New m‐calpain substrate‐based azapeptide inhibitors

Calpains are intracellular cysteine proteases with several important physiological functions. Calpain inhibitors may be promising tools in the analysis of the function of the enzyme in diseases caused by overexpression/activation. Here, we report on the synthesis, solution conformation, and characterization of novel group of azapeptides whose sequences originate from an efficient m‐calpain substrate, TPLKSPPPSPR, described by us earlier and possess varying levels of calpain inhibition. The Lys residue at P₁ position was replaced with azaglycine (NH₂‐NH‐COOH) and further changes were made as follows: the N‐terminal or/and C‐terminal were truncated, amino acids were also changed at P₃, P₂, P′₁, or P′₂ positions. Our results indicate that the identity of amino acid moieties between P₄ and P′₅ positions is essential for the inhibitory activity. Only changes at position P₃ (Pro) are tolerated. Azapeptide analogs, described in this communication could be considered as useful set of compounds for elucidation of the enzyme interaction at P and P′ sites. Copyright © 2013 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Novel N‐Acyl‐1H‐imidazole‐1‐carbothioamides: Design,Synthesis, Biological and Computational Studies

The present study reports the convenient synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, bio‐assays and computational evaluation of a novel series of N‐acyl‐1H‐imidazole‐1‐carbothioamides. The screened derivatives displayed excellent antioxidant activity, moderate antibacterial and antifungal potential. The screened derivatives were found to be highly biocompatible against hRBCs. Molecular docking ascertained the mechanism and mode of action towards the molecular target delineating that ligands and complexes were stabilized at the active site by electrostatic and hydrophobic forces in accordance to the corresponding experimental results. Docking simulation provided additional information about the possibilities of inhibitory potential of the compounds against RNA. Computational evaluation predicted that N‐acyl‐1H‐imidazole‐1‐carbothioamides 5c and 5g can serve as potential surrogates for hit to lead generation and design of novel antioxidant and antibacterial agents.     

Synthesis and DNA‐binding study of imidazole linked thiazolidinone derivatives

A novel series of imidazole‐linked thiazolidinone hybrid molecules were designed and synthesized through a feasible synthetic protocol. The molecules were characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ¹³C NMR and high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) techniques. In vitro susceptibility tests against Gram‐positive (S. aureus and B. subtilis ) and Gram‐negative bacteria (E. coli and P. aeruginosa ) gave highly promising results. The most active molecule (3e) gave a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 3.125 μg/mL which is on par with the reference drug streptomycin. Structure–activity relationships revealed activity enhancement by nitro and chloro groups when they occupied meta position of the arylidene ring in 2‐((3‐(imidazol‐1‐yl)propyl)amino)‐5‐benzylidenethiazolidin‐4‐ones. DNA‐binding study of the most potent molecule 3e with salmon milt DNA (sm‐DNA) under simulated physiological pH was probed with UV–visible absorption, fluorescence quenching, gel electrophoresis and molecular docking techniques. These studies established that compound 3e has a strong affinity towards DNA and binds at DNA minor groove with a binding constant (K_b) 0.18 × 10² L mol^?1. Molecular docking simulations predicted strong affinity of 3e towards DNA with a binding affinity (ΔG) ‐8.5 kcal/mol. Van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions were predicted as the main forces of interaction. The molecule 3e exhibited specific affinity towards adenine–thiamine base pairs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Chiral Recognition of Nickel(II) Macrocyclic Complex with (R)‐Naphthylethyleneamine Pendant Groups and its Self‐Assembled Framework

