Studies on the relationships between 7α-hydroxylation and the ability of 25- and 27-hydroxycholesterol to suppress the activity of HMG-CoA reductase

The metabolism of 25-hydroxycholesterol in different cell types was studied and the role of 7α-hydroxylation for the effect of 25-hydroxycholesterol on the activity of HMG-CoA reductase was determined. Human diploid fibroblasts (HDF) and the human melanoma cell line SK-MEL-2 converted 25-hydroxycholesterol into 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol and 7α,25-dihydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one while the virus-transformed fibroblast line 90VA-VI, the colon carcinoma cell line WiDr and the breast cancer cell line MDA-231 did not express 7α-hydroxylase activity. The 7α-hydroxylation of 25-hydroxycholesterol in HDF could be stimulated by dexamethasone and cortisol and inhibited by metyrapone. An unidentified, possibly 4-hydroxylated, metabolite was formed by 90VA-VI cells and a polar, probably conjugated, metabolite was formed by WiDr cells. The 7α-hydroxylated metabolites of 25-hydroxycholesterol suppressed the activity of HMG-CoA reductase to a similar extent as 25-hydroxycholesterol in HDF but not in 90VA-VI cells, while the 7α-hydroxylated metabolites of 27-hydroxycholesterol suppressed the activity of HMG-CoA reductase also in 90VA-VI cells. The suppression of HMG-CoA reductase activity by 25- and 27-hydroxycholesterol was decreased or abolished by dehydroepiandrosterone or pregnenolone which have little or no effect on the 7α-hydroxylation. The results indicate that 7α-hydroxylation is not directly involved, positively or negatively, in the action of 25- or 27-hydroxycholesterol as suppressors of HMG-CoA reductase activity.     

Synthesis of Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ- and Galβ1-3GalNAcα-O-L-serine Derivatives employing glycosidases

A new approach for the highly specific preparation of L-serine conjugates of lactosamine and Gal1-3GalNAc is described. Thus, the L-serine derivative of lactosamine Gal1-4GlcNAc-O-(N-Z)-Ser-OEt, was obtained from lactose, employing GlcNAc-O-(N-Z)-Ser-OEt as acceptor and a yeast -galactosidase as catalyst Galp 1-3GalNAc-O-(N-Alloc)-Ser-OMe was obtained from lactose, employing GalNAc-O-(N-Alloc)-Ser-OMe as acceptor and -galactosidase from bovine testes as catalyst.     

Glycosidase-catalysed synthesis of glycosylated amino acids: synthesis of GalNAcα-Ser and GlcNAcβ-Ser derivatives

A glycosidase from Aspergillus oryzae catalysed the stereospecific formation of various derivatives of the Tn antigen, D-GalNAca1O-L-Ser, employing D-GalNAc-OPhNO - p as glycosyl donor and different N- and C-protected L-Ser derivatives as acceptors. The same glycosidase preparation was also useful for stereospecific preparation of D-GalNAca1O-L-Thr and D-GlcNAc1O-L-Ser derivatives. Yields were in the range 10-50% depending on the type of acceptor. Lipase from porcine pancreas was used for specific hydrolysis, generating a Tn antigen derivative with a free carboxyl group. This facilitates the use of the derivatives in e.g. solid phase synthesis of glycopeptides.     

Ribosylation of 3-Methylguanine and the Relative Stability of its 7- and 9-α-D-Ribofuranosides

Abstract

Ribosylation of 3-methylguanine la was investigated by enzymatic and chemical methods. Compound la did not act as a substrate for purine nucleoside phosphorylase. N-2-Protected 3-methylguanines 4 and 6 underwent exclusive N-7 glycosylation by fusion and chloromercury methods to give 5 and 7. Fully acetylated 7-α-D-ribofuranoside 5 was also obtained by thermal transglycosylation of the corresponding 9-α-D-ribofuranoside 9. The reverse isomerization 5 → 9 did not occur. The differences in the relative stability towards acidic hydrolysis between 7- and 9-(α-D-ribofuranosyl)-3-methylguanines are distinctly higher than those described so far for the other 7-9 isomeric nucleosides.     

