The synthesis and behaviour of pyrazine mononuclear carbonyl complexes of Rh(I), Ir(I), Ru(II) and Os(II)

The synthesis in high yields and the dissociative behaviour in the solid state and in solution of the mononuclear complexes [cis-M(CO)₂Cl(pyz)] (M=Rh, Ir; PYZ=pyrazine) and [fac-M(CO)₃Cl₂(pyz)] (M=Ru, Os) are reported. The mononuclear complexes of Rh and Ir are relatively labile with respect to pyrazine release. Particularly in the case of rhodium they generate even in the solid state the corresponding dinuclear complexes [cis-Cl(CO)₂M(pyz)cis-M(CO)₂Cl] (M=Rh, Ir). The ¹H NMR spectra of these mononuclear Rh and Ir complexes in CHCl₃ solution show, at 25 and 60 °C, respectively, a fast and reversible dissociation of metal coordinated pyrazine, which is hindered by lowering the temperature. Crystallographic aspects of [cis-Ir(CO)₂Cl(pyz)] have been investigated via single crystal X-ray diffraction. The mononuclear complexes of Ru and Os are more stable. In the solid state they do not rearrange, with release of pyrazine, to generate the related dimeric complexes with pyrazine as bridge. In solution, at room temperature, they do not dissociate quickly, although a mixture of monomeric and dimeric pyrazine complexes (ratio monomer to dimer 9:1 and 15:1 for Ru and Os, respectively) is slowly formed by a process which is reverted by addition of excess pyrazine, as expected for a dissociative equilibrium.     

Participation of the pyrazine cation radical in the formation of mutagens in the reaction of glucose/glycine/creatinine.

Two classes of the free radical Maillard intermediates, the pyrazine cation radical and the carbon-centered radicals, are detected in the reaction of Glc (glucose)/Gly (glycine) by electron spin resonance and spin trapping technique. Profile of the generation of the pyrazine cation radical in the reaction with different ratios of the reactants was found to be similar to that of the formation of mutagens in the subsequent reaction with creatinine. By contrast, profile of the generation of the carbon-centered radicals was not consistent with that of the mutagen formation. Thiol antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids (or their esters) effectively scavenged the pyrazine cation radical generated in the reaction of Glc/Gly, and inhibited the formation of the mutagens in the reaction of Glc/Gly and creatinine. Ethanol, a sulfide and a saturated fatty acid were not effective to scavenge the pyrazine cation radical and did not inhibit the mutagen formation. The pyrazine cation radical rather than the carbon-centered radicals may play an important role in the mutagen formation. Thiol antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids can be evaluated as inhibitors of the pyrazine cation radical-derived formation of the mutagens.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of interaction between phospholipid membrane and pyrazine and its derivatives

We have performed a comparative molecular dynamics simulation of the diffusion process of the heterocyclic compound pyrazine and its methylated derivatives into the model membrane phospholipid bilayer. Several structural and dynamical bilayer parameters were measured, and qualitative interrelations between parameter changes and the substituted pyrazine structure were studied. The simulation results support the hypothesis that molecular mechanisms of biological effects of substituted pyrazines involve dissolution of the effector molecule in the membrane bilayer and subsequent changes in bilayer properties. This stage can provide the means for pyrazine molecules to interact with integral membrane proteins, directly or indirectly through the changed lipid environment of the protein.     

Alkylpyrazines: alarm pheromone components of the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

The previous identification of 2,5-dimethyl-3-(3-methylbutyl)pyrazine as the mandibular alarm pheromone of the little fire ant Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger), has been found to be incorrect. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) of ant extracts suggested the correct structure to be the regioisomer 2,5-dimethyl-3-(2-methylbutyl)pyrazine, which was confirmed by comparison with the synthetic pyrazine. GC/MS analysis also revealed the presence of an additional disubstituted alkylpyrazine which was identified as 3-methyl-2-(2-methylbutyl)pyrazine. Headspace sampling of confined ants with SPME and Porapak Q followed by GC/MS analysis showed 2,5-dimethyl-3-(2-methylbutyl)pyrazine as the major volatile released by W. auropunctata workers while 3-methyl-2-(2-methylbutyl)pyrazine was only detected in trace amounts. In laboratory bioassays, W. auropunctata workers were attracted and arrested by both pyrazines, although the results were not always consistent. Synthetic pyrazines generally attracted as many W. auropunctata workers as were attracted to a single crushed ant. However, higher numbers of W. auropunctata were arrested by crushed ant treatments than by synthetic pyrazines in all bioassays but one.     

