Enantioselective synthesis of (+)-8-hydroxy-8-methylidarubicinone

An asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction methodology was employed to construct the tetracyclic structure of the anthracyclinone. A five-step sequence was needed to furnish the target (+)-8-hydroxy-8-methylidarubicinone.     

Posters 1-1--8-23

Abstracts

Posters 1-1--8-23     

Isolation and structural characterisation of 8-O-4/8-O-4- and 8-8/8-O-4-coupled dehydrotriferulic acids from maize bran

Two new dehydrotriferulic acids were isolated from saponified maize bran insoluble fiber using Sephadex LH-20 chromatography followed by semi-preparative RP-HPLC. Based on UV-spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy and one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments, the structures were identified as 8-O-4,8-O-4-dehydrotriferulic acid and 8-8(cyclic),8-O-4-dehydrotriferulic acid. Which of the possible phenols in the initially formed 8-8-dehydrodiferulate was etherified by 4-O-8-coupling with ferulate has been unambiguously elucidated. The ferulate dehydrotrimers which give rise to these dehydrotriferulic acids following saponification are presumed, like the dehydrodiferulates, to cross-link polysaccharides. Neither dehydrotriferulic acid described here involves a 5-5-dehydrodiferulic acid unit; only the 5-5-dehydrodimer may be formed intramolecularly. However, whether dehydrotriferulates are capable of cross-linking more than two polysaccharide chains remains open. Although the levels of the isolated ferulate dehydrotrimers are lower than those of the ferulate dehydrodimers, the isolation now of three different dehydrotriferulates indicates that trimers contribute to a strong network cross-linking plant cell wall polysaccharides.     

The 4-6-8 method of sequence analysis

A new method to obtain more sequence data from a single gel run is described. This method allows the reading of over 500 bases of sequence data from a single gel by taking advantage of the differential migration of specific sized dideoxy terminated chain lengths in sequencing gels containing variable percentages of acrylamide. The method is easy to use, requires no special equipment and requires no special technical abilities. We feel the methodology described will be useful for the average laboratory doing sequencing work.     

Synthesis of dopamine transporter selective 3-[2-(diarylmethoxyethylidene)]-8-alkylaryl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes

A series of 3-[2-(diarylmethoxyethylidene)]-8-alkylaryl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes was synthesized and the binding affinities of the compounds were determined at the dopamine and serotonin transporters. The 8-phenylpropyl analogues 8a (K(i)=4.1 nM) and 8b (K(i)=3.7 nM) were the most potent compounds of the series with binding affinities 3 times greater than GBR-12909. In addition, 8a (SERT/DAT=327) was over 300-fold more selective for the dopamine transporter than the serotonin transporter.     

Enzymatic condensation of cholecystokinin CCK-8 (4-6) and CCK-8 (7-8) peptide fragments in organic media

The kinetically controlled condensation reaction of Z-Gly-Trp-Met-OR(1) (R(1): Et, Al, Cam) and H-Asp-(OR(2))-Phe-NH(2) (R(2): H, Bu(t)) catalyzed by alpha-chymotrypsin deposited onto polyamide in organic media was studied. The effect of the drying process of the enzyme-support preparation, substrate concentrations, reaction medium, acyl donor, and nucleophile structure on both enzymatic activity and pentapeptide yield was investigated. The immobilized preparation directly equilibrated at a(w) = 0.113, gave higher enzymatic activities than dried with vacuum first, and then equilibrated at a(w) = 0.113. The addition of triethylamine to the reaction medium increased dramatically the enzymatic activity. However, the pentapeptide yield was affected neither by the drying procedure nor by the addition of triethylamine. The donor ester Z-Gly-Trp-Met-OAl gave initial reaction rates 2.6 times higher than the conventional ethyl ester derivative but rendered similar yields. The best results were obtained using Z-Gly-Trp-Met-OCam as acyl-donor ester; 80% yield and initial reaction rates 4 times higher than the ethyl ester derivative. In all cases, acetonitrile containing Tris-HCl 50 mM pH 9 buffer (0.5% v/v) and triethylamine (0.5% v/v) was found to be the best reaction system. Under these conditions, it was possible to use the nucleophile H-Asp-Phe-NH(2) with beta-unprotected aspartic acid residue. In this case, 50% yield was obtained, but economic considerations could lead to select it as nucleophile. Finally, the fragment condensation reaction was carried out at gram scale, obtaining a 39% yield which included the reaction, removal of protecting groups and purification steps. (c) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 56: 456-463, 1997.     