Enzymic synthesis,chemical characterisation and Sda activity of GalNAcß1-4[NeuAcα2-3]Galß1-4GlcNAc and GalNAcß1-4[NeuAcα2-3]Galß1-4Glc

The tetrasaccharides GalNAcß1-4[NeuAc2-3]Galß1-4Glc and GalNAcß1-4[NeuAc2-3]Galß1-4GlcNAc were synthesised by enzymic transfer of GalNAc from UDP-GalNAc to 3-sialyllactose (NeuAc2-3Galß1-4Glc) and 3-sialyl-N-acetyllactosamine (NeuAc2-3Galß1-4GlcNAc). The structures of the products were established by methylation and¹H-500 MHz NMR spectroscopy. In Sd^a serological tests the product formed with 3-sialyl-N-acetyllactosamine was highly active whereas that formed with 3-sialyllactose had only weak activity.     

Cytochemical localization of GalNAc and GalNAcβ1,4Galβ1,4 disaccharide in mouse zona pellucida

Carbohydrate residues contained in the zona pellucida play a key role in the process of sperm-egg interaction. In vitro fertilization experiments have shown that a specific monoclonal antibody against GalNAcş,4Galş,4 disaccharide inhibits fertilization in mice. In the present study, the ultrastructural cytochemical localization of GalNAc residues and the GalNAcş,4Galş,4 disaccharide was carried out in ovarian and postovulatory oocytes by using lectin-gold cytochemistry and immunocytochemistry. Plant lectins SBA and DBA showed an affinity for the entire zona pellucida matrix of ovarian oocytes throughout the follicular maturation; however, immunoreactivity for GalNAcş,4Galş,4 disaccharide was not detected in ovarian oocytes at the earliest stages of follicular development but was found to be associated with the inner region of the zona matrix at the trilaminar primary follicle stage. The Golgi apparatus, vesicular aggregates, and cortical granules of the oocyte were intensely labeled by SBA and DBA throughout follicular development. Immunoreactivity to GalNAcş,4Galş,4 disaccharide was first observed in the Golgi apparatus and vesicular aggregates in trilaminar primary follicles. No immunoreactivity was observed in the cortical granules. In postovulatory oocytes, results were similar to those observed in ovarian oocytes. Our results thus suggest that (1) GalNAcş,4Galş,4 disaccharide residues are present only in the inner region of the zona pellucida and, therefore, might be involved in sperm penetration through the zona pellucida, (2) the inner and outer regions of the zona pellucida contain different oligosaccharide chains, (3) the vesicular aggregates detected in the oocyte could represent an intermediate step in the secretory pathway of zona pellucida glycoproteins and might be involved in the formation of cortical granules.     

An analysis of the relationship between fatty acid composition and the lamellar gel to liquid-crystalline and the lamellar to inverted nonlamellar phase transition temperatures of phosphatidylethanolamines and diacyl-α-D-glucosyl glycerols

The lamellar gel to lamellar liquid-crystalline (Lbeta/Lalpha) and lamellar liquid-crystalline to inverted hexagonal (Lalpha/H(II)) phase transitions of a number of phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs) and diacyl-alpha-D-glucosyl-sn-glycerols (alpha-D-GlcDAGs) containing linear saturated, linear unsaturated, branched or alicyclic hydrocarbon chains of various lengths were examined by differential scanning calorimetry and low-angle X-ray diffraction. As reported previously, for each homologous series of PEs or alpha-D-GlcDAGs, the Lbeta/Lalpha phase transition temperatures (Tm) increase and the Lalpha/H(II) phase transition temperatures (Th) decrease with increases in hydrocarbon chain length. The Tm and the especially the Th values for the PEs are higher than those of the corresponding alpha-D-GlcDAGs. For PEs having the same effective hydrocarbon chain length but different chain configurations, the Tm and Th values vary markedly but with an almost constant temperature interval (deltaT(L/NL)) between the two phase transitions. Moreover, although the Tm and Th values of the PEs and alpha-D-GlcDAGs are equally sensitive on the temperature scale to variations in the length and chemical configuration of the hydrocarbon chains, the deltaT(L/NL) values are generally larger in the PEs and vary less with the hydrocarbon chain structure. This suggests that the PE headgroup has a greater ability to counteract variations in the packing properties of different hydrocarbon chain structures than does the alpha-D-GlcDAG headgroup. With decreasing chain length, this ability of the PE headgroup to counteract the hydrocarbon chain packing properties increases, significantly expanding the temperature interval over which the Lalpha phase is stable relative to the corresponding regions in the alpha-D-GlcDAGs. Overall, these findings indicate that the PEs have a smaller propensity to form the H(II) phase than do the alpha-D-GlcDAGs with an identical fatty acid composition. In contrast to our previous report, there is some variation in the d-spacings of these various PEs (and alpha-D-GlcDAGs) in both the Lalpha and H(II) phases when the hydrocarbon chain structure is changed while the effective chain length is kept constant. These hydrocarbon chain structural modifications produce different d-spacings in the Lalpha and H(II) phases, but those changes are consistent between the PEs and alpha-D-GlcDAGs, probably reflecting differences in the hydrocarbon chain packing constraints in these two phases. Overall, our experimental observations can be rationalized to a first approximation by a simple lateral stress model in which the primary bilayer strain results from a mismatch between the actual and optimal headgroup areas and the primary strain in the H(II) phase arises from a simple hydrocarbon chain packing term.     

