Incorporation of 3H and 14C from (6 alpha-3H)penicillin N and (10-14C,6 alpha-3H) penicillin N into deacetoxycephalosporin C.

1. In a cell-free system prepared by lysis of protoplasts of Cephalosporium acremonium mutant M-0198, 3H and 14C were incorporated from singly- and doubly-labelled penicillin N into deacetoxycephalosporin C. 2. The deacetoxcephalosporin C obtained from the above feeding experiments was converted into two different crystalline derivatives, namely N-phthalimidodeacetoxycephalosporin C bisbenzhydryl ester and N-phthalimidodeacetoxycephalosporin C bisdicyclohexylamine salt and recrystallized to constant specific activity or constant ratio of specific activity. 3. That 3H is incorporated at C-7 in the biosynthesized deacetoxycephalosporin C was shown by the loss of radioactivity (95.2%) after methoxylating the derived N-phthalimidodeacetoxycephalosporin C bisbenzyhydryl ester. 4. Deacetoxycephalosporin C was also the product of the cell-free reaction conducted in the presence of ferrous ions and ascorbic acid, as shown by two-dimensional paper electrophoresis-chromatography; these additives appreciably improved the efficiency of conversion.     

Electrochemical investigations of the reaction mechanism and kinetics between NADH and redox-active (NC)2C6H3-NHOH/(NC)2C6H3-NO from 4-nitrophthalonitrile-(NC)2C6H3-NO2-modified electrode

A simple and sensitive method for the electrocatalytic detection of NADH on a carbon paste electrode modified with a redox-active (NC)(2)C(6)H(3)-NO/(NC)(2)C(6)H(3)-NHOH (NOPH/NHOHPH) electrogenerated in situ from 4-nitrophthalonitrile (4-NPHN) is presented. The electrode modified with 4-NPHN showed an efficient electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of NADH with activation overpotential of 0.12V vs. Ag/AgCl. The formation of an intermediate charge transfer complex is proposed for the charge transfer reaction between NADH and the 4-NPHN-resulting system. The second-order rate constant for electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH, kappa(obs), and the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant K(M), at pH 7.0 were evaluated with rotating disk electrode (RDE) experiments, giving 1.0x10(4)mol(-1)Ls(-1) and 2.7x10(-5)molL(-1), respectively. Employing the Koutecky-Levich approach indicated that the NADH oxidation reaction involves two electrons. The sensor provided a linear response range for NADH from 0.8 up to 8.5mumolL(-1) with sensitivity, detection, quantification limits and time response of 0.50muALmumol(-1), 0.25mumolL(-1), 0.82mumolL(-1) and 0.1s, respectively. The repeatability of the measurements with the same sensor and different sensors, evaluated in terms of relative standard deviation, were 4.1 and 5.0%, respectively, for n=10.     

Forestomach ulcers in Crj:B6C3 (C57BL/6NCrj x C3H/HeNCrj) F1 mice

An unusually high incidence of forestomach ulcers was observed in a mouse strain that is used frequently for long-term toxicology studies. Examination of 98 untreated male and 98 untreated female B6C3F1 hybrid mice, the majority of which were between 105 and 113 weeks of age, revealed forestomach ulcers in 52% of the males and 54% of the females. Glandular stomach ulcers were uncommon, being found in only four female mice. The incidence of the ulcers increased with age. The etiology of the lesion is unknown.     

Spin-flip reactions of Zr + C2H6 researched by relativistic density functional theory

Density functional theory (DFT) with relativistic corrections of zero-order regular approximation (ZORA) has been applied to explore the reaction mechanisms of ethane dehydrogenation by Zr atom with triplet and singlet spin-states. Among the complicated minimum energy reaction path, the available states involves three transition states (TS), and four stationary states (1) to (4) and one intersystem crossing with spin-flip (marked by ?): ³ Zr + C ₂ H ₆ → ³ Zr-CH ₃ -CH ₃ ( ³ 1) → ³ TS _1/2 → ³ ZrH-CH ₂ -CH ₃ ( ³ 2) → ³ TS _2/3 ? ¹ ZrH₂-CH₂ = CH₂ ( ¹ 3) → ¹ TS _3/4 → ¹ ZrH ₃ -CH = CH ₂ ( ¹ 4). The minimum energy crossing point is determined with the help of the DFT fractional-occupation-number (FON) approach. The spin inversion leads the reaction pathway transferring from the triplet potential energy surface (PES) to the singlet’s accompanying with the activation of the second C-H bond. The overall reaction is calculated to be exothermic by about 231 kJ mol^?1. Frequency and NBO analysis are also applied to confirm with the experimental observed data.