A novel nickel(II) hexaaza macrocyclic complex, [Ni(L^R,R)](ClO₄)₂ ( 1 ), containing chiral pendant groups was synthesized by an efficient one‐pot template condensation and characterized (L^R,R═1,8‐di((R)‐α‐methylnaphthyl)‐1,3,6,8,10,13‐hexaazacyclotetradecane). The crystal structure of compound 1 was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. The complex was found to have a square‐planar coordination environment for the nickel(II) ion. Open framework [Ni(L^R,R)]₃[C₆H₃(COO)₃]₂ ( 2 ) was constructed from the self‐assembly of compound 1 with deprotonated 1,3,5‐benzenetricarboxylic acid, BTC^3?. Chiral discrimination of rac‐1,1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol and rac‐2,2,2‐trifluoro‐1‐(9‐anthryl)ethanol was performed to determine the chiral recognition ability of the chiral complex ( 1 ) and its self‐assembled framework ( 2 ). Binaphthol showed a good chiral discrimination on the framework ( 2 ). The optimum experimental conditions for the chiral discrimination were examined by changing the weight ratio between the macrocyclic complex 1 or self‐assembled framework 2 and racemates. The detailed synthetic procedures, spectroscopic data including single‐crystal X‐ray analysis, and the results of the chiral recognition for the compounds are described. Chirality, 25:54‐58, 2013 © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Synthesis and Biophysical Studies of Bis‐Macrocyclic Cobalt/Copper(II) Complexes Having a Pyridine Spacer with CT DNA and 5′‐GMP

New bis‐macrocyclic complexes of Co^III, 1 , Ni^II, 2 , and Cu^II, 3 , containing pyridyl bridges between 13‐membered macrocyclic subunits, have been synthesized via an in situ one‐pot template condensation reaction (IOPTCR). The proposed structures of these new dinuclear complexes are consistent with the data obtained from elemental analysis, molar conductance, IR, EPR, UV/VIS, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and ESI‐MS. The complexes 2 and 3 possess square‐planar geometry with four secondary N‐atoms coordinated to the metal ion, while complex 1 reveals octahedral geometry in solution due to coordinated H₂O molecules. DNA‐Binding properties of the complexes 1 and 3 were investigated by absorption and emission titrations, cyclic voltammetry, and viscosity measurements. Complexes 1 and 3 are strong DNA binders with binding constants, K_b, of 1.64×10⁵ and 2.05×10⁵ M ^?1, respectively. Hyperchromism, decrease in emission intensity of DNA‐bound ethidium bromide (EB), and changes observed in the viscosity and cyclic voltammograms in the presence of added metal complexes reveals that the complexes bind to DNA predominantly by electrostatic attraction, substantiated by absorption titration with 5′‐GMP.     

Tetrathienoanthracene and Tetrathienylbenzene Derivatives as Hole‐Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cell

The synthesis and characterization of two related families of star‐shaped thiophene‐containing hole‐transporting materials (HTMs) based on fused tetrathienoanthracene and nonfused tetrathienylbenzene cores are reported. All of them are endowed with four terminal (4,4′‐dimethoxy)diphenylamino groups that are either linked directly to the core or showed a different type of bridges (i.e., thiophene‐phenyl or phenyl rings). The novel HTMs are tested in mixed‐ion perovskite (Cs_0.1FA_0.74MA_0.13PbI_2.48Br_0.39) solar cells, and power conversion efficiencies of up to 18.8% are measured under 1 sun irradiation, comparable with the efficiency obtained for the reference cell using 2,2′,7,7′‐tetrakis(N,N′‐di‐p‐methoxyphenylamine)‐9,9′‐spirobifluorene as an HTM.     

Imidazole dipeptides can quench toxic 4‐oxo‐2(E)‐nonenal: Molecular mechanism and mass spectrometric characterization of the reaction products

Imidazole dipeptides, such as carnosine (β‐alanyl‐l ‐histidine) and anserine (β‐alanyl‐N^π‐methyl‐l ‐histidine), are highly localized in excitable tissues, including skeletal muscle and nervous tissue, and play important roles such as scavenging reactive oxygen species and quenching reactive aldehydes. We have demonstrated several reactions between imidazole dipeptides (namely, carnosine, and anserine) and a lipid peroxide‐derived reactive aldehyde 4‐oxo‐2(E)‐nonenal. Seven carnosine adducts and two anserine adducts were characterized using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization‐multiple‐stage mass spectrometry. Adduct formation occurred between imidazole dipeptides and 4‐oxo‐2(E)‐nonenal mainly through Michael addition, Schiff base formation, and/or Paal‐Knorr reaction. The reactions were much more complicated than the reaction with a similar lipid peroxide‐derived reactive aldehyde, 4‐hydroxy‐2(E)‐nonenal.     