Occurrence of the human tumor-specific antigen structure Galβ1-3GalNAcα- (Thomsen-Friedenreich) and related structures on gut bacteria: prevalence, immunochemical analysis and structural confirmation

The Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (TF; CD176, Galβ1-3GalNAcα-) is a tumor-specific carbohydrate antigen and a promising therapeutic target. Antibodies that react with this antigen are frequently found in the sera of healthy adults and are assumed to play a role in cancer immunosurveillance. In this study, we examined the occurrence of α-anomeric TF (TFα) on a large variety of gastrointestinal bacteria using a novel panel of well-characterized monoclonal antibodies. Reactivity with at least one anti-TF antibody was found in 13% (16 of 122) of strains analyzed. A more in-depth analysis, using monoclonal antibodies specific for α- and β-anomeric TF in combination with periodate oxidation, revealed that only two novel Bacteroides ovatus strains (D-6 and F-1), isolated from the faeces of healthy persons by TF-immunoaffinity enrichment, possessed structures that are immunochemically identical to the true TFα antigen. The TF-positive capsular polysaccharide structure of strain D-6 was characterized by mass spectrometry, monosaccharide composition analysis, glycosidase treatments and immunoblot staining with TFα- and TFβ-specific antibodies. The active antigen was identified as Galβ1-3GalNAc-, which was α-anomerically linked as a branching structure within a heptasaccharide repeating unit. We conclude that structures immunochemically identical to TFα are extremely rare on the surface of human intestinal bacteria and may only be identifiable by binding of both antibodies, NM-TF1 and NM-TF2, which recognize a complete immunomolecular imprint of the TFα structure. The two novel B. ovatus strains isolated in this study may provide a basis for the development of TF-based anti-tumor vaccines.     

Cloning and characterization of a novel exo-α-1,5-L-arabinanase gene and the enzyme

A novel exo-alpha-1,5-L-arabinanase gene (arn3) was isolated, cloned, and expressed in E. coli. The recombinant enzyme (ARN3) had a pH optimum of 6.0-7.0 and a pH 3.0-7.0 stability range. The temperature optimum was 50 degrees C with a stability less than or equal to 45 degrees C. The recombinant ARN3 cleaved carboxymethyl (CM)-arabinan, debranched arabinan, and linear arabinan at a decreasing rate and is inactive on sugar beet arabinan, wheat arabinoxylan, and p-nitrophenyl-alpha-L-arabinofuranoside. The enzyme hydrolyzed debranched arabinan and synthetic arabino-oligosaccharides entirely to arabinose. The apparent K(m) and V(max) values were determined to be 6.2+/-0.3 mg/ml and 0.86+/-0.01 mg ml(-1) min(-1), respectively (pH 7.0, 37 degrees C, CM-arabinan). Multiple sequence alignment and homology modeling revealed unique short sequences of amino acids extending the loop involved in partial blocking of one end of the substrate-binding site on the surface of the molecule.     

Solid phase synthesis of the fibronectin glycopeptide V(Galβ3GalNAcα)THPGY,its β analogue,and the corresponding unglycosylated peptide

The fibronectin fragment VTHPGY and the corresponding glycopeptides V(Gal3GalNAc)THPGY and V(Gal3GalNAc)THPGY were synthesized by the FMOC/solid phase approach. FMOC derivatives of threonine, carrying O-linked, peracetylated Gal3GalNAc chains were used for introduction (HOBt-mediated coupling) of the disaccharide moieties.Abbreviations FMOC 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl - DMTST dimethyl(thiomethyl)sulfonium triflate - DMF dimethylformamide - BOC butoxycarbonal     

Photochemical addition of 1,3-dioxolane and of 2-propanol to 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-α- and -β-D-erythro-hex-2-enopyranose

Photoirradiation of a solution of 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-β-D-erythro-hex-2-enopyranose (1) in 1:50 acetone-1,3-dioxolane with a high-pressure mercury-lamp, followed by chromatographic separation, gave 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-3-C-(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl)-β-D-glucopyranose (3) (44%) and-mannopyranose (4) (35%). Similar treatment of the α anomer (2) of 1 afforded 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-3-C-(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl)-α-D-glucopyranose (5) (38%), -mannopyranose (6) (31%), and -allopyranose (7) (21%).On the other hand, irradiation of 2 in 1:100 acetone-2-propanol gave 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-3-C-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-α-D-mannopyranose (8) (76%). Moreover, irradiation of 2 in 1:1 acetone-2-propanol yielded 1,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-2,3-di-C-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-α-D-gluco- or -manno-pyranose 2,2¹,3¹-orthoacetate (10) (15%), in addition to 8 (44%).     