Pyrazine emission by a tropical firefly: An example of chemical aposematism?

Although famous for photic courtship displays, fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) are also notable for emitting strong odors when molested. The identity of volatile emissions and their possible role, along with photic signals, as aposematic warnings of unpalatability have been little explored, especially in tropical species. Pursuant to the observation that the widespread Neotropical fireflies, Photuris trivittata and Bicellonycha amoena, emit pungent odors, glows, and flashes when handled, we investigated their cuticular and headspace chemistry. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses revealed that both fireflies have species‐specific cuticular hydrocarbon profiles. Photuris trivittata headspace was dominated by 2‐methoxy‐3‐(1‐methylpropyl) pyrazine (hereafter, pyrazine), on the order of 1.59 ng/individual and a suite of sesquiterpenes, while B. amoena emitted 3‐methoxy‐2‐butenoic acid methyl ester and a few ketones. This is the first report of such compounds in fireflies. We investigated the role of pyrazine in P. trivittata's interactions with potential predators: sympatric ants, toads, and bats. Solvent‐washed P. trivittata painted with pyrazine incurred lower ant predation than did their solvent‐washed counterparts. Pyrazine significantly repelled ants at baits in concentrations as low as 9.8 × 10^?4 ng/μl. The toad, Rhinella marina, readily accepted intact fireflies, pyrazine‐coated and uncoated mealworms. Both Myotis nigricans and Molossus molossus bats rejected fireflies, but accepted both pyrazine‐coated and uncoated mealworms. While pyrazine repels ants, its role as an aposematic signal warning other potential predators of firefly distastefulness requires further investigation. Our results underscore the idea that multiple enemies exert conflicting selection on firefly defenses.     

Utilization of pyrazine-2-carboxamide and pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid by Pseudomonas fluorescens UK-1

Abstract Pseudomonas fluorescens strain UK-1 is capable to convert pyrazine-2-carboxamide to pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid and the latter to pyrazine. The resulting product can be detected in the growth medium. Glucose greatly enhanced the degradation. However, the cells survived and degraded the compounds also in the absence of glucose but very slowly. The utilization of a pyrazine compound and the appearance of its splitting product in the growth medium was followed as a function of time. The degradation products of unsubstituted pyrazine could not be detected.     

A novel 3-arylethynyl-substituted pyrido[2,3,-b]pyrazine derivatives and pharmacophore model as Wnt2/β-catenin pathway inhibitors in non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines

We developed Wnt/β-catenin inhibitors by identifying 13 number of 3-arylethynyl-substituted pyrido[2,3,-b]pyrazine derivatives that were able to inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway and cancer cell proliferation. In the optimization process, a series of 2,3,6-trisubstituted pyrido[2,3,-b]pyrazine core skeletons showed were shown to higher activity than 2,3,6-trisubstituted quinoxaline's and thus hold promise for use as potential small-molecule inhibitors of the Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway in non-small-cell lung cancer cell (NSCLC) lines. And we have studied the pharmacophore mapping for compound 954, which presented the highest activity with a fit value of 2.81. The pharmacophore mapping for the compounds including 954, pyrido[2,3,-b]pyrazine core had hydrogen-bond acceptor site and hydrophobic center roles.     

The Evolution of Multimodal Warning Displays

Multimodal warning displays combine visual signals with components produced in other sensory modalities, for instance, aposematically coloured insects often produce a pungent odour or harsh sound when they are attacked. Recent research has focussed upon a particular odour, pyrazine, which is commonly associated with warning coloration. Our experiments have shown that pyrazine elicits hidden unlearned biases against particular visual aspects of food in foraging domestic chicks. Here we asses the current state of our knowledge about these biases, reviewing our results using pyrazine and other odours, and also presenting new data showing that sound can produce similar effects. We will discuss potential psychological mechanisms by which these foraging biases are achieved in avian predators, and potential pathways for their evolution. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of food reductones on the generation of the pyrazine cation radical and on the formation of the mutagens in the reaction of glucose, glycine and creatinine