Cytotoxic and Apoptosis‐Inducing Activities of Steviol and Isosteviol Derivatives against Human Cancer Cell Lines

Seventeen steviol derivatives, i.e., 2 – 18 , and 19 isosteviol derivatives, i.e., 19 – 37 , were prepared from a diterpenoid glycoside, stevioside ( 1 ). Upon evaluation of the cytotoxic activities of these compounds against leukemia (HL60), lung (A549), stomach (AZ521), and breast (SK‐BR‐3) cancer cell lines, nine steviol derivatives, i.e., 5 – 9 and 11 – 14 , and five isosteviol derivatives, i.e., 28 – 32 , exhibited activities with single‐digit micromolar IC₅₀ values against one or more cell lines. All of these active compounds possess C(19)‐O‐acyl group, and among which, ent‐kaur‐16‐ene‐13,19‐diol 19‐O‐4′,4′,4′‐trifluorocrotonate ( 14 ) exhibited potent cytotoxicities against four cell lines with IC₅₀ values in the range of 1.2–4.1 μM . Compound 14 induced typical apoptotic cell death in HL60 cells upon evaluation of the apoptosis‐inducing activity by flow‐cytometric analysis. These results suggested that acylation of the 19‐OH group of kaurane‐ and beyerane‐type diterpenoids might be useful for enhancement of their cytotoxicities with apoptosis‐inducing activity.     

Antiproliferative Evaluation of Some 2‐[2‐(2‐Phenylethenyl)‐cyclopent‐3‐en‐1‐yl]‐1,3‐benzothiazoles: DFT and Molecular Docking Study

The 2‐[2‐(2‐phenylethenyl)cyclopent‐3‐en‐1‐yl]‐1,3‐benzothiazoles were synthesized from the reactions of 7‐benzylidenebicyclo[3.2.0]hept‐2‐en‐6‐ones with 2‐aminobenzenethiol. The antiproliferative activities of 2‐[2‐(2‐phenylethenyl)cyclopent‐3‐en‐1‐yl]‐1,3‐benzothiazoles were determined against C6 (rat brain tumor) and HeLa (human cervical carcinoma cells) cell lines using BrdU cell proliferation ELISA assay. Cisplatin and 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) were used as standards. The most active compound was 2‐{(1S,2S)‐2‐[(E)‐2‐(4‐methylphenyl)ethenyl]cyclopent‐3‐en‐1‐yl}‐1,3‐benzothiazole against C6 cell lines with IC₅₀=5.89 μm value (cisplatin, IC₅₀=14.46 μm and 5‐FU, IC₅₀=76.74 μm ). Furthermore, the most active compound was 2‐{(1S,2S)‐2‐[(E)‐2‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)ethenyl]cyclopent‐3‐en‐1‐yl}‐1,3‐benzothiazole against HeLa cell lines with IC₅₀=3.98 μm (cisplatin, IC₅₀=37.95 μm and 5‐FU, IC₅₀=46.32 μm ). Additionally, computational studies of related molecules were performed by using B3LYP/6‐31G+(d,p) level in the gas phase. Experimental IR and NMR data were compared with the calculated results and were found to be compatible with each other. Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps of the most active 2‐{(1S,2S)‐2‐[(E)‐2‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)ethenyl]cyclopent‐3‐en‐1‐yl}‐1,3‐benzothiazole against HeLa and the most active 2‐{(1S,2S)‐2‐[(E)‐2‐(4‐methylphenyl)ethenyl]cyclopent‐3‐en‐1‐yl}‐1,3‐benzothiazole against C6 were investigated, aiming to determine the region that the molecule is biologically active. Biological activities of mentioned molecules were investigated with molecular docking analyses. The appropriate target protein (PDB codes: 1 M17 for the HeLa cells and 1JQH for the C6 cells) was used for 2‐{(1S,2S)‐2‐[(E)‐2‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)ethenyl]cyclopent‐3‐en‐1‐yl}‐1,3‐benzothiazole and 2‐{(1S,2S)‐2‐[(E)‐2‐(4‐methylphenyl)ethenyl]cyclopent‐3‐en‐1‐yl}‐1,3‐benzothiazole molecules exhibiting the highest biological activity against HeLa and C6 cells in the docking studies. As a result, it was determined that these molecules are the best candidates for the anticancer drug.     

