII) rearranged from nicotine-N′-oxide reacted neither with acetic anhydride nor acetyl chloride. Reduction of the oxime (IV) of pseudoöxynicotine dihydrochloride gave dl-l′-amino-l′-(3-pyridyl)-4′-methyl-aminobutane (VII) as a main product. The hydrazone (VIII) of pseudoöxynicotine dihydrochloride subjected to a modification of the Wolf-Kischner reaction, was reduced to yield dihydrometanicotine (IX). The pyrolysis of N′-methylmyosmine (IV) gave N′-methylnicotinamide (XI) and nicotyrine (X) in low yields. The presence of N′-methylmyosmine in the autoxidation mixture of nicotine was also established. Oxidation of nornicotine (XIV) with hydrogen peroxide furnished myosmine-N′-oxide (XV) whose identity was established by its chemical and physical properties. This oxide, on pyrolysis, gave nornicotyrine (XVII) and myosmine (XVI).     

Regeneration of the progesterone 11α-hydroxylase of Rhizopus nigricans by the use of periodate

Summary The cell-free progesterone 11-hydroxylase enzyme of Rhizopus nigricans can be directly regenerated by periodate oxidation. This permits action of the enzyme over a period of hours with an activity similar to that in the presence of an NADPH generating system.     

Metabolism of 17α-methyl-5α-dihydrotestosterone in the rabbit

17α-Methyl-5α-dihydrotestosterone and the reduced metabolites, 17α-methyl-5α-androstane-3α, 17β-diol and -3β, 17β-diol together with two hydroxylated metabolites, 17α-methyl-5α-androstane-3β, 15α, 17β-triol and 17α-methyl-5α-androstane-3α, 6α, 17β-triol were isolated and identified in the urine of rabbits orally dosed with 17α-methyl-5α-dihydrotestosterone. Formation of the C-6 hydroxylated derivative demonstrates that the 4,6-enolization of a 4-en-3-one is not a necessary requirement for hydroxylation at C-6 of the androstane nucleus in the rabbit. No evidence was obtained for the presence of 17α-methyl/17β-hydroxyl epimerization.     

N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine initiates the appearance of a well-resolved I peak in the kinetics of chlorophyll fluorescence rise in isolated thylakoids

Addition of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylendiamine (TMPD) to thylakoid membranes isolated from pea leaves initiates the appearance of peak I in the polyphasic rise of chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence observed during strong illumination, making it similar to that observed in leaves or intact chloroplasts. This effect depends on TMPD concentration and incubation period of isolated thylakoids with TMPD. The resolution of I-peak in the presence of weak concentrations of TMPD which reduced the overlap between I- and P-peaks, resulted from a decreased reduction of both fast and slow plastoquinone (PQ) pools of the granal and stromal thylakoids, respectively, as TMPD effectively accepts electrons from reduced PQ. High concentrations of TMPD markedly decreased the J–I–P phase of fluorescence rise and greatly retarded the I–P step rise. Accumulation of oxidized TMPD in the thylakoid lumen accelerated the re-oxidation of the acceptor side of Photosystem II (PSII) as illustrated by a two-fold increase in the magnitude of the fast component and complete suppression of the middle component of the variable Chl fluorescence (F_v) decay in the dark. Evidently, exogenous addition of high concentrations of TMPD prevented the light-induced reduction of the slow PQ pool.     

Nα-formyl-norleucyl-leucyl-phenylalanyl chloromethylketone

Summary N-formyl-norleucyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-chloromethyl ketone is chemotactic for, and induces lysosomal enzyme release from rabbit peritoneal neutrophils over essentially the same range of concentrations as does the free acid form of the same peptide (Na-formyl-norleucyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-OH). The chloromethyl ketone derivative does however differ from the free acid in respect to its ability to interact with the neutrophil and cause deactivation or desensitization to cytochalasin B. Neutrophils preincubated in the cold with the chloromethyl ketone followed by washing have cytochalasin B sensitivity conferred upon them, as measured by the release of lysosomal enzymes. The degree of release induced by this pre-treatment appears to be related to the initial responsiveness of the cells. This is in contrast to the free acid where no cytochalasin B sensitivity in conferred under any circumstances. Thus, the chloromethyl ketone, unlike the free acid, appears to irreversibly activate the cell. Desensitization to the late addition of cytochalasin B is also significantly retarded when the chloromethyl ketone derivative is compared to the free acid form of the peptide. These studies suggest that the chloromethyl ketone derivative of the peptide may covalently interact with the neutrophil receptor.     

Activation of Gαq subunits up-regulates the expression of the tumor suppressor Fhit

The tumor suppressor Fhit protein is defective or absent in many tumor cells due to methylation, mutation or deletion of the FHIT gene. Despite numerous attempts to unravel the functions of Fhit, the mechanisms by which the function and expression of Fhit are regulated remain poorly understood. We have recently shown that activated Gα_q subunits interact directly with Fhit and enhance its inhibitory effect on cell growth. Here we investigated the regulation of Fhit expression by G_q. Our results showed that Fhit was up-regulated specifically by activating Gα subunits of the G_q subfamily but not by those of the other G protein subfamilies. This up-regulation effect was mediated by a PKC/MEK pathway independent of Src-mediated Fhit Tyr¹¹⁴ phosphorylation. We further demonstrated that elevated Fhit expression was due to the specific regulation of Fhit protein synthesis in the ribosome by activated Gα_q, where the regulations of cap-dependent protein synthesis were apparently not required. Moreover, we showed that activated Gα_q could increase cell–cell adhesion through Fhit. These findings provide a possible handle to modulate the level of the Fhit tumor suppressor by manipulating the activity of G_q-coupled receptors.     