Elderberry bark lectin-gold techniques for the detection of Neu5Ac (α2,6) Gal/GalNAc sequences: applications and limitations

Summary The lectin from the elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) bark, shown to recognize the sequence neuraminic acid (2,6) galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine, was applied for detecting binding sites in Lowicryl K4M sections by light and electron microscopy. The lectin was used either directly complexed to colloidal gold or in a two-step cytochemical affinity technique. The lectin-gold complex proved to be superior and thus was extensively tested on rat liver, kidney and hepatoma cells as well as on sheep and bovine submandibular glands. Controls to establish specificity of lectin-gold binding included sugar and glycoprotein inhibition tests and enzymic removal of sialic acid. In agreement with biochemical data demonstrating the potentiating effect of sialic acid on the binding of the lectin to oligosaccharides, enzymic removal of sialic acid from liver sections resulted in abolition of lectin staining. However, in the submandibular glands, neuraminidase pretreatment of the sections had no effect on the subsequent lectin-gold binding. In rat kidney some structures became negative while others retained the lectin-gold staining due to binding to penultimate.N-acetylgalactosamine exposed after sialic acid removal. In line with this, spot blot analysis demonstrated that the lectin-gold complex reacted with both fetuin and asialofetuin. Taken together, these results suggest that, for cytochemical staining, the sialic acid and the galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine lectin combining subsites ofSambucus nigra L. lectin are equally reactive with cellular glycoconjugates and that neuraminidase predigestion of tissue sections is of utmost importance to ensure specificity of staining for the sequence neuraminic acid (2,6) galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine.     

α-Catenin contributes to the strength of E-cadherin-p120 interactions

Cadherin-catenin interactions play an important role in cadherin-mediated adhesion. Here we present strong evidence that in the cadherin-catenin complex α-catenin contributes to the binding strength of another catenin, p120, to the same complex. Specifically, we found that a β-catenin-uncoupled cadherin mutant interacts much more weakly with p120 than its full-size counterpart and that it is rapidly endocytosed from the surface of A-431 cells. We also showed that p120 overexpression stabilizes this mutant on the cell surface. Examination of the α-catenin-deficient MDA-MB-468 cells and their derivates in which α-catenin was reintroduced showed that α-catenin reinforces E-cadherin-p120 association. Finally, a cross-linking analysis of the cadherin-catenin complex indicated that a large loop located in the middle of the p120 arm-repeat domain is in close spatial vicinity to the amino-terminal VH1 domain of α-catenin. The six amino acid-long extension of this loop, caused by an alternative splicing, weakens p120 binding to cadherin. The data suggest that α-catenin-p120 contact within the cadherin-catenin complex can regulate cadherin trafficking.     

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.     

Syntheses OF 15α- and 15β-carboxymethyltestosterone bovine serum albumin conjugates: Characteristics of the antisera to testosterone

Syntheses of 15α- and 15β-carboxymethyltestosterone (15α- and 15β-CMT) were investigated in order to prepare testosterone-bovine serum albumin conjugates for radioimmunoassays of testosterone. A mixture of 15α- and 15β-bis (ethoxycarbonyl)methyl-3β-hydroxy-5-androsten-17-one (IIa and IIb) obtained by a reaction of 3β-hydroxy-5,15-androsta-dien-17-one (I) and sodium diethyl malonate was oxidized to afford a mixture of 15α- and 15β-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)methyl-4-androstene-3, 17-dione (Va and Vb). After the separation by silica gel chromatography, each epimer obtained was hydrolyzed by acid, followed by decarboxylation, and selective reduction of the 17-ketone to give 15α- and 15β-CMT. The antisera, generated in rabbits by immunization with the bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugates of 15α- and 15β-CMT, respectively, exhibited high specificity for testosterone.     

The Functions of 4-α-glucanotransferases and their use for the Production of Cyclic Glucans

Chitosans and pectins are natural polysaccharides which show great potential in drug delivery systems.