Chemodiversity of Nonacosan‐10‐ol and n‐Alkanes in the Needle Wax of Pinus heldreichii

This is the first report of individual variability and population diversity of the contents of nonacosan‐10‐ol and n‐alkanes in the needle cuticular waxes of Bosnian pines originated from Montenegro, regarded as Pinus heldreichii var. leucodermis, and from Serbia, regarded as P. heldreichii var. pan?i?i. The amount of nonacosan‐10‐ol varied individually from 27.4 to 73.2% (55.5% in average), but differences between the four investigated populations were not statistically confirmed. The size of the n‐alkanes ranged from C₁₈ to C₃₃. The most abundant n‐alkanes were C₂₃, C₂₇, and C₂₅ (12.2, 11.2, and 10.8% in average, resp.). The carbon preference index (CPI) of the n‐alkanes ranged from 0.8 to 3.1 (1.6 in average), while the average chain length (ACL) ranged from 20.9 to 26.5 (24.4 in average). Long‐chain and mid‐chain n‐alkanes prevailed (49.6 and 37.9% in average, resp.). It was also found that the populations of P. heldreichii var. leucodermis had predominantly a narrower range of n‐alkanes (C₁₈? C₃₁) than the trees of the variety pan?i?i (C₁₈? C₃₃). Differences between the varieties were also significant for most of the other characteristics of the n‐alkane pattern (e.g., most abundant n‐alkanes, CPI, ACL, and relative proportion of short‐, mid‐, and long‐chain n‐alkanes). The principle component and cluster analyses of eleven n‐alkanes confirmed the significant diversity of these two varieties.     

Asymmetric Allylation of α‐Ketoester‐Derived N‐Benzoylhydrazones Promoted by Chiral Sulfoxides/N‐Oxides Lewis Bases: Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of Quaternary α‐Substituted α‐Allyl‐α‐Amino Acids

Chiral sulfoxides/N‐oxides (R)‐ 1 and (R,R)‐ 2 are effective chiral promoters in the enantioselective allylation of α‐keto ester N‐benzoylhydrazone derivatives 3a , 3b , 3c , 3d , 3e , 3f , 3g to generate the corresponding N‐benzoylhydrazine derivatives 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f , 4g , with enantiomeric excesses as high as 98%. Representative hydrazine derivatives 4a , 4b were subsequently treated with SmI₂, and the resulting amino esters 5a , 5b with LiOH to obtain quaternary α‐substituted α‐allyl α‐amino acids 6a , 6b , whose absolute configuration was assigned as (S), with fundament on chemical correlation and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data. Chirality 25:529–540, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Chiral Piperazine‐2,5‐dione Derivatives as Effective α‐Glucosidase Inhibitors. Part 4

The potential to inhibit α‐ and β‐glucosidases of a series of chiral piperazine‐2,5‐dione derivatives was investigated. Three of the seven compounds tested, viz., 1, 5b , and 5c , showed to be non competitive inhibitors of α‐glucosidase, whereas they exhibited very low inhibitory activity towards β‐glucosidase. The most active compound, 5c (K_I of α‐glucosidase=5 μm), had a 100‐fold α‐glucosidase/β‐glucosidase inhibitor selectivity.     

Synthesis of 9‐(Heteroarylmethylidene)amino Derivatives of Homocamptothecin with Biological Activities

Six 9‐(heteroarylmethylidene)amino derivatives, 2a – 2f , of homocamptothecin were synthesized for the first time by total synthesis in 22 steps and biologically evaluated as inhibitors of topoisomerase I. Moreover, the antitumor activities of 2a – 2f against three human tumor cell lines, i.e., A‐549, MDA‐MB‐435, and HCT‐116, were determined and the results showed that compound 2c was the most active homocamptothecin derivative against the A‐549 (IC₅₀=0.046 μM ) and HTC‐116 tumor cells (IC₅₀=3.67 μM ), with a ca. 50 times higher activity than the reference drug topotecan (TPT) against the lung cancer cell line A‐549.     