Structure and function of the N‐terminal domain of the human mitochondrial calcium uniporter

The mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) is responsible for mitochondrial calcium uptake and homeostasis. It is also a target for the regulation of cellular anti‐/pro‐apoptosis and necrosis by several oncogenes and tumour suppressors. Herein, we report the crystal structure of the MCU N‐terminal domain (NTD) at a resolution of 1.50 Å in a novel fold and the S92A MCU mutant at 2.75 Å resolution; the residue S92 is a predicted CaMKII phosphorylation site. The assembly of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter complex (uniplex) and the interaction with the MCU regulators such as the mitochondrial calcium uptake‐1 and mitochondrial calcium uptake‐2 proteins (MICU1 and MICU2) are not affected by the deletion of MCU NTD. However, the expression of the S92A mutant or a NTD deletion mutant failed to restore mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake in a stable MCU knockdown HeLa cell line and exerted dominant‐negative effects in the wild‐type MCU‐expressing cell line. These results suggest that the NTD of MCU is essential for the modulation of MCU function, although it does not affect the uniplex formation.     

Effect of phosphatidylcholine vesicles on the activity of DNA polymerase-α

Summary Phosphatidylcholine vesicles stimulate the activity of the DNA polymerase- from calf thymus. This effect is dependent upon the way of addition of the Mg ions, and the extent of the ³H-dTTP incorporation is closely related to the concentration of the vesicles. A role of phospholipids on the activity of the DNA-related enzymes is suggested.     

Evolutionary changes ofα-crystallin and the phylogeny of mammalian orders

Summary The sequences of the A chains of the eye lens protein-crystallin from seventeen mammalian species were compared. They showed a generally slow rate of evolution, but with marked variations in different lineages. Most substitutions have occurred in the C-terminal part of the chain, which probably forms part of the surface of the-crystallin aggregate. The ancestral sequence method of Dayhoff revealed interesting indications about the phylogenetic relationships between the eleven mammalian orders that were represented by the investigated species. Most evident was the divergence of marsupial and placental orders. A notable resemblance between the hyrax and elephant sequences was observed, setting them apart from the ungulates, including whale. Primates, rodents, lagomorphs, insectivores and tupaiids seem to derive from a common stem group. These phylogenetic inferences are discussed in relation to current palaeontological and taxonomical opinions, and compared to evidence from other protein sequence data.     

Phagocidal Activity of the Hydrolyzate of Acetal Derivatives of Oxidized Spermine and Its N,N′-Dimethyl Analog

The hydrolysis of acetal derivatives of oxidized spermine, N, N′-bis (3, 3-diethoxypropyl)-1, 4-diaminobutane, and its N, N′-dimethyl analog with acid was practically complete within 1 hr. During the hydrolysis of these compounds, no detectable amounts of acrolein were formed in the reaction mixture. While the hydrolyzate of the acetal derivative of oxidized spermine potently inactivated bacteriophage T¹, that of the N, N′-dimethyl analog had little phagocidal activity.     

Spectral study of the interaction of DNA with benzothiazolyl-benz-α-chromene

Absorption and luminescence excitation and emission spectra of newly synthesized 2-(4-methylphenylimino)-3-(2 -benzothiazolyl)benz-alpha-chromene (BCBT) have been studied in the presence of various DNA concentrations. BCBT is characterized by the existence of two different fluorescent systems, exhibiting radiationless fluorescence resonance energy transfer between them. In the range of molar ratios of polynucleotide/dye concentrations from 0 to 50, BCBT preferentially intercalates into DNA due to its benz-alpha-chromene fragment, whereas the 2-benzothiazolyl fragment is responsible for fluorescence.     

Multiple roles of heparin in the aggregation of p25α

The 219-residue protein p25α stimulates the fibrillation of α-synuclein (αSN) in vitro and colocalizes with it in several α-synucleinopathies. Although p25α does not fibrillate by itself under native conditions in vitro, αSN-free p25α aggregates have also been observed in vivo in, for example, multiple system atrophy. To investigate which environmental conditions might trigger this aggregation, we investigated the effect of polyanionic biomolecules on p25α aggregation. Heparin, polyglutamate, arachidonic acid micelles, and RNA all induce p25α aggregation. More detailed studies using heparin as template for aggregation reveal that a minimum of 10-14 heparin monosaccharide units per heparin polymer are required. Bona fide fibrils are only formed at intermediate heparin concentrations, possibly because an excess of heparin binding sites blocks the inter-p25α contacts required for amyloid formation. Other polyanions also show an optimum for amyloid formation. Aggregation involves only modest structural changes according to both spectroscopic and proteolytic experiments. The aggregates do not seed aggregation of heparin-free p25α, suggesting that heparin is required in stoichiometric amounts to form organized structures. We are able to reproduce these observations in a model involving two levels of binding of p25α to heparin. We conclude that the modest structural changes that p25α undergoes can promote weak intermolecular contacts and that polyanions such as heparin play a central role in stabilizing these aggregates but in multiple ways, leading to different types of aggregates. This highlights the role of non-protein components in promoting protein aggregation in vivo.     

Carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) mediated synthesis of Nα-protected amino acid azides: application to the one-pot preparation of ureidopeptides

Synthesis of Nα-protected amino acyl azides starting from corresponding acids via the carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) activation is described. The protocol is extended for a one-pot preparation of ureido peptides that circumvents the isolation of acyl azide and isocyanate intermediates. The reaction was accomplished without using any additives and base. The protocol is simple, clean, high yielding and free from racemization.