Theme 8- Public Understanding of Science

In Vitro Cellular &; Developmental Biology - Plant -     

Interaction ofN-acetyl-4-, 7-, 8- or 9-deoxyneuraminic acids andN-acetyl-4-, 7- or 8-mono-epi- and-7,8-di-epineuraminic acids withN-acetylneuraminate lyase

Various deoxy- and epi-derivatives ofN-acetylneuraminic acid were synthesized and tested for their substrate properties withN-acetylneuraminate lyase fromClostridium perfringens.N-Acetyl-9-deoxyneuraminic acid is a good substrate,N-acetylneuraminic acid derivatives with epimeric configuration at C-7, C-8 or both are cleaved slowly, whileN-acetyl-4-epi-,N-acetyl-4-deoxy-,N-acetyl-7-deoxy-andN-acetyl-8-deoxyneuraminic acid are resistant to enzyme action.N-Acetyl-4-deoxyneuraminic acid andN-acetyl-4-epineuraminic acid competitively inhibit the enzyme. These studies give further insight into a mechanism proposed for the reversible cleavage of sialic acids byN-acetylneuraminate lyase.     

Developmental potential of CD4-8- thymocytes. Peripheral progeny include mature CD4-8- T cells bearing alpha beta T cell receptor

We have used the intra-thymic transfer system to investigate the population dynamics of thymocyte and mature T cell subsets in the absence of continuing precursor input from the bone marrow. We have followed the development and life span of CD4+ and CD8+ thymocyte subsets and mature peripheral T cells from intra-thymically injected adult or fetal CD4-8- thymic precursors. Both precursor types proliferated, differentiated, and exported to peripheral lymphoid tissues alpha beta-TCR+CD4+8- and CD4-8+ progeny which formed a stable, long-lived component of the peripheral T cell pool. The production of phenotypically mature thymocytes and peripheral T cells occurred more rapidly from fetal CD4-8- precursors. CD4+8-:CD4-8+ ratios among peripheral progeny of intra-thymically-injected CD4-8- precursors were initially normal, but they steadily declined among progeny of the fetal precursors. Thus, there appear to be differences in the life span and/or proliferative capacity of mature T cells derived from embryonic vs adult progenitors. In addition to the predominant CD4+8- and CD4-8+ subsets of peripheral T cells, a minor (1 to 20%) population of Thy-1+CD3+4-8- T cells was identified among peripheral progeny of intra-thymically-injected CD4-8- thymocytes, as well as in lymph nodes of unmanipulated animals. A total of 20 to 34% of this subset expressed V beta 8+ TCR and the majority were CD5hi, Pgp-1+, and J11d-. The function and specificity of this newly identified population of thymically derived peripheral T cells remains to be investigated.     

Interaction of rat glutathione S-transferases 7-7 and 8-8 with gamma-glutamyl- or glycyl-modified glutathione analogues.

Analogues of GSH in which either the gamma-glutamyl or the glycyl moiety is modified were synthesized and tested as both substrates for and inhibitors of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) 7-7 and 8-8. Acceptor substrates for GST 7-7 were 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and ethacrynic acid (ETA) and for GST 8-8 CDNB, ETA and 4-hydroxynon-trans-2-enal (HNE). The relative ability of each combination of enzyme and GSH analogue to catalyse the conjugation of all acceptor substrates was similar with the exception of the combination of GST 7-7 and gamma-L-Glu-L-Cys-L-Asp, which used CDNB but not ETA as acceptor substrate. In general, GST 7-7 was better than GST 8-8 in utilizing these analogues as substrates, and glycyl analogues were better than gamma-glutamyl analogues as both substrates and inhibitors. These results are compared with those obtained earlier with GSH analogues and GST isoenzymes 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4 [Adang, Brussee, Meyer, Coles, Ketterer, van der Gen & Mulder (1988) Biochem. J. 255, 721-724] and the implications with respect to the nature of their active sites are discussed.     

