Kinetic effect of some aliphatic amines on yeast alcohol dehydrogenase.

Initial rate studies of ethanol oxidation catalyzed by yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) were carried out in the presence of varying concentrations of aliphatic amines over the pH range from 8.0 to 10.5. Aliphatic amines either activate or inhibit the enzyme depending on whether the pH is greater or less than 9.5 suggesting that the protonated amines activate and the nonprotonated amines inhibit the enzyme. Aliphatic amines activate yeast alcohol dehydrogenase by decreasing Kb while they inhibit the enzyme by increasing both Ka and Kia. When both protonated and nonprotonated amines are present in solution, either overall activation or inhibition will be observed depending on the relative concentration of the two amine species.     

Inhibition of platelet aggregation by primary amines. Evidence for a possible role of membrane-associated calcium

The aggregation of human blood platelets by thrombin, adenosine diphosphate, wheat germ agglutinin or ristocetin was inhibited by primary amines. In general, thrombin-induced platelet aggregation was strongly affected by the amines while the effect was weak on cell aggregation by ristocetin. Usually, the diamines were stronger inhibitors of aggregation than the monoamines with cadaverine as the strongest and ethylamine as the weakest inhibitor. At concentration where platelet aggregation was inhibited, the amines neither displaced serotonin from serotinin-loaded platelets nor caused lysis of human red cells. The lectin activity of wheat germ agglutinin on human red cells was not affected by the amines indicating that the amines probably acted on platelets and not on the agglutinin. The clotting activity of thrombin on fibrinogen was partially inhibited by the amines while its esterolytic activity remained unaltered. The inhibitory action of the amines on platelet aggregation could be overcome with small amounts of calcium while other divalent cations tested had little effect. It is suggested that the amines affect platelet aggregation by interfering with the actions of membrane-associated calcium.     

Chiral NMR discrimination of amines: analysis of secondary, tertiary, and prochiral amines using (18-crown-6)-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid

Enantiomeric discrimination is observed in the 1H and 13C NMR spectra of secondary and tertiary amines in the presence of (-)-(18-crown-6)-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid (1). Nonequivalence of the resonances of prochiral nuclei in primary and secondary amines is also observed when they associate with 1. The amines are added in their neutral form and are protonated by the carboxylic acid groups of 1 to produce the corresponding ammonium and carboxylate ions. Secondary amines associate with 1 through two hydrogen bonds and an ion pair interaction. Tertiary amines can only form one hydrogen bond to accompany the ion pairing. Chiral discrimination in the 1H and 13C NMR spectra of a series of aryl-containing secondary amines is of sufficient magnitude to determine enantiomeric purities. The discrimination in the spectra of tertiary amines with 1 is smaller, but 13C NMR spectra provided enough distinction for the determination of enantiomeric purity.     

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of several ring-contracted amantadine analogs

The synthesis of several (3-noradamantyl)amines, [(3-noradamantyl)methyl]amines, (3,7-dimethyl-1-bisnoradamantyl)amines, and [(3,7-dimethyl-1-bisnoradamantyl)methyl]amines is reported. They were evaluated against a wide range of viruses and one of them inhibited the cytopathicity of influenza A virus at a concentration similar to that of amantadine. Several of the new polycyclic amines show an interesting activity as NMDA receptor antagonists. A rimantadine analogue displayed significant trypanocidal activity. Moreover, to further characterize the pharmacology of these compounds, their effects on dopamine uptake were also assessed.     

Synthesis of novel polyethyleneimine derivatives by stepwise, reversible blocking of primary and secondary amines

In the design of polyethyleneimine derivatives for use as catalysts and binding media, the placement of reactive and hydrophobic groups previously has been limited by the specificity of the addition reaction. In this paper is described a protocol to limit the sites of addition of nucleophiles and long-chain alkanes to tertiary amines and the less reactive of the secondary amines. Three blocking groups for the primary and secondary amines were tested, but only trifluoroacteylating reagents left the polymer reactive to substitution on the tertiary amines with halogenated alkanes. The secondary amines that resisted trifluoroacetylation were blocked with either tert-butyloxy carbonate or trimethylsilyl carbonate. The tertiary amines were quaternized with iodododecane or dodecyl benzyl chloride. After removal of the trifluoroacetyl groups, the polymer amines were inactivated by methylation, which proceeded to 93% completion. The 7% of the amines that were not quaternized were largely tertiary, since propylene sulfide, which reacts only with secondary and primary amines, was substituted onto the polymer only to the extent of 0.2% total amine, as quantified by the indirect method of P. H. Butterworth, F. Baum, and J. W. Porter (1967, Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 118, 716–723). The sulfhydryl group did not oxidize over at least 14 days. This is the first stable sulfhydryl-containing synthetic polymer that has been reported.     

Efficient synthesis of rhodamine conjugates through the 2'-position

Reaction of substrates containing primary amines with rhodamine 2'-esters cleanly produces fluorescent rhodamine 2'-amide conjugates at ambient temperature. Only primary amines react with the esters under these conditions. Chemoselectivity can thus be achieved in substrates containing different types of amines.     