Heat shock protein 70 induction by valproic acid delays photoreceptor cell death by N‐methyl‐N‐nitrosourea in mice

Retinal degenerative diseases (RDs) are a group of inherited diseases characterized by the loss of photoreceptor cells. Selective photoreceptor loss can be induced in mice by an intraperitoneal injection of N‐methyl‐N‐nitrosourea (MNU) and, because of its selectivity, this model is widely used to study the mechanism of RDs. Although it is known that calcium‐calpain activation and lipid peroxidation are involved in the initiation of cell death, the precise mechanisms of this process remain unknown. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) has been shown to function as a chaperone molecule to protect cells against environmental and physiological stresses. In this study, we investigated the role of HSP70 on photoreceptor cell death in mice. HSP70 induction by valproic acid, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, attenuated the photoreceptor cell death by MNU through inhibition of apoptotic caspase signals. Furthermore, HSP70 itself was rapidly and calpain‐dependently cleaved after MNU treatment. Therefore, HSP70 induction by valproic acid was dually effective against MNU‐induced photoreceptor cell loss as a result of its anti‐apoptotic actions and its ability to prevent HSP70 degradation. These findings might help lead us to a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of RDs.

     

A First‐Principles and Experimental Investigation of Nickel Solubility into the P2 NaxCoO2 Sodium‐Ion Cathode

The difficulty in finding positive electrode materials for sodium‐ion (Na‐ion) batteries with a large specific energy has slowed down their commercialization. Layered transition metal (M) oxides Na_xMO₂ with a two‐layer oxygen stacking (P2, 0.6 ≤ x ≤ 0.75), are promising candidates. However, the high average metal oxidation state needed during synthesis means that P2 Na_xMO₂ cathodes often require the introduction of high‐valent cations (Mn⁴⁺, Ti⁴⁺, Sn⁵⁺, or Te⁶⁺), limiting the cathode's performance. Using a combination of first‐principles calculations and experiments, the feasibility of P2 cathodes containing only electrochemically active nickel and cobalt cations is investigated. It is found that P2 Na_xNi_yCo_1–yO₂ materials with x = 0.66, 0.75, and 0 ≤ y ≤ 0.33 are either thermodynamically stable or metastable yet close to the convex hull at typical P2 synthesis temperatures (≈1000 K). It is demonstrated that a novel P2 compound with y = 0.22 and both Ni^3+/4+ and Co^3+/4+ can be successfully synthesized. It is studied electrochemically and structurally, using in situ and ex situ X‐ray diffraction. It is demonstrated that the chemical space of P2 layered compounds is not fully explored yet and that ab initio phase diagrams allow the determination of new high‐specific energy positive electrodes to be targeted experimentally.     

Oligonucleotide N3′→P5′ Phosphoramidates and Thio‐Phoshoramidates as Potential Therapeutic Agents

Nucleic acids analogues, i.e., oligonucleotide N3′→P5′ phosphoramidates and N3′→P5′ thio‐phosphoramidates, containing 3′‐amino‐3′‐deoxy nucleosides with various 2′‐substituents were synthesized and extensively studied. These compounds resist nuclease hydrolysis and form stable duplexes with complementary native phosphodiester DNA and, particularly, RNA strands. An increase in duplexes' melting temperature, ΔT_m, relative to their phosphodiester counterparts, reaches 2.2–4.0° per modified nucleoside. 2′‐OH‐ (RNA‐like), 2′‐O‐Me‐, and 2′‐ribo‐F‐nucleoside substitutions result in the highest degree of duplex stabilization. Moreover, under close to physiological salt and pH conditions, the 2′‐deoxy‐ and 2′‐fluoro‐phosphoramidate compounds form extremely stable triple‐stranded complexes with either single‐ or double‐stranded phosphodiester DNA oligonucleotides. Melting temperature, T_m, of these triplexes exceeds T_m values for the isosequential phosphodiester counterparts by up to 35°. 2′‐Deoxy‐N3′→P5′ phosphoramidates adopt RNA‐like C3′‐endo or N‐type nucleoside sugar‐ring conformations and hence can be used as stable RNA mimetics. Duplexes formed by 2′‐deoxy phosphoramidates with complementary RNA strands are not substrates for RNase H‐mediated cleavage in vitro. Oligonucleotide phosphoramidates and especially thio‐phosphoramidates conjugated with lipid groups are cell‐permeable and demonstrate high biological target specific activity in vitro. In vivo, these compounds show good bioavailability and efficient biodistribution to all major organs, while exerting acceptable toxicity at therapeutically relevant doses. Short oligonucleotide N3′→P5′ thio‐phosphoramidate conjugated to 5′‐palmitoyl group, designated as GRN163L (Imetelstat), was recently introduced as a potent human telomerase inhibitor. GRN163L is not an antisense agent; it is a direct competitive inhibitor of human telomerase, which directly binds to the active site of the enzyme and thus inhibits its activity. This compound is currently in multiple Phase‐I and Phase‐I/II clinical trials as potential broad‐spectrum anticancer agent.     