One of the possible pathways of the formation of mutagens in heated foods is through the pyrazine cation radical generated in the early stage of the Maillard reaction. The aim of the present study was to elucidate how food reductones contribute to the pyrazine cation radical generation in the reaction of glucose (Glc) and glycine (Gly), and to the formation of the mutagens in the reaction of Glc, Gly and creatinine. Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies showed that fragrant reductones, 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone (DMHF) and 4-hydroxy-2(or 5)-ethyl-5(or 2)-methyl-3(2H)-furanone (HEMF), generated in the Maillard reactions, enhanced the generation of the pyrazine cation radical in the reaction of Glc and Gly, and the reaction of DMHF or HEMF with Gly generated a larger amount of the pyrazine cation radical than the reaction of Glc and Gly, indicating that the furanones were intermediates of the pyrazine cation radical. By contrast, food antioxidants, ascorbic acid and erythorbic acid, effectively scavenged the pyrazine cation radical generated in the reaction of Glc and Gly. DMHF and HEMF were not effective to modulate the mutagen formation in the reaction of Glc, Gly and creatinine, and the mutagenicity produced in the reaction of DMHF or HEMF, Gly and creatinine was lower than that produced in the reaction of Glc, Gly and creatinine. On the other hand, ascorbic acid and erythorbic acid were effective to decrease the mutagen formation in the reaction of Glc, Gly and creatinine.     

Phorid fly, Pseudacteon tricuspis, response to alkylpyrazine analogs of a fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, alarm pheromone

The phorid fly, Pseudacteon tricuspis Borgmeier, is a parasitoid of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. This fly has been reported to use fire ant chemicals, specifically venom alkaloids and possibly alarm pheromone to locate its host. A recent study identified 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethyl pyrazine as a component of the alarm pheromone of S. invicta. To determine the possible involvement of this fire ant alarm pheromone component in mediating fire ant-phorid fly interactions, we tested electroantennogram (EAG) and behavioral responses of P. tricuspis females to the commercially available mixture of 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethyl pyrazine and its 3,5-dimethyl isomer, as well as six structurally related alkylpyrazine analogs at varying doses. Pseudacteon tricuspis females showed significant EAG response to 2-ethyl-3,6(or 5)-dimethyl pyrazine (herein referred to as pheromone-isomer) at all doses, 0.001-10 μg. Among the tested alkylpyrazine analogs, 2,3-diethyl-5-methyl pyrazine showed significant EAG activity at 0.1 and 1 μg. 2,3-dimethyl pyrazine also showed significant EAG activity at 0.1 μg. Results of four-choice olfactometer bioassays demonstrated significant attraction of P. tricuspis females to the pheromone-isomer (2-ethyl-3,6(or 5)-dimethyl pyrazine) at all tested doses (0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 μg). The analogs, 2,3-diethyl-5-methyl pyrazine and 2,3-dimethyl pyrazine were significantly better than the control at the higher doses (0.1, 1 and 10 μg). The pheromone-isomer was significantly better than both analogs at two doses, 0.1 and 1 μg. These results confirm that the reported fire ant alarm pheromone component plays a role in mediating attraction of phorid flies to host workers. Venom alkaloids were previously shown to attract P. tricuspis; therefore, we propose that fire ant alarm pheromones may act in tandem or synergistically with venom alkaloids to attract phorid fly parasitoids to fire ant workers.     

Multiple functions of fire ant Solenopsis invicta mandibular gland products

Alarm pheromones of social insects are best known for their role in the defence and maintenance of colony integrity. Previous studies with the fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) demonstrate that the mandibular glands of workers (sterile females) and male and female sexuals produce an alarm pheromone, 2‐ethyl‐3,6‐dimethylpyrazine. The function of alarm pheromones in worker ants is well understood and divergent from the function of these compounds in the winged sexual forms. The present study quantifies the amount of pyrazine in the mandibular glands from male and female alate sexuals, as well as queens. Pyrazine production in female alates starts in the late pupal stage and increases until they reach mating flight‐ready maturity; however, after mating flight participation, the pyrazine level declines by >50%. Interestingly, mature male alates lose >85% of their mandibular gland pyrazine during mating flight activity. The results of the present study indicate that male and female sexuals use mandibular gland secretions for mating flight initiation and during mating flights. Furthermore, the ontogeny of mandibular gland products (pyrazine as the marker) from newly‐mated queens to mature colony queens shows a more than two‐fold increase in the amount of pyrazine by 6 months after mating. However, this is followed by a decline to trace amounts in mature colony queens (>2 years old), suggesting a function for mandibular gland products during colony development. Multifunctional use of social insect pheromones is well documented and data are reported in the present study suggesting new roles for mandibular gland products in fire ants.     