The monoamine oxidase inhibition properties of C6-mono- and N3/C6-disubstituted derivatives of 4(3H)-quinazolinone

Parkinson’s disease is characterised by the death of the nigrostriatal neurons and depletion of striatal dopamine. The standard symptomatic therapy consists of dopamine replacement with l-dopa, the metabolic precursor of dopamine, which represents the most effective treatment. Since monoamine oxidase (MAO) B is a key dopamine metabolising enzyme in the brain, MAO-B inhibitors are often used as adjuvants to l-dopa. In addition to the symptomatic benefits offered by MAO-B inhibitors, these drugs may also possess neuroprotective properties and possibly delay the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Based on the therapeutic use of MAO-B inhibitors, the present study evaluates a series of mono- and disubstituted derivatives of 4(3H)-quinazolinone as potential inhibitors of recombinant human MAO-A and MAO-B. Twelve C6-monosubstituted and nine N3/C6-disubstituted 4(3H)-quinazolinone derivatives were synthesised, which led to the discovery of novel quinazolinone derivatives with micromolar and submicromolar activities as inhibitors of MAO-B. The most potent mono- and disubstituted derivatives exhibited IC₅₀ values of 6.35 μM (7f) and 0.685 μM (8b), respectively. This study identifies suitable substitution patterns for the design of 4(3H)-quinazolinone derivatives as MAO-B inhibitors.     

95Mo NMR studies of complexes containing the Mo2O52+ core and crystal structure of Mo2O5[SC6H4NHCH2C5H4N]2(C3H7NO)3

The crystal structure of Mo₂O₅[SC₆H₄NHCH₂C₅H₄N]₂(C₃N₇NO)₃ is reported and seen to consist of a single oxo-bridged species with each Mo atom bonded to cis dioxo groups and the nitrogen atoms and thiolate group of the tridentate ligand. ⁹⁵Mo NMR spectra of this and three related complexes are presented and attempts made to interpret them in terms of their crystal structures.     

Macrophage cholesterol efflux to free apoprotein A-I in C3H and C57BL/6 mice

Cholesterol efflux from peritoneal macrophages of mice C57BL/6 susceptible and C3H resistant to atherosclerosis was compared, using apoprotein A-I as acceptor. The elicited macrophages were labeled with 3H-cholesterol and cholesterol enriched by incubation for 24 h with acetylated LDL. After incubation for 6 or 24 h, 3H-cholesterol efflux to free apoA-I (10 microg/ml) was significantly higher with macrophages derived from C3H mice compared to C57BL/6 mice. The cells were also pretreated with 0.3-0.45 mM cyclic AMP, 10 microM 9-cis-retinoic acid or 10 microM 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol, RXR and LXR ligands. Treatment with cyclic AMP, RXR, or LXR ligands, resulted in enhancement of 3H-cholesterol efflux in both strains. Under all conditions, 3H-cholesterol efflux was significantly higher in C3H compared to C57BL/6 macrophages. In conclusion, the higher cholesterol efflux from C3H macrophages could contribute toward the resistance of this strain to diet-induced atherosclerosis despite hypercholesterolemia.     

NaCl increases the activity of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase in C3 halophyte Suaeda salsa callus

Suaeda salsa calli treated with different concentrations of NaCl were used to examine the response of the plasma membrane (PM) H⁺-ATPase to NaCl and its role in salt tolerance. The optimum concentration of NaCl for growth of the calli was 50 mM, while growth was significantly inhibited at 250 mM NaCl. The ion and organic solute contents of calli increased with increasing NaCl. Activity of the PM H⁺-ATPase increased when the calli were treated with NaCl over a certain concentration range (0–150 mM NaCl). However, the activity reached its maximum with 150 mM NaCl. Immunoblotting analysis of the PM H⁺-ATPase protein from calli cultures with anti-Zea mays H⁺-ATPase serum (monoclonal 46E5B11D5) identified a single polypeptide of ~90 kDa. The peptide levels increased in the calli treated with NaCl at 150 mM NaCl compared to control, but the increase at 50 mM NaCl was less pronounced. Northern blot analysis showed that the expression of the PM H⁺-ATPase also increased after the calli were treated with NaCl. These results suggest that the increase in PM H⁺-ATPase activity is due to both an increase in the amount of PM H⁺-ATPase protein and an up-regulation of the PM H⁺-ATPase gene, which is involved in the salt tolerance of S. salsa calli.     

Generation of C57BL/6 knockout mice using C3H x BALB/c blastocysts

The International Mouse Knockout Consortium aims to generate a knockout mouse for every single gene on a C57BL/6 background. Our ability to generate such mice is hampered by the poor economics of producing blastocysts to achieve germline transmission of C57BL/6 embryonic stem (ES) cells. We demonstrate superior utility of (C3H x BALB/c)F1 blastocysts compared with BALB/c blastocysts, with blastocyst numbers and germline transmission from subsequent chimeras at a rate 2- to 3-fold higher than that produced with BALB/c blastocysts.     