Crystal Structure and Conformation of 8-(2-Hydroxyethylamino) and 8-(Pyrrolidin-1-yl) Adenosines

In the course of investigation of 8-alkylamino substituted adenosines, the title compounds were synthesized as potential partial agonists for adenosine receptors. The structure determination of these compounds was carried out with the X-ray crystallography study. Crystals of 8-(2-hydroxyethylamino)adenosine are monoclinic, space group P 2₁; a = 7.0422(2), b = 11.2635(3), c = 8.9215(2) Å, β = 92.261(1)°, V = 707.10(3) ų, Z = 2; R-factor is 0.0339. The nucleoside is characterized by the anti conformation; the ribose ring has the C(2′)-endo conformation and gauche–gauche form across C(4′)–C(5′) bond. The molecular structure is stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bond of N–H·O type. Crystals of 8-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)adenosine are monoclinic, space group C 2; a = 19.271(1), b = 7.3572(4), c = 11.0465(7) Å, β = 103.254(2)°, V = 1524.4(2) ų, Z = 4; R-factor is 0.0498. In this compound, there is syn conformation of the nucleoside; the ribose has the C(2′)-endo conformation and gauche–gauche form across C(4′)–C(5′) bond. The molecular structure is stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bond of O–H·N type. For both compounds, the branching net of intermolecular hydrogen bonds occur in the crystal structures.     

Molecular cloning, purification and characterization of thermostable beta-1,3-1,4 glucanase from Bacillus subtilis A8-8

A gene encoding a beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase (CelA) belonging to family 5 of glycoside hydrolases was cloned and sequenced from the Bacillus subtilis A8-8. The open-reading-frame of celA comprised 1499 base pairs and the enzyme was composed of 500 amino acids with a molecular mass of 55 kDa. The recombinant beta-1,3-1,4 glucanase was purified by GST-fusion purification system. The pH and temperature optima of the enzyme were 8.0 and 60 degrees C, respectively. The enzyme was stable within pH 6.0-9.0. It was stable up to 60 degrees C and retained 30% of its original activity at 70 degrees C for 60 min. It hydrolyzed lichenan, CMC, xylan, laminarin, avicel and pNPC, but was inactive towards cellobiose. The enzyme activity was markedly activated by Co2+ and Mn2+, but was strongly inactivated by Fe3+. The truncated gene, devoid of cellulose-binding domain (CBD) showed 60% of activity and bound to avicel.     

Synthesis of 8-(hydroxyalkyl)adenines

Treatment of methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-2-O-p-tolylsulfonyl-α-D-ribo-hexopyranosid-3-ulose (1) with triethylamine-methanol at reflux temperature yields methyl 2,3-anhydro-4,6-O-benzylidene-3-methoxy-α-D-allopyranoside (2), a derivative (3) of 3-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4H-pyran-4-one, and methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-α-D-ribo-hexopyranosid-3-ulose dimethyl acetal (4). The reaction of methyl 4,6-O benzylidene-3-O-p-tolylsulfonyl-α-D-arabino-hexopyranosid-2-ulose (12) with triethylamine-methanol afforded methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-α-D-ribo-hexopyranosid-2-ulose dimethyl acetal (19) and methyl 2,3-anhydro-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-methoxy-α-D-allopyranoside (20); from the reaction of the β-D anomer (13) of 12, methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-β-D-ribo-hexopyranosid-2-ulose dimethyl acetal (21) was isolated. Syntheses of the α-keto toluene-p-sulfonates 12 and 13 are described. Mechanisms for the formation of the compounds isolated from the reactions with triethylamine-methanol are proposed.