Utilizing the intramolecular Fukuyama-Mitsunobu reaction for a flexible synthesis of novel heterocyclic scaffolds for peptidomimetic drug design

We report the synthesis of the novel scaffolds pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinoline and pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine displaying the somatostatin pharmacophores. Both classes of compounds contain a pyrazine heterocycle, which can be prepared in a straightforward manner utilizing an intramolecular Fukuyama-Mitsunobu reaction. As both the families derive from amino acids, they can be accessed in high optical purity.     

Novelty effects in a multimodal warning signal

The warning signals of toxic insects are often 'multimodal', combining bright coloration with sounds or odours (or both). Pyrazine (a common insect warning odour) can elicit an intrinsic avoidance in domestic chicks Gallus gallus domesticus, both against novel coloured food, and also against food colours that are specifically associated with aposematism, namely yellow and red. In three experiments, we investigated the role of novelty in this innate bias against yellow coloured food in the presence of pyrazine. Naive chicks were familiarized either to pyrazine odour or to coloured food before being tested for a bias against yellow (warningly coloured) food as opposed to green (nonwarningly coloured) food. In experiment 1, pyrazine novelty was shown to be vital for eliciting a bias against yellow food. However, experiment 2 suggested that colour novelty was not important: chicks familiarized with coloured crumbs still avoided yellow crumbs when pyrazine was presented. In a third experiment that gave chicks an even greater degree of pre-exposure to coloured crumbs, the bias against yellow food eventually waned, although pyrazine continued to elicit an aversion to yellow even after birds had had experience of up to 24 palatable yellow crumbs. Pyrazine novelty has been an important pressure in the evolution of multimodal warning signals, and can continue to promote the avoidance of warningly coloured food, even when it is relatively familiar. The implications for warning signals are discussed. Copyright 1999 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.     

Syntheses and cytotoxicity evaluation of bis(indolyl)thiazole, bis(indolyl)pyrazinone and bis(indolyl)pyrazine: analogues of cytotoxic marine bis(indole) alkaloid

2,4-Bis(3'-indolyl)thiazoles, 3,5-bis(3'-indolyl)-2(1H)pyrazinone and 3,6-bis(3'-indolyl)pyrazine were synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxic activity against diverse human cancer cell lines by the National Cancer Institute. These compounds demonstrated significant inhibitory effects in the growth of a range of cancer cell lines. 2,4-Bis(3'-indolyl)thiazole displayed selective cytotoxicity against certain leukemia cell lines with GI50 values in the low micromolar range while the substituted derivatives showed a broad spectrum of cytotoxic activity. 3,5-Bis(3'-indolyl)-2(1H)pyrazinone and 3,6-bis[3'-(N-methyl-indolyl)]pyrazine possessed strong inhibitory activity against a wide range of human tumor cell lines. The mechanism of action remained unknown. The results suggested that 2,4-bis(3'-indolyl)thiazoles, 3,5-bis(3'-indolyl)-2(1H)pyrazinone and 3,6-bis[3'-(N-methyl-indolyl)] pyrazine offer potential as lead compounds for the discovery of anticancer agents.     

Mutagenic activity of some coffee flavor ingredients

The mutagenicity of 4 coffee flavor ingredients (chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, pyrazine, and trigonelline) was evaluated in the Salmonella plate incorporation assay and mouse lymphoma L5178Y TK +/- assay. Two of the compounds, pyrazine and trigonelline, were negative in both assays. The other two compounds, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid, were positive in the mouse lymphoma assay but negative in the Salmonella assay.     