Effects of long-chained aliphatic amines on photosynthetic reactions in isolated spinach chloroplasts

The effect of six long-chained aliphatic amines on ¹⁴CO₂-reduction, electron transport and the 515 nm absorbance change and shrinkage in isolated intact and broken chloroplasts from spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L. cv. Weibulls Medania) was investigated. Five of the six investigated amines affected photosynthesis in intact chloroplasts by inhibiting ¹⁴CO₂-reduction. In broken chloroplasts the same amines uncoupled electron transport. When added to intact chloroplasts the five amines induced a light-dependent oxygen uptake leading to (he formation of hydrogen peroxide. The oxygen uptake was not due to the amines acting as Mehler reactants. The mode of action, different from that of simple aliphatic amines, was an effect on membrane integrity, first affecting the membrane potential. At higher amine concentrations a more general effect on the ion conditions in the thylakoids was evident.     

Cage amines as the stopper inhibitors of cholinesterases

Cage amines 1-4 are potent peripheral anionic site-bound reversible inhibitors of both acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. Cage amines 1-3 are selective butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor versus acetylcholinesterase. For both enzymes, the -log K(i) values linearly correlate with the difference of substituted phenyl radius of cage amines (-log K(i)=5.4+3.4Deltagamma for acetylcholinesterase, -log K(i)=5.9+3.2Deltagamma for butyrylcholinesterase). Moreover, the relationship between the enzymes and cage amines mimics that between bottles and stoppers.     

Synthesis and characterisation of N-glycosyl amines from the reaction between 4,6-O-benzylidene-D-glucopyranose and substituted aromatic amines and also between 2-(o-aminophenyl)benzimidazole and pentoses or hexoses

Twelve N-glycosyl amines were synthesised using 4,6-O-benzylidene-D-glucopyranose and different substituted aromatic amines, including some diamines that resulted in bis-glycosyl amines. Another set of six N-glycosyl amines was synthesised using different hexoses and pentoses and 2-(o-aminophenyl)benzimidazole. All compounds were isolated as solid products and purified, their elemental compositions were established, and these were characterised by NMR (1H and 13C), UV-Vis, and FTIR spectroscopy, by FAB mass spectrometry (molecular-ion peaks gave molecular weights), and by their optical rotations. While the protected saccharide, 4,6-O-benzylidene-D-glucopyranose, exists as a mixture of beta and alpha anomers in solution, the corresponding N-glycosyl amines were of only the beta anomeric form as determined by NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. On the other hand, N-glycosyl amines synthesised from 2-(o-aminophenyl)benzimidazole prefer the alpha anomeric form, and in two cases a mixture of both the beta and the alpha anomers were observed. The trends observed in the chemical shifts were compared among different products.     

Effects of weakly basic amines on proteolytic processing and terminal glycosylation of secretory proteins in cultured rat hepatocytes.

We examined the effects of weakly basic amines on the secretion and post-translational modifications of secretory proteins in cultured rat hepatocytes. Weakly basic amines such as methylamine, chloroquine and NH4Cl strongly inhibited not only protein secretion, but also the proteolytic conversion of a proform of complement C3, allowing the precursor to be released into the medium. The amines, however, had no effect on the proteolytic conversion of prohaptoglobin into its subunits. Since available evidence indicates that the conversion of pro-C3 occurs at the Golgi complex while that of prohaptoglobin takes place in the endoplasmic reticulum, it is most likely that the weak bases specifically affect the proteolytic event occurring at the Golgi complex. Electron microscopic observations confirmed that the amines caused morphological changes of the Golgi complex, consisting of dilated cisternae and swollen vacuoles. When the glycosylation of alpha 1-protease inhibitor and haptoglobin was examined, it was found that the amines caused a marked accumulation in the cells of both glycoproteins corresponding to the mature secreted forms. Neuraminidase digestion demonstrated that the glycoproteins accumulating in response to the amines had acquired terminal sialic acid. The results indicate that the amines do not significantly affect terminal glycosylation, in contrast with their definite effect on proteolytic processing, despite the fact that both modifications take place in the Golgi complex.     

Mapping the substrate scope of monoamine oxidase (MAO-N) as a synthetic tool for the enantioselective synthesis of chiral amines

A library of 132 racemic chiral amines (α-substituted methylbenzylamines, benzhydrylamines, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthylamines (THNs), indanylamines, allylic and homoallylic amines, propargyl amines) was screened against the most versatile monoamine oxidase (MAO-N) variants D5, D9 and D11. MAO-N D9 exhibited the highest activity for most substrates and was applied to the deracemisation of a comprehensive set of selected primary amines. In all cases, excellent enantioselectivity was achieved (e.e. >99%) with moderate to good yields (55–80%). Conditions for the deracemisation of primary amines using a MAO-N/borane system were further optimised using THN as a template addressing substrate load, nature of the enzyme preparation, buffer systems, borane sources, and organic co-solvents.     

Gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry of biogenic amines and amphetamines as their isothiocyanate derivatives

A simple method for the preparation of volatile isothiocyanate derivatives of primary amines is described. This type of derivative has been used in the identification of primary amines in urinary samples by means of gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The mass spectrometric fragmentations of isothiocyanate derivatives of various primary amines are discussed and compared to those of their pertrimethylsilylated counterparts.     

Double effect of organic amines (activation and inhibition) on the phosphotriesterase

The kinetic behavior of the phosphotriesterase in the presence of organic amines (diethylamine, diisopropylamine, triethylamine, pyridine and others) capable of activating the enzyme at the concentration up to 0.10 M and inhibiting it at higher concentrations is described. The form acting as activator in a solution is the nonprotonated form of amines and the value of activation effect depends on pK_a of amine and its structure. The activation by amines at the above concentrations has a noncompetitive character, whereas the inhibition at higher concentrations has competitive one. The mechanism of phosphotriesterase action in the presence of amines is discussed.     

Interaction of aliphatic amines with glycogen phosphorylase

A number of aliphatic amines was shown to stimulate AMP-dependent activity of phosphorylase b. The extent of stimulation depends on the molecular structure of amines. For linear amines, the longer the linear chain, the greater the stimulation observed. High concentrations of amines were able to induce a small activation of phosphorylase b in the absence of AMP. Kinetic studies of phosphorylase b indicated that the presence of n-hexylamine (a) results in lowering Km values for AMP and glucose 1-phosphate, (b) increases maximal velocity of the enzyme, and (c) modifies the glucose 6-phosphate, ATP, caffeine, and glucose binding sites of the enzyme by increasing the inhibition constants for these inhibitors. In contrast, the activity of phosphorylase b' is not altered by n-hexylamine. This fact suggests the possibility that amines interact with the N-terminal tail of phosphorylase b chain.     

Effect of radioprotectors on the decarboxylase activity of mast cells

It has been shown that the process of amines new formation in mast cells after the treatment with radioprotectors is less intensive than in other tissues able to synthesize amines. It is proposed that the effect of the mast cells in organism's formation of higher radioresistance is brought to mobilization of the accumulated biogenic amines with their further redistribution in other organs and tissues including radiosensitive ones.     

Electron spin resonance study of chloroplast photosynthetic activity in the presence of amphiphilic amines

Electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) was used to study the effects of amphiphilic amines of the carbamate, amide, and ester type and amine oxide on the photosynthetic system of spinach chloroplasts. The ESR signal II connected to the photosynthetic center PS II donor side was observed to diminish in the presence of amines, whereas that of PS I remained unchanged. The inhibition of PS II increased with the increasing of amine concentration. In the presence of amines, the light: dark chloroplast ESR signals ratio as well as the intensity of the ESR signal of unbound Mn2+ increased. It is suggested that the amphiphilic amines affect the structure of PS II and the electron transfer to PS I. The effects of the amines tested on the photosynthetic system correlate with their potency to perturb the lipid membrane structure.     

Redesigning the substrate specificity of omega-aminotransferase for the kinetic resolution of aliphatic chiral amines

Substrate specificity of the omega-aminotransferase obtained from Vibrio fluvialis (omega-ATVf) was rationally redesigned for the kinetic resolution of aliphatic chiral amines. omega-ATVf showed unique substrate specificity toward aromatic amines with a high enantioselectivity (E > 100) for (S)-enantiomers. However, the substrate specificity of this enzyme was much narrower toward aliphatic amines. To overcome the narrow substrate specificity toward aliphatic amines, we redesigned the substrate specificity of omega-ATVf using homology modeling and the substrate structure- activity relationship. The homology model and the substrate structure-activity relationship showed that the active site of omega-ATVf consists of one large substrate-binding site and another small substrate-binding site. The key determinant in the small substrate-binding site was D25, whose role was expected to mask R415 and to generate the electrostatic repulsion with the substrate's alpha-carboxylate group. In the large substrate-binding site, R256 was predicted to recognize the alpha-carboxylate group of substrate thus obeying the dual substrate recognition mechanism of aminotransferase subgroup II enzymes. Among the several amino acid residues in the large substrate-binding site, W57 and W147, with their bulky side chains, were expected to restrict the recognition of aliphatic amines. Two mutant enzymes, W57G and W147G, showed significant changes in their substrate specificity such that they catalyzed transamination of a broad range of aliphatic amines without losing the original activities toward aromatic amines and enantioselectivity.     

A Modified Regeneration Method for Streptomycete Protoplasts

The racemization of optically active imidazoline derivatives catalyzed by amines and alcohols was investigated. The racemization was effected by the catalysis of primary and secondary amines, but not by tertiary amines. In t-BuOH, imidazolines were racemized much more slowly than in primary alcohols. The mechanism through a pseudo-six-membered cyclic transition state was proposed for the racemization.