Effects of atherogenic diet consumption on lipoproteins in mouse strains C57BL/6 and C3H

Inbred mouse strains C57BL/6J (B6) (susceptible) and C3H/HeJ (C3H) (resistant) differ in atherosclerosis susceptibility due to a single gene, Ath-1. Plasma lipoproteins from female mice fed chow or an atherogenic diet displayed strain differences in lipoprotein particle sizes and apolipoprotein (apo) composition. High density lipoprotein (HDL) particle sizes were 9.5 +/- 0.1 nm for B6 and 10.2 +/- 0.1 nm for C3H. No major HDL particle size subclasses were observed. Plasma HDL level in the B6 strain was reduced by the atherogenic diet consumption while the HDL level in the resistant C3H mice was unaffected. The reduction in HDL in the B6 strain was associated with decreases in HDL apolipoproteins A-I(-34%) and A-II(-60%). The HDL apoC content in mice fed chow was two-fold higher in C3H than B6. Lipoproteins containing apolipoprotein B (VLDL, IDL, LDL) shifted from a preponderance of the B-100 (chow diet) to a preponderance of the B-48 (atherogenic diet). The LDL-particle size distribution was strain-specific with the chow diet but not genetically associated with the Ath-1 gene. In both strains on each diet, apolipoprotein E was largely distributed in the VLDL, LDL, and HDL fractions. The B6 strain became sixfold elevated in total lipoprotein E content which in the C3H strain was not significantly affected by diet. However, the C3H LDL apoE content was reduced. On both diets, the C3H strain exhibited apolipoprotein E levels comparable to the atherogenic diet-induced levels of the B6 mice.     

Stability of [3H]ouabain binding to the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase solubilized with C12E8

The (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from dog kidney and partially purified membranes from HK dog erythrocytes were labeled with [3H]ouabain, solubilized with C12E8 and analyzed by HPLC through a TSK-GEL G3000SW column in the presence of C12E8, Mg2+, HPO4(2-) and glycerol at 20-23 degrees C. The peaks of [3H]ouabain bound to the enzyme from dog kidney and HK dog erythrocyte membranes corresponded to each other with apparent molecular weights of 470 000-490 000. In addition, these bindings of [3H]ouabain to the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase were observed to be stable at 20-23 degrees C for at least 18 h after the solubilization.     

Differing signal requirements for the activation of macrophages from C3H/HeJ and C3H/OuJ mice

Abstract Endotoxin-associated protein (EP) from Salmonella typhi stimulated the release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interferon (IFN) activity in macrophages from the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) responder C3H/OuJ mouse strain. However, only PGE2 and IL-1 were stimulated by EP in macrophages from the LPS nonresponder C3H/HeJ mouse strain. LPS stimulated the release of PGE2, IL-1 and IFN activity in C3H/OuJ macrophages, but not in C3H/HeJ macrophages. The protein kinase C (PKC) activator phorbol myristic acid (PMA) stimulated PGE2 production in both strains but not IL-1 production, suggesting that signalling pathways other than PKC may be involved in IL-1 production. The calcium ionophore ionomycin stimulated PGE2 production in C3H/OuJ but not C3H/HeJ macrophages, suggesting a defective calcium-related pathway in the C3H/HeJ macrophages as compared to the C3H/OuJ cells.     

C3 and C6 complement types in schizophrenia

C3 and C6 complement types were studied in schizophrenic patients and controls. The distributions of the three common C3 types (F, FS and S) among the patients was significantly different from that in the controls (p less than 0.005) and the frequency of the C3F gene was significantly increased (p less than 0.0005) among the patients. There were no significant differences in C6 gene or phenotype frequencies between patient and controls.     

Subunit C of the vacuolar H+-ATPase of Hordeum vulgare.

The molecular cloning of the first subunit C of the plant vacuolar H+-ATPase is reported. Tonoplast vesicles were purified from barley leaves by sucrose gradient centrifugation, and the tonoplast polypeptides were separated by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis. Using an anti-ATPase holoenzyme antibody, a polypeptide was recognized in the molecular mass range of 40 kDa with an isoelectric point of about 6.0, and tentatively identified as subunit C. The polypeptide spot was excised from about 50 2-D gels and subjected to endo Lys C proteolysis. Two proteolytic peptides were sequenced and the amino acid sequences were used to design degenerated oligonucleotides, followed by PCR amplification with cDNA template and screening of a cDNA library synthesized from Hordeum vulgare poly A mRNA of epidermis strips. The full length clone of 1.5 kbp contains an open reading frame of 1062 bp encoding a polypeptide of 354 amino acids with a molecular mass of 39,982 Da and an isoelectric point of 6.04. Amino acid identity with sequences of SUC from animals and fungi is in the range of 36.7 to 38.5%. Expression of the cloned gene was demonstrated by Northern blotting and RT-PCR.