Pyrazine odour makes visually conspicuous prey aversive

Unpalatable insects frequently adopt multimodal signals to ward off predators, incorporating sounds and odours into their colourful displays. Pyrazine is an odour commonly used in insect warning displays, and has previously been shown to elicit unlearned biases against common warning colours, e.g. yellow and red in naive predators. We designed two experiments to test for similar effects of pyrazine on the conspicuousness of prey, perhaps the most ubiquitous aspect of aposematic coloration. In the first experiment, we offered predators (Gallus gallus domesticus) a choice between conspicuous crumbs and cryptic crumbs in the presence or absence of pyrazine. In the second experiment, we manipulated the birds' experience of conspicuous prey during an initial training phase. Only in the presence of pyrazine did birds show a bias against conspicuously coloured food, and this occurred whether or not they had previously experienced food that contrasted with the background. This emergent behaviour relied upon the visual and odorous signal components being presented together. These unlearned, yet hidden, responses against conspicuousness demonstrate that there are initial benefits to prey being conspicuous when the multimodal nature of warning signals is accounted for.     

Face-to-face porphyrin moieties assembled with spacing for pyrazine recognition in molecularly imprinted polymers

A strategy for arranging two porphyrin moieties in a face-to-face fashion in polymeric material was demonstrated by molecular imprinting, whereby porphyrin Zn(II) complex monomers were cross-linked with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate in the presence of pyrazine or 1,5-naphthyridine as a template molecule. In chromatographic studies using the resultant imprinted polymers as stationary phase, both the polymers showed selectivity for the original template molecule, suggesting that two zinc porphyrin moieties were immobilized in the face-to-face fashion, and were center-aligned for pyrazine recognition and offset-arranged for 1,5-naphthyridine recognition. The imprinted polymer with porphyrin moieties also showed a decrease in its fluorescence intensity in response to the concentration of the target molecule, suggesting the potential utility as sensing material.     

Better to be bimodal: the interaction of color and odor on learning and memory

Defended prey frequently advertise to potential predators usingmultimodal warning displays. Signaling through more than onesensory pathway may enhance the rate of avoidance learning andthe memorability of these learned avoidances. If this is so,then mimetic insects would gain more protection from mimickinga multimodal rather than a monomodal model. Day-old domesticchicks (Gallus gallus domesticus) were used to examine whethera common insect warning odor (pyrazine) enhanced learning andmemorability of yellow prey, a common warning color. Pyrazineincreased the rate at which the chicks learned to avoid unpalatableyellow prey, and how well this learned avoidance was rememberedafter a 96-h interval. After 96 h, mimics of the multimodalprey were avoided, whereas mimics of the monomodal prey werenot. In the absence of pyrazine, chicks generalized their learnedavoidance of the unpalatable yellow prey to palatable greenprey; however, the presence of pyrazine reduced this color generalization.These results suggest that much is to be gained from signalingmultimodally, for both models and mimetic prey species. Thepresence of multimodal prey in the habitat may also advantagethe predators as it allows it them to distinguish more easilybetween palatable and unpalatable prey.     

2,5-Deoxyfructosazine, a D-glucosamine derivative, inhibits T-cell interleukin-2 production better than D-glucosamine

D-Glucosamine has been widely reported to have immunosuppressive actions on neutrophils, lymphocytes, and other cells of the immune system. However, under conditions used in biological experiments (e.g., neutral pH, and phosphate buffers), we have found that D-glucosamine self-reacts to form 2,5-deoxyfructosazine [2-(D-arabino-tetrahydroxybutyl)-5-(D-erythro-2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)pyrazine] (1) and 2,5-fructosazine [2,5-bis(D-arabino-tetrahydroxybutyl)pyrazine] (2). When tested for bioactivity at nontoxic concentrations, these D-glucosamine derivatives were more effective inhibitors of IL-2 release from PHA-activated T cells than d-glucosamine. Hence, fructosazines constitute a novel class of immunomodulators.     

Synthesis of new symmetrical bis-steroidal pyrazine analogues from diosgenin

New symmetrical bis-steroidal pyrazine dimers that are cephalostatins/ritterazines analogues have been prepared easily from a cheap, readily available natural steroid (diosgenin). These dimers were obtained by classical, condensation of α-amino ketones in order to construct the pyrazine rings. The three dimers differ in the functionalized diosgenin: (25R)-5α,6β-dihydroxy-5α-spirosta-3-one, (25R)-4,5α-epoxy-5β-spirosta-3,6-dione and (25R)-5α-hydroxy-5α-spirosta-3,6-dione respectively.