Chitosans are a family of strongly polycationic derivatives of poly-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. This positive charge is very important in chitosan drug delivery systems as it plays a very important role in mucoadhesion (adhesion to the mucosal surface). Other chitosan based drug delivery systems involve complexation with ligands to form chitosan nanoparticles with can be used to encapsulate active compounds.

Pectins are made of several structural elements the most important of which are the homogalacturonan (HG) and type I rhamnogalacturonan (RG-I) regions often described in simplified terms as the “smooth” and “hairy” regions respectively. Pectin HG regions consist of poly-glacturonic acid residues which can be partially methyl esterified. Pectins with a degree of methyl esterification (DM) > 50% are known as high methoxyl (HM) pectins and consequently low methoxyl (LM) pectins have a DM < 50%. Low methoxyl pectins are of particular interest in drug delivery as they can form gels with calcium ion (Ca^{2 +}) which has potential applications especially in nasal formulations.     

Synthesis of the tri- and tetra-saccharides related to the fine structures of lichenan and cereal β-d-glucans

Syntheses, based on silver trifluoromethanesulfonate-promoted Koenigs-Knorr type condensations, are described of the d-glucotrioses, β-d-Glcp-(1→3)-β-d-Glcp-(1→4)-d-Glcp and β-d-Glcp-(1→4)-β-d-Glcp-(1→3)-d-Glcp, and the d-Glucotetraoses, β-d-Glcp-(1→3)-β-d-Glcp-(1→4)-β-d-Glcp-(1→4)-d-Glcp, β-d-Glcp-(1→4)-β-d-Glcp-(1→3)-β-d-Glcp-(1→4)-d-Glcp, and β-d-Glcp-(1→4)-β-d-Glcp-(1→4)-β-d-Glcp-(1→3)-d-Glcp, corresponding to the tri- and tetra-saccharide units in the linear chains of (1→4)- and (1→3)-linked β-d-glucopyranosyl residues of lichenan, and of oat and barley β-d-glucans.     

Stimulation of μ- and δ-Opiate Receptors and Tolerance of Isolated Heart to Oxidative Stress: the Role of NO-Synthase

Preliminary intravenous injection of -opiate receptor (OR) agonists DSLET (0.1 mg/kg) or DTLET (0.1 mg/kg) increased tolerance of isolated perfused myocardium to damage by oxidative stress simulated in vivo with FeSO₄ + ascorbic acid. This manifested itself by a decreased level of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) in the perfusate flowing out of the heart during the oxidative exposure. The preliminary systemic injection of -agonists DAMGO (0.1 mg/kg) or DALDA (0.1 mg/kg) failed to affect the release of CPK from the myocardium. The cardioprotective effect of the -agonist DSLET was completely abolished by preliminary intravenous injection of the -OR antagonist ICI 174,864 (2.5 mg/kg). The intravenous injection of the NO-synthase inhibitor L-NAME (50 mg/kg) also completely abolished the cardioprotective effect of -OR stimulation. The preliminary injection of DSLET but not of DAMGO prevented an increase in the level of diene conjugates and a decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the isolated myocardium tissue. Thus, the in vivo stimulation of -OR increased the tolerance of the heart to oxidative stress through activation of NO-synthase and SOD.     

α-Selective glycosylation affords mucin-related GalNAc amino acids and diketopiperazines active on Trypanosoma cruzi

This work addresses the synthesis and biological evaluation of glycosyl diketopiperazines (DKPs) cyclo[Asp-(αGalNAc)Ser] 3 and cyclo[Asp-(αGalNAc)Thr] 4 for the development of novel anti-trypanosomal agents and Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase (TcTS) inhibitors. The target compounds were synthetized by coupling reactions between glycosyl amino acids αGalNAc-Ser 7 or αGalNAc-Thr 8 and the amino acid (O-tBu)-Asp 17, followed by one-pot deprotection-cyclisation reaction in the presence of 20% piperidine in DMF. The protected glycosyl amino acid intermediates 7 and 8 were, in turn, obtained by α-selective, HgBr₂-catalysed glycosylation reactions of Fmoc-Ser/Thr benzyl esters 12/14 with αGalN₃Cl 11, being, subsequently, fully deprotected for comparative biological assays. The DKPs 3 and 4 showed relevant anti-trypanosomal effects (IC₅₀ 282–124 μM), whereas glycosyl amino acids 1 and 2 showed better TcTS inhibition (57–79%) than the corresponding DKPs (13–25%).