Calpain‐truncated CRMP‐3 and ‐4 contribute to potassium deprivation‐induced apoptosis of cerebellar granule neurons

Increasing evidence shows that calpain‐mediated proteolytic processing of a selective number of proteins plays an important role in neuronal apoptosis. Study of calpain‐mediated cleavage events and related functions may contribute to a better understanding of neuronal apoptosis and neurodegenerative diseases. We, therefore, investigated the role of calpain substrates in potassium deprivation‐induced apoptosis of cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). Twelve previously known and seven novel candidates of calpain substrates were identified by 2‐D DIGE and MALDI‐TOF/TOF MS analysis. Further, the identified novel calpain substrates were validated by Western blot analysis. Moreover, we focused on the collapsin response mediator proteins (CRMP‐1, ‐2, ‐3 and ‐4 isoforms) and found that CRMPs were proteolytically processed by calpain but not by caspase, both in vivo and in vitro. To clarify the properties of the calpain‐mediated proteolysis of CRMPs, we constructed the deletion mutants of CRMPs for additional biochemical studies. In vitro cleavage assays revealed that CRMP‐1, ‐2 and ‐4 were truncated by calpain at the C‐terminus, whereas CRMP‐3 was cleaved at the N‐terminus. Finally, we assessed the role of CRMPs in the process of potassium deprivation‐triggered neuronal apoptosis by overexpressing the truncated CRMPs in CGNs. Our data clearly showed that the truncated CRMP‐3 and ‐4, but not CRMP‐1 and ‐2, significantly induced neuronal apoptosis. These findings demonstrated that calpain‐truncated CRMP‐3 and ‐4 act as pro‐apoptotic players when CGNs undergo apoptosis.     

Self‐pollination and parthenocarpic ability in developing ovaries of self‐incompatible Clementine mandarins (Citrus clementina)

This study aimed to determine if self‐pollination is needed to trigger facultative parthenocarpy in self‐incompatible Clementine mandarins (Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan.). ‘Marisol’ and ‘Clemenules’ mandarins were selected, and self‐pollinated and un‐pollinated flowers from both cultivars were used for comparison. These mandarins are always seedless after self‐pollination and show high and low ability to develop substantial parthenocarpic fruits, respectively. The time‐course for pollen grain germination, tube growth and ovule abortion was analyzed as well as that for carbohydrates, active gibberellins (GA₁ and GA₄), auxin (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) content in the ovary. ‘Clemenules’ showed higher pollen grain germination, but pollen tube development was arrested in the upper style 9 days after pollination in both cultivars. Self‐pollination did not stimulate parthenocarpy, whereas both un‐pollinated and self‐pollinated ovaries set fruit regardless of the cultivar. On the other hand, ‘Marisol’ un‐pollinated flowers showed greater parthenocarpic ovary growth than ‘Clemenules’ un‐pollinated flowers, i.e. higher ovule abortion rate (+21%), higher fruit set (+44%) and higher fruit weight (+50%). Further, the greater parthenocarpic ability of ‘Marisol’ paralleled higher levels of GA₁ in the ovary (+34% at anthesis). ‘Marisol’ ovary also showed higher hexoses and starch mobilization, but lower ABA levels (?64% at anthesis). Self‐pollination did not modify carbohydrates or GA content in the ovary compared to un‐pollination. Results indicate that parthenocarpy in the Clementine mandarin is pollination‐independent with its ability to set depending on the ovary hormone levels. These findings suggest that parthenocarpy in fertile self‐incompatible mandarins is constitutively regulated.